Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

25 August 2021

 

Post No. 210

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• CENFACS Annual Review 2020/2021

• Following the Direction of Poverty Reduction this Summer via Natural Capital Assets, Trending Topic from Week beginning 23/08/2021: Minerals 

• Street Children in Africa: How to Bring Happiness and Healthiness for Children Living on the Street in Africa at this Time of Enduring COVID-19

 

… And much more!

 

 

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• CENFACS Annual Review 2020/2021

 

CENFACS Annual Review 2020/2021 is a snapshot of what we did between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021.  As it is stated, it is neither a statutory annual report nor an annual return.

It is a summary of the year 2020/2021 in the life of CENFACS that reports back to our supporters, users and other stakeholders the impact we have made; impact through stories, quantitative and qualitative data. 

It highlights accomplishments made and recollects milestones for the above stated year.

It is as well a performance review and annual review story of our finances.

For more on this review, please read under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• Following the Direction of Poverty Reduction this Summer via Natural Capital Assets, Trending Topic from Week beginning 23/08/2021: Minerals

 

The last episode of our trending series in following the direction of poverty reduction via natural capital assets will be on minerals (that is solid and naturally occurring inorganic substances).  Examples of minerals can include copper, diamond, cobalt, zinc, etc.

There is a long history and various stories about minerals with poverty reduction in Africa and elsewhere, particularly in places that are rich-minerals.  Since we cannot deal with all of the issues surrounding minerals and poverty reduction in this short piece of trending analysis, we are going to focus on three areas:  direct dividend transfers (from the income realised through sale of minerals) to reduce poverty, local crackers looking for minerals and child exploitation.

 

• • Following the direction of poverty reduction via minerals, in focus: direct dividend transfers

 

There are calls that passing on the dividends from the sale of minerals to the poor can help to reduce poverty.  There are those who disagree with this.  What is true is that this kind of transfer can give a direct stake to the poor people in minerals as natural capital assets.  These transfers can be in the form of cash via biometric cards or various subsidies (to food, education, housing, health, transport, etc.).

As Marcelo M. Giugale (1) puts it:

“If a typical African government (think Gabon’s) distributed, say, one-tenth of its hydrocarbon or mineral revenues, each one of its citizens could get about US$100 per year.  That may not be much for the well-off; they may not even bother to collect it.  But it would be a huge help for poor households – a day-and-night difference in their efforts to climb out of poverty.  And if you are not just poor but also a female, the transfer would carry a welcome dose of personal independence.” (p. 112)  

In the context of the current trending topic and from what Giugale argued, we are looking at whether or not direct dividend transfers where they exist in Africa are helping poor people to come out poverty.  We are as well finding out what it has been done to help these poor people to access those transfers.   

 

• • Following the direction of poverty reduction via minerals, in focus: unofficial crackers

 

There is always a difference between the official exploitation of minerals and unofficial exploitation of the same minerals.  In the context of these notes, we are interested in the unofficial exploitation of minerals which is mostly represented by local mineral crackers.  In many places, the crackers tend to be poor and informal.  They can be found in many mining sites in Africa. 

For example, in the North, East, West and South-west of Burkina Faso; crackers search for gold.  Likewise, in the Democratic Republic of Congo crackers carry out their activities in mining cobalt and copper in Kamatanda.  In Mauritania, crackers also look for gold.

Our following up activity is about how these crackers are trying to reduce poverty amongst them by searching for minerals and selling them to dealers.

 

• • Following the direction of poverty reduction via minerals, in focus: child/labour exploitation

 

Child or labour exploitation has always been a big issue when it comes to minerals and mining companies.  This is despite international laws against child or labour exploitation.  Child and labour exploitation continues to exist. 

For example, there are stories about big mining companies that try to take advantage of child labour in the Congolese cobalt mines.

As part of the process of following the direction of poverty reduction via minerals (which are natural capital assets), we are looking at the nexus or interconnection between minerals (mining activities) and child labour in the time of enduring COVID-19.

The above is our way of following the direction of poverty reduction through minerals.

To enquire about this trending activity and/or to follow the direction of poverty reduction with us, just contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Street Children in Africa: How to Bring Happiness and Healthiness for Children Living on the Street in Africa at this Time of Enduring COVID-19

 

As part of our Humanitarian Appeal Projects and Summer of Happiness and Healthiness, we would like to include Street Children in Africa.  Particularly, we would like to associate the challenging work that Africa-based children organisations are doing in this area.

Indeed, at the time of enduring COVID-19, the situation of the children (boys and girls) living on the street can only become worse.  It is known that many of these children live on begging.  However, the hardship that the coronavirus and its associated effects have created can only harshly impact on the lives of these vulnerable and poor children. 

To bring happiness and healthiness to these children, one needs to take them out the street and provide them with a decent home while supporting the organisations that have been supportive to them so far.  In this respect, we would like to acknowledge the work carried out by our Africa-based children organisations which are doing a fantastic and well deserving job for these children.  Amongst these organisations, there are for example:

√ Le Réseau des éducateurs des enfants et jeunes de la rue (Reefer) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

√ L’Oeuvre de reclassement et de protection des enfants de la rue (Orper) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

One can hope that these organisations and mostly these street children will receive the support they badly need and deserve so that the number of children living on street and child poverty in Africa could be sensibly reduced and possibly ended.

For those who would like to support or discuss with CENFACS about street children in Africa, they are welcome to contact us.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Happiness and Healthiness Journal, Creative Activity No. 4: Create Your Journal of Income

 

The coronavirus has threatened and destroyed many people’s incomes and income-generating capacity and opportunities.  Despite that one can create a journal that explains their experiences, feelings and thoughts in terms of happiness and healthiness about income over this Summer of enduring COVID-19.

For example, one can explain how with restricted or limited income they have been able to meet Summer 2021 holiday expenses or simply do the things they wanted or planned to do with happiness and healthiness.  They can as well include in their journal the financial help they received or given.

They can record their thoughts, feelings, experiences and memories in relation to income and income-generating capacity or opportunities.  They can share with the community their experience of happiness and healthiness with income.  This can be recorded in their journal and be shared by the end of Summer 2021.

To share the contents of their happiness and healthiness journal relating to happy and healthy financial life, and help build a better Summer holiday experience, they can contact CENFACS. 

 

 

 

• All-in-one Impact Feedbacks: Report on Reports

 

Last month was our Analytics month.  As part of the Analytics month, we asked some of you to report or give some feedback in your words, numbers and infographics on the experiences you had about the projects and programmes we delivered in the last financial year. 

We asked for two feedbacks: feedback from individuals as programme and project supporters and users, as well as feedback from organisations (Africa-based Sister Organisations).  Some of you responded and others did not.  We would like to thank those who responded.  

For those who responded and gave us their mailing address, they will be contacted and will receive a copy of the above mentioned report.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank them again for their testimonial and experiential support.

 

 

• Appeal for Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu

 

Our appeal to end 25 years of sexual and gender-based violence and abuse on women, children and men in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo continues.

You can help to end the kidnappings, killings and collective rapes of women, children and men in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu regions.

You can help to share happiness and healthiness with the victims of these atrocities.

You can make a helpful difference by removing vulnerability; bringing peace, safety and sustainability to the beneficiaries of this appeal.

You could for example support the Congolese organisation by the name of ‘Mouvement national des survivant.e.s. de violences sexuelles en République Démocratique du Congo’.

To support and or enquire, please contact CENFACS.

 

Vous pouvez travailler avec le CENFACS afin de réaliser les objectifs de réduction de la pauvreté pour les années 2020.  

Si vous êtes intéressé (e), s’il vous plaît contactez-nous pour recevoir nos guides sur ces objectifs.

 

Main Development

 

• CENFACS Annual Review 2020/2021

 

This review aims at explaining to those who are interested in the work CENFACS does to get a glimpse of what happened during the financial year 2020/2021.  It is a summary of our activities, performance, achievements and accounts for the financial year 2020/2021.

However, before starting this review we would like to mention three factors which were at play during the above stated period and which made the context of our poverty relief work.  They are: life-threatening impacts of climate change, economic consequences of the exit of the UK from the EU regional economic integration model, and the enduring impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

• • The Contexts of Poverty Reduction of the 2020/2021 Financial Year

 

As just said above, there are three key factors which affected or impacted our resources, plans and the way we conducted our poverty reduction work, which were:  the changing climate, economic transition due to the UK exit from the EU, the enduring coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. 

Like any organisation that could face this type of daunting challenges, we had to develop a strategy or plan on how to approach our work differently during the year knowingly or unknowingly that events beyond our own control were going to happen.

 

• • • What we did

 

To continue to deal with the threats posed by the changing climate, we green and blue aligned our projects and programmes.  To handle the unexpected economic consequences of the UK exit from the EU, we continued to work on our post-exit people’s development model.  To keep pace with the effects of the enduring COVID-19 on our work, we developed a post-coronavirus poverty reduction restructuring strategy.

 

• • • Links between climate change, exit economy and COVID-19

 

Although this review has to be interpreted within these three key contexts of our work, one should not think that they are separate or exclusive.  Let us explain.  When we speak for example about poverty reduction in the context of COVID-19, it does not mean that the climate change factor has disappeared.  We just want to mean and put emphasis on the dominant factor or the factor that impacted us the most at a particular time.   In this respect, the three factors were all linked in the way our activities and services were affected.

Having clarified the contexts of work, let us now review our financial year 2020/2021.

 

 

 

• • Activities Review

 

As part of this review, we are going to highlight six activities we undertook, which are: COVID-19 campaign, the implementation of CENFACS’ 2020s Development Agenda and Poverty Reduction Programme, essential economic activities, sustainable alignment, humanitarian appeals and poverty reduction follow-up activities.

 

• • • 2020-2021 as a Continuing COVID-19 campaign year

 

As COVID-19 did show very little signs of abating despite the rollout of vaccine and test, we had together with the community to continue to campaign against the enduring coronavirus while following the evolution of the epidemiological curves of the same coronavirus. 

To facilitate the running of this campaign, we set up a COVID-19 Hub for Poverty Reduction.  We had to do it together to protect our services, our users and the general public.

 

• • • 2020-2021 as a programme implementation year

 

We started the implementation of CENFACS’ 2020s Development Agenda and Poverty Reduction Programme.  The seven goals (income, consumption, energy, in-work, intergenerational, digital and situational poverty) of these agenda and programme have been subject of our advocacy during this year in review. 

To name just one of them, the reduction of intergenerational poverty, which helped to raise awareness about the need not to transfer poverty to future generations, received a positive feedback within the CENFACS community.

 

• • • 2020-2021 as an essential economic year

 

Since almost the entire year non-essential economic activities were restricted, essential economic activities could only be the one to help in the reduction of poverty.  Translating in terms of the running of services and activities, we had to rely upon the essential aspects of our service provisioning (such as Advice-giving service) to work with the community in the UK and in Africa during this ended financial year.

Advice was given to the community to manage the situational poverty caused by the coronavirus, to build back better from it, to make the return from the lockdown possible and work, to control COVID-19 and Summer happiness budgets for an ordinary family, etc.

 

• • • 2020-2021 as a green and clean year of building back and forward

 

During the outlined financial year, one of the concerns for many in our community was how to resume outdoor life and move on at the time of enduring COVID-19.  In order to respond to this pressing and life-saving need, with the support we received we set up a build better together programme which consisted of two parts: build back and build forward from the legacies of COVID-19.

However, there was no any other way of building back and forward together unless we did it greener and cleaner.  This meant; we had to align our programme to greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and targets.  Since then, the report we received from the members of our community in applying the programme in reduction their own carbon emissions and in using the circular economic model is encouraging.

 

• • • 2020-2021 as another humanitarian relief year 

 

With what was happening in places and or regions (like African Sahel, Lake Chad Basin, Horn of Africa, Ituri and Tigray), we could not stay silent as human life was endangered and in some circumstances destroyed.  With the support of the community in terms of data and stories from these places/regions, we had to appeal so that lives could be saved from civil violence, attacks, gender-based violence, severe climate conditions and other life-threatening and destroying conditions (such as the coronavirus).  In total, we launched eight humanitarian appeals. 

 

• • • 2020-2021 as a leave-no-one-behind year through follow-up activities

 

Reaching out to those who are difficult to reach, following the direction of poverty reduction and sustainable development via ‘Social’ and ‘Virtual worlds’, making zero hunger Africa, taking action for the upkeep of the nature and so on; helped not to forget anybody (including flora and fauna) in the process of helping to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.  Through these follow-up activities, we were able to bring the life-saving needs of those unreachable to the poverty reduction supporters and enthusiasts.

 

 

• • Achievements of the year

 

We would be indebted if we end this review without mentioning or adding to the above summary of work carried out these three achievements: CENFACS’ COVID-19 Hub for Poverty Reduction, Build Back and Forward Better Programmes, and Ability to Serve the Community both virtually and in-person. 

 

• • • CENFACS’ COVID-19 Hub for Poverty Reduction 

 

CENFACS’ COVID-19 Hub for Poverty Reduction is a newly set up point where most of CENFACS’ work on COVID-19-induced poverty and hardships are regrouped.  The new hub holds and provides information as well as serves as a directory of inquiries about CENFACS’ work on COVID-19 for both internal and external purposes.

The Hub also holds the state of progress about CENFACS work on COVID-19 (such as the Campaign for Resilience against Covid-19 and the various follow-ups of the evolution of the epidemiological curves of the coronavirus).

 

• • • Build Back and Forward Better Programmes (BBFBPs) 

 

BBFBPs are made of two parts: Build Back Better Programme (BBBP) and Build Forward Better Programme (BFBP) 

Build Back Better Programme considers the three classical elements of Build Back Better model which are: recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Build Forward Better Programme is a set of projects and activities designed with the aim to ensure that the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic sits on sound and sustainable foundations that build back better the poverty reduction gains hard-won so far and help beneficiaries to move forward better cleaner and greener.  The programme is scheduled for two years depending on the duration of the coronavirus pandemic, with a possibility of rolling it out.

It is hoped that through this programme, beneficiaries will make steady progress in their journey and work of reconstruction from the COVID-19 impacts while preparing to stay resilient to future similar shocks and crises. 

Building forward better is also about correcting the asymmetrical and disproportional legacies of COVID-19 containment measures and lockdown restrictions since many of our community members have been unevenly hurt during this current crisis compared to other economic crisis such as the global recession of 2008/9. 

Building forward better is finally about adopting green and clean pathways for poverty reduction and low carbon emissions development.

 

• • • Ability to Serve the Community both virtually and in-person

 

The coronavirus and associated lockdowns have deepened the process of digital transformation within CENFACS as most of our services (e.g. advice) to the community have moved to online platform.  The community can access our services virtually regardless of any face-to-face contact.  This offers the community additional and healthy choice.  Likewise, we can undertake hybrid work with the community; that is working with the community virtually and/or in-person, at home and/or away.

 

 

• • Performance review

 

After a year of net spell of our cash funds as it passed from 22% in 2018/19 to 33% in 2019/2020 financial year, it went down during this financial year under review.  Our cash funds dropped by almost 89%.  The aftershock effects of the coronavirus and exit economy started to appear in our finances.  The savings we made on payments accounts on items (such as in-person networking and meetings, transport and travel, postage stamps, outreach, printing and photocopying) were wiped out by the enduring coronavirus, prolong lockdowns and uncertain exit economy. 

Also, the additional investment we made in online and virtual technologies and infrastructures (as we were trying to respond to an unprecedented health crisis and finding other ways of still helping to reduce poverty and hardships) has not yet materialised or translated into a positive return.  

On the receipts side, we could not raise the needy funds we were expecting since the pockets of most of supporters were affected by the dramatic and drastic effects of the coronavirus shock and the prolong lockdowns.

We hope that with the post-coronavirus restructuring and build forward better programmes we set up, together with the unlocking of economies, the ascending trends of our cash funds will resume sooner or later during the 2021/2022 financial year.

 

• • Thank you

 

The work of CENFACS is a collective endeavour that relies upon the voluntary contribution of others, a key to our success.  As such, there is a number of people and organisations who contributed to the realisation of our financial year 2020-2021, especially in a year marred by the pandemic. 

We would like to indiscriminately acknowledge them.  Without their helpful and life-saving support, we would not be able to achieve the above.  We are grateful to our volunteers, users, website/blog readers and supporters. 

We would like to thank all of them for their unwavering commitment and impactful support for helping us to voice and bring once again our poverty reduction message into the world in development, especially at the very daunting time of the coronavirus pandemic and economic unlocking.

Many thanks for making 2020-2021 another deservingly memorable year at CENFACS.

 

_________

 

Reference

 

(1) Marcelo M. Giugale (2014), Economic Development: what everyone needs to know, Oxford University Press, Oxford & New York

_________

 

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.

Donate to support CENFACS!

FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/

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 2021 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

18 August 2021

 

Post No. 209

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• African Not-for-profit Investment Fund Project

• Following the Direction of Poverty Reduction this Summer via Natural Capital Assets, Trending Topic in Focus from Week beginning 16/08/2021: Freshwaters

• Happiness and Healthiness Journal, Creative Activity No. 3: Create Your Journal of Happy and Healthy Life Expectancy

 

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• African Not-for-profit Investment Fund Project

 

We are carrying on with the work on not-for-profit investment in Africa, particularly with the planning process of African Not-for-profit Investment Fund Project (AN4PIFP).

AN4PIFP is project designed to support our Africa-based Sister Organisations and African organisations of similar aim so that they can find the means in terms of investment to continue to help to lift more people out of poverty while surviving and sustaining the game of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Although it is called investment fund, the project is more than just a fundraising drive as it is about helping organisational beneficiaries to develop their capacity to sustain in the game of the AfCFTA.  Amongst the capacity they need to develop is that of absorbing the quantity and quality of investment they would like to get.

Under the Main Development section of this post, we have given the key summaries or highlights making proposals linked to this project.  For any queries about this project, including funding it, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.   

 

 

 

• Following the Direction of Poverty Reduction this Summer via Natural Capital Assets, Trending Topic in Focus from Week beginning 16/08/2021: Freshwaters

 

Freshwaters (i.e. rivers, lakes, ponds, ground-water and wetlands), which are part of natural capital assets, can be studied in the process of following the direction of poverty reduction.  In order to do that we are going to consider the following:  the meaning of water poverty, freshwater in Africa and how people are trying to reduce water poverty at the time of enduring COVID-19.

 

• • What is water poverty?

 

To define water poverty, we have selected the following definition given by the Digital Economy Act of 2018 (1):

“A person living in water poverty is a member of a household living on lower income in a home which cannot be supplied with water at a reasonable cost or cannot be supplied with sewerage services at a reasonable cost”.

From the above definition, it is clear that when a person or household is at risk of not being able to afford water and or sewerage bills, one can argue that this person or household is water poor.  Many water poor people are found in places or regions of the world that suffer from drought or dryness.  Africa is not exempt from these places or regions.  Some of CENFACS’ Africa-based Sister Organisations work in those places where they run water projects.

 

 

• • Freshwater resources and poverty reduction in Africa

 

It emerges from the United Nations World Water Development Report (2) that

“Africa’s freshwater resources are estimated to be nearly 9% of the world’s total.  However, these resources are unevenly distributed, with the six most water-rich countries in Central and Western Africa holding 54% of the continent’s total resources and the 27 most water-poor countries holding only 7%” (p. 6)

In the same report, it is argued that

“About 73% of the total population of Sub-Saharan Africa did not use safely managed drinking water services in 2017 (WHO/UNICEF, 2019a).  An estimated 14% of Africa’s population (about 160 million people) currently live under conditions of water scarcity (Hasan et al., 2019), due in part to the uneven distribution of water resources as well as inequalities in the access to clean and potable water services (UNEP, 2002)” (p. 108)

Although some of these figures relate to many years down the line, it is possible to argue that the ability of many people to access safe drinking water is still a stiff challenge.  Many places are lacking basic water services.  

Many people and communities are trying to collect water from the following: improved sources of around 500 metres of their premises, unprotected dug wells or springs, surface water sources, rainwater, packaged or delivered water, etc.  

At this time of the coronavirus, the situation in terms of accessing water could even be worse since the coronavirus has wiped out hard-won many years of poverty reduction, including those of water poverty reduction. 

 

• • How people are trying to reduce water poverty at the time of enduring COVID-19

 

Water is essential for sustaining agriculture, the ecosystems and security for the community.  The lack of water can lead to conflicts and insecurity.  Yet, water poverty is still a major issue since many poor people may not have secure and sustainable access to water resources and are not involved in the governance of water resources.

At the time of the coronavirus pandemic, water helps to fight the virus and protect everybody against the spread and transmission of this disease.  We need water to wash our hands and disinfect our properties in the process of fighting the coronavirus pandemic.  This is let alone to fight the water borne diseases. 

Concerning the way in which people are trying to reduce water poverty, let us simply argue that we have many examples about how the beneficiaries of Africa-based Sister Organisations are trying to collect (either from a water collection point or from the river or from the rain) and share water in the fight against the coronavirus.  They are doing it while being asked to follow the coronavirus restrictions and rules.  To this, one needs to add irrigation projects to bring water to communities deprived from water resources.

Many African local authorities made efforts to help local population to access safe drinking water in the fight against the coronavirus.  However, these efforts are still short to cover the entire water poor population.

To sum up, there is more to argue when following and studying the direction of poverty reduction via fresh water as a natural capital asset.  In this argument about freshwaters, one can  speak about customary rights for access to water, blue alignment to greenhouse gas emissions reduction, the relationship between human and animals regarding the share of freshwaters or water resources, etc.  For those who would like to speak about or go in depth about this, they can discuss freshwaters with CENFACS. 

To support CENFACS’ trending topic of freshwaters and or any other trending topics developed so far, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Happiness and Healthiness Journal, Creative Activity No. 3: Create Your Journal of Happy and Healthy Life Expectancy

 

COVID-19 has challenged, threatened and in some situations destroyed many lives and livelihoods.  Life expectancy (that is the statistical measure of the average time someone is expected to live) has also been tested as many people got ill from the coronavirus pandemic or had to get double vaccinated or tested against COVID-19 germs.  This can make people unhappy while feeling unhealthy.

So, as part of Summer of Happiness and Healthiness, one can create a journal for the things that and people who are bringing or have brought expectation of living a happy and healthy life during this Summer of enduring COVID-19.

They can record their thoughts, feelings, experiences and memories in relation to their life expectancy or the expectation of it.  They can share with the community their experience of happy and healthy life expectancy.  This can be recorded in their journal and be shared by the end of Summer 2021.

To share the contents of their happiness and healthiness journal relating to happy and healthy life expectancy, and help build a better Summer holiday experience, they can contact CENFACS. 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Summer 2021 Activities, Projects and Programmes

 

We believe that everybody is enjoying their Summer break wherever they are and whatever they are doing, despite the enduring COVID-19 circumstances. 

We also hope that those who are working over this Summer are getting on well with their work. 

We finally trust that Summer 2021 Happiness and Healthiness Projects, including other Summer activities and programmes we have offered so far, are helping the community to happily and healthily pass this Summer. 

For those who need any help or advice regarding any of the aspects of the Happiness and Healthiness Projects or any other Summer activities or programmes which are on offer, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

We would like to reiterate our wish to all multi-dimensional Poor Children, Young People and Families of Happy, Healthy, Vulnerability-free, Peaceful, Safe and Sustainable Summer Days. 

 

 

• Summer Triple Pack is Still Running

 

Our Summer Triple Pack made of Track, Trip and Trending continues this week.  The key message we would like to get across this Triple Pack is to try to help reduce poverty by undertaking any of these three activities: running, visiting projects and analysing trends.  Let us make some reminding points about each of them.

 

• • COVID-19 Secure track to help reduce continuing sanitation poverty

 

This activity of the pack is about COVID-19 Secure Run 2.5 miles (nearly 4 km) to save healing leaves and support those who get or got relief from poor health or poor sanitation via herbs, leaves and plants in a Summer of enduring Covid-19.

For those who have completed their 2.5 miles of running, please do not hesitate to share with us your experience.  This activity is also performed under August 2021 Leafy Activities.

For those who are deprived to physically run, they can virtually run to help reduce poverty with CENFACS.  Among them are people who may be experiencing handicap to do physical activity of running to help reduce poverty.  One could include the following:

People or parents caring for very young children, pregnant women, elderly people, disable people, those who are not physically fit or mobile to run, those who do not have opportunity to physically run, etc. 

If you are organising this kind of virtual activity or event, let us know.  It is also better to advise us that the people participating in the virtual run are the physically deprived ones we have listed above or they have a serious handicap prohibiting them from undertaking any physical engagement.

 

• • Virtual or In-person Trips to Hybrid Running Projects and Covid-19 hit locals

 

As part of Leafy Activities of the month, we have suggested to undertaking virtual or in-person Visits or Tours of 3 leaf projects or activities relating to Covid-19 hit local people or communities.

These virtual visits are not only online recreational activities.  They are also a learning and development process in terms of understanding the following:

√ The way in which Covid-19 hit people or communities, particularly those who are undertaking coping and survival strategies via leaves to eradicate Covid-19-induced poverty and vulnerability

√ What is needed to help them overcome the problems they have

√ What lessons that can be learnt and shared from their coronavirus pandemic experience and from those using leaves to improve future actions, planning and decision-making

√ The demand in terms of policy development and response to meet similar needs in the future

Furthermore, Virtual Trip as part of our Summer Triple Pack includes field work research in Africa and anywhere else in the context of poverty relief and sustainable development projects. 

For those who are having or have had these experiences and results of field work research, please do not hesitate to share them.

 

• • Online Trending by following the direction of poverty reduction via natural capital assets

 

The focus for this third part of our Summer Triple Pack is on Fresh waters for this week.  We are looking at how better management of freshwater resources can contribute to livelihoods of poor local communities.  It is about finding out how access to fresh water and fresh water supply can be a way of eradicating poverty and hardships. 

Through this trending activity one can come to know how many people have been lifted out of poverty during this Summer of changing climate and enduring COVID-19.

Additionally, as part of CENFACS’ Leafy Year and Project, we have asked to those who can to carry out online search to find 6 natural leaf Trends in the contexts of leaf-related poverty alleviation and leaf-enhancing sustainable development.

In all this Summer Triple Pack, Covid-19 restrictions and rules must be followed, respected and maintained in terms of regular hand washing with sanitizer, social distancing and wearing a face covering regardless of whether one is fully jabbed or negatively tested against the coronavirus pandemic.

 

 

• Activities about the Not-for-profit Investment and Development

 

There are four activities we are conducting in the context of not-for-profit investment and development.  They include: market research, survey, e-discussion and investors’ platform of talks.  They are also part of the planning process of the project of African not-for-profit Investment Fund.

 

∝ African-focused not-for-profit investors’ platform

 

To encourage not-for-profit investment drive for not-for-profit organisations, CENFACS can facilitate investors to talk to African not-for-profit organisations.

 

∝ E-discussion on capacity development

 

Not-for-profit organisations that need capacity development (including investment absorption capacity development) can e-discuss the matter with CENFACS.

 

∝ Online focused support

 

You can support CENFACS with your gift ideas about scopes and limits about poverty-reducing effects of not-for-profit investment.

To support, just contact CENFACS.

 

∝ Survey on the role model of not-for-profit investees

 

You can take a challenge by describing, in twenty seven words, the portrait or prototype of African not-for-profit organisation that would be the best user of not-for-profit investments in the African Continental Free Trade Area.

To take part in these activities and or to discuss any issue about them, please contact CENFACS.

 

Vous pouvez suivre avec le CENFACS l’orientation de la réduction de la pauvreté au moyen d’actifs immobilisés naturels.  Pour le faire, s’il vous plaît contactez le CENFACS.

 

Main Development

 

• African Not-for-profit Investment Fund Project

 

The following are the key summaries/highlights of the African Not-for-profit Investment Fund Project (AN4PIFP).  To make it easier for our potential funders and readers, these summaries/highlights do not include project management tools (such as the logical framework approach/analysis, project cycle, etc.).

 

• • The AN4PIFP in brief

 

The AN4PIFP offers information, guidance, advice, support, fundraising and networking opportunities to not-for-profit African organisations based in Africa to access investment opportunities while developing their capacities.  Through this project, these organisations can increase their poverty reduction results and presence/participation to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

 

• • Project overall aim

 

Its overall aim is to create and expand poverty reduction services and products within the AfCFTA.

 

• • Project components/activities

 

The AN4PIFP is about pooling money from not-for-profit investors and spreading risk associated to poverty reduction intervention by running the following activities:

√ Translate the contents of poverty reduction services and products into and to meet local needs

√ Support the capacity development of not-for-profit African organisations, including their investment absorption capacity and multi-national capacity

√ Attract and direct investments towards not-for-profit African organisations

√ Keep pace with the implementation of sustainable development goals at the level of African not-for-profit organisations

√ Promote green and blue alignments to greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and targets of any initiatives to lift more people out of poverty

√ Include poverty reduction aspects in any investments protocol and agenda

√ Build and improve the profile of not-for-profit African organisations to attract foreign direct investments

√ Develop an investments plan and strategy via a business plan

√ Link investments to nature-based solutions to poverty

√ Access investments that reduce gender and generational disparities and poverty

√ Help in the generation of poverty reduction in bulk

√ Advance human development agenda from investments received or granted

√ Preserve and conserve the planet’s environmental regeneration through the terms of reference of investments to be acquired

Etc.

 

• • Project outcomes

 

As a result of the implementation of this project, one can anticipate the following changes and effects may happen:

√ An increase in the number of people lifted out of poverty and or poverty reduction in bulk

√ Reduction of gender and generational disparities and poverty

√ Closure of the investment gaps generated by COVID-19

√ Not-for-profit African organisations will become capacity-built and better armed with skills to handle the game of the AfCFTA

√ Better access to investment opportunities to deal with multi-dimensional and cross-border poverty

√ Greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and targets reachable within deadlines

√ Better and more implementation of the United Nations sustainable development goals

√ Increase in the number of localised poverty reduction services, products and outlets

√ Boost in the multi-national capacity of not-for-profit African organisations to deliver poverty reduction services and products in more than one country

Etc.

 

• • Project indicators

 

The following qualitative and quantitative variables will help to produce reliable means to measure achievement, reflect changes and assess the performance of this not-for-profit investment project:

√ The index of contribution of the not-for-profit investment and development to poverty reduction

√ Rate of reduction of gender and generational disparities and poverty

√ Carbon foot print calculator resulting from green and blue investments

√ The number of not-for-profit African organisations that have gained access to investment as a result of the AN4PIFP

√ The percentage or number of people lifted out poverty because of not-for-profit investment and development agenda

√ The number of not-for-profit African organisations that will become skilful and capacity built

√ The expected multiplier effect leading to poverty reduction in bulk within the AfCFTA

 

• • Project beneficiaries

 

Generally, the beneficiaries of this project will be investment-deprived not-for-profit African organisations.

Specifically, the project will benefit Africa-based Sister organisation, their end-users and new users as a result of the game of AfCFTA.

 

• • 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 coronavirus pandemic has put a toll on everybody.  However, those who would like to support this project will be more than welcome.  Furthermore, because this project is a kind of investment fund we expect and invite many various donors to intervene.

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 and collection of information on all aspects of the project on specified indicators.  This will enable to trace the on-going project development with identified clues in terms of progress and achievement.  In other words, we will systematically collect and analyse information to keep regular checks and balances on the project in terms of progress in the use of investments or funds granted or given.

Likewise, we shall assess what the project will achieve in relation to the overall aim it was set up of creating and expanding poverty reduction services and products within the AfCFTA.  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 from the lack of not-for-profit investment fund.  This evaluation will help to determine the efficiency, effectiveness, impact, sustainability and the relevance of this project.

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 this time of the coronavirus pandemic is a difficult one.  The health and economic crisis instigated by the coronavirus pandemic has perhaps negatively impacted the flows of inward investment to Africa.  However, for those who may be interested in this project, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

_________

 

References

 

(1) Digital Economy Act of 2018, quoted by the Neighbourhood Energy Action at https://www.nea.org.uk

(2) United Nations (2021), The United Nations World Water Development Report 2021: Valuing Water, Paris

_________

 

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.

Donate to support CENFACS!

FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/

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 2021 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

11 August 2021

 

Post No. 208

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• FACS, Issue No. 72, Summer 2021: Investing in the Not-for-profit African Organisations within the African Continental Free Trade Area

• Following the Direction of Poverty Reduction this Summer via Natural Capital Assets, Trending Topic in Focus from Week beginning 09/08/2021: Soils

• Happiness and Healthiness Journal, Creative Activity No. 2: Create Your Journal of Summer Generosity

 

 

… And much more!

 

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• FACS, Issue No. 72, Summer 2021: Investing in the Not-for-profit African Organisations within the African Continental Free Trade Area

How to reduce more poverty in the African Continental Free Trade

 

As the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) keeps its momentum, many keep calling on investors to pour in their capital.  However, given the size of poverty in Africa, would not be better for investors motivated by other motives than profit to move towards those areas of AfCFTA or African market that are not-for-profit making but that take poverty reduction as their core mission? 

For example, when navigating the impact of COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa, the International Monetary Fund (1) argues that

“In Sub-Saharan Africa, estimated employment fell by about 8½ per cent in 2020; more than 32 million people were thrown into poverty…” (p. 11)

This estimated number of COVID-19 induced poor has to be added to the pre-pandemic poor.  If there are so many people living in poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa, it makes sense to appeal to not-for-profit investors to chip in. 

Another COVID-19 impact is given by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (2) which claims that

“Foreign direct investments to Africa declined by 16 per cent in 2020, to $40 billion, as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to have a persistent and multi-faceted negative impact on cross-border investment globally and regionally” (p. 40)

This decline could mean less opportunity for those who could have benefited from these investments in Africa.  This information could also send a message to the not-for-profit African organisations in need of investment to find alternative ways of meeting their investment needs in a climate of investment decline.

The 72^nd Issue of FACS examines how not-for-profit driven international investors can support not-for-profit organisations and development in the AfCFTA.  Especially, this Issue looks at the climate and conditions in which this could bring more and better poverty reduction outcomes in Africa. 

Through this Issue, we are going to discuss a new direction or re-orientation of investments in Africa with a mission to lift more and better people from poverty and hardships.  This will help to add value to poverty reduction work already carried out via the classic route or channel of investments in Africa.

The 72^nd Issue is indeed a progressive way of thinking as it perceives investment beyond African special economic zones to instead consider the possibility of scaling up investment towards African areas of high level of poverty.  The Issue is in itself a vindication for an investment recovery for Africa’s not-for-profit development sector in the post-pandemic era.

The 72^nd Issue is therefore a journey with those in need in a new area of enhanced trade integration in Africa with new types of investors ready to meet their own altruistic interests, while responding to local needs of those in most need and build forward better from the COVID-19 induced poverty and hardships.  Amongst those investors are social ones.

As Muhammad Yunus with Karl Weber (3) put it in the introduction to their book:   

“In a social business, an investor aims to help others without making any financial gain himself” (p. xvii)

They also argue in the same introduction the following:

“No doubt humans are selfish beings, but they are selfless beings, too.  Both these qualities coexist in all human beings” (p. xv)

It is this selfless motivation or dimension driven by investors, here not-for-profit investors, that will be about in the 72^nd Issue of FACS in order to lift more people out of poverty.

Under the Main Development section of this post, we have given Key Summaries making the contents pages of FACS Newsletter, Issue No. 72.

 

 

 

• Following the Direction of Poverty Reduction this Summer via Natural Capital Assets, Trending Topic in Focus from Week beginning 09/08/2021: Soils

 

The 2^nd trending topic of our activity in following the direction of poverty reduction via natural capital assets is about soils, particularly about the relationship between soils (or lands) and poverty.

Before going any further let us give this precision on the concepts of soil and/or land.

 

• • Conceptualising soil and/or land

 

We shall use the word soil or land without making any specific distinction between the two, although economists tend to focus on land (as a resource) while pedologists put emphasis on soil (as a natural body).  We are not going to enter the debate between economists and pedologists on this matter.

Both land and soil are natural capital assets.  In the context of this 2^nd trending topic, we are following the direction of poverty reduction via soil (or land) as a natural capital asset.

 

• • Following the direction of poverty reduction via soil (or land) as a natural capital asset

 

Let us beginning this following up activity with what Martin P. Heger et al (4) argue in their article about land and poverty.  In their article, they draw three main conclusions as follows:

“First, land improvements are important for poverty reduction in rural areas and particularly so for Sub-Saharan Africa.  Second, land improvements are pro-poor: poorer areas see larger poverty alleviation effects due to improvements in land.  Finally, irrigation plays a major role in breaking the link between bad weather and negative impacts on the poor through reduced vegetation growth and soil fertility”

Indeed, if land improvements or any alteration to the land that makes it more usable and increases land value are done fairly or equally, this can help to reduce poverty, conflicts and insecurity.  These land improvements include roads, landscaping, fences, etc.  They can also be referred to land ownership, laws, rights and obligations that can impact the conditions of life of those living in poverty in terms of produce from land (e.g. crops, staples, raw materials, houses, etc.)

For example, the lack of land improvements in many places in Africa (such as the Central African Republic, Mali, Sudan, etc.) has led to ethnic conflicts, violence, insecurity, hunger and poverty. 

So, this week’s trending topic is all about following the direction of poverty reduction via soils or lands as natural capital assets.  It is known that at this time of changing climate and enduring COVID-19, it is challenging to gather information and data about how land improvements are helping those living in poverty to escape from it.   This is let alone the knowledge of exact number of poor people who really benefited from land improvements or reforms against the backdrop of COVID-19.

To follow the direction of poverty reduction via natural capital assets with us, just contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Happiness and Healthiness Journal, Creative Activity No. 2: Create Your Journal of Summer Generosity

 

Generosity is one of the six predictors of happiness and healthiness.  One can create a journal about what they are giving (or gave) or are receiving (or received) unselfishly.

Like last Summer, this Summer is tough for many ordinary people and families as COVID-19 endures.  Many of these poor people and families are looking for unselfish help and support.  For those who would manage to give or receive this generous support; they can create a journal for the things, organisations and people who have been unselfishly supportive to their happiness and healthiness during this Summer 2021.

They can record their thoughts, feelings and experiences in relation to the generous support they have received or given.  They can share with the community their experience of happy and healthy generous support.  This can be recorded in their journal and be shared by the end of Summer 2021.

To share the contents of their happiness and healthiness journal relating to generous support, and help build a better Summer holiday experience, they can contact CENFACS. 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Integration or Factorisation of Le Dernier Carré (the Last Square of Poverty Relief) into Build Forward Better Programme

 

The Last Square of Poverty Relief (or le Dernier Carré) is CENFACS’ four step model of poverty relief that deals with four types of poverty: income poverty, consumption poverty, energy poverty and in-working poverty.  It is also the square of escape or inescapability from poverty, a four-dimensional poverty. 

Multi-dimensional poverty requires multi-dimensional approach to tackle it.  CENFACS’ Le Dernier Carré (the Last Square of Poverty Relief) model is an example of multi-dimensional approach to poverty reduction.  The model is mostly in action when using CENFACS’ League of Poverty Reduction as it enables to classify team countries according to their efforts in reducing poverty.

As we set up Build Forward Better Programme to manage the post-COVID-19 era, it would be a good try to include this model in the process of building forward better together greener and cleaner from the legacies of COVID-19 and lockdowns.  In practical terms, it means building forward better income, consumption, energy and work.  This is a positive outlook of Le Dernier Carré. 

For further enquiries or any queries about integration of Le Dernier Carré (or the Last Square of Poverty Reduction) into Build Forward Better Programme, please contact CENFACS. 

 

 

• Online TRACK to CENFACS e-charity Summer Shop for Summer Goods Donations and Buys

 

Every season is an opportunity to do something about the environment and poverty.  You can recycle or donate your unwanted or unused goods and presents to do something about the environment and or poverty.  You can also buy goods to meet the same ends.

This Summer you can online track CENFACS e-charity shop to help the environment and poverty relief.  If you are a fun of online tracking and shopping, you can take an online course of action or online path or even course of travel to save the environment and reduce poverty with CENFACS.

Instead of you in-person going to physically shop or donate your goods, you can from the comfort of your home buy or donate goods to CENFACS e-charity shop to help the deserving cause of poverty relief and sustainable development.

To support us either by shopping or supplying us with products or goods you no longer want or use so that we can sell and raise the money for the good cause of poverty relief, please go http://cenfacs.org.uk/shop/

 

 

• Virtual and In-person Trips for Field Research

 

Trips to the local need this week include as well those travels made or to be made to conduct fieldwork research in Africa and anywhere else in the context of poverty relief and sustainable development projects. 

Because of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns it has generated, we recommend to those who want do trips for field research to only do them virtually.  In exceptional circumstances whereby people have to in-person visit coronavirus-affected people or related projects, it is in the interest of everybody that they should take care of the following:

√ They have to be fully vaccinated and or negatively tested against the coronavirus 

√ They should wear appropriate personal protective equipment to protect themselves and others against the Covid-19. 

√ They should follow local, national and international rules related to the protection against Covid-19 such as social and physical distancing rules, personal hygiene (washing of hands with soaps at least 20 seconds), disinfecting of their own properties if they have been in any site, etc.

These fieldwork researches or practical experiences to gain knowledge and skills could be of varying forms such as observation and collection of raw data, interviews, group discussions, practical activities to support overseas development projects, etc. 

If you are a researcher and did or are doing some fieldwork research on sustainable development and poverty reduction, and think that your work can enhance CENFACS’ work, you could share with us your experience, research findings or outcomes.

To share the experiences and results of your fieldwork research, just contact CENFACS and CENFACS will get back to you.

 

A lire et vous accompagner cette période estivale, le 72e numéro de FACS:

 

Les pages 5 et 6 de ce numéro, que nous vous prions de trouver sous la section ‘Main Development’ de cette poste, vous donnent une idée succincte des thèmes développés. 

Pour ceux ou celles qui veulent prolonger ou approfondir leur lecture de ce numéro 72 de FACS en français, ils/elles peuvent contacter le CENFACS. 

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• FACS, Issue No. 72, Summer 2021: Investing in the Not-for-profit African Organisations within the African Continental Free Trade Area

How to reduce more poverty in the African Continental Free Trade

 

The contents and key summaries of the 72^nd Issue of FACS, which is the sole development of this post, are given below.

 

• • Contents and Pages

 

Relationship between not-for-profit investment and poverty reduction (Page 2)

Theory of poverty reduction in bulk within the context of AfCFTA (Page 2)

Construction of an index of contribution of not-for-profit development to poverty reduction (Page 2)

Investing in Not-for-profit African Sister Organisations (Page 3)

Reducing investment gaps to reduce gender disparities and poverty in the AfCFTA (Page 3)

Investments in nature-based solutions to poverty in the not-for-profit organisations (Page 4)

Green and blue alignments of investments with ASOs within the AfCFTA (Page 4)

Des règles du jeu équitables dans la répartition des investissements entre les organisations africaines à but non lucratif et organisations à but lucratif au sein de la Zone de libre-échange continentale africaine (Page 5)

Que peut-on faire pour attirer plus d’investissements directs étrangers vers les organisations africaines à but non lucratif? (Page 5)

Pallier au déclin des investissements directs étrangers dû au COVID-19 au sein des organisations africaines à but non lucratif (Page 6)

Partenariat équilibré avec les organisations africaines à but non lucratif pour un protocole d’investissements réducteur de la pauvreté (Page 6)

Sustainable Development Goals enabling investments and African not-for-profit organisations (Page 7)

The African Investment Bank and not-for-profit investments (Page 7)

Investments in energy, food security, the protection of nature and biodiversity (Page 8)

Investing in localisation via the not-for-profit development (Page 8)

African-focused not-for-profit investor events (Page 9)

E-discussion: Investment absorption capacity development (Page 9)

Online focused support (Page 9)

Survey on the role model of not-for-profit investee (Page 9)

Not-for-profit investment quiz (Page 9)

African not-for-profit investment fund project (Page 10)

 

• • Key Summaries

 

Please find below the key summaries of the 72^nd Issue of FACS from page 2 to page 10. 

 

• • • Relationship between not-for-profit investment and poverty reduction (Page 2)

 

There are empirical studies that generally assert that poverty reduction can be proportionally or disproportionally be associated with levels of investments.  This impact or association can happen with both foreign and national direct investments.

As to not-for-profit investments, they should normally have a positive impact on poverty reduction because of their nature.  On principle, they are meant to advance human development causes rather than simply aiming at achieving business goals (such as maximising profit or income or a high return on investment).  The not-for-profit investments would aim at good or high result on poverty reduction. 

However, to know if there is any relationship between not-for-profit investments and poverty reduction in the context of the AfCFTA, there should be quantitative data and analysis that can help to find this relationship.  One can hope as the AfCFTA develops, there would be opportunity to collect enough data and to test this correlation between the not-for-profit investments and poverty reduction.

 

 

• • • Theory of poverty reduction in bulk within the context of AfCFTA (Page 2)

 

One of the long running problems that the African continent faces is huge poverty.  COVID-19 has not made things easy for the continent.  Not only it has led to mass unemployment, mass closing down and mass lockdown; it has wiped out many years of hard-won poverty reduction results in Africa. 

In this post-pandemic era of recovery, it is possible to reverse the downward trend of poverty reduction.  It is likely probable that if investment is fairly oriented and distributed within the AfCFTA, there could be a chain of poverty reductions across African countries.  If the pattern of poverty reduction repeats itself and becomes consistent and continuous, this could lead to a poverty reduction in bulk or in mass.  However, for this to happen, the goal of poverty reduction should be central to any investment initiative.

 

• • • Construction of an index of contribution of not-for-profit development to poverty reduction (Page 2)

 

To know that the not-for-profit is contributing to poverty reduction within the AfCFTA, it would be better to create and develop a method to track the performance of not-for-profit investments and assets in an institutionalised or properly defined way.  Perhaps, establishing an index of contribution of not-for-profit investments could be the useful way of measuring this performance. 

Those who have already built or would like to build this kind of index; this is an interesting research ground or path to embark on.  Those who would like to discuss the index of contribution of the not-for-profit to poverty reduction, they can contact CENFACS.

 

 

• • • Investing in Not-for-profit African Sister Organisations (Page 3)

 

African Sister Organisations (ASOs) can be an alternative route for investing in the AfCFTA for those investors having other motives than only making profit.  Investing in this sort of organisations is a way of thinking differently and approaching poverty from a different and new perspective. 

Indeed, there is a difference between investing in organisations that consider poverty reduction as a residual or appended aspect of their main trading activity compared to those organisations that take poverty reduction as their main or core mission or activity.  So, if one wants to see real improvements in reduction of poverty in quality and quantity; then putting their money into ASOs that take poverty reduction as their core mission could be a viable option.

 

• • • Reducing investment gaps to reduce gender and generational disparities and poverty in the AfCFTA (Page 3)

 

Investing in the not-for-profit development is also about investing in equal way in women and men, girls and boys, young and old people projects in order to reduce investment gaps between the two sexes, between generations.  This is important especially in places where the majority of projects are discriminately run by one single gender or generation.

In closing investment gaps between women and men, girls and boys, younger and older generations; this will help not only to address gender and generational disparities and inequalities, but also to reduce gender and inter-generational poverty within the AfCFTA.  And the African not-for-profit organisations working on gender issues could be the better organisations to invest in if one wants to end gender and inter-generational poverty in the AfCFTA.     

 

• • • Investments in nature-based solutions to poverty in the not-for-profit organisations (Page 4)

 

Investments in nature-based solutions (like those in the protection of biodiversity, sustainable forestry, re/afforestation, etc.) can help to stop or reduce human activity that threatens and damages the planet’s environment to regenerate.  These types of investment can also assist in moving away from solutions to poverty that threaten and endanger the health and life of nature.

Not-for-profit organisations that are already working in the nature-based solutions need investments to keep their work going.  They need support so they can keep holding responses to poverty that maintain the health and wealth of nature in good condition, to keep harmonious relationship with nature’s capital or natural capital assets.  

 

• • • Green and blue alignments of investments with ASOs within the AfCFTA (Page 4)

 

Aligning investments to the principles of greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and targets can be better done with the engagement of ASOs within the AfCFTA.  Likewise, aligning investments to fresh, safe and clean waters can also be conducted with ASOs within the context of AfCFTA. 

The double alignment of investments with ASOs will be beneficial not only for nature within the AfCFTA, but also for users making this trade area and the world.  This double alignment will help reduce the enormous pressure on natural resources (as trade integration grows) while decreasing poverty amongst people, especially the poor ones.  And ASOs working on the health of nature and the reduction of poverty would be in a better position to expand the benefits of their work to keep nature healthy and lift more people out of poverty within the space provided by African trade integration.

 

• • • Des règles du jeu équitables dans la répartition des investissements entre les organisations africaines à but non lucratif et organisations à but lucratif au sein de la Zone de libre-échange continentale africaine (Page 5)

 

Quand il s’agit de réduire et d’éliminer la pauvreté, il serait mieux de faire jouer les règles de l’équité et d’égalité dans la répartition des investissements.  Des organisations qui ont fait leur preuve et qui ont une longue tradition ou expérience de réduction de la pauvreté peuvent faire l’objet de plus d’attention dans cette entreprise. 

Le respect de l’équité et celui de l’égalité, parfois en fonction de résultats atteints dans le passé, permettront d’éviter des gaspillages en matière d’investissements au détriment de la réduction de la pauvreté.  Car, ce qui est recherché ici est la réduction et l’élimination de la pauvreté plutôt que l’efficacité ou l’efficience de l’organisation bénéficiaire des investissements.

En fixant des règles de jeu transparentes et vérifiables sur les mécanismes de répartition et distribution des investissements visant la réduction de la pauvreté, on peut aboutir à des résultats encourageants sur la réduction de la pauvreté.

 

• • • Que peut-on faire pour attirer plus d’investissements directs étrangers vers les organisations africaines à but non lucratif? (Page 5)

 

L’un des problèmes que les organisations africaines à but non lucratif font face est leur capacité d’attirer plus les capitaux ou investissements directs étrangers.  Pour qu’elles y arrivent, elles doivent entreprendre des efforts sur beaucoup de plans. 

L’un de ces efforts est l’amélioration de leur image gestionnaire auprès des investisseurs directs étrangers et au-delà de la zone du libre-échange continentale africaine.  L’amélioration de cette image passe par la démonstration des méthodes de gestion efficace, efficiente et sereine; sans oublier leur propre histoire en matière de gestion des investissements.  A cela, il convient d’ajouter leur vision à long terme.

Elles ne doivent pas surtout se poser comme des demandeuses d’investissements sans pour autant ayant quelque chose à offrir, particulièrement en matière des garanties explicites et exceptionnelles sur leurs méthodes et résultats de leur gestion.  En d’autres mots, cette amélioration de l’image pour accéder aux investissements doit être accompagnée par des preuves palpables et vérifiables, et dans le cas échéant être appuyée par des agences de crédit international spécialisées en matière d’investissements régionaux.  

Brièvement parlant, c’est en donnant l’assurance sur leur gestion et leur stratégie d’avenir que les organisations africaines à but non lucratif pourront attirer advantage des capitaux étrangers et non africains vers elles et vers l’espace de l’intégration commerciale africaine.

 

---

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development,

Foreign Direct Investment inflows in AfCFTA were 38 billions of dollars in 2020 and 45 billions of dollars in 2019; that is nearly -15.4% in terms of 2019-2020 negative change. (Source: UNCTAD FDI/MNE database)

---

 

• • • Pallier au déclin des investissements directs étrangers dû au COVID-19 au sein des organisations africaines à but non lucratif (Page 6)

 

Bien avant que le COVID-19 arrive, il y avait des problèmes pour les organisations africaines à but non lucratif d’accéder le niveau requis des investissements afin d’accomplir leurs travaux et mission.  Avec l’arrivée de COVID-19, il y a eu un recul significatif des investissements directs étrangers vers des organisations africaines à but non lucratif, y compris des soutiens de la diaspora africaine. 

En effet, tout le monde s’est replié sur soi-même, vers ses propres problèmes plutôt que d’aider les autres.  Certains investisseurs du monde riche se sont cantonnés dans leur territoire d’origine pour affronter les problèmes sanitaires et économiques que le COVID-19 a causé.  Les quelques investissements qui ont été déployés n’arrivent pas aux petites et moyennes organisations africaines à but non lucratif.  Ces quelques investissements ont été conçus pour faire face au COVID-19 plutôt que de résoudre le problème de pauvreté spécifiquement.  Ç’a été un contexte du déclin généralisé des investissements de réduction de la pauvreté entre 2019 et début 2021.  Ç’a été un déclin des investissements directs étrangers à l’intérieur et à l’extérieur de l’Afrique.

Avec le développement du marché de libre-échange continentale africaine, d’aucuns peuvent espérer qu’il y aura une nouvelle dynamique pour attirer les investissements pour le besoin de financement des organisations africaines à but non lucratif.  On peut compter sur le marché pour ainsi pallier au déclin du capital étranger vers le besoin de financement des organisations africaines à but non lucratif pendant la période post-pandémique.

 

• • • Partenariat équilibré avec les organisations africaines à but non lucratif pour un protocole d’investissements réducteur de la pauvreté (Page 6)

 

S’il on veut un protocole d’investissements qui est vraiment réducteur de la pauvreté, il y a lieu de développer un partenariat équlibré avec les organisations africaines à but non lucratif. 

En effect, en entreprenant des efforts d’investissements dans le cadre de la zone du libre-échange continentale africaine, les organisations africaines à but non lucratif ne doivent pas seulement être considerées comme des bénéficiaires des investissements, mais plutôt des vraies parties qui veront leur point de view respecté et tenu.  Pour cela, il faut établir les principes de création et du maintien d’un partenariat équlibré entre elles et les investisseurs dans le cadre de réduction de la pauvreté.  C’est pourquoi le protocole d’investissements doit être celui qui include la réduction de la pauvreté.

Grosso modo, ce genre de partenariat permettra d’atteindre les objectifs de réduction de la pauvreté au sein de la zone de libre-échange continentale africaine dans un context d’équilibre. 

 

• • • Sustainable Development Goals enabling investments and African not-for-profit organisations (Page 7)

 

Investments that enable and promote the realisation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030 are needed during the COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 times.  And the African not-for-profit organisations that are already working with local people within the sphere of AfCFTA to realise these goals should also be taken into account amongst the beneficiaries of these investments. 

Not leaving behind the African not-for-profit organisations in the distribution of those investments to keep implementing these goals should be part of the agenda and priority.  This could imply that the direction and flows of these investments are fairly and symmetrically distributed between for-profit and not-for-profit organisations in terms of products and services designed to achieve these goals within the AfCFTA.   

 

• • • The African Investment Bank and not-for-profit investment (Page 7)

 

The African Investment Bank is one of the three financial institutions of the AfCFTA.  As the implementation work of the AfCFTA project progresses, it would be interesting to see if the African Investment Bank will promote the not-for-profit investments within the AfCFTA in order to boost the work of poverty reduction.

Many banks across the world are now investing in poverty reduction projects via their not-for-profit arms.  One can anticipate that the African Investment Bank will follow suite and will be amongst the biggest investors in poverty reduction in Africa.  One could as well expect that the African Investment Bank will take the lead on the poverty reduction matter since Africa (together with South Asia) is the region of the world with a high number of poor people.  One could finally hope small and medium scale sized African not-for-profit organisations will not be forgotten in terms of investments.

 

• • • Investments in energy, food security, the protection of nature and the biodiversity (Page 8)

 

Energy, food security, protection of nature and biodiversity are attractive areas for new investments within the AfCFTA.  They are also those areas related to the respective types of poverty: fuel poverty, food poverty, human insecurity, depletion of natural resources and threats to biological diversity. 

Many African not-for-profit organisations work on the above mentioned areas.  Investments in those areas could mean addressing poverty and hardships relating to these issues.  African not-for-profit organisations working on these issues can do their best to capture any investments covering these issues since they have experience in dealing with poverty and hardships linked to these issues.

 

• • • Investing in localisation via the not-for-profit development (Page 8)

 

The content of poverty reduction services and products need to be translated for local users and localised contents.  There is a need to invest in the localisation work via the not-for-profit development in order to put the contents of poverty reduction services and products to better serve local needs and local people.

The not-for-profit development organisations working on local issues in Africa can be eligible to this sort of investments, meet local needs and facilitate the process of integration within the AfCFTA.

 

• • • African-focused not-for-profit investor events (Page 9)

 

In order to encourage not-for-profit investment drive for the not-for-profit organisations, online events or platforms gathering and inviting African-focused not-for-profit investors could be a way forward for sharing ideas between international investors and African organisations to stimulate not-for-profit investments for the AfCFTA.

For those who are in favour of such an initiative they can discuss it with CENFACS.

 

 

• • • E-discussion: Investment absorption capacity development (Page 9)

 

One of the problems when it comes to utilise investments or capital wanted is to have the capacity required to do so.  This is because organisations may genuinely need investments or funds; however they may not have the capacity required to absorb some levels of investments or funds.  Therefore, developing investment absorption capacity is crucial for African not-for-profit organisations in the context of AfCFTA.

Those who would like to e-discuss with us on investment absorption capacity development, they are welcome to contact CENFACS.

 

• • • Online focused support (Page 9)

 

Poverty-reducing effects of not-for-profit investments: scopes and limits

 

You can help CENFACS deepen its research work on the not-for-profit development by participating to its online focus work on the effects of not-for-profit investments on poverty, particularly in terms of their amount of contribution and limits.  In other words, you can argue the extent to which this contribution can happen and where this contribution, if any, can stop.

This online focus work is running throughout this month.  To take part in it, just contact CENFACS.

 

• • • Survey on the role model of not-for-profit investee (Page 9)

 

This survey is to establish the profile of African not-for-profit organisations that are likely to make good use or succeed if investors invest in them.  The survey focuses on organisations dealing with green and blue projects or activities.

As part of this survey, we are running a questionnaire.  One of the questions is: How can you describe, in twenty seven words, the portrait of a prototype African not-for-profit organisation that would be the best user of not-for-profit investments in the AfCFTA?

You can directly send your answer to CENFACS.

 

• • • Not-for-profit investment quiz (Page 9)

 

Do you think that investing in the African not-for-profit organisations operating within the AfCFTA can help reduce?

Yes or No

If yes, will it reduce poverty more or less or averagely?

Please tick below:

Ο More           

Ο Less             

Ο Averagely  

 

• • • African not-for-profit investment fund project (Page 10)

 

This is a fundraising project aiming at reducing income poverty amongst African not-for-profit organisations operating within the boundaries of the AfCFTA.  The fund to be raised via this funding pot or scheme will enable those income-deprived organisations to acquire the financial capacity and strength to deliver poverty reduction projects, particularly but not exclusively in areas with high level of poverty within the AfCFTA.

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

For details including full project proposals and budget for the African not-for-profit investment fund project, please contact CENFACS.

The full copy of the 72^nd Issue of FACS is available on request.  For any queries and comments about this Issue, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 _________

 

References

 

(1) International Monetary Fund (2021), Regional economic outlook. Sub-Saharan Africa: navigating a long pandemic, World Economic and Financial Surveys, April 2021, Washington, D.C.

(2) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (2021), World Investment Report 2021: Investing in Sustainable Recovery, Geneva, 2021

(3) Muhammad Yunus with Karl Weber (2011), Building social business: the new kind of capitalism that serves humanity’s most pressing needs, Public Affairs, New York

(4) Martin Phillip Heger, Gregor Zens and Mook Bangalore (2020), Land and Poverty: the role of soil fertility and vegetation quality in poverty reduction, Cambridge University Press

https://doi.org/10.1017/S135570X20000066 (accessed August 2021)

_________

 

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.

Donate to support CENFACS!

FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/

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 2021 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

04 August 2021

 

Post No. 207

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Track, Trip and Trending in a Summer of Changing Climate and Enduring COVID-19

• Track, Trip and Trending in a Leafy Year and Project

• Happiness and Healthiness Journal: Creative Activity No. 1: Create Your Journal of Happy and Healthy Social Support

 

 

… And much more!

 

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Track, Trip and Trending in a Summer of Changing Climate and Enduring COVID-19

  

August is CENFACS’ Track, Trip and Trending month.

We do Track at CENFACS as we think that every one of us can undertake basic physical activity of running or racing to help reduce poverty. Our project known as Run to Reduce Poverty is designed to meet that end.

This Summer, we are going to do COVID-19 Secure Track.  This is due to the coronavirus and its continuing adverse impacts and effects.

August is also the month during which we carry out some Trips to our projects.  We visit our projects all over the year, but August is the time we highlight this.  It is the month of the year we walk again and reach out to the need, to the people, communities, organisations and livelihoods in need.

This Summer, we are going to undertake Virtual or in-person Trips depending on the COVID-19 circumstances and climate change situation.  This is also due to the coronavirus pandemic and its continuing associated impacts and effects on CENFACS’ budget.

We thirdly deal with Trending in August as we spend time looking at what is popular at CENFACS in the context of poverty reduction.  This is what what we can call Trendy Development.  Trending in Poverty Reduction helps us to follow the direction of poverty reduction work. This August we are going to follow this direction of poverty (or poverty reduction) via natural capital.  Natural capital can help reduce poverty, particularly sanitation poverty, and enhance health and safety aspects of sustainable development.

Again, due the coronavirus pandemic and its related impacts and effects, we are going to follow this direction via online, video, phone, screen and digital technological means of communication and on papers (print).  Where there is COVID-19 secure environment, in-person visits or following will be considered.

The COVID-19 story continues and its ramifications persist in this Summer in every aspect of life.  Therefore, we are going to integrate Covid-19 and the theme for Summer into these three activities of August as follows: Track, Trip and Trending in a Summer of Enduring Covid-19. 

This Summer is also about changing climate.  Because of that, we are going to apply the changing climate feature to these three activities of August as follows: Track, Trip and Trending in a Changing Climate.

More details about CENFACS’ Track, Trip and Trending month for this year is given under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

 

• Track, Trip and Trending in a Leafy Year and Project

 

As part of CENFACS’ Leafy Year and Project and of the month of Track, Trip and Trending; we would like those who can and want to proceed with either of the following Leafy Activities:

(a) COVID-19 Secure Run 2.5 miles (nearly 4 km) to save healing leaves and support those who get or got relief from poor health or poor sanitation via herbs, leaves and plants

(b) Undertake Virtual or in-person Visits or Tours of 3 leaf projects or activities relating to Covid-19 hit local people or communities

(c) Carry out online search to find 6 natural leaf Trends in the contexts of leaf-related poverty alleviation and leaf-enhancing sustainable development

The above three types of Leaf Activities are our way of linking our Leafy Year/Project and the month of Track, Trip and Trending together.

To undertake any of the above mentioned Leaf Activities, please contact CENFACS. 

CENFACS will be pleased if you could share with the experience you would build in undertaking these Leaf activities.

 

 

 

• Happiness and Healthiness Journal: Creative Activity No. 1: Create Your Journal of Happy and Healthy Social Support

 

Social support is one of the six predictors of happiness and healthiness.  One can create a journal for having someone to count on in time of trouble like of COVID-19 crisis or any other personal matter over this Summer.  They can create a journal for the things and people who have been socially supportive to their enjoyment and good conditions of life during this Summer 2021.

They can record their thoughts, feelings and experiences in relation to the social support they have received or given.  They can share with the community their experience of happy and healthy social support as recorded in their journal by the end of Summer 2021.

To submit the contents of their happiness and healthiness journal relating to social support, and help build a better Summer holiday experience within the community, they can contact CENFACS.  

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Summer 2021 Humanitarian Appeal Projects

 

The 2021 Edition of our Summer Humanitarian Appeal has now been completed and is ready for support.  We have added to Distress-free Life from Enduring Coronavirus in Africa the other four remaining projects making this appeal. The addition includes:

√ All Gifts for All Poor to Build Forward

√ International Networking and Protection against Enduring COVID-19

√ Iconic Young Carer and Builder

√ COVID-19 Secure ELCLASSICO International

We have provided extracts from these added projects, extracts that can be found at Support Causes – (cenfacs.org.uk).  Their details including proposals can be requested from CENFACS.

To support and or enquire about these appeal projects, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

 

• Record your Summer Telling Moments to Report Back

 

Whether one has a Summer break or is working over this Summer, it is always a good idea to record your memorable moments or just what you are doing.

After Summer, we often ask people or the community to report their Summer experience back.  If you record what you are doing this Summer, after Summer it will be easier to share what you may judge is a shareable part of your Summer experience or story. 

If you decide to record your Summer activities or experiences, please do not forget to take photos and pictures, make a video, record your voice, podcast, etc.    It is also useful to write down dates, places and names of people involved in your projects or experiences.  You can plan the way you want to report back whether you want to use words or numbers or information graphics (e.g. tables or graphs, figures, etc.).

Before including people around you in your recorded experience, please take care of Data Protection Regulations.  This extra care will help to protect yourself and others.  If necessary, please check the policy on handling people’s information and data.

Reporting back your experiences can sometimes inspire others, especially if your experiences contain poverty-relieving elements.  Sometimes what you may think is not important in your life experience could be very useful or even life-saving for others in the community.

We hope you will seriously take our message of recording to report back. 

Thank you!

 

 

 

• Mid-year 2021 Review of Actions and Results of Triple Value Initiatives (i.e. Play, Run and Vote Projects)

 

It is now more than six months since the kick-off of this year’s Triple Value Initiatives (All-year Round Projects) which are made of Play, Run and Vote Projects.  As a result, we are undertaking a review or examination of actions carried out and results achieved so far by participants to these projects.

For those who have been engaged with these initiatives, this is the time to start looking at the journey they have taken so far.  It is also the time to fix what is not working and enhance what is working in implementing these projects.  

Since participants to these recreational and life-enhancing projects may have other better things to do for their own lives, they can use the opportunity of Summer holiday or any other holiday to revisit or look back on them.  In this reviewing process, they can say what they like and dislike in the implementation of these projects.

Since these projects kicked off, we offered extra support about them in the form of Questions and Answers, Green and Sustainable Alignment of these projects to greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and targets, Start-up tips and hints, etc.  Those who still need any help and support to better implement these projects and or to conduct the six-month review, CENFACS is willing to assist.

To ask for help regarding these projects, just contact CENFACS by indicating the kind of help you need.  You can also contact CENFACS to inform and or share your progress, actions and results about these projects.

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• Track, Trip and Trending in a Summer of Changing Climate and Enduring COVID-19

 

Our thematic and working model of Summer of Happiness and Healthiness in a Summer of Changing Climate and Enduring Covid-19 will continue this month through the three activities of…

(1) COVID-19 Secure TRACK to help reduce poverty

(2) Virtual or In-person TRIPS to Hybrid Running Projects and Covid-19 hit locals

(3) Online TRENDING in poverty reduction by following the direction of poverty reduction via natural capital

 

• • Track, Trip and Trending 2021 Activities

 

• • • COVID-19 Secure Track to help reduce poverty in a Summer of Changing Climate and Enduring Covid-19

 

This is delivered through the project Run to Reduce Poverty, Gaming to Reduce Poverty and Vote your African Manager of Poverty Reduction. These are All-year Round Projects or Triple Value Initiatives.

However, because of the weather conditions (sunshine) and nature of August (holidays time for many of our supporters) we put a particular emphasis on the Run aspects of these all-year round projects, over this month. 

This Summer, this emphasis has changed due to the coronavirus pandemic.  Because of that, one can only do physical run out and indoor if they respect the coronavirus guidance in terms of security and rules.  

We expect those who sign up to the Run element to take actions and run it by themselves while following to letter the UK Government restrictions, the National Health Service advice and the World Health Organisations guidance regarding COVID-19.  After summer or at any convenient time before the end of the year, they can report back to us.

 

• • • Virtual or In-person TRIPS to Hybrid Running Projects and Covid-19 hit locals in a Summer of Changing Climate and Enduring Covid-19

 

This is the second aspect or part of work over the month of August at CENFACS.  We expect and advise our supporters to visit some of our projects and initiatives whether in the UK or in Africa during and around the month of August. 

However, due to the coronavirus pandemic there are restrictions and travel bans about non-essential trips although some parts of the world are easing the lockdown.  For those who cannot in-person or physically visit projects on the grounds, arrangements can be made between the physical visitors and the organisations to be visited so that they can organise a virtual trip, tour or viewing. 

This requires that the visitors and visiting organisations have the technology that enables this virtual tour to happen.  If this is possible we expect and advise our supporters to virtually visit some of projects and initiatives whether in the UK or in Africa during and around the month of August.  Because of the circumstances we are all in at this time of Covid-19, it could be a good idea if this trip can be done to Covid-19 hit areas, people and communities. 

Because we are also talking about Trip to the needs in a changing climate, our Trip this year will be to see how climate change affects local people and local needs as well.

Trip to the need and project includes 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 in September or after. 

These trips also help us to check if we are on the right track at helping to reduce poverty and at tracking our records for the work on the ground.

Since we cancelled all non-essential physical trips, CENFACS All in Development Volunteers can do virtual trips. These virtual trips can still help us to check if we are on the right track at helping to reduce poverty and at tracking our records for the work on the ground.

Because the theme of trending for this Summer is about Natural Capital, we are going to link Trip to the need on the ground of preserving and conserving Natural Capital Assets.

 

• • • Online TRENDING in poverty reduction by following the direction of poverty reduction via natural capital in a Summer of Changing Climate and Enduring Covid-19

 

Sustainable development does not need to be trendy, but we can follow the trends in sustainable development and poverty reduction. 

During this August we are dealing with Trending in poverty reduction by following the direction of poverty reduction via natural capital and its capacity of lifting people out poverty. We mean by that we are following the direction of poverty reduction via natural capital assets and investments.  

The coronavirus pandemic and climate change have led to the surface of discussion on natural capital.  To deal with the challenges posed by both the coronavirus pandemic and climate change, natural capital needs to be better considered.  We cannot only rely on other forms of capital such as manufactured, financial, human and social capitals.  Likewise, to reduce poverty one needs to bring in natural capital as well.

Natural capital assets include species, ecological communities, soils, freshwaters, land, atmosphere, minerals, oceans, coasts, etc.  Natural capital stock and flows can contribute to poverty reduction and hardships; just as they can enhance sustainable development.

We will be observing how the use of natural capital assets and investments are doing to hep to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.  We will be looking at the extent to which natural capital can be poverty reducer and sustainability enhancer.

We will be doing it while integrating the COVID-19 as it affects the way in which we are happy or not happy, healthy or unhealthy; we eat; we entertain ourselves; we pass our summer holiday; we dress; we socialise; etc. to reduce any form of on-going and intergenerational poverty.  COVID-19 also affects the state of natural capital. 

So, natural capital and its respective impacts on poverty reduction and sustainable development in a Summer of Changing Climate and Enduring Covid-19 are what will be trending at CENFACS, as given below.

 

• • August 2021 Trending Activities/Programme

 

August 2021 Trending Activities or Programme will focus on four selected types of natural capital assets to help reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development, which are: species, soils, fresh waters and minerals.  The following is our August 2021 plan of work.

∝ Week beginning Monday 02/08/2021; Trending: Species

∝  Week beginning Monday 09/08/2021; Trending: Soils

∝  Week beginning Monday 16/08/2021; Trending: Fresh waters

∝  Week beginning Monday 23/08/2021; Trending: Minerals

If you are interested in this trending programme, please share with us your experience or comments about it.

Further explanation about this August month’s activities can be obtained from CENFACS.

 

 

 

• • In Focus from Week beginning 02/08/2021: Species

 

Before saying how we are following the direction of poverty reduction here, let us define natural capital and species.

 

• • • Basic understanding of natural capital and species

 

What is natural capital?

 

To basically understand natural capital, we have referred to the definition given by the Natural Capital Committee (NCC).  This is what the NCC (1) says:

“Capital can be defined as a resource used / available for use in the production of goods and services. … Natural capital is that part of nature which directly or indirectly underpins value to people, including ecosystems, species, freshwater, soils, minerals, the air and oceans, as well as natural processes and functions. Natural capital underpins the four types of capital [manufactured, financial, human and social capital].  In combination with other types of capital, natural capital forms part of our wealth; that is, our ability to produce actual or potential goods and services into the future to support our well-being” (p. 3)

Let us argue that the ability to produce actual or potential goods and services into the future to support our well-being will help to reduce and possibly to eliminate the inter-generational poverty or the transfer of poverty to future generations. 

 

How can we define species?

 

They are defined in many ways depending on the kind of connotations (e.g. biological, ecological, etc.) one wants to put forward. 

The same NCC (op. cit) argues that species are

“All living organisms including plants, animals, fungi and micro-organisms; the product of ongoing evolutionary processes” (p. 4)

In the similar line of reasoning, Chris Park (2) defines species in his Oxford Dictionary of Environment and Conservation as

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

In the context of our online trending, we are going to follow the direction of poverty reduction via species of organisms like animals, plants, fungi and micro-organisms for the baseline set for our work.  Additionally, this trending could involve studying the interactions or conflicts between human and species (e.g. animals) in the process of reducing poverty and enhancing sustainable development.

 

• • • Following the direction of poverty reduction via conflicts between human and animals over natural resources

 

There are conflicts between human and animals over the use and access of natural resources or other natural capital assets in the process of reducing poverty for both beings. 

An example of these types of conflicts is what is happening in Cameroon around the national park of Campo-Ma’an.  In the vicinity of this park, there is a discontent amongst local villagers as animals (like elephants, chimpanzees, gorillas, etc.) keep destroying their cocoa and banana plantations.

Animals are trying to make their ends meet although in this process they may accidentally or incidentally damage fields.  As for local villagers or farmers, they are also trying to grow their staples and meet food subsistence and sustenance in order to avoid food poverty and other types of poverty.  Their interest to reduce poverty can conflict against animal species one.

There is a possibility to reduce or avoid this conflict over natural resources between human and animals in order to help each side to meet their own needs, particularly of reducing poverty.  One of dealing with this problem is to have a legal framework that acknowledges conflicts between fauna and human over natural resources. 

Acknowledging or raising awareness of something is one thing.  But, setting up legal terms and conditions to resolve these conflicts is much better and life-saving for both conflicting sides.  Perhaps, to resolve this on-going dispute between human and animals over natural resources in the process of reducing poverty, legislators need to provide some guidance regarding both human and animal rights and obligations on this matter.

The above is our trending work for this week; work which has already started.

To follow with us the direction of poverty reduction via natural capital, please contact CENFACS.

 

_________

 

References

 (1) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upload/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/909202/ncc-terminology.pdf (accessed July 2021)

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

_________

 

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.

Donate to support CENFACS!

FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/

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 2021 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

28 July 2021

 

Post No. 206

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Key Briefs on Happiness and Healthiness Projects in a Changing Climate and Enduring COVID-19

• July 2021 All-in-one Impact Feedback and Assessment (Level 3): Impact Feedback of XX236.3 F Programme

• Happiness and Healthiness Budgets 2021 – Holiday Budget Deficit: How to Sustainably Manage Budget Deficit in a Changing Climate and Enduring COVID-19

 

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Key Briefs on Happiness and Healthiness Projects in a Changing Climate and Enduring COVID-19

 

Our summer campaign about finding health relief and happy fulfilment continues this week with key summaries about Happiness and Healthiness Projects 2021.  These summaries are about projects to keep children, young people and families happy and healthy over Summer under the conditions of mutating COVID-19 and changing climate. 

These key briefs can be found under the Main Development section of this post.  The full details of these projects are also available on request from CENFACS, including ways of accessing and using them.

To access and or support them, just contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• July 2021 All-in-one Impact Feedback and Assessment (Level 3): Impact Feedback of XX236.3 F Programme

 

Unlike Impact Feedback of our 2020-2021 Programmes and Projects given by Users and Stakeholders, Impact Feedback of XX236.3 F Programme is provided by CENFACS to inform its audience (including users and stakeholders) about the progress it is making in terms of this programme.

 

• • What is this Impact Feedback from CENFACS about?

 

CENFACS’ Impact Feedback of XX236.3 F (2020 to 2030 to 2063 Follow up) Programme is about the observation on the following four key components of this follow-up programme: 

(a) The Paris Treaty

(b) The Istanbul Declaration (although Turkey withdrew from this declaration)

(c) The United Nations 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals

(d) Africa’s Agenda 2063 

This feedback also provides our feelings and what we would like (if we could) to be different regarding these four pieces frameworks of work.  

Our observation, feelings and need of difference will be in terms of progress made so far concerning these frameworks.  Our observation, feelings and need of difference are indeed in relation to the kind of work of poverty reduction we do since these global and international frameworks/initiatives greatly impact us.  Our feedback is not an evaluation of these frameworks of work.  What are our observation, feelings and need of difference?

 

• • Feedback about XX236.3 F Programme

 

The following summarises our feedback for XX236.3 F Programme.

 

(a) Implementation of the International Climate Change Agreement (or the Paris Treaty)

 

Although some progress has been made, the following are still holding the pace and speed of negotiations:

∝ The carbon market and non-market mechanisms

∝ Transparent communication on climate action

∝ The mobilisation of 100 billion dollars annually

∝ The phasing out of coal for energy

∝ The elimination of coal from power generation

∝ The Blue Congo Basin Fund for Africa to raise ambition on emission reduction

Etc.

The above is a list of some of the issues that are stumbling-blocks in the climate negotiations. 

For the issues relating to CENFACS‘ climate advocacy and demand, one needs to refer to CENFACS’ Compendium of Climate Advocacy, which details them and which is available on request.

One can hope that the incoming 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), scheduled to be held in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November 2021, will be an ideal rendezvous to alleviate some of these long running discussed issues.  One can as well expect that the opposing views will be aligned by then in order to deliver on the Paris Treaty.

 

(b) The Istanbul Declaration

 

The 10^th Anniversary of the Istanbul Convention (1) shows that implementation of the Istanbul Convention has impacted the lives of women and men, girls and boys in all diversity.  It has helped to raise awareness of gender-based violence in society.  This is despite some opposition to this convention.  One can hope that the positive elements of this convention will prevail despite criticisms and oppositions.

As far as CENFACS is concerned, we continue to work on the issues that matter most for this convention so that gender poverty can be reduced and possibly eliminated within the community and the area of Africa we serve. 

 

“Climate change is directly impacting Africa’s ability to realise its Sustainable Development Goals and its aspirations of Agenda 2063” (2)

 

(c) The United Nations 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals

 

Before the coronavirus pandemic broke out, there was some noticeable progress regarding some of the Sustainable Development Goals and Targets in many regions of the world including in Africa, even though this progress was uneven and not enough.  Some goals and targets were on track and others off track; but the general pre-COVID-19 trend analysis was the Agenda 2030 was moving in a slightly right direction.  Since the coronavirus pandemic stroke, there has been some doubt about the successful attainment of the 17 Goals and 169 targets of the United Nations 2030 Agenda by the 2030. 

For example, the United Nations’ Children Fund and the World Health Organisation (3) have reported that childhood vaccination fall behind due to COVID-19.  They have reported it in those terms:

“23 million children missed out on basic childhood vaccines through routine health services in 2020, the highest number since 2009 and 3.7 million more than in 2019”

 

Despite this gloomy statement, CENFACS shall continue to work with its Africa-based Sister Organisations in order to help reduce COVID-19 induced poverty that is hampering the realisation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda. 

 

(d) Africa’s Agenda 2063

 

There has been noticeable progress regarding the 15 flagship projects of this Agenda.  For example, the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area is now operational. 

Despite this progress, there is still a need to transform well-thought array of intentions into concrete actions in order to meet most of the stated goals of Africa’s Agenda 2063, such as economic development (including the eradication of poverty within one generation) within the planned time frame.   

For example, in the executive summary of their publication entitled as ‘Africa 2030: Sustainable Development Goals within Social Boundaries’, the Sustainable Development Goals Centre for Africa (4) argues that

“COVID-19 adjusted forecasts reveal that nearly 460 million Africans are projected to remain poor in 2030.  This translates into 8 in 10 of the world’s poor will be living on the African continent… 33 of the 36 countries in the low human development category are in Africa” (p. xi)

The above observation and feelings about Africa are important to CENFACS since most of its Africa-based Sister Organisations operate in Africa and are likely to be affected by any of the above developments.  They are also important since their end-users are based in Africa.  More than that we can only help to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development if we work together with local people and if these global and African frameworks facilitate our work in addressing some of the above mentioned issues.

 

 

 

• Happiness and Healthiness Budgets 2021 – Holiday Budget Deficit: How to Sustainably Manage Budget Deficit in a Changing Climate and Enduring COVID-19

 

We are continuing our tips and hints on Happiness Budget by looking at holiday budget deficit.

A deficit is generally defined as the amount by which expenditure is greater than real income.  In terms of holiday budget deficit, it simply means that one’s holiday expenditure is more than holiday income.  It is a negative balance which could suggest that there could be a need to finance it (here holiday budget deficit). 

Yet, speaking about holiday budget deficit could seem bizarre since we are talking about poor people or those in need.  These are the people who often struggle to make ends meet.   They are the ones who often are short of money to tie the knots of the two ends of the month.  Despite that any sensible humans should do some budgeting, here holiday budgeting. 

Budgeting is forward thinking process that can help to coordinate the different areas of household life while defining responsibility and delegating powers within the same household.  It is indeed an instrument for household control as well as a basis for decision making process and changing plans where there is a need to do so.

We will be working on the budgeting process with those who are struggling to make ends meet.  We will be working on how to avoid and sustainably manage holiday budget in a Summer of Changing Climate and Mutating/Enduring COVID-19.

For those who are familiar with online tools, they can find countless examples of family or household budgets sometimes in the form of Microsoft Application Spread sheets.  For those who are not familiar with these free available online resources, they can use CENFACS’ line of financial advisory support.

With the particularity of this Summer during which the Coronavirus is still threatening lives, there is a need to take into account the COVID-19 in dealing with budget deficit.  In this need, one should not also forget the effects of changing climate. 

So, we will be checking with them on which part of this deficit is attributable or not attributable to COVID-19 or climate change or both.  This exercise enables to take into consideration the way in which COVID-19 and climate change are affecting their holiday budget in what they eat, drink, cover or uncover their body, entertain, shelter, etc.

To learn or seek support on how to avoid and sustainably manage holiday budget deficit or negative budget balance in Summer of changing climate and enduring COVID-19, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Feedback on Summer Festival 2021 (the Seven Days of Development in July 2021 Festival): with a Focus on Coronavirus Debt and Deficit Management

How to reduce and/or cancel debts and deficits for the poor to make ends meet

 

The 13^th Edition of our Summer Festival of Thoughts and Actions will end today.

Any contribution in the form of thoughts and comments to be provided need to be done by the 5^th of August 2021.  Please mail them to CENFACS at facs@cenfacs.org.uk and or by completing the comment form on our website by 05/08/2021. 

Thank you for your support.

 

 

 

• All-in-one Impact Feedback: Only Three Days to Go!

 

Supporters’ and Users’ Experiences, and Africa-based Sister Organisations’ Voices

 

Our Analytics month of bringing light to what worked, what did not work and of measuring what we achieved in our last financial year is coming to an end in three days.  We are therefore appealing again to you to tell us in your own words, numbers and info-graphics your perceptions, feelings and experiences about the programmes and projects we ran in the last 345 days preceding the beginning of July 2021.

Although we have selected 12 initiatives for Impact Feedback One and 9 ones for Impact Feedback Two for monitoring and evaluation purposes, we are not expecting people to provide feedback on all of them.  People can only feedback on the project(s) and programme(s) they benefited from, supported, recommended users to us or interacted within.  We again suggest picking up ONLY 1 or 2 initiatives for feedback.

Please feel free to say what you experienced. 

Again, thank you for your experiential support!

 

 

 

• E-Workshop: Run Project and Olympic Athletics

How to do analytics and integrate data patterns from the Olympic Athletics into your Run Project

 

As part of CENFACS’ All Year Round Run Project (that is, Run to Reduce Poverty in Africa in 2021), we can work together to support those who are or would like to run or organise a run activity to help reduce poverty in 2021.  We can do it while referring to the data from the Olympic Athletics (e.g. the currently held Tokyo 2020 Olympics) and integrate their data and other information into your model of running to reduce poverty. 

The e-workshop will include the following:

∝ Research and development activity (i.e. investigation leading to the discovery of techniques and products to apply your Run project)

∝ Organisation of an event (e.g. a run or race event)

∝ Other things to consider in the organisation of your event such as location, engagement in activities, prizes (rewards for participants), COVID-19 health and safety issues, child protection policy if children are involved , insurance cover, budget, etc.)

∝ Analyse and interpretation of data patterns

∝ Miscellaneous support (e.g. how to integrate COVID-19 restrictions and climate change constraint; how to choose run themes; running options including running alone or as a group, running for fun or fundraising or raising awareness, etc.)

∝ Report activity (including visualisation of your Run project)

 

At the end of this analytics process, one will have enough tools and techniques at their disposal to enable them in their decision about the Best African Global Games Runners and Agents of Poverty Reduction 2021.

For further details about this analytics e-workshop, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• Key Briefs on Happiness and Healthiness Projects in a Changing Climate and Enduring COVID-19

 

• • 2021 Edition of Summer of Happiness, Healthiness, Peace, Vulnerability-free, Protection and Sustainability

 

This 2021 Edition is out now and trending.  In this edition, the 2021 Happiness and Healthiness Projects may have kept the same names for some of these projects like in the previous Summers, but their contents reflect this year’s themes of happiness and healthiness in a changing climate and mutating/enduring COVID-19.

These projects are as follows:

1) Build Forward Happy and Healthy Summer Break

2) Holiday with Relief with a focus on ‘Restricted Holiday’

3) Summer Harmony with Nature

4) Hot Barriers to Build Forward Better

5) Networking for Protection and Safeguarding against COVID-19

6) Build Forward Better Community Care and Health Responsibility

 

They are the combination of skills, knowledge, resources, tools, fixers, enhancements, boosters and tasters for poverty relief.  They consist of

Two resource projects (Family Happiness and Healthiness Mini-Guide, and Holiday Information Manager)

One communication-protection project (Networking Platform for Happiness and Healthiness)

One environmental campaign (Summer Harmony with Nature)

One barrier-gesture project (Hot Barriers to Build Forward Better)

One Personal/Family Healthcare Plan (Build Forward Better Community Care and Health Responsibility)

We have considered the effects of climate change all over our Summer 2021 Programme.  In other words, all the six Happiness and Healthiness Projects will have green, sustainable and climate changing contents.  They will be aligned with greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and targets.  The consideration of the effects of climate change all across is what makes Summer 2021 of a zero or neutral carbon one.   

This is done to help improve life evaluation while taking actions to enhance the same life in a changing climate.  In this way, Summer can be a season of Happiness and Healthiness NOT of Misery for un-served and under-served children, young people and families who are at the same time the victims of the adverse effects of climate change. 

They are the victims of adverse effects of climate change because climate change affects the way they dress, eat, house, educate, entertain, care for their health, and above all the way they pass Summer holiday.

We can briefly present these projects one by one as follows.

 

• • Key Briefs on Happiness and Healthiness Projects

  

Here are the key briefs on the Happiness and Healthiness Projects making the 2021 Summer Programme Part II.  As said previously, these projects can help in achieving some happy, helpful, healthful and hopeful Summer plans, goals and outcomes. 

 

••• 1) Build Forward Happy and Healthy Summer Break (Family Happiness and Healthiness Mini-Guide)

 

Happiness comes when one experiences a feeling of enjoyment or positivity.  As to healthiness, let us argue that being healthy means running a healthful lifestyle to reduce the possibility or risk of getting disease.  Having a good rest over Summer can help achieve both happiness and healthiness.

Happy and Healthy Summer Break (HHSB), which is CENFACS’ Family Happiness and Healthiness Mini-Guide, is designed to this joyful and disease-free healthful lifestyle to happen.  HHSB is an effort to keep our diet, lifestyle, and ways of consuming goods and using services happy and healthy.  It means happy and healthy life in foods, drinks, hobbies, entertainment, etc.

To build forward happy and healthy Summer break, and or get this Family Happiness and Healthiness Mini-Guide, please contact CENFACS.

 

••• 2) Holiday with Relief with a focus on ‘Restricted Holiday’ (Holiday and COVID-19 Information Manager)

 

One of the concerns for many people and families is how to pass this Summer under the restrictions of COVID-19, climate change and other restrictions.

Holiday with Relief with a focus on ‘Restricted Holiday’ (or Holiday & COVID-19 Information Manager) is the awareness, preparedness and solutions-focused Resource to Manage Information for the Summer holiday of restrictions.  It contains a set of tips and tricks to help and enable vulnerable unaware people to plan their holiday or break with confidence, in taking into account all aspects of life and by making sure that key areas of those life aspects are not adversely affected.

Holiday and COVID-19 Information Manager is CENFACS’ resource that adds value to the health and hygienic support to the already known World Health Organisation guidelines, the UK Government’s rules and the National Health Service guidance on the protection against the coronavirus pandemic.

This health section of Holiday and COVID-19 Information Manager helps to practise, comply and reinforce the exiting anti-coronavirus restrictions and measures in a user-friendly manner.  It is a COVID-19 compliant support in a user-friendly way.

For further details about this Holiday and COVID-19 Information Manager, please contact CENFACS.

 

••• 3) Summer Harmony with Nature (Summer Campaign over Nature)

 

Summer of Happiness and Healthiness is also of accord with nature with its creatures.  Keeping a harmonious relationship with leaves, plants, animals, landscapes and surrounding natural species (like trees, plants, waters, parks, etc.) and resources adds a great value to our happiness and healthiness. In other words, it is about equating our needs of happiness and healthiness to those of the nature.

Living in harmony with nature means that we do not need another spike of COVID-19 outbreak or a lockdown to happen in order to be silent by the nature.  Humans can preemptively take the lead by keeping their relationships as harmonious as possible for future viruses or lockdowns not to happen.

Need to keep harmony with nature, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS’ Summer Campaign over Nature.

 

••• 4) Hot Barriers to Build Forward Better (“Barrier-gesture” Project)

 

Although most people got their two jabs of COVID-19 vaccine in the UK, the coronavirus pandemic is still mutating or enduring.  Because of that, it is important to keep tight control of fences or barriers to stop or prevent the circulation of COVID-19 and of the new COVID-19 variants. 

Removing our elevated barriers against Covid-19 can open up the possibility of COVID-19 spikes within any community.  If we want to build forward better, then we need to keep those sensible and life-saving barriers for as long as COVID-19 and its new variants are posing threats to or endangering our lives.

Hot Barriers to Build Forward Better against COVID-19 or “Barrier-gesture” Project is a life-saving and sustaining gesture for our own and public interest and goods.  Barrier-gestures (like physical and social distancing) must be kept elevated during this Summer as the threat of COVID-19 and its new variants are real and still around.

To find out further about this Happiness and Healthiness Project, please contact CENFACS.

 

••• 5) Networking for Protection and Safeguarding against COVID-19 (COVID-19 Social Media Platform)

 

Networking for Protection and Safeguarding against COVID-19 is a CENFACS Media Platform to facilitate the flows of information and communication in order to keep local children, young people and families (CYPFs) out of the threats, troubles, attacks and challenges of everyday life and during the Summertime of changing climate and mutating COVID-19. 

Networking for Protection and Safeguarding against COVID-19 is about improving the Flow of Information over the Summertime amongst us and other stakeholders by gaining access to mutual support, facilities, services and resources in order to protect and safeguard multi-dimensional deprived CYPFs.

It is not enough to carry out our individual actions against COVID-19 unless we sum up them by coming together in the form of social connections as human chains.  Such connections or network will help to exchange information and data for the mutual interest and collective defence.

Networking for Protection and Safeguarding against COVID-19 or COVID-19 Social Media Platform is a means to access and facilitate the flows of information about the protection and safeguarding against COVID-19.  Through this means, one can receive and pass on protective and safeguarding information about COVID-19 within a networked community.

To network for protection and safeguarding against COVID-19, please let CENFACS know.

 

••• 6) Build Forward Better Community Care and Health Responsibility (Personal/Family Healthcare Plan)

  

Build Forward Better Community Care and Health Responsibility is a combination of the support to people to live with care and dignity in our community on the one hand, and our shared responsibility for the public health on the other.

Through this Personal/Family Healthcare Plan, we will try to reduce lifestyle-induced diseases for ourselves and others while promoting our own health without adversely impacting the health of others and future generations.  Community care and responsibility imply as well whatever we do we must comply with COVID-19 restrictions.  For example, when we do physical exercising we must maintain COVID-19 restrictions.

We can use this Happiness and Healthiness initiative to create a COVID-19 Proof Wellness or Healthcare Plan.  Such a plan will include the following: health vision and goals, lifestyles habits, follow-up tips and checks.

For further details about Build Forward Better Community Care and Health Responsibility, please contact CENFACS.

The above six interlinked ways/projects of creating and sustaining Happiness and Healthiness in a Summer of changing climate and mutating/enduring COVID-19 do not replace any good advice and practice (like the ones produced by statutory health organisations on COVID-19 matters).  They just add value to what it is already in place.  They are to be used in conjunction with the existing other measures to bring happiness as well as health and safety measures.

For further details about any of these projects, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

We would like to wish all multi-dimensionally Poor Children, Young People and Families Happy, Healthy, Vulnerability-free, Peaceful, Safe and Sustainable Summer Days. 

 

_________

 

References

 

(1) https://www.politica-en/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/10/istanbul-convention-op-ed-final.pdf (accessed July 2021)

(2) https://www.uneca.org/stories/africa-day-2021-for-nature-and-for-african-people (accessed July 2021)

(3) COVID-19 pandemic leads to major backsliding on childhood vaccinations, new WHO, UNICEF data shows (accessed July 2021)

(4) The Sustainable Development Goals Centre for Africa (2021), Africa 2030: Sustainable Development Goals within Social Boundaries, Leave No One Behind Outlook (https://sdgafrica.org)

_________

 

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.

Donate to support CENFACS!

FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/

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 2021 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

21 July 2021

 

Post No. 205

 

 

 

The Week’s Contents

  

• Happiness and Healthiness Projects in a Changing Climate and Mutating/Enduring COVID-19 

• July 2021 All-in-one Impact Feedback and Assessment (Level 2): Impact Assessment of Changes brought from Actions against COVID-19 

• Summer 2021 Festival of Thoughts and Actions with a Focus on Coronavirus Debt and Deficit Management

 

 

… And much more!

 

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Happiness and Healthiness Projects in a Changing Climate and Mutating/Enduring COVID-19

 

Climate change and COVID-19 mutation continue to affect the state of our happiness and healthiness.  The second part of our Summer Programme 2021, which is made of Happiness and Healthiness Projects, takes into account these two factors or realities.  The first part of the same programme deals with Humanitarian Appeal.

We have put together Happiness and Healthiness as we thought that each of the six Summer projects making the second part of the Summer Programme 2021 will have a bit of happiness and healthiness contents in them.  So, the 2021 version of the second part of our Summer Programme will be Happiness and Healthiness Projects.

For any further information on the 2021 version of the second part of our Summer Programme (that is Happiness and Healthiness Projects), please read under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

 

• July 2021 All-in-one Impact Feedback and Assessment (Level 2): Impact Assessment of Changes brought from Actions against COVID-19

  

Our work on this year’s All-in-one Impact Feedback and Assessment has moved to level 2 which is about assessing the changes that may have occurred as result of a series of actions and intervention we put in place in order to counteract the life-threatening and –destroying effects of the coronavirus during the financial year 2020-2021. 

To conduct this assessment, we are going to refer to what theories say about impact assessment, and to apply or experiment these theories in the context of CENFACS.

 

• • What do theories say about impact assessment?

 

Intrac (1) summarises some of the positions around impact assessment by giving two definitions (from the OECD and Roche) of impact within social development, which are as follows: an impact is

 

“The positive and negative, primary and secondary, long-term effects produced by a development intervention, directly or indirectly, intended or unintended” (OECD, 2010)

 

“Lasting or significant change – positive or negative, intended or not – in people’s lives brought about by an action or a series of actions” (Roche, 1999)

 

• • How we are going to apply these definitions

 

We are going to use both definitions in these ways:

(a) The Roche’s definition to capture short-term and meaningful changes in terms of life-changing benefits such as saved lives from the health and humanitarian appeals we made (e.g. The African Sahel 2020 Humanitarian Corridors Appeal).

(b) The OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) definition to include long-term changes in CENFACS’ capacity and system of poverty reduction (e.g. the e-advice that we set up as a result of lockdown will continue in the future). 

To conclude, we are still carrying out impact assessment or assessing change on an on-going basis (or impact monitoring) while doing another impact assessment or assessing actual change for some of our 2020-2021 programmes and projects affected by COVID-19 that have reached the end of their lives. 

The results of these impact assessments will be published in our end-of-year 2020-2021 accounts and other financial statements in due course.

 

 

 

 

• Happiness and Healthiness Budgets 2021 – 

Budgeting and Delivering Happiness and Healthiness in a Summer of Mutating/Enduring Covid-19 and Changing Climate

 

In our project planning process of Summer of Happiness and Healthiness Projects, we started a few weeks ago by budgeting Summer Holidays with what we call Happiness Budget.  In that process, we included the Covid-19 effects into a family budget.  We publicised two examples of budget planning: a Covid-19 Family Protection Expenses Budget, and a Covid-19 Secure and Happiness Budget for an Ordinary Family.

This week, we are continuing the budgeting process with happiness impacts of COVID-19 while starting to deliver on other parts of the Happiness and Healthiness Projects as Summer Holiday is beginning this week end for most children, young people and families.  In this continuing process, we are going to take into account other economic factors (like inflation, currency price, the effect of economic downturn, purchasing power parity, etc.) when constructing your Happiness and Healthiness budgets.  By taking these other factors, this will enable to better measure the happiness and healthiness effects.

We understand that not everybody does understand financial numeracy, some of the complex jargons and the mechanics of household financial statements like balance sheet, profit and loss account, budgets, etc.  Likewise, we appreciate that not everyone can grasp all the financial literacy and information on the other financial documents they receive (such as bills, receipts, bank statements, etc.).  To the above, one should add the digital financial information for those handling their accounts online (e.g. online banking, financial payments and transfers).

This is why we are available to discuss people’s Happiness and/or Healthiness or Summer Holiday Budgets for those who want us to do so.  For those who are struggling with their Happiness or Healthiness Budgets, especially the numerical and digital aspects of these budgets, CENFACS is prepared to look into their Summer Budgets.

We can handle all of the areas or items of their Happiness Budget.  However, we will put a particular emphasis on the following six areas of Happiness Budget which are: income, health, lifeline support, giving or recycling, credit payments and refunds, and unrestricted (freedom) payments and receipts.

The above six accounts cover the six items of happiness and healthiness which make our Season of Happiness and Healthiness. Where possible, the effects of climate change will be included to reflect a budget of a changing climate as well.  We shall also align both aspects of the summer budget to greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and targets. 

Those who would like to discuss with us their Happiness and/or Healthiness Budgets, please feel free to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

  

• Summer 2021 Festival, Seven Days of Development in July (7DDJ) with a Focus on Coronavirus Debt and Deficit Management

How to reduce and/or cancel debts and deficits for the poor to make ends meet

 

The 13^th Edition of our Summer Festival of Thoughts and Actions will start from Thursday the 22^nd of July 2021 as scheduled.

Although debt and deficit are someway linked to each other, we are going to dedicate the first three days of our Festival on debt and the following three days on deficit.  In the last day of our festival, we shall bring together debt and deficit in order to explain ways of working with the poor so that they can meet ends.

For those who will be making any contributions in the form of thoughts and/or comments, it will be good to stick to the daily themes as planned.  Likewise, it makes easy for the good running of the festival to be short and precise in making thoughts or comments.

This will allow capture the impact they are making.   In this way, this will as well enable us to meet the Festival’s aim and get the difference that it will make to the lives of coronavirus-indebted and income deficit families.

 

THINK • ACT • SHARE • ADD VALUE  •  SPREAD

 

• • Event Guide and Programme

 

The following is the make-up of Summer 2021 Festival.

 

• • • 7DDJ Registration: FREE!

 

The entry to the 7DDJ2021 is FREE.

For those who are busy and who can remotely, directly respond to the daily themes from their technological devices (e.g. laptop, desktop PC, tablet, phone, etc.) without having to attend any online sessions, there is no need to register.

For those who will have the opportunity to join our online sessions (or video conference), they may be notified about the days and times these sessions may happen.  They will need to sign into their Google accounts to join if everything remains the same.

 

• • • Daily Themes

 

Daily Themes (DTs) provide a daily opening thought or starting point of the broad topic/issue of Coronavirus Debt and Deficit Management.  Each DT will last all day and the only day it is planned.

 

• • • Responses to 7DDJ Contributors

 

Each respondent will receive a reply to their contribution in the form of either an acknowledgement of their participation or a reaction expressed as an argument to their responses or even both.  Also, they will be entitled to receive the summary report on this annual event.

 

• • • Lead Thoughts

 

Lead thoughts, which will be introduced on the day of festival, are a general idea on the thought of the day.  There are designed to lead to or generate more thoughts, potential research paths or investigative grounds that can be further explored to shade some lights to our Summer Thoughts and Actions.  They are not an end for themselves.

 

MAKE YOUR IDEAS AND COMMENTS COUNT!

 

• • • 7 Daily Themes

 

Day 1: Political economy of private debt re-negotiation

Day 2: Debt management plan

Day 3: Help and aid for poor people’s debts

Day 4: Managing COVID-19 induced income surplus decreases  

Day 5: Dealing with the excess of poverty line over a family’s income

Day 6: Managing budget deficit to control income deficit 

Day 7: Sustainable Solutions to Poor’s and Families’ Debts and Deficits  

 

• • Supporting the 7DDJ2021 event

 

• • • 7 Ways of Supporting 7DDJ2021

 

You could

√ Post your thoughts, comments and views on any themes and topics of the event directly to CENFACS

√ Pass the message onto interested persons

√ Feedback on previous 7DDJF events

√ Promote the event around you and/or by using other means available to you and at your convenience

√ Help us re-cover the expenses of the event specifically and/or the running cost of CENFACS’ work generally

√ Support CENFACS on a regular basis to enable us to continue our work

√ Support our new initiative about Capacity-based Solutions to Debt and Deficit Servicing

 

• • • 7 Ways of Proceeding with your Wish

 

Please choose below the kind of support you want to provide and let us know

√ Promote the event

√ Feedback CENFACS on previous events

√ Circulate the news about the event

√ Help in the recovery of 7DDJ 2021 expenses

√ Fund CENFACS for its deserving work and causes

√ Provide helpful and supportive comments/views

√ Support CENFACS in your own way

Please mail your intent to support and or support to CENFACS

Closing date for reply: 05/08/2021 

Please read the above event supporting information and mail us your comments and views (on the themes of your interest) to facs@cenfacs.org.uk

Thank you for your continued support.

With best wishes and full of inspiration and creativity throughout our dedicated days of Festival of Thoughts and Actions on: Coronavirus Debt and Deficit Management

The 7DDJ2021 Events Team,

Thank you.

 

 

 

• Impact Monitoring and Evaluation of 2020-2021 Programmes, Projects and Activities: Only 10 Days to Go!

 

We have ten days left for our Analytics month.  We are again appealing to you to tell us (in your own words, numbers and info-graphics) your perceptions, feelings and experiences about the programmes and projects we ran in the last 345 days preceding the beginning of July 2021.

Although we have selected 12 initiatives for Impact Feedback and Assessment One and 9 ones for Impact Feedback and Assessment Two for monitoring and evaluation purposes, we are not expecting people to provide feedback on all of them.  People can only feedback on the project(s) and programme(s) they benefited from, supported, recommended users to us or interacted within.  We again suggest picking up ONLY 1 or 2 initiatives for feedback.

Please feel free to say what you experienced.

Again, thank you for your experiential support!

 

 

 

 

• Distress-free Life from Enduring Coronavirus for Children, Young People and Families in Africa

  

This Summer 2021 Humanitarian Appeal, which is one of the Summer Appeal projects making the first part of our Summer Programme, is still running.

The appeal is about supporting children, young people and families (CYPFs) in places in Africa where healthcare systems are extremely vulnerable and weak, and cannot cope with the mounting pressure and damaging effects of the Covid-19.

Supporting this appeal means helping CYPFs to minimise and mitigate the life-threatening and –destroying impacts of Covid-19 on these CYPFs. Your support will help to reduce the risks stemming from the economic and health threats that have been caused by Covid-19.  One can think of a child or young person without any dreams and expectations.  What will be his/her future?

We hope you are keeping in mind these CYPFs who desperately need help and support.

To support, just contact CENFACS on this website.

 

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• Happiness and Healthiness Projects in a Changing Climate and Mutating/Enduring COVID-19

 

•  •  Understanding CENFACS’ Happiness and Healthiness Projects

 

Covid-19 has challenged our perception of happiness and healthiness.  It has shaken the fabric of our poverty-relieving systems.  Happiness and healthiness can have different meanings for those in most in need and poverty in today’s prevailing conditions of Covid-19.

Despite that, it is possible to find health relief and happy fulfilment while still controlling the Covid-19 factor this Summer 2021.  It is possible to make the conditions of being physically, mentally and socially sound better this Summer.

This Summer, we are going to focus on ways of finding this health relief and happy fulfilment in a Changing Climate and Mutating/Enduring COVID-19.  In other words, our centre of interest is on what will keep children, young people and families happy (or unhappy) and healthy (or unhealthy) over Summer under the conditions of Covid-19 and climate change.  In order to keep them happy and healthy, there is a need to budget and deliver Happiness and Healthiness Projects.

 

• • • What are Happiness and Healthiness Projects?

 

CENFACS’ Happiness Projects are poverty-relieving responses to bring joyful lives while reducing misery for poor children, young people and families over the summer period and beyond it. 

CENFACS’ Healthiness Projects are poverty-relieving responses to bring freedoms from diseases (including epidemics, virus like Covid-19) while reducing misery for poor children, young people and families over the summer period and beyond it.

 

• • Determining factors or indicators of happiness and healthiness

 

The underlying principles or philosophy of these life evaluation projects are in line with the main factors or indicators that define happiness as both a social and personal concept as explained in successive World Happiness Reports edited by Helliwell et al. (2).

These editors distinguish the social foundations of happiness from personal happiness, although the two are complementary.  They argue that the science of measuring and understanding subjective well-being and happiness indicates that to be happy, one needs to meet the following six key variables or predictors that explain happiness differences among countries which include: 

income (Gross Domestic Product per capita), healthy life expectancy at birth, social support (having someone to count on in times of trouble), generosity, freedom to make life choices and trust (perceptions of corruption). 

For example, Helliwell et al. (3) argued in their 2020 World Happiness Report that

“Sub-Saharan Africa is not only the areas in the world with low happiness scores, but also a region in which happiness differences between the city and countryside are most pronounced in favour of city life” (p. 40)

The report went on in explaining that African countries with most pronounced urban-rural differences in life evaluation include: Angola, Congo Brazzaville, Benin, Central African Republic, South Africa, Gambia, Niger, Liberia and Egypt.

In their World Happiness Report 2021, Helliwell at al. (4) note that

“Life expectancy has much improved in Sub-Saharan Africa… Life expectancy has become much more equal, and has increased in Sub-Saharan Africa for seven years” (p. 194)

When talking about key determinants of happiness and misery, they again argue that happiness is caused by factors such as income, employment, health and family life.

 

• • • Happiness is about ending poverty and misery

 

CENFACS Happines Projects address the issues encapsulated inside the above variables and factors while keeping in mind first the needs of the CENFACS Community.  This is because we think the way to keep people happier is to reduce as much as possible poverty and misery among them.   Happiness is about ending poverty and misery. 

As we have brought in the concepts of changing climate into our happiness projects, happiness is finally about ending poverty and misery amongst children, young people and families in an era of changing climate.

 

• • • Healthiness is about ending poor health and poor sanitation

 

CENFACS Healthiness Projects address the issues enclosed in the above variables and factors, particularly healthy life expectancy in this Summer 2021.  The projects will help to keep in mind the needs of the CENFACS Community in terms of healthiness.

Keeping people healthier is to reduce as much as possible health and sanitation poverty and misery among them.   Healthiness is about ending health poverty and misery.   As we have brought in the exceptional sanitary circumstances the world is facing with Covid-19, Healthiness is finally about ending poor health and poor sanitation amongst children, young people and families in an era of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

 

• • Delivering Healthiness and Healthiness with 6 Projects for 3 Beneficiaries

 

6 Projects to bring Happiness and Healthiness to 3 beneficiaries: Poor Children, Young People and Families

 

Summer is a holiday season of the year during which most of the schools are closed and families with small children and young people in much needed help are forced to stay with them and or use this time of the year to take holiday.  The usual routine of educational/academic establishments with their recreational activities is scaled down.

This Summer is even restricted since many children, young people and families (CYPFs) may be forced to stay home if COVID-19 restrictions continue due to the threats of Covid-19 new variants.  Yet, these CYPFs are in need of seasonal and recreational activities and programmes for improving their well-being, healthiness and happiness.

There are ways of ensuring that summer stays an interesting and enjoyable period for Multi-dimensionally Poor Children, Young People and Families.  There are things that can be done to make summertime a season of Happiness, Peace, Vulnerability-free, Healthiness, Protection and Sustainability.  There should be projects that can help them to adapt and mitigate the adverse effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the side effects of lockdowns.  There should be projects that can help them to adapt and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.

 

• • • Summer 2021 Happiness and Healthiness Projects

 

The following CENFACS suite of summer 2021 initiatives can help in achieving some joyful, healthful and helpful summer plans, goals and outcomes in the new Age of Covid-19 and changing climate.

CENFACS Happiness and Healthiness Projects include:

 

1) Holiday with Relief a focus on ‘Restricted Holiday’

2) Build Forward Better Summer Break 

3) Summer Harmony with Nature

4) Hot Barriers to Build Forward Better

5) Networking for Protection and Safeguarding in the Post-Covid-19 Era

6) Build Forward Community Care and Health Responsibility

 

There is a link between these six initiatives.  For example, in order to build forward better Summer break that is within coronavirus restrictions one may need to keep COVID-19 barriers and be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, build harmonious relationships with the nature, network for protection and safeguarding, and act in a responsible way in the interest of their own happiness and public healthiness.

These projects are the combination of skills, knowledge, resources, tools, tactics, fixers, enhancements, boosters and tasters for the relief from Covid-19-induced poverty and poverty due to the lack of happiness.  In the preparation of our Summer 2021 programme for CYPFs, we have considered the continuing happiness and healthiness effects of Covid-19 and climate change.

All the six Happiness and Healthiness Projects will be Covid-19 Secure and Compliant; just as they take into account the happiness and healthiness effects of changing climate.  This will be done to help improve life evaluation while taking actions to enhance the same life in the context and under the constraint of Covid-19 dominance and changing climate. 

In this way, Summer can be a season of Happiness and Healthiness NOT of Misery for un-served and under-served children, young people and families who are at the same time victims of the adverse and far-reaching effects of Covid-19 and climate change.

They are the victims of adverse and far-reaching effects of Covid-19 because Covid-19 is an economic and health threat.  It has taken them economically and healthily in hostage by affecting the way they dress, eat, house, educate, entertain, enjoy, care for their health and body, look after their homes, and above all the way they pass their Summer holiday.  They are also suffering from the consequences of changing climate, which is transforming the way they consume, produce and entertain themselves.

For details about CENFACS Happiness and Healthiness Projects 2021 and to access them, please contact CENFACS.

 

_________

 

References

  

(1) https://www.intrac.org/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Impact-Assessment.pdf (accessed July 2021)

 (2) Helliwell, J., Layard, R., Sachs, J. (2017, 2018 & 2019), World Happiness Reports (2017, 2018 & 2019), New York: Sustainable Development Solutions Network

(3) Helliwell, J., Layard, R., Sachs, J. & De Neve J. E. (2020), World Happiness Report (2020), New York: Sustainable Development Solutions Network

(4) Helliwell, John F., Richard Layard, Jeffrey Sachs, and Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, eds. 2021, World Happiness Report 2021, New York, Sustainable Development Solutions Network

http://worldhappiness.report/ (accessed July 2021)

_________

 

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.

Donate to support CENFACS!

FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/

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 2021 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

14 July 2021

 

Post No. 204

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• July 2021 All-in-one Impact Feedback and Assessment (Level 1): Impact Monitoring and Evaluation of 2020-2021 Programmes, Projects and Activities

• Data Analytics of User-generated Content

• Coming this July 2021: Summer Festival of Thoughts and Actions with a Focus on Coronavirus Debt and Deficit Management

 

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• July 2021 All-in-one Impact Feedback and Assessment (Level 1): Impact Monitoring and Evaluation of 2020-2021 Programmes, Projects and Activities

 

Our Impact Monitoring, Evaluation, Review, Assurance and Analytics for July 2021  have already started with Impact Feedbacks.  These feedbacks are about carrying out activities in order to get the early results or impacts of the programmes and projects we ran during the financial year 2020-2021. They are part of the level one of our July 2021 All-in-one Impact Feedback and Assessment. 

We are holding two types of feedback: one from individuals as project supporters and users; and another one from organisations, particularly Africa-based Sister Organisations. 

 

(1) Project Supporters’ and Users’ Experiences (Feedback I)

 

This week’s Say by Project Supporters and Users will continue our Analytics Month.  Project Supporters and Users can start to tell us the experiences they have had with the programmes and projects we have selected to conduct monitoring, evaluation, review, assurance and analytics.

We are asking Project Supporters, Users and other stakeholders to provide their views using their own words rather than we asking them to respond to open or close questions.

To ease the feedback process, we have singled out 12 initiatives from which they can pick and choose to provide their feedback.

They can give us feedbacks (responses and reactions) in the form of rating (numbers), statement (words) and information graphics (infographics like charts, graphs, etc.).  This Say is about how they perceived and interacted with the products and services we presented to them over the last 345 days.

 

(2) Africa-based Sister Organisations’ Voices (Feedback II)

 

These are too initiatives that we ran in the last financial year; initiatives that directly or indirectly aimed at supporting Africa-based Organisations or just advancing poverty reduction and sustainable development agendas in Africa.  These initiatives were in the form of humanitarian appeals, fundraising and Covid-19 campaigns, advocacy work, project planning and advice, etc. 

We would like to hear the voices of Africa-based Organisations so that we can know where things went well and where they did not.  This will enable us to reflect their needs in future programmes and projects development, while improving the way in which we are working with them in general and tackling the poverty issue in Africa in particular. 

Their voices are important to us since we can only help to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development unless those who are concerned with these issues own the process by telling us what they want and how they perceive their own problems rather than we telling them what is good for them.

Like for individuals responding to our request, organisations do not need specific questions to provide their feelings about our work.  They can freely give their feedback in numerical, textual and information graphic statements.

To facilitate this feedback process, we have selected 9 initiatives from which they can pick and choose to provide their feedback.

The selected 2020-2021 programmes and projects for the purpose of feedback making our Impact Monitoring, Evaluation, Review, Assurance and Analytics are given in the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• Data Analytics of User-generated Content

 

This is about the analysis of raw and semi-structured data provided or generated by users and other vested parties involved in the delivery of 2020-201 programmes and projects.  This type of analytics requires the use of data literacy and methodology as well as analytical skills.  As scheduled, this analytics started on 12 July 2021.  Before going any further in this presentation, let us briefly explain user-generated content, data analytics and what we are going to do or are doing in this respect.

 

• • Brief understanding of User-generated Content

 

To explain User-generated Content (UGC), we are going to refer to Jose Angelo Gallagos’ online article.  Gallagos (1) argues that

“User-generated content is any content that has been created, published and/or submitted by users of a brand”.

The content that Gallagos is arguing about can be in the form of images, tweets, videos, text, audio, social media posts, reviews, comments, blog posts, testimonials, feedback, etc.

As far as CENFACS is concerned, we are going to carry out the analytics of user-generated content during their journey to poverty reduction with us.  In this respect, we are going to analytically process the content provided by CENFACS’ users, fans, enthusiasts and audience to support CENFACS‘ brand or as they navigate the road to poverty reduction.

 

• • Meaning of data analytics

 

To make things easily understandable for our readers and supporters, we have selected the following online definition from investopedia.com (3) which states that

“Data analytics is the science of analysing raw data in order to make conclusions about that information”

We are going to turn to this definition and other notions read within the literature survey about the concept of ‘data analytics’ in order to conduct the analytics of data or content generated by users of our programmes, projects and activities.

 

• • Data analytics in practice and progress

 

We are going to combine information technology, statistics and the life of CENFACS over 2020-2021 to discover patterns in data.  In doing so, this will help us to improve performance in terms of the kind of work we do in order to help reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.

In our data analytics process, we are going to undertake the following tasks:

(a) Data mining: extraction of data from unstructured data sources

(b) Data management: creation and management of databases

(c) Statistical analysis: creation of insights from data

(d) Data presentation: sharing of insights with stakeholders through data visualisation. 

Where necessary and possible, we may involve online affordable analytics programmes to help in this exercise. 

For those users who did not yet respond to our previous requests regarding any of the projects or events they took part or came across, this is the opportunity to share their content and provide their SAY or content or even  data so that we can fit it into our analytics work. 

For example, the users of Triple Value Initiatives (or All Year Round Projects) can inform us about the progress they have made so far.  They can as well share results of collaborations and synergies across these projects.  This information or data can be fitted into our Data Analytics Dashboard.

To sum up user-generated content or data analytics will help to provide actionable insights and user trend analysis.  It will help to review deliveries and analyse the end-of-financial year performance regarding work undertaken with users.  The result of this analytics will feed and align with the contents of our annual review 2020-2021. 

To give and share your SAY or content or even data to help us in this analytics, please contact CENFACS. 

 

 

 

• Coming this July 2021: Summer Festival of Thoughts and Actions with…

Seven Days of Development in July (7DDJ)

In focus for this year’s 7DDJ: Coronavirus Debt and Deficit Management

How to reduce or cancel financial debts and deficits for the poor to make ends meet

 

One of the legacies of the coronavirus pandemic is that many people and families, especially those in most need, have become poorer than before the coronavirus crisis began.  Many of the ordinary families are in serious financial/income deficit.  Those who managed to take a loan; they are also suffering from the burden of loan repayment despite all the talks about the coronavirus financial help.

In these circumstances, there is a need to rethink the financial fate of these poor families on how financial debts and deficits can be reduced or cancelled so that they can make ends meet.  There is also a need to ensure that the debts and deficits they hold do not lead to another type of poverty like intergenerational poverty. 

To help and work with these COVID-19-indebted and income deficit families to navigate their way out of this problem, we will be holding our seven days of thoughts on this matter.  Through these seven days of thoughts, we are going to think ways forward for them to build back and forward their financial position.  We shall as well reconsider the already globally known proposition of COVID-19 debt cancellation.  

As usual, they will be seven themes for thoughts for seven days, one theme per day, starting from the 22nd to the 28th of July 2021.

The seven days of development in July are the days of thoughts and actions against poverty; in this case against financial or income poverty.  The seven themes will be the entry points in order to stimulate thoughts and actions.

We shall soon publish the daily themes and supporting information regarding this year’s Summer Festival of Thoughts and Actions.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Reduction of Urban Poverty in Africa

 

Africa is working on a new urban agenda.  As way of supporting CENFACS’ Africa-based Sister Organisations working in urban areas of Africa, we are dealing with urban poverty, particularly its root causes and ways of tackling it.  However, what is urban poverty?

 

• • Defining urban poverty

 

There are many ways in which urban poverty can be conceptualised.  One way of conceptualising it has been given by Ana Belén Cano-Hila (4) who argues that

“Urban poverty refers to the set of economic and social difficulties that are found in industrialised cities and that are the result of a combination of processes such as the establishment of comfortable living standards, the increase in individualism, processes of social fragmentation, and the dualization of the labour market, which translates into social dualization”.   

These economic and social hardships can also be found in developing cities and towns like those of Africa.  At this time of the coronavirus, these difficulties have worsened for the urban poor in some of the cities in Africa.  It is not a surprise if the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and others (2) recently argue that

“In many urban and peri-urban areas, poverty and inequality prevent the most vulnerable from accessing nutritious foods,…” (p. 199)

This argument or statement applies to many urban areas of Africa.

 

• • Urban poverty in the era of COVID-19

 

At this era of COVID-19, urban poor could be amongst the most suffering from poverty since most towns and cities in Africa have been under draconian rules or simply closed to control and contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.  As some of urban poor have their survival dependant on street life, many of them find themselves in even deeper poverty during this COVID-19 time. 

So, we are working on the reduction of urban poverty.  This work falls within the scope of CENFACS’ 2020s Development Agenda and Poverty Reduction Programme.  As part of this work, we are supporting our Africa-based Sister Organisations; organisations tirelessly working to tackle the causes of urban poverty such as migration from rural to urban area, lack of opportunities and skills development, lack of affordability and quality education, etc. 

For those who would like to add their input to our work, they are welcome to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Holiday with Relief

 

In focus for 2021 Edition: Restricted Holiday

 

Holiday with Relief is one of CENFACS useful and helpful ICDP (individual Capacity Development Programme) resources for holiday makers and travellers.  The resource, which is published during Spring of every year, can also be used during Summer holiday or any holiday.

It is a wealth of contents as it provides tips, hints, tricks, fixes, enhancements, information, guidance and support in terms of passing holiday for multi-dimensional poor children, young people and families; especially at this time of the coronavirus pandemic.  During this time, human happiness and freedom to take and enjoy holiday have been restricted by the requirements of COVID-19 containment of measures. 

This year’s Holiday with Relief with its theme of Restricted Holiday is designed to help those in need by having happy and healthy holiday (e.g. Summer holiday) within the old measures of human protection and newly mounted boundaries of the COVID-19 containment measures and restrictions. 

Indeed, the way in which everybody passes their holiday has been restricted by a number of factors such as COVID-19, various lockdowns, COVID-19 vaccine, the state of the global economy, climate change requirements, protection of the nature, the exit from the EU, etc.

If any one of these multi-dimensional poor children, young people and families is contemplating a happy and healthy Summer holiday under the constraint of COVID-19 rules; then CENFACS’ Holiday with Relief is the resource to consider in their holiday planning.

The resource is free to order.  However, CENFACS would not mind any voluntary donation to help the enormous amount of effort and cost put in by its volunteers to produce it.  Your contribution will help to keep it running and update, as well as help the community in need.

To enquire about this resource, just contact CENFACS.  

  

• Impact Monitoring and Evaluation from the perspective of Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs)

 

This week, we are as well looking at the way in which our Africa-based Sister Organisations perceive impact monitoring and evaluation.  It is pointless to mention that theories of monitoring and evaluation used can be the same.  But, the context in which these theories can be applied and the perception of the impact monitoring and evaluation could be slightly different. 

Because of these differences in perceptions and theory applications, it is a great idea to exchange views with our ASOs on impact monitoring and evaluation of programmes and projects in the African context.  This is an enriched and technically valuable exercise which will enable both sides to align works, cement their partnership and continue to develop sustainable initiatives.

We are therefore inviting ASOs that have stories or case studies about their own impact monitoring and evaluation to share with us.  Likewise, we are asking to those ASOs that need advisory support in the area of impact monitoring and evaluation to let us know.  This is an opportunity to learn and develop best practices and policies in this area.

Need to share your work or experience in terms of impact monitoring and evaluation for the programmes and projects you are running, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

Main Development

 

• July 2021 All-in-one Impact Feedback and Assessment (Level 1): Impact Monitoring and Evaluation of 2020-2021 Programmes, Projects and Activities

 

Last week, we said that the name of the July game at CENFACS is Impact Monitoring, Evaluation, Review and Analytics.  In other words, July is the tracking month during which we conduct our Impact monitoring, evaluation, review and analytics of the projects and programmes we delivered during almost last 11 months and 2 weeks.

 

• • Impact Monitoring, Evaluation, Review, Assurance and Analytics in progress

 

We are still routinely gathering information on all aspects of these programmes and projects related to the above named period.  Likewise, we are assessing what these programmes and projects have achieved in relation to the overall objectives we set up for them.  Also, we are critically examining, reappraising or reconsidering our objectives and policies to achievements, and figuring out whether there is any progress or set back.  Furthermore, we are making sure that the impact process is independently carried out and can help us to assess the health and viability of programmes and projects delivered.

Besides the above four activities (monitoring, evaluation, assurance and review), we are working to find out, interpret and communicate patterns in data in a meaningful way to the work of CENFACS, as part of the analytics activity.

Once we have completed the July Impact monitoring, evaluation, review and analytics; we shall communicate the findings to our respondents and any vested interested parties.

In meantime, we are inviting supporters and users as well as Africa-based Sister Organisations to engage with us in responding and reacting to our poverty relief work in their own words and numbers.  They can rate and or provide a statement about these programmes and projects.  Where possible, they can provide information graphics (such as charts, graphs, images, etc.).

 

• • All-in-One Impact Feedbacks: Tell it in your own words, numbers and info-graphics!

 

There are many types or models of feedback.  In this exercise of feedback about the 2020-2021 programmes and projects, we are referring to impact feedback.  The latter is about giving feedback from the perspectives of users and African organisations by describing the programmes and projects delivered by CENFACS from their points of view.  It is an observation, but not an evaluation from their part.  They could describe the impact these programmes and projects have on them and what they like to be different. 

The exercise is meant to enable Supporters and Users (you might be one of them) as well as Africa-based Sister Organisations to share with us and others the outcomes and learning experiences resulting from the use or application of the projects we have chosen from our Programmes for feedback purpose.

Please seize this opportunity to provide your own lines of thought for improvement, adjustment and development by sharing with us and others the outcomes and/or experiences resulting from the communications we have had with you and or your use/application or participation/support concerning the programmes and projects below.

We would like to know how effective and efficient did you find in these programmes and projects, and what lessons, experiences did you learn and development for the future of our poverty relief work in coming years.

 

• • Summer Selection and Collection of 12 Initiatives for Feedback One and 9 for Feedback Two

 

We would like to inform you that some of the projects selected may have the same title like the year before.  However, the focus and contents for this year and each year are completely different.  In other words, what matters is not the title of the project or programme, but what is inside them or their insight.

We have selected the following programmes and projects for Feedback I and II.

 

 

• • • Feedback I: Projects and Programmes for Feedback from Individuals (Supporters and Users’ Experiences)

 

There are 12 selected initiatives for Feedback I as follows:

 

√ The Great Beasts Campaign 2020 

√ “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature) Campaign 2020

√ COVID-19 Campaign (The Campaign for Resilience against the Coronavirus Pandemic)

√ Zero Income Deficit Campaign

√ Digital and Social Media campaign

√ CENFACS’ 2020s Development Agenda and Poverty Reduction Programme

√ Climate Action 2021

√ Build Back and Forward Better Programmes

√ Advice-giving Service

√ All-in-Development Story Telling Series/Programme 2021

√ Arts and Design Project 2021

√ Translation Service

 

 

 

• • • Feedback II: Projects and Programmes for Feedback from Organisations (Africa-based Sister Organisations’ Voices)

 

We have selected 9 initiatives for Feedback II as follows:

 

√ The African Sahel 2020 Humanitarian Corridors Appeal

√ The African Sahel and Lake Chad Basin Appeal against Extreme Poverty

√ 2020 Peace Appeal for the Horn of Africa Region

√ Making Zero Hunger Africa Campaign with a focus on Agriculturalists and Pastoralists

√ Halving Poverty in Africa’s Central Sahel; Halving Poverty for and with Children in Emergency in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger

√ Ituri Peace Appeal (Peace Appeal for Ituri Region of the North-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo)

√ Tigray Peace Appeal and Re-appeal

√ Protection of the Acutely Food-insecure People in the Central African Sahel and Lake Chad Basin

√ Tigray Food Appeal and Re-appeal  

 

The above selected 2020-2021 programmes and projects may seem a lot for a feedback purpose. However, what we have done is to give to people and organisations the opportunity to choose or pick the one (s) they know or associate with to feedback.  For the effectiveness of the feedback, we suggest that people or organisations to pick only 1 or 2 initiatives to give their feedback.  Also, it is better to be concise when making your feedback.

 

• • • How do you provide your feedback?

 

There are online feedback collection tools (such as survey monkey, visual feedback, type form, online review, etc.).  For the simplicity of our Impact Feedback, we would very much appreciate if you could provide us your feedback…

(a) via e-mail, text, phone, web comments or reviews

(b) in your own words, numbers and information graphics (info-graphics).

Please do it by saying the way in which the above named programmes and projects have affected you or the people you recommended to use them or your organisation or sister organisation.

You could rate (by using numbers or percentages or ratios) these programmes and projects or provide a statement (by using words) or even give a chart or table (as information graphics). This is aptly up to you.

Remember, we can only help reduce poverty and do the changes we all want if you tell us what you think; not us only telling you what we do.

Please consider our request for feedback and for your testimonial support.

 

• • • Need further information about the above programmes and projects before your feedback 

 

Those who have been following the work CENFACS does will be familiar with the above mentioned projects and programmes.  They may not need further details about them.

Those who want to provide feedback and would like to request the details or summaries of the above selected programmes and projects prior to their feedback, they are free to make their request to us.

Thank you for considering our request of feedback and for your testimonial support.

This feedback is due by the END OF JULY 2021.

_________

 

References

(1) Jose Angelo Gallegos (2016), What is User Generated Content: Complete Guide to UGC & Why you need it  

https://www.tinup.com/blog/user-generated-content-definition (accessed July 2021)

(2) FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WEP and WHO (2021), The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021: Transforming food systems for food security, improved nutrition and affordable healthy diets for all, Rome, FAO.

https;//doi.org/10.4060/cb4474en

(3) https://www.investopia.com/terms/d/data-analytics.asp (accessed July 2021)

(4) Cano, Ana Belén (2019), “Urban Poverty”, In the Wiley Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Urban and Regional Studies, edited by A. M. Orum, 1-7, Hoboken, N.J. Wiley-Blackwell

_________

 

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.

Donate to support CENFACS!

FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/

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 2021 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

07 July 2021

 

Post No. 203

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Analytics Month

• The Next Issue of Summer Financial Updates (Summer 2021 Edition) will be entitled: Managing Nature and Build-forward-better Accounts 

• Leafy Year and Analytics Month

 

 

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Analytics Month

 

July is CENFACS’ Analytics month as it is the time of the year during which we conduct the impact monitoring, evaluation, review and analytics of our programmes and projects.  Through this exercise, we analyse what we did over the last 345 days, seize the outputs and, if possible, capture the early impacts made.

It is the time we review what worked well, what badly worked and what did not work at all.  We do it by bringing all together the programmes and projects as well as activities that made the preceding financial year.  This is what we usually call All-in-one Impact Feedback and Assessment. 

It is a feedback because we ask all our stakeholders to give their opinions about our work.  We expect them to provide us with their unbiased, independent, true and fair views and feelings about our work.  From what they feedback and what we have collected as data, we can assess or judge our performance against aims, goals and targets of poverty reduction and sustainable development we set up at the beginning of the financial year.  This also guides us to adjust and redevelop our programmes and projects.  In doing so, this gives us the opportunity to predict and plan future activities while rebuilding and reconnecting with stakeholders.

For more information about All-in-one Impact Feedback and Assessment or CENFACS’ Analytics Month, please read under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

 

• The Next Issue of Summer Financial Updates (Summer 2021 Edition) will be entitled: Managing Nature and Build-forward-better Accounts

 How to capture financial information linked to the nature and build forward better into your household accounts

 

The 2021 Edition of Summer Financial Updates (SFIs), which takes stock of the 2020 Edition of SFIs, is a good insight that builds on the relationship between human harmony with the nature and the principles to build forward better together greener and cleaner from the side effects of the coronavirus pandemic.  It deals with two types of accounts at household level which are: natural capital accounts and build-forward-better accounts.

 

• • Nature or natural capital accounts

 

Nature or natural capital accounts are related to the management and preservation of the nature at the level of household.  They can be expressed in terms of expenses, income and saving related to natural resources and environmental assets management like water, soil, air, plants, animals and minerals.  They can be translated into expenses and incomes to cover these expenses which can help to build financial statements such as household balance sheets, profit and loss account, etc. 

They are interesting since many people and families are adopting nature-based solutions to consume and produce.  Also, natural assets are not infinitely substitute.  Therefore, better managing their accounts at household level can help to ensure that natural assets continue to provide the resources and environmental services on which households’ well-being relies upon.

 

• • Build-forward-better accounts

 

These are a set of accounts helping to ensure that the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic sits on sound and sustainable foundations that both build back better and move forward households greener and cleaner.  The accounts to build forward better will be those adversely affected by the coronavirus and accidental/unintended damages caused by the containment measures meant to deal with the coronavirus.  In this respect, there is not a ‘one-size-fits-all approach’.  All depends on each household’s accounts and budget. 

However, on average most ordinary households have seen their health and house cleaning budgets affected during the coronavirus pandemic.  This is because we all have been recommended to often wash our hands, disinfect our home and its contents, wear personal protective equipment against the coronavirus, etc.  They are the accounts linked to the protection against the coronavirus pandemic that include items dealing with personal hygiene, cleaning, sanitation, personal protective equipment, etc. to protect and save lives from the life-threatening and destroying impacts of the Covid-19.  Spending on these items and accounts has dramatically increased for many of the ordinary households.   They need to be built forward.

The 2021 Edition of SFIs is more than a foundation for households to familiarise with the kinds of good accounting and management practice about their relationship with nature while including Covid-19 effects into their family accounts and budgets.  They help to build a frame or structure in the process of moving forward better greener and cleaner from the coronavirus pandemic. 

The Issue does not stop there as it contains some examples of nature and build-forward-better accounts and financial statements while providing some good leads for good management and control of household budgets in terms of comparative approach between ratios.

Finally, the 2021 Edition of SFIs facilitates our understanding of the complex information surrounding the current economic situation which is still dominated by the legacies of Covid-19, while providing some tips and hints to adapt, mitigate and build forward better household economics.  In this respect the Issue is both an update to the current economic situation and a scenario analysis in terms of what this situation means for the poor and disadvantaged people.

To find out more about this resource, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Leafy Year and Analytics Month

 

• • What Leafy Year and Analytics Month are about

 

Leafy Year is our dedication of 2021 as a leafy year or a year of leaves of poverty reduction.  As we are in a global situation of a challenging pain brought by the coronavirus pandemic, leaves can be a way of relieving us from pains brought by the coronavirus and of building forward better lives. 

Analytics Month is the month of the discovery, interpretation and communication of meaningful patterns and trends in data.  It is the month during which we try to gain insight of the meaning of data from the preceding financial in terms of poverty reduction and sustainable development.  

 

• • Possible links between Leafy Year and Analytics Month

 

This month, we are doing some analytics via leaves.  We are looking at how leaves can help us in discovering, interpreting and communicating meaningful patterns in data about poverty reduction and sustainable development.   In doing so, this will enable us to identify the linking elements or connectors that will enable to establish some relationships between our Leafy Year and Analytics Month.

The findings of this exercise will be summarised and published in our different documents (e.g. annual and quarterly reports, project reports, other financial statements, etc.).  They will as well be presented or showcased during eventful occasions such as exhibitions, fairs, expositions, festivals, markets, etc.  These presentations can be physical or online or both.  

To enquire or make query about CENFACS’ Leafy Year and Analytics Month, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Happiness and Healthiness Budgets for Poor Children, Young People and Families

 

It is always hard to ask those (like poor children, young people and families) who experience poverty and literally have no income or income below the poverty line, to write a budget about anything, especially for their happiness or healthiness or even holidays.

Whether or not a poor person is happy or healthy or takes holidays; they need happiness, healthiness, holiday budget or simply a budget to plan their sources of income and ways of meeting their expenses over a particular time of the year (e.g. Summer holiday).  The same person needs to plan how they are going to meet basic life-sustaining health costs.

Although we have the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, there are other health costs which are not covered by the NHS.  These additional and basic life-sustaining health costs may include: personal hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting costs related to the protection against the Covid-19 and other bacteria.  These additional costs can be included into the happiness and healthiness budgets.

One can as well integrate other items of happiness (like health and life satisfaction) and the metrics of healthiness and well-being into their budget.  They can do it by putting together the items of income per capita (or monetary income) and non-monetary ones into happiness or well-being budget.

The happiness and healthiness budgets, or put it simply holiday and basic health accounts, help to assess where and how much help is needed.  Therefore, poor people and families need to do their income sums and build them into their happiness, holiday and basic health expenses budgets and accounts or simply Summer expenses budgets or accounts.

To discuss your happiness, healthiness and Summer holiday budgets, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Tigray Food Re-appeal

 

This is a continuous appeal regarding the food crisis and hunger situation in Tigray.  We are carrying on in appealing because the critical situation in Tigray does not show any signs of abating.

According to local sources, more than 400,000 people in Tigray are now suffering from famine, 1.8 million others on the brink and 33,000 children are severely malnourished.  Acute food insecurity and hunger continue to claim their victims there.

The data from the various sources of information tell the same story and speak for the appalling condition of the peoples of Tigray.  We know that at this challenging time, it is not easy to support many causes even deserving ones.  However, this is despicable situation that deserves serious attention and help.

Therefore, CENFACS would like to re-appeal to you to help reduce the drivers of food crisis in Tigray, which are conflict and insecurity.

CENFACS hopes you will without hesitation act upon this food re-appeal to create and innovate so that the food sufferers in Ethiopia’s Tigray can get access to humanitarian support, which has been extremely restricted so far, and to food as well as navigate their way to sustainable and inclusive peace. 

You can directly help the peoples of Tigray without contacting CENFACS.  However, to discuss this re-appeal and the previous ones, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Help CENFACS’ Charity e-Store to Help Reduce Poverty

 

CENFACS’ Charity e-Store is still opened since the easing of non-essential retail restrictions and the unlocking of the charity retail sector restarted.

We are following the strict restrictions and guidance regarding the control and surveillance of Covid-19 and its variants, as well as the protection and saving of lives.

For the health and safety of everybody, all goods donations will be quarantined for at least 72 hours.

Our enhanced sanitation and cleaning methods and practices are firmly in place and constantly reviewed depending on the latest information received on the COVID-19 matter. 

We hope you are doing the same in the interest of public health and safety.

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

Many lives have been threatened and destroyed by the coronavirus pandemic.  The coronavirus pandemic variants continue to pose economic and health life-threatening and –destroying threats and damages.  Those who managed to survive this health disaster, they need help.  We need help to help them come out poverty and hardships caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

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

 

 

Main Development

 

• Impact Monitoring, Evaluation, Review and Analytics

 

The name of the July game at CENFACS is Impact Monitoring, Evaluation, Review and Analytics.  July is the month during which we conduct our impact monitoring, evaluation, review and analytics of the projects and programmes we delivered during almost last 11 months and 2 weeks. 

Before giving the contents of the Analytics Month, let us re-explain the key words we are using for the purpose of this Analytics month.

 

• • Key Words for the Analytics Month

 

There are five key words we are using which are: impact, monitoring, evaluation, review and analytics.

 

=> Impact

 

Normally, it takes a considerable amount of time to get the real impact of any intervention, project and programme.  However, because we are talking about finding out what projects and programmes have achieved, it makes sense to clarify what we mean by impact. 

To do that, we are going to borrow the definition of impact from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).  The OECD (1) differentiates ex ante impact from ex post impact.  This is what it argues.

“Ex ante impact analysis is the needs analysis and planning activity of the policy cycle.  It is a prospective analysis of what the impact of an intervention might be, so as to inform policy making”.

“Ex post impact assessment is the evaluation and management of the policy cycle.  Evaluation aims to understand to what extent and how a policy intervention corrects the problem it was intended to address.  Impact assessment focuses on the effects of the intervention, whereas evaluation is likely to cover a wider range of issues such as the appropriateness of the intervention design, the cost and the efficiency of the intervention, its unintended effects and how to use the experience from this intervention to improve the design of future generations”.

The above definitions help to understand the scope and scale of the impact of most interventions. 

As far as CENFACS is concerned, we will be doing evaluation activities for some programmes and projects; and impact assessments for others.  This is because impact assessment is mostly a theory-based activity and has a narrow and tightly-defined focus.  Where we need to design evaluation questions and use evaluation techniques, we will do evaluation.  Where there is a need for a tightly-defined focus, we will do impact assessment. 

We are as well considering that the initiative for change comes from project users or beneficiaries not from CENFACS or CENFACS’ projects or programmes.  This is because the impact analysis model of change we are using is a non-linear one.  Despite this non-linearity of the theory of change used, our impact analysis will still be based on causality and attribution approach. 

    

=> Monitoring and evaluation

 

We are going to use the definition of monitoring and evaluation as given by Kersty Hobson, Ruth Mayne and Jo Hamilton (2) in their “A Step by Step guide to Monitoring and Evaluation”.  They define monitoring as

“the collection and analysis of information about a project or programme undertaken while the project or programme is on-going”. (p. 5)

They also define evaluation as

“the periodic, retrospective assessment of an organisation, project or programme that might be conducted internally or by external independent evaluators”. (p. 5)

From these two definitions, it is understood that monitoring is an on-going process whereas evaluation is a periodic or discrete one.

 

=> Review

 

We have referred to an online source from method123.com (3) for the meaning of this fourth key word.  This online source defines review as

“an assessment of the status of a project at a particular point in time”. 

From this online perspective, we have been performing a project management review at the end of each phase of our projects and programmes.  We have been verifying whether or not we have met the objectives.  If so, then a decision needed to be approved to proceed to the next project or programme phase.

July is the month we put together all these project reviews conducted while doing the last reviews for those projects and programmes pending for a final review.

 

=> Analytics

 

There are many approaches to analytics.  In the context of our July work, we have selected an explanation from an online dictionary (4) which is as follows:

“the patterns and other meaningful information gathered from the analysis of data”.

This kind of analytics will help us to better deliver a user experience for our projects and programmes.

 

• • The analytical process within CENFACS

 

We have been continuously and at discrete points in time tracking what has been happening within our programmes and projects while using the data collected to inform programme and project implementation as well as day-to-day management and decisions during the above named period.  However, in July this monitoring exercise becomes more intense.  

Likewise, we have been periodically assessing objectives of our planned, on-going, or completed projects, programmes, or policies.  During these evaluation processes, we have tried to selectively answer specific questions related to the design, implementation, and results of our programmes and projects.

In July, these evaluation activities become further pronounced as we assess what these programmes and projects have achieved in relation to the overall objectives we set up for them.  The results of this evaluation are fed back to improve these programmes and projects, or alternatively to develop new ones.

Still in July, we critically examine, reappraise or reconsider our objectives and policies to achievements, and see if there is any progress or set back.  This review enables us to improve as well.

Throughout the year, we work to finding out, interpret and communicate patterns in data in a meaningful way to the work of CENFACS.  We apply those patterns in our decision making process.  In July, we put extra emphasis on this analytics which becomes very profound.

Briefly, July is the time we do our Summer tracking by reconsidering the value and relevancy of our work, let one the overall state of our charitable work.  It is in this period of the year that we carry out what we call All-in-One Impact Feedback and Assessment.  In other words, we try to listen to our stakeholders while tracking or capturing the early impacts of our work by considering all the pieces together as one.   

One of the key tools we use to do our impact analysis is CENFACS Analytics Dashboard.

 

 

• • What is CENFACS Analytics Dashboard?

 

CENFACS Analytics Dashboard is an information management tool that tracks, analyses and displays key performance indicators, poverty reduction diagnostics, poverty relief metrics/dashboards, results from CENFACS’ poverty relief league, etc. 

 

• • • What else does CENFACS Analytics Dashboard offer?

 

√ It monitors the health of CENFACS in terms of the relationships of support received to outputs and outcomes generated. 

√ It provides as well charts and summaries about some of the campaigns conducted. 

√ It enables to discover and identify poverty reduction problems from the examination of symptoms it helps find.

√ It assists in engineering analytical solutions to the problem of reducing poverty.

√ It finally helps to retrieve information from CENFACS repository about the resources to help users and supporters.

For example, during the early stage of the coronavirus pandemic, we used CENFACS Analytics Dashboard to check the health of CENFACS and state of running of CENFACS’ projects and programmes.  This checking enabled us to know the extent to which the coronavirus pandemic affected the running of CENFACS and its services.  Knowing the distributional effects of the coronavirus pandemic on our projects and programmes, this knowledge helped us to reorganise these projects and programmes differently.

For more on CENFACS Analytics Dashboard, please contact CENFACS.

 

• • Analytics of Leafy Year as an Example of Analytical Process within CENFACS

 

• • • What is the analytics of CENFACS’ Leafy Year?

 

The analytics or tracking of Leafy Year is the 6-month analysis and turning of raw data insight for making better decisions in terms of helping to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.  To make this possible, we have created a journal of creative activities carried out so far to mark 2021 as a Leafy Year.  This journal is also a record of data.

 

• • • Journal of 2021 activities as a Leafy Year: What leaves can do for those living in poverty

  

⇒ January 2021

 

Activity: Responsible consumption to help in keeping harmony between our consumption of leaves and nature

Analytics quantitative indicator: Quantity or percentage of wasted or conserved leaves during consumption

 

⇒ February 2021

 

Activity: Recycling fallen leaves to help to reduce pressure on the environment and to contribute to the circular economy 

Analytics quantitative indicator: Rate of recycling of fallen leaves

 

⇒ March 2021

 

Activity: Climate action to reverse new patterns and trends so that trees continue to draw carbon dioxide from the air and leaves can rediscover their seasonal course of cycle

Analytics quantitative indicator: Number of actions taken to reverse these patterns

 

⇒ April 2021

 

Activity: Protection of leaves so that their medical properties can continue to help human from and cure diseases 

Analytics quantitative indicator: Number of lives saved from leaves as medicine

 

⇒ May 2021

 

Activity: Use of leaves to tell and express stories of poverty reduction and sustainable development

Analytics qualitative indicator: Changes that happen to our users from stories via leaves

 

⇒ June 2021

 

Activity: Raising creative and productive capacities via leaves in the process of poverty reduction and sustainable development

Analytics quantitative indicator: Rate of conversion of the power of leaves into poverty reduction and the quality of life

 

One can quantify and gain insight of the meaning of the data about the last 6 months of Year of Leaves from this journal of creative activities and make good decision on how to better help to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.  

 

• • All-in-one Impact Feedback and Assessment for July 2021

 

This month, we will be conducting three levels of Impact Assessment:

(a)  Impact monitoring and evaluation of the programmes and projects we ran in the last financial year

(b) Impact assessment of the enduring coronavirus pandemic on CENFACS

(c) Impact feedback about our XX236.3F Programme

This Impact Assessment will be ex post.  And the evaluation related to this exercise will aim to understand the extent to which and the way in which our projects and programmes corrected the problems of poverty and unsustainable development amongst our intended beneficiaries.

Let us briefly summarise the three levels of impact assessment to be conducted.

 

(a) Impact monitoring and evaluation of the programmes and projects we ran in the last financial year

 

As the title of impact indicates, it will about putting together in the form of one piece of work all the results of monitoring and evaluation activities we have conducted for programmes and projects we ran in the last financial year.

 

(b) Impact assessment of the enduring coronavirus pandemic on CENFACS

 

We shall continue to seize the impact of Covid-19 on CENFACS, particularly on CENFACS’ 2020s Poverty Reduction Tools and Programme and Development Agenda.  We shall as well examine how the rollout of COVID-19 vaccine has impacted on CENFACS.

 

(c) Impact feedback about our XX236.3F Programme

 

Like last year, this year’s All-in-One Impact Feedback and Assessment will be extended to include our XX236.3F programme as we are in the month of Monitoring and Evaluation.  

XX236.3F is our 2020 to 2030 to 2063 Follow up Programme.  We are following the implementation of the International Climate Change Agreement (or the Paris Treaty), the Istanbul Declaration, the United Nations 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals, and Africa’s Agenda 2063.  The four of them make up our XX236.3F programme.

We need to acknowledge that Covid-19 has not made and is not making easier to get the impact feedback about our XX236.3F Programme.  Despite this difficulty, we are still conducting this impact feedback and assessment.

In brief, we shall conduct a follow-up and examination, look back and analyse data on the overall projects and programmes delivered during the above stated period, while keeping implementing our XX236.3F programme.

We shall soon publish the programmes and projects making this year’s Analytics.  In meantime, for any enquiries about the Analytics month, please contact CENFACS.

_________

 

References

(1) https://www.oecd.org/sti/inno/what-is-impact-assessment-OECDImpact.pdf (accessed July 2021)

(2) https://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/research/technologies/projects/monitoringandevaluation.html (accessed July 2021)

(3) https://www.method123.com/initiation-phase-review.php (accessed July 2021)

(4) https://www.dictionary.com/browse/analytics (accessed July 2021)

 

_________

 

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.

Donate to support CENFACS!

FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/

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 2021 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

30 June 2021

 

Post No. 202

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Season of Happiness 2021 in a Changing Climate and Mutating/Enduring COVID-19

• Digital and Social Media Campaign (Levels 2 and 3) – In Focus: Digital and Cyber-security Threats to Poverty Reduction

• Reduction of Poverty Linked to Desertification and Drought in Africa

 

…And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Season of Happiness 2021 in a Changing Climate and Mutating/Enduring COVID-19

 

CENFACS’ Season of Happiness is back with a focus on both happiness and healthiness.  Happiness as we are working on the process of returning some of our services to normal this Summer pending the conditions relating to COVID-19 containment measures. 

Healthiness (as healthy life expectancy as predicator of life evaluation) will be as well trending since COVID-19 continues to rage and changes its shape with the Indian and South African variants. 

In this focus, we should not forget climate change and its impacts as they continue to adversely affect the way in which we feel and pass the Season of Happiness.

Since we are working within the programme of building forward better together greener and cleaner, the Season of Happiness will be about building forward better happiness and healthiness.

Under the Main Development section of this post, we have provided further details including the projects and programmes making the Season of Happiness.

 

 

• Digital and Social Media Campaign (Levels 2 and 3) – In Focus: Digital and Cyber-security Threats to Poverty Reduction

 

During this time of the coronavirus pandemic, like anybody else people in need have to rely on digital and online means in order to meet their basic life-sustaining needs and to survive.  However, what is required to safely run these digital and online means, most people in need cannot afford it.  They do not have enough money to spend on the security requirements (such as anti-virus software, subscription to online insurance policy, adaptation to new technologies, security camera, etc.) to mitigate any digital, online and cyber-security issues.  

 

• • The extent of cyber-security crimes and digital threats on the poor

 

Cyber criminals, online hackers and internet scammers are using the vulnerability and space created by the coronavirus pandemic and accidental damages caused by containment measures to launch any sorts of attacks to vulnerable online accounts and poor people.  These crimes and malpractices existed before the pandemic; however the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated or opened a window of opportunities for this behaviour. 

There are now pandemic malicious websites and scams that try to exploit poor people’s ignorance and lack of financial means that are engaged in all types of criminal activities such as identity theft, ransom ware, fake employment agencies/offers, dishonest credit card companies, copyright violators, fake coronavirus funding programmes and all sorts of fraud.

 

• • Advocating for the support of those in need of digital equipment and infrastructures

 

These cyber criminals and online fraudsters have complicated the work of poverty reduction.  The pandemic-related digital threats are now a BIG ISSUE for both our users in the UK and in Africa.  This is why we are re-activating the levels 2 and 3 of our Digital and Social Media Campaign.  The level 2 is about IT and Online Security while level 3 deals with Digital Infrastructures, Security and Defence. 

In this re-activation of the two areas of our campaign, we are asking to our users to extremely stay vigilant when operating online and digitally (e.g. during remote work, filling digital applications, shopping online etc.). 

We are as well advocating for the support of those in need of digital equipment and infrastructures (such as anti-virus device or software, online cover policy, etc.) to be considered in any funding programme or policy. 

This is because one can notice that some of the funding programmes toward those in need simply ignore this problem of lack digital equipment and security for those in need to express their needs and effectively communicate without cyber-security threats and fear in order to resolve the issue of poverty they are facing.  In this respect, there is a need for cyber and online defences for the poor, those who cannot afford security items such as anti-virus, insurance cover against digital and cyber-security threats and attacks, etc.  The threat and crime levels we are talking about cannot be dealt with free or essential anti-virus software or device as such software or devices are limited in their scope to deal with the matter. 

 

• • Extra help and support

 

There are both print and online resources regarding digital and cyber-security threats which can be accessed.   For those who would like to further discuss cyber-security issues and digital defences, they can contact CENFACS.

For further information about CENFACS’ Digital and Social Media Campaign, please also contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Reduction of Poverty Linked to Desertification and Drought in Africa

 

As part of CENFACS’ 2020s Development Agenda and Poverty Reduction Programme, we are working on Goal 7 of this agenda and programme.  Goal 7 is about reducing climate-induced poverty or situational (or transitory) poverty amongst the victims of natural disasters and destructive wars.  Amongst natural conditions and events are desertification and drought in Africa, mostly in arid and semi-arid areas of Africa. 

There are various initiatives taken by and on behalf of people suffering from desertification in Africa.  These initiatives include: forest recovery, prevention of soil degradation, re-fertilisation of lands, replanting trees, afforestation, reduction of stress on food producing capacity, improvement in biodiversity, etc.  There are also projects carried out to reduce drought such as reduction in deficits in rainfall, river flow, soil moisture and food. 

Beyond these initiatives, we are as well going to look at projects set up and run by our Africa-based Sister Organisations to help their locals to come out poverty linked to desertification and drought in Africa.    An example of these initiatives include irrigation project in Chad with one of CENFACS’ sister organisations working on the ground.

To discuss the reduction of poverty linked to desertification and drought in Africa, please contact CENFACS. 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Report on COVID-19 Campaign

 

This week, we would like to share with our stakeholders the findings about CENFACS’ Campaign for Resilience against the Coronavirus Pandemic (or COVID-19 Campaign) since it began in 2020.  These findings are compiled in a report relating to this campaign.

 

• • What is the report on COVID-19 campaign?

 

The COVID-19 campaign report is a summary of actions carried out by CENFACS from March 2020 until now in the fight against the life-threatening and –destroying impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and its side effects.

 

• • The purpose of the report

 

The purpose of the report is to investigate CENFACS’ COVID-19 Campaign in order to identify outcomes achieved and recommend new direction or an end to this campaign in terms of the different phases undertaken so far.

 

• • Essential highlights

 

The investigation looks back the different episodes of the campaign and the actions and activities undertaken by CENFACS to support and work with the communities (here in the UK and Africa) on COVID-19 protection, to protect CENFACS’ services and the general public at a time ravaged by a global pandemic, economic downturn and the ever-worsening climate crisis.  

The report shows how CENFACS acted during this crisis in order to find a new, creative and innovative way of re-engaging with stakeholders, protecting and delivering services and liaising with other sustainable development partners. 

The report portrays how CENFACS went beyond and out its way to stay focus on poverty reduction and sustainable development despite the disruption and disturbance caused by the coronavirus and associated adverse impacts.

The report is finally a testimony about the contribution of CENFACS to the recipes of poverty reduction and enhancement of sustainable development during this challenging time.

For insight reading of the report including its findings and recommendations, please contact CENFACS with your mailing details.

 

 

• The Last Creative and Innovative Activity of the Creative Economic Development Month: Navigation of Human Development Index

 

In Focus: How to move up when living on the lower end of human development at this challenging time of enduring coronavirus

 

Human Development Index (HDI) is the United Nations Development Programme’s measure of development (1).  According to the United Nations Development Programme, the Human Development Index (HDI) is

“A composite index measuring average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living.”

More details on how it is calculated can be found at hdr2020_technical_notes.pdf (undp.org)

As part of our last activity of June 2021, we are working on practical ways to move up for those who are currently living on the lower end of human development , especially those living in low human development countries making CENFACS’ area of our operation in Africa. 

These practical ways include solutions to the problem as well as infographics to help in this matter.  It is our way of conveying an extra message of hope and support to those who are in this situation, particularly at this time of enduring coronavirus.  Indeed, the coronavirus has challenged the three elements (healthy life, knowledge and standard of living) that make the architecture of the HDI for many people in need.

If you are one of those who have reached the lower end of the human development and wondering how to move up, CENFACS can work with you/your organisation to help you navigate your way to the upper end of human development.  All you need is to contact CENFACS on this site.

 

 

• The 30^th of June 2021 as our Last Day of Thanksgiving to Supporters

 

We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate of thoughts, expressions and feelings of gratitude to all our supporters.

For those of our supporters who will be missed by the end of today, we hope they will be a similar opportunity in the future during which we can together celebrate the achievement from their support while acknowledging the gifts they have made or make to our end users, our work and the work of our Africa-based Sister organisations.

Many thanks!

 

 

Main Development

 

• Season of Happiness 2021 in a Changing Climate and Mutating/Enduring COVID-19

 

• • Life Renewal Season to Happiness Season

 

Jmesci (June Month of Environmental and Sustainable Creative Initiatives) and Arts and Design Project are the projects that have made the last part of Spring 2021 programme.  Both projects make our Creative Economic Development month.

In practice, Jmesci is the project that is ending our Spring Relief or Life Renewal season to start Summer of Happiness.  After creating and innovating to build forward better together greener and cleaner as well as to help reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development, we are now looking forward to enjoy the sunshine of Summer with Happiness and Healthiness.   We would forward to Summer, although the warm weather has already started.

 

•  •  What is Summer for CENFACS’ Users and Beneficiaries?

 

Summer is a period of the warm sunny weather that we would like to associate with it at CENFACS.  It is the time of happiness that we all expect, after a long period of full time work and education.  We look forward to a break after such a long time of routine working life, especially as most of CENFACS’ projects and programmes are framed around the school timetable to suit and reflect the needs and living patterns of our users and beneficiaries.  This is despite that the fact that during Summer people are still working to keep their households and the economy running.

 

•  •  In focus for this Summer: Happiness in a Changing Climate and Mutating/Enduring COVID-19

 

Generally, it is expected Summer to be warm and sunny.  In recent times or decades, Summer is not all the time warmer and sunnier.  The climate (that is the average atmosphere conditions prevailing in a particular region) is now much variable to the extent that summers are now not always hot dry.

Yet, most people want warm, sunny and happy summers.  Those who can afford can plan to go to destinations in places and locations where they can enjoy the summer weather.  Those who cannot afford, like many of our users, may not be able to choose but to be subject of the changing climate.

 

•  •  Happy but restricted holidays

 

In addition to the changing climate, there is the coronavirus which is still there and taking other forms or variations (e.g. Indian, South African or other) despite the rollout of COVID-19 vaccine.  The coronavirus has led to many restrictions including those on travels and holidays.  The traditional way of passing holidays is now restricted to the coronavirus containment measures.  These are the restrictions on our holidays, restrictions from changing climate and from measures to control the coronavirus pandemic.  This is whether we take holidays or work or even study over the Summertime.

 

•  •  Happiness in a changing climate and enduring COVID-19

 

Since the coronavirus endures and the climate is still changing, this Summer 2021 will be affected by both changes (e.g. changing climate and mutating coronavirus).  So, the key note of our theme for Summer of Happiness will be how to create, enjoy and sustain happiness in a changing climate and a mutating/enduring coronavirus. 

To support those victims of changing climate and mutating/enduring coronavirus over Summer, we shall work with them so that they can navigate their way to happiness and healthiness in a changing climate and mutating/enduring coronavirus over Summer 2021. 

To do that, we shall provide Happiness and Healthiness Tips and Hints in a changing climate and mutating/enduring coronavirus.  We will provide them through the following Summer initiatives.

 

•  •  Preview of 2021 Summer-of-Happiness and Healthiness Programmes

 

Summer Programme at CENFACS is mainly made of two sets or broad areas of projects for and with Multi-dimensionally Poor Children, Young People and Families; which consists of:

 

(a) Happiness and Healthiness Projects (Part 1) and 

(b) Appeal Projects or Humanitarian Relief to Africa (Part 2). 

 

Besides this main Summer seasonal regular feature, we have also planned other initiatives as side menus.  We shall gradually release the contents of these Summer projects as we progress during Summer 2021. 

Our development calendar/planner already indicates what is planned for July and August 2021.  However, should anybody want to find out more, they are welcome to contact CENFACS. 

 

• • •  Summer 2021 Programmes, Projects and Activities (Summer calendar/planner)

 

 

How to Make this Summer 2021 as of Happiness in a Changing Climate and Mutating/Enduring Coronavirus

 

July 2021

  

∞ Financial Updates: Managing your Nature Accounts and Build Forward Better Accounts

 

The 2021 Edition of Financial Updates (a CENFACS’ Individual Capacity Building and Development resource for Summer) will focus on two sets of accounts: nature and build forward better accounts.

∞∞ Nature accounts (or natural capital accounting) are those any household can run in their budget to keep their relationships with nature in harmony.  One can integrate ecosystems and biodiversity into their household budgets.  This can enable them to take responsibility towards nature or natural resources.

∞∞ Build forward better accounts are any items of household budgets related to the process of building forward better from the Covid-19.  In this second type of accounts, we shall align them to the requirements of greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and targets.

Besides these two sets of accounts, the 2021 Financial Updates will update readers about the current financial and economic situation.  The updates will go further in terms of financial and economic advice to build forward better together greener and cleaner.

 

∞ All-in-one Impact Assessment

 

July, which is the Analytics month within CENFACS, is the month to be at CENFACS for those who are working on project and programme impacts. 

We will be doing two levels of impact assessment as follows:

Our usual July Impact Monitoring, Evaluation, Review and Analytics for projects and programmes that we run in the preceding financial year

Impact assessment of the Covid-19 Campaign, which will consider the initial findings of the COVID-19 report

 

∞ Virtual Summer Festival with Seven Days of Development in July

 

In focus for our Summer 2021 Festival will be: 

Coronavirus Debt and Deficit Management – How to reduce or cancel debts and deficits for the poor to make ends meet

Since the coronavirus pandemic has led to a high level of indebtedness for many ordinary and poor families, our Seven Days of Development in July (7DDJ) will explore ways of reducing and/or cancelling debts and deficits in the accounts of these families so that they can meet their basic life-sustaining needs.  Some of these debts and deficits were already there.  However, the coronavirus has made them worse to the extent these families cannot normally function as human family. 

 

July – August 2021

 

∞ Children, Young People and Families (CYPFs) Summer Programme (Part I): Appeal Projects

 

Summer humanitarian Appeal projects are a set of projects to help alleviate multi-dimensional poverty experienced by CYPFs during the Summertime.  We normally launch one integrated appeal that brings under one roof these projects.  This year, because of the enduring Covid-19 and its associated impacts, we are going to launch selected appeals for most of them with special emphasis on health. 

One of the selected appeals will be about helping CYPFs to be free from distress caused by the enduring coronavirus pandemic and any health poverty associated with coronavirus.  The appeal – Distress-free Life from Enduring Coronavirus for CYPFs in Africa (DfLECA) – is also about helping poor CYPFs to boost their capability to be healthy from the coronavirus and other diseases as well as from economic threats created by the same coronavirus. 

Another appeal project that will have a particular attention and that is needed during this period of continuing health and sanitation issues is the Iconic Young Carer and Builder for a Coronavirus-free Environment (iYCBCfE). 

The two projects fall under the scope of health (for DFLECA) and care (for iYCBCfE).

 

∞ Children, Young People and Families (CYPFs) Summer Programme (Part II): Happiness and Healthiness Projects

 

Happiness and Healthiness projects are another set of Summer projects making the second part of our Summer Programme.  The same healthiness theme will be extended to apply to the second part of our Summer 2021 programme.  We shall release more details about Happiness and Healthiness projects in due course.

 

∞ Summer 2021 Run, Play and Vote to Reduce Poverty

 

Because we are still under the rules and restrictions of lockdowns to protect ourselves and others, this year our Triple Value Initiatives (Run, Play and Vote) will be organised according to the state of progress in the fight against Covid-19 and of COVID-19 containment measures.

Depending on the circumstances (related to Covid-19 and level of reopening economies), some of these activities will continue to be virtually held.

Half-year actions and results about these activities will be sought from those who are using them.   

We shall ask those who undertook exercises relating Triple-value Initiatives such as e-workshops and recreational activities during the full and partial lockdowns to report on their actions and results as well.

 

∞ Integration of Le Dernier Carré into Build Forward Better Programme

 

Our four step model of poverty relief (that is the Last Square of Poverty Relief or Le Dernier Carré) will be included in some of the elements of the Build Forward Better Programme.

 

∞ Summer Track, Trip and Trending

 

Track and Trip activities will be run depending on the progress on the protection against Covid-19 and the restrictions which will be in place at the time.

Regarding Trending activity, we are going to follow the direction of poverty reduction via natural capital investments.  In other words, we are going to find out how a good management of natural capital assets and natural-based investment solutions to poverty are helping in lifting people out of poverty.  

The above is just an indicative plan of work for our Summer of Happiness and Healthiness.  Depending on the progress about the fight against Covid-19 and results achieved in terms of the economic reopening, we may review our Summer work plan.

We hope you find a happy, helpful and hopeful relief from the above programmes and projects on offer at CENFACS over this Summer!

For details or clarification about the above programmes and projects, including ways of accessing them, please contact CENFACS.

 

Note: Although the above is scheduled for Summer 2021, we may slightly alter our initial plan and or introduce occasional initiatives to cope with the reality of the unpredictability and complexity of development situations (e.g. humanitarian and emergency situations), in which case we shall let you know as early as we can.

________

Reference

(1) hdr2020.pdf (undp.org)

________

 

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.

Donate to support CENFACS!

FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/

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 2021 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

23 June 2021

 

Post No. 201

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Research and Development to Build Forward Better Together

• Creative Economic Development Month – In Focus for Week Beginning 21/06/2021: Green and Clean Creations and Innovations.

• Distress-free Life from Enduring Coronavirus for Children, Young People and Families in Africa

 

… And much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Research and Development to Build Forward Better Together

 

To build forward better from the coronavirus pandemic, it requires research and development.  And research and development are at the heart of everything we do at CENFACS.

We are researching for new ideas to better help reduce poverty amongst our users in the community and Africa-based Organisations making part of our area of operation in Africa.  We are as well researching for new ways of applying ideas to better help reduce poverty and hardships amongst the same beneficiaries. 

To be practical, we are currently researching on the Economics of Not-for-profit Solutions to Poverty, in particular but not specifically to COVID-19-induced poverty.  Under the Main Development section of this post, we have provided further details about this first key message and current research focus.

 

 

 

• Creative Economic Development Month – In Focus for Week Beginning 21/06/2021: Green and Clean Creations and Innovations.

 

Our delivery of the Creative Economic Development Month continues with the featuring of Green and Clean Creations and Innovations.  To feature them, we are going to try to understand their meanings and give some highlights about what our Africa-based Sister Organisations are doing in terms them. 

 

• • Understanding of green and clean creations and innovations

 

The following summarises our apprehension of green and clean creations and innovations.

 

• • • Green creations and innovations

 

Green creations are processes or actions of bringing something into existence and do not or cause less harm to the environment. 

Green innovations are about making changes in established things without or with less harm to the environment.

So, green creations and innovations are those which ensure that natural assets continue to provide the resources and environment services on which human and other beings rely upon.

   

• • • Clean creations and innovations

 

Clean creations are about generating new and unique ideas on things that are free from harmful substances or effects to health, life and the nature.

Clean innovations are about executing the creative ideas into practice that does not cause harmful fallout or contamination to human life and the nature.  

Thus, clean creations and innovations are those that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and negative environmental impacts through efficient use of natural and few non-renewable resources.

Briefly speaking, the interest in this week of the Creative Economic Development Month is on creations and innovations that are environment-friendly (that is, they have a small or zero environmental impact) and reduce waste in the nature.   We are as well interested in creations and innovations that lower emissions of greenhouse gas, reduce climate-damaging carbon dioxide emissions, spearhead green energy solutions and increase the share of renewables in the energy mix in the process of creating and innovating for life, work and future.

 

• • Africa-based Sister Organisations’ Green and Clean Creations and Innovations

 

There are many green and clean creative and innovative initiatives carried out by our Africa-based Sister Organisations.  Amongst them, we can mention the ecological site run by one of our African partners in Togo.  The initiative included: education and training, growing of young seedlings in greenhouses (e.g. planting peppers in greenhouses and eggplant in new greenhouse), experiment, etc.   

This ecological site is an experience of environment-friendly initiative that is aligned with greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and targets.  It is a good example of how to grow plants without depleting natural resources.

For more information about this initiative and other similar works carried out by our Africa-based Sister organisations, please contact CENFACS. 

 

 

 

• Distress-free Life from Enduring Coronavirus for Children, Young People and Families in Africa

 

Distress-free Life from Enduring Coronavirus for Children, Young People and Families in Africa is one of the Summer Appeal projects making the first part of our Summer Programme, which will be published soon.  This appeal has been already launched.

The appeal is about supporting children, young people and families (CYPFs) in places in Africa where healthcare systems are vulnerable and weak, and cannot cope with the mounting pressure and damaging effects of the Covid-19.

Supporting this appeal means helping CYPFs to minimise and mitigate the impacts of Covid-19 on them. Your support will help to reduce the risks stemming from the economic and health threats that have been caused by Covid-19.  One can think of a child or young person without any dreams and expectations, what will be his/her future.

Can you help this child?  Yes or No!

If you say yes; then…

√ You can help that child to dream and expect for a better life and future. 

√ You can help stop Covid-19 to become a structural constraint and handicap for that child.

√ You can help stop Covid-19 to create lifelong impacts on children and young people.

√ You can help stop children’s and young people’s lives being reduced back below the poverty line.

√ You can stop the lost generation of Covid-19 or “the pandemial generation” to happen in Africa.

To make the above happen, support Distress-free Life from Enduring Coronavirus for Children, Young People and Families in Africa.

Details of this appeal and ways of supporting can be found at: cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/

 

 

Thank you for helping CENFACS IN ENHANCING AND SUSTAINING FREEDOMS AND CAPABILITIES BY WORKING IN ALLIANCE WITH LOCAL PEOPLE TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVES.

 

Extra Messages

 

• Thanksgiving Days: Supporters’ Days (28 to 30 June 2021)

 

From 28 to 30 June 2021, we will be thanking all our supporters (current and past ones). 

We would like to take the opportunity of the end of June to thank them (and you if you are one of them) for helping CENFACS IN ENHANCING AND SUSTAINING FREEDOMS AND CAPABILITIES BY WORKING IN ALLIANCE WITH LOCAL PEOPLE TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVES.

  

• •  What do mean by Thanking Days or Supporters’ Days?

 

These are Special Days of Thank You we would like to dedicate to all those who contributed to our work for any types of support they have given us over this financial year.  This dedication is normally held in the last week of and by the end of June.  For this year, Thank-you Days will be held from 28 to 30 June 2021. 

As we are in CENFACS’ Creative Economic Development Month and Leafy Year, we shall find all sorts of creative, innovative and communicative ways of thanking our invaluable supporters and backers.  These thanking ways may include the following:

√ Conversing with our supporters over phones

√ Signing and sending thank-you prints or e-cards to them

√ Telling them the stories or outcomes about the people and communities they helped through their support

√ E-mailing, texting and tweeting them with messages of gratitude

√ Telling and sharing thank-you stories

√ Playing and listening with them music and songs of thank you

√ Making and playing thank-you videos and films

√ Giving back to them by volunteering our time to the cause they deeply care about

Undertaking a free translation service (French to English and vice versa)

√ Reading African poems and poetry

√ Sending to them digital and technologically animated thank-you messages

√ Doing creative and design works symbolising thank you

√ Sending designed and hand crafted made objects and crafts of acknowledgement

√ Making video calls since the coronavirus pandemic and its associated impacts continue to restrict some forms of physical contact, etc.

If you are one of the CENFACS’ supporters, please we would like to let you know the Thanking Days at CENFACS are your Days.  Do not hesitate to get in touch, if you do not mistakenly hear from us.  We will welcome you; reconnect with you and thank you on the occasion for the helpful difference you made to our work and project beneficiaries.

Your invaluable support has meant a lot for our programme and project beneficiaries over this ending financial year.

We would like to express all our sincere gratitude to you for helping us to help reduce poverty.

For further details, contact CENFACS’ Thanksgiving-End-of-June-2021 Team.

 

 

 

•  Arts and Design Project –

In Focus: Unknown and Unnamed Artists and Designers of Poverty Relief and Sustainable Development with the example of Young Creators and Innovators

 

Artists and designers play an active role in helping to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.  So, this week we are working on some of the works carried out by artists and designers especially those from small scale and charitable backgrounds, the local arts and design products and services undertaken by local people and communities sometimes to make ends meet. 

These kinds of work can include those carried out by poor families, children, young people and those who are left out of the economic growth or upturn.  Additionally, there are works carried out by unknown and unnamed artists and designers who may be amateurs or not professionals or not just celebrities.  Every year, we try to find out unknown and unnamed artists and designers, as part of Arts and Design Project. 

All these small pieces of art and design works can help relieve poverty and enhance the process of sustainable development.  They can help build forward better during this pandemic time.

 

•  •  Example of Unknown and Unnamed Artists and Designers: Young Creators and Innovators

 

Some Young Creators and Innovators can be classified as unknown and unnamed artists and designers.  They are of all sorts of talents and abilities who can create and innovate to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.  They can as well help to build forward better from the coronavirus pandemic.  Their works can help reduce Covid-19 induced poverty and hardships while keeping the progress of the realisation of sustainable development goals.  They could be the finders of the today’s solutions for tomorrow’s problems.   

So, this week we are continuing our Arts and Design project by looking at the contribution that unknown and unnamed artists and designers, and amongst them are Young Creators and Innovators, are making in reducing poverty and hardships as well as in enhancing sustainable development.

If you are a young creator and/or innovator and has some feeling that you would probably fall under the category of unknown and unnamed artists and designers, CENFACS would like to hear from you as well as your creative/innovative work.

 

 

• Africa’s Healthcare Capabilities in face of COVID-19 Rebound

 

One year ago, we argued about the need to boost Africa’s healthcare capabilities in order to shadow the evolution of the epidemiological curves of the coronavirus pandemic.  This argument was part of our COVID-19 Campaign and Advocacy on Rebuilding Africa. 

This week, we are examining if African countries succeeded in allocating 1% or more of their gross domestic product to health.  We are indeed looking at if they boosted their health capacities since there has been a rebound of COVID-19 infection in many places in Africa.

Those who will be interested in this issue of Africa’s healthcare capabilities, they can feel free to let us know.  Likewise, those who have data or more information about investments in health care capabilities in Africa, they can – if they want – share them with the community and CENFACS.

To discuss or share data on Africa’s healthcare capabilities, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• Research and Development to Build Forward Better Together

 

To build forward better together, we are going to consider the following items making our research and development work.

 

• •  Research and Development within CENFACS

 

The function of research and development (R&D) is important within CENFACS.  This is because we can only help to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development if we are able to undertake research and develop solutions together with local people to poverty reduction and to the enhancement of sustainable development.  In this respect, the kinds of research and development work we do are related to the core activities of poverty reduction and sustainable development. 

In the context of this year’s Creative Economic Development Month, we are carrying on research and development related to coronavirus-induced poverty and hardships on the one hand, and the delay or prevention caused by Covid-19 in the progress of the realisation of sustainable development goals on the other.  This is the general scope of our research and development work. 

Within this scope, we are currently working on the Economics of Not-for-profit Solutions to poverty, in particular but not specifically to COVID-19-induced poverty.  We are researching these solutions in the context of African Continental Free Trade Area.  However, before going any further in the presentation of research and development, let us define the economics of not-for-profit solutions to poverty.

 

• • What is the economics of not-for-profit solutions to poverty?

 

To understand the economics of not-for-profit solutions to poverty, one needs to first understand economics.  To comprehend economics, we are going to refer to the basic dictionary of economics by Christopher Pass, Bryan Lowes and Leslie Davies (1).  C. Pass et al define economics as

“The study of the problem of using available factors of production as efficiently as possible so as to attain the maximum fulfilment of society’s unlimited demands for goods and services.  The ultimate purpose of economic endeavour is to satisfy human wants for goods and services… whereas wants are virtually without limit, the resources – natural resources, labour and capital – available at any one time to produce goods and services, are limited in supply; i.e., resources are scarce relative to the demands they are called upon to satisfy” (pp. 153 & 154)

From the above definition, one can deduct that the economics of not-for-profit solutions to poverty is the study of the allocation of resources and of choices made by not-for-profit organisations providing solutions that do not seek to make profit in order to resolve the problem of lack of money and material possessions.  Because resources (especially natural ones) are scarce and non-renewable, one can make not-for-profit choices in order to satisfy the demand of those in need, especially in most pressing and urgent needs like the ones led by the coronavirus pandemic.   

 

• • Research on the Economics of Not-for-profit Solutions to Poverty

 

As part of research and development of the month of Creative Economic Development, we are going to share with readers of this post the current work we are conducting in terms of Investing in the Not-for-profit Organisations (N4POs).  The coming Issue of FACS (Issue no. 72) will give more information about the investments in the not-for-profit organisations in Africa.

In meantime, let us argue that the current work is about how investing in the N4POs can contribute to further poverty reduction and long term economic development in the African Continental Free Trade Area.  The positive long term expected effects or outcomes from this kind investment will include the following:

jobs creation, boosting and development of products and services, support to the green and blue developments, building forward better lives from the coronavirus pandemic, natural resources management and conservation, etc.

As part this study, we are looking at data in investments in the not-for-profit economies in Africa as well as working on two assumptions or tests.

 

 

• •  Testing hypotheses

 

The first Test is that investing in the not-for-profit organisations in Africa can lead to poverty reduction in bulk or mass poverty reduction.  However, for this to happen, the following conditions need to be met:

∞ Better money governance; that is money invested has to be allocated to lifting people out of poverty not to paying high salaries to those who run those N4POs

∞ There should be no or less disruptive events (such as civil wars, conflicts, natural and health disasters, etc.)

∞ There should also be creative productive capacities to reduce over-dependency over not-for-profit investors in the long term

∞ Investments made should be in line with greenhouse gas emissions reduction programmes, goals and targets

∞ The transformation of consumption spending into production spending needs to be part of a long term plan.

Everything remaining equal if these conditions are respected, the model of reducing poverty in bulk could continue over time. 

 

 

The second or alternative hypothesis is that investing in the not-for-profit in Africa will not lead to mass poverty reduction in Africa.  There are many factors militating en favour of this position which include the following: the level of development of economies forming the African Continental Free Trade Area, the deep scars left by the coronavirus, the infancy or embryonic state of the African Continental Free Trade Area itself, etc.

In both tests, causality and attribution approach, quantitative and qualitative techniques and methods will be used.  For example, quantitative techniques and methods can be used to test if there is a correlation between mass poverty reduction in the post-pandemic era and investment in N4POs.  The same or similar techniques and methods can also be used to determine the relationships between investment in N4POs and their long-term economic development in the African Continental Free Trade Area. 

By economic development, we mean what C. Pass et al. (op. cit.) define as

“A process of economic transition involving the structural transformation of an economy through industrialisation and raising of gross domestic product and income per head” (p. 149)

For further details and or enquiries about this Research and Development activity, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

_________

Reference

(1) Pass, B. Lowes and L. Davies (1988), Dictionary of Economics, HarperCollins Publishers, Collins Reference, London & Glasgow

_________

 

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.

Donate to support CENFACS!

FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/

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 2021 and beyond.

With many thanks.