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.

_________

 

• 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/

_________

 

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 February 2022

 

Post No. 236

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Debt Distress for the Highly Indebted Poor Households

• Climate Neutral Projects

• Making Zero Hunger Africa Campaign with a Focus on Events Leading to Acute Food Insecurity

 

… And much more!

 

Key Messages

 

• Fourth Wednesday (23/02/2022), In Focus: Debt Distress for the Highly Indebted Poor Households

 

Our Month of Sustainable Development carries on with the last sub-theme making the theme of Debt Sustainability for the Highly Indebted Poor Households; theme which is part of the United Nations (1) Sustainable Development Goal 17 and Target 4 for poor countries.  The last sub-theme is about Debt Distress for the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPHs).  Although the United Nations speak about Debt Distress in its Target 4 for poor countries, these notes are really about Debt Distress Free for the Highly Indebted Poor Countries.  Having said that, what is debt distress?

Debt distress is one of the four ratings for assessing the risk of external public debt associated with sustainability, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).  The IMF (2) argues that a country is in debt distress…

“When the country is already experiencing difficulties in servicing its debt, as evidenced, for example, by the existence of arrears, ongoing or impending debt restructuring, or indications of a high probability of a future debt distress event (e.g., debt and debt service indicators show large near-term breaches, or significant or sustained breach of thresholds).”

Debt distress matters not only for countries but also for households and individuals making indebted countries.  For highly indebted poor households, debt distress could simply mean that they are in a financial situation in which they have so much debt or high level of debt compared to their both tangible and intangible assets.  This troubled financial situation can prevent them from functioning as a normal household while it can sometimes lead to debt-induced poverty.  This is why something needs to be done in terms of reduction of debt distress and risks associated with it in order to enable debt distressed households not to totally and humanly collapse.

So, the key message here is about helping HIPHs to both come out debt-induced poverty and moral poverty as they are experiencing debt distress.  In other words, the effort here is about making sure that debt distress does not lead to moral distress which could be another form of poverty that may require debt advice and counselling.  Debt distress, which is already a financial difficulty and hardship as well as a form of poverty, should not lead to another type of poverty, like mental and emotional one.

For an insightful outlook about the sub-theme of Debt Distress for the Highly Indebted Poor Countries, please read under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

 

• Climate Neutral Projects (CNPs)

 

The following items summarise CNPs: What are CNPs?, their components, how CENFACS can work with users so that the latter can get the most from CNPs and the link between climate neutrality and poverty reduction.

 

• • What are CNPs?

 

In its guide to climate neutrality, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (3) defines climate neutrality as

“The idea of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by balancing those emissions so they are equal (or less than) the emissions that get removed through the planet’s natural absorption; in basic terms it means we reduce our emissions through climate action”.

With reference to the above perspective on climate neutrality, we can argue that CNPs, which are one of CENFACS’ Light Season’s new initiative, are about putting into practice the idea of achieving net zero greenhouse emissions by balancing those emissions so that they are equal (or less than) the emissions that get removed through the planet’s natural absorption capacity.  In simple terms, CNPs help to reduce our emissions through climate action.

There is a number of initiatives on which CENFACS  will be working with users under the banner of CNPs.

 

• • CNP Components

 

They are initiatives or activities that CNP users can undertake anywhere (at home, at work and on the move).  These greenhouse gas emission reduction or removal initiatives or activities can include:

 

√ Walking or cycling

√ Switching to LED bulbs and green electricity

√ Turning off tap when brushing your teeth

√ Using natural light as much as possible

√ Only registering on mailing lists if it is important to do so

√ Reducing junk mail

√ Using energy-efficient electric devices

√ Switching to paperless life (e.g. use your device like phones, laptops, tablets, etc., to manage your financial operations)

Etc.

 

These activities or initiatives will help to measure our user households’ CO2 emissions.  Alternatively, user households can use online climate change calculator to determine the emissions (direct emissions like combustion and indirect emissions) that arise in their households through heating, cooking, and so on.

 

• • How CENFACS can work with users on CNPs

 

There are basically two ways through which CENFACS can work together with users, which are:

a) sharing experience about initiatives taken to avoid climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions

b) accompanying those who would like to take a climate neutral path.

 

a) Experience sharing about climate neutrality

 

So far, so much has been written and said about climate neutrality.  There are already people, including those making our community, who are already using these writings and says in their daily lives – whether it is at home or at work or even when travelling – in the choice they make in order to run their lives.  For those ones, they can share with us their good practice of climate neutrality experience or initiatives.  This experience sharing will also be part of monitoring and evaluation of CNPs.

 

b) Accompany to a climate neutral path

 

For those who would like or may be interested in taking a climate neutral drive, but for some reasons they are not doing it; they can work with CENFACS so that together we can explore ways of taking climate neutral action with them.  We can help them with tips and hints as well as we can support them to find what is required for them to find their way to climate neutral road.

 

• • Climate neutrality and poverty reduction

 

CNPs are also poverty reduction initiatives.  By taking action to bring down one’s own CO2 emissions to zero, this action can also help to reduce poverty, especially for those looking for climate neutrality-based solutions to poverty.

For example, if you are poor and take some initiatives to switch off lights and move to green electricity; this action can help to save on both electricity bills and income.

So, taking some steps to reduce unnecessary consumption in terms of climate neutrality can benefit those living in poverty by reducing the cost of running their lives.  And, if they can get the same level of satisfaction with goods and services (like electricity, gas, water, etc.) by reducing the costs of these goods and services; the unspent money can be allocated to other needs.

This action can help them to reduce income poverty.  Indeed, if you are income poor, any tiny reduction you can get or save on your expenses could be a huge boost for you.  It may not be something for well-off people, but for the poor it can make a lot of helpful difference.

For those members of our community who have personal experience to share about climate neutrality and/or those who would like to dip into climate neutrality with us, they are welcome to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Making Zero Hunger Africa Campaign with a Focus on Events Leading to Acute Food Insecurity

 

This year’s Making Zero Hunger Africa Campaign (MZHAC) will focus on events or key drivers that can lead to acute food insecurity in Africa, especially in the so-called Africa’s hunger hotspots.  Before looking at what is in focus, let us remind our readers the aim of Making Zero Hunger Africa Campaign.

 

• • Aim of Making Zero Hunger Africa Campaign

 

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

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

 

This year, we are focussing on Events Leading to Acute Food Insecurity.

 

 

 

• • Focus on Events Leading to Acute Food Insecurity

 

To help our readers and audiences to understand what we are talking about and possibly follow our campaign, let us explain acute food insecurity.

 

• • • What is acute food insecurity?

 

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the World Food Programme (4) define acute food insecurity as

“Any manifestation of food deprivation that threatens lives or livelihoods regardless of the causes”.  (p. 37)

In their joint publication entitled ‘Hunger Hotspots’, the two organisations give their warnings on acute food insecurity in Africa’s hunger hotspots.

Following on these warnings and findings about Africa’s hunger hot spots, we have framed our MZHAC around four events or areas of action that may influence food security in Africa and that need to be seriously taken in order to make zero hunger Africa.  The four events or areas are: violence and conflict, natural events, adverse economic factors, and pests and diseases from fauna and flora.  Let us look at these drivers or influencers one by one.

 

• • • Drivers or influencers of acute food insecurity in Africa

 

• • • • Violence and conflict

 

To respond to this driver, MZHAC will be about CENFACS working with Africa-based Sister organisations (ASOs) to help people displaced by violence to access food, agricultural land and other life-sustaining livelihoods.

 

• • • • Likelihood of natural events

 

MZHAC will be activated to work with ASOs to support vulnerable households to replenish their food stocks in the event of poor season and poor harvests leading to the worsening of food insecurity conditions, like in the Greater Horn of Africa.

 

• • • • Adverse economic conditions

 

MZHAC will be stepped up to work with ASOs to help those in need to overcome barriers to access food and various economic difficulties such as soaring food price, disruption of food supply chains, increase in energy prices, etc.

 

• • • • Pests and diseases from animals and plants

 

MZHAC will be conducted with ASOs to assist in the fight against the problems of current upsurge of the widespread migratory pest and swarm formation, like in the case of desert locust upsurge in Greater Eastern Africa.

So, the message of the MZHAC for this year is to help avert acute food insecurity and malnutrition.  To do that one needs removing barriers that can hamper any access to food.  The message is finally about saving lives while preventing starvation and total collapse of livelihoods.

To support and or enquire about MZHAC, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• EcoBio Days: 24 to 28 February 2022

 

EcoBio (Ecological and biological) Days, which will be held from 24 to 28 February 2022, bring a climax to our Sustainable Development month.

 

• • What EcoBio Days are about?

 

EcoBio Days are the days of works about the nexus between organisms (e.g. animals, plants, etc.) and their environment.

They are as well the days of study about living organisms.

The days are about how we deal with living things and their environment in order to meet our own needs and goals without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

They are the days of humans with their environment as well as humans with things and living organisms.

 

• • Programme for this year’s EcoBio Days

 

The programme for this year’s EcoBio Days is as follows:

 

24/02/2022: Link between organisms and their environment

25/02/2022: Study of living organisms and poverty reduction

26/02/2022: Humans with things

27/02/2022: Humans with living organisms

28/02/2022: Humans with their environment

 

To enquire and or support EcoBio Days, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Triple Value Initiatives: Questions (Q) and Answers (A) for Starters

 

We are pursuing the planning process for Triple Value Initiatives (All Year Round Projects) by inviting those who may have some questions to raise and put them to CENFACS.   CENFACS will try to respond to them.

To kick-start this invitation and clear some of the misconceptions about Triple Value Initiatives (All Year Round Projects), we are going to respond to the following questions.

 

Q • • What are Triple Value Initiatives or All-year Round Projects?

 

A • •  They are a set of 3 yearly projects that run from the 1^st week of January to the week preceding the end of last week of December of the same year.  Through these 3 initiatives/projects (i.e. Run, Play and Vote), their users have the opportunity to do something about poverty reduction and sustainable development in the forms of either undertaking a physical activity (Run) or gaming activity (Play) or research activity (Vote).  The participants to these projects can chose to engage with one of these projects/activities.

For those who want to organise a run activity or play the CENFACS’ League of Poverty Reduction or vote a person who made difference in helping others in reducing poverty in Africa; they can contact CENFACS if they have any problems about how they would like to engage with any of these activities.

 

Q • • What are the objectives of Triple Value Initiatives or All Year Round Projects?

 

A • • Each of the initiatives/projects has its own objectives.  However, we can broadly argue that their objectives include the following:

σ To recognise and acknowledge those who are helping to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development in Africa

σ To contribute to the efforts of poverty reduction in Africa

σ To celebrate and jointly  promote sporting talents and sustainable skills in Africa

σ To honour outstanding individuals in the field of international poverty reduction and sustainable development

σ To game and provide recreational activities to a generation of gamers to do something different about poverty reduction and sustainable development in Africa.

 

Q • • How can I participate?

 

A • • Anyone can participate or run any of these projects as long as they follow the underlying principles relating to them.  They can use whatever means are necessary and available to undertake and complete these projects.

For example, if one wants to undertake physical run, they need to plan the running equipment they need including personal protection equipment against the coronavirus; to have a devise to time themselves, a bottle of water, a pair of comfortable trainers, etc.

 

Q • • When can I enter these projects?

 

A • • You can enter any of these projects at any time of the year.  However, since they are all year round projects, it is better to join or run them early.  This way, you will have more time to organise yourself and fit them within your priorities and other areas of life.  Also, if you start earlier it is much easier to get help than if you start later.

 

Q • • Why should I run these projects?

 

A • • There are several reasons that may help you to decide to participate like the following:

√ These projects may help you to improve your own life in terms of physical and mental health, wellbeing, fitness and happiness

√ You can use them as a way of bringing back something to the community

√ You can take the opportunity given through these projects to do something against poverty and hardships

√ You can use them to improve sustainable development and reduce adverse impact of climate change on any lives

For example, during the coronavirus crisis and lockdowns, some used them to break out the vicious circle of the COVID-19 lockdown pressure.

 

Q • • Where can I run them?

 

A • • It depends on each of the projects.  

For run activity, you can do it outdoor and or indoor. 

As to gaming activity, you can play online or offline. 

Concerning vote activity, you obviously need to conduct some background research which you can do at home, in the library, online or travel abroad for those who can.  You can as well do fieldwork. 

It really depends on your ambition and what you want to achieve as outcomes.

So, the above are the possible questions and related answers for those who would like to know more about Triple Value Initiatives (All Year Round Projects). 

For those who have still questions to ask, they can address them to CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Zero Income Deficit Campaign: The Impact of Debt on Household Budget

 

As part of Zero Income Deficit Campaign, we are working on the impact of debts on household budget, in particular how the payments of both principal and interest as scheduled in the debt contract can impact household budgets.

Through this work, we hope to undertake the following:

 

√ Look at household budget constraint linked to debts, particularly the elements like available assets, the liquidity of those assets and structure of debt

√ Explore ways with users on how to deal with these monthly fixed expenses linked to debt payments

√ Find out whether or not honouring debt payments becomes distressing or is putting a stress on other budget items

√ Identify distressed items within household budgets and find ways of addressing them with users.

 

This work will help households with budget negatively affected by debt to find ways of maintaining their basic life-sustaining consumption without going into negative net worth and debt distress.  The work will include any budgetary period (that is, monthly or quarterly or six-monthly or yearly period).

For those members of our community who would like to work on the impact of debt on their household budget, they are free to contact us.

Need to work with us on the impact of debt payments on your household budget, please contact CENFACS.

 

Les Journées EcoBio (Écologiques et Biologiques) qui se tiendront du 24 au 28 février 2022 marquent le point culminant de notre mois du Développement Durable.

En quoi consistent les Journées EcoBio ?

Les Journées EcoBio sont les jours de travail sur le lien entre les organismes (par exemple, les animaux, les plantes, etc.) et leur environnement.

Ce sont aussi les jours d’étude sur les organismes vivants.

Les journées portent sur la façon dont nous traitons les êtres vivants et leur environnement afin de répondre à nos propres besoins et objectifs sans compromettre la capacité des générations futures à répondre aux leurs.

Ce sont les jours des humains avec leur environnement ainsi que des humains avec les choses et les organismes vivants.

Quel est le programme de ces Journées EcoBio?

Au menu du programme de ces Journées EcoBio, nous avons choisi les sous-thèmes suivants:

 

24/02/2022: Lien entre organismes et leur environnement

25/02/2022: La biologie et la réduction de la pauvreté

26/02/2022: Les humains avec des choses

27/02/2022: Les humains avec des organismes vivants

28/02/2022: Les humains avec leur environnement

 

Pour vous renseigner et/ou soutenir les Journées EcoBio, veuillez contacter le CENFACS.

 

 

Main Development

 

• Fourth Wednesday (23/02/2022), In Focus: Debt Distress for the Highly Indebted Poor Households

 

To enable us to effectively work with beneficiaries on the theme of Debt Sustainability for the Highly Indebted Poor Households, we have composed the notes relating to Debt Distress as follows:

Understanding of debt distress, signs of debt distress, causes of debt distress, remedies to debt distress, costs of debt distress, and CENFACS’ role in working with HIPHs to reduce debt-induced poverty.

Let us go through each of these composed notes.

 

 

• • Understanding of debt distress

 

Our understanding of debt distress in this post should be placed within the context of HIPHs, since we are not dealing with countries.  We are working with people who make countries.  In this context, a HIPH is in debt distress if the HIPH is unable to fulfil its financial obligations towards its creditors because of financial difficulty or hardship.  There are or could some indication or indicators displaying that a given HIPH is in debt distress or financially troubled.

 

 

 

• • Signs or indicators of debt distress

 

The following can tell if a particular HIPH is in debt distress or debt-distressed:

 

∝ The HIPH has unmanageable debt

∝ The HIPH has cash flow problems if its cash flow statement or projection is often in deficit without any hopes of improvement

∝ The HIPH is defaulting on debt payments at recurring grounds

∝ The HIPH is asking for or often in need of extended debt repayment terms or plan

∝ The HIPH is constantly struggling to make ends meet, particularly to cover its living expenses (e.g. household utility bill arrears) unless it depends on debt

∝ The HIPH has lost moral and is experiencing or on the brink of mental or emotional or physical pain because of debt pressure

∝ The HIPH’s debt cannot be covered by its fixed or illiquid assets

∝ The HIPH’s disposable income is highly sensitive to the economic trends.

 

Many of these signs or indicators can be found in debt-distressed households.  These signs do not come by themselves.  They have origins.

 

• • Causes of debt distress

 

The literature survey on the origins of debt distress for poor households suggests that there are many reasons for which households can end up in debt distress.  Amongst the causes are the following:

 

∝ Lack of knowledge about the mechanics of debt, especially of the interest rate

∝ Lack of monitoring activity between debt servicing costs and monthly income, between cash inflows and cash outflows

∝ Income poverty

∝ Poor budgeting and forecasting

∝ Insufficiency and loss of earning capacity

∝ Debt load

∝ Lawsuit

Etc.

 

Amongst the above stated causes, we would like to concentrate on the lack of knowledge about the mechanics of debt and of the interest rate.

 

• • • Lack of knowledge about the mechanics debt and changes in interest rates

 

Some of the HIPHs do not understand how the mechanics of debt runs and how creditors work out their interest rates (both simple and accrued interests or fixed and flexible).  They do not also comprehend the difference between the principal and interest as well as how economic crises can impact, particularly inflate, debt payments while constraining incomes.  Failure to understand these parameters (i.e., fluctuations in interest rate, inflation, soaring prices, currency exchange rates, debt contracts, income constraints, etc.) may not help them.

Other HIPHs could grasp these parameters.  Yet, when these parameters change a little in a such way that they do not favour them; they could be in serious trouble since their disposable income could be highly sensitive to these parameters.  This situation could easily lead them to debt distress; that is in dire need of help.

However, being in debt distress is not an automatic end of life if there is remedy to the problem or help somewhere.

 

 

• • Remedies to debt distress

 

There are classic remedies to debt distress which include initiatives such as credit counselling and advice, renegotiation of debt obligations, cutting back unnecessary or excessive spending habits, debt consolidation, etc.

Except credit counselling and advice and debt renegotiation, many of these classic answers may not be applicable to HIPHs.  They may not be suitable to them because we are talking about people who are poor and without collaterals to cover their debts/owings.  Many of these debt-distressed households would rather prefer debt cancellation or forgiveness to stop them having continuing distress and be able start again their lives as debtless.  Continuing debt distress is a cost for these financially troubled households.

 

• • Costs of debt distress

 

Debt distress is most acute amongst lower income and highly indebted poor households.  It disproportionally affect the poor because not only they are unable to meet their financial obligations to their creditors, but also they do not have means to find an alternative to the problem.  It costs them financially, psychologically, mentally, physically and emotionally.

In 2016 for example, the Citizens Advice Bureau (5) commissioned the Understanding Society Policy Unit at the Institute for Social and Economic Research (Policy Unit) to conduct new analysis of the Understanding Society survey regarding the impact of debt.  The Citizens Advice Bureau argued from the findings of that study the following:

“The analysis found that there was a statistically significant positive relationship between high levels of personal debt and poor mental health, no statistically significant relationship between debt and low pay or poor physical health and a negative  relationship between unmanageable debt and unemployment”.

Within households where there are children, these costs of debt distress could be even immense and incalculable as debt distress could negatively impact relationships within households, let alone it can jeopardise children’s education, welfare and well-being.  Children from debt-distressed households can be affected by the mood of their households.

In this respect, debt distress can have generational effect in terms of the kind of poverty it can come with or lead to.  Mental and emotional poverty takes time to heal since we are not only talking about poverty being a material lack, but also immaterial hardships.  Working with debt-distressed poor households can help to mitigate some of these problems even if it may not help to heal most of them.

 

• • CENFACS’ role in working with HIPHs to reduce debt-induced poverty

 

As we mentioned it in the preceding notes to these ones, CENFACS‘ role in working with HIPHs is not to reduce or end debts. Our role is to help reduce debt-induced poverty.

In the context of this sub-theme of Debt Distress for HIPHs, it is about working together with them in order to help them navigate their way out poverty linked to debt distress.  Through our work with them, we can undertake the following services:

 

√ Support them to become debt-distress free by setting up a debt-distress resolving strategy

√ Help better manage distressed household assets on their balance sheets

√ Provide them with leads to agencies/organisations dealing with debt distress as far as finances are concerned

√ Explore together ways of reducing the costs of debt distress on them.

Etc.

 

As a result of services provided against debt distress to the HIPHs, we hope to achieve the following together with them:

 

√ HIPHs will become sustainable (that is; having to maintain their basic life-sustaining consumption without going into negative net worth or debt distress)

√ Debt distress, which is already a financial difficulty and hardship as well as a form of poverty, will not transform itself into another type of poverty like mental, emotional or other one for HIPHs, especially for those at high risk of debt distress

√ Long-lasting debt distress, that can have far-reaching negative ramifications in terms of health and the economy of these households including intergenerational poverty, can be avoided.

 

Finally, we would like to end these notes to Debt Sustainability and Distress for HIPHs by highlighting what the World Bank (6) has recently argued for COVID-induced debt and debtors in her World Development Report 2022, which is:

 

“The law and the courts should aim to quickly resolve no-income, no-asset cases and provide a discharge and fresh start for all natural person debtors“. (p. 141)

 

For those members of our community who are debt-induced poor and who would like to discuss their debt-induced poverty problems, they are welcome to contact CENFACS.

For any other queries and enquiries about CENFACS‘ Month of Sustainable Development, the theme of Debt Sustainability and the sub-theme of Debt Distress for the Highly Indebted Poor Households; please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

_________

 

• References

 

(1) https://sdgs.un.org (accessed in February 2022)

(2) https://www.imf.org/en/About/Factsheets/2016/08/01/16/39/Debt-Sustainability-Framework-for-Low-Income-Countries (accessed in February 2022)

(3) https://unfccc.int/blog/a-beginner-s-guide-to-climate-neutrality (accessed in February 2022)

(4) 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 

(5) Joe Lane (2016), A debt effect? How is unmanageable debt related to other problems in people’s lives? at https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/global/citizensadvice/debt (accessed in February 2022)

(6) World Bank (2022), World Development Report 2022: Finance for an Equitable Recovery, Washington, D.C.: World Bank; doi: 10.1596/978-1-4648-1730-4, License: Creative Commons Attribution CCBY 3.0 IGO

_________

 

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 February 2022

 

Post No. 235

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Debt Restructuring for the Highly Indebted Poor Households

• The Cyclone-stricken People of Madagascar Desperately Need your Help at Present

• Review of 2021 Peace Appeal for Ituri Region of the North-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Third Wednesday (16/02/2022), In Focus: Debt Restructuring for the Highly Indebted Poor Households

 

Our Month of Sustainable Development continues with the sub-theme of Debt Restructuring for the Highly Indebted Poor Households.

Debt Restructuring for the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPHs) is part of the United Nations (1) Sustainable Development Goal 17 and Target 4 for poor countries.

Debt restructuring matters not only for countries but also for households and individuals making indebted countries.  It is not surprising if Mohamed M. Malik and Peter Holmes à Court (2) argue that

“Without rapid debt restructuring and relief, half a billion dollars flows every week from the continent [Africa] to service lenders money that is desperately needed by vulnerable households and children”.

Debt restructuring can be debtor-friendly so that debt does not cause enormous pain to the already suffering highly indebted poor households.  In particular, debt restructuring should not be done in a way that threatens the coverage of inescapable family/household specific costs.

Therefore, the key message here is debt restructuring should not compromise the ability of HIPHs to meet their inescapable specific costs.  The notion of inescapable family-specific costs stems from the Social Metrics Commission (3) when it defined the total resources available.  Failure to respect this notion in the process of restructuring debts can further damages the lives of HIPHs and eventually push them into persistent and deep poverty.

To get the most of this first message, please read under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

 

• The Cyclone-stricken People of Madagascar Desperately Need your Help at Present

 

The People of Madagascar need your support to recover from the legacies of the cyclone Batsirai.

According to the local sources in Madagascar, since the cyclone impacted nearly ten days of ago in the coast of Madagascar and the region of Fianarantsoa, it has left the following after-effects:

 

∝ Almost 92 LIVES have been TAKEN

∝ 1,200 CLASSROOMS have been DESTROYED putting nearly 112,000 CHILDREN at risk of DE-SCHOOLING

∝ More than 60,000 PERSONS have been DISPLAYED

∝ There is a HUGE FOOD CRISIS

∝ Two TOWNS were STRICKEN by the disaster (which are: Manakara and Mananjary)

∝ There is an ENORMOUS LACK OF ACCESS to safe drinking water

∝ Between 300,000 and 400,000 PEOPLE are WITHOUT access to healthcare

Etc.

 

Before even the cyclone Batisrai stroke, it is known that Madagascar is suffering from the following:

 

∝ More than ONE MILLION people in Le Grand Sud of Madagascar rely on international food aid

∝ The country has experienced TWO-YEAR drought

∝ ONLY 3% of people are vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 in Madagascar. 

 

Additionally, it emerges from the findings of the outlook jointly carried out by the the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (4) that

 

“Madagascar continues to remain a hunger hotspot due to persisting high levels of acute food insecurity (that is; any manifestation of food deprivation that threatens lives or livelihoods regardless of the causes, context or duration” (p. 13)

 

Because of the above mentioned after-effects and the existing food deprivation in Madagascar, particularly in the areas severely hit by the cyclone Batsirai; the need for emergency support is even greater than ever before.

There are organisations (like United Nations Children’s Fund, World Food Programme and others) that are already on the ground and trying to help as much as they can.  However, because of the scale and severity of the Batsirai shock there is a need to complement these efforts.

The demand for items such as emergency medical products, accommodation tents, water purification equipment and food stuffs is 5 times greater than before the cyclone Batsirai stroke.

They need life-saving and sustaining services restored as the few basic infrastructures have been destroyed by the power of the cyclone.

You can help the Cyclone-hit People of Madagascar to recover from this calamitous natural disaster.

Would consider making a gift to help the Cyclone-stricken People of Madagascar to navigate their way out of this crisis?

You can donate, gift aid and or support differently by

phoning, e-mailing, texting CENFACS and filling the contact form on this website.

Please support today so that we can help the struggling Cyclone-hit People of Madagascar to navigate their way out the destructive effects of this environmental disaster. 

To discuss and get further details about this appeal, please contact CENFACS at http://cenfacs.org.uk/contact-us/

Thank you for considering delivering on this appeal.

 

 

 

• Review of 2021 Peace Appeal for Ituri Region of the North-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

 

In February 2021, we launched an appeal to support innocent peoples (that is, women, men and children) who were suffering from a deadly conflict between the agriculturalist Lendu and pastoralist Hema ethnic groups in the Ituri region of the North-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

One year on since then, we are reviewing this appeal to assess if the goal of ending situational poverty created by this deadly conflict and objectives of this appeal have been reached.  In particular, we are assessing if the following objectives have been met:

 

√ Saving lives of displayed women, men and children

√ Stopping the creation of favourable conditions for the spread of infections like COVID-19

√ Restoring destroyed basic infrastructures (e.g. homes, fields, livestocks, health centres, etc.)

√ Preventing human rights violations

Etc.

 

We are as well doing this review since the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the World Food Programme (op. cit.) jointly argue in their findings that

 

“The protracted food crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo – country already 5.4 million projected in Emergency (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification 4) nationwide for the January to June 2022 period – will likely be a deterioration.  This is expected to be the consequence of further intensification of violence in the Eastern province and the secondary impact of a fourth wave of COVID-19, potentially leading to restrictions by neighbouring countries that will affect trade and other livelihood activities” (p. 14).

 

The review, which is a post-appeal needs assessment, will help us to determine if there is still urgent and pressing humanitarian needs that require another appeal.  The review will as well contribute to find out what has been done so far and what gaps need to be filled in our collaborative work with the locals and their organisations.

To find out about this review and to add your inputs in terms of what has been done since we launched our first appeal, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• African Children’s Climate and Sustainable Development Goals (Generation Global Goals Project): Generational Impact Analysis of COVID-19 and its Variants on Children

 

Third round work about the generational effects of COVID-19 and its variants on children  regarding the realisation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

 

It is fair to argue that COVID-19 has left and will leave some scars and fractures in the realisation of SDGs, particularly but not exclusively for those aspects of these goals relating to children.  The study on the following five selected SDGs will help to speculate on how COVID-19 is impacting or can impact the realisation of SDGs for children (particularly but not exclusively African children).

 

• • Summaries of possible generational effects of COVID-19 and its variants on children regarding the realisation of SDGs

 

Let us broadly consider the five selected goals (Goal 13 to 17) out of 17 United Nations SDGs for dealing with the COVID-19 effects.

 

Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

 

Although climate advocates called for urgent climate action during the COP26 at the 2021 Glasgow Summit, there is a need to recognise that COVID-19 did slow climate action in many parts of the world.  This slowing down can only have some impacts on children and future generations.

Besides that, there is still the goal of mobilising funds under the Green Climate Funds which needs to be met.  One could hope that these funds will reach poor children, victims of climate adversity.  One could expect as well that climate action will be at a faster pace like during the pre-COVID-19 period.

 

Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

 

The increase of plastic waste linked to COVID-19 items (such as gloves, masks, sanitizing plastic bottles, etc.) in the seas and oceans as well as the threat they pose to marine resources is just one of the many revelations about how COVID-19 and its variants could directly or indirectly impact children and future generations.

Actions against the threats to the ocean under the One Ocean Summit (5) recently held in Brest (France) are welcome,  However, the world is still struggling to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development of children.

 

Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

 

COVID-19 and associated lockdowns may have halted some industrial activities, especially non essential ones.  However, natural events such as drought, floods, landslides, etc. are still occurring.

For example, drought in the Horn of Africa has affected the availability of food and water for both humans and other beings (flora and fauna).  Likewise, deforestation is still happening even if it is at low pace; just as the loss of biodiversity has not yet stopped.  What does this mean for children?

It means threat to the ability of children and the generations to come to meet their own needs.

 

Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

 

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the World Food Programme (op. cit.) argue that

“In the Central African Republic, Central Sahel, the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, northern Ethiopia, northern Nigeria, northern Mozambique, Myanmar, the Sudan, South Sudan and Yemen, conflict or organized violence remain key drivers of acute food insecurity. Violence has reduced people’s access to, and the availability of food by displacing populations, limiting their access to agricultural land and other livelihoods, and disrupting commercial trade and services and markets”.

From the above statement, it is possible to argue that peace, inclusive societies and access to justice are still a matter of dispute for the people living these areas of Africa.  Children in these parts of Africa are also the victims of the lack of peace, inclusivity and justice.

 

Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

 

The COVID-19 and associated effects have negatively impacted the partnership for sustainable development as the means to keep this partnership during the global lockdowns was only via information and communication technologies (ICT) and digital infrastructures.  Yet, there is an ICT and digital divide between regions of the world, between the wealthiest and the poorest.

The majority of poor African children did not or do not have enough ICT and digital facilities to maintain and strengthen  this partnership.  So, there is still long way to see this partnership to be better implemented and revitalised.

We hope that the above summaries will provide some ideas about the generational impact analysis of COVID-19 and its variants on children, particularly but not exclusively on African children.

For those who would like to know more about our findings from this third round work and the stories of poverty reduction happening in Africa from CENFACS’ Africa-based Sister Organisations working with children, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

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

 

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

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

 

 

 

• Simultaneous Reduction of Debt-induced Poverty and Poverty linked to the Lack of Progress in the Realisation of Sustainable Development Goals

 

Debt-induced poverty can have several effects on highly indebted poor people and households.  One of these effects is it could significantly delay or slow the progress about the realisation of sustainable development goals for the highly indebted poor households.

As part of the Month of Sustainable Development, we are looking at ways of simultaneously reducing both debt-induced poverty and poverty linked to the lack of progress in the realisation of sustainable development goals.  We are doing in exploring ways of having initiatives that tackle the two issues.

For example, let us take the case of energy debt-induced poverty.  If energy debt-induced poverty reaches a certain proportion or level, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all may be off track for the energy indebted poor.  To avoid this to happen, both energy debt-induced poverty and poverty linked to the lack of progress regarding this Goal 7 need to be addressed.

So, this week we would be working with the community on ways of addressing both debt-induced poverty and poverty associated with the lack of progress towards the realisation of sustainable development goals.

Those who may be interested in this area of work and would like to be part of it or need to enquire about it, they are free to contact CENFACS.

 

 

Nous continuons à travailler sur l’Agenda de développement et le Programme de réduction de la pauvreté des années vingt-vingt (années 2020).

Dans le cadre de notre travail sur cet agenda et ce programme, nous sélectionnons chaque mois un objectif particulier de réduction de la pauvreté sur lequel nous concentrer.

Cette sélection peut provenir de l’un des objectifs déclarés de l’Agenda de développement et du Programme de réduction de la pauvreté des années 2020 ou en dehors de ces objectifs déclarés.

Pour ce mois de février 2022, nous avons sélectionné la Réduction de la pauvreté induite par la dette. Qu’est-ce que la réduction de la pauvreté induite par la dette? Qu’est-ce que sa sélection ou son orientation implique?

Comprendre la réduction de la pauvreté induite par la dette

La réduction de la pauvreté induite par la dette est toute mesure ou initiative prise pour réduire l’état, causé par la dette, de ne pas avoir d’argent et pas de biens matériels ou d’en avoir très peu.

En bref, il s’agit d’abaisser l’état de manque de revenu minimum pour acheter les besoins fondamentaux de la vie; état causé ou exacerbé par l’état de devoir quelque chose.

Implications pour la sélection de l’objectif du mois

Après avoir sélectionné l’objectif du mois, nous concentrons notre travail et notre état d’esprit sur l’objectif sélectionné en nous assurant que dans notre vie réelle et quotidienne, nous l’appliquons. Nous attendons également de nos sympathisants qu’ils travaillent sur le même objectif en soutenant ceux qui peuvent souffrir du type de pauvreté lié à l’objectif pour le mois dont nous parlons au cours du mois donné.

Pour plus de détails sur l’objectif du mois et sa procédure de sélection, veuillez contacter le CENFACS.

 

 

Main Development

 

• Third Wednesday (16/02/2022), In Focus: Debt Restructuring for the Highly Indebted Poor Households

 

In order to deal with the issue of Debt Restructuring for the Highly Indebted Poor Households, we have organised the following notes:

 

the notion of debt restructuring, causes of debt restructuring, approaches to debt restructuring, debt restructuring techniques, household debt restructuring and poverty reduction, debt restructuring and inescapable household-specific costs, political economy of the renegotiation and agreement of debt restructuring, and how CENFACS can work with the community on debt restructuring matter.

 

• • The notion of debt restructuring

 

The notion of debt restructuring here will be put in the context of individuals or households as we are dealing with households.  As a result, we are referring to its definition as given by the online dictionary ‘financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com’ (6) which states that

“Debt restructuring is the process of a person or business negotiating and agreeing with its creditors to reduce its debt or to revise a repayment plan”.

Basically, debt restructuring is a debt reduction with an extension to the repayment plan or programme.  The reduction could be about the amount of principal or interest or both.  Debt restructurings can be informal, formal, enhanced and hybrid.

Because the above mentioned definition includes negotiation and agreement between debtor and creditor, we are going to come back on these two elements (negotiation and agreement) below when we will explain the political economy of the renegotiation and agreement of debt restructuring.

 

• • Causes of debt restructuring

 

Debt restructuring can stem from various sources.  Among the causes, it is worth mentioning the following:

the evolution of debt structure over time, mismatch of debt and assets during the life time of debt, debt given on a wrong product or informational basis (e.g. mis-sold credits), misalignment between debt and cash flows, early repayments, etc.

HIPHs can come across these causes that could form the basis for debt restructuring.

 

• • Approaches to debt restructuring

 

To restructure debts, there are many approaches, which basically include two solutions:

a) market-driven solutions

b) government approach, which can be government-sponsored debt restructuring programme and/or legal/institutional framework.

The purpose of us highlighting these approaches is not to elaborate on them.  Instead, it is about CENFACS working with the community members and helping them to understand how these approaches work and find out how helpful and supportive they can be in dealing with debt restructuring that these members may face.

 

 

• • Debt restructuring techniques

 

Principally, there are two techniques to restructure debt, which are: settlement and modifications of the terms of debt agreement.

a) Settlement

Concerning settlement, HIPHs cannot settle their debts or convert them into equity because they do not have the means to do it.

b) Modifications of the terms of debt agreement

Regarding modifications of the terms of debt agreement, they can include: interest rate, extension of maturity date, reduction of the face amount, reduction of accrued interest, etc.

In the context of the work between CENFACS and the community members, the focus will be on the aspects of modifications of the terms of debt agreement and how they can or cannot meet them.

 

• • Household debt restructuring and poverty reduction

 

Poor people and households may not be able to pay their debts.  This is why it makes sense to look at the connections between household debt restructuring and poverty reduction.  To look at the relationship between the two, we are going to refer to social and economic metrics of weekly total resources available, particularly the metrics of inescapable family-specific costs, as provided by the Social Metrics Commission (op. cit.).

 

• • • The metrics of inescapable family-specific costs

 

According to the Social Metrics Commission (op. cit.), this metrics includes:

“recurring housing costs, childcare costs, extra cost of disability, social care costs, others [other costs] that require more research/might apply in different
countries (e.g. travel-to-work, energy, healthcare)” (p. 20).

Any sensible household debt restructuring policy or plan needs to take into account this metrics.  In practical parlance, the given policy or plan would consider the cost of living.

For example, the cost of living calculator or index produced by Expatistan (7) gives an estimation in terms of the summary of cost of living in the United Kingdom.  As calculated by Expatistan, the estimated monthly costs for the family of four in the UK would be £3,570.

Therefore, our argument/key message is that household debt restructuring must take into account the reduction of poverty of the given indebted poor household.  In other words, household debt restructuring should not threaten or  destroy the ability or capacity of the HIPH to cover their inescapable specific costs.  Otherwise, debt restructuring can lead to persistent and deep poverty, not to poverty reduction.

 

• • Political economy of the renegotiation and agreement of debt restructurings

 

The economist Jean-Baptiste Say (8) defined political economy as

“The manner in which wealth is produced, distributed, and consumed.  Wealth, nevertheless, is essentially independent of political organization”.

It is also the search for ways to enrich a nation as Adam Smith (9) argued in his treatise on economic development, his Wealth of Nations in 1776.

By understanding the role of negotiation in political economy, HIPHs and their advocates can use their negotiating skills and bargaining power, however limited, to ensure that the problem of poverty reduction is at the heart of debt restructuring negotiations and agreements, but not on the periphery.  This is important since debt restructuring reflects on the problematics of wealth creation for some and poverty creation for others.

In every negotiation and agreement, there is what is to be gained and what is to be lost; similarly, there are compromises to be made between the negotiating and agreeing parties. This can make debt restructuring a zero-sum game. What could be difficult to understand is that in debt negotiations and agreement poverty reduction is often marginalised or simply forgotten, especially when talking about HIPHs.

 

 

• • How CENFACS can work with the community on debt restructuring matter

 

Our work with the community on debt restructuring matter is about checking if the debtor has reached The Square of Escape or Inescapable from poverty.  What is the Square of Escape or Inescapable from poverty?

 

• • • Le Dernier Carré Model or the Last Square of Poverty Relief or the Square of Escape and Inescapable from poverty

 

It is CENFACS’ a four-dimensional model of working together with local people to help reduce amongst them four types of poverty respectively related to elements: income, consumption, energy and employment.  Through this theoretical model, it is possible to know if an individual has reached the four types of poverty, which are: income poverty, consumption poverty, energy poverty and in-working poverty.  In order to do that, we use the appropriate metrics relating to each of these types as follows.

For income poverty, we would use income-based measure of income poverty like the total resources available as defined by the Social Metrics Commission (op. cit.)

Regarding consumption poverty, we shall call to food poverty line, which is defined by ‘devinit.org’ (10) as “the cost of a basket of food with minimum recommended nutritional intake”.  This metrics can be used to quantify consumption poverty.

Concerning energy poverty, we shall turn to energy poverty line, which is “the sensitivity of the energy to household income as an indicator to identify the energy poverty”, according to Lu Jiang et al. (11).

As to in-working poverty, we shall consider “household equivalised disposable income below 60 per cent of the national household median” as specified by Abigail McKnight et al (12).

All these quantitative measures will be involved in the theory of the last square of poverty relief and help to determine a four dimensional poverty.

In the context of debt restructuring for HIPHs, the model will help us to establish if debt restructuring is a viable option to be conducted or to look for an alternative to debt restructuring.  If debt restructuring is not a viable option, then the focus will be helping them to reduce debt-induced poverty.

 

• • • CENFACS’ role in working with HIPHs to reduce debt-induced poverty

 

As we explained in the last week’s notes about debt relief for HIPHs, CENFACS‘ role is not to reduce debt.  It is not to restructure debts that our users or community members hold or owe.  We believe that there are organisations and specialised players in the debt restructuring market that are better placed than us to deal with the mechanics of debt restructuring and relief.

CENFACS‘ aim in running the theme of Debt Sustainability for HIPHs is to help reduce debt-induced poverty.  In the context of debt restructuring, it means that debt restructuring programme needs to preserve or protect the coverage of HIPHs’ inescapable specific costs if one wants to avoid poverty and socio-economic collapse of these HIPHs.

For those members of our community who are debt-induced poor and who would like to discuss their debt-induced poverty problems, they are welcome to contact CENFACS.

For any other queries and enquiries about CENFACS‘ Month of Sustainable Development, the theme of Debt Sustainability and the sub-theme of Debt Restructuring for the Highly Indebted Poor Households; please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

_________

 

• References

 

(1) https://sdgs.un.org (accessed in February 2022)

(2) Mohamed M. Malik and Peter Holmes à Court (2021), A perfect storm is pushing children in Sub-Saharan Africa into crisis at https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/03/perfect-storm-children-sub-saharan-africa-crisis/ (accessed in February 2022)

(3) https://socialmetricscommission.gov.uk/wp-content/upload/2020/06/Measuring-Poverty-2020-Web.pdf (accessed in February 2022)

(4) WFP and FAO (2022), Hunger Hotspots, FAO-WFP early warnings on acute foods insecurity: February to May 2022 Outlook, Rome, https://doi.org/10.4060/cb837en (accessed in February 2022)

(5) https://oneoceansummit.fr/en/ (accessed in February 2022)

(6) https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living (accessed in February 2022)

(7) https://financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/debt+restructuring (accessed in February 2022)

(8) Jean Baptiste Say, A Treatise on Political Economy; or the Production, Distribution, and Consumption of Wealth, ed. Clement C. Biddle, trans. C. R. Prinsep from the 4th ed. of the French, (Philadelphia: Lippincott, Grambo & Co., 1855. 4th-5th ed. ).

(9) Adam Smith (1776), The Wealth of Nations

(10) https://www.devinit.org/org/resources/food-poverty-global-regional-and-national/# (accessed in February 2022)

(11) McKnight, A., Stewart, K., Himmelivert, S, & Palillo, M. (2016), Low Pay and In-work Poverty: Preventative Measures and Preventative Approaches, Evidence Review, May 2016

(12) Lu Jiang, Lu Yu, Bing Xue, Xing pen Chan, Zhifu Mi: Who is energy poor?  Evidence from the least developed regions in China

_________

 

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 February 2022

 

Post No. 234

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Debt Relief for the Highly Indebted Poor Households

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

• Zero Income Deficit Campaign: Household Budget

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Second Wednesday (09/02/2022), In Focus: Debt Relief for the Highly Indebted Poor Households

 

Our Month of Sustainable Development continues with the sub-theme of Debt Relief for the Highly Indebted Poor Households. 

Debt Relief for the Highly Indebted Poor Countries is part of the United Nations (1) Sustainable Development Goal 17 and Target 4 for poor countries.  Debt of these countries may need to be relieved since the World Bank Group (2) estimated that

“Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the highest increase in external debt stocks in 2020, on average 10.7 per cent” (p. 10)

Although this data does not include domestic debt, it still matters from the perspective of debt relief since the populations of these indebted Sub-Saharan African countries are the ones to pay this mounting external debt.

Because countries are made with people and households, we are looking at debt relief at the household or people level rather than at the public or national level.

We are dealing with Debt Relief for the Highly Indebted Poor Households (HIPHs), particularly those household members of our community and members of sister communities who may be highly indebted poor and who need some advice, guidance and leads to debt relief support services.  Our work with and support to them does not replace or reduce any assistance they may have somewhere else.  Instead, it reinforces it.

In addition, debt relief support services should not be an end to themselves.  Instead, they should lead to poverty reduction and to the improvement of the quality of life for debtors.

So, the key message here is HIPHs need their debts to be remitted or relieved if one wants to see them not living or going deeper in poverty.  This remission or relief could be total or partial, and it has to make a helpful difference to them.

To get the full grips with this first message, please read under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

 

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

 

In the process of localisation of sustainable development goals, it is interesting to find out how local people with whom CENFACS work with are doing in terms of the realisation of these goals.  This interest is also felt when one is trying to know and learn about the needs of those in need.

In the context of the ‘K‘ Project, we are trying to know the real needs of those suffering from all sorts of poverty so that their problems could be better identified, understood, unveiled and addressed in appropriate and efficient manner.

For example, the coronavirus pandemic has made the meeting of poor people’s needs very difficult and in some situations even impossible.   In that difficulty or impossibility, the prospect for realising the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals has become distant.

So, knowing whether or not poor people are meeting needs and moving towards the realisation of sustainable development goals is an interesting issue.  This month, we are working to know if our members are meeting or failing to meet sustainable development goals. 

However, we are not going to limit ourselves to the knowledge of their needs.  This is because knowing their realisation or failure is one thing.  Doing something to support them if they are failing is much better and it is on the agenda.

For those members of our community who would like us to be aware of their needs and or who are failing to meet sustainable development goals, they can get in touch so that together we can work through the ‘K‘ Project and help them to navigate their way out of their problems.

 

 

• Zero Income Deficit Campaign: Household Budget

 

The next phase of our work about Zero Income Deficit Campaign is to work with users on budgeting of their income and expenses.  This work is done in conjunction with our work on balance sheet and cash flow.  The following summarises  what we will be doing.

 

• • What is budgeting work with users?

 

It is about dealing with the process of preparing households’ or users’ financial plan for a given future period, which could be a month, a quarter, a semester, a year or any other period that users may want us to work with them.   This financial plan, which is expressed in quantitative and financial terms, will include income forecasts and planned expenses for households/users who will work with us, like in any budgeting process.

 

 

• • What we hope to achieve

 

Through this process, it is hoped that households and users will be able to achieve the following:

 

√ To clarify financial responsibilities within their households

√ To coordinate household functions

√ To improve management and control of their resources

√ To correct or fix any potential problems due to bad or poor budgeting within their households

Etc.

 

 

• • Budgeting with users as an extra help and support

 

There are, on the market, many organisations offering budgeting recipes (online, in print and in-person).  However, not all our users can understand or feel comfortable with  budgetary jargon and processes; just like not everybody feels good at dealing with numbers, tables and charts.

For those members of our community who cannot deal with budgeting process by themselves or who have no time to budget their resources and may need extra help and support with their budgets, they can feel free to contact CENFACS.

CENFACS can work with them on income forecasting and expenses planning.  We can as well work out their budget surplus or deficit depending on how their accounts look like on a monthly or quarterly or six-monthly or yearly basis.

To ask for extra help and support about budgeting your income and expenses, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• African Children’s Climate and Sustainable Development Goals (Generation Global Goals Project): Generational Impact Analysis of COVID-19 and its Variants on Children

 

Second round work about the generational effects of COVID-19 and its variants on children  regarding the realisation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

 

It is without doubt to argue that COVID-19 has left and will leave some scars and fractures in the realisation of SDGs, particularly but not exclusively those aspects of these goals relating to children.  The study on the following six selected SDGs will help to speculate on how COVID-19 is impacting or can impact the realisation of SDGs for children (particularly but not exclusively African children).

 

• • Summaries of possible generational effects of COVID-19 and its variants on children regarding the realisation of SDGs

 

Let us broadly consider the six selected goals (Goal 7 to 12) out of 17 United Nations SDGs for dealing with the COVID-19 effects.

 

Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

 

The soaring price of energy (e.g. electricity and gas) combined with the prospect for phasing down coal as source of energy can only have adverse impacts for those African children who are poor and coal-dependant.  These children may not have the means to transition to carbon net zero or post-carbon economy (that is; from polluting to clean and green energy and technology) if the pledges made to developing countries do not materialise.

In these circumstances, the Goal of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all; may not materialise by its initial deadline.

 

Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

 

Parents of poor children working in non essential economy suffered a big loss of jobs as a result of COVID-19 lockdowns.  Many informal and casual workers as well as traders experienced an unprecedented  cut in activities, jobs and earnings.  The lingering effects of COVID-19 on jobs and earnings in terms of cuts are still felt until today.  These huge cuts could only adversely impact children of these workers.

Thus, promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all; is still a distant prospect for COVID-19 induced poor and unemployed parents.  Their children may not have the chance to realise some of the targets within Goal 8, let alone the realisation of other SDGs and targets by 2030.

 

Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

 

COVID-19 has displayed the weaknesses and lack of critical infrastructures for poverty reduction to help children from poor families to come out poverty, let alone to embrace sustainable development.  For example, urban poor children in many large cities of Africa do not have access to resilient infrastructure to secure safe drinking water, sanitation, healthcare, decent housing, etc.

The cost of building resilient infrastructure to meet international standards and human rights approach is beyond reach in over-indebted African countries because of COVID-19 recovery bills and debts.

Additionally, industrialisation is more than just building a plan or a factory.  It involves harnessing social change and fabric in places stricken by the legacies of COVID-19 or other epidemics or wars or civil insecurity.

Therefore, it will take such a long time for African children to see the fruits of Goal 9 to materialise as long as the COVID-19 damaging effects linger in their daily lives.

 

Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries

 

One of the generational adverse impacts to mention here is the uneven and asymmetrical distribution of the effects of COVID-19 and lockdowns.  This generational adverse impact or inequality has been in education where in some places in Africa some generations of children could not attend in-person school or home school because of mandatory lockdowns.

They could not follow online lessons through devises because they have not got equipment at home such as computers, laptops, tablets, etc.  This is let alone the digital divide they have been already experiencing compared to children who are digitally educated and wealthy.  This uneven access to information and communication technology and digital infrastructure continues even at the time of COVID-19 variants.

 

Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

 

Many urban cities of Africa are not inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable for children of poor families.   Urban poor children experience poor living conditions such as appalling overcrowding, contaminated water, poor or absent of sanitation, lack of services and the constant threat of floods, landslides or industrial pollution.  They are exposed to severe environmental health risks.  This is let alone exploitation, abuse and trafficking.

The astronomic COVID-19 recovery costs do not make things easy for many urban cities in Africa in order for them to make human settlements (including children making part of these settlements) inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

 

Goal 12:  Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

 

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns mean a move towards net zero consumption and production; that is consumption and production that do not add extra CO₂ emissions to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.  Net zero consumption and production are an effort that any of the members of the global community can make in order to help achieve the global goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius under the Paris Climate Treaty.

To move towards a net zero consumption and production trajectory, one needs to reduce the adverse generational impact of COVID-19 on children if one wants to take them through this trajectory.  This is because COVID-19 crisis and the related lingering economic effects have reduced choices for many poor consumers and producers.  The children of these poor consumers and producers are not exempted from these long-standing adverse COVID-19 induced economic effects.

We hope that the above summaries provide some ideas about the generational impact analysis of COVID-19 and its variants on children, particularly but not exclusively on African children.

For those who would like to know more about our findings from this second round work and the stories of poverty reduction happening in Africa from CENFACS’ Africa-based Sister Organisations working with children, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

 

• Triple-value-initiative Start-up/Planning

 

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

 

• • Start up for Run, Play and Vote Projects

 

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

 

• • Phases of project planning and management

 

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

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

 

σ Aims (changes you plan to achieve)

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

σ Inputs (resources you will put into your initiative)

σ Monitoring (regularly and systematically collecting and recording information)

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

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

σ Budget (income and expenses for your initiative)

Etc. 

 

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

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

 

 

 

• Goal for the Month: Reduction of Debt-induced Poverty

 

We continue to work on the Twenty-twenties (2020s) Development Agenda and Poverty Reduction Programme.  As part of working on this Agenda and Programme, every month we select  a particular poverty reduction goal to focus on.  This selection can come from either one of the stated goals of the 2020s Development Agenda and Poverty Reduction Programme or outside these stated goals.

For this February 2022, we have selected the Reduction of Debt-induced Poverty.  What is Reduction of Debt-induced Poverty?  What does its selection or focus imply?

 

 

• • Understanding the Reduction of Debt-induced Poverty

 

Debt-induced Poverty Reduction is any measure or initiative taken to decrease the state, caused by debt, of having no money and no material possessions or of having very little of them.  Briefly, it is about lowering the state of lacking the minimum income to purchase the basic needs of life; state caused or exacerbated by the state of owing something.

 

• • Implications for selecting the goal for the month

 

After selecting the goal for the month, we focus our work and mind set on the selected goal by making sure that in our real life we apply it.  We also expect our supporters to work on the same goal by supporting those who may be suffering for the type of poverty linked to the goal for the month we are talking about during the given month.

For further details on the goal of the month and its selection procedure, please contact CENFACS.

 

Plan de travail de février 2022 sur la viabilité de la dette

Le plan de travail suivant donne un aperçu de la manière dont nous allons à la fois mener à bien le Mois du Développement Durable et soutenir les ménages de la communauté sur la question de la viabilité de la dette.

À partir de chaque mercredi de ce mois, nous traiterons de chacun des quatre éléments de la cible 4 de l’Objectif de Développement Durable 17 des Nations Unies comme suit:

Mercredis/Dates                           Notes/Sous-thèmes

1er mercredi / 02/02/2022 :     Financement par emprunt

2ème mercredi / 09/02/2022:  Allégement de la dette

3ème mercredi / 16/02/2022:   Restructuration de la dette

4ème mercredi / 23/02/2022:   Réduction de surendettement

Notre travail portera sur les questions ci-dessus en relation avec la COVID-19 et la pauvreté en ce qui concerne les pauvres.

Pour plus de détails, veuillez contacter le CENFACS.

 

Main Development

 

• Second Wednesday (09/02/2022), In Focus: Debt Relief for the Highly Indebted Poor Households

 

To approach Debt Relief for the Highly Indebted Poor Households (HIPHs) and to prepare ourselves in the way we could support these households making our community, we have organised these notes as follows:

Concepts linked to debt relief, relationship between debt relief and poverty reduction, energy debt relief for  HIPHs, debt relief assistance programmes and CENFACS‘ programme of work with the community on debt relief.

Let us look at these notes.

 

• • Key Concepts

 

There are two key concepts we would like to highlight in these notes, which are: debt relief and net present value of debt.

 

• • • Debt relief

 

The literature review about debt relief provides lots of definitions about it.   After reviewing some of them, we have selected the definition provided by the website ‘lawinsider.com’ (3), which argues that

“Debt relief means the release of the outstanding debt.  [It also] means the reduction of debt for consideration that is less than the face value of the debt”.

We have also chosen the definition of the website ‘financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com’ (4), which states that

“Debt relief is the forgiveness of a legal obligation, in whole or in part”.

There is something in common in the above two definitions, which is the need to remit what is owed by the debtor to the creditor.  It is hoped that this remission would provide to the debtor or HIPHs a blast of oxygen or a breathing space.  The larger is the relief, the bigger could be the breathing space.  For HIPHs, they could see this relief of debt as a road to the reduction of poverty induced by debt.

Briefly, debt relief is a measure to partially or totally remit debts; measure that can lead to the reduction or refinancing of debts so that the debtor can find easy way to pay the creditor.  To remit debts, there could be a need to arrange a plan or programme of action.

 

• • • Net present value of debt

 

In order to relieve debt, it helps to know its net present value.  What is the net present value of debt?

According to the  International Monetary Fund (5),

“The Net Present Value of Debt measures the actual financial burden on a country of various kinds of debt and allows a more meaningful comparison of debt burdens across low-income countries than the face value of debt.  The Net Present Value of Debt is a measure that takes into account the degree of concessionary.  It is defined as the sum of all future debt-service obligations (interest and principal) on existing debt, discounted at the market interest rate”.

Although the International Monetary Fund refers to countries in its definition, this definition can be extended to include micro-economic entities such as households.   It can be referred to them if one can make the hypothesis that a country is a sum of  households.  In this respect, it makes sense to know the net present value of debts owed by households.   In fact, debt statistics are sometimes presented in terms of debt per household or per capita or per head.

 

CORRELATIONS BETWEEN COVID-19 INDUCED DEBT AND COVID-19 INDUCED POVERTY

Is anyone doing some research work on the connections between COVID-19-induced debt and COVID-19-induced poverty?

If yes, please could you share your findings with CENFACS?

Thank you!

 

• • Relationship between debt relief and poverty reduction

 

Debt relief is a key to poverty reduction.  As the website ‘arstechnica.com’ (6) explains this:

“Behavioural scientists have found that poverty and the debt that goes with it actually change people’s behaviour, including how they respond to monetary decisions”.

From the behavioural perspective, debt relief can induce significant changes.  These changes can happen to HIPHs as well.

So, reducing debt can be a sensible measure if those living poverty and who are indebted have been offered debt relief or reduction.  Debt relief can help HIPHs to improve the access to and quality of health, housing, education, water, sanitation and other essential needs to the HIPHs.

If the debt is high, the indebted poor debtor can experience enormous difficulties to meet their basic life-sustaining needs.  High levels of indebtedness associated with soaring debt service can lead to the reduction in available and necessary resources to meet HIPHs’ needs.  And failure to meet them can further keep or lead them to poverty.  This is why debt relief could be the key to the reduction of poverty for them.  This applies to both formal and informal debtor.

For example, many of poor debtors would be informal borrowers as a good number of them would fail to meet universal institutionalised lenders’ criteria.  They may have to borrow from relatives, friends and families, community members, etc. in the informal sector in order to meet their basic life-sustaining needs.  They would still face the repayment issue even if there was no interest to pay on the loan received.  Having their debts relieved or reduced can positively impact them, especially if they are living below the poverty line.

The energy debt relief is another good example as to why debt relief could be a key to poverty reduction.

 

 

 

• • Energy debt relief for highly indebted poor households

 

The soaring price of energy (in particular electricity and gas) means that there is a need to relieve energy debt for HIPHs as many of them could be energy poor.  A growing number of them lives in energy poverty whereby most of their income goes towards the cost of buying energy.  Many of them could be in arrears regarding the payment of their energy bills in order to keep running their households.  This situation keeps them in energy poverty as well.  But, what is energy poverty?

 

• • • Definitions of energy poverty

 

There are many definitions of energy poverty.  In the context of these notes, energy poverty will be looked at from two perspectives:

(a) A single energy poverty line, based either on the minimal energy requirement or on the share of energy expenditure on household income as conceptualised by Barnes et al. (7)

(b) The sensitivity of the energy share to household income as an indicator to identify the energy poverty line, like the study of Lu Jiang et al. (8) tells us.

Barnes et al. use a demand-based approach to define the energy poverty line.  They define energy poverty line as

“the threshold point at which energy consumption begins rise with increases in household income.  At or below this threshold point, households consume a bare minimum level of energy and should be considered energy poor”.

In their study, Lu Jiang et al. differentiate energy poverty line from the sensitivity of the energy share to household income.  In their analysis on the energy poor in China, they argue that energy poverty line is

“the line at which energy is used to sustain basic life needs”.

Lu Jiang et al. also contend that energy poverty is also defined as

“the sensitivity of the energy share to household income as an indicator to identify the energy poverty line”.

To work with and help those who need to reduce energy poverty and debt, we shall refer to this sensitivity of the energy share to household income.

 

• • • Energy poor households in energy debt

 

Energy poor households could as well be in energy debt.  If they are in energy debt, any sensible measure helping to relieve or reduce energy debt can be a boost for them to navigate their way out of energy poverty and any other forms of poverty.

For more information about energy poverty, please read CENFACS‘ post at cenfacs.org.uk/2021/o9/29/reduction-of-energy-poverty/

 

 

• • Debt relief assistance programmes

 

There is a variety of debt relief assistance programmes ranging from statutory to non-statutory, to institutionalised to non-institutionalised, to charitable to non-charitable, etc.  They include organisations offering all sorts of packages, plans, programmes, schemes and services.

Concerning for example debt relief programmes specifically, there are those that provide debtors with budget-friendly possibilities to navigate their way out debt problems.  Their recipes could include the following:

 

∝ Debt consolidation loans

∝ Debt settlement or negotiation

∝ Deferment

∝ Bankruptcy

∝ Loan modification

∝ Balance transfer

∝ Debt management plan

∝ Debt relief order

∝ Consumer credit counselling

Etc.

 

However, the aim of highlighting them is not to present or list them regarding what types of products and services each of them offer.  Our aim is to help reduce poverty linked to debt or debt induced poverty.  To do that we need to work with HIPHs and together source the most suitable and viable debt relief programme to their debt relief needs and problems.

In practical parlance, it means undertaking the following:

 

√ Comparing and contrasting these programmes regarding their products, terms, benefits and conditions of offer

√ Conducting a needs assessment about debt relief with HIPHs

√ Checking the eligibility criteria with HIPHs

√ Learning about these programmes’ outcomes and results in terms of beneficiaries

Etc.

 

To add value to what we are arguing, CENFACS has also its own programme of working with HIPHs.

 

• • CENFACS’ programme of work with the community on debt relief

 

CENFACS can still add value to any debt relief assistance that its community members can seek from the above mentioned programmes.  By working together with the community members, we can help them in the following:

 

√ To select the best debt relief service without having to solely rely on online reviews about their products and services

√ To reach debt relief assistance services that are relevant to our users’/members’ needs

√ To effectively source information and explore a better a way of dealing with debt relief

√ To find way of lowering their debt to sustainable levels as part of debt sustainability

√ To formulate a strategy to reduce both debts and poverty

√ To incorporate their debt relief plans into Zero Income Deficit policy

√ To advocate their cases to be eligible to debt relief assistance

√ To point them to the relevant and appropriate debt relief service on the market.

 

Briefly and finally, our work with HIPHs would not be about reducing debts, but helping them to help themselves so that debt relief can lead them towards poverty reduction.  In other words, debt relief for HIPHs would not just be a pain killer, but a road/journey to poverty reduction and sustainable development.  Debt relief for HIPHs should be about putting first people/HIPHs at the centre of the economics of debt relief.

For any queries and enquiries about CENFACS‘ Month of Sustainable Development, the theme of Debt Sustainability and the sub-theme of Debt Relief for the Highly Indebted Poor Households; please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

_________

 

• References

 

(1) https://sdgs.un.org

(2) World Bank (2022), International Debt Statistics 2022, Washington, D.C.: World Bank, doi: 10.1596/978-1-4648-1800-4, License: Creative Commons Attribution CCBY 3.0IGO

(3) https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/debt-relief

(4) https://financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/debt+relief

(5) https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/eerp/debt/eng/

(6) https://arstechnica.com/2019/03/number-of-debts-not-just-amount-causes-psychological-burden/#

(7) Douglas F. Barnes, Shahidur Khander and Hussain Samad (2011), Energy Poverty in Rural Bangladesh, Energy Policy, 2011, Vol. 39, Issue 2, 894-904

(8) Lu Jiang, Lu Yu, Bing Xue, Xing pen Chan, Zhifu Mi: Who is energy poor?  Evidence from the least developed regions in China

_________

 

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 February 2022

 

Post No. 233

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Sustainable Development Month with Debt Sustainability For Highly Indebted Poor Households

• African Children’s Climate and Sustainable Development Goals (Generation Global Goals Project): Generational Impact Analysis of COVID-19 and its Variants on Children

• Knowledge Year/Project and the Global Knowledge Index

… And much more!

 

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Sustainable Development Month with Debt Sustainability For Highly Indebted Poor Households

 

February is the month of Sustainable Development, according to CENFACS development calendar or planner.  It is the month during which we revisit our works relating to sustainable development.  In particular, we try to look at again the United Nations (1) Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their related 169 targets.  We normally select one of the topics within the set of SGDs and targets; and try to work on it.

Since the coronavirus pandemic and its variants have led to a soaring debt for many people, especially for the poorest ones, we have selected Goal 17 of the United Nations SDGs and 2030 Agenda in order to tackle the month of sustainability.  Within this goal, we have chosen Target 4.

The Goal 17 is to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

The Target 4 of Goal 17 is to assist developing countries in attaining long-term debt sustainability through coordinated policies aimed at fostering debt financing, debt relief and debt restructuring, as appropriate, and address the external debt of highly indebted poor countries to reduce debt distress.

Although this target speaks about countries, countries are made of people.  Thus, this target is about people.  In the context of our Month of Sustainability, we are going to look at how this target can be applied to poor people, particularly the people that make up CENFACS‘ noble cause of poverty reduction.  To do that we have organised a plan of work on debt sustainability as shown under the Main Development section of this post.  Under the same section, we have provided more details about the theme of Debt Sustainability as well.

 

 

• African Children’s Climate and Sustainable Development Goals (Generation Global Goals Project): Generational Impact Analysis of COVID-19 and its Variants on Children

 

Normally, the project that carries this month of Sustainable Development is African Children’s Climate and Sustainable Development Goals (ACSDGs).  It is also known as Generation Global Goals (3G) project.

3G project is the impact level in CENFACS’ process of advocating that global goals (like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) work for children and not way around.  It is indeed the testing of the gains that global goals claim to achieve and of their impact on the welfare and well-being of children.  This is regardless whether these children are in spaces and times of peace or lack of peace (like conditions of wars, areas stricken by viruses or epidemics and time of natural disasters).   Unsurprisingly, these gains should be materialised even in time of health crisis like the coronavirus pandemic.

For this year, our 3G project will continue to focus on the Generational Impact Analysis of COVID-19 and its Variants on Children.  The current focus will be a second-round work after the one we carried out last year.   But, what do mean by ‘generational impact analysis’?

 

• • Children generation of global goals

 

The children generation of global goals are those two generations of children relating to two sets of global goals: Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  The generation of Millennium Development Goals will be those children or persons born and live between 2000 and 2015, whereas the generation of Sustainable Development Goals will be referred to those born and live from 2015 until now (ideally between 2015 and 2030).  The two generations are relating to the lifespan of these two sets of goals.

These generations relating to global goals have to be differentiated from the conventional definition of generations which classified them as follows: Gen Alpha (2013 – 2025), iGen/Generation Z (1995 -2012), Millennials/Generation Y (1980 – 1994), Xennials (1975 – 1985), Generation X/Baby Bust (1965 – 1979) and Baby Boomers (1946 – 1964).

 

• • Impact analysis

 

We are going to use the definition of impact analysis as given by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).  The OECD (2) differentiates ex ante impact analysis from ex post impact assessment.  According to the OECD, ex ante impact analysis is

“Part of the needs analysis and planning activity of the policy cycle. It involves doing a prospective analysis of what the impact of an intervention might be, so as to inform policymaking – the policymaker’s equivalent of business planning”.

From the above clarification of children generation of global goals and impact analysis, it is possible to speak about generational impact analysis.

 

• • Generational impact analysis

 

The generational impact analysis would be a set of tasks that we will perform to identify children generation of sustainable development goals; generation that has been impacted by a change/disruption brought the coronavirus pandemic and its variants.

We are going to establish a chain of causation or theory from COVID-19 shock waves and its variants to impact as well as to measure or describe the changes induced along that chain.  Briefly, we are going to refer to cause-and-effect approach and to the theory of change.

 

• • Early inference of the effects of COVID-19 and its variants on Poor Children

 

Our work on generational economics and the intergenerational transmission of poverty continues with the study/analysis of the generational impact of COVID-19 and its variants on children and future generations.  We started this impact analysis two years ago by looking at how COVID-19 may have delayed the realisation of several aspects of the United Nations Climate and Sustainable Development Goals for children.

We are continuing our work where we left it by searching on the way in which COVID-19 may have impacted different generations of children.  This generational impact analysis of COVID-19 shock waves and their variants will be on children we can call as the generation of sustainable development goals (SDGs) or the generation of children thought to be the beneficiaries of the implementation of SDGs.

Although we are using the word impact, it is clear that the real impact of COVID-19 will be known in the long term as there are still data to be collected and treated quantitatively and qualitatively.  This may take sometimes.  This is why United Nations Children’s Fund (3) argue the following:

“COVID’s legacy will take several years to definitively quantify, but it is already possible to infer some aspects that are especially salient for children” (p. 10)

It is possible to start inferring the effects of COVID-19 and its variants on poor children.  So far, a number of agencies and individuals have tried to do it.

In this second round of work, we are trying to seize the early outputs or effects of COVID-19 on the realisation of SDGs linked to children’s health, well-being and welfare.  However, one needs to be cautious in interpreting what we may have found since we are carrying on studying and learning more from COVID-19 scarring and lingering effects.

 

• • Generational impact of COVID-19 on children generation of SDGs

 

It is without doubt that COVID-19 has left and will leave some scars and fractures in the realisation of SDGs, particularly but not exclusively those aspects of these goals relating to children.  The study on the following six selected SDGs will help to speculate on how COVID-19 is impacting or can impact the realisation of SDGs for children (particularly but not exclusively African children):

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all (Goal 7), Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all (Goal 8), Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation (Goal 9), Reduce inequality within and among countries (Goal 10), Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable (Goal 11), and Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns (Goal 12).

In this study, we have not included the climate impact as this will be a matter of another advocacy which we will deal with at a different time during this year.

 

• • Possible effects of COVID-19 for children regarding the realisation of SDGs

 

We have considered the above selected goals (goal 7 to goal 12) out of 17 United Nations SDGs for dealing with the COVID-19 effects.

For those who would like to know more about our findings from this second round work and the stories of poverty reduction happening in Africa from CENFACS’ Africa-based Sister Organisations working with children, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Knowledge Year/Project and the Global Knowledge Index

 

Our Knowledge Year/Project kicked off last month with the first activity, which was about the Knowledge on the Consumption Needs of Those in Need.  This month, we are continuing the application/implementation of the ‘K’ Project through the Global Knowledge Index.  Before going any further, let us try to understand the Global Knowledge Index.

 

• • What is the Global Knowledge Index (GKI)?

 

The United Nations Development Programme and Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (4) argue that

“The Global Knowledge Index consists of seven sub-indices which are:

pre-university education; technical and vocational education and training; higher education; information and communications technology; research development and innovation; knowledge-based economy; and enabling environment”.

The authors of the Global Knowledge Index (GKI) argue that the GKI, which covers 232 indicators, serves as a vital tool to monitor the knowledge status of countries in key areas including education, innovation and information and communications technology.

 

• • The Global Knowledge Index and CENFACS’ Knowledge Year

 

The GKI can help us to understand the needs of those in need.  By using some of the sub-indices of the GKI (e.g. technical and vocational education and training about sustainable development), it is possible to know and assess the needs of those in need as well as explore solutions to the issue of poverty they are facing.

Briefly, the GKI can help to identify how, where and on who to invest for poverty reduction and sustainable development.  It can lead us to the kind of support that is appropriate to address poverty stemming from knowledge gaps.

For any queries or enquiries about the Knowledge Year/Project and its relationships with the month of Sustainable Development within CENFACS, please read our next posts in this month.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Triple Value Initiatives, All Year Round Projects: Extra Support

 

Last week, we announced the kick off for our Triple Value Initiatives, initially known as All Year-round Projects.  For those who are interested in engaging with these initiatives, we would like to highlight the following three points: start-up, fundamentals and goals.

 

• • Triple-Value-Initiatives Start up

 

It is better to start up early, although people can always join at any time.  The earlier you start the better.  This is because everybody is busy with their lives and has other things to do.  Also, the earlier you start, the earlier CENFACS can help if one encounters any problems.  Briefly, the message is start up early.

 

• • Triple-Value-Initiatives Fundamentals

 

You need to get the fundamentals about All Year-round Projects right from the beginning.  You need to clearly sort out the basic principles and bases of these projects so that you move to the right direction early without being forced to change course as you progress or repeat from scratch.  Briefly, the message is get the fundamentals right.

 

• • Triple-Value-Initiatives Goals

 

Whether you play or run or vote for poverty reduction and sustainable development, the all exercise is for you to reach your goal of delivering the objectives you set up from the onset.  It means you need to be clear in your mind set about what you want to achieve.  Again, if you have any problems in setting up clear goals (aim or purpose) and objectives, CENFACS can be of help.  Briefly, the message is be clear about what you want to achieve.

You can select a theme to run, create your play station game and watch people to vote.  This is what Triple Value Initiatives or All Year Round Projects are all about.  Good luck!

 

 

 

• Zero Income Deficit Campaign 2022 with a Double Focus on Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

 

What are the net worth and net cash flows of my family/household accounts?

 

We can help you to find out the net worth and net cash flows of your accounts.

 

Last week, we concentrated on the key activity of reducing the excess of liabilities over assets as we were trying to work out the net worth from members’/users’ individual balance sheet.

This week, we are continuing with the balance sheet and net worth activities.  While we are doing these activities, we are taking enquiries about household cash flow.  In other words, we are working on cash inflows (that is; income deriving from labour income and capital income) and cash outflows (i.e.  expenses as a total of consumption plus debt service plus other expenses).

 

 

• • Working with the Community on Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

 

We are taking on enquiries about ways of improving community members’ fixed assets and working capital.  We can advise them on their liabilities.  This advice will help them to find ways of increasing their assets while reducing their liabilities.  We are also advising on household cash flow, how to increase household cash inflows and decrease household cash outflows in order to generate a positive net cash flow.

 

We can advise you to increase your cash inflows and to decrease your cash outflows.

 

For those members of our community who are struggling to create net worth or who are having balance sheet problems with their household accounts, they are free to work with us so that together we can explore steps forward or ways out to these problems.

 

We can help you to increase your assets while reducing your liabilities.

 

We can provide the same assistance regarding for cash flow statements or projections.

To ask or get support to sort out the balance sheet, net worth and net cash flows for your family/household accounts, please contact CENFACS.  Also, to support Zero Income Deficit Campaign 2022, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Coronavirus-affected Children of Sub-Saharan Africa Desperately Need Your Help Right NOW

 

This Winter 2022 Halving Poverty campaign is still running.

You can donate £9 to 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.

To donate, gift aid and or support differently this life-saving campaign, please contact CENFACS:

*over phone

*via email

*through text

*by filling the contact form on this site 

 

For further details about this project, please go to: cenfacs.org.uk.supporting-us/

 

Dédicace de l’année 2022:

 

L’année 2022 a été déclarée comme l’Année de Connaissances sur les personnes nécessiteuses ou celles qui sont dans le besoin.   

Pour réaliser cette déclaration ou dédicace au sein du CENFACS, nous avons mis en place un projet d’accompagnement, qui est le Projet ‘Connaissances’. 

Le Projet ‘Connaissances’ est un ensemble de tâches interdépendantes qui ont pour objectif commun de mettre en œuvre l’engagement du CENFACS de l’année 2022 en tant qu’Année de la Connaissance des personnes dans le besoin.

A travers ce projet, nous essaierons autant que possible d’apprendre, de connaître et de comprendre les besoins et les attentes en matière de solutions pour ceux qui ont besoin d’aide et de soutien pour sortir de la pauvreté. 

Pour connaître les besoins et les attentes des gens, nous allons travailler avec eux sur un certain nombre d’activités.

Pour plus d’informations sur l’Année de Connaissances et son projet d’accompagnement, veuillez contacter le CENFACS.

 

 

Main Development

 

• Debt Sustainability For Highly Indebted Poor Households

 

To approach the theme of Debt Sustainability of our Sustainable Development Month, we are going to deal with the following: the key concepts shaping our theme and its notes, our plan of work on debt sustainability and the first notes to kick off our theme for the month.

 

• • Key Concepts

 

Let us briefly clarify the following four key concepts: Highly indebted poor households, household debt, debt sustainability and debt ratio.

 

• • • Highly indebted poor households

 

We are going to refer to over-indebted households instead of highly indebted households.  We put and kept the words ‘highly indebted households’ in framing the title of our theme because they are part of the working of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 17 and Target 4.   

We know that there is a difference between highly and over.  We have chosen over-indebted households as its definition matches with the kind of work we would like to do with our users and the message we are going to share with our audiences.  Then, what is an over-indebted household?

The European Commission (5) argues

“An over-indebted household is one whose existing and foreseeable resources are insufficient to meet its financial commitments without lowering its living standards, which has both social and policy implications if this means reducing them below what is regarded as the minimum acceptable in the country concerned”.

Although this definition could be disputable, it can be a working one in the context of dealing with poverty linked to household indebtedness.  So, we are going to refer to this definition when dealing with highly indebted poor households.

 

• • • Household debt

 

Household debt is an amount of money owed by an household; owing which could be related to home mortgages, home equity loans, car loans, student loan, and credit card/consumer credit.  In case of poor households, it can be related to the amount owed as a result of the inability to meet basic life-sustaining needs.  This means that the only way for those poor households to meet their basic needs is to be indebted.

The problem here is not about debt itself.  The problem is when the combined debt of all people making a household becomes unsustainable, either in terms of liabilities compared to its assets (when looking at the household’s balance sheet), or in terms of its expenses (that is, consumption plus debt service plus other expenses) compared to its income (i.e. labour income and capital income)  when considering the household’s cash flow, or both.

When this happens indebted households may need support for debt sustainability.

 

• • • Debt sustainability

 

Debt sustainability makes up the Target 4 of the Goal 17 of the United Nations (op. cit.) Sustainable Development Goals and 2030 Agenda.   According the International Monetary Fund (6), a country’s public debt is considered sustainable if

“The government is able to meet all its current and future payment obligations without exceptional financial assistance or going into default”.

Although this macro-economic definition of debt sustainability relates to countries, it can however be applicable at the meso- and micro-economic levels to include individuals, families and households.

If this definition is applied at the level of poor people, it could suggest that debt sustainability occurs when an indebted household can honour its payment obligations towards debt without defaults and bankruptcies.

Debt sustainability will equally happen when this indebted household has liquidity to pay debt and or is solvent (that is; likely to be able to pay it at any points of time).

To get a good understand of debt sustainability, households may need to have something to guide them in the form of quantitative measures or metrics.  One of the metrics or indicators could be debt ratio.

 

• • • Debt ratio

 

It is simply a measure expressed as a proportion, which shows the relative proportion of debt to total assets.

For example, if an ordinary household has a debt ratio of 0.50, it means that there is a balance between the ordinary household’s liabilities and its assets.  However, if this ratio is more than 0.50, this could mean that this household has more financial risk.

A highly indebted poor household would have this ratio significantly above 0.50; meaning it is unable to meet its current expenses.  This type of households whose most of spending goes to borrowing repayments will be living below the poverty line.

The requirements of debt sustainability and having a good debt ratio can be extended to the area of poverty reduction.

 

• • Debt Sustainability and Poverty Reduction

 

Any debt to be sustainable, it should not jeopardise the stability and integrity of any household.  It also needs not to put at risk or threaten any efforts that household is making to navigate its way out of poverty, especially intergenerational poverty. In other words, a sustainable debt should not lead to the transmission or transfer of poverty to future generations.

 

• • Work with the Community on Debt Sustainability

 

During this month of February 2022, CENFACS is going to work with the community members or households who need some advice or support regarding any debt sustainability issue.  This advice or support has to be placed within the two contexts of CENFACS’ Zero Income Deficit Campaign 2022 and Month of Sustainable Development.

The following working plan provides a glimpse of the way in which we are going to both carry out the Month of Sustainable Development and support the community’s households on the matter of debt sustainability.

 

 

 

• • February 2022 Working Plan on Debt Sustainability

 

From every Wednesday of this month, we will be dealing with each of the four elements making Target 4 of the United Nations SDG 17 as follows:

 

Wednesdays/Dates                     Notes/Sub-themes

 

1st Wednesday / 02/02/2022:        Debt financing

2nd Wednesday / 09/02/2022:      Debt relief

3rd Wednesday / 16/02/2022:       Debt restructuring

4th Wednesday / 23/02/2022:       Debt distress

 

Our work will be about the above issues in the relation to COVID-19 and poverty with respect to poor people.

 

 

• • First Wednesday (02/02/2022), In Focus: Debt Financing

 

Target 4 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 17 is to Assist developing countries in attaining long-term debt sustainability through coordinated policies.  Fostering debt financing is among these policies aim at.  But, what is debt financing?

 

• • • Understanding debt financing

 

From the literature review on debt financing, we have selected the definition of the online dictionary ‘financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com’ (7) which states that debt financing is

“The act of a business raising operating capital or other capital by borrowing.  Most often, this refers to the issuance of a bond, debenture, or other debt security.  In exchange for lending the money, bond holders and others become creditors of the business and are entitled to the payment of interest and to have their loan redeemed at the end of a given period”.

Although this definition applies to businesses, individuals and households can also try to raise their household capital by borrowing.  However, those of them who are poor may find it difficult.

 

• • • Debt financing options for poor households

 

Generally, debt financing will be challenging for indebted poor households since many of them do not possess collateral security or just are not in a position to issue promissory note or bond.

Those who will try can resort to the following means:

∝ Community loans

∝ Pawnbrokers (if households are able to pawn some of their belongings)

∝ Families and friends

∝ Charities and not-for-profit organisations

∝ Crowdfunding

Etc. 

 

• • • How CENFACS can work with those in need to finance their debts

 

Working with those in need to finance their debts is both part of this Month of Sustainable Development and our Zero Income Deficit Campaign 2022.  In our work with the community, we shall proceed the following:

 

√ Conduct debt sustainability analysis with indebted users  (this will imply the calculation of Debt-to-Assets Ratio)

√ Analyse vulnerability to debt

√ Carry out anatomy and composition of household debt

√ Assess household capital requirement and cash flow

√ Establish and check of indebted users’ balance sheets and cash flows

√ Advise on debt financing affordable options

√ Lead them to debt financing providers and resources (e.g. debt calculator and monitor)

Etc.

 

The ultimate aim of this work with those in need is not help them finance their debts.  Instead, it is about helping them to avoid intergenerational poverty via the debt financing mechanics or approach.  

For those members of our community who need advisory support regarding their debt financing problems, they are free to contact CENFACS.

For any queries or enquiries about Sustainable Development Month and Household Debt Sustainability, please contact CENFACS.

 

• References

 

(1) https://sdgs.un.org (accessed in January 2022)

(2) ttps://www.oecd.org/sti/inno/what-is-impact-assessment-OECDImpact.pdf (accessed in January 2022)

(3) https://unicef.org/globalinsight/media/1516/file/UNICEF-Global-Insight-5year-Outlook-2021pdf

(4) United Nations Development Programme and Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (2021), Global Knowledge Index @UNDP and MBRF 2021

(5) European Commission (2010), Over-indebtedness: New evidence from the EU-SILC Special module, Research note 4/2010

(6) https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2020/09/what-is-debt-sustainability-basics.htm# (accessed in January 2022)

(7) https://financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Debt+Financing (accessed in January 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.