Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

04 May 2022

 

Post No. 246

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• May Stories – All in Development Stories: Stories of Building Forward Better from the Coronavirus Disaster and its Variants

• All in Development Story Telling Series 2022

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

 

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• May Stories – All in Development Stories:

Stories of Building Forward Better from the Coronavirus Disaster and its Variants

 

Story telling is our main content for the month of May.  It is the month and time of the year we dedicate ourselves to telling and sharing poverty relief and sustainable development stories.

 

• • Why do we tell and share stories? 

 

This is because in whatever we do to help reduce poverty and appeal for support to development process, there is always a story to tell and share from various places we intervene and from different individuals and communities or organisations involving in our work.

 

• • How do we tell and share these stories?

 

We do it through All in Development (AiD) Stories project, which is our storytelling project.  There is an explanation about this project that can be found under the Main Development section of this post.  Every year, there is a different theme for this storytelling project.

 

• • This year’s theme for AiD Stories project

 

This year, the theme for AiD Stories project will be about Stories of Building Forward Better from the Coronavirus Disaster and its Variants.

These stories will be…

a) about how people and communities are trying or have tried to build forward better from the coronavirus disaster and its variants

b) of

∝ restoration to original or near conditions

∝ recovery forward better cleaner, greener and safer

∝ transformation to cope with the new realities and post-coronavirus economy

∝ aligning poverty reduction work with long-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals

c) of human, physical, social, environmental, humanitarian and economic building forward better.

 

Entries for these May Stories were opened since last March when we announced the general theme of Spring Relief 2022, which is “Build Forward Better Together Cleaner, Greener and Safer”.  So far, some people have shown some interests.  For those who have not yet submitted or told us their stories, this is the month to do it.

 

• • Underlying principle of AiD Stories project

 

The principle of AiD Stories project is that it is about stories by volunteers or people who are giving their stories not for money or not being paid for their experience they had in relation to the story theme.  However, this principle does not stop anybody to provide a story even if what they are saying come from their paid position.

Besides this general principle, we have two criteria we would like to highlight about the theme of AiD Stories project for this year.

 

• • Criteria for the theme of AiD Stories project 2022

 

1st Criterion

For this year’s AiD Stories project, we are mainly interested in Stories of building forward better cleaner, greener and safer from the coronavirus disaster and its variants, as mentioned above.  They are the stories of those who hit rock bottom of poverty because of COVID-19 and are trying to bounce forward in a sustainable way.

 

2nd Criterion

We are registering people’s personal experiences of being or at risk of being left behind in the process of building forward from the coronavirus pandemic and its legacies.  This is important at this time since there is another crisis, which is the cost-of-living crisis.  There is a risk that people could be left behind in the process of building forward better because of the fight against the cost-of-living crisis.  That is why we would like also to hear those personal experiences.

To facilitate and organise ourselves in the way of telling these stories, we are going to do it through a series or programme or a timeline of scripts.  There is more information about this series below.

For more information on AiDS project and this year’s storytelling focus and scripts, please read under the Main Development section of this post.

To tell your story of change for change to CENFACS, please contact CENFACS for story telling terms and conditions.

 

 

 

• All in Development Story Telling Series 2022

 

The 2022 series of AiDS Telling Programme starts from the 4th of May 2022, every Wednesday afterwards and will last until the end of May 2022.  These series, which are part of May stories, are a timeline of scripts or a set of notes arranged in line to tell and share Stories of Building Forward Better from the Coronavirus Disaster and its Variants.

There is no single logic or model of organising a story.  We thought that to make it easier, our storytelling series will follow these four sequences:

 

(a) Restoration 

(b) Recovery and reset

(c) Transformation 

(d) Alignment

 

The four sequences are linked each other in a sequential way.

For further details about these sequences or timeline of AiD scripts, please continue to read under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

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

 

Stories can be told about people in need.  However, are these stories told on their behalf are real?  They could be; just they could not be.  It is better to listen to those in need tell and share their own stories, with their own words and numbers.  Stories (whether real or imaginary) told by them can convoy their real feelings, meanings and messages they want us to hear and know.  In this storytelling, we can assume they are telling the truth, not something else.

In these stories told and shared by those in need, they can tell not only what happened in their life, but also the things they have tried to come out poverty and hardships as well as what solutions or possible ways out of their problems.

So, during this month the 5th Activity/Task of our Knowledge (K) Year/Project will be about bridging knowledge gaps or having an understanding or grasp of the stories about those in need.  These stories could be told by someone else or preferably by those in need themselves telling their own stories.  It is a month of the following:

∝ What we really know about those in need

∝ What we do not know about them in terms of their problems.

 

These stories about them could be written or spoken descriptions of events of their life.  The stories in which we are interested are real.  Because what we want to know is real story, the reality of their life not fiction or imaginary.

For example, one way of knowing their real stories could be through the stories of how they (those in need) spend their time.

This is our Activity/Task 5 of the Knowledge (K) Year/Project, which consists of Knowing the Real Stories of People in Need.    This task can be undertaken by those members of our community who are interested in it.

To work with us via this Activity/Task 5, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Spring Energy Security Activity: Knowing your Energy Security Risk Level

 

Following on some of the announcements and advertisements made on the page 9 of the 75th Issue of FACS newsletter, we are working on how to use the Energy Security Risk Index in order to measure Energy Security Risk Level for households making our community. 

Indeed, the Energy Security Risk Index as it is designed today is an international macroeconomic metrics.  This metrics can be customised and be used at the level of individuals and households.

Before explaining what activity is about, let us try to understand energy security risk and energy security risk index.

 

• • What is energy security risk index?

 

The European Commission (1) defines energy security as

“The uninterrupted physical availability of energy products on the market at a price which is affordable for all consumers (private and industrial), while respecting environmental concerns and looking towards sustainable development, whereby it considers availability and accessibility of supply, economic affordability and environmental sustainability, to be basic dimensions.”

This definition will be used when carrying out Spring Energy Security Activity on Knowing your Energy Security Risk Level.  From this definition, we can try to understand the risk associated to energy security.

To understand energy security risk, we are referring to the argument of the Global Energy Institute on this matter.  The Global Energy Institute (2) argues that:

“The International Energy Security Risk […] uses quantifiable data, historical trend information and government projects to identify the policies and other factors that contribute positively or negatively to international energy security”.

To measure this risk, the Global Energy Institute (op. cit.) uses an international energy security risk index, which it contends that

“The index is made up of 37 different measures of energy security risk in nine categories: global fuels; fuel imports; energy expenditures; price and market volatility; energy use-intensity; electric power sector; transportation sector; environmental sector; and basic science and energy research and development”.

This index can help to assess the risk associated to people’s vulnerability to the upheavals of the global energy market.  It can assist in supporting those who need to know their energy security level, especially those members of our community experiencing energy security problems.

 

• • What we can do together with energy insecure users

 

We can undertake the following sub-activities with them:

 

√ Conducting their energy security risk assessment or analysis

√ Checking the exposure of their household financial statements (i.e. balance sheet, cash flow statements/projections, etc.) to energy security risk

√ Reflecting this risk on the state of their finances and household financial wellbeing 

√ Establishing the degree of risk (i.e. high or medium or low) on their household assets and liabilities

√ Exploring together necessary steps (in the form of energy security action plan) they need to take to tackle or address their energy security risk.

 

As a result of these sub-activities, we will be able together to…

 

√ Calculate your/their energy expenditure intensity

√ Write energy budget responsive to energy price and market volatilities

√ Work out your/their energy use intensity (e.g. energy consumption) which can indicate whether or not user is energy poor or deprived

√ Above all, determine your/their energy security risk score.

 

For those members of our community who may be interested in knowing their energy security risk level/score as well as remedial actions to tackle any unmanageable high level of this risk, they are welcome to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Have your Say on your Energy Security Status

 

Building on the theme of energy security covered in the 75th Issue of FACS, we are asking those who can to share with CENFACS their experience about how they are coping with rising prices of energy.  We are asking the following question:

 

How are these Spring rises in energy prices affecting their energy security status?

 

They can simply tick the following where appropriate.

 

They can as well try to be more expressive by explaining how these rises are affecting them.  They can e-mail or text or phone or even complete the contact form to express their feelings on the matter.

 

 

 

• Be.Africa Discusses Battery Development and Poverty Reduction in Africa

 

Following the launch of the Centre of Excellence for Advanced Battery Research in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on 22 April 2022, CENFACS‘ be.Africa is discussing the future possible impact of this Centre on poverty reduction in the DRC and in Africa.  One of the areas of this discussion is that battery skills development could be a niche for poverty reduction in the DRC and in Africa.

Indeed, producing electric batteries for electric cars requires science, technology, innovation and skills.  Beyond this feasibility study requirements, there are other externalities that may need to be considered such as environmental, developmental and social.  Besides these requirements, there are also expectations and outcomes in terms of what this kind of development (e.g. battery skills development) can generate as opportunities not only for businesses but also for local communities and populations, especially those living in poverty.

As CENFACS works with local people to develop sustainable initiatives to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development, our discussion will be on the opportunity in terms of poverty reduction; that is, the impact of battery development on poverty reduction in DRC and in Africa.

For those who may be interested in this discussion, they can let CENFACS know what they think.  To contribute or engage with the discussion on the Impact of Battery Development on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development in Africa, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

Histoires de mai  dans le cadre du projet ‘Tous dans le développement’:

Histoires de construire mieux à partir de la catastrophe du coronavirus et de ses variantes

La narration est notre contenu principal pour le mois de mai.  C’est le mois et la période de l’année où nous nous consacrons à raconter et à partager des histoires de lutte contre la pauvreté et de développement durable.

Nous racontons des histoires à travers le projet ‘Tous dans le développement‘, qui est notre projet de narration.

Cette année, le thème du projet ‘Tous dans le développement‘ portera sur les histoires de construire mieux à partir de la catastrophe du coronavirus et de ses variantes.

Ces histoires seront…

a) sur la façon dont les gens et les communautés essaient ou ont essayé de mieux faire avancer à partir de la catastrophe du coronavirus et ses variantes

b) celles de…

∝ la restauration dans les conditions d’origine ou proches

∝ la reprise en avant, plus propre, plus verte et plus sûre

∝ transformation pour faire face aux nouvelles réalités et à l’économie post-coronavirus

∝ l’alignement des travaux de réduction de la pauvreté sur les objectifs à long terme de réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre

c) mieux construire vers l’avant humainement, naturellement, physiquement, socialement, environnementalement, humanitairement et économiquement.

Les inscriptions pour ces histoires de mai ont été ouvertes depuis mars dernier, lorsque nous avons annoncé le thème général de Printemps 2022, qui est « Construire mieux ensemble plus propre, plus vert et plus sûr ».

Jusqu’à présent, certaines personnes ont montré certains intérêts.  Pour ceux ou celles qui n’ont pas encore soumis ou ne nous ont pas raconté leurs histoires, c’est le mois pour le faire.

Pour plus d’informations sur le projet ‘Tous dans le développement‘ ainsi que sur l’accent et les scripts de narration de cette année, veuillez contacter le CENFACS.

Pour raconter votre histoire de changement à CENFACS, veuillez aussi contacter CENFACS pour les termes et conditions de narration.

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• May Stories – All in Development Stories:

Stories of Building Forward Better from the Coronavirus Disaster and its Variants

 

• • What is ALL in DEVELOPMENT STORIES project?

 

All in Development STORIES (AiDS) is a life story developing, telling, sharing and learning project set up by CENFACS in 2009 in order to give opportunities to volunteers, interns and other development supporters and enthusiasts to inspire others and spread the good news and will of better change to the community.  The project, which is run during the month of May, has four dimensions as follows:

 

√ AiDS is a telling and sharing story

 

It is about telling and sharing with us your experience and achievements made in the fields of local (UK) and International (Africa) developments.

 

√ AiDS is a learning and development process

 

It is also about learning from volunteers and interns how they improved their own life, changed deprived lives and reached out to the needy communities.  After learning, one can try to develop strengths and better practices to solve problems.

 

√ AiDS is an inspirational and motivational support network

 

After all, the project seeks to inspire and motivate others on the road of change for change; especially for those who might prepare and use their summer break or any other occasions to take up volunteering and or internship roles and positions.

 

√ AiDS finally is a state-of-the-art project 

 

It is the art of poverty relief telling story that enables us to get up-to-date information, knowledge and thinking in the fields of poverty reduction and sustainable development from those who went on the grounds to learn and experience real-life development works.  They return with volunteering stories to tell and share.  As the National Storytelling Network (3) puts it in these terms:

“Storytelling is the interactive art of using words and actions to reveal the elements and images of a story while encouraging the listener’s imagination”.

This year’s storytelling and sharing will be about Stories of Building Forward Better from the Coronavirus Disaster and its Variants.

 

• • May 2022 STORIES: Stories of Building Forward Better from the Coronavirus Disaster and its Variants

 

• • • What are Stories of Building Forward Better?

 

They are the sequencing tales of effectively moving towards long term recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and its variants, and achieving tangible sustainable outcomes.  They are also the accounts of preserving natural resources and capacities in this building process in order to revitalise life in the current context of cost-of-living crisis.  These stories will be presented via AiD Story Telling programme.

We are running 4 series of AiD Story Telling programme during this month of May, programme that will revolve around the process of building forward better from COVID-19 and its variants.

For those who want to tell their stories of Restoration, Recovery and reset, Post-COVID-19 Transformation, and Green Alignment; they can choose among the following sequences to tell their stories.

 

 

 

• • Types of 2022 Stories and Story Telling Series

 

AiD Story Telling Series: Starting on 04/05/2022 and after every Wednesday until the end of May 2022.

 

The following series or sequences have been planned for this month of storytelling (May Stories) relating to post-COVID-19 economic development.

 

# Serial 1: From Wednesday 04/05/2022: Stories of Restoration

 

These are the stories of giving back to original or near conditions what the coronavirus destroyed.  It could also be returning lives and things to a former and high status.

 

# Serial 2: From Wednesday 11/05/2022: Stories of Recovery and Reset forward better cleaner, greener and safer

 

These are the tales of regaining a better condition (that’s good health, former economic situation, etc.), of emotional, social, economic and physical well-being from the life-threatening and –destroying impacts of the coronavirus and its variants.  This regaining needs to be done cleaner, greener and safer.

 

# Serial 3: From Wednesday 18/05/2022: Stories of Post-COVID-19 Transformation

 

These are accounts of dramatically changing the appearance, nature, or function of what the coronavirus and its variants destroyed.  The coronavirus may have completely changed people’s lives from the way they were before.  We would like to hear these stories of complete change.

 

# Serial 4: Week beginning 26/05/2022: Stories of Green Alignment

 

They are the experiences or anecdotes of building forward better while  making sure that this building process or move stays within the 1.5ᵒ C trajectory as proscribed by the Paris Agreement goal (4) of keeping the global temperature increase to well below 2ᵒ C and pursuing efforts to keep it to 1.5ᵒ C.  Stories are green and sustainably aligned as they reflect the climate need and agenda of meeting the greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and targets.

 

• • Add-on to CENFACS’ May 2022 Stories: Stories of Those At Risk of Left Behind and of Coping with the Cost-of-living Crisis

 

# Stories of Those At Risk of Being Left Behind Build Forward Better from the Coronavirus Disaster and its Variants

 

There are people and / or members of our community who have been accidentally left behind in the process of building forward better from the coronavirus disaster and variants.  We would like to hear the narratives of these people and community members so that advocacy can be stepped up to do something about their situation.

Anyone who has the stories of being left behind, they should not hesitate to tell and share it with us.

 

# Stories of Coping with the Cost-of-living Crisis

 

As a second addition, we would like to consider Stories of Coping with the Cost-of-living Crisis.  In particular, we would like to hear tales of how the cost-of-living crisis is jeopardising the process of building forward better together greener, cleaner and safer.

Those who have these second-addition stories, they can contact CENFACS to submit their stories.

 

• • Nature-based Solutions inside your Stories of Building Forward Better from the Coronavirus Disaster and its Variants

 

There are many solutions or recipes in order to build forward from the coronavirus disaster and its variants.  In the context of AiD Stories, we would like to hear stories of building forward better using nature-based solutions.  What do we mean by nature-based solutions?

There are many ways of defining nature-based solutions.  The EU Commission (5) defines nature-based solutions as

“Solutions that are inspired and supported by nature, which are cost-effective, simultaneously provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help build resilience. Such solutions bring more, and more diverse, nature and natural features and processes into cities, landscapes and seascapes, through locally adapted, resource-efficient and systemic interventions”.

For those who would like to tell or submit their stories, it will be a good idea to bring out storying aspects of nature-based solutions making part of their stories.

 

 

 

• • Serial 1: From Wednesday 04/05/2022: Stories of Restoration

 

To approach this first serial, let us understand the stories of restoration and lay down the kinds of stories that can be told and shared with us.

 

• • • What are Stories of Restoration?

 

They are the tales of returning lives and things to their original condition or early good condition or improved condition.  The coronavirus and its variants may have threatened and destroyed lives and things.  The stories of restoration help to inform our story readers and listeners how we have been able to revive, re-establish and renovate lives and things.  They will elucidate the transition process to the final restoration products by the restorers or those who help in the restoration work.

 

• • • Kinds of Stories of Restoration

 

These are the tales of what, when, where, why, who and how to restore lives.  These stories connect restoration work, restorers and restoration beneficiaries.  Then, what are those stories?

 

They are…

 

√ transition stories leading to restoration stories 

√ the fables, written or spoken, made of words, voices and tones of restoration

√ the storytelling infographics of restoration

√ the anecdotes of building and developing relationships between those in need of restoration and those who help in restoration process and work

√ the tales of those who carried out restoration (restorers) to self-build or build forward better

√ the accounts of those who implement restoration (restoration implementors)

√ the stories of restorative economy as it is portrayed by Tearfund.org (6); that is the stories of restoring the balance in creation, of reducing inequalities and of leaving no-one behind. 

 

• • • Examples in a restoration story 

 

When explaining restoration stories, it is better for the storytellers to provide specific examples about or in their stories.  Exemplifying your story is important since we are talking about real-life stories not imaginary or fiction stories.  Also, because we are interested in stories of poverty reduction and sustainable development, the storytellers need to highlight aspects or ramifications of their story to poverty reduction.

To donate, tell and share your storying gift of restoration, please contact CENFACS.

 

• • Further information about May 2022 Stories

 

• • •  2022 Story Areas of Interest

 

We normally take stories that cover any areas of poverty reduction and local and international sustainable developments.

 

• • •  Contexts of Stories

 

Stories could come from any level of project/programme cycle (i.e. planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and review) as long as it is to do with poverty reduction and sustainable development.

They could also be a result of research and field work activities or studies.

They could finally be an experience of everyday life.

  

• • •  Call for 2022 Entries 

 

As said above, the 2022 Edition of AiDS has already kicked off.  For those who want to enter their stories of life renewal, please note you are welcome to do so.

Just read below the annotated timetable for story submission and CENFACS’ storytelling terms and conditions.

We await your responses to our call.

 

• • •  Annotated Timetable for Story Submission in 2022

 

# Start of online (e-mail) and paper-based submission (01/05/2022)

# Story submission deadline (31/05/2022)

# Notification of receipt/acceptance (by 17/06/2022)

# Submission of revised stories (01 to 31/05/2022)

 

• • • Storytelling Check List

 

Before submitting, please check that your story meets the following:

√ Relatable

√ Relevant

√ Engaging

√ Poverty-relieving

 

• • •  CENFACS Story Telling & Sharing Terms

 

To tell and/or share your May story, please let us know the following:

 

√ who you are

√ where and when your experience took place 

√ and of course the story itself.

 

You could also

√ text

√ twit 

√ send some forms of supporting materials/resources to back up your story.

Should you wish not to be name, please let us know your decision.

Please see below our story telling, sharing and learning terms.

 

• • • CENFACS story telling, sharing and learning terms:

 

1) We welcome both told and untold stories

2) Inside, witness, news, behind the scenes and case stories are eligible

3) We only take real life stories, not fiction stories or fake news

4) Tell true and evidence-based stories only, not lies

5) If possible, back up your stories with facts and data (numerical or textual or even infographics)

6) Mention location, dates and names of events in the story

7) We accept photos, images, pictures, videos, info-graphic materials, audios and other forms of resources (e.g. digital or e- technologies) to support, capture and communicate the impact of your story

8) Plagiarism, prohibited, offensive, violation of copyrights and unlawful/illegal materials are not accepted

9) Hacking, flaming, spamming, scamming, ransom ware, phishing and trolling practices are not accepted as well

10) We greatly consider stories highlighting nature-based solutions to poverty and hardships.

For further clarification, contact CENFACS.

 

Tell and share your story of change for change by communicating the impact you make!

CENFACS is looking forward to engaging with you through your story.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to CENFACS at facs@cenfacs.org.uk.

_________

 

• References

 

(1) European Commission, (2000), Towards a European Strategy for the Security of Energy Supply; Office for Official Publications of the European Communities: Luxembourg.

(2)  https://www.globalenergyinstitute.org/sites/default/files/2020-10/024036% (accessed in April 2022)

(3) https://storynet.org/what-is-storytelling/ (accessed in May 2022)

(4) https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/ (accessed in May 2022)

(5) https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/research-area/environment/nature-based-solutions_en (accessed in May 2022)

(6) https://www.tearfund.org/-/media/files/action-resources/rubbish-campaign-resources/restoration-story-booklet.pdf (accessed in May 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 consider a recurring donation to CENFACS in the future or as a New Year resolution.

Donate to support CENFACS!

FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO :Support Causes – (cenfacs.org.uk)

Thank you for visiting CENFACS website and reading this post.

Thank you as well to those who made or make comments about our weekly posts.

We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support throughout 2022 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

27 April 2022

 

Post No. 245

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• FACS, Issue No. 75, Spring 2022: Energy Security for Those in Most Need

• Protection Key Note 4 for Week Beginning 25/04/2022: Protection against the Cost-of-Living Crisis

• CENFACS’ Cube of Protection against Coronavirus: Evaluation for Learning and Development

 

… And much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• FACS, Issue No. 75, Spring 2022: Energy Security for Those in Most Need

 

The 75^th Issue of FACS, CENFACS’ bilingual newsletter, which deals with the problem of available energy sources (that is; materials producing energy) at an affordable price and without interruption, approaches energy security from the perspective of small-scale local development that directly benefit individual households and small communities, especially in rural and sub-urban areas.  From this perspective, the 75^th Issue does not deal with energy security at national level although it may sometimes appeal to macroeconomic concepts of energy security.

The 75^th Issue refers to the multidimensional energy poverty index in order to get a good understanding of the energy security problems faced by those in most need.  It also uses the international energy security risk index to measure and understand the vulnerability of energy poor to the upheavals and shocks of the global energy market.

The 75^th Issue considers the constraints of interstate fracture of economic and trade relations brought by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and how these frictional relations could impact the energy security of the poor.  In this respect, it takes into account the geopolitics of energy security and its impact on the energy poor.

The 75^th Issue highlights the political and economic interests of energy actors within Africa, and how their interests impact energy poverty reduction in Africa.

The 75^th Issue does not only discuss the energy security dimensions of those in most need.  It as well offers  ways of working with them, especially CENFACS‘ users and Africa-based Sister Organisations; so that together we can develop solutions to energy security or poverty for those in most need within the CENFACS Community and the communities that our Africa-based Sister Organisations serve.

In those ways of working together, the 75^th Issue proposes nature-based solutions to energy security problems as way of aligning to net zero carbon development.  As such, the 75^th Issue provides a better insight and is a good starting point in the direction of building forward better together greener, cleaner and safer from the legacies of the current energy crisis.

Like any newsletter, the 75^th Issue finally provides information about what is happening inside and around CENFACS, updates about our ongoing projects and forthcoming events.

To get to grips with energy security issues raised in the 75^th Issue, please read the key summaries under the Main Development section of this Blog post.

 

 

 

• Protection Key Note 4 for Week Beginning 25/04/2022: Protection against the Cost-of-Living Crisis

 

We started our Month of Protection with Protection in the Context of Rising Cost of Living, because of what has been happening with the prices of energy, food, transport, shelter, etc.  The prices of these necessities of life have gone up to leading to what one may call the cost-of-living crisis.  Now, our Month of Protection has reached its last note, let us call back what we argued about the cost of living and the crisis relating to it.

 

• • What is the cost-of-living?  What is the cost-of-living crisis?

 

• • • What is the cost-of-living?

 

According to the ‘ecnmy.org’ (1) website,

“The cost of living is a measure of how much money it costs to live a fairly average quality of life.  Economists measure the cost of living by looking at different cities or countries and adding up the prices of the goods that people need to live an average life – food, housing, transport, energy and healthcare and taxes.  They then look to see where prices are on the whole are the most expensive”.

For example,  the website ‘expatistan.com’ (2) provides calculation for the cost of living.  As of April 2022, it has estimated that the cost of living in London (UK) for a family of four estimated monthly costs is £4,924, whereas the cost of living in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) for the same family is 8,356,870 Congolese Franc.  According to the same website, the cost of living in London (United Kingdom) is 75% more expensive than in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo).

If this cost of living goes up as it is the case now and people’s income does not increase to match it, then there could be a cost-of-living crisis.

 

• • • What is the cost-of-living crisis?

 

The Institute for Government (3) defines the cost of living crisis as

“The fall in real incomes (that is, adjusted for inflation and tax) that the UK has experienced since late 2021.  It is being caused by a combination of high inflation outstripping wage increases and upcoming tax increases that have squeezed incomes for many households”.

In these circumstances, there is a need of protection to help and support those who are failing to meet the rise in the cost of living.  To support and work with those members of the CENFACS’ Community who are failing to meet their cost of living, we have identified some areas of protection work with them.

 

• • Ways in which CENFACS can work with the community to protect it from the cost-of-living crisis

 

There is a number of ways in which CENFACS can work with the community to enhance protection against the cost-of-living crisis.  One of these ways is through our newly designed the Hexagon of Protection.

 

 

• • • What is CENFACS’ Hexagon of Protection?

 

It is a 2 dimensional project or model of working together that tackles poverty linked to the high cost of living or cost-of-living crisis.  The model considers the cost of living indexes which include expenses such as those on food, shelter, transportation, energy, clothing, healthcare and childcare, etc.   The model helps to alleviate the high cost of living that can settle in the long term.

The model complements what we said last week about Advisory Support for the Impacted of the Cost-of-Living Crisis.  This model is used when a user approaches us for support against the cost-of-living crisis.

For those who are looking for support against the cost-of-living crisis, CENFACS is ready to help, provided their need or demand of protection falls within the scope of the service we can provide on this matter.  Where our  capacity is limited, we can refer or signpost them to relevant services and organisations to deal with their problems.

The above is our Protection Key Note 4.  For any further details about Protection against the Cost-of-living Crisis and CENFACS’ Month of Protection, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• CENFACS’ Cube of Protection against Coronavirus: Evaluation for Learning and Development

 

• • What is CENFACS’ Cube of Protection against the Coronavirus?

 

CENFACS’ Cube of Protection against the Coronavirus (4) is a cuboidal system that enables us to defend ourselves and the community against harms, dangers, threats and risks from the coronavirus and its associated health and socio-economic impacts.  This cube, which was set on 15 April 2020 to enable us to fight the coronavirus, brings together coronavirus-related initiatives that are intended to help poor, vulnerable people and incapacitated Africa-based organisations.  This cube is now under evaluation.

 

• • Evaluation: What are the Lessons and Experiences from this Cube?

 

We are currently evaluating this Cube of Protection and looking into what lessons and experiences we can draw from its use.  The evaluation will help to know if our response has been appropriate.  In particular, we are assessing how helpful and relevant it has been in the fight against the coronavirus.  We are doing this evaluation since we now are in the phase of ‘Living with COVID-19’ in England and most COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.

In this study on the lessons and experiences about the Cube of Protection, we would like those of our members who have been able to use the cube and or its sub-cubes, to tell us what they think.

To tell your experience or join this evaluation activity about the lessons and experiences about the Cub of Protection, please contact CENFACS.

 

Extra Messages

 

• Coming in May 2022: Volunteering Stories of Building Forward Better from the COVID-19 Disaster

 

This year’s All in Development Stories will be about how people and communities are trying or have tried to build forward better from the coronavirus disaster and its variants.

This year’s stories are those of:

 

∝ restoration to original or near conditions

∝ recovery forward better cleaner, greener and safer

∝ transformation to cope with the new realities and post-coronavirus economy

∝ aligning poverty reduction work with long-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.

 

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

Besides that, we would like to consider stories of coping with the cost-of-living crisis.  In particular, we would like to hear tales of how the cost-of-living crisis is jeopardising the process of building forward better together greener, cleaner and safer.

For further details including the agenda for this year’s May Stories, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Fundraising while Gaming for Poverty Reduction

 

For those who are playing the CENFACS Poverty Relief League, they can use the opportunity of playing to introduce a giving feature in their game.  They can ask those who are involved in the game with them to support good causes in African countries making part of their fixtures and tables.  In this way, they can help revolutionise the game with a fundraising element while entertaining through the game with or without others. 

They can as well journal if they are writing a  Journal of Poverty Relief League. The journal will help them to capture the moments of their game via expressive writing and story.  It can have other benefits such as setting goals, tracking or measuring your progress on the game, recording and celebrating achievements and gaining both general and specific perspectives of their game.

However, they must remember that the aim of the CENFACS’ League of Poverty Relief is to help African countries reduce poverty by finding out the best performer amongst them in terms of poverty reduction.  The aim of this league is not to raise money.

For those who may be having or are experienced some problems in installing a fundraising feature in the game, they can speak to CENFACS.

Please remember that CENFACS’ League of Poverty Relief is the world’s only league without relegation.  Those countries that do not perform well in terms of poverty reduction get help, not a punishment.

To discuss your progress in the game, the fundraising feature in the game or any other issues relating to All Year Round Projects (Triple Value Initiatives), please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Protection of Children Victims of the Cost-of-living Crisis

 

From 2019 until now, the world has been battling against COVID-19 crisis.  Now, we have another crisis, which is the cost-of-living crisis.  The two crises are standing on the way of realising sustainable development goals and of achieving protection goals for children.

As part of the Month of Protection, we are as well looking at what can be done in terms of protection to reduce or nullify the cyclical impact of the current cost-of-living crisis on children’s protection.  The coronavirus crisis has led us to speak about the ‘Pandemial Generation‘.  The “Pandemial Generation” or “Pandemials” are defined by the economist Federico Dominguez (5) as

“those young people who are entering the world of work along with the coronavirus crisis”.

So, the children generation of the sustainable development goals (that is, children born between 2015 and 2030 during the life time of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) could one day become the “Pandemial Generation” because of the long lasting legacies of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, there is no need to label children victims of the current cost-of-living crisis.  Instead of labelling them, it is better to explore and identify solutions that can help them for not to be the victims of another crisis like the cost-of-living crisis.  CENFACS’ Reflection Day (to be held on 27/04/2022) will go in depth by reflecting on what can be done to shield these children from the cost-of-living crisis.

For those who would like to work with us on this matter of Protection of Children Victims of the Cost-of-living Crisis or share their ideas with us, they are welcome to contact CENFACS.

 

Vient de paraître:

 

FACS, numéro 75, printemps 2022 : La sécurité énergétique pour ceux ou celles qui en ont le plus besoin

Le 75e numéro de FACS, le bulletin bilingue du CENFACS, qui traite du problème des sources d’énergie disponibles (c’est-à-dire des matériaux produisant de l’énergie) à un prix abordable et sans interruption, aborde la sécurité énergétique du point de vue du développement local à petite échelle qui profite directement aux ménages individuels et aux petites communautés, en particulier dans les zones rurales et suburbaines.  De ce point de vue, le 75e numéro ne traite pas de la sécurité énergétique au niveau national, bien qu’il puisse parfois faire appel à des concepts macroéconomiques de sécurité énergétique.

Le 75e numéro fait référence à l’indice multidimensionnel de précarité ou pauvreté énergétique afin de bien comprendre les problèmes de sécurité énergétique auxquels sont confrontés ceux ou celles qui en ont le plus besoin.  Il utilise également l’indice international des risques pour la sécurité énergétique pour mesurer et comprendre la vulnérabilité des pauvres en énergie aux bouleversements et aux chocs du marché mondial de l’énergie.

Le 75e numéro examine les contraintes de la fracture interétatique des relations économiques et commerciales provoquée par le conflit russo-ukrainien, et comment ces relations frictionnelles pourraient avoir un impact sur la sécurité énergétique des pauvres.  À cet égard, il examine la géopolitique de la sécurité énergétique et son impact sur les précarités énergétiques.

Le 75e numéro met en lumière les intérêts politiques et économiques des acteurs de l’énergie en Afrique et l’impact plus ou moins négatif de leurs intérêts sur la réduction de la pauvreté énergétique en Afrique.

Dans la présentation de l’analyse de la sécurité énergétique, le 75e numéro n’épargne pas l’économie politique des grands acteurs sur le marché de l’énergie contre les populations locales pauvres en énergie.  Parmi ces populations se trouvent des personnes avec lesqulles le CENFACS travaille.

Le 75e numéro ne traite pas seulement des dimensions de la sécurité énergétique de ceux ou celles qui en ont le plus besoin.  Il offre également des moyens de travailler avec eux/elles, en particulier les utilisateurs/utilisatrices  du CENFACS et les organisations sœurs basées en Afrique; afin qu’ensemble, nous puissions trouver des solutions à la sécurité énergétique pour ceux ou celles qui en ont le plus besoin au sein de la communauté CENFACS et des communautés desservies par nos organisations sœurs basées en Afrique.

Dans ces façons de travailler ensemble, le 75e numéro propose des solutions fondées sur la nature aux problèmes de sécurité énergétique comme moyen de s’aligner sur un développement net zéro carbone.  En tant que tel, le 75e numéro fournit un meilleur aperçu et un bon point de départ dans la direction de construire mieux ensemble plus vert, plus propre et plus sûr des effets parfois douloureux de la crise énergétique actuelle.

Pour vous familiariser avec les questions de sécurité énergétique soulevées dans le 75e numéro, veuillez contacter le CENFACS pour une copie de ce numéro.

 

 

Main Development

 

• FACS, Issue No. 75, Spring 2022: Energy Security for Those in Most Need

 

The contents and key summaries of the 75^th Issue of FACS are given below.

 

• • Contents and Pages

 

∝ Key energy concepts (Page 2)

∝ Russia-Ukraine conflict as a factor of energy insecurity for those in most need (Page 2)

∝ De-weaponization of energy to increase energy security outcomes for those in most need (Page 3)

∝ Energy as a an economic, environmental and social security for those in most need (Page 3)

∝ Africa-based Sister Organisations enhancing energy security for those in most need in Africa (Page 4)

∝ Africa-based Sister Organisations working with locals in most need to address energy insecurity in Africa (Page 4)

∝ Ce que les organisations africaines peuvent faire pour que les conséquences des hausess de prix énergétiques ne s’installent pas dans la durée au sein de leurs usagers (Page 5)

∝ Que peut-on faire pour que la crise énergétique ne fragilise pas les budgets de ménages en Afrique? (Page 5)

∝ Comment on peut éviter la pauvreté induite par l’insécurité énergétique au sein des populations locales en Afrique (Page 6)

∝ Sortir des conséquences directes de la flambée des prix énergétiques sur la sécurité énergétique en Afrique (Page 6)

∝ Africa-based Sister Organisations keeping energy security for their locals in most need during critical situations (Page 7)

∝ The dilemma between natural resources security by multinational corporations and energy security for those in most need in Africa (Page 7)

∝ International energy geopolitics and energy security for those in need in Africa (Page 8)

∝ Political economy analysis, energy security analysis and poverty reduction in Africa (Page 8)

∝ Say, Question, Support, Workshop, Top Tool, Information and Guidance, Activity and Giving (Page 9)

∝ Energy Security Project (Page 10)

 

• • Key Summaries

 

Please find below the key summaries of the 75^th Issue of FACS from page 2 to page 10.

 

• • • Key Energy Concepts (Page 2)

 

There are three concepts that will help the readers of FACS to better understand the contents of the 75th Issue.  These concepts are:  energy security, multidimensional energy poverty index and energy security risk index.

Let us briefly explain each of them.

 

• • • • Energy security

 

Energy security can be defined in many ways.  In the context of the 75th Issue, we are referring to what the International Energy Agency (6) argued.  The latter defines energy security as

“The uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price”.

The same International Energy Agency argues that

“Energy security has many aspects: long term energy security mainly deals with timely investments to supply energy in line with economic development and environmental needs.  On the other hand, short term energy security focuses on the ability of the energy system to react promptly to sudden changes in the supply-demand balance”.

In this 75th Issue, we have contextualised this concept of energy security by bringing it closer to energy insecure people, amongst them are our users and some of the local people with whom our Africa-based Sister Organisations work.

 

• • • • Multidimensional energy poverty index

 

When dealing with people experiencing energy insecurity, to better understand their experience one may need to bring in energy poverty.  And energy poverty has multiple facets or dimensions.  These facets or dimensions can be measured using metrics.  One of the metrics is multidimensional energy poverty index.  What is multidimensional energy poverty index (MEPI)?

According the website ‘tandfonline’ (7),

“Multidimensional energy poverty index, which consists of three broad categories of energy use (that is; lighting, cooking and additional measures), is calculated to formulate the energy security status of households” (p. 303)

The metrics of MEPI will be used in the 75th Issue to understand the energy security status of households making the CENFACS Community and the communities that our Africa-based Sister Organisations work with.

 

• •  • •  Energy security risk index

 

This index helps to assess the risk associated to people’s vulnerability to the upheavals of the global energy market.  To measure this risk, the Global Energy Institute (8) argues about an international energy security risk index.  According to the Global Energy Institute,

“The index is made up of 37 different measures of energy security risk in nine categories: global fuels; fuel imports; energy expenditures; price and market volatility; energy use-intensity; electric power sector; transportation sector; environmental sector; and basic science and energy research and development”.

The energy security risk index will be used to assess the vulnerability of those in most need in our community to the upheavals of the global energy market.

 

• •  • Russia-Ukraine Conflict as a factor of energy insecurity for those in most need (Page 2)

 

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has so far negatively impacted the energy security of those in most need, including those living in Africa.  Referring to this impact, Katie Auth and Todd Moss (9) argue the following:

“…In many African countries, the price of oil … has enormous impacts on electricity generation.  In West Africa, diesel generators account for more than 40 percent [PDF] of total electricity consumed; Senegal currently relies on oil for half its electricity generation.  This has enormous economic impacts: as fuel prices soar across the continent, businesses in countries like Nigeria – which has seen the cost of diesel increase by more than 200 percent – are struggling to stay afloat.  The rising cost of natural gas also makes utility-scale electricity generation much more expensive in markets like Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, and Nigeria”.

So, like in any conflicts or crises, it is always the poor (here the energy poor) who bear the brunt of this energy crisis or insecurity.

 

• • • De-weaponization of energy to increase energy security outcomes for those in most need (Page 3)

 

Using energy as a security weapon can adversely impact those in most need.  To highlight this adversity, Todd Royal (10) points out this:

“Since oil, natural gas, and coal are now intertwined with geopolitics, international relations, foreign policy, realist balancing that pits nation against nation, and macroeconomic monetary policy, energy and electricity are now coupled with national security.  Russia and Iran use fossil fuel, nuclear power plants, and renewable energy as weapons – hence the term the weaponization of energy”

Although Todd Royal uses the example of Russia and Iran, it could be another country or locality of the world.  Whoever weaponizes energy, this weaponization can be at the detriment of the energy security outcomes for those in most need of energy.  This is why there could be a need to de-weaponize energy to improve energy security for the poor.

 

 

• • • Energy as a an economic, environmental and social security for those in most need (Page 3)

 

a) Energy as an economic security means that scarce energy resources can be allocated to meet unlimited needs of those in need.  As Jiangquan et al. (11) put it:

“Energy economic security is described as a state in which energy supply can meet the energy demand of economic development, energy resources can be reasonably allocated and effectively utilised, sustainable development of energy assets can be fully considered, and regional and intergenerational equity of energy resources allocation can be guaranteed”.

 

b) Energy as an environmental security relates to the quality of life for those in most need as human beings and for other organisms (like plants and animals).  It is also about how human beings use natural resources to produce energy for their own needs.  In other words, human beings should not deplete or cause environmental insecurity through the process of exploiting natural resources to secure energy.

 

c) Energy as a social security means that energy is provided for the welfare and wellbeing of people in society.  In this respect, energy can help to live with others as friends, families and community.  Energy can assist in reducing poverty linked to loneliness or solitary.  It could be finally a system in which members of the community pay into a common energy fund to buy energy and share the cost of having energy.  If you are in most need and cannot afford pay by yourself energy, energy as a social security could be an option for you.

These three attributes of energy can be used to work with those in need in our community so that they can have the security of their energy.

 

 

• • • Africa-based Sister Organisations enhancing energy security for those in most need in Africa (Page 4)

 

Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) are working in a number of initiatives and activities to support their locals in most need secure energy.  These initiatives and or activities include the following:

 

√ Raising awareness and increasing people’s access to modern cooking fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas, kerosene, biogas and ethanol gel fuel

√ Reduction of dependence on biomass

√ Distribution of cookstoves

√ Promotion of cookstoves that burn biomass more efficiently (i.e. clean-burning stoves)

Etc.

 

These initiatives and activities can help them to secure continuous availability of energy in varied forms, in the quantities they need, and at reasonable prices.

 

• • • Africa-based Sister Organisations working with locals in most need to address energy insecurity in Africa (Page 4)

 

ASOs are not only enhancers of energy security.  They also address energy insecurity through their promotion work.  They promote small-scale renewable energy sources (e.g. solar power, solar photovoltaic, etc.); just as they encourage reuse and recycling items and judicious energy consumption.  They explore renewable sources that can be affordable and safe energy supply for those in most need in Africa.

 

• • • Ce que les organisations africaines peuvent faire pour que les conséquences des hausess de prix energétiques ne s’installent pas dans la durée au sein de leurs usagers (Page 5)

 

La montée des prix produits énergétiques  tels que le pétrole et le gaz ne peut qu’heurter ceux ou celles qui souffrent déjà de manque de moyens pour subvenir à leurs besoins d’électricite, d’eau potable et du charbon.  Dans ce contexte pénible et inflationniste des prix, les organisations africaines de bienfaisance qui sont du domaine de CENFACS sont en train de travailler avec leurs bénéficiaires afin que ceux-ci ou celles-ci soient à même d’accéder aux énergies de base pour fonctionner.

Ce travail porte sur la fourniture d’aide financière et réelle pour faciliter l’accès à l’eau potable, à l’électricité ou au charbon ou encore au bois pour préparer les aliments aussi bien que pour entretenir la santé corporelle.  Ce travail s’étend aussi à leur assister à mieux comprendre les diverses informations et ressources produites by the autorités locales sur la sécurité énergétique.

 

• • • Que peut-on faire pour que la crise energétique ne fragilise pas les budgets de ménages en Afrique? (Page 5)

 

La crise énergétique a affaibli la manière dont les ménages pauvres ou modestes en Afrique se démènent pour financer leurs budgets, en mettant à rude épreuve les dépenses des ménages liées à la consommation d’énergie.

Il existe des moyens de contenir, d’anéantir ou de réduire les effets pervers de la crise énergétique sur les budgets des familles moyennes et pauvres.  Pour ce faire, les organisations africaines s’appliquent en calculant le coût de la crise énergétique pour leurs utilisateurs et en travaillant au cas par cas avec les bénéficiaires.

 

• • • Comment on peut éviter la pauvreté induite par l’insécurité énergétique au sein des populations locales en Afrique (Page 6)

 

On peut y arriver en développant des alternatives aux sources d’énergie traditionnelles.  L’une de ces alternatives est le développement d’énergies durables, propres et accessibles.  Ces énergies doivent être accessibles at tout le monde, en particulier à ceux ou celles qui souffrent de précarité énergétique ou la pauvreté liée à  l’insécureté énergétique.

Cela demande la transmission et le partage des connaissances sur des énergies renouvelables.  Pour ceux ou celles qui souffrent de la pauvreté ou précarité énergétique et qui ont besoin d’un soutien pour accéder à ces connaissances et technologies, ils ou elles auront besoin d’une assistance.   C’est en les soutenant de cette manière que l’on peut éviter ou faire reculer la pauvreté induite par l’insécureté énergétique au sein des populations locales en Afrique.

 

• • • Sortir des conséquences directes de la flambée des prix énergétiques sur la sécurité énergétique en Afrique (Page 6)

 

Pour sortir de ces conséquences, il y a lieu de procéder aux actions suivantes:

 

√ réaliser des progrès dans l’élimination progressive des combustibles fossiles (c’est-à-dire le charbon, le gaz et le petrole)

√ accélérer le déploiement des énergies renouvelables

√ réduire les prix des fossiles combustibles

√ progresser dans l’innovation en matière d’énergies propres

√ prévenir la pénurie d’énergie

√ stopper d’utiliser l’énergie comme une arme de guerre dans les négotiations internationales

√ éliminer la fracture interétatique des relations économiques et commerciales sur l’accès à l’énergie

√ développer des ecosystèmes d’innovation énergétique florissants

√ promouvoir la recherche et développement énergétique sur les produits non fossiles

√ pallier aux distortions artificielles sur les marchés de l’énergie.

Les initiatives ci-haut permettront de sortir à court, au moyen et long terme des conséquences néfastes directes de la flambée des prix énergétiques sur la sécurité énergétique en Afrique.

 

 

• • • Africa-based Sister Organisations keeping energy security for their locals in most need during critical situations (Page 7)

 

During critical situations (like of COVID-19 crisis and energy crisis), ASOs are working with locals in most need to access solar energy, hydropower like in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other types of energy (such as gas generated power, coal, wind  and geo-thermal).

As energy security keepers, they are working with them to access light so that they can improve their healthcare, education and economic opportunities.  This helps their locals improve their energy consumption and access.

 

• • • The dilemma between natural resources security by multinational corporations and energy security for those in most need in Africa (Page 7)

 

There is an energy security dilemma between multinational corporations and people in most need in Africa.  Africa-based Sister Organisations can work with both sides so that the voices of those who are energy insecure and poor heard.  They can advocate so that the policies and practices of those multinational corporations searching for lucrative energy resources and contracts reflect or contain the interests of local energy insecure poor people and communities.

There has been some progress on this area of contracts about exploitation of natural resources (e.g. mining contracts).  However, more can be done to improve energy security for the poor locals.

 

• • • International energy geopolitics and energy security for those in need in Africa (Page 8)

 

The interests and behaviour of powerful energy players and countries can be looked at so that they do not inflict energy security of those in need in Africa.  Africa-based Sister Organisations working in those areas of geopolitics can work with those influent players and countries so that in their strategy to secure energy resources for their interests takes on board energy insecure poor people’s needs where those resources are located.

This is vital to avoid that these people become the victims of these geopolitical interests.  For example, the expansion of the exploitation of oil and other energy resources in Sub-saharan Africa by some of these global geopolitical players and powers should not be done at the expense of energy insecure and poor locals.

 

 

• • • Political economy analysis, energy security analysis and energy poverty reduction in Africa (Page 8)

 

Energy security analysis in Africa shows that often the political and economic interests of energy actors within Africa collides with energy poverty reduction in Africa.  If one wants to reduce or end energy poverty and improve energy security in Africa, then there is a need to make sure that the political economy of these actors (like in the case of the Inga Dam in the Democratic Republic of Congo) including their interests do not conflict energy insecure and poor to the extent of denying them their basic human rights.

 

• • • Say, Question, Support, Workshop, Top Tool, Information and Guidance, Activity and Giving (Page 9)

 

• • • • Have your Say

 

How the current rising prices of energy are affecting your energy security status? 

Please tick (√ ) as appropriate.

You can share  with CENFACS your experience about how you are coping from rising prices of energy.

 

• • • • Question

 

Is energy security a priority for you?

 

 

• • • • Ask CENFACS for Energy Security Support

 

You can ask for support to control your energy under the Advisory Support for the Impacted of the Cost-of-Living Crisis.

 

• • • • Mini Workshop

 

Boost your knowledge and skills about energy security via CENFACS. 

To enquire about the boost, please contact CENFACS.

 

• • • • Top Tool of the 75th Issue: Energy Security Risk Indicator

 

Energy Security Risk Indicator can help you assess your household vulnerability to the upheavals of the global energy market. 

For further details about this tool, please contact CENFACS.

 

• • • • Information and Guidance on Energy Security

 

You can request from CENFACS a list of organisations and services providing help and support in the area of energy security. 

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

 

• • • • Spring Activity

 

How to use Energy Security Risk Index to work out your own household energy security risk 

The index will help you find out your risk-aversion and vulnerability to rising prices of energy.

To take part in this activity, please contact CENFACS.

 

• • • • 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.

 

• • • • Energy Security Project (Page 10)

 

Energy Security Project (ESP) is an energy poverty-relieving initiative that will help assess the energy security needs of energy insecure and poor, and work together with them in order to explore and identify energy security options for them while developing the kind of energy safety net and protection they need. 

ESP will further assist in increasing resilience to energy shocks or crises while accessing quality affordable, reliable and secure energy services where beneficiaries live.

To support or contribute to ESP, please contact CENFACS.

For further details including full project proposals and budget about the Energy Security Project, please contact CENFACS.

 

The full copy of the 75^th Issue of FACS is available on request.  For any queries and comments about this Issue, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

_________

 

• References

 

(1) https://www.ecnmy.org/learn/your-home/consumption/cost-of-living (accessed in April 2022)

(2) https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/comparison/kinshasa/london? (accessed in April 2022)

(3) https://www.institutefor government.org.uk/explainers/cost-living-crisis (accessed in April 2022)

(4) CENFACS’ Cube of Protection against the Coronavirus at cenfacs.org.uk/2020/04/15/protection-of-modest-incomes

(5) Federico Dominguez (2021), La Rebelión de los Pandemials, Editores Argentinos

(6) https://iea.org/topics/energy-security (accessed in April 2022)

(7) https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10246029.2020.1843509 (accessed in April 2022)

(8) https://www.globalenergyinstitute.org/sites/default/files/2020-10/024036% (accessed in April 2022)

(9) Auth, K. & Moss, T., (2022), How Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Will Impact Africa’s Energy Transition at https://www.cfr.org/blog/how-russia-invasion-ukraine-will-impact-africa-energy-transition (accessed in April 2022)

(10) Royal, T. (2019), Russia, Iran and Weaponization of Energy at https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2019/04/russia_iran_and_the_weaponization_of_energy.html? (accessed in April 2022)

(11) Wang, J., Wang, J., Shahbaz, M. & Song, M., (2021), Evaluating energy economic security and its influencing factors in China at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/s0360544221008872?via%Dihub (accessed in April 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 consider a recurring donation to CENFACS in the future or as a New Year resolution.

Donate to support CENFACS!

FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO :Support Causes – (cenfacs.org.uk)

Thank you for visiting CENFACS website and reading this post.

Thank you as well to those who made or make comments about our weekly posts.

We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support throughout 2022 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

20 April 2022

 

Post No. 244

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Protection Key Note 3 for Week Beginning 18/04/2022: Protection from Soaring Prices of Energy

• Coming Next Wednesday 27/04/2022: Protection Day with a Focus on Protection for Women and Children from Energy Crisis

• Advisory Support for the Impacted of the Cost-of-Living Crisis

 

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Protection Key Note 3 for Week Beginning 18/04/2022: Protection from Soaring Prices of Energy

 

The key message about this Note 3 is that due to the increase in prices of energy (i.e. electricity, gas and water), there is a need to protect those who are not able to match or meet this increase.  Amongst those who cannot meet or match this increase are some of the CENFACS Community members and the categories of people we have listed under the Main Development section of this post.

All of them need protection.  However, the kind of protection we are and will be talking about here is not the one they may already got either from those who have the power to reduce or subsidy the price of energy or energy companies (i.e. electricity, gas and water companies) that may offer to their customers protection schemes or even the protection products sold by financial institutions like insurance companies and banks.

The kind of protection we will be dealing with is mostly what CENFACS can do for the community it serves.  Besides that, we will include what the voluntary or the charitable sector is doing to support or work with those of our members  who have been drastically impacted by the cascading effects of soaring prices of energy and continue to suffer from dire consequences of these effects.  Under the Main Development section of this post, we have summarised the kind of protection we are arguing about.

 

 

 

• Coming Next Wednesday 27/04/2022: Protection Day with a Focus on Protection for Women and Children from Energy Crisis

 

Before telling you what is going to happen on 27/04/2022, let remind our readers, audiences and supporters the meaning of CENFACS’ Reflection Day.

 

• • What is CENFACS’ Reflection Day?

 

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

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

 

• • The 12^th Edition of CENFACS’ Reflection Day 

 

• • • What is the 12th Edition of CENFACS’ Reflection Day? 

 

The 12th Edition of CENFACS’ Reflection Day is a continuity of the theme about self-protection by women and children themselves and/or protection of women and children by others against future risks or crises.  In this case, the risk or crisis is natural resource (e.g. energy), which is becoming scarce or weaponised.  Because of what is happening in Ukraine, energies (particularly gas and oil) become expensive and a weapon used in international economic and trade relations.

This high cost of energy and energy weaponization could have dire consequences on the way people access and pay for energy they need and consume.  Amongst these people are women and children, especially those living in poverty.  The 12th Edition of CENFACS’ Reflection Day is a day to think of the struggle these women and children have in face of energy crisis.  Before going any further, let us define energy crisis.

 

• • • What is energy crisis?

 

To define energy crisis, we are going to refer to what the ‘urbandictionary.com’ website (1) says about it.  On this website, energy crisis is defined as

“A society-wide economic problem caused by a constricted supply of energy leading to diminished availability and increased price to consumers”.

The online ‘urbandictionary.com’ further states that energy crisis is the noticeable price in increase of energy resources.

Within the literature on energy crisis, there are those who think that energy crisis is either a human-made crisis or a depletion of natural resources.  Others contend that energy crisis could be artificial distortions in the market introduced by energy suppliers and excessive restrictions on energy.

Briefly, energy crisis is a bottleneck in the supply of energy resources to an economy.  Whatever the real nature or cause of energy crisis, it has to be dealt with or at least reflected upon.

 

• • • What will happen on the 12th Edition of CENFACS’ Reflection Day?

 

On the 12th Edition of CENFACS’ Reflection Day, we will reflect on what can be done to improve the living conditions of women and children who are facing energy crisis, because they are not able to access basic energy they need and or they cannot afford to pay for it in order to live a normal life like any human beings.

The day is also about finding solutions to their energy problems through inspirations, new thoughts and ideas.  It will be about exploring ways of guaranteeing access and payment to cheap, sustainable, clean and safer energy for women and children.

 

• • • How the 12^th Edition of our Reflection Day will be run

 

This year, the 12^th Edition of our Reflection Day will be run in hybrid way.  We shall run it hybrid since we are gradually and prudently returning our services and activities as the COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted in England and the nation has moved to “Living with COVID-19” phase.

From the perspective of gradual return, the day will be organised  in-person and virtual.  Those who want to physically gather together on the day, they will be able to do so provided they follow health and safety rules, including those related to COVID-19.  For those going virtual, every participant will be reflecting from the location which is suitable for them (that is, like a virtual reality or remotely).

 

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

 

Our reflection will cover the following:

 

√ Progress on phasing down fossil fuels (i.e. coal, gas and oil)

√ Acceleration of the deployment of renewable energies

√ Fossil fuel prices

√ Clean energy innovation

√ Impact of interstate fracture of economic and trade relations on energy access for poor women, children and their families

√ Thriving energy innovation ecosystems

√ Energy research and development on non-fossils

√ Artificial distortions in the energy markets

√ De-weaponization of energy

√ Energy scarcity

Etc.

 

The above is the main menu of our Reflection Day.  Besides this main menu, we shall have a side menu which is Reflection on the Effects of the Cost-of-Living Crisis on our Network for Protection in the process of building forward better together greener, cleaner and safer.

Indeed, energy crisis is only an iceberg of the cost-of-living crisis.  The cost-of-living crisis includes crisis in various elements of living conditions such as energy, food, housing, education, transport, etc.  It is worth reflecting on how this crisis is impacting on the way of covering these elements, and the extent to which it could or could not influence our system of networking for protection.

 

• • Reflection on the Effects of the Cost-of-Living Crisis for Protection

 

Through this additional reflection exercise, we should be able to know or estimate whether or not the cost-of-living crisis has made our network for protection stronger or weaker or unchanged.  Alternatively, we can reflect on a new window of opportunities to network for protection that the cost-of-living crisis may have brought.

Briefly, this add-on activity will enable us to reset our system of networking for protection in the process of building forward together greener, cleaner and safer.

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

Under the Main Development section of this post, we have appended a timeline about CENFACS’ Reflection Day for your reference.

 

 

 

• Advisory Support for the Impacted of the Cost-of-Living Crisis

 

The advisory support, which is part of package offered to the community to manage the cost-of-living crisis, is a deterrent against side effects of losing income or earning capacity because of severe consequences from the cost-of-living crisis.  These effects could be for example mental, psychological and social breakdowns. 

Additionally, the support will help avoid reversal in gains made by those in most need against poverty and hardships.  In doing so, the support will assist them in better coping with and managing undesirable changes brought by the cost-of-living crisis.

The advisory support will be given in three keys areas, which are:

 

√ Advice to help stop the loss of income because of high bills and prices to pay

√ Advice to support response to the loss of real income

√ Advice on recovery measures to minimise the long term impact of the cost-of-living crisis, while helping them find new or alternative sources of earning income to prevent people from economic and financial collapse.

 

Through this project, one can hope as outcomes, the following ones: 

 

√ Self-confidence

√ Self-esteem

√ Hope

√ A newly survival strategy

√ Development of new streams or sources of earning income again

√ Build forward better strategy

Etc.

 

To access and or gain the benefits of this support, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

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

 

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

 

• • Benefits of journaling your TVI/AYRP

 

The journal will help you to capture the moments of your TVI/AYRP via expressive writing and story.  It can have other benefits such as setting goals, tracking or measuring your progress on TVI/AYRP, recording and celebrating achievements and gaining both general and specific perspectives of your TVI/AYRP.

 

• • Journaling Goal of TVI/AYRP

 

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

 

• • What one’s TVI/AYRP Journal can achieve

 

It can achieve many things including the following:

 

∝ Solve problems encountered in implementing TVI/AYRP 

∝ Enhance one’s health via TVI/AYRP 

∝ Improve TVI/AYRP outcomes.

 

For those who are undertaking any of the TVIs/AYRPs and would like to write a journal about their activity, they can do it.  There are many online and print resources available on the matter.

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

 

 

 

• Goal for the Month: Reduction of Income Poverty and Poverty (or weaknesses) in Earning Capacity

 

• • What is poverty reduction goal for the month?

 

We select a particular poverty reduction goal each month to focus on.

This selection may come from or outside one of the stated goals of CENFACS‘ 2020s Development Agenda and Poverty Reduction Goals (2).

For this month of April 2022, we have selected ‘Reduce income poverty and poverty (or weaknesses) in earning capacity’ as our goal for the month. What is ‘Reduce income poverty and poverty (or weaknesses) in earning capacity‘ in the current context of rising cost of living? What does its selection mean?

 

• • Reduce income poverty and poverty (or weaknesses) in earning capacity

 

The rising prices of energy, food, housing, water, other utilities, transport, etc. could mean threat in real incomes.   There could be a threat as real incomes get dropped because of inflation.  Income poor people and families could find that meeting the high level of prices and bills is extremely difficult or even impossible.

So, this month’s goal is to reduce income poverty.  Reduce income poverty and poverty (or weaknesses) in earning capacity is the first CENFACS’ Poverty Reduction Goals.

 

• • What does its selection mean?

 

Reduce income poverty and poverty (or weaknesses) in earning capacity will help those who are struggling to meet the current high level of prices and bills to find some room for manoeuvre.    This reduction could be done either by improving the income side of the income poor or by cutting down non-essential expenses or both.  However, for income poor people most of their expenses are essential to maintain basic level of life.

For more details on the goal of this month and how to support this goal, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) and Rising Prices of Energy and Food in Africa

How ASOs are working with their locals to avert cascading impacts of rising prices of energy and food

 

Studying how the global crisis is unfolding in depth and scale on countries, the United Nations Task Team for the Global Crisis Response (3) estimates that there are Least Developed Countries that are severely exposed to at least one dimension of the shock.  This Task Team argues that there are…

“[a] 25 economies in Africa with a severe exposure score across the Food, Energy and Finance dimensions; [b] 25 economies in Africa of a total of Least Developed Countries with a maximum exposure score in at least one of the Food, Energy and Finance dimensions” (p. 7)

This exposure to the dimensions of price shock of energy and food could suggest that ASOs could find themselves with a high demand of their locals in order to avert cascading impacts of this shock or rising prices of energy and food.  They are working with their locals on a number of fronts and projects (including access to affordable food, energy and water) in order to avert the impact of the current global crisis linked to  the war in Ukraine.

For those who would like to know more about how ASOs are working with their locals to avert cascading impacts of rising prices of energy and food, they are free to contact CENFACS.

 

La 12ème édition de la Journée de Réflexion du CENFACS aura lieu le 27 avril 2022. 

Qu’est-ce que la 12e édition de la Journée de Réflexion du CENFACS? 

La 12ème édition de la Journée de Réflexion du CENFACS s’inscrit dans la continuité du thème de l’autoprotection des femmes et des enfants ou de la protection des femmes et des enfants par les autres contre les risques ou crises futurs.  Dans ce cas, le risque ou la crise est que les ressources naturelles (par exemple l’énergie) deviennent rares ou transformées en armes.

En raison de ce qui se passe en Ukraine, les énergies (en particulier le gaz et le pétrole) deviennent chères et une arme utilisée dans les relations économiques internationales.

Ce coût élevé de l’énergie et la militarisation de l’énergie pourraient avoir des conséquences désastreuses sur la façon dont les gens accèdent et paient pour l’énergie dont ils ont besoin et qu’ils consomment.  Parmi ces personnes se trouvent des femmes et des enfants, en particulier ceux qui vivent dans la pauvreté.

La 12ème édition de la Journée de Réflexion du CENFACS est une journée pour réfléchir à la lutte de ces femmes et de ces enfants face à la crise énergétique.

Ce qui va se passer le 27 avril 2022

Lors de la 12e édition de la Journée de réflexion du CENFACS, nous réfléchirons à ce qui peut être fait pour améliorer les conditions de vie des femmes et des enfants confrontés à une crise énergétique, parce qu’ils ne sont pas en mesure d’accéder à l’énergie de base dont ils ont besoin et ou qu’ils ne peuvent pas se permettre de la payer pour vivre une vie normale comme n’importe quel être humain.

La journée consistera également à trouver des solutions à leurs problèmes énergétiques à travers des inspirations, de nouvelles pensées et idées.  Il s’agira d’explorer les moyens de garantir l’accès et le paiement à une énergie bon marché, durable, propre et plus sûre pour les femmes et les enfants.

Pour soutenir ou participer à la Journée de réflexion sur la protection des femmes et des enfants, veuillez contacter le CENFACS.

 

 

Main Development

 

• Protection Key Note 3 for Week Beginning 18/04/2022: Protection from Soaring Prices of Energy

 

To deliver this Note 3, we have assembled the following items:

 

∝ Basic data about changing prices of energy

∝ The need of protection

∝ Those who need protection

∝ Types of protection

∝ What CENFACS can do to support the community to meet its demand of protection.

 

Let us look at each of these items.

 

• • Basic data about changing prices of energy

 

There have been lots of figures and interpretations about how the price of energy sources (i.e. electricity, gas, oil, water, etc.) have gone up following the current cost-of-living crisis.  Some of these figures or statistical messages have not been easy to understand or simply are conflicting.  To make it easy, we are going to refer to what the UK’s energy regulator advised about the energy price cap.

The UK’s energy regulator Ofgem (4) advising energy consumers to check if the energy price cap affect them states on its website that

“The average price-capped rates for a customer with typical usage, paying by direct debit was £0.21 per kWh (at daily standing charge of £0.25) for electricity during the last price cap period, between 01 October and 31 March 2022.  The average price cap unit rates for a customer with typical usage, paying by direct debit during the current price cap period (i.e. between 01 April and 30 September 2022) is £0.28 per kWh at daily standing charge of £0.45”.

The same Ofgem (op. cit.) proposes the following for gas:

“The average price-capped rates for a customer with typical usage, paying by direct debit was £0.04 per kWh (at daily standing charge of £0.26) for gas during the last price cap period, between 01 October and 31 March 2022.  The average price cap unit rates for a customer with typical usage, paying by direct debit during the current price cap period (i.e. between 01 April and 30 September 2022) is £0.07per kWh at daily standing charge of £0.27”.

Although energy suppliers cannot charge more than the cap that has been set, the change in price cap between the above stated periods is in itself an indication of rising prices of energy.  This rise raises the issue of protection from soaring prices of energy.

 

• • The need of protection

 

Protection as a basic life-sustaining need is required to shield energy consumers, especially the poor ones; that is those who are not able to meet the soaring prices of energy.  They need defence against harm or danger from the impacts of soaring prices of energy on their budgets,  lives and livelihoods.  They need it to maintain basic conditions and values of life as humans.  Who need protection?

 

• • The protection needy

 

Those impacted by soaring prices of energy and in need of protection include the following:

 

√ Those suffering from cash shortfall induced by rising energy prices

√ Those who are collateral damage of rising energy prices

√ Those with high pressure on energy bills and prices

√ Those without livelihood guarantee under the current circumstances of rising energy prices

√ Those who have their living standards below the national average one

√ Those with income not aligned with inflation or the cost of living

√ Those who have been inflicted or incapacitated by soaring prices of energy

In short, the energy poor who could be amongst people listed above.  They need some forms or types of protection.

 

• •  Types of protection

 

Depending on people’s needs, this protection could cover the following matters:

 

√ Energy tariffs

√ Energy debt

√ Energy credit

√ Energy meter reading

√ Energy supply

Etc.

 

Briefly, protecting people, especially the energy poor, from these matters (i.e. energy tariffs, debt, credit, meter reading, supply, etc.) can help them to meet their energy needs and overcome the rise in energy prices.

 

• •  What CENFACS can do to support the community to meet its demand of protection from soaring energy prices

 

There are already energy protection measures in the market (like those relating to covering bills, disconnections, difficulty paying bills, etc.) that every energy consumer can get from their energy providers or statutory bodies. 

Our ways of working with the community to meet its demand of protection relating to energy is not to repeat those measures.  Instead, it is about adding something, perhaps new, to them.

Furthermore, CENFACS does not have the power to cut bills or to provide financial support towards energy bills.  CENFACS can however support the community on various grounds such as

 

√ Support users to reclaim their energy consumer rights

√ Help switch to energy-saving habits or measures at home

√ Explore ways of negotiating energy debt servicing to affordable plan

√ Provide one-to-one advice on energy relief needs and matters

√ Help understand what organisations are advising (e.g. Citizens Advice Bureau, Ombudsman services)

√ Find social safety nets for energy poor and most vulnerable

√ Help people understand energy literature (e.g. energy debt guide provided by Ofgem) and energy literacy statistics

√ Raise awareness of measures to lower energy use and carbon emissions at home

√ Help people and families in their alignment drive to green energy

√ Assist in reading energy comparison providers’ resources on energy prices and statistics

√ Provide information about energy support measures (e.g. energy grants, bills support, home insulation or retrofit, etc.)

√ Find nature-based solutions to energy poverty and problems

√ Signpost users to energy community services and hubs

√ Help people and families address energy poverty and precariousness

Etc.

 

From the above mentioned energy support services, we can help reduce pressure on energy budgets, in particular by advising how to reduce energy expenses while increasing incomes for energy and other household needs.

All these ways of working with the community will help to protect them from soaring prices of energy.  The more informed they are, the more likely they will find and practise the tools, tips and hints they need in order to overcome energy poverty and hardships.

It is all about working with them to improve the way in which they manage their income and life spent on energy in order to overcome future upheavals of the energy markets, which have recently been impregnated with stories of rising prices and costs.

The above is our Protection Key Note 3.  For any further details about Protection from Rising Prices of Energy and CENFACS’ Month of Protection, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

• References

 

(1) https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=energy%20crisis (accessed in April 2022)

(2) CENFACS, (2020), The Twenty-twenties (2020s) Development Agenda and Poverty Reduction Programme at cenfacs.org.uk/2020/03/11/the-2020s-agenda-and-programme/

(3) https://news.un.org/pages/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/UN-GCRG-Brief-1.pdf (accessed in April 2022)

(4) https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/check-if-energy-price-cap-affects-you (accessed in April 2022)

 

• Appendix

 

• • Reflection Day Timeline

 

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

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

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

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

2011: Making Networking and Protection Even Better in 2011

2012: Raising Standards in Poverty Reduction for Improving Lives

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

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

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

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

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

2018: Making Transitional Economy Work for Poor Families

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

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

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

For your information,

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

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

3W (What Women Want) = a CENFACS support network scheme to enhance the lives of multi-dimensional deprived women and families

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

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

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

_________

 

Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going this year.

We do our work on a very small budget and on a voluntary basis.  Making a donation will show us you value our work and support CENFACS’ work, which is currently offered as a free service.

One could consider a recurring donation to CENFACS in the future or as a New Year resolution.

Donate to support CENFACS!

FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO :Support Causes – (cenfacs.org.uk)

Thank you for visiting CENFACS website and reading this post.

Thank you as well to those who made or make comments about our weekly posts.

We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support throughout 2022 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

13 April 2022

 

Post No. 243

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Holiday with Relief – In Focus for Spring 2022 Issue: Energy and Food during Holiday

• Protection Key Note 2: Protection from Rising Prices of Food

• Help CENFACS Fight Poverty Induced by the Cost-of-Living Crisis with You this Easter

 

… And much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Holiday with Relief – In Focus for Spring 2022 Issue: Energy and Food during Holiday

 

The Spring 2022 Issue our ICDP (individual Capacity Development Programme) Resource entitled as ‘Holiday with Relief’ is out now.

This year, ‘Holiday with Relief’ provides wealthy advice, tips and hints linked to energy and food during holiday.  Within this wealth of information contained in this Issue, there are tips and hints that can be used to tackle energy poverty and food poverty.

These tips and hints are meant to support those of our users and non-users who are struggling to make energy and food ends meet during holiday (that is; Easter holiday, work or school holiday and long Summer holiday).

This resource is packed with Spring-relieving ideas about how to reduce both energy and food poverty while being on holiday.  Although the contents of this year’s Holiday with Relief will be for holiday, they can be used at any other time of the year.

Under the Main Development section of this post, we have provided the summaries about the key advice, tips and hints.  To enquire about the full 2022 Issue of Holiday with Relief, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Week Beginning Monday 11/04/2022, Protection Key Note 2: Protection from Rising Real Prices of Food

 

To deal with protection from rising real prices of food, it is better to briefly explain food inflation and its measure, what we mean by protection against rising food prices  and what CENFACS can do to support the community in its efforts to fighting food inflation.   Let us look at these three items.

 

• • What is food inflation and how do we measure the rise in food price?

 

Economically speaking, food inflation is a general sustained rise in the level of food price.  There are many metrics to measure the rise in food price.  However, in the context of this Protection Key Note 2, we are going to refer to the metrics of inflation-adjusted food price index.  What is this index?

 

• • • Inflation-adjusted food price index

 

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (1) provides its own index, which is called FAO Food Price Index (FFPI).  The FFPI is defined  as

“A measure of the monthly change in international prices of basket of food commodities.  It consists of the average of five commodity group price indices weighted by the average export shares of each of the groups over [a period, for example] 2014-2016”.

Likewise, the World Economic Forum (2) states that

“The Food Price Index is designed to capture the combined outcome of changes in a range of food commodities, including vegetable, oils, cereals, meat and sugar; and compare them month to month”.

According to this World Economic Forum (op. cit.), the index needs to be adjusted for inflation.  When prices are adjusted for inflation, they are real. 

So, in the context of this Protection Key Note 2, we will be interested in real prices which show the real impact or effects of rising food prices on income.  From this perspective, protection will be from rising real prices of food.

 

• • What do we mean by protection from rising food prices?

 

It is about shielding people from hikes in food prices.  People can be protected from rising food prices in many ways.

Assessing the world food situation via its Food Price Index, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (3) argues that

“The FAO Food Price Index [FFPI] averaged 159.3 points in March 2022, up 17.9 points [12.6 percent] from February, making a giant leap to a new highest level since its inception in 1990.  The latest increase reflects new all-time highs for vegetable oils, and meat sub-indices while those of sugar and dairy products also rose significantly”.

As said above, the FAO Food Price Index is a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities.

In the context of this Note 2, the interest is more on how CENFACS can work with the community to find ways of reducing the impacts of rising food prices and also to stop that these impacts lead to food poverty and poorness.

 

• • Ways in which CENFACS can work with the community to protect it from food inflation

 

CENFACS does not replace those who have the power to cut food prices and or provide financial support to its members of community who could become food poor or needy because of hikes in food prices.  However, there are handy ways in which CENFACS can work together with users to weaken the impact of food inflation.

In particular, CENFACS can work with them on the following matters:

 

∝ Food budget adjusted for inflation

∝ Comparison and contrasting of food real prices and stores

∝ Reduction of food waste at home and away

∝ Review of food spending and other expenses within household budgets

∝ Encouraging them to shop farmers’ markets

∝ Looking for charitable food support (e.g. food banks, food vouchers, etc.) for the food poor

∝ Keeping them aware of environmentally damaging food products

∝ Sharing with them tips and hints about ways of cutting food bills

Etc.

 

All these ways of working with the community will help to protect them against food inflation.  This is because the more informed they are, the more likely they will find and practise the tools, tips and hints they need in order to overcome food inflation. 

It is all about working with them to improve the way in which they manage their income and life in order to overcome future upheavals of the financial and real economic markets, which have recently been impregnated with stories of rising food and energy prices.

The above is our Protection Key Note 2.  For any further details about Protection from Rising Prices of Food and CENFACS’ Month of Protection, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Help CENFACS Fight Poverty Induced by the Cost-of-Living Crisis with You this Easter

 

You can donate or pledge or make a gift aid declaration to help CENFACS’ in its Charitable Response to the Cost-of-Living Crisis (CRCLC).

CRCLC is supporters’ contribution via CENFACS to the current effort to fight the cost-of-living crisis.

Any of the donations, pledges and gifts given will help those impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.

To support, just contact CENFACS by quoting or asking the Charitable Response to the Cost-of-Living Crisis (CRCLC).

Thank you!

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• E-discussion on Reduce For Quick Sale (RFQS) Items and Food Poverty Reduction

 

RFQS are those items or products past their best goods found in the bargain bins placed discretely around stores.  Many consumers or shoppers, especially those on low income brackets, who are goods price hunters, will look for RFQS to make their consumption ends meet.

If you are one of the RFQS hunters living on a tiny budget have the opportunity to buy these bargain goods; RFQS can make a great deal by helping you to reduce poverty.  And if you are food poor or in need of food, RFQS can assist you to reduce food poverty or at least to save money on your food purchase.

For those who had this experience on how RFQS has helped them to reduce consumption poverty or save on food purchase, they can join our e-discussion to exchange their views with others.

To e-discuss your RFQS experience, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• CENFACS’ Charity e-Store during Easter Giving Season

 

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

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

The impacted of the cost of living crisis needs help and support as prices and bills have astronomically gone up while incomes are still the same for many of those living in poverty.

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

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

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

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

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

You can DONATE or SHOP or do both:

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

√ SHOP at CENFACS Charity e-Store to support good and deserving causes of poverty relief this April and Spring.

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

This is what the Season of Giving is all about.

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

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

We need help to help them come out poverty and hardships caused by the cost of living crisis.

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

 

 

 

• Review of Post-coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring and Post-exit People’s Development Projects (“Post-projects”)

 

In the light of the cost-of-living crisis, we are reviewing the Post-coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring and Post-exit People’s Development Projects, which we set up one year ago.  The review is meant to integrate this cost.  The rise in the prices of energy, food, water, transport and other utilities and services has led to inflation.

Because of the cost-of-living crisis, the series of activities, proposals, plans, processes and tasks under Post-coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring and Post-exit People’s Development Projects have to be adjusted to the current and near-future cost of living or inflation.  These projects cannot continue to be applied without considering this cost or inflation.

For those who would like to learn more about the consideration of the cost-of-living crisis or inflation within the “Post Projects” or just to enquire, they are free to contact CENFACS.

 

 

Réponse de bienfaisance à la crise du coût de la vie

Aidez le CENFACS à lutter contre la pauvreté induite par la crise du coût de la vie pendant cette période de Pâques.

Vous pouvez faire un don, une promesse de don ou faire une déclaration d’aide aux dons pour aider le CENFACS dans sa Réponse de bienfaisance à la crise du coût de la vie (RBCCV).

La RBCCV est la contribution des sympathisants à travers le CENFACS à l’effort actuel de lutte contre la crise du coût de la vie.

Tous les dons, promesses de dons et dons donnés aideront les personnes touchées par la crise du coût de la vie.

Pour aider ou donner votre aide, il suffit de communiquer avec le CENFACS en citant ou en se référant à notre Réponse de bienfaisance à la crise du coût de la vie (RBCCV).

Merci!

 

 

Main Development

 

• Holiday with Relief –

In Focus for Spring 2022 Issue: Energy and Food during Holiday

 

Looking for holiday with relief that gives you a control of your energy and the feeling of good food?  You have come to the right place as the following contents, tips and hints highlight it:

∝ What is Holiday with Relief?

∝ What is the focus for this year’s HwR?

∝ For whom this resource is designed  

∝ What is energy? What is food?

∝ What sort of food and energy do we need during holiday?

∝ Where to find cheap good foods and energy

∝ Reduction of food poverty and energy poverty during holiday

∝ Looking for help and support about Energy and Food during Holiday.

 

• • Content Summaries, Tips and Hints about Spring 2022 Holiday with Relief

 

• • • What is Holiday with Relief?

 

Holiday with Relief (HwR) is an awareness, preparedness and solutions focussed Resource to Manage Information over holidays (e.g. Easter and Summer holidays).

As an Information Manager, HwR is a set of life-changing tips and tricks to help and enable vulnerably unaware people to plan and have their holiday or break with confidence in taking into account all aspects of life and by making sure that key areas of those life aspects are not adversely affected.

 

• • • What is the focus for this year’s HwR?

 

The focus for HwR for this year is on Energy and Food during Holiday.  It is about providing a set of life-enhancing tips and hints to support those who are looking for  simple but practical advice to navigate their way towards control of their energy and the feeling of good food during holiday (e.g. Easter holiday).

 

• • • For whom this resource is designed

 

This resource is primarily designed for the CENFACS Community members and those related to them.

The resource also caters for the following:

 

√ Those who are looking for some basic ideas about energy and food during holiday

√ Those who are searching for nature-based solutions to the lack of energy and food during holiday

√ Those who are willing to create active and sharable holiday experiences through energy and food

√ Those (energy poor) having a high sensitivity of energy share to their household income

√ Those (food poor) struggling to meet the cost of a basket of food with minimum recommended nutritional intake

√ Anyone interested in energy and food during holiday.

 

 

 

 

• • • What is energy? What is food?

 

To define energy, we are going to borrow its definition from the Oxford dictionary of environment and conservation written by Chris Park (4).  The latter defines it as

“Usable power or the capacity to do work, measured by the capacity to do work (potential energy) or the conversion of this capacity into motion (kinetic energy)” (p. 148)

This power or capacity is needed whether one is on holiday or not.  In this Issue of HwR, the interest is in this power or capacity during holiday, particularly how this power or capacity can make one’s holiday happy.

To understand food, we have used Chambers Combined Dictionary Thesaurus (5) edited by Martin Manser and Megan Thomson.  In this thesaurus, food is defined as

“A substance taken in by a living organism that provides it with energy and materials for growth, maintenance and repair of tissues” (p. 502).

Indeed, food as a substance is required during holiday, because it can determine the state and conditions of one’s holiday.  In this Issue of HwR, we are providing help and support about ways of keeping one’s holiday plan under control via food or any substance that can help to grow, maintain and sustain lives over holidays.

 

• • • What sort of food and energy do we need during holiday?

 

There is no a specified set of the kind of food and energy during holiday.  It all depends on individual consumption habits, budget, culture, weather, etc.  It is the same for energy.  However, some can use this Easter holiday to save energy and food since we are in the challenging time of rising real prices of energy and food. 

One of the tips and hints of this Issue of HwR, it provides resources and leads about saving on energy and food.

 

 

• • • Where to find cheap good foods and energy

 

HwR contains a list of food stores and grocery sellers where those with limited income can purchase certain types of foods at the lowest prices.  Amongst them, are those food retailers and discounters whose business goal is to sell cheap but good quality foods.

As part of finding cheap good foods, HwR includes market research results about online reviews from some organisations.  Amongst these organisations is Which?.

Indeed, the online website ‘Which.co.uk’ (6) found in its best and worst supermarket reviews that

“Lidl was the cheapest supermarket in March 2022, with [Which’s] best of 21 groceries costing an average of £26.83.  The same or equivalent items from the priciest supermarket Waitrose, meanwhile, would have cost £36.04”.

There are as well energy suppliers and traders that offer cheap energy (.e.g. sustainable electricity, gas and water).  To make a choice or switch between them could be a matter of circumstances.

For example, Switch Plan (7) argues the following when dealing with the UK’s cheapest electricity suppliers:

“There is, unfortunately, no definitive answer to which supplier is the cheapest tends to change depending on the person and their circumstances such as the size of their home, how much electricity they use, and particularly the type of energy meter that house uses to monitor its electricity use”.

The same Switch Plan (op. cit.) further contends that

“The cheapest energy supplier in the UK is actually a very personalised thing, meaning that every household has unique energy needs and what may be the most economic energy plan for one person may be as cost-effective for others.  Every UK energy consumer is looking for something slightly different in a supplier and while there are certainly some energy plans and suppliers that are cheaper than others, the cheapest energy plan for you will depend on your unique needs”.

In its April 2022 online publication, Switch Plan (8) states that

“EDF Energy was amongst the 3 cheapest 12 month fixed-rate energy tariffs available in the UK, with Electricity Annually Costing £607.917 and Gas Annual Costing £443.496 (These rates are inclusive of VAT at 5%)”.

Depending on everyone’s circumstances, they may choose the food retailers and energy suppliers who can meet their needs.  However, for energy poor and food poor, this choice could be very limited.  This is why we have included tips and hints to tackle energy poverty and food poverty.

 

 

• • • Reduction of food poverty and energy poverty during holiday

 

Holiday can offer opportunity to some people to have healthy meals, particularly for those who fail to have a good meal during the non-holiday time as they have no time to eat and they are always in a dreadful rush.  They can seize the holiday moment to sustainably consume, to improve their basket of food with minimum recommended nutritional intake.

Likewise, holiday could be an occasion to tackle energy poverty for those who want to reduce the sensitivity of energy share to their household income.  The tip and hint here is they can review and or audit their energy expenses.  This exercise could only be helpful if they  do not run holiday activities that end up rising their energy and food bills instead of reducing them.

 

• • • Looking for Help and Support about Energy and Food during Holiday

 

CENFACS can work with those in need of help and support about energy and food during holiday by undertaking the following:

 

√ Determining the extent to which energy and food can contribute the quality of one’s holiday

√ Assessing by how much energy and food can contribute to holiday enjoyment

√ Helping them to develop their story of good holiday via energy and food

√ Measuring their happiness during holiday because of a good control over their energy and the feeling of good food.

 

For those users who would like to dive into Energy and Food during Holiday, we can provide them with online and print resources relating to Energy and Food during Holiday.  There is a lot of online resources and websites they can tap into, sign up and receive advice on them.

To support Energy and Food during Holiday and get the full Spring 2022 Issue of ICDP Resource (Holiday with Relief), please contact CENFACS.

 

 _________

 

• References

 

(1) https://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/foodpricesindex/en/ (accessed in April 2022)

(2) https://weforum.org/agenda/2021/10/global-food-prices-global-global-food-price-index (accessed in April 2022)

(3) https://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/foodpricesindex/en/ (accessed in April 2022)

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

(5) Chambers (1999), Combined Dictionary Thesaurus, Manser M. & Thomson, M. (Editors), Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd

(6) https://www.w/which.co.uk/reviews/supermarkets/article/supermarket-price-comparison-aPpYp9j1MFin#which-is-the-cheapest-supermarket-in-2022 (accessed in April 2022)

(7) https://www.switch-plan.co.uk/compare-energy-prices/electricity/cheapest/#.~:text= (accessed in April 2022)

(8) https://www.switch-plan.co.uk/compare-energy-prices/cheapest/(accessed in April 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 consider a recurring donation to CENFACS in the future or as a New Year resolution.

Donate to support CENFACS!

FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO :Support Causes – (cenfacs.org.uk)

Thank you for visiting CENFACS website and reading this post.

Thank you as well to those who made or make comments about our weekly posts.

We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support throughout 2022 and beyond.

With many thanks.

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

06 April 2022

 

Post No. 242

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Protection in the Context of Rising Cost of Living

• Climate Protection and Stake for African Children – Phase 3.2 and the Effects of Rising Cost of Living 

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

… And much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Protection in the Context of Rising Cost of Living

 

The cost of living has dramatically risen in many countries including here in the UK and parts of Africa where CENFACS‘ operation is located.  The current rise in this cost has been the combination of various factors which include: the lingering effects of the coronavirus, the Russia-Ukraine war which has led to the increase in the price of energy and food, and recent rising prices of other utilities due to various factors. 

When the prices of food and energy go up, the scenario is that there is a sort of contagion effect in the economy.  The prices of other services (such as accommodation, transport, etc.), dissimilar utilities (e.g. phone), and goods will follow suit.

Whatever the origins and causes of the rising cost of living, it is important to find ways of solving this problem; at least to protect those without income or with less disposable income as they cannot afford to meet this rising cost of living.

It is well known that in this sort of context of rising and shocking prices and bills, often the poor and vulnerable bear the heavy brunt.  Since many of them will turn to charities and the not-for-profit organisations to seek help and support, our April Month of Protection will be approached on the tone of developing and sustaining protection against the cost of living crisis.  In particular, we shall look at protection against the rising prices of energy and food.

This is the context of our protection work for this April and possibly for this Spring 2022.  It is also the first message of this week’s post.  It is a message of protecting those without income or with less disposable income from the rising cost of living.

More on this message and the Month of Protection in the Context of Rising Cost of Living is covered under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• Climate Protection and Stake for African Children – Phase 3.2 and the Effects of Rising Cost of Living 

 

The rise in the cost of living can have some detrimental effects on the efforts one can make in order to have climate protection.  It can effect the implementation of climate protection and stake for children following the model of protecting children from climate proposed by CENFACS.  Before looking at what kind of effect or challenge that the rising cost of living can bring to climate protection, let us remind you our plan about 2022 Climate Talks Follow-up.

 

• • Taking Climate Protection and Stake for African Children at the Implementation (TCPSACI) with Installation Sub-phase (Phase 3.2)

 

Last month, we started the planning process of the 2022 Climate Talks Follow-up.  We informed you that the slogan for this 2022 follow-up would be: Sharm El-Sheikh Makes Children’s Dreams Come True.

Consisted of the 2022 Climate Talks Follow-up is our plan to engage with 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.  This engagement or follow up will contribute to TCPSACI.

 

• • TCPSACI and the Effects of Rising Cost of Living

 

The rising prices of energy, food, water, rent and other services and utilities means that there could be a challenge to have protection of climate and the ozone layer.  In other words, measures to control the emissions of greenhouse gases and gases that adversely affect the stratospheric ozone layer (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons and halons) could be jeopardised.  If these measures have to be carried out, their cost could increase at this current level of cost of living.

The increase of their cost could also mean the cost of protecting children and future generations could increase since there could be a risk of shifting priorities from climate protection to protection to meet basic life-sustaining needs of food, shelter, energy, etc.

Because of that, we are working on ways of making sure that the rising cost of living does not increase the cost of protecting children or deprioritise climate protection.

For those who are interested in the effects of rise in the cost of living on climate protection, especially on climate protection and stake for children; they can share their views with CENFACS.

To support and or enquire about CENFACS’ TCPSACI and share your views on the effects of rising cost of living on climate protection, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Activity/Task 4 of the Knowledge (K) 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 will be working 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.

When there is a rise in the prices of energy, food, water, rent and other services and goods; it affects the all range of needs to be met by people (here our users and those working with us).  It also affects every area of protection linked to any of these services and utilities.  However, to know how it affects them and the kinds of protection they may need; one needs to work with them in order to properly identify the level and quality of protection they may need.

Briefly, in the Activity/Task 4 of the ‘K’ Project, we shall undertake three sub-activities, which are:

 

a) Gathering information about the effects of rising costs of living on those in need

b) Finding out the kinds of protection or shield they may need against these effects, and

c) Working together with them so they can navigate their way out of these effects.

 

For those members of our community who will be interested in the effects of rising prices and bills on their cost of living and in sharing with us the types of protection they may need to counteract or overcome these effects, they are free to work with CENFACS.

To work with us on the effects of rising prices and bills on protection, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Integrating the Rising Cost of Living into Zero Income Deficit Campaign

How to protect low income poor’s accounts from the rise of prices and bills

 

When the prices of utilities, services,  and goods increase as well as bills go up; those with low income or who are simply poor have difficulties to cope with these rises.  As part of CENFACS’ Zero Income Deficit Campaign, we would like to work with those of our members who want to consider these rises (from prices and bills) in their household accounts.

 

• • What we can do together

 

We will be step-by-step exploring ways to include the rise in the cost of living in various family or household financial statements (e.g. budget, balance sheet, surplus and loss account, etc.).

We will be looking at how this rise is impacting and will impact family or household accounts.

 

• • How this integration will be helpful to those in need

 

This integration will enable to add financial control on family or household accounts.

It can as well help to find out the extent to which the effects of the rise in the cost of living could exacerbate poverty experienced by our members.

It can finally indicate whether or not these effects will influence the transmission of poverty to future generations or simply intergenerational poverty.

For those members of our community who will be interested in this sort of activities or exercises, they are welcome to contact CENFACS for further information.

 

 

 

• Build Forward Better Donations Needed!!!

 

This Spring Relief season, we would like to take this opportunity to communicate to you our need of donations which is now greater than ever before.  The lingering effects of the coronavirus and the cost of living crisis have put serious pressure on the finances and other areas of operations of many organisations including ourselves.

We need donations to help those who are still suffering from the legacies of the coronavirus and the current cost of living crisis so that they can build forward better cleaner, greener and safer.

We know that some of you have their income dropped because of the legacies of the coronavirus.  The current cost of living crisis can only add more pressure on the way people earn and spend their income.  However, for those who can, please do not hesitate to support as the need is still pressing and the stakes are still higher at this unprecedented time.

You could be a life-saver or changer this Spring.

We look forward to your support.  Many thanks!

 

 

 

• E-discussion on Bills and Prices

 

You can share your experience of coping with the current rise in the prices of food and other household items.  You can as well speak about your struggle to pay the recent percentage/rate increase in your utility bills and that of other services linked to your living expenses.  What is good about this sharing?

 

• • The good thing about sharing 

 

Your experience sharing will assist in knowing how the current rise in the cost of living is impacting you, the people around you (e.g. your family or household) and other people.

This experience sharing will also provide the data and facts for us together to organise an additional or new way of working with you and others to explore ways of reducing the impact of the cost of living crisis within the community.

Furthermore, we can raise awareness of your problem and advocate together your case so that those who are in a position to support you and the people around you can act.

To tell and share your experience of managing the impact of the rise in the cost of living, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Plan de travail pour la mise en œuvre de la protection en avril 2022

Pour mettre en œuvre la protection en avril 2022, nous avons sélectionné quatre notes clés, qui sont données dans le tableau ci-dessous.

Ces notes seront élaborées à partir de tous les lundis d’avril 2022, comme prévu ci-dessus.

En outre, ce plan de protection doit être combiné avec l’aperçu des projets et programmes pour l’aide de printemps 2022 (que nous avons publié le 16 mars 2022 dans notre article n ° 239), qui comprend la protection de l’énergie et la sécurité pour les femmes et les enfants, et la protection contre la hausse des prix alimentaires et la pénurie.

À côté de ces notes sélectionnées et zones de protection, nous aimerions continuer à travailler sur d’autres domaines qui nécessitent également une attention particulière comme la protection contre le coronavirus ainsi que la protection de la flore et de la faune.

Pour plus de détails sur le Mois de la Protection du CENFACS, n’hésitez pas à contacter le CENFACS.

 

Main Development

 

• Protection in the Context of Rising Cost of Living

 

The following items make up the contents of Protection in the Context of Rising Cost of Living:

 

Context of protection in April 2022, What is the cost of living?, Identified areas of protection work and people to work with, Plan for the implementation of protection this April 2022, Protection against inflation from week beginning 04/04/2022, Protection against the coronavirus and Flora and fauna protection.

 

Let us briefly explain each of the above items making Protection in the Context of Rising Cost of Living.

 

• • Context of our protection work in April 2022

 

The context of our protection work in April 2022 is of rising cost of living in the UK and in some parts of Africa where we have operations.  It is the economic situation in which there has been rise in the energy price cap in the UK, meaning that households using gas and electricity will pay more per year.

As the UK’s Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (1), which is the energy regulator, put it on 3 February 2022 by stating that

“The energy price cap will increase from 1 April for approximately 22 million customers. Those on default tariffs paying by direct debit will see an increase of £693 from £1,277 to £1,971 per year (difference due to rounding). Prepayment customers will see an increase of £708 from £1,309 to £2,017”.

It is also a time during which rent has been increased for renters and tenants together with utilities like water, council tax and other services (e.g. phone).  This is without forgetting that the prices of food and transport have been increased as well.

Briefly, it is a context of rising bills and prices, of the rise in the cost of living during this April 2022, which has become the month of bill and price rises.  April is generally the month of protection according to CENFACS‘ development calendar.  But, what does cost of living mean?

 

• • Brief understanding of the cost of living

 

According to the ‘ecnmy.org’ (2) website,

“The cost of living is a measure of how much money it costs to live a fairly average quality of life.  Economists measure the cost of living by looking at different cities or countries and adding up the prices of the goods that people need to live an average life – food, housing, transport, energy and healthcare and taxes.  They then look to see where prices are on the whole are the most expensive”.

For example,  the website ‘expatistan.com’ (3) provides calculation for the cost of living.  As of April 2022, it has estimated that the cost of living in London (UK) for a family of four estimated monthly costs is £4,954, whereas the cost of living in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) for the same family is 8,356,890 Congolese Franc.

If this cost of living goes up as it is the case now and people’s income does not increase to match it, then there could be a cost of living crisis.  What is the cost of living crisis?

The Institute for Government (4) defines the cost of living crisis as

“The fall in real incomes (that is, adjusted for inflation and tax) that the UK has experienced since late 2021.  It is being caused by a combination of high inflation outstripping wage increases and upcoming tax increases that have squeezed incomes for many households”.

In these circumstances, there is a need of protection to help and support those who are failing to meet the rise in the cost of living.  To support and work with those members of the CENFACS’ Community who are failing to meet their cost of living, we have identified some areas of protection work with them.

 

• • Identified areas of protection work and people to work with in this April 2022 

 

Following a basic needs assessment relating to the effects of the cost of living within the community, we have identified the following areas and people to work.

 

• • • Identified areas of protection work

 

The preliminary results of our basic needs assessment suggest that we can start with the following areas of protection work:

 

Energy supplies protection, energy protection as transition away from fossil fuels (like coal, gas and oil), energy protection as a collective purchase/procurement, energy protection as a dilemma between environmental protection and energy access, protection of the energy poor, etc.

 

As one can notice, most of these areas of work are about energy protection.  This is because most of the conversations within the community have been about the change in the energy price, which is quite unusual for many.  People are also concerned with the increase in the price of food, but they are familiar with it.    In the Plan for the implementation of protection this April 2022, we will consider other areas of protection rather than just working on energy protection.

 

• • • People to work with for April 2022 Protection

 

Early indication of our needs assessment also shows that we will be working with the following people who need support from the rising cost of living:

 

√ Those struggling with bills and prices

√  Those who need support to deal with the cost of living crisis

√  The severely impacted by inflation (both imported and domestic inflation)

√  Those with less or low disposable income

√  Those having less flexibility in their household budget

√  The energy poor

√  The food poor

√  The worst affected by the rising cost of living

√  The incapacitated by inflation

√  The other poor and vulnerable people

Etc.

 

• • Work Plan for the implementation of protection this April 2022

 

To implement protection this April 2022, we have selected four key notes, which are given in the table below.

 

These notes will be developed starting every Mondays of April 2022 as scheduled above.

Also, this plan of protection needs to be combined with the Preview of Projects and Programmes for Spring Relief 2022 (which we released on the 16th of March 2022 in our Post No. 239), which includes Energy Protection and Security for Women and Children, and Protection against Food Price Rises and Scarcity.

Besides these selected notes and areas of protection, we would like to keep on working on other areas that need particular attention too, like protection against the coronavirus as well as the protection of flora and fauna.

Before summarising these other areas of protection, let us look at the first selected key note of our plan, which is Protection against Inflation.

 

 

• • Week Beginning Monday 04/04/2022: Protection against Inflation

 

In this first key note, we would like those who are reading us and or supporting us to understand what we are talking about.  To do that, we are going to briefly define inflation, explain what we mean by protection against inflation and how CENFACS can work with the community to strengthen their fences of protection against inflation.

 

• • • What is inflation?

 

According to Christopher Pass, Bryan Lowes and Leslie Davies (5), inflation is

“An increase in the general level of prices in an economy that is sustained over a period of time” (p. 248)

They also argue that

“The rate of inflation can be measured by using a consumers’ PRICE INDEX which shows the annual percentage change in consumer prices” (p. 248).

For example, the Office for National Statistics (6) in the UK stated that

“The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH) rose by 5.5% in the 12 months to February 2022, up from 4.9% in the 12 months to January 2022 [in the UK]”.

This figure was released on 23 March 2022 by the UK’s Office for National Statistics.  The next release will be on 13 April 2022.

With the current rise in the prices of energy (i.e. electricity, gas and water), food, rent, council tax, transport and other services and utilities in the UK; this figure could be bigger.

 

• • • Meaning of protection against inflation

 

Protection against inflation could mean many things to different people, organisations and institutions.  In the context of this note, protection against inflation is an action of shielding income poor people from the lack of means to buy or access goods and services they need to basically sustain their life.  They are unable to buy and access them because of a general rise in prices of these goods and services.

This inability to buy and access could mean that one is not protected from inflation wise.  Likewise, threats, attacks and neglect to deny people, especially the poor ones, to buy or access these basic life-sustaining goods and services which have been inflated (or being subject to inflation) is in itself an indication of a lack of protection.

Briefly, protection against inflation is a system of shielding those who are in need of buying or accessing basic life-sustaining goods and services from economic attacks and uncontrollable market forces (such as weaponization of energy prices as a result of Russia-Ukraine conflict).  It is a system that helps to economically keep safe those in need from the volatility of the prices of energy, food, transport, housing, etc.

Protection will help to deflect these negative forces that lead to a general increase in prices and the denial of poor people from buying and or accessing goods and services.  In these circumstances, there could be a need to work with the inflation-stricken people, especially the poor ones, so that they can find the means to navigate their way to strengthening their protective system.

 

• • • Ways in which CENFACS can work with the community to strengthen their fences of protection against inflation

 

There is a number of ways in which CENFACS can work with the community to boost their protection against inflation, which include:

 

√ Budgeting their income, expenses and needs

√ Prices hunting, comparison and contrasting

√ Getting informed about the current and near-future measure of inflation and the state of the economy in which they live

√ Providing them with leads to safety nets for the poor

√ Advising them not to rely on borrowing in order to deal with inflation, instead to invest in anti-inflation assets and solutions to poverty

√ Suggesting them to use nature-based solutions to inflation (e.g. use clean energy instead of polluting energy)

√ Recommending them digital solutions to their payment problems (e.g. digital payment of energy) to save money and papers

√ Working with them to reduce and restructure their accounts to deal with inflation

√ Including inflation accounting in their decision making processes

√ Advising them how to react and prepare from warnings, notices and alert messages about future rises of prices (for example, notices about the increase of utilities)

√ Developing their foresight skills to interpret inflation warning signals, forecasts and projections (e.g. what inflation predictions mean for household budgets)

√ Building their financial literacy statistics and numeracy skills to enable them to read financial information pages about inflation (e.g. charts, tables, in brief infographics about inflation)

√ Organising activities or workshops to help them integrate the rate of inflation into household financial statements and plans

√ Improving their knowledge in terms of the key financial dates to save in the calendar (for example, the release date of the rate of inflation, the start and end of tax year, etc.)

√ Motivating them to follow news and information about prices, bills and particularly the evolution of inflation

√ Asking them to subscribe to free providers of financial information that touches their life (e.g. free subscription to magazines, papers and websites that provide information about bills and prices related to products they buy or use)

Etc.

 

All these ways of working with the community will help to protect them against inflation.  This is because the more informed they are, the more they will find the tools, tips and hints they need in order to overcome inflation.  It is all about working with them to improve the way they manage their income and life in order to overcome future upheavals of the financial and real economic markets.

 

• • Protection against the coronavirus

 

The coronavirus threat has not yet disappeared.  This April, we will continue the protection work against the coronavirus pandemic since the coronavirus pandemic is still life-threatening and destroying despite the amount of efforts that have been deployed to reduce its far-reaching impacts.

We shall continue to maintain a healthy relationship between hands (e.g. washing our hands with sanitisers), faces (e.g. wearing face coverings if required), body (e.g. get vaccinated) and space (e.g. keeping indoor spaces ventilated).  It is better not to give up the basic healthcare principles and any life-saving advice until the coronavirus threat disappears.

We will continue to follow the COVID-19 situation in the UK and in Africa via our shadowing model.

Our COVID-19 Campaign is still in its Phase 3 of Post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation Strategies for our work in the UK and in Africa.

This phase or stage includes the following sub-stages: recovery, repair, strengthened restoration and functional capacity.  We are dealing with the four sub-phases (i.e. recovery, repair, strengthened restoration and functional capacity) at the same time since these sub-phases are interlinked.  This concerns our actions relating to the two operations (in the UK and in Africa).

Further details about the COVID-19 Campaign can be found from  CENFACS’ COVID-19 Hub for Poverty Reduction.

 

• • Protection of flora and fauna 

 

This month, we shall as well revisit progress made so far in protecting animals and plants.  We shall do it by recalling our Build Forward Better Flora and Fauna Projects, which were one of our XI Starting Campaign and Projects for Autumn 2021.

We will be doing it since we are in the Month of Protection and the Season of Spring Relief; season during which we are trying to Build Forward Better Greener, Cleaner and Safer.  In this Month of Protection and Season of Spring Relief, we will not forget flora and fauna.

Indeed, we continue to advocate for the protection of animals (fauna) in Africa and elsewhere in developing world whereby animals get killed, traded and extinct to such extent that some species are at the brink of disappearing.

We are as well extending our advocacy to other species in danger like trees, plans and flowers (flora).  It is about building forward these species that are threatened with extinction.

To advocate and raise your voice to build forward better endangered plant and animal species, contact CENFACS.

For any further details about CENFACS’ Month of Protection, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

_________

 

• References

 

(1)  https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/price-cap-increase-ps693-april (accessed in April 2022)

(2) https://www.ecnmy.org/learn/your-home/consumption/cost-of-living (accessed in April 2022)

(3) https://expatistan.com/cost-of-living/country/united-kingdom (accessed in April 2022)

(4) https://www.institutefor government.org.uk/explainers/cost-living-crisis (accessed in April 2022)

(5) Pass, C., Lowes, B. & Davies, L., (1988), Dictionary of Economics, HarperCollins Publishers, London & Glasgow

(6) https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices (accessed in April 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 consider a recurring donation to CENFACS in the future or as a New Year resolution.

Donate to support CENFACS!

FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO :Support Causes – (cenfacs.org.uk)

Thank you for visiting CENFACS website and reading this post.

Thank you as well to those who made or make comments about our weekly posts.

We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support throughout 2022 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

30 March 2022

 

Post No. 241

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Energy Transition Support Services

• Impact Monitoring and Evaluation of Climate Action Month 2022

• Practical Takeaways from Climate Action Month 2022

… And much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Energy Transition Support Services

 

The Light Season has already gone with the end of Winter 2022.  However, Light Season’s Light and Net-zero Energy Projects have not yet gone.  We still have projects that are going on and are coming to bring light to those who need it, in particular to these ones:

∝ People who have experienced destructive natural disasters and war events in Africa (that is why Light Projects were designed)

∝ Members of the CENFACS Community who need light to ignite their lives

∝ and Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) requiring light for themselves and or their locals.

Additionally, we have net-zero projects; that is projects aiming at achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere.  Among these net-zero projects are Energy Transition Support Services.

 

• • What are Energy Transition Support Services (ETSS)?

 

At the start of this month, we introduced our two Light Season’s New Energy Projects, which included: a) Programme for Gradually Phasing Down Coal and b) Advocacy and E-workshops about Energy Transition.

 

a) The Programme for Gradually Phasing Down Coal

 

The Programme for Gradually Phasing Down Coal is about working together with ASOs to plan a certain number of initiatives and activities (e.g. training, workshops, awareness raising, skills formation and development, etc.) to help their locals gradually reduce the use of coal or any polluting source of energy in the process of meeting their basic life-sustaining needs and services as well as of contributing to the net zero greenhouse gas emissions world.

 

b) Advocacy and E-workshops about Energy Transition

 

Advocacy and E-workshops about Energy Transition are part of energy transition projects and will help to work with the community on affordable way to embrace or keep pace with energy transition by smoothly moving towards carbon net zero or post-carbon economy; from polluting to cleaner, greener and sustainable energy.

 

By focussing on Advocacy and E-workshops about Energy Transition, we can argue that they (advocacy and e-workshops) are Energy Transition Support Services.

ETSS are our new and additional support to the community and our members in order for them to stay on track with the net zero greenhouse gas emissions and respond to the energy poverty amongst our members.  They are energy transition solutions to shortening the net zero trajectory/journey.

This new and additional support has been expressed throughout the climate action notes which we provided (to highlight the theme of ‘Smooth the way to energy transition‘) during the last four Wednesdays.  Particularly, the notes relating to how CENFACS can work with the community on energy transition, are useful in understanding ETSS.

In this post, we are presenting these ways of working with the community (or ETSS), which can be found under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• Impact Monitoring and Evaluation of Climate Action Month 2022

 

Any action to be successful needs monitoring and evaluation to know that it has been executed as planned and the changes that may happen over time as a result of this action.

To monitor our climate actions (Climate Action Month 2022), we have been routinely gathering information on all aspects of the climate actions conducted.  We are examining what these actions have achieved or will achieve in relation to the aims and objectives we set up for them.  This monitoring has enabled us to keep an eye on the progress made so far.  In our approach to monitoring and evaluation, we included the four actions of our Climate Action 2022, which are: Plan to Reduce Coal Usage, Reduce/Phase Down Fossil Fuels, Cut Methane Emissions and Back Clean Energy.

Besides this monitoring activity, we are as well conducting evaluation for learning purpose.  This evaluation will help us to learn something from these actions.  It will also assist to check the actual outcomes against the objectives we set up for climate actions.  When this evaluation for learning is completed, we shall carry out an impact evaluation to find out how working with the community would have some influences in the long term on their energy use, in particular for those having the share of their income highly sensitive to energy bills.

One of the monitoring and evaluation indicators/tools we are using is to collect the views from those who have been acting with us and/or those who have been following us.  In this respect, we would like to ask them to tell us their feelings about the four climate actions taken as highlighted in the following simple questions.  They can provide their feelings in the form of a review or feedback or testimonial.  The results of their feelings will help to improve future climate actions.

 

 

Those participating to this survey can tick one box (ranging from 0 to 10) for each climate action.  Ticking the box will indicate to us how satisfied they are with the delivery experience about each action taken.  All the completed survey forms should be sent to CENFACS by mid-April 2022.

Those who want to provide feelings and would like to request the details about these actions prior to their response, they are free to make their request to CENFACS.

Thank you for considering our demand of feelings and for your support.

It will be good that those who would like to provide their feelings to do them by mid-April 2022.

 

 

 

• Practical Takeaways from Climate Action Month 2022

 

To deliver the theme of ‘Smooth the way to energy transition‘, we focused on four key climate actions from every Wednesdays of this month as follows:

 

∝ Plan to Reduce Coal Usage or Make a Plan to Phase down Coal (Climate Action 1, held from 02 to 08/03/2022)

∝ Reduce or Phase down Subsidies that artificially lower the price of coal, oil and natural gas (Climate Action 2, held from 09 to 15/03/2022)

∝ Cut Methane Emissions (Climate Action 3, held from 16 to 22/03/2022)

∝ Back Clean Energy (Climate Action 4, held from 23 to 29/03/2022)

 

What can we take away from these actions?

 

• • Key takeaways

 

The following are the main ideas to remember from March 2022 Climate Action.

 

1^st takeaway

 

Being able to explore alternative and affordable sustainable sources of energy to coal can help to save money, especially for those who are having energy bills/share highly sensitive to their household income.

 

2^nd takeaway

 

The energy dividend or money resulting from the cut of fossil fuel subsidies can be transferred to energy poor to consume cleaner, greener and sustainable energy.

 

3^rd takeaway

 

Cutting methane emissions from households can help reduce health poverty or indoor environment poverty linked to the polluting air and energy generated by gas stoves or any other domestic appliances that may be faulty.

 

4^th takeaway

 

An inclusive financial action that considers both the needs of the global commons and poor’s necessities has much chance to succeed than actions that solely focus on climate goals without or with little consideration to poverty and energy poor people.

For more details about the outcomes of CENFACS’ March Climate Action Working Days 2022, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Integrating Climate Actions with Poverty Reduction Goals

 

To proceed with the integration of climate actions and poverty reduction goals; we are going to define climate action, state climate actions taken this month, highlight CENFACS‘ poverty reduction goals and explore this integration.

 

• • What is climate action? 

 

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

Climate action is also the 13th Goal of the United Nations’ (1) 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 2030 Agenda.

In the context of CENFACS’ Climate Action Month for this year, climate action is about any undertaken efforts to work with energy poor so that they can reduce any greenhouse gas emissions they can emit via the type of energy or equipment they may use and move towards the use of affordable, clean and sustainable energy.

 

• • Climate Actions taken this month

 

We have so far taken four climate actions, which are:

a) Plan to Phase Coal down

b) Reduce or Phase down Subsidies that artificially lower the price of coal, oil and natural gas

c) Cut Methane Emissions

d) Back Clean Energy.

The above mentioned actions can be integrated with poverty reduction goals.  Before doing this integration, let us briefly highlight the goals we are talking about.

 

• • CENFACS’ Poverty Reduction Goals

 

CENFACS’ Poverty Reduction Goals (2) are the following:

 

1. Reduce income poverty and poverty (or weaknesses) in earning capacity

2. Consume sustainably to reduce poverty and climate change

3. Tackle energy poverty

4. Support in-working poor people

5. Eliminate (inter/intra)generational poverty amongst women and children

6. Empower the digital and ICT (information and communication technology) poor people and communities

7. Help reduce climate-induced poverty or situational (or transitory) poverty amongst the victims of natural disasters and of destructive wars.

 

• • Integrating Climate Actions with Poverty Reduction Goals

 

It is possible to integrate the above four climate actions and the seven poverty reduction goals (PRGs). 

For example, one can integrate the climate action of cutting down methane emissions and the goal of tackling energy poverty.  In doing so, one can take PRG-integrated climate actions that could help to meet the needs of the global commons and the poor’s.

So, while we are conducting monitoring and evaluation of our Climate Action Month 2022, we are as well looking at the co-benefits and gains via PRG-integrated climate actions.

For those who are interested in the integration between climate actions and poverty reduction goals, they can contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Build Forward Better Donations Needed!

 

At the beginning of this Spring Relief season, we would like to take this opportunity to communicate to you our need of donations which is now greater than ever before.  The lingering effects of the coronavirus and the current energy crisis have put serious pressure on the finances and other areas of operations of many organisations including ourselves.  This is let alone the current level of inflation (that is, a sustained general rise in prices in an economy over a given period of time).

We need donations to help those are who still suffering from the legacies of the coronavirus and the current energy crisis so that they can build forward better cleaner, greener and safer.

We know that some of you have their income dropped because of the legacies of the coronavirus.  The current energy crisis can only add more pressure on the way people earn and spend their income.  However, for those who can, please do not hesitate to support as the need is still pressing and the stakes are still higher at this time.

You could be a life-saver or changer this Spring.

We look forward to your support.  Many thanks!

 

 

 

• Zero Income Deficit Campaign

 

In focus at the start of Spring 2022: How to successfully close your year-end personal and family accounts and get prepared for the next financial year with new accounts

 

The current fiscal year is about to end soon and the new one will start from the 6th of April as usual.  For those members of our community who are struggling to get a grip on their household accounts, there is still time to work with CENFACS to sort out their accounts.  CENFACS can work with them so that they could understand their financial position while keeping financial control on their accounts.

This year-end financial control exercise is part of CENFACS’ Zero Income Deficit Campaign, which is designed to help our community members to reduce and possibly end intergenerational poverty.

 

 

For those who may be interested in this year-end financial control activity, they can contact CENFACS. 

For your information, we do not deal with company accounts.  We only support our community members who are experiencing some difficulties in handling their household financial accounts and statements (i.e. balance sheet, cash flow statement, surplus and loss account, etc.).

 

 

 

Donnez votre avis sur la transition énergétique

Le CENFACS mène un travail de recherche communautaire sur les difficultés que rencontre la communauté avec la transition énergétique.  Cette recherche porte sur quatre domaines de nos actions climatiques, à savoir :

1) Élaborer un plan pour éliminer progressivement le charbon

2) Réduire les combustibles fossiles

3) Réduire les émissions de méthane

4) Soutenir l’énergie propre.

Cette recherche aidera à documenter et à comprendre les problèmes auxquels la communauté est confrontée afin de faire une transition en douceur vers une énergie nette zéro.

Cette recherche permettra également de mesurer l’effet de substitution de l’énergie au sein de la communauté; c’est-à-dire l’effet de substitution énergétique des combustibles fossiles (p. ex. le charbon, le pétrole et le gaz naturel) pour des énergies plus propres et renouvelables (comme l’énergie éolienne, houlomotrice et solaire) en raison d’une variation de leurs prix relatifs, en particulier et pas exclusivement pour les ménages à faible revenu.

La recherche aidera finalement à recueillir des données sur la façon dont la communauté a été affectée par la hausse du prix de l’énergie pour répondre à ses besoins énergétiques.

Pour participer à ces travaux de recherche, veuillez communiquer avec le CENFACS.

 

 

Main Development

 

• Energy Transition Support Services

 

The following items will enable to understand Energy Transition Support Services (ETSS):

What are Energy Transition Support Services?, What do these services consist of?  Who can benefit from them? and How to access them.

 

• • What are Energy Transition Support Services (ETSS)?

 

They are work performed for or assistance given to our community members who need support to change or move from fossil-based (fossil fuels like coal, gas and oil) to zero-carbon (renewables such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and electric) materials bringing power (i.e. sustainable electricity, gas and water) to them.

This work or assistance is done with them through advice, information, tips, hints, advocacy and campaign.  Through this work/assistance, we can assess and audit their energy needs, discuss with them their household energy sources and budget, inform them on energy-saving household appliances and alternatives, work with them on their journey to net zero and signpost them to services that could address their energy transition needs.

 

• • What do these services consist of?

 

They consist of what we can call ways of working with the community on energy matters.  CENFACS can work with its members on the following four areas of energy transition: Making a plan to phase down coal, reduction of fossil fuels, methane emissions reduction, and backing clean energy. 

 

• • • Four areas of work with the community

 

1) Working with and supporting the community on matters relating to Plan to Phase Down Coal consists of:

 

√ Identifying ways of reducing energy bills through personalised energy advice and tips

√ Signposting users to agencies dealing with energy or fuel poverty

√ Providing leads about energy auditing and assessment

√ Sharing with users both print and online sources and resources dealing with energy bills and payments, as well as energy efficiency.

 

2) Working with and supporting the community on matters relating to the Reduction of Fossil Fuel Subsidies consists of:

 

√ Sharing our understanding on how changes in fossil fuel subsidies can affect their household budgets

√ Updating them about any new and innovative practices in terms of energy use

√ Translating and interpreting in simple language complex issues of fossil fuel subsidies that can affect their lives

√ Helping them to save money on energy bills by sourcing with them affordable energy providers/suppliers and following energy saving tips and hints

√ Assisting them to transition towards cleaner, greener and sustainable energy via advice and targeted campaign messages.

 

3) Working with and supporting the community on matters relating to Methane Emissions Reduction consists of:

 

√ Advising members, particularly those who can afford, to use domestic appliances that reduce methane emissions (e.g. use of all-electric stoves instead of gas ones)

√ Reducing both environmental and health risks (e.g. respiratory diseases) through the choice of domestic appliances (e.g. cooking appliances) to be used

√ Suggesting and emphasising the ongoing message about fighting methane emissions via reduction of food waste and of meat consumption

√ Choosing diet that is net zero greenhouse gas emissions as far as methane is concerned

√ Encouraging them to use price comparison tools to compare and contrast prices from different energy suppliers and choose the one that suits their interest and need

√ Working with energy poor to help them take control of their energy

√ Directing them to supportive energy hubs, workshops and events

√ Explaining them what energy cap and energy rebate mean for their household energy budget

√ Lessening the impact of energy crisis on their household bills.

 

4) Working with and supporting the community on matters relating to Backing Clean Energy consists of:

 

√ Advocating to reduce financial barriers to participation to clean energy transition

√ Improving access to financing for energy-efficiency and fossil fuel-free upgrades

√ Campaigning to reduce energy poverty as a share of income spent on energy bills

√ Advocating to alleviate energy burden

√ Helping in the improvement of housing conditions for energy saving purpose

√ Supporting poor to be qualified for home improvements for energy saving and efficiency

√ Assisting them in their attempt to access cost-effective energy upgrades

√ Finding options that do not require debt to access clean energy

√ Raising awareness to them about energy efficiency measures

√ Helping them reduce energy bills via clean energy sources

√ Searching with them inclusive energy financing schemes that fit their needs.

Those members of our community who have problems with Planning to Phase Coal Down, Reducing Fossil Fuels, Cutting Methane Emissions, and Getting the Backing of their Clean Energy drive; and would like to work with us on these matters, they can contact CENFACS.

 

• • Who can benefit from them?

 

The first and direct beneficiaries of the above mentioned services will be and are CENFACS Community Members.  Those who are connected to them can also benefit from these services.  Members of sister communities working with us can indirectly benefit from them as well.

 

• • How to access ETSS

 

Access to ETSS can be done by

√ Booking an appointment for support on energy transition

√ Contacting CENFACS via phone, e-mail, text and completing the contact form on the page ‘contact-us’ of this website.

Services are free, confidential, open to everyone and held on a one-to-one basis or as a group and run by qualified, expert and committed volunteers.  Although services are free, we do not mind voluntary donations of any amount from any service users.

Health protection and safety relating to the coronavirus pandemic and its variants are and will be included in the delivery of these services.

For any queries and/or enquiries about ETSS, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

_________

 

• References

 

(1) https://sdgs.un.org (accessed in March 2022)

(2) CENFACS, (2020), The Twenty-twenties (2020s) Development Agenda and Poverty Reduction Programme at cenfacs.org.uk/2020/03/11/the-2020s-agenda-and-programme/

 

_________

 

Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going this year.

We do our work on a very small budget and on a voluntary basis.  Making a donation will show us you value our work and support CENFACS’ work, which is currently offered as a free service.

One could consider a recurring donation to CENFACS in the future or as a New Year resolution.

Donate to support CENFACS!

FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO :Support Causes – (cenfacs.org.uk)

Thank you for visiting CENFACS website and reading this post.

Thank you as well to those who made or make comments about our weekly posts.

We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support throughout 2022 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

23 March 2022

 

Post No. 240

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Climate Action 4 from 23 to 29/03/2022: Back Clean Energy

• Coming this Spring 2022: FACS Issue No. 75 which will be titled as Energy Security for Those in Most Need

• ReLive Issue No. 14: Spring Project of Building Forward Better from the Coronavirus

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Climate Action 4 from 23 to 29/03/2022: Back Clean Energy

 

The focus for the fourth action of our climate campaign for this month will be on directing finance away from fossil fuel burning production and consumption to back clean energy and technology.

Backing clean energy has to be placed within the context of meeting the Paris Climate Treaty.  The Paris Agreement (1) is a legally binding international treaty on climate change.  It was adopted by 196 Parties at COP (Conference of the Parties) 21 in Paris, on 12 December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016.  Its goal is to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.

Backing clean energy is about supporting or funding or financing the type of energy (here clean energy) that will help to achieve the goal of Paris Climate Treaty.

Because CENFACS is specialised in poverty reduction and sustainable development, our action on backing clean energy will focus on people, particularly our users, living in energy poverty and those who would like to embrace the net zero greenhouse gas emissions path through their energy consumption or use.

Additionally, our Climate Action 4 will include the kind of activities and tasks we can undertake to work together with our Africa-based Sister Organisations needing some support in order to continue their march towards clean energy as well as to help their locals seeking sustainable solutions to energy poverty.

Briefly, the key message or action here is back clean energy to contribute to the realisation the central goal of Paris Climate Treaty (which is to limit the global average temperature to 1.5°C) by helping energy poor to move towards clean energy.   Energy poor do not have the means to move from polluting to clean energy unless they get the backing.

To conduct this action 4, we have prepared some notes that can be found under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• Coming this Spring 2022: FACS Issue No. 75 which will be titled as Energy Security for Those in Most Need

 

Energy security is one of the problems that many poor, including CENFACS users, face.  The current energy crisis that has been stigmatised by the Russia-Ukraine conflict is just an iceberg of the problem which was already there.

The 75th Issue of FACS, CENFACS‘ bilingual newsletter, will address energy security for those in most need.  The Issue, which will look at the positive impacts of energy security rather than its negative sides, will consider the three aspects of sustainability linked to energy; that is energy as an economic security, energy as an environmental security and energy as a social security.

The Issue will approach energy security from the perspective of the International Energy Agency (2), which defines it as

” The uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price.  Energy security has many aspects: long-term energy security mainly deals with timely investments to supply energy in line with economic developments and environmental needs.  On the other hand, short-term energy security focuses on the ability of the energy system to react promptly to sudden changes in the supply-demand balance”.

The Issue will also take into account what Asmae Berrada et al. (3) argue about energy security.  According to them,

“Energy security has two meanings.  It is first interpreted as the diversification of primary energy supplies.  The second interpretation of energy security concerns the reliability of the power system”.

These definitions will help to apprehend energy security problems that our users and Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) experience, throughout the 75th Issue of FACS.

Additionally, the 75th Issue will deal with some of the energy security problems encountered by energy poor by trying to secure sustainable energy in order to change their living conditions through energy security.  The Issue will indeed echo some of the energy security topics or subjects discussed at both global (like energy questions discussed at COP 26 in Glasgow in November 2021) and local levels as well as will try to connect them with the realities of everyday of energy poor.

Far from being a simple collection of energy problems faced by energy poor, the Issue will provide the basis for discussion and practice in ways of dealing with energy security by CENFACS‘ ASOs.  In this respect, the Issue will be  a learning, development and opportunity to work together with ASOs so that they can find the means and tools they need in order to support their locals to come out of energy poverty.

Furthermore, the Issue will reveal that distant energy weaponizing events (like the Russia-Ukraine conflict) can have far-reaching consequences for the energy poor living in other parts of the world (here Africa) as they can detrimentally affect their energy security; let alone other aspects of lives and likelihoods linked to the energy crisis.

To read more about this new Issue, please keep checking on CENFACS incoming posts this Spring 2022.  To reserve a paper copy of this 75th Issue of FACS, please contact CENFACS with your mailing details.

 

 

 

• ReLive Issue No. 14: Spring Project of Building Forward Better from the Coronavirus (SPBFBC)

 

The 14^th Issue of ReLive, CENFACS’ Spring campaign for resource development, is the next step after the Spring Project of Building Back Better from the Coronavirus (SPBBBC) we set up last Spring.

SPBBBC went beyond the life-saving and coping strategies (relating to anti-COVID-19 measures such as self-isolation, confinement, human barriers, social distancing, etc.) to build back better from the life-threatening and destroying impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.  It was still within the process of Saving, Rebuilding and Sustaining Lives of the victims from the Coronavirus shock, disaster and destruction.

As to SPBFBC, it takes stock of the Spring Project of Building Back Better from the Coronavirus (SPBBBC) and is the next step since the coronavirus pandemic is still there despite the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in some places.

SPBFBC, which is in fact a fundraising appeal, is about adding value to other similar works and efforts which have been already undertaken so that the poorest people can start or continue the process of building forward and reclaiming their lives while the world is still embattled by the coronavirus pandemic and its variants.

In the context of SPBFBC, the process of building forward will include the following: restoration, recovery forward, transformation and green alignment.

You can find more details about the Spring Project of Building Forward Better from the Coronavirus under the page support causes at   http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/

To support and get further information about this project, just contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• ICDP (Individual Capacity Development Programme) Resource, Holiday with Relief – In Focus for Spring 2022 Issue: Energy and Food during Holiday

 

The next Issue of our ICDP Resource entitled as ‘Holiday with Relief’ will focus on energy and food we need during our holiday.

Indeed, energy (e.g. electricity, gas and water) is getting expensive, just as food is becoming dearer.  Whether one passes their holiday at home or away from their home, they need adequate, secure, affordable and safe energy.  They also require healthy food and drink.

This year, ‘Holiday with Relief’ will provide wealthy advice, tips and hints linked to energy and food during holiday.  Through this wealth of information, we will try to tackle energy poverty and food poverty that those of our users who struggle to make ends meet may experience during their holiday (that is Easter holiday, work or school holiday and long Summer holiday).

This resource will be packed with Spring-relieving ideas about how to reduce both energy and food poverty while being on holiday.  Although the contents of this year’s Holiday with Relief will be for holiday, they can be used at any other time of the year.

To enquire about the 2022 Issue of Holiday with Relief, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Return of In-person Walk to the Needs

 

Last week, we informed you that we are gradually and prudently returning CENFACS‘ projects and programmes to their full capacity during the phase of living with COVID-19 in England.

This week, we are adding to this return our Walk to the Needs, our outreach service.

 

• • What is Walk to the Needs?

 

It is a CENFACS‘ outreach service which enables us to bring CENFACS as closest as we can to the community.  Through this service, we try to move towards those needing support.  Generally these walks are conducted in Summer.  Last Summer, we were able to conduct some Virtual or In-person TRIPS to Hybrid Running Projects and Covid-19 hit locals despite the Changing Climate and Enduring Covid-19 during Summer 2021.

 

• • How do we walk to the needs or reach out to those needing help?

 

This move is generally in-person.  It could also be mental, virtual and online when physically we cannot do it like during the coronavirus lockdown restrictions. 

Walk-to-the-Needs can also be undertaken by our supporters or volunteers who may visit our projects and organisations we work with in Africa.  These Trips to the Needs and project include some of the experiences undertaken by CENFACS All-in-Development Volunteers through field work involvements and project visits, to reach out to unreached, underserved and unserved people and communities, particularly those living in remote areas of Africa.  It is the kind of experiences that we recommend to future invertebrate and vertebrate volunteers to have and report back.

 

• • Walking to the Needs during the Phase of Living with COVID-19

 

We will be walking to the needs while keeping in mind that the battle against the coronavirus, its variants and sub-variants has not yet won.  During our outreach work, we shall maintain a healthy relationship between hands (e.g. washing our hands with sanitisers), faces (e.g. wearing face coverings if required), body (e.g. get vaccinated) and space (e.g. keeping indoor spaces ventilated).  It is better not to give up the basic healthcare principles and any life-saving advice until the coronavirus threat disappears.

We shall come back on Walk to the Needs during the Summertime.  In meantime, for any queries or enquiries about Walk to the Needs and the gradual return of services and activities, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Be.Africa Forum’s e-Discussion on the Impact of Fracture of Interstate Economic Relations on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development in Africa

 

Our e-discussion about the Impact of Russia-Ukraine Conflict on  Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development in Africa continues this week as we are trying to look at how the economic rivalries between geopolitical powers (like Russia, European Union and United States of America) can impact efforts made or to be undertaken to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development in Africa.

For example, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has led to the fracture of economic relationships between Russia and the rest of the world (mainly the European Union and United States of America).  As a result of the Russia-Ukraine war, there has been a number of economic decisions taken against the Russian economy.

A coalition of Western nations announced a number of economic sanctions which include: Russia has been denied the most-favoured-nation status relating to key products by the G7 (Group of Seven made of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United Sates); the United States of America, Canada and European allies removed key Russian banks from the interbank messaging system SWIFT, etc.

Distant economic decisions like the above that could mark the fracture of interstate economic relations can have some implications for people whose lives directly depend on these interstate economic relations.  They can as well bear far reaching indirect consequences in other places (like in Africa) where efforts to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development are linked to the state of these nation interrelations.  In the era of globalisation, one cannot imagine how decisions taken far away can impact the lives of others (especially the poorest ones) in other parts of the world (like in Africa).

CENFACS’ Be.Africa Forum would like to hear from you about how the Fracture of these Interstate Economic Relations is impacting or will impact the realisation of poverty reduction goals or efforts to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development in Africa; how the poorest in Africa are bearing the brunt of this possible/probable fracture.

You can tell the forum what you think about the far-reaching repercussions of this potential fracture can have on the realisation of poverty reduction goals and sustainable development goals in Africa.

To tell what you think or know, please contact CENFACS on this site.  Thank you!

 

 

Service de conseil  pour la communauté

Etes-vous à la recherche de soutien et d’informations?  Mais, vous ne savez pas où aller?  Svp, contactez le CENFACS.

• Qu’obtenez-vous de CENFACS?

Vous pouvez obtenir de CENFACS ce qui suit:

√ Conseils, soutien et signalisation bilingues

√ Plaidoyer

√ Interprétation et traduction de français vers l’anglais et vice versa

√ Estime de soi, renforcement de la confiance et réseautage pour la réduction de la pauvreté

√ Développement du potentiel et de la capacité individuels

√ Service de référence

LE TOUT ADAPTÉ À VOS BESOINS!

Contactez-nous et obtenez de l’aide, renforcez votre confiance, réseautez et acquérez de nouvelles compétences!

• Comment l’obtenez-vous?

En utilisant les moyens suivants:

√ Prenez rendez-vous pour des conseils gratuits pendant la semaine

√ Contactez-nous sur ce site.

Les services sont gratuits, confidentiels, ouverts à tous, organisés individuellement ou en groupe et gérés par des bénévoles qualifiés, experts et engagés.

Grâce à ce service de conseils, nous apportons le CENFACS à la communauté et à vous ce printemps 2022.

Le CENFACS est prêt à vous aider.

 

 

Main Development 

 

• Climate Action 4 from 23 to 29/03/2022: Back Clean Energy

 

To help back clean energy, we have prepared the following notes:

What is the meaning of backing clean energy?, the problem identified in backing clean energy, divesting from fossil fuels versus investing in sustainable energy, how CENFACS can act with the community and Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) on backing clean energy, and the relationship between backing clean energy and poverty reduction.

 

• • Key Notes on Climate Action 4

 

• • • What is the meaning of backing clean energy?

 

To  understand backing clean energy, let us first define clean energy.  To do that we have selected the definition given by Nicole Jawerth (4) and published on the International Atomic Energy Agency website.  On this site, clean energy is defined as

“Energy that releases little to no greenhouse gas.  Nuclear power, hydro, wind and solar re some of these clean sources”.

Backing clean energy is about supporting the energy that releases little to no greenhouse gas.  Clean energy can be funded via loans, bonds, leasing arrangements and other finding options.

 

• • • The problem identified in backing clean energy

 

The International Energy Agency (5) quoted Fatih Birol, who argued that

“Emerging and developing economies currently account for two-thirds of the world’s population, but only one-fifth of global investment in clean energy”.

If emerging and developing economies (including those of Africa) account only one-fifth of global investment in clean energy, then there is a problem when poor people making these economies are being asked to move towards clean energy.  This is because it is not enough to tell people to transition towards clean energy if they cannot afford it.  They need to be backed in order to take the clean energy drive. 

For example, an energy poor household using charcoal for cooking and heating will need financial help in order to switch to clean energy.

 

• • • Divesting from fossil fuels versus investing in sustainable energy

 

Backing clean energy is sometimes expressed in terms of the opposition between divestment from fossil fuels and investment in sustainable energy.  In this expression, less is occasionally said about energy poor people.  It will be good to first put people, particularly energy poor, at the centre of the process of divestment and investment relating to energy.

In other words, before one can start divesting from fossil fuels they need to check if investment in sustainable energy is going towards energy poor.  Doing these checks and balances between the minus (divesting from fossil fuels) and plus (investing in sustainable energy) in terms energy funding will help to know that energy poor, who usually use fossil fuels (i.e. coal, gas and oil), are not left behind on the road of fossil-free and sustainable finance.

These checks and balances are important despite the fact that moving towards clean energy predominantly is about meeting the net zero greenhouse gas emissions goal.  This goal is also meaningful when the needs of those who bear the brunt (like the energy poor) are considered.

 

• • • How CENFACS can act with the community and ASOs on backing clean energy

 

There are two ways in which CENFACS can help back clean energy, which are:

a) working with the community to get the backing of their clean energy

b) supporting ASOs working with their beneficiaries on the issue of backing clean energy.

 

a) Working with the community

 

Those members of our community who have problems of getting the backing of their clean energy needs and would like to work with us on this matter; we can assess their needs, discuss with them their household energy source and budget, inform, guide and signpost them to services that could address their needs of support towards clean energy.

Consequently, CENFACS can act with its members on the following:

 

√ Advocacy to reduce financial barriers to participation to clean energy transition

√ Improvement in access to financing for energy-efficiency and fossil fuel-free upgrades

√ Campaign to reduce energy poverty as a share of income spent on energy bills

√ Advocacy to alleviate energy burden

√ Help in the improvement of housing conditions

√ Help poor to be qualified for home improvements for energy saving and efficiency

√ Support them in their attempt to access cost-effective energy upgrades

√ Find options that do not require debt to access clean energy

√ Raise awareness to them about energy efficiency measures

√ Help them reduce energy bills via clean energy sources

√ Search with them inclusive energy financing schemes that fit their needs

Etc.

 

b) Supporting ASOs working with their beneficiaries on the issue of backing clean energy

 

CENFACS can support those ASOs working with their beneficiaries on the issue of backing clean energy as follows:

 

√ Build resilient finance to support energy transition

√ Identify appropriate instruments to finance energy projects

√ Access technical grants linked to energy (e.g. African Development Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa) to improve energy efficiency with locals

√ Develop a not-for-profit model that attract funding or backing for clean energy

Etc.

 

The above points highlight a number of ways we can use to work with the community and ASOs.  For those members of our community who are interested in getting the backing to clean energy and or who would like to take climate action with us, they are welcome to contact CENFACS.  This welcoming message equally applies to ASOs.

In working together with the community and ASOs on backing clean energy, CENFACS will strive for progress in poverty reduction and sustainable development.  In other words, we shall explore ways of backing clean energy while addressing the issue of poverty linked with the backing of clean energy.

 

• • • The relationship between backing clean energy and poverty reduction

 

Backing clean energy is about supporting energy that does not pollute or pollute very little.  Energy poverty reduction is about reducing the sensitivity of the energy share to household income.

If the backing of clean energy contributes to the reduction of sensitivity of the energy share to household income, then one can argue that there could be a positive correlation between the two variables (clean energy and poverty reduction).

In the contrary, if the backing of clean energy does not contribute to the reduction of sensitivity of the energy share to household income, then one can contend that there could be a negative or zero correlation between the two variables (clean energy and poverty reduction).

To end these notes on Climate Action 4, let us remind our audiences and readers that it is in the interest of our global commons to support the central goal of Paris Climate Treaty (which is to limit the global average temperature to 1.5°C) via the backing of clean energy.  It equally makes sense that the needs of the poor in terms of clean energy are not forgotten.  An inclusive financial action that considers both the needs of the global commons and poor’s necessities has much chance to succeed than actions that solely focus on climate goals without or with little consideration to poverty and energy poor people.     

For any other queries and enquiries about CENFACS‘ Climate Action Month, the theme of ‘Smooth the Way to Energy Transition’ and the sub-theme of Back Clean Energy; please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

_________

 

• References

 

(1) The Paris Agreement at https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/ (accessed in March 2022)

(2) https://www.iea.org/topics/energy-security (accessed in March 2022)

(3) Berrada, A., …Mrabet, R. E, (2021), in Hybrid Energy System Models at https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/energy-security/(accessed in March 2022)

(4) Jawerth, N., at https://www.iaea.org/bulletin/what-is-the-clean-energy-transition-and-how-does-nuclear-power-fit-in/ (accessed in March 2022)

(5) Birol, F., at https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/01/global-clean-energy-economy-how-to-finance/(accessed in March 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 consider a recurring donation to CENFACS in the future or as a New Year resolution.

Donate to support CENFACS!

FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO :Support Causes – (cenfacs.org.uk)

Thank you for visiting CENFACS website and reading this post.

Thank you as well to those who made or make comments about our weekly posts.

We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support throughout 2022 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

16 March 2022

 

Post No. 239

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Gradual Return of Services and Activities in the Phase of Living with COVID-19

• Spring Relief 2022: Rebuilding and Renewing Lives, Infrastructures and Institutions in the Contexts of Rising Prices of Energy and Food

• Climate Action 3 from 16 to 22/03/2022: Cut Methane Emissions

… And much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Gradual Return of Services and Activities in the Phase of Living with COVID-19

 

We are gradually and prudently returning our services and activities since the COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted in England and the nation has moved to “Living with COVID-19” phase.  What does returning our services and activities mean?

It means that CENFACS is open for poverty reduction work for both in-person and online services and activities.  The above CENFACS health dashboard gives some ideas about the state of functioning of our projects, programmes and activities.  However, this gradual and prudent return will be done by differentiated the two areas of our operation: in the UK and in Africa.

 

• • Meaning of this return to our operation in the UK

 

For our operation in the UK, the return means the following:

 

∝ After a careful risk assessment and evaluation of our services and activities in the light of the current threat levels posed by COVID-19, those services and activities that have been cancelled or partly run can now be in a position to be reinstated;

∝ Services and activities that have been properly curated will be eligible to return;

∝ We have kept hybrid way of working (working from home and away home) depending on services, activities and tasks;

∝ Services and activities that have been totally damaged by the health and economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic may not resume or will be simply replaced.

 

• • Meaning of this return to our operation in Africa

 

For our operation in Africa, the return will depend on the current COVID-19 situation of the country in which the project is located and our Africa-based Sister organisation is working.  If the indicators about COVID-19 situation and level threats show that we can fully return our services and activities, we will do it.  If not, we shall continue to partly running our services and activities with them until such time we are able to full return.

The return of our services and activities means as well something for our COVID-19 Campaign.

 

• • Meaning of this return to our COVID-19 Campaign

 

We are continuing to follow the COVID-19 situation in the UK and in Africa via our shadowing model.

The campaign is still in its Phase 3 of Post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation Strategies for our work in the UK and in Africa.

This phase or stage includes the following sub-stages: recovery, repair, strengthened restoration and functional capacity.  We are dealing with the four sub-phases (i.e. recovery, repair, strengthened restoration and functional capacity) at the same time since these sub-phases are interlinked.  This concerns our actions relating to the two operations (in the UK and in Africa).

 

• • • Adapting our Covid-19 Campaign to the current COVID-19 situation

 

There are talks about B.A.2, which is a sub-variant of Omicron.  To keep and win the battle against the coronavirus, its variants and sub-variants; it is advisable to maintain a healthy relationship between hands, faces and space.  It is better not to give up the basic healthcare principles and any life-saving advice until the coronavirus threat disappears.

Further details about the COVID-19 Campaign can be found from  CENFACS’ COVID-19 Hub for Poverty Reduction.

For any query or enquiry about the gradual return of services and activities, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Spring Relief 2022: Rebuilding and Renewing Lives, Infrastructures and Institutions in the Contexts of Rising Prices of Energy and Food

 

Generally, the key theme for Spring at CENFACS is Rebuilding or Renewing Lives, Infrastructures and Institutions.  In other words, Spring Relief is the season of rebuilding from what has been destroyed by wars, natural disasters, bad economic management, mistakes of the past, other disasters (like health crisis of Ebola or COVID-19), etc.  We need to rebuild in order to reduce poverty, stop its re-appearance and avoid the emergence of new types of poverty and new generations of poor people.

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

In Spring, we take the challenge of working with those in need to rebuild their lives, infrastructures, buildings, development of relationships, communities, etc. from damages, losses and worse changes experienced or caused.

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

 

• • Build Forward Better Together Greener, Cleaner and Safer this Spring Relief 2022 

 

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

 

• • • Contexts of building forward this Spring 2022

 

Last Spring, our focus was to rebuild and sustain lives, infrastructures and institutions within the contextual framework of health or sanitary crisis brought by the coronavirus pandemic.

This Spring 2022, we are going to help reduce poverty and build lives within the contexts of rising prices of energy and food.  These contexts are the consequences of the Russia-Ukraine conflict as well.  A conflict that has led to the soaring prices of oil (Brent crude) and food (e.g. wheat), which have started to impact beyond the European borders to reach Africa.

This is the current contexts of our work.  It is the context of rebuilding and sustaining lives, infrastructures and institutions in the world of energy and food crises.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has led to the jump in the prices of fossil fuels like oil and gas.  Using the data from Refinitiv, Alexandra White (1) argues that

“The Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, jumped almost 8 per cent to 132.51 a barrel [on Tuesday 08/03/2022]”

There has been also a surge in gas prices in Europe where many countries depend on Russian gas.  According to the online website ‘bloomberg.com’ (2),

“Since 01 January 2022, the percentage change of gas prices has been 144% for the European Union, 142% for the United Kingdom and 37.3% for the United States of America [as of 08 March 2022]”

Assessing the world food situation via its Food Price Index, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (3) argues that

“The FAO Food Price Index [FFPI] averaged 140.7 points in February 2022, up 5.3 points [3.9 percent] from January and as much as 24.1 points [20.7 percent] above its level a year ago”.

The FAO Food Price Index is a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities.

Rising prices of energy and food can be an impediment in the process of building forward.  Given these contexts and impediment, how can we build forward?

 

• • • How to exactly build forward in the new contexts

 

We are continuing to Build Forward Better Together Greener, Cleaner and Safer.  We are doing it with the green, clean and safe economies in our mind set.  Our process of Building Forward Better Together Greener, Cleaner and Safer is now in its second year.

So, the theme for this Spring Relief 2022 is still “Build Forward Better Together Greener, Cleaner and Safer”, but within the contexts of rising energy and food prices.   The announcement of Spring Relief’s theme comes with that of projects and programmes making it or the notes composing this theme.  We have provided under the Main Development section of this post a selection of projects and programmes which will make this Spring – Spring Relief season.

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

 

 

• Climate Action 3 from 16 to 22/03/2022: Cut Methane Emissions

 

Climate Action 3 is about curbing methane emissions from fossil fuel matters.  To take action leading to the cut of methane emissions, we have organised the following notes:

What is methane?, the main concern about methane, theory of change relating to methane emissions reduction, relationship between the reduction of methane emissions and poverty reduction, and how CENFACS can act with the community to cut methane emissions.

Let us look at these notes to Climate Action 3.

 

• • Key Notes on Climate Action 3

 

• • • What is methane?

 

The Oxford Dictionary of Environment and Conservation written by Chris Park (4) states that

“Methane (CH4) is a colourless, non-poisonous, flammable hydrocarbon gas created by anaerobic decomposition of organic compounds.  It is the main component of natural gas and can be used as a fuel.  The main sources of methane are landfills, coal mines, rice paddy fields, natural gas systems, and livestock (such as cows and sheep).  It is a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential of 23”. (p. 278)

Methane is therefore a greenhouse gas that is emitted during energy production and processing of natural gas, coal and crude oil.

What is a stake here is not about defining methane.  It is about the concern that methane raises in relation to the climate change.

 

• • • The main concern about methane

 

The main problem with methane is its contribution towards the global warming.  The United Nations Environment Programme (5) notices that

“Methane has accounted for roughly 30 per cent of global warming since pre-industrial times and is proliferating faster than at any other time since record keeping began in the 1980s”.

This is why action is needed to cut methane emissions.  This is also the reason for which methane emissions reduction was one of the outcomes resulting from the COP (Conference of the Parties) 26 United Nations Climate Change Conference held at Glasgow Summit (6) in November 2021.

However, to cut methane emissions there are different views or theories.

 

• • • Theory of change relating to methane emissions reduction

 

Without going into the discussion about these different theories, let us simply pick up one of them, which is the theory of change developed by the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO).  The IMEO’s (7) theory of change is as follows:

“The interaction between [better data, better reporting and better regulation] – allowing them to build on each other – that drives and delivers results [A change required in terms of methane emissions reduction]” (p. VI).

It is a theory of change that aims to create the contextual drivers that will catalyse action.

Having a theory is one thing.  Taking action or applying this theory is another thing.

 

 

• • • How CENFACS can act with the community and Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) to cut methane emissions

 

There are two ways in which CENFACS can help cut methane, which are:

a) working with the community in the fight against methane emissions 

b) supporting ASOs working with their beneficiaries on the issue of methane emissions reduction.

 

a) Working with the community

 

Those members of our community who have problems with methane emissions reduction and would like to work with us on this matter; we can assess their needs, discuss with them their household energy source and budget, inform, guide and signpost them to services that could address their needs of methane emissions reduction.

In this respect, CENFACS can act with its members on the following:

 

√ Advise its members, particularly those who can afford, to use domestic appliances that reduce methane emissions reduction (e.g. use of all-electric stoves instead of gas ones)

√ Reduce both environmental risk and health risk (e.g. respiratory diseases) through the choice of cooking appliances to be used

√ Suggest and emphasise the ongoing message about of fighting methane emissions via food waste and reduction of meat consumption

√ Choose diet that is net zero greenhouse gas emissions as far as methane is concerned

 

Besides this specific matter linked to methane emissions reduction, we can as well work with them on the following:

 

√ Encourage them to use price comparison tool to compare and contrast prices from different energy suppliers and choose the one that suits their interest and need

√ Work with energy poor to help them take control of their energy

√ Direct them to supportive energy hubs

√ Explain them what energy cap and energy rebate mean for their household energy budget

√ How to lessen the impact of energy crisis on their household bills

Etc.

 

b) Working with and supporting ASOs on matters relating to methane emissions reduction

 

CENFACS can support those ASOs that work with farmers and agriculturalists so that they can…

 

√ Feed animals nutritiously

√ Manage manure more effectively

√ Use alternative wetting and drying approaches for staple crops

√ Reduce methane emissions from livestock such as cows and sheep

Etc.

 

The above points highlight a number of ways we can use to work with the community and ASOs.  For those members of our community who are interested in the reduction of methane emissions and or who would like to take climate action with us, they are welcome to contact CENFACS.  This welcoming message equally applies to ASOs.

In working together with the community and ASOs on methane emissions reduction, CENFACS will strive for progress in poverty reduction.  In other words, we shall explore ways of better reducing methane emissions while addressing the issue of poverty can be linked with methane emissions.

 

• • • Relationship between the reduction of methane emissions and poverty reduction

 

Methane is a greenhouse gas.  It is known and well documented that people who use faulty domestic appliances that release methane or indoor pollution of air could be exposed to respiratory diseases like asthma, coughing.  This raises the issue of health and indoor environment poverty. 

So, cutting methane emissions from these households can help reduce health poverty or indoor environment poverty linked to the polluting air and energy generated by gas stoves or any other domestic appliances that may be faulty.  In this respect, there could be link between methane emissions reduction and poverty reduction.

This relationship between the two variables (methane emissions and poverty) concludes our notes on this Climate Action 3.

For any other queries and enquiries about CENFACS‘ Climate Action Month, the theme of ‘Smooth the Way to Energy Transition’ and the sub-theme of Cut Methane Emissions; please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• End-of-season Reminder!!!

 

Coronavirus-affected Children of Sub-Saharan Africa Desperately Need Your Help Right NOW

 

Our Season of Light through the Gifts of Light has not yet finished.  We still have almost 4 days to go until the end of the season.

We are making another plea to those who have not yet managed to support to keep in their mind the Coronavirus-affected Children of Sub-Saharan Africa who Desperately Need Your Help Right NOW.

Although the deadline for this appeal is 20 March 2022, we will still accept any donations made after this deadline as the needs of the Coronavirus-affected Children of Sub-Saharan Africa are still pressing and urgent.

Please do not wait for the expiration of the deadline as the needs have not disappeared.

You can halve poverty  in Sub-Saharan Africa.

You can halve health poverty for and with children at risk of loosing their life because of COVID-19.

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

We look forward to your support.  Thank you!

 

 

 

 

• Climate Action Budget for Household/Family

 

An ordinary household or family can work out how much of their earning can be allocated to spending for climate action.  The given household or family can plan for a certain period how much to spend in order to reduce for example its greenhouse gas emissions.

In their climate action spending budget, the household or family can plan the amount they need in order to achieve the following climate objectives:

 

√ To encourage lower indoor greenhouse emissions

√ To adopt green, safe and clean energy (for cooking and heating)

√ To utilise efficient electric appliances

√ To compare and contrast fossil fuels to sustainable energy in terms of saving and health

Etc.

 

For effectiveness, all these small objectives will be summarised in a climate action budget.

So, to enrich our Climate Action Days, we will be working on the items of household/family budget relating to climate and where actions can be taken at the level of household/family in order to reduce climate issues (such as indoor air pollution).

For those who would like to work with CENFACS on their household budget in order to take action in favour of the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, they are more than welcome to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Be.Africa Forum’s Discussion on the Impact of Russia-Ukraine Conflict on Poverty Reduction Goals

 

Last week, we started the discussion on the Impact of Russia-Ukraine Conflict on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development in Africa.  Since parts of Africa where our operation is based have started to feel the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, we are now narrowing our discussion at the level of impact they are subjected to.  We have narrowed it to the seven poverty reduction goals making CENFACS’ 2020s Development Agenda and Poverty Reduction Programme.

These seven poverty reduction goals include:

1. Reduce income poverty and poverty (or weaknesses) in earning capacity

2. Consume sustainably to reduce poverty and climate change

3. Tackle energy poverty

4. Support in-working poor people

5. Eliminate (inter/intra)generational poverty amongst women and children

6. Empower the digital and ICT (information and communication technology) poor people and communities

7. Help reduce climate-induced poverty or situational (or transitory) poverty amongst the victims of natural disasters and of destructive wars (like the Russia-Ukraine war).

Specifically, we are exploring how for example the rise in the prices of energy and food led by the Russia-Ukraine conflict is impacting or could impact the realisation of the above mentioned poverty reduction goals in Africa in the short, medium and long term.

CENFACS’ Be.Africa Forum would like to hear from you about how this conflict is impacting or will impact the realisation of these goals or efforts to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development in Africa.

You can tell the forum what you think about the far-reaching repercussions of this conflict on the realisation of poverty reduction goals in Africa.

To tell what you think or know, please contact CENFACS on this site.  Thank you!

 

 

Discussion du Forum “Une Afrique Meilleure” sur l’impact du conflit russo-ukrainien sur la réalisation des objectifs de réduction de la pauvreté en Afrique

La semaine dernière, nous avons entamé la discussion sur l’impact du conflit russo-ukrainien sur la réduction de la pauvreté et le développement durable en Afrique. 

Puisque certaines parties de l’Afrique où notre opération est basée ont commencé à ressentir l’impact du conflit russo-ukrainien, nous avons maintenant restreint notre cadre de discussion au niveau de l’impact sur la réalisation des sept objectifs de réduction de la pauvreté qui font l’agenda de développement et le programme de réduction de la pauvreté du CENFACS pour les années 2020.

Ces sept objectifs de réduction de la pauvreté sont les suivants :

1. Réduire la pauvreté monétaire et la pauvreté (ou les faiblesses) liées à l’incapacité de gagner un revenu

2. Consommer de manière durable pour réduire la pauvreté et le changement climatique

3. Lutter contre la précarité énergétique

4. Soutenir les travailleurs pauvres

5. Éliminer la pauvreté (inter/intra)générationnelle chez les femmes et les enfants

6. Autonomiser les personnes et les communautés pauvres en matière de numérique et de TIC (technologies de l’information et de la communication)

7. Aider à réduire la pauvreté induite par le climat ou la pauvreté situationnelle (ou transitoire) parmi les victimes de catastrophes naturelles et de guerres destructrices (comme la guerre entre la Russie et l’Ukraine).

Plus précisément, nous explorons comment, par exemple, la hausse des prix de l’énergie et des denrées alimentaires provoquée par le conflit russo-ukrainien a un impact ou pourrait avoir un impact sur la réalisation des objectifs de réduction de la pauvreté mentionnés ci-dessus en Afrique à court, moyen et long terme.

Le Forum “Une Afrique Meilleure” du CENFACS aimerait vous entendre sur la manière dont ce conflit est en train d’impacter ou peut impacter la réalisation de ces objectifs ou efforts visant à réduire la pauvreté et à renforcer le développement durable en Afrique.

Vous pouvez dire au forum ce que vous pensez des répercussions profondes de ce conflit sur la réalisation des objectifs de réduction de la pauvreté en Afrique.

Pour communiquer et partager ce que vous pensez ou savez à propos de cet impact, veuillez contacter le CENFACS sur ce site.  Merci!

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• Spring Relief 2022: Rebuilding and Renewing Lives, Infrastructures and Institutions in the Contexts of Rising Prices of Energy and Food

 

To cover the contents of Spring Relief 2022, we have planned the following two items: What is in focus for Spring Relief 2022?, and Preview of Projects and Programmes for Spring Relief 2022.

 

• • What is in focus for Spring Relief 2022?

 

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

Indeed, the coronavirus pandemic will remain in the living memory a sanitation crisis that has reverberated with sanitation poverty.  If we are going to build forward together; we need to build a greener, cleaner and safer world so that future generations will not have the fulfilment of their needs compromises.  In other words, we need to adopt green, clean and safe pathways for poverty reduction and low carbon emissions development.

However, we cannot ignore the contexts in which we need to build forward.  The current context is of soaring energy and food prices.  These rises have been exacerbated by the current Russia-Ukraine conflict which has started to impact on efforts made so far to reduce poverty in some parts of Africa.  It is in these contexts of rising of the prices of energy and food that we will try to build forward during this Spring 2022.

So, during this Spring Relief 2022 CENFACS is going to work with the community in the UK and organisations in Africa to continue the work of building forward better together from the collateral damages left by the coronavirus disaster and some of the inappropriate lockdown measures.  We have said inappropriate lockdown measures, because not all these measures have equally or symmetrically treated or affected everybody.  No matter the good intention they had in order to control the coronavirus spread and protect the public health.  There have been uneven distributional effects as a result of COVID-19 lockdowns for example.

Building forward better, which started last Spring and is now in its Year 2, is also about correcting the asymmetrical legacies of these measures since many of our community members have been unevenly hurt during this crisis compared to other economic crises such as the global recession of 2008/9.

In order to build forward better, one needs a programme or a strategy or a post-COVID-19 build forward better strategy.  This is why we developed a Build Forward Better Together programme to last for two years.  To deliver this programme, one needs as well a set of projects and activities during the programme’s lifespan.

 

• • Preview of Projects and Programmes for Spring Relief 2022

 

CENFACS is pleased to present its New Season’s (Spring) collection of selected projects and programmes with a choice of relief and climate smart services.  For each of these projects and programmes, you will find climate resilient development ambition as well as user-friendly and –centred relief.  They are designed with the scents of inclusivity, safety and sustainability.

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

Please find below the selection of Spring Relief 2022 Projects and Programmes.

 

• • • April: Protection Month

 

There will be two initiatives to deliver and sustain protection in April 2022:

Energy Protection and Security for Women and Children, and Protection against Food Price Rises and Scarcity.

 

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

 

Reflection on Energy Protection and Security for Women and Children (Protection project)

On our Reflection Day, we will reflect on the crisis and risk linked to natural/environmental resource like natural energy sources (particularly non-renewable resources such as oil, natural gas, coal, etc.).

Since these resources can be weaponised like the Russia-Ukraine conflict has so far shown, our Reflection Day will try to look at ways of protecting and securing women and children from the lack of access to sustainable energy.

Additionally, we shall reflect on the effects of energy and food prices on our network and system of protection in the process of building forward better together greener, cleaner and safer.

 

b) Protection against food price rises and scarcity  (Protection and Food project)

 

Food getting dearer and scarce could mean the increase or exacerbation of food poverty.  Because of that, there is a need to protect food poor and those who are likely to experience food poverty from current and near-future rise in the price of food.

 

• • • May: Stories Telling Month

 

The plan for May 2022 is made two main features:

Stories Telling and Sharing project, and the continuation of our Rebuilding Africa project/campaign.

 

a) All in Development Stories (Volunteer’s Stories Telling & Sharing project)

 

Tell your Story of Building Forward Better from the COVID-19 Disaster – Tell it! 

 

Entries for Stories on Poverty Relief and Development for May 2022 (May Stories) are now open. To tell and share your story of change for change to CENFACS, please contact CENFACS for story telling terms and conditions.

This year’s All in Development Stories will be about how people and communities are trying or have tried to build forward better from the coronavirus disaster and its variants.

This year’s stories are those of:

 

∝ restoration to original or near conditions

∝ recovery forward better cleaner, greener and safer

∝ transformation to cope with the new realities and post-coronavirus economy

∝ aligning poverty reduction work with long-term CO2 emissions reduction goals.

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

 

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

 

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

 

b.1) Building Forward Better Together with Communities and Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) will be based on wellbeing economy, inclusiveness and safety to manage the process of coming out the coronavirus pandemic.  It is about advocating to manage transition.

 

b.2) Building Forward Better Together with Communities and ASOs will be about navigating their ways to improve in those areas where COVID-19 has brought a new window of opportunities and scope to learn and develop.  It is an advocacy work to go beyond transition and plan future.

 

• • • June: Creation & Innovation Month

 

Creation and innovation are needed to manage the transition from the 3 pandemic years  (March 2019 to March 2022) to the post-pandemic era.  Likewise, to build forward better, creation and innovation should be the response.

This June, we shall deal with creations and innovations that help that transition as well as those that help manage the post-transition period.

 

a) Creations and Innovations to manage the pandemic and  post-pandemic transition (Creation and Innovation project)

 

Forming from nothing ideas or introducing changes to manage transition from COVID-19 and move forward together will be the main activity during the month of June 2022.  These creative ideas and innovative ways of working will enable to find the means to meet the level of ambition we have for the kind of sustainable development and future we want.

Using our skills, knowledge and talents to find techniques, technologies and new methods to deal with the currently pressing and immediate needs of post-pandemic period may not be enough unless we create and innovate to prevent or at least to mitigate future crisis.  It means there could be another need to bring into existence ideas and introduce changes and new methods to address the future crisis if they happen when they happen.

 

b) Creations and Innovations to deal with energy and food price increases (Creation and Innovation project)

 

The current rises in energy and food prices mean that one needs to find some creative and innovative ways of dealing with these prices if one wants to avoid energy and food poverty.  It also means one may work out to develop an alternative in terms of ideas, skills and new knowledge to meet the energy and food needs of those who are unable to meet them by themselves.

The above summarises the programmes, projects and activities we have planned to deliver this coming Spring.  To request further information about Spring Relief 2022 Projects and Programmes, please contact CENFACS. 

 

Note: 

The above initiatives are only a selection of what we have planned for Spring Relief season 2022.  We may introduce new initiatives and or upgrade the existing ones depending on the circumstances as we have from time to time to respond to emergencies and urgent humanitarian issues like we did with the sanitary crisis, COVID-19, and we may do it with the current Russia-Ukraine crisis.  In which case, we shall let you know. 

Also, in every work we do to try to help reduce poverty, there is always a cost to bear.  If you could help alleviate some of our costs, we would more acknowledge your support than just appreciate your gesture.  

_________

 

• References

 

(1) White, A. (2022), Oil prices surge ahead of US announcement on Russian oil ban at https://www.ft.com/content/a29d2d7d-fb07-4976-bc/76-45100df-07bb#post-8616d6ce-b8fc-43c5-87f0308b6409 (accessed in March 2022)

(2) https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-08 (accessed in March 2022)

(3) https://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/foodpricesindex/en/ (accessed in March 2022)

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

(5) https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/methane-emissions-are-driving-climate-change-heres-how-reduce-them# (accessed in March 2022)

(6) https://ukcop26.org (accessed in March 2022)

(7) United Nations Environment Programme (2021), An Eye on Methane: International Methane Emissions Observatory 2021. Nairobi

_________

 

Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going this year.

We do our work on a very small budget and on a voluntary basis.  Making a donation will show us you value our work and support CENFACS’ work, which is currently offered as a free service.

One could consider a recurring donation to CENFACS in the future or as a New Year resolution.

Donate to support CENFACS!

FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO :Support Causes – (cenfacs.org.uk)

Thank you for visiting CENFACS website and reading this post.

Thank you as well to those who made or make comments about our weekly posts.

We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support throughout 2022 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

09 March 2022

 

Post No. 238

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Urban Poverty Reduction Project

• Action 2: Reduce or Phase Down of Fossil Fuel Subsidies

• Light Season’s New Energy Projects

 

… And much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Urban Poverty Reduction Project

 

Urban Poverty Reduction Project (UPRP) takes stock of some of the key matters raised in the 74th Issue of FACS (1) regarding the Dilemmas Faced by Africa-based Sister Organisations in Helping  to Reduce Poverty in the Context of Rising Urban Population in Africa.  One the matters discussed in this Issue was urban poverty itself.

In this Issue, urban poverty was conceptualised by referencing to the work of Anna Belén Cano Hila (2), who argued that

“Urban poverty refers to the set of economic and social difficulties that are found in industrialized cities and that are the result of a combination of processes such as: the establishment of comfortable living standards, the increase of individualism, processes of social fragmentation, and the dualization of the labour market, which translates into social dualization”.

Urban poverty can also happen in developing cities like those of Africa.  This set of economic and social difficulties or simply urban poverty has increased with COVID-19 and its socio-economic impacts in those developing cities.  Likewise, the far-reaching ramifications of the Russia-Ukraine conflict may exacerbate these difficulties. 

UPRP is designed to work with our Africa-based Sister Organisations so that they can address these matters on the grounds where our operations are under way.

UPRP falls within the scope of the United Nations (3) Sustainable Development Goal 11 of Making Cities and Human Settlements Inclusive, Safe, Resilient and Sustainable.

For those who may be interested in supporting UPRP, they can find its key elements of UPRP under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• Climate Action 2 (From 09 to 15/03/2022): Reduce or Phase down Subsidies that artificially lower the price of coal, oil and natural gas

 

Our climate mitigation actions continue this week as we are working on activities that can lead to the reduction or phasing down of fossil fuel subsidies.  In order to work on them, we have organised the following notes:

A brief explanation of fossil fuel subsidies, the main argument around fossil fuel subsidies, the possible link between the reduction of fossil fuel subsidies and energy poverty reduction, and what climate actions that CENFACS can take with users in relation to fossil fuel subsidies.

 

• • Notes to the Climate Action 2

 

• • • A brief explanation of fossil fuel subsidies

 

Fossil fuel subsidies are simply measures taken by governments around the world to artificially lower the price of fossil fuels (such as coal, oil and natural gas).  There are two subsidies, which are: production subsidies and consumption subsidies.  There are pros and cons arguments around these subsidies.

 

 

• • • The argument around fossil fuel subsidies: Energy substitution effect

 

Without engaging in an academic discussion about fossil fuel subsidies, let us simply contend that the main argument or disagreement about them is energy substitution effect of fossil fuels (e.g. coal, oil and natural gas) for cleaner and renewable energies (such as wind, wave and solar power) from a change in their relative prices, especially and not exclusively for lower-income households.

To highlight this argument, Jocelyn Timperley (4) argues that

“Fossil fuel subsidies are one of the biggest financial barriers hampering the world’s shift to renewable energy sources”.

Besides this argument, there is also a discussion about the link between the reduction of fossil fuel subsidies and energy poverty reduction.

 

• • • Possible link between the reduction of fossil fuel subsidies and energy poverty reduction

 

There could be a relationship between the reduction of fossil fuel subsidies and energy poverty reduction if the money saved through the first reduction is allocated to meet the needs of energy poor people and households.  The money from the cut of fossil fuel subsidies can be transferred to energy poor to consume cleaner, greener and sustainable energy.

However, in time of energy crises (like of energy crisis led by the Russia-Ukraine conflict) the link between the reduction of fossil fuel subsidies and energy poverty reduction could be difficult to think of.  In the current context of Russia-Ukraine conflict and of weaponization of natural resources (like gas), the world and its developing parts are experiencing rises in global energy prices and food prices.

In these energy conflicting and weaponizing contexts, households, especially the poorest ones, are likely to see their fuel/energy bills going up.  So, the prospect for having both the reduction of fossil fuel subsidies and energy poverty reduction could be blurred or difficult.  This difficulty does not stop anyone to take actions to deal with or in relation to fossil fuel subsidies.

 

• • • Climate actions that CENFACS can take with users in relation to the reduction of fossil fuel subsidies

 

In the definition of fossil fuel subsidies, we argued that fossil fuel subsidies are measures taken by governments.  However, other economic agents/players can accompany or support these measures. 

We also argued at the beginning of these climate actions that any effort to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change (effort made by reducing greenhouse gas emissions while strengthening capacities and resilience to climate-induced impacts) needs to be smoothly done without exacerbating poverty or leading to a new type of poverty for them.  Put it simply, to make helpful difference this effort should lead to poverty reduce as well.

Following these two arguments made, we can add that to be relevant the reduction of fossil fuel subsidies needs to respond to both the needs of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy poor’s needs.  Where it does not respond, this provides a window of opportunities for CENFACS to work with Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) and with the community in undertaking activities relating to these energy issues.  

 

• • • • Working with and supporting ASOs on matters relating to the reduction of fossil fuels

 

CENFACS can…

 

√ Help to develop advocacy strategy conducive to the gaining of access to dividend money from the removal of fossil fuel subsidies

√ Advise ASOs on better use of cash transfers as a result of cut in fossil fuel prices

√ Assist them in offsetting any effects from rising energy prices as a result of income generated from fossil fuel budget cuts

√ Work with them to move towards cleaner, greener and sustainable energy

√ Develop collaborative and cooperative way of working together in the matter of sustainable energy for lower income communities in Africa.

 

• • • • Working with and supporting the community on matters relating to the reduction of fossil fuels

 

CENFACS can support the community members…

 

√ To understand how changes in fossil fuel subsidies can affect their household budgets

√ To be updated about any new and innovative practices in terms of energy use

√ To translate in simple language complex issues of fossil fuel subsidies that can affect their lives

√ To save money on energy bills by sourcing with them affordable energy providers and following energy saving tips and hints

√ With advice and targeted campaign messages to transition towards cleaner, greener and sustainable energy.

 

For those members of our community who are interested in the reduction of fossil fuel subsidies and or who would like to take climate action with us, they are welcome to contact CENFACS.  This welcome message equally applies to ASOs.

For any other queries and enquiries about CENFACS‘ Climate Action Month, the theme of ‘Smooth the Way to Energy Transition’ and the sub-theme of Reduce or Phase down Fossil Fuel Subsidies; please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Light Season’s New Energy Projects

 

Last week, we introduced new ways of working with Africa-based Sister Organisations and the community on Plan to Reduce Coal Usage.  This week, we are building on these ways by highlighting two new initiatives which fall within the scope of the Light Season.  These new ways include:

a) Programme for Gradually Phasing Down Coal

b) Advocacy and E-workshops about Energy Transition.

 

• • Programme for Gradually Phasing Down Coal

 

Under this programme, we can together with ASOs plan a certain number of initiatives and activities (e.g. training, workshops, awareness raising, skills formation and development, etc.) to help their locals gradually reduce the use of coal or any polluting source of energy in the process of meeting their basic life-sustaining needs and services and contributing to the net zero CO2 emissions world.

 

• • Advocacy and E-workshops about Energy Transition 

 

Under energy advocacy and e-workshops about energy transition, we can work with the community on affordable way to embrace or keep pace with energy transition by smoothly moving towards carbon net zero or post-carbon economy, from polluting to cleaner, greener and sustainable energy.

The above mentioned programme, advocacy and e-workshops will be carried out as we move along the year.  However, for those who would like to find out more about them, they are welcome to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Zero Income Deficit Campaign: Tracking Incomings and Outgoings

 

As part of CENFACS’ Zero Income Deficit Campaign, we are now dealing with techniques and methodology to track incomings and outgoings within household cash flow.    Let us explain what this tracking is about.

 

• • What is tracking incomings and outgoings?

 

Tracking incomings and outgoings is about collecting monitoring information on your income and expenses accounts.  In practical terms, it means recording income and expenses as they chronologically occur, describing income and expenses, explaining source of income while categorising expenses, and writing down the amounts of income and expenses.  It is part and task of cash flow management which we are going to undertake with those in need of support.

 

 

• • Working with those who need support for the tracking of their incomings and outgoings

 

Through this tracking process, we can work with those who need support for their cash flow problems on a number  tasks like the following:

 

√ Set up a start date with opening cash balance, forecast future cash inflows and outflows, record both incoming and outgoing cashes while tracking results

√ We can share with user cash flow templates which are available on the market and help them understand how online cash flow trackers work while supporting them to complete them step-by-step

√ We will show them how to track cash flow for six months, one year or more

√ We can assist them to track metrics and key performance indicators to measure and predict their household’s financial health and wealth.

 

As an example of key performance or predictive indicator, let us take the liquidity ratio.  This ratio can help households to know how well or bad they can pay off their outstanding short-term debts.

So, we can help these households to work out their liquidity ratio and understand what it means for household cash flow.

For those members of our community who have problems in tracking their household cash flow incomings and outgoings, and who would like to work on this matter with us, they are free to contact us.  Their demand for support does not invalidate any request for support concerning previous activities such as the impact of debt on household budget, budgeting household income and expenses, balance sheet, and reduction of excess of liabilities over assets.

Need to work with us on cash flow tracking activity, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• E-workshop on Climate Mitigation Action and Poverty Reduction

 

This e-workshop is about identifying types of climate action that reduce both poverty and climate change adversity.  After this identification, participants can state how strong or moderate or weak the given climate action can have on net zero CO2 emissions reduction and poverty reduction.

In this exercise, we could have the following matrix of 9 x 2 possibilities:

 

Strong impact for climate – Strong impact for poverty reduction

Strong impact for climate – Moderate impact for poverty reduction

Strong impact for climate – Weak impact for poverty reduction

Moderate impact for climate – Strong impact for poverty reduction

Moderate impact for climate – Moderate impact for poverty reduction

Moderate impact for climate – Weak impact for poverty reduction

Weak impact for climate – Strong impact for poverty reduction

Weak impact for climate – Moderate impact for poverty reduction

Weak impact for climate – Weak impact for poverty reduction

 

To participate or find out more about the e-workshop, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Be.Africa Forum Discusses the Impact of Russia-Ukraine Conflict on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development in Africa

 

The armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine may have some far-reaching ramifications in terms of efforts to tackle poverty and enhance sustainable development in Africa.  So far, this conflict has resulted in soaring prices of cereal, dairy and food products.  The prices of sunflower oil and wheat have dramatically gone up.

The conflict has also led to the jump in the prices of fossil fuels like oil and gas.  Using the data from Refinitiv, Alexandra White (5) argues that

“The Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, jumped almost 8 per cent to 132.51 a barrel [on Tuesday 08/03/2022]”

There has been also a surge in gas prices in Europe where many countries depend on Russian gas.  According to the online website ‘bloomberg.com’ (6), 

“Since 01 January 2022, the percentage change of gas prices has been 144% for the European Union, 142% for the United Kingdom and 37.3% for the United States of America [as of 08 March 2022]”

Bearing in mind that Russia is the world’s third top producer of crude oil after Saudi Arabi and the United States of America, and together Russia and Ukraine hold 30% of global production of wheat and 80% of sunflower oil; this conflict or crisis has started to have rippling effects beyond the European borders to reach Africa.

These skyrocketing energy and food prices may have contributed to the rise in the price of foodstuffs and transport costs in Africa where lives and livelihoods depend on the above mentioned products and services.  This is let alone indirect price increases for other essential products and services linked to the above mentioned ones.  These rises could also have knock-on effects on any efforts to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development in Africa.

Because of these presumed multiplier effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the African economies, CENFACS’ Be.Africa Forum would like to hear from you about how this conflict is impacting or will impact efforts to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development in Africa.

You can tell the forum what you think about the repercussions of this conflict on poverty reduction and sustainable development in Africa.  To tell what you think or know, please contact CENFACS on this site.  Thank you!

 

 

Action 2 pour le climat à tenir du 09 au 15/03/2022:

Baisser ou réduire progressivement les subventions qui abaissent artificiellement le prix du charbon, du pétrole et du gaz naturel

Les actions d’atténuation du changement climatique se poursuivent cette semaine.  A ce titre, nous travaillons sur des activités qui peuvent conduire à la baisse ou à la réduction progressive des subventions.

Pour y arriver, nous allons travailler soit avec des organisations sœurs basées en Afrique soit avec les membres de notre communauté, soit les deux.  Nous le faisons en tenant compte que l’action climatique concerne d’abord les efforts visant à atténuer les effets du changement climatique négatif plutôt qu’à réduire la pauvreté.

1) Le travail avec les organisations sœurs basées en Afrique

Le travail avec les organisations sœurs basées en Afrique consistera à les soutenir sur le plan de réduction des subventions aux combustibles fossiles.

Dans ce cadre, le CENFACS peut…

√ Aider à développer une stratégie de plaidoyer propice à l’accès à l’argent des dividendes grâce à la suppression des subventions aux combustibles fossiles

√ Conseiller ces organisations sur une meilleure utilisation des transferts monétaires à la suite de la réduction des prix du carburant

√ Les aider à compenser les effets de la hausse des prix de l’énergie résultant des revenus générés par les coupes budgétaires dans les combustibles fossiles

√ Travailler avec eux pour évoluer vers une énergie plus propre, plus verte et durable

√ Développer une manière collaborative et coopérative de travailler ensemble en matière d’énergie durable pour les communautés à faible revenu en Afrique

√ Travailler indirectement avec les communautés africaines par le biais de leurs organisations représentatitves et les soutenir sur la réduction des subventions aux combustibles fossiles.

2) Le travail avec les membres de notre communauté

Le CENFACS peut soutenir les membres de sa communauté de manière suivante:

√ Comprendre comment les changements dans les subventions aux combustibles fossiles peuvent affecter le budget de leurs ménages

√ Être mis à jour sur toute pratique nouvelle et innovante en matière de consommation d’énergie

√ Traduire en langage simple et claire les questions complexes des subventions aux combustibles fossiles qui peuvent affecter leur vie

√ Economiser de l’argent sur les factures d’énergie en leur procurant des fournisseurs d’énergie à des prix abordables et en suivant les conseils et astuces d’économie d’énergie

√ Avec des conseils et des messages de campagne ciblés pour la transition vers une énergie plus propre, plus verte et durable.

Pour les membres de notre communauté qui sont intéressés par la réduction des subventions aux combustibles fossiles et qui souhaitent prendre des mesures climatiques avec nous, ils sont invités à contacter le CENFACS.  Ce message de bienvenue s’applique également aux organisations sœurs basées en Afrique.

Pour toute autre question et demande de renseignements sur le Mois de l’action pour le climat du CENFACS, le thème « Faciliter la transition énergétique » et le sous-thème « baisser ou réduire progressivement les subventions »; n’hésitez pas à contacter le CENFACS.

 

 

Main Development

 

• Urban Poverty Reduction Project

 

The following are the key highlights of the Urban Poverty Reduction Project.

 

• • What is Urban Poverty Reduction Project?

 

It is a poverty-reduction initiative of inclusivity, safety, resilience and sustainability that aims 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 can improve the quality of their living conditions.  As stated, the project will help them to be included, feel safe and stay resilient against environmental, economic and social threats and risks.

 

• • What are the expectations about this project?

 

Through this project, there are expectations to increase and widen the opportunities and possibilities of meeting social, economic and environmental needs.

∝ Social needs are psychological and emotional needs as the theory of hierarchy of needs of Abraham Maslow (7) tells us.  These social needs will include affection, belonging, acceptance and safety.  The satisfaction of these needs can help to reduce poverty linked to loneliness, anxiety, etc.

∝ Economic needs are the minimum what is required for any human being to survive economically in terms of education, health, money, housing, transport, assets, land, etc.  Economic needs can be met by income generation activities, job creation, having a bank/saving account (digital or non digital), etc.

∝ Environmental needs will be the minimum what is necessary for human beings to survive external factors, conditions and influences that affect their life, development and survival. Meeting environmental needs could be providing net-zero-CO2-emissions consumer goods and services; ensuring good quality of air; sustainably managing waste, etc.

 

• • Project objectives

 

Through this project, CENFACS wishes the following to happen:

 

√ Work with urban poor build resilience and sustainable living

√ Lower multiple deprivations experienced by urban poor

√ Reduce overcrowding

√ Improve the quality of air they breathe

√ Better manage waste

√ Cut informal settlements

√ Reduce informal settlers and squatters from urban poor

√ Improve the means to access safe and sustainable transport

√ Reduce the use of polluting energy

√ Transition to clean and renewable energy

√ Build coping, adaptive and transformative capacity against urban natural events (e.g. flooding) and environmental health exposures.

 

• • Project activities

 

The project is about working with urban poor and or their representative organisation to help them navigate the barriers and challenges of urban city so that they can find their way out via these specific actions:

 

√ Information, guidance and support to urban poor about the functioning and distribution of city-wide services

√ In-person and digital support to access urban services

√ Learning and training about citizenship rights

√ Advocacy on urban and human rights

√ Advice and tips on urban poverty reduction

√ Training and workshops on urban life

√ Urban skills development

Etc.

 

• • Project outcomes

 

CENFACS  hopes that by working with urban people who live below an acceptable level of income in the city and who have no access or limited access to some social means, they will be able to achieve the following changes:

 

√ Less unemployed and casually employed amongst other urban people

√ Reduction of the number of urban poor where the project will be implemented

√ Improvement in security to land tenure/tenancy and secure living conditions

√ Better access to good sanitation, safe drinking water and healthcare

√ Curbing of the impacts of risky environmental health

√ Lowering of the lingering socio-economic effects of COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict

√ Adequate access to city-wide services (e.g. water supply, sanitation, health, etc.) for poor city-residents

√ Regaining of structure and functionality by urban poor from climate events

Etc.

 

• • Project beneficiaries

 

Generally, the beneficiaries of this project will be lower-income urban poor people and households.

Specifically, the project will benefit the following:

urban unemployed and casually employed, disproportionally affected by insecurity of land tenure and insecure living conditions, squeezed off valuable land and are forced into peripheral or marginal locations, exposed to severe environmental health risks, those urban poor experiencing poor living conditions, those living in informal settlements, etc.

 

• • Project indicators

 

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

 

∝ Income earned or received has improved (and whether or not urban poor will manage to reduce their overreliance on cash economy)

∝ Basic basket of goods as a consumption indicator to measure the affordability of urban poor households for these goods, as well as to assess improvement in accessing basic urban services such as water, sewage, health, education, internet, and safety net to mitigate urban poverty

∝ Deficiency indicator which enables to check if urban poor are literate, numerate and their  children are able to attend school; they can afford daily caloric and protein requirements; they live in habitable housing

∝ Vulnerability indicator which will indicates the level of economic, social and environmental protection they get.

 

• • Project funding status

 

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

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

 

• • Impact monitoring and evaluation

 

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

Likewise, we shall assess what the project will achieve in relation to the overall objectives it was set up.  This is to say that evaluation will be conducted regarding the efforts spent on this project to find out whether or not these efforts are value for relief as far as urban poverty reduction is concerned.

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

The full project proposals including budget are available on request.  It is known that COVID-19  restrictions have been lifted.  Let us repeat thhe following.

COVID-19 lingering effects are still felt.  Just as the Russia-Ukraine conflict may affect funding towards other noble causes like urban poor.  However, for those who may be interested in this project, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

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

For further details including full project proposals and budget about the Urban Poverty Reduction Project, please contact CENFACS.

_________

 

• References

 

(1) cenfacs.org.uk/2022/01/19/The Dilemma-faced-by-Africa-based-sister-organisations/(accessed in March 2022)

(2) Cano Hila, Ana  Belén (2020): Urban Poverty – Urban Studies – Oxford Bibliographies at…

https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780190922481/… (accessed in March 2022)

Cano, Ana Belén. “Urban Poverty.” In The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Studies. Edited by A. M. Orum, 1–7. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell, 2019.

 (3) https://sdgs.un.org (accessed in March 2022)

(4) Timperley, J. at https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02847-2 (accessed in March 2022)

(5) White, A. (2022), Oil prices surge ahead of US announcement on Russian oil ban at https://www.ft.com/content/a29d2d7d-fb07-4976-bc/76-45100df-07bb#post-8616d6ce-b8fc-43c5-87f0308b6409 (accessed in March 2022)

(6) https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-08 (accessed in March 2022)

(7) Maslow, A. (1943), “A Theory of Human Motivation”, Psycolological Review, 50,370-396 (accessed in March 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 consider a recurring donation to CENFACS in the future or as a New Year resolution.

Donate to support CENFACS!

FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO :Support Causes – (cenfacs.org.uk)

Thank you for visiting CENFACS website and reading this post.

Thank you as well to those who made or make comments about our weekly posts.

We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support throughout 2022 and beyond.

With many thanks.

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

02 March 2022

 

Post No. 237

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Climate Action Month with ‘Smooth the Way to Energy Transition’ as Theme

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

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

… And much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Climate Action Month: Smooth the Way to Energy Transition

 

For those who are familiar with CENFACS’ development calendar, they can remember that March is the Climate Action Month within CENFACS.  This year’s Climate Action Month will be about steering forward our community members and sister communities to continue to take actions on matters relating to the outcomes of the COP (Conference of the Parties) 26 United Nations Climate Change Conference held at Glasgow Summit (1) in November 2021 and to our users.

One of the outcomes of the Glasgow gathering was to phase down unabated coal power and inefficient subsidies for fossil fuels.  Since many poor households, for example in Africa, depend on coal for electricity, cooking and other domestic usages; we will be working on practical and gradual actions that can be taken in order to support those coal-dependant households to smoothly move to the road of reduction of coal as a source energy for them.

These actions will be undertaken under the theme of ‘Smooth the Way for the Poor’s Energy Transition’ (in short: Smooth the Way to Energy Transition).  In other words, instead of accelerating efforts towards the phase-down of coal used by the poor and phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies as recommended by some opinions; we are advocating for smoothing down energy transition.

So, the first key message for this post is about actions that one can take in order to Smooth the Way to Energy Transition.  Amongst these actions is the action of planning to reduce the use of coal as coal is responsible for almost 40% the world’s annual CO2 emissions and the highest emitting fossil fuel as far as greenhouse gases are concerned.  It is also an action plan in terms of phasing down coal as as source of energy.

In this drive to take action to reduce the use of coal, CENFACS is against any action to reduce coal that is brutal or without any compensation or alternative solution for the coal-dependant poor.  In other words, action to reduce coal has to taken in orderly fashion without hurting the energy poor’s lives, wellbeing and livelihoods.

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

 

 

 

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

 

Following the Glasgow Declaration at COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference  in November 2021, our CENFACS’ Climate Talks Follow-up Project has moved to Phase 3.2, which is ‘Taking Climate Protection and Stake for African Children at the Implementation with Installation Sub-phase.

 

• • Taking Climate Protection and Stake for African Children at the Implementation with Installation Sub-phase (Phase 3.2)

 

At this sub-phase of putting conditions in place, we are working on the following:

∝ Advocating about the infrastructures needed to protect and give a stake to children in terms of adapting and mitigating adverse climate change effects

∝ Establishing the communication protocols for climate protection and stake for children

∝ Developing data systems, evaluation and monitoring in the implementation process

∝ Continuing to make the case for our demand to give and implement Climate Protection and Stake for African Children (CPSAC) – the African Children being a sample of our working climate advocacy model – to be met

Etc.

 

Most of the actions that we shall take this month in relation to this demand will help to echo the key advocacy points contained in CENFACS’ Compendia of CENFACS’ Climate Advocacy.  The later is a summary of what CENFACS and its beneficiaries would like the climate community (like the one gathering on annual basis to talk about climate change, the COP) to achieve for children, particularly but not exclusively African children, in terms of outcomes.  The advocacy points contained in CENFACS’ Compendia will be used for the 2022 Climate Talks Follow-up. 

 

• • 2022 Climate Talks Follow-up

 

We will be following up 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.

This month, we will start the planning process of this follow-up.  The slogan for this 2022 follow-up will be: Sharm El-Sheikh Makes Children’s Dreams Come True.

More details about this follow-up will be unveiled as we move towards the COP27 starting day.  For those who have any queries about this 2022 Climate Talks Follow-up, they are free to get in touch with CENFACS.

To support and or enquire about CENFACS’ CPSAC 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.

 

 

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

 

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

Since situational/transitory poverty is one the seven goals of CENFACS’ 2020s Development Agenda and Poverty Reduction Programme, we are carrying on the work on this type of poverty.  This time, the focus on situational/transitory poverty will be on the one that is caused by climate change events.  Depending on the intensity and power of these events, they can seriously or less harm people.

These events can also lead to acute food insecurity and eventually push people to food poverty line.

Acute food insecurity is  “any manifestation of food deprivation that threatens lives or livelihoods regardless of the causes, context or duration”, according to the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (2).

As to food poverty line, it is defined by ‘devinit.org’ (3) as

“the cost of a basket of food with minimum recommended nutritional intake.  This metrics can be used to quantify consumption poverty”.

So, the need to take action against worsening food insecurity conditions in Africa is at the same time an action against climate-induced poverty and food poverty caused by climate events.

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

 

 

Extra Messages

 

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

 

As part of Activity/Task 3 of the “K” Project, we will be 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.

Indeed, in the process of knowing the needs of poor people, it does help to be aware of what remedies to their problems could or could not work for them.  In the context of climate action, it matters to know what action could or could not work for them.   This is despite the fact that climate action is first and foremost about efforts to mitigate effects of negative climate change rather than to reduce poverty.

Because not every actionable initiative that could contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions can lead to poverty reduction or have poverty reduction content, the activity/task for this month will be to identify those actions that can do both: cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce poverty.  In this way, the dual effect of the action will be to respond to the common goods and to the needs of poor people/poverty reduction.

So, throughout this month we shall work with the community on the climate actions falling within the scope of the United Nations (4) Sustainable Development Goal 13 of combating climate change and its impacts, as well as helping to reduce poverty.

For those members of our community who will be interested in these types of actions with dual response/effect, they are free to work with CENFACS.  To work with us on climate actions that reduce both adverse climate change and poverty, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

 

• Build Forward Better Programme (Year 2)

 

We are now in the second year of our Build Forward Better Programme.  In the first year of this programme, the focus was to build back better with the community and Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs).  Although the first part of building better programme is not yet completed, we are moving to the second part.  This is because building better is backward and forward process.

As happened for Build Forward Better Programme (Year 1), in the second year of this programme we will be moving forward better together greener and cleaner with the community and ASOs.  In practical terms, it means that we will have two sets of initiatives and activities.  The first set will aim at the community while the second one will target ASOs.

These two sets of initiatives and activities will be featured in our future communications.  However, for those who would like to find out more about them, they are free to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Coronavirus-affected Children of Sub-Saharan Africa Desperately Need Your Help Right NOW

 

Our Season of Light through the Gifts of Light has not yet finished.  We still have almost 3 weeks to go until the end of the season.

We are making another plea to those who have not yet managed to support to keep in their mind the Coronavirus-affected Children of Sub-Saharan Africa who Desperately Need Your Help Right NOW.

Although the deadline for this appeal is 20 March 2022, we will still accept any donations made after this deadline as the needs of the Coronavirus-affected Children of Sub-Saharan Africa are still pressing and urgent.

Please do not wait for the expiration of the deadline as the needs have not disappeared.

You can halve poverty  in Sub-Saharan Africa.

You can halve health poverty for and with children at risk of loosing their life because of COVID-19.

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

We look forward to your support.  Thank you!

 

 

Plan de travail pour l’action climatique de mars 2022

Comme annoncé ci-dessus en anglais, le thème de l’action climatique de mars 2022 est Faciliter la transition énergétique.

À partir de tous les mercredis de ce mois, les actions climatiques suivantes ont été planifiées :

∝ Action 1 : Planifier la réduction de la consommation de charbon ou élaborer un plan d’élimination progressive du charbon (02 au 08/03/2022)

∝ Action 2: Baisser ou réduire progressivement les subventions qui abaissent artificiellement le prix du charbon, du pétrole et du gaz naturel (09 au 15/03/2022)

∝ Action 3: Couper les émissions de méthane (16 au 22/03/2022)

∝ Action 4: Supporter les énergies renouvelables (23 au 29/03/2022)

Il y aura un suivi le 30/03/2022 et une évaluation le 31/03/2022 pour mettre fin à l’action pour le climat de mars 2022.

Pour les membres de notre communauté qui sont intéressés par la réduction de l’utilisation du charbon et ou qui souhaitent prendre des mesures climatiques avec nous, ils sont invités à contacter le CENFACS.

 

 

Main Development

 

• Climate Action Month

 

Theme: Smooth the Way to Energy Transition

 

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

 

a) Meaning of the climate action

b) Direct and indirect climate actions

c) Work plan for Climate Action March 2022

d) Action 1: Plan to Reduce Coal Usage or to Phase down Coal.

 

Action 1, which will be held from 02 to 08/03/2022, is comprised of:

 

1) Coal as source of energy

2) Actions to reduce the use of coal

3) Relationship between the reduction of the use of coal and reduction of coal-dependency poverty

4) Ways in which CENFACS could work with the community and ASOs to help reduce the use of coal.

 

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

 

• • Contents of 2022 Climate Action Month

 

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

 

• • • Meaning of the climate action

 

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

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

In the context of CENFACS’ Climate Action Month for this year, climate action is about any undertaking efforts to work with energy poor so that they can reduce any greenhouse gas emissions they can emit via the type of energy they may use and move towards the use of affordable clean and sustainable energy.

Because of their difficult economic conditions and circumstances, this effort or move needs to be done smoothly without exacerbating poverty or leading to a new type of poverty for them.  Put it simply, to be meaningful this effort should lead to poverty reduce as well.

These climate actions or efforts could be direct or indirect.

 

• • • Direct and Indirect Climate Actions

 

Direct climate actions can directly lead to outcomes such as reductions of CO2 emissions, poor quality air, pollution, etc.  They could also include the lowering of the number of energy poor who rely on unhealthy and expensive fuels.  One example of such climate actions is the prevention of deforestation.

As to indirect climate actions, they can help to keep the advocacy and campaign about measures and activities to be carried out to reduce the adverse impacts of climate change going.  Examples of such indirect climate actions will include the prevention of the next pandemic to happen.

Without breaking climate actions into direct and indirect ones, the coming periods and sub-themes of climate action will guide our readers and audiences about the kind of climate actions CENFACS is conducting this month.  These will help those who may be interested to join in.

 

• • • Work Plan for Climate Action March 2022

 

As above announced, the theme for Climate Action March 2022 is Smooth the Way to Energy Transition.

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

 

∝ Action 1: Plan to Reduce Coal Usage or to Phase down Coal (02 to 08/03/2022)

∝ Action 2: Reduce or Phase down Subsidies that artificially lower the price of coal, oil and natural gas (09 to 15/03/2022)

∝ Action 3: Cut Methane Emissions (16 to 22/03/2022)

∝ Action 4: Back Clean Energy (23 to 29/03/2022)

There will be monitoring  on 30/03/2022 and evaluation on 31/03/2022 to end the Climate Action March 2022.

 

Within the above broad actions, there will be specific actions to be taken, for example to reduce the use of coal.  These actions will be conducted in the way that supports the work that our Africa-based Sister Organisations are carrying out in order to deal with the problems posed by the impacts of climate change while considering the lingering health and economic effects of COVID-19.

 

 

• • Action 1: Plan to Reduce Coal Usage or Make a Plan to Phase down Coal

 

This Action will be held from 02 to 08/03/2022.

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

coal as a source of energy, relationship between the reduction of coal dependency and poverty reduction,  actions to reduce coal usage and how CENFACS could work with the community to navigate their way to the reduction of coal usage.

 

• • • Coal as a source of energy

 

Coal will be perceived from the perspective of the International Energy Agency (5), which defines it as

“Including both primary coal (i.e. lignite, coking and steam coal) and derived fuels (e.g. patent fuel, brown-coal briquettes, coke-oven coke, gas coke, gas works gas, coke-oven gas, blast furnace gas and oxygen steel furnace gas). Peat is also included”.

Coal, which is the most greenhouse gas emitter, is the largest energy fuel source in many developing countries, particularly in African countries as most electricity generated is from coal.

 

• • • Relationship between the reduction of coal dependency and poverty reduction

 

Being able to explore alternative and affordable sustainable sources of energy can help to save money, especially for those who are having energy bills highly sensitive to their household income.  The saving that could be made by reducing dependency on coal, which is the highest emitting fossil fuel in terms of greenhouse gases, will be allocated to reduce poverty or simply to meet other basic life-sustaining needs. 

However, to be able to realise this reduction of coal dependency in order to generate poverty reduction, actions may need to be taken.

 

• • • Actions to reduce coal usage

 

One of the actions to be taken to reduce the coal usage is to phase down power and replace it with renewables or energies from inexhaustible sources (e.g. wind, hydroelectric, solar thermal, solar and biofuel energies).

For example, Donald Perry Kanak (6) argues that

“Many lower income countries [, however,] lack the financial and/or technical capacity to rapidly scale up renewable energy despite dramatic improvements in the cost of renewables, as well as in the storage and distribution of electricity”.

Kanak (op. cit.) also contends that

“Achieving both retirement of existing coal-fired assets and a sustainable energy transition in those countries would require a large-scale initiative in two parts: a coal retirement mechanism (CRM) to acquire and retire existing coal-fired electrical plants within 10-15 years instead of the currently expected lifetime of 30-40 years, and a sustainable energy transition mechanism (SETM) to provide technical expertise and financial assistance to replace the retired and planned coal plants with a combination of energy efficiency, renewable energy and storage, and possibly gas as a bridge”.

Despite the above argument, there are still actions that are and can be taken to move towards renewables.  Also, these actions do not need to be going to the direction of phasing out coal power as Kanak suggested.  Instead, phasing down coal usage to smooth the way to renewables will be in tune with the needs of the energy poor.

 

 

• • • Ways in which CENFACS could help reduce coal usage

 

There are two ways in which CENFACS can help reduce the coal usage, which are:  supporting ASOs working with their beneficiaries on the issue of coal usage, and working with the community on energy transition issue.

 

• • • • Supporting ASOs 

 

There are ASOs that are helping their locals who are lacking affordable, reliable and safe energy to meet their basic needs for a decent life, especially locals who use charcoal fuel for their household needs.

For those ASOs that are running energy-related services to help their users (e.g. those use open flames, wood and charcoal fuel to heat their homes and cook their meals) come out energy/fuel poverty and or transition towards renewable energy, CENFACS can work with them on planning, monitoring and evaluation aspects of their services.

 

• • • • Working with the community

 

Those members of our community who have problems with energy transition and would like to work with us on this matter; we can assess their needs, discuss with them their household energy source and budget, inform, guide and signpost them to services that could address their energy transition needs.

For example, under CENFACS’ Zero Income Deficit Campaign, we can work with users on the following:

 

√ To identify ways of reducing energy bills through personalised energy advice and tips

√ To signpost users to agencies dealing with energy or fuel poverty

√ To share with users both print and online sources and resources dealing with energy bills and payments, as well as energy efficiency.

To end the Main Development section of this post, we would like to remind to our readers and audiences that climate action is about action, not words only.  We have only written these notes to guide us and galvanise our action.  This is because to take action, one needs a roadmap or simply to say how they are going to conduct this action.

For those members of our community who are interested in the reduction of coal usage and or who would like to take climate action with us, they are welcome to contact CENFACS.

For any other queries and enquiries about CENFACS‘ Climate Action Month, the theme of ‘Smooth the Way to Energy Transition’ and the sub-theme of Plan to Reduce Coal Usage; please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

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• References

 

(1) https://ukcop26.org (accessed in March 2022)

(2) WFP and FAO (2022), Hunger Hotspots, FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity, February to May 2022 Outlook, Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb8376en 

(3) https://www.devinit.org/org/resources/food-poverty-global-regional-and-national/# (accessed in February 2022)

(4) https://sdgs.un.org (accessed in February 2022)

(5) www.iea.org/weo (accessed in March 2022)

(6) Donald Perry Kanak (2020), How to replace coal power with renewables in developing countries at https: //www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/05/how-to-replace-coal-and-accelerate-the-energy-transition-in-developing-countries/

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Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going this year.

We do our work on a very small budget and on a voluntary basis.  Making a donation will show us you value our work and support CENFACS’ work, which is currently offered as a free service.

One could consider a recurring donation to CENFACS in the future or as a New Year resolution.

Donate to support CENFACS!

FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO :Support Causes – (cenfacs.org.uk)

Thank you for visiting CENFACS website and reading this post.

Thank you as well to those who made or make comments about our weekly posts.

We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support throughout 2022 and beyond.

With many thanks.