Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

15 March 2023

 

Post No. 291

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Spring Relief 2023: Rebuilding and Renewing Lives, Infrastructures and Institutions in the Context of Falling Real Household Disposable Incomes

• Climate Action 3: Induce Carbon Markets to Be Part of Recovery from the Poly-crisis

• Impact Monitoring and Evaluation of Phases A and B of the Building Process from the Coronavirus Impacts 

 

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Spring Relief 2023: Rebuilding and Renewing Lives, Infrastructures and Institutions in the Context of Falling Real Household Disposable Incomes

 

The Winter Season of Light, which is ending this coming Tuesday, gives us an opportunity to bring some lights and hopes to those in most need so that they can find the reasons to believe in life again.  The Season of Light tackles poverty as a lack of hope and expectations.  However, our work does not stop there.

Spring is the Season of Rebirth and Rejuvenation.  We call it Spring Relief within CENFACS.  Generally, the key theme for Spring within CENFACS is Rebuilding or Renewing Lives, Infrastructures and Institutions.  In other words, Spring Relief is the season of rebuilding from what has been destroyed by wars, natural disasters, bad economic management, mistakes of the past, other disasters (like the cost-of-living crisis, health crisis of Ebola or COVID-19), etc.

We need to rebuild in order to reduce poverty, stop its re-appearance and avoid the emergence of new types of poverty and new generations of poor people.  We want to move away from the endemic structures and institutions of disadvantage, discrimination and inequality towards the poor.  During this period, we take the challenge of working with those in need to rebuild their lives, infrastructures, buildings, development of relationships, communities, etc. from damages, losses and worse changes experienced or caused.

So, the key words for the Spring Season are rebuilding and renewing.  We shall come back on these words at different occasions as we step into Spring and progress towards its end; especially with our advocacy project of Rebuilding Africa.

 

• • Build Forward Better Together Greener, Cleaner and Safer this Spring Relief 2023 

 

In order to build forward, it is wise to take into account the context of doing it and how to exactly build forward.

 

• • • Context of building forward this Spring 2023

 

Last Spring, our focus was to rebuild and sustain lives, infrastructures and institutions within the contexts of rising prices of energy and food.

This Spring 2023, we are going to help reduce poverty and rebuild lives within the context of Falling Real Household Disposable Incomes.  But, what is real household disposable income.

 

~ Basic understanding of real household disposable incomes

 

Disposable income is defined by Christopher Pass et al. (1) as

“The amount of income which a person has available after paying INCOME TAX, NATIONAL INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS and PENSION contributions” (p. 181)

However, disposable income needs adjustment for inflation.  After being adjusted for inflation, disposable income becomes real.  The website ‘tutor2u.net’ (2) explains that

“Real disposable income is the post tax and benefit income available to households after an adjustment has been made for price changes”.

In other words, changes in prices of goods and services can lead to the increase or fall in real household disposable incomes.

 

~ Falls in real household disposable incomes

 

In recent years, prices and bills keep on raising while real household disposable incomes have failed to match this raising trend.  That is to say, incomes are not fully index-linked to keep pace with inflation. 

To highlight this fall, the website ‘finder.com’ (3) has revealed that

“The average British adult has £866 in disposable income a month in 2022, which is a reduction of £23 a month from 2020 (£889).  Total monthly living costs on average have reached £1,125 with the average rent price being £437 and the average essential spending costs at £688 a month”.

Likewise, the Resolution Foundation (4) found that

“2022 was a year of double-digit inflation that drove a 3.3 per cent – or £800 per household – hit to real disposable incomes, the biggest annual fall in Century”.

The same Resolution Foundation forecasted that

“Household income falls in 2023 will be 3.8 per cent or £880 per household as big as those seen in 2022”.

As a result, living standards are unchanged or getting worse.

According to the Office for National Statistics (5), the figure released on 15 February 2023 for the consumer price inflation in the UK was 10.1%, compared to March 2022 when it was 6.2%.

Similarly, the figure released on 02 February 2023 by the Bank of England (6) for the current bank rate was 4%, whereas the bank rate was 0.75% in March 2022.

In meantime, bills like council tax, rent, telephone, transport, etc. have also risen.  Although the energy price is capped at £2,500 on the average household energy bill, we are still waiting for the next policy announcement by the UK’s independent energy regulator, Ofgem, on 26 May 2023.

Regarding food inflation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (7) states that

“The FAO Food Price Index averaged 129.8 points in February, a marginal 0.6- percent decrease from January but 18.7 percent down from its peak in March 2022.  The decline in the index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities, reflected drops in quotations for vegetable oils and dairy products that more than offset a steep rise in sugar prices”.

So, real disposable incomes for poor households have not risen to match the raising trends from bills and prices.  This is despite income support given to those who are eligible.  This mismatch between their real incomes and rising prices and bills can only lead to falling real household disposable incomes.

Falling real household disposable incomes can be an impediment in the process of building forward.  Given these context and impediment, how can we build forward?

 

• • • How to exactly build forward in the current context

 

Build Forward has here to be perceived from what the United Nations (8) argue about it, which is:

“Build Forward means not only that no one is left behind but that people living in poverty are actually encouraged and supported to be in the front, engaging in informed and meaningful participation in decision-making processes that directly affect their lives”.

We are going to refer to this definition to Build Forward Better Together Greener, Cleaner and Safer from the Damaging Impacts of the Cost-of-living Crisis.  We will be doing it with the green, clean, inclusive and safe economies in our mind set.

This 2023 process of Building Forward Better Together Greener, Cleaner and Safer relates to the cost-of-living crisis.  It has to be differentiated from the building process from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.  This is despite there are some similarities between the two processes.

Therefore, the theme for this Spring Relief 2023 is still “Build Forward Better Together Greener, Cleaner and Safer”, but within the context of Falling Real Household Disposable Incomes from the Damaging Impacts of the Cost-of-living Crisis.   

The announcement of Spring Relief’s theme comes with that of projects and programmes making it or the notes composing this theme.  We have provided under the Main Development section of this post a selection of projects and programmes which will make this Spring – Spring Relief season.

As we have just announced, it is a selection.  Consequently, one should expect the introduction of new activities and the continuation of on-going initiatives like our All-year Round (or Triple Value) projects.  That is also to say, there will be additional projects and programmes as we progress throughout this coming Spring season.

 

 

• Climate Action 3: Induce Carbon Markets to Be Part of Recovery from the Poly-crisis

 

The 3rd Climate Action is about persuading carbon markets to play an active part in regaining better condition from the simultaneous occurrence of several crises (energy, food, health, housing crisis, etc.).  To conduct this 3rd Climate Action, we have organised the following notes:

 

σ Basic understanding of key terms for Climate Action 3

σ Being part of recovery from the poly-crisis

σ Carbon market inducements to inducement to lower greenhouse gas emissions and poverty

σ How CENFACS can work with the community and Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) on the inducement of carbon markets.

 

• • Basic Understanding of Key Terms for Climate Action 3

 

This action is based on our understanding of these three words: inducement, recovery and poly-crisis.  We have not included carbon markets because they have been explained in Climate Action 1.

 

a) Market inducement

 

Chambers Combined Dictionary Thesaurus (9) defines inducement as

“Something which is persuasive or which influences or encourages certain behaviour” (p. 650).

Using this dictionary definition, it is possible to persuade markets in which players (or emitters) are working with allowances of carbon emissions (or credits) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to play an active part in the recovery from the poly-crisis without making untrue statements.

You can induce brand loyalty; just as you can encourage players on the carbon markets to play their fair role in the recovery processes.  This inducement should not be an end of itself.  It should lead to poverty reduction.

 

b) Net-zero recovery

 

There are many ways of recovering from any crisis.  The kind of recovery that is treated in Climate Action 3 is a phase in the business cycle following a economic depression; phase characterised by the picking up of demand, fall in stock levels while output and employment increase.   The kind of recovery we are looking for in our Climate Action 3 is a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions one.  This net-zero recovery is obtained by achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere.

 

c) Poly-crisis

 

Introduced for the first time by Edgar Morin and Anne Brigitte Kern (10), poly-crisis means for the two co-authors the following:

“Interwoven and overlapping crises, complex inter-solidarity of problems, antagonisms, crises, uncontrollable processes, and the general crisis of the planet”.

After this introduction of poly-crisis in 1999, there have been many definitions relating to it.  One of its definitions comes from the website ‘mcgregor-boycall.com’ (11) which states that

“Poly-crisis is the simultaneous occurrence of severe catastrophic events.  Building on this most experts agree that it tends to refer specifically, not just to a situation where multiple crises are coinciding, but one where the crises become even more dangerous than each disaster or emergency on their own”.

The coronavirus pandemic has been a catastrophic disaster for the world; just as the cost-of-living crisis is a disaster for those living in poverty.  This is without forgetting climate change events, which have become recurrent in recent years.  These crises appear even more dangerous than each disaster or emergency on their own.

We are going to combine these key definitions or terms to conduct our Climate Action 3.

 

• •  Being Part of Recovery from the Poly-crisis

 

To recover from the cost-of-living crisis, the lingering effects of the coronavirus disaster and climate catastrophe; it requires intervention or actions from many players.  In that recovery process, carbon markets can be an effective part or contributor.

However, for these markets to be an effective part, it could demand some persuasive efforts to make towards those operating in these markets to occupy the places they deserve in the recovery from the poly-crisis.  So, inducing these carbon markets to do their bit in the recovery from the poly-crisis can be a climate action to take this Season.  This inducement can be at the levels of sellers, buyers, the product and price offered in these markets.

 

• •  Carbon Market Inducements to Inducement to Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Poverty

 

It is argued that carbon markets would accelerate actions to combat climate change and deliver much-needed co-benefits for nature and people.  It will be good if the same action can result in poverty reduction.

Inducing carbon markets can help lower greenhouse gas emissions and poverty.  It is possible to encourage markets in which carbon emission allowances are traded to assist in reducing poverty.  It is feasible for companies limiting their emissions of carbon dioxide to also engage in the work of poverty reduction.

 

• • How CENFACS can Work with the Community and Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) on the Inducement of Carbon Markets

 

Lifting people and ASOs beyond their everyday lives of poverty and helping them take stock of their difficult situation while connecting them to solutions to poverty will always be at the heart of CENFACS.  In this lifting mission, we can work with them on inducing carbon markets to help them reduce poverty and hardships.

For ASOs and those members of our community who are interested in the third action of our Climate Action Month, action which is Induce Carbon Markets Be Part of Recovery from the Poly-crisis; they are welcome to contact CENFACS.

For any other queries and enquiries about CENFACS‘ Climate Action Month, the theme of ‘Making Carbon Markets Work for the Poor’ and the third climate action; please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Impact Monitoring and Evaluation of Phases A and B relating to the Building Process from the Coronavirus Impacts 

 

In 2021, we set up a Build Forward Better Programme to help us in the process of coming out from the coronavirus pandemic crisis.  Through this programme, beneficiaries would make steady progress in their journey and work of reconstruction from the COVID-19 impacts while preparing to stay resilient to future similar shocks and crises. What is Build-Forward-Better Programme?

 

Build Forward Better Programme is a set of projects and activities designed with the aim to ensure that the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic sits on sound and sustainable foundations that build back better the poverty reduction gains hard-won so far and help beneficiaries to move forward better and greener.

The programme was scheduled for two years (March 2021 to March 2023) depending on the duration of the coronavirus pandemic, with a possibility of rolling it out.  By the end of this March 2023, the programme will reach its planned end.

To enable us get the full extent of what this programme has enabled us so far to achieve, we are conducting Impact Monitoring and Evaluation of the two phases of this programme (Phases A and B).

For who may interested in this Impact Monitoring and Evaluation activity and would like to enquire about it, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

Extra Messages

 

• Nature Projects and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty – Activity for Week Beginning 13/03/2023: Arts and Design Activity about Valuing Nature’s Contributions

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) –Step/Workshop 4: Appraising your Play, Run and Vote Projects

• End-of-season Reminder!!!

The Polycrisis-impacted Children of East Africa Need Your Influence Right NOW

 

 

• Nature Projects and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty – Activity for Week Beginning 13/03/2023: Arts and Design Activity about Valuing Nature’s Contributions

 

There could be disputes over what is value and what is not value.  Despite these disputes, it is right to argue that nature gives something valuable to humans/people.  That something valuable can be anthropocentric, bio-physical, economic, good quality of life, etc.  This is why one can speak about nature’s contributions to people.  What do we mean by that?

 

• • Nature’s Contributions to People (NCP)

 

To understand NCP, let us refer to what the website ‘sciencedirect.com’ (12) says about it, which is:

“NCPs are all the positive contributions or benefits, and occasionally negative contributions, losses or detriments, that people obtain from nature.  It resonates with the use of the term ecosystem services, and goes further by explicitly embracing concepts associated with other worldviews on human-nature relations and knowledge systems (e.g., nature’s gifts in many indigenous cultures)”.

One can refer to this definition to carry out arts and design activity showing how they value nature’s contributions in their life.

 

• • Arts and Design Activity about Valuing Nature’s Contributions

 

You can use your creative skills to create or draw the beauty of nature in giving to humans or yourself.

For example, you can draw and/or design the following:

 

~ part of your natural local park that help you to have a picnic, sunbathing or just to relax

~ the tomatoes plants or any food you grow in your garden

~ an area of African rainforest and how it is important as carbon sink for the humanity

~ animals’ habitat and how this habit can help in storing carbon and retaining soil

~ medical plants that help cure diseases

~ the river or channels that cross through the area you live or travel

etc.

 

The above are only the few amongst millions of ways of expressing your feelings in arts and design about nature’s contributions to your life.  You can do it on paper or online or any other suitable means or formats.

Your art and design work can be an object or draw/design on paper or online or digital means.  You can share your art and design work with CENFACS and others within the community.

 

 

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) –

Step/Workshop 4: Appraising your Play, Run and Vote Projects

 

To carry out this step/workshop 4, we are going to briefly explain what this step/workshop is about and give an example about it.

 

• • About Appraising your Play, Run and Vote Projects 

 

It is about assessing the feasibility, viability and potential impact of a proposed project.  It means that an all-year-round project user will proceed with the following:

identify the project, screen it, scope it, analyse its market, technically study it as feasible, assess its financial viability and its economic impact, analyse risks, examine environmental and social impact and report its appraisal.

Because All-year Round Projects are such small and practical initiatives, there is a need to simply the appraisal relating to it.  To simply the matter, we are going to limit to financial appraisal.

 

• • Example of Financial Appraisal: Your Project about Running for Poverty Reduction 

 

Let say you want to run 4 km.

You have two options.

~ Option 1

You could simply get out your home start running without thinking of any financial appraisal.

~ Option 2

You can conduct a basic financial appraisal by asking yourself if you need to buy a bottle of water, a pair of trainers, a clock or watch to time yourself, the frequency of your run activity (e.g., once a week or every particular day of the week), decide whether you want run alone or as a group, etc.

You can even work out how much it costs to run in open space like a park compared to a close space such as a gym.

You can as well assess the benefit of running in terms of your health and general wellbeing.

In this second option, you can carry out more appraisal and come out with a sort of financial plan in terms of basic costs and benefits of running.

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

 

 

 

• End-of-season Reminder!!!

The Polycrisis-impacted Children of East Africa Need Your Influence Right NOW

 

You can help halve poverty  in East Africa; you can help halve poverty for and with children at risk of loosing their life because of the detrimental effects of the poly-crisis on them.

 

You can donate your Influence to halve poverty  in East Africa.

To donate, please contact influential persons (or those having the keys) to reduce or solve the detrimental effects from the crises that the East African children are suffering from and make these persons reduce or end these negative effects on them.

You can as well influence the things or factors that determine these crises in order to create lasting favourable conditions towards an end to years-long crises, like the conflicts or economic crises in Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan.

Please also let CENFACS know about your influencing work or contribution  you are or will be making and its outcome on behalf of the children or peoples of East Africa.

To let us know, you can contact CENFACS as follows:

*over phone

*via email

*through text

*by filling the contact form on this site. 

On receipt of your message or influencing donation, CENFACS will contact you for record and thank you for any influencing donation made.  However, should you wish your influencing support to remain anonymous; we will respect your wish.

There are only 7 days remaining for this Winter 2023 appeal.

For further details about this appeal/Gift of Light and or to support, go to http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/

Thank you in anticipation for your willingness to give your Positive Influence and help save the lives of the Polycrisis-impacted East African Children, especially but not exclusively those living in the polycrisis-affected areas of Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan.

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

• Budget d’action pour le climat pour les ménages / familles

Un ménage ou une famille ordinaire peut déterminer quelle part de ses revenus peut être affectée à des dépenses pour l’action climatique. Le ménage ou la famille donnée peut planifier pendant une certaine période combien dépenser afin de réduire par exemple ses émissions de gaz à effet de serre.

Dans leur budget de dépenses d’action climatique, le ménage ou la famille peut planifier le montant dont il a besoin pour atteindre les objectifs climatiques suivants:

√ Encourager la réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre à l’intérieur

√ Adopter une énergie verte, sûre et propre (pour la cuisson et le chauffage)

√ Utiliser des appareils électriques efficaces

√ Comparer et contraster les combustibles fossiles à l’énergie durable en termes d’économie et de santé

Etc.

Pour plus d’efficacité, tous ces petits objectifs seront résumés dans un budget d’action pour le climat.

Ainsi, pour enrichir nos Journées d’action pour le climat, nous travaillerons sur les éléments du budget ménage/famille relatifs au climat et où des actions peuvent être prises au niveau du ménage/famille afin de réduire les enjeux climatiques (tels que la pollution de l’air intérieur).

Pour ceux/celles qui voudraient travailler avec le CENFACS sur le budget de leur ménage afin d’agir en faveur de la réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre, ils/elles sont plus que bienvenus pour contacter le CENFACS.

 

Main Development

 

• Spring Relief 2023: Rebuilding and Renewing Lives, Infrastructures and Institutions in the Context of Falling Real Household Disposable Incomes

 

To cover the contents of Spring Relief 2023, we have planned the following two items:

 

σ What is in focus for Spring Relief 2023?

σ Preview of Projects and Programmes for Spring Relief 2023.

 

Let us summarise each of these items.

 

• • What is in focus for Spring Relief 2023?

 

The focus is on the work to Build Forward Better Together Greener, Cleaner and Safer.

 

• • • Work to Build Forward Better Together Greener, Cleaner and Safer

 

The rolling out of another work to Build Forward Better Together Greener, Cleaner and Safer for this Spring 2023 is to deal with the continuing cost-of-living crisis.  The first time we put in place Build Forward Better Together Programme was to work on ways of moving out from the coronavirus pandemic and its legacies.

The current work to Build Forward Better Together Greener, Cleaner and Safer has some similarities and differences with the one we applied to the coronavirus pandemic.

In both cases, if we are going to build forward together; we need to build a greener, cleaner and safer world so that future generations will not have the fulfilment of their needs compromises.  In other words, we need to adopt green, clean and safe pathways for poverty reduction and net-zero carbon emissions development.

The difference between the two is that Build Forward Better Together Programme for the coronavirus pandemic focussed on health and economic crises.  Contrariwise, the Work to Build Forward Better Together relating to the cost-of-living crisis will concentrate on prices and incomes crises; that is the cost of living crisis.  The cost of living here has to be understood as defined in Collins Dictionary of Business written by Christopher Pass et al. (op. cit.) in these terms:

“Cost of living is the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy as measured by a representative PRICE-INDEX” (p. 143)

We cannot ignore the contexts in which we need to build forward.  The current context is of the cost-of-living crisis.  It is in this context of the cost-of-living crisis that we will try to build forward during this Spring 2023.

So, during this Spring Relief 2022 CENFACS is going to work with the community in the UK and organisations in Africa to build forward better together from the collateral damages generated by the cost-of-living crisis.    There have been asymmetrical or uneven distributional effects from this crisis.  Those living in poverty are the ones bearing the brunt of this crisis.

This Spring 2023 Building forward better, which is a new roll-out, is about correcting the asymmetrical effects from the cost-of-living crisis since many of our community members have been unevenly hurt during this crisis.

In order to build forward better, one needs a programme or a strategy or a roadmap.  This is why we are rolling out this second type of Build Forward Better Together Work.  To deliver this seasonal work, one needs as well a set of activities during the work’s lifespan.

This work to Build Forward Better Together Work is part of our Campaign to End Poverty Induced by Rising Costs of Living.

 

• • • Campaign to End Poverty Induced by Rising Costs of Living

 

Campaign to End Poverty Induced by Rising Costs of Living is one of the legacies of CENFACS Starting IX Projects from Autumn 2022.

The Campaign to End Poverty Linked to Rising Costs of Living is an organised series of actions to gain support for the cost-of-living poor so that something can be done for them.  These actions need to result in change, particularly the reduction and end of poverty led by the cost-of-living crisis.  The latter is now a barrier for many poor.

It takes a long time for a crisis like the current cost-of-living crisis to end.  Because of that, it is better to have short-, medium- and long-term actions; actions that can stemmed from a strategy to end crisis.

During this coming Spring 2023, we shall work to Build Forward Better Together Greener, Cleaner and Safer from the damaging effects of the cost-of-living crisis, while Campaigning to End Poverty Induced by Rising Costs of Living.

 

• • Preview of Projects and Programmes for Spring Relief 2023

 

CENFACS is pleased to present its New Season’s (Spring) collection of selected projects and programmes with a choice of relief and climate smart services.  For each of these 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, safety and sustainability.

These are the projects and programmes to rebuild lives, infrastructures and institutions as we move forward better together greener, cleaner and safer towards a net-zero world.  They are free but we do not mind donations.  The more you donate, the more we can relieve.

Please find below the selection of Spring Relief 2023 Projects and Programmes.

 

• • • April: Protection Month

 

There will be two initiatives to deliver and sustain protection in April 2023:

Geo-economic Protection and Security for Women and Children, and Protection against Falling Real Household Disposable Incomes.

 

a) Women and Children Projects (3W & PPS Reflection Day):

 

Reflection on Geo-economic Protection and Security for Women and Children (Protection project)

On our Reflection Day, we will reflect on the crisis and risk linked to interstate economic confrontations and rivalries in recent years and how they could lead to geo-economic warfare.  These rivalries, if they escalate, can pose concern about protection and security vulnerabilities for many people, especially but not exclusively for women and children living in poverty.

Our Reflection Day will try to look at ways of protecting and securing women and children from increasing geo-economic clashes and the proliferation of new geo-economic weaponization in the new protection and security contexts.

Additionally, we shall reflect on the effects of the geo-economic conflicts on our network and system of protection in the process of building forward better together greener, cleaner and safer.

 

b) Protection against Falling Real Household Disposable Incomes  (Protection and Income project)

 

Prices and bills keep on raising while real household disposable incomes have failed to match this raising trend.  In other words, incomes are not fully index-linked to keep pace with inflation and living standards unchanged. There is a need to protect falling real household disposable incomes.

 

• • • May: Stories Telling Month

 

The plan for May 2023 is made 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 of Building Forward Better from the Cost-of-living Crisis – Tell it! 

Entries for Stories on Poverty Relief and Development for May 2023 (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 about how people and communities are trying or have tried to build forward better from the cost-of-living crisis.

This year’s stories are those of:

∝ reduction of endemic structural disadvantages and inequalities

∝ positively transforming our relationship with nature

∝ dismantling structures of discrimination disadvantaging the poor

∝ building on the moral and legal framework of human rights that places human dignity at the heart of policy and action.

They are the tales of physical, social, environmental and economic building forward better.

 

b) Rebuilding Africa: Build Forward Better with Communities and Africa-based Organisations (Advocacy programme)

 

There will two areas in our advocacy to rebuild Africa, which are as follows.

 

b.1) Building Forward Better Together with Communities and Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) will be based on wellbeing economy, inclusiveness and safety to manage the struggle to come out of the cost-of-living crisis.  It is about advocating to manage struggle.

 

b.2) Building Forward Better Together with Communities and ASOs will be about navigating their ways to improve in those areas where the cost-of-living crisis has brought a new window of opportunities and scope to learn and develop.  It is an advocacy work to go beyond struggle and plan future.

 

• • • June: Creation & Innovation Month

 

Creation and innovation are needed to manage the struggle against the cost-of-living since prices of energy and food started to rise from March 2022.  Likewise, to build forward better, creation and innovation should be the response.

This June, we shall deal with creations and innovations that help that struggle as well as those that help manage the period of struggle against the cost-of-living crisis.

 

a) Creations and Innovations to manage the struggle against the cost-of-living crisis (Creation and Innovation project)

 

Forming from nothing ideas or introducing changes to manage struggle against the cost-of-living crisis and move forward together will be the main activity during the month of June 2023.  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.

Using our skills, knowledge and talents to find techniques, technologies and new methods to deal with the currently pressing and immediate needs of the cost-of-living crisis period may 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.

 

b) Creations and Innovations to deal with falling real household disposable incomes (Creation and Innovation project)

 

The current fall in real household disposable incomes means that one needs to find some creative and innovative ways of dealing with this fall if one wants to avoid the deepening of income poverty.  It also means one may work out to develop an alternative in terms of ideas, skills and new knowledge to meet the income needs of those who are unable to raise or earn incomes beyond the income poverty line.

The above summarises the programmes, projects and activities we have planned to deliver this coming Spring.  To request further information about Spring Relief 2023 Projects and Programmes, please contact CENFACS. 

 

Note: 

The above initiatives are only a selection of what we have planned for Spring Relief season 2023.  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, COVID-19, and we may do it with 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) Pass, C., Lowes, B., Pendleton, A. & Chadwick, L. (1991), Collins Dictionary of Business, HarperCollinsPublishers, Glasgow

(2) https://www.tutor2u.net/economics/blog/s-macro-key-term-real-disposable-income (Accessed in March 2023)

(3) https://www.finder.com/uk/disposable-income-around-the-uk# (Accessed in March 2023

(4) https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/new-years-outlook-2023/ (Accessed in March 2023)

(5) https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices (Accessed in March 2023)

(6) https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/the-interest-rate-bank-rate (Accessed in March 2023)

(7) https://www.fao.org/newsroom/detail/fao-food-price-index-declines-for-the-11th-consecutive-marth/en (Accessed in March 2023)

(8) https://www.un.org/en/desa/it-time-build-forward-together# (Accessed in March 2023)

(9) Chambers Combined Dictionary Thesaurus, Manser, M. & Thompson, M. (eds.), Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 1999

(10) Morin, E. and Kern, A. B. (1999),Homeland Earth: A Manifesto for a New Millennium. Advances in Systems Theory, Complexity, and the Human Sciences. Cresskill, N.J.: Hampton Press

(11) https://www.mcgregor-boycall.com/our-thinking-library/2023/02/what-is-a-polycrisis-why-is-everyone-talking-about-it-and-how-could-it-affect-your-business//357# (Accessed in March 2023)

(12) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877343517300040# (Accessed in March 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 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 throughout 2023 and beyond.

With many thanks.

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

08 March 2023

 

Post No. 290

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Climate Action 2: Influence Voluntary Carbon Credit Markets Foster Sustainable Livelihoods for Poor Communities 

• Nature Projects and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty – Activity for Week Beginning 06/03/2023: Participating to a Survey on Genetic Diversity

• Nature-based Solutions to Poverty and Technology-based Solutions to Poverty

 

… And much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Climate Action 2: Influence Voluntary Carbon Credit Markets Foster Sustainable Livelihoods for Poor Communities 

 

Climate Action 2 will be held from 08 to 14/03/2023.  It is about trying to have an effect on  voluntary carbon credit markets so that they can promote means of living that are continued over the long term without adversely effecting poor communities.

Indeed, a voluntary carbon credit market as an exchange mechanism which brings together the sellers and buyers of carbon emission allowances can be influenced.  Influencing this type of market can pose two problems.

Firstly, this market is voluntary, that is sellers and buyers are acting by free choice/will, not by compulsion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  As specified in the Article 6 of the Paris Agreement (1), countries can voluntarily cooperate with each other to achieve emission reduction targets sets out in their nationally determined contributions.  If this is the case, then why influencing them.

Secondly, influence could mean having a power to have an effect over either sellers or buyers or the product or the result from this exchange mechanism.  This can raise the debate over free market or controlled market despite the fact that any market could be subject to influences anyway.

The kind of influence we are arguing about is different from the general market influences or factors like inflation, economic growth, currency exchange rate, market sentiment, geo-economic conflicts (e.g., Russia-Ukraine conflict), etc.  The kind of influence we are dealing with is more specific such as the pricing of carbon credits, the quality of credit costs of carbon credits, pricing of value delivered, etc.  The kind of influence we are looking for is for these markets to encourage the development of sustainable livelihoods, particularly but not exclusively for the poor communities.

The above is the first key message of this week’s post.  To find out more about this key message, please read under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• Nature Projects and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty – Activity for Week Beginning 06/03/2023: Participating to a Survey on Genetic Diversity

 

We are conducting a Survey on Genetic Diversity, as part of Nature Projects.  The purpose of this survey on Genetic Diversity is to collect information from a sample of our users  regarding the Maintenance of Genetic Diversity within population of wild and domesticated species.  Participation to this survey is voluntary.

To help participants take part in this survey, let us explain two key concepts of this survey, which are: genetic diversity and genetic resources.  To explain both concepts, we are going to refer to the Oxford Dictionary of Environment and Conservation by Chris Park (2).  In this dictionary, it says that

“Genetic diversity is the number of different types of genes in a species or population, which is a measure of biodiversity” (p. 187)

“Genetic resource is genetic material of plants, animals, or micro-organisms that is of actual or potential value as a resource for humans” (p. 188)

Knowing these two concepts, it is possible to respond to the questionnaire constituent of the survey.  Amongst the survey questions are the following three ones relating to the use of genetic resources, resources sharing and the protection of traditional knowledge:

 

a) What benefits do you find in using genetic resources?

b) What is your experience or view about fairly and equitably sharing resources with indigenous peoples and local communities?

c) What can be done to protect traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources?

 

You can answer and directly send your answer to CENFACS. 

 

• Nature-based Solutions to Poverty and Technology-based Solutions to Poverty

 

We are continuing to work on nature-based solutions to poverty.  As part of this continuation, we are putting two solutions together to help reduce poverty.  These two solutions are nature- and technology-based.

 

• • Nature-based Solutions to Poverty

 

Nature-based Solutions can be understood from the definition of ‘climatechampions.unfccc.int’ (3) as:

“Actions and policies that protect, manage and restore natural ecosystems, while addressing social challenges”.

Because we are arguing about Nature-based Solutions to Poverty, we are going to work with nature to address social challenges (like social poverty) while making sure that both our project beneficiaries and biodiversity benefit.

 

• • Technology-based Solutions to poverty

 

Technology-based Solutions are the process of finding answers to problems using scientific knowledge and technical skills.  This process can include the transfer of devices and the transmission of knowledge, know-how, skills, digital services, etc.

Technology-based Solutions to poverty are processes that use technologies to reduce or end poverty.  For example, one can use technologies like mobile phone, computer, laptop, tablet, and other electronics to help reduce technology poverty.  Likewise, one can provide renewable energy generation facilities in poor communities to help these communities benefit from clean energy.

 

• • Nature- and Technology-based Solutions to Poverty

 

This week, we are combining the two solutions (technology- and nature-based) in the efforts we are deploying together with the community and our Africa-based Sister Organisations to find solutions to the problems they are facing.  In this quest for two solutions, donating net-zero technologies can help to meet their needs.

For those members of our community and Africa-based Sister Organisations wanting to find out more and or work with us on Nature-based Solutions to Poverty and Technology-based Solutions to poverty, they can contact CENFACS.

 

Extra Messages

 

• Climate-induced Poverty and Poverty Caused by Natural Events in Africa

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) –Step/Workshop 3: Conducting a Feasibility Study on your Play, Run and Vote Projects

• CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum Discusses Ways of Broadening Local Contribution to Local Charitable Causes

 

 

• Climate-induced Poverty and Poverty Caused by Natural Events in Africa

 

Climate action is also about taking steps to deal with the consequences of adverse climate change on other people’s lives.  One of these consequences could be the creation or exacerbation of climate poor because of treacherous weather events such as drought, torrential rains, floods, earthquakes, rise in sea levels, etc.  These situations or events can create situational/transitory poverty.

For example, assessing the crop prospects and food situation in the world, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (4) found that

“About 1.4 million people in Burundi were estimated to be facing acute food insecurity (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification 3 [crisis] and above between October and December 2022”. (p. 2)

This acute food insecurity was due to erratic February – May rains in some central and south-eastern areas which affected pulses production.  This is without forgetting the lingering socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and high food price.

Since situational/transitory poverty is one the seven goals of CENFACS’ 2020s Development Agenda and Poverty Reduction Programme (5), we are carrying on the work on this type of poverty.  This time, the focus on situational/transitory poverty will be on the one that is caused by climate change events.  Depending on the intensity and power of these events, they can seriously or less harm people.  These events can also lead to acute human insecurity and eventually push people to poverty line of all kinds (in food, health, education, housing, etc.

So, the need to take action against worsening poverty in Africa is at the same time an action against climate-induced poverty and poverty caused by natural events.  Reducing Climate-induced Poverty and Poverty Caused by Natural Events in Africa can be the goal to pursue this March 2023.

For those who may be interested in this action and would like to work with us to support climate-induced poor, they can contact CENFACS.

 

 

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) –

Step/Workshop 3: Conducting a Feasibility Study on your Play, Run and Vote Projects

 

In this 3rd step or workshop, users will learn (for those users who are new to project planning) or revisit (for those who are familiar with project planning) the evaluation of the practicality of their chosen Play or Run or Vote project.  In project planning terms, it means they need to conduct feasibility study.  But, what is feasibility study?

 

• • Basic understanding of feasibility study

 

Feasibility study is a ‘go/no-go’ decision time for any project planner.  In other words, it is the time when an All-year-round project user will decide whether or not to continue with their proposed project.

As ‘simplilearn.com’ (6) puts it,

“A feasibility study is a comprehensive evaluation of a proposed project that evaluates all factors critical to its success in order to assess its likelihood of success”.

Referring to this definition or any suitable definition, All-year-round project users will look at the practicality of the Play, Run and Vote projects from the perspective of required cost and expected value.

 

• • Types of feasibility

 

Feasibility can cover many aspects of the project to be implemented; aspects like technical, economic, financial, operational, legal, etc.  To simplify the matter, we are going to limit in this workshop to the technical and economic aspects of feasibility study; leaving to those who would like to dive deeper into feasibility study to let us know what other aspects of feasibility study they may be interested in.

The technical feasibility of your Play, Run and Vote projects will include the technical resources and capacities to convert your idea of playing, running and voting into a workable or working project.  The economic feasibility will analyse the cost and benefit of the same projects.

 

• • Example of feasibility study: Your 2023 Vote for African Poverty Reduction and Development Manager

 

In order to conduct your feasibility study of your vote, you need to carry out the following tasks:

 

~ Evaluate if your Vote project is technically achievable by determining and steering the technical resources (like time, budget, technical skills, etc.) to be committed to drive you to the process of looking for your Poverty Reduction and Development Manager of the year and of voting him/her

~ Carry out a viability test in terms of the cost associated with your selection process and benefits linked with your Vote project

~ Financially work out the cost and benefit of your Vote project as you will do in the recruitment selection process of any personnel.

 

Feasibility study can be basic (simple) or complex depending on the type of your Vote project.  In the above example, we have simplified the matter.

For those who would like to dive deeper into feasibility study, including the tools, examples, skills and steps in feasibility study of their Play or Run or Vote project, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum Discusses Ways of Broadening Local Contribution to Local Charitable Causes

 

The first discussion of March 2023 for CENFACS‘ be.Africa Forum is about Broadening the Contribution of Local Populations to their Charitable Causes without Impacting their Vulnerabilities and the Informal System in which they Live.

It is true that many local people are already contributing to their own local matters including local causes.  However, because of the intensity and continuity of the poly-crisis faced by many locals in Africa, we are discussing ways of increasing and improving local response in terms of their share regarding the contribution they are making towards the reduction or end of poverty in Africa.  We are discussing it while considering two constraints to this contribution, which are:

 

a) The vulnerability in which they are since we are dealing with people who are in need

b) Many of them live in informal system or economy in order to make ends meet.

 

Given these two constraints, how possibly can their contribution to their charitable cause be expanded by them without worsening their vulnerability and weakening the life-line informal system on which they depend?

Those who may be interested in this first March 2023 discussion can join in and or contribute by contacting CENFACS’ be.Africa, which is a forum for discussion on matters of poverty reduction and sustainable development in Africa and which acts on behalf of its members in making proposals or ideas for actions for a better Africa.

To communicate with CENFACS regarding this discussion, please use our usual contact details on this website.

 

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

Le Forum d’idées et d’actions pour une meilleure Afrique du CENFACS discute des moyens d’élargir la contribution locale aux causes caritatives locales

La première discussion de mars 2023 pour le Forum d’idées et d’actions pour une meilleure Afrique du CENFACS vise à élargir la contribution des populations locales à leurs causes caritatives sans affecter leurs vulnérabilités et le système informel dans lequel elles vivent.

Il est vrai que de nombreuses populations locales contribuent déjà à leurs propres affaires locales, y compris les causes locales.  Cependant, en raison de l’intensité et de la continuité de la polycrise à laquelle sont confrontés de nombreux habitants en Afrique, nous discutons des moyens d’accroître la part relative locale concernant la contribution qu’ils apportent à la réduction ou à la fin de la pauvreté en Afrique.

Nous en discutons en considérant deux contraintes à cette contribution qui sont :

a) La vulnérabilité dans laquelle ils se trouvent puisque nous avons affaire à des personnes dans le besoin

b) Beaucoup d’entre eux vivent dans un système ou une économie informels afin de joindre les deux bouts du mois.

Compte tenu de ces deux contraintes, comment peut-on accroître leur contribution à leur cause caritative sans aggraver leur vulnérabilité et affaiblir le système informel vital dont ils dépendent?

Ceux/celles qui pourraient être intéressés par cette première discussion de mars 2023 peuvent rejoindre et / ou contribuer en contactant le Forum d’idées et d’actions pour une meilleure Afrique du 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 communiquer avec le CENFACS au sujet de cette discussion, veuillez utiliser nos coordonnées habituelles sur ce site.

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• Climate Action 2: Influence Voluntary Carbon Credit Markets Foster Sustainable Livelihoods for Poor Communities 

 

The following notes will help to take Climate Action 2:

 

σ Key concepts to be used to influence voluntary carbon credit markets

σ What voluntary carbon credit markets (VCCM) provide

σ Putting poverty reduction value on what voluntary carbon credit markets provide

σ How CENFACS can work with the community and Africa-based Sister Organisations on natural climate solutions like VCCM.

 

Let us look at each of these notes or items.

 

• • Key concepts to be used to influence voluntary carbon credit markets

 

To influence voluntary carbon credit markets, one needs to understand the following terms: Voluntary Carbon Credit Markets (VCCM), sustainable livelihoods and market influences.

 

• • • Voluntary Carbon Credit Markets (VCCM)

 

Referring to the definitions provided by the glossary of Market Business News (7), it states in this glossary that

“Carbon credit is a financial unit of measurement. It represents the removal of one tCO₂e from the atmosphere.  tCO₂e stands for tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent.”

There are two types of credits in the voluntary market which are:

~ Avoidance credits for external projects that avoid or reduce emissions production (for example, building a wind farm)

~ Removal credits for projects that lower existing emissions.

Removal projects deploy either nature-based solutions such as afforestation or technology-based solutions such as renewable energy generation.

Knowing what is carbon credit, it is possible to define voluntary carbon market.  For instance, the ‘weforum.org’ (8) explains that

“The Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) enables investors, governments, non-governmental organisations and businesses to voluntarily purchase verified emissions reductions in the form of carbon credits.  This is a crucial tool to unlock the full potential of natural climate solutions, which have traditionally been under-funded and under-valued”.

The ‘weforum.com’ further argues that

“The VCM is by no means the only solution for funding natural climate solutions  – but is a really important and tangible mechanism we can use right now”.

The VCM could also be a viable tool to foster sustainable livelihoods.

 

• • • Sustainable livelihoods

 

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (9),

“A livelihood is sustainable when it can cope with and recover from stresses and shocks and maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets both now and in the future, while not undermining natural resource bases… Livelihoods can therefore be affected by external factors which increase their resilience and consequently reduce their vulnerability”.

From this definition of sustainable livelihood, one can argue that fostering sustainable livelihood could be undertaking a variety of initiatives such as developing skills (like income-generating, financial literacy, agriculture-based skills, etc.) to enhance capacities.  It could as well be about women’s development and capacity building initiatives.  Additionally, to create sustainable livelihoods, it requires access to capital (particularly natural capital) and access to markets.

 

• • • Market influences

 

Market influences are the broad factors that affect the economy, industries and companies as a whole.  One can do a PESTLE analysis, that is a Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental factors affecting the economy and industries.  These generic factors could be inflation, economic growth, market sentiment, international crisis like the Russia-Ukraine conflict, etc.

However, in the context of VCCM, we are focussing on specific factors like prices for voluntary carbon markets, the pricing of carbon credits, project cost, pricing of value delivered, quality of credit, costs of carbon credits, etc.  The influence we are looking for is to make these specific factors work for the poor as well.  We are further examining how VCCM can help in dealing with the factors of the PESTLE analysis that are crucial in poverty reduction.

 

• • What voluntary carbon credit markets provide

 

Voluntary credit markets allow organisations to offset their unavoidable emissions by purchasing carbon credits from projects targeted at removing or reducing greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.  These markets provide the opportunities listed below:

 

∝ to store carbon

∝ to filter water

∝ to produce oxygen

∝ to promote biodiversity

∝ to unlock private capital

etc.

 

Because of these opportunities, the VCM is a solution for funding natural climate solutions.  As argued earlier, it will be good to see these opportunities trickle down to the poor.  In other words, poverty reduction value needs to be at the heart of these markets.  These opportunities do not trickle down by themselves unless one takes climate action and action against poverty.

 

• • Putting poverty reduction value on what voluntary carbon credit markets provide

 

Voluntary carbon markets tend to compensate for residual emissions.  It is good to have voluntary carbon credit markets that provide opportunities to voluntarily purchase verified emissions reductions in the form of carbon credits.  It will even be better if these markets put poverty reduction value at the centre of their dealings.

As Leo Peskett et al. (10) put it in their Forestry Briefing 11 that Making voluntary carbon markets work better for the poor is about the following:

 

∝ shifting from prioritising concerns of investors and producers to focussing on wider development interests of the host countries

∝ developing expertise in carbon finance

∝ prioritising concerns of small producers

∝ evaluating social impacts

etc.

 

So, putting poverty reduction value on what voluntary carbon credit markets provide is all about that.

 

• • How CENFACS can work with the community and Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) on natural climate solutions like VCCM

 

Lifting people and ASOs beyond their everyday lives of poverty and helping them take stock of their difficult situation while connecting them to solutions to poverty will always be at the heart of CENFACS.  In this lifting mission, we can work with them on natural climate solutions like VCCM to help them reduce poverty and hardships.

Natural Climate Solutions will help to protect, restore and better manage forests, soils and wetlands, while assisting in reducing poverty.

For ASOs and those members of our community who are interested in the second action of our Climate Action Month, action which is Influence Voluntary Carbon Credit Markets Foster Sustainable Livelihoods for Poor Communities ; they are welcome to contact CENFACS.

For any other queries and enquiries about CENFACS‘ Climate Action Month, the theme of ‘Making Carbon Markets Work for the Poor’ and the second action; please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

_________

 

• References

 

(1) https://unfccc.int/files/meetings/paris_nov_2015/application/pdf/paris_agreement_english_pdf (Accessed in March 2023)

(2) Park, C. (2011), Oxford Dictionary of Environment and Conservation, Oxford University Press, Oxford & New York

(3) https://climatechampions.unfccc.int/what-are-nature-based-solutions-and-how-can-we-finance-them/# (Accessed in February 2023)

(4) FAO (2023), Crop Prospects and Food Situation – Quarterly Global Report No. 1, March 2023, Rome (https://doi.org/10.4060/cc4665en (Accessed in March 2023)

(5) cenfacs.org.uk/2020/03/11/the-2020s-agenda-and-programme/ (Accessed in March 2023)

(6) https://www.simplilearn.com/feasibility-study-article (Accessed in March 2023)

(7) https://marketbusinessnews.com/financial-glossary/carbon-market/ (Accessed in February 2023)

(8) https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/03/voluntary-carbon-market-net-zero/ (Accessed in March 2023)

(9) https://www.fao.org/in-action/herramienta-administration-tierras/module-1/proposed-methdology/sustainable-livelihoods/en (Accessed in March 2023)

(10) Peskett, L., Luttrell, C. & Brown, D. (2006), Making voluntary carbon markets work better for the poor: the case of forestry offsets, Forestry Briefing 11, Overseas Development Institute at https://odi.org/about/our-work/voluntary-carbon-markets-and-the-poor/ (Accessed in March 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 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 throughout 2023 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

01 March 2023

 

Post No. 289

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Climate Actions March 2023 with ‘Making Carbon Markets Work for the Poor’

• Climate Protection and Stake for African Children (Phase 3.2)

• Activity/Task 3 of the ‘i‘ Project: Positively Influence Climate Actions

 

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Climate Actions March 2023 with ‘Making Carbon Markets Work for the Poor’

 

This year’s Climate Actions Month within CENFACS will be about acting on carbon markets to reduce or end greenhouse gas emissions while making the same markets work for the poor.

Indeed, emissions trading or markets in which players (or emitters) are working with allowances of carbon emissions (or credits) can provide the possibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.   If they can provide this sort of emissions reduction scope, then they should be encouraged and extended.

It will as well be good if these markets work for the poor.  This is because like anybody else, poor people suffer from the consequences of greenhouse gas emissions which could lead or exacerbate climate poverty.  So, Making Carbon Markets Work for the Poor will be the theme for this month of March 2023, Month of Climate Actions.  In other words, the idea to be developed and repeated throughout March 2023 is how poor people can benefit from carbon markets.  To explain that, we are going to develop four key notes for our theme every Wednesday of March 2023 (one note per Wednesday), starting from 1 March 2023.

Additionally, this year’s Month of Climate Actions will look at one of the outcomes from the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1).  This outcome is the creation of ‘loss and damage’ funds to help vulnerable countries cope with the destructive impacts of global warming.  In particular, we shall discuss how these funds will contribute to our climate ask, which is ‘giving poor children a climate stake‘ in rescuing and rebuilding their physical and social infrastructures devastated by extreme weather.

For those who would like to get more informed about this first key message, they can read under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

 

• Climate Protection and Stake for African Children (Phase 3.2)

 

CENFACS’ Climate Talks Follow-up Project is still in Phase 3.2, which is of the Implementation Level of  ‘Taking Climate Protection and Stake for African Children’.  We are now at the Installation Sub-phase (or Sub-phase 2) of this project.

In this Phase 3.2, we followed the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change which was held in Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt) in 2022.  We are continuing to work on the outcomes of the COP27 and on CENFACS’ Compendia of Climate Advocacy.  Our next follow-up will be on the United Nations climate talks 2023.

 

• • 2023 Climate Talks Follow-up

 

The United Nations climate talks 2023, which will be held during the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (2), will be convened in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) from 30 November to 12 December 2023.

This month, we will start the planning process of this follow-up.  The slogan for this 2023 follow-up will be: Dubai Raise Children’s Ambitions and Hopes.  Let us we hope that the coming Dubai climate gathering will raise climate ambitions and hopes for children.  Let us also expect that the voices of youth and future generations will resonate during COP28 as they were included in COP27, and youth-led solutions to climate change will find accommodation in COP28.

More details about this follow-up will be unveiled as we move towards the COP28 starting day.  For those who have any queries about this 2023 Climate Talks Follow-up, they are free to get in touch with CENFACS.

To support and or enquire about CENFACS’ 2023 Climate Talks Follow-up and the Phase 3.2, please contact CENFACS.

To find out more about CENFACS’ Compendia of CENFACS’ Climate Advocacy, please also communicate with CENFACS.

 

 

• Activity/Task 2 of the ‘i‘ Project: Positively Influence Climate Actions

 

This month’s activity or task for the ‘i‘ project is to positively influence climate actions.  We know that climate actions are not new to many people including the members of CENFACS Community.  Many of you are already taking climate actions of all kinds in all walks of life.

However, because we are carrying on this activity or task 2 of the ‘i‘ project, we are asking to those who can to take climate further actions by having indirect effect on people and factors capable of lowering greenhouse gas emissions.  In particular, one can influence people and or factors to

~ Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate disasters

~ Keep raising awareness on climate change impact reduction

~ Continue to integrate climate change measures into your/people’s daily lives.

The above-named actions are part of Goal 13 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (3).

Briefly, you can exercise your power by taking action to combat climate change and its impacts.  If you are already doing it, you can even increase the power of your action.

For those members of our community who would like to positively influence climate actions with us, and who would like to talk to us; they should not hesitate to contact us.

To contact CENFACS, please use the details provided on the contact-us page of this site.

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Nature Projects and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty – Activity for Week Beginning 27/02/2023: Campaign/Advocacy to Halt Human-induced Extinction of Threatened Species

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) –Step/Workshop 2: Preparing your Play, Run and Vote Project

• Financial Controls 2023 for Households – In Focus: Financial Rules

 

 

• Nature Projects and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty –

Activity for Week Beginning 27/02/2023: Campaign/Advocacy to Halt Human-induced Extinction of Threatened Species

 

The activity on Species Extinction (Activity 2) is about finding life-saving solutions/ways of halting human-induced extinction of known threatened species.  Before explaining this activity, let us clarify the meaning of species extinction and threatened species.

 

• • Meaning of species extinction and threatened species

 

To specify species extinction and threatened species, we are going to refer to the Oxford Dictionary of Environment and Conservation written by Chris Park (4).  In this dictionary, it says that

“Extinction is the permanent disappearance of a species throughout its entire range, caused by the failure to reproduce and the death of all remaining members” (p. 164)

In the same dictionary, it states that

“Species is a population of organisms that reproduce with one another but not with other populations” (p. 422)

“Threatened species are a category of species under threat […].  The categories within this group  are extinct, endangered, vulnerable, rare and indeterminate” (p. 450)

Knowing what is species extinction, it is possible to proceed with Activity 2. 

 

• • What Activity 2 entails

 

 Activity 2 will be conducted in the form of campaign or advocacy.  It will be an organised series of actions to build up opposition to species extinction or alternatively an active support of species protection.

Under Activity 2, one can undertake different types actions such as signing a petition against species extinction, joining a local species protection group, adding their voices to mobilisation movements aiming at protecting species, etc.  Alternatively, one can support CENFACS‘ anti species extinction initiatives such the Big Beasts Campaign, Save Fauna and Flora, Safeguard Crop Wild Relatives, etc.

For those who would like to engage with Activity 2, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

For those who would like to find out more about Nature Projects and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty, they can also communicate with CENFACS.

 

 

 

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) –

Step/Workshop 2: Preparing your Play, Run and Vote Projects

 

Once you have identified your idea of your Play, Run and Vote Projects; you can start the preparation step.  What is this preparation about?

Preparing your Play or Run or Vote project is about ensuring that they are feasible and appropriate, and can be successfully implemented.  It is also the step you try to de-risk and conceptualise them.

For example, if you choose to play the CENFACS League for Poverty Reduction, you need to be aware of three basic principles:

a) Your Play project is feasible, appropriate and can be successfully implemented; in other words it is SMART (that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound)

b) You need as well to de-risk your Play project from the risk of not researching enough information or not having enough data about poverty reduction efforts or achievements of the selected African countries in your league model are making

c) You finally have to reduce any information gaps when comparing and contrasting African countries in order to get reliable results in your sample.

For those who are not familiar with project preparation and would like some support, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

They can contact CENFACS by phoning, texting, e-mailing and completing the contact form on this website.  We can together discuss in detail their proposals about either their Run or Play or Vote project.

 

 

• Financial Controls 2023 for Households – In Focus: Financial Rules

 

Any households can set up some financial rules if they want to have their finances under control.  Some of these rules are called rules of thumb.  But what are financial rules for households?

 

• • Financial rules for households

 

Financial rules for households are simply agreements on how households would like to look after their money.  These rules can be written or verbal or in any suitable format as long as they know them, understand them and agree to apply them for the best financial wellbeing of households.

 

• • Contents of financial rules for households 

 

They can include the following:

 

σ Plan about household budgets

σ Kinds of financial records to keep or destroy

σ Agreements on bank accounts or ways of keeping money

σ Who can act as households’ treasurer or financial data controller

σ Tasks relating to financial years-end accounts

σ Items to pay by cash or online or credit

σ Times and days to hold financial meetings to discuss money within households

Etc.

 

• • Examples of financial rules for households

 

The following are some illustrations of financial rules for households:

 

σ Rule relating to budgeting

 

Households can use the 50/30/20 rule for budgeting.  Under this rule, 50% of their income will be allocated to non-discretionary expenses (such as housing and utility bills), 30% to discretionary expenses (like entertainment) and 20% to financial goals (e.g., saving for emergencies or paying off debts).

 

σ Rule for saving

 

They can set up a three to six months emergency fund rule.  As a result of this rule, they need to have three to six months’ worth of savings ready in case of emergency.

 

σ Rule for running bank accounts

 

They can decide to have a current account, to open up a joined bank account to pay all your bills; just as they can set up direct debit on their account to pay all their bills (like council tax, utility bills, etc.).

 

σ Rule for buying goods and services

 

They may decide filing all payments made and receipts from shopping, checking invoices before making any payments, recording all their insurance cover plans so that they do not miss their renewal dates or deadlines, etc.

The above-mentioned are just the few financial rules that households can set up for their effective running.  These rules are there to support households and help them to develop a hassle-free management of their finances.

 

• • Working with users on matters relating to financial rules 

 

We are prepared to work with some of our users who would like to set up and or develop financial rules for themselves or households.  These rules can be set up and developed in any format (e.g., online, paper, verbal, etc.) as long as one understand what they mean by financial rules and willing to apply them.  We can as well share resources and examples of financial rules relating to households with those who may be interested in.

Need support regarding your financial controls and in particular financial rules for your household, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

Mois de l’action pour le climat avec « Faire en sorte que les marchés du carbone fonctionnent pour les pauvres »

Cette année, le Mois de l’action pour le climat au sein du CENFACS consistera à agir sur les marchés du carbone pour réduire ou mettre fin aux émissions de gaz à effet de serre tout en faisant en sorte que les mêmes marchés fonctionnent pour les pauvres.

En effet, l’échange de droits d’émission ou les marchés sur lesquels les acteurs (ou émetteurs) travaillent avec des quotas d’émission de carbone (ou des crédits) peuvent offrir la possibilité de réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre.   S’ils peuvent fournir ce type de marge de manœuvre de réduction des émissions, ils devraient être encouragés et étendus.

Ce sera aussi bien si ces marchés fonctionnent pour les pauvres.  En effet, comme tout le monde, les pauvres souffrent des conséquences des émissions de gaz à effet de serre qui pourraient conduire ou exacerber la pauvreté climatique.  Ainsi, faire en sorte que les marchés du carbone fonctionnent pour les pauvres sera le thème de ce mois de mars 2023, mois d’actions climatiques.

En d’autres termes, l’idée à développer et à répéter tout au long du mois de mars 2023 est de savoir comment les pauvres peuvent bénéficier des marchés du carbone.  Pour expliquer cela, nous allons développer quatre notes clés sous forme de lignes d’actions à mener pour notre thème tous les mercredis de mars 2023 (une note par mercredi), à partir du 1er mars 2023; notes qui sont:

a) Faire en sorte que les opportunités d’échange de droits d’émission de carbone atteignent les pauvres (Action 1)

b) Influencer le marché des crédits carbone volontaires qui favorise des moyens de subsistance durables pour les communautés pauvres (Action 2)

c) Inciter le marché du carbone à faire partie de la reprise économique (Action 3)

d) Investir dans le marché du carbone qui accélère l’action climatique pour les pauvres (Action 4).

En outre, le Mois de l’action pour le climat de cette année examinera l’un des résultats de la 27e session de la Conférence des Parties (COP27) à la Convention-cadre des Nations Unies sur les changements climatiques (op.cit.).  Ce résultat est la création d’un fonds de « pertes et dommages » pour aider les pays vulnérables à faire face aux impacts destructeurs du réchauffement climatique.  En particulier, nous discuterons de la manière dont ces fonds contribueront à notre demande climatique, qui consiste à « donner aux enfants pauvres un intérêt climatique » dans le sauvetage et la reconstruction de leurs infrastructures physiques et sociales dévastées par des conditions météorologiques extrêmes.

Pour ceux ou celles qui voudraient s’informer davantage sur ce premier message de mars 2023, ils/elles peuvent contacter le CENFACS.

 

Main Development

 

• Climate Actions March 2023

Theme: Making Carbon Markets Work for the Poor

 

The following items are the ones shaping the content of our Climate Action Month and its theme:

 

a) Meaning of the climate action

b) Direct and indirect climate actions

c) Understanding jargons used in carbon markets

d) The expression ‘working for the poor’

e) Work plan for Climate Action March 2023

f) Action 1: Make Opportunities in Carbon Trading Reach the Poor.

 

Let us look at the contents of our Climate Action Month.

 

• • Contents of 2023 Climate Action Month

 

Before kicking off our action, let us precise the working definitions to be used for climate action.

 

• • • Meaning of the climate action

 

Climate action is an activity of engaging and putting ideas into practice to deal with any natural or induced change in the long term average weather conditions of a place, especially when this change adversely affects people’s and communities’ lives and livelihoods.  In other words, it is any effort to mitigate the adverse effects of this change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions while strengthening capacities and resilience to climate-induced impacts.

Climate action is also the 13th Goal of the United Nations’ (op. cit.) 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 2030 Agenda.

In the context of CENFACS’ Climate Action Month for this year, climate action is about acting on carbon markets to reduce or end greenhouse gas emissions while making the same markets work for the poor.

These climate actions or efforts could be direct or indirect.

 

• • • Direct and Indirect Climate Actions

 

Direct climate actions can directly lead to outcomes such as reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, poor quality air, pollution, etc.  They could also include the increase in the number of poor people benefiting from carbon markets through projects generating greenhouse gas emissions reductions or removals.

As to indirect climate actions, they can help to keep the advocacy and campaign about measures and activities to be carried out to reduce the adverse impacts of climate change going.  Examples of such indirect climate actions will include the prevention of the next pandemic to happen, a campaign to halt human-induced extinction of known threatened species, etc.

Without breaking climate actions into direct and indirect ones, the coming periods and sub-themes of climate action will guide our readers and audiences about the kind of climate actions CENFACS is conducting this month.  This guidance will help those who may be interested to join in.  But, before that let us try to briefly explain the concept of carbon markets and other concepts linked to it.

 

• • •  Understanding jargons used in carbon markets

 

Our Climate Action March 2023 uses three climate jargons which need some clarification.  These concepts are carbon credit, carbon market and carbon offsetting.

 

a) Carbon market

 

There are many ways of defining or explaining carbon market.

From the glossary of Market Business News (6),

“The carbon market is a market in which we trade carbon emission allowances. The market aims to encourage companies to limit their emissions of CO_2.   It also wants to encourage countries to reduce their emissions”.

According to ‘theconversation.com’ (7),

“Carbon markets are trading platforms which allow individuals, firms and governments to find projects that reduce emissions (instead of reducing their own emissions)”.

Carbon markets can be mandatory or run as voluntary programmes.  Mandatory carbon markets operate as cap- and -trade programmes with rules and requirements (that is, regulated by laws).

 

b) Carbon credit

 

The glossary (op. cit.) states that carbon credit is

“A financial unit of measurement. It represents the removal of one tCO₂e from the atmosphere.  tCO₂e stands for tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent.”

 

c) Carbon offsets

 

According to ‘rbcgam.com’ (8),

“Carbon offsets are credits provided to a project or entity for their removal or reduction of emissions”.

The glossary (op. cit.) states that

“Carbon offsetting is the process by which companies and households can compensate for the release of greenhouse gas emissions”.

These jargons will enable to understand and carry out the current climate actions.

 

• • • The expression ‘working for the poor‘

 

Although there are agreements and disagreements regarding the benefits resulting from carbon markets, it is possible to focus on the probable positive effects of these markets.  Among the benefits stemming from carbon markets, it is argued that carbon markets would accelerate actions to combat climate change and deliver much-needed co-benefits for nature and people.

If this is the case, it is possible to think that these co-benefits will reach the poor.  For these benefits reach them, actions need to be taken.  In other words, to make carbon markets work for the poor, one needs to plan and take action for this to happen; otherwise these benefits will not trickle down by themselves.

 

• • • Work Plan for Climate Action March 2023

 

From every Wednesday of this month, the following Climate Actions have been planned:

 

∝ Action 1: Make Opportunities in Carbon Trading Reach the Poor (01 to 07/03/2023)

∝ Action 2: Influence Voluntary Carbon Credit Markets foster sustainable livelihoods for poor communities (08 to 14/03/2023)

∝ Action 3: Induce Carbon Markets be part of Recovery from the poly-crisis (15 to 21/03/2023)

∝ Action 4: Invest in Carbon Markets or Credits that accelerate climate action for the poor (22 to 28/03/2023).

 

Within the above broad actions, there will be specific actions to be taken.  Finally, there will be impact monitoring and evaluation from 29 to 31/03/2023 to end the Climate Action March 2023.

 

 

• • • Action 1: Make Opportunities in Carbon Trading Reach the Poor

 

This Action will be held from 01 to 07/03/2023.

To enable to take the first action, we have organised the following notes:

 

σ Opportunities in carbon trading

σ Reaching the poor through carbon opportunities

σ African Carbon Market Initiatives

σ Make Opportunities in Carbon Trading Reach the Community and Africa-based Sister Organisations.

 

• • • • Opportunities in carbon trading

 

Carbon emissions trading or carbon markets can allow to sell and buy carbon allowances and offsets.  These markets provide opportunities to those engaged in them to meet their objectives and carbon emissions reduction goals.  They give opportunities to incentivize emissions reduction and meet net-zero emissions goals if these markets are well-functioning.

 

• • • • Reaching the poor through carbon opportunities

 

Incentivizing emissions reduction and meeting net-zero emissions goals are welcome.  However, they will be even more desirable if these markets reach as well the poor.  The poor are those in many parts of the world, including in Africa, are sometimes bearing the brunt of the greenhouse gas emissions.

For example, climate projects like reforestation, forest conservation, carbon-storing agricultural practices, etc. in poor communities or areas can help to reach out to the poor crowding in these communities.  Taking action by promoting this sort of projects or initiatives can help to reach the poor.

 

• • • • African Carbon Market Initiatives

 

There are many types of initiatives in the form of carbon cap- and -trade programmes and voluntary schemes which are now operating with their trumps and limits.  One of the initiatives we would like to mention as part of the Climate Action Month within CENFACS is the African Carbon Markets Initiative (9) which was launched at COP27.

The African Carbon Markets Initiative plans to develop projects such as diesel replacement credits and biodiversity credits as well as country carbon activation plans.  One can hope that this new initiative will be able to decisively act in provide new carbon credits to carbon offset projects as planned.

 

• • • • Make Opportunities in Carbon Trading Reach the Community and Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs)

 

Carbon trading or emissions trading or even carbon markets are primarily designed to trade carbon emission allowances or emissions reduction rights among each other.  However, it will be good if the benefits resulting from these these opportunities in carbon trading reach everybody, in particular the poor.

To act so that these opportunities reach our community and ASOs, we have organised ourselves to provide Information and Guidance to those members of our community who would like to find out more about this line of support.  Likewise, those ASOs that would like to work on opportunities relating to carbon trading, they are welcome to contact CENFACS should they have any queries or enquiries they would like to make.

 

To end the Main Development section of this post, we would like to remind our readers and audiences that 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.

For ASOs and those members of our community who are interested in the first action of our Climate Action Month, action which is Make Opportunities in Carbon Trading Reach the Poor; they are welcome to contact CENFACS.

For any other queries and enquiries about CENFACS‘ Climate Action Month, the theme of ‘Making Carbon Markets Work for the Poor’ and the first action; please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

_________

 

• References

 

(1) https://www.carbonbrief.org/cop27-key-outcomes-agreed-at-the-un-climate-talks-in-sharm-el-sheikh/ (Accessed in February 2023)

(2) https://www.cop28.com/en/ (Accessed in February 2023)

(3) https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda (Accessed in February 2023)

(4) Park, C. (2011), A Dictionary of Environment and Conservation, Oxford University Press, Oxford & New York

(5) https://marketbusinessnews.com/financial-glossary/carbon-market/ (Accessed in February 2023)

(6) https://theconversation.com/climate-change-africa-has-a-major-new-carbon-market-initiative-what-you-need-to-know-196071 (Accessed in February 2023)

(7) https://www.rbcgam.com/en/ca/article/understanding-carbon-market/detail (Accessed in February 2023)

(8) https://climatechampions.unfccc.int/africa-carbon-markets-initiative-announces-13-action-programs/ (Accessed in February 2023)

(9) https://fsdafrica.org/press-release/leveraging-the-african-insurance-industry-to-create-resilient-african-economies/# (Accessed in February 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 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 throughout 2023 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

22 February 2023

 

Post No. 288

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Insurance Skills Development Project

• Return of Stole Assets to Support Poor Households

• Nature Projects and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty: Working Plan for the First Series of Activities

 

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Insurance Skills Development Project

 

Our work for promoting insurance amongst the poor carries on as we are unveiling the project proposals for approaching the culture of insurance from the perspective of the insured in terms of the skills they need to learn and develop in order to help them reduce insurance poverty.  This project was highlighted when we published the 78th Issue of FACS, which focussed on ‘The Promotion of Culture of Insurance amongst the Needy to Reduce Poverty in Africa‘.

Indeed, it is possible to apply the perception of culture to insurance applicants on low or modest incomes with low insurance skills and help them to reduce poverty.   It is imaginable to introduce and develop the idea of insurance to become a cultural resource or capital for those in need who may be insurance applicants.  It is even highly probable for these people to learn and develop skills, patterns of behaviour, thought and perception to help themselves by deciding by themselves how much insurance to buy for a well-defined risk.

To help them in their insurance skills development, we are putting these current proposals in the form of project; project which explains how they can achieve their insurance aim and goals via skills development.

To find how this project can help them, please read under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• Return of Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households

 

Our Month of Sustainable Development keeps on moving with this week’s fourth note which focusses on the Return of Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households. 

The 4th note deals with the way in which stolen funds recovered can be managed and disbursed once returned.  One of the propositions regarding the disbursement of returned funds, which is part of our Sustainable Development Month, is to use a portion of returned funds to reduce poverty in country or area where the stolen funds originated.  This proposition stems from the role of asset return in terms of resources it can provide to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.  To do that one may be forced to follow some rules or principles governing the returned stolen assets.

There are rules or principles for managing and disposing recovered and returned stolen assets.  For example, the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (1) summarised these principles in one of its meetings which focussed on the management and disposal of stolen assets.  These rules or principles make up or are contained in the instruments or tools to use to deal with asset return.

 

• • Asset Return Instruments

 

Asset return instruments depend on which institution or organisation that create them.  For example, if one refers to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, there are two instruments in relation to asset return which need to be considered here.  These instruments are Articles 51 and 57 of Chapter V of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (2).

Article 51 gives the General Provision of Chapter V and states that

“The return of assets pursuant to this chapter is a fundamental principle of this convention and States Parties shall afford one another the widest measure of cooperation and assistance in this regard” (p. 42)

Article 57 relates to the Return and Disposal of Assets (p. 47).

In addition, there is the action area 25 of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (3) which encourages the international community to develop good practices on asset return.

The above-mentioned instruments show that there are technicalities of return or repatriation of stolen assets.  There are as well implications.

 

• • Asset Return Implications

 

Asset return implies the following:

 

σ Identification and freezing or seizing of stolen assets

σ Obtaining of confiscation orders

σ Returning the assets to the requesting parties (i.e. State) in accordance with the Convention

σ Involving domestic legislation or international conventions or treaties if there are any problems

σ Dealing with requested jurisdictions

σ Addressing the concern about the management and disposal of returned funds

Etc.

Bedsides these implications, there are different approaches to disposing recovered and returned stolen assets.

 

• • Approaches to Asset Return

 

There are different views or approaches concerning asset return process.  Some of these views have been already highlighted in the above-named instruments.  In the context of this note, we would like to highlight three approaches as follows: lackadaisical, rights-based and CENFACS approaches.

1) A lackadaisical approach to asset return would argue in favour of keeping stolen assets where they are.  Amongst the arguments from this approach is the uncertainty or lack of investment project as to the good use of stolen assets to be returned.

2) A rights-based approach to asset return would instead demand the inclusion of the victims affected by the theft of these assets.  This approach thinks that the return of stolen assets should benefit the public from whom assets were stolen and who may have paid a heavy price such as the lack of investment in health, education, housing, transport, etc. because their country’s/area’s assets were stolen.

3) A CENFACS approach to asset return is to use a portion of returned stolen assets to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.  We understand that the return of stolen assets is a complex operation that can involve multiple jurisdictions.  However, once these legal and technical exercises have been completed, it could be good to see that the returned stolen assets to be allocated to projects to reduce poverty, particularly but not exclusively poverty experiencing by low income households.

For example, one way of helping these poor households could be in the form of the distribution of the dividend from these stolen assets through conditional cash transfers like happened in some countries.

Also, one thing is to have an approach, another is to practise it or to work with the community for this approach to materialise.

 

 

• • Working with the Community and Africa-based Sister Organisations on Stolen Assets Return

 

There is a number of ways by which CENFACS can work with the community and Africa-based Sister Organisations on Stolen Assets Return, although CENFACS is not asset recovery and return expert or development practitioner.

 

• • • Working with the Community on Stolen Assets Return

 

Together with the community we can impact the Return of Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households by these ways:

 

√ Explaining stolen assets return policies

√ Informing and directing users to services dealing with the return of stolen assets 

√ Helping in data collection regarding stolen assets return

√ Motivating the members of our community to act with integrity, accountability and transparency with regard to public assets

√ Communicating information about stolen assets return

√ Participating in studies (e.g., survey, focus group discussion, etc.) relating to stolen assets return

√ Sharing under the General Data Protection Act non sensitive information about stolen assets return actions and results

Etc.

 

• • • Working with ASOs on Stolen Assets Return

 

CENFACS can as well work with ASOs dealing with Return of Stolen Assets to Support their Poor Households by:

 

√ Supporting stolen assets return initiatives run by ASOs

√ Engaging with the process of returning stolen assets by sharing online platforms to discuss matters relating to stolen assets return 

√ Help ASOs dealing with stolen assets return to access technical assistance and capacity building on stolen assets return 

√ Providing assistance during the asset repatriation process/phase

√ Sharing stolen assets return instruments to deter, detect, prevent and counter corruption and bribery

√ Supporting responsible return of stolen assets

√ Advocating for a portion of repatriated funds to be allocated to poverty reduction, particularly but not exclusively to poor households

Etc.

 

To sum up, the diversion of public funds in the form of illicitly-acquired or  -obtained assets or any other forms can subtract a lump sum of money from where these assets are taken; money that could have been used to reduce or even end poverty.  This diversion can create or exacerbate poverty for those who are poor and amongst them are poor households.  Reclaiming and returning these stolen proceeds to the country from which they were taken is a just and economic cause to pursue if these returned funds can contribute to development efforts, including to poverty reduction.

This conclusion ends our notes regarding the theme of Reduction of Illicit Flows and Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households.  Saying that the conclusion ends our notes does not mean our work on this theme stops here.  Instead, it will continue if one wants to see the end of poverty created or exacerbated by illicit flows and stolen assets.

Furthermore, our work on the Reduction of Illicit Flows and Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households has been conducted with in mind the spirit/respect of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (4), in particular Goal 16 and Target 4 of Goal 16.

For those members of our community who may be interested in matter relating to Return of Stolen Assets to Support their Poor Households, they are free to contact CENFACS. 

For those Africa-based Sister Organisations that are willing to collaborate with us on the matter, they can let CENFACS know.

For any other queries or enquiries about Sustainable Development Month and the theme of Reduction of Illicit Flows and Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households, please also contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Nature Projects and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty: Working Plan for the First Series of Activities

 

In our post of 8 February 2023, we announced that in the coming weeks and months, we shall have the progressive implementation of the new generation of Nature Projects and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty in the form of planned themed activities, events, workshops, etc.  We also indicated that the themes, days, times and locations (whether online or in-person) of these initiatives will be announced.

This week, we are announcing the first series of activities that will feature the new generation of Nature Projects and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty.  The first series of activities, which will be covered in 5 weeks, include the following:

 

Activity 1: Food, Consumption and Waste

This activity will consist of two elements which are cutting food waste and reduction of over consumption and waste generation

Activity 2: Species Extinction

This activity will be about finding ways of halting human induced extinction of known threatened species.

Activity 3: Genetic Diversity

This activity will focus on the maintenance of genetic diversity within populations of wild and domesticated species.

Activity 4: Nature Value

This activity will deal with the way to value nature’s contributions to people, to our lives, especially to poverty reduction in terms of nature-based solutions to poverty

Activity 5: Benefits Sharing from Genetic Resources

This activity will centre stage ways of fairly and equitably sharing the monetary and non-monetary benefits from the utilisation of genetic resources with indigenous peoples and local communities.

 

 

The contents of above-mentioned five activities stem from nature goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (5), which was agreed in December 2022.  The table No. 1 specifies the type of activities each of them is.  The first activity – which is Food, Consumption and Waste – has already kicked off.  Let us further explain Activity 1.

 

 

• • Nature Projects and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty – In Discussion for Week Beginning 20/02/2023: Food, Consumption and Waste

 

Two basic items help to introduce Activity 1, which is about Food, Consumption and Waste.  These items are aim of Activity 1 and what makes it.

 

a) Aim of Activity 1

 

Activity 1 aims at supporting those who are struggling to implement policies to cut down food waste and reduce overconsumption and waste generation so that they can gain information and experience from others to make their own choices to implement these cuts.  The activity will help to plan and check their decision making policy on matter of cutting waste.

 

b) What does Activity 1 Consist of?

 

Activity 1 is a soft one that consists of sharing experience about measures our project users have taken or are taking in order to cut down food waste and reduce overconsumption and waste generation.

Through the workshop planned for this activity, participants can explain by how much they cut food waste or overconsumption.  For example, they say their cuts are about 10% of their budget in food waste or 20% of the quantity for food overconsumption.  They can as well share their plan to reduce waste generation at home.  Sharing this way can motivate other members of our community who would like to embrace the road of cutting down food waste and reducing overconsumption and waste generation, but they are struggling to do it.

For those who would like to engage with Activity 1 and/or any of the above-mentioned activities, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

For those who would like to find out more about Nature Projects and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty, they can also contact CENFACS.

 

Extra Messages

 

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) –

Step/Workshop 1: Project Identification

• Making Zero Hunger Africa Campaign with a Focus on Food Security

• CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum Discusses the New Models of Working Relationships between Insecurity Hotspot Areas of Africa and Humanitarian Mission

 

 

• All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) –

 

Step/Workshop 1: Project Identification

 

The planning process for Triple Value Initiatives (or All-year Round Projects), which is under way, includes the different steps of project cycle, which are: Identification, preparation, feasibility study, appraisal, negotiations and agreement, start, implementation, monitoring, reviews, termination, evaluation and impact evaluation.

These steps of All-year Round Projects Cycle (Triple Value Initiatives Cycle) will be completed in 12 weeks under a 12-week workshop programme.

This week, we are starting with Project Identification as the first step or workshop for our project cycle.  Let us see what the potential user of All-year Round Projects or Triple Value Initiatives can undertake in this first workshop.

 

• • Workshop 1: Identifying your Run or Play or Vote Project

 

In this first step of the cycle, those who would like to undertake a Run or Play or Vote activity need to identify their Run or Play or Vote project.  What do we mean by that?

They need to develop a preliminary proposal for the most appropriate course of actions, within specific time and budget frames, to say how they are going to achieve the goal of Running or Playing or Voting.

For example, let us take Running.  You could say you want to run 4 miles every Friday of the week in the morning in the local park and you plan to spend some few pounds on water bottle to refresh yourself, etc.  You could also specific whether you want to run alone or as a group of people.

This identification will involve the following:

 

√ Reviewing alternatives approaches or options for addressing any problems with your Running or Playing or Voting activity

√ Defining the objectives of your Run or Play or Vote project/initiative to justify the resources to be committed

√ Identification of any major issues before implementing the Run or Play or Vote project.

 

The above is a basic starting point for project identification.  For those who are not familiar with project identification and would like some support, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

They can contact CENFACS by phoning, texting, e-mailing and completing the contact form on this website.  We can together discuss in detail your/their proposals about either your/their Run or Play or Vote projects.

 

 

• Making Zero Hunger Africa Campaign with a Focus on Food Security

 

Last year, the focus of Making Zero Hunger Africa Campaign (MZHAC) was on events or key drivers that could lead to acute food insecurity in Africa, especially in the so-called Africa’s hunger hotspots.  This year, our focus is on Food Security since Africa is looking for a sustainable recovery from multiple crises (e.g., the coronavirus pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, climate change and armed conflicts in some parts of Africa).  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 Security in the context of Sustainable Recovery.

 

• • Food Security for a Sustainable Recovery in Africa

 

To understand food security in the context of sustainable recovery in Africa, one may need to first know what food security means.

 

• • • Food Security 

 

The explanation of food security comes from the glossary of Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations et al (6) which argue that

“Food security is a situation that exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that
meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Based on this definition, four food security dimensions can be identified: food availability, economic and physical access to food, food utilization and
stability over time. The concept of food security is evolving to recognize the centrality of agency and sustainability” (p.202)

 

• • • Food Security for a Sustainable Recovery in Africa

 

To sustainably recover in Africa, there is a need to explore ways of reducing or ending a high prevalence of food insecurity.  In practical terms, it is about bringing down the huge number of food insecure people, especially in countries with hardest hit by the unprecedented food and nutrition crisis such as Burkina Faso, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Niger, etc.

According to the World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organisations of the United Nations (7), the number of people in acute food insecurity in 2022 (most recent projections) in millions would be in the hotspot countries below as follows:

3.5 in Burkina Faso, 2.2 in Central African Republic, 2.1 in Chad, 25.9 in Democratic Republic of Congo, 2.1 in Madagascar, 1.8 in Mali, and 4.4 in Niger (p. 8).

To achieve food security and make zero hunger Africa, it requires a lot of initiatives.  Amongst these initiatives are the reduction of high food prices and the development of fair distribution of food, especially in areas that are difficult to access because of lack of transport facilities and of security.  It also demands to value home-grown solutions to provide affordable and easily accessible food products to food insecure.

Make Zero Hunger Africa could further be undertaken by investing in projects that prevent, detect and treat acute child malnutrition while facilitating access to food and making food available, affordable and accessible for the food insecure as well as helping to reduce food poverty.

 

 

• CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum Discusses the New Models of Working Relationships between Insecurity Hotspot Areas of Africa and Humanitarian Mission

 

Following the protests against some of the humanitarian peace keeping missions (like in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, etc.), some human rights experts and analysts are talking about reviewing working practices in these areas of humanitarian need.  For example, Pierre Micheletti (8) is calling for reforming the funding for humanitarian aid.

CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum of Ideas and Actions is questioning whether it is simply the funding relating to humanitarian aid which is the problem or the entire model of working relationships between African countries in humanitarian need and those who come to help these countries.

As part of a series of planned discussions within CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum of Ideas and Actions, we are talking about the possibility of new models of working relationships between hotspot crisis African countries and the humanitarian mission.  We are asking and trying to answer the following question:

Can the two sides of the disagreement find a model of working relationships that could meet their respective needs, be adapted to the current global reality of the world and be sustainable for both?

Those who may be interested in this question/discussion can join and or contribute by contacting CENFACS’ be.Africa, which is a forum for discussion on matters of poverty reduction and sustainable development in Africa and which acts on behalf of its members in making proposals or ideas for actions for a better Africa.

To communicate with CENFACS regarding this question/discussion, please use our usual contact details on this website.

 

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

Le Forum d’idées et d’actions pour une meilleure Afrique du CENFACS discute des nouveaux modèles de relations de travail entre les zones d’insécurité en Afrique et la mission humanitaire.

Suite aux manifestations contre certaines missions humanitaires de maintien de la paix (comme dans l’est de la République Démocratique du Congo, au Mali, etc.), certains experts et analystes des droits de l’homme parlent de revoir les pratiques de travail dans ces zones de besoins humanitaires.  Par exemple, Pierre Micheletti (8) appelle à réformer le financement de l’aide humanitaire.

Le Forum d’idées et d’actions pour une meilleure Afrique du CENFACS se demande si c’est simplement le financement de l’aide humanitaire qui pose problème ou l’ensemble du modèle de relations de travail entre les pays africains dans le besoin et ceux qui viennent aider ces pays.

Dans le cadre d’une série de discussions prévues au sein du Forum d’idées et d’actions pour une meilleure Afrique du CENFACS , nous parlons de la possibilité de nouveaux modèles de relations de travail entre les pays africains en crise et la mission humanitaire.  Nous posons la question suivante et nous essayons d’y répondre :

Les deux parties au désaccord peuvent-elles trouver un modèle de relations de travail qui pourrait répondre à leurs besoins respectifs, être adapté à la réalité mondiale actuelle du monde et être durable pour les deux?

Ceux/celles qui pourraient être intéressé(e)s par cette question/discussion, ils/elles peuvent joindre et/ou contribuer en contactant Le Forum d’idées et d’actions pour une meilleure Afrique du 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 communiquer avec le CENFACS au sujet de cette discussion, veuillez utiliser nos coordonnées habituelles sur ce site.

 

Main Development

 

• Insurance Skills Development Project

 

The following items provide the key information about Insurance Skills Development Project (ISDP):

 

σ Definition of ISDP

σ The Aim of ISDP

σ ISDP Beneficiaries

σ Types of Insurance Skills to be Developed

σ Outcomes

σ ISDP Indicators

σ Project Funding Status

σ Impact Monitoring and Evaluation.

 

Let us summarise each of these items.

 

• • Definition of ISDP

 

ISDP is a basic literacy and numeracy proposal to build and develop skills and capacities in the form of training and education relating to the culture of insurance for the inadequately insured and uninsured poor people and communities in Africa.

 

• • The Aim of ISDP

 

This insurance project aims at reducing insurance poverty and hardships due to the lack or inadequacy of insurance policy cover or to the lack of understanding of insurance services and products offered to poor people and communities in Africa.  This reduction of insurance poverty will be done through training and education of inadequately insured and or uninsured poor people.

 

• • ISDP Beneficiaries

 

They are potential retail insurance consumers who are lacking insurance necessities such as an insurance policy cover, money to buy insurance policy, money to change insurance provider or service, the power to claim their insurance rights, etc.

They are the under insured or uninsured segments of societies in Africa.

They are as well those who are vulnerable to insurance services and products and are looking forward to sustainable solutions to their insurance problems.

 

• • Types of Insurance Skills to be Developed

 

Training and education in the field of insurance can enhance beneficiaries’ interpersonal skills.  Both training and education can help improve the following:

 

√ Communication and negotiation skills

√ Problems solving and analytical abilities

√ Relationship skills with insurance services providers

√ Statistical literacy ability to understand basic insurance maths and jargon

Etc.

Training and education can enable to know if insurance is available, accessible and affordable for the insurance poor.

Other basic insurance skills the project will offer include:

 

√ Literacy and numeracy insurance skills

√ Contract reading, interpreting and understanding skills

√ Ability to handle basic insurance metrics

√ Skills to summarise in concise and simple format complex contents of insurance cover plan

√ Abilities to buy insurance services or products

√ Communication skills to make enquiries, queries, complaints, etc.

√ Language translation skills to translate insurance products/services into your own local language

√ Price comparison skills to compare prices between insurance service providers

√ Skills to know protection against financial losses

√ Briefly, skills to understand insurance cover against financial risks.

 

Through the delivery of the above-mentioned skills, we hope to identify changes that users will go through.

 

• • Outcomes

 

• • • Outcomes in users

 

By using ISDP, users will

 

√ Become insurance literate and numerate

√ Integrate insurance as part of their daily life rather than an accident of life

√ Elevate people’s insurance cover against contingencies (such as fire, theft, flooding or any other natural disasters, etc.)

√ Improve their aspiration and motivation to get insurance

√ Ameliorate their confidence, trust and self-esteem regarding insurance products offered to them

√ Increase their insurance communications and insurance capacity skills to understand changes affecting their insurance policy/contract

√ Enhance their insurance skills and knowledge of insurance services

√ Reform relationships between insured and insurance industry

√ Boost people’s perception, competence and capability about insurance

√ Provide financial independence and choice to them instead of solely relying on their families, communities and next of kin for their insurance matter

Etc.

Briefly, users will have a better opportunity to run their insurance and protection matters.

 

• • • Outcomes in Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs)

 

Work undertaken by ASOs to help reduce insurance poverty should lead to:

 

√ Adaptation of local needs and the needs of beneficiaries in their insurance development agenda

√ Better local insights and capacities to create insurance solutions for the needy

√ Improvement in the risk management insight for the locals and local needs

√ Assisting in the innovation of insurance solutions for the needy

√ Knowledge of risk transfer mechanisms

√ Closing of insurance or protection gaps between the needy and the wealthy

√ Capturing metrics relating to insurance consumed

√ Increase insurance development within beneficiaries’ community

√ Contribution in the agenda to protect the needy from natural events like flooding, torrential rain, drought, etc.

 

• • ISDP Indicators

 

The measures below will help find out whether or not the project will reach its desired objectives and progress towards meeting its defined aims:

 

√ Number of poor people who embrace the culture of insurance

√ Number of poor people who would like to maintain the newly acquired culture of insurance

√ The percentage of new insured (because of ISDP) in comparison to the total of insured poor people before the implementation of ISDP

√ The rate of penetration of insurance contracts in the poor community and households

√ The number of people who become less vulnerable to poverty as a result of the insurance cover they bought

√ The performance of the confidence index of insurance (which is a barometer or gauge that provides people’s perceptions and expectations of the insurance services, products and industry) within poor communities

√ The number of surveyed poor people who are happy (optimistic) or unhappy (pessimistic) to buy insurance services provided or offered to them

Etc.

 

To conclude, ISDP is a pioneering initiative that will enable connection of the poor uninsured with insurance.  ISDP will help make a real difference to poor people lives and help shape their future in insurance matter.

The skills, knowledge and capacities to be acquired will help the uninsured or inadequately insured to understand insurance services and products offered to them, make informed choices regarding their own insurance coverage and improve risk management insights for themselves.

 

• • Project Funding Status

 

So far, this project is unfunded.  This means we are open to any credible funding proposals or proposition from potential funders or donors.  It is known that the lingering impacts of the coronavirus pandemic have put a toll on everybody.  Likewise, the Russia-Ukraine crisis, which has partly led to the current cost-of-living crisis, does not make easy for support to other genuine deserving causes.  However, those who would like to support this project will be more than welcome.

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

 

• • Impact Monitoring and Evaluation

 

As part of impact monitoring, there will be routine and systematic gathering of information on all aspects of the project.  In other words, we will systematically collect and analyse information to keep regular checks and balances on the project.

Likewise, we shall assess what the project will achieve in relation to the overall objectives it was set up.  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 relief as far as insurance poverty reduction is concerned.

In proceeding in this manner, we will be able to measure the impact or at least the outcomes from this project.

The full project proposals including budget are available on request.

To support or contribute to this project, please contact CENFACS.

For further details including full project proposals and budget about the Insurance Skills Development Project, please contact CENFACS.

_________

 

• References

 

(1) https://uncaccoalition.org/uncac-coalition-recommendations-to-un-meeting-on-management-and-disposal-of-stolen-assets/ (Accessed in February 2023)

(2) United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2004), United Nations Convention Against Corruption, Vienna, Austria at https://www.unodc.org/documents/treaties/UNCAC/Publications/Convention/08-50026_E.pdf (Accessed in February 2023)

(3) United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2015), Financing for Development Office, Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at https://www.un.org/esa/ffd/up-content/uploads/2015/08/AAAA_Outcome.pdf (Accessed in February 2023)

(4) https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda (Accessed in February 2023)

(5) https://www.cbd.int/article/cop15-cbd-press-release-final-19dec2022 (Accessed in February 2023)

(6) FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO (2022), The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022: Repurposing food and agricultural policies to make healthy diets more affordable, Rome, FAO (https://doi.org/10.4060/cc0639en) (Accessed in August 2022)

(7) WFP and FAO, (2022), Hunger Hotspots, FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity, October 2022 to January 2023 Outlook, Rome (Accessed in February 2023)

(8) https://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2023/02/12/au-mali-la-situation-illustre-les-limites-du-modele-economique-global-de-l-aide-humanitaire-internationale_6161543_3232.html (Consulté en février 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 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 in 2023 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

15 February 2023

 

Post No. 287

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Recovery of Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households

• The People of Central African Republic Need your Influence to Stop the Worsening Humanitarian Crisis they are Experiencing

• Financial Controls 2023 for Households – In Focus: Financial Policies and Procedures

 

… And much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Recovery of Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households

 

Our Month of Sustainable Development continues with the Recovery of Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households. 

Assets, whether public or private, can be taken away from where or those they belong to without permission or legal right.  This can happen in many circumstances of life and times of history at different levels (such as personal, community, local and country/national levels).

For example, during the 2011 London riots, assets were stolen from their owners or taken away from where they belong to without permission or legal right.  Assets could also be stolen during a particular historical process like colonial expeditions.  Likewise, during armed conflicts or insecurity assets can as well be stolen (like in many parts of Africa where there have been conflicts).

Life events can sometimes lead to the recovery of stolen assets.  However, the recovery of the proceeds and instrumentalities of crime relating to stolen assets can be a complex process as it requires legal route and proceedings as well as other elements (like international cooperation).

In this recovery process, what we are focussing on is not the legal side of stolen assets.  We are instead looking at the poverty-reduction aspect that the recovery of stolen assets can bring to those in need, particularly but not exclusively poor households.  We are as well putting emphasis on the diversion of public funds or assets to the pockets of private individuals or private bank accounts, and how this diversion can deny to the poor the possibility to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.  In this respect, we are not dealing with other types of stolen funds or their recovery.

So, our Month of Sustainable Development is focussing this week on how illicitly-acquired or -obtained assets that have been recovered can be part of the resources needed to reduce poverty. This focus is carried out with in mind the spirit of Goal 16 and Target 4 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

More on this week’s focus can be found under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• The People of Central African Republic Need your Influence to Stop the Worsening Humanitarian Crisis they are Experiencing

 

The humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) continues to deteriorate, according to the humanitarian community.  Because of this deterioration, the Central Africans (or the People of Central African Republic) who are bearing the brunt of this crisis need your Positive Influence to end their suffering.  The following summarises their appeal for Positive Influence.

 

• • Why they Need your Positive Influence

 

Data from many development agencies and the evidence on the grounds from local sources suggest that the intensity and urgency of humanitarian needs required to be relied soon than later in CAR.

For example, the World Bank (1) in its Food Security Update argues that

“CAR is amongst the countries with the greatest prevalence of insufficient food consumption in order of severity of 1.7 million people of the total affected population” (p. 14)

According to to the ‘reliefweb.int’ (2),

“One in five (1/5) Central Africans move in and out their country because of the insecurity;

3.4 million people (i.e. 56 per cent of the population) need humanitarian assistance and protection”.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (3) states that

“The number of people in Integrated Food Security Phase 3 (crisis) and above is estimated at 2.7 million between September 2022 and March 2023.  This is mainly due to the impact civil insecurity and high food prices, as well as floods that caused people displacements, damaged standing crops and prevented access to fields” (p. 2)

The World health statistics 2022 published by World Health Organisation (4) reveals that

“Prevalence of stunting in children under 5 in comparable estimates in 2020 was 40.1%, while prevalence of wasting in children under in primary data was 53% between 2012 and 2020” (p. 114)

The above data reveals the scale of humanitarian crisis that the Central Africans are facing.  Although the figures provided by the World Health Organisation are between 2012 and 2020, they nevertheless provide some indication about the state of children in CAR which experienced many years of insecurity and civil violence.  This why the Central Africans need your Positive Influence.

 

• • What your Positive Influence can Achieve for them

 

Your Positive Influence can help

 

√ To support the country’s 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan which has been recently launched

√ To stop violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law

√ To encourage the return of displaced persons

√ To end gender-based violence (e.g. violence against young girls)

√ To enhance the implementation of life-saving responses

√ Briefly, to alleviate the suffering of the vulnerable and humanitarian crisis-impacted Central Africans.

 

• • Who your Positive Influence will Benefit

 

The beneficiaries of your Positive Influence or Influencing Donation will be

 

√ Those who bearing the brunt of this continuing humanitarian crisis

√ Those experiencing the life-threatening effects of violence and insecurity

√ Those without or with limited access to basic services such as water, sanitation and hygiene

√ Those who are victims of gender-violence such as young girls

√ Those suffering from increased vulnerability and eroded livelihoods

√ The displaced Central Africans because of insecurity and threats to their lives

Etc.

 

You can donate your Positive Influence to reduce poverty in CAR.

To donate, please contact influential persons (or those having the keys) to reduce or solve the life-threatening effects from the continuing humanitarian crisis that the Central Africans are suffering from and make these influential persons reduce or end these damaging effects on them.

You can as well influence the things or factors that play in the continuity of this humanitarian crisis in order to create lasting favourable conditions for a return to life normality.

Please also let CENFACS know about your influencing work or contribution  you are or will be making and its outcomes on behalf of the people of Central African Republic.

To let us know, you can contact CENFACS as follows:

*over phone

*via email

*through text

*by filling the contact form on this site. 

On receipt of the outcome of your influencing donation, CENFACS will contact you for record and thank you for any influencing donation made.  However, should you wish your influencing support to remain anonymous; we will respect your wish.

Thank you in anticipation for your willingness to give your Positive Influence to alleviate the suffering that the Central Africans are facing from the worsening humanitarian crisis.

 

 

• Financial Controls 2023 for Households – In Focus: Financial Policies and Procedures

 

As explained in our previous posts, Financial Controls are conducted with Financial Stability Campaign.  During our previous work on Financial Controls with households, we focussed on Year-in-review Accounts as they are part of Financial Controls project or exercise, which also includes income boost and other financial tools making our Campaign to reduce and end poverty, particularly income poverty.

To continue Financial Controls, we are working on Financial Policies and Procedures that any households making the CENFACS Community could consider.  What are financial policies and procedures for households and what they do them?

 

• • Financial policies and procedures and their use for households

 

Financial policies are a set of principles on which households can base their financial decisions.  For example, they can have a financial policy or principle regarding a birthday or clothing budget.

Financial procedures are method and order they would like to follow to apply these policies.  For example, they can decide to wait until the sale start to buy some items (like clothing) or buy them whenever they need them within their budget constraint.

Financial policies and procedures can help households to achieve their financial wellbeing and goals by:

 

σ Ensuring that resources are well used and accounted for

σ Explaining expenses in terms of allowability, allocability, reasonableness and benefit to the members of household

σ Defining how to perform financial control procedures (e.g. by household financial controller or use the automated process for household financial system, etc.)

σ Determining financial control responsibilities and capacities in the financial process

σ Deciding authority within households to perform a financial process control procedure

Etc.

 

In brief, policies and procedures are there for households to prevent financial and human errors, jus as to avoid non-compliance in a financial process.  However, financial control should not become coercive control through policies and procedures set up.  This is because within households, there are also social and family relations (especially for those households with children) not only financial transactions.  One may need to be careful in the way they approach their financial policies and procedures to achieve their household general wellbeing which also includes financial health.

Additionally, it is not enough to have financial policies and procedures that nobody follows or looks at.  It is better to apply them if one wants to keep their finances under control, especially during this challenging time of the cost-of-living crisis.

 

• • Working with users on matters relating to financial policies and procedures

 

We are prepared to work with some of our users who would like to set up and or develop financial policies and procedures for themselves or households.  These policies and procedures could be set up and developed in any format (e.g., online, paper, verbal, etc.) as long as one understand what they mean by financial policies and procedures and willing to apply them.  We shall as well share resources and examples of financial policies and procedures relating to households with those who may be interested in.

Need support regarding your financial controls and in particular financial policies and procedures for your household, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

Extra Messages

 

• Project Planning Service for the Users of Triple Value Initiatives (or All Year-round Projects)

• Digital and Social Media Campaign – Level 6

• Engaging Donor Developers and Stewards of Poverty Reduction

 

 

 

• Project Planning Service for the Users of Triple Value Initiatives (or All Year-round Projects)

 

Following last week’s announcement regarding the start-up of Triple Value Initiatives (made of Run, Play and Vote projects), our project planning service is now available for those who would like to engage with either of these projects.

Project planning will include the different steps of project cycle (as show in the All-year Round Projects Cycle below), which are: Identification, preparation, feasibility study, appraisal, negotiations and agreement, start, implementation, monitoring, reviews, termination, evaluation and impact evaluation.

 

 

These steps will be approached in a simple and practical way to make everybody (especially those members of our community who are not familiar with them) to understand what they mean and how to use them in the context of Triple Value Initiatives.

For those who are interested in this service, they can contact CENFACS by phoning, texting, e-mailing and completing the contact form on this website.  We can together discuss in detail your/their proposals about either your/their Run or Play or Vote projects.

 

 

 

• Digital and Social Media Campaign – Level 6

 

This level is made of two sub-levels as follows.

 

Level 6.1: Data Insights

 

We are still at the level 6 of our Digital and Social Media Campaign.  At the beginning of January 2023, we highlighted level 6.1 of our campaign which is Data Insights.  However, insights are not only about data.  They can also be about content which can include data.

 

Level 6.2: Content Insights

 

We are dealing with content life cycle so that the beneficiaries of this campaign properly understand this cycle and put it in the context of their life or household.  This may require to know content ideation, development and distribution as well as the way it is marketed to them.

After analysing the content to get the insight of it, beneficiaries can take action regarding their life.  To do that, they may need to possess some skills like analytical and numerical skills, content analysis techniques, literacy skills, reporting skills, the skills to guess what the content is telling them, etc.   However, to conduct content analysis, some data and digital skills are needed as well.

Briefly, knowing to deal with contents can provide opportunity to better understand household life and to address problems encountered.  It also helps to have a pro-active approach and take actionable drive in their decision making process.  This is whether it is about scripted or unscripted content, structured or unstructured one.

For those members of our community who would like to enquire or work with us through Content Insights, they are welcome to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Engaging Donor Developers and Stewards of Poverty Reduction

 

As part of our Donor Development and Stewardship Programme, we are going to communicate with potential donor developers and stewards of poverty reduction in the last two days of this month of February 2023 (27 & 28 February 2023).

Our communication will be to re-explain what we do and answer questions they may raise.   The occasion will also be to explore the profile of donor developers and stewards of poverty reduction, the reasons that motivate them to take donor development and stewardship drive as well as  their general attitude towards what donor developers and stewards of poverty reduction do as work.

For those who may be interested in this communication, they can contact us on these days.

 

 

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

• Service de planification de projet pour les utilisateurs d’initiatives à triple valeur (ou Projets tout au long de l’année)

Suite à l’annonce de la semaine dernière concernant le démarrage d’initiatives à triple valeur (composées de projets Courir, jouer et voter), notre service de planification de projet est maintenant disponible pour ceux/celles qui souhaitent s’engager dans l’un ou l’autre de ces projets.

La planification du projet comprendra les différentes étapes du cycle du projet, à savoir: identification, préparation, étude de faisabilité, évaluation, négociation et accord, démarrage, mise en œuvre, suivi, examens, clôture, évaluation et évaluation d’impact.

Ces étapes seront abordées de manière simple et pratique pour que tout le monde (en particulier les membres de notre communauté qui ne les connaissent pas) comprenne ce qu’elles signifient et comment les utiliser dans le contexte des initiatives à triple valeur.

Pour ceux/celles qui sont intéressé(e)s par ce service, ils/elles peuvent contacter le CENFACS en téléphonant, en envoyant des SMS, des e-mails et en remplissant le formulaire de contact sur ce site.  Nous pouvons discuter ensemble en détail de vos/leurs propositions concernant vos/leurs projets Courir, jouer et voter.

 

 

Main Development

 

• Recovery of Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households

 

The following items make the Recovery of Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households, which is the third note of our Sustainable Development Month:

 

σ Key Concepts of the Note 3

σ The Recovery Process of Stolen Assets

σ How the Recovery of Stolen Assets can Support Poor Households

σ Intergenerational Transfer of Stolen Assets and Intergenerational Poverty

σ Ways of Working with the Community and Africa-based Sister Organisations on Asset Recovery.

 

Let us briefly explain each of these items indicating the pitch of the Note 3.

 

• • Key Concepts of the Note 3

 

There are three concepts that shape Note 3, which are: stolen assets, proceeds of crime and asset recovery.

 

a) Stolen Assets

 

To understand stolen assets, it is better to first clarify the meaning of assets.  Our working definition of assets comes from Jean-Pierre Brun et al. (5) who explain them as

“Assets of every kind, whether corporeal or incorporeal, movable or immovable, tangible or intangible and legal documents or instruments evidencing title to or interest in such assets.  The term is used interchangeably with property” (p. 325)

Assets, whether public or private, can be taken away from where or those they belong to without permission or legal right.  When they are taken away in this way, they become stolen assets.

 

b) Proceeds of Crime

 

Jean-Pierre Brun et al. (op. cit.) also define the proceeds of crime as

“Any asset derived from or obtained, directly or indirectly, through the commission of an offense” (p. 328)

This definition will help to understand some of the hurdles in asset recovery.

 

c) Asset Recovery

 

The meaning of asset recovery used in the Note 3 stems from what ‘transparency.org’ (6) states on its website, which is

“Asset recovery is the process of reclaiming and returning these stolen proceeds to the country from which they were taken.  The process includes tracing, freezing, confiscating and repatriating the stolen assets and is usually complex and lengthy, involving multiple jurisdictions”.

The above key concepts will contribute to the understanding of the recovery process of stolen assets.

 

• • The Recovery Process of Stolen Assets

 

The process of recovering stolen assets includes collecting intelligence and evidence and tracing assets, securing the assets, court process, enforcing orders and return of assets.  In this process, one needs to differentiate whether or not legal actions initiated by foreign jurisdictions will be involved.

This process can be long or short, complex or simple depending on the cases.  Because of that, the link between asset recovery and the possibility of supporting those in need through repatriated funds could be uncertain or random, especially when those needs are urgent and pressing.  However, one can still have hope this link may happen.

 

• • How the Recovery of Stolen Assets can Support Poor Households

 

It is possible to use recovered stolen assets to support those living in poverty, and amongst them are poor households despite the uncertainty described above.  However, there could be a challenge to do it.  For example, Gomes Pereira et al. (7) in their research paper on ‘The role of donors in the recovery of stolen assets’ argue that

“Asset recovery is [also] an essential development challenge, as it usually involves repatriating funds back to a developing country where they were stolen, and where they could be used to support development projects”.

Challenge does not mean that asset recovery cannot be done.  It can be and if it succeeds, the recuperated and repatriated funds can be used for development purposes including supporting poor households.

Likewise, writing on the use of recovered assets on poverty, ‘transparency.org’ (8) argues that

“Little information can be found on systematic efforts to collect data and measure the effectiveness of repatriate funds in reducing poverty in the countries of origin” (p. 3)

The same ‘transparenccy.org’ concludes that

“Effective monitoring mechanisms are needed at all levels – from disbursement of resources to implementation – of development projects” (p. 5)

From what ‘transparency.org’ argues about, it is mundane to say there are cases that succeeded; just as there will be cases that may succeed.

 

• • Intergenerational Transfer of Stolen Assets and Intergenerational Poverty

 

Stolen assets can be passed to other generations without sometimes these generations knowing they are inheriting stolen assets.  This transfer can make the reduction of poverty harder if these assets could have been part of poverty reduction process.  The transfer can as well create or exacerbate intergenerational poverty for others.  In other words, one could argue that those who are poor from where assets were stolen may not be poor if these assets were not stolen.

So, reducing and recovering stolen assets can help decrease the intergenerational transfer of stolen assets as well as the transfer of poverty to other generations in the opposite direction.  To make this reduction and recovery to happen, it may require working together between where stolen assets come from and where they have been sent to.

 

 

• • Ways of Working with the Community and Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) on Asset Recovery

 

There is a number of ways by which CENFACS can work with the community and Africa-based Sister Organisations on Asset Recovery.

 

• • • Working with the Community on Asset Recovery

 

Together with the community we can impact the Recovery of Stolen Assets can Support Poor Households by these ways:

 

√ Explaining asset recovery policy

√ Informing and directing users to services dealing with stolen assets recovery

√ Helping in data collection regarding stolen asset recovery

√ Communicating information about stolen asset recovery

√ Participating in studies (e.g., survey, focus group discussion, etc.) relating to stolen assets recovery

√ Sharing under the General Data Protection Act non sensitive information about stolen asset recovery actions and results

Etc.

 

• • • Working with ASOs on Asset Recovery

 

CENFACS can as well work with ASOs dealing with Recovery of Stolen Assets to Support their Poor Households by:

 

√ Supporting asset recovery initiatives run by ASOs

√ Sharing online platforms to discuss matters relating to stolen assets recovery

√ Help ASOs dealing with stolen assets recovery to access technical assistance and capacity building on stolen assets recovery

√ Providing assistance during the asset repatriation process/phase

√ Advocating for a portion of repatriated funds to be allocated to poverty reduction, particularly but not exclusively to poor households

Etc.

 

To sum up, the diversion of public funds in the form of illicitly-acquired or  -obtained assets can subtract a lump sum of money from where they are taken; money that could have been used to reduce or even end poverty.  This diversion can create or exacerbate poverty for those who are poor and amongst them are poor households.  Reclaiming and returning these stolen proceeds to the country from which they were taken is a just cause to pursue if these returned funds can contribute to development efforts, including to poverty reduction.

For those members of our community who may be interested in matter relating to Recovery of Stolen Assets to Support their Poor Households, they are free to contact CENFACS.  For those Africa-based Sister Organisations that are willing to collaborate with us on the matter, they can let CENFACS know.

For any other queries or enquiries about Sustainable Development Month and the Recovery of Stolen Assets to Support their Poor Households, please also contact CENFACS.

 

_________

 

• References

 

(1) World Bank (2023), Food Security Update, World Bank Publications, Washington (www.worldbank.org)

(2) https://reliefweb.int/report/central-african-republic/central-african-republic-us465-million-required-address-ever-growing-humanitarian-needs-2023 (Accessed in February 2023)

(3) FAO (2022), Crop Prospects and Food Situation – Quarterly Global Report No. 4, Dec. 2022, Rome (https://doi.org/10.4060/cc3233en (Accessed in February 2023)

(4) World Health Statistics (2022): Monitoring health for the SDGs, Sustainable Development Goals, Geneva, World Health Organisation; 2022, Licence: CCBY-NC-SA3.OIGO

(5) Brun, J. P., Sotiropoulou, A., Gray, L., Scott, C. & Stephenson, K. M. (2021), Asset Recovery Handbook: A Guide for Practitioners, Second Edition, Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative, World Bank, UNODC

(6) https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/asset-recovery-and-the-theft-of-public-money# (Accessed in February 2023)

(7) https://www.gov.uk/research-for-development-outputs/the-role-of-donors-in-the-recovery-of-stolen-assets  (Accessed in February 2023)

(8) https://www.transparency.org/files/content/corruptionqas/230_impact_of_asset_recording_recovery_and_money_laundering_on_poverty_reduction.pdf (Accessed in February 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 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 in 2023 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

08 February 2023

 

Post No. 286

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Africa Not-for-profit Investment Outlook 2023

• Reduction of Illicit Arms Flows to Support Poor Households

• Nature Projects and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty

 

… And much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Africa Not-for-profit Investment Outlook 2023

 

Africa Not-for-profit Investment Outlook 2023 is a prospect for the future of the not-for-profit investment and development market in Africa as well as a view from CENFACS on the likely possibilities, openings and opportunities of not-for-profit investing in Africa in 2023 and probably beyond.  The first release of this Outlook focuses on the areas or fields of poverty reduction to not-for-profit invest in Africa.

Africa Not-for-profit Investment Outlook 2023 has to be understood as an extension of CENFACS’ Guidance Programme for those who would like to not-for-profit invest in Africa.  The Outlook does not replace the Guidance for Investing in Africa.  It just adds value to it.  It presents the information that not-for-profit investors may want in simple yet concise format.

In the focus on not-for-profit investing in Africa, we have summarised or highlighted areas or sectors that may be attractable for potential poverty-reducing investors in Africa.  As it stands, it is a summary or highlight about market niches; it is not a listing of all areas or fields of not-for-profit investment in Africa.  For each area or field highlighted, prospective not-for-profit investors  will find three features: the needs, the opportunities and the types of investment expected.

More on Africa Not-for-profit Investment Outlook 2023 can be found under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• Reduction of Illicit Arms Flows to Support Poor Households (Note 2 of Sustainable Development Month)

 

Illicit proliferation of arms and ammunition do not only play a key role in violence and insecurity, they can also create or exacerbate poverty for the victims of violence and insecurity.  This can happen at local/community level and in overseas development places.  This is whether one speaks about heavy or light weapons, small or big ones.

For example, in humanitarian situations in insecurity hotspot places like in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo and other insecurity hotspot areas of Africa, illicit arms flows are bringing poverty, human displacement, food insecurity, health poverty, gender violence, in brief human rights violation of all kinds.

Organisations working on the issue of illicit arms flows like Transparency International (1) argues that

“The diversion of weapons to, from and within conflict zones – including to non-state actors – risks exacerbating conflict, reinforcing a downward cycle of poverty and instability”.

Because of that, reducing illicit arms flows will help to provide peace, security and stability as well as the scaling down of poverty linked to these flows.  Amongst the beneficiaries of this reduction of illicit arms flows are poor households living in insecure and violent areas where illicit arms are inflowing and outflowing.  However, before going any further, let us try to understand what illicit arms flows are.

 

• • What are illicit arms flows?

 

On their background paper through the website ‘sipri.org’ (2), Mark Bromley et al. (2) state that there is no universally agreed interpretation of the phrase ‘illicit arms flows’.  According to Mark et al.,

“Illicit arms flows are described as consisting of any cross-border movement of arms that has not been approved by both the exporting and importing state”.

They also explain that

“Illicit arms deliveries are deliveries to an unauthorised end user or recipient without making reference to who is doing the authorising” (p. 9)

The above mentioned definition and explanation will help to assess the extent to which the reduction of illicit arms flows can open up a space for support to poor households.  However, to make this reduction more palpable, it is better to measure illicit arms.  As an example of measures, the Inter-agency and Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goals (3) provided the following indicator (known as Indicator 16.4.2) to measure illicit arms:

“The proportion of seized, found or surrendered arms whose illicit origin or context has been traced or established by a competent authority in line with international instruments”.

The above understanding and indicator of illicit arms flows are the tools that one can use to help reduce illicit arms flows.  In particular, they provide CENFACS the conceptual tools to work with community here in the UK and Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) on this issue.

 

 

• • Working with the Community on the Reduction of Illicit Arms Flows (RIAFs) to Support Poor Households

 

There is a number of areas on which CENFACS can work with the community to impact the reduction of illicit arms flows to support poor households.  These areas include:

 

√ Raising awareness about the fight and eradication of illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all their aspects

√ Sensitising the community about arms control instruments

√ Supporting cross-border community understanding initiatives

√ Advice to our members to use peaceful means to resolve disputes within the community and between the community and others

√ Making the root causes of illicit arms flows and of poverty as an urgent matter

√ Helping the community to understand relevant instruments in illicit arms matter such as arms trade treaties, programmes of action to prevent the proliferation of illicit arms, arms tracing instruments, etc.

√ Sharing data-collection efforts on illicit arms

√ Signposting poor households in need of support to relevant organisations and services dealing with illicit arms flows and their consequences, since illicit arms flows are not an area of specialisation of CENFACS.

 

• • Working with ASOs on the Reduction of Illicit Arms Flows to Support Poor Households

 

CENFACS can as well work with ASOs dealing with Reduction of Illicit Arms Flows (RIAFs) to Support their Poor Households by:

√ Sharing news, information, knowledge and tools relating to the reduction of illicit arms flows

√ Making humanitarian appeals to support poor people and households victims of insecurity and violence because of the ill consequences of illicit arms flows (consequences like human displacement, hunger, disease, destruction of basic infrastructure, human tragedies, etc.)

√ Helping communities to understand relevant instruments in illicit arms matter such as international arms trade treaties, programmes of action to prevent the proliferation of illicit arms, arms tracing instruments, mutual benefit-sharing instruments, etc.

√ Making the root causes of illicit arms flows and of poverty as life-saving matter

√ Campaigning for peace and security between communities in Africa

√  Promoting dialogue to resolve ethnic tensions and differences in Africa

√ Helping in the reduction of cross-border and cross-community poverty in Africa

Etc.

 

In short, illicit arms flowing between communities could pose problems not only of security and peace, but also of creating or exacerbating poverty for those who are poor and amongst them are poor households.  Reducing these illicit arms flows could have a double impact which is: peace and reduction of poverty linked to illicit arms flows.

For those members of our community who may be interested in matter relating to RIAFs, they are free to contact CENFACS.  For those Africa-based Sister Organisations that are willing to collaborate with us on RIAFs matter, they can let CENFACS know.

For any other queries or enquiries about Sustainable Development Month and the Reduction of Illicit Arms Flows to Support Poor Households, please also contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Nature Projects and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty

 

Nature Projects are run since CENFACS was established.  Examples of Nature Projects run by CENFACS include Flora and Fauna projects, ‘A la une‘ and the Big Beasts Campaigns.  However, since the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (4) was agreed in December 2022, we have decided to extend the scope and depth of the kinds of Nature Projects we run.

This extension is as well explained by the need within the community to find Nature-based Solutions to Poverty and hardships they are facing.  In other words, the community is looking for the process of finding answers to their problems via nature means.  In this respect, Nature Projects come with them Nature-based Solutions to Poverty. But, how do we define Nature Projects and Nature-based Solutions?

 

• • Definition of Nature Projects and Nature-based Solutions

 

• • • Nature Projects

 

Nature Projects are a series or group of poverty-reducing initiatives, activities, plans, schemes and proposals designed by CENFACS with the following three objectives in mind:

a) to work with the community about the importance of the nature in their/our daily lives and in the process of reducing poverty

b) to reconnect this community with nature (that is, plants, animals and landscapes)

and c) to keep up parts of the nature to their pre-human conditions.

These Nature Projects include two types of project: our Regular Nature Projects which we have been so far running as mentioned above and New Nature Projects.

Additionally, nature goals contained in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework will be rolled out into the New Nature Projects.  These New Nature Projects are the implementation of these goals with the community we serve and our Africa-based Sister Organisations.

The New Nature Projects will be about:

√ Maintaining, enhancing and restoring the integrity, connectivity and resilience of ecosystems

√ Reducing the extinction of known threatened species

√ Valuing nature’s contributions to our life, our community members’ life, our solutions to poverty.

 

• • • Nature-based Solutions

 

There are many interpretations of Nature-based Solutions.  The definition we are going to use come from ‘climatechanmpions.unfcc.int’ (5); definition which is:

“Nature-based Solutions are actions and policies that protect, manage and restore natural ecosystems, while addressing social challenges”.

Because we are arguing about Nature-based Solutions to Poverty, we are going to work with nature to address social challenges (like social poverty) while making sure that both our project beneficiaries and biodiversity benefit.

 

• • Implementing Nature Projects and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty

 

In the coming weeks and months, we shall have the progressive implementation of this new generation of Nature Projects and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty in the forms of planned themed activities, events, workshops, etc.  The themes, days, times and locations (whether online or in-person) of these initiatives will be announced.

For those who would like to find out more about Nature Projects and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty, they can contact CENFACS.

 

Extra Messages

 

• Financial Stability Campaign 2023 – Third Area of Focus: Saving for Emergencies

• Triple-value-initiative Start-up/Planning

• CENFACS’ be.Africa Discusses the Africa Climate Risk Facility

 

 

• Financial Stability Campaign 2023 – Third Area of Focus: Saving for Emergencies

 

Our Financial Stability Campaign 2023, which is conducted equally with Financial Controls 2023, is now focusing on savings one can make to manage unexpected financial situations and unforeseen financial circumstances of life job loss, medical emergency, losses in the financial market, home appliances breakdown, etc.  When these circumstances or situations arrive, saving or emergency fund can help.  But, what is saving?  What is an emergency fund?

 

 

• • Basic understanding of saving and emergency fund

 

To basically understand saving, we have chosen its definition from ‘Quicken.com’ (6) which states this:

“Savings refer to money you put aside for future use rather than spending it immediately”.

‘Quicken.com’ also adds that

“One of the most important things to save for is unexpected financial emergencies.  This can include losing your job, unexpected health issues or your car or other home appliances breaking down, so you should have between three and six months worth of living expenses set aside”.

To save for unexpected financial emergencies means one needs to build an emergency fund.  What is an emergency fund?

Amongst the definitions of emergency we found is the one given by ‘fidelity.com’ (7), which is:

“Cash you keep in reserve for serious unexpected predicament like a job loss or a catastrophe that is not covered by insurance”.

The above-mentioned definitions will help in working with the community under this campaign to explore ways of saving for emergencies during this challenging economic time of the cost-of-living crisis, especially of soaring interest rates (at the moment the base interest rate stands at 4% in the UK, according to the Bank of England).

 

 

• • Working with the community to explore ways of saving for emergencies

 

The saving we are talking about is private one.  By definition, private saving equals to income minus taxes minus consumption.  In simple mathematical terms, it will be as follows:

Saving = (Income – Taxes) – Consumption

However, there is a problem with poor people and families for and on whose behalf we are campaigning.  They do not have enough income and use most of their income to meet basic life-sustaining needs of consumption or non-discretionary expenses.  These expenses on their basic needs are uncuttable.   Mathematically and in reality, they are unable to create or build saving.

To create saving one can either increase their income or trim their consumption or do both.  For poor people and families, it is very difficult to create or build saving in the context of the above saving model.   It is as well improbable that they can build an emergency fund without help.  The theory about emergency fund states that one needs at least 3 to 6 months an emergency fund.

Because of this difficulty or improbability, there is a need to campaign for financial stability.  Our campaign in relation to saving for emergencies will revolve around the following:

 

√ Planning ahead with them their saving and emergency fund

√ Helping campaign beneficiaries to set up their emergency fund goal and target (e.g., 3 to 6 months)

√ Working out the emergency fund they really need

√ Exploring ways to boost income or trim spending to create savings or do both

√ Understanding savings tracker

√ Establishing their financial reserves

√ Helping them create an emergency saving account

√ Finding and removing barriers to build saving or emergency fund

√ Working with them to avoid financial losses

√ Managing both emergency fund account and liquid accounts

√ Making a plan on when to dip into emergency fund

√ Finding insurance protection schemes for emergency if they cannot save for emergencies

√ Providing advice and tips on how to separate emergency fund from spending money and other types of saving

√ Sharing with the community what we have to offer to make saving for emergencies to materialise in their lives

√ Making suggestions on better way of storing cash using for example certificates of deposit or money market fund

√ Turning their saving for an emergency fund into a regular commitment rather than an exception to the rule

Etc.

 

As part of this area of campaign, steps can be taken to influence those who have the key to decision on reduction poverty matter so that poor people can create saving for emergencies or provide them a cover if they are unable to do so.

Finally, this third area of campaign is about how we can reduce or end poverty because of the lack of saving for emergencies.  The continuing rise of prices and costs of living can only put pressure on the possibility of saving for emergencies.  Those who do not have saving for emergencies may see the prospect of getting out poverty very distant to them.

The above is the third area of focus about our  Financial Stability Campaign 2023.  To ask for help or enquire about the third area of our focus, please do not hesitate to communicate with CENFACS.

To support this campaign, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Triple-value-initiative Start-up/Planning

 

In order to support those who have decided or may decide to engage with All-year Round Projects or Triple Value Initiatives, we are running start up sessions for each of them (i.e. Run, Play and Vote projects).  What do we mean by running start up sessions for Run, Play and Vote projects?

 

• • Start up for Run, Play and Vote Projects

 

Start up for these projects is about working with whoever decides to execute the above mentioned projects to set the tone of their projects and expectations for themselves.  It is also about setting realistic goals and working out the right methodology from the beginning to the end in their project journey.  It includes better planning and management.

 

• • Phases of project planning and management

 

We are going to deal with different phases of project planning or start up from the idea (of running or playing or voting) to the initiative implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Whether you want to run or play or vote; you need to undertake a basic project planning in terms of the way you want to do it.  This basic project planning/start-up will include things like the following:

 

σ Aims (changes you plan to achieve)

σ Impact (a longer-term effects of your project)

σ Inputs (resources you will put into your initiative)

σ Monitoring (regularly and systematically collecting and recording information)

σ Outcomes (changes and effects that may happen from your initiative)

σ Indicators (measures or metrics that show you have achieved your planned outcomes)

σ Budget (income and expenses for your initiative)

σ Reporting (sharing your actions and results)

Etc.

 

As we all know, not everybody can understand these different steps they need to navigate in order to make their initiative or project a success story.  That is why we are offering this opportunity to those who would like to engage with the Triple Value Initiatives (Run, Play and Vote projects) to first talk to CENFACS so that we can together soften some of the hurdles they may encounter in their preparation and delivery.

For those who would like to discuss with CENFACS their Triple-value-initiative plans or proposals, they are welcome to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• CENFACS’ be.Africa Discusses the Africa Climate Risk Facility

 

On 9 November 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt) at COP27 (the 27th Conference of the Parties)  side event, the African Insurance Industry leaders committed to underwrite $14 billion of cover for Africa’s climate risks by 2030 (8).

Through this underwriting act, they laid down the foundations of Africa Climate Risk Facility, which is – as these leaders defined it themselves – a mechanism that will scale private sector underwriting of climate disaster risk in Africa.

As part of the continuation of our work on ‘Promoting the Culture of Insurance amongst Those in Need to Reduce Poverty in Africa’ which we conducted last month, we would like to discuss the implications of this Africa Climate Risk Facility for insurance poverty reduction in Africa, particularly but not exclusively in our area of operation in Africa.

In this discussion, we will try to answer the following questions:

 

~ How can this facility (or an African-led solution to loss and damage) promote the culture of insurance amongst those in need to reduce insurance poverty in Africa?

~ How can local market-based disaster risk finance solutions use this facility and help the uninsured or the inadequately insured in Africa?

~ How can risk transfer solutions relating to climate change impacts (e.g., flood, drought and tropical cyclones) support resilience amongst the insurance poor via this facility?

 

Those who may be interested in this discussion, they can contact CENFACS to join and or contribute.

To communicate with CENFACS regarding this discussion, please use our usual contact details on this website.

 

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

Mois du développement durable avec la réduction des flux illicites et des biens volés pour soutenir les ménages pauvres

Février est le mois du développement durable, selon le calendrier  de développement du CENFACS.

• Qu’est-ce que le mois du développement durable?

C’est le mois au cours duquel nous revisitons nos travaux relatifs au développement durable.  En particulier, nous essayons d’examiner à nouveau les dix-sept objectifs de développement durable (ODD) des Nations Unies (9) et leurs 169 cibles connexes.

Nous sélectionnons normalement l’un des sujets dans l’ensemble des ODD et des cibles; et essayez d’y travailler. Pour ce mois de février 2023, nous avons sélectionné l’objectif 16 et la cible 4 de cet objectif.

L’objectif 16 est de promouvoir l’avènement de sociétés pacifiques et ouvertes à tous aux fins du développement durable, assurer l’accès de tous à la justice et de mettre en place, à tous les niveaux, des institutions efficaces, responsables et ouvertes à tous.

La cible 4 de l’objectif 16 est de réduire nettement les flux financiers illicites, le traffic d’armes illicites, renforcer les activités de récupération et de restitution des biens volés et lutter contre toutes les formes de criminalité organisée, d’ici à 2030.

Pour faire fonctionner notre Mois de la durabilité, nous allons impliquer les membres de notre communauté à travers les aspects choisis de la cible 4 tout en gardant l’esprit de l’objectif 16 tel qu’il a été mis en place par les Nations Unies.

• Inciter nos membres à soutenir la réduction des flux financiers et celle d’armes illicites, ainsi que la récupération et la restitution des biens volés

Nous engageons en effet les membres de notre communauté à soutenir les messages contenus dans l’objectif 16 et la cible 4 de cet objectif.  Nous plaidons également pour qu’une partie du produit de la réduction des flux financiers et d’armes illicites ainsi que du recouvrement et de la restitution des avoirs volés soit affectée à la réduction de la pauvreté et au soutien des ménages pauvres.

Notre plaidoyer peut s’expliquer comme suit.  Pendant la pandémie de coronavirus et même maintenant en cette période de crise du coût de la vie, il y a eu des recherches de financement pour faire face aux coûts de la catastrophe du coronavirus et de la crise du coût de la vie.

Bien qu’une partie du financement ait été obtenue par diverses sources telles que des subventions, des dons et des prêts; il y a d’autres sources de financement qui sont inexploitées.  Parmi ces sources inexploitées figurent les flux financiers illicites et la valeur monétaire des biens volés.

Pourtant, ces fonds inexploités ou dormants auraient pu être trouvés et mis à disposition pour contribuer aux efforts visant à faire face aux effets persistants de la catastrophe du coronavirus et aux effets paralysants de la crise du coût de la vie.  Ces flux financiers illicites et ces avoirs volés pourraient être suivis, récupérés et restitués là où ils appartiennent ou où ils ont été pris.

Les responsables du processus de traitement de ces flux illicites et de ces avoirs volés peuvent négocier avec leurs propriétaires (publics ou privés) et explorer la possibilité de libérer une partie des fonds et avoirs récupérés pour financer la pauvreté et les causes méritoires.  Ils pourraient être utilisés pour soutenir les pauvres et les ménages pauvres.

Par exemple, dans le cadre de la construction d’un redressement durable en Afrique, il est compréhensible que l’Afrique demande le suivi, le recouvrement et la restitution des flux financiers illicites et des biens volés.  Il y a eu des réponses positives à la demande de l’Afrique pour la restitution des avoirs volés, même s’il reste encore beaucoup à faire.

Il est également logique que le CENFACS plaide pour qu’une partie des dividendes provenant de la réduction des flux financiers et d’armes illicites et du recouvrement et de la restitution des avoirs volés soit utilisée pour soutenir les ménages pauvres.  Cela peut être fait selon des termes, conditions et modalités clairement définis.

Pour nous permettre d’aborder le thème de la réduction des flux financiers et d’armes illicites et de la récupération et de la restitution des biens volés, nous avons organisé un plan de travail pour ce mois de février 2023.  Pour ceux ou celles qui sont intéressé(e)s à notre plan de travail en la matière, ils/elles peuvent contacter le CENFACS.

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• Africa Not-for-profit Investment Outlook 2023

 

In Focus: Areas or Fields of Poverty Reduction to Invest in Africa

 

Our coverage of Africa Not-for-profit Investment Outlook 2023 includes two items:

 

σ What is a Not-for-profit Investment?

σ Areas or Fields of Poverty Reduction to Invest in Africa.

 

Let us highlight each of these items.

 

• • What is a Not-for-profit Investment?

 

It is a sum of money puts into a not-for-profit organisation in order to help this organisation achieve its not-for-profit mission.  Not-for-profit means that the organisation is not engaged in the activity of realising a greater difference between its sales revenue and total costs.  Instead, the organisation aims at providing services without making profit, services that benefit its members or the community as specified in its governing document.

This not-for-profit investment can be in the physical or financial form.  Therefore, there are two types of investment that not-for-profit investors can choose in order to engage in, which are: physical or real investment and financial investment.

σ Physical or real investment normally includes fixed capital assets (such as machinery and equipment) and stocks.

σ Financial investment consists of purchasing financial securities like shares and bonds.  In this financial investment, one can consider portfolio investment as well.

In the context of the not-for-profit development, we are preoccupied with those types of investment that are not meant to earn income in the form of dividend, interest and rent payments.  We shall instead deal with those investments that bring high return of poverty reduction for projects and programmes beneficiaries in Africa.  In other words, we are interested in how to make your finances return for poverty reduction instead of profit. 

 

• • Areas or Fields of Poverty Reduction to Invest in Africa.

 

The following are the possible areas of investing in Africa.  They include the needs, opportunities and investments expected.

 

σ African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

 

The need: The operationalisation of the AfCFTA requires not only for-profit investments but also not-for-profit investors to provide services and products to communities in need making this trade area.

The opportunity: Because of its size in terms of population (that is., 1.3 billion people across 55 countries), the AfCFTA provides a tremendous window of opportunities and potentials for not-for-profit investors.

The Investment: Projects to provide digital and literacy inclusion to close the digital infrastructure gap, of resilient and unfragmented internet in Africa will be welcome.  Also, projects to give new tools of trade for not-for-profit African Organisations (including charities and community groups) operating in this free trade area will bolster these organisations’ capacity and expand their poverty-reduction results.

 

σ Climate-smart Development

 

The need: Africa is looking for a climate-smart path to attain Sustainable Development Goals.

The opportunity: The severe impact of climate change creates opportunity as Africa cannot alone afford to mitigate this impact.

The investment: Funding sustainable-development-goals investments and investing in climate-vulnerable key sectors (such as energy, agriculture, transport, water and cities) will be attractable.

 

σ Clean Energy and Transition 

 

The need: Increasing energy demand and the desire to close the energy deficit provide the necessity for clean energy development.

The opportunity: There is abundance of forms of renewable energy resources, particularly solar, hydro, wind and bioenergy.

The investment: Projects to tackle Africa’s energy paradox (that is, abundant energy resources with high deficit in access to modern energy) and projects for transformative deployment of clean energy especially in the poor areas of Africa will be well suited.

 

σ Women, Girls and Inequality

 

The need: There is a high level of inequality for women and girls in many areas of life.

The opportunity: There is a lot of opportunities to close inequalities for women and girls

The investment: Projects to enable women and girls to rightfully occupy their place in the process of poverty reduction and development will be welcome.

 

σ Conflict Resolution

 

The need: There are hotspot conflict-prone and -afflicted zones of Africa (like the border areas of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, etc.) that require an end to insecurity and violence due to armed conflicts.

The opportunity: There are opportunities to resolve conflicts, to negotiate and bring peace to those areas affected by conflicts.

The investment: Projects to reduce illicit arms flows, to invest in security, to end conflicts and sustain peace like investing in sports for peace will be recommended.

 

σ Food Security

 

The need: Africa has a high prevalence of food insecurity as its has a huge number of food insecure countries with hardest hit by the unprecedented food and nutrition crisis such as Burkina Faso, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Niger, etc.

According to the World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organisations of the United Nations (10), the number of people in acute food insecurity in 2022 (most recent projections) in millions would be in the hotspot countries below as follows:

3.5 in Burkina Faso, 2.2 in Central African Republic, 2.1 in Chad, 25.9 in Democratic Republic of Congo, 2.1 in Madagascar, 1.8 in Mali, and 4.4 in Niger (p. 8).

The opportunity: There are high food prices and a lack of fair distribution of food, especially in areas that are difficult to access because of lack of transport facilities and of security.  Not-for-profit food investors can reap off the benefit by using home-grown solutions to provide affordable and easily accessible food products to food insecure.

The investment: Projects to prevent, detect and treat acute child malnutrition while facilitating access to food and making food affordable for the food insecure and poor will help to reduce food poverty.

 

σ Education and Healthcare

 

The need: Africa needs to safeguard and increase investments in education and healthcare which continue to suffer the consequences of the coronavirus and other effects (like armed conflicts and climate change disaster).

The opportunity: In conflict-stricken and climate-impacted areas of Africa, there are opportunities to build schools and health centres, provide educational and health resources, and to equip crisis-stricken communities with digital tools.

The Investment: Projects to rebuild destroyed educational and health infrastructures destroyed by armed conflicts and natural disasters are sought to help the victims of these events.

 

σ COVID-19 Vaccine Inequality

 

The need: Africa is lagging behind regions of the world with fully vaccinated people against the coronavirus pandemic; and the demand for health workers to cover shortages is high in Africa.

The opportunity: Africa is vulnerable to renewed outbreaks and the possible arrival of new COVID-19 variants.

The investment: Not-for-profit investing in awareness raising to curb vaccine hesitancy and low risk perception of the spread of the coronavirus pandemic will help to deploy COVID-19 vaccination and to improve people’s minds about the positive effects of COVID-19 vaccination.

 

σ Democracy and Human Rights

 

The need: To continue to build democratisation processes in Africa, poor people need to be heard.

The opportunity: In 2023, there are almost 24 countries that are holding polls ranging from local to parliamentarian and presidential votes.

The investment: Projects of free speech, the right to express a choice/opinion (or freedom of expression) and the right to online autonomy and privacy will help the voiceless to express their need of poverty reduction.

 

σ Digital Inequality

 

The need: To widely reduce poverty in Africa, it requires for many of project beneficiaries working with a number of the organisations that CENFACS is dealing with to reduce digital inequality.

The opportunity: Due to the lack of access to the majority of these beneficiaries to digital technologies and facilities, there is an opportunity to invest in human-centred digital projects to reduce digital inequality.

The investment: Projects of resilient, open, inclusive, safe and secure internet access for the vulnerable and unconnected poor like the above-mentioned beneficiaries will be a not-for-profit investment to bridge digital divide or gap.

The above are some highlights regarding the prospect for not-for-profit investing in Africa.  These highlights are part of a series of advice and tips planned for 2023 to work with potential not-for-profit investors.

As argued earlier, these highlights cover only some areas or fields of investing in Africa.  For those not-for-profit investors who are interested in a particular area or field and would like to dive deeper into it, they are free to contact CENFACS.

For any other enquiries or queries about Africa Not-for-profit Investment Outlook 2023 and Guidance for Investing in Africa, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

_________

 

• References 

 

(1) https://ti-defence.org/what-we-do/industry-integrity/illicit-arms-flows/ (Accessed in February 2023) 

(2) Bromley, M., Caparini, M. & Malaret, A. (2019), Measuring Illicit Arms and Financial Flows: Improving the Assessment of Sustainable Development Goal 16, Sipri, SIPRI Background Paper at https://sipri.org/sites/default/files/2019-07/bp_1907_sdg_16.pdf (Accessed in February 2023)

(3) https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/files/Metadata-16-04-02pdf (Accessed in February 2023)

(4) https://www.cbd.int/article/cop15-cbd-press-release-final-19dec2022 (Accessed in February 2023)

(5) https://climatechampions.unfccc.int/what-are-nature-based-solutions-and-how-can-we-finance-them/# (Accessed in February 2023)

(6) https://www.quicken.com/blog/what-savings/ (Accessed in February 2023)

(7) https://www.fidelity.com/viewpoints/personal-finance/save-for-an-emergency# (Accessed in February 2023)

(8) https://fsdafrica.org/press-release/leveraging-the-african-insurance-industry-to-create-resilient-african-economies/# (Accessed in February 2023)

(9) https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda (Accessed in February 2023)

https://intranet.pactemondial.org/storage/base_documentaire/Liste%20des%2017%20ODDet%20169&20Cibles.pdf (Accessed in February 2023) 

(10) WFP and FAO, (2022), Hunger Hotspots, FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity, October 2022 to January 2023 Outlook, Rome (Accessed in February 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 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 in 2023 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

01 February 2023

 

Post No. 285

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Sustainable Development Month with the Reduction of Illicit Flows and Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households

• Goal for the Month: Reduction of Poverty Linked to Illicit Financial Flows

• African Children’s Climate, Nature and Sustainable Development Goals (Generation Global Goals Project): Generational Impact Analysis of the Cost-of-living Crisis on Children

 

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Sustainable Development Month with the Reduction of Illicit Flows and Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households

 

February is the month of Sustainable Development, according to CENFACS development calendar or planner.  It is the month during which we revisit our works relating to sustainable development.  In particular, we try to look at again the United Nations (1) Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their related 169 targets.  We normally select one of the topics within the set of SGDs and targets; and try to work on it.  For this February 2023, we have selected Goal 16 and Target 4 of this goal.

 

• • Goal 16 and Target 4 as Working Theme for the Month of Sustainability

 

Goal 16 is to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Target 4 of  Goal 16 is to significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime, by 2030.

Although Goal 16 speaks about societies and institutions, human societies and institutions are made of humans.  Humans (people) can form households.  Thus, Goal 16 and Target 4 are about people and households.

Within the Target 4 of Goal 16, we have chosen to deal with the reduction of illicit financial and arms flows, and the recovery and return of stolen assets. 

To make our Month of Sustainability, we are going to engage our community members through the chosen aspects of the Target 4 while keeping the spirit of Goal 16 as it was set up by the United Nations.  Additionally, we are looking at how the same selected aspects  can be related to poor people, particularly poor households that make up CENFACS‘ noble cause of poverty reduction.

 

• • Engaging our Members in Supporting the Reduction of Illicit Financial and Arms flows, and the Recovery and Return of Stolen Assets

    

We are indeed engaging the members of our community to be supportive of the messages contained in the Goal 16 and Target 4.  We are also advocating for a proportion of the proceeds from the reduction of illicit financial and arms flows as well as from the recovery and return of stolen assets to be allocated to reduce poverty, to support poor households.

Our advocacy can be explained as follows.  During the coronavirus pandemic and even now at this time of the cost-of-living crisis, there have been some searches for funding to meet the costs of the coronavirus disaster and the cost-of-living crisis.  Although some funding has been secured through varied sources like grants, donations and loans; there are other sources of funding that are untapped.  Amongst these untapped sources are illicit financial flows and the monetary value of stolen assets.

Yet, these untapped or dormant funds could have been found and made available to contribute to the efforts of meeting the lingering effects of the coronavirus disaster and the crippling effects of the cost-of-living crisis.  These illicit financial flows and stolen assets could be tracked, recovered and returned where they belong to or where they were taken.

Eventually, those in charge of the process of dealing with these illicit flows and stolen assets can negotiate with their owners (public or private) and explore the possibility of releasing a portion of the recovered funds and assets to fund poverty and deserving causes.  They could be used to support poor people and poor households.

For instance, as part of building a sustainable recovery in Africa, it is understandable for Africa to ask for the tracking, the recovery and return of illicit financial flows and stolen assets.  There have been some positive responses to Africa’s demand for the return of stolen assets, although much needs to be done.

It equally makes sense for CENFACS to advocate for part of the dividend from the reduction of illicit financial and arms flows and the recovery and return of stolen assets to be used to support poor households.  This can be done under clearly defined terms and conditions.

To enable us to approach the theme of the reduction of illicit financial and arms flows and the recovery and return of stolen assets, we have organised a plan of work which can be found under the Main Development section of this post.  Under the same section, we have provided more details about the same theme.

 

 

• Goal for the Month: Reduction of Poverty Linked to Illicit Financial Flows

 

Our goal for February 2023 is to reduce any forms of poverty linked to illicit financial flows.  To achieve this goal, one may need to understand the meaning of illicit financial flows.

 

• • Understanding Illicit Financial Flows

 

There are many definitions of illicit financial flows within the international finance literature; definitions which tend to be similar.  For instance, the World Bank (2) argues that

“Illicit Financial Flow refers to cross-border movement of capital associated with illegal activity or more explicitly, money that is illegally earned, transferred or used that crosses borders”.

Illicit financial flows can create or exacerbate poverty and hardships for the people in need.  Particularly, during this challenging time of the cost-of-living crisis, they can make the matter worse for those who need this capital or money the most.

To explain how illicit financial flows can make matter worse, Janvier Désiré Nkurunziza (3) contends that

“Illicit financial flows increase risk and uncertainty in the domestic economy, discouraging investment and its potential positive effect on poverty reduction. Moreover, in countries where corruption allows the elites to unlawfully appropriate resources and transfer them abroad, the incentive to put in
place economic and social measures that reduce poverty is weakened. Illicit financial flows allow the elites to easily access foreign services such as
healthcare and education, leaving the poor to fend for themselves”.

Nkurunziza’s argument can be influential in terms of implications for those who would like to see the reduction of illicit financial flows in order to support those living in poverty such as poor households.

 

• • Implications for selecting the goal for the month

 

After selecting the goal for the month, we focus our work and mind set on the selected goal by making sure that in our real life we apply it.  We also expect our supporters to work on the same goal 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., February 2023).

For further details on the goal of the month and its selection procedure including its support, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• African Children’s Climate, Nature and Sustainable Development Goals (Generation Global Goals Project): Generational Impact Analysis of the Cost-of-living Crisis on Children

 

Normally, the project that carries this month of Sustainable Development is African Children’s Climate and Sustainable Development Goals (ACSDGs).  It is also known as Generation Global Goals (3G) project.

3G project is the impact level in CENFACS’ process of advocating that global goals (like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) work for children and not way around.  It is indeed the testing of the gains that global goals claim to achieve and of their impact on the welfare and well-being of children.  This is regardless whether these children are in spaces and times of peace or lack of peace (like conditions of wars, areas stricken by viruses or epidemics and time of natural disasters).   Unsurprisingly, these gains should be materialised even in time of health crisis like the coronavirus pandemic or any other crisis such as the cost-of-living crisis.

Since December 2022, we inserted in the 3G project the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (4).  Although we included nature goals stemming from this framework, we are not measuring their impact.  The reason is these nature goals were only agreed in December 2022.  It is too early to measure their impact on children.  But, what do mean by ‘generational impact analysis’?

 

• • Children generation of global goals

 

The children generation of global goals are those two generations of children relating to two sets of global goals: Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  The generation of Millennium Development Goals will be those children or persons born and live between 2000 and 2015, whereas the generation of Sustainable Development Goals will be referred to those born and live from 2015 until now (ideally between 2015 and 2030).  The two generations are relating to the lifespan of these two sets of goals.

These generations relating to global goals have to be differentiated from the conventional definition of generations which classified them as follows: Gen Alpha (2013 – 2025), iGen/Generation Z (1995 -2012), Millennials/Generation Y (1980 – 1994), Xennials (1975 – 1985), Generation X/Baby Bust (1965 – 1979) and Baby Boomers (1946 – 1964).  This is without forgetting the generation who has been impacted by the scars of the coronavirus pandemic disaster.

 

• • Impact analysis

 

We are going to use the definition of impact analysis as given by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).  The OECD (5) differentiates ex ante impact analysis from ex post impact assessment.  According to the OECD, ex ante impact analysis is

“Part of the needs analysis and planning activity of the policy cycle. It involves doing a prospective analysis of what the impact of an intervention might be, so as to inform policymaking – the policymaker’s equivalent of business planning”.

From the above clarification of children generation of global goals and impact analysis, it is possible to speak about generational impact analysis.

 

• • Generational impact analysis

 

The generational impact analysis would be a set of tasks that we will perform to identify children generation of sustainable development goals; generation that has been impacted by a change/disruption brought the scarring effects of the cost-of-living crisis.

We are going to establish a chain of causation or theory from the cost-of-living crisis to impact as well as to measure or describe the changes induced along that chain.  Briefly, we are going to refer to cause-and-effect approach and to the theory of change.

 

• • Early inference of the effects of the cost-of-living crisis on Poor Children

 

Our work on generational economics and the intergenerational transmission of poverty continues with the study/analysis of the generational impact of the cost-of-living crisis on children and future generations.  We started this impact analysis three years ago by looking at how COVID-19 may have delayed the realisation of several aspects of the United Nations Climate and Sustainable Development Goals for children.

We are continuing our work by looking at how the cost-of-living crisis may have impacted different generations of children.  This generational impact analysis of the cost-of-living crisis will be on children we can call as the generation of sustainable development goals (SDGs) or the generation of children thought to be the beneficiaries of the implementation of SDGs.

Although we are using the word impact, it is clear that any real impact of crisis will be known in the long term as there are still data to be collected and treated quantitatively and qualitatively.  This may take sometimes.

It is possible to start inferring the effects of the cost-of-living crisis on poor children.  So far, a number of agencies and individuals have tried to do it.  As far as we are concerned, we are trying to seize the early outputs or effects of the cost-of-living on the realisation of SDGs linked to children’s well-being and welfare.  However, one needs to be cautious in interpreting what we may have found.

 

• • Generational impact of the cost-of-living crisis on children generation of SDGs via a policy response trajectory curb

 

It is without doubt that the cost-of-living crisis is leaving and will leave some scars and fractures in the realisation of SDGs, particularly but not exclusively those aspects of these goals relating to children.   Its impact can be measured by using the model of an inverted-U policy response pathway as given by the World Economic Forum (6).  It is this policy response trajectory curb (that is, soaring prices, prices peaked and declining prices) that we are going to refer to to get the generational impact we are talking about.

In this study, we have not included the climate impact as this will be a matter of another advocacy which we will deal with at a different time during this year.

 

• • Possible effects of the cost-of-living crisis on children regarding the realisation of SDGs

 

The study on some of the SDGs we selected (for example Goal 1 which is about Ending poverty in all its forms everywhere) will help to speculate on how the cost-of-living is impacting or can impact the realisation of SDGs for children (particularly but not exclusively African children).

For example, a combination of current economic and financial challenges (like the rise in the cost of renting, interest rates, food prices, energy prices, etc.) can pose serious problems to children today and to future generations.   These generations may find difficult to rent, to earn a decent income, to pay for their education, etc. if the ascending trends of costs and prices continue while incomes and earnings are not following suit.  Likewise, the impact of an increase in income tax can have adverse effects on the generations to come.  Besides that there are devastating effects of the cost-of-living crisis for children living in Africa. 

For those who would like to know more about our findings from the damaging effects of the cost-of-living crisis and the stories of poverty reduction happening in Africa from CENFACS’ Africa-based Sister Organisations working with children, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

To get the full extent of the possible effects of the cost-of-living crisis on children regarding the realisation of SDGs, please also contact CENFACS.

 

Extra Messages

 

• Activity/Task 2 of the ‘i‘ Project: Persuade People to Meet Sustainable Development Goals

• Triple Value Initiatives, All Year Round Projects: Extra Support about Start-up, Fundamentals and Goals

• The Polycrisis-impacted Children of East Africa Need Your Influence Right NOW

 

 

• Activity/Task 2 of the ‘i‘ Project: Persuade People to Meet Sustainable Development Goals

 

With the lingering effects of the cost-of-living crisis and disheartening impacts of the cost-of-living crisis, many people are struggling to meet sustainable development goals (SDGs).  They may need some help and support to meet these goals.  Part of this help and support could be just for someone or something to influence them.

As part of Activity/Task 2 of the ‘i‘ Project, we are asking to those who can to motivate or inspire or persuade those who are struggling to meet SDGs so they can find the power, the means and capacity to meet them.  In terms of the ‘i‘ Project, we are simply asking to positively influence them to meet these SDGs.

For those members of our community who are struggling or failing to meet SDGs and who would like some help in terms of motivation or positive influence, they should not hesitate to ask for help by contacting us.

To contact CENFACS, please use the details provided on the contact-us page of this site.

 

 

 

• Triple Value Initiatives, All Year Round Projects: Extra Support about Start-up, Fundamentals and Goals

 

Last week, we announced the kick off for our Triple Value Initiatives, initially known as All Year-round Projects.  For those who are interested in engaging with these initiatives, we would like to highlight the following three points: start-up, fundamentals and goals.

 

• • Triple-Value-Initiatives Start up

 

It is better to start up early, although people can always join at any time.  The earlier you start the better.  This is because everybody is busy with their own lives and has other things to do.  Also, the earlier you start, the earlier CENFACS can help if one encounters any problems.  Briefly, the message is start up early.

 

• • Triple-Value-Initiatives Fundamentals

 

You need to get the fundamentals about All Year-round Projects right from the beginning.  You need to clearly sort out the basic principles and bases of these projects so that you move to the right direction early without being forced to change course as you progress or repeat from scratch.  Briefly, the message is get the fundamentals right.

 

• • Triple-Value-Initiatives Goals

 

Whether you play or run or vote for poverty reduction and sustainable development, the all exercise is for you to reach your goal of delivering the objectives you set up from the onset.  It means you need to be clear in your mind set about what you want to achieve.  Again, if you have any problems in setting up clear goals (aim or purpose) and objectives, CENFACS can be of help.  Briefly, the message is be clear about what you want to achieve.

You can select a theme to run, create your play station game and watch people to vote.  This is what Triple Value Initiatives or All Year Round Projects are all about.  Good luck!

 

 

 

• The Polycrisis-impacted Children of East Africa Need Your Influence Right NOW

You can help halve poverty  in East Africa; you can help halve poverty for and with children at risk of loosing their life because of the detrimental effects of the poly-crisis on them.

 

You can donate your Influence to halve poverty  in East Africa.

To donate, please contact influential persons (or those having the keys) to reduce or solve the detrimental effects from the crises that the East African children are suffering from and make these persons reduce or end these negative effects on them.

You can as well influence the things or factors that determine these crises in order to create lasting favourable conditions towards an end to years-long crises, like the conflicts or economic crises in Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan.

Please also let CENFACS know about your influencing work or contribution  you are or will be making and its outcome on behalf of the children or peoples of East Africa.

To let us know, you can contact CENFACS as follows:

*over phone

*via email

*through text

*by filling the contact form on this site. 

On receipt of your message or influencing donation, CENFACS will contact you for record and thank you for any influencing donation made.  However, should you wish your influencing support to remain anonymous; we will respect your wish.

Thank you in anticipation for your willingness to give your Positive Influence and help save the lives of the Polycrisis-impacted East African Children, especially but not exclusively those living in the polycrisis-affected areas of Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan.

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

 

• 2023 comme une année d’influence positive sur la réduction de la pauvreté

Pour obtenir des résultats positifs ou attendus, tout effort visant à réduire la pauvreté ne signifie pas nécessairement qu’il faut compter fortement sur les moyens financiers.  Il existe d’autres moyens, tels qu’une influence positive, qui peuvent ajouter de la valeur à l’aide humanitaire, par exemple.  Nous disons influence positive car nous savons tous/toutes que l’influence peut aussi être négative.

Ainsi, 2023 sera consacrée comme une Année d’influence positive sur la réduction de la pauvreté au sein du CENFACS.  À partir de ce dévouement, nous espérons que les besoins de nos bénéficiaires pourront être satisfaits par l’utilisation d’une influence positive pour mobiliser le soutien et les ressources pour la satisfaction de leurs besoins.

C’est l’année où nous sommes impatients de travailler avec les membres de notre communauté et les organisations sœurs basées en Afrique en influençant les compétences, les styles et les modèles pour aider à réduire la pauvreté et à renforcer le développement durable.  Influencer les compétences, les styles et les modèles aidera à aborder les crises et les situations difficiles afin d’obtenir les meilleurs résultats pour la réduction de la pauvreté.

C’est une année où l’on utilise les principes fondamentaux d’influencer les autres, en particulier ceux/celles qui sont en position de pouvoir, pour mieux changer les choses afin que la réduction de la pauvreté puisse être réalisée pour ceux/celles qui en ont besoin.  La réduction de la pauvreté ne vient pas toujours d’elle-même, à moins que ceux/celles qui en détiennent la clé n’aient le sentiment qu’une influence positive leur est apportée. Mais qu’entendons-nous par influence ?

• • Comprendre l’influence

Il existe de nombreuses façons d’aborder l’influence.  En ce qui concerne le dévouement de cette année à l’influence positive pour réduire la pauvreté pour les membres du CENFACS, nous nous référons à ce que le « Centre pour le leadership créatif » (7) soutient, à savoir:

“L’influence est la capacité d’influencer personnellement les actions, les décisions, les opinions ou la pensée des autres.  En fin de compte, l’influence vous permet de faire avancer les choses et d’atteindre les résultats souhaités “.

Le même « Centre pour le leadership créatif » différencie trois tactiques d’influence clés ou façons d’influencer, qui sont: les appels logiques (la tête), les appels émotionnels (le cœur) et les appels coopératifs (les mains).

• • Appliquer les 3 trois tactiques d’influence clés (c’est-à-dire la tête, le cœur et les mains) pour attirer des personnalités influentes

Tout au long de 2023, nous utiliserons notre tête, notre cœur et nos mains pour faire appel à ceux/celles qui peuvent (c’est-à-dire les personnalités influentes) pour nous aider à réduire la pauvreté et à renforcer le développement durable.  Il s’agira d’influencer positivement (c’est-à-dire d’inspirer et de motiver) ces personnes influentes en faisant avancer les choses et en obtenant des résultats en matière de réduction de la pauvreté.

Nous avons déjà établi un projet (le projet ‘i‘) pour mettre en œuvre cette dédicace. Le projet ‘i‘ est une initiative d’un an commençant à partir de la semaine du 23 janvier à la fin décembre 2023.  Cependant, pour ceux/celles qui voudraient en savoir plus sur cette dédicace, ils/elles sont libres de se renseigner auprès du CENFACS.  De même, pour ceux/celles qui voudraient le soutenir, ils/elles sont invité(e)s à le faire.

Nous espérons que vous travaillerez avec nous ou que vous serez avec nous pendant que nous tentons d’influencer les personnes influentes pour réduire la pauvreté tout au long de 2023 et au-delà.

 

 

Main Development

 

• Sustainable Development Month with the Reduction of Illicit Flows and Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households

 

The following contents make up the Main Development of this post:

 

σ Key Concepts

σ The Links between the Reduction of Illicit Financial Flows and Poverty Reduction, between the Reduction of Illicit Arms Flows and Poverty Reduction

σ Advocacy for a Portion of Recovered Illicit Funds and Assets to be Used to Fund Poverty Reduction

σ Working with the Community on the Reduction of Illicit Flows and Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households

σ February 2023 Working Plan on the Reduction of Illicit Flows and Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households.

 

Let us gives some highlights about each of these contents.

 

• • Key Concepts

 

There are four concepts that we would like to highlight, which are: illicit financial flows, illicit arms flows, asset recovery and poverty reduction.  Let us briefly explain each of them.

 

• • • Illicit Financial Flows

 

To explain illicit financial flows, we are referring to what the World Bank argues about them.  According to the World Bank (op. cit.),

“Illicit Financial Flow refers to cross-border movement of capital associated with illegal activity or more explicitly, money that is illegally earned, transferred or used that crosses borders”.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (8) contend that

“Illicit Financial Flows can be classified into four types: tax and commercial activities, illegal markets, corruption, exploitation-type activities and financing of crime and terrorism”. (p. 6)

However, one may need to differentiate illicit financial flows from the cross-border flows from legal business transactions, from illegal commercial and tax practices (e.g., tax evasion) which are often from the informal economy.

 

• • • Illicit Arms Flows

 

Our understanding of illicit arms flows comes from Transparency International (9), which argues that

“The diversion of weapons to, from and within conflict zones – including to non-state actors – risks exacerbating conflict, reinforcing a downward cycle of poverty and instability”.

From the point of view of Transparency International, it is clear that illicit arms flows can lead or exacerbate poverty.  In doing so, these flows can make the work of reducing poverty harder.

 

• • • Asset Recovery

 

The same Transparency International (10) explains that

“Asset recovery is the process of reclaiming and returning these stolen proceeds to the country from which they were taken.  The process includes tracing, freezing, confiscating and repatriating the stolen assets and is usually complex and lengthy, involving multiple jurisdiction”.

 

• • • Poverty Reduction

 

To understand poverty reduction, one needs to know what is poverty.  Referring to the Oxford Dictionary of Environment and Conservation written by Chris Park (11), poverty is defined there as

“The state of having little or no money and few or no material possessions” (p. 353)

Knowing what poverty is about, it is possible to explain poverty reduction.  Poverty reduction is therefore any measures intended to permanently lift people out of poverty.  To emphasise this, the online site ‘definitions.net’ (12) states that

“Poverty reduction measures are intended to raise, enabling the poor to create wealth for themselves as a means for ending poverty forever”.

The online site ‘definitions.net’ also states that these measures do not apply to voluntary poverty.

So, the above four concepts will help to deal with the theme of our Sustainable Development Month; theme which is the Reduction of Illicit Flows and Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households.

 

• • The Links between the Reduction of Illicit Financial Flows and Poverty Reduction, between the Reduction of Arm Flows and Poverty Reduction

 

There is no natural or direct link between the reduction of illicit financial flows and poverty reduction, between the reduction of illicit arms flows and poverty reduction.  In other words, there is no such thing to say that funds or money recovered from illicit financial flows will be automatically or directly allocated to poverty reduction.  Likewise, it will be naïve to argue that the reduction of illicit arms flows will directly bring poverty reduction.

To build a bridge or link between the reduction of illicit financial flows and poverty reduction, between illicit arms flows and poverty reduction; one needs to advocate or campaign or simply to work for this to happen.

 

• • Advocacy for a Portion of Recovered Illicit Funds and Assets to be Used to Fund Poverty Reduction

 

The Month of Sustainable Development within CENFACS is also of advocacy for and on behalf of the poor (amongst them are poor households) and those in need of sustainable development so that funds and assets recuperated from illicit financial and arms flows can be allocated to their needs.

It is true that the process of recovering illicit finances and stolen assets is complex and lengthy one which could involve multiple jurisdictions.  However, once the process is completed, and accountabilities and responsibilities have been established; it is possible to consider allocating a portion of recovered funds to deserving needs of poverty reduction.

This can be done without undermining other competing needs.  To even make this kind of recommendation useful, one may need to set up a plan or programme and explain on how the recovered funds or assets to be donated or granted will help reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development for the recipients/beneficiaries of these funds or assets.

In arguing in this way, one should not look at this operation of supporting the poor via the recovered funds and assets in a passive way as simply a transfer of money or asset.  This operation should indeed be perceived in a dynamic way as a process of enabling or empowering the poor to create wealth through their consumption or production with the support received or to be received.

 

• • Working with the Community on the Reduction of Illicit Flows and Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households

 

During this month of February 2023, CENFACS is going to engage the community members or households interested in the Reduction of Illicit Flows and Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households.

The following working plan provides a glimpse of the way in which we are going to both carry out the Month of Sustainable Development and support the community’s households on any matters raising from the Reduction of Illicit Flows and Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households.

 

• • February 2023 Working Plan on the Reduction of Illicit Flows and Stolen Assets to Support Poor Households

 

From every Wednesday of this month, we will be dealing with the following:

 

 

Each of the notes or sub-themes will be treated in relation of poverty reduction.  The 1st and 2nd Wednesdays will deal with illicit flows while the 3rd and 4th Wednesdays will cover stolen assets.

 

 

• • • First Wednesday (01/02/2023), In Focus: Reduction of Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) and Poverty Reduction

 

There may not be natural or direct relationship between the reduction of IFFs and poverty reduction.  If there is relationship, it makes sense to appeal so that those who are suffering from poverty (like poor households) to benefit from the recovery and return of IFFs.

It is not a surprise if the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (op. cit.) argue that

“…Efforts to curb IFFs [in these countries Burkina Faso, Ghana, Gabon, Namibia, Zambia and South Africa], based on clear and robust evidence provided by a monitoring tool, could free important resources that could be used to finance development interventions, with a potentially high impact on the economy and the living conditions of the populations” (p. 14)

Progress towards SDG Target 16.4 is measured by the following indicator: total value of inward and outward IFFs in current United States dollars. 

For example, the statistical outcomes of 2021-2022 pilot testing showed that preliminary estimates for Burkina Faso for both inward and outward IFFs were US $6.8 billion (p. 14), according to the same United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.   

The above figure is just a small example in terms of the size of the money we are talking about.  If one uses a portion of it, this portion could contribute to poverty reduction in Burkina Faso.

Curbing IFFs could free resources for poverty reduction.  If this curbing can happen, then one can find ways of making these freed resources to also reach those in need.  To materialise this reach, this could require working together with those in need.

 

• • • How CENFACS can work with those in need interested in freed resources from IFFs

 

The ultimate aim of this work with those in need is to help them understand IFFs and their implications for poverty reduction and sustainable development.  In practical terms, it means through our work with them we can together develop a strategy to deal with issues surrounding IFFs that can impact their lives.

In this respect, CENFACS can work with those members of our community and Africa-based Sister Organisations interested in the subject of IFFs.  We can work with them on a number of initiatives like the following ones:

 

√ Sharing information, news, knowledge, resources and tools about IFFs

√ Developing a wealth creation plan or proposals about the responsible use of any freed resources to be given away

√ Participating in any efforts to track IFFs and to free resources

√ Raising awareness within the community and with Africa-based Sister Organisations about IFFs and their impact on poverty reduction

√ Making proposals about the best way of using freed resources from IFFs (by taking part in consultations, surveys, workshops, events, studies, etc.)

√ Financially educated our communities (in the UK and in Africa) regarding responsibilities and accountabilities about finances at any level of responsibility and capacity

√ Promoting peaceful and inclusive societies through financial responsibilities and accountabilities

√ Encouraging our members to aim at justice for all

√ Assisting in building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions

√ Briefly, helping to reduce IFFs where we can.

 

For those members of our community who may be interested in matter relating to IFFs, they are free to contact CENFACS.  For those Africa-based Sister Organisations that are willing to collaborate with us on IFFs matter, they can let CENFACS know.

For any queries or enquiries about Sustainable Development Month and the Reduction of Illicit Financial Flows and Poverty Reduction, please also contact CENFACS.

_________

 

• References

 

(1) https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda (Accessed in January 2023)

(2) https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/financialsector/brief/illicit-financial-flows-iffs (Accessed in January 2023)

(3) https://www.tralac.org/images/News/Documents/Illicit_Financial_Flows_A_Constraint_on_Poverty_Reduction_in_Africa_Nkurunziza_November_2012.pdf  (Accessed in January 2023)

(4)  https://www.cbd.int/article/cop15-cbd-press-release-final-19dec2022 (Accessed in January 2023) 

(5)  https://www.oecd.org/sti/inno/what-is-impact-assessment-OECDImpact.pdf (Accessed in January 2023)

(6) https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/cost-of-living-crisis-global-impact (Accessed in January 2023)

(7) https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/three-ways-to-influence-people (Accessed in January 2023)

(8) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (2023), Counting the Cost: Defining, estimating and disseminating statistics on illicit financial flows in Africa at https://repository.uneca.org/bitstream/handle/10855/49337/b12023188.pdf?sequence=1&Allowed=y (Accessed in January 2023)

(9) https://ti-defence.org/what-we-do/industry-integrity/illicit-arms-flows/ (Accessed in January 2023) 

(10) https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/asset-recovery-and-the-theft-of-public-money# (Accessed in January 2023)

(11)  Park, C. (2011), A Dictionary of Environment and Conservation, Oxford University Press Inc., Oxford & New York

(12) https://www.definitions.net/definition/Poverty%20reduction (Accessed in January 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 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 in 2023 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

25 January 2023

 

Post No. 284

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• The Polycrisis-impacted Children of East Africa Need Your Influence Right NOW

• Influence (i) Project 

• 2023 Donor and Stewardship Development Programme

 

… And much more!

 

 

To donate or fund on 30 and 31 January 2023, please contact CENFACS on these days.  Whether you are a one-off or regular, short- or medium- or long-term giver, you can also share your story or thoughts about Joy of Giving on the same days. 

 

Key Messages

 

• The Polycrisis-impacted Children of East Africa Need Your Influence Right NOW

 

It has been noticed and reported all over the humanitarian community that East Africa (particularly but not exclusively Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan) is experiencing a series of interlinked crises; crises which are natural (e.g., drought, continuing failed rainy season), insecurity (due to years-long of armed conflicts), and economic (which has led severe hunger).

As always in this kind of crises, children are not exempted.  It is even them who bear the brunt of these interconnected crises: drought, extreme climate change, displacement and insecurity.  For example, in its appeals for support, UNICEF (1) argues that there are

“16.5 million children in Ethiopia who are severely affected and in need,

5.1 million children in Somalia who are disproportionally-harsh drought affected,

and 4.7 million children in South Sudan, who are most vulnerable, have complex and chronic needs“.

Yet, it is possible to reduce or halve the number of these polycrisis-affected children.  Whether the threats from this poly-crisis are climate-related or man made, it is conceivable to halve poverty for and with children at risk of loosing their life.  It is even feasible to use the tenets of positive influence to secure life-saving outcomes for these children who are severely impacted by the poly-crisis in East Africa.

With and on behalf of these children of East Africa, (particularly but not exclusively Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan), we would like to ask to use your positive influence to help halve poverty and hardships they are facing.

CENFACS would like to appeal to those who may have influence on the people who have the key to the situation on the grounds and on factors leading to poly-crisis to use their influencing skills or power to help halve poverty by supporting children who are in emergency in East Africa in order to meet their life-saving needs and dreams.

Under the Main Development section of this post, you will find some details about halving poverty for and with these children of East Africa whose life is highly at risk.

 

 

• Influence (i) Project 

 

Influence or ‘i‘ Project is one of the new initiatives for 2023.  The following two elements help to understand this project: its meaning and its activities.

 

• • What is ‘i’ Project?

 

It is a series or set of interconnected influencing tasks or activities planned  for the execution of CENFACS‘ dedication of year 2023 as of Influence.  These tasks or activities, which aim at reducing poverty, will be undertaken all over 2023 within the requirements and limitations of CENFACS‘ existing and acquirable resources and assets.  Through this project, we hope to continue to help reduce poverty through the influence on people and factors holding the key to the solutions of problems faced by our potential ‘i‘ project beneficiaries during 2023.

 

• • Activities and tasks relating to the ‘i’ Project

 

There will be twelve activities, one activity or task every month.  Each ‘i’  activity will be announced at the beginning of each month.  Through this project and each task, we will try as much as we can to identify people who may have influence on poverty reduction generally and on a particular area of poverty reduction (e.g., humanitarian or overseas development matters).  We shall as well work to find things or factors that can be influenced so that they can positively contribute to the same goal of relieving need hardship and distress amongst our community members throughout our dedicated year.

To influence people and things in order to meet our members’ needs, we are going to undertake a certain number of influencing activities.  For this month, the ‘i’ activity is about influencing people and factors to help achieve responsible or sustainable consumption while reducing consumption poverty.

 

 

• • Activity/Task 1 of the ‘i’ Project: Influence to achieve responsible or sustainable consumption and reduce consumption poverty

 

In this first task or activity, there will be two sub-tasks which are:

a) Influence people or things to achieve responsible consumption

b) Influence people or things to help reduce consumption poverty.

For those who need any help before embarking on any of these two sub-tasks, they can speak to CENFACS.  For any other queries and enquiries about the ‘i‘ project and this year’s dedication, please contact CENFACS as well.

 

 

• 2023 Donor and Stewardship Development Programme 

 

The 2023 collected processes and strategy for relationship-building with and retaining donors will consist of two areas: donor solicitations and donor products to match these solicitations.

 

• • Donor Solicitations

 

We are continuing our solicitation to some of you as donors and /or stewards of poverty relief as follows.

 

• • • Solicitation relating to CENFACS’ Donor Development Plan

 

Under this plan, donors can build quality donor-relations with CENFACS.

In this Year of Influence over Poverty Reduction at CENFACS, donor developers can help us in a number of ways, such as:

 

σ Influence the right people engaged to and informed about our work

σ Make our donations to grow over time

σ Help with technology like donor management software

σ Increase the levels of involvement from users

σ Help us to manage donors expectations

σ Assist us in donor-development goals and tasks such as event support.

 

• • • Solicitation relating to CENFACS’ Donor Stewardship Programme

 

Under this programme, you can help us in the following:

 

σ Steward donors

σ Build and maintain lasting relationships and communications with those who gave to our users or us a gift or any of our noble causes

σ Enable access to and use of donor stewardship tools.

 

• • Donor Development Products on Offer in 2023

 

We are giving away the products below to those who would like to engage, develop their interest, to build bond and loyalty to CENFACS and CENFACS’ work.

We are offering to the donor development market a donor status to enable those who want to commit themselves on regular basis to giving or boosting their status as donor to have the opportunity to do so.

We are inviting those who want to commit themselves as funder or donor to do so.    They can do it by supporting CENFACS with a silver donation, a great relief and a product booster.

 

• • • Free for Supporters: Silver Status

 

Silver status is the legacy of CENFACS’ “Quadranscentennial” Year (2019).  It is about supporting our projects as you can or as you choose if you visit them or if you happen to be within the area of their implementation.  This will boost your support and help you to win a silver status as CENFACS’ Supporter in a CENFACS’ Year of Influence.

Alternatively, you can fund CENFACS’ Year of Influence to win the same status and continue CENFACS’ legacy.

 

• • • Want to provide Great Relief as a Supporter

 

You can provide great relief by becoming a regular giver or supporter, adding value to you support and boosting your support.

For example, at this challenging time of the cost-of-living crisis, we need those who can provide that sort of relief to keep our action going and out of the disruption caused by the cost-of-living crisis.

Many individuals and organisations stepped in to support their good deserving causes during the storming time of the health crisis (the coronavirus crisis); you can do the same by supporting CENFACS during this time of the cost-of-living crisis.

For those interested, they can contact CENFACS for details about becoming a Great Reliever.

 

• • • Need to boost your support or stewardship as a Product Booster

 

You can choose a particular sustainable initiative or programme or even CENFACS as your boost product.

You can support 3 projects or 2 projects and CENFACS

You can support 3 programmes or 2 programmes and CENFACS.

This will elevate your position as a Project or Programme Funder or a Product Booster

For further details about boosting your support or stewardship, please contact CENFACS.

 

Extra Messages

 

• 2023 All Year-round Projects (Triple Value Initiatives): Play, Run and Vote for Poverty Relief and Sustainable Development

• Financial Stability Campaign 2023 – Second Area of Focus: Paying Off Debts

• CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum Discuses Poverty Reduction in Africa in 2023

 

 

 

• 2023 All Year-round Projects (Triple Value Initiatives): Play, Run and Vote for Poverty Relief and Sustainable Development

 

CENFACS’ Triple Value Initiatives, the All Year-round Projects, are now back for this year.  You can play, run and vote to reduce poverty this year again.

The 2023 Edition of All Year-round Projects has kicked off.

You can Run or Organise a Run Activity to Reduce Poverty in 2023. 

You can Play the CENFACS League for Poverty Relief.

You can Vote your 2023 African Poverty Relief Manager.

Before proceeding with one of the All Year Round Projects, it is recommendable to speak to CENFACS.  We can discuss in details together your plan or the way you want to participate or engage with these initiatives.

 

• • How CENFACS can help you to engage with Triple Value Initiatives

 

The following examples show what we can discuss together before you start.

 

Example 1: Run Themes

 

For example, let’s take Run to Reduce Poverty.

There are Run Themes.  You can Run alone or Run as group or even Run for fun.  You can do Seasonal Run or Run to raise money for one of our noble causes or even Run to raise awareness.  However, there are health and safety issues that everyone who will be involved in this Run activity must follow.

There are ways of making your Run event simpler.  To do that, you can contact CENFACS before you plan your event.  CENFACS can help you to select your theme.  You need to confirm the date and time with CENFACS.

There are other things to consider as well such as: location, engagement in activities, prizes (rewards for participants), health and safety issues, child protection policy if children are involved, insurance cover, budget, refreshments, etc.

 

Example 2: Play Station Game

 

Let’s take another example, which is Playing CENFACS’ League for Poverty Relief.

You can create your own play station game with CENFACS’ League and run your own tournament and matches.  You can even involve colleagues, friends and families sharing the same passion about how the selected African countries are working to reduce poverty.  You can group or rate these countries according to poverty reduction performance (showing which one comes on top, middle and bottom).  You can as well use game theories if you know them. Like for Run activity, you must include health and safety measures and guidance.

 

Example 3: People to Watch

 

Let’s take the last example, which is Voting your Poverty Relief Manager.

You can create your own list of Top 23 People to Watch throughout the year.  One or two of them will be potentially the best managers of 2023.  You can collect data and facts about them, follow their annual performance, assess their achievements and vote the best between the two at the end.

While you are running or organising a run activity, playing the CENFACS’ League and voting your Manager of the Year 2022; we would like you to share with us and others your progress, news, events, experiences, stories and reports regarding these projects.  We would like as well to hear from you some of the pitfalls or hurdles you may encounter in the process of dealing with your chosen initiative/project.  The end product of your share will be a kind of Action-Results Report 2023.

 

• • What we would like to hear at the end of this process

 

We would like to hear from you the following three bests or stars of the year:

√ The Best African Country or Countries of 2023 which will best reduce poverty

√ The Best African Global Games Runners of 2023

√ The Best African Development Managers of 2023

The deadline to tell us your bests or stars is 23 December 2023.

As we progress throughout the year, further information and support (in the form of workshop, discussion, questionnaire, questions-answers, etc.) will be released for CENFACS’ Triple Value Initiatives.

Please remember, the early you start the better for you.

For more information about these projects, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Financial Stability Campaign 2023 – Second Area of Focus: Paying Off Debts

 

Our Financial Stability Campaign 2023, which is conducted equally with Financial Controls 2023, deals now with initiatives we can take to help those who are indebted to navigate their way towards financial stability.

There are two aspects in this second area of focus of our campaign we would like to mention, which are:

a) The poor and the removal of debts from them

b) Ways of working with indebted poor households on the debt issue.

Let us look at each of these aspects.

 

a) The poor and the removal of debts from them

 

What can be done for income poor to pay off  debts they are unable to pay?

There is a dilemma which is that indebted poor people do not have money to pay their debts.  Yet, lenders or creditors will try to do every thing to force them to pay when they know they do not have the means to pay off their debts.  This is why one needs to campaign to find way of removing debts from the poor so that they can navigate their way towards financial stability.

This area of the campaign is about undertaking an organised course of actions to achieve the goal of poverty reduction through debt removal.  Debt inducing poverty or exacerbating poverty needs to be removed from the  indebted poor people so that they  can find their way to financial stability.

Apart from debt removal option, there are ways of working with these people to reduce debt-induced poverty they are experiencing.

 

b) Ways of working with indebted poor households on debt issues

 

To work with indebted households on this matter, one may needs to recall their understanding of debt.  It is known that debt is the amount of money owed by a person (whether a physical or moral person) to another.

Whatever the reasons for which many poor people or households got into debt to meet the basic necessities of life, it is possible to work with them under the Financial Stability Campaign help them find their ways of getting out of debt to create or restore financial stability of their life, personal or household accounts.

For example, as part of the campaign to create or restore financial stability for the indebted poor households, we can undertake the following:

 

√ To avoid debt contracts that tie up households’ future or avoid household assets tied up in lenders’ and/or creditors’ hands and will

√ To minimise the risk of bad/toxic credits

√ To determine household income constraint and borrowing limits

√ To develop open policies to check and monitor debt contracts before agreements

√ To stop the transfer of intergenerational poverty through debt mechanism

√ To refrain from using any lending process that makes the future of any household to be at the mercy of lenders and creditors

√ To support poor households to exercise responsible financial controls on their level of spending to prevent the selling off of household future

√ To help these poor households have or regain controls of their lives and future.

 

In brief, this area of focus of our Financial Stability Campaign is about working with indebted poor households and others to help them improve their liquidity and working capital or their net current assets.  It means to work with them by making sure that their short-term assets are more than or equal to their current liabilities (or debts).  It is the ability to pay household short-term liabilities out of their current assets.

As part of this area of campaign, steps can taken to influence those who have the key to household debts so that those holding this key can do something about it, especially as we are dealing with poor or low income households who may not be in a position to pay debts at all.  Finally, this area of campaign is about how we can reduce or end poverty linked to or exacerbated by debts.

 

 

• CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum Discuses Poverty Reduction in Africa in 2023

How to regain the lost decades of poverty reduction in Africa

 

In this first debate of a series of discussions scheduled for 2023, we are discussing how Africa can regain the lost two decades of poverty reduction and how Africa-based Sister Organisations can make this regain possible and sustainable.

A combination of events and factors (like the last three years of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns, the cost-of-living crisis, climate change, conflicts, etc.) has wiped out years-long and hard-won results of poverty reduction in Africa.  As economies in Africa are back on track and looking for sustainable recovery, there is a need to explore and possibly lay the conditions for Africa to sustainably rebuild or recover the lost gain in terms of poverty reduction and produce even more poverty reduction in the future.

This need or concern can also be shared by our Africa-based Sister Organisations, particularly on how they can play a significant not-for-profit role in the process of regaining lost poverty reduction and building more of poverty reduction as we move throughout 2023 and in the years to come.  In their role, Africa-based Sister Organisations can look at how they can use their leverage as being the organisations working with the poor in Africa in making the regain even bigger, sustainable and poor people friendly.

The above are the terms of reference for our discussion.  For those who would like to join in or add their inputs to this first discussion of CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum for 2023, they are welcome to contact us at our usual address on this site.

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

• Programme de développement des donateurs (trices) et de l’intendance 2023 

Le processus et la stratégie recueillis du CENFACS en 2023 pour l’établissement de relations avec les donateurs (trices) et leur rétention comprennent deux domaines : les sollicitations de donateurs (trices) et les produits de donateurs (trices) correspondant à ces sollicitations.

• • Sollicitations de donateurs (trices)

Nous poursuivons notre sollicitation auprès de certains d’entre vous en tant que donateurs (trices) et/ou intendant(e)s de la lutte contre la pauvreté comme suit.

• • • Appel d’offres relatif au plan de développement des donateurs (trices) du CENFACS

Dans le cadre de ce plan, les donateurs (trices) peuvent établir des relations de qualité avec le CENFACS.

En cette Année d’influence sur la réduction de la pauvreté au sein de CENFACS, les donateurs (trices) développeurs peuvent nous aider de plusieurs façons, notamment :

σ Influencer les bonnes personnes engagées et informées sur notre travail

σ Faire fructifier nos dons au fil du temps

σ Nous aider avec la technologie comme le logiciel de gestion des donateurs (trices)

σ Augmenter les niveaux d’implication des bénéficiaires

σ Nous assister à gérer les attentes des donateurs (trices)

σ Nous aider dans les objectifs de développement des donateurs (trices) et les tâches telles que le soutien aux événements.

• • • Sollicitation relative au programme de gestion des donateurs (trices) du CENFACS

Dans le cadre de ce programme, vous pouvez nous aider dans les domaines suivants:

σ Gérer les donateurs (trices)

σ Établir et maintenir des relations et des communications durables avec ceux ou celles qui ont offert un cadeau à nos bénéficiaires ou à nous ou à nos causes nobles de réduction de la pauvreté

σ Permettre l’accès aux outils de gestion des donateurs (trices) et leur utilisation.

• • Produits de développement des donateurs (trices) proposés en 2023

Nous offrons les produits suivants à ceux ou celles qui souhaitent s’engager, développer leur intérêt, créer des liens et fidéliser le CENFACS et le travail du CENFACS.

Nous offrons au marché du développement des donateurs (trices) un statut de donateur (trice) pour permettre à ceux ou celles  qui veulent s’engager régulièrement à donner ou à renforcer leur statut de donateur (trice) d’avoir la possibilité de le faire.

Nous invitons ceux ou celles qui veulent s’engager en tant que bailleur (eresse) de fonds ou donateur (trice) à le faire.    Ils/elles  peuvent le faire en soutenant le CENFACS avec un don en argent, un grand soulagement et un suramplificateur du produit.

• • • Gratuit pour les supporters: Le Status Argent

Le statut Argent est l’héritage de l’année « Quadranscentenaire» du CENFACS (2019).  Il s’agir de soutenir nos projets comme vous le pouvez ou comme vous le souhaitez si vous les visitez ou si vous vous trouvez dans la région où ils se situent.  Cela renforcera votre soutien et vous aidera à gagner un statut d’argent en tant que partisan du CENFACS au cours d’une année d’influence du CENFACS.

Alternativement, vous pouvez financer l’Année d’influence du CENFACS pour gagner le même statut et poursuivre l’héritage du CENFACS.

• • • Vouloir apporter un grand soulagement en tant que supporter

Vous pouvez apporter un grand soulagement en devenant un donateur (trice) ou un(e) partisan(e) régulier (ère), en ajoutant de la valeur à votre soutien et en augmentant votre soutien.

Par exemple, en cette période difficile de la crise du coût de la vie, nous avons besoin de ceux ou celles qui peuvent fournir ce genre d’aide pour poursuivre notre action et sortir des perturbations causées par la crise du coût de la vie.

De nombreuses personnes et organisations sont intervenues pour soutenir leurs bonnes causes méritantes pendant cette période de tempête de la crise économique; vous pouvez faire de même en soutenant le CENFACS.

Veuillez contacter le CENFACS pour plus de détails sur la façon de devenir Grand(e) Releveur (se).

• • • Besoin de renforcer votre soutien ou votre intendance en tant que Suramplificateur (trice) du produit

Vous pouvez choisir une initiative ou un programme durable particulier ou même CENFACS comme Suramplificateur (trice) du produit.

Vous pouvez soutenir 3 projets ou 2 projets et CENFACS

Vous pouvez soutenir 3 programmes ou 2 programmes et CENFACS.

Cela élèvera votre position en tant que bailleur (eresse) de fonds de projet ou de programme ou de Suramplificateur (trice) de produit.

Pour plus de détails sur le renforcement de votre soutien ou de votre intendance, veuillez contacter le CENFACS.

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• The Polycrisis-impacted Children of East Africa Need Your Influence Right NOW

 

You can help halve poverty  in East Africa; you can help halve poverty for and with children at risk of loosing their life because of the detrimental effects of the poly-crisis on them.

 

This appeal includes two items:

 

a) Appeal summaries

b) How to donate.

 

• •  Appeal Summaries

 

The following summarises the data, needs, request, use, beneficiaries and outcomes that briefly make the case for halving poverty for and with children at risk of loosing their life due to the ill-fated effects of the spiralling interconnections between drought, extreme weather, displacement and insecurity.

 

• • • The data

 

Data and facts coming from key humanitarian agencies and local people in East Africa indicate that children there – in particular but not exclusively in Ethiopia, Somalia and South Susan – are severely affected by the multiple effects of several crises in this region.

From the work conducted by the International Rescue Committee (2), Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan are amongst the top 10 crises of the world.

UNICEF (op. cit.) argues that there are

“16.5 million children in Ethiopia who are severely affected and in need,

5.1 million children in Somalia who are disproportionally-harsh drought affected

4.7 million children in South Sudan, who are most vulnerable, have complex and chronic needs“.

According to the Humanitarian Response Plan (3),

“6.7 million people were facing severe acute food insecurity at national level in Somalia between October and December 2022;

about 20.4 million people are estimated to be severely food insecure in Ethiopia;

and about 6.3 million people in South Sudan are expected to face severe acute food insecurity between December 2022 and March 2023“.

Amongst these food insecure people are children, who continue to bear a heavy toll of conflict, drought, insecurity and displacement.

All the evidence and studies from key international and pan-African humanitarian agencies show that the children of Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan are at risk of losing their lives due to the deadly effects from the compound of complex and chronic crises.

 

• • • The Needs

 

The  needs for emergency life-saving support are 24 times more than average in East Africa where the livelihoods of children are severely affected.   These children need your life-saving help to meet their life-surviving need.

 

• • • The Ask

 

What it has been asked to you is your influence or power to have a positive effect on those who are holding the keys to solutions regarding the problems these children are facing, especially for problems that are man-made.

You can use your power to provide an emergency and life-saving support to the severely-affected livelihoods of children of East Africa, particularly but no exclusively those in Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan.

Your gift of Positive Influence will provide an emergency life-saving and enhancing relief to the Polycrisis-affected Children in Need in East Africa.

The outcome of your Positive Influence will benefit the severe food acute insecure of Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan.

 

• • • The Use

 

Your gift of Positive Influence will be used to secure the following:

 

√ Treat malnutrition in remote areas and or in refugee camps

√ Reduce the number of displaced children refugees

√ Supply life-saving food supplements for children, especially for those under 5

√ Support children in camps to go back to school instead of working or looking for food to support their families

√ Incentivize parents to send their children to school

√ Reduce child marriages for girls

√ End gender-based violence

√ Cut the number of trafficked children

√ Access nutritional and cash assistance

√ Provide clean water to vulnerable families

√ Train communities on malnutrition prevention

√ Set up mobile teams to treat malnutrition in remote areas

Etc.

 

• • •  The Beneficiaries of your Gift of Positive Influence

 

They include children who are…

 

σ  food insecure

σ  severely acutely malnourished 

σ refugees or displaced by drought-related and conflict-driven causes

σ at risk from malnutrition and starvation

σ at risk of dying from diseases such as measles or diarrhoea

σ experiencing wasting or severely wasted

σ as young as 12 forced to undergo female genital mutilation

σ at risk of trafficking

Etc.

 

• • • The Outcomes

 

With the influencing support to be received, the following changes will be expected:

 

√ Reduction in the number of child refugees  and in camps

√ Cut in numbers of food insecure children 

√ Better food supplements for children’s well-being and welfare

√ Reduction of malnutrition in remote areas

√ Increase in the number of girls not going to face female genital mutilation

√ Rise in the number of rescued children from climate-related threats and conflicts

√ More and better access to clean water for vulnerable children

√ More happy and healthy children of East Africa

Etc.

 

• • How to donate

 

To donate, please contact influential persons (or those having the keys) to reduce or solve the detrimental effects of the crises that the East African children are suffering from and make these persons reduce or end these negative effects on them.

You can as well influence the things or factors that determine these crises in order to create lasting favourable conditions towards an end to years-long crises, like conflicts or economic crises in Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan.

Please also let CENFACS know about your influencing work or contribution  you are or will be making and its outcome on behalf of the children or peoples of East Africa.

To let us know, you can contact CENFACS as follows:

*over phone

*via email

*through text

*by filling the contact form on this site. 

On receipt of your message or influencing donation, CENFACS will contact you for record and thank you for any influencing donation made.  However, should you wish your influencing support to remain anonymous; we will respect your wish.

Thank you in anticipation for your willingness to give your Positive Influence and help save the lives of the Polycrisis-impacted East African Children, especially but not exclusively those living in the polycrisis-affected areas of Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan.

 

_________

 

• References

 

(1) https://www.unicef.org/appeals (Accessed in January 2023)

(2) https://www.rescue.org/article/top-10-crises-world-cant-ignore-2023 (Accessed in January 2023)

(3) FAO (2022), Crop Prospects and Food Situation – Quarterly Global Report No. 4, December 2022, Rome (https://doi.org/10.4060/cc3233en) (Accessed in January 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 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 in 2023 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

18 January 2023

 

Post No. 283

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• FACS, Issue N0. 78, Winter 2022/2023: Promoting the Culture of Insurance Amongst Those in Need to Reduce Poverty in Africa 

• 2023 as a Year of Positive Influence to Poverty Reduction

• 2023 as a Year of Opportunities, Openings and Operations to Reduce Poverty by Africa-based Sister Organisations 

 

… And much more!

 

 

To donate or fund on 30 and 31 January 2023 as well as to share the Joy of Giving, please contact CENFACS on these days.

 

 

Key Messages

 

• FACS, Issue N0. 78, Winter 2022/2023: Promoting the Culture of Insurance Amongst Those in Need to Reduce Poverty in Africa

 

The key message of this New Year’s Issue of FACS, our bilingual newsletter, is that promoting the culture of insurance can help reduce poverty amongst the people in need in Africa in 2023 and beyond.

In this promotional effort to help the people in need master the culture of insurance and work for them, culture of insurance is approached from the perspective of the insured rather than from the insurance professionalism and companies.  The culture of insurance is also treated at the level of micro-insurance.

Culture is looked at from the point of view of social science or social scientists.  Our analysis of culture draws its inspiration from  what John Scott and Gordon Marshall (1) argue in their Oxford Dictionary of Sociology when referring to cultural anthropology.   They argue that

“The analysis of culture [can be undertaken] at three levels: learned patterns of behaviour; aspects of culture that act below conscious levels; and patterns of thought and perception” (p. 153)

By applying this perception of culture to insurance applicants on low or modest incomes, we can argue that it is possible to introduce and develop the idea of insurance to become a cultural resource or capital for those in need who may be insurance applicants.  It is possible for the needy to learn patterns of behaviour, thought and perception to help themselves by deciding by themselves how much insurance to buy for a well-defined risk.

This shared set of beliefs, attitudes, values, assumptions and rules for insurance behaviour and which are held by those using insurance services and products is what can be called the culture of insurance.  People in need can be included in that part of the society sharing this set of beliefs.

A good cultural transmission or education and distribution of insurance as a cultural resource or capital amongst those in need can help reduce poverty in Africa or elsewhere.  Poverty here is interpreted in absolute or subsistence terms as the poverty line, that is a threshold below which those in need are unable to meet their necessities for subsistence.  When people lack resources to buy a basic insurance policy, this could suggest that they are experiencing insurance poverty.

Promoting a culture of insurance amongst those lacking necessities in Africa can help to cross this line of poverty for an improved and advanced position of life.  It is about helping to enhance the poor’s experiences, perceptions, knowledge, attitude and understanding of insurance concepts, products and service providers.

To find out how this can be done, please read under the Main Development section of this post the key summaries and highlights making the 78th Issue of FACS.

 

 

• 2023 as a Year of Positive Influence to Poverty Reduction

 

To get good or expected outcomes from any efforts to reduce poverty does not necessarily mean one should heavily rely on financial means.  There are other means such as a positive influence that can add value to humanitarian aid for example.  We say positive influence as we all know that influence can also be negative.

So, 2023 will be dedicated as a Year of Positive Influence to Poverty Reduction  within CENFACS.  From this dedication, we hope that the needs of our users can be satisfied via the use of a positive influence to mobilise support and resources towards the meeting of their needs.

It is the year we are looking forward to working with the members of our community and Africa-based Sister Organisations via influencing skills, styles and models to help reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.  Influencing skills, styles and models will assist to approach crises and challenging situations to get the best outcomes for poverty reduction.

It is a year of using the fundamental principles of influencing others, especially those in the position of power, to better change things so that poverty reduction can be achieved for those who need it.  Poverty reduction does not always come by itself, unless those who are holding the key to it feel that positive influence is coming to them.  But, what do we mean by influence?

 

• • Understanding influence

 

There are many ways in which influence can be approached.  Concerning the dedication of this year as of Positive Influence to Reduce Poverty within CENFACS, we are referring to what the ‘Center for Creative Leadership’ (2) argues, which is:

“Influence is the ability to personally affect the actions, decisions, opinions, or thinking of others.  Ultimately, influence allows you get things done and achieve desired outcomes”.

The same ‘Center for Creative Leadership’ differentiates three key influencing tactics or ways to influence, which are: logical appeals (head), emotional appeals (heart) and cooperative appeals (hands).

 

• • Applying the 3 Hs (i.e., head, heart and hands) to appeal to influential figures

 

Throughout 2023, we shall use both our head, heart and hands to appeal to those who can (i.e., influential figures) to help us help reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.  It will be about positively influencing (that is, inspiring and motivating) these influential people by getting things done and achieve poverty reduction outcomes.

By the end of January 2023, there will be a project to implement this dedication.  The project will be a one-year initiative starting from week beginning 23 January to the end of December 2023.  However, for those who would like to know more about this dedication, they are free to enquire from CENFACS.  Likewise, for those who would like to support it, they are welcome to do so.

We hope you will work with us or be with us as we take journey in influencing influential people to get poverty reduced throughout 2023 and beyond.

 

 

 

 

• 2023 as a Year of Opportunities, Openings and Operations to Reduce Poverty by Africa-based Sister Organisations 

 

Every year brings along with it challenges and opportunities.  2023 does not make any exception as it brings both challenges and opportunities.  Africa-based Sister Organisations can do their own SWOT analysis to identify and determine the internal Strengths and Weaknesses of their organisations as well as the external Opportunities and Threats they may come across throughout 2023.

By focusing on opportunities and openings rather than on the other three elements of SWOT analysis, they can appraise their external environment and their presence in African markets of poverty reduction as well as formulate a strategy and develop their services to work with those in need in a new or improved direction.

2023 is also a year of getting back on track operations to reduce poverty after the three of the coronavirus pandemic.  In the last three years, many operations were scaled down or closed or simply abandoned because of the coronavirus.  Now that many of the activities and services have been curated across Africa after the coronavirus disaster, Africa-based Sister Organisations can seize the momentum of the New Year to resume or increase their operations.

For example, they can use the following possibilities to help further reduce poverty in Africa in 2023 by:

√ Helping to sensitize people to get COVID-19 vaccine since Africa has largely COVID-19 unvaccinated people

√ Assisting disease sufferers to gain access to medical treatments as far as the management of other diseases (like HIV-Aids, malaria, TB and diabetes) are concerned

√ Advocating for the end of violence in order to contain violence in conflict hotspots like in African Sahel and others

√ Campaigning for technology transfer to back up energy transition

√ Helping to cut down risks of worsening humanitarian crises like in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Mali, Niger, Cameroon, and so on

√ Supporting urban poor in terms of their demand for land use, housing, consumer goods and services regarding urbanisation

√ Accompanying poor people in their recovery efforts from the lingering effects of the coronavirus, the cost-of-living crisis and natural disasters (like in the flood-impacted people in the Democratic Republic of Congo)

√ Working with poor people to develop their digital skills via education and training in order to keep pace with digital revolution

√ Supporting indebted and income deficit poor people to restructure their income deficits and debts as far as the management of income deficits and debts are concerned

√ Assisting in African Diaspora’s money remittances or transfer schemes to those in need in Africa in the areas of international payments, travel and tourism

√ Working with more than 20 million people touched by famine and drought in East Africa

√ Helping poor people to formulate their human rights request/demand to make 2023 elections and transitions in Africa as processes that leave none, no need and no place behind

Etc.

The above possibilities show that Africa-based Sister Organisations can cautiously grab the opportunities and openings of the 2023 year in order to operate and further up their poverty reduction work and regain the lost hard-won poverty reduction results; lost results because of economic crises, climate change and  armed conflicts in Africa.

For those Africa-based Sister Organisations wanting to operate and work on these opportunities and openings but finding some difficulties to operate; they can discuss the matter with CENFACS so that together we can plan a 2023 market development strategy.

Need a market development strategy or plan in order to operate and better engage with the 2023 opportunities and openings; please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

Extra Messages

 

• The Season of Giving Continues with SHOPPING and DONATIONS

• Looking for Help and Support about Ways of Reducing Food Waste and Over Consumption

• Gifts of Peace Still Running

 

 

• The Season of Giving Continues with SHOPPING and DONATIONS at http://cenfacs.org.uk/shop/

 

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

You can donate or recycle your unwanted and unneeded goods gifts you received over the festive days to CENFACS’ Charity e-Store, the 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 Festive GOODS GIFTS and PRODUCTS to CENFACS Charity e-Store this January and Winter

√ SHOP at CENFACS Charity e-Store to support noble and deserving causes of poverty relief this January and Winter.

Your SHOPPING and or GOODS DONATIONS will help to the Upkeep of the Nature and to reduce poverty and hardships.

This is what the Season of Giving is all about.

 

 

 

• Looking for Help and Support about Ways of Reducing Food Waste and Over Consumption

 

The month of Responsible or Sustainable Consumption within CENFACS continues through our Advice-giving Service.

For those who are looking for support to reduce food waste and over consumption, they can get in touch with CENFACS’ Advice-giving Service.

Support under this service can be given in hybrid fashion by making an appointment with CENFACS.

To book an appointment, you can text, phone, e-mail and complete the contact form.

After making and agreeing an appointment, one of CENFACS volunteers will get in touch and assist those in need of support in terms of reducing food waste and over consumption.

 

 

• Gifts of Peace Still Running

 

Our Season of Giving through the Gifts of Peace has not yet finished.  The Gifts of Peace are nonetheless running.  We still have almost 1 week and 6 days to go until the end of this month. We are making a plea to those who have not yet managed to support to keep these gifts and our agenda for peace in their mind.

Although the deadline for the Season of Donation for these gifts is 31 January 2023, we will nevertheless accept any donations made after this deadline as there are always pressing needs that desperately request support.

Please do not wait for the expiration of the deadline as the needs are pressing and urgent.

For further details about these Gifts of Peace and or to support, go to http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/

We look forward to your support.  Thank you!

 

 

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

Vient de paraître cet hiver 2023:

Le 78e numéro de FACS dont le titre est…

Promouvoir la culture de l’assurance parmi les nécessiteux (ses) pour réduire la pauvreté en Afrique. 

Le message clé de ce premier numéro de FACS, notre bulletin bilingue, du Nouvel An  est que la promotion de la culture assurantielle peut aider à réduire la pauvreté parmi les personnes dans le besoin en Afrique en 2023 et au-delà.

Dans cet effort promotionnel d’ensemble pour aider les personnes dans le besoin à maîtriser la culture de l’assurance, la culture de l’assurance est abordée du point de vue de l’assuré(e) plutôt que du professionnalisme et des compagnies d’assurance.

La culture est ainsi considérée du point de vue des sciences sociales ou des scientistes sociaux.  Notre analyse de la culture s’inspire de ce que John Scott et Gordon Marshall (1) soutiennent dans leur Dictionnaire de Sociologie d’Oxford lorsqu’ils se réfèrent à l’anthropologie culturelle.   Ils font valoir que

« L’analyse de la culture [peut être entreprise] à trois niveaux : les modèles de comportement appris; les aspects de la culture qui agissent en dessous des niveaux conscients; et les schémas de pensée et de perception » (p. 153)

En appliquant cette perception de la culture aux demandeurs(ses) d’assurance, nous pouvons soutenir qu’il est possible d’introduire et de développer l’assurance pour qu’elle devient une ressource culturelle ou un capital pour ceux ou celles qui en ont besoin et qui peuvent être des demandeurs(ses) d’assurance.  Il est possible pour ceux ou celles qui en ont besoin d’apprendre des modèles de comportement, de pensée et de perception pour s’aider eux-/elles-mêmes en décidant d’eux/elles-mêmes du montant d’assurance à acheter pour un risque bien défini.

Une bonne transmission culturelle ou une bonne éducation et la distribution de l’assurance en tant que ressource culturelle ou capital parmi ceux ou celles qui en ont besoin peuvent aider à réduire la pauvreté en Afrique.  La pauvreté est ici interprétée en termes absolus ou de subsistance comme le seuil de pauvreté, c’est-à-dire un seuil en dessous duquel ceux/celles qui sont dans le besoin sont incapables de subvenir à leurs besoins de subsistance.  Quand les gens manquent de ressources pour acheter une police d’assurance de base, cela peut suggérer qu’ils sont en train de connaître une pauvreté assurantielle.

La promotion d’une culture de l’assurance parmi ceux/celles qui manquent de biens de première nécessité en Afrique peut aider à franchir cette ligne de pauvreté pour une position de vie meilleure et avancée.

Ceux ou celles qui sont intéressé(e)s à lire en détail la version entière en français de ce nouveau numéro de FACS peuvent contacter le CENFACS à notre adresse habituelle sur ce site internet.

 

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• FACS, Issue N0. 78, Winter 2022/2023: Promoting the Culture of Insurance Amongst Those in Need to Reduce Poverty in Africa 

 

The contents and key summaries of the 78^th Issue of FACS are given below.

 

• • Contents and Pages

 

I. Key Concepts Relating to the Promotion of the Culture of Insurance to the Needy (Page 2)

II. Key Theory Used in the 78th Issue of FACS: Theory of Insurance Demand (Page 2)

III. Insurance as Poverty Reducer or Alleviator (Page 3)

IV. Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) and their Advocacy for Affordable Insurance (Page 3)

V. Africa-based Sister Organisations and their Anti-insurance Poverty Work in Africa (Page 4)

VI. Africa-based Sister Organisations and their Beneficiaries’ Perception of Insurance (Page 4)

VII. Les catastrophes naturelles et la culture assurantielle des nécessiteux locaux in Africa (Page 5)

VIII. Téléphones portables, assurance et réduction de la pauvreté en matière d’assurance (Page 5)

IX. La corrélation entre le taux de pénétration de l’assurance pour les nécessiteux et le taux de réduction de la pauvreté parmi ces mêmes nécessiteux (Page 6)

X. La promotion de la culture de l’assurance des nécessiteux comme effet démultiplicateur des inégalités liées au manque d’accès à l’assurance (Page 6)

XI. Survey, Testing Hypotheses, E-questionnaire and E-discussion on the Culture of Insurance (Page 7)

XII. Support, Top Tool, Information and Guidance on the Culture of Insurance (Page 8)

XIII. Workshop, Focus Group and Enhancement Activity about Culture of Insurance (Page 9)

XIV. Giving and Project (Page 10)

 

• • Key Summaries

 

Please find below the key summaries of the 78^th Issue of FACS from page 2 to page 10.

 

• • • Key Concepts Relating to the Promotion of the Culture of Insurance to the Needy (Page 2)

 

There are three essential concepts that will help the readers of FACS to better understand the contents of the 78th Issue.  These concepts are the culture of insurance, the needy and insurance poverty.  These concepts will help readers of this Issue of FACS to better understand and identify the matters raised within it.  Let us look at each of these concepts.

 

• • • • Culture of insurance

 

It is the customs, ideas and art of deciding how much insurance to buy for a well-defined risk.  In this respect, the culture of insurance is approached from the perspective of the buyer of insurance rather than from that of those offering insurance products and services.

A deep understanding of the culture of insurance will make us to dig deep into the notion of culture in social science.  As we mentioned it in the key messages of this post,  John Scott and Gordon Marshall (op. cit.) argue that

“The analysis of culture [can be undertaken] at three levels: learned patterns of behaviour; aspects of culture that act below conscious levels; and patterns of thought and perception” (p. 153)

These learned patterns can be applied in the area of insurance.

The culture of insurance does not stay the same.  It can change from traditional to modern depending on the state of development of societies.  Since we are in the digital age, the culture of insurance has shifted from non digital to digital one, from people using papers to mobile phones to deal with their insurance policy and payment problems.

 

• • • • The needy

 

They are potential retail insurance consumers who are lacking insurance necessities such as an insurance policy cover, money to buy insurance policy, money to change insurance provider or service, the power to claim their insurance rights, etc.

They are the under insured or uninsured segments of societies in Africa.

They are as well those who are vulnerable to insurance services and products and are looking forward to sustainable solutions to their insurance problems.

 

• • • • Insurance poverty

 

In order to understand insurance poverty one may need to know both insurance and poverty.  According to John Scott and Gordon Marshall (op. cit.),

“Poverty is a state in which resources, usual material but sometimes cultural, are lacking” (p.588)

As to insurance, we can refer to what Christopher Pass and others (3) state in their Collins Dictionary of Economics, which is

“Insurance is a method of protecting a person or business against the financial consequences of loss of, and damage to, ASSETS through fire, theft, etc. (general insurance), and loss of life and limb (life and accident insurance)” (p. 254)

The two definitions can be put together to understand insurance poverty as the lack of resources to protect yourself against financial consequences of losses and damages.  Insurance poverty is also the inability to pay a basic insurance policy to cover yourself and or your belongings or injuries to other people or properties to reduce financial loss or hardship.

 

• • • Key Theory Used in the 78th Issue of FACS: Theory of Insurance Demand (Page 2)

 

To highlight this theory, let us briefly look at what Ulrich Schmidt thinks about it.  Ulrich Schmidt argues that

“The standard theory of decision making under risk, expected utility (EU) theory, is a subject will buy full insurance if and only if premiums are fair, i.e. equal expected losses”.

Ulrich Schmidt distinguishes EU theory from prospect theory.

Like in any theorisation process, there are those who agree with this theory, just as there are others who disagree.

For example, John A. Nyman (5) disagrees by saying that

“Expected utility theory holds that the demand for insurance is a demand for certainty, because under the conventional specification of the theory, it appears as if buyers of insurance prefer certain losses to actuarially equivalent uncertain ones.  Empirical studies, however, show that individuals actually prefer uncertain losses to actuarially equivalent certain ones”.

In one of its papers, John A. Nyman tries to reconcile expected utility theory with this empirical evidence by suggesting that insurance is demanded to obtain an income payoff in the ‘bad’ state.  As an example, he gives the theory of consumer demand for health insurance.

Despite some disagreements around the Expected Utility Theory, this theory stands up in many circumstances of life.  We are going to use it in the 78th Issue of FACS as it is a normative theory of decision making under risk management.

 

• • • Insurance as Poverty Reducer or Alleviator (Page 3)

 

Evidence across the world suggests that insurance can contribute to poverty reduction or alleviation.  In developing countries of Africa, medical and agricultural insurance programmes can help people avoid the risk of falling into poverty.  Insurance can protect farmers and other poor people from poor health and natural events such floods, torrential rain, drought, etc.

There could be correlation between insurance cover and poverty reduction.  However, the causality and redirection of this relationship can only be proofed using data in a particular context and time period.

Briefly speaking, with insurance cover there is a high probability that there would be less sufferings from financial loss due to life events.

 

 

 

• • • Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) and their Advocacy for Affordable Insurance (Page 3)

 

It may not feasible for ASOs to determine how much insurance those in need, who are their beneficiaries, can pay.  This will be the job or task of insurance brokers or professionals.  What is possible is that ASOs can advocate so that insurance contribution of their needy to be affordable.

Such advocacy will require working together with those who need affordable insurance to put their cases to insurance services providers and other players.  By advocating in this way, there could be a possibility for those who are excluded from the insurance world because of the lack of financial resources to be included in the insurance process in the future.

 

• • • Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) and their Anti-insurance Poverty Work in Africa (Page 4)

 

Besides advocating for affordable insurance for their beneficiaries, there are other areas of work that ASOs can undertake in order to reduce insurance poverty in Africa.  These other areas of work include the following:

√ Working with local insurers to adapt local needs and the needs of their beneficiaries in their insurance development agenda

√ Provide local insights and capacities to create insurance solutions for the needy

√ Help improve the risk management insight for the locals and local needs

√ Assist in the innovation of insurance solutions for the needy

√ Study the risk transfer mechanisms of their beneficiaries’ households

√ Support the closing of insurance or protection gap between the needy and the wealthy

√ Help in capturing metrics relating to insurance consumed by their beneficiaries

√ Search for potential insurance development within beneficiaries’ community

√ Contribute in the agenda to protect the needy from natural events like flooding, torrential rain, drought, etc.

The above mentioned ways of supporting will help to shake the boundaries of insurance poverty to make it come down.

 

• • • Africa-based Sister Organisations and their Beneficiaries’ Perception of Insurance (Page 4)

 

Insurance services are fundamental to people’s existence, whether these people are poor or rich.  Because of this fundamental feature of insurance, ASOs can work with their beneficiaries in a number of initiatives or activities to improve their perception of insurance services within their living area.

For instance, they can investigate the level of insurance-awareness within the community they serve.  In doing so, this could help bring or develop the culture of insurance to them.  What are other these initiatives they can undertake?

 

• • • • Initiatives or activities to improving insurance perception within the locals

 

They include the following:

√ Speaking and reporting about good practice of the use of insurance within their community

√ Developing insurance events to steer the culture of insurance within their community and to popularise insurance subjects

√ Training and educating volunteers in insurance education who could become ‘community insurance messengers‘

√ Developing practical activities to change the bad image and perception of insurance, if any, amongst their beneficiaries

√ Building the insurance capacity of those making their community to understand insurance services and products

√ Creating small activities or programmes for developing insurance investment skills

√ Running events to improve trust and confidence in insurance

√ Translating and interpreting insurance products (including insurance literacy and terminology) in local languages

√ Looking at the viability of insurance products and solutions for those in need

√ Setting up a strategic plan to improve the insurance perception within their community

Etc.

By working together with their beneficiaries in this way or other one, they can help to make progress regarding their beneficiaries’ image and perception of insurance.

 

• • • Les catastrophes naturelles et la culture assurantielle des nécessiteux locaux in Africa (Page 5)

 

Les catastrophes naturelles (telles que les pluies torrentielles et diluviennes avec inondations et dégâts matériels) se produiront toujours en Afrique dans des régions avec un climat propice aux phénomènes climatiques aléatoires.   Le problème épineux est celui de pallier aux conséquences parfois tragiques de ces événements désastreux, alors qu’on sait que les pays africains ont des ressources très limitées en la matière.

La vraie réponse à ce genre d’événements est d’améliorer les prévisions climatiques et climatologiques, sans oublier de réduire l’intensité des dommages qu’ils peuvent causer s’ils ne peuvent pas être évités ou prévus.

L’un des moyens d’y arriver est de développer des polices d’assurance disponibles, accessibles et abordables pour les sinistrés potentiels de ces événements.

Par exemple, à la mi-décembre 2022, Kinshasa (en République démocratique du Congo) a connu des pluies torrentielles avec une énorme inondation qui a fait environ 170 morts, selon les sources locales congolaises.  Bien que l’on puisse souligner le manque de politique et de pratique d’urbanisation pour faire face à ce type de catastrophe naturelle dans l’une des mégapoles africaines; il n’en reste pas moins que de nombreuses victimes ou victimes de cette catastrophe environnementale n’ont pas de couverture d’assurance pour faire face à ces dommages naturels.  Et pourtant, les gens peuvent souscrire une assurance contre les catastrophes ou les inondations.

À cet égard, travailler avec des personnes vulnérables aux catastrophes pour développer leur culture de l’assurance peut leur permettre à l’avenir de s’engager avec des produits et des instruments d’assurance pour répondre à leurs besoins en fonction de leurs moyens dans le temps.

 

 

• • • Téléphones portables, assurance et réduction de la pauvreté en matière d’assurance (Page 5)

 

Les téléphones mobiles peuvent aider à résoudre le problème de la communication dans le processus de réduction de la pauvreté en matière d’assurance afin d’atteindre les personnes difficiles à atteindre là où elles sont localisées.

Les téléphones mobiles peuvent aider les personnes pauvres qui en détiennent ou qui en ont à gérer le risque de tomber dans la pauvreté en raison du manque d’accès aux services et produits d’assurance.

À cet égard, un téléphone portable est un outil de gestion des risques et un réducteur de pauvreté d’assurance.  L’assurance, qui est un outil de transfert ou de répartition des risques naturels et financiers pour réduire les pertes ou les difficultés financières, peut avoir besoin d’un autre outil comme un téléphone mobile.

 

• • • La corrélation entre le taux de pénétration de l’assurance pour les nécessiteux et le taux de réduction de la pauvreté parmi ces mêmes nécessiteux (Page 6)

 

Il est possible de mesurer les progrès de la pénétration de l’assurance dans les régions modestes et pauvres d’Afrique par rapport aux efforts visant à réduire la pauvreté dans ces contextes.  Cette mesure peut être traduite en une corrélation entre le taux de croissance ou de pénétration de l’assurance dans ces contextes et le taux de réduction de la pauvreté.

Une telle mesure permettra de déterminer l’efficacité ou l’inefficacité d’une politique visant à promouvoir l’assurance auprès des personnes dans le besoin.  Cependant, pour y parvenir, cela nécessitera la collecte et le traitement de données numériques pour une population et une région données faisant l’objet d’une telle étude.

 

• • • La promotion de la culture de l’assurance des nécessiteux comme effet démultiplicateur des inégalités liées au manque d’accès à l’assurance (Page 6)

 

La promotion de la culture d’assurance des nécessiteux(ses) peut avoir des effets bénéfiques dans le processus de réduction des inégalités; les inégalités liées à l’accès, à la disponibilité et à l’abordabilité de l’assurance.

Cependant, pour que ce type de prestations soit réalisé, cela dépendra de nombreux éléments tels que le degré de couverture d’assurance et le type d’assurance.  L’activité de promotion peut également encourager l’allocation de ressources aux mêmes conditions nécessaires à son succès.   Car, pour éliminer une forme d’inégalités , cela peut demander une approche holistique prenant en compte d’autres facteurs déterminants.

Au fond, si l’on reste dans le domaine de l’assurance, il faut dire qu’encourager l’engagement des nécessiteux/ses pour se couvrir contre les accidents, les risques et les événements de la vie peut leur permettre de combler progressivement le vide en termes d’égalité.

 

• • •  Survey, Testing Hypotheses, E-questionnaire and E-discussion on the Culture of Insurance (Page 7)

 

• • • • Survey on the impact of insurance on households’ vulnerability to poverty

 

The purpose of this survey is to collect information from a sample of our user households regarding the impact of insurance on their vulnerability to poverty.  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:

√ How vulnerable are you to poverty as a result of the insurance cover you bought?

√ How vulnerable are you to poverty as a result of not having  insurance cover?

You can respond and directly send your answer to CENFACS.  For instance, you could say you are not vulnerable or averagely vulnerable or highly vulnerable to any of the above two questions.

To help people respond, they can think of any household items they recently or long ago bought  (like TV, washing machine, mobile phone, etc.) which led them to buy an insurance policy.

 

• • • • Testing Hypotheses about the impact of insurance on poverty reduction

 

For those of our members who are studied insurance or working on it and who would like to dive deep into the impact of insurance on poverty reduction, we have some insurance educational activities for them.  They can test the following assumptions:

a) Null hypothesis (Ho): Insurance does reduce vulnerability to poverty

b) Alternative hypothesis (H1): Insurance does not reduce vulnerability to poverty.

In order to conduct these tests, one needs data on the degrees of coverage and forms of insurance products of any particular population or community.

 

• • • • E-questionnaire on Actionable Information about the Culture of Insurance

 

Do you have enough information on the culture of insurance?  Please tick (√) as appropriate.

YES  [   ]

NO   [   ]

If your answer is NO, CENFACS can work with you via its Advice-giving Service (service which we offer to the community for free) to help you find the information you need on the culture of insurance.

 

• • • • E-discussion on the Effects of Insurance on Household Assets

 

Many households or families have to buy insurance policies to cover their assets or belongings.  These policies can affect these household assets

For those who may have any views or thoughts or even experience to share with regard 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, Top Tool, Information and Guidance on the Culture of Insurance (Page 8)

 

• • • • Ask CENFACS for Support regarding the Culture of Insurance

 

We do not run insurance services.  However, to support some members of our community who are experiencing some difficulties in dealing or choosing their insurance policies, we can work with them to direct them to support services available on the market that can respond to their insurance needs or just assist them.

We are/will doing it since we are in CENFACS‘ month of Responsible or Sustainable Consumption.  Also, we are currently dealing with insurance as a new topic of the first Issue of FACS in this New Year.

We try to seize every opportunity or moment of life to help reduce poverty.  In this particular context of the 78th Issue of FACS, we are exploring ways of helping our members to reduce risk or insurance poverty.  In doing so, we hope to increase and improve insurance-linked poverty reduction outcomes for our members.

If you are a member of our community and/or a retail insurance consumer, you can ask us for basic support regarding your insurance consumption problems.

Under CENFACS’ Advice-giving  Service, you can ask for basic support to deal with the struggle you are having to meet your insurance consumption matters.

 

• • • • Top Tool of the 78th Issue of FACS: Confidence Index of Insurance 

 

One of the tools we find that could be useful for our Africa-based Sister Organisations working with their beneficiaries in trying to find out how confidence they are in their journey to developing a culture of insurance in their life is Confidence Index of Insurance.  What is it?

A Confidence Index of Insurance is a barometer or gauge that provides people’s perceptions and expectations of the insurance services, products and industry.  It is based on people’s confidence survey made of a responding sample of a sizeable amount of questionnaires.  The index can help determine if the surveyed people are happy (optimistic) or unhappy (pessimistic) to buy insurance services provided or offered to them.

For example, this tool can help find the experiences of surveyed people regarding insurance matters such as raising queries, complaints and dispute resolutions when dealing with a particular insurance services provider or product.

Those of ASOs that would like to dive into this index, they can go ahead.  Those who would like to discuss the relevancy of this tool and its application, they can feel free to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• • • • Information and Guidance on Culture of Insurance and Insurance for the Poor

 

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

a) Information and Guidance on insurance training and education

b) Tips and hints to improve users’ insurance experience.

 

• • • • • Information and Guidance on ways of improving and developing via training and education of the ideals and practice of using insurance services and products

 

Training and education in the field of insurance can enhance beneficiaries’ interpersonal skills.  Both training and education can help improve the following:

√ Communication and negotiation skills

√ Problems solving and analytical abilities

√ Relationship skills with insurance services providers

√ Statistical literacy ability to understand basic insurance maths and jargon

Etc.

Training and education can enable to know if insurance is available, accessible and affordable for the insurance poor.

 

• • • • • Tips and hints to improve users’ experience with insurance services providers

 

How to be satisfied with insurance services providers

 

There are ways that any of the members of our community can use to improve their experience when dealing with insurance services.  They include the following:

√ Avoid difficult claims processing insurance services

√ Check for free support since you are looking for affordable service

√ Search for insurance provider with a good conversational reputation

√ Find insurance services provider who deals with people with similar problems like yours

√ Look for service providers who have a policy renewal that is friendly to the people in need

Etc.

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

Additionally, you can request from CENFACS a list of organisations and services providing help and support in the area of insurance for the poor, although the Issue does not list organisations and institutions that provide insurance cover.  Before making any request, one needs to specify the kind of organisations they are looking for.

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

 

• • • Workshop, Focus Group and Enhancement Activity about Culture of Insurance (Page 9)

 

 

• • • • Mini Themed Workshop

 

Boost your knowledge and skills about culture of insurance via CENFACS.   The workshop aims at supporting uninsured or inadequately insured to gain the skills to make their own choices between affordable insurance services and high out-of-pocket cost ones.  It will help to plan and check their insurance decision making policy.

To enquire about the boost, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• • • • Focus Group on the Promotion of Insurance Culture

 

You can take part in our focus group on whether or not enough has been done to encourage needy people to learn and know about insurance products available for them and adopt them as their way of living as they would do with their banking customs.

To take part in the focus group, please contact CENFACS.

 

• • • • Winter Insurance Confidence Activity

How confident are you in making your coverage choices to buy insurance products to cover any aspects of your life?

 

You can use the Confidence Index of Insurance to help you find out your risk-aversion and vulnerability to insurance products and services offered to you.

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.

 

• • • • Insurance Skills Development Project (ISDP)

 

ISDP is a basic literacy and numeracy project to build and develop skills and capacities in the form of training and education relating to the culture of insurance for the uninsured poor people and communities in Africa.

This insurance project aims at reducing insurance poverty and hardships due to the lack or inadequacy of insurance policy cover or to the lack of understanding of insurance services and products offered to them..

The skills, knowledge and capacities to be acquired will help the uninsured or inadequately insured to understand insurance services and products offered to them, make informed choices regarding their own insurance coverage and improve risk management insights for themselves.

To support or contribute to ISDP , please contact CENFACS.

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

The full copy of the 78^th Issue of FACS is available on request.  For any queries and comments about this Issue, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

_________

 

• Reference for readers of FACS Bilingual Newsletter

Issue Title: Promoting the Culture of Insurance amongst the Needy to Reduce Poverty in Africa in 2023/ Issue No.: 78 / Month & Year of Publication: January 2023 / Publisher: CENFACS.

 

_________

 

• References for the post No. 283

 

(1) Scott, J. & Marshall, G. (2009), Oxford Dictionary of Sociology, Oxford University Press, Oxford & New York

(2) https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/three-ways-to-influence-people (Accessed in January 2023)

(3) Pass, C., Lowes, B. & Davies, L. (1988), Dictionary of Economics, HarperCollins Publishers, Collins London & Glasgow

(4) Schmidt, U. (2012), Insurance Demand under Prospect Theory: A Graphical Analysis, in Kiel Working Papers, Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Hindenburgufer 66, 24105 Kiel, Germany (www.ifw-kiel.de)

(5) Nyman, J. A. (2001), The Demand for Insurance: Expected Utility Theory from a Gain Perspective, Discussion Paper No. 313, Department of Economics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN55455

 

_________

 

• 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 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 in 2023 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

11 January 2023

 

Post No. 282

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Light Season’s Resources, Projects and Programmes

• Financial Stability Campaign 2023, In Focus: Finding Extra Income to Cover Basic Expenses

• Giving Hope to the Children in Need in the Eastern Part of the Democratic Republic of Congo

 

… And much more!

 

 

30 and 31 January 2023 are two days of opportunity for donors/funders who would like to give to conclude the festive giving periods at CENFACS.  These are the days of uplifting, joy and happiness or simply feeling better for donors and funders who would like to invest in deserving causes like CENFACS’ noble ones of poverty reduction.  

To donate or fund on 30 and 31 January 2023 as well as to share the Joy of Giving, please contact CENFACS on these days.

 

Key Messages

 

• Light Season’s Resources, Projects and Programmes

 

Last week, we listed projects and programmes to be carried out in January 2023.   This week, we are unveiling more projects and programmes including resources.  The last week’s listed projects and the ones to be unveiled below will all make our Light Season 2023.

In both last week’s and this week’s listings, there are two types of projects and programmes, which are:

a) Specifically designed projects and programmes (such as humanitarian appeals) to feature CENFACS’ Light Campaign/Advocacy,  to bring and carry the message of hope through a Blaze of Hope 

b) Seasonal projects and programmes that just fall within the Season of Light, which is from 21 December in the preceding year (e.g., 2022) to 21 March in the following year (e.g., 2023).

Under the Main Development section of this post, we have provided further details about the Light Season’s Resources, Projects and Programmes.

 

 

• Financial Stability Campaign 2023, In Focus: Finding Extra Income to Cover Basic Expenses

 

Our Financial Stability Campaign 2023 has three areas of focus, which are: a) finding extra income to cover basic expenses b) paying off debts c) saving for emergencies.  This week, we are dealing with the first area of focus of our Financial Stability Campaign 2023.

 

• • Finding Extra Income to Cover Basic Expenses

 

Our first area of focus is on Finding Extra Income to Cover Basic Expenses for those who do not have enough income.

Indeed, many poor people, households and families do not have enough income to cover basic expenses.  Basic expenses are a sum of money spent or to be spent on basic life-sustaining needs such as food, energy, accommodation, health, drink, transport, clothing, education, etc.

If their income is not enough, then these poor people, households and families are bound to find money somewhere else in order to cover the expenses for their basic life-sustaining needs.  To find income, one may try to understand the meaning of income.

 

 

• • • What is an income?

 

In the context of our Financial Stability Campaign 2023, income can be understood in the way Christopher Pass et al (1) define it as

“Money received by individuals, firms and other organisations in the form of wages, salaries, rent, interest, commissions, fees and profit, together with grants, unemployment benefit, old age pensions, etc.” (pp. 276-277)

The same Christopher Pass et al explain that disposable income is

“The amount of income which a person has available after paying income tax, national insurance contributions and pension contributions.  The amount of a person’s disposable income has an important effect on the ability to buy products” (p. 181).

We are going to use the two definitions during our campaign and when working with the community on financial stability matter.

 

 

• • • Where to find income

 

Income can come from various sources as its definition tells us.  However, one of the problems that income poor households face is that their sources of income is not enough sufficient or diversified to enable them to cover their basic expenses.  They do not have enough sources of income or enough income to meet their living expenses.

To enable them to increase and improve their sources of income or simply their income, we will be working with them on individual basis and on case-by-case about the ways of finding enough or extra income to meet the expenses of their basic life-sustaining needs.  This is the first area of focus of our  Financial Stability Campaign 2023.

To support this campaign, please contact CENFACS.

To ask for help or enquire about the first area of our focus, please do not hesitate to communicate with CENFACS as well.

 

 

• Giving Hope to the Children in Need in the Eastern Part of the Democratic Republic of Congo

 

Our Season of Giving and Sustaining Hope for a better future continues as we advocate for the reaching out to the children in need in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

As we explained in the last week’s post, our areas of work or need in 2023 include the Eastern side of the Democratic Republic of Congo.  In this part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, almost 15.4 million children are in need, according the United Nations Children’s Fund (2).  They are in need because of protracted crises and are bearing the brunt of an escalation in armed conflicts and recurrent disease outbreaks, from the point of view of the same United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

It makes sense to respond to UNICEF’s call and whoever appeals to help these children.  2023 could be different for these children if one steps up and responds to their genuine acute needs and to appeals made with and on their behalf by individuals and /or organisations, like UNICEF is doing.

We would like to ask assistance for those who are helping these children to finish the work they have already started.

In these toughest times, your support can contribute to break the cycle of humanitarian crises  they are experiencing.

May we request to help us too help these crisis-impacted children living in crisis settings.

Please lend us your hand to reach them out via your giving.

Let us give hope to these poor children who badly need aid.

To support and or enquire about this appeal, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Digital and Social Media Campaign (Level 6)

• Poverty Reduction Show in 2023

• Goal for the New Year and January Month

 

 

• Digital and Social Media Campaign

Level 6: Digital and Social Media Insights

 

The next level of our Digital and Social Media Campaign is about Insights.

Whenever we deal with the digital world and social media platforms, they provide some information, messages and data to understand, analyse, evaluate and report for our own needs.  There are insights that one may need to understand.  But, what is insight?

 

• • Defining insight

 

Our definition of insight comes from Chambers Combined Dictionary Thesaurus (3) which states that

“Insight is the ability to gain a relatively rapid, clear, and deep understanding of the real, often hidden , and usually complex nature of a situation, problem, etc.” (p. 663)

As Carolyn Sansom (4)  puts it:

“Insight is analysed information”.

It is also what ‘datarobot.com’ (5) argues about, which is

“Insights are the output”.

This set of definitions will be used to deal with digital and social media insights, particularly in generating actionable insights.  In other words, we are going to work with the members of  our community so that they can better understand the real nature of data during their journey throughout the digital world and social media platforms.  It will also be about the power that data is having on them.

Many households do this sort of exercises in trying to understand their lives without sometimes knowing they are carrying out data insights.  To better undertake insights, it may require some skills.

 

• • Insight skills to reduce poverty

 

This level of working will be about using some skills to simplify complex data and information so that users can easily understand them and help them in the process of reducing poverty linked to the lack of understanding of what the digital and social media worlds are telling them as messages.

To enquire and or to support the level 6 of our Digital and Social Media Campaign, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Poverty Reduction Show in 2023

 

Showing that poverty reduction is happening despite the events like the cost-of-living is an extra message we would like to share with our users, Africa-based Sister Organisations and other stakeholders.

This 2023, we would like our local people and Africa-based Sister Organisations to show or showcase via a variety of evidences, testimonies, cases, films, videos, news and examples of poverty reduction that poverty reduction has happened and continues to happen despite the lingering effects of the coronavirus and the cost-of-living crisis. 

Poverty reduction show can add value to stories of poverty reduction we normally run.

Through this showing exercise, we hope to build a better picture of these poverty reduction cases with features, similarities, differences, patterns and trends for learning and development experience about our system of poverty reduction.  It is about proofing and acknowledging that poverty reduction does happen in real life.

To show or share your experience on how poverty reduction has happened to you or those you know despite the lingering effects of the coronavirus and the cost-of-living crisis, please contact and share it with CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Goal for the New Year and January Month

 

Our Goal for the New Year and January Month is to reduce poverty linked to food waste and over consumption.

Indeed, reducing food waste and loss can contribute to the reduction of poverty.  Food wasted can be donated to help meet food demand and nutritional needs of the income-poor and food poor people.  Likewise, cutting the excess use of renewable resources can assist in reducing poverty.

The above is our poverty reduction goal for the New Year and for January 2023, which we are asking to our audiences and supporters to help or promote.  It is also a life or impact goal to navigate our way out of food crisis and climate crisis.

For those of our audiences and supporters who are very ambitious, they can even take this goal as their resolution for 2023.

 

 

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

À paraître cet hiver

Le prochain numéro (le 78ème numéro) de FACS  pour ce Nouvel An s’intitulera comme suit:

Promouvoir la culture assurantielle parmi les nécessiteux(ses) pour réduire la pauvreté en Afrique.

Résumé de ce prochain numéro de FACS –

D’une manière générale, dans les pays africains en développement, les parents et les personnes pauvres comptent sur leurs enfants et les membres de leur famille élargie ou communauté pour se protéger contre les dommages ou le vol de biens personnels, ainsi que contre la mort, la vie et les blessures accidentelles.  Ce problème de dépendance à l’égard des enfants et de la communauté se retrouve également parmi les membres de la diaspora africaine.

Il y a des raisons qui poussent beaucoup de ces pauvres parents et personnes à agir de cette façon.  Sans entrer dans ces raisons qui pourraient être légitimes pour certains d’entre eux, le numéro 78 de FACS portera sur les façons de travailler avec ces familles et personnes pauvres afin qu’elles puissent adopter la culture ou la voie de l’assurance, que cette assurance provienne d’une compagnie d’assurance ou d’un courtier / agent d’assurance ou de leur gouvernement aussi longtemps que la police d’assurance leur est disponible, accessible et abordable.

Travailler avec ces pauvres de cette manière peut améliorer leur façon dont ils perçoivent de nombreux sujets entourant l’assurance comme le revenu, le logement, l’emploi, la maladie, etc. contre les dommages et les risques.  Notre travail avec eux portera sur la façon dont ils peuvent être actifs dans le traitement de toute couverture d’assurance censée les couvrir ainsi que pour réduire la pauvreté et les difficultés liées à l’absence de toute couverture d’assurance contre les dommages et les risques à rencontrer.

Frais d’assurance; ce n’est pas bon marché.  Cependant, sans assurance, la vie pourrait être à haut risque.  Même lorsque les gens sont pauvres, ils ont toujours besoin d’une assurance pour couvrir ce qu’ils font en tant qu’activités, eux-mêmes et quiconque ou ce qui est lié à eux.  Il n’est pas surprenant que la Banque mondiale (6) affirme que

« L’assurance atténue les effets économiques d’événements tels que la maladie, le décès, l’invalidité, l’incendie, le vol et les catastrophes naturelles sur les individus, les ménages ou les entreprises.  Ce faisant, l’assurance aide les gens à éviter la misère, à lisser leur consommation, à protéger leurs actifs et à poursuivre des activités économiques et des investissements à haut rendement ».

Le numéro 78 de FACS se basera sur la collaboration avec les personnes non assurées pour faire de l’utilisation des services d’assurance qui leur sont fournis devient une coutume ou un art de vivre.  En d’autres termes, il est possible d’améliorer et de développer par la formation et l’éducation les idées et les pratiques de l’utilisation des services d’assurance dans le cadre de la vie quotidienne.

Le numéro 78 de FACS examinera les théories de l’assurance et la façon dont elles s’appliquent aux pauvres, en particulier ceux qui travaillent avec nous et nos organisations sœurs basées en Afrique.  À cet égard, la culture de l’assurance parmi ceux qui en ont besoin sera abordée du point de vue de la micro-assurance, c’est-à-dire l’utilisation des services d’assurance par ceux qui en ont besoin ou les pauvres.  Elle sera traitée du point de vue de l’utilisateur des services d’assurance plutôt que du point de vue du prestataire de services d’assurance.  La question de la contribution abordable des assurés pauvres sera également soulevée.

Comme nous sommes maintenant en 2023, une culture assurantielle peut être l’une des résolutions que l’on pourrait prendre non seulement pour mieux démarrer et vivre en 2023, mais aussi pour réduire la pauvreté liée à l’absence de couverture des polices d’assurance.  Ainsi, la protection des personnes dans le besoin contre les pertes financières résultant de dommages ou de vols de biens personnels, de décès et de blessures peut être incluse dans le processus de réduction de la pauvreté et de renforcement du développement durable.

Dans la pratique, on peut penser à tout dommage causé par des intempéries à la vie ou aux biens des pauvres.  Sans aucune couverture d’assurance pour ce type d’événement de changement climatique, cela ne peut qu’exacerber la pauvreté si les victimes de ce temps mouvementé sont les pauvres.  Cet événement pourrait même être très dommageable si les victimes perdaient leurs biens et qu’il y avait des tragédies.

Par exemple, à la mi-décembre 2022, Kinshasa (en République démocratique du Congo) a connu des pluies torrentielles avec une énorme inondation qui a fait environ 170 morts, selon les sources locales congolaises.  Bien que l’on puisse souligner le manque de politique et de pratique d’urbanisation pour faire face à ce type de catastrophe naturelle dans l’une des mégapoles africaines; il n’en reste pas moins que de nombreuses victimes ou victimes de cette catastrophe environnementale n’ont pas de couverture d’assurance pour faire face à ces dommages naturels.

Plus de détails sur le 78e numéro de FACS seront donnés cet hiver. Cependant, pour ceux ou celles qui voudraient se renseigner à ce sujet avant qu’il n’apparaisse, n’hésitez pas à contacter le CENFACS.

 

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• Light Season’s Resources, Projects and Programmes

 

The following highlights the Light Season’s Resources, Projects and Programmes:

 

∝ What are Light Season’s Resources, Projects and Programmes?

∝ Types of Light Season’s Initiatives

∝ Basic Implementation Plan for the Light Season’s Initiatives.

 

We can now consider each of the three items.

 

• • What are Light Season’s Resources, Projects and Programmes?

 

They are a stock of assets (resources) together with a set of interdependent tasks (projects) and related activities (programme) designed to help meet the aim of poverty reduction either within the Lights Season and/or beyond it depending on the types of a given resource, project and programme.  In other words, whether it is about resources or projects or even programmes, the unified aim is to help reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.

 

• • Types of Light Season’s Initiatives

 

There are two types, which are:

 

(a) Specifically designed initiatives to bring message of hope or a Blaze of Hope

(b) Seasonal initiatives falling within the Season of Light.

 

• • • Specifically designed initiatives to bring message of hope or a Blaze of Hope

 

They include two waves of intervention or Blazes of Hope, which are:

(a) Appeals to deal with the unfinished business of previous destruction and disruption brought by the coronavirus, wars, natural disasters and recently the cost-of-living crisis

(b) Appeals linked to seasonally erupted events or effects from health disasters (like the coronavirus), armed conflicts, economic crises, climate change and natural disasters

For example, the Appeal to Give Hope to the Children in Need in the Eastern Part of the Democratic Republic of Congo is at the same time for unfinished business of humanitarian work and any potential eruption of insecurity crisis in the New Year.  As the International Rescue Committee (7) puts it:

“Major disease outbreaks [in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo] – including measles, malaria and Ebola – continue to threaten an already weak health care system, putting many lives at risk”.

 

• • • Initiatives falling within the Season of Light

 

They consist of the following:

 

√ Consume to Reduce Poverty (Issue No. 11) with a Focus on the Reduction of Food Waste and Over Consumption

√ 2022 Year-end Financial Controls as Tools for Poverty Reduction

√ Financial Stability Campaign 2023

√ The Not-for-profit Investment Outlook of Africa in 2023

√ Nature Projects (New)

√ Nature-based Solutions to Poverty

√ Debt reduction advocacy

√ 3 Tiers or Levels of security

√ Climate actions.

 

The above initiatives are not the only ones for the Season of Light.  During the season, we may cancel or reduce the scope of some initiatives if we realise that the problem they were supposed to resolve are no longer there.  Likewise, we may add new or recurring initiatives depending on the events within the community we serve.  The worksheet below provides some indication in terms of initiatives implementation plan.

 

• • Basic Implementation Plan for the Light Season’s Initiatives

 

As we go along the Light Season, the following implementation plan consisting of eleven initiatives will be effective.

11 initiatives to implement the Light Season 2023 

There are three observations to make from the above implementation plan, which are:

a) Since new nature goals were agreed at the 2022 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (8), our Generation Global Goals Project (that is, African Children, Climate and Sustainable Development Goals) now includes the nature element in it

b) Nature Projects are our new initiative not only to feature the Season of Light, but also to volunteer for a sustainable use of natural resources while trying to reduce poverty

c) The next level of our Digital and Social Media Campaign (Level 6) is on Data Insights.

 

This initial implementation plan for the Light Season’s initiatives can change depending on the circumstances, events and conditions.  If one notices that some of the initiatives inserted in the plan/worksheet are not listed under Types of Light Season’s Initiatives, this is not a big issue.  What is important is the deliverables of those scheduled within the plan.

For those who would like to discuss any of these planned initiatives or any aspects of the plan; they can contact CENFACS.

To support and or enquire the Light Season’s Resources, Projects and Programmes for 2023, please contact CENFACS.

_________

 

• References

 

(1) Pass, C., Lowes, B., Pendleton, A. & Chadwick, L. (1991), Collins Dictionary of Business, HarperCollinsPublishers, Glasgow 

(2) https://www.unicef.org/appeals/drc (Accessed in January 2023)

(3) Chambers Combined Dictionary Thesaurus (1997), Manser, M. & Thomson, M. (Editors), Chambers Harrap Publishers

(4) Carolyn Sansom at https://www.grantthornton.co.uk/insights/six-key-skills-for-turning-data-into-insight/ (accessed in November 2022)

(5) https://www.datarobot.com/blog/what-are-data-insights/ (accessed in November 2022)

(6) https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/90791146812024/insurance-for-the-poor (Accessed in January 2023)

(7) https://www.cbd.int/article/cop15-cbd-press-release-final-19dec2022 (Accessed in January 2023) 

(8) https://www.rescue.org/article/top-10-crises-world-cant-ignore-2023 (Accessed in January 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 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 in 2023 and beyond.

With many thanks.