Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!
11 December 2019
Post No. 121
The Week’s Contents
• Capacity Development for Absorbing Climate Investment
• All-in-Development Winter e-Discussion: Volunteering in the 2020s
• Community Value Chains: CENFACS’ as a “Quadranscentennial” (“Q”) Community or the Closing Act of the “Q” Year and Project
… and much more!
Key Messages
~ Capacity Development for Absorbing Climate Investment (CDACI) project
Last week, we published our festive guide with exciting built-in poverty-relieving contents. This week, we are going further mile in dealing with one these contents, which is CDACI project
CDACI is one of CENFACS‘ Starting XI projects for this Autumn 2019. This project will help us to revisit our Capacity Development programme for Africa-based Organisations, individuals working in these organisations and their beneficiaries.
CDACI is as well a response to enable at the same time individuals, organisations and their environment to put in place an organised system in order to welcome climate investment and use it responsibly without waste.
Under the Main Developments section of this post, we have provided more information about CDACI background, aim, objectives and expected outcomes or results. However, for the full project proposals including budget, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.
~ All-in-Development Winter e-Discussion: Volunteering in the 2020s
Volunteering in the 2020s is CENFACS’ 9th Winter volunteering e-discussion since we launched in 2010 our discussion on Volunteering for Poverty Reduction in the 2010s. These 2019 wintry discussions will focus on how we can reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development through Volunteering in the 2020s.
As the 2010 decade will come to an end at the end of this year, we need to start to think about our voluntary work. This is important as CENFACS is a volunteering-involved and based organisation, meaning that CENFACS relies much on volunteers in order to deliver its services and programmes. It also means we need to start planning for this next decade or at least for the next year in terms of the way we would like to volunteer so as to continue to achieve CENFACS’ mission, aim, objectives and charitable objects.
Under the Main Developments section of this post, there is more information about this key content of Volunteering in the 2020s.
~ Community Value Chains: CENFACS’ as a “Quadranscentennial” (“Q”) Community or the Closing Act of the ”Q” Year and Project
The third key message of this week’s post is the start of our preparation for the end of the year 2019 through our December celebratory project the Community Value Chains, the CENFACS Community. This end of year, this celebration will be carried out under the theme of CENFACS as a “Q” Community.
CENFACS as a “Q” Community will be the 10th theme of celebration of the CENFACS’ Community and the Closing Act of the “Q” Year and Project.
Under the Main Developments section of this post, we have provided more information about this theme and year’s celebration.
Extra Messages
~ The 2010s Programme is nearing end of its life
As CENFACS’ 10 year programme (the 2010s programme) is nearing end of its life, some of the projects and activities making this programme will be closed by the 31st of December 2019.
After 31 December 2019, there will not be any more activity and service updates, fixes, reviews and enhancements for the would-be closed initiatives. Other activities that may deem to be worth keeping and still in demand within the community will transition to 2020.
Our preparedness for the new decade’s poverty relief programme continues as planned. This month is the last one for anybody to add their input to the incoming 2020s programme. To add you say, just fill the comments box on this website and submit your input, or contact CENFACS.
~ Climate Protection and Stake for African Children – Phase 3: Madrid Makes It Work as a Working Theme
As said in our previous communications, we are following the climate talks in Madrid. Our advocacy about making the climate talks work for African children is still in progress while the international climate community is deliberating about the climate issues at these talks.
Last week, we released the Compendium of CENFACS’ Climate Advocacy. This resource (Compendium) highlights the talking points that we would like to see implemented in the new decade.
One can hope this time; the climate community’s talks will not be a missed opportunity for the climate protection and stake of children in terms of decisions to be made and actions to be taken at the end of these talks.
From what will emerge from the Madrid climate talks as final outcomes, we shall decide the next step of our climate advocacy. In meantime, those who want to discuss with us about our Climate Follow-up Talks project or any aspect of the Compendium of CENFACS’ Climate Advocacy, they are welcome to contact CENFACS and we are more than happier to discuss with them.
~ Autumn Humanitarian Appeal 2019: Only 1 week and half remaining!
Our Autumn Humanitarian Appeal (AHA) 2019 will end soon. You can support poor people, flora, fauna, communities and organisations in Africa before the official end of Autumn 2019. Your support can make data change their lives.
With only £2, you can create 2 benefits: 1 benefit for humans and 1 benefit for other living beings.
For example, in times of serious risk of the extension of the African tropical bio-diversity, your £1 will be more than welcome to start reversing this risk.
To support and or enquire about AHA 2019, please go to http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/
Main Developments
• Capacity Development for Absorbing Climate Investment (CDACI project) or Absorptive Capacity Project
Project Justification
To successfully apply and have a responsible spending capacity for any investment to reduce the adverse impacts of climate change, any organisation be it small or medium or even big needs to have the absorption capacity required for any amount of investment received or to be received.
They may need it to be able to smoothly absorb or channel the incoming climate funds (such as the Green Climate Fund, the Clean Air Fund, etc.) into their systems. It is not enough for organisations to say for example “we need funding” or “when the funding will come, we will know what to do with it”. So, having in place an absorption capacity or absorptive plan is better than thinking to decide later.
In concrete terms, let say an organisation may claim they need £1 million funding to tackle climate change. The question is: do they have the infrastructures, structures, capacities, skills and knowledge to efficiently consume this seize of money on green or climate initiatives without wasting it? Having an established absorption capacity or an absorption capacity in construction can help to respond to this question.
Project approach
There are many theories or approaches of absorption capacity (such as macroeconomic one through the balance of payments or business approach with absorption costing). The approach taken in this project is basically about developing capacity (i.e. skills, knowledge and abilities) that would enable African organisations and individuals working in these organisations to be able to absorb any potential climate investment available in the market without waste.
Project aim
CDACI aims at reducing poverty due to the lack of knowledge, infrastructures, structures and skills while enhancing the capacity of Africa-based organisations so that they can absorb any suitable incoming climate investment for climate change adaptation and mitigation. In doing so, they will be in a better position to reduce poverty, particularly but not exclusively green poverty, within their community.
Project objectives
Amongst the objectives that can help to achieve the above aim are the following:
√ Develop skills, abilities and capabilities in the area of managing climate fund and investment
√ Integrate climate needs as an integral part of organisational budget
√ Develop realistic project proposals and activities to absorb this fund
√ Establish a clear link between climate fund and poverty relief outcomes
√ Able to measure investment received against poverty relief outcomes
√ Transform and equip organisational infrastructures and structures to become resilient and adaptable to the adverse impacts of climate change
√ Support the transition of these organisations from a linear economic model to a circular economic model
√ Spread the benefits of climate investment within their community and amongst their end users
Etc.
Project beneficiaries
The end beneficiaries of this project will be individuals working in Africa-based organisations as well as their end users.
The above potential beneficiaries can be part of the following identified recipients:
√ Workers and volunteers of skill-deprived Africa-based Organisations
√ Individuals working to reduce green poverty
√ Poor farmers and pastoralists who need climate investment
√ Training organisations, trainers, capacity builders and developers who will develop the capacity of others to absorb climate investment
√ The victims of the negative impacts of climate change (e.g. climate refugees and migrants)
√ Indirect beneficiaries such as women and children who will benefit from clean air, sustainable energy and so on
Etc.
Project outcomes
It is hoped that at the end of the project, the following generic outcomes will be achieved:
√ Reduction of green poverty by an acceptable percentage or rate
√ Reduction of skill deprivation in the area of absorption capacity
√ A good number of people or organisations will become capable of better absorbing climate investment
√ More poor farmers and pastoralists will have access to climate fund and will utilise it adequately
√ Project beneficiaries will become empowered with climate skills, knowledge and techniques
Besides the above generic benefits or outcomes, there will be specific outcomes (both in quantitative and qualitative terms) which will be generated at the level of each recipient of climate investment. Each recipient of climate investment will be treated on their own merit as far as project outcomes are concerned.
Briefly, CDACI is the capacity development of Africa-based organisations, individuals working or making these organisations and their beneficiaries. It is three cross-linked layers of capacity (i.e. individual capacity, organisational capacity and environmental capacity) that this project is dealing with.
To support or to request full project proposals, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.
• All-in-Development Winter e-Discussion
• • Volunteering in the 2020s
A new decade could mean many things such as other ways of volunteering or just an improved way of volunteering. As our work in CENFACS is mostly volunteering-based, we need to start to think about the roles, tasks and activities for our volunteers in the new year and new decade.
Their roles, tasks and activities will depend on the challenges we will face as an organisation; challenges both within and outside CENFACS. If we can put it in marketing terms, we shall say the threats, risks, uncertainty and transition. They will depend as well on opportunities and new spaces which the new year and new decade will bring along with them.
One of these factors or conditions could be the exit or non-exit of the UK from the EU. This can make us to develop a policy to rise above these exiting or non-exiting challenges in order to keep our voluntary work running smoothly and delivers on poverty reduction outcomes for others.
There could be opportunities and open spaces for our work. If so, how can we seize these new windows of opportunity and space to volunteer in a way that meet the needs of our users?
Besides this question, there are other factors such as the climate economy and energy transition. These factors also demand that the make-up of our volunteers’ roles, tasks and activities have to be fitted for these types of economy and transition so that our service delivery and users’ expectations are not adversely affected.
The new decade is too crucial in terms of the pace and speed, including security and durability, that poor people will make to meet the United Nations Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals and the Agenda 2030 by 2030, together with the package of the climate talks that have been held now in Madrid. This additional factor requires us to further plan on the roles, tasks and activities to be undertaken by volunteers to help us successfully rise our work above the 2020s’ challenges and demands.
Therefore, our Winter e-volunteering discussion, which already started since the 5th of this month is briefly on the following:
√ The potential challenges of the 2020s as a new decade
√ The opportunities of the 2020s decade
√ Rethinking volunteers’ roles, tasks and activities in the light of the 2020s probable events and poverty relief and sustainable development architectures (For example: What the messages and signals of international calendars of events and forecasts or outlooks published by other organisations are sending to us in terms of poverty relief and sustainable development)
√ The needs of users in the 2020s: (How we can anticipate them, plan and develop services and activities to meet them? What the evidence and data especially the big data are telling us)
√ The 2020s volunteering budget and other resources
Etc.
The above points are some of those issues we have identified so far which are being discussed and put to all our supporters to help us in providing their inputs.
To add your views about Volunteering in the 2020s, please contact CENFACS.
•• Supporting All in Development Volunteer Scheme (AiDVS)
It is possible to support CENFACS and its AiDVS from wherever you are (at home, work, away, online, on the go and move etc.).
Supporting us does not need to be magical and majestic.
You can still enjoy a great festive season while you are supporting us.
There are many simple helpful and useful ways of adding value to our voluntary work.
Here are some suggestions on ways of supporting with wintry and festive news, information and products:
- Gift ideas for the best ways of monitoring, evaluating and reviewing projects and programmes in the new year and new decade
- Savings and scrimping for AiDVs
- Festive deals, packages, coupons and vouchers for AiDVs
- Technologies for volunteering to make the world a better place for a low-carbon and sustainable future we all want
- Low carbon economic products to protect the environment
- Digital and media support to better volunteer for a climate-friendly and sustainable world
- Festive gifts for sustaining for voluntary work in the new year and decade
- Wintry and festive giveaways for volunteering for a better world, etc.
To e-discuss Volunteering in the 2020s, please contact CENFACS or just forward your comments, views and experiences to us. Likewise, to find out the previous themes of CENFACS’ Winter Volunteering E-Discussion since its inception in 2010, please contact CENFACS.
• Community Value Chains –
CENFACS’ as a “Quadranscentennial” (“Q”) Community or the Closing Act of the “Q” Year and Project
• • What is CENFACS’ Community Value Chains (CVC)?
It is a community value control, inspirational and motivational project of end-of- year celebration introduced by CENFACS in 2009. The project is based on a basic idea of development which is as follows.
What one of our community members best does which well works for them can have an underlying good value. If there is a good value, it is desirable to share such value so that other community members could be aware of it and build a sort of chains of beliefs and community spirit/principles within our support network.
It is all about improving lives and outcomes of community members and enlivening capacities by sharing good practices, values and achievements; while learning from past mistakes.
In doing so, we can pull together as one community, strengthen our links and bonds, learn our differences and harness transformative changes we all want amongst us and beyond our self-interests.
CENFACS’ CVC or the CENFACS Community is our voluntary local and non-profit making arm inside which all our projects and activities carried out in the UK are grouped and delivered; the other two domains being CENFACS International and CENFACS Fund for Poverty Relief and Development.
• • What are those Shared Values?
Good practices and good values do not need to be big or exceptional or even spectacular. They are the simple good things we do every day, which may have worked for us and could work for others as well.
They could be life and work learning experiences, lifestyles, helpful differences, social responsibilities and principles that underpin them.
• • In focus for CVC 2019 Celebration:
CENFACS as a “Quadranscentennial” (“Q”) Community or the Closing Act of the “Q” Year and Project
This celebratory theme for CVC’s 10th Celebration of CENFACS as a “Q” Community is the closing Act of the “Q” Year and Project. It is about uniting all our experience, knowledge and talents that made us a community of values and chains that lasted 25 years or so.
The poverty-relieving value and founding principle that guided us and underpinned our work since 1994 continues until today in making us to last 25 years. This value helped us to build and develop a chain and a system of values and beliefs that made us a community we are today.
The “Q” aspect of our community is the lasting legacy of our work within the above period. CENFACS as a “Q” Community will be remembered once more in 2019 in three ways as follows:
√ A community of poverty-relievers
√ A community of sustainable economic developers
√ A community of change makers
• • Share, Spread & Tweet the message
To enable us to build chains with you and others and to keep our support network alive, please spread the message to/pass it on around you.
If you feel that you need first to talk to us before responding to this invitation of en-of-year celebration, please let us know.
If you prefer to respond via e-mail, you are free to do so at facs@cenfacs.org.uk.
Whatever way/means you choose to enter this project, please reply by the 23rd of December 2019 to ease the end-of-year 2019 celebration and the start-of-year 2020 preparatory activities, projects and programmes.
For further details about this Closing Act of the “Q” Year and Project as well as the previous Acts of 2019 as a “Q” Year, please contact CENFACS. For the timeline of the themes that made the Community Value Chains so far, please contact CENFACS.
Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going
We do our work on a very small budget and on a voluntary basis. Making a donation will show us you value our work and support CENFACS’ work, which is currently offered as a free service.
Donate to support CENFACS!
FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/
Thank you for visiting CENFACS website and reading this post.
Thank you as well to those who made or make comments about our weekly posts.
We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support throughout 2019.
With many thanks.
