Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!
29 September 2021
Post No. 215
The Week’s Contents
• Reduction of Energy Poverty
• Advice based on Leaves
• Autumn 2021 Humanitarian Relief Appeal
… And much more!
Key Messages
• Reduction of Energy Poverty
Our study and implementation of CENFACS’ 2020s Poverty Reduction Programme and Development Agenda continue via this week’s work on the Reduction of Energy Poverty, which is Goal No. 3 of this programme and agenda.
Dealing with the reduction of energy poverty at this time makes sense since some parts of the world, including Africa, are currently experiencing energy crisis. And when there is this kind of crisis, often it is those who are in most need who usually suffer the most from it. The energy crisis will not make any exception to this trend. The energy crisis can only affect or weaken efforts so far made to reduce energy poverty.
In this post no. 215, we shall look at the various ways of helping to reduce energy and what else can be done to end this form of poverty for the current and future generations.
Under the Main Development section of this post, we have spelled out these ways of reducing energy poverty.
• Advice based on Leaves
CENFACS’ Advice Service is gone an amazing transformation as we have introduced leaves with some exciting features. This is all done to reflect the needs of the community and the Year of Leaves for CENFACS. This introduction has been done at the levels of different steps of advice giving and various advisory services we provide.
For example, we have incorporated leaves in the following ways:
∝ to improve advice users’ feelings toward the goal advisees would like to achieve
∝ to change the situation in which advisees are in
∝ to help make their goal become problems-solving and solvable
∝ to reduce the trajectory to reach their desire future
∝ to develop a workable plan of action and implementation
The above leafy features are implemented whether we conduct face-to-face advisory sessions or deliver remote advice solutions. They are meant to address users’ problems in a creative and innovative way via the image of leaves and what leaves can bring and enhance life, particularly by keeping our minds and bodies healthy and happy.
To find out more about how CENFACS’ Leaves-based Advice can enhance your life and help you better reduce poverty, please contact us.
• Autumn 2021 Humanitarian Relief Appeal
Our humanitarian appeal for Autumn 2021 has been launched and is live on the Support Us page of this website at Support Causes – (cenfacs.org.uk)
This appeal is about supporting needy people, flora, fauna, communities and organisations in Africa. It includes the following five selected projects:
1) Skills for Building Forward Better
2) Symmetry Project
3) Gender into post-COVID-19 Economic and Social Recovery in Africa
4) Back-to-School Support
5) Save Flora and Fauna projects
A brief summary of these projects can be found on the same page Support Us at Support Causes – (cenfacs.org.uk) of this website.
The full project proposals of each project making this appeal is available should any of the potential donor or funder makes a request.
Donors and funders can directly and respectively donate or fund these projects.
A message about this appeal can also be passed on to a person who is in a position and willing to support. Many thanks to those who will be passing this message!
We understand that the world is still experiencing an extremely difficult time with the coronavirus pandemic which continues to enormously disrupt the functioning of many economies, including the ability of people to support good and deserving causes.
The effects of this health crisis are even stronger in place where there is a high level of poverty like in Africa. This is why we have launched this seasonal appeal to help not only to reduce poverty but also to save lives from the coronavirus disaster.
Therefore, we are inviting those who can to donate £2 to create 2 benefits (1 benefit for humans and 1 benefit for other natural livings) or any amount starting from £2 or more as you wish.
You can gift aid your donation as well as support these projects in a way that is the most suitable and related to your situation, budget, capacity and willingness.
To donate, gift aid and support otherwise; please contact CENFACS.
Extra Messages
• Blue Spaces-focused Note for Week beginning 27/09/2021: Blue and Coastal Sustainable Development in Africa
This note, which is the last one of our Blue Spaces theme, is about how the aspects of sustainable development relating to the blue and coastal areas/zones can be improved in Africa for the commons as well as to help improve the lives of the current generations without depleting blue and coastal resources for future generations.
In order to write this note, we have composed the following elements: the application of the definition of sustainable development to the blue and coastal spaces, the implications of this definition for the blue and coastal poor, and the work carried out by Africa-based Sister Organisations in helping the blue and coastal sustainable development in Africa. Let us at these elements.
• • The application of the general understanding of sustainable development to blue and coastal spaces
The common understanding of the sustainable development, which is given by the World Commission on Environment and Development (1), is that it is
“a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
This definition has some implications, particularly for the blue and coastal poor.
• • Implications of this definition for the blue and coastal poor
From the above definition, one can argue that it is possible to have a development that uses blue and coastal resources without depleting them for the generations to come. The blue and coastal sustainable development can help to drive a low carbon emissions way of living and to enhance lives whether in the UK or in Africa or elsewhere. This type of development can enhance the lives of the blue and coastal poor as long as it responds to their needs of poverty reduction.
• • Africa-based Sister Organisations and the blue and coastal sustainable development in Africa
The blue and coastal spaces in Africa are facing the same challenge like everywhere. Part of this challenge is to meet the needs of sustainable development. One of these challenges is sea level rise. And Africa-based Sister Organisations working on blue and coastal areas are striving to make those ends meet for their users.
For example, in the last three months, the rising level of Lake Tanganyika has displaced a considerable number of people around the area, particularly in Burundi. It has also made many of them food insecure. As a result, Africa-based Sister Organisations working in the sea-level rising area are trying to help as much as they can.
Besides that they are also dealing with other situations linked to environmental challenges or events (e.g., sea level rise) like the following:
√ Helping to stop the disruption of food (e.g., fish) from the blue and coastal spaces
√ Dealing with wildlife habitats in the area
√ Volunteering in the work of restoration of uprooted and destroyed trees and plants
√ Assisting homeless to get rehoused and resettled
√ Providing support for badly affected ecosystems by flooding
√ Offering counselling service for those who lost their love ones and properties in the area
Etc.
Their work contributes to the blue and coastal sustainable development in the African areas where they are intervening. Through their work, they help in capacitating their users for blue and coastal sustainable development.
This note concludes our Blue Spaces Theme for this September 2021. For any queries or enquiries about this note and the previous ones, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS. For those who would like to join in our work on the Blue Spaces, they can as well contact CENFACS.
• Boosting your Support as a Way of Getting Involved with CENFACS
Last week, we spelled out sixteen ways of getting involved with CENFACS by doing the work of poverty reduction. Amongst these ways was Boosting your Support.
If someone is already supporting us and realise that there is still way of improving their support, they can look at again the way in which they can boost their support. For example, they can examine the following ways of supporting CENFACS and decide if they can choose any of them and add it (them) to their existing support:
Donations, communications/media, public relations, volunteering/internship, training and skills development, research and development, legacies, gifts, sponsorship, premises, digital aid and equipment, events, direct marketing, recycling, website, advertisement, mobile and distance working technologies, etc.
Any of the above mentioned ways of supporting can help boost your support.
To boost your support, just select any of them and let CENFACS know your selected way of boosting your support.
• CENFACS’ be.Africa e-discusses Resources below Water and Land-based Resources in the Fight against Poverty in Africa
Many African economies that have land-based resources and minerals (e.g. copper) heavily rely on them to fight against or reduce poverty. Yet, some of them have enough sea/ocean and water (rivers, lakes and ponds) resources that can be utilised for the same purpose of reducing poverty. CENFACS’ be.Africa is e-discussing this week on the following:
How to sustainably increase the value of and mobilise sea/ocean and water resources in the fight against poverty and hardships in Africa without depleting them
To join in and or add your thoughts, feelings and experiences to this e-discussion, please contact CENFACS.
Sept objectifs pour réduire la pauvreté pendant les années 2020:
1) Réduire la pauvreté monétaire et améliorer des capacités rémunératrices
2) Diminuer l’indigence de consommation
3) Réduire la précarité énergétique
4) Abaissser la pauvreté salariale
5) Couper la pauvreté intergénérationnelle
6) Atténuer la pauvreté numérique
7) Soulager la pauvreté situationnelle et d’origine climatique
Vous pouvez travailler avec le CENFACS afin de réaliser ces objectifs. Pour travailler avec le CENFACS, veuillez le contacter.
Main Development
• Reduction of Energy Poverty
To study and implement the Reduction of Energy Poverty as our Goal No. 3, we are going to consider the following:
Meaning of energy poverty, energy poor, energy poverty data, reduction of energy poverty, CENFACS’ Energy Connections project, energy poor and poverty in Africa, Africa-based Sister Organisations and their work on energy poverty reduction, reduction of energy poverty and zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.
• • Meaning of energy poverty
There are many definitions of energy poverty. In the context of CENFACS’ 2020s Poverty Reduction Programme and Development Agenda, energy poverty will be looked at from two perspectives:
(a) A single energy poverty line, based either on the minimal energy requirement or on the share of energy expenditure on household income as conceptualised by Barnes et al. (2)
(b) The sensitivity of the energy share to household income as an indicator to identify the energy poverty line, like the study of Lu Jiang et al. (3) tells us.
Barnes et al. use a demand-based approach to define the energy poverty line. They define energy poverty line as
“the threshold point at which energy consumption begins rise with increases in household income. At or below this threshold point, households consume a bare minimum level of energy and should be considered energy poor”.
In their study, Lu Jiang et al. differentiate energy poverty line from the sensitivity of the energy share to household income. In their analysis on the energy poor in China, they argue that energy poverty line is
“the line at which energy is used to sustain basic life needs”.
Lu Jiang et al. also contend that energy poverty is also defined as
“the sensitivity of the energy share to household income as an indicator to identify the energy poverty line”.
To implement our agenda and programme as well as help those who need to reduce energy poverty, we shall refer to this sensitivity of the energy share to household income. But, who are the energy poor?
• • Energy poor
Energy poor include those…
∝ With very low consumption of energy below their minimum requirement
∝ Who use dirty or polluting fuels
∝ Who spend excessive time collecting fuel to meet basic life-sustaining needs
∝ Who do not meet the minimum energy requirement for life
∝ Who spend more than 10% of their income on energy
∝ Who consume more inefficient energy sources like biomass energy and coal
∝ Who do not consume efficient and clean modern energy
∝ Who avoid meeting the fuel poverty level by not using energy in their homes
∝ Who are not consuming the energy they need as they are afraid that their energy bills will go up
Etc.
From the above listing or classification of energy poor, the key indicator for energy poverty is the consumption of efficient and clean modern energy.
For example, energy-poor households may consume higher percentage of solid energy (like biomass energy and coal) in their household energy consumption. But, that does not make them energy non-poor. Because energy consumption is often location-specific, these types of energy poor can also be found in Africa and elsewhere.
Since the main purpose of this post is the reduction of energy poverty, what can be done to reduce energy poverty?
• • Ways of reducing energy poverty
Energy poverty can be reduced in a number of ways including the following:
√ Helping CENFACS users to improve the energy efficiency of their homes
√ Assisting fuel poor households to meet the price caps given to energy suppliers or authorities
√ Financially supporting fuel poor households
√ Enabling energy poor to access or install smart meters in their homes
√ Campaigning with and on behalf of fuel poor to reduce and or end fuel poverty
√ Supporting pro-poor energy projects to address fuel poverty
√ Advising and guiding energy poor people on energy efficiency services and providers
√ Signposting energy poor users to organisations helping in fuel poverty
√ Last but not the least, supporting CENFACS’ Energy Connections Project
• • CENFACS’ Energy Connections Project (ECP) to help reduce energy poverty
ECP is a low carbon-intensive project that aims at reducing renewable energy poverty and hardships amongst poor people and communities in Africa by helping them to gain access to a network and development of renewable energy support (such as tools, skills, knowledge, capacity development, etc.) in order to reduce pressures on natural resources (forest resources and exploitation) and biodiversity.
The user-perceived benefits in terms of results or consequences of the implementation of the ECP are as follows:
√ Reduction of the carbon footprint for ECP end users
√ Protection and restoration of local biological diversity (biodiversity)
√ Preservation of forest resources and values
√ Improvement in women’s health and protection, especially those exposed to fire and smoke or any polluting fuels while cooking a meal for example
√ Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions within and outside households
√ Improvement in the quality of air locally
√ Development of better skills, knowledge and capacity about renewable energy
√ People and communities will become better informed and have an increased access to energy solutions to energy problems they face
√ Reduction of energy poverty and precariousness
The long term impact or the desired result about ECP will be to bring change to the lives of people and communities to a better energy life.
Briefly, the overall goal of ECP is to connect poor people and communities to a wealth and network of information, services support and resources (including skills, knowledge and capacities) so that they can make informed decision and choice to transition from fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) to renewables (solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and hydroelectric energy) while preserving their cultures, ways of life and values. In this respect, ECP is an orderly and people-friendly energy transition project.
• • Africa-based Sister Organisations and their work on energy poverty reduction
Our Africa-based Sister Organisations are helping energy poor either where they are based or where they operate. They are doing it in these ways:
√ Helping energy poor to access cheap and clean energy sources
√ Getting the supply of affordable energy
√ Helping the locals to understand energy tariffs and bills
√ Assisting them to replace polluting and dirty energy to clean and cheap energy
√ Supporting them to access energy during the coronavirus crisis and lockdowns
√ Working with them to reduce the burning of woods and use of coal while motivating them to cut greenhouse gas emissions to meet basic needs of cooking, heating, housing and transportation
Etc.
This work from Africa-based Sister Organisations depends on their location, local energy needs and local energy sources.
For organisations working with locals who have a variety of sources of energy, it is easy to help them to switch from one source of energy to another to gain better access and reduce poverty.
For organisations operating in places where there is a lack of sources of clean and cheap energy, it is difficult to get local energy poor to get rid of their poverty.
• • Energy poverty data for Africa
One of the problems caused by the coronavirus is the deepening of the problem of the lack of data in certain areas of life in places where statistics are always a pending issue, like in Africa. The little statistical information available does not say much about the current level and state of energy poverty in Africa for example. Nonetheless, the statistics given by the World Health Organisation (4) indicate that
“The proportion of population with primary reliance on clean fuels and technology were 19% in the African region” (p. 112)
This figure is also an opposite indication of those who do not consume efficient and clean modern energy for the same African region. Furthermore, the figure suggests the level and type of challenge that our Africa-based Sister Organisations face in their work about helping to reduce energy poverty.
• • Reduction of energy poverty as part of sustainable development goals
Ending poverty in all its forms everywhere is the first goal of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (5). Energy poverty is one of these forms of poverty. In this respect, reducing energy poverty should be part of our everyday life, whether we are at home or at work or on the move or at play. We need energy or usable power in whatever we do. Likewise, the current and future generations in our communities need energy. Therefore, there is a need to work so that we do not transfer energy poverty to future generations.
• • Reduction of energy poverty and zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050
There could link between the reduction of energy poverty and the realisation of zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. In other words, the way in which one is trying to reduce or end energy poverty should not negatively affect the health and wealth of the planet.
The net-zero by 2050 is the target to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 if one wants to meet the Paris climate goal of 1.5 degrees C. The reduction of energy poverty or any type of poverty should not be done by excessively emitting greenhouse gas. One can follow a carbon-free path to reduce energy poverty while contributing to the realisation of net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050,
The above points made summarise the topic of Reduction of Energy Poverty, which is CENFACS’ Goal 3 of its 2020s Poverty Reduction Programme and Development Agenda. The points highlighted are also the different research tracks and implementation paths of this programme and agenda via its Goal No. 3.
These points should not be treated in isolation. There are interrelations between them in the context of this programme and agenda. For example, in the future, we might look at the relationships between energy poverty and income poverty or between energy poverty and inter-generational poverty.
We shall as well work on the mutual benefit of reducing both energy poverty and income poverty or both energy poverty and inter-generational poverty. All this is part of the implementation of the above named programme and agenda.
For those who would like to further discuss the reduction of energy poverty with us or any aspects of the 2020s Poverty Reduction Programme and Development Agenda, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.
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• References
(1) Brundtland et al. (1987) Our Common Future, World Commission on Environment and Development (The Brundtland Report), Oxford University Press, London
(2) Douglas F. Barnes, Shahidur Khander and Hussain Samad (2011), Energy Poverty in Rural Bangladesh, Energy Policy, 2011, Vol. 39, Issue 2, 894-904
(3) Lu Jiang, Lu Yu, Bing Xue, Xing pen Chan, Zhifu Mi: Who is energy poor? Evidence from the least developed regions in China
https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10090514/1/who%20is20energ%20poor.pd (accessed in September 2021)
(4) World Health Organisation (2021), World Health Statistics 2021: Monitoring Health for SDGs, sustainable development goals, Geneva: World Health Organisation; 2021
(5) http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2015/09/24/undp-welcomes-adoption-of-sustainable-development-goals-by-world-leaders.html (accessed in September 2021)
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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 consider a recurring donation to CENFACS in the future.
Donate to support CENFACS!
FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, 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 throughout 2021 and beyond.
With many thanks.
