Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

28 December 2022

 

Post No. 280

 

 

The Week’s Contents of the Last Post of 2022

 

• 2022 Year-in-review Report

• Year-end Triple Action Giving: Peace, Hope and Difference

• Year-end Advice-giving Service

 

… And much more!

 

 

Festive Season’s Key Messages

 

• 2022 Year-in-review Report

 

The above mentioned report is an evaluation of what happened in this ending year (2022).  It is not an annual report or an annual return.  The report, which is a brief summary of 2022, will help to learn what went well and what did not go well within and around CENFACS, as well as how we can engage our charitable objects in 2023 and beyond.

This year-end post, which is the 52^nd one, is therefore about covering the events of the year 2022 from the perspective of recapping the year for CENFACS’ audiences, followers and supporters, as well as from the point of view of CENFACS’ contribution to poverty reduction and sustainable development.

Under the Main Development section of this post you will find key highlights of CENFACS’ 2022 Year-in-review Report.

 

 

 

• Year-end Triple Action Giving: Peace, Hope and Difference

 

• • What is the Season’s Relief Triple Action Giving?

 

It is about fighting poverty and hardships in a number of fronts over the Festive Season, particularly by helping…

(a) to bring peace,

(b) to create hope

(c) and to make a difference.

 

Let us briefly explain each of the three givings (that is, peace, hope and difference). 

 

• • • Peace via the Gifts of Peace

 

Our celebratory theme for the Season’s Reliefs is Peace and continues to be alive to the end of this season.  The Gifts of Peace, which are one of CENFACS‘ festive favourites, are the set piece of the Season’s Reliefs that provides the absence of conflicts within ourselves as well as between us and others.

In terms of projects and programmes in Africa, the Gifts of Peace try to support poor people and communities so that they can navigate their ways towards freedoms from wars, armed conflicts, coronavirus disturbance and disorder from natural events.

For those who are looking for fundraising appeals or projects to fund as festive gifts over this festive time, Gifts of Peace as an appeal is a valuable proposal they could consider.

To enquire about and or fund the Gifts of Peace, please contact CENFACS.

 

• • • Hope through the Gift of Light

 

Our theme for the Season of Light is Hope and is still featuring what we have planned to achieve over this season.   The Gift of Light helps to bring hope to those who are in the darkness and need some lights to see life through other ways.

Regarding the projects and programmes in our sphere of operation in Africa, through the Gift of Light we try to work with hopeless, desperate and destitute people and communities so that they can rebuild confidence and faith in themselves and continue to believe that they can find light and move away from darkness in the future.

 

• • • Difference by means of Charity e-Store

 

Shopping and donating goods at our Charity e-Store is the third giving.

We are asking goods donors and buyers to DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THIS SEASON by undertaking these following options:

∝ Safe collection of goods for recycling: We can arrange for goods to be safely collected at an agreed location, day and time under our Recycle and Give policy

∝ Goods buyers can Click and Collect.

Every time you shop at CENFACS’ Charity e-Store, you make a helpful difference to people in need over this festive time.  Amongst these people are those who are trying to fight poverty induced by the cost-of-living crisis.

The above are the Season’s Relief Triple Action Giving.  Each of these action givings will help to reduce poverty over the festive period and beyond.

We can only help reduce and possibly end multi-dimensional poverty as well as poverty induced by the cost-of-living crisis if you help us to do so.   And this time of the year is a unique opportunity for you once a year to change lives through your invaluable action giving, however small it may be.

Please, don’t miss this marvellous opportunity of the year and the end of the year.  There is a high demand for poverty reduction.

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

The above-mentioned Year-end Triple Action Giving or End of Year Fundraising Campaign continues until the last day, hour, minute and second of 2022.

For those who would like to donate to our End-of-year Asks and any other festive projects or campaigns or even causes before 2022 ends, please do not hesitate to donate.   You can still make a helpful difference before 31/12/2022.

To donate, just contact CENFACS with your donation by any of these means of communications: text, phone, e-mail and contact form on this website.

 

 

• Year-end Advice-giving Service

 

The Festive Season’s Arrangements below explain that we are in holiday break until the 5^th of January 2023.   However, some of our projects and campaigns are either self-running or designed to run throughout the holiday season like the festive holiday.  One of these holiday projects is the Advice-giving one.

Indeed, during the festive period not everybody or member of our community can afford to celebrate on the New Year’s Eve.  There are people who still need accommodation, food, income, guidance, support, help against loneliness, etc.  They may also need life-saving support of various kinds to cope and survive while other people, the lucky ones, are busy preparing themselves for the New Year’s Eve festivities.

Because of this on-going need and demand within the community, we have maintained a minimum level of advice-giving service to e-work with those who desperately need advice to reduce poverty or any type of hardships they are facing and do not have anywhere else to ask for help and advice, especially at this time of the cost-of-living crisis.

If you are one of our members and facing serious hardship during the festive period, you can e-contact CENFACS for advice, guidance and support. 

If you are not one of our members and would like to discuss this year-in-review project, please still e-contact CENFACS.

 

Festive Season’s Extra Messages

 

• Festive Season’s Arrangements: from 23 December 2022 to 5 January 2023

• Help for your Year-in-review Accounts

• E-discussing Volunteering for Nature and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty and Supporting All in Development Volunteer Scheme 

 

The above figure or table shows what is on between 23/12/2022 and 05/01/2023.  For those who want to get a further picture about what will be happening within CENFACS during the remaining days of December 2022, we recommend them to read our three last posts on the Blog page of this site.

 

• Festive Season’s Arrangements: from 23 December 2022 to 5 January 2023

 

The following are the arrangements we have made for the above stated period.

 

• • Queries and enquiries

 

During the festive holidays, we will only handle online queries and enquiries until the 5th of January 2023.  However, our All-in-Development Winter e-discussion on Volunteering for Nature Goals and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty is still on until the 5th of January 2023 as planned.

 

• • Opening hours and days: 24/7

 

We are open online 24 hours and 7 days of week.

 

• • Visits

 

You can only visit us online.

 

• • Festive donations

 

Our festive campaigns highlight not only the projects and activities that are related to CENFACS’ demand, but also and mostly to the needs and asks of those living in poverty around this time of the year and of the continuing disruption of the cost-of-living crisis.

Those who want to donate to our fundraising campaigns and projects (such as Gifts of Peace and Knowledge Gift); they are welcome to do so.

Their festive support or donations will help bring a Blaze of Hope and Peace to those in need, particularly at this challenging time of the cost-of-living crisis.

As well as donating, there are other ways one can support.  These other ways range from spreading the message about CENFACS’ work and campaigns to visiting our online store for shopping.

All the above initiatives can create magical reliefs during this Festive Season and disturbing moment of the cost-of-living crisis.

 

• • Season of Light

 

Although our Season of Light has just kicked off, some of our services and activities (such as advocacy, in-person fundraising events, etc.) as well as development campaigns are scaled down until the 5^th of January 2023.

 

• • What’s on from 23 December 2022 to 5 January 2023!

 

Since 23 December 2022 we have broke for the festive holidays.  However, there are projects that are essential including in festive times.  One of them is advice-giving one, which will still be run online.

This is because evidence shows that in any difficult moments of human history or crisis, the poorest always suffer.  They do not have festive celebration as such, just as they could be the ones bearing the brunt of the most negative socio-economic effects of the cost-of-living crisis.  Many of them need support which includes advice at any time.

 

• • Delays regarding call and e-mail responses

 

People should expect delay from us in responding to their calls and e-mails.  We heavily rely on volunteers for most of our services, who are sharing the Winter e-discussion with us during this Festive Time.  Some of them are already on holiday.

 

• • Emergency and exceptions

 

In case of emergency or exceptional circumstances, please do not hesitate to text, phone, e-mail and complete the contact form on CENFACS’ website.  We will respond to your message as soon as we can.

We apologize for any inconvenience or upset this may cause.

We thank you all for your invaluable and sustained support during 2022 and look forward to your continued and further support in the New Year.

We wish you a Very Healthy, Safe and Peaceful Festive Season!

 

 

• Help for your Year-in-review Accounts

How to successfully close your end-of-year personal or family accounts and get prepared for the New Year accounts before the end of financial year

 

We do not only carry out our own accounts review.  We also work with users to review their accounts at the end of each year.

It is theoretically known that the financial year closes in April and the State budget starts in April of each year.   For example, the current tax year ends on 5 April 2023 in the UK.

It is a good practice to use the opportunity of the end of the civil year to start to work out the balances of one’s personal or family accounts.

To help those who are struggling to close their year-end accounts of 2022, we will be looking at, from the start of January 2023 when we return, how to successfully close your personal or family financial accounts and prepare your new accounts in the New Year.

It is always a good practice to start early before the deadlines of the financial year!

It is wise to work out your year-end accounts early so that you could enter the New Year with a good understanding of your financial position while keeping financial control on accounts.  In doing so, one can know areas of financial improvement to sort out their financial situation in the New Year.

This year-end financial control project or exercise includes income boost and other elements making our campaign to reduce and end income poverty.  This is without forgetting the elements of Financial Stability Programme/Scheme and Zero Income Deficit Campaign we conducted.

For those who may be interested in this year-end financial control project, they can contact CENFACS in the New Year.

 

 

• E-discussing Volunteering for Nature and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty and Supporting All in Development Volunteer Scheme 

 

Our Winter e-discussion about Volunteering for Nature and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty continues as scheduled until the 5th of January 2023.

Since the global pact to protect nature was agreed on 19 December 2022 at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference or COP (Conference Of the Parties) 15 Summit in Montreal (1), our e-discussion, which is in progress, includes the goals agreed in this historic biodiversity agreement and how All-in-Development Volunteers can help CENFACS translate these goals in its activities, projects and programmes.

To e-discuss Volunteering for Nature Goals and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty, please contact CENFACS.

To support CENFACS translate the newly agreed nature goals into voluntary action, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

• Rapport rétrospectif de l’année 2022

Le rapport rétrospectif de l’année 2022 est une évaluation de ce qui s’est passé au cours de cette année qui se termine (2022).  Il ne s’agit pas d’un rapport annuel ou d’un bilan social.

Le rapport, qui est un bref résumé de 2022, aidera à apprendre ce qui s’est bien passé et ce qui n’a pas bien fonctionné au sein et autour du CENFACS, ainsi que la façon dont nous pouvons engager nos objectifs caritatifs en 2023 et au-delà.

La rétrospective vise donc à couvrir les événements de l’année 2022 dans la perspective de récapituler l’année pour les publics, les adeptes et les sympathisants du CENFACS, ainsi que du point de vue de la contribution du CENFACS à la réduction de la pauvreté et au développement durable.

Pour plus de détails sur le rapport rétrospectif  de l’année 2022 du CENFACS, veuillez contacter CENFACS.

 

 

 

 

Festive Season’s Main Development

 

• 2022 Year-in-review Report

 

How the year 2022 has gone within and around CENFACS

 

The following contents make this report:

 

a) A brief Summary of the Year

b) The Theme of 2022 Year-in-review Campaign

c) How did the Year 2022 Go through from within and around CENFACS?

d) 2022 Key Produce or Achievements

e) Looking Forward to 2023 (or Commitments for the year 2023)

f) 2022 Gratitude.

 

Let’s look at each of these contents.

 

• • The Year’s Brief Summary

 

We started 2022 with two areas of work and interest: a dilemma and a tool.

The dilemma was the one faced by Africa-based Sister Organisations in helping to reduce urban poverty in the context of rising population in Africa.  To work with these organisations, we set up a urban poverty reduction project.  The project aimed at reducing the economic and social difficulties or hardships experienced by urban poor (who could be city-dwellers and small scale urban farmers) living in Africa’s cities so that they could improve the quality of their living conditions.

As to tool, it was about the necessary financial control tools that our individual and household users need in order to reduce poverty.  Amongst these tools were year-end financial accounts and Zero Income Deficit Campaign.  In this respect, sustaining debt becomes paramount in the process of building financial control, especially for the highly indebted poor.  It was equally important to smooth the way to energy transition via climate actions.  One of the actions we took with users was to work together on energy transition support services.

As the cost of living dramatically rose because of a combination of factors (such as the lingering effects of the coronavirus, the Russia-Ukraine war leading to the increase in the prices of energy and food), working with users to erect the fences of protection was another area of work and concern in 2022.  In this respect, creations and innovations were the answer to deal these rising costs of living.

Rising costs of living meant for us working with the community to develop three tiers or layers of security (i.e., energy, food and financial security) in order to help fight this confluence of crises and costs.  To progress on this road, security and vulnerability analyses of the household accounts making our community became part of the answer in what we were trying to achieve together with our members in terms of poverty reduction and sustainable development throughout 2022.

In that help to fight these crises and rising costs, deploying efforts with our supporters to make sure that our members had enough information and data to reduce any form of poverty induced by these crises was instrumental in pursuing our policy and commitment with them.  Equally, having crisis response skills to deal with any crisis could not be neglected.  This is why our Development Day focused on these crisis response skills.

To reduce any types of poverty and hardships, it requires infrastructures.  So, building infrastructures to reduce poverty was included in our efforts to support the community and in any agenda to drive change.

We hope that the long-, medium- and short-term services to reduce or end poverty linked to the costs of living we put in place will help our members navigate their way out of the cost-of-living crisis.

We can expect as well that the urban poverty reduction project and the different financial control tools or metrics we shared with users during this ending year will start to bear their fruits or outcomes in the New Year.

 

• • Theme of CENFACS’ 2022 Year-in-Review Campaign

 

The theme for this review is building forward better together in the context of rising prices.

 

• • How did the Year 2022 Go through from within and around CENFACS?

 

To underline the way in which the year 2022 went from within and around CENFACS, we are going to highlight the key takeaways of 2022 and the contributions we made.

 

 

• • • Key takeaways of the year

 

The points or facts to remember about 2022 from within and around CENFACS are as follows.

 

∝) 2022 as a Knowledge Year

 

During 2022, we tried to learn and know as much as we could the needs of those asking and looking for help, among them were the members of the CENFACS Community.  These learning and knowledge activities contributed in matching the types of expectations and responses they were hoping to deal with their needs.

As a consequence of the dedication of 2022 as a Year of Knowledge, participants were able to conduct 12 key knowledge activities or tasks with those in need.

 

∝) 2022 as a year of tackling urban poverty in Africa

 

Besides humanitarian issues caused by events such as civil insecurity, armed conflicts, natural disaster, health crisis, etc.; there were economic difficulties experienced by urban poor due to rising urban population in Africa.  Many of our Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) working in urban areas of Africa tried to address urban poverty.

As a result of their work together with our support, ASOs explained poor city-residents how the distribution of city-wide services work, provided them with digital support where these services could only be accessible digitally, informed them about their rights and obligations as city-residents in terms of these services, etc.

 

∝) 2022 as a year of debt sustainability for highly indebted poor households

 

To build forward better together greener, cleaner and safer from the lingering effects of the coronavirus meant dealing with the legacies of the coronavirus crisis.  One of these legacies was many ordinary families, including our users, became poorer and serious financial/income deficit.

So, how to reduce or cancel financial debts and deficits for the poor (e.g. COVID-19-indebted and income deficit families from our community) to make ends meet, clearly became a preoccupation to avoid intergenerational poverty among our users.  Many of them were not aware of the importance of keeping records of debt payments.

Thanks to the work we did together via worksheet we provided for debtor’s payment records keeping, they were able to restore track on their debt payments.

 

∝) 2022 as a year of net zero consumption

 

Building forward from the coronavirus is as well about making sure that our trajectory in the process of building forward is net zero consumption; that is consumption that does not add extra greenhouse gas emissions to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

One of the ways to go net zero we thought was to smooth the way to energy transition and to work with users via Climate Neutral Projects, which were/are greenhouse gas emission reduction or removal initiatives and activities.

As part of net zero consumption campaign, some of our beneficiaries used the example of CENFACS’ net zero consumption shopping bad as an idea for them to budget for net zero consumer goods and services in the context of the overall household budget.

 

∝) 2022 as a year of generational impact analysis of the coronavirus on children

 

In the process of building forward, we further considered the fact that COVID-19 put or held back a generation of children for what they supposed to do.  We worked and analysed with users the generational impact of the coronavirus on children.  This work or analysis included, but was not limited to, their children and African children.

 

∝) 2022 as a year of data skills to run your households

 

Thanks to the work carried out with users, we were able to share and enhance the storage, security, process, insight and analytics skills of some of the households making our community.

 

∝) 2022 as a year of mobilising for birds’ useful life for us

 

Through the ‘Mbulu‘ project and ‘A la une‘ (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature) campaign, we tirelessly worked with the community and others outside our community to raise awareness of the upkeep of endangered bird species like Africa Grey Parrots, Congo Peafowl, Dwarf Honeyguide, African Green Broadbill and Grossley’s Ground Thrush.

There are many good and positive results to take away from 2022, although we limit ourselves to the above key takeaways mentioned.

 

 

• • 2022 Key Produce or Achievements

 

2022 has also been a deserving year of poverty reduction produce or accomplishments.  After doing a round-up of all efforts we made to support the causes of those in need and work with them, we could name the following contributions.

 

∝) A humanitarian relief appeal to help the cyclone-stricken people of Madagascar

 

As natural events did not exempt the peoples of Madagascar, we conducted together with our followers and supporters a humanitarian relief appeal to help the cyclone-stricken people of Madagascar to recover from the legacies of Cyclone Batsirai.

 

∝) Support of the people of Lake Chad basin

 

Since the dry conditions of Lake Chad Basin were far from over, together with supporters we timely appealed for the support of the people of this basin to get the relief they were deserving and looking for.

 

∝) An appeal to help the desperate coronavirus-affected children of Sub-Saharan Africa

 

When we learnt that the coronavirus was still claiming its victims amongst children in Africa, we worked with our Africa-based Sister Organisations to launch an appeal to help the desperate coronavirus-affected children of Sub-Saharan Africa.  We did the same with the Acute Food Insecure People in Hotspot African Countries.

 

∝) Ituri Peace Appeal and Re-appeal

 

As we could not stay silent about human insecurity and displacement in the Ituri Region of the North-eastern in the Democratic Republic of Congo, we launched Ituri Peace Appeal and Re-appeal for the region, particularly but not exclusively for the internally displaced people of Rutshuru.

 

The above are just the few selected accomplishments or produce we wanted to share with audiences and supporters in this year-in-review campaign.  However, for those who would like get more insights into them and other achievements of the year 2022, they can still let us know.

 

• • Looking Forward to 2023 (or Commitments for the year 2023)

 

We shall undertake more sustainable initiatives about nature and nature-based solutions to poverty since there has been a new global pact to protect nature or biodiversity agreement at Montreal COP15 (op. cit.).

 

• • 2022 Gratitude

 

To end this year-in-review report, we would like to continue to thank our poverty reduction producers and enablers as we did in last week’s post (2).

2022 was a memorable year for CENFACS for those who inspired us in responding to local and African needs at the challenging time of the cost-of-living crisis.  We could not do it without their support.

We thank them for making possible 2022 as another rewarding year of poverty reduction and of sustainable development as well as for what we accomplished together.  We hope to achieve more in 2023 and beyond.

For further information or a full story of 2022 and to discuss any issues regarding this 2022 Year-in-Review Report, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

 

_________

 

• References

 

(1) https://www.cbd.int/article/cop15-cbd-press-release-final-19dec2022 (Accessed in December 2022)

(2) cenfacs.org.uk/blog/december21, 2022 (Accessed in December 2022)

_________

 

• 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 until the end of 2022 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

21 December 2022

 

Post No. 279

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Season of Light Starts on 21 December 2022

• Festive Giving and Gifting

• Community Value Chains, the CENFACS Community

 

… And much more!

 

• Year-end 2022 Thanks

We would like to thank all those who produced poverty reduction with us and those who made poverty reduction possible for those in need and for us in 2022. 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Season of Light Starts on 21 December 2022

 

Today, we are passing from Autumn Fresh Start to the Season of Light.  Autumn Fresh Start projects and programmes as well as campaign end today as the Season of Light starts within CENFACS. 

 

• • End of the Autumn Fresh Start Season and Campaign

 

The Autumn Season has officially ended today.  The momentum we have built from the beginning and throughout Autumn Fresh Start Season continues to galvanise our poverty relief action and is taking our relief journey into the Season of Light, which starts today the 21^st of December 2022.

 

• • Start of the Season of Light within CENFACS

 

The Season of Light, which usually starts the 21^st of December of each year and ends around 21 March in the New Year, runs through the Festive Season, which is between 01 December of the ending year (here 2022) and 31 January in the New Year (2023).  The Gifts of Peace, which keep on giving, normally feature the Festive Season.

During the Season of Light, we light up a Blaze of Hope for people and communities suffering from the effects and impacts of destructive wars and natural disasters in Africa.

In the coming weeks and months of the Season of Light, our Blaze of Hope will be extended to those who are continuing to suffer from the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, particularly those trapped by the growing hunger crisis in Africa.

The Season of Light will come with the Lights Appeal or Campaign, which is a set of projects that features the Season of Light.  

 

• • Two Themes, Two Seasons and Two Gifts

 

The theme for the Season of Light is Hope which we try to bring through a Blaze, while the theme for the Festive Season’s Reliefs is Peace.  During the Festive Season, we try to reduce poverty as a lack of peace via the Gifts of Peace; whereas in the context of the Season of Light we work through Lights Appeals/Gifts to relieve poverty as a lack of hope.  Those who feel themselves hopeless need some hope.

Under the Main Development section of this post, there is more information about the Season of Light 2022/2023.

 

 

 

• Festive Giving and Gifting

 

As part of the season of giving and gifts as well as of the response to the continuing impacts of the cost-of-living crisis on vulnerable and poor people, we are asking supporters to go extra miles in replying to these two fundraising appeals which are: Festive Gift Set and End-of-year Support.

 

 

 

 

• • Festive Gift Set

 

The remaining ten days of this year starting from today are those of the last legacy of the Year 2022 as a ‘Knowledge’ Year at CENFACS.

To mark the end of and the Closing Act of our ‘Knowledge’ Year and Campaign, we are appealing to you to support CENFACS’ year 2022 through a ‘Knowledge’ (‘K’) Gift.

Such a gift will assist in many ways including the following:

√ Dealing with what we now know as pressing and urgent needs within the community (that is; a gift to deal with the community needs)

√ Contributing in the cover of the cost of efforts deployed in the process of helping to reduce poverty (that is; a cost cover gift)

√ Acknowledging CENFACS’ work (that is;  an acknowledgement gift)

√ And keeping its momentum over the festive period while carrying us in the New Year and future (that is; a driver and carrier gift).

 

 

With the ‘Knowledge’ Gift plus the Gift of Light plus the Gift of Peace; the three of them give you a Gift Set of £5 or more.  What do these gifts express?

 

 

• • • Expressions from the three gifts (of Knowledge, Light and Peace)

 

• • • • The Knowledge Gift represents the 12 Knowledge Project Episodes of the needs of and bond with poor people as well as harmony with nature, especially during this challenging time of the cost-of-living crisis.

 

• • • • The Gift of Light symbolises hope for the victims of the cost-of-living crisis, wars and natural disasters.

 

• • • • The Gifts of Peace create long lasting relationships in a world without conflicts between humans as well as between humans and the nature (other living beings and things).  At this time of the lingering effects of coronavirus pandemic and of the cost-of-living crisis, the Gifts of Peace will enable to re-conquer the lost peace and get new form of peace from poverty induced by these effects.  This is without forgetting the lack of peace brought by climate change events.

All these initiatives represent some great ways of helping to reduce poverty at this special time of the year.  They give indeed more opportunities to supporters to do something different for those in need.

By donating £5 or more for this Gift Set, you will help people in need to leave poverty and hardships behind them and may be for ever.

To donate and or enquire about this Gift Set, just contact CENFACS with or without your donation.

 

 

 

• • End-of-year Support and Appeal

 

As 2022 is coming to an end, we would like to ask you to donate as a legacy towards CENFACS’ efforts to help reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.

You can donate to support CENFACS’ anti-poverty campaign and to help reduce poverty and hardships this festive season and in the New Year.

Your support can make helpful differences to CENFACS and to those in need, the people and communities that CENFACS serves.

 

• • • Two ways of responding to this appeal

 

1) Make a One-off Festive Donation of £5 or more this festive time…

 

as a way of helping poor people via CENFACS and / or support CENFACS’ work on poverty relief and sustainable development.

You can also support one of the CENFACS projects and programmes if you wish.

 

2) Make a Monthly Donation of £5 or £10 or £15 or more per month…

 

as a legacy for CENFACS’ work.

 

Please make an end-of-year contribution today to help us continue to deliver the work of CENFACS in 2022 and beyond.

This End-of-year Support is an inclusive relief sending a never-ending message from the giver that they are part of what we have achieved in 2022 and will do in the coming years.

To make a donation and or enquire about this End-of-year Ask or Support, just contact CENFACS with or without your donation.

 

 

 

• Community Value Chains, the CENFACS Community

 

CENFACS as a Community with knowledge about the needs of its members, which is the Closing Act of the 2022 Year, is being prepared and trended.

 

• • What is CENFACS’ Community Value Chains (CVC)?

 

1) It is a community value control, inspirational and motivational project of end-of-year celebration introduced by CENFACS in 2009.  The project is based on a basic idea of development which is as follows:

“What a member of our community best does which well works for them can have an underlying good value.  If there is a good value, it is desirable to share such value so that other members of our community could be aware of it and build a sort of chains of beliefs and community spirit/principles within our support network”.

2) It is all about improving lives and outcomes of community members as well as enlivening capacities by sharing good practices, values and achievements; while learning from past mistakes.

In doing so, we can pull together as one community, strengthen our links and bonds, learn our differences and harness transformative changes we all want amongst us and beyond our self-interests.

3) It is finally about sharing and celebrating our impact as a community.

To sum up, CENFACS’ CVC or the CENFACS Community is our voluntary local and non-profit making arm inside which all our projects and activities carried out in the UK are grouped and delivered; the other two domains being CENFACS International and CENFACS Fund for Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development.

 

• • What are those Shared Values?

 

Good practices and good values do not need to be big or exceptional or even spectacular.  They are the simple good little things we do every day, which may have worked for us and could work for others as well.  These good little things could have a bigger impact on us as a community.

They could be life and work learning experiences, lifestyles, helpful differences, social responsibilities and principles that underpin them.  At this time of the cost-of-living crisis, they could be all the little initiatives one has taken to care each other in order to have access to economic means of copying and survival.

 

• • Sharing and celebrating impact via CVC 2022

 

CENFACS as a Community with knowledge about the needs of its members (or the Closing Act of the Knowledge Year) will feature our year-end campaign.

This celebratory theme for CVC’s 13^th Celebration of CENFACS as a Community is and will be the Closing Act of the Knowledge Year and Project.  However, this celebration will be a low key one since many of supporters and users have been affected by the cost-of-living crisis.  Instead, we shall call it end-of-year sharing.

 

• • The 13^th Celebration of CENFACS Community as way of looking both back and forward

 

Looking back at 2022 will be about CENFACS as a community that helped its members to be open about their problems and needs as well as about the kinds of responses they were expecting to tackle their needs.

Looking forward 2023 will be a sharing of the knowledge and information we now know about our community members.  It is also about thinking of the direction and shape that the evolution of the community needs may take in 2023 and how we can effectively and efficiently work with our members in 2023 in terms of improved course of action in the New Year.

Briefly, it will be a hybrid sharing of our knowledge on how the 2022 went on in everybody’s life in terms of the positive takeaways from it in order to build forward in 2023.  In this hybrid sharing, the positive experience from the cost-of-living crisis will be welcome.

We want our community ends 2022 on a positive note or sharing despite the ups and downs of this year, especially with the disturbance that the soaring cost of living has caused and is continuing to cause on many of us.  We would like as well our community to start 2023 with hope and belief.

 

• • Share, Spread & Tweet the message

 

To enable us to build chains with you and others and to keep our support network alive and networked CENFACS, please spread the message to/pass it on around you.

If you feel that you need first to talk to us before responding to this invitation of end-of-year celebration/sharing, please let us know.

If you prefer to respond via e-mail, you are free to do so at facs@cenfacs.org.uk.

Whichever way or means you choose to enter this year-end sharing project, please reply by the 23rd of December 2022 so as to ease the end-of-year 2022 celebration/sharing and the start-of-year 2023 preparatory activities, projects and programmes.

For further details about this Closing Act of the Knowledge Year and Project as a ‘K’ Year, please contact CENFACS.

For the timeline of the themes that made the Community Value Chains so far, please also contact CENFACS. 

As part of the closure of 2022 and preparation for 2023, we are as well doing an inventory of skills and are registering the talents and skills of the CENFACS Community.

If you have not yet registered your skills to CENFACS’ Skills Data Bank, this is the opportunity to do it over this festive period.

To register or add your skills to the CENFACS Community’s Skills Register or Database, just contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Income Generation Leads/Advice: Income Generators, Creators and Curators of the Month

• All year round Projects (or Triple Value Initiatives): 2022 Verdict

• Festive Structured Activities are now closed!

 

 

 

• Income Generation Leads/Advice: Income Generators, Creators and Curators of the Month

 

Our advisory service on leads to income generation is still on.  Through this festive advice service, we are trying to explore the different leads or avenues that those in need can use, depending on their personal circumstances; to find the appropriate means to generate little extra income.

In this income generation to reduce poverty, we are as well trying to enlist those who could be named as Income Generation Models or Income Generators, Creators  and Curators of the Season.  We are looking at their models or ways of generating little extra income.  We are assessing whether or not their models of generating income are generalizable or duplicatable or just are exceptions to the general rule and to the CENFACS Community.

If anyone has managed to generate little extra income and finds that their way of doing it has an underlying good value that can be shared with the CENFACS CVC members, please do not hesitate to talk to CENFACS.

 

 

• All year round Projects (or Triple Value Initiatives): 2022 Verdict

 

The week is finally an occasion to remind the need to report on All-year Round Projects (or Triple Value Initiatives) which are:  Play, Run and Vote projects for poverty relief and sustainable development.

As we are reaching the end of year 2022, it is now the time to report on our three All-year Round Projects – which are Play, Run and Vote.

We know that this year has been economically challenging for some of you to run some types of activities.  However, for those who have managed to undertake and complete the above named projects, we would like them to share with us and others their experiences, stories and reports regarding these projects.

 

• • The Action-Results of 2022: Tell it!

 

You can feedback the outcomes or Action-Results of your…

… Run if you ran for poverty relief over the year 2022 (or organised a Run activity)

… Play if you played the CENFACS League for Poverty Relief

… Vote if you have already voted your 2022 African Poverty Relief and Development Manager.

 

We would be more than happier to hear your Action and Results to feature and conclude CENFACS 2022 Year as Year of Knowledge.  Tell it!

 

• • What or who we want to hear

 

We would like to hear from you about the Winner of CENFACS Virtual Trophy of the Year, that is one of the following Three Stars or Bests of the Year:

√ The Best African Country of 2022 which best reduced poverty

√ The Best African Global Games Runner of 2022

√ The Best African Poverty Relief and International Development Manager of 2022.

If you have not yet told us, have your say by 23 December 2022!  The Verdict is yours!

 

 

• Festive Structured Activities are now closed!

 

During this month, we have conducted two types of festive structured activities, which are:

a) Structured Festive Activities or Micro-projects under Financial Stability Programme and Scheme for households

b) Guidance Programme for Not-for-profit Investors in Africa.

These two types of activities are now closed.  They will be repeated in the New Year.

For those households who still need support regarding their financial stability or planning problems, they can contact CENFACS with their queries or enquiries to book an appointment in the New Year.

Likewise, for those potential not-for-profit investors who still need some guidance to invest in Africa, they can contact CENFACS to book an appointment in the New Year.

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

• Remerciements et Voeux Festifs 2022

A tous ceux et toutes celles qui ont permis au CENFACS de réaliser le travail de  réduction de la pauvreté et du développement durable au cours de l’année 2022, le CENFACS vous dit un grand…

 

Le CENFACS vous souhaite une saison des fêtes saine, sécuritaire et paisible.

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• Season of Light Starts on 21 December 2022

 

The Lights Season at CENFACS kicks off with the theme of Hope as said above.  We are going to deliver this Hope with projects and programmes adapted to the context of cost-of-living crisis.  Many observers and planners believe that this context will last until the end of the first quarter of 2023.   Hope will also be provided by other initiatives with Nature Goals and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty. 

 

The following items make the contents of our Season of Light 2022-2023:

 

∝ What will shape the Season of Light?

∝ Two themes to bear in mind this Festive and Lights Time: Peace and Hope

∝ The Gift of Light that Keeps on Giving this Winter

 

Let us look at these contents.

 

• • What will shape the Season of Light?

 

As we presented in our post 278 of 14 December 2022, the 2022-2023 Season of Light will be about working on issues revolving around light (or energy) and poverty reduction since the global climate community has committed itself to phase down coal as source of energy whereas many energy poor people in Africa are coal-dependant.

The 2022-2023 Season of Light will also be about how to harness transformational and structural changes in the context of increasing uncertainty and climate change so that those who are living in poverty can find the means and spaces they need to navigate out of it.

The 2022-2023 Season of Light is as well about our preparedness when energy support towards energy payments will end after the first quarter of 2023.  When this statutory cost of living support towards the energy bill payments ends, what will happen?   For example, when the UK government’s energy price guarantee will end in April 2023.

The 2022-2023 Season of Light is finally an energy transitional period to work with those living in poverty so that they transition from polluting to clean and green energy and technology.  We started this process few years ago.  To achieve or continue this energy transition to carbon net zero, it requires Hope and support.

There are two developments (that is.; the cost-of-living crisis and new nature goals) that will shape our 2022-2023 Season of Light.  In the light of these developments, CENFACS will approach 2022 with a set of new nature projects.  Details of these projects will be unveiled in the New Year.

So, we will be developing  projects and programmes with nature goals and nature-based solutions to poverty; that is nature-based projects to help reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.   Besides that, we shall continue to respond to the cost-of-living crisis with some of the initiatives (e.g., Financial Stability Campaign) we have already put in place.

 

 

 

 

• • Two themes to bear in mind this Festive and Lights Time: Peace and Hope

 

While the theme of Peace will be dominant over the festive celebrations period, the theme of Hope is the overall theme of the Season of Lights.

 

• • • The theme of Hope

 

The theme of Hope is made of notes or pieces of nature goals and energy transition.   In this sense that we shall bring a glimmer of hope through nature goals and energy transition under control by the poor over this Wintry season.

 

• • • The theme of Peace

 

The Gifts of Peace are included in the Season of Light.  Peace is the festive theme we choose to spread the joy of Season’s Reliefs to those in need.   We try to help their wishes of poverty relief become true through the Gits of Peace that put a smile on their faces and lips with relief notes while hoping they will rediscover freedom from disturbance and disorder caused by crises and other events of 2022 like the cost-of-living crisis.

 

 

• • The Gift of Light that Keeps on Giving this Winter

 

• • • A gift of light for every person in need everywhere!

 

The Lights Season is the season during which we try to bring light or shine light to impoverished lives in the darkness.  We try to bring clarity, brightness to people who need to see clearly and accurately about their life.  It is about helping them see the light of relief so that they can see the world in a new relieved light or version.

 

• • • A gift of light that ignites and sparks the life of those in need!

 

This is why we have the Lights project at CENFACS; projects which enable us to bring lights to those in need.  Like the last Winter, this Winter 2022-2023, our Lights projects will focus on two parts or two waves of action:

 

1) post-coronavirus, post-war and post-natural disaster developments

2) current and emerging armed conflicts and environmental catastrophes as well as new waves of threats.

 

However, in these developments and waves, we shall take into account the changing contexts in Africa where there could be scaling down or changing types of crises (for example, the policy of silencing the guns in Africa has changed the types of conflicts).  At the moment, there is a growing hunger crisis due to the drastic impacts of the coronavirus, economic slowdown and climate change.

 

• • • A gift of light that helps people to navigate their own way out poverty with pride!

 

The Gift of Light is about helping people to help themselves.  By using the light, they can find their own way out poverty and hardships, out of darkness instead of CENFACS telling them what do.  They can act with self-esteem and self-respect.  In this respect, the Gift of Light is a blessing of empowerment.

 

• • • A Blaze of Hope for post-life following crises (e.g., the cost-of-living crisis), armed conflicts and natural disasters

 

When there are environmental disasters and armed conflicts, there are pledges and commitments to end the effects of wars and disasters.  For various reasons, some of these pledges do not always materialise.  The post-war and post-disaster developments are sometimes left without support even until the conflicts and disasters return and or strike again.

The same situation can happen with the cost-of-living crisis if pledges made are not carried out by those who made them while letting the return of the cost-of-living poverty to happen.  It can as well happen if the pledges – made at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), which took place in Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt) from Monday 07 November to Sunday 20 November 2022 (1), to help poor nations to transition towards net zero CO2 emissions world – are not followed by concrete actions.

As we cannot wait the return or repeat of the same coronavirus, wars and disasters; our first Blaze of Hope will go this Winter to the unfinished business of previous destructions and disruptions brought by crises (e.g., the coronavirus and the cost-of-living crisis), wars and natural disasters.

 

• • • A Blaze of Hope for the eruption of any crises, armed conflicts and natural disasters

 

We always advocate for preventive development and we do not seek for destructive events to happen.  However, our preparedness and readiness should make us to assemble as quickly as possible advocacy tools should any effects and impacts erupt from new waves of crisis, wars and natural disasters in Africa.

So, our second wave of intervention or Blaze of Hope will go this Wintry season to erupted effects of unexpected crises, armed conflicts and natural disasters in the areas of our interest in Africa.

With these two waves of action over this Wintry Season, we hope to enlighten the lives of those in pressing and emergent need.

 

• • • Examples of areas where a Blaze of Hope may be needed

 

For this December 2022, we have initially selected five areas that may need lighting a Blaze of Hope, which are as follows:

a) Areas of countries severely affected by the socio-economic impacts of high food prices like in Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal

b) Areas of vulnerable countries affected by or prone to torrential rains and cyclones that could cause enormous food insecurity such as in Chad, Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo

c) Areas of countries devastated by weather extremes like Burundi and Djibouti

d) Areas of countries that are the victims of a high level of persisting civil insecurity such as in in Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Mali

e) Areas of countries where innocent people are the victims of new forms of insecurity (e.g. interpersonal violence and gang violence) and forced displacement like in Mali and Burkina Faso.

The above selection is an initial one, which may change depending how and where humanitarian events will unfold in Africa.  The selection will help to start our Light advocacy and campaign. 

The countries listed in this selection are also mentioned in the Crop Prospects and Food Situation of the Food and Agriculture Organisations of the United Nations (2).

For those who can support Light project, we can count on them to move forward this advocacy or campaign.  And we would like to thank them in advance.

For any queries or enquiries regarding the Season of Light, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

• Season’s Greetings

 

 

__________

 

• References

 

(1) https://unfccc.int/event/cop-27 (Accessed in December 2022)

(2) FAO. 2022.  Crop Prospects and Food Situation – Quarterly Global Report  No. 4, December 2022. Rome (https://doi.org/10.4060/cc3233en)

 

_________

 

• 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 until the end of 2022 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

14 December 2022

 

Post No. 278

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Knowledge Year and Project: Impact Monitoring and Evaluation

• Supporting All-in-Development Winter e-Discussion 2022/2023: Volunteering for Nature and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty

• ONLY ONE WEEK TO GO for Autumn 2022 Humanitarian Relief Appeal

 

… And much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Knowledge Year and Project: Impact Monitoring and Evaluation

 

At the start of 2022, we dedicated 2022 as a year of knowledge (1) of poor people’s needs and demands; knowledge which would better help work with them so that they can navigate their way to poverty reduction.  To deliver this dedication, we set up a Knowledge Project to accompany them in their journey to the reduction of poverty and hardships.

As part of the Knowledge Project, a number of activities and processes have been conducted each month to enable smooth implementation of the project.  Now we have reached the last activity or episode of the Knowledge Project, it is logical and normal to continue the process of looking back what happened in the last 11 months until now.  This is our impact monitoring task.  Equally, it is worth to start the task of evaluating the Knowledge Year and Project.  We may not finish this evaluation by the end 2022, but it is better to start now and continue it in January 2023 if we do not finish.

The two exercises or tasks (i.e., monitoring and evaluation) will enable to inform any interested parties (e.g., project beneficiaries, supporters, our  audiences, etc.) the findings about what we did not know and we now know about the needs and aspirations of the people in need making our community.  These monitoring and evaluative exercises would also lay ground to seize the early impacts or outputs from the delivery of the Knowledge Year/Project.

From these monitoring and evaluative information and knowledge as well as other discoveries within the project, we can plan the kinds of appropriate responses we may develop or ways of working together with them in 2023 to meet those unmet needs and demands.

There are more details about the Impact Monitoring and Evaluation of the Knowledge Year and Project that can be found under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

 

• E-discussing Volunteering for Nature and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty and Supporting All in Development Volunteer Scheme (AiDVS) 

 

Our Winter e-discussion about Volunteering for Nature and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty continues as scheduled and as the United Nations Biodiversity Conference under COP15 (2) is in progress.

While our Winter e-discussion is going on, we would like to ask to our audiences the need to support CENFACS‘ All in Development Volunteer Scheme (AiDVS).

 

• • Supporting All in Development Volunteer Scheme (AiDVS)

 

It is possible to support CENFACS and its AiDVS from wherever you are (at home, work, away, online, abroad, on the go and move, etc.).

It is true that many people are still suffering from the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.  These effects have also affected the cost of giving to charities or the way in which they support good causes.

However, supporting us does not need to be magical and majestic.  One can still support deserving causes like CENFACS while trying to recover from the effects of the above-named crises.

Also, your support will help us to support others who have been affected by the same crises and effects.

One can still enjoy a great festive season while supporting us. 

There are many simple helpful and useful ways of adding great value to our voluntary work.

Here are some suggestions on ways of supporting with wintry and festive news, information and products:

√ Gift ideas for the best ways of monitoring, evaluating and reviewing projects and programmes in the New Year

√ Savings and scrimping for AiDVs

√ Festive deals, packages, coupons and vouchers for AiDVs

√ Distance working technologies for volunteering to make the world a better place for a low-carbon, COVID-19 free and sustainable future we all want

√ Net-zero or low carbon economic products to protect the environment and nature

√ Digital and media support to better volunteer for a climate neutral and sustainable world

√ Health and safety (e.g., COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment) gifts for healthy and safe volunteering in the New Year

√ Wintry and festive giveaways for volunteering for a net zero greenhouse gas emissions world

Etc.

To e-discuss Volunteering for Nature Goals and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty, please contact CENFACS.

To support AiDVS with your wintry gift, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• ONLY ONE WEEK TO GO for Autumn 2022 Humanitarian Relief Appeal

 

We have only one week remaining for our humanitarian appeal for Autumn 2022.  This appeal is about supporting Needy People, Flora, Fauna, Communities and Organisations in Africa.  What are the projects making this appeal?

 

• • Projects making this appeal

 

The appeal includes the following five selected projects:

√ Green Skills for Green Recovery

√ Save Flora and Fauna  

√  Symmetry 

√ Gender and Youths in Africa’s Recovery

√ Maintaining School Momentum

A brief summary of these projects can be found on the ‘Support Causes’ page at  Support Causes – (cenfacs.org.uk) of this website.

The full proposals for each project forming this appeal is available should any of the potential donor or funder makes a request.

 

• • Supporting the Autumn 2022 Campaign

 

Donors and funders can directly and respectively donate or fund these projects.

A message about this appeal can also be passed on to a person who is in a position and willing to support.  Many thanks to those who will be passing this message!

We understand that the world is still experiencing an extremely difficult time with the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.  These effects impact the cost of giving or the ability of people to support good and deserving causes.

These lingering effects  are even stronger in place where there is a high level of poverty like in Africa.  This is why this seasonal appeal was launched to help not only to reduce poverty but also to save lives from these effects.

 

• • Where donors’ and funders’ money will go

 

We are inviting those who can to donate £2 to create 3 benefits (1 benefit for humans, 1 benefit for fauna and flora and 1 shared benefit between humans and nature) or any amount starting from £2 or more as they wish or can.  In other words, for every £2 raised, £1 will go to humans, £1 to fauna and flora and £1 to shared benefit for humans and nature).

 

• • Gift-Aiding your donation

 

You can declare your charitable donation made as eligible for Gift Aid.  You can as well support these projects in a way that is the most suitable and related to your situation, budget, capacity and willingness.

To donate, gift-aid and support otherwise; please contact CENFACS or go to our ‘support causes’ page at Support Causes – (cenfacs.org.uk)

Extra Messages

 

• Goal and Target for the Festive Month: Reduction of Income Poverty for the Income Poor

• Structured Festive Activities or Micro-projects under Financial Stability Programme and Scheme

• Guidance Programme for Not-for-profit Investors in Africa; In Focus from Week Beginning 12/12/2022: Rate of Return on Investment as a Rate of Poverty Reduction

 

 

 

• Goal and Target for the Festive Month: Reduction of Income Poverty for the Income Poor

 

Our goal for the festive month is about reducing income poverty since we are in Income Generation Month within CENFACS.   This goal has a target or a result aimed at achieving.

For instance, our goal for the income generation month could be to make sure that the members of our community have enough income to cover their basic expenses, pay off debts and save for emergencies.  The target could be how many of them can realistically achieve this goal.  The target could be as well the level or seize (e.g., being at or above the international poverty line) they need to realise this month.

The above is our poverty reduction goal and target for this month, which we are asking to our audiences and supporters to help or promote.

 

 

 

• Structured Festive Activities or Micro-projects under Financial Stability Programme/Scheme

 

As part of Financial Stability Programme and Scheme Periods (01 to 07/12/2022 and 08 to 14/12/2022), we are available to work in hybrid way with users via a Financial Stability Programme (FSP) or Scheme (FSS) so that they can start stronger in the New Year.  Both FSP and FSS will help beneficiaries to reduce risks linked to financial instability and improve their intergenerational income and transfers.

These are exclusive activities to maximise programme and scheme beneficiaries’ financial knowledge and skills for a successful year-end.  To practise FSP and FSS , we are carrying out structured festive activities for the two periods as indicated below.

 

• • • Structured Festive Activities under Financial Stability Programme (01 to 07/12/2022)

 

Under the FSP, we are currently running the following structured activities.

 

Activity 1: How to avoid festive impulse buying

 

Through this activity, we can work together with the community so that users with impulse buying problems can set up their spending threshold on their planned budget and do not spend the money they do not have.

 

Activity 2: Debt-to-income analysis for your household financial stability

 

Through this second activity, we can work with users with financial stability problems to help them stay within manageable debts in comparison to their earnings or income.

 

Activity 3:  Savings for future emergencies

 

Through this third activity, we can work with income poor users to explore any affordable means for them to save for the future and reduce poverty linked to the inability to save.

Briefly, via these activities we will help them to carry out the following:

√ Eliminate toxic assets

√ Find sources of funding

√ Absorb the effects of the cost-of-living crisis and other potential financial crises

√ Prevent events like the cost-of-living crisis from disrupting household financial health and wellbeing

Etc.

Need festive advice or support regarding your financial stability problems, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

If you have financial stability problems and missed any of the activities of the FSP, you can still contact CENFACS so that we can work together on your financial stability needs and support you to start the New Year stronger and confident.

 

• • • Structured Festive Activities under Spending Limit Scheme (08 to 14/12/2022)

 

We can work together with you and help you elaborate an action plan about your financial stability for a given period (e.g. a week or a month or a six months or a year).  Under this scheme, we can organise together the following activities.

 

Activity 1: Elaboration of an action plan for financial stability

 

Through this activity, we shall work with users with financial stability planning issues to produce an action plan or budget for financial stability that matches their financial circumstances and conditions of life.

 

Activity 2: Building and understanding cash flow statements or projections

 

Through this activity, we shall work with users with financial planning issues to write down their cash inflows and outflows as well as opening and closing balances so that they can start the New Year with confidence as far as their financial health and wellbeing are concerned.

Need festive advice or support regarding your financial stability planning problems, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

If you have financial planning problems, you can contact CENFACS so that we can work together on your financial planning needs and help you to start the New Year stronger and confident with a plan.

 

 

 

• Guidance Programme for Not-for-profit Investors in Africa; In Focus from Week Beginning 12/12/2022: Rate of Return on Investment as a Rate of Poverty Reduction

 

The general principle or theory here is that those who would like to invest in the not-for-profit sector and in poverty in Africa, they should not expect to gain any profit as a return.  They will be investing areas where per capita income lags behind the rest of the world.

Instead, they should expect more and better results or outcomes in terms of poverty reduction, if possible the end of poverty for the end-users or beneficiaries.  Their return on investment will be the rate of poverty reduction to be achieved.  The higher this rate will be, the higher the number of people will be lifted out of poverty.

We can suggest most popular places and organisations in Africa that can provide high rates of return in terms of poverty reduction.  Likewise, we can advise potential investors against organisations and places with greater degree of risk in terms of their investment.

For those potential not-for-profit investors who would like to invest, we can work with them to systematically analyse the degree of risk attached to their investments.  In other words, we can give evidence-based advice on the correlation between risk and potential return in terms of poverty reduction.

For example, how much risk can a not-for-profit investor accept in return for a certain level of poverty reduction for a particular project or for a given organisation?

For those who would like to invest in the not-for-profit organisations in Africa and need some guidance, CENFACS can work with them so that they can have better knowledge or measure about the rate of poverty reduction.

Interested in Knowing the Rate of Poverty Reduction that can stem from your Investment in Not-for-profit Organisations in Africa as well as in our Guidance Programme, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

SEULEMENT UNE SEMAINE pour l’appel de secours humanitaire de l’automne 2022

Il ne nous reste qu’une semaine pour notre appel humanitaire pour l’automne 2022.  Cet appel vise à soutenir les personnes nécessiteuses, la flore, la faune, les communautés et les organisations en Afrique.

• Projets faisant l’objet d’appel

L’appel comprend les cinq projets sélectionnés suivants :

√ Compétences vertes pour une relance verte

√ Sauvons la flore et la faune

√ Symétrie

√ Genre et jeunes dans le redressement de l’Afrique

√ Maintenir l’élan scolaire pour les élèves.

Les propositions complètes pour chaque projet faisant l’objet de cet appel sont disponibles si l’un des donateurs ou bailleurs de fonds potentiels en fait la demande.

• Soutenir la campagne de l’automne 2022

Les donateurs et les bailleurs de fonds peuvent directement et respectivement donner ou financer ces projets.

Un message au sujet de cet appel peut également être transmis à une personne qui est en mesure et disposée à le soutenir.  Un grand merci à ceux/celles qui transmettront ce message!

Nous comprenons que le monde traverse toujours une période extrêmement difficile avec les effets persistants de la pandémie de coronavirus et de la crise du coût de la vie.  Ces effets ont une incidence sur le coût du don ou sur la capacité des gens à soutenir des causes bonnes et méritantes.

Ces effets persistants sont encore plus forts là où il y a un niveau élevé de pauvreté comme en Afrique.  C’est pourquoi, cet appel saisonnier a été lancé pour aider non seulement à réduire la pauvreté, mais aussi à sauver des vies de ces effets.

• Où ira l’argent des donateurs et des bailleurs de fonds

Nous invitons ceux/celles qui le peuvent à faire un don de 2 livres sterling pour créer 3 biens (1 bien pour les humains, 1 bien pour la faune et la flore et 1 bien partagé entre les humains et la nature) ou tout montant à partir de 2 livres sterling ou plus comme ils/elles le souhaitent.

Pour chaque 2 livres collectées, 1 livre ira aux humains, 1 livre à la faune et à la flore et 1 livre au bien partagé pour les humains et la nature).

• Faire un cadeau

Vous pouvez déclarer que votre don de bienfaisance soit admissible ou déclarable à “Gift Aid“.

Vous pouvez aussi faire un chèque-cadeau ou un bon-cadeau.

Vous pouvez également soutenir ces projets de la manière la plus appropriée et liée à votre situation, votre budget, votre capacité et votre volonté.

Pour faire un don, offrir de l’aide-cadeau et soutenir autrement; veuillez contacter le CENFACS.

 

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• Knowledge Year and Project: Impact Monitoring and Evaluation

 

The following items highlight the impact monitoring and evaluation of the Knowledge Year and Project:

 

∝ What is the Knowledge Project?

∝ What is monitoring and evaluation of the Knowledge Project?

∝ What are the 12 Knowledge Project episodes to monitor and evaluate?

∝ How can you help or get involved in the monitoring and evaluation processes of the Knowledge Project?

∝ Supporting the findings of the Knowledge Project

 

Let us highlight each of these items.

 

• • What is the Knowledge Project?

 

From what we argued early in this post, one should have an idea about Knowledge Project.  If you do not have, please be informed that the Knowledge Project is an initiative set up by CENFACS to enable us to formalise and implement this Knowledge Year which is a dedication of 2022 as the year of knowledge.

The Knowledge Project is a knowledge-based poverty reduction made of a wealth of information and knowledge topics about the people in need.  The project is essentially comprised of 12 knowledge project episodes whereby each episode draws on a particular area of knowledge and information about the people in need.  The project uses data collection and analytics tools.

In this respect, the project is a collection of knowledgeable activities carried out with those people so that the better their needs become well known, the better they can drive support towards themselves.

At the end of this project, it is possible to produce the state of knowledge on poor people’s needs.  Before that, it is useful to conduct impact monitoring and evaluation of this project.

 

• • What is monitoring and evaluation of the Knowledge Project?

 

To conduct impact monitoring and evaluation for any project, one may need to understand these words: ‘monitoring’ and ‘evaluation’.

To understand these words, we are going to refer to what ‘keydifferences.com’ (3) argues about them.  ‘keydifferences.com’ explains that

“Monitoring refers to a routine process, that examines the activities and progress of the project and identifies bottlenecks during the process… It is the systematic process of observing and recording on a regular basis, the activities carried out in a project, to ensure that the activities are in line with the objectives of the enterprise”.

The same ‘keydifferences.com’ defines evaluation as

“An objective and rigorous analysis of a continuing or completed project, to determine its significance, effectiveness, impact and sustainability by comparing the result with the set of standards.  It is the process of passing value judgement concerning the performance level or attainment of defined objectives”.

So, we are going to refer to these two definitions in order to conduct impact monitoring and evaluation of the Knowledge Project.  To monitor and evaluate the Knowledge Project, we need to recall the 12 knowledge activities we carried out.

 

• • What are the 12 Knowledge (‘K’) Project episodes to monitor and evaluate?

 

Since we started the delivery of CENFACS Knowledge Year as a Project, the twelve activities (or 12 knowledge project episodes) mentioned below have been conducted so far.

 

Activity/Task 1 of the Knowledge Project: Knowledge about the Consumption Needs of Those in Need

 

This knowledge on them and consumption needs will help needs-based solutions so that they can improve their circumstances and consume what it takes to reduce poverty and hardships.

 

Activity/Task 2 of the Knowledge Project: Knowledge about How Those in Need are Meeting Sustainable Development Goals

 

Knowing whether or not poor people are meeting needs and moving towards the realisation of sustainable development goals is an interesting issue.  In this respect, the task was about working to know if our members are meeting or failing to meet sustainable development goals.

 

Activity/Task 3 of the Knowledge Project:  Knowing Climate Actions that Mitigate both Adverse Impacts of Climate Change and Poverty

 

It was about learning and working on projects that simultaneously reduce the adverse impacts of climate change and help poor people to navigate their way out of poverty.

 

Activity/Task 4 of the Knowledge Project: Knowing the Kind of Protection that the Impacted of the Rising Cost of Living Need

 

To undertake Activity/Task 4 of the ‘K’ Project, we tried to have some understanding and information about the types of protection that those who have been impacted by the rising cost of living may need.

 

Activity/Task 5 of the Knowledge Year/Project: Knowing the Real Stories of People in Need

 

This activity or task included listening to those in need tell and share their own stories, with their own words and numbers.

 

Activity/Task 6 of the Knowledge Year/Project: Understanding the Creative Skills of Those in Need

 

It was about knowing the creative skills of those need.  Through that knowledge, it has been possible to work with them to use their creative skills and or develop them so that they could reduce poverty and come out poverty through their creative skills.

 

Activity/Task 7 of the Knowledge Year/Project: Discover and Communicate Any Meaningful Patterns from Data about Those in Need

 

This activity or task covered analysing data from those in need by using mathematics, statistics and computer software.  The outcome from this analysis has been to discover and communicate meaningful patterns from their data.

 

Activity/Task 8 of the Knowledge Year and Project: Run/Walk with or Visit the People in Need to Discover their Problems

 

The activity or task carried out was to undertake the physical activity of running or walking with the people in need.  It was also about in-person visiting the people in need and trying to find out through the visit the kind of problems they have been experiencing and discuss with them the types of solutions they would like to see.

 

Activity/Task 9 of the Knowledge Year and Project: Give Opinions, Not Advice

 

It was about giving your opinions or saying what you know about the issue those in need are experiencing or would like to hear other people’s views.  It was about giving your opinions without advising them what they could do to resolve the problems.

 

Activity/Task 10 of the Knowledge Year and Project: Know the History of People in Need

 

This activity or task was about Knowing the History of People in Need and building the knowledge of their history.  The more one could get the historical details from those in need, the better position in which they could be in order to help them.

 

Activity/Task 11 of the Knowledge Year and Project: Identify the Skills of Those in Need

 

It was about recognising or establishing the identity of the skills and capabilities they possessed.  Depending on the skills they possessed and or could acquire, it was possible to think of what opportunity could meet their skills.

 

Activity/Task No. 12 of the Knowledge Year and Project: Know the Income-generating Activities of the Income Poor 

 

This activity/task is being carried out during this month of December 2022.  It is about Knowing the Income-generating Activities that Income Poor People Can Undertake to Move out of Poverty. 

 

From what is known about their income-generating activities, it is possible to work with them so that improvement can be made to their activities.

The above-mentioned activities or tasks are the ones we are monitoring and evaluating.  We are now carrying on with the systematic process of observation, recording, collection and analysis of information regarding 12 knowledge project episodes in order to get their impact or at least its output.  We are as well undertaking the sporadic activity to draw conclusion regarding the relevance and effectiveness of the 12 knowledge project episodes presented.

To conduct such monitoring and evaluation, it requires the contribution of every body who took part or came across these activities.

 

• • How can you help or get involved in the monitoring and evaluation processes of the Knowledge Project?

 

As part of this Impact Monitoring and Evaluation exercise, we would like to ask to those who have been working with us throughout the last 11 months and two weeks to share with us their feelings and thoughts about these two areas:

(a) The overall “Knowledge Year/Project”

(b) Any of the activities/tasks they have been interested in or used to know the needs of those people living in poverty.

You can share your feelings and thoughts with us by:

∝ Phoning

∝ Texting

∝ E-mailing

∝ Completing the contact form with your feelings and thoughts.

 

• • Supporting the findings of the Knowledge Project

 

Monitoring and evaluation are not an end for themselves.  After concluding them, there will be some findings in terms of knowledge of poor people’s needs.   There will be some suggestions or proposals in terms of project planning and development.  In other words, these findings could mean that we may have to take some steps forward in terms project planning and development in the New Year. 

If there are new projects to meet those unmet needs within the community, how can one support those findings or emerging new project proposals?

For those who are willing to support those findings and projects stemming from those findings, we are willing to share the findings with them.

To request the findings from the 12 knowledge project episodes, please contact CENFACS.

To support projects that may result from these findings, please let CENFACS knows.

 

_________

 

• References

 

(1) cenfacs.org.uk/2022/01/19/the-dilemma-faced-by-africa-based-sister-organisations/(Accessed in December 2022)

(2) https://www.unep.org/un-biodiversity-conference-cop-15 (Accessed in December 2022)

(3) https.//keydifferences.com/difference-between-monitoring-and-evaluation.html (Accessed in December 2022)

_________

 

• 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 until the end of 2022 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

07 December 2022

 

Post No. 277

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Festive Guide and Income Generation 

• Festive No-direct Cash Giving without Shopping

• Activity/Task No. 12 of the Knowledge (“K”) Year and Project: Know the Income-generating Activities of the Income Poor

 

… And much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Festive Guide and Income Generation 

 

We have exciting and engaging initiatives forming our Festive Guide and December 2022.

Our Festive Guide contains three items, which are:

 

a) The Season’s Relief 

b) Festive Services

c) Gifts of Peace.

 

As to the Month of December 2022 itself, December is Income Generation Month according to CENFACS development calendar/planner.  It is an Income Generation Month not only for most charities, but also for CENFACS users.  During this month, we would be working with income poor to find way of generating some income to meet additional costs brought to their life by the cost-of-living crisis and spending pressure from festive demand.

This is why published our Festive Income Boost on 09 November 2022 so that this festive income resource could be used as early as possible.  This way we can work together so as to make the Season’s celebration come on its own to them and be affordable for all of them.

Under the Main Development section of this post, you will find more information about both the Festive Guide and our programme of work for the Income Generation Month.

 

 

• Festive No-direct Cash Giving without Shopping

 

Last week, we provided a number of no-direct cash donations that those who would like to support CENFACS through their festive shopping can provide.  This week, we are expanding on no-direct donations by focussing on those without shopping.  In other words, we are highlighting other ways of backing CENFACS without directly giving cash and without shopping at CENFACS e-shop and other stores or shops.   What are those ways that one can think of or come across with to support CENFACS without having to directly give cash and without doing any shoppings at CENFACS e-shop and other stores or shops.

 

• • Festive No-direct Cash Donations without Shopping

 

They include:

 

* Signing up for a Gift Aid Declaration from which CENFACS can earn an extra 25p for every £1 you give

* Nomination of CENFACS for a donation at festive charity fundraising and donation events

* Selection of CENFACS as your preferred charity for donation from advertising revenue

* Planned gifting or legacy giving if you decide to contribute a major gift to CENFACS beyond your lifetime

* Gaming assets when you as a gaming fundraiser take the initiative to raise money for CENFACS via video games or livestreamed video game events whereby viewers can tune into

* Streaming activities when you run livestream fundraising campaign for CENFACS

* Digital tickets can assist CENFACS if you can sell tickets on social media platforms via an event site to help CENFACS raise funds; particularly if anyone attending your event can support in raising funds through their purchase of a fundraising ticket

* Digital collectibles can be a means of supporting CENFACS for those who have them in their wallet as they can be bought, swapped and sold in a peer-to-peer marketplace; just as they can be used to fund needy organisations

* Crypto assets can contribute to CENFACS‘ mission if you are a crypto-minded supporter or enthusiast or donor and can aid CENFACS raise money for its noble causes as well as develop a crypto philanthropy programme

* Non-fungible tokens, which can be accepted as donations, are unique and non-interchangeable tokens compared to crypto assets and a medium by which you can use to boost funds for CENFACS

Etc.

 

There could be more since resource giving to charitable causes is a fast-growing industry.  If you know any more of them, please use them to help CENFACS access funds for its noble causes.

So, those who could not give no-direct cash donations through their shopping, they can still donate via the above-named no-direct cash donations without shopping.

By asking for no-direct cash donations with and without shopping, we do not mean that one cannot donate cash.  They can and if they choose to directly donate cash, CENFACS will happily accept their direct cash donations.

To support CENFACS without directly giving cash (with or without shopping) and or by directly donating cash, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Activity/Task No. 12 of the Knowledge (“K”) Year and Project: Know the Income-generating Activities of the Income Poor 

 

People living in poverty may try all sorts of activities in order to create or make income so that they can change their situation.  Amongst these activities, we can include income-generating activities.  However, to know the income-generating activities undertaken by the income poor, one needs to understand these three concepts: income, income-generating activities and income poverty.

Let us briefly explained each of them.

 

• • What is an income?

 

To understand income, we have selected the operational definition of income given in the Canberra Group Handbook (1), which is:

” Household income consists of all receipts whether monetary or in-kind (goods and services) that are received by the household or by individual members of the household at annual or more frequent intervals, but excludes windfall gains and other such irregular and typically one-time receipts”.

This operational definition of income can be used to learn and know the income-generating activities of the income poor.  But, what do we mean by income-generating activities?

 

• • Understanding income-generating activities

 

Income-generating activities can be viewed from various perspectives or approaches.  According to ‘igo-global.com’ (2), an income-generating activity is

“An activity carried out in order to generate revenues used to ensure the financial sustainability of the organisation”.

This definition can apply to households when members of any household is trying to generate or earn income to ensure the financial sustainability of the household.  It can as well be used for people living in poverty who are trying to generate income using a variety of means at their disposal.

For example, in the run up to the end of the year’s celebrations, it is possible to see all sorts of coping and surviving activities or strategies (including street begging) that poor people are using to generate some income to make ends meet.

However, is there any level of income from which one can argue about income poverty?

 

• • Defining income poverty

 

To relatively and absolutely define income poverty, we are going to refer to the metrics used by the World Bank which is the international poverty line.  According to the World Bank (3),

“Since 30 November 2022, the international poverty line was set at $2.15 per person per day using 2017 prices.  This means that anyone living on less than $2.15 a day is in extreme poverty”.

This metrics can contribute to the knowledge formation of income-generating activities of the income poor or those living below the threshold of $2.15 a day.

To sum up, the 12th Activity or Task of the ‘K’ Year/Project is about Knowing the Income-generating Activities that Income Poor People Can Undertake to Move out of Poverty. 

From what is known about their income-generating activities, it is possible to work with them so that improvement can be made to their activities.  One can hope that any improvement made can lead to more and better income for them so that they can navigate their way out of poverty.

The knowledge of their income-generating activities can also be an opportunity to suggest alternative or better way of generating income that can drive them out of the root causes of poverty.

The above is the Activity or Task no. 12 for the ‘K’ Year/Project for those who are interested in carrying it out.

For those who want any clarification of any aspects of this activity or task, they can contact CENFACS.

 

Extra Messages

 

• Volunteering for Nature Goals and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty (05/12/2022 to 05/01/2023)

• Guidance Programme for Not-for-profit Investors in Africa; In Focus for Week Beginning 05/12/2022: Risks and Opportunities Linked to Not-for-profit Organisations in Africa 

• Financial Stability Campaign for Households

 

 

• Volunteering for Nature Goals and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty (05/12/2022 to 05/01/2023)

 

Our E-discussion on Volunteering for Nature Goals and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty has started.  This e-discussion is part of the Biodiversity Conference (4).

Indeed, between 7 and 19 December 2022 in Montreal (Canada), countries will work to agree on a new set of goals to guide global action through 2030 to halt and reverse nature loss.

In line with the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) and with CENFACS “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature) Campaign, we are e-discussing ways of volunteering in 2023 to help CENFACS and its Africa-based Sister Organisations contribute to the new nature goals and nature-based solutions to poverty.

The e-discussion is about the following:

 

√ Thinking the best way of volunteering to help in stopping or reducing nature loss

√ Addressing overexploitation, pollution, fragmentation and unsustainable agricultural practices

√ Safeguarding the rights of indigenous people

√ Recognizing these people’s rights as stewards of nature

√ Finance for biodiversity and nature

Etc.

 

As we are nearing 2023, volunteering for nature goals and nature-based solutions to poverty will not only help meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the climate goal; but it will also contribute to reduce poverty induced by the mistreatment of nature.

To e-discuss about Volunteering for Nature Goals and Nature-based Solutions to poverty, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Guidance Programme for Not-for-profit Investors in Africa; In Focus for Week Beginning 05/12/2022: Risks and Opportunities Linked to Not-for-profit Organisations in Africa 

 

This is a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis in terms of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats before investing in Not-for-profit Organisations in Africa. 

It is well known that any investment is at the same time a risk and an opportunity.  The risks linked to investment in Africa include: the possibility of civil wars and conflicts, lack of adequate infrastructures, corruption, political change, etc.  Beside these risks, there are opportunities such as untapped resources, young and growing population, etc.

Through SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) and PEST (Political, Economic, Social and Technological factors) analyses, we can work together with prospective investors to minimise investment risks while maximising opportunities or benefits for their investment to succeed.

It is also worth noting that prospective investors need to be aware that the more they want to invest, the greater could be this risk.  However, where there are large economies of scale, this risk can be spread over.

Through CENFACS‘ Guidance and Advice on Investing in Africa, we can help potential investors to maximise risk-adjusted returns for a given level or rate of poverty reduction.

For those who would like to invest in the not-for-profit organisations in Africa and need some guidance, CENFACS can work with them so that they can have better knowledge or measure about risks and opportunities to invest in them.

Interested in Knowing Risks and Opportunities to Invest in Not-for-profit Organisations in Africa as well as in Guidance Programme, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Financial Stability Campaign for Households

 

This campaign is about working with poor households to help them find enough income to cover basic expenses, pay off debts and save for emergencies.

Indeed, it is a campaign about the following:

 

√ To work with households to generate enough income to cover basic festive expenses while cutting unneeded expenses to cover basic festive costs (e.g., by avoiding impulse festive buying)

√ To enable these households to find ways of paying debts over the festive period (e.g., by carrying out a debt-to-income analysis)

√ To build savings for emergencies or emergency funds to cover unexpected festive costs (e.g., by working out the saving rate as total income less total expenses divided by total income)

√ To invest in the short- and long-term financial stability goals.

To participate and or support this campaign, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

Guide Festif et Génération de Revenus 

Nous avons des initiatives passionnantes et engageantes formant notre Guide Festif et le Mois de Décembre 2022.

Notre Guide Festif contient trois éléments, qui sont:

a) Le soulagement de la saison

b) Services festifs

c) Dons de paix.

En ce qui concerne le mois de décembre 2022 lui-même, décembre est le mois de la génération de revenus selon le calendrier de développement du CENFACS.  C’est un mois générateur de revenus non seulement pour les organismes de bienfaisance, mais aussi pour les bénéficiaires du CENFACS.

Au cours de ce mois, nous travaillerions avec des personnes à faible revenu pour trouver un moyen de générer des revenus pour faire face aux coûts supplémentaires causés à leur vie par la crise du coût de la vie et la pression des dépenses due à la demande festive.

C’est pourquoi nous avons publié le 09 novembre dernier l’édition 2022 de l’Augmentation Festive des Revenus avec comme point de mire la Stabilité financière.  Nous l’avons publiée d’avance afin que cette ressource de revenus festifs puisse être utilisée le plus tôt possible.  De cette façon, nous pouvons travailler ensemble afin que la célébration de la saison puisse venir d’elle-même vers nos bénéficiaires et être abordable pour tous et toutes.

Ceux ou celles qui sont intéressés par le Guide des Fêtes et notre programme de travail pour le Mois de la Génération de Revenus peuvent nous le faire savoir.

 

 

Main Development

 

• Festive Guide and Income Generation 

 

We have two major items making the Festive Guide and Income Generation Month, which are:

 

∝ Festive Guide

∝ December as an Income Generation Month.

 

Let us briefly explain each of them.

 

• • Festive Guide

 

Inside this guide, there are three main listings: Season’s Relief, Festive Services and Gifts of Peace.

 

• • • Season’s Relief 

 

At CENFACS, the Season’s Relief comes with a theme and bundle of initiatives.

 

• • • • Season’s Relief Theme

 

The theme for Season’s Relief which would carry us throughout the entire festive period is Economic Peace.  The Festive Season, which is part of the worldwide celebration, kicks off in December for CENFACS and ends by the 31^st of January in the New Year.

During the Festive Season, we normally start the Season of Light.  The Season of Light is one of the four seasons of CENFACS Development Calendar.  It is the Winter season which goes on until March and is featured by Winter Lights and Light Projects or Light Appeals. 

During this Season of Light, we shall carry out work about light (or energy) and poverty reduction since the global climate community has committed itself to phase down coal as source of energy whereas many energy poor people in Africa are coal-dependant.

 

 

• • • • Season’s Relief Initiatives

 

The following are the selected December 2022 initiatives or Season’s Initiatives for Relief:

 

❇ Festive Income Builder, Booster & Calculator, In Focus for 2022: Financial Stability

❇ Community Value Chains: The CENFACS Community and Knowledge of Poverty Reduction

❇ Volunteering in 2023: Volunteering for Nature Goals and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty

❇ Thanking 2022 Year Makers & Enablers

❇ Gifts of Peace (Edition 2022/2023)

❇ Run, Vote & Play for Poverty Relief and Sustainable Development (Action-Results 2022).

 

The above-mentioned projects would make the first part of Season’s Relief as being announced above.  Some of them intertwine between our monthly and seasonal development calendars.  All will depend whether one is reading our development calendar on a monthly or seasonal basis.

To support and or enquire about the Season’s Relief, please contact CENFACS.

 

• • • Festive Services

 

These services are made of two types of projects: regular and festive projects.

(a) Regular or on-going projects are continuous including during the festive period.  The project known as All-year Round Projects (Triple Value Initiatives) is one of them.

(b) Projects for the festive occasion only; projects which are specially designed for that occasion.   The project Community Value Chains is one of them.

Both types of projects are included in our December 2022 programme and planned to be delivered during the month of December 2022.

 

• • • Gifts of Peace

 

These are CENFACS Wintry Gift Appeal initiative to support people living in poverty in Africa.

CENFACS’ Winter Gift of Peace to Africa is indeed …

√ A festive life-sustaining support that helps to reduce poverty and bring sustainable peace  

√ A festive giving to acknowledge and do something about poverty over the festive period, which is also an occasion to trans-give and think of those who are not as fortunate as others

√ A festive means to support those who don’t have peace because of poverty, particularly in the developing regions of the world like Africa.

Since Africa is still struggling with the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the current cost-of-living crisis, there are many of these people, who are recipient of projects and programmes run by our Africa-based Sister Organisations, who desperately need support.

However, we must acknowledge that this is a challenging time for both those who support and those who receive that support.  To respond to the demand of help from those who receive support, we will be launching CENFACS’ Winter Gift of Peace to Africa, a Winter Appeal, by the end of Autumn 2022.

In meantime, those who would like to have for more information about this Wintry appeal, they need to contact CENFACS.

 

• • December as an Income Generation Month for CENFACS

 

December is a month of Income Generation, Record Tracking and Winter Lights at CENFACS.

 

• • • December as Income Generation Month

 

December is the Income Generation month according to CENFACS monthly development calendar and planner.  It is the month during which we advocate and provide tips, hints and other types of advisory support on how to generate additional income to cover shortage in regular income, by using other avenues within the boundaries of the law and order.

This additional income can enable multi-dimensional income poor children, young people and families (C, YP & Fs) to exercise their basic human right to celebrate the end of the year in their own way.

However, this December 2022 will be mostly about Financial Stability as we highlighted in this year Edition of Festive Income Boost, rather than Income Generation.  This is to help C, YP & Fs to find enough income to cover basic expenses, pay off debts and save for emergencies.  We will be working with them during the festive season to find ways of building and developing the financial stability.

So, supporting multi-dimensional poor C, YP & Fs to explore ways of covering basic expenses, paying off debts and saving for emergencies is the right cause to undertake. 

Equally, where possible generating, building and boosting their incomes to exercise their human right to a decent end-of-year celebration is not only a one-off or seasonal business to make ends meet; but can also become an additional way of building and developing the capacity to reduce and end income poverty.  

They are poor not only because of lack of income but also due to their failing capacities to maintain financial stability as well as generate enough income to cover their needs and nurture this stability.

As part of festive support, our Edition 2022 Festive Extra Income Builder, Booster and Calculator would be available for those who need it.  We launched this resource earlier in Autumn in order to enable those in need of the resource to get the tips and hints they need to early start exploring ways of stabilising their finances while finding ways of boosting their income and generational economy.

Besides this resource, we planned two periods of work on financial stability programmes and schemes starting from the first of this month as follows.

 

• • • 01 to 07/12/2022: Financial Stability Programmes (FSP) 

 

FSP is a set of structured activities designed to help users cover basic expenses, pay off debts and save for emergencies.

As a result, we will be working on how people and families can set up and or be involved a series of structured activities or small projects to cover basic expenses, pay off debts and save for emergencies and where possible to generate little extra income in order to reduce poverty.  Through these activities, we will help them through the following:

 

√ Eliminate toxic assets

√ Find sources of funding

√ Absorb the effects of the cost-of-living crisis and other potential financial crises

√ Prevent events like the cost-of-living crisis from disrupting household financial health and wellbeing

Etc.

 

• • • 08 to 14/12/2022: Financial Stability Schemes (FSS) 

 

FSS helps to work with users so that they can elaborate a systematic plan of future action about their financial stability for a week or month or year (2023).  Through this exercise, we shall use some financial stability tools to work with users (e.g., Debt to income ratio formula).

Briefly, we will be working on how financially instable people and families can find available systematic plans for future action to improve their financial stability, and where possible generate income in order to reduce continuing poverty and hardships.  In particular, we will make sure about what scheme is workable or unworkable for them.

In the end, we hope that financially instable people and families can develop their own individual working FSP and FSS plans or policies to establish financial stability and generate little extra incomes not only for the festive period, but also beyond the festive time. In doing so, they can improve their intergenerational economy and transfer accounts.

 

 

• • • December as Record Tracking Month

 

December is also the time of record tracking on our All-year Round Projects (or Triple Value Initiatives), particularly

√ CENFACS Poverty Relief League (The African Nations Poverty Relief League)

√ Run to Reduce Poverty in Africa in 2022

√ Vote your African Poverty Relief and Development Manager of the Year 2022

 

We expect those who took part and or organised activities on our behalf about these projects to come forward, report and share with us their actions, results and experiences about the three stars or bests of 2022 (Best Country, Best Runner and Best Manager).  We can count on them to tell us their Winner of CENFACS Trophy of the Year.

 

 

• • • December as the start of Winter Lights Season

 

As said above in our Festive Guide, December is finally the month we start CENFACS Winter Lights Season, the first season of our development seasonal calendar.  The Season of Light, which kicks off around Mid-December, includes the Gifts of Peace.

Each year, we produce an edition of the Gifts of Peace that makes up our final fundraising campaign and last humanitarian appeal of the year.  This year, we are doing the same for our last humanitarian appeal or fundraising campaign of 2022.

Peace is the festive theme we choose at CENFACS to spread the joy of Season’s Relief to those in need, especially at this time of the cost-of-living crisis.  We try to help their wishes of relief become true with the Gifts of Peace, by putting a smile on their face with relief notes.

With the soaring costs of living, many of them cannot find the smiles they need for relief.  One can hope that the Gifts of Peace will bring back the lost smiles.

To support the Edition 2022/2023 of Gifts of Peace, please contact CENFACS.

 

• • • CENFACS Community Value Chains Celebration

 

As part of the Season of Light is the CENFACS Community Value Chains celebration.  This celebration generally closes our seasons at the end of the year and concludes our yearly development calendar and planner, while marking the end of civil year at CENFACS.

It is an end-of-year eventful project enabling us to look upon us again as a community of shared vision, values and beliefs which connect us as human chains with a purpose of reducing and ending poverty amongst us, and of enhancing sustainable development as well.

This year we shall again focus on ourselves as a Community of Knowledgeable People.  It will be about the knowledge we have about poverty reduction as well as about the needs of those are looking for help that make us a knowledgeable community that helps match responses to those needs.

 

• • • Sustainable Volunteering: 05/12/2022 to 05/01/2023

 

To carry the CENFACS Community into the New Year, our discussion on Sustainable Volunteering, which has already started, is scheduled to take place from 05 December 2022 to 05 January 2023.  The discussion theme for this year is on Volunteering in 2023 for Nature Goals and Nature-based Solutions to Poverty.

 

• • • CENFACS into 2023

 

To take the other two domains (International and Fund) of CENFACS into 2023 and engage with stakeholders, we shall develop nature projects and programmes as well as those with nature-based solutions to poverty.

For any enquiries or to support CENFACS in the month of December 2022 and in the New Year, please contact CENFACS.

 

Before closing this week’s post, we would like to inform all our audiences and stakeholders that the above planned programmes, projects and activities can be reviewed.  If there are any significant changes in terms of the eruption of a major event or crisis or shock like it happened with the coronavirus pandemic, we shall revise our initial festive plan and activate our contingency plan.

 

_________

 

• References

 

(1) https://unstats.un.org/unsd/EconStatKB/KnowledgebaseArticle10347.aspx (Accessed in December 2022)

(2) https://www.igo-global.com/dictionary/operational-challenge-in-hybrid-organisations/59060 (Accessed in December 2022)

(3) https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/measuring-poverty (Accessed in December 2022)

(4) https://www.unep.org/un-biodiversity-conference-cop-15 (Accessed in December 2022)

 

_________

 

• 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 until the end of 2022 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

30 November 2022

 

Post No. 276

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Festive Shopping and Donations Needed!

• Impact Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, Development and Action Plan from the Month of Economics of Education and Skill Formation (Skills Development Month)

• Guidance Programme for Not-for-profit Investors in Africa; In Focus for Week Beginning 28/11/2022: Not-for-profit Investment Choices in Africa 

 

… And much more!

 

Coming Next Week: WINTER E-DISCUSSION ON VOLUNTEERING

 

Key Messages

 

• Festive Shopping and Donations Needed!

 

As we enter the festive month of December, anyone can help raise funds for CENFACS through their shopping without giving any penny.  It does not cost them any money to give to charities like CENFACS while shopping, whether online or in-person, and being asked either to tick a box or to name or choose a charity to benefit from their festive shopping activities.

By ticking a box to donate to charity or naming or choosing CENFACS, they can enable CENFACS to receive a no-direct cash donations from their shopping; donations which we need to help those suffering from poverty and the cost-of-living crisis.

Please remember that around the festive period millions of shoppers do not claim their points, discounts and rewards.  These points, prizes and rewards could have gone to good causes like CENFACS‘ noble ones.

So, it does not cost you as a shopper anything if you tick a box or name or choose CENFACS as your favourite charity to receive your points, prizes and rewards which could otherwise become unclaimed, unused and wasted.

Please this festive season, do not let these free offers resulting from your shopping to go unclaimed or wasted.  CENFACS wants them.  CENFACS needs your loyalty shopping points, discounts, vouchers, prizes and rewards that you do not want or need.

We need them to help people living in poverty and hardships.  These people require them.  We are demanding your no-direct cash gift and support through your festive shopping to help them. 

Please tick a box or name or choose CENFACS to benefit from your festive shopping activities.

More on ways of supporting CENFACS’ beneficiaries through your festive shopping is given under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• Impact Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, Development and Action Plan from the Month of Economics of Education and Skill Formation (Skills Development Month)

 

Through this ending November month of Skills Development, we have focused on Data Skills to Run your Household, in particular data storage, process, security, insight and analytics skills.  In order to know the progress and achievements made as well as the to examine our performance against objectives, we are carrying out two exercises:

 

a) Impact Monitoring and Evaluation

b) Learning development and Action Plan.

 

Let us explain what these two exercises are about.

 

• • Impact Monitoring and Evaluation of Data Skills to Run your Household

 

We are now carrying on with the systematic process of observation, recording, collection and analysis of information regarding our 4-week work on Data Skills to Run your Household in order to get its impact or at least its output.  This routing process will help to examine the activities of the data skills developed and identify bottlenecks during the process to see if they are in line with objectives we defined.

Also, we are undertaking the sporadic activity to draw conclusion regarding the relevance and effectiveness of the data skills presented.  This activity will contribute to the determination of the value judgement regarding the performance level and attainment of defined objectives for Data Skills to Run your Household.

The findings from this Impact Monitoring and Evaluation will help to figure out what has been achieved through this work and give us some flavour about the future direction of Skills Development month.

As part of this Impact Monitoring and Evaluation exercise, we would like to ask to those who have been working with us throughout the last four weeks to share with us their feelings and thoughts about these two areas:

 

(a) The overall “Data Skills to Run your Household”

(b) Any of the data skills they have been interested in or used in the context of running their household.

 

You can share your feelings and thoughts with us by:

 

∝ Phoning

∝ Texting

∝ E-mailing

∝ Completing the contact form with your feelings and thoughts.

 

• • Learning Development and Action Plan for Data Skills to Run your Household

 

As part of keeping the culture of continuous learning and professional development within CENFACS, we are examining what the running of Skills Development and Skills Focus have brought and indicated to us.  We are particularly looking at the learning and development priorities and initiatives.  In this exercise, we are considering the action points and plan we may need to make in order to improve or better change the way in which we deliver our services and work with users.

For those who have been following the running of the Skills Development Month with us, this is the time or opportunity they can add their inputs to our learning and development experience so that we can know the skills gap that need to be filled up in 2023 and beyond.  They can as well have their own action plans on how they would like to take forward the contents of Skills Development month.  And if they have a plan and want us to look at it, we are willing to do so.

The plan could be on the following data skills presented throughout this month: data storage, process, security, insight and analytics skills.  In particular, we can look at how any household making our community wants to make a plan for them or would like CENFACS to work with them on their chosen area of data skills.

Have an action plan for your skills development and want CENFACS to look at it, please do not hesitate to contact us.  To add your input to our exercise on learning, development and action plan; just contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Guidance Programme for Not-for-profit Investors in Africa (1); In Focus for Week Beginning 28/11/2022: Not-for-profit Investment Choices in Africa 

 

Through our guidance programme, we can work with potential not-for-profit investors and help them to choose the types of investment they want.  In particular, they can choose from the following: asset classes, organisation to become part of governing body and market segment.

 

• • Types of investment to consider

 

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.

In the context of the not-for-profit development, we shall work with not-for-profit investors to choose investments that bring high return of poverty reduction for project and programme beneficiaries in Africa.

 

• • Choice of asset classes

 

We can work with the prospective not-for-profit investors to help them identify and choose the asset classes (e.g., cash, shares, bonds, equities/stocks, real estate, exchanged-traded funds and mutual bonds, etc.) they need in order to penetrate the organisations they would prefer to invest in.

 

• • Choice of governing body or board of directors

 

We can as well work with prospective not-for-profit investors to help them choose the governing body or board of directors that suits them or matches with or best represents their need and interest to invest.  The bodies or boards that we are talking about are those of not-for-profit organisations (whose activities are not for the financial benefit of individuals or board of directors) registered as charity or non-registered as charity.

Organisations that are registered as charities could be charitable incorporated organisations or charitable companies limited by guarantee, unincorporated associations or charitable trusts like in the UK.

Besides that, we shall use the classification and terminology of the given African organisation within their country as well as their business structure to find out whether or not they can be classified as not-for-profit.  And if they are because of their status of not-for-profit, we shall search on implications in terms of foreign direct investment in those organisations.

 

• • Choice of market segment

 

The African not-for-profit development and poverty reduction Africa are a huge market for poverty reduction goods and services.  We can help select or pitch which segment of the market investors want.

For example, a potential not-for-profit investor can make a decision to pitch the market segment of children’s needs, or water projects, women’s needs, energy projects, projects targeting COVID-19 induced hardships, etc.

For those who would like to invest in the not-for-profit organisations in Africa and need some guidance, CENFACS can work with them so that they can make informed choice on the types of investment, asset class, governing body and market segment they may consider.

Interested in Not-for-profit Investment Choices in Africa and in Guidance Programme, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

Extra Messages

 

• Financial Security Analysis Project (FSAP)

• Activity of the Festive Season: How to Make your Triple-Value-Initiative Activity Raise Money for Good Causes

• CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum Debates Forest Cartelization

 

 

• Financial Security Analysis Project (FSAP)

 

FSAP is part of the Three Tiers of Security Against Poverty.  The two other levels of security being Energy Security Project and Food Security Project, as we explained last week.

This week, we are providing more information about FSAP and what we can do together with those members of our community who need support to analyse their financial security.  Particularly, as we are entering the festive month of December many people are forced to spend to stay in the mood of the festive period even if they do not money or enough money to spend.  In this respect, financial security analysis is important to raise awareness on how to stay financially secure.

 

• • What is FSAP?

 

FSAP is a poverty reduction initiative that helps to analyse if households making our community have enough income to cover all their expenses and save for their future.

FSAP, which may not be a financial support in terms of cash or assets convertible into cash, can help to work with financial insecure people so that they can progressively navigate their way towards financial security.

For example, through this project we can carry out an express analysis of the financial security of our household users from their data.  The analysis will help to determine the financial position of a given household user of our project.  The analysis can provide some valuable information to potentially avoid financial poverty.  In this respect, FSAP will help to level up those who are looking for sustainable solutions to financial crisis they are facing.

There are different types of analysis we can conduct.

 

• • Types of financial analysis we can conduct for beneficiaries

 

We can work with them to analyse or assess the total value of their household.  In this respect, we can conduct with them the following three types of analysis:

 

a) Fundamental financial analysis to calculate the intrinsic value of their household by studying the fundamental factors that affect them

b) Technical financial analysis by using forecasting techniques to predict the household’s future performance

c) Quantitative financial analysis by referring to basic financial measures or ratios to work out households’ financial health and wellbeing.

 

Through these three analyses, we can work out the following:

 

√ Current living expense of FSAP beneficiaries

√ Saving plan or safety net to protect from unexpected things

√ Financial plan to live below their means

√ Built-in funds to cover the unexpected

√ Plan to pay off debts for those indebted beneficiaries

√ Financial plan that includes festive expenses and income

√ Investment plan for those who are capable of investing

Etc.

 

These analyses will help financial insecure people to progressively navigate towards financial security and support those who are looking for sustainable solutions to financial crisis they are facing to level up.

For those who need financial security analysis over this festive period, they can contact CENFACS.  Working with them on financial security analysis will strengthen them and put them in a better position to end 2022 and start 2023.

For those who want more support on financial issues, we would like to inform them that from next week, we will be running a Financial Stability Campaign which they can join.

 

 

• Activity of the Festive Season: How to Make your Triple-Value-Initiative Activity Raise Money for Good Causes

 

You can help CENFACS raise funds it needs for its noble causes while you are undertaking your Triple Value Activity or All Year-Round Project.  How can you do it?

 

If you are Running or Organising a Run Activity to Reduce Poverty in 2022, you can dress like a Santa and raise money depending on the challenge (e.g., running laps or distances) and ask people around you to donate accordingly.  You can organise a virtual or in-person run.

 

If you are Playing the CENFACS League for Poverty Relief, you can organise a festive tournament and ask participants and your audiences to the tournament to donate.  

 

If you are Voting your 2022 African Poverty Relief Manager, you can set up a knowledge challenge in the form of Questions-Answers to find out your 2022 African Poverty Relief and Development Manager.  You can ask people who would like to attend or participate or watch the challenge to donate.

 

With some inspiration, the above shows that it is possible to raise funds for CENFACS’ noble causes while applying any of the three Triple Value Initiatives (or All Year-Round Projects).

However, before embarking on raising funds via Triple Value Initiatives, you need to discuss the matter with CENFACS so that together with you we can plan How to Make your Triple-Value-Initiative Activity Raise Money for Good Causes.

To discuss the possibility of raising funds for good causes via Triple Value Initiatives (or All Year-Round Projects), please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum Debates Forest Cartelization

 

Can South-South Rainforest Trilateral Alliance (between Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia) or the New Forest Cartel become true leaders of climate action and security?

In search for climate solutions, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia launched on 14 November 2022 a working partnership (2) to preserve their vast forests threatened by exploitation and agriculture.  They are asking for the following:

∝ Compensation from the international community to reduce deforestation

∝ Climate finance

∝ Carbon pricing of a tonne of carbon credit market

∝ Increase for the value of tropical forests to climate and people

∝ Development of fossil energies to provide solutions to climate change

Etc.

Further to this new forest group’s demand, CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum is asking the following sub-questions deriving from the above-mentioned main question:

What is the weight of the tropical forest economy in the global economy given these three biggest rainforest nations hold 52% of the world’s tropical forests?

Is the triple alliance between the world’s three biggest forest countries with vast forests a genuine leadership/partnership or a protest drive?

To what extent can this newly formed group be a true leader that can shape the climate action and security?

Can this forest cartel fix or influence the price of forest global products like other cartels (like the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) do?

How can the trilateral alliance use its forest comparative advantage to improve its competitive advantage to provide poverty reduction and a genuine climate security that the world needs?

The above is the last debate of 2022 for CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum.  You can enter this debate on forest cartelisation by contacting CENFACS on this website.

 

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

Soutenir les nobles causes de CENFACS via vos achats festifs

Les fêtes de fin d’année sont l’occasion de faire quelque chose contre la pauvreté.

Chaque occasion ou chaque saison est une opportunité de faire quelque chose contre la pauvreté et les difficultés.  Les fêtes de fin d’année, qui sont un temps idéal pour partager des moments précieux avec vos proches, est aussi une période pour répandre un peu plus de ce bonheur à ceux /celles qui n’en ont pas.

Nous comprenons que de nombreuses personnes, y compris nos sympathisant(e)s, continuent de souffrir sérieusement de la crise du coût de la vie.  Cependant, pour les personnes qui vivent déjà dans la pauvreté, ces effets sont même intolérables et insupportables pour elles.  Il y a une raison de les soutenir pendant cette période des fêtes.

Pour les soutenir, il existe plusieurs types de dons en espèces sans contrepartie directe lors de vos achats que vous pouvez utiliser.  Dans le cadre de notre demande de soutenir les nobles causes de CENFACS via vos achats festifs, on peut envisager les deux types suivants:

a) Dons qui ne sont pas une transmission directe en espèces  lors de votre visite à la boutique en ligne de la charité CENFACS

b) Dons qui ne sont pas une transmission directe en espèces  via des achats dans d’autres magasins / boutiques.

En gros, vous pouvez faire un don indirectement lorsque vous magasinez sur la boutique en ligne du CENFACS et dans d’autres magasins.

Pour faire un don indirect au CENFACS via la boutique en ligne du CENFACS, rendez-vous sur: http://cenfacs.org.uk/shop/

Pour faire un don indirect au CENFACS via votre activité d’achat à d’autres magasins / boutiques, veuillez vérifier ou leur demander s’ils ont un programme qui soutient les organisations caritatives.  Parfois, ils peuvent vous le proposer eux-mêmes.

Merci d’avance d’envisager de soutenir les nobles causes de CENFACS pendant la période des fêtes de fin d’année.

 

 

Main Development

 

• Festive Shopping and Donations Needed!

 

Two items cover the contents of this Main Development, items which are:

 

∝ Festive season as an opportunity to do something against poverty

∝ No-direct cash donations as a result of your shopping.

 

Let us summarily look at them.

 

• • Festive season as an opportunity to do something against poverty

 

Every occasion or every season is an opportunity to do something against poverty and hardships.  The festive season, which is a great time to share precious moments with your loved ones, is also a period to spread a little extra of that happiness to those who do not have.

We understand that many people including our supporters continue to seriously suffer from the cost-of-living crisis.  However, for people who are already living in poverty, these effects are even intolerable and unbearable for them.  There is a reason to support them during this festive season.  One of the many ways of supporting them could be no-direct cash donations through your festive shopping. 

 

• • No-direct cash donations as a result of your shopping

 

CENFACS needs donations from your festive shopping, in particular we need no-direct cash donations, to support those in need.  Some shoppers who could donate no-direct cash may not understand what it means.  This is why it is better we explain the following:

 

∝ What do we mean by no-direct cash donations?

∝ Types of no-direct cash donations we are talking about and asking for.

 

• • • Brief explanation of no-direct cash donations

 

A no-direct cash donation is an amount given as a gift and which is not a direct transfer of cash, cheque, or a debit or credit card.  No-direct cash donations should not be confused with in-kind donations.  In the context of Festive Shopping, the donor gives money indirectly through their shopping activities.  If there is no shopping, there is no-direct cash donation linked to the shopping.

What are those types of donations that are the result of one’s shopping drive?

 

• • • Types of no-direct cash donations

 

There are two types of no-direct cash donations when shopping, which are:

 

a) No-direct cash donations when shopping at CENFACS Charity e-shop

b) No-direct cash donations via shopping at other shops/stores.

 

Let us look at each of them.

 

• • • • Indirectly donate when you shop at CENFACS e-shop at http://cenfacs.org.uk/shop/

 

• • • • • SHOPPING or DONATING GOODS at CENFACS Charity e-Store

 

You can give your unwanted and unneeded goods or pre-loved items to CENFACS’ Charity e-Store, the shop built to help relieve poverty, including poverty induced by the cost-of-living crisis.  You can buy second hand goods and bargain priced new items and much more.

You can do something different this Festive Season by SHOPPING or DONATING GOODS at CENFACS Charity e-Store.  You can even make this e-store better.

You can DONATE or SHOP or do both:

√ DONATE unwanted pre-loved GOODS and PRODUCTS to CENFACS Charity e-Store during the festive period and beyond

√ SHOP at CENFACS Charity e-Store to support good and deserving causes of poverty relief during the festive period and beyond.

Your SHOPPING action and or GOODS DONATIONS will help to the Upkeep of the Nature and to reduce poverty, particularly poverty induced by the cost-of-living crisis.

CENFACS Charity e-Shop is open for both online festive purchase and goods donations.

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

Many ordinary people and families are struggling to make ends meet at this challenging time of the cost-of-living crisis.  Many of them do not know how they are going to make ends meet of the month; let alone how they will meet their festive expenses as prices and bills continue to rise.  They need help.  We need support as well to help them come out poverty and hardships caused by the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.

Amongst the goods to donate, we are asking net-zero goods as well.

 

• • • • • Donation of NET-ZERO GOODS this Festive Season

 

You can donate carbon neutral or net zero greenhouse gas emissions goods to help reduce the adverse impacts of climate change and poverty, while creating an opportunity to save non-renewable natural resources.  This type of donation can boost the circular economy and improve the upkeep of the nature.

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

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

 

• • • • Indirectly donate when you shop with other stores/shops

 

You can help CENFACS raise funds through your festive shopping to other shops and stores, whether online or in-person.  You can do it via the following avenues:

∝ Raise free funds for CENFACS with your online shopping

∝ Choose CENFACS as a donation recipient of some of the profits raised from online shopping

∝ Donate your unwanted and unused points and cashback to CENFACS as your chosen charity from your loyalty shopping rewards or good causes’ gift cards

∝ Pass to CENFACS no-direct cash won from shopping surveys; cash you do not require or want

∝ Give away to CENFACS any vouchers received or earned from your shopping; vouchers you do not need or want

∝ Hand out to CENFACS any proceeds from unwanted or unneeded prize draw or award from your shopping

∝ Donate any unwanted excess points of your loyalty card from online shopping apps that may support good causes

Etc.

You can use and or get informed about a variety of ways that many stores and shops offer to support charities through customers’ shopping, particularly during the festive period.  You can use them to support CENFACS‘ noble cause of poverty reduction via your shopping action without directly giving money.  CENFACS will acknowledge and thank you for your no-direct cash contributions to its mission and causes.

To sum up, you can both indirectly donate when you shop at CENFACS e-shop and with other stores/shops.

To indirectly donate to CENFACS through CENFACS’ e-shop, please go to: http://cenfacs.org.uk/shop/

To indirectly donate to CENFACS via your shopping activity to other shops and stores, please check or ask them if they have any scheme that support charities.  Sometimes, they may propose you it themselves at their counters.

Thank you for considering our ask for no-direct cash donations via your festive shopping activities.

_________

 

• References

 

(1) cenfacs.org.uk/2021/11/24/guidance-for-investing-in-africa/ (accessed in November 2022)

(2) https://brazzavillefoundation.org/en/news/582-g20-drc-brazil-and-indonesia-sign-agreement-to-protect-tropical-forests (accessed in November 2022)

_________

 

• 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 until the end of 2022 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

23 November 2022

 

Post No. 275

 

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Data Skills to Run your Household; In Focus from Wednesday 23/11/2022: Data Insight and Analytics Skills

• 3-tier Security Support: The Three Tiers of Security Against Poverty

• 4-week Guidance Programme for Not-for-profit Investment in Africa

 

… And much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Data Skills to Run your Household; In Focus from Wednesday 23/11/2022: Data Insight and Analytics Skills

 

Data Insight and Analytics Skills are the 3rd level of our presentation of skills to support households making our community to run their lives.  It is the level at which we try to analyse data or information to tell us what they mean for us and our households.

It is at this level that one can look into the amount of data generated via their everyday activity of meeting basic life sustaining needs of food, drink, shelter, heath, education, information, transport, etc.  Using their analytical knowledge and skills, they can identify any meaningful information and study the patterns and trends about this information.

To navigate these analytical skills, we have provided a basic understanding of them under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• 3-tier Security Support: The Three Tiers of Security Against Poverty

 

The Three Tiers of Security Against Poverty are one of CENFACS’ Starting XI Projects for this Autumn 2022.  Before informing you how CENFACS is going to work with community through this project, let us briefly explain it.

 

• • What is 3-tier Security Support?

 

This year, we have many crises.  Amongst these crises, we can single out three of them which could be the major ones for ordinary people and families, and which are: food, energy and financial crises.  These crises have knock-on effects on other areas of their lives as well as of the economy.

To reflect the impacts of these three crises on the security system of the community, we can argue about three levels or tiers of security which have been affected or jeopardised.  In other words, the CENFACS Community needs to get the three levels of security (that is, food, energy and finances) in order and under control if this community wants to continue to help reduce poverty and hardships within its members and sister communities.

In this respect, 3-tier Security (i.e., Food, Energy and Financial Security) or The Three Tiers of Security against Poverty are designed to provide users with freedom from the possibility of future energy, food and financial worries and stresses.  

3-tier Security is at the same time a support and resource that helps provide freedom from vulnerability and exposure to energy, food and financial poverty.  The initiative takes stock of the work we have done so far with users on energy, food and financial security.

It is about having in the same envelope the three security projects which are: Energy Security Project, Food Security Project and Financial Security Analysis Project.  In doing so, this amalgamation of the three projects will help to better work with the community to fight the current and future crises.

 

 

• • Working with the community through 3-tier Security Support and Resource

 

Having the three levels and projects of security under one roof, it makes easier to work with the community as the following explanations about what we can achieve together through these projects shows.

 

a) Energy Security Project

 

With the Energy Security Project under the same roof with the two other security projects, we can work with the community by…

 

√ Helping to assess the energy security needs of energy insecure and poor

√ Exploring and identifying energy security options available for them

√ Developing energy safety net and protection they need against energy precariousness

Etc.

 

b) Food Security Project

 

With the Food Security Project under the same roof with the two other security projects, we can work with the community by…

 

√ Addressing the level of insecurity and threat posed by food insecurity

√ Supporting food insecure people so that they can progressively navigate their way towards food availability, access, utilisation and stability

√ Helping to level up those who are looking for sustainable solutions to food crisis

√ Assisting them to avoid food poverty

Etc.

 

c) Financial Security Analysis Project

 

With the Financial Security Analysis Project under the same roof with the two other security projects, we can work with the community by…

 

√ Helping financial insecure people to progressively navigate towards financial security

√ Conducting an express analysis of the financial security of their households from their data

√ Supporting those who are looking for sustainable solutions to financial crisis they are facing to level up

Etc.

 

 

d) Relationships between food, energy and financial security

 

As one can notice these three levels of security are linked.   

For example, having financial security can guarantee access to food and energy security.  Enjoying food security could lead to financial and energy security.  Securing energy can provide the power to build financial and food security.

So, working with the community through 3-tier Security Support and Resource means two things as shown below.

d.1) 3-tier Security as Support is about establishing these links between the three levels of security for a particular household making our community.  However, establishing these links is not a goal as such.  The goal here is to simultaneously reduce or end food, energy and financial insecurity.

d.2) 3-tier Security as Resource, it means finding the necessary resources and tools in terms of information, documentation or materials, guidance and leads to share with these households and enable them to resolve the issues of food, energy and financial insecurity they are experiencing.

For those members of our community who would like to work with us on these three levels or projects of security, they can contact CENFACS with their security needs. 

For those who would like to enquire about the 3-tier Security Support and Resource, they are free to enquire to CENFACS.

 

 

• 4-week Guidance Programme for Not-for-profit Investment in Africa

 

As part of CENFACS‘ Guidance for Investing in African Not-for-profit Organisations and Causes in Africa, we are running a programme to support not-for-profit investors in Africa.

If you want advice, help and support for investing in not-for-profit organisations and causes in Africa; CENFACS can work with you under its 4-week Guidance Programme for Not-for-profit Investors in Africa, starting from 21 November 2022.

The programme is designed to work with those who would like to invest in the not-for-profit organisations and causes in 2023.  The following is our plan of action/work for the programme.

 

The guidance is FREE.  However, CENFACS does not mind a voluntary donation from programme users.

The guidance is a great way to realise your dream or ambition as a not-for-profit investor in Africa, to enter and start 2023.

Need to apply for the programme, please contact CENFACS.

 

Extra Messages

 

∝ Appeal to End Sexual Violence in Armed Conflicts in Africa

∝ 2022 All Year-round Projects (Triple Value Initiatives): Play, Run and Vote for Poverty Relief and Sustainable Development

∝ Climate Talks Follow-up project: What can we take away from COP27?

 

 

• Appeal to End Sexual Violence in Armed Conflicts in Africa

 

Our Appeal to End Sexual Violence in Armed Conflicts in Africa has entered the last phase of its campaign before the Global Giving Tuesday on 29 November 2022. 

CENFACS would like to inform those who are not aware about some of the key figures and facts relating to sexual violence in armed conflicts in Africa and appeal to them to ACT NOW. 

For those who know them, we would like to appeal to them to ACT as well.

What is known about sexual violence in armed conflicts in Africa?

The Amnesty International Limited (1) quotes the United Nations by arguing the following:

“Between January and September [2022], at least 1,100 women were raped in North Kivu and Ituri [Democratic Republic of Congo] as a result of conflict-related sexual violence (p. 146)

In Central African Republic, 6 girls aged between 14 and 16 were drugged and raped daily by members of the rebel group Return, Reclamation and Rehabilitation at a base in the Nana Mambere area in January [2022] … According to MINUSCA, between January and June [2022], 131 Cases of conflict-related sexual violence, including 115 rapes, 12 attempted rapes, 1 case of sexual slavery and 3 forced marriages, were documented (p. 119)

In Tigray, sexual and gender-based violence by troops fighting included gang rape used against women and girls as a weapon of war in the conflict (p. 164)

In South Sudan, state security forces and non-state armed actors committed at least 63 incidents of sexual violence in conflict, affecting 89 women, girls and men, aged between two and 50, including rape, gang rape and forced nudity (p. 339)”.

By looking at the above-mentioned figures and facts, there is a need for support to the victims-survivors of these atrocities.

You can help end the weaponization of sexual violence as a tactic of war in Africa.

You can assist in STOPPING SEXUAL VIOLENCE TO WOMEN, GIRLS AND MEN in armed conflicts in Africa.

Please donate £10 to restore and save broken lives as a result of armed conflicts in Africa.

Please don’t wait until the 29th of November 2022 to donate.  CENFACS‘ door is already open for donations.  You can donate NOW!

To discuss or enquire about this appeal, please contact CENFACS.

Thank you!

 

 

• 2022 All Year-round Projects (Triple Value Initiatives): Play, Run and Vote for Poverty Relief and Sustainable Development

 

CENFACS’ Triple Value Initiatives (or All Year-round Projects) have only one month to go.

The 2022 Edition of All Year-round Projects will be closed on 23 December 2022.  You can still play, run and vote to reduce poverty before this verdict day.

CENFACS hopes that those who have been using these projects have managed to carry out any of these three activities:

a) Run or Organise a Run Activity to Reduce Poverty in 2022 

b) Play the CENFACS League for Poverty Relief

c) Vote their 2022 African Poverty Relief Manager.

If they have, we would like to hear from them the following three bests or stars of the year 2022:

√ The Best African Countries of 2022 which would have best reduced poverty

√ The Best African Global Games Runners of 2022

√ The Best African Development Managers of 2022.

The deadline to tell us your bests or stars is 23 December 2022.

Please remember, don’t miss this verdict day or closing date.

To tell us your results or to enquire about these projects, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Climate Talks Follow-up project: What can we take away from COP27?

 

After following COP27, let us consider what was agreed, how it affects our key demand of protection and stake for children, and what will be the next step for Climate Talks Follow-up project.

 

• • What was agreed at COP27 that may affect CENFACS’ work and users?

 

It is encouraging to learn that the following outcomes were achieved:

∝ Agreement to provide “loss and damage” funding to climate-vulnerable developing countries hit hard by climate disasters

∝ Promotion of renewables and “low-emission” energy

∝ Setting up of a work programme to urgently scale up mitigation ambition and implementation

∝ Agreement on just and equitable transition based on national development priorities and inclusion of social protection and solidarity measures

∝ Scaling up of the provision of climate finance to adapt to the impacts of a changing climate

∝ Setting up a new collective climate finance goal for 2025 that will take into account the needs and priorities of developing countries

∝ Taking a renewed global action on nature, although threats to the nature will be debated at COP15, the United Nations Biodiversity Summit in December 2022.

The above outcomes or initiatives will affect people with whom we work as well as our work on poverty reduction and sustainable development.  However, are these outcomes and other ones deriving from COP27 enough to meet our demand for the climate stake and protection for children and generations to come?  We are not sure.

The good news is that UNICEF (2) has created ‘a new climate financing initiative to enhance countries’ climate resilience and disaster preparedness for children and youth as well as bolster protection for children from the impacts of future climate-related disasters’.

 

• • Have COP27 results met our key demand of protection and stake for children?

 

Despite what was agreed at COP27, it is worth noting the following:

∝ There is still less money to pay for new technology and infrastructure which children, especially those from poor nations, could benefit

∝ There is little or less money in the forms of grants, loans and private investments to support efforts to adapt to climate change and mitigate its effects.  One can hope the above-mentioned new financial initiatives will help in these efforts

∝ The failure to expand the ‘phase down’ text of unabated coal to include oil and gas could mean unchanged threats to children health, especially respiratory diseases

∝ There is less support to switch to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydropower for children and future generations (for example, how do you expect coal-dependent energy poor families to switch to clean source of energy if they do not have the means to do it for themselves and their children?).

One can hope that when the United Nations will meet for COP28 in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) in 2023, there will be another opportunity to raise ambitions, to look into those gaps and to provide ways forward.  In doing so, this will provide us a basis for clarity about climate protection and stake for children and generations to come.

 

• • What is the next step for our Climate Talks Follow-up project?

 

We are still at the implementation phase, which is Phase 3 of our Climate Talks Follow-up project.    The sub-phases or segments of the implementation phase for this project are exploration, installation, initial implementation, full implementation and expansion. 

At the moment, we have been dealing with the installation sub-phase (Phase 3.2).   As project planning is a backward and forward process, we shall deal with this phase and the previous one.

For any further details and to support 2022 Climate Talks Follow-up project, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

L’édition 2022 de Projets ‘tout au long de l’année’ (ou Initiatives à triple valeur): Jouer, courir et voter pour la lutte contre la pauvreté et le développement durable

Les Initiatives à triple valeur (ou projets ‘tout au long de l’année’) n’ont plus qu’un mois à venir.

Bien que cette édition 2022 d’Initiatives à triple valeur sera fermée le 23 décembre 2022, vous pouvez toujours jouer, courir et voter pour réduire la pauvreté avant le jour du verdict ou date de clôture.

Le CENFACS peut espérer que ceux/celles qui ont utilisé ces projets ont réussi à mener à bien l’une de ces trois activités :

a) Courir ou organiser une activité de course pour réduire la pauvreté en 2022

b) Jouer à la Ligue CENFACS pour la lutte contre la pauvreté

c) Voter pour leur responsable de la lutte contre la pauvreté en Afrique 2022.

S’ils/elles l’ont fait, nous aimerions entendre d’eux/elles les trois meilleures ou stars suivantes de l’année 2022:

√ Les meilleurs pays africains de 2022 qui auraient le mieux réduit la pauvreté

√ Les meilleurs coureurs/ses africain(e)s des Jeux Coureurs de 2022

√ Les meilleurs gestionnaires du développement africain de 2022.

La date limite pour nous dire vos meilleurs ou étoiles est le 23 décembre 2022.

S’il vous plaît rappelez-vous, ne manquez pas ce jour de verdict.

Pour nous faire part de vos résultats ou pour vous renseigner sur ces projets, veuillez contacter le CENFACS.

 

 

Main Development

 

• Data Skills to Run your Household; In Focus from Wednesday 23/11/2022: Data Insight and Analytics Skills

 

The following contents will help to understand the kinds of data insight and analytics skills that a household may need:

 

∝ Key Concepts

∝ Data Insight Skills

∝ Data Analytics Skills

∝ How CENFACS Can Work with the Community Members on Data Insight and Analytics Skills to Run their Households.

 

Let us briefly explained each of these contents.

 

• • Key Concepts

 

There are four concepts that underpin the Data Insight and Analytics Skills to Run your Household: data, information, insight and analytics.

 

• • • Data, information and insight

 

Explanations about these three concepts cut across each other within the data literature.  Amongst these explanations is what Carolyn Sansom (3) argues about them, which is

“Data, which can be quantitative and qualitative, is raw, unorganised and unprocessed facts… Information – which can be in the form of graphs, reports and visualisations – is processed and organised data… Insight is analysed information”.

Like businesses, households use data, information and insight to run their lives.  Households making the CENFACS Community do the same.

 

• • • Analytics

 

There are many approaches to analytics.  In the context of these notes, we have selected an explanation from ‘oracle.com’ (4) which is as follows:

“Analytics is the process of discovering, interpreting, and communicating significant patterns in data.  Quite simply, analytics helps us see insights and meaningful data that we might not otherwise detect”.

This kind of analytics will help household to better deliver a data user experience for their own wellbeing and wellness.  In this respect, each household can agree its own data analytical process.

 

• • Data Insight Skills

 

Before identifying the skills involved data insights, one may need to understand data insights.  Data insights refer to the deep understanding an individual or organisation gains from analysing information on a particular issue.  To add value on what we are saying, the website ‘datarobot.com’ (5) argues that

“Data insights are the knowledge gained through analysing data, generating conclusions from data that can benefit your business.  Data are the input.  Insights are the output”.

Many households do this sort of exercises to understand their lives without sometimes knowing they are carrying out data insights.  To better undertake data insights, it may require some skills.

 

• • • Skills to generate data insight

 

There are many data insight skills that a typical household running its life can consider, which are:

√ Digital skills

√ Comprehension skills on how the household operates

√ Collaborative skills

√ Skills to understand household ethics and value

√ Creative skills

√ Skills to interpret data

√ Home economics skills

Etc.

The households making CENFACS Community would need some of these skills in order to successfully run their data insights.

 

• • Data Analytics Skills

 

To know the skills and capacities that can be used to conduct data analytics, one may need to understand data analytics.

The definition used in these notes about data analytics comes from ‘aws.amazon.com’ (6) which states that

“Data analytics converts raw data into actionable insights.  It includes a range of tools, techniques, and processes used to find trends and solve problems by using data”.

Although ‘aws.amazon.com’ (op. cit.) speaks about business processes, this definition can apply to households to a certain degree.  What data analytics does for businesses can do it for households as well.  Indeed, data analytics can shape household processes, improve decision-making within a household and foster household health and wellness.

Like most resources on the data analytics matter, ‘aws.amazon.com’ (op. cit.) distinguishes four types of data analysis, which are: descriptive analytics, diagnostics analytics, predictive analytics and prescriptive analytics.  From these types of data analytics, one can associated skills to them.

 

• • • Skills to conduct data analytics

 

We can relate skills to the above-mentioned four types of data analytics.  Members of any household making our community needs skills to conduct data analytics.  They need descriptive, diagnostics, predictive and prescriptive analytics skills.  What can they do with these skills?

Let us see what they can do with each of these skills.

 

a) Descriptive analytics skills

 

A household with descriptive analytics skills can say what their data look like by visualising them (their data) using for example pie charts, bar chart, line graphs, tables or generated narratives.

 

b) Diagnostics analytics skills

 

A household possessing diagnostics analytics skills can conduct a detailed data analytics process to identify problems and understand why something happened.  For example, over holidays (like Christmas) household members can deep-dive into their data to understand what is telling them in terms of the cost-of-living crisis.

 

c) Predictive analytics skills

 

A household having predictive analytics skills can use the history of their data to foretell, foresee, forecast and predict what could happen to its members.   For example, they can refer to the history of their income and expenses data in the last 12 months to forecast and predict what will be happen (or future trends) if they do not take the required step in order to deal with the cost-of-living crisis.

 

d) Prescriptive analytics skills

 

A household owning prescriptive analytics skills can advise its as a remedy by both predicting what is likely to happen and proposing an average response to counteract.  For example, if a household is predicting that economic recession will be unavoidable, it can plan a matching response or remedial action to protect itself from the coming economic recession.

So, by using the patterns and other meaningful information gathered from the analysis of data, households can describe, diagnose, predict and prescribe what could happen to them if they do not take serious and meaningful steps to resolve the issues they are facing or may face.

However, not all households making our community have the required skills and competences to carry out this sort of data analytics exercise or activity.  For those lacking skills or capacities or simply struggling to conduct this type of analysis or analytics, they should not feel abandoned.  CENFACS can work with them on this matter.

 

• • How CENFACS Can Work with the Community Members on Data Insight and Analytics Skills to Run their Households

 

CENFACS can work with those who need help and support regarding their data so that they can effectively and efficiently run their households.  We can work with them on data insight and analytics matters so that they can be in a position to better understand data that run their lives.  We can conduct with them basic data insights and analytics using the tools of poverty reduction we have in our box.

Where our capacity is limited in comparison to their demand or specific needs, we can signpost or refer them to relevant data insight and analytics services or organisations that are available on the market and can be accessible to them.

For those members of our community who will be interested in Data Insight and Analytics Skills to Run their Household, they can contact CENFACS.  CENFACS can work with them to enhance their Data Insight and Analytics Skills to Run their Household.

So, Data Insight and Analytics Skills are the last episode of our 4-week series of presentation of Data Skills to Run your Household.  To conclude our serial presentation, we are going to conduct Monitoring and Evaluation of Data Skills to Run your Household next week.

To get further insight into Skills Development Month, please contact CENFACS.  

If one is particularly interested in a particular skill or has something to share about the skills we developed during our serial presentation, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

________

 

• References

 

(1) Amnesty International Limited (2022), Amnesty International Report 2021/22: The State of the World’s Human Rights, London, UK (www.amnesty.org)

(2) https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-calls-investment-worlds-first-child-focused-climate-risk-financing-solution (accessed in November 2022)

(3) Carolyn Sansom at https://www.grantthornton.co.uk/insights/six-key-skills-for-turning-data-into-insight/ (accessed in November 2022)

(4) https://www.oracle.com/business-analytics/what-is-analytics/ (accessed in November 2022)

(5) https://www.datarobot.com/blog/what-are-data-insights/ (accessed in November 2022)

(6) https://aws.amazon.com/what-is/data-analytics/ (accessed in November 2022)

________

 

• 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 until the end of 2022 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

16 November 2022

 

Post No. 274

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• The 13th Women and Children FIRST Development Day to be held on 19/11/2022 with emphasis on Crisis Response Skills

• Impact Monitoring and Evaluation of “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) Campaign from Week Beginning 14/11/2022

• Data Skills to Run your Household; In Focus from Wednesday 16/11/2022: Data Process Skills

 

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• The 13th Women and Children FIRST Development Day to be held on 19/11/2022 with emphasis on Crisis Response Skills

 

Let us start by explaining what we mean by Women and Children FIRST Development Day (or in short: Development Day).

The Development Day, which is annually held on 19 November of each year, is a day of enhancing the knowledge, skills and capacities of CENFACS’ Community, particularly women and children making this community, in terms of poverty reduction and sustainable development.

It is about raising awareness and learning on development issues that women and children of our community face.

It is also a day to re-communicate our poverty reduction message about women and children matters while exploring ways of solving their issues.

It is finally a day to re-engage with new and old stakeholders on women and children matters.

As announced last week, the 13th Women and Children FIRST Development Day (in short: Development Day) will take us an extra mile from last year’s Development Day, which was on Foresight Skills.  This year, we will be thinking of and celebrating our Crisis Response Skills.

After improving our capacity to predict and forecast future risks and crises as well as plan actions based on improved knowledge, estimations and prospect; we can try to apply this improved capacity and knowledge to respond to crises (like the cost-of-living crisis, debt crisis, climate change crisis, biodiversity crisis, etc.).  In fact, the majority of us is already responding to the cost-of-living crisis and other ones.

The 13th Edition of our Development Day will provide a window of opportunities to exchange and celebrate the wins of our responses to crises.  It will also offer an occasion to improve or develop our crisis response skills if our responses fall short.  Of course, one day of development may not be enough to respond to all the very difficult problems women and children face; but it could be an extra step or turning point for some of them.

As we have gradually curated our services to return them to their pre-COVID-19 conditions, we will be working in hybrid fashion by splitting the two aspects of this year’s Development Day, which are: Thinking and Celebration.  The Thinking aspect will be done from home while the Celebration will be carried out in-person for those who can.

The Celebration aspect will be about sharing our wins over poverty in terms of successful crisis response skills while the Thinking element will be on ways of improving or developing our skills to better respond to the side effects of the current crisis (i.e., the cost-of-living crisis) and future crises and risks.

The details about this hybrid fashion of working are given under the Main Development section of this post, where you can also find other details about the Development Day.

 

 

 

• Impact Monitoring and Evaluation of “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) Campaign from Week Beginning 14/11/2022

 

Although we finished to compose the five notes or themed activities of the “A la une” Campaign during our 5-week campaign, this campaign for the Upkeep of the Nature does not stop with these notes.  Our action for the Upkeep of the Nature continues. 

We are now carrying on with the collection and analysis of information regarding this 5-week campaign in order to get its impact or at least its output.  The findings from this Impact Monitoring and Evaluation will help to figure out what has been achieved and what has not been accomplished through this campaign and give us some flavour about the future direction of this campaign.

As part of this Impact Monitoring and Evaluation exercise, we would like to ask to those who have been following our 5-week campaign to share with us their feelings and thoughts about these two areas:

(a) The overall “A la une” Campaign and the ‘Mbulu’ project

(b) Any of the themed activities you/they followed with us during this campaign.

By sharing with us your feelings and thoughts about “A la une” Campaign, this could suggest that you value our work and show interest in what we are trying to achieve as an organisation generally and or in respect to the Upkeep of the Nature specifically.  Your intervention could as well indicate that we share interest and concern regarding the health and wealth of the nature.

You can share your feelings and thoughts with us by:

 

∝ Phoning

∝ Texting

∝ E-mailing

∝ Completing the contact form with your feelings and thoughts.

 

When sharing your feelings or thoughts on the matter, please do not make statements to only please us.  We do not expect people to please us.  Instead, we would like you to give an objective and fair opinion.

We would like to thank in anticipation those who will be giving their opinions about the “A la une” Campaign.

 

 

 

• Data Skills to Run your Household; In Focus from Wednesday 16/11/2022: Data Process Skills

 

This week, our campaign on data skills that a typical household or family can use for its effective and efficient running deals with Data Process Skills.  To tackle these skills, let us first define data process.

 

• • What is data processing?

 

The following definition, which is from ‘simplilearn.com’, will perhaps help to better understand data processing.  The website ‘simplelearn.com’ (1) states that

“Data processing is the method of collecting raw data and translating it into usable information.  It is usually performed in a step-by-step process by a team of data scientists and data engineers in an organisation.  The raw data is collected, filtered, sorted, processed, analysed, stored, and then presented in a readable format”.

In the context of a household running its life on everyday basis, they are not going to call data engineers to deal with their data every day.  Data process for them could be about converting their data or information into readable and meaningful formats (like charts, graphs and documents) so that they can better understand their situation such as their financial health and well-being.  This could mean they need to find a method to do it.

 

• • Data processing methods

 

The website ”simplilearn.com’ (op. cit.) provides the following data process methods, which are: manual, mechanical and electronic.

Data processing is manual when data is handled manually.  It is mechanical when data is mechanically processed through the use of devices and machines.  It is electronic when data is processed with modern technologies using data processing software and programmes.

For example, if a computerised household knows how to use Microsoft Office Applications software such as Excel spreadsheets, they can undertake electronic data processing by entering the data relating to any aspect of their life (let say monthly food and drink expenses).  They can create a table with data and turn this data into a chart or graph.  They can for instance do it for the last three months and look at the tendency of this chart or graph.  This charted or graphical format of expressing their food and drink data can provide them a visual understanding of their expenses.  To be able to carry out this task on a computer, they need to possess some data processing skills.

 

• • Data Processing Skills to Run your Household

 

There is a number of skills that a typical household can learn and acquire to process their data.  They include the following:

 

√ Data entry skills

√ Data verification skills

√ Data organisational skills

√ Data supervision skills

√ Data comparison skills

√ Statistical literacy and numeracy skills

Etc.

 

All these skills and other more will enable to better process data.  Not everybody is comfortable or like doing data processing for their own household.  Where there is a need of data process and if the needy household wants help, they can ask for it.

 

• • How CENFACS can work with households to process their data

 

CENFACS can work with those households making its community and needing some help about the process of their data.  We can work with them under CENFACS’ Digital and Social Media Campaign, which provides more help and support than just data processing.  Where our capacity to help is limited, we can signpost them to services and/or organisations dealing with the kind of data processing needs they have.

For those members of our community who will be interested in Data Process Skills to Run their Household, they can contact CENFACS.  CENFACS can work with them to enhance their Data Process Skills to Run their Household.

To get further insight into Skills Development Month at CENFACS, please continue to read our weekly posts.

 

Extra Messages

 

∝ Our Target for the Appeal to End Sexual Violence in Conflicts in Africa is…

∝ Integrating “A la une” Campaign and Nature Aspect of COP27

∝ Goal for the Month: Reduction of Poverty due to the Lack of Matching Skills, Education and Learning

 

 

• Our Target for the Appeal to End Sexual Violence in Conflicts in Africa is…

 

To raise £10 from each donor (individual or organisation) to help the victims-survivors of sexual violence in armed conflicts in Africa.  You can help blow past this target.

Please support this appeal to restore and save broken lives as a result of armed conflicts in Africa.

Please don’t wait until the 29th of November 2022 to donate.  CENFACS‘ door is already open for donations.  You can donate NOW!

To discuss or enquire about this appeal, please contact CENFACS.

Thank you!

 

 

• Integrating “A la une” Campaign and Nature Aspect of COP27

 

Our work of integration of the Nature Aspect of CO27 and “A la une” Campaign continues this week.  In particular, we are shadowing the events or activities planned for Nature Zone Pavilion COP27 (2).

For example, today the 16th of November 2022 the following talks have been planned:

 

a) Nature Based Solutions Political Uptake: What is at stake? by IUCN, WWF International, Climate Champions

b) Accelerating Net Zero and Nature Positive Business Contributions Through Land-based Solutions by World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), Forest Solutions Group (FSG), One Planet Business for Biodiversity (OP2B)

c) Mobilizing for a Climate Neutral and Nature Positive World Ahead of COP15 by WWF International

d) Meet the Experts Networking Session by WWF International

e) Repairing our World to Avoid Runaway Climate Change by Global Choices Arctic Angels, Global Commons Alliance, Global Fund for Coral Reefs, Green Africa Youth Organisation, SilverLining, UNDP

f) Nature for the Planet: Building a Nature Positive Future by BirdLife International, Trillion Trees, IUCN.

 

We are discussing these planned subjects from our own perspective, but with in mind what will come out of the talks from Nature Zone Pavilion COP27.

The discussion will enable us to find out how they affect our users and future generations.

For those who would like to find out more about this integration of CENFACS’ Nature Campaign and aspects of COP27 relating to nature, they can contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Goal for the Month: Reduction of Poverty due to the Lack of Matching Skills, Education and Learning

 

Our goal for this month of November 2022 has three targets as it deals with three lacks, which are: the lack of matching skills, that of education and that of learning.

Indeed, the month of the Economics of Education and Skill Formation is also of addressing the lack of matching skills for those members of our community who have skills, but their skills do not match what is on offer on the labour market.

It is as well the month during which we are trying to address educational poverty, particularly for those children who are having some problems to stay in the educational system.

It is finally the month during which work can be done with those members of our community suffering from the lack of learning opportunity, particularly those who are suffering from illectronism (that is, the lack or total absence of knowledge concerning the use of electronic means).

 

 • • Working with the community to tackle the lack of matching skills, education and learning

 

CENFACS can work with the community through its advice service so that the members of its community can find their way out of these three types of lack.  In particular, we can undertake the following:

 

√ Support their journey to acquire and develop their matching skills

√ Back families with children struggling to maintain school momentum so that their children can stay in the school system and cope with the pressure of the educational requirements without forcing them

√ Work with those members of our community who need digital learning to overcome illectronism they are facing.

 

The above is our poverty reduction goal for this month, which we are asking to our audiences and supporters to help or promote.

 

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

Notre cible pour l’Appel pour mettre fin à la violence sexuelle dans les conflits en Afrique est de…

Collecter 10 livres sterling (11.43 Euros) auprès de chaque donateur/donatrice (individu ou organisation) pour aider les victimes-survivantes de violences sexuelles dans les conflits armés en Afrique. Vous pouvez aider à dépasser cette cible.

Le CENFACS vous prie de soutenir cet appel pour restaurer et sauver des vies brisées à la suite des conflits armés en Afrique.

N’attendez pas le 29 novembre 2022 pour faire un don.  La porte du CENFACS est déjà ouverte aux dons.  Vous pouvez faire un don MAINTENANT!

Pour discuter ou en savoir plus sur cet appel, veuillez contacter le CENFACS.

Merci!

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• The 13th Women and Children FIRST Development Day to be held on 19/11/2022 with emphasis on Crisis Response Skills

 

To help those who might be interested in the Development Day to prepare themselves; we have assembled the following items:

 

∝ What is crisis response?

∝ Crisis response skills

∝ How this year’s Development Day will be organised

∝ Have queries or enquiries for the Development Day 2022.

 

Let us highlight each of them.

 

• • What is crisis response?

 

The literature review about crisis response provides us with many definitions.  Amongst definitions, there is the definition from ‘theclassicwander.com’ (3) which is:

“Crisis response is the process of dealing with a crisis [that is, a time of difficulty or distress].  It includes both the immediate response to the crisis itself, as well as the longer-term process of recovery”.

There are crisis stages: pre-crisis, crisis, and post-crisis.

To respond to any crisis, it requires skills.  What are those skills?

 

• • Crisis response skills

 

We found what Rajeev Peshawaria (4) argues about the four typical responses in any crisis interesting.   R. Peshawaria distinguishes the following four responders to a crisis: the dangerous dunce, the calculating opportunist, the caring fool or Samaritan, and the true leader.  Each of these crisis responders embodies characteristics or skills.

It is possible to use Peshawaria’s theory or model to find out when one tries to respond to any crisis whether they act or display skills like a dangerous dunce or a calculating opportunist or a caring fool/Samaritan or a true leader.  In other words, one can ask themselves when responding to crises: are they a dangerous dunce, a calculating opportunist, a caring fool or Samaritan, and a true leader?

Depending on their answer to the above question, they can draw up the skills relating to each of these characters.  For instance, a crisis responder who has leadership skills will build relationships, manage conflicts, negotiate to reduce or end crisis, critically think, etc.  A crisis responder who has Samaritan skills will listen to others, be helpful to crisis-impacted people, but not be judgemental.  A crisis responder who has an opportunist’s skills will look for opportunity to exploit, achieve selfish ambitions, use ends to justify the means, etc.

 

• • How this year’s Development Day will be organised

 

The Development Day will be organised in two parts:  Thinking and Celebration.

 

CELEBRATING THE WINS WHILE DEVELOPING SKILLS

 

Every one of us tries to respond to any crises we face in our life.  In this response, sometimes we succeed while other times we fail.  For example, some people are successfully responding to the cost-of-living crisis while others are failing to do so.

On the Development Day, we are going to celebrate those wins or successes in terms of crisis responses that have met their goals and targets.  However, where our crisis responses were inadequate or failed, the Development Day can give us the opportunity or mental/moral resources/strengths to think and acknowledge the losses/failures so that we can improve our crisis responses in the future.  In this respect, it is also the day of Skills Development in Crises Response.

 

• • • Thinking part

 

Since we are going to work in hybrid fashion, the participants to the Thinking part can remotely (from their home or office or anywhere else) think and share their thoughts on the Day using their Crisis Response Skills and any other skills about the future crises and risks, particularly what they can do if any of these crises and risks become a reality.

For example, there are forecasts or predictions that the UK could enter into a lengthy economic recession.  What could be your response as a Development Day Thinker to mitigate the impacts of this recession if it materialises?

 

• • • Celebratory part

 

Potential Development Day Celebrators could group themselves in a small COVID-19 secure working space (let say a group made up of 2 to 10 people including children) to share and recognise the value of poverty reduction and sustainable development amongst women and children.  They can make up a Healthy, Safe and Secure Development Day Small Group (HSSDDSG).

 

• • • • What is a Healthy, Safe and Secure Development Day Small Group (HSSDDSG)

 

A HSSDDSG is a number of two to ten adults including children gathered in a healthy, safe and secure space to share their poverty reduction and sustainable development experiences and wins in an informal and unstructured way.

Like in a discussion focus group, the group can systematically collect important information shared for impact monitoring and evaluation, learning and development purposes.  The group can as well seize the outputs or outcomes achieved.  Finally, the group can report to the community their experience of taking part in a HSSDDSG.

 

• • Have queries or enquiries for the Development Day 2022

 

The above are the main items that will feature this year’s Development Day.  For any queries or enquiries about them, please do not to hesitate to contact CENFACS.

At the end of this Main Development section of this post, we have appended a timeline of CENFACS Development Day milestones. 

Wishing you a SUCCESSFUL, HEALTHY, SAFE AND SECURE Development Day 2022!

 

_________

 

• References

 

(1) https://www.simplelearn.com/what-is-data-processing-article (accessed in November 2022)

(2) https://nature4climate.org/cop-27-nature-zone-pavilion/ (accessed in November 2022)

(3) https://theclassicwander.com/travel-blog/what-is-crisis-response-travel-nursing.html (accessed in November 2022)

(4) https://www.forbes.com/sites/rajeevpeshawaria/2020/04/01/four-typical-responses-in-a-crisis-which-one-is-yours/ (accessed in November 2022)

 

_________

 

• Appendix

 

Women and Children FIRST Development Day (WCFDD) Timeline: 2010 to 2021

 

Since its inception in 2010, the WCFDD provides an opportunity and scope to communicate CENFACS’ anti-poverty work/message and the need to develop new ideas and proposals and improve practices to enable us to enhance the quality of life of multidimensionally-deprived women/mothers and children.  The following are the milestones so far for WCFDD.

In 2010, the WCFDD was devoted to AWARENESS on SUSTAINABLE ACCESS TO & PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGIES

In 2011, CENFACS’ WCFDD tackled the challenging issue of BARRIERS TO POVERTY REDUCTION, with a special emphasis on one particular way of overcoming them, which is participation.  Women & Children’s Participation was looked at within the context of Race in the Road to Poverty Reduction.

In 2012, our Development Day in Putting Women and Children FIRST went further with the sub-theme of participation as it was organised around the theme of IMPROVING WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S PARTICIPATION IN THE RACE TO REDUCE POVERTY.

In 2013, WCFDD at CENFACS extended and deepened the idea of more and better participation by focussing on Infrastructures for Women’s and Children’s contribution to poverty relief.  The theme for 2013 was “INFRASTRUCTURES FOR A POSITIVE ECONOMY TO REDUCE POVERTY”.

In 2014, we guesstimated and compared the cost for acting to the cost for inaction to reduce poverty.  The theme of COSTING DOING NOTHING FOR POVERTY RELIEF improves our understanding on an early prevention that helps reduce costs and avoid escalating or detrimental effects for poor Women and Children.

In 2015, WCFDD was dedicated to MAKING THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WORK FOR WOMEN & CHILDREN (W&C).  This was the local community response from the W&C of CENFACS to the 2030 Global Agenda and Goals for Sustainable Development.

In 2016, the theme for our Development Day was ENSURING HEALTHY LIVES AND PROMOTING WELL-BEING FOR WOMEN & CHILDREN.  This was the continuation of 2015 Development Day.  Ensure-Healthy-Lives-and-Promote-Well-being is itself Goal no.3 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.  One day of development thoughts does not make the 2030 Agenda works as we need more times and days. But it helped to look at Goal 3 (G3) as both global and local concept, G3 as a practical response and G3 as Protection for W&C in the CENFACS’ Year of Protections.

In 2017, ENDING POVERTY IN ALL ITS FORMS EVERYWHERE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN was our working theme for the WCFDD

In 2018, we thought ways of working together to come out of the linear model that consists of make, use and dispose goods and resources; to embrace the CIRCULAR ECONOMY

In 2019, we discussed and put ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY into practice via three specific activities which were: advice, art and design, and clothes recycling as an example to end clothing poverty.

In 2020, we formalised and structured CORONAVIRUS TALKS BUBBLE by giving it purpose and objectives so that participants to it can measure its impact or output on their lives.

In 2021, we celebrated and thought of Foresight Skills to help improve our capacity to predict and forecast future risks and crises (similar to the coronavirus) as well as plan actions based on improved knowledge, estimations and prospect.

 

• Note: For your information,

 

3W (What Women Want) is a CENFACS support network scheme to enhance the lives of multi-dimensionally deprived women/mothers and families.

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

W&CSDP (Women & Children Sustainable Development projects) – a CENFACS amalgamation of 3W and PPS projects

 

_________

 

• 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 2022 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

09 November 2022

 

Post No. 273

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Festive Income Booster – In Focus for 2022 Edition: Financial Stability – How to find financial stability in unstable economic conditions

• 2022 “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) Themed Activity and Action No.5 from Week beginning 07/11/2022: Safekeeping of Crossley’s Ground-Thrush

• Data Skills to Run your Household – In Focus from Wednesday 09/11/2022: Data Security Skills

 

… And much more!

 

COMING NEXT WEEK:

The 13th Women and Children FIRST Development Day (in short Development Day) will take us an extra mile from last year’s Development Day, which was on Foresight Skills.  This year, we will be thinking of and celebrating our Crisis Response Skills.

After improving our capacity to predict and forecast future risks and crises as well as plan actions based on improved knowledge, estimations and prospect; we can try to apply this improved capacity and knowledge to respond to crises (like the cost-of-living crisis, debt crisis, climate change crisis, biodiversity crisis, etc.).  In fact, the majority of us is already responding to the cost-of-living crisis and other ones.

The Development Day provides the opportunity to exchange and celebrate what we have successfully done to respond to crises.  It also offers an occasion to improve our crisis response skills if our responses fall short.

What’s more, by dealing with skills, this year’s Development Day will resonate with November month of Skills Development within CENFACS.

For further information and how to engage with the Development Day, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Festive Income Booster – In Focus for 2022 Edition: Financial Stability

How to find financial stability in unstable economic conditions

 

Financial Stability (FS) is a dream for many people, including the members of CENFACS Community.  Yet, many of these people are finding the realisation of this dream difficult or impossible, particularly in the current state of the economy.  

The current economic conditions are those of rising interest rates, skyrocketing inflation and soaring costs of living.  And predictions are that the impact brought by the current conditions will continue to grow to end 2022 and be at their peak in the first quarter of 2023. 

As a result of the above difficult conditions, there is an increase in demand for services from beneficiaries.  One of the services in demand is their need for financial stability.

The 2022 Edition of Festive Income Booster (FIB) is about how we can work with these people making our community so that they can navigate through these unstable economic conditions in order to create financial stability for their households and/or families.  In other words, it is about how these people can have enough income that cover their living expenses and debts while creating savings for emergencies.

From the above understanding of financial stability, the 2022 Edition of Festive Income Booster deals with financial stability from the micro-economic perspective of the perception of ordinary people and families in terms of what financial stability means for them.  This perception of financial stability has to be differentiated from the macro-economic considerations that link financial stability to financial systems of the economy.

During this long festive period, many of our users will be working towards financial stability by finding ways of having enough income to cover their festive expenses and debts while saving for emergencies.  To help this search for FS, the 2022 Edition of FIB resource provides multi-dimensional income poor children, young people and families (CYPFs) with some tips, hints and hacks to work out their FS over the festive period and beyond.

Throughout the festive period and beyond this period, we shall work with CYPFs in their journey in finding the financial stability they need.  We shall work with them through financial stability tools, advice, tips and hints so that they can position themselves to enter the year 2023 in a financially stable way.

More information about this year’s Edition of Festive Income Booster has been provided under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• 2022 “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) Themed Activity and Action No.5 from Week beginning 07/11/2022: Keeping Crossley’s Ground-Thrush Safe

 

Crossley’s Ground-Thrush, which is a species of bird in the family of Turdidae, is found in Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria.  Since sometimes, the species has become rare and is threatened by forest loss, habitat encroached, clearance of the montane and semi-montane forests (e.g., in Western Cameroon), etc.  It is listed as endangered on ‘earthsendangered.com’ (1).  As a result, there is need to keep this species safe.

 

• • What is keeping Crossley’s Ground-Thrush safe?

 

It is about the following:

√ Keeping the population of Crossley’s Ground-Thrush safe from threats of extinction

√ Reversing their habitat loss

√ Reducing the impact of climate change on Crossley’s Ground-Thrush

√ Cutting direct anthropogenic mortality that impacts on bird population, including Crossley’s Ground-Thrush

Etc.

Our understanding of what is safekeeping of Crossley’s Ground-Thrush can lead to specific safekeeping actions.

 

• • Actions for Keeping Crossley’s Ground-Thrush Safe

 

The actions we are going to list below come from ‘BirdLife International (2).  They are:

√ Carry out surveys to assess the total population size of Crossley’s Ground-Thrushes

√ Monitor their regular population trends

√ Keep track of rates of habitat loss and degradation

√ Protect suitable habitat for the species

Etc.

The above actions will help in keeping safe Crossley’s Ground-Thrush, which is near endangered bird species in Africa.

To take actions and/or find out more about this fifth composed note and/or the entire “A la une” Campaign, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Data Skills to Run your Household – In Focus from Wednesday 09/11/2022: Data Security Skills

 

Our campaign on data skills that a typical household or family can use for its effective and efficient running continues with Data Security Skills.  To identify these skills, one may need to know the meaning of data security.

 

• • What is data security?

 

Data security can have many definitions.  Since, we are in the era of digital technology and of households that are becoming free from illectronism (that is, the lack or total absence of knowledge relating to the use of electronic resources), we have selected a digital definition of data security of this era.  This definition, which comes from ‘ibm.com’ (3), is the following one:

“Data security is the practice of protecting digital information from unauthorised access, corruption, or theft throughout its entire lifecycle.  It is a concept that encompasses every aspect of information security from the physical security of hardware and storage devices to administrative and access controls, as well as the logical security of software applications.  It also includes organisational policies and procedures”.

There are different types of data security including encryption, data erasure, data masking, and data resiliency.

Clearly speaking, the above-mentioned definition applies to members of households who use digital technologies.  We can assume that most members of our community have some touch on computer and digital devices to carry on their daily life.  If so, they handle information using the digital tools or means.

Whether they digitally store and secure their data or not, this is a matter of investigation.  If they do, then they may need digital skills to store and secure their data.  Those who are not digitally skilful or literate will need non digital skills to store and secure their data.  Others will require both digital and non-digital skills.  What are those data security skills?

 

• • Data Security Skills to Run your Household

 

There is a range of skills that a typical household making our community can use to secure its data.  To summarise, we can list the following data security skills:

√ Identification skills to spot threats and risks to the household’s data security system

√ Problem-resolution skills

√ Support skills in risk assessment

√ Skills for incident response and reporting

√ Data maintenance skills

√ Data control skills for those who are data controllers within their households

Etc.

These skills will apply whether a household is using a digital or non-digital way of securing its information or data.  Likewise, the types of skills that people making this household possess could matter.

For example, in a household (with online security skills) where people are digitally skilled or digitally statistical literate, they may find easy to apply data security using digital devices.  They may be able to spot potential attacks on their online accounts.

These skills will depend on the types and levels of digital and cyber-security threats and risks from within and outside a given household.

For instance, if the household uses an online device or technology to store their data, data security skills relating to online threats and risks will apply in case there is any online security breaches or threats (like cyber-attack, hacking, scamming, any malicious software trying to access household’s data, etc.) or to respond to an incident.  If the household uses non digital or non-computerised system of storing their data, they will have to find a method to secure their data as well.

To sum up, having or acquiring the skills to protect data that runs your household is important in the process of reducing poverty.

 

• • CENFACS’ Digital and Social Media Campaign to enhance the community’s data security status

 

CENFACS run a Digital and Social Media Campaign.  Inside this campaign, we have level 2 which is about IT (Information and Telecommunications) and Online Security, and level 3 which deals with Digital Infrastructure, Security and Defence.

Through these two levels of our campaign, we can enhance Data Security Skills for those members of our community who are in need of those skills.  These two levels of digital security campaign are about campaigning to protect the community against cyber-security crimes and digital threats.  They also speak about anti-virus devices and software to protect the community.

For those community members of our community who will be interested in Data Security Skills to Run their Household, they can contact CENFACS.  CENFACS can work with them to enhance their Data Security Skills to Run their Household.

To get further insight into Skills Development Month at CENFACS, please continue to read our weekly posts.

 

Extra Messages

 

∝ Appeal to End Sexual Violence in Conflicts in Africa

∝ Work on Financial Security for the Poor Continues…

∝ Taking Climate Protection and Stake for African Children at the Implementation with Installation Sub-phase (Phase 3.2)

 

 

• Appeal to End Sexual Violence in Conflicts in Africa

 

This is an appeal to support the survivors of sexual violence in conflicts (like in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo).

The appeal is about backing the International Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Conference to be hosted by the UK Government in central London from 28 to 29 November 2022.

Through this appeal, we hope the work and progress that have already been done on this matter will continue and advance.  In particular, we can expect the following:

 

√ Sharing ideas and experiences about the fight against sexual violence in conflicts

√ Helping the victims and survivors of sexual violence 

√ Supporting and increasing support to African organisations based in Africa and in the Diaspora working on this issue in their mission to end sexual violence in armed conflicts in Africa

√ Increasing contributions to the Global Survivors Fund and Foundation so that more and better help can be provided to the victims and survivors of atrocities linked to armed conflicts

Etc.

Please support this appeal to restore and save broken lives as a result of armed conflicts in Africa.

We look forward to your support to help the victims and survivors of sexual violence in armed conflicts and end this violence in Africa.

To discuss or enquire about this appeal, please contact CENFACS.

Thank you!

 

 

 

 

• Work on Financial Security for the Poor Continues…

 

We are carrying on working on some of the topics highlighted in the 77th Issue of FACS.  In particular, we are dealing with the Survey and E-discussion aspects of this Issue relating to Financial Security for the Poor.

 

• • Financial Security Survey

 

The purpose of this survey is to collect information from a sample of our user households on their assets and liabilities in order to measure their liquidity ratio (that is, Current Assets to Current Liabilities).  This benchmark measure will enable to determine their financial health.  Participation to this survey is voluntary.

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

 

√ How do you feel in terms of financial security?

√ How confident are you to cover any unexpected expenses?

√ Is your emergency/reserve fund enough for the next 3 months?

 

You can respond and directly send your answer to CENFACS.

To help people respond, they can think of any coping strategies to achieve the aim of financial security.  Coping strategies are defined by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the World Food Programme (4) as

“Activities to which people resort in order to obtain food, income and/or other essential goods or services when their normal means of livelihood have been disrupted or other shocks/hazards affect their access to basic needs” (p. 40).

These strategies can be crisis-, emergency- and livelihood-coping.

You can refer to this definition and respond by putting it into the context of financial security.

 

 

 

• • E-discussion on Financial Skills, Diligence, Prudence, Foresight and Financial Poverty Reduction

 

To reduce financial poverty, it requires a degree of financial skills, diligence, prudence and foresight from the poor.

For those who may have any views or thoughts or even experience to share with regard to above-mentioned items (i.e., financial skills, diligence, prudence and foresight) making financial security, 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.

 

 

 

• Taking Climate Protection and Stake for African Children at the Implementation with Installation Sub-phase (Phase 3.2)

 

• • Following up the Climate Talks that are Taking Place in Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt) 

 

We are following up the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 27) to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), which is taking place in Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt).  We are following it while keeping in mind CENFACS’ Compendia of CENFACS’ Climate Advocacy, which summarises the key points forming the basis for our climate advocacy.

The slogan for this 2022 follow-up is: Sharm El-Sheikh Makes Children’s Dreams Come True.  One can hope that the talks or discussions in Sharm El-Sheikh will deliver on the pledges made so far and make climate protection and stake for children and future generations happen.

For those who have any queries or need any details (e.g., our follow-up plan) about this 2022 Climate Talks Follow-up, they are free to get in touch with CENFACS.

To support and or enquire about CENFACS’ CPSAC (Climate Protection and Stake for African Children) and its sub-phase 3.2, please contact CENFACS.

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

 

 

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

• Augmentation festive des revenus –

Point de mire de l’édition 2022: Stabilité financière

Comment trouver la stabilité financière dans des conditions économiques instables

La stabilité financière est un rêve pour beaucoup de gens, y compris les membres de la communauté CENFACS.  Pourtant, beaucoup de ces personnes trouvent la réalisation de ce rêve difficile, voire impossible, en particulier dans l’état actuel de l’économie.  Les conditions économiques actuelles sont celles d’une hausse des taux d’intérêt, d’une inflation galopante et d’une flambée du coût de la vie.

Et les prévisions sont que l’impact apporté par les conditions actuelles continuera de croître jusqu’à la fin de 2022 et sera à son apogée au premier trimestre de 2023.

En raison des conditions difficiles susmentionnées, il y a une augmentation de la demande de services de la part des bénéficiaires.  L’un des services en demande est leur besoin de stabilité financière.

L’édition 2022 de l’Augmentation festive des revenus traite de la façon dont nous pouvons travailler avec ces personnes faisant partie de notre communauté afin qu’elles puissent naviguer dans ces conditions économiques instables de manière à créer une stabilité financière pour leurs ménages et / ou leurs familles.  En d’autres termes, il s’agit de savoir comment ces personnes peuvent avoir un revenu suffisant pour couvrir leurs frais de subsistance et leurs dettes tout en créant des économies pour les urgences.

À partir de la compréhension ci-dessus de la stabilité financière, l’édition 2022 de l’Augmentation festive des revenus traite de la stabilité financière du point de vue micro-économique de la perception des personnes et familles modeses en termes de ce que la stabilité financière signifie pour elles.  Cette perception de la stabilité financière doit être différenciée des considérations macroéconomiques qui lient la stabilité financière au système financier de l’économie.

Pendant cette longue période festive, plusieurs de nos bénéficiaires travailleront à la stabilité financière en trouvant des moyens d’avoir suffisamment de revenus pour couvrir leurs dépenses et leurs dettes festives tout en épargnant pour les urgences.

Pour aider à la recherche de la stabilité financière, l’édition 2022 de la ressource ‘Augmentation festive des revenus’ fournira aux enfants, aux jeunes et aux familles multidimensionnels pauvres en revenus quelques conseils, astuces et tuyaux pour élaborer leur stabilité financière pendant la période des fêtes et au-delà.

Tout au long de la période des fêtes et au-delà de cette période, nous travaillerons avec ces personnes pauvres dans leur cheminement pour trouver la stabilité financière dont elles ont besoin.  Nous travaillerons avec elles par le biais d’outils de stabilité financière, de conseils, de tuyaux et d’astuces afin qu’elles puissent se positionner pour aborder l’année 2023 de manière financièrement stable.

Pour plus d’informations sur l’édition d’Augmentation festive des revenus de cette année, veuillez contacter le CENFACS.

 

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• Festive Income Booster – In Focus for 2022 Edition: Financial Stability

How to find financial stability in unstable economic conditions

 

The following makes the contents for the 2022 Edition of Festive Income Booster (FIB):

 

∝ What the 2022 FIB resource is about

∝ Who the 2022 FIB resource is for

∝ Key Concepts

∝ Main Highlights

∝ Resources and services to help the community establish financial stability

∝ What other highlights it covers

∝ What’s more?

∝ How to access this resource.

 

• • What the 2022 FIB resource is about

 

It is about helping beneficiaries…

 

√ Get tools to become financially stable

√ Become more resilient to financial stresses

√ Dissipate financial imbalances within household system of running finances

√ Better manage financial risks and threats

√ Become capable of dealing with economic instability (like rising interest rates, skyrocketing inflation and soaring costs of living)

√ Correct the effects of the increase in the costs of essential spending and of living crisis caused by monetary or price instability

√ Take control of their financial stability and well-being

√ Establish financial stability report by the end of 2022

√ Understand that financial stability is intergenerational

Etc.

 

• • Who the 2022 FIB resource is for

 

Festive Income Boost is for Multi-dimensionally Income Poor Children, Young People and Families (MIPCYPFs) and it is designed to support them throughout the entire festive season and beyond.  Amongst them are:

 

√ Financially unstable MIPCYPFs

√ Those without financial peace of mind and with financial stress levels above average

√ Those experiencing deteriorating financial conditions

√ Those without household cohesion and connection because of lack of financial stability

√ Those looking to improve their financial well-being and happiness

Etc.

 

• • Key Concepts

 

There are three key concepts to help the users of the 2022 FIB resource.

These key concepts are: Financial Stability, Emergency Fund and Unstable Economic Conditions.

 

(a) Financial Stability

 

The 2022 FIB resource uses an online definition of Financial Stability as given by ‘europeanbusinessreview.com’ (5) which argues that

“While there is no one-size-fits-all definition of financial stability, there are a few key components that are essential for most families.  These include having enough income to cover basic expenses, paying off debts with the help of professionals […], and having savings for emergencies”.

This definition will help us to work with beneficiaries on how they are trying to apply these three components of financial stability.

 

(b) Emergency Fund

 

In the 2022 FIB resource, the meaning of emergency fund comes from ‘fqmom.com’ (6) which provides the following definition:

“Emergency fund is the amount of money you should keep in fixed income products that you can easily withdraw if emergencies happen”.

Although it is a challenge for MIPCYPFs to create an emergency or reserve fund, the 2022 FIB resource provides ways of working with these people so that they can develop habit of creating an emergency or reserve funds to help for the unexpected situation.

 

(c) Unstable Economic Conditions

 

To understand unstable economic conditions, one may need to know the meaning of economic conditions.  Our definition of economic conditions comes from ‘corporatefinanceinstitute.com’ (7) which states that

“Economic conditions are the present state of affairs in the overall economy of a country or geographical region. The conditions evolve over time through various business and economic cycles”.

These conditions can be stable or unstable.  Economic instability can come from various factors.  According to ‘study.com’ (8),

“Economic instability [then] occurs when the factors that influence an economy are out of balance. When an economy becomes unstable, there is inflation, which is a decrease in the value of money. This leads to higher prices, higher unemployment rates, and general angst among consumers and businesses that are trying to survive financially”.

This definition of economic instability will be used in this 2022 FIB and in our work with beneficiaries.

The above three key terms or concepts (Financial Stability, Emergency and Unstable Economic Conditions) and any others (like monetary or price instability) will be considered when one is trying to navigate their way through to build financial stability.

 

 

• • Main Highlights

 

As the focus for this year’s edition is on Financial Stability, the resource includes the following items:

 

∝ Tools to become financially stable

∝ How to take control of your financial well-being through financial stability

∝ How to create enough income to cover basic festive expenses (e.g., by avoiding impulse festive buying)

∝ How to enable yourself to pay debts over the festive period (e.g., by carrying out a debt-to-income analysis)

∝ How to build savings for emergencies or emergency funds to cover unexpected festive costs

∝ How to generate enough income while cutting unneeded expenses to cover basic festive costs

∝ How to invest in long-term financial stability goals

∝ End-of-the-year earning opportunities and openings to create Financial Stability

∝ How to earn and save money during the cost-of-living crisis

∝ Online and offline opportunities from both essential and non-essential economic activities

∝ How to successfully create Financial Stability during the festive season

∝ Tips and hints to make savings for your Financial Stability.

 

For example, how can you improve your spending habits and plans to avoid impulse buying during the festive season?

 

• • Resources and services to help the community establish financial stability

 

They include

 

√ Bridging Financial Information Gap (service)

√ Summer Financial Updates (resource)

√ Signposting beneficiaries to low-cost and free financial advice services

√ Zero Income Deficit Campaign

√ Financial advocacy (e.g., discuss a workable debt repayment plan with creditors)

√ Financial advice on how to create emergency or reserve fund, to set realistic financial stability goals and targets and so on

√ Help and support in terms of financial stability planning, budgeting, financial statistical literacy

Etc.

 

• • What other highlights it covers

 

The resource covers some ways of dealing with the following:

 

√ Casual job interview questions (online, video calls and distance job interviews)

√ Seasonal job search techniques (for both online and offline searches)

√ Job search engines and leads

√ Guidance on job applications and CV

√ Reference building techniques

√ How to highlight your skills in your job application and or CV

√ Job adverts and alerts

√ Credit history or score

√ Diary of online job fairs and events

√ Job matching to person specification and profile

√ Online job fraud and employment agency scams

√ Details can potential employers ask and not ask as well as how they can ask them

√ What details to provide and not to provide in your job enquiries and when filling job applications

Etc.

 

It goes further in exploring e-skills as well as stages and steps that poor families can take to skill up themselves.

In addition, the resource covers security and protection matter when trying to organise Financial Stability or generate a little extra income to make ends meet.  In this respect, it deals again with the general data protection regulations, child protection and safeguarding issues as well as COVID-19 restrictions for jobs where these requirements apply.

The resource does not stop there as it includes online employment agency scams and job advert scams which sometimes has dramatically increased in today’s world and employment market as there are always unscrupulous players (scammers, hackers and fraudsters) on the market who try to take advantage of the poor and vulnerable people like MIPCYPFs.

 

• • What’s more?

 

The resource is packed with insights such as income statement, balance sheet. net worth asset value, etc.  It finally reminds us of the areas of law or legal requirements in terms of whatever we do to try to create Financial Stability or raise additional household income to reduce poverty.  We should always try to lawfully act and live within our means.

 

• • How to access this resource

 

The resource will be available as a booklet from CENFACS e-Store.  It is normally free of charge, but we will appreciate a donation of £5 to help us help reduce poverty and the cost of renewing and producing this resource on an annual basis.  As the side effects of cost-of-living continues and the resilience of voluntary sector is falling, we need financial help like many voluntary and charitable organisations do.

The 2022 FIB resource is a great way to start and set up yourself into 2023.

To order and or find out more about the Autumn ICDP resource, please contact CENFACS with your contact details.

_________

 

• References

 

(1) www.earthsendangered.com/(accessed in November 2022)

(2) BirdLife International (2022), Species factsheet: Geokichla Crossleyi (www.birdlife.org)

(3) https://www.ibm.com/topics/data-security (accessed in November 2022)

(4) WFP and FAO, 2022, Hunger Hotspots, FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity: October 2022 to January 2023 Outlook, Rome (accessed in August 2022)

(5) https://www.europeanbusinessreview.com/the-importance-of-financial-stability-for-families/ (accessed in November 2022)

(6) https://fqmom.com/how-important-is-financial-stability-to-a-family/ (accessed in November 2022)

(7) https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/economics/economic-conditions (accessed in November 2022)

(8) https://study.com/academy/lesson/economic-instability-definition-examples.html (accessed in November 2022)

 

_________

 

• 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.

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 2022 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

02 November 2022

 

Post No. 272

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• The Month of the Economics of Education and Skill Formation (Skills Development Month) 2022

• “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) Campaign – In Focus for Week Beginning 31/10/2022: Safeguard of African Green Broadbill

• Giving Tuesday Event on 29/11/2022

 

… And much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• The Month of the Economics of Education and Skill Formation (Skills Development Month) 2022

 

November is the Month of the Economics of Education and Skill Formation (or in short Skills Development Month) within CENFACS.  It is the month that we recognise the economic value of education as well as of the non-economic benefits from education even if there could a dispute about these values or benefits.  It is also the month we pay a particular attention to the technology of skill formation; month in which we try to find out how skills are formed and how technologies relating to them can help us to further reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.

So, our November work on economic issues relating to education has just started this week.  This work will first be about the link between education economics and poverty reduction, then between education economics and sustainable development.  This work will include the identification of causal relationships between African organisations’ work and outcomes in educational projects.

In this identification, we shall refer to the human capital theory which will be the theoretical and working paradigm to be used this month.  In other words, all along this month we shall work on this assumption: the importance and capacity of education and training (skills development) to help reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.

Skills formation and development will be about forming new skills (that is any abilities to perform an activity in a competent way) to continue to fight poverty, for example poverty induced by the cost-of-living crisis.    Skills formation and development will indeed include data skills.  In other words, the skills we will be dealing with are foundational statistical skills that help to understand data relating to families’ or households’ life.  This variety of abilities or skills will make our human capital.

Under the Main Development section of this post, you will find further information about this first key message.

 

 

 

• “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) Campaign – In Focus for Week Beginning 31/10/2022: Safeguard of African Green Broadbill

 

African Green Broadbill, also known as Grauer’s broadbill, is a rare and beautiful bird that belongs to typical African broadbills, that is the sub-family of Smithornithinae Genus: Smithornis African broadbill, Smithornis capensis.  African Green Broadbill appears in tropical moist montane forest and is endemic to the Albertine Rift Mountains of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

African Green Broadbill is classified as vulnerable and listed on ‘earthsendangered.com’ (1).  It is considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.  Because of that, it needs to be kept safe or safeguarded.

 

• • Safeguard of African Green Broadbill

 

Safeguarding of African Green Broadbill is about ensuring that African Green Broadbill is free from danger and given protection from harm.  Yet, many studies suggest that African Green Broadbill as species is threatened by deforestation and habitat degradation.  As a result, actions need to be taken to deal with deforestation and habitat degradation that threaten this species.  Since “A la une“ Campaign is about actions not words, we are going to take actions with the community and the rest of the community.

 

 

• • Actions for the Upkeep of African Green Broadbill in Existence

 

The kind of actions we are going to deal with is the one that can help stop or reduce deforestation and habitat degradation.  These actions can include the following:

 

√ Afforestation, that is growing forests on forested lands, where African Green Broadbills can have access

√ Creation of new habitats or environmental conditions for African Green Broadbills to live

√ Replanting forests

√ Natural regeneration, that is natural regrowth of vegetation and of damaged or destroyed ecological communities

√ Aggradation, that is building up the land surface

Etc.

 

The above actions will assist in safeguarding African Green Broadbill, which is near endangered bird species in Africa.

To take actions and/or find out more about this fourth composed note and/or the entire “A la une” Campaign, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Giving Tuesday Event on 29/11/2022:

Support the Victims and Survivors of Violence in Armed Conflicts in Africa!

 

By and on 29/11/2022, CENFACS is looking forward to raising funds to help the victims and survivors of violence in conflicts, particularly the survivors of sexual violence in conflicts (like in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo) to change their lives.

This fundraising activity starts from the start of this November.  On 29 November 2022, it will be the fundraising climax day as it is a Global Giving Tuesday.  CENFACS hopes you can join and help it maximise the day through your giving.

Please share this message around your contacts, in particular with your friends and family members, on how you/they can make a helpful difference.

We would love your/their help in reaching our Giving Tuesday target and goal. 

For those who would like to donate, they should not wait to do it.  They can donate now as the need is pressing and urgent.

To donate, you simply need to contact CENFACS.  You can text, phone, e-mail and complete the contact form on this site with your contact details.  On receipt of your donation or intent to support, CENFACS will contact you back.

We look forward to your support to help the victims and survivors of violence in armed conflicts, particularly the survivors of sexual violence.

Thank you in anticipation.

 

Extra Messages

 

∝ Activity/Task 11 of the Knowledge (‘K’) Year and Project: Identify the Skills of Those in Need

∝ Long-term Actions/Service under the Campaign to End Poverty Induced by Rising Costs of Living

∝ Integrating “A la une” Campaign and Nature Aspect of COP27

 

 

• Activity/Task 11 of the Knowledge (‘K’) Year and Project: Identify the Skills of Those in Need

 

The 11th Activity or Task of our ‘K’ Year and Project is about Identifying the Skills of Those in Need.  

To be able to help those in need in what they would like to do (as occupation, job, activity, event, etc.), it is better to recognise or establish the identity of the skills and capabilities they possess.

Depending on the skills they possess and or can acquire, it is possible to think of what opportunity can meet their skills.  The identification of skills can also establish if there is any gap between their goal/ambition (what they want to do or achieve) and what is on offer on the market (what they can realistically get from the market).

For example, one can identify the skills of those in need via their curriculum vitae or résumé.  One can even rank these skills and match them with the kind of occupation these people are looking for in order to navigate their way out of poverty and hardships.

So, by identifying the skills of those in need, this helps to bridge the gap, if any, between their goal and the reality on the market.

The above is the Activity or Task no. 11 for the ‘K’ Year/Project for those who are interested in carrying it out.

For those who want any clarification of any aspects of this activity or task, they can contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Long-term Actions/Service under the Campaign to End Poverty Induced by Rising Costs of Living

 

These actions go from 2 to 10 years.  The aim of this third level of actions is to avoid that the cost-of-living crisis leads to intergenerational poverty; that is the transmission of poverty linked to high cost of living to future generations.

Through this level of service, CENFACS hopes to support the community to become more financially resilient as the cost-of-living crisis lasts and beyond.  In doing so, they can better manage their financial well-being and survive.

At this level, the actions to be undertaken could be those listed below:

 

Help beneficiaries improve their productivity and capacity to earn or generate sufficient income

Protect the economic basis of beneficiaries’ survival as humans

Support them to consume green and local so that they can be less exposed to the volatility of the international prices of goods and services

 Find ways of scaling down repressive or punitive market dictatorship on them

 Encourage them to lead long-term change not to be behind it 

Advise them on lasting financial resilience support schemes

Get them invest in long-term solutions to the cost-of-living crisis

 Advocate with them and on their behalf to those holding key to long-term solutions to their financial security problems

Etc.

 

Through the above-mentioned actions, one can expect that the cost-of-living crisis will not transform itself to the crisis in the lasting cost of surviving as human beings.  The 2020s decade will not be a decade of lost generation for the victims of cost-of-living crisis if this crisis lasts longer than expected.  This why we have this 2-to-10-year service or programme of work with the community.

The service is available for those members of our community who need it and who would like to ask for it.  The service can be accessed via what we called ‘GARSIA’ (that is Guidance, Advice, Referrals, Signposting, Information and Advocacy) options.

To request and/or access the service, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Integrating “A la une” Campaign and Nature Aspect of COP27

 

There are some areas of CENFACS “A la une” Campaign that are linked to some of the points to be raised during COP27, in particular within the Nature Pavilion at COP27.  Because of that, we are looking at those areas in conjunction with these talkable points as we are undertaking our “A la une” Campaign.  In technical terms, we can argue that we are going to integrate CENFACS‘ nature campaign and climate talks to be held under COP27.  Before that, let remind our readers what is “A la une” Campaign and what is COP27.

 

• • What is “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence)?

 

“A la une” is CENFACS’ well-known household campaign for justice towards for nature in the autumnal season.

It is about working together in organised and active way toward the goal of keeping up the nature in (good) existence.

It is as well about telling those who are in a position to help to fix the overexploitation and end extinction of natural species.

It is CENFACS’ branding or theme that holds to account those who are destroying the nature and its resources as well as it looks forward to changing the way our society works.

Briefly, “A la une” Campaign, which has to be differentiated from one-time protest, has three attributes, which are:

a) It focuses on a concrete goal of keeping up the nature in (good) existence

b) It has specific outcomes for working with CENFACS’ users to protect nature or the wilderness/wildlands

c) It helps to add up to similar efforts and work on protecting the nature.

Amongst similar efforts is COP27.

 

• • What is COP27?

 

COP27 is the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 27) to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), which will take place in Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt) from Monday 07 November to Friday 18 November 2022 (2).

Generally, CENFACS follows the rounds of climate talks or negotiations hold during these sessions of the conference of the parties.  Likewise, we shall follow COP27, particularly talks to be held within the Nature Pavilion of COP27.  Prior to following these talks, we are looking at the integration between “A la une” Campaign and the Nature Aspect of COP27 via common nature points for discussion.

 

• • Integration between “A la une” Campaign and Nature Aspect of COP27

 

Through the integration of the two, we are studying if there are some synergies between the two (CENFACS‘ Nature Campaign and Nature Pavilion of COP27).  Using an integrative approach, it is possible to identify some interconnectedness between the goal of the upkeep of the nature and that of keeping global average temperature rise this century to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to as close as possible to 1.5 degrees Celsius.    

It is as well conceivable to associate the upkeep of the nature and some of the issues which will be raised inside Nature Pavilion of COP27.  These nature integrative points may include these ones below:

 

√ Action to protect, manage and restore natural ecosystems

√ The place of nature and climate within the blue zone

√ Sustainable approaches to land use and contributions to greenhouse gas emissions

√ Untapped potential of natural ecosystems

√ Carbon sinks (e.g., forest, ocean or any natural environment) and their capacity to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

√ Nature positive action and nature-based solutions

√ Preservation of existing ecosystems

√ Restoration of degraded lands

√ The Convention on Biodiversity to be negotiated

√ Ways of halting and reversing nature losses

√ Carbon market or greenhouse gas trade system and the price on releasing carbon

√ Ways of ending commodity-driven deforestation

√ Technologies for nature

Etc.

 

These points for discussion and their discussion will enable us to find out how they affect our users and how our users can get prepared as we are on our way to COP27.

For those who would like to find out more about this integration of CENFACS’ Nature Campaign and aspects of COP27 relating to nature, they can contact CENFACS.

 

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

Vient de paraître: Le 77e numéro du FACS

Le 77e numéro de notre bulletin bilingue FACS vient de paraître.  À l’intérieur de ce numéro dans la page 10, il y a le Projet d’analyse de la sécurité financière.

Ci-dessous se trouve le résumé de ce projet (Projet d’analyse de la sécurité financière).

Alors que les prix des biens et des services continuent d’augmenter pendant que les revenus et le soutien financier des gens ne correspondent pas au niveau et à l’ampleur de la flambée du coût de la vie, il est devenu évident que beaucoup de nos bénéficiaires éprouvent des difficultés financières. Ils/elles éprouvent des difficultés financières car leurs actifs sont inférieurs à leurs passifs. En termes techniques, ils sont financièrement précaires.

Pour faire face au niveau d’insécurité et de menace que représente l’insécurité financière pour ces personnes en difficulté, il est nécessaire d’élaborer une réponse appropriée.

Le Projet d’analyse de la sécurité financière, qui peut ne pas être un soutien financier en termes de liquidités ou d’actifs convertibles en espèces, peut aider à travailler avec des personnes en situation d’insécurité financière afin qu’elles puissent progressivement se frayer un chemin vers la sécurité financière.

Par exemple, grâce à ce projet, nous pouvons effectuer une analyse expresse de la sécurité financière de nos bénéficiaires ou ménages à partir de leurs données.  L’analyse aidera à déterminer la situation financière d’un/e bénéficiaire résidentiel(le) donné(e) de notre projet.

L’analyse peut fournir des informations précieuses pour éviter potentiellement la pauvreté financière. À cet égard, le Projet d’analyse de la sécurité financière contribuera à améliorer le niveau de ceux/celles qui recherchent des solutions durables à la crise financière à laquelle ils/elles sont confronté(e)s.

Pour accéder ou soutenir ou encore contribuer au Projet d’analyse de la sécurité financière, veuillez contacter le CENFACS.

Pour plus de détails  à ce projet, veuillez aussi contacter le CENFACS.

L’exemplaire intégral du 77e numéro de FACS est disponible sur demande. Pour toute question ou commentaire sur ce numéro, n’hésitez pas à contacter le CENFACS.

Le 77e numéro de FACS est stocké dans notre référentiel sous les détails suivants:

Bulletin bilingue FACS / Titre du numéro: Sécurité financière pour les pauvres / Numéro: 77 / Mois et année de publication: Octobre 2022 / Editeur: CENFACS.

 

 

Main Development

 

• The Month of the Economics of Education and Skill Formation (Skills Development Month) 2022

 

The following items make up our Skills Development 2022:

 

∝ Month of November within CENFACS

∝ Poverty as a lack of skills and knowledge

∝ CENFACS Community’s Skills Data Bank

∝ CENFACS and its work on skills development

∝ Data Skills to Run your Household

∝ In Focus from Wednesday 02/11/2022: Data Storage Skills.

 

Let us summarise these items.

 

• • Month of November within CENFACS

 

November month has two features within CENFACS which are: Skills evaluation and training implementation.

 

• • • November as a month of skills evaluation

 

November at CENFACS is the month of education and training, which revolves around the development of skills for life, for work, for poverty relief and sustainable development.  It is the month during which we look into ourselves and try to assess, explore and learn the skills we need in order to further help reduce poverty in a sustainable way amongst ourselves and re-engage with the business of sustainable development.

 

• • • November as a training implementation month

 

November is also the training implementation month during which we pay attention to the following: educationally related projects or projects that involve training, skills development and acquisition of new knowledge to help users and our Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) to empower themselves with the educational tools and training resources they need to further help reduce poverty.

For example, one of the skills development projects to support ASOs is skills to hybrid work (that is, the flexibility to split time between working remotely and from the office), in particular when there is handicap for people to meet in-person and work.

 

• • Poverty as a lack of skills and knowledge

 

It is known that poverty is not only material or the lack of monetary income; it is even more the lack of knowledge, skills, knowhow and technologies than anything else.   Therefore, knowing and learning a skill can help to further reduce poverty, particularly but not exclusively poverty induced by the cost-of-living crisis, and can set one on the right course of the development process.  In this respect, there could relationships between economics of education and poverty reduction, between skill formation and poverty reduction.

 

• • • Relationship between the economics of education and poverty reduction

 

The economics of education is generally defined as the study of economic issues relating to education.  The paradigm used in the economics of education is human capital theory.  This theory suggests that investment in education and training lead people to become productive.

However, education and training do not only lead to the improvement of productivity.  They can also pave the way for poverty reduction.  As people get more educated and trained, these further education and training can provide them with the means to overcome poverty.  As a result of this, there could be relationship between the economics of education and poverty reduction.

There could disagreement about this link between the two.  However, despite this disagreement we are working on the assumption that education and training can lead to poverty reduction.

 

• • • Link between skill formation and poverty reduction

 

Let us briefly try to understand skill formation by highlighting its definitions.  One of its definitions comes from an online dictionary at the website igi—global.com (3), which explains the following

“Skill formation is the process by which individuals achieve and develop innate or acquired skills to cope with everyday life challenges.  Besides heredity, it includes formal and informal training activities and life experience”.

From this definition, it is possible to deduct that individuals who are poor can use their innate or acquired skills to cope with the challenge of poverty by developing survival and coping strategies.  If they continue to use their skills and those strategies, they can navigate their way out of poverty.  When they reach the point at which their skills and strategies effectively enable them to reduce poverty, then one could argue about the link between skill formation and poverty reduction.

 

 

• • CENFACS Community’s Skills Data Bank

 

As part of our Skills Development Month, we would like to remind every member of our community that they can register their skills to our data bank, which is repository containing information about CENFACS and the data of the CENFACS’ Community.  The register is free.  Skills and information are stored on it in accordance with the latest regulations on data protection.

Knowing the skills that one possesses; it makes easy when opportunity arises to match them with registered skills.  It also helps to point those in need of support to the right and relevant a skilful person and direction.

To register your skills to make up the CENFACS’ Community of skilled people, please contact CENFACS.

 

• • CENFACS and its work on skills development

 

As far as CENFACS is concerned, we strive to support those who want to learn a skill while we at CENFACS as an organisation plan our own training, learning and development programme from time to time when we can access both funding and training.

The focus for this November 2022 will be on enhancing data skills for households making the CENFACS Community.

 

• • Data Skills to Run your Household

 

Data Skills to Run your Household is the second project of our 2022 Starting XI Campaign.  In order to understand this project, we are going to define data skill and provide the types of skills this project may contain.

 

• • • What is data skill?

 

Data Skills to Run your Household are the naturally acquired or developed talents and accomplishments that will allow our project beneficiaries to better run their households.

The project will help families/households that lack skills in terms of handling data…

 

∝ to gain sufficient skills and knowledge to use data making their lives

∝ to attach value to data

∝ to capture household data and turn them into value

∝ to create trust in data systems they use to manage their lives

∝ to support both technical skills building and efforts to enhance a culture of data use within household systems

∝ to improve family/household limited data literacy skills

∝ to keep learning numeracy and statistical literacy skills at family/household level

∝ to empower and inform household data users

∝ to build the skills of household decision-makers in relation to handling information about their households

Etc.

 

From these various ways of handling data, it is possible to have different types of data skills.

 

• • • Types of data skills 

 

Investing in building the data skills for the good running of your household and decision-making process can help not only to tackle poverty linked to the lack of ability to handle data, but also other forms of poverty that a household may face.  There are various data skills that a typical data unskilled household may need or require.

These types of data skills can include the following:

 

∝ Skills needed to collect, process and disseminate data

∝ Skills to extract the relevant information from data

∝ Skills for data engineering to manage and process data

∝ Foundational statistical skills to understand data relating to family life

∝ Data sharing skills within and outside household

Etc.

 

From these types of skills, we can select four of them and create skills-focused area to work on each Wednesday of November 2022.  To make it easy, our creation is built around the management of data.

 

• • • What is management of data?

 

Management of data can be defined in many ways.  In the context of these notes, we have selected the definition provided by ‘phoenix.edu’ (4) which states that

“Management of data refers to the processes that store, secure, process and analyse data and includes the management of servers, databases, networks and computers”.

From this definition, one can pull out the different skills that households, particularly but not exclusively those making the CENFACS Community, need to plan and make these above-named processes to happen.

The following table (table no. 1) summarises our plan (Wednesdays’ Skills Focus) for approaching these pulled-out skills this month.  It highlights a set of skills to focus on from every Wednesday of each week of November 2022 starting from 02/11/2022.

 

 

As the table no. 1 shows, the last Wednesday of November 2022 will deal with the monitoring and evaluation of Data Skills to Run your Household.

Let us start with the first area of our Wednesdays’ Skills Focus, which is Data Storage Skills.

 

 

 

• • In Focus from Wednesday 02/11/2022: Data Storage Skills

 

To deal with Data Storage Skills, we are going to briefly explain data storage in the context of households or families and the types of skills that can involve when households or families are trying to store their data.

 

• • • Data Storage in the context of households/families

 

Data storage in the context of households and/or families is simply about the place where household/family files are kept.  Most of files we will be dealing with are those households/families can keep themselves.  Others like medical records are kept by relevant body like health authorities.

Regarding the files that households/families can keep themselves, they may include everything from invoices, tenancy agreements to sensitive files or information like their bank statements.  When dealing with these households/families, a question one can ask is the following: Are these files kept in a safe, secure and easy place to access when they need the information containing in these files?  Are these files stored on a computer system or in a paper box or shelves of bookcase, etc.?

Depending on the way these households/families choose to store their files, it is possible to work with them so that they can find the effective and efficient methods of storing their private files.  This will require some data storage skills.

 

• • • Data Storage Skills in the context of households/families

 

The question we are trying to answer here is: What skills does a typical household/family need to store data relating to its life?

There is a range of data storage skills that a household/family may use.  Without listing all of them, we can mention the following:

 

√ Organisational skills

√ Problem-solving skills

√ Data collection skills

√ Foundational statistical skills

√ Information and Telecommunication (IT) skills

√ Data entry skills

Etc.

 

Depending on the task a member of a typical household/family (e.g., household/family data controller or manager) is doing to store data, they may need a particular type of skills.

For example, if they are inputting the household/family data in a computerised database (e.g., a datastore) at home, they may need IT data entry skills.  They may also need to understand a particular software (e.g., any of the versions of Microsoft Excel or Access) if they are using this software.  If they are filing their children’s school files or records using a non-computerised filing system, they can manually organise their files in paper or metal box.

Briefly, it all depends on the skills they possess, the resources they can afford and the methods they choose to store their household data.  Since, we are all trying to save papers, it will be worth for them to learn how to store some of their data or files using a digital device or a computer instead of keeping everything on papers.  Again, this will belong to them whether they can afford it or not.

In this process of storing data, CENFACS Community members are not alone.  They can work with CENFACS, especially those members who are struggling with data storage skills or who are simply having some problems to store their household/family data.

 

• • • CENFACS working with the community members through Data Storage Skills to Run their Household

 

We would like to reiterate that the purpose of working with the community members on data skills, here data storage skills, is to help them as follows:

 

√ to create trust in data systems

√ to learn and build technical skills like statistical literacy skills

√ to enhance a culture of data use within household

√ to improve household/family the overall data skills

√ to attach value to data

√ to empower and inform household data users

√ to encourage the community members to register their skills on CENFACS Skills Data Bank

above all, to reduce poverty linked to poor data skills; yet data skills are necessary to deal with life-saving household/family matters.

 

For those community members of our community who will be interested in Data Storage Skills to Run their Household, they can contact CENFACS.  CENFACS can enhance their Data Storage Skills to Run their Household.

Additionally, for those who would like to register their skills on CENFACS Skills Data Bank, they are welcome to do so.  This registration will help in matching the support in terms of skills and the needs in the community.

To get further insight into Skills Development Month at CENFACS, please continue to read our weekly posts.

_________

 

• References

 

(1) www.earthsendangered.com/(Accessed in October 2022)

(2) https://unfccc.int/event/cop-27 (Accessed in September 202

(3) https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/is-entrepreneurship-a-bio–social-phenomenon/92105 (accessed in November 2021)

(4) https://www.phoenix.edu/blog/what-is-data-management.html (Accessed in October 2022)

_________

 

• 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.

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 2022 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

26 October 2022

 

Post No. 271

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• FACS, Issue No. 77, Autumn 2022, Issue Title: Financial Security for the Poor

• “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) Campaign – In Focus for Week Beginning 24/10/2022: Preservation of Dwarf Honeyguide

• Medium-term Actions/Service under the Campaign to End Poverty Induced by Rising Costs of Living

 

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• FACS, Issue No. 77, Autumn 2022, Issue Title: Financial Security for the Poor

How to reduce financial worries and stresses for the income poor at this challenging time of the cost-of-living crisis

 

• • Abstract for the 77th Issue of FACS

 

The lingering effects of the coronavirus and the current cost-of-living crisis are making worried and stressed many ordinary and poor people and families.  They are making them worried and stressed as prices of goods and services keep rising while people’s incomes and financial support do not match the level and scale of soaring cost of living.  These people and families need some form of financial security if one needs to avoid the current crisis to become a humanitarian one.

The 77th Issue of FACS, CENFACS bilingual newsletter, will help not only to understand their financial worries and stresses, but also to explore with them positive coping strategies and mechanisms to calm their mind and find peace of mind.  In this respect, the Issue provides some tips and hints to avert the transformation of the cost-of-living crisis they are experiencing into a humanitarian one.

Many of those making our community are looking for financial security in order to make ends meet or just to cover their basic life-sustaining needs.  There are income deficit and indebted amongst them; those having their amount of income falling short of their spending.  They all need financial security to avoid that the current crisis pushes them to the brink of humanitarian catastrophe or collapse.

The 77th Issue explores ways of building financial security with and for these people and families.  Although the Issue does not list organisations and institutions that provide financial security cover, it bundles a number of financial security fixes with and for them.

At the current challenging time of the cost-of-living crisis, the 77th Issue of FACS is a journey with those people and families on how they can raise the finances they need and erect the basic foundations of financial security.  Through the 77th Issue, it is in the best interest of users to try together to identify the levels of financial security they need, whether high or low or medium.

Financial security is not only about our closer community, CENFACS Community.  It is also about our extended community; that is the people with whom our Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) work in Africa.  For these distant communities and people, financial security is about how they are trying to develop their coping financial strategies (for example, if they got any financial bailout) in order to mitigate the combined side effects of the coronavirus and other diseases, the cost-of-living crisis and changing climate.

The 77th Issue goes further miles in exploring how these ASOs are adjusting their not-for-profit or charitable model in order to continue to serve their communities in this context of spiralling prices of money, food, energy and other goods and services.

Likewise, it contains an appeal for a portion of financial dividend created (e.g., from illicit financial flows in Africa) to be channelled to ASOs working with poor people and communities.  In appealing in this way, this could provide a starting point or a new development in connecting the above-mentioned poor people and families with financial niches that are supposed to help them, but they are not doing it at the moment.

Finally, the 77th Issue of FACS provides some constituents or elements a foundation for a programme of work with our community on ways of building and developing financial security with these people and families.

To get a glimpse of the subjects discussed in the Autumn Issue of FACS in order to make financial security happen or to reduce financial worries and stresses for the income poor, please read the summaries presented under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) Campaign – In Focus for Week Beginning 24/10/2022: Preservation of Dwarf Honeyguide

 

Dwarf Honeyguide, which is a species of honeyguides in the indicatoridoe family, is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi.  Its scientific name is indicator pumilio.  Research on Dwarf Honeyguide suggests that their number is under-recorded.  They are near threatened species that need preservation.  What does their preservation mean?

 

• • Preservation of Dwarf Honeyguide

 

It is about saving Dwarf Honeyguide from loss and keeping it safe from danger and death.  As the ‘mynextbird.com’ (1) puts it

“Bird preservation refers to efforts to protect bird populations and their habitats from human impacts. This is an important endeavour for a number of reasons. First, birds are incredibly diverse, with a wide range of species occupying different niches in the ecosystem. Indeed, some birds play critical roles as pollinators, seed dispersers, and predators”.

For example, many studies on honeyguides infer that the population of Dwarf Honeyguide is declining due to the destruction, degradation and fragmentation of the Albertine Rift montane forests.  The latter is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in East-central Africa which covers the Western portion of Rwanda and Burundi, the Eastern edge of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the portions of Western Uganda and Tanzania.

Dwarf Honeyguide is a species that is near threatened by shifting agriculture and illicit logging, just it suffers from the impact of pollution and human conflicts.  There are documented studies that indicate that during the first and second wars (1996-1997 and 1998-2003) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the montane forests of Eastern sector of this country suffered from degradation.  This suffering also affected Dwarf Honeyguide population and habitat.

Because of that, actions need to be taken to deal with the situation.  As “A la une“ Campaign is about actions not words, we are going to take actions with the community and the rest of the community.

 

• • Actions to preserve Dwarf Honeyguide

 

The kind of actions we are going to list below comes from Birdlife International (2).  They include the following:

√ Help in the survey of the total population of Dwarf Honeyguide since its number is under-recorded

√ Tackling illicit logging through patrols by local rangers

√ Increasing the area of suitable habitat or protected areas

√ Tracking its umbers through population trends

√ Monitoring of rates of habitat loss and degradation.

Besides these actions, one needs to consider actions of better way of preserving Dwarf Honeyguide, to choose the right preservation methods and the cost of preservation.

Regarding for instance the cost of preservation, one may also include fundraising actions.  Concerning the right preservation methods, one can consider education as a way to acquiring knowledge and skills.  One can as well think of planting trees as this is an important aspect of the dynamics of Dwarf Honeyguide populations.  Fruiting trees are attractive to them.

To sum up, these actions will be useful in keeping away from harm and danger, the rescue, rehabilitation and survivorship of Dwarf Honeyguide.

The above actions will indeed assist in preserving and conserving Dwarf Honeyguide, which is near endangered bird species in Africa.

To take actions and/or find out more about this third composed note and/or the entire “A la une” Campaign, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Medium-term Actions/Service under the Campaign to End Poverty Induced by Rising Costs of Living

 

In order to tackle any crises, one may need short-, medium- and long-term actions.  These actions can be taken at the same time.  In other words, there is no need to wait until the end of one action (e.g., short-term action) in order to start the other one (e.g., medium-term action).

So, while we are taking short-term action, we can still work with those members of our community who need medium-term service or action.  This second level of actions (medium-term service) is designed to avoid that the cost-of-living crisis settles in with the time and becomes a humanitarian issue or crisis.  Amongst actions to be taken, which will run between 6 and 24 months, include these ones listed below:

 

Assess with users about how the cost-of-living crisis is affecting them and their needs as a result of crisis effects

Develop with the applicants to the medium-term service an action plan to come out of the cost-of-living crisis in medium term

As part of the plan, encourage them to develop or learn skills that are adapted with the evolving time and help them navigate out of the cost-of-living crisis

 Support them to build energy and food security systems in the medium term and beyond.

 

The service is available for those members of our community who need it and who would like to ask for it.  To request and/or access the service, please contact CENFACS.

 

Extra Messages

 

∝ Happening this Week: Making Memorable Positive Difference Project

∝ Sustainable Trajectories for the Nature

∝Back-to-school Project: Integrated Training Centre in Doutchi, County of Dosso in Niger

 

 

• Happening this Week: Making Memorable Positive Difference Project

In Focus: Managing and Maintaining Infrastructures to Reduce Poverty in Africa

 

The 14^th Event of Making Memorable Difference Project will start on 27/10/2022 as scheduled.  It will be the celebration of African Abilities, Talents, Skills, Legacies and Gifts to Africa and the world.

For those who would like to make contribution to our Two Days of African History, they are welcome to do so.  They can contribute to the following:

a) Heritage/Patrimony Day on 27 October 2022, day which will focus on Infrastructure Development as a Connector and Service Provider to Poverty Reduction

b) Legacies and Gifts Day on 28 October 2022; day which will concentrate on History of Infrastructures in Africa through Infrastructure Managers of the History.

 

• • To engage and or contribute to the history days

 

You can tell and share with us what they know about Managing and Maintaining Infrastructures to Reduce Poverty in Africa.  Your telling or sharing could be in the form of:

 

texts, documents, references, comments, audio and visual materials, oral communications, art objects and any other historical resources.   

 

• • To donate

 

For those who can, they could support CENFACS’ Two History Days and Making Memorable Positive Difference Project with a donation to acknowledge our efforts, to help us recover costs of organising such eventful days and to build forward better African History.

To engage with this year’s Making Memorable Positive Difference theme and or support this project, please contact CENFACS on this site. 

 

 

• Sustainable Trajectories for the Nature with…

Actions to Reduce and or Stop Rising Temperatures 

 

Sustainable Trajectories for the Nature (STN), which is part of the “A la une” Campaign, is also an environmental campaign on its own.   This is because its contents are intertwined with some of the aspects of the “A la une” Campaign.

Under the STN, we are looking at Sustainable Trajectories in terms of the following trajectories:

 

∝ Temperature

∝ Sea levels

∝ Wildlife population

∝ Greenhouse gas emissions.

 

During COVID-19 lockdowns, there were some good results and news about the reduction of air pollution, electricity, transport use, industrial activity and noise in some big cities of the world including London and Kinshasa.  Many confined places (in countries such as China) recorded low levels of energy demand and CO2 emissions.

However, do these good results suggest the decreasing pattern of temperatures in relation to the climate goal of reducing the global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius or it was just an exception due to the COVID-19 confinement?   Are we moving towards the net zero emissions by 2050 (that is, not adding to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere)?

Indeed, the Paris Agreement central aim is about strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.   

Our work under STN is about searching on actions taken so far to reduce rising temperatures by checking if we are moving towards a net-zero carbon emissions world in the post-coronavirus recovery period and beyond.  In this respect, we are looking at the above trajectories (that is temperature, sea level, wildlife population and greenhouse gas emissions trajectories in terms of rising temperature) if they are moving in the way of the Upkeep of the Nature. 

The above is the key message about the campaign for Sustainable Trajectories for the Nature.  To enquire about it and or to add your input, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Back-to-school Project: Integrated Training Centre in Doutchi, County of Dosso in Niger

The Young People of the rural area of Doutchi want you to fund their project!

 

The centre aims at harmoniously integrating young people in their rural area and fighting against poverty through local sustainable development.

This project, which has been selected and highlighted as part of CENFACS‘ back-to-school programme of work, is unfunded,

We know that at this current time of the cost-of-living crisis, things are difficult for many people including small individual donors.  However, for those who may be interested in this project, this is an opportunity to make a world of difference.

For those who would like to donate no direct cash, they can use any of the ten-themed ways of giving without directly donating cash, themed ways we have mentioned in our previous posts.

For those who prefer to donate cash, they can do it and their cash will be accepted.

Please, be one of our generous givers by helping to integrate young people in their rural area of Doutchi and fighting against poverty through local sustainable development.

Please do not wait to donate as the needs are pressing and urgent NOW.

To donate cash and/or no direct cash, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

Further details about this project can be found at www.cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/

We look forward to your support to make helpful difference for the young people in their rural area of Doutchi and for fighting against poverty through local sustainable development there.

Thank you for your generosity.

 

 

 

Message in French (Message en français)

 

Se déroulant cette semaine: Projet ‘Faire une différence positive mémorable’

Gros plan: Gérer et entretenir les infrastructures pour réduire la pauvreté en Afrique

Le 14e événement du projet ‘Faire une différence positive mémorable’ débutera le 27/10/2022 comme prévu.  Ce sera la célébration des capacités, talents, compétences, héritages et dons africains à l’Afrique et au monde.

Pour ceux ou celles qui voudraient contribuer à nos deux jours d’histoire africaine, ils/elles sont invité(e)s à le faire.  Ils/elles peuvent contribuer à ce qui suit:

a) Journée du patrimoine le 27 octobre 2022, journée qui mettra l’accent sur le développement des infrastructures en tant que connecteur et fournisseur de services pour la réduction de la pauvreté

b) Journée des legs et dons le 28 octobre 2022; journée qui se concentrera sur l’histoire des infrastructures en Afrique à travers les gestionnaires d’infrastructures de l’histoire.

• • S’engager et/ou contribuer  à ces Journées

Vous pouvez dire et partager avec nous ce que vous savez sur la gestion et l’entretien des infrastructures pour réduire la pauvreté en Afrique.  Votre récit ou votre partage pourrait prendre la forme de:

textes, documents, références, commentaires, matériel audio et visuel, communications orales, objets d’art et toute autre ressource historique.

• • Faire un don

Pour ceux ou celles qui le peuvent, ils/elles pourraient soutenir les deux journées de l’histoire et le projet ‘Faire une différence positive mémorable’ du CENFACS avec un don pour reconnaître nos efforts, pour nous aider à recouvrer les coûts de l’organisation de ces journées mouvementées et pour construire une meilleure histoire africaine.

Pour participer au thème ‘Faire une différence positive mémorable’ de cette année ou soutenir ce projet, veuillez communiquer avec le CENFACS sur ce site.

 

 

Main Development

 

• FACS, Issue No. 77, Autumn 2022, Issue Title: Financial Security for the Poor

How to reduce financial worries and stresses for the income poor at this challenging time of the cost-of-living crisis

 

The contents and key summaries of the 77^th Issue of FACS are given below.

 

• • Contents and Pages

 

I. Key concepts relating to Financial Security (Page 2)

II. Africa-based Sister Organisations and Financial Security fixes for income poor families (Page 3)

II. How People in Need can Erect the Basic Foundations of Financial Security (Page 3)

III. Financial Security, Net Worth and Poverty Line (Page 4)

III. Tips and Hints for Building a Successful Financial Security (Page 4)

IV. Ajustements de modèles à but non lucratif africains face à l’insécurité financière (Page 5)

IV. Appel de charité concernant les fonds internationaux récupérés (Page 5)

V. Comment les organisations sœurs basées en Afrique organisent la sécurité financière avec leurs adhérent(e)s (Page 6)

V. Créations et innovations en matière de sécurité financière par des organisations sœurs basées en Afrique (Page6)

VI. Survey, E-questionnaire and E-discussion on Financial Security (Page 7)

VII. Support, Top Tool, Information and Guidance on Financial Security Matters (Page 8)

VIII. Workshop, Focus group and Enhancement Activity about Financial Security (Page 9)

IX. Giving and Project (Page 10)

 

• • Key Summaries

 

Please find below the key summaries of the 77^th Issue of FACS from page 2 to page 10.

 

• • • Key Concepts Relating to Financial Security (Page 2)

 

There are four concepts that will help the readers of FACS to better understand the contents of the 77th Issue.  These concepts are financial security, country financial security index, financial poverty and financial security number.  These concepts also shape the 77th Issue of FACS.

Let us briefly explain them.

 

• • • • Financial Security

 

Financial security can have different meanings depending on the way in which one wants to approach it.  In the context of the Autumn 77th Issue of FACS, Financial security has to be viewed from the perspective of what ‘quicken.com’ (3) argue about it, which is:

“Financial security refers to the peace of mind you feel when you aren’t worried about your income being enough to cover your expenses.  It also means that you have enough money saved to cover emergencies and your future financial goals.  When you are financially secure your stress level goes down, leaving you free to focus on other issues”.

The above-mentioned definition is the one we are referring to in the Autumn 77th Issue of FACS.  Financial security here has to be differentiated from the financial instruments (like shares, bonds, stocks, gilts, bills of exchange, treasury bills, etc.) issued by firms, financial institutions (e.g., pension funds, investment funds, banks and insurance companies) and government.  We are approaching financial security from the perspective of ordinary and poor people and families, those who do not financially have.

 

 

• • • • Financial Security Number

 

The website ‘capablewealth.com’ (4) explains that

“To find your financial security number, you need to add up all of [these] monthly costs, and then multiply by 12 in order to find the annual cost.  This will show you exactly how much passive income you need annually, so you never have to worry about these expenses again”.

The costs this website is talking about include foundational expenses such as rent or mortgage, food, utilities (electricity, gas, water, phone, etc,), transportation, insurance expenses and so on.

The concept of financial security number will help to work with our users to determinate their financial security number.

 

• • • • Country Financial Security Index

 

According to ‘countryfinancial.com’ (5),

“Country Financial Security Index is a bi-monthly measure of Americans’ sentiments toward their overall financial security.  It is an aggregate of various factors comprising financial security including savings and investments, financial planning, retirement, education and asset protection”.

Although this tool was designed to deal with Americans’ sentiments or feelings, it can be nevertheless applied to other nationals regarding their feelings towards financial security.

 

• • • • Financial Poverty

 

Poverty comes in various ways and has different manifestations.  One of its manifestations is through finances.  This is why some people speak about financial poverty.  What is financial poverty?  There could be many responses.  One of the responses is from the Anglican Diocese of Gloucester (6), which argues that

“Where a household’s income is less than 60% of the UK average (identified by an annual government survey), that household is considered to be living in poverty.  Poverty can be the result of issues around low income, unemployment and debt to ill-health and poor education”.

This definition of financial poverty will help to understand why some households struggle to have peace of mind, happiness and joy, while others do not have the same problem.

The above-mentioned concepts will be used in understanding the way in which ASOs are trying to make financial security happen to their users and communities.  These concepts will as well be useful to find out why some of our users are able to reduce their financial worries and stresses while others are not at this challenging time of the cost-of-living crisis.

 

 

• • • Africa-based Sister Organisations and Financial Security Fixes for Income Poor Families (Page 3)

 

There are households that are unbanked and cannot resort to banks and capital markets in Africa in order to raise the finances they need.  Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) are working with these families and households to build some financial security.  They work with them in the following:

 

√ Helping them to access financial services in order to build financial security instead of keeping their little cash money at home

√ Improving financial literacy amongst them through training to enhance financial security

√ Advocating with them and on their behalf so that they can have an extension for the maturity of financial services they are looking for

√ Supporting them to avoid destructive and irreversible coping mechanisms and strategies such as selling their assets or productive capacities in order to raise fonds

√ Assisting them to get digitally included and to use their phone to receive and send money through mobile money app

Etc.

 

All these initiatives contribute to peace of mind of their users as they help reduce worries and stresses in terms of finances.

 

• • • How People in Need can Erect the Basic Foundations of Financial Security (Page 3)

 

The basic foundations of financial security can come from knowledge, learning and the history of those who were financially insecure and how they navigated their way out of it.

Since we are in the October History Month and the Year of Knowledge at CENFACS, one can undertake a bit of some research work or do history to find out what financially insecure did in the past in order for them to get out of their financial insecurity problems.  This knowledge of history of financially insecure people can help us to resolve our own financial security problem in the world of today’s cost-of-living crisis.

For example, one can find out how foundational expenses were dealt with in order to establish their own financial security.

From the knowledge of that past and the economic conditions of today’s world, one can start to build their own foundations of financial security today and tomorrow.

Briefly, to erect the basic foundations or foundational economy of our financial security it may require knowing and learning how the experience of yesterday’s financially insecure people would inspire poor people today.  It is through this knowledge or learning that the foundations and fences of financial security can be built and developed today and tomorrow.

 

 

• • • Financial Security, Net Worth and Poverty Line (Page 4)

 

It is possible to make an assumption that financial security for the poor could be about the poor having a net worth at or above the poverty line.  If one makes such an hypothesis, then one could work with poor people so that they live at or above the poverty line.  But what it is the value of this line?

According to the World Bank (7),

“The new extreme poverty line is $2.15 per person per day based on 2017 purchasing power parities”.

From the above measure and value of poverty, Africa-based Sister Organisations can work with their users who are experiencing poverty and hardship so that they can be at or above this line.  In this respect, those users who will be having a net worth of not less than £2.15 per person per day could be said are having some sort of financial security.

However, to truly argue that they are financially secure they need to have peace of mind and do not worry about their income being enough to cover your expenses

 

 

• • • Tips and Hints for Building a Successful Financial Security (Page 4)

 

To become financially secure, it is not a matter of luck only.  It could be the result of every day’s effort that one can make by following the tips and hints relating to financial security.  What are those tips and hints for a successful financial security?

There are various resources both online and in print regarding tips and hints to build and succeed in one’s financial security.  Without going into the full list of these tips and hints, let us name few of them: creating financial goals, budgeting, developing an emergency fund, better handling your financial security indicators, etc.

Let us pick up one of them, which is the financial security indicator like the liquidity ratio.  How can this ratio help to build financial security?

This ratio can show the household ability to fulfil current liabilities through liquid assets.  It can provide information in terms of the household ability to meet unexpected cash needs.

The more those having financial security problem, and amongst them our members, can use the tips and hints to build their financial security; the more they are likely able to improve their peace of mind and have happiness.  These tips and hints can be found and accessed within our Financial Security Analysis Project; project which we will allow us to work with the community so that our members can build and/or develop a successful financial security.

 

• • • Ajustements de modèles à but non lucratif africains face à l’insécurité financière (Page 5)

 

Les crises de ces dernières années (telles que le changement climatique, les épidémies et les crises du coût de la vie) signifient que le modèle de fonctionnement de nombreuses organisations à but non lucratif nécessite des ajustements structurels tant sur le plan de la forme que sur le fond.  Le modèle qui a longtemps compté sur l’aide internationale s’est essoufflé.  Parce que l’origine de l’aide internationale connaît aussi des crises financières.  En plus, les marchés de capitaux internationaux ont resserré leurs étaux ou conditions, de même que les organisations non gouvernementales multinationales.

Cependant, les organismes sans but lucratif doivent se réinventer pour trouver d’autres moyens de financer ou de refinancer leurs opérations ou activités.  Il en est résulté un besoin croissant d’ajustements au fond ou une remise en question de leurs modèles de financement et de fonctionnement pour mobiliser des fonds au niveau local, national, africain et pan-africain.

Bien qu’au début cela soit difficile, ces ajustements permettront de s’approprier leur travail et leur destin.  C’est en s’ajustant qu’ils réduiront l’insécurité financière à laquelle ils sont confrontés aujourd’hui.

 

• • • Appel de charité concernant les fonds internationaux récupérés (Page 5)

 

Cet appeal consiste à demander qu’une partie des fonds récupérés dans le cadre de la lutte contre le blanchiment d’argent, la contrebande financière et le transfert illicite de capitaux soit affectée aux besoins de financement des organismes à but non lucratif. 

C’est un appel pour qu’une partie du dividende financier créé (par exemple, à partir de flux financiers illicites en Afrique) soit canalisée vers les organismes travaillant avec les personnes et les communautés pauvres.

Mettre une partie de ces fonds récupérés à la disposition d’organismes sans but lucratif peut améliorer la sécurité financière de ces organismes.  Toutefois, cette mise à disposition de fonds récupérés ne doit pas devenir un moyen permanent de financer leur travail de réduction de la pauvreté.  Cette partie ne devrait être qu’une exception à la règle.

Pour soutenir cet appel, veuillez contacter le CENFACS.

 

• • • Comment les organisations sœurs basées en Afrique organisent la sécurité financière avec leurs adhérent(e)s (Page 6)

 

Elles le font de plusieurs manières en fonction de leur taille, de leur spécialité et du secteur dans lequel elles sont engagées.  Il y a toute une gamme d’activités qu’elles exercent dans le contexte de la sécurité financière.  En bref, nous pouvons compter les opérations suivantes.

Celles qui sont engagées dans des opérations de crédit à des taux bas ou à des taux d’emprunt concessionnels prêtent de l’argent à ceux/celles de leurs membres qui veulent s’engager dans des activités génératrices de revenus pour résoudre le problème de la pauvreté auquel ils sont soumis.

Celles qui se spécialisent dans le conseil conseillent leurs membres et leurs bénéficiaires afin d’éviter les stratégies d’adaptation ou de survie négatives qui consistent à s’endetter alors qu’ils n’ont pas de moyens de rembourser leurs dettes.

En gros, il existe une variété de services que les organisations sœurs basées en Afrique entreprennent pour répondre aux besoins de sécurité financière auxquels elles sont confrontées, bien que les deux exemples seulement ci-dessus aient été cités.

 

 

• • • Créations et innovations en matière de sécurité financière par des organisations sœurs basées en Afrique (Page 6)

 

La sécurité financière peut être créée et innovée.  C’est possible de créer et innover avec nos adhérent(e)s distant(e)s/lointain(e)s à travers leurs représentant(e)s.  C’est pourquoi nos organisations soeurs basées en Afrique travaillent avec des adhérent(e)s, leurs usagers, à travers de petits projets de création et d’innovation de securité financière.

Parmi ces petits projets ou programmes, on citer les suivants:

√ petits programmes pour prévenir les pertes d’argent

√ agir comme garantie du paiement des sommes dues par leurs bénéficiaires dans des circonstances définies

√ les aider à bien gérer les fonds formés en mettant périodiquement de l’argent de côté pour le remboursement progressif d’une dette ou le remplacement d’un actif gaspillé

√ le droit de tirage d’un montant limité sur l’instrument financier que l’organisation a mis en place

Etc.

A travers ces petits projets ou programmes, cela permettra de renforcer la solidité financière des pauvres et de leur permettre trouver ou retrouver le chemin de la sécurité financière.

 

• • • Survey, E-questionnaire and E-discussion on Financial Security (Page 7)

 

• • • • Financial Security Survey

 

The purpose of this survey is to collect information from a sample of our user households on their assets and liabilities in order to measure their liquidity ratio.  This benchmark measure will enable to determine their financial health.  Participation to this survey is voluntary.

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

 

√ How do you feel in terms of financial security?

√ How confident are you to cover any unexpected expenses?

√ Is your emergency/reserve fund enough for the next 3 months?

 

You can respond and directly send your answer to CENFACS.

To help people respond, they can think of any coping strategies to achieve the aim of financial security.  Coping strategies are defined by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the World Food Programme (8) as

“Activities to which people resort in order to obtain food, income and/or other essential goods or services when their normal means of livelihood have been disrupted or other shocks/hazards affect their access to basic needs” (p. 40).

These strategies can be crisis-, emergency- and livelihood-coping. 

You can refer to this definition and respond by putting it into the context of financial security.  Your response can help shape our campaign about Zero Income Deficit.

 

• • • • E-questionnaire on Actionable Financial Security Information

 

Do you have enough information on financial security?

 

If your answer is NO, CENFACS can work with you via its Bridging-Financial-Information-Gap Service (service which we offer to the community) to help you find the information you need on financial security.

 

 

 

• • • • E-discussion on Financial Skills, Diligence, Prudence, Foresight and Financial Poverty Reduction

 

To reduce financial poverty, it requires a degree of financial skills, diligence, prudence and foresight from the poor.

For those who may have any views or thoughts or even experience to share with regard to above-mentioned items (i.e., financial skills, diligence, prudence and foresight) making financial security, 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 Financial Security Matters (Page 8)

 

• • • • Ask CENFACS for Financial Security Support

 

Under CENFACS’ Advisory Support for the Impacted of the Cost-of-Living Crisis, you can ask for support to deal with the struggle you are having to meet rising costs of living.  CENFACS does not provide funding or financial support to individuals or households.  However, CENFACS can advise them on the existing support available on the market in terms of financial security.

 

• • • • Top Tool of the 77th Issue: Financial Security Index 

 

One can use this tool to measure their feelings concerning their financial security.  They can even explore further ways of using this tool so that they can navigate toward financial security.

To discuss the relevancy of this tool and its application for your personal financial circumstances, please contact CENFACS.

 

• • • • Information and Guidance on Financial Security

 

You can request from CENFACS a list of organisations and services providing help and support in the area of financial security, although the Issue does not list organisations and institutions that provide financial security cover.  Before making any request, one needs to specify the kind of organisations they are looking for.

Also, one should bear in mind that the kind of financial security we are dealing with is slightly different from the financial instruments or securities like shares, bonds, stocks, gilts, bills of exchange, treasury bills, etc.) issued by firms, financial institutions (e.g., pension funds, investment funds, banks and insurance companies) and government.

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

 

• • • Workshop, Focus Group and Enhancement Activity about Financial Security (Page 9)

 

• • • • Mini Workshop

 

Boost your knowledge and skills about financial security via CENFACS.

To enquire about the boost, please contact CENFACS.

 

• • • • Focus Group on Inequality in Financial Security

 

You can take part in our focus group on widening inequality in financial security since the cost-of-living crisis began.

To take part in the focus group, please contact CENFACS.

 

• • • • Summer Financial Security Enhancing Activity

 

How to use Financial Security Risk Index to work out your own household financial security risk

 

The index will help you find out your risk-aversion and vulnerability to rising costs of living and to work out your own sentiment towards your overall financial security.

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.

 

• • • • Financial Security Analysis Project (FSAP)

 

With prices of goods and services keep rising while people’s incomes and financial support not matching the level and scale of soaring cost of living, it is become obvious that many of our users are financially struggling.  They are financially struggling as their assets are below their liabilities.  In technical terms, they are financially insecure.

To address the level of insecurity and threat posed by financial insecurity to these struggling people, there is a need to develop appropriate response.

FSAP, which may not be a financial support in terms of cash or assets convertible into cash, can help to work with financial insecure people so that they can progressively navigate their way towards financial security.

For example, through this project we can carry out an express analysis of the financial security of our household users from their data.  The analysis will help to determine the financial position of a given household user of our project.  The analysis can provide some valuable information to potentially avoid financial poverty.  In this respect, FSAP will help to level up those who are looking for sustainable solutions to financial crisis they are facing.

To support or contribute to FSAP, please contact CENFACS.

For further details including the Financial Security Analysis Project, please contact CENFACS.

The full copy of the 77^th Issue of FACS is available on request.  For any queries and comments about this Issue, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

FACS Bilingual Newsletter / Issue Title: Financial Security for the Poor / Issue No.: 77 / Month & Year of Publication: October 2022 / Publisher: CENFACS

_________

 

• References

 

(1) https://mynextbird.com/how-to-preserve-dead-bird (Accessed in October 2022)

(2) datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/dwarf-honeyguide-indicator-pumilio/text (Accessed in October 2022)

(3) https://www.quicken.com/what-financial-security (Accessed in September 2022)

(4) https://www.capablewealth.com/find-financial-freedom-number/(Accessed in October 2022)

(5) https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/indexes/country_financial_security_index/country_financial_security_index (Accessed in October 2022)

(6) https://www.gloucester.anglican.org/support-service/financial-poverty/ (Accessed in October 2022)

(7) https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/factsheet/2022/05/02/fact-sheet-an-adjustment-to-global-poverty-lines (Accessed in October 2022)

(8) WFP and FAO, 2022, Hunger Hotspots, FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity: October 2022 to January 2023 Outlook, Rome (accessed in August 2022)

_________

 

• 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.

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 2022 and beyond.

With many thanks.