Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

30 April 2025

Post No. 402

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Project Integrating Poverty Reduction and Climate Finance

• Climate-resilient Asset Building Programme for Households – In Focus from 30/04/2025: Resilience into Your Home

• Preview of May 2025 Stories 

 

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Project Integrating Poverty Reduction and Climate Finance

 

Project Integrating Poverty Reduction and Climate Finance (PIPRCF) takes at practical level many of the ideas put forward in FACS newsletter, Issue No. 87 published last week on this website.  How does it take them forward?  It takes them further as explained below.

PIPRCF is a smart development project that will have climate co-benefits and contribute to long-term economic opportunities for those in need.  PIPRCF is an integrative initiative that strategically directs financial resources to benefit both climate action and poverty reduction efforts.

Integrating climate finance and poverty reduction finance helps to mobilise resources, promote sustainable development pathways, build climate resilience, diversify economic activities, improve access to markets, boost local economy and livelihoods, promote renewable solutions, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and improve energy access for the poor.

The real aim of this project is to reduce and possibly end poverty linked to the lack of climate action funds and poverty reduction funds.  It is a project that help ensure that climate action benefits the most vulnerable populations and contributes to sustainable development goals.

PIPRCF will involve channelling funds towards activities that will simultaneously tackle climate change and reduce poverty.  It will ensure that climate action funds are aligned with poverty reduction funds in Africa.

It is hoped that through its implementation, the project will contribute to

 

~ mitigating the impacts of climate change on poor and vulnerable people

~ promoting sustainable development practices that benefit both people and the planet

~ diversifying livelihoods and reducing reliance on climate sensitive sectors

~ creating a more just and equitable transition to a low carbon development.

 

To get more insights into this project, please read its key components under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• Climate-resilient Asset Building Programme for Households – In Focus from 30/04/2025: Resilience into Your Home

 

To approach this second topic of our programme with households, we are going to explain resilience into your home, what households need to know and the capacities they need to have to stay resilient into their homes.

 

• • Explaining Resilience into Your Home

 

Let us start with resilience.  Resilience can be explained in many ways.  The website ‘assets.publishing.service.gov.uk’ (1) provides a number of definitions of it.  It mentions the former DFID’s definition of resilience which is

“The ability of countries, communities and households to manage change by maintaining or transforming living standards in the face of shocks or stresses without compromising their long-term prospects”.

It also mentions climate resilience, which it states that

“It incorporates disaster resilience as well as the ability to cope with longer term climate changes (including transformative change/tipping points)”.

In the context of climate resilient asset building programme, resilience within a home refers to its ability to withstand and recover from climate-related impacts while maintaining functionality and habitability.  This includes the design in housing.

Regarding design in housing, the website ‘buildwithrise.com’ (2), explains that

“Resilient design in housing focuses on the ethic or value of increasing the autonomy of a home.  In other words, resilient homes attempt to limit their dependency on external inputs while supplying their energy, water, waste, and sewer disposal needs”.

Another approach to resilience comes from the website ‘flooding.org.uk’ (3), which looks at resilience in terms of flooding by arguing that

“Resilience is about reducing the impact of flooding should water get inside your property”.

To reduce the impact of flooding, households can use a tool like property protection advisor.

The above-mentioned definitions can be helpful when households are trying to learn resilience into their homes and to apply them in order to stay resilient.  This implies they need to know more about their homes.

 

• • What Households Need to Know about Their Homes 

 

In terms of resilience into their homes, households may need to have some basic knowledge or information about their homes’ resilience.  This could be some knowledge or information about the following:

 

~ Structure design of their home/property

(for instance, knowing that their home can withstand extreme weather events, the selection of materials made for their homes if the materials are resilient or not, the adaptability of their homes to changing conditions)

~ System design

(for example, learning about their home if it is energy efficient, water-efficient and has critical resilient systems)

~ Adaptation and response

(Households could be aware of the emergency plans and preparedness measures linked to their property, the ability to recover from caused damages by climate events, and sustainable design principles of their home)

~ Location

(Households could try to find out the flood risk assessment where their property is located, climate-specific design attached to their property or house, the overall resilience of the community within which they live; including if their property is located on a safe site).

 

By having the basic knowledge about the above-mentioned elements, households can create or build climate-resilient assets that can withstand and adapt to changing climate.  However, to stay resilient they may need some capacities.

 

• • Capacities to Stay Resilient into Your Home

 

They include the following:

 

~ Anticipatory capacity: Through preparation, household systems can develop some ability to anticipate and reduce the impact of climate variability

~ Adaptive capacity: Household systems can adapt to climate change risks, learn and adjust after a disaster

~ Absorptive capacity: Household systems can learn to cope with the impacts of climate variability

~ Transformative capacity: Household systems can develop the capacity to adapt to, anticipate and absorb shocks.

 

Household systems may need to have the above-named capacities or features to stay resilient.

Those households that are struggling to develop these capacities in order to build climate-resilient assets, they can work with CENFACS.

For any queries and/or enquiries about Resilience into Your Home in the context of Climate-resilient Asset Building Programmes for Households (including how to access this programme), please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Preview of May 2025 Stories

 

This coming May 2025, we shall run two-series or “two horses” stories: after-system-reset stories and after-system-change stories.  What are they?

 

a) After-system-reset stories are the tales of reinstallation, restoration, reconfiguration and updating of our system of poverty reduction or life.  They will be about how people and communities are trying or have tried to reinstall, restore, reconfigure and update things in their life to reduce or end poverty or simply improve their life.

 

b) After-system-change stories are the accounts of stabilisation and initial testing, ongoing maintenance and support, continuous improvement and adaptation, documentation and knowledge management, and maintenance of our system of poverty reduction or life.  They will be about how people and communities are trying or have tried to stabilise, test, communicate, monitor and maintain things in their life to reduce or end poverty or simply improve their life.

 

Entries for these Stories on Poverty Relief and Development for May 2025 (May Stories) are now open.

To tell and share your story of after resetting and/or changing systems, please contact CENFACS for story telling terms and conditions.

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Shop at CENFACS’ Zero Waste e-Store during This Spring Giving Season

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) – Step/Workshop 11: Outcome Evaluating Your Play, Run and Vote Projects

• Information and Guidance on Climate Finance and Poverty Reduction Finance

 

 

• Shop at CENFACS’ Zero Waste e-Store during This Spring Giving Season

 

CENFACS e-Store is opened for your Spring goods donations and goods purchases.

At this time, many household expenditures have been squeezed by the cost of living pressures mostly driven by the hikes in prices of basic life-sustaining needs (e.g., food, transport, housing, council tax, energy, etc.).

The impacted of the cost of living pressures need help and support as prices and bills are still higher while real disposable incomes are less for many of those living in poverty.

Every season or every month is an opportunity to do something against poverty and hardships.  This coming May 2025 too is a good and great month of the year to do it.

You can donate or recycle your unwanted and unneeded goods to CENFACS’ Charity e-Store, the zero waste shop built to help relieve poverty and hardships.

You can as well buy second hand goods and bargain priced new items and much more.

CENFACS’ Charity e-Store needs your support for SHOPPING and GOODS DONATIONS.

You can do something different this Season of Goods Donations by SHOPPING or DONATING GOODS at CENFACS Charity e-Store.

You can DONATE or SHOP or do both:

√ DONATE unwanted GOODS, GIFTS and PRODUCTS to CENFACS Zero Waste e-Store this coming May and Spring.

√ SHOP at CENFACS Zero Waste e-Store to support noble and beautiful causes of poverty relief this coming May and Spring.

Your SHOPPING and or GOODS DONATIONS will help to the Upkeep of the Nature and to reduce poverty and hardships brought by the cost of living pressures.

This is what the Season of Giving is all about.

Please do not hesitate to donate goods or purchase what is available at CENFACS Zero Waste e-Store.

Many lives have been threatened and destroyed by the cost of living pressures. 

We need help to help them come out poverty and hardships caused by these pressures.

To donate or purchase goods, please go to: http://cenfacs.org.uk/shop/

 

 

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) – Step/Workshop 11: Outcome Evaluating Your Play, Run and Vote Projects

 

Normally, at the beginning of a project or activity, planners of this project or activity will indicate how they plan to evaluate it.  Planners can think of pre-project evaluation, ongoing project evaluation and post-project evaluation.  However, what is project evaluation for them?

 

• • Basic Understanding of Project Evaluation

 

To simplify the matter, we are referring to what Anna Allen and Catriona May (4) say about it, which is:

“Evaluation is a process of assessing what an activity or project achieves, particularly in relation to the overall objectives” (p. 36)

There are many types of evaluation depending on the areas of emphasis.  Evaluation can be before the project starts (pre-project evaluation), when the project is in progress (ongoing evaluation) and when the project is finished (post-project evaluation).  Evaluation can also be formative, process/implementation, outcome/effectiveness and impact.  It all depends on what you want to achieve in evaluating a project.

In the Step/Workshop 11, we are interested in Outcome Evaluation.

 

• • • What is an outcome evaluation?

 

To understand outcome evaluation, one may need to know outcome.   Outcome has been described in the United Nations Development Programme’s Guidance on Evaluation (5) as

“The intended changes in development conditions that result from the interventions of governments and other stakeholders, including international development agencies such as UNDP.  They are medium-term development results and the contributions of various partners and non-partners.  Outcomes provide a clear vision of what has changed or will change globally or in a particular region, country or community within a period of time” (p. 3)

Knowing what is outcome, it is possible to explain outcome evaluation.  According to ‘evalcommunity.com’ (6),

“Outcome evaluation is a type of evaluation that focuses on measuring the results or outcomes of a programme or intervention.  It is a systematic and objective process that involves collecting and analysing data to determine whether the programme is achieving its intended goals and objectives, and whether the outcomes are meaningful and beneficial to the target population”.

The same ‘evalcommunity.com’ states that there are many types of outcome evaluation which include impact evaluation, outcome-focused evaluation, process evaluation, cost-benefit analysis, and realist evaluation.

In this Step/Workshop 11, we are dealing with outcome-focused evaluation.

Let us exemplify this.

 

• • Example of Outcome Evaluating Your All-year Round Projects

 

Let us assume that one of our users decides to organise a 4-Km-a-day Run Project to raise money for CENFACS’ one of its noble and beautiful causes of poverty reduction, which is to support Africa-based Sister Organisations currently helping displaced persons in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In order to outcome evaluate the 4-Km-a-day Run Project, our all-year-round project user will proceed with the following:

 

∝ Ensure that their project is on course and identify the problems as they come up

(Type of problems could be if everybody taking the run manages to run 4 kilometres or not)

∝ Measure progress towards their objectives

(E.g., if one of the objectives was to raise £500 on a particular day, they will check fundraising progress about this objective)

∝ Seize new window of opportunities

(For instance, if more people turn up than initially expected, our all-year-round project user can think of the possibility of running the activity again another day)

∝ Deal with any challenges during project implementation

(Like to organise a networking/talk session for the extra number of attendees who could not take part in the run because there is a restriction on the number of runners)

∝ Recognise success and failure

(I.e., our all-year-round project user will find out what went wrong or well during the Run Project)

∝ Give some recommendations for the future run of the project

(I.e., ask participants to make suggestions or tell them how you will improve the project if you decide to run it again)

∝ Keep all records

(Of the number of participants/runners, all the people involved, money raised, incidents, accidents, reports, etc.)

∝ Conduct a progress review

(If it is the second time to run your project, you will review the progress made in comparison with the previous run)

∝ Complete evaluation in due course

(I.e., remember to tick all the boxes of you evaluation sheets/forms when you finishes your project).

 

The above is one of the possible ways of outcome evaluating your All-year Round Projects.  For those who would like to dive deeper into Outcome Evaluation of their Play or Run or Vote project, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Information and Guidance on Climate Finance and Poverty Reduction Finance

 

As part of the continuation of our work on African Charities and Finance for Climate and Poverty Reduction – which is the main theme of Issue 87 of our newsletter ‘FACS‘- we are available to give Information and Guidance to Africa-based Sister Organisations in need.  This seasonal service includes two types areas of support via CENFACS, which are:

 

a) Information and guidance on climate finance and poverty reduction finance

b) Signposts to improve Users’ Experience about impact investing in climate finance and poverty reduction finance.

 

Let us briefly explain them.

 

• • Information and Guidance on Climate Finance and Poverty Reduction Finance

 

Those Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) that are looking for information and guidance on climate finance and that do not know what to do or where to go, they can work with CENFACS.  Working with them includes two areas of support:

 

i) Conducting a needs assessment with them under CENFACS’ International Advice Service

ii) Providing them with leads about other organisations, institutions and services that can help them.

 

We can provide information and guidance to address climate finance issues and support to ASOs to reduce poverty and address the impacts of climate change. 

The support aims to help ASOs adapt to climate change. mitigate its impacts, pursuit low-carbon development, manage resources sustainably, etc.

 

• • Signposts to improve Users’ Experience about Impact Investing in Climate Finance and Poverty Reduction Finance

 

For those who are looking for whereabout to find help about impact investing in climate finance and poverty reduction finance, we can direct them to the relevant services and organisations.

More tips and hints relating to the matter can be obtained from CENFACS‘ Advice-giving Service and Sessions.

To access this service, they need to contact CENFACS.

 

 

Message in English-French (Message en Anglais-Français)

 

• CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum E-discusses Money Transfer Fees and Poverty Reduction in Africa

It is well known that international money transfer can play a significant role in reducing poverty in Africa.  It plays it in value as percentage of gross domestic product, economic impact, resilience and equalization.   This is without forgetting the role of digital remittances.  What is this role?

• • Role of International Money Transfer

To highlight this role, the website ‘daimagister.com’ (7) argues that

“Remittances play a pivotal role in many African economies, significantly contributing to their Gross Domestic Product (GDP).  In 2022, remittances accounted for an average of 7.6% of GDP in Western Africa, 6.8% in Eastern Africa, 4.4% in Northern Africa, 3.7% in Southern Africa, and 1.4% in Central Africa”.

Similarly, ‘remitscope.org’ (8), states that

“In 2023, according to the World Bank, over $90 billion flowed into Africa in remittances which is approximately twice the level of overseas development assistance”.

But, what is international money transfer?

• • Brief Understanding of International Money Transfer

According to ‘blog.9ov9.com’ (9),

“An international money transfer refers to the movement of funds across national borders.  The process facilitates transactions between parties situated in different countries, encompassing a diverse range of financial activities”.

A common example, says ‘blog.9ov9.com’, is the international transfer of funds by migrant workers to their home countries, like those to support families in lower-income countries of Africa.

International money transfer could even play a further role at the moment as Africa is experiencing aid cuts.  It could substitute aid cuts in some areas of humanitarian assistance.  However, to transfer money to Africa there are fees to be paid like in any financial transaction. These fees and their structure can impact poverty reduction in Africa.

• • The Impact of the Cost of Remittances on Poverty Reduction

The problem surrounding money transfer is not about paying a fee to send money.  The issue is when these fees (or costs of sending remittances) are high and negatively impact on the effects that money transfers would have had on poverty reduction.

In this respect, the website ‘africa.businessinsider.com’ (10) quotes the World Bank’s report on remittances which states that

“Sub-Saharan Africa is still the most expensive region in the world to transfer money to, with an average remittance cost of 8.37% in the second quarter of 2024”.

Indeed, many traditional banks and remittances services charge fees, which could be flat or percentage-based ones or a combination of both.  The structure of these fees, which can vary, could impact the overall cost for different transaction sizes.  It is these fees which are subject of our e-discussion.

• • Money Transfer Fees as a Subject of Discussion

Our e-discussion is about the structure of these fees and what can be done to reduce them at an affordable level in order to maximise the impact of remittances for both money senders and receivers.  There are those who think that cutting fees on money transfers could help Africa to overturn the shrinking of foreign aid.

For instance, Michael Sheldrick (11) argues that

“Migrants workers send home more money than foreign aid, but high transfer fees consume their funds.  Lowering fees to 30% could save African families $16 billion annually”.

The above is what our e-discussion is 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 address on this website.

 

• Le Forum ‘Une Afrique Meilleure’ de CENFACS discute en ligne sur les Frais de Transfert d’Argent et la Réduction de la Pauvreté en Afrique

Il est bien connu que les transferts d’argent internationaux peuvent jouer un rôle important dans la réduction de la pauvreté en Afrique.  Ils jouent sur la valeur en pourcentage du produit intérieur brut, l’impact économique, la résilience et la péréquation.   Ceci sans oublier le rôle des transferts de fonds numériques.  Quel est ce rôle ?

• • Rôle du transfert d’argent international

Pour souligner ce rôle, le site internet « daimagister.com » (7) fait valoir que

« Les envois de fonds jouent un rôle central dans de nombreuses économies africaines, contribuant de manière significative à leur produit intérieur brut (PIB).  En 2022, les envois de fonds représentaient en moyenne 7,6 % du PIB en Afrique de l’Ouest, 6,8 % en Afrique de l’Est, 4,4 % en Afrique du Nord, 3,7 % en Afrique Australe et 1,4 % en Afrique Centrale ».

De même, la « remitscope.org » (8) énonce que

« En 2023, selon la Banque Mondiale, plus de 90 milliards de dollars ont été versés en Afrique sous forme de transferts de fonds, soit environ le double du niveau de l’aide publique au développement ».

Mais qu’est-ce que le transfert d’argent international ?

• • Brève compréhension du transfert d’argent international

Selon blog.9ov9.com (9),

« Un transfert d’argent international fait référence au mouvement de fonds à travers les frontières nationales.  Le processus facilite les transactions entre des parties situées dans différents pays, englobant un large éventail d’activités financières ».

Un exemple courant, dit blog.9ov9.com, est le transfert international de fonds par les travailleurs migrants vers leur pays d’origine, comme ceux destinés à soutenir les familles dans les pays à faible revenu d’Afrique.

Les transferts d’argent internationaux pourraient même jouer un rôle supplémentaire à l’heure actuelle, alors que l’Afrique connaît des coupes dans l’aide.  Elle pourrait se substituer à des réductions d’aide dans certains domaines de l’aide humanitaire.  Cependant, pour transférer de l’argent vers l’Afrique, il y a des frais à payer comme dans toute transaction financière.  Ces frais et leur structure peuvent avoir un impact sur la réduction de la pauvreté en Afrique.

• • L’impact du coût des envois de fonds sur la réduction de la pauvreté

Le problème du transfert d’argent n’est pas de payer des frais pour envoyer de l’argent.  Le problème se pose lorsque ces frais (ou coûts d’envoi de fonds) sont élevés et ont un impact négatif sur les effets que les transferts d’argent auraient eus sur la réduction de la pauvreté.

À cet égard, le site internet « africa.businessinsider.com » (10) cite le rapport de la Banque Mondiale sur les envois de fonds, qui indique que

« L’Afrique subsaharienne reste la région la plus chère au monde pour les transferts d’argent, avec un coût moyen des transferts de fonds de 8,37 % au deuxième trimestre 2024 ».

En effet, de nombreuses banques et services de transfert de fonds traditionnels facturent des frais, qui peuvent être fixes ou basés sur un pourcentage, ou une combinaison des deux.  La structure de ces frais, qui peut varier, peut avoir un impact sur le coût global pour différentes tailles de transactions.  Ce sont ces frais qui font l’objet de notre discussion en ligne.

• • Les frais de transfert d’argent en tant que sujet de discussion

Notre discussion en ligne porte sur la structure de ces frais et sur ce qui peut être fait pour les réduire à un niveau abordable afin de maximiser l’impact des envois de fonds pour les expéditeurs/rices et les destinataires d’argent.  Il y a ceux ou celles qui pensent que la réduction des frais sur les transferts d’argent pourrait aider l’Afrique à renverser la réduction de l’aide étrangère.

Par exemple, Michael Sheldrick (11) soutient que

« Les travailleurs migrants envoient plus d’argent que l’aide étrangère chez eux, mais les frais de transfert élevés consomment leurs fonds.  Réduire les frais de transfert à 30 % pourrait permettre aux familles africaines d’économiser 16 milliards de dollars par an ».

Ce qui précède est l’objet de notre discussion en ligne.

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

 

• Project Integrating Poverty Reduction and Climate Finance (PIPRCF)

 

The following items provide the key information about PIPRCF:

 

σ Definition of PIPRCF

σ The Aim of PIPRCF

σ PIPRCF Approach

σ PIPRCF Objectives

σ PIPRCF Beneficiaries

σ PIPRCF Outcomes

σ PIPRCF Indicators

σ Impact Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Adaptation

σ Accountability and Transparency

σ Project Funding Status.

 

Let us summarise each of these items.

 

• • Definition of PIPRCF

 

PIPRCF is a SMART (that is, specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound) development project that integrates poverty reduction and climate finance.   Key aspects of PIPRCF include co-benefits, targeted funding, inclusive development, policy integration, accountability and transparency.

For instance, the co-benefits aspect means that PIPRCF will contribute to long-term economic opportunities while supporting adaptation (that is, based on building resilience to the types of shocks that upend lives and livelihoods) and mitigation (i.e., cutting greenhouse gas emissions).  The integration aspect is the link between social protection and climate resilience.

The above-mentioned aspects are also articulated in PIPRCF aim.

 

• • The Aim of PIPRCF

 

PIPRCF aims to address both climate change and poverty reduction simultaneously by leveraging climate finance to support activities and policies that also benefit vulnerable and poor people in Africa.

This aim will be achieved by prioritising activities with co-benefits (i.e., activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance climate resilience and improve livelihoods), ensuring inclusive and equitable outcomes, fostering collaboration and partnerships, tracking and evaluating progress, and consolidating achievements.

To deliver this aim, PIPRCF needs to have a particular approach.

 

• • PIPRCF Approach

 

PIPRCF uses approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of issues where climate change disproportionally impacts the poor and hinders development, and where poverty reduction efforts can also contribute to climate resilience and mitigation.  In other words, climate change disproportionally impacts poor and marginalised communities.  On the rebound, poverty reduction efforts can contribute to climate action.

This can be elucidated by PIPRCF Objectives.

 

• • PIPRCF Objectives

 

Key PIPRCF Objectives include the following:

 

~ reduce poverty and inequality

~ enhance gender and socio-economic inclusion

~ address both climate change and poverty simultaneously

~ mitigate climate change and promote adaptation

~ mobilise and synergise resources

~ strengthen beneficiaries’ socio-economic protection and resilience

~ foster just transitions to navigate to net zero in Africa

~ promote green growth and sustainable development.

 

Although these objectives are put together,  they can be differentiate between those linked to poverty reduction, those relating to climate and those connected to both (that is, connected to both poverty reduction and climate).

 

• • PIPRCF Beneficiaries

 

PIPRCF will cater for the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and those living in poverty in Africa.  Amongst the types of people in need who could benefit from PIPRCF, we can mention the following:

 

~ those facing climate-related risks (like natural disasters, food insecurity, and health issues)

~ those dependent on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture and fisheries

~ those lacking access to resources and services

~ those whose livelihoods have been disrupted

~ Africa-based Sister Organisations looking for finances for climate and poverty reduction

etc.

 

Most of the above-mentioned types of beneficiaries will need some form of support in terms of guidance on how they can find climate finance and poverty reduction finance.

 

• • PIPRCF Outcomes

 

PIPRCF will have co-benefits as it is designed to deliver both climate adaptation and mitigation benefits and poverty reduction outcomes.  The changes and effects that may happen as a result of PIPRCF include the following:

 

~ improved adaptation to climate change

~ enhanced access to clean energy and technology

~ strengthened protection

~ synergistic benefits

~ resilience building

~ green and blue opportunities and livelihoods

~ addressed vulnerabilities

~ improved infrastructures for beneficiaries

~ fair distribution of resources

etc.

 

Briefly, these outcomes will happen in the people who will benefit from PIPRCF.  They will also happen in the environment, communities and Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASCOs) that will involve in PIPRCF.

 

• • PIPRCF Indicators

 

The set of measures below will help find out whether or not the project will reach its desired objectives and progress towards meeting its defined aim.  These measures include input, output, outcome and impact indicators.

 

PIPRCF Indicators can be divided into environmental and poverty reduction ones.

 

a) PIPRCF environmental indicators

 

They include

 

~ quantity of the amount CO2 equivalent emissions avoided or reduced by PIPRCF

~ clean energy capacity or shift towards low-carbon energy sources

~ nature-based solutions or PIPRCF’s contribution to biodiversity and climate resilience

~ number of people and communities supported to adapt to the impacts of climate change via this integrative project

~ number of ASOs that will secure climate finance

etc.

 

b) PIPRCF’s poverty reduction and livelihoods indicators 

 

They  are

 

~ number of people lifted out of poverty or the percentage of poverty reduction achieved by PIPRCF

~ number of people with improved access to clean energy or access to clean energy

~ number of people supported to build resilience to shocks

~ social inclusion measures like better gender equality, disability inclusion, participation in decision making and benefit sharing

~ livelihood improvements (e.g., improvements in income, food security, access to clean water and sanitation, and other essential services for poor and vulnerable people)

~ number of ASOs that will succeed in accessing poverty reduction funds

etc.

 

The above-mentioned indicators will help in measuring impact monitoring, evaluation, learning and adaptation.

 

• • Impact Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Adaptation

 

The Impact Monitoring and Evaluation will ensure that PIPRCF is climate-sensitive (that is; taking into account the local context and does not exacerbate any greenhouse gas emissions).

As highlighted above, we have indicators and metrics to measure climate and poverty-relieving outcomes to be resulted from PIPRCF.

We will track progress and identify any issues through the following techniques or tools: surveys, interviews, focus groups and other reliable data collection techniques or methods.

We will conduct periodic evaluation of PIPRCF to assess the overall impact of PIPRCF.  This is to say that evaluation will be conducted regarding the efforts spent on this project to find out whether or not these efforts are value for climate finance and poverty reduction finance.

We will engage all stakeholders in the Impact Monitoring and Evaluation process.

We will use the findings from the monitoring and evaluation to learn and adapt PIPRCF accordingly, as well as to check the scalability of this project or model of working with ASCOs and their beneficiaries to help reduce poverty.

 

• • Accountability and Transparency

 

PIPRCF will prioritize accountability and transparency in how climate finance and poverty reduction finance will be allocated and utilized.  In doing so, it will ensure that funds reach the intended beneficiaries and are used effectively.

 

• • Project Funding Status

 

PIPRCF is about achieving both environmental sustainability and poverty reduction.  This means funding PIPRCF will result in simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the livelihoods of vulnerable and poor people.

So far, this project is unfunded.  This means we are open to any credible funding proposals or proposition from potential funders or donors.  Those who would like to support this project will be more than welcome.

To fully or partly fund this project, please contact CENFACS.

 

To sum up, PIPRCF is project that will help to reduce poverty linked to the lack of climate finance and finance to reduce poverty in Africa,  Where it will be implemented, the project will contribute to the process of building and sustaining nature/the environment and good relationships within and between communities.  It will help the locals to access economic opportunities while fighting the adversity of climate change.

 

The full project proposals including budget are available on request.

To support or contribute to this project, please communicate with CENFACS.

For further details including full project proposals and budget about PIPRCF; please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

_________

 

• References

 

(1) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08955ed915d3cfd0001cB/EoD_Topic_Guide_What_is_Resilience_May_2016.pdf (accessed in April 2025)

(2) https://www.buildwithrise.com/stories/resilient-home-design (accessed in April 2025),

(3) https://flooding.org.uk/flooding-advice/how-to-protect-your-home-/ (accessed in April 2025)

(4) Allen, A. & May, C. (2007), Setting Up For Success – A practical guide for community organisations, Community Development Foundation, London (Great Britain)

(5) web.undp.org/evaluation/documents/guidance/UNDP_Guidance_on_Outcome-Level%20_Evaluation_2011.pdf (accessed in April 2024)

(6) https://www.evalcommunity.com/career-centre/outcome-evaluation/ (accessed in April 2024)

(7) https://www.daimagister.com/resources/remittances/#:~Remittances%20play%20a%20pivotal%20role,the%20continent’s%20remittances%20in%202022 (accessed in April 2025)

(8) https://remitscope.org/africa/#:~text= (accessed in April 2025)

(9) https://blog.9ov9.com/what-is-an-international-money-transfer-and-how-does-it-work/ (accessed in April 2025)

(10) https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/remittances-to-sub-saharan-africa-remains-overpriced/dnOr47y#~ (accessed in April 2025)

(11) https://www.forbes.com/sites/globalcitizen/2025/02/25/foreign-aid-is-shrinking-what-happens-next/

 

_________

 

• 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.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

23 April 2025

Post No. 401

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• FACS Issue No. 87 of Spring 2025, Titled as African Charities and Finance for Climate and Poverty Reduction in Africa

• The Double Crisis Impacted Peoples of Kinshasa and Tanganyika Ask for Your Help

• Protection Key Note 4 from Wednesday 23/04/2025: Protection of Households’ Intangible Assets

 

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• FACS Issue No. 87 of Spring 2025, Titled as African Charities and Finance for Climate and Poverty Reduction in Africa

 

The 87th Issue of FACS deals with the strategies and tools that African Charities (ACs) use or can use to undertake climate planning and budgeting as well as frame their investment bid in order to seek and secure or mobilise funds.

The 87th Issue of FACS is a study on how ACs are trying to access funds through capacitated and empowered local institutions where they operate.  This is without ignoring any efforts they may do to work with the private or for-profit sector on climate change issues.  In other words, the 87th Issue of FACS is an investigation on how ACs are trying to collaborate and partner with others to improve their capacity and coordination to manage issues relating to climate finance.

The 87th Issue also treats of finance for poverty reduction.  Indeed, securing climate finance does not necessarily imply obtaining finance for poverty reduction.  That is why the Issue will as well work on the use of financial instruments that enable ACs to access funds and respond to the needs of their users and the locals.  In this respect, the 87th Issue is a check whether or not there is an alignment between ACs strategy for climate finance and poverty reduction finance.  And if there is, where this alignment leads to.

The 87th Issue analyses the relationship between climate finance and finance for poverty reduction.  Specifically, it will highlight the interconnectedness between climate change and poverty. It is known that climate change can exacerbate poverty by causing natural disasters, food insecurity, and displacement, while poverty can make people and communities more vulnerable to climate impacts.

Far from being a catalogue of challenges and barriers, the 87th Issue looks at if there are some improvements in ACs finance strategies regarding both climate and poverty reduction issues.  In particular, the 87th Issue argues about the following:

 

σ the integration between strategy for climate finance and strategy relating to finance for poverty reduction since there are co-benefits and synergies between climate change reduction and poverty reduction initiatives

σ a model of working together between ACs and all other actors in mobilizing climate finance and finance for poverty reduction and sustainable development

σ the alignment between climate finance and finance for poverty reduction

σ the improvement of ACs project planning that does not only reflect the needs of climate, but also that considers the request of those of living in poverty in Africa

σ the tracking of both climate funds and funds for poverty reduction and sustainable development

σ the development of frameworks that include both climate investment and impact investing in poverty reduction

σ the improvement in planning and coordination between climate change projects and poverty reduction projects.

 

To read the key summaries about this new Issue, please go to the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• The Double Crisis Impacted Peoples of Kinshasa and Tanganyika Ask for Your Help

 

This is an appeal to light a blaze of hope for those who have been recently affected by torrential rains in the city of Kinshasa and in Tanganyika province in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Since 4 April 2025, the rainfall that affected Kinshasa caused flooding and landslides that have resulted in casualties and damages.

Indeed, the website ‘reliefweb.int’ (1) reports that

“According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), as of 7 April, 33 people have died and 46 were injured due to the overflow of Ndjili River, affecting 13 out of 24 municipalities in Kinshasa city area”.

The same ‘reliefweb.int’ states that

“The IFRC reports, as of 13 April 2025, 165 fatalities, 28 injured persons, more than 7,000 displaced people (a number of these people across four relief sites) and a total of over 60,000 affected people across the Kinshasa capital city area”.

Similarly, the Rugumba River in Tanganyika province burst its banks, inundating larges areas of Kalemie and Nyunzu territories, destroying homes, schools and agricultural land.

According to ‘news.un.org’ (2), this severe flooding caused by torrential rains in Tanganyika has displaced nearly 10,000 people.

From the perspective of ‘reliefweb.int’ (op. cit.), this unfolding emergency reflects the double crisis facing the Democratic Republic of Congo, where extreme weather shocks such as flooding compound the suffering caused by ongoing conflict and mass displacement.

“Tanganyika and South Kivu are among four eastern provinces where some 2.3 million people are affected by ongoing conflict, according to the UNHCR’s spokesperson quoted by ‘news,un.org’ (op. cit.)”.

As a result of this double crisis, there are many threats like the spread of epidemics, hunger, malnutrition, poor sanitation, lack of safe drinking water, etc.

Yet, it is possible to help limit the life-threatening and -destroying damages from the double crisis (that is, negative impacts from armed conflicts and weather shocks) on the Congolese.   It is practically feasible to mitigate the adverse impacts of bad weather and natural catastrophes as well as of armed conflicts in the Eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo; conflicts that affect the supply and distribution of goods including in Kinshasa.

You can support the Double Crisis Impacted Peoples of Kinshasa and Tanganyika who Need Lighting a Blaze of Hope.

You can Light up a Blaze of Hope for them.

You can also donate £5 or more since the needs are urgent and pressing.

With the current international aid cuts, there are critical funding gaps/shortfall in humanitarian response.  Your donation, however small it may be, can help reduce these gaps.

Through this appeal and your support, CENFACS aims to reach the Double Crisis Impacted Peoples of Kinshasa and Tanganyika.

You support will help

 

√ alleviate the suffering of the flood-affected communities in Kinshasa and Tanganyika

√ reduce the side effects of the chaos brought by torrential rains

√ avoid the risk of disease outbreak from stagnant and contaminated flood waters

√ respond to the flood victims’ need of food, shelter, safe drinking water, clean sanitation, health and education.

 

These flood victims (e.g., those left without shelter or a means to earn a living, those in food insecurity as key crops have been wiped out, etc.) need your life-saving humanitarian response right now.

Please help them!

To donate or light a blaze of hope, please get in touch with CENFACS.

 

 

• Protection Key Note 4 from Wednesday 23/04/2025: Protection of Households’ Intangible Assets

 

The last key note of Asset Protection is on Protection of Households’ Intangible Assets.  To compose this note, let us explain the meaning of households’ intangible assets and how CENFACS can work with its community on this matter.  Since this is the last note, we shall as well deliver our final thought on theme of Asset Protection, theme of the Month of Protection.

 

• • What Are Household Intangible Assets?

 

It emerges from the asset protection literature that household intangible assets are non-physical items of value held by a household.  These items include knowledge, skills, reputation, and consumer relationships.  These assets are not tangible (that is material) like physical property.  Despite their immateriality aspect, they contribute to a household’s wealth and well-being.

These assets not every household possess them Poor households lack sufficient intangible assets; assets which could provide economic security ad opportunities for these households to escape from poverty.

But, what are these assets?

 

• • Types of Poor Households’ Intangible Assets

 

Among intangible assets that poor households may possess include the following ones:

 

≈ Social capital: Strong social networks and relationships can provide support, information, and opportunities

≈ Human capital: Skills, knowledge and education are valuable assets that can lead to better employment and income prospects

≈ Political capital: The ability to influence decisions and policies can protect the rights and interests of marginalised communities

≈ Cultural capital: Access to cultural resources and opportunities can enhance wellbeing and social mobility

≈ Access to credit: Financial inclusion and access to credit can make poor people to invest in and improve their livelihoods.

 

Household intangible assets are valuable as physical ones.  The lack of intangible assets can lead to economic hardships and limit access to education, better housing, and a better standard of living.  In other words, when households – especially the poorest ones – lack or have insufficient intangible assets, they may experience some difficulties in securing employment, accessing financial resources, receiving support in time of crisis, advocating for their needs, etc.

Some households making our community could be aware about the impact of limited intangible assets on them.  Others may not be informed about this impact.  For those households that would like to be aware and get more information about it, they can work with CENFACS on household intangible asset protection.

 

• • Working with the CENFACS Community Members on Intangible Asset Protection

 

It is about focussing on the various elements to make intangible asset protection works for them.  This involves a multi-faceted approach emphasising on education and awareness, legal support and asset-based development initiatives that leverage legal frameworks, seek licensing or franchising opportunities while ensuring that the transfer of creation of any intangible assets is properly done.

Therefore, working with them will be about helping them to

 

√ be informed about their rights in terms of intangible asset protection

√ know or learn areas of intangible asset protection policies, laws and regulations

√ formalise their rights (e.g., intellectual property rights)

√ secure contracts (where households have the right to exploit their assets)

√ maintain secrecy of their knowledge and skills against those who might misuse the information on them

√ license and franchise their intangible assets if necessary

√ understand legal frameworks that govern intangible asset protection

√ prioritise protection according to asset value

√ signpost them for assistance to intangible asset protection organisations

√ monitor their assets

√ adapt their asset protection strategies according to circumstances of life and economic situations

etc.

 

The above are just some of ways CENFACS could support the community regarding intangible asset protection.  These support services or products make up our financial guidance service relating to intangible asset protection.

 

• • Final Thought on Asset Protection

 

All households – rich and poor – need protection of their assets.  They require a set of strategies designed to safeguard their wealth from various risks.  Asset protection is even important for poor households.  This is whether it is about their finances or productive equipment or to enhance the quality of their life or their intangible belongings.

These assets need protection and are important for livelihood and asset-based poverty reduction.  There are strategies to protect them.  As we have shared together our knowledge on them throughout this asset protection, these strategies include social protection programmes, asset-building initiatives, legal and regulatory frameworks, financial inclusion programmes, educational and awareness programmes, asset transfer programmes, and asset protection trusts.  These strategies are helpful in keeping protecting household assets.  Without protection, it is difficult to see how household assets and their associated wealth can be properly passed onto future generations and avoid intergenerational asset-based poverty.

Those who need help and support about financial guidance on asset protection and/or for any of the matters listed above falling within our capacity or relating to the Protection Month, they can contact CENFACS.

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Climate-resilient Asset Building Programmes for Households

• Supporting Networking and Protection against Poverty in 2025

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) – Step/Workshop 10: Terminating Your Play, Run and Vote Projects

 

 

• Climate-resilient Asset Building Programme for Households (CrABP4Hs)

 

We are running a new programme starting from this week,  This programme is part of our aim of continuously empowering households, particularly those making our community.  The new programme, which is included in our Financial Controls Project, takes into account the elements of asset protection and Financial Resilience Programme for Households, which we ran last year at this time of the year.

To better introduce this new programme, let us briefly explain and provide the areas we have selected in order to work with households.

 

• • Basic Understanding of CrABP4Hs

 

CrABP4Hs is set of planned projects that focuses on improving the ability of homes and their occupants to withstand the impact of climate change, like extreme weather events, flooding and rising temperatures.  Through this programme, it is expected that homes will be more durable, energy-efficient, and adaptable to the changing climate, while supporting communities in building their overall resilience.

In the context of Financial Controls Project, CrABP4Hs will focus on ways of supporting households in building their overall resilience.  From this perspective, CrABP4Hs will include the following four elements which frame our work with these households:

 

≈ Capacity building

≈ Resilience into your home

≈ Financial incentives

≈ Supporting communities.

 

These elements will be looked at from the perspective of households since we are trying to work with them so that they could build their assets by adopting climate-resilient approach to these assets.  These elements make up the following working plan with them.

 

 

Let us kick off the first element of our CrABP4Hs, which is Capacity Building.

 

• • Climate-resilient Asset Building Programme for Households – In Focus from Wednesday 23/04/2025: Capacity Building

 

To work with households making our community so that they can build or strengthen the capacity they need in order to build their assets in a climate-resilient way, it is better to explain capacity building and its key aspects.

 

• • • What Is Capacity Building in the Context of CrABP?

 

Capacity building can be approached in many ways and areas of life.  In the context of a climate-resilient asset building programme, capacity building refers to enhancing the skills, knowledge and resources of individuals and organisations to effectively plan, design, construct, and manage assets that are resilient to climate impacts.  It is about strengthening the ability of communities and institutions to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change on their built environment.

Households can participate or even take a lead in the planning, designing, construction and management processes of their assets so that the latter could be resilient to climate impacts.  To participate, they need a certain level of capacity.  And they do not have it, they can build it.

 

• • • Essential of Aspects of Capacity Building for Households in the Context of CrABP

 

They include strengthening of technical skills, improving household capacity, empowering households’ communities, promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration, and access to resources.  Let us briefly explain each of these aspects.

 

Regarding the strengthening of skills, households can take basic training in climate-resilient building design, construction techniques, and the use of appropriate materials and techniques.  This training can help them understand if their home is climate-resilient or not.

Concerning the empowerment of households’ communities, every household has relations with a number of communities that make that household to live their life.  It is useful for households to engage with its communities in the planning and implementing climate-resilient assets if they want their needs and priorities to be properly met.

As to the improvement of household capacity, it is the ability of households to develop and implement climate-resilient policies, procedures, and practices.

As far as the promotion of knowledge sharing, it is possible for households to share their knowledge on climate-resilient building matters.  They can even create a platform for such sharing.

With regard to access to resources, it is desirable for households to have access to technical and financial resources they need to implement their climate-resilient asset projects or plans.

 

The above-mentioned aspects of capacity building show that it is possible for households to manage them.  For instance, being able to manage these aspects of capacity would enable households to easily communicate with maintenance personnel dealing with their properties. 

Those households that are struggling to develop their capacity in order to build climate-resilient assets, they can work with CENFACS.

For any queries and/or enquiries about Capacity Building in the context of CrABP as well as Climate-resilient Asset Building Programmes for Households (including how to access this programme), please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Supporting Networking and Protection against Poverty in 2025

 

The Month of Protection within CENFACS is also a giving one towards protection.  It is the month of supporting CENFACS’ Networking and Protection Project (NPP).  To support this project, one may need to understand it.

 

• • What Is CENFACS’ Networking and Protection Project?

 

It is a child poverty reduction initiative designed to help and support the vulnerably poor children from HARMS, THREATS and RISKS from any forms of exploitation, neglect and abuse in Africa.  The project helps and supports them through the improvement of the flow of information, knowledge development, self-help activities, the increase and diversification of opportunities and chances together with and on behalf of these children.

The project involves building and strengthening our connections within our community, fostering collaboration, and enhancing safety.

NPP contains three elements as follows.

 

a) Networking and protection for individual needs: It includes identifying protection needs for those in need of particular attention within our community, create networks of protectors, and implement safety measures to protect community members.

b) Networking and protection for community development: It is about connecting our members and sister organisations to poverty reduction spaces for resource sharing, knowledge exchange, and the development of protection and poverty-relieving solutions.

c) Networking and protection for a better world: It is about helping our members to be organised around shared concerns and work together to bring about a better world.

One can back this project by Supporting Networking and Protection against Poverty in 2025.

 

• • What Supporting Networking and Protection against Poverty in 2025 Is about

 

It is about the following:

 

√ Improving the flow of information with and amongst the vulnerable people and communities for poverty relief

√ Preventing and responding to any forms of vulnerability threats and risks coming from close and global environments by using protection tools and metrics at our disposal

√ Re-empowering the vulnerable by increasing and diversifying opportunities and strengths amongst them.

 

• • What Your Support Can Achieve

 

It will help

 

√ To raise awareness and improve the circulation and dissemination of information for poverty reduction and vulnerability relief

√ To prevent human exploitation (particularly child exploitation) and respond to child protection and safeguarding issues

√ To re-empower and re-strengthen poor people and communities’ capacities and capabilities to protect young generations

√ To widen and diversify opportunities to the vulnerable to escape from poverty

√ To develop a well-informed base to reduce information gap and other types of vulnerabilities linked to the lack of networking, interconnectedness and protection.

 

• • How to Support Networking and Protection against Poverty in 2025

 

You can DONATE, PLEDGE AND MAKE A GIFT AID DECLARATION of any amount as a way of supporting Networking and Protection against Poverty in 2025.

To donate, gift aid and or support differently, please contact CENFACS.

You can donate

 

*over phone

*via email

*through text

*by filling the contact form on this site. 

 

On receipt of your intent to donate or donation, CENFACS will contact you.  However, should you wish your support to remain anonymous; we will respect your wish.

 

 

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) – Step/Workshop 10: Terminating Your Play, Run and Vote Projects

 

There are various reasons that can lead to project termination.  ‘Taskmanagementguide.com’ (3) states that

“Failure and success are two basic reasons for terminating projects”.

The same ‘taskmanagementguide.com’ explains that success happens when project goals and objectives are accomplished on time and under budget, while failure occurs when project requirements are not met.

The above reasons for project termination can be related to the types of project termination to a certain degree; types which could be termination by addition or by integration or by starvation.  In the end, what is project termination?

 

• • Defining Project Termination

 

There are similarities in the definition of project termination.  To simplify the matter, let us refer to the definition of ‘taskmanagementguide.com’, which is

“Project termination is a situation when a given project is supposed to be closed or finalised because there’s no more need or sense for further continuation”.

Similarly, Project Management Institute (4) argues that

“Projects by definition are time bound, and must terminate”.

However, to effectively finalise a project, one needs to follow project closure procedures.

Let us follow project closure procedures to close out one of our all-year-round projects.

 

• • Example of Terminating Your All-year Round Projects: Case of Play Project

 

Realistically speaking, any of your All-year Round Projects close out just a week before 23/12/2025.  As explained above, there is a procedure for terminating them.  This procedure can be simple or complex depending on project.

Let say, you want to finalise your Play Project.  To do that, we are going to use a 8-step model of terminating a project as provided by ‘taskmanagementguide.com’ (op. cit.)

 

• • • Terminating Your Play All-year Round Project

 

To terminate your Play Project, you need proceed with the following:

 

a) Close any agreements you made with any third parties

(e.g., if you borrow materials from the library to research on poverty reduction performance of African countries, you need to close the given borrowing agreement by returning the materials, which can be a book, video, tape, etc.)

b) Handover responsibilities and accountabilities

(i.e., transfer assignments to your play mates)

c) If you have been playing with friends and family members, you will dismiss them

d) Release the resources used

(e.g., returning books to the lending library)

e) If you open a project book to record your results and accounts, you need to close it

f) Record and report your lessons learnt and experiences

g) Accept or reject your result which in this case should be the best African Country Poverty Reducer of 2025

h) Share your result with the community and CENFACS by 23/12/2025.

 

The above is one of the possible ways of terminating your All-year Round Projects.

For those who would like to dive deeper into Terminating their Play or Run or Vote project, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

• Protection des Animaux Menacés en Afrique : Le Cas des Bonobos

Nous continuons à plaider pour la protection des animaux (faune) en Afrique et ailleurs dans le monde en développement, où les animaux sont tués, commercialisés illégalement ou illicitement et disparaissent à un point tel que certaines espèces sont au bord de la disparition. L’un de ces animaux qui a besoin de protection est le bonobo.

• • Que sont les bonobos ?

En bref, les bonobos sont des grands singes en danger critique d’extinction que l’on ne trouve qu’en République Démocratique du Congo. Comme les chimpanzés, les bonobos partagent plus de 98 % de l’ADN avec les humains. Ils ne vivent qu’à un seul endroit et c’est un endroit isolé – au cœur de la forêt tropicale de la République Démocratique du Congo, selon l’African Wildlife Foundation (5).

• • État de conservation des bonobos

Selon l’African Wildlife Foundation, les bonobos sont de plus en plus menacés par les êtres humains, qui les ont tués au point de les mettre en danger. On estime qu’il reste entre 15 000 et 20 000 bonobos sauvages. Ils sont en danger critique d’extinction.

Leur nombre diminue pour trois raisons principales : le braconnage, les obstacles à l’application des lois sur la faune et la gestion de la conservation, et les maladies. Ces raisons et d’autres sont avancées par la plupart des défenseurs (ses) de l’environnement et des organisations environnementales – comme Treehugger (6) – qui travaillent sur la question.

• • Moyens d’aider à sauver les bonobos

Pour sauver la population de bonobos, les actions de protection suivantes peuvent être prises :

# Réduire et mettre fin au commerce illégal de viande de brousse

# Faire respecter les lois sur la faune sauvage et la gestion de la conservation en République Démocratique du Congo, en particulier autour de l’habitat des bonobos

# Lutter contre la destruction et la dégradation de l’habitat des bonobos

# Améliorer la conservation de l’agriculture et le développement urbain à proximité de l’habitat des bonobos

# Effectuer des reboisements près des sites de bonobos pour maintenir le bonobo habitats

# Traiter les maladies infectieuses liées aux agents pathogènes d’origine humaine et naturelle trouvés chez les bonobos

# Soutenir l’action du CENFACS sur la protection des animaux menacés en Afrique, en particulier le plaidoyer sur les “Grandes Bêtes“

# Faire un don à des organisations caritatives et autres organisations bénévoles travaillant sur la question des bonobos ou à des campagnes similaires

# Faire un don pour protéger les espèces vulnérables comme les bonobos.

Les membres de notre communauté qui souhaitent plaider avec nous pour la protection des bonobos sont invités à s’impliquer dans cette campagne de plaidoyer. D’autres personnes peuvent également se joindre à nous.

Les organisations africaines qui travaillent sur les bonobos et qui ont la même préoccupation que la nôtre, elles peuvent partager avec nous leur expérience et travailler sur cette question de la protection des bonobos.

Pour vous impliquer ou partager votre travail sur la protection des bonobos, veuillez contacter le CENFACS.

 

 

Main Development

 

• FACS Issue No. 87 of Spring 2025, Titled as African Charities and Finance for Climate and Poverty Reduction in Africa

 

The contents and key summaries of the 87th Issue of FACS are given below.

 

• • Contents and Pages

 

I. Key Terms Relating to the 87th Issue of FACS (Page 2)

II. Interconnectedness between African Charities, Climate Finance and Poverty Reduction Finance (Page 2)

III. Climate Finance Needs of African Charities (Page 3)

IV.  Climate Finance Challenges and Barriers Faced by African Charities (Page 3)

V. Climate Finance Opportunities for African Charities(Page 4)

VI. Climate and Poverty Reduction Finance Strategies and Tools for African Charities (Page 4)

VII.  Instruments Financiers Permettant aux Organisations Caritatives Africaines d’Accéder à des Fonds (Page 5)

VIII.  Améliorer la Planification des Projets des Organisations Caritatives Africaines en Tenant Compte du Climat et des Besoins des Pauvres(Page 5)

IX.  Alignement du Financement de l’Action Climatique et du Financement de la Réduction de la Pauvreté(Page 6)

X.  Intégration des Stratégies Relatives au Financement de l’Action Climatique et au Financement de la Réduction de la Pauvreté (Page 6)

XI. Survey, Testing Hypotheses, E-questionnaire and E-discussion on Climate Finance and Poverty Reduction Finance   (Page 7)

XII. Support, Tool and Metrics, Information and Guidance on Climate Finance and Poverty Reduction Finance (Page 8)

XIII. Workshop, Focus Group and Booster Activity about African Charites’ Work on Climate Finance and Poverty Reduction Finance (Page 9)

XIV. Giving and Project (Page 10)

 

• • Key Summaries

 

Please find below the key summaries of the 87th Issue of FACS from page 2 to page 10.

 

• • • Key Terms Relating to the 87th Issue of FACS (Page 2)

 

There are three terms used in the context of this Issue of FACS.  These terms are African charities, climate finance and poverty reduction finance.  Let us briefly explain these key terms.

 

• • • • African charities

 

To explain African charities, let us first clarify the word ‘charity’.  Our explanation of this word comes from ‘howcharitieswork.com’ (7) which provides three statements, which are:

 

“a) A charity’s aims have to fall into categories that the law says are charitable 

b) It has to be established exclusively for what is known as public benefit 

c) Charities can’t make profits (that is; all the money they raise has to go towards achieving their aims; a charity can’t have owners or shareholders who benefit from it)”.

The term African charities relate to charities from Africa.  We presume that our African counterpart charities would share the above-mentioned rules for charity.  We also assume that the law in African countries would classify the African charities we are talking about as charitable as it is in the UK.

 

• • • • Climate Finance

 

Climate Finance (CF) refers to financial resources mobilized to support climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts in developing countries.  It aims to help countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to the impacts of climate change.  It is critical element of the Paris Agreement with the Green Climate Fund being a key player.

According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (8), climate finance is described as

“Local, national or transnational financing – drawn from public, private and alternative sources of finance – that seeks to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address climate change” (p. 19)

Examples of CF initiatives include renewable energy projects, investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, supporting adaptation measures in vulnerable communities, etc.

To effectively combat climate change, African Charities need access to CF, but funding gaps persist in Africa.  African Charities also require finance to reduce poverty.

 

• • • • Poverty Reduction Finance (PRF)

 

PRF, which aims to improve lives like CF, refers to financial resources required to address the root causes and consequences of poverty.  PRF’s goal is to improve the living standards of people living in poverty, increase their income, and empower them to participate in economic and social life.

Examples of PRF projects include microfinance, investment in education and healthcare, social safety nets, and programmes to promote economic development.

The above-named three key terms shape the contents of the 87th Issue of FACS.

 

 

• • • Interconnectedness between African Charities, Climate Finance and Poverty Reduction Finance (Page 2)

 

Charities (here African charities), climate finance and poverty reduction finance are interconnected because climate change disproportionally impacts the poor, exacerbating poverty and hindering development.

Climate finance, which supports both mitigation and adaptation efforts, can help reduce poverty by mitigating climate change impacts and building resilience in vulnerable communities.  Charities play an important role in both providing direct aid, advocating for policy changes and collaborating with governments and international organisations to ensure that climate finance is accessible and effective for the most vulnerable populations.

If one focuses on charities to explain this interconnectedness, one can argue that charities provides direct assistance to climate change-affected communities, advocate so that climate finance is effectively used to support poverty reduction efforts, collaborate with stakeholders on climate finance issues, and build capacity to manage climate risks and access climate funds.

For instance, during COP29 in Baku (9) charities advocated for the delivery of pledges made on climate finance and poverty reduction finance.  At this COP29, developed nations pledged to channel $300 billion a year into developing countries by 2035 to support their efforts to deal with climate change.

 

• • • Climate Finance Needs of African Charities   (Page 3)

 

African Charities need funding to address climate change and work with communities on climate change matter.  According to the website ‘climatepolicyinitiative,org’ (10),

“Due to a lack of capacity and guidance to make accurate assessments and a lack of data, it is sometimes difficult to estimate their needs”.

They need both mitigation and adaptation resources, but mostly they require to meet investment adaptation needs which are underfunded.  Their needs are not properly represented since climate finance flows are unevenly distributed between regions and sectors across Africa.  Raising funds from their project beneficiaries and members for climate purposes is limited and the private sector can only provide a tiny portion of the climate finance they need.  Briefly, there is a genuine need from African Charities to raise climate finance.  However, many of these African Charities face barriers or challenges regarding climate finance.

 

• • • Climate Finance Challenges and Barriers Faced by African Charities (Page 3)

 

There are challenges and barriers that African countries face in accessing public and private climate finance. The African Climate Conversation (11) explains that these barriers are commonly similar to challenges in mobilising other types of developmental finance including an instable political context, a volatile macroeconomic situation, and weak institutional and regulatory frameworks.

African charities too face these challenges and barriers for accessing and mobilising climate finance in Africa.  These challenges are both internal and external in the countries they operate. 

Internally, they face weak institutions or institutional capacity relating to weak or lack of internal capacity and weak systems, lack of locally relevant data, etc.  Externally, they are confronted with funding levels, international public finance terms (like debt, risk and liquidity).

Despite these challenges and barriers, there are opportunities or African charities can create their own windows of opportunities.

 

• • • Climate Finance Opportunities for African Charities (Page 4)

 

Climate finance opportunities can be scaled up or African charities can create their own ones.  African charities can create their favourable conditions by proceeding with the following:

 

~ Improving their climate project planning and budgeting

~ Involving in locally-led climate finance initiatives

~ Enhancing collaboration and partnership over climate finance

~ Increasing diverse use of climate finance instruments (for instance, the use of concessional finance which can act as flexible and accessible finance tool)

etc.

 

By proceeding with the above practices, African charities will be in a better position to grab climate finance opportunities offered to them.

 

• • • Climate and Poverty Reduction Finance Strategies and Tools for African Charities (Page 4)

 

There are strategies and tools that African charities can use to undertake climate planning and frame their investment bid.  In practical terms, they can use finance tools below.

 

a) Climate finance tools

 

They are as follows.

~ Climate budget tagging: It helps identify and track climate-related expenditures with a budget.

~ Green budgeting: It involves embedding climate targets and measures into the budget process.

~ Tools like Excel-based system can assist decision-makers in prioritizing climate action plans and evaluating initiatives.

 

b) Poverty reduction finance strategies and tools

 

They include loans, grants and other financial interventions aimed at lifting individuals and communities out of poverty. They imply strategies that improve economic opportunities, access to resources, and overall well-being, ultimately seeking to achieve sustainable poverty reduction.  African charities use these strategies (like micro-finance, poverty alleviation funds, micro-finance for livelihoods, etc.) to lift their beneficiaries out of poverty.

 

• • • Instruments Financiers Permettant aux Organisations Caritatives Africaines d’Accéder à des Fonds (Page 5)

 

Il existe différents instruments que les organisations caritatives africaines peuvent utiliser pour accéder aux fonds.  Parmi ces instruments, on peut citer le financement par fonds propres (comme les actions et les obligations) et diverses formes de garanties et d’investissements en quasi-fonds propres.  D’autres options comprennent des partenariats avec le secteur privé, des outils d’atténuation des risques et des instruments tels que le paiement des services écosystémiques.

Par exemple, le financement individuel et communautaire sous forme de microfinancement, de financement participatif et de programmes de prêts communautaires peut permettre aux organisations caritatives africaines d’accéder à des fonds.

De plus, les organisations caritatives africaines peuvent accéder à des fonds par l’intermédiaire d’institutions locales dotées de capacités et d’habilitations en tirant parti des connaissances locales, des relations et de la capacité de ces institutions à attirer et à gérer des fonds.  Il s’agit notamment d’utiliser les entreprises communautaires locales, d’attirer des investissements par le biais de partenaires locaux et de s’engager avec les locaux pour des initiatives de financement et de politique. 

 

• • • Améliorer la Planification des Projets des Organisations Caritatives Africaines en Tenant Compte du Climat et des Besoins des Pauvres (Page 5)

 

Pour améliorer la planification des projets qui reflète les besoins du climat et des pauvres en Afrique, les projets des organisations caritatives africaines doivent être conçus en tenant compte de l’action climatique communautaire, en se concentrant sur le renforcement de la résilience et l’adaptation aux conditions changeantes.

Il s’agit de favoriser les partenariats, de s’engager dans une planification urbaine intégrée et de mettre en œuvre des projets pilotes pour relever des défis spécifiques.  Dans ce processus de planification, il est également important de sensibiliser les gens aux impacts des changements climatiques et à l’importance des solutions locales.

 

• • • Alignement du Financement de l’Action Climatique et du Financement de la Réduction de la Pauvreté (Page 6)

 

Il est possible d’aligner le financement de l’action climatique et le financement de la réduction de la pauvreté.  Selon le Fonds Monétaire International (12)

« Pour aligner le financement de l’action climatique sur le financement de la réduction de la pauvreté, il faut veiller à ce que les efforts d’action climatique contribuent également aux buts et objectifs de réduction de la pauvreté.  Cet objectif est atteint grâce à la combinaison de stratégies, notamment l’intégration des considérations climatiques dans les plans de réduction de la pauvreté ou de développement, la priorité accordée aux populations vulnérables dans le financement de la lutte contre le changement climatique et la garantie que les politiques climatiques n’ont pas d’impact négatif sur les pauvres.

Le financement de l’action climatique et le financement de la réduction de la pauvreté peuvent être alignés car ils sont étroitement liés.  Le premier joue un rôle essentiel dans le soutien du second.  En mettant l’accent sur l’adaptation et l’atténuation, la création d’emplois verts et l’assurance d’un accès équitable aux ressources ; le financement de l’action climatique peut contribuer à la réduction de la pauvreté et à l’édification de communautés plus résilientes et durables.

 

• • • Intégration des Stratégies Relatives au Financement de l’Action Climatique et au Financement de la Réduction de la Pauvreté  (Page 6)

 

Il s’agit d’aligner le financement de l’action climatique sur les plans et les priorités de développement, de maximiser les co–bénéfices entre l’action climatique et la réduction de la pauvreté, et de veiller à ce que les populations les plus vulnérables bénéficient des investissements climatiques.  L’intégration garantira que les investissements climatiques répondent également aux besoins sociaux et économiques, en favorisant une croissance inclusive et en réduisant les vulnérabilités au changement climatique. 

Par exemple, l’action climatique des organisations caritatives africaines, en particulier l’atténuation et l’adaptation, peut s’attaquer directement à la pauvreté en réduisant la pauvreté énergétique et en aidant leurs utilisateurs à accéder à des actifs résilients au climat.  De même, les efforts de réduction de la pauvreté peuvent contribuer à la résilience climatique en renforçant la protection des pauvres, en améliorant leur accès aux services essentiels et en leur donnant les moyens de faire face aux impacts climatiques.

 

 

• • •  Survey, Testing Hypotheses, E-questionnaire and E-discussion on Climate Finance and Poverty Reduction Finance (Page 7)

 

• • • • Survey on the effectiveness of climate finance and poverty reduction finance in achieving climate and poverty reduction goals via African Charities

 

The survey is on how climate finance and poverty reduction finance intersect and whether they effectively address both environmental challenges and social inequality, particularly for African Charities that use both types of funds.

The purpose of this survey is to collect information from a sample of our Africa-based Sister Organisations and community members regarding their perception on this effectiveness.

Participation to this survey is voluntary.

As part of the survey, we are running a questionnaire which contains some questions.  Two of these questions are:

 

Q: What is the role of climate finance in reducing carbon emissions, building resilience to climate change impacts and alleviating poverty induced by climate change?

Q: Will cuts in international aid reduce efforts to poverty reduction or provide a new window of opportunities for poverty reduction finance?

 

You can respond and directly send your answer to CENFACS.

 

 

• • • • Testing hypotheses about causal relationships or intersection between climate finance and poverty reduction finance

 

Testing the hypotheses about the relationship between climate finance and poverty reduction finance examines how financial resources for climate action (mitigation and adaptation) impact poverty reduction efforts and vice versa.  It explores if and how investments in climate initiatives can simultaneously alleviate poverty, and if poverty reduction strategies can be effective in achieving climate goals.  This also involves understanding the potential for both to be mutually supportive, as well as identifying potential trade-offs.

For those of our members who would like to dive deep into the relationship between climate finance and poverty reduction finance, they can test the inference of the following hypotheses:

 

a.1) Null hypothesis (Ho): Climate finance can boost poverty reduction

a.2) Alternative hypothesis (H1): Climate finance cannot boost poverty reduction

b.1) Null hypothesis (Ho): Poverty reduction can support climate action

b.2) Alternative hypothesis (H1): Poverty reduction can support climate action.

 

The above tests are for those of our members who would like to dive deep into the relationship between climate finance and poverty reduction finance.  In order to conduct these tests, one needs data.

 

• • • • E-question on your view about climate finance and poverty reduction finance

 

Both climate finance and poverty reduction finance aim to improve lives in Africa.  This can raise the following question:

 

Q: Does Africa require the same amount of finance for climate and poverty reduction?  In other words, should climate finance be aligned with poverty reduction finance in Africa?

 

Any of our readers and users can answer the above-mentioned question.  You can provide your answer directly to CENFACS.

For those answering any of this question and needing first to discuss the matter, they can contact CENFACS.

 

• • • • E-discussion on integrating climate action and poverty reduction via finance

 

The e-discussion is on how investing in climate-resilient initiatives in Africa can help protect communities from climate shocks while reducing poverty.

For those of our members who may have any views or thoughts or even experience to share with regard to this matter, they can join our e-discussion to exchange their views or thoughts or experience with others.

To e-discuss with us and others, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• • • Support, Tool and Metrics, Information and Guidance on Climate Finance and Poverty Reduction Finance (Page 8)

 

• • • • Ask CENFACS for Guidance regarding Climate Finance and Poverty Reduction Finance

 

Need some guidance regarding climate finance and poverty reduction finance, CENFACS can guide you on the following:

 

~ finding climate finance instruments

~ identifying potential funding sources

~ assessing financial viability of your projects

~ ensuring that projects align with sustainability goals.

 

The above-mentioned areas of guidance can also be done through capacity building, advocacy, advice, networking, signposting, etc.

For those African Charities, especially CENFACS‘ Africa-based Sister Organisations, that are looking for guidance or direction for dealing with Climate Finance and Poverty Reduction Finance issues, CENFACS is prepared to work with them on this matter.

CENFACS can work with them to explore ways of aligning their mission with the goals of reducing poverty and adverse impacts of climate change.

We can work with them under our International Advice-, Guidance- and Information-giving Service.  We can as well signpost them to organisations working on Climate Finance and Poverty Reduction Finance.

Need advice, guidance and information; please contact CENFACS for support.

 

• • • • Tools and metrics of the 87th Issue of FACS

 

The 87th Issue of FACS uses four tools or metrics which are: the Index of Alignment, Metrics that track climate funds and poverty reduction funds, the Multidimensional Poverty Index and Poverty Gap Ratio.

 

Let us briefly explain these tools or metrics.

 

• • • • • Index of Alignment

 

There is not one single universally recognised index that directly measures the alignment of climate finance with poverty reduction.  The UK uses International Climate Finance (ICF) framework and its Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to align climate finance with poverty.  The UK uses KPIs to measure the effectiveness of ICF, in particular the ones below.

 

KPI 2.1: It measures the number of people with improved access to clean energy.

KPI 6: It quantifies tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions reduced or avoided.

KPI 4: It informs about the number of people whose resilience has been improved.

 

These KPIs are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG13 (Climate Action) and SDG1 (No Poverty).

 

• • • • • Metrics that track climate funds and poverty reduction funds

 

The 87th Issue of FACS considers metrics like total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Scope 1 and 2), portfolio alignment with climate targets, and climate value-at-risk to assess potential financial impacts of climate change.  It also focuses on both financial and social impact metrics, including budget adherence, cost per outcome, and measure of poverty reduction like headcount poverty gap, and multidimensional poverty indices, as well as access to education, healthcare, and basic infrastructure.

Two of these metrics (that is, Multidimensional Poverty Index and Poverty Gap) are explained below.

 

• • • • • Poverty tool and metrics: The Multidimensional Poverty Index and Poverty Gap Ratio

 

a) The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

 

According to ‘hdr.undp.org’ (13),

“MPI is the proportion of the population that is multidimensionally poor adjusted by the intensity of the deprivations” (p. 26).

It is also a measure of the relationship between poverty and peace.

The same ‘hdr.undp.org’ states that

“83.2 percent of the world’s 1.1 billion multidimensionally poor people live in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.  Sub-Saharan Africa has 553 million people living in poverty and South Asia 402 million” (p. 1)

 

b) Poverty Gap Ratio

 

This is an interesting metrics of poverty as it measures the intensity of poverty.

The online ‘marketbusinessnews.com’ (14) explains that

“The poverty gap ratio or poverty gap index is the average of the ratio of the poverty gap to the poverty line.  Economists and statisticians express it as a percentage of the poverty line for a region or whole country…The poverty gap ratio considers how far, on the average, poor people are from poverty line”.

African Charities can use it to compare how far the poor are from the poverty line.

The above tools and metrics can be used in dealing with the work of African Charities, climate finance and poverty reduction finance.

For example, one can use the poverty gap ratio to measure the average shortfall of the income poor women in Africa from the poverty line.

 

 

 

• • • • Information and guidance on climate finance and poverty reduction finance

 

Information and Guidance include two types areas of support via CENFACS, which are:

 

a) Information and guidance on climate finance and poverty reduction finance

b) Signposts to improve Users’ Experience about impact investing in climate finance and poverty reduction finance.

 

• • • • • Information and guidance on climate finance and poverty reduction finance

 

Those Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) that are looking for information and guidance on climate finance and that do not know what to do, CENFACS can work with them (via needs assessment conducted under CENFACS’ International Advice Service) or provide them with leads about other organisations, institutions and services that can help them.

We can provide information and guidance to address climate finance issues and support to ASOs to reduce poverty and address the impacts of climate change.  The support aims to help ASOs adapt to climate change, pursuit low-carbon development, manage resources sustainably, etc.

 

• • • • • Signposts to improve Users’ Experience about impact investing in climate finance and poverty reduction finance

 

For those who are looking for whereabout to find help about impact investing in climate finance and poverty reduction finance, we can direct them to the relevant services and organisations.

More tips and hints relating to the matter can be obtained from CENFACS‘ Advice-giving Service and Sessions.

Additionally, you can request from CENFACS a list of organisations and services providing help and support in the area of climate finance, although the Issue 87 does not list them.  Before making any request, one needs to specify the kind of organisations and information they are looking for.

To make your request, just contact CENFACS with your name and contact details.

 

 

• • • Workshop, Focus Group and Booster Activity about African Charities and Their Links with Climate Finance and Poverty Reduction Finance   (Page 9)

 

 

• • • • Mini themed workshop on climate finance and poverty reduction finance 

 

It is a training or learning event that focuses on how to mobilise, manage, and utilise funding to address both climate change and poverty.  It aims to educate participants about climate finance mechanisms, sustainable finance principles, and how to integrate poverty reduction considerations into climate-resilient projects and investments.

Key aspects of the workshop will include understanding climate finance, sustainable finance principles, integrating poverty reduction, capacity building, networking and collaboration.

The workshop will cover climate finance development, addressing climate finance and poverty, climate-resilient development, sustainable finance, green economy, and disaster risk financing.

The workshop aims at supporting those without or with less information and knowledge about climate finance and poverty reduction finance .  Those who need an in-depth climate finance skills training assessment are also welcome.   The workshop will provide recommendations for actions with options and opportunities for the participants.

To enquire about the workshop, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• • • • Focus group on climate finance and poverty reduction finance

 

This is a qualitative research method to be used to explore how people perceive the relationship between the two topics (that is, climate finance and poverty reduction finance).  The focus group will bring together a small group of individuals (between 6 and 10) making the CENFACS Community to discuss their ideas, experiences, and perspectives on how climate finance can be used to reduce poverty.

The focus group will help understand needs, inform policy, promote ownership, identify barriers, and test new ideas about climate finance and poverty reduction finance.

To take part in the focus group, group that will use deliberative practice strategies, please contact CENFACS.

 

• • • • Booster activity: ‘Talking to Climate and Poverty Reduction Experts’

 

This user involvement activity revolves around the answers to the following question:

 

Q: Do you talk to a sustainable development advisor or a climate and development specialist or climate finance and poverty reduction consultant about issues relating to climate finance and poverty reduction finance? 

 

Those who would like to answer this question and participate to our ‘Talking to Climate and Poverty Reduction Experts’ Activity, they are welcome.

To take part in this activity, please contact CENFACS.

 

• • • Giving and Project (Page 10)

 

• • • • Readers’ giving

 

You can support FACS, CENFACS bilingual newsletter, which explains what is happening within and around CENFACS.

FACS also provides a wealth of information, tips, tricks and hacks on how to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.

You can help to continue its publication and to reward efforts made in producing it.

To support, just contact CENFACS on this site.

 

• • • • Project Integrating Climate Finance and Poverty Reduction Finance (PICFPRF)

 

PICFPRF is an integrative initiative that strategically directs financial resources to benefit both climate action and poverty reduction efforts.  It is a project that help ensure that climate action benefits the most vulnerable populations and contributes to sustainable development goals.

PICFPRF involves channelling funds towards activities that simultaneously tackle climate change and reduce poverty.  It will ensure that climate action funds are aligned with poverty reduction funds in Africa.

The real aim of this project is to reduce and possibly end poverty linked to the lack of climate action funds and poverty reduction funds.

To support or contribute to PICFPRF, please contact CENFACS.

For further details including the implementation plan of the PICFPRF, please contact CENFACS.

The full copy of the 87th Issue of FACS is available on request.

For any queries and comments about this Issue, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

_________

 

• References

 

(1) https://reliefweb.int/disaster/fl-2025-000045-cod (accessed in April 2025)

(2) https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/04/1162261 (accessed in April 2025),

(3) www.taskmanagementguide.com/glossary/what-is-project-termination-.php (Accessed in April 2023)

(4) https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/project-termination-delay-1931 (Accessed in April 2023 )

(5) https://www.awf.org/blog/endangered-bonobo-africas-forgotten-ape (accessed in April 2025)

(6) https://www.treehugger.com/bonobos-endangered-5217207 (accessed in April 2025)

(7) https://howcharitieswork.com/about-charities/what-is-a-charity/ (accessed in October 2024)

(8) Frettas, A. S. & Mwanki, G., (2024), Climate Finance in Africa: An Overview of climate finance flows, challenges and opportunities, Ed. UNDP

(9) https://www.carbonbrief.org/cop29-key-outcomes-agreed-at-the-un-climate-talks-in-baku/ (accessed in December 2024)

(10) https://www.climatepolicyinitiative,org/publication/climate-finance-needs-of-african-countries/ (accessed in April 2025)

(11) https://www.bii.co.uk/en/african-climate-conversation/improving-access-to-climate-finance-for-enhanced-climate-action-in-africa/ (accessed in April 2025)

(12) https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/2021/09/climate-change-and-inequality-guivarch-mejean-taconet (accessed in April 2025)

(13) https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/hdp-document/mpireport2024.pdf (accessed in January 2025)

(14) https://marketbusinessnews.com/information-on-credit/gap-ratio–definition-meaning (accessed in August 2023)

_________

 

• 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.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

16 April 2025

Post No. 400

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Coming Next Week’s Sunday 27/04/2025: The 15th Edition of CENFACS Reflection Day with a Focus on Protection and Security of Women and Children against Extreme Weather Events

• Protection Key Note 3 from Wednesday 16/04/2025: Protection of Households’ Quality-of-life-enhancing Assets

• Activity 4 of the Economic Inclusion Programme for Households’ Opportunity: A Survey on Adaptive Safety Net Schemes

 

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Coming Next Week’s Sunday 27/04/2025: The 15th Edition of CENFACS Reflection Day with a Focus on Protection and Security of Women and Children against Extreme Weather Events

 

On our Reflection Day, we will reflect on ways of tackling extreme weather events.

Regarding these events, the World Economic Forum (1) notes that

“Over the last year, we have witnessed a multitude of extreme weather events amplified by climate change… The risk associated with extreme weather events is a key concern for the year ahead, with 14% of respondents selecting it”.

Extreme weather events and their associated risk are also a concern for CENFACS Community members, who would like to reflect on them during the 15th Edition of CENFACS Reflection Day.

To introduce the 15th Edition of CENFACS Reflection Day, let us first define extreme weather events, then summarily highlight their impacts and indicate the contents of the Reflection Day.

 

• • What Are Extreme Weather Events?

 

Extreme Weather Events can be approached in various ways.  In the context of the 15th Edition of CENFACS Reflection Day, we would like to refer to what Professor David Karoly (2) of the University of Melbourne argues that them.  Professor Karoly speaks about an extreme (weather or climate) event and refers to Oxford Dictionary definitions about extreme and event.  The definitions he gives are:

# extreme is about reaching a high or the highest degree, very great

# event is a thing that happens or takes place, especially one of importance.

From his perspective, extreme event is the occurrence of a value (or below) a threshold value near the upper (or lower) ends of the range of its observed values in a specific region.

This nearing of a threshold value the upper (or lower) ends of observed values can have a serious impact on human and material lives.  In our Reflection Day, we shall think of these impacts on women and children.

 

• • Impacts of Extreme Weather Events (EWEs)

 

There are evidences and examples explaining how EWEs are impacting women and children, particularly but not limited to Africa.

For instance, the website ‘unfccc.int’ (3) explains that

“In some African countries, many men are migrating from rural to urban areas to find employment, a trend driven by extreme weather events, leaving women behind in charge of land and the household but not necessarily with the respective legal rights or social authority to do so”.

The same ‘unfccc.int’ mentions other impacts relating to EWEs (like storms, floods and heatwaves) such as increase in gender-based violence.

Similarly, Save the Children (4) argues that

“About one in 8 children globally have been significantly impacted by the 10 biggest extreme weather events so far this year [2024] having to flee their homes, become reliant on aid or missing out on school”.

Save the Children gives the following examples:

# Flooding across West and Central Africa that forced 10 million children out of school

# Drought in Southern Africa which the United Nations says it is the worst in over 100 years, putting 12.2 million children in need of humanitarian assistance

# Children were impacted by other instances of floods, cyclones and monsoons across Bangladesh, the Horn of Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Brazil.

The above-mentioned data, facts and quotes indicate that EWEs are negatively impacting women and children.  It is this impact that we would like to reflect upon in terms of protection of women and children on our Reflection Day.

 

• • What Our Reflection Will Be about

 

Our Reflection Day will try to look at ways of protecting and give sense of security to women and children from EWEs, which are the second risk in change in short-term (2 years) global risks perception in terms of the state of level of concern, according to the World Economic Forum (op. cit.).  In particular, we shall reflect on ways of Protecting and Providing a Sense of Security to Women and Children against Floods, Drought, Heatwaves, etc.

More on the Reflection Day can be found under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• Protection Key Note 3 from Wednesday 16/04/2025: Protection of Households’ Quality-of-life-enhancing Assets

 

Quality-of-life-enhancing Assets are another type of assets that poor households may possess.  These assets need protection.  Before looking at ways of protecting these assets, let us explain them, give some examples of them and our guidance to these households on them.

 

• • What Are Households’ Quality-of-life-enhancing Assets?

 

Households’ Quality-of-life-enhancing Assets (HQoleAs) are possessions or resources that directly improve the well-being and comfort of households, including possessions or resources that do not directly generate income.  HQoleAs help households improve their living standards/conditions and provide amenities.  In doing so, they enhance the overall quality of life for household members.

Quality of life can be subjectively understood in the terms of the World Heath Organisation’s definition, definition quoted by ‘berkeleywellbeing.com’ (5), as

“An individual’s perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns”.

The standard of living can be objectively defined as an indicator that provides some of the basic factors needed to afford one the choices in life that define quality of life, argued by the same ‘berkeleywellbeing.com’.

Examples of these assets are giving below.

 

• • Examples of HQoleAs

 

We can mention the following:

 

# housing as a basic need (the quality of house that households may have)

# infrastructure (e.g., electricity, clean water, sanitation, internet, etc.)

# amenities or home appliances (e.g., refrigerators, washing machines, TV, and stoves)

# vehicles as necessity for transportation and work

# green spaces (for instance, access to parks, gardens and other spaces can improve mental and physical health of household members)

# social interactions (can enhance household members’ overall quality of life)

# education, skills development and healthcare (can improve the wellbeing of household members)

etc.

 

These assets can contribute to households’ comfort, convenience, and overall satisfaction with their living conditions and daily experiences.  However, they need protection.

 

• • Protection of HQoleAs

 

Protecting HQoleAs is about safeguarding possessions, resources and conditions that contribute to households’ quality of life.  It is the protection of physical assets like property and infrastructure, as well as intangible assets such as social connections and access to opportunities.  To protect them, one needs to use some strategies.

Protection strategies for HQoleAs will include regular maintenance of HQoleAs, safety measures, guaranteed access to services like education and healthcare, etc.  Let us explain further these strategies.

 

• • • Protection strategies for HQoleAs

 

Protection strategies will cover both physical and intangible assets.

 

• • • • Protection of households’ quality-of-life-enhancing physical assets

 

It involves regularly maintaining property and infrastructure, implementing safety systems and insurance, and investing in secure storage for valuable possessions.

 

• • • • Protection of households’ quality-of-life-enhancing intangible assets

 

It includes ensuring access to affordable and quality healthcare services for all, investing in education and training programme, providing affordable housing options and fostering a sense of community, protecting natural environment, encouraging healthy relationships or social connections, building supportive networks, ensuring safe and secure environment, etc.

 

Those households that will enjoy the above-mentioned elements of protection strategies will feel safe and secure.  Some of them may know or learn by themselves how to protect their quality-of-life-enhancing physical and intangible assets.  Others may not know or simply have some gap in information and knowledge on the way of protecting their quality-of-life-enhancing physical and intangible assets.  For the latter ones, CENFACS can work with them or guide them to the kind of protection they will be looking for their quality-of-life-enhancing physical and intangible assets.

 

• • CENFACS’ Guidance on Protection of Households’ Quality-of-life-enhancing Assets

 

There is a number of ways that CENFACS can work with the members of its community to enhance Protection of Households’ Quality-of-life-enhancing Assets.  We can work together to access or improve the way they are trying to access or approach protection relating to Quality-of-life-enhancing Assets.  Amongst these ways of working with the members of our community to enhance their asset protection include the ones given below.

Under this provision of Guidance on Protection, we can support our members in the following ways:

 

σ Inform them about the various options available to them regarding Protection of Households’ Quality-of-life-enhancing Assets

σ Signpost them for support to organisations dealing with Protection of Households’ Quality-of-life-enhancing Assets

σ Refer them to voluntary organisations dealing with Protection of Households’ Quality-of-life-enhancing Assets.

 

The above are just some of ways CENFACS could support the community regarding Protection of Households’ Quality-of-life-enhancing Assets.  These support services or products make up our asset guidance service relating to Protection of Households’ Quality-of-life-enhancing Assets.

Those who need help and support about Protection of Households’ Quality-of-life-enhancing Assets and/or for any of the matters listed above falling within our capacity, they can contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Activity 4 of the Economic Inclusion Programme for Households’ Opportunity: A Survey on Adaptive Safety Net Schemes (From 30/04/2025)

 

Activity 4 is about a list of questions aimed for extracting specific data from the members of the CENFACS Community on Opportunity for Adaptive Safety Net Schemes.  To introduce this Activity 4, which will be held from 30/04/2025, let us explain Adaptive Safety Net Schemes, provide their contents and the selected question from this survey.

 

• • Explaining Adaptive Safety Net Schemes (ASNSs)

 

It emerges from the protection literature that Adaptive Safety Net Schemes – also known as Adaptive Social Protection – are social protection programmes designed to build resilience in vulnerable populations by anticipating and responding to shocks like climate change and economic downturns.  Perhaps, the best way to dive into their explanation is to unveil their contents.

 

• • Examples of ASNSs

 

The survey of protection literature on ASNSs provides the following components:

 

# Financial transfers (i.e., cash or in-kind transfers)

# Productive inclusion (e.g., access to income-earning opportunities)

# Infrastructure development (for instance, access to essential services like water and sanitation)

# Disaster risk reduction (such as building resilient infrastructure)

# Climate change adaptation (like promotion of drought-resistant crops and improving water management practices)

Etc.

 

If we take, for instance, cash transfer programmes, they can help poor households overcome liquidity constraints and invest in productive activities. It is not a surprise if ‘capacity4dev.europa.eu’ (6) argues that

“Adaptive social protection instruments are important for people, irrespective of where they are in the life cycle”.

Similarly, the World Bank (7) recognises that safety nets build resilience and protect vulnerable households from impacts of economic shocks, natural disasters, and other crises.

There are different schemes about safety nets depending on needs, countries and those who put them in place.

For instance, social safety nets (or social assistance) are non-contributory transfer programmes generally targeted to the poor or those vulnerable to shocks.  They include cash transfers, food or other in-kind distribution, fee waivers to enable essential consumption, etc.

If one considers the benefits cash transfers, they will know that cash transfers can allow households to smooth consumption, access credit, and invest.  However, there could a problem in the design of cash transfer programmes.

The survey is a bout this design problem.  As part of this survey, we are asking the question below.

 

• • Question Relating to the Survey

 

One of the questions making this survey is:

 

Is the design of cash transfer programmes you know tailored to your local contexts that consider factors like market functionality, seasonality, and gender considerations, or simply done to enable recipients to have some cash for basic consumption?

 

Those who may be interested in the survey can directly answer the question to CENFACS by 30/04/2025.

Those members of the CENFACS Community who would like to get involved in the survey can contact CENFACS.

For any other queries and or enquiries about this survey on Economic Inclusion Programme for Households’ Opportunity, please communicate with CENFACS.

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Protection of Endangered Animals in Africa: The Case of Bonobos

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) – Step/Workshop 9: Reviewing Your Play, Run and Vote Projects

• Triple Value Initiatives (TVIs)/All-year Round Projects (AYRPs) Journaling Activity: Write a Journal of Your TVI/AYRP Cycle

 

 

• Protection of Endangered Animals in Africa: The Case of Bonobos

 

We continue to advocate for the protection of animals (fauna) in Africa and elsewhere in developing world whereby animals get killed, illegally or illicitly traded and extinct to such extent that some species are at the brink of disappearing.  One of these animals that need protection is bonobo.

 

• • What Are Bonobos?

 

Briefly speaking, bonobos are critically endangered great ape only found in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Like chimpanzees, bonobos share more than 98 percent of DNA with humans.  They live only in one a place and it is remote place – deep in the rainforest of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to African Wildlife Foundation (8).

 

• • Conservation Status of Bonobos

 

According to African Wildlife Foundation, bonobos are increasingly at risk from human beings, who have killed them off to the point of endangerment.  There are an estimated 15,000-20,000 wild bonobos remaining.  They are critically endangered.

Their numbers are decreasing due to three main reasons: poaching, barriers to enforce wildlife laws and conservation management, and disease.  These reasons and other ones are put forward by most of the conservationists and environmental organisations – like Treehugger (9) – working on the issue.

 

• • Ways of Helping to Save Bonobos

 

To save the bonobo population, the following protection actions can be taken:

 

#Reduce and end the illegal trade of bushmeat

# Enforce wildlife laws and conservation management in the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially around the bonobo habitat

# Tackle bonobo habitat destruction and degradation

# Improve agriculture conservation and urban development in the vicinity of the bonobo habitat

# Carry out afforestation near bonobo sites to maintain the bonobo habitats

# Treat infectious diseases linked to human borne and natural pathogens found in bonobos

# Support CENFACS‘ action on the Protection of Endangered Animals in Africa, particularly the Big Beasts advocacy

# Donate to charities and other voluntary organisations working on the bonobo issue or similar campaigns

# Make a gift to protect vulnerable species like bonobos.

 

Those members of our community who are interested in advocating with us for the protection of Bonobos, they are welcome to get involved in this advocacy drive. Other individuals can also join in.

Those African organisations working on bonobo matter and have the same concern like ours, they can share with us their experience and work on this matter of protecting the Bonobos.

To get involved or share your work about the protection of Bonobos, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) – Step/Workshop 9: Reviewing Your Play, Run and Vote Projects

 

You can start reviewing Your Play, Run and Vote Projects, while the monitoring and observability of the same projects are still going on.  But, what are project reviews?

 

•  •  Basic Understanding of Project Reviews

 

Project reviews can be explained in many ways depending on any approaches taken.  Referring to the explanation of ‘fox-plan.com’ (10),

“A project review is an evaluation of the current progress of a project at a specific point of the project (milestone)… A project review will provide you with a thorough knowledge of the current status of your project and if it is on track to meet your success criteria”.

There can be many or staggered reviews in a project depending on a project size, scope, scale, progress, complexity and resource availability.  These different reviews can include initial review, completion review, special review and follow-up review.  Also, to better review a project it is preferable to design a review process with guidelines, evidence and tools.

 

 

• • Example of Reviewing Your All-year Round Projects

 

Let us consider Voting Your 2025 International Development and Poverty Reduction Manager.

In order to review your Vote Project, you will proceed with the following three review tasks:

 

a) Examine and audit your planned tasks, activities, procedures, events and other work about the project

b) Identify if the amount of work you put in your project responded to your Vote Project requirements

c) Work out additional resources to help you complete the project.

 

The above is a simple version of project reviews.  For those who would like to dive deeper into Reviewing their Play or Run or Vote project, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Triple Value Initiatives (TVIs)/All-year Round Projects (AYRPs) Journaling Activity: Write a Journal of Your TVI/AYRP Cycle

 

You can write and reflect on what you are doing as TVI/AYRP user or beneficiary.  Journaling a TVI/AYRP (that is Play, Run and Vote) can have benefits.  To get those benefits, one needs to have a goal and plan activities/achievements.

 

• • Benefits of Journaling Your TVI/AYRP

 

The journal will help you to capture the moments of your TVI/AYRP via expressive writing and story.  It can have other benefits such as the following ones:

 

σ setting up goals

σ tracking or measuring your progress on TVI/AYRP

σ recording results and celebrating achievements

σ gaining both general and specific perspectives from your TVI/AYRP.

 

You can even show your style and express your feeling or character through your writing.  Another good thing of journaling your TVI/AYRP is that it makes things easy when it comes to report to CENFACS and others before the deadline of 23 December 2025.

 

• • Journaling Goal of TVI/AYRP

 

The goal is basically to explore and enrich one’s TVI/AYRP activity through creative writing.  This goal does not stop users of TVI/AYRP to have their own journaling goal.  Besides their journaling goal, they need to add what their journal can help achieve.

 

• • What One’s TVI/AYRP Journal Can Achieve

 

It can achieve many things including the following:

 

∝ Solve problems encountered in the cycle of your TVI/AYRP 

∝ Enhance one’s health and wellness via TVI/AYRP 

∝ Improve TVI/AYRP impact and outcomes.

 

For those who are undertaking any of the TVIs/AYRPs and would like to write a journal about their activity, they can do it.  There are many online and print resources available on the matter.  Please select resources that are concise and have some links with your TVIs/AYRPs.

For those who would like to approach CENFACS for help and support to write a Journal of TVI/AYRP or to select appropriate resources, they are welcome to do so.

 

 

Message in English-French (Message en Anglais-Français)

 

• CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum E-discusses the Following Question:

What Can Be Done for African States to Better Protect Their Citizens from Natural Disasters?

We have seen and witnessed life-threatening and -destroying natural disasters (like cyclones, torrential rains, drought, volcanoes, earthquakes, etc.) which have affected both human and natural lives in Africa.  In some cases, African States have been up to the task of dealing with these natural shocks and risks.  But, there is still a good number of cases where African States have been overwhelmed by the impacts of these disasters or simply rely on international rescue mission to deal with these disasters.  Yet, these African States have the protection responsibility vis-à-vis their citizens.

As part of April Month of Protection and the Season of Rebuilding and Renewing Lives within CENFACS, we are e-discussing this:

What Can Be Done for African States to Better Protect Their Citizens from Natural Disasters?

The e-discussion will look at as well the channels or means that the natural disaster victims and their representatives can use to gain both re-protection and compensation from their States.

The above-mentioned question is part of this week’s debate within CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum.

Those who may be interested in these discussions 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 la question suivante:

Que peut-on faire pour que les États africains protègent mieux leurs citoyens contre les catastrophes naturelles ?

Nous avons vu et été témoins de catastrophes naturelles potentiellement mortelles et destructrices (comme les cyclones, les pluies torrentielles, la sécheresse, les volcans, les tremblements de terre, etc.) qui ont affecté à la fois des vies humaines et naturelles en Afrique.  Dans certains cas, les États africains ont été à la hauteur de la tâche de faire face à ces chocs et risques naturels.  Mais, il y a encore un bon nombre de cas où les États africains ont été submergés par les impacts de ces catastrophes ou s’appuient simplement sur des missions de sauvetage internationales pour faire face à ces catastrophes.  Pourtant, ces États africains ont une responsabilité de protection vis-à-vis de leurs citoyens.

Dans le cadre du Mois de la Protection d’avril et de la Saison de Reconstruction et de Renouvellement des Vies au sein du CENFACS, nous discutons en ligne de ceci :

Que peut-on faire pour que les États africains protègent mieux leurs citoyens contre les catastrophes naturelles ?

La discussion en ligne portera également sur les canaux ou les moyens que les victimes de catastrophes naturelles et leurs représentant(e)s peuvent utiliser pour obtenir à la fois une reprotection et une indemnisation de la part de leurs États.

La questions susmentionnée fait partie du débat de cette semaine au sein du Forum ‘Une Afrique Meilleure’ de CENFACS.

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

 

• Coming Next Week’s Sunday 27/04/2025: The 15th Edition of CENFACS Reflection Day with a Focus on Protection and Security of Women and Children against Extreme Weather Events

 

To help prepare for the 15th Edition of CENFACS Reflection Day, we have assembled protection materials and resources that have been grouped into the following two headlines:

 

∝ What is CENFACS’ Reflection Day?

∝  The 15^th Edition of CENFACS’ Reflection Day.

 

Let us briefly explain each of these headlines.

 

• • What Is CENFACS’ Reflection Day?

 

CENFACS’ Reflection Day is a day to acknowledge the conditions of women and children in need, to reflect on attitudes and what can be done to improve the living conditions of these women and children in need.

CENFACS’ Reflection Day is also a special eventful day to re-engage our mind set and spirit to deeply think about the fate of poor women and children, and engineer possible new solutions that can lift them out of poverty and hardships they are facing. 

At this time of the world in multiple crises (or polycrises) and risks, they may be facing poverty induced by these crises and risks.  One of these crises and risks is Extreme Weather Event.

According to ‘weforum.org’ (op. cit.), Extreme Weather Events are the second-most severe risk over the short term and consistent concern amongst surveyed groups making the World Economic Forum’s The Global Risks Report 2025.  It features among the top three risks over both the current and two-year time horizons. It is this crisis that our 15^th Edition of CENFACS’ Reflection Day would like to deal with.

 

• • The 15^th Edition of CENFACS’ Reflection Day

 

The following points will assist in explaining the 15^th Edition of CENFACS’ Reflection Day:

 

∝ What is the 15th Edition of CENFACS’ Reflection Day? 

∝ What will happen during the 15th Edition of CENFACS’ Reflection Day?

∝ How the 15^th Edition of our Reflection Day will be run

∝ What issues our Reflection Day will try to address

∝ What areas of thoughts our Reflection Day will touch upon.

 

The above-mentioned points are explained below.

 

• • • What is the 15th Edition of CENFACS’ Reflection Day? 

 

The 15th Edition of CENFACS’ Reflection Day is a continuity of the theme about self-protection by women and children and/or protection of women and children by others against future risks or crises or polycrises.  In this case, the risks or crises are Extreme Weather Events  (EWEs) and poverty they can create or exacerbate.

The 15th Edition of CENFACS’ Reflection Day is a day to think of the struggle these women and children have in face of extreme weather events.  It also a day of meditating on solutions to reduce poverty generated by extreme weather events.  Before going any further, let us try to recall the definition of extreme weather events.

 

• • • • Re-understanding EWEs

 

Let us refer to what Professor David Karoly (op. cit.) of the University of Melbourne argues about them.  Professor Karoly speaks about an extreme (weather or climate) event and refers to Oxford Dictionary definitions to explain the words ‘extreme’ and ‘event’.  The definitions he gives are:

# extreme is about reaching a high or the highest degree, very great

# event is a thing that happens or takes place, especially one of importance.

From his perspective, extreme event is the occurrence of a value (or below) a threshold value near the upper (or lower) ends of the range of its observed values in a specific region.

Another explanation comes the World Economic Forum (op. cit.) which states that

“Extreme weather events (floods, heatwaves, etc.) are loss of human life, damage to ecosystems, destruction of property and/or financial loss due to extreme weather events include, but is not limited to land-based (e.g., wildfires), water-based (e.g., floods) and atmospheric and temperature-based (e.g., heatwaves) events, including those exacerbated by climate change” (p. 77)

This nearing of a threshold value the upper (or lower) ends of observed values can have a serious impact on human and material lives.  In our Reflection Day, we shall think of these impacts on women and children.

Crisis stemming from extreme weather events can also affect the security of women and children in need.

One can think of the torrential rains that happened in Kinshasa (in the Democratic Republic of Congo) on the night of 5 to 6 April 2025 which affected 13 out of 24 municipalities.  These rains caused not only the loss of human and material lives, but also security issues, especially but not exclusively to women and children.  In this respect, our Reflection Day is also a day of security, particularly economic security.

 

• • • •  What is economic security?

 

Economic security here has to be interpreted like what the International Committee of the Red Cross (11) argues about it as

“The ability of individuals, households or communities to cover their essential needs sustainably and with dignity.  This can vary according to an individual’s physical needs, the environment and prevailing cultural standards.  Food, basic shelter, clothing and hygiene qualify as essential need, as does the related expenditure; the essential assets needed to earn a living and the costs associated with health care and education also qualify”.

In our Reflection Day, we shall think of how extreme weather events can affect economic security of those in need, particularly but not exclusively women and children in need.

 

• • • What will happen during the 15th Edition of CENFACS’ Reflection Day?

 

During the 15th Edition of CENFACS’ Reflection Day, we will reflect on what can be done to improve the living conditions of women and children in terms of protection against extreme weather events.

 

• • • • Protection of women from EWEs

 

This type of protection can include many aspects.  Amongst these aspects, we can mention addressing gender-specific vulnerabilities, ensuring access to safe shelter and resources, and implementing gender-inclusive disaster risk reduction plans that empower women and prevent gender-based violence.  This is without forgetting protection measures against economic vulnerability.

 

• • • • Protection of children from EWEs

 

This type of protection can have various dimensions.   It can involve prioritisation of health and safety, appropriate food and dress for the weather event, and limit strenuous activity during extreme weather conditions.

 

The day is also about finding solutions to economic insecurity through inspirations, new thoughts and ideas to mitigate harmful consequences (like the disruption and supply of goods and services) from extreme weather events.

 

• • • How the 15^th Edition of our Reflection Day will be run

 

Like in the last three years, the 15th Edition of our Reflection Day will be run in hybrid fashion (that; it will be organised  in-person and virtual).

There will be a physical gathering for those who want it.  There will also be a virtual reflection.  In the case of virtual reflection, every participant will be reflecting from the location which is suitable for them (that is, like a virtual reality or remotely).

 

• • • What issues our Reflection Day will try to address

 

Our Reflection Day will try to address the following issues:

 

√ Empowering women to participate in disaster risk reduction planning and decision-making processes 

√ Promoting community-based approaches to disaster preparedness, response and delivery

√ Provision of capacity building for women and children in disaster preparedness, response and delivery  

√ Safety plans, practice of evacuation routes/drills and emergency kits for children

√ Implementation of early warning systems

√ Investment in drought-resistant crops and water management to deal with drought

√ Access to clean water and sanitation, education and training on disaster risk reduction

√ Access to essential supplies during and after EWEs

√ Ways of offering reassurance to children during events and monitoring behavioural changes after events.

 

The above-mentioned issues are the ones we would like to deal with in our thoughts.  One Day of Reflection may be not enough to address all these questions.  But, one can try to deal with one or two of them as they are preparing to make the Reflection Day.

 

 

• • • What areas of thoughts our Reflection Day will touch upon

The above-mentioned issues will help to frame areas of thoughts that one may want to engage in.  During our reflection, we will try to think of the following seven matters as frames for thought:

 

1) Economic effects of EWEs on women and children (economic framework)

2) Health impacts of EWEs on women and children (healthiness and wellness framework)

3) Security vulnerabilities posed to poor women and children when EWEs happen (security framework)

4) Gender issues induced by EWEs on women and children (equality framework)

5) Ways of developing defensive capabilities to protect women and children from EWEs (defensive capability framework)

6) Consequences of EWEs on educational and training opportunities for women and children (framework for skills development)

7) Learning, adaptation and development experiences about EWEs in terms of their results on women and children in need (framework for future development)

Etc.

 

The above is the main menu of our Reflection Day.  Besides this main menu, we shall have a side menu which is Reflection on the Effects of EWEs on our Network for Protection and Community Security.

To support or join the Reflection Day on the Protection and Security of Women and Children, please contact CENFACS.

After the References section of this post, we have appended a timeline about CENFACS’ Reflection Day for your information.

 

_________

 

• References

 

(1) https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-risks-report-2025/ (accessed in March 2025)

(2) https://www.wcrp-climate.org/images/summer_school/ICTP_2014/documents/presentations/day1/Karoly_Extremes.pdf (accessed in April 2025)

(3) https://unfccc.int/news/new-report-why-climate-change-impacts-women-differently-than-men (accessed in April 2025)

(4) https://www.savethechildren.net/news/one-8-children-significantly-impacted-10-biggest-extreme-weather-events-year (accessed in April 2025)

(5) https://www.berkeleywellbeing.com/quality-of-life.html (accessed in April 2025)

(6) https://capacity4dev.europa.eu/library/world-band-2018-emergence-adaptive-social-protection_en (accessed in April 2025)

(7) https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/infographic/2018/04/social-safety-nets-help-reduce-poverty-and-income-inequality (accessed in April 2025)

(8) https://www.awf.org/blog/endangered-bonobo-africas-forgotten-ape (accessed in April 2025)

(9) https://www.treehugger.com/bonobos-endangered-5217207 (accessed in April 2025)

(10) https://fox-plan.com/docs/project-review/ (Accessed in April 2023)

(11) https://www.icrc.org/en/document/introduction-economic-security (Accessed in April 2023)

_________

 

• Appendix

 

• • Reflection Day Timeline

 

The Reflection Day is a day of thoughts by bringing together the two pillars of our network and protection programme, which are 3W and PPS.  Although they started in 2003, we only introduced a Reflection Day (RD) in them in 2011.

In 2016, we amalgamated 3W and PPS to become Women and Children projects as we noticed in some situations it was difficult to separate women’s and children’s needs.  Where their needs are separable or differentiated one to the other, we run either of the two brands (that is 3W and PPS) individually.  This is why these two brands of our network and protection are still alive despite their amalgamation.

The Reflection Day is a day of introspection to think in depth the ways forward for our systems of support network and protection for poverty relief and sustainable development in face of the current, new and emerging challenges ahead as well as the ever changing development landscape.

Since its inception, the following is the timeline of 3W and PPS

 

2011: Making Networking and Protection Even Better in 2011

2012: Raising Standards in Poverty Reduction for Improving Lives

2013: Place of Women and Children in the Post-2015 Development World (Part I)

2014: Women and Children in the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda (Part II) – A Stock Taking Reflection Event

2015: Doing Business to Lift Women and Children out of Poverty

2016: Improving Digital Protection for the Extremely Digitally Poor Women and Children

2017: Reducing Information and Communication Poverty for Multi-dimensionally Poor Women and Children

2018: Making Transitional Economy Work for Poor Families

2019: Protection of Women and Children in War-torn Zones and Natural Disaster-stricken Areas

2020: Protection of Women and Children in Times of Health or Sanitary Crisis like Covid-19

2021: Ring-fencing Protection for Women and Children to Become More Resilient and Vigilant in face of Future Risks and Crises

2022: Protection for Women and Children from Energy Crisis

2023: Protection and Security for Women and Children against Geo-economic Risks and Crises

2024: Protection and Security of Women and Children against Societal Polarization

 

For your information,

3W & PPS = Support Network and Protection for Poverty Relief and Sustainable Development

Women and Children projects = amalgamation of 3W and PPS in 2016

3W (What Women Want) = a CENFACS support network scheme to enhance quality of life and living standards of multi-dimensional deprived women and families

PPS (Peace, Protection & Sustainability) = a CENFACS child and environmental protection programme to support multi-dimensional vulnerable children, young people and families

KNA (Keep the Net Alive) = a motto that helps to keep our networking for protection running.

For more information on 3W and PPS or Women and Children projects, please contact CENFACS.

_________

 

• 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.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

09 April 2025

Post No. 399

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Protection Key Note 2, From Wednesday 09/04/2025: Protection of Household Productive Assets

• Activity 3 of the Economic Inclusion Programme for Households’ Opportunity: A Focus Group on Self-employment Opportunities (From 23/04/2025)

• Charitable Response to Aid Cuts to Africa

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Protection Key Note 2, From Wednesday 09/04/2025: Protection of Poor Household Productive Assets

 

Protecting poor household productive assets can imply different things depending on what assets that households have as productive ones.  Beyond this variation due to the specific needs and preferences of these households, there could be a consensus that protecting poor households’ productive assets will include the following strategies: strengthening social safety nets for them, promoting their financial inclusion and implementing climate-resilient asset building programmes and other asset-building programmes.

Strengthening household social safety nets can be achieved via social protection programmes.  Among social protection programmes, there are cash transfers that help overcome liquidity constraints, access credit, etc.  Promoting households’ financial inclusion can be realised by working with these households to access tools like savings, credit, and insurance that helps strengthening their resilience.  Climate-resilient asset building programmes will for instance assist them to keep their crops and livestock drought-resistant.  Finally, asset-building programmes will provide to these poor households the opportunity to accumulate productive assets which could be used as buffer against shocks and crises.

So, Protection of Poor Household Productive Assets will involve a range of strategies that can be put in place to work with poor households to protect their assets.  More on these strategies can be found under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• Activity 3 of the Economic Inclusion Programme for Households’ Opportunity: A Focus Group on Self-employment Opportunities (From 23/04/2025)

 

Activity 3 consists of having an interactive discussion to research on ways of  supporting households that are self-employed and/or those that are looking to transit away from poverty through business or self-employment opportunities.

To introduce this activity, we are going to explain what is self-employment, although most of users may know what it is.

 

• • What Is Self-employment?

 

To explain it, let us refer to what ‘format.io’ (1) argues about it, which is

“Self-employment refers to the state of working for oneself rather than being employed by a company or organisation.  Individuals who are self-employed earn income by conducting profitable activities on their own, which can include running a business, freelancing, or providing services as an independent contractor.  This form of employment allows individuals to have greater control over their work, schedule, and income potential.”

Households that are looking for self-employment opportunities can use them to become freelancers, entrepreneurs, and gig workers depending on their abilities, skills, circumstances and start-up financial position.

As ‘format.io’ explains it, self-employment can give them, if they are successful, independence, autonomy, flexibility, variable income, etc.

Having equitable access to resources could mean that households have equal opportunity to succeed, to contribute to their lives and of others as well.  This will empower households to reach their full potential as households.

So, our discussion will be on the pros and cons about self-employment for households that are interested in the Economic Inclusion Programme for Households’ Opportunity.

 

• • Focus Group’s Areas for Discussion

 

The discussion will revolve around these pros and cons, particularly in the following three areas:

 

σ making informed decision about self-employment career plan

σ how to reduce isolation and the lack of societal interaction due to self-employment to positively impact health and overall job satisfaction

σ taking up proactive steps to foster social connections.

 

Those who may be interested in the focus group and the above-mentioned areas for discussion can let CENFACS know.

Those members of the CENFACS Community who would like to get involved in the focus group can contact CENFACS.

For any other queries and or enquiries about this workshop on Economic Inclusion Programme for Households’ Opportunity, please communicate with CENFACS.

 

 

• Charitable Response to Aid Cuts to Africa (CRtAC2A)

 

CRtAC2A is a new project set up by CENFACS.   To explain it, let us recall the following phrase from Michael Sheldrick (2):

“Aid is not just generosity – it is an investment in stability, security and prosperity”.

Having recalled Sheldrick’s words, let us highlight the aim of CRtAC2A and what CRtAC2A is about.

 

• • The Aim of CRtAC2A

 

CRtAC2A aims at finding new ways to fund poverty reduction and innovative ways of supporting some of CENFACS‘ Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) that were recipient of international aid or service linked to this investment which has been recently cut.

Through this project, CENFACS  would like to work with these ASOs that are looking for this investment for stability, security and prosperity to continue to reduce and possibly end poverty in Africa.

 

• • CRtAC2A is about 

 

Its is about

 

≈ raising your voice with us so that ASOs can recover the funding lost

≈ supporting ASOs working on poverty issues in Africa

≈ donating to ASOs’ projects and activities

≈ addressing the gap in aid budget experienced by ASOs

≈ spreading awareness about the impact of aid cuts

≈ engaging in conversation on the aid cups issue

≈ organising events on the same issue

≈ finally, finding creative and innovative ways to fund poverty reduction in Africa in the new era of development landscape.

 

To support CRtAC2A and ASOs, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) – Step/Workshop 8: Monitoring and Observability of Your Play, Run and Vote Projects

• Shop at CENFACS’ Zero Waste e-Store during This Spring Giving Season

• Making Zero Hunger Africa Campaign with a Focus on Food Price Restoration to Reduce Food Poverty in Africa

 

 

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) – Step/Workshop 8: Monitoring and Observability of Your Play, Run and Vote Projects

 

To count what is happening and happened to your Play, Run and Vote Projects, you need to monitor and track them.  Monitors or trackers will help you to do that.  Likewise, observing your Play, Run and Vote Projects will assist in knowing what happened.  Before giving an example of monitoring and observability of your Play, Run and Vote Projects, let us first explain both monitoring and observability.

 

• • What Is Monitoring Your Play, Run and Vote Projects about?

 

It is the step during which you regularly observe and record the activities of your Play, Run and Vote Projects.  As part of this process, you will routinely and regularly collect information about the outcome of all aspects of your Play, Run and Vote Projects as the theory of monitoring suggests.  The monitoring exercise will help you to check your progress against your project plans.  You can plan specific dates for your project progression monitoring.  If your Play, Run and Vote Projects involve other participants; then you can ask them to tell you what they think about the projects.

 

• • What Is Observability of Your Play, Run and Vote Projects about?

 

According to ‘ibm.com'(3),

“Observability is the ability to understand a complex system’s internal state based on external outputs.  When a system is observable, a user can identify the root cause of a performance problem by looking at the data it produces without additional testing or coding”.

So, observability will inform what is happening, while monitoring will tell you when something is wrong in your Play, Run and Vote Projects.

 

 

• • Example of Monitoring Your All-year Round Projects

 

Let say you want to monitor your Run to Reduce Poverty in Africa.  To monitor it, you will need…

 

~ to cover all the activities making your Run

~ to find out what all the participants think about your project

~ to know who take part in the run, their number and the frequency of their participation

~ to find the met and unmet needs

~ to identify the problems you encounter in the process of running your project

~ to figure out the resources needed for the project and the costs of running it

etc.

 

• • Example of Observability of Your All-year Round Projects

 

You can observe your Run to Reduce Poverty in Africa.  Through its observability, you can

 

~ understand running issues

~ analyse the output data about your Run

~ detect the issues early and explore ways of resolving them

~ propose actionable insights to fix these issues

etc.

 

 

• • Recording Your All-year Round Projects

 

You need as well to keep all the records about the project and ask for the comments from anyone who gets involved with your Run Project.

You can do it on an outcome-monitoring sheet for effectiveness in the way you are collecting and keeping record.  An outcome-monitoring sheet can include any skills, any improvement in motivation and aspirations, any boost in confidence and self-esteem, etc. that you or your participants have gained or increased as a result of your project.

You need to record changes and effects as they happen.  You can keep notes of any success and failure about your project, the numbers of people involved in it and the numbers of those who benefited.

Please remember to make sure that the records you are keeping and the notes you are taking will help you to decide who is your Runner of Poverty Reduction in Africa 2025.

For those who would like to dive deeper into Monitoring and Observability of their Play or Run or Vote project, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Shop at CENFACS’ Zero Waste e-Store during This Spring Giving Season

 

CENFACS e-Store is opened for your Spring goods donations and goods purchases.

At this time, many household expenditures have been squeezed by the cost of living pressures mostly driven by the hikes in prices of basic life-sustaining needs (e.g., food, transport, housing, council tax, energy, etc.).

The impacted of the cost of living pressures need help and support as prices and bills are still higher while real disposable incomes are less for many of those living in poverty.

Every season or every month is an opportunity to do something against poverty and hardships.  This April too is a good and great month of the year to do it.

You can donate or recycle your unwanted and unneeded goods to CENFACS’ Charity e-Store, the zero waste shop built to help relieve poverty and hardships.

You can as well buy second hand goods and bargain priced new items and much more.

CENFACS’ Charity e-Store needs your support for SHOPPING and GOODS DONATIONS.

You can do something different this Season of Goods Donations by SHOPPING or DONATING GOODS at CENFACS Charity e-Store.

You can DONATE or SHOP or do both:

 

√ DONATE unwanted Easter GOODS, GIFTS and PRODUCTS to CENFACS Zero Waste e-Store this April and Spring.

√ SHOP at CENFACS Zero Waste e-Store to support noble and beautiful causes of poverty relief this April and Spring.

 

Your SHOPPING and or GOODS DONATIONS will help to the Upkeep of the Nature and to reduce poverty and hardships brought by the cost of living pressures.

This is what the Season of Giving is all about.

Please do not hesitate to donate goods or purchase what is available at CENFACS Zero Waste e-Store.

Many lives have been threatened and destroyed by the cost of living pressures. 

We need help to help them come out poverty and hardships caused by these pressures.

To donate or purchase goods, please go to: http://cenfacs.org.uk/shop/

 

 

• Making Zero Hunger Africa Campaign with a Focus on Food Price Restoration to Reduce Food Poverty in Africa

 

Last year, the focus of Making Zero Hunger Africa Campaign (MZHAC) was Food Price and events or key drivers that were leading to hikes in the price of food in Africa, especially in the so-called Africa’s hunger hotspots.  We were working on how food price could be used in order to reduce poverty, particularly food poverty.

This year, our MZHAC is still on food prices, but on their restoration to affordable levels, on addressing the root causes of rising food costs.  These root causes can include supply chain disruptions, geo-political and -economic events, trade tariffs and climate change.  To root out these causes, it requires strategies for food price restoration.

Before looking at this year’s focus, let us remind our readers the aim of Making Zero Hunger Africa Campaign.

 

• • Aim of Making Zero Hunger Africa Campaign

 

The aim of MZHAC is to raise awareness on sustainable food consumption and production in order to end hunger and malnutrition amongst those who are food deprived, particularly in Africa where the number of hungry people and families is still on the rise.  It is as well a campaigning response to the challenge of rise in hunger that Africa will face in the foreseeable future.  In this respect, the cost-of-living crisis has only made the matter worse as it has put a heavy toll on the consumption poor.

The contents of MZHAC are: End Hunger and Malnutrition Goal, Support Small-Scale Food Producers in Africa, Actions to Support the Food Industry in Africa, Meeting Vulnerable People’s Nutritional Needs, Actions for Sustainable Food Production Systems, etc.

 

This year, we are focussing on Food Price Restoration to Reduce Food Poverty in Africa

 

• • Food Price Restoration to Reduce Food Poverty in Africa

 

As part of MZHAC and the Year of Restoration within CENFACS, we are working on strategies for food price restoration.  Amongst these strategies, we can mention three of them: strengthening food prices, addressing economic factors and dealing with climate change.

 

a) Strengthening food prices will include the diversification of food sources (through the support of local and regional food production), the promotion of sustainable practices (like farming ones), and investing in infrastructure (such as transportation, storage and distribution infrastructure).

b) Addressing economic factors will involve the control of trade tariffs, the promotion of fair trade practices and the provision targeted assistance to low-income households, etc.

c) Dealing with climate change will demand to work on mitigation and adaptation climate issues impacting the food costs.

 

In MZHAC, we are trying to organise a series of actions to gain support for the food price to be restored to levels that are affordable for the poor in Africa.  We are as well taking action so that food poverty can be sensibly reduced in Africa.

Make Zero Hunger Africa could further be undertaken by investing in projects that set food prices to make food accessible, available, affordable and utilisable for the food insecure as well as helping to reduce food poverty.

For those who would like to support MZHAC and Food Price Restoration to Reduce Food Poverty in Africa, they can contact CENFACS.

 

 

Message in English-French (Message en Anglais-Français)

 

• CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum E-discusses New Ways of Funding Poverty Reduction and Development in Africa

Further to international aid cuts to Africa, there have been a lot of reactions.  Among the reactions are the proposals by Michael Sheldrick (op. cit.) who for instance suggested the unlocking of the creative economy in Africa, the cutting of fees on money transfers, etc.

This week, we are e-discussing these proposals and other ones; proposals that can be framed into new ways of funding poverty reduction and development in Africa.  We are e-discussing not only these proposals, but also ways for Africa to avoid classic aid mechanics and fund poverty reduction and development differently, without international aid if possible.  Therefore, the questions we would like to those who want to engage with this e-discussion are:

Can Africa fund poverty reduction and its development without international aid?

If yes it can, how can Africa do it?

The above-mentioned questions are part of this week’s debate within CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum.

Those who may be interested in these discussions 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 des Nouveaux Moyens pour Financer la Réduction de la Pauvreté et le Développement en Afrique

Suite aux coupes dans l’aide internationale à l’Afrique, il y a eu beaucoup de réactions.  Parmi les réactions, on peut citer les propositions de Michael Sheldrick (op. cit.) qui a par exemple suggéré le déblocage de l’économie créative en Afrique, la réduction des frais sur les transferts d’argent, etc.

Cette semaine, nous discutons en ligne de ces propositions et d’autres ; des propositions qui peuvent être formulées dans de nouvelles façons ou stratégies pour financer la réduction de la pauvreté et le développement en Afrique.  Nous discutons en ligne non seulement de ces propositions, mais aussi des moyens pour l’Afrique d’éviter les mécanismes classiques de l’aide et de financer la réduction de la pauvreté et le développement sans aide internationale si possible.  Par conséquent, les questions que nous aimerions poser à ceux ou  celles qui souhaitent participer à cette discussion en ligne sont les suivantes :

L’Afrique peut–elle financer la réduction de la pauvreté et son développement sans l’aide internationale ?

Si oui, c’est possible, comment peut-elle le faire?

Les questions susmentionnées font partie du débat de cette semaine au sein du Forum ‘Une Afrique Meilleure’ de CENFACS.

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

 

• Protection Key Note 2, From Wednesday 09/04/2025: Protection of Household Productive Assets

 

The following contents make up this Second Key Note:

 

≈ What Are Productive Assets?

≈ What Are Productive Assets Held by Poor Households?

≈ How to Protect Poor Households’ Productive Assets

≈ Ways of Working with Poor Households Making the CENFACS Community on Productive Asset Protection.

 

Let us uncover these contents.

 

• • What Are Productive Assets?

 

The definition retained here for productive assets comes from ‘retipster.com’ (4) which argues that

“Productive assets are tangible or intangible assets that generate income or appreciate in value, distinguishing them from assets that do not produce financial returns”.

There are many examples of productive assets.  Among them are digital assets like social media and mobile apps as well as patented technology that brings in royalties.

Knowing productive assets, it makes easier to explain poor households’ productive assets.

 

 

• • What Are Productive Assets Held by Poor Households?

 

They are investments or resources that generate income, appreciate in value, or contribute to the production of goods and services.  They are characterised by their ability to generate returns independently of market fluctuations.  Among productive assets held by poor households, we can mention land, livestock, farm equipment, and business assets.

Examples of productive assets owned by poor households include the ones we have already mentioned above and the following ones:

 

~ Land, which can provide a base for farming, housing and income-generation activities;

~ Animals and livestock, which can help in income generation and transportation;

~ Tools and machinery, which are necessary for farming and productivity;

~ Business assets if poor households own and run a small business as a source of income and employment.

 

Like any assets, poor households’ productive assets need protection.

 

 

• • How to Protect Poor Households’ Productive Assets

 

The protection of poor households’ productive assets is the safeguarding of resources that generate income for them or contribute to their livelihoods to ensure their continued use and prevent loss due to shocks and crises or vulnerabilities.

To protect poor households’ productive assets, it requires the use of a number of strategies like social safety nets, financial inclusion, asset-building initiatives, training programmes, market access, risk management, climate resilience programmes, etc.  These strategies depend on the needs and circumstances of the given poor households.  In the context of this Protection Key Note 2, we are going to limit ourselves to the four strategies below.

 

~ Social Safety Nets (SSNs)

 

Under SSNs, cash transfer programmes will help poor households overcome liquidity constraints, increase savings, mitigate risks and invest in productive activities.  Similarly, productive asset transfers (of livestock or farm equipment) will empower poor household beneficiaries.

 

~ Financial Inclusion (FI)

 

FI will enable poor households to access tools like savings, credit, and insurance that helps strengthening their resilience, and accumulate productive assets and invest in their own livelihoods.

 

~ Climate-resilient Asset Building Programmes (CrABPs)

 

CrABPs can provide

 

~~ the tools to build economic resilience and reduce poverty

~~ help to poor households to use their assets as a buffer against economic shocks or natural disasters to maintain their income and consumption

~~ asset accumulation and prevent of asset loss, especially during shocks, through training and technical support, climate-resilient programmes, etc.

~~ assist them to keep their crops and livestock drought-resistant.

 

~ Strengthening Land Tenure Systems and Property Rights (SLTSs&PRs)

 

SLTSs&PRs are essential for protecting the entitlements of poor households, especially if they live in rural areas, and facilitate fair and transparent transactions around land and other productive assets.  They help to invest in land and other productive assets, improve agricultural productivity and build long-term wealth.

 

These strategies will help poor households build financial resilience and protect their productive assets and livelihoods.

Besides these strategies, poor households can also use productive asset indicators to measure and improve their protection.  One these indicators is the one given by Livelihoods Centre (5), indicator which is:

Change in the number of productive assets (e.g., lands, livestock, and infrastructure) protected and strengthened against natural or human threats.

 

 

• • Ways of Working with Poor Households Making the CENFACS Community on Productive Asset Protection

 

There are households within our community that can handle the problem of their needs of productive asset protection by themselves.  There are others that need support or to work with somebody else in order to navigate their way to the solution about problems related to productive asset protection.  For the latter ones, CENFACS can work with them in order to find the level of protection they need to resolve their problem of productive asset protection.

Working with them on their basic needs of productive asset protection can include things such as

 

√ Doing together the inventory of their productive assets that need protection 

√ Running workshops or one-on-one sessions on productive asset protection

√ Providing tips to protect their productive assets 

√ Discussing with them productive asset protection strategies

√ Analysing their productive asset accounts using asset protection metrics and indicators

√ Advising them on issues linked to productive assets

√ Finding affordable and accessible protection services relating to productive assets

√ Recommending them to use free online support on productive asset protection services

√ Connecting them with free or low-cost assistance relating to productive asset protection

√ Guiding them on the kinds, types and levels of productive asset protection they may need

√ Making productive enquiries about asset protection on their behalf

√ Supporting them to make an application and apply online relating to productive asset protection

√ Signposting them to specialists in social safety nets and cash transfers 

√ Organising drop-in or one-on-one sessions about asset-building initiatives

√ Running small and targeted productive asset protection clinics for those in need

√ Providing a referral service on productive asset protection matters for them

√ Advocating their productive asset protection cases to services and organisations where they could be eligible

√ Keeping them informed, guided and updated about any changes in legislations about productive asset protection

√ Translating and interpreting documents or materials relating to productive asset protection

√ Explaining them the importance of securing their productive assets

√ Tracking progress and evaluating the effectiveness of working with poor households on productive asset protection to ensure they are making progress

Etc.

 

The above are just some of the ways that CENFACS could use to support the community regarding basic productive asset protection.

Those who need help and support about productive asset protection and/or for any of the matters listed above falling within our capacity, they can contact CENFACS.

Those who would like to enquiry about any other issues linked to productive asset protection that are not listed above, they can still check with CENFACS if there is any help.

Those who may have some questions about Productive Asset Protection and the Protection Month itself, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

_________

 

• References

 

(1) https://format.io/blog/self-employment (accessed in April 2025) 

(2) https://www.forbes.com/sites/globalcitizens/2025/foreign-aid-is-shrinking-what-happens-next/ (accessed in April 2025) 

(3) https://www.ibm.com/blog/observability-vs-monitoring/ (accessed in April 2024)

(4) https://retipster.com/terms/productive-assets/ (accessed in April 2025)

(5) https://www.livelihoodscentre.org/number-percentage-of-productive-assets-infrastructures-specify-protected-specify-how-of-if-necessary-to-future-hazards-speccify-ifnecessary- (accessed in April 2025)

 

_________

 

• 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.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

02 April 2025

Post No. 398

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Protection Month with the Protection of Poor Households’ Assets

• ReLive Issue No. 17, Spring 2025: The Returned Internally Displaced Persons in Africa Need Some Assistance to Rebuild and Renew Their Lives, Can You Help?

• Activity/Task 4 of the ‘R’ Project: Restore Degraded Ecosystems as Part of Environmental Protection

 

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Protection Month with the Protection of Poor Households’ Assets

 

It is known that poor people and households often lack financial resources and wealth.  But, they can still possess valuable assets such as physical possessions, skills, and social connections.  These valuable assets are crucial for reducing poverty and vulnerability while improving the quality of their life or livelihoods.

Their valuable assets need protection which can help keep them safe.  In this respect, protecting poor household assets would involve safeguarding their possessions and other assets they possess from potential risks which could be lawsuits, creditors or unexpected costs or crises.  Asset protection for poor households can be achieved using a number of strategies such as social protection programmes, asset-building initiatives, legal and regulatory frameworks, financial inclusion, education and awareness.

During this Month of Protection, we shall work with poor households in finding out the best way of protecting their assets (like real estate, financial assets, personal property and business assets).  In our work with them, we shall as well refer to the accessible and affordable asset protection strategies for them, while helping them to work out the value of their net worth or wealth (that is, the total of their assets minus the total of their liabilities or debts). We shall also explore ways of reducing asset-based poverty, that is the lack of sufficient wealth or assets to meet their basic needs for a period of time.

This Month of Protection is finally of dealing with other areas of protection such as the protection of flora, fauna, funga and beneficial micro-organisms.  This is without forgetting protection against the adverse impacts of climate through our Climate Follow-up Talks Project known as Taking Climate Protection and Stake for African Children.

All the above-mentioned areas of work for this month are summarised in CENFACS’ Action Plan for April 2025.  To find more about this action plan and what is likely to be the Month of Protection within CENFACS, please read under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• ReLive Issue No. 17, Spring 2025: The Returned Internally Displaced Persons in Africa Need Some Assistance to Rebuild and Renew Their Lives, Can You Help?

 

• • What is ReLive?

 

ReLive is one of CENFACS’ Spring campaigns and a bridge between CENFACS’ Winter Lights and Spring Relief seasons.

ReLive advocacy is designed to plead for help to the peoples and communities whose lives and livelihoods have been destroyed to rebuild themselves.  The current appeal will try to achieve this for the returnees from forced internal displacements in Africa this Spring 2025.

Although this appeal is a seasonal appeal related to Spring, it is also a consolidated one following our Winter Light appeals.

 

• • What Is the Focus for ReLive in 2025?

 

The 17th issue of CENFACS’ Once-a-year Spring Appeal for Renewing Lives (ReLive) will focus on advocating for the support of returned  and returning internal displaced persons in Africa and for policies that help their return and integration.  This can be done by securing relevant funding to support these returnees and a process of reintegration aiming at helping them to rebuild and renew their lives  and communities.

 

• • What Is ReLive in 2025 about?

 

It is about working with Africans internally displaced from their homes by conflicts, violence, human rights violation and natural disasters or climate change events, and who have been returned or are returning, since the conditions for safe and sustainable return and reintegration are in place.

According to the statistics of February 2025 from the United Nations Refugee Agency (1), there have been 8.1 million internally displaced persons and 1.7 million returned internally displaced in Africa.

The returned and returning internally displaced persons need support of all kinds as they face enormous challenges.

 

• • Challenges for Returnees

 

Returnees from internal displacements often face challenges in reintegrating into their communities, including difficulties in accessing land, housing, food, health and social services, and livelihoods.  They may even face re-displacement if there is any eruption of new conflicts or natural disasters or inability to reintegrate.  They need help and support.  There are African governments that have policies to protect and assist returned and retuning internally displaced persons.  However, with the current cuts to aid budgets by some developed countries, many of these returnees are left without support.

 

• • What ReLive Campaign Will Bring to the Returnees

 

The Campaign will help

 

≈ give to the returnees a fresh start

≈ rebuild or repair infrastructures (like schools, water systems, roads and healthcare)

≈ them reintegrate and access rights

≈ them find housing and work

≈ them enrol children in schools

≈ them get cash assistance to cover initial basic needs such as personal hygiene items and rent, rehabilitate land

≈ in brief rebuild and renew lives in a gradual, safe and sustainable way.

 

Like before, the Campaign is done through Gifts of Renewing Lives or Life-renewing Projects.

 

• • What Are Gifts of Renewing Lives or Life-renewing Projects (LRPS)?

 

Life-renewing projects (LRPs) are poverty relief and Spring like gifts designed to materialise ReLive advocacy by helping people to set free from multi-dimensional deprivations and hardships so that they can start up again, renew and rebuild their lives with hope.

LRPs are part of CENFACS’ African Rebuilding and Sustaining Infrastructures and Lives Programme.  Spring Gifts of Renewing Lives are about bringing renewal, joy and hope to needy people.  These Spring 2025 Gifts will be about bringing the same benefits to the Returnees from Forcibly Internal Displacements in Africa.

 

• • What Are These Ways or Gifts of Renewing Lives?

 

This Spring, we are running 14 Gifts in a world of 20 Reliefs or Helpful Differences.  What does this mean?

It means donors or funders have 14 Gifts of Renewing Lives to choose from and 20 Reliefs to select from to make helpful differences to the returnees.

In total, our Spring Relief 2025 Campaign is providing to potential supporters 14 GIFTS of rebuilding returnees’ lives in Africa in 20 RELIEFS to make this happen.

For this renewal to happen, support is needed towards LRPs.

To support, go to http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/

 

 

• Activity/Task 4 of the ‘R’ Project: Restore Degraded Ecosystems as Part of Environmental Protection

 

The fourth activity/task of the “R” Project is about Restoring Degraded Ecosystems as Part of Environmental Protection.  Indeed, protecting ecosystems can include the work of restoration of degraded ecosystems. It involves actions like reforestation and afforestation, habitat restoration and sustainable management; while improving biodiversity, ecosystem services and supporting human well-being.  This is because restoration can seek to return cleared land or degraded ecosystems to a condition or function comparable to that which would have been there prior to disturbance.

When restoration tends to do that, one may speak about ecosystems protection, which is simply the defence of ecosystems (that is the organisms like plants, animals, fungi and beneficial micro-organisms living in a particular habitat, along with their immediate physical environment) against any harm and danger.

So, this month of April, Activity/Task 4 is about Restoring Degraded Ecosystems as Part of Environmental Protection.

For those who need any help before embarking on this activity/task, they can speak to CENFACS.

For any other queries and enquiries about the ‘R‘ project and this year’s dedication, please contact CENFACS as well.

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Goal of the Month: Reduction of Asset-based Poverty

• Activity 2 of the Economic Inclusion Programme for Households’ Opportunity: Workshop on Access to Well Paid Opportunities (From 09/04/2025)

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) – Step/Workshop 7: Implementing Your Play, Run and Vote Projects

 

 

• Goal of the Month: Reduction of Asset-based Poverty

 

Accumulating assets is a step forward to improving people’s livelihoods and to helping them transition out of poverty.  Conversely, losing assets can make people to transition into poverty or simply preventing them from escaping it.

Not able to accumulate assets can lead to asset-based poverty, which is simply the lack of sufficient wealth or assets to meet basic needs for a period of time.  It is this type of poverty we are trying to help reduce or address this month.

 

• • Addressing Asset-based Poverty

 

Knowing what asset-based poverty is, we shall try to address the barriers to accumulating assets as well as the causes of asset loss (like distress sales, health shocks, lack of savings, low income, high costs, inefficiency or inadequacy, etc.).

For instance, we can work with those who may be interested in this topic ways of improving asset accumulation for those in need so that they can increase their ability to access more opportunities in their life.  Also, we shall look at the implications for selecting asset-based poverty reduction as our goal for April 2025.

 

• • Implications for Selecting the Goal for the Month

 

After selecting the goal for the month, we focus our efforts and mind set on the selected goal by making sure that in our real life we apply it.  We also expect our supporters to go for the goal of the month by working on the same goal and by supporting those who may be suffering from the type of poverty linked to the goal for the month we are talking about during the given month (e.g., April 2025).

For further details on the goal of the month, its selection procedure including its support and how one can go for it, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Activity 2 of the Economic Inclusion Programme for Households’ Opportunity: Workshop on Access to Well Paid Opportunities (From 09/04/2025)

 

Activity 2, which will be run in the form of workshop, will provide some guidance and information about ways of accessing well-paid or decent remunerative opportunities.  Perhaps, the easiest way of preparing for this workshop is to explain what is access and what is opportunity; then to provide the matters that the workshop will cover.

 

• • Understanding Access and Opportunity

 

Explaining the difference between access and opportunity, the website ‘thisvsthat.io’ (2) argues that

“Access refers to the availability and ability to reach resources, services, and opportunities.  It encompasses factors such as physical proximity, affordability, and inclusivity.  On the other hand, opportunity refers to the chance and possibilities that are presented to individuals to improve their circumstances and achieve their goals, while access focuses on the availability of resources, opportunity emphasizes the potential for growth and advancement”.

So, accessing well-paid opportunities refers to the availability and ability to grab these chances and possibilities that are presented to households so that they can improve their conditions and achieve their goals.  During the workshop, we are going to explore what we have just described.

 

• • Matters To Be Covered by the Workshop

 

The workshop will draw on the areas covered by the previous UK Government Response to the In-work Progression Commission’s Report (3).  In particular, we shall deal with the following three matters:

 

≈ Making work pay and boosting work incentives of low-income households

≈ Giving people greater opportunities to develop new skills or enhance and utilise existing skills

≈ Extra help or support for households in tackling barriers to better paid work and taking up opportunities for higher skills, higher paying jobs.

 

Those who may be interested in the workshop can let CENFACS know.

Those members of the CENFACS Community who would like to get involved in the workshop can contact CENFACS.

For any other queries and or enquiries about this workshop or Economic Inclusion Programme for Households’ Opportunity, please communicate with CENFACS.

 

 

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) –

Step/Workshop 7: Implementing Your Play, Run and Vote Projects

 

After making the organisational structure of your chosen Play, Run and Vote Projects, it is now the time to proceed with the Implementation Step.

 

• • What Is an Implementation Step?

 

There are many definitions within the literature about project implementation.  One of them comes from ‘taskmanagementguide.com’ (4) which states that

“Project implementation is a practice of executing or carrying out a project under a certain plan in order to complete this project and produce desired results”.

The above definition indicates that one needs an implementation plan.  As an all-year-round project implementor, you can draw up your implementation plan that shows the way you would like to execute and carry out your project.

Having said that Project Implementation is the step you put your project plan into action.  This step can be broken into exploration, installation, initial implementation and full implementation.  Because all-year round projects are such small initiatives, you will not need to break this step.

You want your all-year-round project to fulfil and accomplish the goals and objectives you have set up for it.  It is also the phase during which you can register, review and approve/reject any changes and variations.  As an all-year-round project manager of your project, you need to coordinate all project aspects and resources to meet the objectives of the project plan.  One of the aspects of the project implementation is change control.

 

• • What Is Change Control in a Project implementation Process? 

 

The website ‘ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub’ (5) states that

“Change control is a set of procedures that lets you make changes in an organised way”.

The same ‘ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub’ explains this:

“If you find a problem,… you will need to look at how it affects the triple constraint (time, cost, scope) and how it impacts the project quality… If you evaluate the impact of the change and find it won’t have an impact on the project triple constraint, then you can make the change without going through change control”.

 

 

• • An Example of Implementing Your All-year Round Projects

 

Let us take the example of Voting Your 2025 International Development and Poverty Reduction Manager.

Your goal is to find a person who will meet the managerial qualities of such a position.  Amongst the objectives are the design of a job description and person specification that match with the profile of your ideal International Development and Poverty Reduction Manager of the Year.

In project implementation jargon, you will put approved plan into practice to proceed with the selection of your International Development and Poverty Reduction Manager of the Year.  He/she must meet your selection criteria.  If you are voting as a group, you could set up a selection panel or recruitment board like you will do it for real job interview.  You can start by shortlisting 12 candidates, cutting down your list to 6, then to 3 until you reach/vote the last one, who has scored the best and most results of your jury questions and responded to most criteria.

You can decide to add a fundraising feature to your voting activity.

 

• • Fundraising during the Vote of International Development and Poverty Reduction Manager of the Year

 

You can invite the members of the public pay to participate in voting and/or to participate in the selection procedure.  Their payment will be the money you will raise for good causes like CENFACS‘ noble and beautiful ones.  The money raised will help to make a difference in the lives of those we serve.

For those who would like to dive deeper into Implementing their Play or Run or Vote project, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

• Activité 2 du Programme d’Inclusion Economique pour les Ménages : Atelier sur l’Accès à des Opportunités Bien Rémunérées (à partir du 09/04/2025)

L’activité 2, qui se déroulera sous la forme d’un atelier, fournira des conseils et des informations sur les moyens d’accéder à des opportunités bien rémunérées.  Peut-être que la façon la plus simple de se préparer à cet atelier est de savoir ce qu’est l’accès et ce qu’est l’opportunité ; puis de fournir les sujets que l’atelier abordera.

• • Comprendre l’accès et les opportunités

Expliquant la différence entre l’accès et l’opportunité, le site web « thisvsthat.io » (2) dit que

« L’accès fait référence à la disponibilité et à la capacité d’accéder aux ressources, aux services et aux opportunités.  Il englobe des facteurs tels que la proximité physique, l’abordabilité et l’inclusion.  D’autre part, l’opportunité fait référence à la chance et aux possibilités qui sont présentées aux individus pour améliorer leur situation et atteindre leurs objectifs, tandis que l’accès se concentre sur la disponibilité des ressources, l’opportunité met l’accent sur le potentiel de croissance et d’avancement ».
Ainsi, l’accès à des opportunités bien rémunérées fait référence à la disponibilité et à la capacité de saisir ces opportunités et possibilités qui sont présentées aux ménages afin qu’ils puissent améliorer leurs conditions et atteindre leurs objectifs.  Au cours de l’atelier, nous allons explorer ce que nous venons de décrire.

• • Points à couvrir par l’atelier

L’atelier s’appuiera sur les domaines couverts par la précédente réponse du Gouvernement Britannique au rapport de la Commission de Progression de l’Emploi (3).  En particulier, nous traiterons des trois questions suivantes :

≈ Rendre le travail rémunérateur et renforcer les incitations au travail pour les ménages à faible revenu

≈ Donner aux gens plus de possibilités de développer de nouvelles compétences ou d’améliorer et d’utiliser les compétences existantes
≈ Aide ou soutien supplémentaire aux ménages pour les aider à surmonter les obstacles à un travail mieux rémunéré et à saisir les opportunités d’emplois plus qualifiés et mieux rémunérés.

Ceux/celles qui pourraient être intéressé(e)s par l’atelier peuvent le faire savoir au CENFACS.

Les membres de la communauté CENFACS qui souhaitent s’impliquer dans l’atelier peuvent contacter le CENFACS.

Pour toute autre question et/ou demande de renseignements sur cet atelier ou le Programme d’Inclusion Économique pour les Ménages, veuillez communiquer avec le CENFACS.

 

 

Main Development

 

• Protection Month with the Protection of Poor Households’ Assets

 

Protecting the assets of poor households involves strategies and policies that safeguard their livelihoods and financial stability.  The following contents will help to approach these strategies and policies, as well as the other elements constituent of asset protection for poor households:

 

≈ What Is Asset Protection?

≈ Strategies for Protecting Poor Households’ Assets

≈ Types of Poor Households’ Assets to Protect

≈ Action Plan for the Implementation of Asset Protection This April 2025

≈ From Wednesday 02/04/2025: Financial Asset Protection for Poor Households

≈ Other Areas of Protection.

 

Let us look at each of these contents.

 

• • What Is Asset Protection?

 

There are many ways of defining asset protection.  In the context of these notes, the definition used here comes from ‘ocelderlaw.com’ (6), which explains that

“Asset protection is a set of strategies designed to safeguard your wealth from various risks, such as creditor claims, lawsuits, and other financial threats.  It involves legally insulating assets to prevent their seizure or loss while staying within the bounds of the law”.

The website ‘ocelderlaw.com’ also provides the necessary steps for effective asset protection, steps, which are: identification of assets, asset risks assessment, choice of asset protection strategies, implementation of asset protection strategies, regular review and adjustments of your asset protection strategies.

There are several methods to protect your assets, which have been highlighted under the following content.

 

• • Strategies for Protecting Poor Households’ Assets

 

Within the literature about asset protection, it is published a number of strategies to protect assets of poor households.  Among the strategies found, we can mention those below.

 

• • • Social protection programmes (SPPs)

SPPs can provide social insurance which can help prevent asset loss and improve livelihoods.

 

• • • Asset-building initiatives (AbIs)

AbIs focus on helping poor households accumulate assets through savings, credit and investment in productive assets.

 

• • • Legal and regulatory frameworks (L&RFs)

L&RFs can protect property rights, prevent land grabbing, and ensure access to credit and financial services for poor households.

 

• • • Financial inclusion programmes (FIPs)

Generally, FIPs will provide access to financial services, such as savings accounts, credit and insurance, and can help poor households manage their finances and protect their assets.

 

• • • Educational and awareness programmes (E&APs)

E&APs help educating poor households about financial literacy and numeracy, asset management, and their rights.

 

• • • Asset transfer programmes (ATPs)

ATPs provide a one-off large scale asset transfer (like livestock) combined with complementary training.

 

• • • Asset protection trusts

There are trusts that safeguard assets from unexpected costs or changes.

 

The above-mentioned strategies indicate that there are various ways of shielding your assets.  But, what are those assets that poor households would like to protect?

 

  • • Types of Poor Households’ Assets to Protect

 

It is known that poor people and households often lack financial resources and wealth.  But, they can still possess valuable assets such as physical possessions, skills, and social connections.

The Types of their assets that need protection include the following ones:

 

≈ Financial assets (they include cash, bank deposits, stocks, bonds, and investments)

≈ Productive assets (e.g., land, livestock, farm equipment, business assets, etc.)

≈ Quality-of-life-enhancing assets (such as housing, basic utilities, home appliances, vehicles, etc.)

≈ Intangible assets (like social capital, human capital, political capital, cultural capital, access to credit, etc.).

 

These assets need protection and are important for livelihood, well-being and asset-poverty reduction of poor households.  These types of assets make up the different areas of protection that we would like to cover this April 2025 and which frame our asset protection action plan.

 

• • Action Plan for the Implementation of Asset Protection This April 2025

 

To implement asset protection this April 2025, we have selected four key notes, which are given in the table below.

 

 

These notes will be developed starting every Wednesdays of April 2025 as scheduled above.

Also, this plan of protection needs to be combined with the Spring Relief 2025 Activities, Projects and Programmes (which we released on the 26 March  2025 in our Post No. 397).

Besides these selected notes and areas of protection, we would like to keep on working on other areas that need particular attention, like protection of flora, fauna, funga and beneficial micro-organisms; and climate protection.

Before summarising these other areas of protection, let us look at the first selected key note of our plan, which is Financial Asset Protection for Poor Households.

 

 

• • From Wednesday 02/04/2025: Financial Asset Protection for Poor Households

 

It is known that poor households have limited or no financial assets.  Their wealth consists of basic necessities and sometimes with modest savings or investments.  The limited financial assets they have need protection.

 

• • • Limited financial assets of poor households that need protection

 

They include the following ones:

 

≈ Their limited wealth expressed as the minimum they need for survival

≈ Limited resources to meet basic needs

≈ Debts or their financial liabilities that exceed their assets

≈ Their access to financial products

≈ Small savings

etc.

 

Besides the above-mentioned financial assets, protection is also needed for their tangible assets (like properties, vehicles, household goods, etc.) which can be a source of financial wealth.

 

• • • Ways in which CENFACS can work with the Community regarding Financial Asset Protection

How to engage the community, particularly households or families making our community, in terms of protection of their financial assets

 

CENFACS can work with households making its community to tackle issues relating to the loss of asset value by implementing with those households that would like to develop an asset management plan.  To be more specific, CENFACS can engage the community on the matter of financial asset protection in a number of the ways like the following:

 

√ Financial strategy to choose to accumulate financial assets

√ Affordable financial asset protection programmes to select from

√ Financial assets they need to stay resilient to shocks and crises

√ How to use their asset ownership to have a greater control over their lives and opportunities

√ How to break the cycle of poverty through financial asset protection 

√ Working out their net worth or wealth 

√ Looking at their financial assets and evaluating them

√ Carrying out financial asset management and analytics with them

√ Setting up a basic asset protection plan

√ Getting informed about financial asset opportunities

√ Providing them with leads to financial asset protection for the poor

√ Guiding them on the best possible options to asset protection

√ Explaining them financial asset protection products and tools for poor households

√ Adding an inflationary index-link to their financial asset protection plan

√ Helping them to read and understand financial asset protection literature and information 

√ Advising them on how to react and prepare for financial news, warnings, notices and alert messages about financial asset protection 

√ Developing the basic financial skills to interpret the impact of economic indicators (like inflation, interest rate, exchange rate, etc.) on financial asset protection

√ Building their financial literacy statistics and numeracy skills to enable them to read financial information pages about financial asset protection (e.g. charts, tables, in brief infographics about financial asset protection)

√ Organising activities or workshops to help them embrace financial asset protection in the handling of their household financial affairs and plans

√ Improving their knowledge in terms of the key financial asset protection dates to save in the calendar about key policy announcements 

√ Motivating them to follow news and information about financial asset protection

√ Asking them to subscribe to free providers of financial asset protection information that touches their life (e.g. free subscription to magazines, papers and websites that provide information about financial asset protection for poor households)

etc.

 

All these ways of working with the community will help to protect them and their financial assets.  This is because the more informed they are, the more they will find the tools, tips and hints they need in order to protect their financial assets.  It is all about working with them to develop and improve the strategies and practices to safeguard their limited finances in order to prevent asset loss due to unforeseen circumstances and unpredictability.

Those who may have some questions about Financial Asset Protection, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

• • Other Areas of Protection

 

There are other areas of protection that will be highlighted and on which we will be working.  Two of them are:

 

≈ protection of flora, fauna, funga and beneficial micro-organisms

≈ climate protection and stake.

 

• • • Protection of Flora, Fauna and Funga

 

This month, we shall as well revisit progress made so far in protecting animals, plants and fungi.  We shall do it by recalling our Save Flora, Fauna and Funga projects (including the Big Beasts sub-advocacy), which were one of our last XI Starting Campaign and Projects for Autumn 2024.

Indeed, we continue to advocate for the protection of animals (fauna) in Africa and elsewhere in developing world whereby animals get killed, traded and extinct to such extent that some species are at the brink of disappearing.

We are as well working on the safety of other species in danger like trees, plans and flowers (flora).  The work on this matter is about building forward these species that are threatened with extinction.

We also included Funga in our Save Flora and Fauna.  In short, we are working on saving animal, plants and fungi.

To advocate and raise your voice to protect and build forward better endangered plant, animal and fungi species, please contact CENFACS.

 

• • • Taking Climate Protection and Stake for African Children at the Implementation Level with Full Implementation Sub-phase (Phase 3.4)

 

We are continuing to work on the outcomes of COP29 (7) and how they can fit into CENFACS’ TCPSACI and its sub-phase 3.4, and how they can help us prepare for COP30 (8) which will be convened in Belém, Brazil.

Without anticipating what may happen at the climate talks in Belém, let us inform our supporters that the slogan for this follow-up is: Belém Do Better for Children!

To enquire about the working plan about this follow-up within CENFACS  and to support CENFACS’ TCPSACI and its sub-phase 3.4, please contact CENFACS.

For any further details about CENFACS’ Month of Protection, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

_________

 

• References

 

(1) Geographic data (2025): UNCS, Population Statistics: UNHCR Monthly Statistical Reports or latest available, IDP Statistics from OCHA, IOM

(2) https://thisvsthat.io/access-vs-opportunity (accessed in March 2025)

(3) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1123353/helping-people-secure-stay-succeed-higher-quality-higher-paying-jobs.pdf (accessed in March 2025)

(4) www.taskmanagementguide.com/glossary/what-is-project-implementation.php (Accessed in April 2023)

(5) https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/projectmanagement/chapter/chapter-17-project-implementation-overview-project-management/ (Accessed in April 2023)

(6) https://www.ocelderlaw.com/what-is-asset-protection/ (accessed in March 2025)

(7) https://www.carbonbrief.org/cop29-key-outcomes-agreed-at-the-un-climate-talks-in-baku/ (accessed in December 2024)

(8)  https://thinklandscape.globallandscapesforum.org/71474/climate-events-2025 (accessed in March 2025)

_________

 

• 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.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

26 March 2025

Post No. 397

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Spring Relief 2025: Focus, Activities, Projects and Programmes

• Climate Action 4 – In Focus from 24 to 30/03/2025: Lithium; Water Harvesting Techniques

• Economic Inclusion Programme for Households’ Opportunity

 

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Spring Relief 2025: Focus, Activities, Projects and Programmes

 

Last Spring Relief, we Built Forward Better Together to a Greener, Cleaner, Safer, Inclusive and Climate-Resilient Future within the context of Squeezed Household Spending. This Spring Relief, we will be moving forward to protect the gains or legacies of our Building-forward-better-together work while building upon progress to achieve a more equitable and inclusive society.  In this process of building upon progress, we shall as well launch new initiatives.

In Spring Relief 2024, we also reset and changed our system of poverty reduction.  After resetting our poverty reduction system, we now need to reinstall and restore the contents and settings of our system of poverty reduction to get it to a usable state.  Where the system or its parts needed change, we are required to stabilise, test, communicate, continuously monitor and maintain system elements to ensure the new system functions as intended and address any new or outstanding issues or bugs that may arise.

So, this Spring Relief 2025, we are going to move forward to protect the gains or legacies of our Building-forward-better-together work while building upon progress to achieve a more equitable and inclusive society.  We are as well going to reinstall and restore the contents and settings of our system of poverty reduction to get it to a usable state; while stabilising, testing, communicating, continuously monitoring and maintaining the elements of our new system.

The above makes the theme for this Spring Relief 2025, theme which is moving forward to protect the gains or legacies of our Building-forward-better-together work while building upon progress to achieve a more equitable and inclusive society.

The announcement of Spring Relief’s theme comes with that of activities, projects and programmes making it or the notes composing this theme.  We have provided, under the Main Development section of this post, the activities, projects and programmes we have selected to make this Spring – Spring Relief 2025 Season.

For further details about Spring Relief 2025 Season, please go to the Main Development section of this post and read more about it.

 

 

• Climate Action 4 – In Focus from 24 to 30/03/2025: Lithium; Water Harvesting Techniques

 

This fourth climate action covers lithium as one of the metals needed for low-carbon technology and sustainable water management via water harvesting techniques.  This action will be taken around the following headings:

 

~ Lithium as a metal needed for low-carbon technology

~ What are water harvesting techniques?

~ Working with the Community on lithium and water harvesting techniques

~ A final word about Climate Actions 2025.

 

Let us explain each of these headings.

 

• • Lithium as a Metal Needed for Low-carbon Technology

 

Lithium as a metal needed for low-carbon technology can be explained in many ways.  One the ways of explaining it comes from the website ‘carbonbrief.org’ (1), which argues that

“Lithium, a soft, silvery-white metal which is also the lightest in the periodic table, is a crucial ingredient of lithium-ion batteries.  These are used in everything from smartphones to electric vehicles (EVs), now their biggest consumer.  The lithium-ion battery is the battery of choice for most car makers, including Tesla, BMB, Ford and Nissan”.

However, its extraction and processing can be environmentally intensive, requiring sustainable solutions.  There are reasons for which lithium is important metal for low-carbon technology.  Amongst these reasons, we can mention four of them:

 

1) Powering electric vehicles (with lithium-ion batteries) and storing energy

2) Electrification of transportation (meaning the reduction of carbon emissions from transportation)

3) Renewable energy integration (e.g., stabilisation of electricity grid)

4) Growing demand of lithium due to transition to low-carbon economy.

 

This week’s action is about highlighting the above-mentioned benefits of lithium as a critical metal for low-carbon technology and energy transition.  The action is also on how these benefits can reach the poor, especially in African countries (like the Democratic Republic of Congo) where this scarce resource is found and represents an object of covetousness and conflict, but does not sometimes benefit the local population where it is mined.

 

• • What Are Water Harvesting Techniques?

 

According to ‘agrifarming.in’ (2),

“Techniques for collecting and managing rainfall and surface runoff sustainably are referred to as water harvesting techniques.  These cutting-edge techniques are crucial in solving the global problem of water scarcity”.

The website ‘agrifarming.in’ also mentions the following benefits deriving from water harvesting techniques: reduced flooding, water quality improvement, energy savings, financial savings, climate resilience, community empowerment, water access in remote areas, carbon green spaces, reduced water stress, etc.

Within the literature about water harvesting, the following properties have been highlighted making it a climate technology:

 

σ It helps communities adapt to changing rainfall patterns and droughts while ensuring access to water during dry periods (climate adaptation property)

σ It lowers energy consumption and emissions associated with water treatment and distribution (climate mitigation property)

σ It improves water security for both domestic and agricultural use (water security property)

σ It enhances resilience of communities and ecosystems to climate variability and extreme weather events (enhanced resilience property)

σ It increases agricultural productivity in dryland areas (food security and economic resilience property)

σ It is a relatively simple, low-cost, and accessible technology (cost-effectiveness property).

 

The above-mentioned properties of water harvesting techniques clearly speak for themselves about why action is needed to harvest water.

 

• • Working with the Community on Lithium and Water Harvesting Techniques

 

The all purpose of writing this note is to guide our action.  In other words, what is key here is to take action.  The note is only a guided principle.

For instance, taking action together could be on the following:

 

~ how to help our community members to find out how the benefits of lithium-ion batteries can be expanded to those in need

~ advocating for sharing and transferring technologies between Africa and the rest of the world, including technologies linked to lithium and water harvesting techniques

~ educating the members of the CENFACS Community who are unaware of help deriving from taking a water harvesting drive and motivating them to do it

~ explaining the benefits of water harvesting techniques

~ reducing and/or ending poverty linked to the lack of access to lithium-ion batteries and water harvesting technologies.

 

Those members of our community in the UK and Africa-based Sister Organisations willing to work with CENFACS on Lithium and Water Harvesting Techniques as well as on Poverty Reduction linked to them; they can take climate actions with us.

For any queries or enquiries about Climate Action 4 and Climate Actions Month, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

This note for Climate Action 4 ends this Week’s Climate Action contents.

 

• • A Final Word about Climate Action 2025

 

Climate action is about action, not words only.  We have only written these notes to guide us and galvanise our action.  This is because to take action, one needs a roadmap or simply to say how they are going to conduct this action.

As said above, the notes on Climate Action 4 conclude this Week’s Climate Action contents without ending our March 2025 Climate Actions.  There will  be impact monitoring and evaluation on 31/03/2025 to wrap up  Climate Action March 2025.

For any other queries and enquiries about CENFACS‘ Climate Action Month, the theme of ‘Low-carbon and Climate Technologies and Poverty Reduction’ and the All Four Climate Actions; please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Economic Inclusion Programme for Households’ Opportunity

 

This week, we are dealing with the second part of Economic Inclusion Programme for Households, which is Economic Inclusion Programme for Households’ Opportunity.  The first part is/was Economic Inclusion for Households’ Resilience.  In the first part, we worked with households to strengthen their ability to manage risk and respond to and cope with sudden overwhelming shocks.

This second part will be covered under the following headings:

 

~ What is economic inclusion?

~ What is economic inclusion programme?

~ What is opportunity?

~ What is Economic Inclusion Programme for Households’ Opportunity?

~ The topics we have selected to highlight this second part.

 

Let us look at these headings.

 

• • What Is Economic Inclusion?

 

Economic inclusion can be defined in many ways.   Amongst the definitions we found is the one provided by ‘oxford-review.com’ (3), which explains it in the following terms:

“Economic inclusion refers to creating equitable access to financial resources, opportunities, and support systems that enable individuals and communities, especially those historically marginalised, to participate fully in the economy.  It emphasises breaking down economic barriers and ensuring everyone, regardless of background, has access to quality education, employment, entrepreneurship opportunities, and financial resources”.

Another view on economic inclusion comes from the World Bank (4) which sees it as

“The gradual integration of individuals and households into broader economic and community development processes” (p. 195)

These definitions will be used in our Economic Inclusion Programme for Households’ Opportunity by looking how opportunities can be created or how households can seize the opportunities available to them in order to reduce or escape from poverty and hardships.

 

• • What Is Economic Inclusion Programme?

 

According to the World Bank (op. cit.),

“Economic inclusion programmes, which are also known as productive inclusion programmes, refer to bundles of coordinated, multidimensional interventions that support individuals, households, and communities to sustainably increase their incomes and assets”.

CENFACS‘ Economic Inclusion Programme for Households 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.

 

• • What Is Opportunity?

 

The same World Bank explains that

“Opportunity is the capacity of households in economic inclusion programme to capture and capitalise on investments that improve livelihoods and build human capital and one that they would otherwise miss” (p. 197)

Households need opportunity or capacity to reduce poverty and the adverse impacts of climate change, to enhance their economic status, to access well paid jobs, to better raise their children, etc.

From what it has been argued about opportunity, it is possible to explain Economic Inclusion Programme for Households’ Opportunity.

 

• • What Is Economic Inclusion Programme for Households’ Opportunity (EIP4HO)?

 

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 create their own opportunities or capture the available opportunities and capitalise on investments that improve their livelihoods and build their human capital.

The programme will help them either create their own opportunity or seize opportunities that are available so that they can gradually and better integrate into processes that will enable them to reduce or end poverty.

EIP4HO will be helpful to households.

 

• • • Helpfulness of EIP4HO

 

The programme will be helpful for the economically weak households and or those households that would like find opportunity 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 capture 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 EIP4HO

 

They include the following:

 

1) Increasing opportunity to access and afford digital technologies for households

2) Promoting access to well paid job opportunities

3) Enhancing self-employment/income-generating opportunities

4) Improving households’ opportunity for adaptive safety net schemes.

 

 

As the above figure shows, these activities will run from every Wednesdays of April 2025.  They will be approached from the perspective of households rather than from the point of view of those who manage the economy.  There will a short break during the Easter Holiday (from 16 to 22 April 2025).

 

 

• • • Activity 1: Discussion on Accessibility to and Affordability of Digital Technologies (From 02 to 08/04/2025)

 

The discussion is about how ordinary households making our community can better access and afford the opportunity provided by digital technologies.

For instance, at the moment many aspects of life are digitally run.  This means that everybody, including households are required to be equipped with technologies to be able to manage aspects of their households.  Having a smart phone or continuous access to digital technology has become today’s modus vivendi.  Can all households making our community access and afford these technologies to run their daily lives?  Those who cannot access and/or afford them, what help is available for them?

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 EIP4HO, please communicate with CENFACS.

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Matching Organisation-Investor via Land Restoration Project – Activity 5 (from 26/03 to 01/04/2025): Matching Organisation’s Follow-up and Further Assessment  with Impact Investor’s Monitor

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) – Step/Workshop 6: Starting the Organisation of Your Play, Run and Vote Projects

• Land Restoration and Drought Resilience Programme: Open for Applications

 

 

• Matching Organisation-Investor via Land Restoration Project – Activity 5 (from 26/03 to 01/04/2025): Matching Organisation’s Follow-up and Further Assessment  with Impact Investor’s Monitor

 

The last episode of our 5-week Matching Organisation-Investor via Land Restoration Project is about Matching Organisation’s Follow-up and Further Assessment  with Impact Investor’s Monitor.

Because ecosystems can take years to adjust and adapt, there is a need to have a follow-up management for a successful restoration.  ASCO has to reveal its follow-up maintenance needs and how it will know what will work and not work to inform future restorations.  Similarly, the N-f-p Impact Investor will want to assess the project’s performance across ecological, social and economic parameters.

Knowing what each of the parties (i.e., Africa-based Sister Charitable Organisation and Not-for-profit Impact Investor) has to do, they have continued to work to ensure that their talks result in agreement.  The points they have already scored are enough for them to tackle this last episode.

 

 

They seem to be using different words at this stage, but they could be talking about the same thing.  ASCO is using the concept of follow-up while the N-f-p Impact Investor is employing the word ‘monitor or monitoring’.  To clarify the matter, we need to explain the difference and indifference between project follow-up and project monitoring as the two parties approach this last stage.

Africa-based Sister Charitable Organisation (ASCO) is coming to the negotiating table with the proposal to follow up and carry out further assessment prior to any agreement.  The Not-for-profit (n-f-p) Impact Investor is bringing to the same table its monitor.

To approach this last part of the matching talks, we have organised our notes as follows:

 

σ The Difference between Project Follow-up and Project Monitoring

σ Negotiation over Follow-up, Further Assessment and Monitor

σ Negotiated Agreement

σ The Match or Fit Test

σ Concluding Note on Matching Organisation-Investor via Land Restoration Project.

 

Let us explain each of these headings.

 

• • The Difference between Project Follow-up and Project Monitoring

 

Project follow-up and project monitoring have something in common; just as they have some differences.  What is common between them is that both project follow-up and project monitoring involve keeping track of a project’s progress.

They are different as project monitoring is the ongoing process of tracking metrics and tasks to ensure the project stays on schedule with budget and meets requirements; whereas project follow-up focuses on assessing project outcomes, identifying areas for improvement and ensuring objectives were met after the initial phase.  This difference can be expressed in their focus, purpose and activities conducted for each.

Knowing what unites and separates project follow-up and project monitoring, it makes easy to speak about the negotiation.

 

• • Negotiation over Follow-up, Further Assessment and Monitor 

 

The negotiation will between the contents of follow-up and further assessment to be presented by ASCO and monitor to be proposed by the N-f-p Impact Investor.  Let us uncover what each is bringing to the negotiating table.

 

• • • ASCO’s Project Follow-up and Further Assessment

 

To explain what it is going to happen, let us first explain follow-up, then further assessment.

 

• • • • What is project follow-up?

 

Project follow-up can be defined in various ways.  If one considers the field of project management, a project follow-up can be explained, according to ‘knowledgehut.com’ (5), as

“The process of monitoring and evaluating the outcomes of a project or plan as well as managing and communicating its performance”.

From the perspective of knowledgehut.com’, to conduct effective project follow-ups, ASCO will follow eleven steps:

 

1) Define follow-up objectives

2) Establish follow-up criteria

3) Collect and data and information

4) Analyse and evaluate

5) Identify improvement opportunities

6) Communicate findings

7) Take corrective actions

8) Monitor progress

9) Engage stakeholders

10) Document lessons learned

11) Repeat follow-up activities.

 

At this point of the negotiation, the N-f-p Impact Investor may want to know if ASCO has a follow-up action plan (that is, a strategic framework designed to ensure the continuous monitoring and assessment of tasks or goals after their initial implementation).

According to ‘meetjamie.ai’ (6), this type of plan focuses on measuring progress, making necessary adjustments, and guiding ongoing efforts to achieve sustained success.

With reference to this plan, the N-f-p Impact Investor will be keen in knowing if ASCO has a strategic map that will track and evaluate the advancement of particular tasks or objectives following the initial execution.  ASCO needs to demonstrate that it has such map or something similar.

 

• • • • What is project assessment?

 

The perspective retained here for project assessment comes from ‘vasundhara.io’ (7),which explains that

“Project assessment is the systematic process of assessing a project’s progress, performance, and impact.  It involves analysing different aspects such as goals, resources, execution, and outcomes to determine the project’s success”.

ASCO can demonstrate that its Land Restoration Project has been or will be assessed in accordance to the above definition or other relevant one.  ASCO can categorise its project assessment into pre-project assessment, mid-project assessment and post-project assessment.

If ASCO can show that it is able to better follow up and further assess the Land Restoration Project, then this can reinforce its glimmer of hope in these matching talks.

 

• • • N-f-p Impact Investor’s Monitor

 

The N-f-p Impact Investor has entered this last episode with its monitoring file or monitor.   What is project monitoring?

According to ‘plane.so’ (8),

“Project monitoring is defined as the process of tracking, reviewing, and regulating the progress and performance of a project to ensure it stays on course and meets the objectives outlined in the project plan”.

The N-f-p Impact Investor can decide to appoint a project monitor to oversee the project on their behalf, acting as their ‘eyes and hears’ to ensure it progresses according to plan and budget.  The project monitor will track the project’s metrics, progress and associated tasks to ensure everything is completed on time, on budget, and according to project requirements and standards.

To be sure that the project will be properly monitored, the N-f-p Impact Investor will be interested to know if ASCO has the key performance metrics to measure that tasks will be completed on time and within budget.

In addition, ASCO will need to explain how it will not deviate from its plan early, and how it will make adjustments to keep the project within its scope, schedule, and budget.

ASCO can prove that it has a plan for regular reviews of the project’s status, and will track key performance indicators and will assess the quality of deliverables.

 

• • Agreement 

 

In order to reach an agreement, both participating parties need to approve processes over Follow-up, Further Assessment and Monitor.  If there is no approval in any of these processes, the matching talks may not go further.  In other words, there should be an agreement between ASCO’s Follow-up and Further Assessment (FFA) and N-f-p Impact Investor’s Monitor.  If there is a disagreement, then the talks/negotiations could be subject to match or fit test.

 

 

• • The Match or Fit Test

 

As part of the match or fit test, the n-f-p Impact Investor’s view on ASCO’s FFA must be matched with the information coming out of ASCO’s FFA.

The match can be perfect or close in order to reach an agreement.  If there is a huge or glaring difference between the two (i.e., between what the investor wants and what ASCO is saying about its FFA, between what the investor would like the phase of FFA to indicate and what ASCO’s FFA is really saying), the probability or chance of having an agreement at this fifth round of negotiations could be null or uncertain.

However, if this happens there is still a chance as CENFACS can step in to advise ASCO and guide n-f-p Impact Investor on their approaches to Land Restoration Project.

 

• • • Impact Advice to ASCO and Guidance to n-f-p Impact Investor

 

CENFACS can impact advise ASCOs to improve the presentation of the FFA they are bringing forward.  CENFACS can as well guide n-f-p Impact Investors to work out their expectations in terms of the FFA to a format that can be agreeable by potential ASCOs.  CENFACS’ impact advice for ASCOs and guidance on impact investing for n-f-p Impact Investor, which are impartial, will help each of them (i.e., investee and investor) to make informed decisions and to reduce or avoid the likelihood of any significant losses or misunderstandings or mismatches.

However, to reduce or avoid this likelihood both parties need to follow the rule of the matching game.

 

• • • The Rule of the Matching Game

 

The rule of the matching game is the more impact investors are attracted by ASCO’s FFA the better for ASCOs.  Likewise, the more ASCOs can successfully respond to impact investors’ level of enquiries and queries about the FFA the better for investors.  In this respect, the matching game needs to be a win-win one to benefit both players (i.e., investee and investor).

The above is the fifth stage or activity of the Matching Organisation-Investor via Land Restoration Project.

Those potential organisations seeking investment to set up a land restoration project in Africa and n-f-p impact investors looking for organisations that are interested in their giving, they can contact CENFACS to arrange the match or fit test for them.  They can have their fit test carried out by CENFACS’ Hub for Testing Hypotheses.

 

• • • CENFACS’ Hub for Testing Hypotheses 

 

The Hub can help to use analysis tools to test assumptions and determine how likely something is within a given standard of accuracy.  The Hub can assist to

 

√ clean, merge and prepare micro-data sources for testing, modelling and analysis

√ conduct data management and administration

√ carry out regression analysis, estimate and test hypotheses

√ interpret and analyse patterns or trends in data or results.

 

For any queries and/or enquiries about this fifth stage/activity of Matching Organisation-Investor via Land Restoration Project, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

• • Concluding Note on Matching Organisation-Investor via Land Restoration Project

 

To close this project, let us recognise that although this project has been based on a 5 essential stages of restoration projects and 5-step process of ecological restoration, there could be more than five stages in any land restoration project lifecycle.

The match probability can be high or average or low depending on how much ASCOs’ needs meet Not-for-profit Impact Investors’ interests.

CENFACS is still available to work with ASCOs that are looking for Impact Advice  and  Not-for-profit Impact Investors who need Guidance with Impact so that the former can find the investment they are looking for and the latter the organisation to invest in, and both of them can realise their respective Easter dreams.

To work together to make your matching dream come true by finding your ideal investee or investor, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) –

Step/Workshop 6: Starting the Organisation of Your Play, Run and Vote Projects

 

After negotiating and agreeing the terms of your all-year-round project, you can now start organising it.

 

• • Organising Your All-year Round Projects

 

This is the step from which you start to put in place your organisational structure.  In project planning parlance, you will identify the roles and responsibilities (as shown in the table below) of each person to be involved in the project in order to facilitate the coordination and implementation of the project activities.

 

 

• • An Example of Organising Your All-year Round Projects

 

Let say you would like to Run for Poverty Reduction and you want to undertake it as a group in your local area.  You decide to set up a running group and to name it as “All-year-round Runners’ Group”.  

To start your organisation, you will proceed with the points below.

 

• • • Create a Basic Organisational Structure

 

You can create a basic organisational structure that identifies your project personnel, creates a management and delivery teams, and assigns roles and responsibilities including coordination.  In practical terms, you will have to decide on the following:

Who is (are) going…

 

∝ to be first at the meeting/gathering point each time the running takes place?

∝ to hold the contact number/details of the group to keep everybody on board?

∝ to keep the attendance register?

∝ to check that everybody is fit and well to run?

∝ to lead or coordinate the run?

∝ to deal with health and safety of the group?

∝ to sort out the equipment if any?

∝ to care for people belongings while they are running?

∝ to make sure that everyone is countable after the Run?

∝ to record your Run event (e.g., filming it, using camera on your phone, a video or voice recorder, etc.)?

∝ to check that everyone leaves the meeting/gathering point safely after the event?

etc.

 

Depending on your skills, knowledge, experience and resources; you may add more roles and responsibilities.

You can even include a fundraising element into your running activity.

 

• • • Including a Fundraising Element into Your Run

 

If your Run involves any fundraising activity, you need to decide who will volunteer to undertaking fundraising responsibility (or everybody in the group).   You can decide how much to raise each time you run without making it as an obligation since the aim of your Run is not to raise money.  The aim of your Run is to impact poverty, the health and wellbeing of group members.

 

• • • Impact Reporting on Your Run

 

If you would like to report on your Run, you need to appoint someone to produce a report.  You can decide everyone of your members reports on their own Run session/activity.  In fact, it is a good idea to report on your Run.  This is one of the ways of capturing and sharing the impact you are making on yourself, on the group and others.  In monitoring and evaluation jargon, it is called impact reporting.

 

• • • Monitoring and Evaluating the Performance of Each Runner and Giving a Prize

 

If your group is going to select the best runner of the year 2025 and give a prize/reward accordingly; then you need to organise yourself to monitor and evaluate the performance of each runner against your given performance criteria throughout the year, and decide by the 23rd of December 2025 who is the group’s best runner of the year 2025.

For those who would like to dive deeper into Start Organising their Play or Run or Vote project, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Land Restoration and Drought Resilience Programme (LRDRP): Open for Applications

 

Our LRDRP has already started and applications are open for those ASOs that would like to apply.  The following summarises LRDRP:

What is LRDRP?, key aspects of LRDRP, projects making LRDRP, areas CENFACS can work in together with ASOs and applying to LRDRP.

Let us look at these summaries.

 

• • What Is LRDRP?

 

LRDRP is a series of planned SMART projects to be undertaken with ASOs; projects that focus on combating desertification and building resilience against drought while promoting sustainable land management practices.  It is also an agenda for work with ASOs that are specialised in or would like to work on land restoration, drought resilience and ecological poverty reduction.

 

• • Key Aspects of LRDRP

 

They include land restoration, water management, and community engagement. These main aspects of LRDRP are essential in designing projects or responses to land degradation and drought issues.

 

• • Projects Making LRDRP

 

LRDRP is specifically crafted to work with Africa-based Sister Charitable Organisations (ASCOs) that are working or would like to embark on restoration projects in areas like healthy soils, resilient crops, nutritious foods, sustainable land restoration, etc.

 

• • Areas CENFACS Can Work in Together with ASOs

 

CENFACS‘ intervention will be at the levels of restoration project planning and development, fundraising and resource development, monitoring and evaluation, and project reporting.

At all these levels of intervention, there will be metrics, tools and key performance indictors to guide and operationalise our intervention.

 

• • Applying to LRDRP

 

We are ready to work with Africa-based Sister Organisations that are willing to embark on this programme.

For those ASOs that would like us to get involved in LRDRP, they should not hesitate to apply to the programme or communicate with CENFACS.

For any further queries or enquiries about LRDRP; please also contact CENFACS.

 

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

À paraître ce printemps 2025 : Le numéro 87 de FACS qui s’intitulera « Les Organisations Caritatives Africaines et Le Financement de la Lutte contre le Changement Climatique et de la Réduction de la Pauvreté en Afrique »

Pour collecter des fonds afin de faire face aux problèmes de changement climatique et de pauvreté, les Organisations Caritatives Africaines (OCA) font face à toutes sortes de défis et d’obstacles. Pourtant, il est nécessaire de mettre en œuvre des objectifs de réduction du changement climatique et de la pauvreté.

Par exemple, le rapport de ‘greenfinanceplatform.org’ (9) indique que

« Les gouvernements africains se sont engagés à mobiliser environ 10 % de leurs besoins au niveau national, ce qui laisse un immense déficit – environ 80 % ou 2,5 milliards de dollars – dans le financement de la lutte contre le changement climatique nécessaire pour atteindre les objectifs d’atténuation et d’adaptation au changement climatique en Afrique ».

De plus, avec toutes les coupes qui ont été faites ici et là dans les pays développés en ce qui concerne leurs budgets d’aide au développement, ces coupes ne peuvent qu’exacerber le déficit de financement de la réduction de la pauvreté en Afrique. Il y a donc un déficit de financement pour les questions climatiques ; tout comme il y a un vide d’aide financière pour la réduction de la pauvreté en Afrique.

Qu’il s’agisse du climat ou de la réduction de la pauvreté, les Organisations Caritatives Africaines ont besoin de financement pour poursuivre et soutenir leur mission tout en améliorant la vie des personnes dans le besoin. Elles ont besoin d’un financement climatique pour aider à atténuer les impacts du changement climatique et à s’y adapter; tout comme elles ont besoin de financement pour s’attaquer aux causes profondes et aux conséquences de la pauvreté en Afrique. Ceci fait l’objet du 87e numéro du FACS.

Le 87e numéro du FACS traitera des stratégies et des outils que les Organisations Caritatives Africaines (OCA) utilisent ou peuvent utiliser pour entreprendre la planification et la budgétisation climatiques, ainsi que pour formuler leur offre d’investissement afin de rechercher et d’obtenir ou de mobiliser des fonds.

Il étudiera comment les OCA tentent d’accéder à des fonds par le biais d’institutions locales dotées de capacités et d’autonomisation où elles opèrent. Ceci sans ignorer les efforts qu’elles peuvent faire pour travailler avec le secteur privé ou à but lucratif sur les questions de changement climatique. En d’autres termes, le 87e numéro du FACS examinera comment les OCA tentent de collaborer et de s’associer avec d’autres pour améliorer leurs capacités et les questions de coordination relatives au financement sur la lutte contre le changement climatique.

Le 87e numéro traitera également du financement de la réduction de la pauvreté. En effet, obtenir un financement climatique n’implique pas nécessairement d’obtenir des financements pour la réduction de la pauvreté. C’est pourquoi le 87e numéro s’intéressera également à l’utilisation d’instruments financiers qui permettent aux OCA d’accès aux fonds et de répondre aux besoins de leurs utilisateurs et des locaux. À cet égard, le 87e numéro vérifiera s’il y a un alignement entre la stratégie des OCA en matière de financement du climat et le financement de la réduction de la pauvreté. Et s’il y en a, où cet alignement mène.

Le 87e numéro analysera la relation entre le financement de l’action climatique et le financement de la réduction de la pauvreté. Plus précisément, il mettra en évidence l’interdépendance entre le changement climatique et la pauvreté. On sait que le changement climatique peut exacerber la pauvreté en provoquant des catastrophes naturelles, l’insécurité alimentaire et les déplacements, tandis que la pauvreté peut rendre les personnes et les communautés plus vulnérables aux impacts climatiques.

Loin d’être un catalogue de défis et d’obstacles, le numéro 87 examinera s’il y a des améliorations dans les stratégies de financement des OCA en ce qui concerne les questions de changement climatique et de réduction de la pauvreté. En particulier, le 87e numéro portera sur les points suivants :

σ l’intégration entre la stratégie de financement de l’action climatique et la stratégie de financement de la réduction de la pauvreté, étant donné qu’il existe des synergies entre le changement climatique et les initiatives de réduction de la pauvreté

σ le modèle de collaboration entre les OCA et tous les autres acteurs pour mobiliser le financement de l’action climatique et le financement de la réduction de la pauvreté et du développement durable

σ l’alignement entre le financement de l’action climatique et le financement de la réduction de la pauvreté

σ l’amélioration de la planification des projets des OCA qui reflète non seulement les besoins du climat, mais aussi ceux de la pauvreté en Afrique

σ le suivi des fonds climatiques et des fonds pour la réduction de la pauvreté et le développement durable

σ l’élaboration de cadres de travail qui incluent à la fois l’investissement climatique et l’investissement d’impact dans la réduction de la pauvreté

σ l’amélioration de la planification et de la coordination entre les projets de lutte contre le changement climatique et les projets de réduction de la pauvreté

etc.

Pour en savoir plus sur ce nouveau numéro, veuillez continuer à consulter les messages entrants du CENFACS ce printemps 2025. Pour réserver une copie papier de ce 87e numéro du FACS, veuillez contacter le CENFACS avec vos coordonnées postales.

 

 

Main Development

 

• Spring Relief 2025: Focus, Activities, Projects and Programmes

 

We can present Spring Relief 2025 by re-explaining its Focus and highlighting its Activities, Projects and Programmes.  This is without forgetting the meanings or properties of the kind of building we would like to erect.  So, the following items covers Spring Relief 2025:

 

σ Spring Relief 2025 Focus

σ Key Terms Embodying Our Spring Relief 2025

σ Spring Relief 2025 Activities, Projects and Programmes

 

Let us briefly uncover the above-mentioned items.

 

• • Spring Relief 2025 Focus

 

This Spring Relief 2025, we are going to move forward to protect the gains or legacies of our Building-forward-better-together work while building upon progress to achieve a more equitable and inclusive society.  We are as well going to reinstall and restore the contents and settings of our system of poverty reduction to get it to a usable state; while stabilising, testing, communicating, continuously monitoring and maintaining the elements of our new system.

So, the theme for this Spring Relief 2025 is moving forward to protect the gains or legacies of our building-forward-better-together work while building upon progress to achieve a more equitable and inclusive society.

To reinstall and restore the contents and settings of our system of poverty reduction, we need activities, projects and programmes.  To stabilise, test, communicate, continuously monitor and maintain the elements of our new system; it requires activities, projects and programmes as well.  But, before we unveil these activities, projects and programmes; let us highlight the key terms embodying our Spring Relief 2025.

 

• • Key Terms Embodying Our Spring Relief 2025

 

They are the terms we can use after resetting and changing our systems of poverty reduction.  These terms are given below.

 

• • • Key terms after a system reset

 

Depending on the way one has reset its system, they may use the steps they find the most suitable for them after resetting.  In the context of Spring Relief 2025, we are going to utilise the following steps, which are commonly used in the information, technology and communication environment: reinstallation, restoration, reconfiguration of settings and updates of software.  The words or expressions used for these steps make up the key terms after our system reset. Let us highlight these terms.

 

• • • • Reinstall

 

After resetting your poverty reduction system, the contents of this system will removed.  You will need to put them in place and make them ready for use again or the reset ones.

 

• • • • Restore

 

You need as well to bring these contents back to a normal or proper state, or restore them from a back-up.

 

• • • • Reconfigure settings

 

You will need to reset these contents to their default values and to your preferences.

 

• • • • Updates of our system for poverty reduction

 

When doing reset, please make sure to check for and install any available updates.

The above-mentioned expressions or words or verbs are the ones we shall use after resetting our poverty reduction systems.  There are also relationships between them in order to make our reset system better work.

 

• • • Key terms after a system change

 

Following the type of change initiated to the system, one can use the steps they feel appropriate to them after system change.  For the convenience of our Spring Relief 2025, we are going to employ the steps that are familiar with what happens in the information technology and communications systems.  To be precise, we are using the following steps: stabilisation and verification, communication and training, ongoing maintenance and improvement.  The terms used for these steps constitute the key terms or terminology after our system change.  Let us briefly explain these terms.

 

• • • • Stabilisation and verification

 

There are about testing the new system to ensure it correctly functions and meets the requirements, tracking the system’s performance and identifying any potential problems, and addressing any issues or bugs that arise during the initial phase of operations.

 

• • • • Communication and training

 

It is about communicating the change to all relevant stakeholders (e.g., project users and beneficiaries, Africa-based Sister Organisations, funders/donors, volunteers and other supporters, etc.), explaining how to effectively use the new system, and documenting all the changes made to the system.

 

• • • • Ongoing maintenance and improvement

 

It is about ensuring the system is kept up-to-date with security patches and updates, continuously monitoring the system’s performance and optimising it as needed, gathering feedbacks to identify areas for improvement, maintaining and updating the relevant documentation to the system.

The above key terminology will be part of the activities, projects and programmes we have planned to deliver this Spring.  What are those activities, projects and programmes?

 

• • Spring Relief 2025 Activities, Projects and Programmes

 

CENFACS is delighted to present its New Season’s (Spring) Collection of Selected Activities, Projects and Programmes with a choice of relief and climate smart services.  For each of these activities, projects and programmes; you will find climate resilient development ambition as well as user-friendly and –centred relief.  They are designed with the scents of inclusivity, cleanness, safety, sustainability, resilience and opportunity.

These are the activities, projects and programmes to rebuild lives, infrastructures and institutions as we move forward better together greener, cleaner, inclusive and safer towards a net-zero world.  They are free, but we do not mind donations.  The more you donate, the more we can help relieve lives.

Please find below the selection of Spring Relief 2025 Activities, Projects and Programmes.

 

• • • April: Protection Month

 

There will be two initiatives to deliver and sustain protection in April 2025, which are:

Protection of Women and Children against Extreme Weather Events, and Protection of Household Assets.

 

a) Women and Children Projects (3W & PPS Reflection Day):

Reflection on Protection of Women and Children against Extreme Weather Events (Protection project)

 

On our Reflection Day, we will reflect on ways of tackling extreme weather events.  What are extreme weather events?

According to the World Economic Forum (10),

“Extreme weather events (floods, heatwaves, etc.) are those leading to the loss of human life, damage to ecosystems, destruction of property and/or financial loss due to extreme weather
events. Includes, but is not limited to: land-based (e.g. wildfires), water-based (e.g. floods), and atmospheric and temperature-related (e.g. heat-waves) events, including those exacerbated by climate change.” (p. 77)

The same World Economic Forum tells us extreme weather events are the second-most severe risk over the short term and consistent concern amongst the groups it surveyed.

Our Reflection Day will try to look at what can be further done to protect and give sense of security to women and children from this second-most severe risk.  In particular, we shall reflect on ways of tackling extreme weather events.

Additionally, we shall reflect on rebuilding trust and a sense of shared values out of the life-threating context of the impacts of extreme weather events on our network and system of protection in the process of moving forward to protect the legacies of our Building-forward-better-together work while building upon progress to achieve a more equitable and inclusive society.

 

b) Protection of Household Assets  (Protection and Asset Management project)

 

Protecting household assets involves safeguarding household possessions and financial resources from potential risks like lawsuits, creditors or unexpected, often achieved through strategies like asset protection trusts or insurance.  Even a poor household/family has assets that need protection.

It is known that poor people and households often lack financial resources and wealth.  However, they can still possess valuable assets like physical possessions, skills, and social connections, which could be critical for reducing vulnerability and enhancing the quality of their livelihoods.

Because of that, we shall look at measures to protect poor households’ real estate (e.g., house or land), financial assets (e.g., bank accounts, savings, investments, retirement accounts, etc.), personal property (e.g., jewellery, art, furniture, and other valuables) and business assets (business and income-generating activities are part of household assets if owned by households).

 

• • • May: Stories Telling Month

 

The plan for May 2025 is made of two main features:

Stories Telling and Sharing project, and the continuation of our Rebuilding Africa project/campaign.

 

a) All in Development Stories (Volunteer’s Stories Telling & Sharing project)

Tell Your Story after Resetting and/or Changing the System – Tell it! 

 

Entries for Stories on Poverty Relief and Development for May 2025 (May Stories) are now open. To tell and share your story of change for change to CENFACS, please contact CENFACS for story telling terms and conditions.

This year’s All in Development Stories will be “two horses” ones.  They will be about how people and communities are trying or have tried to reinstall, restore, reconfigure and update things in their life to reduce or end poverty or simply improve their life.  They will also be about how people and communities are trying or have tried to stabilise, test, communicate, monitor and maintain things in their life to reduce or end poverty or simply improve their life.

This coming May, we shall run two types of stories: after-system-reset stories and after-system-change stories.

 

a.1) After-system-reset stories are the tales of reinstallation, restoration, reconfiguration and updating of our system of poverty reduction or life.

 

a.2) After-system-change stories are the accounts of stabilisation and initial testing, ongoing maintenance and support, continuous improvement and adaptation, documentation and knowledge management, and maintenance of our system of poverty reduction or life.

 

b) Rebuilding Africa: Monitoring, Adapting and Learning of Africa’s Systems for Poverty Reduction with Communities and Africa-based Organisations (Advocacy programme)

 

In our work on Rebuilding Africa, we shall work with communities in Africa and Africa-based Organisations to continuously monitor, adapt and learn from challenges, ensuring that Africa’s systems for poverty reduction remain robust and capable of thriving in the face of future uncertainties and threats.

This work will involves continuous monitoring, adaptability and flexibility, learning from experience, cultivation of adaptable leaders, thriving a cycle of resilience, anticipation, coping and adaptation, and resilience as a state of being.

Therefore, we shall have two types of rebuilding work as highlighted below.

 

b.1) Broad Monitoring, Adapting and Learning of Africa’s Systems for Poverty Reduction with Communities and Africa-based Organisations (ASOs) will be based on the broad aspect of the rebuilding work.

 

b.2) Specific Monitoring, Adapting and Learning of Systems for Poverty Reduction with Communities and Africa-based Organisations (ASOs) where our ASOs operate will specifically deal with the specific aspects of the rebuilding work (like monitoring, adapting and learning of community members’ system of poverty reduction).

 

• • • June: Creation & Innovation Month

 

The plan to work on creations and innovations will around natural resources or critical minerals for energy transition and the loss of assets value.

 

a) Creations and Innovations relating to the use of critical or strategic natural resources or minerals for energy transition and poverty reduction  (Creation and Innovation project)

 

Forming from nothing ideas or introducing changes to move forward together will be the main activity during the month of June 2025.  These creative ideas and innovative ways of working will enable to find the means to meet the level of ambition we have for the kind of sustainable development and future we want, which we hope will help achieve a more equitable and inclusive society.

Using our experience, skills, knowledge and talents to find techniques, technologies and new methods to deal with the use of critical or strategic natural resources or minerals for energy transition (like aluminium, cobalt, copper, lithium, platinum, etc.) and poverty reduction will not be enough  unless we create and innovate to prevent or at least to mitigate future crises.  It means there could be another need to bring into existence ideas and introduce changes and new methods to address future crises if they happen when they happen.

In practical terms, we shall work on creations and innovations that make critical or strategic minerals to reduce poverty by creating jobs for those in need, generating income for the poor, focussing on artisanal and small-scale mining of these minerals to create opportunities for local people and communities.

 

b) Creations and Innovations to deal with the loss of value of  households’ assets  (Creation and Innovation project)

 

Loss of asset value of poor households is the decline in the worth of their possessions.  This decline can push them further into poverty, particularly but not limited to asset-based poverty, or prevent them from escaping from this type of poverty.

This is why it is better to create and innovate to tackle households’ loss of asset value by implementing a robust asset management plan.  Such plan will consider strategies like depreciation, impairment testing and asset disposal.

Creations and innovations to tackle the causes of asset loss (e.g., distress sales, health shocks, lack of savings, low-income and high costs, inefficiency or inadequacy, etc.) will be conducted to help reduce asset-based poverty.

The above summarises the programmes, projects and activities we have planned to deliver this coming Spring.  To request further information about Spring Relief 2025 Activities, Projects and Programmes; please contact CENFACS.

 

Note: 

The above initiatives are only a selection of what we have planned for Spring Relief Season 2025.  We may introduce new initiatives and or upgrade the existing ones depending on the circumstances as we have from time to time to respond to emergencies and urgent humanitarian issues like we did with the sanitary crisis (the coronavirus) and the cost-of-living crisis crisis.  In which case, we shall let you know. 

Also, in every work we do to try to help reduce poverty, there is always a cost to bear.  If you could help alleviate some of our costs, we would more acknowledge your support than just appreciate your gesture. 

_________

 

• References

 

(1) https://www.carbonbrief.org/explainer-these-six-metals-are-key-to-a-low-carbon-future/ (accessed in March 2025)

(2) https//www.agrifarming.in/top-19-water-harvesting-techniques-what-is-water-harvesting-and-benefits-of-it# (accessed in March 2025),

(3) https://oxford-review.com/the-oxford-review-dei-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-dictionary/economic-inclusion-definition-and-explanation/ (accessed in March 2025)

(4) https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/4f94ee11-7ff7-48c5-954d-eBad37083572/content (accessed in March 2025)

(5) https://www.knowledgehut.com/blog/project-management/project-follow-up (accessed in March 2025)

(6) https://www.meetjamie.ai/blog/follow-up-action-plan (accessed in March 2025)

(7) https://vasundhara.io/blogs/project-assessment-process-definition-methods-steps (accessed in March 2025),

(8) https://plane.so/blog/what-is-project-monitoring (accessed in March 2025)

(9) https://www.greenfinanceplatform.org/research/climate-finance-africa-oveview-climate-finance-flows-challenges-and-opportunities# (accessed in March 2025)

(10) https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-risks-report-2025/ (accessed in March 2025)

 

_________

 

• 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.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

19 March 2025

Post No. 396

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• ICDP (Individual Capacity Development Programme) Resource, Holiday with Relief – In Focus for Spring 2025 Issue: A Restorative Holiday 

• Climate Action 3 – In Focus from 17 to 23/03/2025: Plant-based Protein; Climate-resilient Crops

• Coming This Spring 2025: FACS Issue No. 87 Which Will Be Titled as African Charities and Finance for Climate and Poverty Reduction in Africa

 

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• ICDP (Individual Capacity Development Programme) Resource, Holiday with Relief – In Focus for Spring 2025 Issue: A Restorative Holiday 

How to use your holiday to improve your health, strength and spirits

 

The current Issue of our ICDP Resource entitled as ‘Holiday with Relief’ focuses on a Restorative Holiday.  The Issue echoes the year’s dedication within CENFACS of 2025 as a Year of Restoration.  It also comes at the right time as we shall enter soon Spring Relief 2025 within CENFACS; season of Rebuilding and Renewing Lives, Infrastructures and Institutions.

A Restorative Holiday happens when one uses its holiday to improve their health, strength and spirits, or any other aspects of their life.  In this respect, the aim of a restorative holiday is to provide a break from daily life, focussing on rejuvenation, relaxation, and reconnection with oneself, family, or nature.  It is about making space for rest, rebuilding and renewing, often through activities like quiet relaxation, wellness retreats, or disconnecting from technology.

As Everwell Mama (1) puts it,

“A restorative holiday reset helps busy moms get their energy and joy back”.

This year, ‘Holiday with Relief’ provides wealthy advice, tips and hints to improve health, strength and spirits during your holiday.  Through this wealth of information, we will try to tackle poverty linked to the lack of break to refresh one’s mind and body.

Therefore, the purpose of this year’s Issue of ‘Holiday with Relief’ is to work with our users in order to find way of having enjoyable and streamlined poverty-relieving holiday experience by focussing on activities that genuinely rejuvenate, relax, and reconnect them with themselves, their families and nature.  It is about breaking in order to improve performance, focus and creativity.

The resource is packed with Spring-like poverty-relieving ideas about how to reduce poverty linked to the lack of restorative holiday.  Although the contents of this year’s ‘Holiday with Relief’ will be for holiday, they can also be used for restorative breaks.

Concerning restorative breaks, the website ‘focuskeeper.co’ (2) explains that

“Restorative breaks are any short periods of time away from tasks that allow individuals to refresh their minds and bodies.  Unlike typical breaks, which may involve mindless scrolling on social media or simply standing up to stretch, restorative breaks focus on activities that genuinely rejuvenate us”.

This definition of restorative breaks will help in providing tips and hints which are included in this 2025 Issue of Holiday with Relief.

Key highlights or content summaries about the 2025 Issue of Holiday with Relief are given under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• Climate Action 3 – In Focus from 17 to 23/03/2025: Plant-based Protein; Climate-resilient Crops

 

This third climate action deals with protein found in plants only and crops that are resilient to stress factors.  This action is on both plant-based protein as a low-carbon technology and climate-resilient crops as climate technologies.  This action will be taken around the following headings:

 

~ What is plant-based protein?

~ What are climate-resilient crops?

~ Working with the Community on plant-based protein and climate-resilient crops.

 

Let us explain each of these headings.

 

• • What Is Plant-based Protein?

 

There are many ways of defining plant-based protein.  One of its definitions comes from ‘geneticnutrition.in’ (3).  According to the website ‘geneticnutrition.in’,

“Plant-based protein refers to proteins derived entirely from plant sources such as beans, lentils, peas, nuts, seeds, grains, and vegetables.  Unlike animal proteins found in meat, dairy, and eggs, plant proteins are entirely vegan, meaning they contain no animal products”.

The same ‘geneticnutrition.in’ provides six benefits of plant-based protein which are:

 

σ Nutrient-dense and low in calories

σ Supports heart health

σ Environmentally friendly

σ Digestive benefits

σ Supports muscle growth and recovery

σ Rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals.

 

Further to the benefits of plant-based protein, this week’s climate action is to encourage the production and consumption of plant-based protein, especially for those who are unaware of these benefits.

 

• • What Are Climate-resilient Crops?

 

The survey of the literature about climate-resilient crops provides many definitions.  One of them comes from Farmers Click (4).  According to the later,

“Climate-resilient crops are plant varieties that can withstand extreme weather conditions, such as drought, floods, high temperatures, and salinity while maintaining productivity”.

Farmers Click provides five features about these crops, which are:

 

σ drought-tolerant

σ heat-resistant

σ salt-tolerant

σ flood-resistant

σ pest and disease-resistant.

 

Because the health of crops can be affected by extreme weather conditions, it makes sense to act in building their resilience.

For example, Karine Prado et al. (5) argues that there are emerging technologies and approaches that could enhance crop resilience, such as synthetic biology, advanced breeding techniques, and high-throughput phenotyping.

Briefly, it is possible to choose plant-based protein or options which reduce one’s carbon footprint; just as it is feasible to improve the resilience of crops against climate stressors.

 

• • Working with the Community on Plant-based Protein and Climate-resilient Crops

 

The all purpose of writing this note is to guide our action.  In other words, what is key here is to take action.  The note is only a guided principle.

For instance, taking action together could be on the following:

 

~ how to help our community members to embrace plant-based options

~ advocating for sharing and transferring technologies between Africa and the rest of the world, included technologies linked to plant-based protein and climate-resilient crops

~ educating the members of the CENFACS Community who are unaware of help deriving from taking a plant-based drive

~ explaining the benefits of plant-based proteins which require significantly fewer resources – such as water and land – and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to animal farming

~ reducing and/or ending poverty linked to the lack of access to plant-based protein as a low-carbon technology and climate-resilient crops as climate technologies.

 

Those members of our community in the UK and Africa-based Sister Organisations willing to work with CENFACS on Plant-based Protein and Climate-resilient Crops as well as on Poverty Reduction linked to them; they can take climate actions with us.

For any queries or enquiries about Climate Action 3 and Climate Actions Month, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Coming This Spring 2025: FACS Issue No. 87 Which Will Be Titled as African Charities and Finance for Climate and Poverty Reduction in Africa

 

To raise funds to deal with climate change and poverty issues, African Charities experience all sorts of challenges and barriers.  Yet, there are needs to implement climate and poverty reduction goals.

For instance, the report from ‘greenfinanceplatform.org’ (6) indicates that

“African governments have committed to mobilising around 10 percent of their need domestically, this leaves an immense gap – around 80 percent or $2.5 trillion – in climate finance that is needed to achieve climate mitigation and adaptation targets in Africa”.

Additionally, with all the cuts that have been done here and there in the developed worlds regarding their aid budgets, these cuts can only exacerbate the gap in funding for poverty reduction in Africa.  So, there is a funding gap for climate issues; just as there is financial aid vacuum for poverty reduction in Africa.

Whether it is for climate or poverty reduction, African Charities need funding for both to continue and sustain their mission while improving lives of those in need.  They require climate finance to help mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts; just as they need finance to address the root causes and consequences of poverty in Africa.  This is what the 87th of FACS will be about.

The 87th Issue of FACS will deal with the strategies and tools that African Charities (ACs) use or can use to undertake climate planning and budgeting as well as frame their investment bid in order to seek and secure or mobilise funds.

It will study how ACs try to access funds through capacitated and empowered local institutions where they operate.  This is without ignoring any efforts they may do to work with the private or for-profit sector on climate change issues.  In other words, the 87th Issue of FACS will investigate how ACs try to collaborate and partner with others to improve their capacity and coordination issues relating to climate finance.

The 87th Issue will also deal with finance for poverty reduction.  Indeed, securing climate finance does not necessarily imply obtaining finance for poverty reduction.  That is why the Issue will also work on the use of financial instruments that enable ACs to access funds and respond to the needs of their users and of locals.  In this respect, the 87th Issue will check if there is an alignment between ACs strategy for climate finance and finance for poverty reduction.  And if there is, where this alignment lead to.

The 87th Issue will analyse the relationship between climate finance and finance for poverty reduction.  Specifically, it will highlight the interconnectedness between climate change and poverty. It is known that climate change can exacerbate poverty by causing natural disasters, food insecurity, and displacement, while poverty can make people and communities more vulnerable to climate impacts.

Far from being a catalogue of challenges and barriers, the 87th Issue will look at if there are some improvements in ACs finance strategies regarding both climate and poverty reduction issues.  In particular, the 87th Issue will argue about the following:

 

σ the integration between strategy for climate finance and strategy relating to finance for poverty reduction since there are synergies between climate change and poverty reduction initiatives

σ the model of working together between ACs and all other actors in mobilizing climate finance and finance for poverty reduction and sustainable development

σ the alignment between climate finance and finance for poverty reduction

σ the improvement of ACs project planning that does not only reflect the needs of climate, but also those of living in poverty in Africa

σ the tracking of both climate funds and funds for poverty reduction and sustainable development

σ the development of frameworks that include both climate investment and impact investing in poverty reduction

σ the improvement in planning and coordination between climate change projects and poverty reduction projects

etc.

 

To read more about this new Issue, please keep checking on CENFACS incoming posts this Spring 2025.  To reserve a paper copy of this 87th Issue of FACS, please contact CENFACS with your mailing details.

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Matching Organisation-Investor via Land Restoration Project – Activity 4 (from 19 to 25/03/2025): Matching Organisation’s Initial Implementation with Impact Investor’s Implement

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) – Step/Workshop 5: Negotiating and Agreeing Your Play, Run and Vote Projects

• Shop at CENFACS’ Zero Waste e-Store during This Coming Spring Giving Season

 

 

• Matching Organisation-Investor via Land Restoration Project – Activity 4 (from 19 to 25/03/2025): Matching Organisation’s Initial Implementation with Impact Investor’s Implement

 

The fourth episode of our 5-week Matching Organisation-Investor via Land Restoration Project is about Matching Organisation’s Initial Implementation with Impact Investor’s Implement.

Both parties (i.e., Africa-based Sister Charitable Organisation and Not-for-profit Impact Investor) have worked hard in every step of the way of the serialisation and fragmentation of this Project.  They have so far made noticeable progress, as they have continued to score points.  These scored points are enough to enable them to enter the fourth stage of the matching talks.

For Africa-based Sister Charitable Organisation (ASCO), initial implementation is about getting crews in the field to start the physical restoration activities.  For Not-for-profit (n-f-p) Impact Investor, implement is the process of carrying out the restoration intervention on the ground.  Both of them may be talking about the same thing.  But, let us look at what they mean through the following headings:

 

σ Negotiation between ASCO and Not-for-profit Impact Investor

σ Agreement

σ The Match or Fit Test.

 

• • Negotiation between ASCO and Not-for-profit Impact Investor

 

This negotiation will happen around ASCO’s Initial Implementation and Not-for-profit Impact Investor’s Implement.

 

• • • ASCO’s Initial Implementation

 

To explain what is going to happen here, let us start with the meaning of implementation.  The website ‘projectmanager.com’ (7) states that

“Project implementation, or project execution, is the process of completing tasks to deliver a project successfully.  These tasks are initially described in the project plan, a comprehensive document that covers all areas of project management”.

From the above definition, it is possible to describe what initial implementation is.  The website ‘implementationpractice.org’ (8) explains that

“Initial implementation begins when staff initiate the use of the programme or practice or parts of an initiative; it is a time of learning, with attention to using data for continuous improvement and for identifying and addressing adaptive issues that may affect implementation. As improvement efforts are identified and infrastructure needs potentially shift, an implementation plan helps in tracking changes over time”.

To demonstrate that it is taken its initial implementation seriously, ASCO needs to craft and have an implementation plan (that is, a document that describes the necessary steps for the execution of a project).  It will make sure that the implementation contains the following elements: project goals and objectives, success criteria, project deliverables, scope statement, resource plan, risk analysis, implementation timeline, implementation milestones, team roles and responsibilities, and implementation plan metrics (e.g., Key Performance Indicators, Objectives and Key Results, etc.).

 

• • • Not-for-profit Impact Investor’s Implement

 

Referring to its own understanding of implementation, the n-f-p Impact investor will check if ASCO follows the key steps in project implementation.  To be sure, the n-f-p Impact Investor would like some clarification or answers to the following questions:

 

Q: Does ASCO have an implementation plan to help those who are going to implement the Land Restoration Project to better execute and track the project?

Q: How will ASCO handle changing conditions relating to natural systems in the outdoors?

Q: What is the level of adaptable process to adjust if weather and landscape conditions change?

 

ASCO is required to satisfactorily respond to the above-mentioned questions if it wishes to secure funds from the N-f-p Impact Investor.

 

• • Agreement 

 

In order to reach an agreement, both participating parties need to approve the implementation plan.  If there is no approval, the matching talks may not go to the next stage or to progress.  In other words, there should be an agreement between ASCO’s Initial Implementation and N-f-p Impact Investor’s Implement.  If there is a disagreement, then the talks/negotiations could be subject to match or fit test.

 

 

• • The Match or Fit Test

 

As part of the match or fit test, the n-f-p Impact Investor’s view on ASCO’s Initial Implementation must be matched with the information coming out of ASCO’s Initial Implementation.

The match can be perfect or close in order to reach an agreement.  If there is a huge or glaring difference between the two (i.e., between what the investor wants and what ASCO is saying about its Initial Implementation, between what the investor would like the phase of Initial Implementation to indicate and what ASCO’s Initial Implementation is really saying), the probability or chance of having an agreement at this fourth round of negotiations could be null or uncertain.

However, if this happens there is still a chance as CENFACS can step in to advise ASCO and guide n-f-p Impact Investor on their approaches to Land Restoration Project.

 

• • • Impact Advice to ASCO and Guidance to n-f-p Impact Investor

 

CENFACS can impact advise ASCOs to improve the presentation of the Initial Implementation they are bringing forward.  CENFACS can as well guide n-f-p Impact Investors to work out their expectations in terms of the Initial Implementation to a format that can be agreeable by potential ASCOs.  CENFACS’ impact advice for ASCOs and guidance on impact investing for n-f-p Impact Investor, which are impartial, will help each of them (i.e., investee and investor) to make informed decisions and to reduce or avoid the likelihood of any significant losses or misunderstandings or mismatches.

However, to reduce or avoid this likelihood both parties need to follow the rule of the matching game.

 

• • • The Rule of the Matching Game

 

The rule of the matching game is the more impact investors are attracted by ASCO’s Initial Implementation the better for ASCOs.  Likewise, the more ASCOs can successfully respond to impact investors’ level of enquiries and queries about the Initial Implementation the better for investors.  In this respect, the matching game needs to be a win-win one to benefit both players (i.e., investee and investor).

The above is the fourth stage or activity of the Matching Organisation-Investor via Land Restoration Project.

Those potential organisations seeking investment to set up a land restoration project in Africa and n-f-p impact investors looking for organisations that are interested in their giving, they can contact CENFACS to arrange the match or fit test for them.  They can have their fit test carried out by CENFACS’ Hub for Testing Hypotheses.

 

• • • CENFACS’ Hub for Testing Hypotheses 

 

The Hub can help to use analysis tools to test assumptions and determine how likely something is within a given standard of accuracy.  The Hub can assist to

 

√ clean, merge and prepare micro-data sources for testing, modelling and analysis

√ conduct data management and administration

√ carry out regression analysis, estimate and test hypotheses

√ interpret and analyse patterns or trends in data or results.

 

For any queries and/or enquiries about this fourth stage/activity of Matching Organisation-Investor via Land Restoration Project, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) –

Step/Workshop 5: Negotiating and Agreeing Your Play, Run and Vote Projects

 

Step/Workshop 5 contains two tasks: negotiations and agreement.

 

•  •  What Is Negotiation?

 

Negotiation is part of humans’ everyday life.  To explain it, we are going to refer to what ‘pmi.org’ states about it.  The website ‘pmi.org’ (9) provides three features about negotiation, which are

 

“[a] Communication back and forth for the purpose of making a joint decision

[b] A way of finding a mutually acceptable solution to a shared problem

[c] Achieving an ideal outcome: a wise decision, efficiently and amicably agreed upon”.

 

Negotiation can be hard, soft and principled.  As an all-year-round project user, your negotiation needs to end with negotiated agreement to put your all-year-round project into action, whereby there could be a win-win outcome for you and those engaged with you in the negotiation.  Negotiation can lead to an agreement.

 

•  •  What Is an Agreement?

 

An agreement is simply a joint decision after negotiation or discussion, and can be translated into a contract or promise to carry out what has been negotiated or discussed.  The agreement helps to outline the terms and conditions between all-year-round project user and the other party.

 

• • Example of Negotiated Agreement: Your Project about Playing the CENFACS’ League of Poverty Reduction

 

Let say you want to run a tournament over this coming Easter season with friends or relatives in order to find which African country is making commendable progress in terms of poverty reduction.  You need to negotiate with friends and/or relatives the terms and conditions of this tournament.

 

• • • What to include into your negotiated agreement

 

Your negotiation could revolve around the following:

 

~ the number of African countries making your Easter tournament

~ the criteria or metrics to rate them in terms of performance relating to poverty reduction

~ the analytical period you would like to consider (e.g., 01/01/2025 to 31/03/2025 or first quarter of 2025)

~ the roles each of the participants to the game would like to play

~ the length of the tournament

~ the time and day of the Easter holiday to play

~ the way of recording and communicating your results

etc.

 

You can think whether or not to insert a fundraising element (such as crowdfunding) into your tournament.

 

• • • Crowdfunding your tournament

 

You can start crowdfunding for the tournament so that any money donated by friends and relatives go to good causes such as CENFACS‘ noble and beautiful ones.  You can set up a minimum or maximum amount as target to raise as money, and share crowdfunding tasks to achieve this target.

 

• • What Will Happen after Negotiation

 

After negotiation, you need to agree on certain terms, conditions and rules to follow during the play.  Depending on your skills, knowledge, experience and resources; you may decide to turn your game into a play station or use a game theory to solve some of the hurdles you may encounter.

For those who would like to dive deeper into the negotiation and agreement relating to their Play or Run or Vote project, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Shop at CENFACS’ Zero Waste e-Store during This Coming Spring Giving Season

 

CENFACS e-Store is opened for your Spring goods donations and goods purchases.

Every season or every month is an opportunity to do something against poverty and hardships.  This coming Spring too is a good and great season of the year to do it.

You can donate or recycle your unwanted and unneeded goods to CENFACS’ Charity e-Store, the zero waste shop built to help relieve poverty and hardships.

You can as well buy second hand goods and bargain priced new items and much more.

CENFACS’ Charity e-Store needs your support for SHOPPING and GOODS DONATIONS.

You can do something different this Season of Goods Donations by SHOPPING or DONATING GOODS at CENFACS Zero Waste e-Store.

You can DONATE or SHOP or do both:

 

√ DONATE unwanted Easter GOODS, GIFTS and PRODUCTS to CENFACS Zero Waste e-Store this April and Spring.

√ SHOP at CENFACS Zero Waste e-Store to support noble and beautiful causes of poverty relief this coming Spring.

 

Your SHOPPING and or GOODS DONATIONS will help to the Upkeep of the Nature and to reduce poverty and hardships brought by the cost of living pressures.

This is what the Season of Giving is all about.

Please do not hesitate to donate goods or purchase what is available at CENFACS Zero Waste e-Store.

Many lives have been threatened and destroyed by the cost of living pressures. 

We need help to help them come out poverty and hardships caused by these pressures.

To donate or purchase goods, please go to: http://cenfacs.org.uk/shop/

 

 

Message in English-French (Message en Anglais-Français)

 

• CENFACS be.africa Forum e-discusses Higher Tariffs as an Opportunity or Threat for Poverty Reduction in Africa

Higher tariffs can represent an opportunity or a threat for African countries.  It all depends on each country’s own economic situation and the business cycle.  There are competing arguments about their effects.  One of these arguments comes from the United Nations (10) which thinks that

“Higher tariffs are expected to have significant economic costs by increasing market inefficiencies, inflationary pressures, and supply chain disruptions.  However, they may also create opportunities for some developing countries as major trading partners realign their supply chains and forge new trade relationships… Tariffs can be regressive form of revenue generation when they are disproportionally generated from goods consumer by poor consumers”.

This argument from the United Nations leaves us to believe that there is a mixed message.  Higher tariffs can be an opportunity or threat to poverty reduction depending on the circumstances.  This mixed message pushes us to ask the following questions:

~ Do higher tariffs result in gain for African countries or opportunity for poverty reduction or simply a threat to it?

~ How can poor people stay resilient and adapt to the threats posed by new higher tariffs?

The above-mentioned questions are part of this week’s debate within CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum.

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 la Hausse des Droits de Douane comme une Opportunité ou une Menace pour la Réduction de la Pauvreté en Afrique

Des droits de douane plus élevés peuvent représenter une opportunité ou une menace pour les pays africains.  Tout dépend de la situation économique de chaque pays et du cycle économique.  Il existe des arguments contradictoires sur leurs effets.  L’un de ces arguments vient des Nations unies (10) qui pensent que

« On s’attend à ce que des tarifs plus élevés aient des coûts économiques importants en augmentant les inefficacités du marché, les pressions inflationnistes et les perturbations de la chaîne d’approvisionnement.  Cependant, ils peuvent également créer des opportunités pour certains pays en développement, car les principaux partenaires commerciaux réalignent leurs chaînes d’approvisionnement et forgent de nouvelles relations commerciales… Les droits de douane peuvent être une forme régressive de génération de revenus lorsqu’ils sont générés de manière disproportionnée par des biens consommés par des consommateurs pauvres.

Cet argument des Nations Unies nous laisse penser qu’il y a un message contradictoire.  Des tarifs plus élevés peuvent être une opportunité ou une menace pour la réduction de la pauvreté, selon les circonstances.  Ce message contradictoire nous pousse à nous poser les questions suivantes :

~ Des droits de douane plus élevés entraînent-ils des gains pour les pays africains ou des possibilités de réduction de la pauvreté ou une simple menace pour celle-ci ?

~ Comment les pauvres peuvent-ils rester résilients et s’adapter aux menaces posées par de nouvelles hausses des droits de douane ?

Les questions susmentionnées font partie du débat de cette semaine au sein du Forum ‘Une Afrique Meilleure’ de CENFACS.

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

 

• ICDP (Individual Capacity Development Programme) Resource, Holiday with Relief – In Focus for Spring 2025 Issue: A Restorative Holiday 

How to use your holiday to improve your health, strength and spirits

 

Looking forward to building a restorative holiday experience?

You are in the right place as the following contents will show you:

 

∝ What Is Holiday with Relief (HwR)?

∝ What Is the Focus for This Year’s HwR?

∝ Reduction of Poverty as a Lack of Refreshing Break

∝ For Whom This Resource Is Designed 

∝ Types and Examples of Restorative Holiday Activities

∝ Restorative Holiday Plan and Budget

∝ Ways of Making Your Holiday Restorative 

∝ Organisations Dealing with Restorative Holiday 

∝ Needing Help and Support to Plan Your Restorative Holiday

 

Let us summarise these contents.

 

• • Content Summaries, Tips and Hints about Spring 2025 Holiday with Relief

 

• • • What Is Holiday with Relief?

 

Holiday with Relief (HwR) is an awareness, preparedness and solutions focussed Resource to Manage Information over holidays (e.g. Easter and Summer holidays).

As an Information Manager, HwR is a set of life-changing tips and tricks to help and enable vulnerably unaware people to plan and have their holiday or break with confidence in taking into account all aspects of life and by making sure that key areas of those life aspects are not adversely affected.

 

• • • What Is the Focus for This Year’s HwR?

 

The focus for HwR for this year is on Restorative Holiday.  It is about providing a set of life-enhancing tips and hints to support those who are looking for simple but practical advice to improve their health, strength and spirits during their holiday.

As explained in the Key Messages, the aim of a restorative holiday is to provide a break from daily life, focussing on rejuvenation, relaxation, and reconnection with oneself, family, or nature.  It is about making space for rest, rebuilding and renewing, often through activities like quiet relaxation, wellness retreats, or disconnecting from technology.

 

 

• • • Reduction of Poverty as a Lack of Refreshing Break

 

This Spring Season, we shall find ways of working with the members of our community who are likely to face poverty as a lack of refreshing break to refresh their minds and bodies.  Poverty can be reduced through restorative breaks that focus on activities that genuinely rejuvenate them.

We hope that working together with them will help them avoid during their holiday this type of poverty.

Through this wealth of information contained in the ‘Holiday with Relief’, we will try together to tackle this type of holiday poverty.

 

 

• • • For Whom This Resource Is Designed

 

This resource is primarily designed for the CENFACS Community members and those related to them.

The resource also caters for the following:

 

√ Those who are looking for some basic ideas about how to build a restorative holiday 

√ Those who are searching for holiday schemes and programmes with restorative contents, that is that de-stress, provide peace and rejuvenate

√ Those who would like to use their holiday to rejuvenate, relax, and reconnect with themselves, family, or nature

√ Those who need a time for reflection and self-care

√ Those who want holiday that involves activities that promote relaxation, mindfulness and connection

√ Those who are planning to unplug or disconnect from technology during their restorative holiday

√ Those who are interested in creating holiday plan and budget that meet their restoration needs or requirements 

√ Busy parents eager to use holiday to get their energy and joy back

√ Those who are looking forward to raising money for their restorative holiday 

√ Those who wish to fund their restorative break as disabled persons and their carers

√ Those who are keen in measuring the restorative effects of their holiday experiences

√ Anyone interested in improving the perceived restorative qualities of their holiday, breaks and vacation destinations.

 

All these above-mentioned potential beneficiaries can find in HwR and its theme of Restorative Holiday a really useful resource or tool about their plans for a restorative holiday. 

 

 

• • • Types and Examples of Restorative Holiday Activities

 

• • • • Types of Restorative Holiday Activities

 

The types of restorative holiday include wellness retreats, staycations, family holiday, solo travel, etc.  Depending on one’s circumstances, they may choose to take family holiday or solo travel or other type of restorative holiday.  Whatever the choice they make, the primary goal of their restorative holiday is to de-stress, find peace and rejuvenate.

 

• • • • Examples of Restorative Holiday Activities

 

Restorative holidays involve activities that promote relaxation, mindfulness, and connection.  Examples of restorative holiday activities that can make this promotion to happen include the following:

nature walks or hikes, trying new hobbies, yoga or meditation, reading a book, spending time in a quiet place, taking a relaxing bath or shower, practising mindfulness, all-inclusive trips, sleep retreats, spending time with loved ones, etc.

In short, examples of restorative holiday activities are nature-based, relaxing, social, creative pursuits, sleep and wellness retreats.

Advice, tips and hints can be given on the above types and examples of restorative holiday activities.

 

 

• • • Restorative Holiday Plan and Budget

 

The starting point in the planning process of your restorative holiday is to have a plan for your restorative holiday and a budget for it.

Regarding your restorative holiday plan, you need to include the following:

the peaceful and calming environment to go if not staying at home, when to go, how to go, who to go with, where to stay, what to do, what to eat, when to return, what not to take with you to maximise the restorative effect of your holiday, etc.

In your plan, you would consider a restorative holiday place which will provide you with a sense of renewal, rejuvenation, and reconnection.  Perhaps, it will be a good idea to refer to what the ‘Attention Restoration Theory’ says.  This is whether you choose to go away or stay at home.

Concerning your restorative holiday budget, the theory recommends to take inventory or stock of last year’s holiday accounts.  In practice, you will use your last year’s holiday expenses and divide them by 12 to obtain the monthly amount of saving or spending you need to budget for the next holiday.

To create your restorative holiday budget, you can use the following steps as provided by ‘hrss.cpa’ (11):

Income evaluation, setting spending limit, review of past expenses, allocation of funds, expense monitoring, future planning, and adaptability to challenges.

However, you should bear in mind that there are economic factors (like changes in interest rate, exchange rate, inflation, the cost of living, the cost of holidaying, trade tensions, etc. ) you should include when working your numbers.  You budget will be adjusted for these factors.  You could as well use an online holiday budget calculator to do it for you.  It could be a good idea not to forget to use the retreat cost calculator.

 

 

 

• • • Ways of Making Your Holiday Restorative 

 

There is a number of ways or strategies that can be used to make your holiday restorative.  They include:

 

~ Making space

It is about stepping away from daily stressors and creating space for reflection and relaxation.

~ Choosing a good restorative environment

This is about choosing a peaceful and calming environment to pass your restorative holiday.  This includes those who would like to have a break at home without travel.

~ Rebuilding and renewing

These two ways or strategies imply that you find time to recharge and rebuild yourselves, whether physically or mentally or emotionally.

~ Reconnecting

This strategy helps you to reconnect with yourself, loved ones, or the natural world.

~ Choosing a quiet and peaceful environment

It is about choosing a location away from noise and crowds to truly experience restoration.

~ Engaging in mindful activities

This refers to undertaking activities that bring you joy and relaxation (e.g., spending time in nature, reading, or practising mindfulness).

~ Unplugging

It is about taking break from technology and social media to enhance the restorative nature of your holiday.

~ Setting boundaries

To rest and rejuvenate during your restorative holiday, there could be a need to set some boundaries like limiting screen time or work-related tasks.

~ Prioritising sleep

Having adequate sleep is necessary for physical and mental restoration.  This can be achieve by prioritising sleep during your holiday.

 

The above-mentioned strategies or techniques show that it is possible to restore the nature of your holiday.  It all depends on what you feel needs to be restored during your holiday.

 

• • • Organisations Dealing with Restorative Holiday 

 

There is a number of organisations working on restorative holiday matters, such as making space, rebuilding and renewing, reconnecting, unplugging and prioritising sleep.  Among these organisations, we can mention the following ones:

 

~ Turadh (https://www.turadh.org.uk)

~ Pathways Fund (https://www.hfholidays.co.uk)

~ Richmond Holidays (https://www.richmon-holidays.com)

~ Upskill360 (https://upskill360.co.uk)

~ Family Holiday Charity (https;//familyholidaycharity.org.uk)

~ Responsible Travel (https://www.responsibletravel.com)

~ Ogilvie Charities (https://www.ogilviecharities.org.uk)

etc.

 

Some of these organisations provide grants or financial support.

There are organisations that give short breaks and holidays to families caring for a child with complex disabilities or health issues (e.g., www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk).

There are organisations that deal with family holiday grants or short break activities (e.g., The 3H Foundation, The Henry Smith Charity).

There are other organisations that are specialised in grants for disabled children and adults, adventurous holidays for adventurous families, etc.

Most of the organisations listed in this Spring 2025 Issue of Holiday with Relief are generally from the charity and voluntary sectors.

For those who are interested in them, it will be a good idea to check their requirement, size, length, decision timescale, deadline and qualifying criteria.

For those who may be having some problems in finding these details, they can contact CENFACS for guidance and support.

 

 

 

 

• • • Needing Help and Support to Plan Your Restorative Holiday

 

CENFACS can work with the members of its community to plan their restorative holiday.  The plan will include the following tips:

 

~ the focus (which will be on relaxation and rejuvenation)

~ the location (it is about choosing a quiet location)

~ the time (which will relate to the time for reflection and self-care)

~ the connection (which will refer to the links you want have with nature or loved ones)

~ the boundaries (which will need to be set in order to have a truly restorative holiday)

~ the unplugging from technology (which technologies or devises you would like to switch off in order for you to better relax)

~ the priority (which could be about prioritizing sleep)

~ the engagement (it is about deciding to undertake activities you really enjoy)

~ the budget (whether you stay home or go away for your restorative holiday, you need to budget it).

 

Through this restorative holiday plan, people will be more aware of the key elements of their restorative holiday, elements which are: relaxation, reduced stress, reconnecting with themselves and others, mental detachment, renewed energy and motivation while enjoying the simple things.

CENFACS can as well work together with you to measure the restorative effects of your holiday by tracking changes in stress levels, mood, cognitive function and physical health before, during, and after the holiday; using tools like questionnaires, diaries and physiological measurements.

We can work together on the above-mentioned matters.  Where our capacity is limited, we can signpost beneficiaries to organisations, particularly charities working in the field of restorative holiday or tourism for restorative counselling.

Additionally, there are charities and voluntary organisations that can help around holiday budget matters such as

 

∝ paying for a restorative holiday

∝ finding the right holiday for families with a member with a restorative needs

∝ finding a break and or respite.

CENFACS can as well work with the members of its community to streamline holiday budget processes and achieve better results in terms of spending by guiding them on the following matters:

∝ what to do with unused holiday funds

∝ how to use unrestricted/unassigned/undesignated/designated fund balance to help balance your restorative holiday budget

∝ how to coordinate your needs of raising funds for your restorative holiday and the necessities of accounting for the holiday money raised to be received

∝ what to do with unspent restorative holiday grants

etc.

 

We hope that the above content summaries will provide an insightful idea about this year’s Issue of Holiday with Relief.  

For those users who would like to dive into Restorative Holiday, we can provide them with online and print resources (e.g., a detailed list of organisations providing holidaying support for those in need) relating to Restorative Holiday.

To support the theme of Restorative Holiday and get the full Spring 2025 Issue of ICDP Resource (Holiday with Relief), please contact CENFACS.

_________

 

• References

 

(1) https://everwellmama.buzzsprout.com/2429510/episodes/16333031-a-simple-restorative-holiday-reset-for-moms (accessed in March 2025)

(2) https://focuskeeper.co/glossary/what-is-restorative-breaks-implementation/ (accessed in March 2025)

(3) https://www.geneticnutrition.in/blogs/genetic-life/what-is-plant-based-protein-and-overview-of-its-origins-benefits-and-popularity (accessed in March 2025)

(4) https://library.farmersclick.com/knowledge-base/climate-resilient-crops-and-farming-methods-adapting-agriculture-to-a-changing-climate/ (accessed in March 2025)

(5) Prado, K. et al., Building Climate-Resilient Crops: Genetic, Environmental, and Drought Stress Tolerance, Journal of Experimental Botany, 2025; erf111, https://doc.org/10.1093/jxb/eraf111  (accessed in March 2025)

(6) https://www.greenfinanceplatform.org/research/climate-finance-africa-oveview-climate-finance-flows-challenges-and-opportunities# (accessed in March 2025)

(7) https://wwww.projectmanager.com/blog/implementation-plan (accessed in March 2025)

(8) https://www.implementationpractice.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/CIP-Practice-Guide-Implementation-Plans_12.20.21.pdf (accessed in March 2025)

(9) https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/negotiating-project-outcomes-develop-skills-6781 (Accessed in March 2023)

(10) https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/publication/world-economic-situation-and-prospects-march-2025-briefing-no-188/ (accessed in March 2025)

(11) https://hrss.cpa/budgeting-for-the-holidays-guide-to-keeping-your-finances/ (accessed in April 2024)

_________

 

• 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.