Leave a comment

Home-staying Stories

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

27 May 2020

 

Post No. 145

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• End-of-May 2020 Message to the CENFACS Community

• All in Development Stories Telling Serial 4 – In Focus for Week Beginning 25/05/2020: Home Staying Stories

• Monitoring and Evaluating the Effects of Covid-19 and Exited/Transitional Economy on CENFACS’ Extended Community Support Services

… and much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

~ End-of-May 2020 Message to the CENFACS Community  

      

We would like to re-inform you that we are continuing to follow the anti-coronavirus measures and restrictions as the lockdown continues.  The health and safety of the public and of the CENFACS Community come first in whatever we do to help relieve poverty and enhance sustainable development.

Like everybody, we hope that you too are continuing to look out each other in the interest of the public health and protection as well as for the quintessential good of our Community of Value Chains. 

As the economy has started to gradually and segmentally re-open, some of you may be soon resuming their activities and/or starting a new occupation if the new opportunities come with the economic re-opening.  We would like to be on your side in your journey and plan to return from the lockdown to restart your outside life which you badly missed since the lockdown began. 

To be on your side, CENFACS will be setting up a temporary service to support the return from the lockdown and the new and emerging needs which may come with it.  This service, which is part of supporter engagement policy over the Covid-19 period, will be starting from June 2020 and will be called “the Returnees from the Lockdown”.

 

# What is the service for the Returnees from the Lockdown will be about?

 

The Returnees from the Lockdown or Returnees’ Service is a temporary initiative of bridge between the lockdown and resumption of economic activity. 

The initiative aims at reducing poverty linked to inactivity caused by the Covid-19 and subsequent lockdown conditions, so that the project beneficiaries can start a smooth transition and return from the situation of lockdown to that of a re-opened economy.

In doing so, the service can assist them so that they can effectively and efficiently manage the far-reaching impacts of Covid-19 and the space provided by a reopened economy in meeting their life-sustaining needs. 

The service will enable them to rebuild confidence and reassurance as well as to re-socialise in a new socially distancing environment during the lockdown exit process and thereafter.

It is believed that many of those making our CENFACS Community may need this service at this uncertain and anxious time of the coronavirus pandemic.  CENFACS will be pleased for you/them to access and use the service.

Additionally, we would like to take this opportunity to update you about the Covid-19 campaign.

 

# Covid-19 Campaign Update

 

Our Campaign for Resilience against Covid-19 (or the Covid-19 Campaign) is still in phase 2 (Phase of Impact Monitoring and Evaluation).  In this phase, the focus is the causality and attribution approach regarding the overall impact of Covid-19 on CENFACS’ work. 

As part of this impact analysis in phase 2, we are now working on the way it could affect our Halving Poverty Campaign; campaign which stemmed from the following up of the Istanbul Programme of Action.

For those who want to get further details about this follow-up, they can read below.

To finish this message, we would like to thank you for your resilience during the coronavirus pandemic time and for your unwavering commitment to the CENFACS Community, our Community of Value Chains.

Please stay healthy and safe.

For any queries or enquiries about the content of this message, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

~ All in Development Stories Telling Serial 4 – In Focus for Week Beginning 25/05/2020: Home Staying Stories

 

The last episode of our series of All in Development Stories Telling programme is on the stories about staying at home to control the virus and save lives during the lockdown period caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

These are the stories about the experiences or anedoctes of everyday at home as the lockdown lasts.  Everybody has a story to tell and share. 

Under the Main Development section of this post, you will fund further details about this key message.

 

 

 

 

~ Monitoring and Evaluating the Effects of Covid-19 and Exited/Transitional Economy on CENFACS’ Extended Community Support Services

How to factorise Covid-19 and Exited/Transitional Economy into Extended Community Support Services

 

This week, we are continuing the impact analysis of Covid-19.  We are doing it by reconsidering the Extended Community Support Services, which is the 6th tool of our 2020 Box of Poverty Reduction Tools.

Community Support Services, which are a package of services to help those in need, were extended in February 2020 to include circular economic solutions.  Through the Extended Community Support Services (ECSS), CENFACS undertook to work with those who want to reduce poverty and hardships while improving their lives through a circular economic model.

 

# Causality and attribution as a result of Covid-19 and Exited/Transitional Economy

 

The coronavirus pandemic has brought a new developmental reality to this extended package of services to the community.  Covid-19 is a new causal factor in the way we need to deliver services to the community.  The other causal factor being a transitional factor is expressed by the UK’s exit or transition from the European economic integration model.

The cofactors (that is, Covid-19 and exited/transitional economy) can have causal effect to some degree in the way in which our ECSS would have been run and delivered.  In other words, part of the shape and content of the ECSS can be attributable to or regarded as produced by these cofactors. 

However, this does not necessarily imply that the cofactors will be the determinant or deciding ones of the ECSS outcomes.  The outcomes will be determined by what we planned for this services support and our performance to meet the targets set.  What is true is that the two factors will lead to key changes.

 

# Key Changes to the ECSS

 

To take into account the impact of Covid-19 and the reality of the new world it has created, we have made some key changes to our ECSS. Particularly, we have included in it basic health protection advice against Covid-19, physical and social distancing rules, and other Covid-19 measures.  This process of introducing change into our ECSS will continue as we get new updates regarding the exited/transitional economy. 

 

# What these key changes mean for project users

 

They mean that besides the initial elements of Community Support Services, there are now two additional ones which are circular economic guidance and basic health protection advice on Covid-19.  People can make enquiries or queries about these two if they have any problem which needs solution or support.

For example, one can call or mail CENFACS to discuss the items of their budget related to Covid-19.  Likewise, one may want to find out how the fact that the UK has left the EU can affect their personal situation.

The all monitoring and evaluation processes of the Covid-19 impact on ECSS will still carry on as the clear picture of Covid-19 becomes available and the UK completely leaves the European economic integration model.

To access ECSS, just contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

~ Covid-19 and Impact Monitoring and Evaluation

 

Impact on CENFACS’ 2011-2020 Follow-up of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries

Another piece of work on Impact Monitoring and Evaluation activity continues this week is about our follow up of the 2011 Istanbul Declaration and Programme of Action. 

 

# What are Istanbul Declaration and Programme of Action?

 

This is what the UN-OHLLS (United Nations Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States) says about Istanbul Declaration and Programme of Action (1): 

“The Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020 was adopted, along with the Istanbul Declaration, by the Fourth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Istanbul, Turkey, on between 9 and 13 May 2011.

The Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) charted out the international community’s vision and strategy for the sustainable development of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) for the decade 2011-2020 with a strong focus on developing their productive capacities.

The overarching goal of the IPoA is to overcome the structural challenges faced by the LDCs in order to eradicate poverty and achieve internationally agreed development goals, with a special focus on Millennium Development Goals.  It specifically aims to enable half of the LDCs to meet the criteria for graduation.”

Since the IPoA is reaching the end of its life span in 2020, we are conducting a monitoring and evaluation activity regarding its follow-up.  This impact monitoring and evaluation will continue until the fifth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries which will take place in 2021.

 

# Monitoring and evaluating child poverty in Africa’s Least Developed Countries

 

One of the areas of this programme was to halve the number of poor countries through its graduation system.  In relation to this, we established Halving Poverty campaign for children.  Since then, it is interesting to carry out an impact analysis in relation of the Istanbul Programme of Action.

There are 33 African countries listed amongst the 47 least developed countries.  It makes sense since we have been following this programme to find out how poverty, especially child poverty, has been reduced in these 33 countries. 

 

# Africa’s Least Developed Countries under the Covid-19 Constraint

 

Since these 33 African countries are living under the constraint of Covid-19, it is also interesting to see how Covid-19 could affect efforts already made in terms of poverty reduction. 

In our impact analysis and the theory of change that we are using, we shall use the causality-and-attribution approach to explain the key changes that may have happened.

Briefly, we are conducting two levels of impact analysis:

(a) How Covid-19 has impacted CENFACS’ Follow-up of the 2011-2020 Istanbul Programme of Action

(b) How Covid-19 is impacting progress made so far in halving child poverty in the 33 African countries which are part of the listed Least Developed Countries    

For details and contributions to this impact analysis, please contact CENFACS.

(1) http://unohrlls.org/about-ldcs/istanbul-programme-of-action/

 

 

 

~ Capacity Rebuilding of Africa-base Sister Organisations (ASOs) beyond what comes to hand

 

The World Health Organisation (2) reported that there have been 83,044 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Africa as of 6:45 pm CEST on the 26th of May 2020.  As the case of confirmed cases of Covid-19 keeps growing in Africa despite the fact that Africa has so far managed to avoid the human calamity initially speculated at the start of Covid-19, it is paramount for our ASOs to rebuild and redevelop their capacities.  They need to do that in order not only to stay in the frontline in the battle against Covid-19, but also against poverty. 

We are continuing shadowing the epidemiological curves of Covid-19 in Africa through our model of rebuilding Africa.  As part of this process, we are advocating for the rebuilding or redeveloping the capacity of ASOs beyond what comes to hand.  They can try to redevelop or rebuild their capacities while this battle against Covid-19 is on. 

To successfully withstand the systematic shocks of Covid-19 and its far-reaching effects, it requires a certain level of capacity that is beyond the means of what is available.  In the long term, this limited means may not be viable.  ASOs need to be a bit ambitious if they want to entirely or drastically curb the Covid-19 effects.

Briefly, it is not sustainable in the long run to fight the shock of this magnitude (like the Covid-19) and poverty with only the means that is available.

To enquire this capacity rebuilding of ASOs beyond the available means, please contact CENFACS.

(2) https://covid19.who.int

 

~ Covid-19 and the Access of Africa’s Charities to Funding International Markets

 

The impacts of Covid-19 are far-reaching and can be found in many places. One of these impacts is the one on the funding markets for poverty reduction and sustainable development. 

Since Covid-19 stroke, there has been a number of funding schemes launched by various players around the world (such as governments, private and public funding organisations).  However, what is not known is the data about the total Covid-19 available funding and also what is available as finance for poverty reduction and sustainable development.  Yet, to fight the crippling effects of Covid-19, it requires funding or financial resources.

For example, in the case of the Democratic Republic of Congo, there is a humanitarian fund through the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; fund that supports non-governmental organisations.  However, there is still a shortage of funds as the needs are pressing and many.

 

# Share of Africa’s charities in the international funding markets

 

When it comes to the way funding (except overseas development funding) is allocated or distributed, the charitable sector does not weigh much in the funding basket.  Perhaps, further and deep research work needs to be done on the matter.  If the research finds that their share is so low, then there could be a need for this share to be increased in the funding markets regarding projects and programmes related to the reduction of poverty and sustainable development.

 

# What can be done to boost Africa’s charitable organisations?

 

Africa’s charities need to access those markets to better benefit from the financial products that are on these markets.  There are some initiatives they can take.  They include the following:

√ Keeping a fruitful dialogue with international funders

√ Addressing the funding pressure together and creating funding incentives

√ Developing innovative funding solutions including financial bonds and other financial instruments for poverty reduction and sustainable development

√ Building funding value chains with other international charitable organisations

√ Ameliorating their credit scoring and history at the international level

√ Improving their standing in order to stop continuing marginalisation of Africa’s charities in the international funding markets

The above financial initiatives are just a few examples of what can be done to increase the financial profile of Africa’s charities as well as mitigate the consequential impacts of Covid-19 and similar crisis in the future.  The thoughts on Covid-19 continue… 

 

 

 

Main Development 

 

All in Development Stories Telling Serial 4 – In Focus for Week Beginning 25/05/2020: Home Staying Stories

 

Home Staying Stories are the experiences or anedoctes of each individual from the lockdown and confinement due to the coronavirus pandemic outbreak.

Rich or poor or middle class, we all have some personal experience of the Covid-19 lockdown and where there has been lockdown.  However, because of the asymmetrical distribution of the impacts of Covid-19, we do not live the lockdown in the same way or intensity. 

Due to this asymmetry and the nature of CENFACS’ work which is about working on poverty and sustainable development issues, we would be primarily interested in stories of those in most need and vulnerable in the way they are living or lived the home staying experience during the lockdown.

 

• • Asymmetrical distribution of the lockdown effects

 

The distributional effects of the impacts of Covid-19 (such as the lockdown it has generated) are asymmetrical depending on how much space one has to shield themselves and how much comfort they have in their home, let alone the other financial means they have to mitigate the lockdown effects.  The propensity of managing the lockdown experience will vary depending on these means and assets.  This also means that the story related to them would be different from other people’s story.

 

• • Story providers of home staying experience due to the lockdown

 

As said above, we are firstly taking the confinement stories of those living in poverty and who are experiencing hardships.  Their stories are of those without or with least capacity to respond to the Covif-19 lockdown. 

We are as well considering the stories of those who are well-off and trying to help those in poverty and being ordered to stay home to control the coronavirus pandemic during the lockdown period.  Their stories need to be about how they are helping those deprived and needy people to manage the confinement or lockdown imposed on them to comply with the urgency and emergency of Covid-19.

Briefly, we are dealing with two types of story providers:

(a) Stories from those who normally find difficult to make ends meet

(b) Stories from those who comfortably make ends meet and are trying to support those in poverty and deprivation and who are staying home during the lockdown

 

 

• • Types of staying at home stories during the lockdown

 

There is a trillion of stories that are related to the confinement and lockdown experience under the Covid-19 constraint; stories that one can list.  However, to make it easy the following types of stories are taken under the AiDS Telling Progamme:

Gardening, recycling at home, DIY, home disinfection and decontamination from Covid-19, cooking from scratch, meditation, art and design at home, tools used at home to work remotely, helping a child to follow up a distance learning course, remaking family habits, helping someone who is self-isolated with food and medicine, Covid-19 new shopping habits or experiences, fitness at home, virtual run to help reduce poverty, using CENFACS’ triple-value initiatives (Play and Vote), experience with mail delivered (e.g.  mail quarantining), writing or singing for poverty reduction, reading books to children at home, circular economic solutions, poverty reduction non-contact and virtual events, teaching a child poverty-relieving skill, following a video on how to wear personal protective equipment against Covid-19, women in harshisps (stories to be told by women), new sanitary habits, etc.

The above are the types of stay-at-home stories we can expect from our All in Development Stories Telling and Sharing Programme

In our previous posts for this month, we have already told you about ways of submitting your story.  One of these ways includes an integrated stories telling and sharing screen which we have provided above at the beginning of this post.  One can tell and share their story on their screen during a call with integrated screen sharing.  

Please remember: we are not telling or suggesting to the people what kinds of things or activities they can do while staying home during the coronavirus pandemic.  We are simply clarifying the kinds of real-life stories we may consider for the purpose of our AiDS Telling Programme.  These stories may need to be optimistic and the best of one’s confinement.

To enquire and/or donate your story or pitch or even script, please contact CENFACS.

 

Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going in 2020.

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. 

One could consider a recurring donation to CENFACS in the furture.

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 2020 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *