Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!
12 February 2025
Post No. 391
The Week’s Contents
• 2025 Africa Not-for-profit Outlook for Impact Investing – In Focus: Africa-based Sister Charitable Organisations and Causes Working to Reduce the Risk of Desertification, to Restore Degraded Lands and Ecosystems
• Economic Inclusion Programme for Households
• Lighting a Blaze of Hope for Peace, Security and Poverty Reduction for the Conflict Victims of Goma and Its Vicinity in the Democratic Republic of Congo
… And much more!
Key Messages
• 2025 Africa Not-for-profit Outlook for Impact Investing –
In Focus: Africa-based Sister Charitable Organisations and Causes Working to Reduce the Risk of Desertification, to Restore Degraded Lands and Ecosystems
Like in many parts of the world, Africa is still experiencing desertification, degradation of both land and ecosystem, and drought. There are data and facts that explain this experience of Africa. Among these facts are the following ones.
The review from ‘news.un.org’ (1) in 2021 indicates that
“Up to 65 percent of productive land is degraded, while desertification affects 45 percent of Africa’s land area“.
Likewise, ‘desertificationfacts.com’ (2), quoting the work of Reich at al. in 2001, states that
“Over 7.5 million km² of land in Africa is at high risk of desertification…About 400 million people live in drylands in Africa, and 22 million people live under high risk of desertification “.
Although the above-mentioned figures are from 2021 and 2001, these trends continue. It is not surprising if ‘unccd.int’ (3) mentions the following:
“In Sub-Saharan Africa, 163 million hectares have succumbed to land degradation since 2015″.
Furthermore, the website ‘africacenter.org’ (4) explains that
“Half of IPCC-assessed species are projected to lose over 30 percent of their population or area of suitable habitat.
More than 10 percent of plants, vertebrate, and invertebrate species across 90 percent of Africa face risk of local extinction.
There will be a greater than 12-percent decline in marine fisheries catch potential for multiple West African countries. Other estimates put the decrease in fish biomass in the intertropical belt around Africa at 30 percent by 2050″.
Similarly, the website ‘conversation.com’ (5) argues that
“Africa is one of the most degraded continents in the world. About 23% of the surface of Africa, or over 700 million hectares of land, is already degraded. Another three million hectares is being further degraded annually“.
Despite this bleak picture, there are examples of countries effectively tackling desertification, land and ecosystem degradation, and drought. Among these African countries, there is Botswana.
According to ‘unccd.int’ (op. cit.),
“In Sub-Saharan Africa, Botswana reduced land degradation from 36 percent to 17 percent of its territory”.
Within African countries tackling desertification, land and ecosystem degradation, and drought; there are also Africa-based Sister Charitable Organisations and Causes (ASCOCs) Working on Combating Desertification, Restoring Land and Ecosystem. The 2025 edition of Africa Not-for-profit Outlook for Impact Investing (ANFPOII) is about these organisations.
These ASCOCs try to achieve land degradation neutrality by addressing the challenges posed by desertification, land and soil degradation, and drought in Africa. They work to help their beneficiaries and communities to reach land degradation neutrality goal and targets enshrined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
These ASCOCs advocate, as well as run projects and programmes, to stop further degradation and accelerate efforts to restore land and ecosystems by 2030. Through their restoration work, they help in creating conditions in which plants, animals and microorganisms can carry out the work of recovery by themselves.
These ASCOCs need support of all kinds, including foreign direct investment. In this respect, the 2025 edition of ANFPOII aims at those impact investors who would like or are looking to impact invest in Africa’s charitable organisations and causes that are tackling desertification and working on the restoration of land and ecosystems. 2025 edition of ANFPOII is also about ASCOCs that work or help to reduce or end poverty linked to desertification as well as to land and ecosystem degradation.
The 2025 edition of ANFPOII includes trends and analysis about ASCOCs’ work on desertification, land and ecosystem restoration. It also provides some areas to focus on while highlighting the challenges that ASCOCs face in their restoration work.
Like for the previous issues of Africa Not-for-Profit Investment, the 2025 edition of ANFPOII has to be understood as an extension of CENFACS’ Guidance Programme for those who would like to not-for-profit invest for impact in Africa. The 2025 edition of ANFPOII does not, however, replace the Guidance for Investing in Africa. It just adds value to it.
Because of its unique contribution to the not-for-profit investment sector, the 2025 edition of ANFPOII presents the information that not-for-profit investors may want in simple yet concise format. In particular, it highlights the types of services ASCOCs offer in the areas of desertification reduction, land and ecosystem restorations.
More on 2025 edition of Africa Not-for-profit Outlook for Impact Investing can be found under the Main Development section of this post.
• Economic Inclusion Programme for Households
This is a new programme which consists of working with households making the CENFACS Community in order to strengthen their resilience against intermittent shocks and stressors, while seizing economic opportunities deriving from these shocks and stressors. The latter being the random and unpredictable sometimes significant events – in the form of electric shocks – that can disrupt the normal functioning of an economy as well as households’ economic life.
In order to support these households, we have come up with them this new programme, which has two components:
1) Economic Inclusion for Households’ Resilience
2) Economic Inclusion for Households’ Opportunity.
To kick off this programme, we are dealing with its first part, which is Economic Inclusion Programme for Households’ Resilience.
• • Economic Inclusion Programme for Households’ Resilience
In a world featured by shocks, stressors and crises, households need to elevate their resilience, that is their ability to resist, absorb, accommodate to and recover from the effects of these shocks, stressors and crises in a timely and efficient manner, as explained in the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (6). There are many ways they can do it. One way of strengthening their resilience could be through an economic inclusion programme.
• • • What Is an Economic Inclusion Programme for Households’ Resilience (EIP4Hs)?
It is a set of projects or activities newly designed by CENFACS in order to work with households making its community so that they can meet their basic subsistence needs while being fully empowered to make informed choices and decisions about their lives.
The programme will enable them keep their resilience, that is their ability to manage change, by maintaining or transforming living standards in the face of shocks or stresses without compromising their long-term prospects, in accordance to the former UK Department For International Development’s working definition of disaster resilience (7).
EIP4Hs will be helpful to households.
• • Helpfulness of EIP4Hs
The programme will be helpful for the economically weak households and or those households that would like find way of improving their economic inclusion skills and understanding. It will be useful for them as follows:
√ to better access economic support
√ to gain tips to facilitate asset accumulation
√ to diversify their income streams
√ to strengthen their socio-economic and environmental networks
√ to improve their access to financial services and income transfers
√ to enhance their access to credit facilities
√ to boost their savings plan
√ to expand and vary their chance to seize economic opportunities
√ to move forward toward greater economic health and wellbeing
etc.
To enable them to enjoy the above-stated benefits, we are running four activities as highlighted below.
• • • Four Activities Making EIP4Hs
They include the following:
1) Breaking down economic barriers
2) Addressing disparities that prevent households to achieve economic stability
3) Creating equitable access to financial resources
4) Supporting systems that enable households to fully participate in the economy.
As the above figure shows, these activities will run from every Wednesdays of February 2025. They will be approached from the perspective of households rather than from the point of view of those who manage the economy.
• • • Activity 1: Discussion on Breaking Down Economic Barriers (From 12 to 18/02/2025)
The discussion is about how ordinary households making our community can break down the economic barriers surrounding them so that they or their children could have access to or enjoy good quality education, entrepreneurship and job opportunities, financial resources, etc.
For instance, one of the commonly known economic barriers that low-income families or households faces is to be able to achieve real disposable income that can allow them to meet both their needs and wants. Similarly, the same families or households may be experiencing economic barriers with regard to economic capacity and capability.
Those members of the CENFACS Community who may be interested in the discussion can contact CENFACS.
For any queries and or enquiries about this discussion or EIP4Hs, please communicate with CENFACS.
• Lighting a Blaze of Hope for Peace, Security and Poverty Reduction for the Conflict Victims in Goma and Its Vicinity in the Democratic Republic of Congo
This is an appeal to light a blaze of hope for the innocent victims of the atrocities from the escalated crisis in Goma and its vicinity in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The crisis has led to many civilian casualties, more internally displaced persons, crimes against humanity (which have been documented), huge trauma among the population, threats of the spread of diseases and illnesses, etc.
The data and news about this appeal speak for these victims.
For example, the website ‘rescue.org’ (8) states that
“Millions displaced as resurgence in fighting ignites a humanitarian catastrophe;
More than 7 million people were displaced;
Nearly 780,000 people were forced to flee their homes between November 2024 and January 2025 alone;
Displaced families are seeking refuge in overcrowded camps that lack adequate food, health services, and water and sanitation services;
From January 26 to 30, over 700 people were killed and 2,800 injured;
The conflict has also triggered a surge in sexual violence and rape“.
Additionally, the ‘reliefweb.int’ (9) points out that
“Before the battle of Goma, 800,000 internally displaced people were living in and around the city. In recent days, at least 500,000 people have been displaced again in North and South Kivu.
As of February 2025, 2,880 people have been recorded as injured, with hospitals facing critical shortages of fuel, beds, and medical personnel. With reports exceeding 3,000 deaths, morgues are at full capacity, necessitating immediate burial of identified bodies.
The closure of 1,235 schools since 27 January 2025 has disrupted the education of approximately 204,000 children in Goma alone“.
The above-mentioned data tells a bit the story about the innocent victims of the atrocities from the escalated crisis in Goma and its vicinity, and why they need your help.
As the humanitarian emergency is escalating, emergency response needs to be scaling up.
You can support the victims in the DRC, who are paying a heavy price of the escalated conflict.
You can Light up a Blaze of Hope for Peace, Security and Poverty Reduction for the Conflict-affected peoples in Goma and around it in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
You can now donate £5 or more since the needs are urgent and pressing. Through this appeal and your support, CENFACS aims to reach the victims of conflict in Goma and Its Vicinity in the DRC.
These victims need your life-saving humanitarian response right now.
To donate, please get in touch with CENFACS.
Extra Messages
• Week Beginning Monday 10/02/2025: Restoring Degraded Lands and Soils
• Project Planning/Start Up Service for the Users of Triple Value Initiatives (or All Year-round Projects)
• Impact Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, Development, Adaptation and Action Plan about Structured Finance Activities or Micro-projects under Financial Capacity and Capability Building Programme or Scheme
• Week Beginning Monday 10/02/2025: Restoring Degraded Lands and Soils
Our work on restorative economics continues this week as we tackle the second note of our theme of the month, which is Fighting Desertification, Restoring Degraded Lands and Ecosystems While Reducing Poverty.
In this 2nd note, we are dealing with degraded lands and soils, and how we can work with the community and Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) on the Restoration of these Degraded Lands and Soils (RDLS).
The note is composed with two items: understanding of RDLS and ways of working with the community and ASOs on RDLS.
Let us look at these items.
• • What Is RDLS?
In RDLS, we are dealing with two types of restoration: restoration of degraded lands and that of depleted soils. Let us look at them.
• • • What is land restoration?
According to the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (10),
“Land restoration refers to the process of halting degradation or rehabilitating degraded land, typically through activities like reforestation, soil conservation, and the protection of natural processes. It aims to enhance biodiversity, restore ecosystem services, and mitigate climate change impacts.”
Taking restoration action about land means conducting the activities contained the definition of land restoration.
• • • What is soil restoration?
The website ‘erosioncontrolusa.com’ (11) explains that
“The process of soil restoration is an ecological restoration procedure that creates new soil and regenerates degraded soils by improving the structure, increasing microbial life, retaining more carbon than is depleted to regulate carbon levels and maintain proper water and nutrient cycling. Human activity has depleted the quality of soil at an alarming rate due to increased agricultural activity to meet an ever increasing population and demand for food and fiber”
To restore soil, one can refer to the explanation of ecological restoration given above.
• • Working with the Community on RDLS
Working with the community on the restoration of degraded lands is about sharing knowledge, skills, know how and experiences with the community members on the following matters:
σ Tips to halt degradation
σ Techniques to rehabilitate degraded land
σ Ways of conducting reforestation, soil conservation
σ Hints about the protection of natural processes
etc.
Working with the community on the restoration of degraded soils is also about sharing knowledge, skills, know how and experiences with the community members on the following areas:
σ Learning techniques to create new soil
σ Conducting activities to regenerate degraded soils
σ Saving soil
σ Undertaking fundraising activities to generate finance for soil restoration
etc.
For those members of our community who may be interested in matter relating to Restoring Degraded Lands and Soils as well as Reducing Poverty Linked to Degraded Lands and Soils, they are free to contact CENFACS.
• • Working with Africa-based Sister Organisations on RDLS
We are ready to work with Africa-based Sister Organisations having RDLS projects and programmes and that would like us to get involved. We can get involved at the level of project planning and development, fundraising, monitoring and evaluation if they wish us to lend our hands to them.
For those ASOs that would like us to get involved in their projects and programmes of Restoring Degraded Lands and Soils and Reducing Poverty Linked to Degraded Lands and Soils, they should not hesitate to communicate with CENFACS.
For any further queries or enquiries about Sustainable Development Month and the Reduction of Poverty linked to Desertification, Degraded Lands and Ecosystems; please also contact CENFACS.
• Project Planning/Start Up Service for the Users of Triple Value Initiatives (or All Year-round Projects)
In order to support those who have decided or may decide to engage with All-year Round Projects or Triple Value Initiatives, we are running start up sessions for each of them (i.e. Run, Play and Vote projects). What do we mean by running start up sessions for Run, Play and Vote projects?
• • Start up for Run, Play and Vote Projects
Start up for these projects is about working with whoever decides to execute the above mentioned projects to set the tone of their projects and expectations for themselves. It is also about setting realistic goals and working out the right methodology from the beginning to the end in their project journey. It includes better planning and management.
• • Phases of Project Planning and Management
We are going to deal with different phases of project planning or start up from the idea (of running or playing or voting) to the initiative implementation, impact monitoring and evaluation.
Whether you want to run or play or vote; you need to undertake a basic project planning in terms of the way you want to do it. This basic project planning/start-up will include things like the following:
σ Aims (changes you plan to achieve)
σ Impact (a longer-term effects of your project)
σ Inputs (resources you will put into your initiative)
σ Monitoring (regularly and systematically collecting and recording information)
σ Outcomes (changes and effects that may happen from your initiative)
σ Indicators (measures or metrics that show you have achieved your planned outcomes)
σ Budget (income and expenses for your initiative)
σ Reporting (sharing your actions and results)
Etc.
• • All-year Round Projects Cycle
Project planning will include the different steps of project cycle (as shown by the All-year Round Projects Cycle above), which are:
Identification, preparation, feasibility study, appraisal, negotiations and agreement, start, implementation, monitoring, reviews, termination, evaluation and impact evaluation.
These steps will be approached in a simple and practical way to make everybody (especially those members of our community who are not familiar with them) to understand what they mean and how to use them in the context of Triple Value Initiatives.
As we all know, not everybody can understand these different steps they need to navigate in order to make their initiative or project a success story. That is why we are offering this opportunity to those who would like to engage with the Triple Value Initiatives (Run, Play and Vote projects) to first talk to CENFACS so that we can together soften some of the hurdles they may encounter in their preparation and delivery.
For those who are interested in this service, they can contact CENFACS by phoning, texting, e-mailing and completing the contact form on this website. We can together discuss in detail your/their proposals about either your/their Run or Play or Vote projects.
For those who would like to discuss with CENFACS their Triple-value-initiative plans or proposals, they are welcome to contact CENFACS.
• Impact Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning Development, Adaptation and Action Plan about Structured Finance Activities or Micro-projects under Financial Capacity and Capability Building Programme or Scheme
From 08/01/2025 to 11/02/2025, we focused on Structured Finance Activities or Micro-projects under Financial Capacity and Capability Building Programme or Scheme, in particular we carried out the following working plan:
In order to know the progress and achievements made as well as to examine our performance against objectives, we are carrying out two exercises:
a) Impact Monitoring and Evaluation
b) Learning Development, Adaption and Action Plan.
Let us explain what these two exercises are about.
• • Impact Monitoring and Evaluation of Structured Finance Activities or Micro-projects under Financial Capacity and Capability Building Programme or Scheme
We are now carrying on with the systematic process of observation, recording, collection and analysis of information regarding the five Structured Finance Activities or Micro-projects conducted under on Financial Capacity and Capability Building Programme or Scheme in order to get its impact or at least its output. This routine process will help to examine the activities developed and identify bottlenecks during the process to see if they are in line with objectives we defined.
Also, we are undertaking the sporadic activity to draw conclusion regarding the relevance and effectiveness of the activities or microprojects presented. This activity will contribute to the determination of the value judgement regarding the performance level and attainment of defined objectives for Financial Capacity and Capability Building Programme or Scheme within the community.
The findings from this Impact Monitoring and Evaluation will help to figure out what has been achieved through this work and give us some flavour about the future direction of Financial Capacity and Capability Building Programme or Scheme.
As part of this Impact Monitoring and Evaluation exercise, we would like to ask to those who have been working with us throughout the last five weeks to share with us their feelings and thoughts about these three areas:
(a) The overall “Structured Finance Activities or Micro-projects conducted under on Financial Capacity and Capability Building Programme or Scheme”
(b) Any of the activities or microprojects they have been interested in or used in the context of running their household
(c) The relevancy or suitability of these activities or microprojects in terms of dealing with their financial matters.
You can share your feelings, thoughts, takeaways and insights with us by:
∝ Phoning
∝ Texting
∝ E-mailing
∝ Completing the contact form with your feelings and thoughts.
• • Learning Development, Adaptation and Action Plan for Structured Finance Activities or Micro-projects conducted under on Financial Capacity and Capability Building Programme or Scheme
As part of keeping the culture of continuous learning and professional development within CENFACS, we are examining what the running of Structured Finance Activities or Micro-projects conducted under on Financial Capacity and Capability Building Programme or Scheme have brought and indicated to us. We are particularly looking at the learning and development priorities and initiatives. In this exercise, we are considering ways of adapting this programme or scheme, as well as the action points and plan we may need to make in order to improve or better change the way in which we deliver our services and work with users.
For those who have been following the running of these activities or microprojects with us, this is the time or opportunity they can add their inputs to our learning and development experience so that we can know the financial skills gap that need to be filled up in the future. They can as well have their own way of adapting this programme or scheme and action plans on how they would like to take forward the contents of these activities or microprojects in the future. And if they have a plan and want us to look at it, we are willing to do so.
The plan could be on the above-mentioned activities or microprojects presented throughout this month. In particular, we can look at how any household making our community wants to make a plan for them or would like CENFACS to work with them on their chosen area of finances.
Those who have some difficulties in drawing such a plan, they can speak to CENFACS.
Message in English-French (Message en Anglais-Français)
• CENFACS be.africa Forum e-discusses the Impact of Digital Public Infrastructure on Poverty Reduction in Africa
Digitally exchanging data between different services (like education, health, housing, social services, etc.) and making people to be part of these exchanges can help create better support for them, especially those living in poverty. It can help protect peoples’ rights, way of living and livelihoods.
As part of this week’s debate within CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum, we are dealing with digital public infrastructures in Africa and how they can help people to reduce and possibly end poverty. Perhaps, the best starting point would be to define digital public infrastructure.
• • What Is Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)?
The definition of DPI to be used here comes from ‘gatesfoundation.org’ (12), which explains that
“DPI is a set of digital systems that enables countries to safely and efficiently provide economic opportunities and deliver social services. DFI spans the entire economy, connecting people, data, and money in much the same way that roads and railways connect people and goods”.
This definition will help whoever wants to engage with this week’s debate to figure out the effects of DPI on the reduction of poverty in Africa.
• • Discussing the Impact of DPI on Poverty Reduction in Africa
The discussion is indeed about how digitally-enabled households and peoples can access digital services offered to the them by their public body and take part in the digital economy through the use of digital ID data sharing and digital payment systems.
Through the experience of this digital means, the discussion will be around the following:
σ the benefits from DFI particularly in terms of poverty reduction in Africa
σ the metrics to be used to capture this impact
σ the level or percent of poverty reduction as a result of DPI
σ the comparison between different African countries in terms of DFI impacts on poverty reduction
σ the need for African countries to continue to invest in DFI.
The above is what the discussion for this week will be about.
Those who may be interested in this discussion can join our poverty reduction pundits and/or contribute by contacting CENFACS be.Africa Forum, which is a forum for discussion on poverty reduction and sustainable development issues in Africa and which acts on behalf of its members by making proposals or ideas for actions for a better Africa.
To contact CENFACS about this discussion, please use our usual contact information on this website.
• Le Forum ‘Une Afrique Meilleure’ de CENFACS discute en ligne de l’Impact des Infrastructures Publiques Numériques sur la Réduction de la Pauvreté en Afrique
L’échange numérique de données entre différents services (comme l’éducation, la santé, le logement, les services sociaux, etc.) et la participation des gens à ces échanges peuvent contribuer au mieux les soutenir, en particulier ceux ou celles qui vivent dans la pauvreté. Ils peuvent aider à protéger les droits, le mode de vie et les moyens de subsistance des personnes.C’est ce qui précède est le sujet de la discussion de cette semaine.Ceux ou celles qui pourraient être intéressé(e)s par cette discussion peuvent se joindre à nos experts en réduction de la pauvreté et/ou contribuer en contactant le ‘me.Afrique’ du CENFACS (ou le Forum ‘Une Afrique Meilleure’ de CENFACS), qui est un forum de discussion sur les questions de réduction de la pauvreté et de développement durable en Afrique et qui agit au nom de ses membres en faisant des propositions ou des idées d’actions pour une Afrique meilleure.
Pour contacter le CENFACS au sujet de cette discussion, veuillez utiliser nos coordonnées habituelles sur ce site Web.
Main Development
• 2025 Africa Not-for-profit Outlook for Impact Investing –
In Focus: Africa-based Sister Charitable Organisations and Causes Working to Reduce the Risk of Desertification, to Restore Degraded Lands and Ecosystems
The following items make up the contents of this outlook:
σ What is 2025 Africa Not-for-profit Outlook for Impact Investing?
σ Key Points about the Outlook
σ Types of Not-for-profit Organisations Working in the Fields of Combat against Desertification, Land and Ecosystem Restoration
σ Impact Investing in Africa-based Sister Charitable Organisations and Causes (ASCOCs).
Let us uncover these items.
• • What Is 2025 Africa Not-for-profit Outlook for Impact Investing?
2025 Africa Not-for-profit Outlook for Impact Investing highlights essential information about ASCOCs in terms of their work on the reduction of desertification and drought, the restoration of lands and ecosystems. What they provide could be interesting for potential not-for-profit impact investors.
2025 Africa Not-for-profit Outlook for Impact Investing is a mini-guide for those who would like to not-for-profit invest with impact in Africa and in ASCOCs. This mini-guide is therefore for those investors who are new to impact investing and those who want to know where and into what organisation to not-for-profit invest in Africa in the sector of ecological restoration.
• • Key Points about the 2025 Africa Not-for-profit Outlook for Impact Investing
The key points about the 2025 Africa Not-for-profit Outlook for Impact Investing (ANFPOII) include trends we have identified, areas of focus and potential challenges that ASCOCs face in their work on combating desertification, restoring land and ecosystems.
Let us highlight these key points.
• • • Trends and Analysis
There are two trends we have found and analysed: use of technology and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance).
Although ASCOCs are not enough equipped with the means to achieve their mission, they nevertheless use essential technology (e.g., communications technology like tablet, smart phones and other devices) to streamline operations and processes as well as to reach wider audiences. This essential technology enables them to reach their users and project beneficiaries living in remote areas or villages in Africa.
In addition, they make sure that the principles of ESG are including in their work, especially when it comes to donors and funders requiring the practices of ESG as funding criteria.
• • • Areas of Focus
The 2025 ANFPOII focuses on four areas: donor engagement, digital transformation, sustainability and impact measurement.
Concerning donor engagement, most of ASCOCs we studied strive to build and steward good relationships with donors and funders. In this relationships building, they tend to be realistic in terms of donor expectations.
Regarding digital transformation, it is quite astonishing that despite these organisations have limited means, they are making sure that they do not lag behind in terms of digital technologies and means used in their sector. Some of them use online platforms for fundraising, outreach and data analysis. Let alone, those ASCOCs that are advanced as they incorporated AI-powered tools to accomplish some their tasks.
As to the financial sustainability issues, many of these ASCOCs are not rich. To build sustainability for their mission, they develop strategies to generate income beyond traditional donations from their members. As part of their income strategies, many of them are looking forward to run income generation activities instead of solely relying on donations from their members. For those that have their own website, they are monetising their website for their good causes.
With respect to the impact measurement, most of ASCOCs are aware how to measure the impact of their work. Many of them are able to demonstrate the effectiveness of their activities, projects, and programmes to their potential funders. 60% of them were able to include in their impact report reliable impact measurement metrics and key indicators for performance.
• • • Potential Challenges
It stems from the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis of these ASCOCs that many of them confront various challenges. Among the challenges are the ones given below.
Rising operational costs
To combat desertification and restore land and ecosystems requires the coverage of operational costs or operating expenses (such as rent, utilities, payroll, inventory, equipment, insurance, etc). Yet, some funders do not fund operational costs.
Decreasing donations
Due to overlapping shocks and crises in most areas where ASCOCs operate, the ability of local people to donate to the causes like combating desertification, restoring land and ecosystem is weak; since many of those local donors are themselves affected by the legacies of these shocks and crises. This is let alone natural events and conflicts like in African Sahel.
Competition for funding
Some of the ASCOCs are small- and medium-sized. They have to compete with big non governmental organisations to attract funding in the areas of desert reduction and land and ecosystem restoration. Their chances of getting funding from foreign investors could be slim. Also, big organisations tend to easily write their concept note for funding purposes compared to small ones. One can hope that small organisations will be able to access generative AI tools and ChatGPT to better write their funding applications.
Regulatory changes
In places where there is political stability, there is a possibility for ASCOCs to easily navigate regulatory changes to the not-for-profit sector. Yet, in politically instable countries or areas, small ASCOCs find regulatory changes very challenging.
Adaptation to new technologies
Like in any areas of work, technologies (e.g., AI-powered tools) are still coming in the fields of desert reduction and land and ecosystem restoration. Not all ASCOCs can acquire and access them as well as adapt to them. In other words, the need of training and learning in the area of adapting to new technologies is huge.
To enable these organisations to continue to deliver their mission of combating desertification, restoring lands and ecosystems; impact investors may be required for them.
• • Types of Not-for-profit Organisations (NFPOs) Working in the Fields of Combat against Desertification, Land and Ecosystem Restoration
There are organisations of varying sizes that work in the fields of combat against desertification, land and ecosystem restorations. 2025 Africa Not-for-profit Outlook for Impact Investing differentiates CENFACS’ ASCOCs from other NFPOs working in the fields of combat against desertification, land and ecosystem restoration.
• • • NFPOs working in the fields of combat against desertification, land and ecosystem restoration
There are organisations that help in reducing the risk of desertification by using strategies (such as tree planting, water and soil management) and techniques to prevent or reverse desertification. Among them, we can mention AFR100, which is a local organisation specialising in the prevention of the Sahel region desertification, and Tree Aid that plant trees.
There are those that rehabilitate degraded land to its natural state to benefit poor people, while improving soil health and biodiversity.
There are those that assist in the recovery of degraded or destroyed ecosystems and conserving intact ecosystems. Organisations like The African Conservation Foundation is one of them.
Some organisations cater for the three areas (reduction of desertification, land restoration and ecosystem restoration). Others deal with two or one of these areas.
All depends on the mission, objects, speciality and matching services of these organisations.
Unfortunately, 2025 Africa Not-for-profit Outlook for Impact Investing is not a sort of classified entries that list organisations with their names, contact details and description of their work. For those who are interested in a particular NFPO and are struggling to find them, they can contact CENFACS’ Guidance Service for Not-for-profit Impact Investors.
• • • ASCOCs working in the fields of combat against desertification, land and ecosystem restoration
Among the organisations that may fall under the category of ASCOCs working in the areas of combat against desertification, land and ecosystem restoration, we can mention the following:
Association pour la Protection de la Nature et de l’Environnement de Kairouan (APNEK), Réseau du Développement d’Agriculture Durable (REDAD), Centre d’Etudes et de Recherches des Initiatives pour le Développement Agricole et Artisanal du Bénin, Association Tchadienne des Volontaires pour la Protection de l’Environnement, Réseau International pour le Développment et l’Environnement à la Base (RIDEB-Afrique), Centre de Production de Pépinières et de Formations du Togo, etc.
Depending on their mission, objects, speciality and matching services; they work on matters relating to the reduction of desertification and the restoration of lands, soils and ecosystems.
For those not-for-profit impact investors who are looking for a particular organisation working in either of the fields (reduction of desertification and drought or restoration of land or restoration of ecosystems), they can contact CENFACS for support if they cannot find them.
For those not-for-profit impact investors who are interested in NFPOs and ASCOCs, and who would like to dive deeper into their services and activities, they are free to contact CENFACS.
• • Impact Investing in Africa-based Sister Charitable Organisations and Causes
African Sister Charitable Organisations and Causes (ASCOCs) can be an alternative route for investing in Africa for those investors having other motives than only making profit. Investing in this sort of organisations and causes is a way of thinking differently and approaching poverty from a different and progressive perspective.
The knowledge of these organisations in terms of their mission/objects/speciality and matching services they offer is crucial to decide whether or not to impact invest in them. They are those working in the fields of desertification reduction, land and ecosystem restoration.
The above is the highlight of the prospect for not-for-profit investing in Africa’s ecological restoration sector. It is part of a series of contents for advice and tips planned for 2025 to work with potential not-for-profit impact investors, particularly but not limited to the two following matters:
a) Guidance for Not-for-profit Investors about Organisations and Causes to Not-for-profit Invest for Impact in Africa;
b) Matching Organisation-Investor Programme.
For those not-for-profit impact investors who are interested in the ecological restoration sector – in particular in ASCOCs making part of this sector – and who would like to dive deeper into this matter, they are free to contact CENFACS.
For those not-for-profit impact investors who are looking for the above-mentioned guidance and matching programme, they should not hesitate to communicate with CENFACS.
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• References
(1) https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/09/1101632 (accessed in February 2025)
(2) https://desertificationfacts.com/locations/desertification-in-africa/# (accessed in February 2025)
(3) https://www.unccd.int/news-stories/press-releases/least-100-million-hectares-healthy-land-now-lost-each-year (accessed in February 2025)
(4) https://africacenter.org/spotlight/african-biodiversity-loss-risk-human-security/# (accessed in February 2025)
(5) https://theconversation.com/nearly-25-of-land-in-africa-has-been-damaged-whats-to-blame-and-what-can-be-done-231315# (accessed in February 2025)
(6) https://www.undrr.org/terminology/resilience (accessed in February 2025)
(7) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7b47a340f0b66a2fc065c1/defining-disaster-resilience-approach-paper.pdf (accessed in February 2025)
(8) https://www.rescue.org/article/conflict-drc-what-you-need-know-about-crisis (accessed in February 2025)
(9) https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-republic-congo-/humanitarian-lifeline-drc-under-threat-ingos-call-urgent-action (accessed in February 2025)
(10) https://unu.edu/ehs/series/land-restoration-5-key-elements-reviving-our-earth# (accessed in February 2025)
(11) https://erosioncontrolusa.com/about-us/resource-blog/what-is-soil-restoration/# (accessed in February 2025)
(12) https://www.gatesfoundation.org/our-work/programs/global-growth-and-opportunity/digital-public-infrastructure# (accessed in February 2025)
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• Help CENFACS Keep the Poverty Relief Work Going This Year
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 also consider a recurring donation to CENFACS in the future.
Additionally, we would like to inform you that planned gifting is always an option for giving at CENFACS. Likewise, CENFACS accepts matching gifts from companies running a gift-matching programme.
Donate to support CENFACS!
FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ NOBLE AND BEAUTIFUL CAUSES OF POVERTY REDUCTION.
JUST GO TO: Support Causes – (cenfacs.org.uk)
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 until the end of 2025 and beyond.
With many thanks.
