Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

10 March 2021

 

Post No. 186

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Build Forward Better Programme – Key Highlights

• Climate Action no. 2: REDUCE Pollution and COVID-19 Induced Climate Issues

• Halving Poverty for Children in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger

 

… And much more!

 

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Build Forward Better Programme – Key Highlights

 

As lockdowns are gradually eased and economies and societies are reopening, it is perhaps the time to start the work of rebuilding projects, services, activities and any other areas of operations that may have been affected by the coronavirus and its associated health and economic impacts. 

However, in our approach to rebuilding, we should not only build back better, we should as well have a long term perspective.  Therefore, building forward better should be the policy or programme we should pursue.   This policy or programme will be about engineering a post-COVID-19 recovery that is climate-smart, greener and cleaner for both our work in the UK and Africa.  In other words, we need to build forward better together with the communities in the UK and in Africa.  In this respect, Build Forward Better Programme will be about taking a low-carbon development and greener economic path as we transition to a post-coronavirus development world.

Under the Main Development section of this post, we have provided more information about this programme.  

 

 

• Climate Action no. 2: REDUCE Pollution and COVID-19 Induced Climate Issues (From Wednesday 10/03/2021)

 

Before dealing with the different climate actions that can help to reduce pollution, let us first illustrate the problem that COVID-19 may have brought in the area pollution and waste.  We are going to do it through the use of plastics.

 

• • Plastic Pollution and Waste as a result of COVID-19

 

To fight and control the coronavirus pandemic, companies and households have been producing products (goods and services).  Amongst these products, there are face coverings or masks, visors, gloves, hand sanitisers and other personal protective equipment.  This is let alone the vaccines to tackle different COVID-19 variants.

Some of these products are made with plastics; some of them are disposable ones.  These products are produced in million quantities across the globe.  This poses the problem of recycling and pollution, especially for plastics.  Not all countries around the world, especially in Africa, have enough capacity in terms of recycling facilities.  This raises as well the issue of dealing with climate change as all this waste is sent back to the nature and often in water (like streams, rivers, lakes, seas and oceans).  This further questions the health of water.

The production, distribution and consumption of COVID-19 products are happening despite the fact the coronavirus has caused a temporary decline in greenhouse gas emissions.  Indeed, during the COVID-19 lockdowns there has been reduction of air pollution with the closure of non-essential economic activities and of roads in some cities.  There have been less cars and traffic or travel, etc.  This has helped to temporarily lower greenhouse gas emissions.

It is known that reducing pollution and COVID-19 induced issues that can lead to climate-damaging emissions (linked to the lack of recycling of COVID-19 products) can help to improve the quality of air we breathe, reduce waste, and therefore can have less adverse impact on the climate.  To achieve this reduction, action needs to be taken like the following.

 

• • Climate Actions to Reduce Pollution induced by COVID-19 Waste

 

Coronavirus used items (like gloves, masks and hand sanitizers), if not collected and recycled, can cause pollution on land, in air and water.  To deal with the COVID-19 waste, particularly but not exclusively single-use plastic waste, climate actions need to be taken.  These actions could be of these kinds:

√ Resume recycling programmes that have been stopped because of COVID-19 outbreak

√ Reduce packaging waste from deliveries relating to lockdowns and related to online quarantine economy

√ Stop upsurge in polluting plastic activities

√ Prevent the environmental crisis caused by COVID-19 to become humanitarian one

√ Reduce the skyrocketing use of disposable plastic masks and gloves; instead use reusable and washable ones

√ Reduce COVID-19 waste from single-use personal protection equipment

√ Reopen shuttered recycling facilities and increase recycling curtailed by COVID-19

√ Reactivate or review laws or regulations on single-use plastic bags

√ Increase the share of renewables in the energy mix

Etc.

Climate action is about translating words into concrete action to reduce pollution (particularly plastic pollution) as a long term sustainable development goal.  By doing that one can shows the way forward.   These actions will bring co-benefits to the COVID-19 economic recovery and climate.

For any queries or enquiries about this second Climate Action, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Halving Poverty for Children in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger

ONLY TWO WEEKS TO GO…

For HALVING POVERTY FOR CHILDREN IN BURKINA FASO, MALI AND NIGER before stepping into Spring 2021

 

Our fundraising campaign about Halving Poverty in Africa’s Central Sahel will be closed in two weeks.  We are again appealing to those who can to donate or pledge or make a gift aid declaration for this deserving cause.  

We know this is an extremely difficult time for everybody including donors/funders.  However, in places like Africa’s Central Sahel where poverty was already acute, it is even harder to survive as a child without any help at this time of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Your support can make helpful difference to those children in need in Central Sahel of Africa at this challenging time of the coronavirus pandemic.

To support and or enquire about this Africa’s Central Sahel fundraising campaign, please contact CENFACS. 

To find out further details about this campaign, please go to: http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Climate Action Share: Reducing My Demands upon Nature

 

Climate actions undertaken can be shared.  To share them, we are working on what everybody can try to do in order to reduce their demands on the nature.  We are going to refer to Dr. Aaron Bernstein’s answers to a conversation on COVID-19.  Dr. Aaron Bernstein (1) argued the following:

“Less demand for animal meat and more sustainable animal husbandry could decrease emerging infectious disease risk and lower greenhouse gas emissions”   

From what Dr. A. Bernstein said, CENFACS is asking to those who can to share with us their feelings about their demands on the nature/environment.  If anyone of you could share with CENFACS the action they are taking to reduce their demands upon nature, this could be great.

To share your Climate Action about the reduction of your demands upon nature/environment, please contact CENFACS by using any of these means of communication:

text, phone, e-mail and complete the contact form on this website.

Thank you.

 

 

 

• Energy Substitution Effect

 

As part of work on energy for the poor and climate action, CENFACS is working on energy substitution effect of fossil fuels (e.g. coal, oil and natural gas) for cleaner and renewable energies (such as wind, wave and solar power) from a change in their relative prices for low income households. 

If anyone within the community is doing similar research work, it could be good to discuss together with CENFACS.

To discuss the energy substitution effect, please contact CENFACS.  

 

 

 

 

• The Interaction between Pollution, Poverty and Coronavirus

 

Since we are taking climate action to tackle pollution that COVID-19 products can lead (in terms of waste), we are as well looking at the link between this kind of pollution and poverty, especially in places where there is a lack of recycling capacity or facilities. 

Indeed; millions of gloves, face coverings and hand sanitisers have been used every day in every section of every society and every economy in the world.  One does not need to be an environmental conservationist to figure out where these gloves, face coverings and hand sanitisers will end up, especially for single-use ones.  

It is known that all these items have been used for human life-saving purpose and in the context of health and economic emergencies.  However, in places where recycling infrastructures and structures are not advanced (like in many parts of Africa), there is a good probability that these used items would be abandoned in the nature.  This could increase the level of pollution (on land, in air and water).  If one talks about air pollution for instance, the lack of recycling of these abandoned items can affect the quality of air that people breathe in those places.

So, there could be interaction between pollution, poverty and COVID-19.  In particular, when the non-recycled items used in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic get abandoned in the nature and become a source of pollution (land or air or water pollution).  For example, air pollution can harm lives (in terms of respiratory infection particularly in children) and interact with poverty.

Those who would like to further discuss the above briefly described interaction; they are welcome to contact CENFACS.   

       

 

Main Development

 

• Build Forward Better Programme – Key Highlights

 

The key highlights relating to Build Forward Better Programme in this post include the following three items: the meaning of this programme, the reason behind the setting up of this programme, the section of this programme that applies to CENFACS’ area of operation in Africa. 

 

• • What is Build-Forward-Better Programme?

 

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

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 crisis. 

BFBP takes stock of CENFACS’ version of Build Back Better Programme. 

 

• • What is Build Back Better Programme?

 

There are many versions of Build Back Better Programme around the world.  The CENFACS’ version of Build Back Better Programme considers the three elements of Build Back Better model which are: recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.  This version is from the disaster relief phases as defined at the United Nations General Assembly (2).  The latter argues that Build Back Better is

“the use of the recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction phases after a disaster to increase the resilience of nations and communities through integrating disaster risk reduction measures into the restoration of physical infrastructure and social systems, and into the revitalisation of livelihoods, economies and the environment”.    

Since the coronavirus pandemic is a shock and disaster, we can apply this definition to the communities here in the UK and in Africa in order to build back better.  We can build back better with the community in the UK and those in Africa.  An example of the application of the build-back-better programme is the one we could do with CENFACS’ Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs).

Build Back Better with the communities and ASOs will include the following:

√ Getting ASOs’ work back on track and their feet as economies rebound and lockdowns get eased

√ Triggering post-coronavirus funding, fundraising development and activities

√ Alignment with long-term emission reduction goals and targets (for example, with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions)

√ Improving access to post-coronavirus services and support

√ Building on creation and innovation to counteract future shocks and crisis

√ Continue to stay climate resilient and vigilant

√ Develop and/or improve entry to value chains in ASOs specific industry

Etc.

All the above key dimensions of Build Back Better Programme will be based on well-being, inclusiveness and safety against the coronavirus pandemic.

However, when we reset the phases of the COVID-19 Campaign last month, we said that we could start by Building Forward Together.  As we were still in a sinusoidal movement of the epidemiological curves of the coronavirus, it would be uncertain to know when these curves would flatten for a longer period.  Because of that and the fact the coronavirus was already established in people’s mind as a reality (that is why we spoke about the post-coronavirus economy), we could now think of building forward.

 

• • Why to Build Forward Better

 

We are campaigning to build forward together for the following reasons:

# Some of the services and activities will be built back to their original state or normal condition

# Others will not be restored to their original or near conditions

# Others more may even entirely disappear without any chance of being restored

# Others more will be transformed to cope with the new realities and post-coronavirus economy.

Because of these reasons, we have reset the COVID-19 Campaign and are now working to move or build forward together.  However, building forward better together will depend on the final result of the impact analysis of COVID-19 on CENFACS’ system of production of poverty reduction and sustainable development products. 

 

• • Build Forward Better with Africa-based Sister Organisations

 

Build-Forward-Better Programme, which will be run at the level of CENFACS and with Africa-based Sister Organisations, will enable to recover forward better and greener by aligning poverty reduction work with long-term emission reduction goals.   The programme will help both CENFACS and ASOs to try new ways of working, adapt and sustain emerging new working practices, develop postponed plans and activities and get the end-users of this programme out of their way to COVID-19 induced poverty and hardships.

In the context of this post, we are going to share with our followers, supporters and readers what Build Forward Better with ASOs will include; leaving Build Forward Better Programme within CENFACS for another occasion.

 

• • • Build Forward Better with Africa-based Sister Organisations

 

Build Forward Better with Africa-based Sister Organisations (BFBP with ASOs) is about working together with them so that they can navigate their ways to improve in those areas where COVID-19 has brought a new window of opportunities and lessons to be learnt. 

Those areas include the following: digitalisation (digital literacy and numeracy), remote work and access online services and goods.  These areas are part of CENFACS’ Digital and Social Media Campaign, particularly the level 4 of this campaign which is about Distance Working Technologies. 

Build Forward Better with Africa-based Sister Organisations implies the following:

√ Centre staging people in the process of recovery from the coronavirus

√ Reaping off the benefits provided by digital transformation such as remote work

√ Ring-fencing ASOs’ structures and infrastructures to become more resilient to future shocks and crisis

√ De-risking their poverty reduction instruments

√ Investing in internet-based economic and nature-based solutions

√ Strengthening resilience of ASOs and their users

√ Bringing together green and blue economies within ASOs

√ Using climate-smart approaches to tackle recovery problems

Etc.

It is hoped that all the above will help build forward better together greener and cleaner.

For further details about Build Forward Better Programme (including the different projects and activities making this programme, outcomes, indicators, benefits, budget, monitoring and evaluation), please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

______

 

References

(1) https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/c-change/subtopics/coronavirus-and-climate-change/ (accessed March 2021)

(2) United Nations General Assembly, 2016. Report of the Open-Ended Intergovernmental Expert Working Group on Indicators and Terminology Relating to Disaster Risk Reduction.  Seventy-First Session, Item 19(c). A/71/644

 

______

 

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!

03 March 2021

 

Post No. 185

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Climate Action Month

• Climate Protection and Stake for African Children – Rebooting Phase 3, with Glasgow Steps It Up as a Working Theme

• Climate-induced Poverty as Situational/Transitory Poverty

 

… And much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Climate Action Month: Stay on Track

 

For those who are familiar with CENFACS’ development calendar, they can remember that March is the Climate Action Month within CENFACS.  This year’s Climate Action Month will revolve around actions to curb COVID-19 adversity and its repercussions on the climate agenda.  Linking climate action and COVID-19 makes sense as many examples show that there are inter-linkages between the two.  For example, taking action to reduce air pollution caused by burning fossil fuels (like coal, oil and natural gas) can help to protect people from respiratory infection and diseases like the coronavirus pandemic. 

It is known that the coronavirus pandemic has taken more than one year since it broke out.  Since then, it has disrupted many lives, economies and societies.  It has diverted the directions of many poverty relief and development agendas.  Some of the events that contribute to climate action could not be held as planned last year while others were simply postponed.  Among the postponed events is the 26^th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties  (COP26) which was supposed to be held in November last year.  This Conference is the one CENFACS normally follow in order to call the international climate community to account about the need to protect children against the adversity of climate change.

To stay on track with our climate actions and stop COVID-19 to become a severe drain for work on climate change, we have planned direct and indirect climate actions (or climate working days).

For further details about this month’s climate actions or working days, please read under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• Climate Protection and Stake for African Children – Rebooting Phase 3, with Glasgow Steps It Up as a Working Theme

 

We are continuing to work on Climate Protection and Stake for African Children (CPSAC).  This is despite the postponement of COP26.  We are rebooting Phase 3, which is Taking Climate Protection and Stake for African Children at the Implementation Level (TCPSACI), phase that is part our project known as Climate Protection and Stake for African Children (CPSAC).

We shall follow the postponed 26^th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties to be held in Glasgow from 1 to 12 November 2021.  Our follow up will be through the working theme of Glasgow Steps It Up.

 

• • What do we mean by Glasgow Steps It Up?

 

Glasgow Steps It Up (GSIU) means that we will be following the climate change talks to be held in Glasgow next November, and we expect the Glasgow gathering to step up and respond to our climate demand.  GSIU is also the mantra or motto for this year’s climate talks follow up.

Glasgow Steps It Up to save the environment is another opportunity to advance on what was achieved in Madrid and at other previous climate gatherings and talks.

GSIU is also a further occasion to try to bridge the gaps within the climate community so that the stumbling points of COP25 can be resolved.  One can hope that the postponement of COP26 has given enough time for various parties to come to a good agreement.

Without anticipating anything about GSIU, let us hope that at these coming climate talks the parties will respond to our climate demand.

 

• • CENFACS’ demand, Children’s demand

 

Our demand is and remains the same: to give and implement climate protection and stake for African children; the African Children being a sample of our working climate advocacy model. 

This demand is undertaking through the follow up of global climate talks (through CENFACS’ Climate Talks Follow up project) like the incoming climate talks (COP26) to be held in Glasgow, Scotland.  The COVID-19 makes even the case for children protection from climate adversity a compelling and appealing one.

So, CENFACS will continue to inspire climate action.  This month, we are taking action to help, where we can, meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) while staying on track with our climate demand and stake for children. 

The Paris Agreement, which was adopted in 2015, is an essential step to address climate change.  As we all know, this Agreement has the central goal of keeping global average temperature rise this century to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to as close as possible to 1.5 degrees Celsius.  Supporting it makes sense.  However, this month’s interim report from the UNFCCC shows that many countries are not close to the level of ambition needed to limit climate change to 1.5 degrees and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Most of the actions that we shall take this month in relation to this demand will be about the key points contained in CENFACS’ Compendium of CENFACS’ Climate Advocacy.  The later is a summary of what CENFACS and its beneficiaries would like the climate community (like the one gathering on annual basis to talk about climate change, the COP) to achieve for children, particularly but not exclusively African children, in terms of outcomes.

To support and or enquire about CENFACS’ CPSAC, please contact CENFACS.  To find out more about CENFACS’ Compendium of CENFACS’ Climate Advocacy, please also contact CENFACS.  

 

 

• • Climate-induced Poverty as Situational/Transitory Poverty

 

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

Since situational/transitory poverty is one the seven goals of CENFACS’ 2020s Development Agenda and Poverty Reduction Programme, we are carrying on the work on this type of poverty.  This time, the focus on situational/transitory poverty will be on the one that is caused by climate change events.  Depending on the intensity and power of these events, they can seriously or less harm people.  

Let us take the following examples.  Last year in Congo, torrential rains that triggered flooding did cause population displacements, extensive crop, livestock losses and food insecurity.   For the same year, consecutive unfavourable rainy seasons led to severe food insecurity in Djibouti.  Likewise, floods and landslides brought severe food insecurity in Burundi.

As these examples and many more show, climate/situational events such as floods, landslides, torrential rains, drought, etc. can create or lead to situational/transitory poverty.  Where there is poverty or poverty appears because of such events, action needs to be taken to reduce and possibly end this type of poverty. 

For those who want to find out more and or work with us on climate induced poverty, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS. 

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Leafy Year and Climate Action Month

 

Our dedication of 2021 as a Leafy Year will be looked at during the Climate Action Month.  In this respect, one of the actions that one can take could be to try to do something to help in the reversal of climate change adversity in matters related to leaves.

Indeed, the science of leaves tells us climate change can precipitate autumn by making autumn leaves fall early than thought.  This early leaf-fall may lead to less carbon storage by forests as some climate biologists and forest ecologists may think. 

Although we are not yet in autumn this year, this does not stop anyone to take climate action to reduce pressure on the environment by making sure that trees continue to draw carbon dioxide from the air.  It is scientifically known that trees convert and store carbon by using sunlight to make nutrients from CO2 and water. 

The end of this month will take us to spring as leaves emerge and photosynthesis starts.  It has been noticed that spring has been coming earlier than it used to be in some parts of the world.  This early appearance of spring is also a message for the kind of climate action that is needed.  

In brief, autumn leaf die-off or senescence and spring leaves emerging earlier are the indication of a changing climate that can impact carbon storage.  The month of Climate Action in a Year of Leaves means that one can take action to reverse new patterns and trends so that trees and leaves can rediscover their seasonal course of cycle as they were naturally designed.

For any query or to support CENFACS’ Leafy Year and Climate Action Month, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• In depth Discussion and Research Pilot Projects

 

Our campaign for good health and well-being is now closed with the end of Sustainable Development Month.  However, our community projects relating to In-depth Discussion on Household Expenditure on Health and COVID-19 Community Pilot Study to How COVID-19 has Affected Family Spending Budget are still running. 

Those who would like to take part in either of these projects they are welcome to contact CENFACS before the official start of spring 2021.

To contact CENFACS regarding these projects, just phone or e-mail or text or complete the contact form on this site. 

 

 

 

• Climate Action Movements in Africa with a Focus on Youth Climate Activists and Initiatives

 

Our interest in climate actions carried out by Africans in Africa continues.  We are carrying on with our interest where we left it last year.  We are particularly attracted by work on how young Africans are shaping up the hearts and minds of people to influence the climate debate.  Climate Action Movements in Africa are this type of environmental activism at local level, at person-to-person, by actions–based organisations working on a voluntary basis. 

They are organisations of different sizes and shapes which can be classified in various forms.  The common denominator to them is that they are grassroots movements that are trying to push the climate agenda forward in Africa and the world from bottom to up in places where sometimes ordinary people are more preoccupied with their daily pressure to economically survive rather than worrying about the changing climate. 

At this extremely challenging time of the coronavirus pandemic adversity, there are still ambitious young Africans in Africa who are not given up the debate and fight on climate change.  They know climate change is a long-term issue while COVID-19 may sooner or later be resolved despite the colossal damage it has caused so far. 

Examples of such youth climate activists, youth initiatives and young environmentalist enthusiasts include the following: Youth for Future Africa, the Africa-based Rise Up Movement, African Climate Alliance, Green Generation Initiative, Green Treasures Farms, Fridays for Future, African Youth Climate Hub, etc.   

We are looking at their climate action contributions as well as their efforts in poverty reduction work in Africa.

To add your climate action and or to support our Climate Action Month and Working Days, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• Climate Action Month: Stay on Track

 

As introduced it above in the key messages section, Climate Action Month for this year will reflect the current condition of COVID-19.  This means that any climate action conducted will take into account the current context of COVID-19 and its subsequent repercussions.  In other words, our action will be on the relationships between COVID-19 and climate change.   As we work on poverty reduction, we shall as well include some elements of poverty reduction.  We also argued that there will be direct and indirect climate actions. 

 

• • Direct and Indirect Climate Actions

 

Before covering direct and indirect climate actions, let us explain what do we mean by climate actions.  Climate action is an activity of engaging and putting ideas into practice to deal with any natural or induced change in the long term average weather conditions of a place, especially when this change adversely affects people’s and communities’ lives and livelihoods.

Direct climate actions can directly lead to outcomes such as reductions of CO2 emissions, quality air, less pollution, etc.  One example of such climate actions is the prevention of deforestation.

As to indirect climate actions, they help to keep the advocacy and campaign about measures and activities to be carried out to reduce the adverse impacts of climate change going.  Examples of such climate actions will include the prevention of the next pandemic to happen. 

Without breaking climate actions into direct and indirect ones, the coming periods and sub-themes of climate action will guide readers about the kind of climate actions CENFACS is conducting this month.  These will help those who may be interested to join in.

 

• • Work Plan for Climate Action March 2021

 

The theme for Climate Action March 2021 is Stay on Track with Climate Action in the Era of COVID-19

 

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

 

# Actions no.1:  STOP jumps in greenhouse gas emissions during  and after the full reopening of economies and societies after lockdowns (03/03/2021 to 09/03/2021)

# Action no.2: REDUCE pollution and COVID-19 induced climate issues (10/03/2021 to 16/03/2021)

# Action no.3:  PREVENT financial de-prioritisation of climate change (17/03/2021 to 23/03/2021)

# Action no.4: END any inaction of climate change actions (24/03/2021 to 30/03/2021)

 

These actions will be conducted in the way that supports the work that our Africa-based Sister Organisations are carrying out in order to deal with the problems posed by the impacts of climate change while considering the health and economic effects of COVID-19.

 

 

• • From Wednesday 03/03/2021: Action to Stop Jumps in Greenhouse Gas Emissions during the Progressive/Full Reopening of Economies and in the Post-lockdown Era

 

• • • Economic Reopening and Action to Stop Rise and Jump in GHG Emissions

 

As economies and societies progressively fully reopened following the COVID-19 lockdowns, organisations and people will resume those parts of their activities and lives that were closed during lockdowns.  Both individual and collective production and consumption as well as the physical distribution of goods and services may increase.  Non-essential economic activities which were closed will tend to recover and catch up with the loss incurred during COVID-19 lockdowns.

With this resumption and the fully functioning of economies and societies, there could be a tendency to disproportionately emit greenhouse gases (GHG).  This is despite that many organisations and individuals suggest that COVID-19 recovery plans need to come with a window of opportunity to build back greener and cleaner.

Because of that, action needs to be taken to curb any potential rise or jump of GHG emissions beyond the acceptable level/limit in order to support the central climate goal, that is of keeping global average temperature rise this century to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to as close as possible to 1.5 degrees Celsius.  This action can be taken by everybody who cares about global warming and the global commons.  CENFACS and Africa-based Sister Organisations need as well to take climate action.

 

• • • CENFACS and Africa-based Sister Organisations Working Together in Helping to Stop GHG Emissions

 

It is known that this time is painful one since the health and economic repercussions of COVID-19 shock waves and subsequent lockdowns are still being felt within many communities here in the UK and elsewhere like in Africa.  Despite that we should work together to make sure that the brunt of COVID-19 lockdown should not be an excuse to give up progress made in reducing GHG emissions or to push us back to the resumption of disproportional GHG emissions. 

Our Africa-based Sister Organisations can continue to work with their locals to keep low GHG emissions while helping them in finding and accessing sustainable ways of meeting their needs (of for example cooking, heating, housing, travelling, etc.).   It is quite difficult to achieve this since those local people are still feeling the side effects of COVID-19 and lockdown. 

However, if one wants to make the world a better place, they need to do what is necessary in order to achieve it.  In their work, reducing or ending poverty is also integrative part of climate action as there is a link between climate change and poverty.  Climate induced poverty or situational/transitory poverty caused by climate change can explain why something needs to be done to reduce CO2 emissions.

 

• • • Ways of Stopping the Rise and Jump in GHG Emissions during the Full Economic Reopening

 

As explained above, it is possible to work with local people and communities to try to understand together the need to stop the rise and jump in GHG emissions.  To do that, it may require involving potential GHG emitters in our work and those who suffer from the consequences of GHG emissions.  It is also important to find out their conditions of life and explore together with them sustainable solutions to their problems.  This can lead to develop practical ways of dealing with the GHG emissions, ways which may include the following:

√ Doing afforestation (e.g. planting trees)

√ Stopping the burning of the fossil fuels for electricity, heat and transport

√ Using renewables

√ Adopting a climate-friendly diet

√ Involving and empowering those who can help deliver these practicalities (like women)

√ Using cleaner energy sources

√ Embracing the circular economic model (i.e. reduce, reuse and recycle)

√ Building back greener and cleaner from the coronavirus

√ Briefly, developing a roadmap with them on how they can refrain themselves to make a jump in GHG emissions as economies and societies keep reopening.

 

• • Interrelationships between Climate Action, Poverty Reduction and the Fight against Coronavirus Pandemic

 

Staying on track with our climate actions and stopping COVID-19 to become a severe drain for work on climate change means also acting to reduce poverty, especially situational/transitory poverty. 

This involves working with transitory poor to explore solutions to the kind of poverty they are facing as a result of such climate change events like foods, drought, cyclones, etc.  What one can try to do is to avoid that the solutions that transitory poor would like to use lead to GHG emissions. 

This implies working together with them to reduce both climate-induced poverty and any attempt to appeal to polluting means to resolve the hardships they are facing.  In this respect, there could be a relationship between climate action and poverty reduction, between action to stop rise and jump in GHG emissions on the one hand, and effort to reduce poverty generated by climate events on the other.

However, we may have a situation whereby transitory poor face COVID-19 poverty as well.  It means they could suffer from the double impact of climate change and COVID-19 shock.  This happened in some parts of Africa where people and communities were displaced because of torrential rains and floods while they were trying to cope with COVID-19 shock which has impoverished them.

This tells us that with the persistence of COVID-19 side effects, there is a possibility of interrelationships between the fight against COVID-19, poverty reduction and climate action.  How strong or weak these interrelationships could be?  This remains a matter of study.

To sum up, in order to stay on track with our climate actions and stop COVID-19 becomes a severe drain for work on climate change this means in this case that both COVID-19 induced poverty and climate-led poverty need to be tackled.

For those who may be interested in the above mentioned links and those who may be willing to further discuss this year’s climate actions, they can contact CENFACS.

 

Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going this year.

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

One could consider a recurring donation to CENFACS in the future.

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!

24 February 2021

 

Post No. 184

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Wealth and Wellbeing Transfer Project

• Access to Safe, Effective, Quality and Affordable Essential Medicines and Vaccines for All

• Making Zero Hunger Africa Campaign with a Focus on African Agriculturalists and Pastoralists

 

… And much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Wealth and Wellbeing Transfer Project

 

The Wealth and Wellbeing Transfer Project (WWTP) is the continuation of some of points raised and discussed in the 70^th Issue of FACS newsletter.  The 70^th Issue was on Generational Economics and Reduction of Intergenerational Poverty, specifically on how to avoid and reduce the transmission of poverty to future generations. 

WWTP is indeed a practical response in the form of project regarding the points raised in this Issue.  The project takes the generational agenda forward and further by leading the way in planning to work together with intergenerational poor families so that they can navigate their way to avoid the intergenerational poverty trap for their children and grandchildren. 

Under the Main Development section of this post, we have provided they key elements of this project. 

 

 

 

• In Focus for Week Beginning 22/02/2021 of the Month of Sustainable Development:

Access to Safe, Effective, Quality and Affordable Essential Medicines and Vaccines for All

 

This last week of February 2021, we are continuing to follow up, review, advance solutions and take actions to help achieve good health and wellbeing for all, particularly but not specifically for the poor.  We are doing it by re-examining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Target 3.8 relating to Access to Safe, Effective, Quality and Affordable Essential Medicines and Vaccines for All. 

This re-examination is at the COVID-19 time; a time of test for access to essential medicines and vaccines for all.  The coronavirus time is a testing moment for Access to Safe, Effective, Quality and Affordable Essential Medicines and Vaccines for All. 

For example, one can ask whether or not essential medicines and vaccines against COVID-19 are accessible for all, especially for the poor.  One thing is to argue that they are accessible for all; another thing is to make sure that accessibility to medicines and vaccines is materialised in their all aspects of safety, effectiveness, quality, affordability and essentialness. 

What these words mean: safety, effectiveness, quality, affordability and essentialness for medicines and vaccines.

 

• • Meaning of Access to Safe, Effective, Quality, Affordable and Essential Medicines and Vaccines

 

To accompany our readers, let us shortly explain the following terms.

# Access is “having medicines continuously available and affordable at public or private health facilities or medicine outlets that are within one hour’s walk from the homes of the population” (1)

# Safe is “free from danger or injury” (2)

# Effectiveness is “a measure of a drug’s beneficial effect on a disease or condition as demonstrated by substantial evidence from adequate and well-controlled studies and clinical trials” (3)

# Quality is “the suitability of either a drug substance or drug product for its intended use.  The term includes such attributes as the identity, strength and purity” (4)

# Affordable is “how easy or feasible an individual finds it to pay for a drug” (5)

# Essential medicines are “those that satisfy the priority health care needs of the population.  They are selected with due regard to public health relevance, evidence on efficacy and safety, and comparative cost-effectiveness.  Essential medicines are intended to be available within the context of functioning health systems at all times in adequate amounts, in the appropriate dosage forms, with assured quality and adequate information, and at a price the individual and the community can afford” (6)

The above definitions can really tell whether or not everybody has access to essential medicines and vaccines.  If not, what can be done to make it happen?  A typical example to check or test this is with COVID-19 medicines and vaccine pledges.

 

 

• • COVID-19 Vaccine Pledges

 

To respond to this test of access, poor countries including those of Africa are already appealing for help to get the supply of COVID-19 vaccines; just as they did secure the supply of personal protection equipment against the coronavirus from international development donors. 

There are encouraging signs that many wealthy nations have already made some pledges to supply poor ones with quantities of coronavirus vaccines.  Both the G7 and G20 leaders have made pledges to donate quantities of coronavirus vaccines to the world’s poorer countries (including those of Africa).  One can hope these pledges will materialise so that no one is left behind and vaccine inequality does not happen. 

However, in relation to these promises and on the fringe of supplies of medicines and vaccines, Access to Safe, Effective, Quality and Affordable Essential Medicines and Vaccines for All needs to be guaranteed at any time whether during the coronavirus crisis or after.  This access has always been challenging for the poor.

 

• • Meeting Access to Safe, Effective, Quality and Affordable Essential Medicines and Vaccines for the Poor

 

There are many players who are trying to help the poor meet the above access.  In the context of these notes, we are going to focus on what our colleges in Africa, particularly Africa-based Sister Organisations, are doing and can do in order to help those in need to meet this access. 

To do that, let us recall what we argued at the beginning of 2021.  We argued that there were challenges and opportunities for Africa-based Sister Organisations in 2021.  We also pointed out that 2021 could be a year of uncovered opportunities for Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs); opportunities from the challenges they face from the coronavirus pandemic, financial uncertainty, economic impact of lockdowns and global economic downturn.

Amid of the challenges they face in 2021, ASOs can still have a window of opportunities and play a significant role in the spheres of poverty reduction and sustainable development.  There are opportunities or market niches they need to seize.  Health and wellbeing of the poor people are one of them.  They can stand out for poverty reduction and sustainable development in the areas of essential medicines and vaccines by undertaking the following:

√ Intervene in any efforts to reduce or end the disruption of supply chains (of for example medicines) as the legacies of COVID-19 and related lockdowns

√ Campaign for an increase or upgrade of logistics and infrastructures for coronavirus vaccines

√ Help in some of the tasks relating to the administration and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines

√ Conduct sensitization campaigns about the COVID-19 vaccines

Etc.

The above are just the few opportunities that ASOs can seize in order to continue to work with local people to reduce poverty, especially health and economic hardships that have been brought by the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.  This hardship is also found in the area of Access to Safe, Effective, Quality and Affordable Essential Medicines and Vaccines for the Poor.

So, making sure that any essential medicines and vaccines reach everybody, especially the poor, will be the evidence that these medicines and vaccines are for all, not for the few or those who can only afford them.

The above health and wellbeing notes conclude our re-examination the Goal Target 3.8, but not our work on sustainable development. 

For any queries and or enquiries about these notes and the Month of Sustainable Development, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Making Zero Hunger Africa Campaign with a Focus on African Agriculturalists and Pastoralists

Before looking at what is in focus, let us remind our readers the aim of Making Zero Hunger Africa Campaign.

 

• • Aim of Making Zero Hunger Africa Campaign

 

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

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

 

This year, we are focussing on African agriculturalists and pastoralists to unite and contribute to these contents to make zero hunger Africa a reality, but not to be a matter of inter-community fight.

 

 

• • Focus on African Agriculturalists and Pastoralists

 

This year’s Making Zero Hunger Africa Campaign (MZHAC) will focus on how African agriculturalists and pastoralists who are working or can work together to make zero hunger Africa happen.  The focus is about exploring the positive of both (agriculturalists and pastoralists) and the inter-linkages between the two in the process of ending hunger in Africa.  It is an appeal to African agriculturalists and pastoralists to unite and work together. 

For example, one can help promote sustainable peace between the agriculturalist Lendu and pastoralist Hema ethnic groups in Ituri region of the north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.  Likewise, one can help quell fighting between semi-nomadic herders and sedentary farmers in south-eastern Chad since Africa needs both cattle and crops. 

The current focus or approach is about them two (farmers/hunters and pastoralists) working together to make the dream of zero hunger Africa to become a reality.  They can develop joint ventures instead of fighting between them.

Traditionally, agriculture and pastoralism have always been linked.  This is why one can speak about agro-pastoralist economic activity (that is the integration of crop production and livestock production).  In this era of the coronavirus pandemic, Africa needs both agriculturalists and pastoralists to end food insecurity and hunger that may be caused or exacerbated by the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 and subsequent lockdowns.  

So, the message of the MZHAC for this year is about agriculturalists and pastoralists working together in order to eliminate hunger in Africa during and in the post-coronavirus era.

To support and or enquire about MZHAC, contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• EcoBio Days: 24 to 28 February 2021

 

EcoBio (Ecological and biological) Days which will be held from 24 to 28 February 2021 bring to a climax our Sustainable Development month. 

What EcoBio Days are about?

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

• Resetting the Phases of the COVID-19 Campaign by Building Forward Together

 

Initially, we thought that the coronavirus pandemic will not last longer than as it is now.  Since there is uncertainty about its duration, the current response phase of the COVID-19 crisis may not be adequate.  In order to move forward together, there is a need to reset these phases. 

The early phases of CENFACS’ Campaign for Resilience and against the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19 Campaign) were as follows:

Phase 1: Initial response to COVID-19

Phase 2: Impact monitoring and evaluation of COVID-19 on CENFACS

Phase 3: Post-coronavirus rehabilitation strategies   

The first initial response to COVID-19 and the impact monitoring and evaluation of COVID-19 on CENFACS were fairly conducted without any problems. 

As to the phase 3 (that is Post-coronavirus rehabilitation strategies), we started to build back our services and activities under the Build Back Better Campaign.  However, since we are still in a sinusoidal movement of the epidemiological curves of the coronavirus, it is uncertain to know when these curves will flatten for a longer period.  Because of that and due to the fact that the coronavirus is already established in people’s mind as a reality (that is why we spoke about the post-coronavirus economy), we can now to think to build forward.

We are campaigning to build forward together for the following reasons:

~ Some of the services and activities will be built back to their original state or normal condition

~ Others will not be restored to their original or near conditions

~ Others more may even disappear without any chance of being restored

~ Others more will be transformed to cope with the new reality and post-coronavirus economy.

Because of these reasons, there could be a need to reset the COVID-19 Campaign, move or build forward together.  However, building forward together will depend on the final result of our impact analysis of COVID-19 on CENFACS’ system of poverty reduction and sustainable development. 

For further details about Moving or Building Forward Together Campaign, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.  

 

 

• Triple Value Initiatives: Questions and Answers for Starters

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

• • How can I participate?

 

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

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

 

• • When can I enter these projects?

 

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

 

• • Why should I run these projects?

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

• • Where can I run them?

 

It depends on each of the projects.  For run activity, you can do it outdoor and or indoor.  As to gaming activity, you can play online or offline.  Concerning vote activity, you obviously need to conduct some background research which you can do at home, in the library, online or travel abroad for those who can.  You can as well do fieldwork.  It really depends on your ambition and what you want to achieve as outcomes.

So, the above are the possible questions and related answers for those who would like to know more about Triple Value Initiatives (All-year Round Projects).  For those who have still questions to ask, they can address them to CENFACS.

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• Wealth and Wellbeing Transfer Project

 

The following are the key highlights of the Wealth and Wellbeing Transfer Project (WWTP).

 

• • What is WWTP?

 

WWTP is a project of intergenerational poverty reduction that consists of working together with poor families in the community in order to identify the barriers to wealth creation while setting up strategies and building skills that will empower them to develop wealth transfer policy and practice.

Through this project, users will learn techniques and skills on how to save income, build inheritance and resources transfer so that their future generations do not inherit poverty and hardships.

Although many quantitative studies show that there is no systematic evidence of a causal correlation between receipt of intergenerational financial transfer (i.e. parent cash transfers) on the one hand and health and wellbeing outcomes on the other, it is hoped that WWTP will provide some positive effects in terms of wellbeing for intergenerational transfer beneficiaries.

 

• • Project Components/Activities

 

WWTP is indeed about how to build generational wealth and wellbeing which involves the following:

√ Investment in children’s human capital

√ Income saving skills and techniques to save for future generations

√ Creation of an income earning capacity to pass down to children

√ Financial literacy and numeracy skills

√ Capacity building in handling resources and assets

√ Digital and online technologies applying to money/wealth transfers

√ Income-generating leads

√ Resources transfer know how

√ Capability development in inheritance matters

√ Basic financial management skills

Etc.

 

• • Project outcomes

 

One of the problems with poor families is that many of them do not see the benefit of valuating their assets and liabilities.  Yet, doing some basic valuation of their wealth and their conditions of poverty can help to measure the gap to bridge in order to start the work of  building skills that will empower them to develop wealth transfer policy and practice.

From the perspective of this empowerment and as a result of the implementation of this project, one can anticipate the following changes and effects may happen:

√ Project beneficiaries will develop skills to save income and resources

√ They will become entrepreneurial and risk-informed takers in saving matters

√ There will be development and use of inheritance policy

√ They will be keen in asking valuation of their family wealth and wellbeing

√ Some of them may be willing to write a will or seek for will writing advice/support

√ There will be an improvement in children’s human capital, financial and numeracy skills, family assets management, family reserves building, a fair share of resources between current consumption and future generations’ needs, etc.

 

• • Project Indicators

 

The following intergenerational wealth and wellbeing transfer indicators will help to achieve the above desired outcomes:

√ The number of project users who will consider taking life insurance policy and will writing service as a result of this project

√ The number of children per family compared to resources and assets that family has will give some indication on the ability of that family to save

√ The percentage of children of a particular family with high/low/medium happiness (or life satisfaction) scores

√ The number of parent project users who will improve their learning ability in terms of transferring their wealth to their children

√ The rate of family resources allocation between current consumption and saving/investment in children’s human capital

√ The rate of accumulated wealth for a given family

√ The percentage of reduction of resources waste for a particular family

Etc.

 

• • Project Beneficiaries

 

Generally, the beneficiaries of this project will be low income poor families in the community. 

Specifically, the project will benefit local people/families who are mostly out of touch of anything relating to intergenerational financial and wealth transfer to future generations because of their conditions of poverty.

 

• • 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.

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

 

• • Impact monitoring and evaluation

 

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

Likewise, we shall assess what the project will achieve in relation to the overall objectives it was set up.  This is to say that evaluation will be conducted regarding the efforts spent on this project to find out whether or not these efforts are value for relief from the lack of intergenerational wealth transfer policy and practice.

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 and lockdown is a difficult one.  The health and economic crisis instigated by the coronavirus pandemic has perhaps negatively impacted intergenerational wealth transfer.  However, for those who may be interested in this project, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

________

 

References

(1) United Nations Development Group, Indicators for Monitoring the Millennium Development Goals (United Nations, New York, 2003)

(2) https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/safe (accessed February 2021)

(3) https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/effectiveness (accessed February 2021)

(4) https://accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=513&sectionid=41488034 (accessed February 2021)

(5) https://www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/books/NBK493099 (accessed February 2021)

(6) https://www.who.int/topics/essential_medicines/en (accessed February 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!

17 February 2021

 

Post No. 183

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Ituri Peace Appeal

• Access to Quality Essential Healthcare Services for the Poor

• Poverty Reduction Goals Project, Goal No.7: Reduction of Situational / Transitory Poverty

 

… and much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

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

to Support the Victims of Insecurity and Displaced Persons

 

This is an appeal to save lives (of women, men and children), to stop the creation of favourable conditions for the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and to restore destroyed essential infrastructures (e.g. health centre, homes, fields, livestock, etc.) in the Ituri region of the north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.  

This February 2021 appeal is part of CENFACS’ Light Appeals or Projects.  Any positive response to this appeal will help to stop further poverty and hardships as well as the reversal of the current situation to a major humanitarian catastrophe in the same region.

We know that the coronavirus pandemic has reduced the capacity of many supporters of humanitarian causes to act.  However, since most of them are equipped with distance working technologies and means of support, one can use them in order to remotely save lives in places where people are in extreme and urgent needs but do not have any means to survive the impact of violence posed upon them.  Inaction to help can only make the matter worse for them.  There are many ways in which one can help to change the situation on the grounds as explained below.   

For further information about the Peace Appeal for Ituri region of the north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, please read under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• In focus for week beginning 15/02/2021 of the month of sustainable development is:

Access to Quality Essential Healthcare Services for the Poor

 

Our study on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 and Target 8 of this goal is focussing on the Access to Quality Essential Healthcare Services for this week.  The attention about this access will be paid on the poor since our work is on poverty reduction.

One of the problems with access to healthcare services is that those who have the means can access quality essential healthcare services, whereas those who are poor often do not have the same access, especially in developing countries (like of Africa).  This is particularly true in places where there is no equal access to health services or there is a lack of universal health coverage.  This is despite the fact that the access to coronavirus healthcare has put everybody on the same playing field, particularly in Africa.

Before continuing further, let us first try to make the reader understand our perception of healthcare since it is one of the key words in access to quality essential healthcare services for the poor.

 

• • Understanding healthcare

 

There are many ways of perceiving healthcare.  However, for the purpose of this second key message we are going to use Craig M. Wax’s (1) definition which is:

“Healthcare is not a thing at all to be given, bought or sold, but an entire ecosystem with many unique moving parts that are only connected by virtue of the existence of the patients.  Each patient having individual needs, will have a landscape that suits the needs of their own health, and one that will change with time.”

From this definition, one can argue the following.  Like everybody, poor people too have their individual health needs that can be linked to their situation on being on poverty or multi-dimensional poverty which can impact on multiple aspects of their life or health.  This consideration leads us the approach we are using in dealing with access to quality essential healthcare services.

 

• • Approaching healthcare from the lens of poverty relief and sustainable development

 

Without going to a variety of approaches used in healthcare, let us simply explain that healthcare here will be approached from the perspective of poverty reduction and sustainable development rather than from the point of view of other theories or ideologies.  For example, there are approaches that see healthcare as a free market product that follows the free market competition. 

Poor people have their own health problems and often they are unable to pay for health services unless they get some help.  That is why enabling equal access to quality healthcare services to them is important.  This equal access is better achieved when healthcare is considered as an ecosystem in its entirety.  Where there is equal access will normally include quality as well.

So, the central idea of this second key message is that effort must be deployed so that those who cannot afford to pay for quality essential health services to be empowered but not to be denied access because of their financial incapability to pay for quality health services.     

As part of this week’s study of Access to Quality Essential Healthcare Services, we will be conducting some research work on CENFACS’ Community Experience on Access to Quality Essential Health Services.

For those who have something to comment on this week’s topic for the sustainable development month, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Poverty Reduction Goals Project, Goal No.7: Reduction of Situational / Transitory Poverty

 

The work on the Reduction of Situational Poverty is part of CENFACS 2020s Development Programme and Poverty Reduction Goals.  In this work, we are approaching the goal 7 (which is Reduction of Situational or Transitory Poverty) of this project from two dimensions or areas (UK and Africa).   In other words, to reflect our areas of work (UK and Africa), situational poverty will be treated with reference to both our work in the UK and in Africa. 

To facilitate the implementation of this goal, let us answer the following questions: what is situational poverty, what causes it and how to get rid of it?

 

• • Understanding situational/transitory poverty

 

To understand situational poverty, we have selected the following simple definition from Richmondvale.org (2) which defines it as

“a period wherein an individual falls below the poverty line because of a sudden event”.

Which event can make people to fall below the poverty line?

 

• • Causes of situational / transitory poverty

 

Events that can trigger situational poverty include the following:

 

# Conflicts and prolonged civil insecurity

# Land disputes

# Inequality

# Climate change (e.g. drought), environmental disasters like earthquakes

# Lack of adequate access to clean and safe drinking water, sanitation, hygiene and food

# Lack of reserves to live

# Health crisis like the coronavirus pandemic

Etc.

The above events may be incontrollable and sometimes unpredictable for those suffering from them.  Some of these events can be cyclical, just as situational poverty can be. 

Whether it is about the community living in the UK or project users from our Africa-based Sister Organisations, any of them can be subject to a particular event that may lead to situational or transitory poverty or they can become transitory poor.  When this happens, then a solution needs to be found to edge this type of poverty out.

 

• • Reducing and ending situational / transitory poverty

 

To navigate way out situational or transitory poverty, its root causes must be addressed.

For example, if ethnic conflicts caused human displacement and situational poverty, then the conflicting sides need to negotiate to tackle the root causes that led to this type of poverty amongst their peoples.  The outside world can provide transitory humanitarian relief to save lives, but the ultimate goal should be to negotiate and reach a peace agreement between the two sides of disagreement.  Additionally, this peace deal needs to be implemented and monitored so that there should not be a repeat of violence.

What’s more, a no-size-fits-all view should be considered as a solution to each event depends on the circumstances and the people who have been affected.  For example, transitory poor from the coronavirus outbreak may be of different types like informal workers who lost their jobs, those who do not have access to clean water and sanitation, those who are suffering from the asymmetrical distribution of the effects of lockdown event, etc.

In a structurally egalitarian society, people can experience transitory poverty for a short period.  However, in uneven or developing societies (like of Africa); situational poverty can take longer to heal to the extent that if not dealt with properly it can become a generational one.

For those of the members of the CENFACS Community who may be subject to situational poverty or threatened by it, they can discuss the matter with CENFACS. 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Circular Economic Solutions to Poverty in the Month of Sustainable Development

 

The month of Sustainable Development is also of an opportunity to find circular economic solutions to poverty and hardships.  Those of our community members who are looking for circular economic solutions to poverty, they can work together with CENFACS in order to find solutions or get the leads to them. 

We can together co-create solutions that will shape pathways and drive action for sustainable solutions to the issue of poverty that some of you are experiencing.  Working together on this matter will help to deliver positive change for your current needs and those of the generations to come. 

Need to find circular economic solutions to poverty, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.  You can contact CENFACS by phoning, texting, e-mailing and completing the contact form on this website.

 

 

 

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

 

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

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

 

 

 

 

• Advice-giving Service: Coping and Overcoming Situational Poverty

 

You can get the grips with some of the recipes on how to navigate your way out of situational or transitory poverty.

The coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns have caused a lot of pains to many to the extent that some people are now experiencing situational or transitory poverty.  If you are one of those suffering from transitory poverty, we can advise you on how to cope with this type of poverty and possibly work together so that you could navigate your way out of it.  We can as well signpost you to relevant and or customised services where our capacity to deal with your problem is limited.

Need advice on dealing with situational poverty; please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Main Development

 

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

 

This is an appeal to support innocent peoples (that is, women, men and children) who are suffering from a deadly conflict between the agriculturalist Lendu and pastoralist Hema ethnic groups in the Ituri region of the north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

 

• • What is happening in Ituri

 

As a result of the resurfaced ethnic conflict and land disputes in Ituri, there has been high level of civil insecurity with repeated attacks.  Villages were burnt; women, men and children have been raped and maimed.  Homes, fields, livestock and other infrastructures have been destroyed as well as human rights have been violated as the crisis goes on. As a result, many people have been displaced.  Many of them are homeless and seeking for refuges in neighbouring villages, towns and countries.

 

• • Situational poverty data that speak for the peoples of Ituri

 

According to local sources and organisations,

Around 647 have been killed in Ituri villages

More than 1.4 million people have been displaced

160 schools were damaged and around 80,000 children are out of school. 

All this has happened without undermining the high risk of contamination of COVID-19 and other diseases amongst the displaced people living in makeshift tents.

 

• • CENFACS’ role in making this appeal

 

In response to the current humanitarian situation in Ituri, CENFACS is appealing for action to save lives in Ituri.  Our appeal is not to interfere in people and communities’ ways and rights of running their places, affairs, countries or regions.

Our role is purely humanitarian one especially where lives have been already taken and a considerable number of people have been displaced.  There is a growing number of risks (such as poor health, sanitation, further violation of human rights, humanitarian crisis, etc.) if this situation goes on. 

 

• •  What CENFACS wants you to do: Provide a Peace-Giving Gift 

 

CENFACS wants you to create a magic by providing Peace-Giving Gift to the victims of this insecurity without giving money.  How?

We are appealing to you to try to do something about what is happening in the Ituri region of the north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, so that the poor civilians can enjoy sustainable peace and internally displaced people can safely return to their homes and lands.

We often argue that there are always some little things one can do to create a BIG change or simply to try to change a very complex situation on the grounds without sometimes giving money, although there is a say that Money is King.  These little things include the following:

√ Talking to someone who has influence on what is happening on the ground can change life

√ Networking, campaigning, responding to a petition, and so on can make a significant impact

√ A phone/video call or a mobile phone text message or even a tweet or a video record can save millions of lives  

√ Raising your voice about the crisis in the Ituri region of the north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo at a peace talks or rallies

√ Having online chat about possible ways out about this crisis

√ Spreading the news in your social networks and contacts about the issue

√ Having some thoughts about what is happening in Ituri region of the north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and on practical ways of helping, as part of coronavirus lockdown activity

Etc.

These kinds of simple things that one can do matter a lot for those whose life is at risk.  It is not surprising if Professor Wangari Maathai said that

“It is the little things citizens do.  That is what will make the difference.  My little thing is planting trees”. (Professor Wangari Maathai, Environmental Activist and Nobel Peace Prize Winner) 

CENFACS hopes you will act upon this February 2021 humanitarian appeal and create the magic of Peace-Giving Gift without giving money so that the sufferers in Ituri region of the north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo can navigate their way to sustainable and inclusive peace. 

 

• • Who will benefit from this appeal?

 

The following victims of this deadly ethnic conflict will directly benefit:

 

√ Displaced persons (women, men and children)

√ Those critically lacking adequate shelter and refuge

√ Those living in makeshift tents

√ Unaccompanied women and children

√ Those in a greater risk of harassment and assault of exploitation

√ Those at risk of disease transmission (like the coronavirus) amongst displaced families

√ Those without or with very limited access to hygiene and sanitation facilities

√ Those lacking access to clean and safe drinking water and food

√ Those who lost all their belongings and their love ones in this conflict

Etc. 

There will be as well some indirect benefit as destroyed essential infrastructures and structures (like homes, fields, livestock, schools, medical centres, etc.) need to be rebuilt. 

 

• • Outcomes from your positive responses to this appeal

 

Let us hope that the following will be achieved from your positive responses:

 

√ Bringing the conflicting sides to return to the negotiating table

√ Restoration of normality and regularity

√ Reducing of the risk of spread of the epidemics like the coronavirus pandemic

√ Organisation of the return of displaced persons to their land

√ Settlement or workable solutions to the land disputes for invested parties

√ Rebuilding destroyed infrastructures and structures

√ Stopping any further violation of human rights

√ Above all, sustainable peace building process for all in the region of Ituri

 

• • Contacting CENFACS about this Appeal

 

You can contact CENFACS to discuss or talk about this appeal at http://cenfacs.org.uk/contact-us/

Thank you for considering delivering on this appeal.

______

References

(1) Craig M. Wax (2019), What is healthcare at https://www.medicaleconomics.com/view/what-healtcare (accessed February 2021)

(2) https://richmondvale.org/en/blog/situational-poverty-definition-and-types (accessed February 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!

10 February 2021

 

Post No. 182

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Making Financial Risk Protection in Health Work for the Poor in the Era of COVID-19 and Lockdowns

• Pushed into Extreme Poverty by Out-of-pocket Health Spending: Share Your Experience

• Triple-value-initiative Start up

 

… and much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• In focus for week beginning 08/02/2021 of the month of sustainable development is:

Making Financial Risk Protection in Health Work for the Poor in the Era of COVID-19 and Lockdowns

 

Our work on the constituents of Target 8 of Goal 3 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals continues with Financial Risk Protection in Health (FRPH).  We are looking at how to make financial risk protection in health work for the poor in the era of COVID-19 lockdowns.   To make financial risk protection in health work for the poor, health protection needs to be built on some features like the following: needs-based solutions, valuable reliable universal health coverage, affordable, accessible by all, sustainable and able to lead to a good health and well-being.

Yet, in developing countries (like those of Africa) many peoples do not have health insurance cover.  This lack of health insurance cover is coupled by the lack of universal health cover (UHC) like the UHC that exists in many industrial developed countries.  Often, poor people are forced to pay from their own pockets for their health costs while making national insurance contribution which they do not often see the benefit.

In face of this situation, there are players in the market which try to do something to support those who are deprived from financial risk protection in health.  Amongst these players are Africa-based Sister Organisations specialised in health matter which are trying to work with their users to make FRPH work for them.  Their work is about how to reduce and possibly end poverty linked to the lack of health insurance cover or financial risk protection in health. 

Under the Main Development section of this post, you will find more details about this first key message.     

 

 

 

 

• Pushed into Extreme Poverty by Out-of-pocket Health Spending: Share Your Experience

 

As part of the work on financial risk protection in health, we would like to know if anyone of our community members has been pushed into extreme poverty because of out-of-pocket COVID-19-induced health spending.  It is known that the way in which out-of-pocket money is spending on health can impact on poverty for low income people or households.  In relation to that, the World Health Organisation (1) argues the following:

“Out-of-pocket health spending can force people to choose between spending on health and spending on other necessities” (p. 3)

“Out-of-pocket health spending can also push people into poverty” (p. 4)

“Out-of-pocket health spending is also a major driver of economic disadvantage compared with other factors” (p. 4)

Following these arguments, we are looking into the fact whether or not the coronavirus pandemic has similar effects for those in need who are spending their out-of-pocket money to meet the COVID-19 health bill. 

Indeed, the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have pushed many people and families to the edge of or into extreme poverty.  They have added health and personal hygiene costs (such as the costs of buying personal protective equipment, sanitation and disinfection products as well as those of cleaning) to their normal expenses budget.  In doing so, these events have perhaps created new poor and or are holding the existing poor still poor.

If you have been pushed into extreme poverty by out-of-pocket COVID-19 induced health spending, we would like to hear your experience.  To share your experience, just contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Triple-value-initiative Start-up/Planning

 

In order to support those who have decided or may decide to engage with All-year Round Projects or Triple Value Initiatives, we are running start up sessions for each of them (i.e. Run, Play and Vote projects).  We are going to deal with different phases of project planning or start up from the idea (of running or playing or voting) to the initiative implementation, monitoring and evaluation. 

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

Aims (changes you plan to achieve), impact (a longer-term effects of your project), inputs (resources you put into your initiative), monitoring (regularly and systematically collecting and recording information), outcomes (changes and effects that may happen from your initiative), indicators (measures that show you have achieved your planned outcomes), budget (income and expenses for your initiative), etc.

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

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

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Zero Income Deficit Campaign

In Focus: Uncut or Irreducible Expenses – How to deal with them

 

When one is poor, almost all their expenses are basic or life-saving.  It is difficult to cut them in order to maintain a zero income deficit policy.  How then can they not cut expenses in order to not create an income deficit that can lead to poverty and its transmission to future generations?    It is dilemma.     

The dilemma is that cutting them you create poverty.  Not cutting them you need to find resources to refinance them.  But, how do you solve this dilemma?

So, this week we are working with income deficit families and others on how to re-purpose their expenses or spending budget so that they are able to address the uncut or irreducible expenses in order to nullify or sensibly reduce income deficit.

Need to cut or manage your income deficit in your household accounts, you can contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

 

• Essential Consumption and Sustainable Development Month

 

Our wintry resource on Consume to Reduce Poverty (with a focus on Essential Consumption for this year) is still relevant in the month of sustainable development.  To highlight this relevancy, we are extending the tips and hints provided in this resource to explore ways of improving our consumption habits to support the month of sustainable development. 

As we are in a situation of the closure of non-essential economic activities, we can seize this opportunity to check if people’s essential consumption habits during the lockdown have improved their contribution to sustainable development.  In other words, it is about finding out how essential consumption is positively impacting sustainable development.     

For those who have anything to argue about the impact of essential consumption on sustainable development during this period of closure of non-essential economic activities, they can let CENFACS know their arguments.

 

 

 

• The CENFACS Community, Financial Risk Protection in Health and COVID-19 Expenses Coverage

 

The theme of financial risk protection in health (FRPH) gives us the opportunity to discuss with the CENFACS Community its understanding and level of tackling this issue.  This is regardless of the fact that one benefits from universal health coverage or not. 

We are putting the issue of FRPH in the context of COVID-19 crisis.  We are trying to examine how the community is financially meeting the daily costs to protect itself against the COVID-19. 

For example, one may try to find out whether the community is using its out-of-pocket money to cover these expenses or they have some sort of risk protection plans to cover from additional expenses generated by the pandemic.   Alternatively, they may or not be getting support to cover the extra health costs brought by the coronavirus pandemic.   

Briefly, this is a basic research or small pilot study on how the CENFACS Community is getting on in meeting the additional health costs induced by the coronavirus pandemic.

For those who would like to support this basic community research, they can feed us with information on COVID-19 induced spending coverage.

 

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• Making Financial Risk Protection in Health Work for the Poor in the Era of COVID-19 and Lockdowns

 

The following items will help to understand how to make financial risk protection in health work for the poor in the era of COVID-19 and lockdowns:

(a) Understanding financial risk protection in health

(b) Poorer households and their health accounts and budgets

(c) Household expenditure on health as a share of household total consumption/income for poor families

(d) The impact of COVID-19 on health spending budget for poor families without financial risk protection in health

(e) Africa-based Sister Organisations and their work to help locals’ needs in financial risk protection in health

(f) Actions on health finance and insurance

(g) African Diaspora money remitters and their contribution to health insurance cover in Africa

(h) Impact monitoring of financial risk protection in health of the poor at the time of COVID-19 and lockdowns

Let us look at one by one these selected items.

 

(a) Understanding financial risk protection in health

 

Our understanding of financial risk protection or the absence of a risk of financial hardship as far as health is concerned will be based on the sustainable development goal 3 and target 8 of it.  This will include the context of universal heath cover.  To simplify, we are using the definition of financial risk protection as given by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

From the WHO website (op. cit.), one can read the following:

“Financial protection is at the core of universal health coverage (UHC) and one of the final coverage goals.  Health financing policy directly affects financial protection.  Financial protection is achieved when direct payments made to obtain health services do not expose people to financial hardship and do not threaten living standards”.

“Out-of-pocket payments for health can cause households to incur catastrophic expenditures, which in turn can push them into poverty.  Key to protecting people is to ensure prepayment and pooling of resources for health, rather than relying on people paying for health services out-of-pocket at the time of use”.

After reading the perception of UHC by WHO, one may notice that it is possible for poor people to be exposed to financial hardships and their living standards be threatened in places where there is no or partial healthcare insurance cover.  In time of the COVID-19 crisis, it is even more complicated for those who have never had any health insurance policy to have any basic financial help for health protection if they do not get bailed out by the public authorities.  In this respect, the WHO definition also helps in understanding the role and place of a UHC system based on a sound and practical policy of prepayment and pool of resources.     

 

 (b) Poorer households and their health accounts and budgets

 

One of the problems with health spending is that poorer households cannot afford to pay for their own health insurance (both public and private).  Yet, in many low income countries (like those of Africa), they have to spend out-of-pocket money to do so even if they have not got any money to spend.  This could mean money should come from somewhere else, which could be an extended family, loan, charitable source, etc.  This problem raises the debate over universal health coverage which is one of the health targets for the United Nations sustainable development goal 3 related to good health and healthy well-being.

In time of the health crisis like the coronavirus pandemic crisis, this controversy about financial risk protection relating to health is even bigger.  Like everybody, poorer households have experienced an increase in the amount of items and products they need to access in order to protect themselves and the public against the strains of coronavirus.  This increase has affected their health accounts and budgets as they have (like anybody else) to purchase products to protect against COVID-19.   

If anyone is concerned by what we have just described or have any interest, they can discuss the matter with CENFACS.

 

(c) Household expenditure on health as a share of household total consumption/income for poor families

 

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 and Target 8 use two indicators which are: coverage of essential health services (3.8.1) and proportion of population with large household expenditures on health as a share of total household expenditure or income (3.8.2).  The first indicator measures coverage of selected essential health services on a scale of 0 to 100 while the second one helps to track progress towards universal health coverage.

In its World Health Statistics 2020, the World Health Organisation (2) published the following indicators for these African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Cote d’Ivore and the Democratic Republic of Congo) which are part of its member states.

In 2017, the service coverage index for universal health coverage in comparable estimates were 40 for Benin and Burkina Faso, 42 for Burundi, 46 for Cameroon, 39 for Congo, 47 for Cote d’Ivoire and 41 for the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Between 2010 and 2018, the percentage of population with household expenditures on health bigger than 10% of total household expenditure or income from primary data were 10.9 for Benin, 3.1 for Burkina Faso, 3.3 for Burundi, 10.8 for Cameroon, 4.6 for Congo, 12.4 for Cote d’Ivoire and 4.8 for the Democratic Republic of Congo.  

Between 2010 and 2018, the percentage of population with household expenditures on health bigger than 25% of total household expenditure or income from primary data were 5.4 for Benin, 0.4 for Burkina Faso, 0.4 for Burundi, 3.0 for Cameroon, 0.7 for Congo, 3.4 for Cote d’Ivoire and 0.6 for the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

The above first set of figures tell us that if one needs to make financial risk protection in health work for the poor in the above named countries in the era of COVID-19 and lockdowns, the coverage of health service needs to be improved and expanded to those who do not have it. 

For the second set of figures, the incidence of catastrophic health spending has to be reduced for those who pay out of their pockets.  It also means that one needs to improve the tracking or progress in universal health coverage, particularly but not specifically for poor households.

For those who would like to discuss in depth about household expenditure on health as a share of household total consumption/income for poor families, they can let CENFACS know so that we can plan an activity or a discussion group about it.

 

(d) The impact of COVID-19 on health spending budget for poor families without financial risk protection

 

We have been doing some research on the impact analysis of COVID-19 on the realisation of climate and sustainable development goals for African children.  This kind of analysis can be expanded to the realisation of a particular sustainable development goal and target (like goal 3 and target 8).  To be more specific, this can be done on financial risk protection in  health.  This is what we are trying to do when talking about the impact of COVID-19 on health spending budget for poor families without financial risk protection.

Indeed, apart from the fact that poor people can become COVID-19 patients, they have to spend like everybody else money to cover against COVID-19 strains or germs.  This spending has to be included in their household budget as the example below show (Table no. 1)

 

 

The above figure (Table no. 1) gives us some indication about what could be a COVID-19 expenses budget for an average household.

In places where poor people get support to cover these additional costs to their current spending budget, they will have less trouble in living during this health crisis.   However, where there is no or insufficient support, this can lead them to further poverty and hardships. 

If a household has health protection policy and his policy can cover these additional costs, then there is no problem.  Yet, many of these poor households cannot afford to buy insurance health protection policy to cover these types of expenses.  If there are players (like a Government) who can help them to buy a policy, that is fine.  If not, there could be a possibility of having further poverty in these households.  

Let us take the example of the CENFACS Community.  Like everybody else, many of the members of our community are suffering the impact of COVID-19 on their health spending budget, for those without financial risk protection in health.  Because of COVID-19, their health spending budget has increased while their income has gone down.  Many of them have lost their capacity of earnings without financial compensation as the lockdowns have detrimental effects on them like anybody else. 

If anyone wants to share their experience about the impact of COVID-19 on their health spending budget or has any comment to make about their financial risk protection in health, they can share it with CENFACS.

 

(e) Africa-based Sister Organisations and their work to help locals’ needs in financial risk protection

 

There is always a debate between two ways of financing health risk protection in health which are: people’s out-of-pocket payments for health services and public health purse.  This is found in both developing and developed countries. 

For various reasons, financial risk protection relating to health is not organised in developing countries (like those of Africa) as it is in developed countries.  Because of that, many people in developing countries (including those of Africa) are left without universal health coverage and without financial risk protection by their states.  Some of these people try to get support they can or wonder when support will come to them.  ASOs that work in the field of health try to make an effort to work with those locals who need some help to sort out their financial risk protection.

In the work that ASOs are doing they try to help those in need of financial risk protection in health in various ways such as:

√ Working with them to make an informed decision or decision between health spending and spending on necessities

√ Finding suitable ways of reducing or avoiding extreme poverty caused by health spending

√ Exploring with them alternative sources of financing their health spending

√ Ensuring that health spending does not induce an economic barrier

√ Advising them on how to stay healthy and maintain a good well-being

√ Working with them on how to get value for money in terms of financial risk protection schemes

Etc.

At this time of the battle against the coronavirus pandemic, the handling of financial risk protection in health becomes even more important for those in need of health risk protection.  This is because there are still other services or viruses against which they may have to fight while the battle against the coronavirus continues.  Likewise, lockdown and health measures to protect against COVID-19 are not making easy their work.  However, one can hope that with what COVID-19 has revealed in terms of health systems in many places in Africa financial risk protection schemes will be taken seriously.  The work that some ASOs are doing with very limited means will be valued and given support it deserves.  

   

(f) Actions on health finance and insurance for ASOs

 

There are actions that can be undertaken to help those organisations that are involved in working with locals in financial risk protection matter.  There are two levels of actions which are: actions on health insurance cover for the poor and those related to the direct support of ASOs.

 

f.1. Actions on health insurance cover for the poor and vulnerable

 

These actions revolve around the following:

√ Reduction of insurance premiums to improve affordability of health insurance for the poor and vulnerable people

√ Helping poor communities to buy health insurance policies (for example those related to COVID-19 protection) where there is no health insurance cover for them

√ Making risk insurance in health work for the poor

Etc. 

 

f.2. Actions to support ASOs working on health risk protection

 

These actions may include activities undertaken that may help to mobilise finance to cover financial risk protection in health.  These actions could be like the following:

√ Donations and support donor development programme

√ Financial products and services to fund health risk protection work carried out by ASOs

√ Private funds mobilisation

√ Health fundraising activities and events

√ Grant making for health insurance work

√ Income-generating activities to fund health risk protection

√ Online and digital fundraising for risk protection in health

Etc.

Although we are at the moment of health crisis with the coronavirus pandemic, one needs to think as well that after this crisis life will continue.  Therefore, one needs to have a long term perspective in terms of actions to be conducted if they are going to make financial risk protection in health work for the poor.

 

(g) African Diaspora money remitters and their contribution to health insurance cover in Africa

 

It is well documented that African Diaspora’s remittances contribute to Africa’s development and the reduction of poverty.  One area of contribution that Africans in the diaspora make is funding health needs of African family members in Africa who cannot afford health costs.  These costs range from simple medicine like aspirin to more complicated cases of diseases. 

Often, Africans in the diaspora have either to send money or purchase medicine to help those relatives and friends who are ill and do not have the means to buy a health cover policy because the way in which health systems operate in some places in Africa.  Many in the CENFACS Community receive requests from families and relatives for medical and health support.

The positive responses to those demands are indeed an example of how African diaspora is contributing in making financial risk protection for those in need in Africa.  This is despite the fact that the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns have detrimental effects on this little but useful contribution Africans in the diaspora are making to health needs in Africa.

For those who want to discuss further about African diaspora’s contribution to the health and wellbeing in Africa, they can contact CENFACS.

 

(h) Impact monitoring of financial risk protection of the poor at the time of COVID-19 and lockdowns

 

In time of deep crisis like of the coronavirus pandemic, there could be confusion in terms of priorities.  Financial risk protection for the poor could be neglected as there could be a tendency to tackle the priority of saving lives and other essential aspects of the economy than dealing with the finances for the poor.

Because of that, it is essential even life-saving to regularly and systematically collect and treat information relating to financial risk protection so that there is no further pressure on the existing health crisis.  This will contribute to the impact of the action taken for good health and well-being.  Also, this will give some evidence that the poor are not left behind as one is trying to save lives and the economy.

For further details about the impact monitoring of financial risk protection in health of the poor at the time of COVID-19 and lockdowns, please contact CENFACS.

________

References

 

(1) https://www.who.int/health_financing/topics/financial_protection/en/

(2) World Health Organisation (2020), World Health Statistics 2020: Monitoring health for the Sustainable Development Goals @WHO2020

________

 

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!

03 February 2021

 

Post No. 181

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Sustainable Development Month with Good Health and Well-being

• African Children’s Climate and Sustainable Development Goals (Generation Global Goals Project): Generational Impact of COVID-19 Shock Waves

• Leafy Year and Sustainable Development

… and much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Sustainable Development Month with Good Health and Well-being

 

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

Since the coronavirus pandemic is still around and continues to take people and economies hostage, we have selected Goal 3 of the United Nations SDGs in order to tackle the month of sustainability; a selection from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and 2030 Agenda.  Within this goal, we have chosen Target 8. 

The Goal 3 is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all.

The target 8 of goal 3 is to achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.

How did we plan to work on the target 8 of goal 3?

 

• • Constituents of Target 8 of Goal 3 of the UNSDGs

 

Every week of this month, we will be dealing with each of the elements making target 8 as follows:

 

<>Week beginning 01/02/2021        

Achieve universal health coverage

<> Week beginning 08/02/2021        

Achieve financial risk protection

<> Week beginning 15/02/2021       

Access to quality essential health-care services

<> Week beginning 22/02/2021        

Access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all 

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

 

 

• • Week beginning 01/02/2021 – In focus: Achieve Universal Health Coverage under the Constraints of COVID-19 and Poverty

 

In this first constituent, our attention will be on what our Africa-based Sister Organisations working on the field of sustainable health are trying to achieve with their users.

Before explaining how they are helping to achieve universal health coverage (UHC), let us define UHC.

 

• • • Understanding UHC

 

To define UHC, we have selected the following definition from the World Health Organisation (1):

“Universal health coverage is ensuring that all people have access to needed health services (including prevention, promotion, treatment, rehabilitation and palliation) of sufficient quality to be effective while also ensuring that the use of these services does not expose the user the financial hardship”

Generally speaking, UHC has three pillars which are: service delivery, health financing and governance.  Yet, the coronavirus pandemic outbreak and rebound have disrupted the service delivery in many places including in Africa where CENFACS’ Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) work.  Likewise, there have been some adverse effects on health financing as limited health funds have to be diverted to curtail the life-threatening and destroying impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.  Health governance is not exempted by the coronavirus turmoil as there has been a rethinking in the way health is governed in many places in Africa where CENFACS’ ASOs are engaged in the management of health coverage.

 

• • • How ASOs are making universal health cover

 

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns, ASOs have been doing the following in ensuring that all people (particularly their beneficiaries) have access to needed health services:

√ Dealing with what is an essential health service or a non-essential one

√ Preserving equity in their work

√ Educating the community about the channels of transmission of COVID-19 and reinforcing local health authorities’ message of public health protection

√ Running sanitization campaigns against the spread of COVID-19

√ Caring for the vulnerable people and groups making part of their beneficiaries

√ Improving ways of working together in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic

√ Helping poor locals to access telemedicine and online medical system where they exist

Etc.

In brief, ASOs have been working with local people on find way to cover and achieve their health within the challenging contexts of the coronavirus pandemic and poverty.   

For any queries or enquiries about Sustainable Development Month and how ASOs are helping to make universal health needs cover, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• African Children’s Climate and Sustainable Development Goals (Generation Global Goals Project): Generational Impact of COVID-19 Shock Waves

 

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

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

For this year, our 3G project will focus on the Generational Impact of COVID-19 Shock Waves.  Under the Main Development section of this post, we have provided more details about this focus.

 

 

 

 

• Leafy Year and Sustainable Development

 

Studies show that leaves play an important role in sustainable development.  To highlight their role, this is what Wiley’s (2) online issue tells us:

“Leaves play a critical role in the Earth’s biosphere, regulating weather, renewing mineral nutrients and maintaining biotic processes to support both flora and fauna”

Indeed, leaves can help in many ways in sustainable development.  One of these ways is through recycling of fallen leaves.  Fallen leaves as mineral-rich organic material can benefit lawn and gardens.  One can recycle the nutrients from the leaves back into lawn and gardens.  For example, shredded or un-shredded leaves can be used for vegetable gardens.   

The above shows us that leaves have a role to play in sustainable development.  Recycling fallen leaves can help to reduce pressure on the environment and to contribute to the circular economy.  This also demonstrates the kind of relationships that our Leafy Year can have with Sustainable Development Month.   

To support CENFACS’ Leafy Year in a month of Sustainable Development, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

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

 

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

 

• • Triple-Value-Initiatives Start up

 

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

 

• • Triple-Value-Initiatives Fundamentals

 

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

 

• • Triple-Value-Initiatives Goals

 

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

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

 

 

 

• Halving Poverty for and with Children in Emergency in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger

 

Our Halving Poverty campaign continues as well.  As we argued last week, coronavirus pandemic is the biggest health crisis of the 21^st Century so far.  However, this should not let us to forget or undermine other emergencies like the one that is happening in Africa’s Central Sahel. 

Every child matters in anywhere in the world including in the Central Sahel.  It is possible while the world is dealing with the mounting pressure from the coronavirus pandemic to also save children’s lives in other places (like in Central Sahel) from the risk to lose those lives to preventable diseases or disruption in immunisation services and programmes.  It is also possible to rescue children at risk of violence, exploitation and abuse that may be caused by the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19.  This can help to avoid a great number of tragedies among children at risk in Central Sahel.

For those who would like to enquire about this campaign, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.   To support, please go to http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/.

 

 

 

• One Year On: Coronavirus and Poverty Reduction in Africa

 

It is now one year on since we launched our first thought and discussion under CENFACS’ be.Africa Forum about the coronavirus and poverty reduction in Africa.  This discussion was about whether or not the coronavirus would hamper or divert attention from the poverty reduction work in Africa.  One year after, can we argue it did or not?

Those who would like to comment on this or provide their view, they are free to do it by contacting CENFACS. 

 

L’année des feuilles de réduction de la pauvreté avec le CENFACS

Pour plus de détails concernant l’année feuillue, svp contactez le CENFACS.

 

 

Main Development

 

• African Children’s Climate and Sustainable Development Goals (Generation Global Goals Project): Generational Impact of COVID-19 Shock Waves

 

Our work on generational economics and the intergenerational transmission of poverty continues with the study of the generational impact of COVID-19 shock waves on children and future generations.  We started this impact analysis last year by looking at how COVID-19 may delay the realisation of aspects of the United Nations Climate and Sustainable Development Goals for children. 

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

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

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

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

In this post, we are trying to seize the early outputs or effects of COVID-19 on the realisation of SDGs linked to children’s health, well-being and welfare.  However, one needs to be cautious in interpreting what we have described below since we are carrying on in studying and learning more from COVID-19 scarring effects.  These effects are those on a generation of children.  Which generation are we talking about?

 

• • Children generation of global goals

 

The children generation of global goals are those two generations of children relating to two types of global goals: millennium development goals (MDGs) and sustainable development goals (SDGs).  The generation of millennium development goals will be those children or persons born between 2000 and 2015, whereas the generation of sustainable development goals will be referred to those born from 2015 until now (ideally between 2015 and 2030).  These generations relating to global goals have to be differentiated from the conventional definition of generations which classified them as follows: Generation Z (1995 to present), Millennials (1980 – 1994) and Baby Boomers (1946 – 1964).  

 

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

 

It is without doubt that COVID-19 has left and will leave some scars and fractures in the realisation of SDGs, particularly but not exclusively those aspects of these goals relating to children.  The study on the following six selected SDGs will show how COVID-19 is impacting or can impact the realisation of SDGs for children (particularly but not exclusively African children):   no poverty (goal 1), zero hunger (goal 2), good health and well-being (goal 3), quality education (goal 4), gender equality (goal 5), and clean water and sanitation (goal 6).  In this study, we have not included the climate impact as this will be a matter of another advocacy which we will deal with at a different time during this year.

 

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

 

Let us broadly consider the six selected goals out of 17 United Nations SDGs for dealing with the COVID-19 effects.

 

Goal 1: No poverty / End poverty in all its forms everywhere

 

The asymmetrical distributional effects of COVID-19 and lockdown make us to believe that there would be a challenge to end poverty in all forms in Africa for children, especially poor children by 2030.  The following statements or arguments can make one to think of this challenge.

For example, the United Nations Children’s Fund (4) argue that

“Poverty is rising, inequality is growing, and the pandemic is upending the essential services that secure the health, education, and protection of our children and young people” (p. 2)

Similarly, the United Nations Economic Commission (5) points out that

“The COVID-19 pandemic could push additional 5-29 million Africans into extreme poverty and exacerbate existing income inequalities” (p. 21).

The above push into extreme poverty in Africa does not only concern African adults.  It includes African children, especially when we know that the majority of population in Africa is young.

 

Goal 2: Zero hunger / End hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

 

There is some growing evidence that travel and transport restrictions to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic have made difficult, if not impossible, for many poor people to access food and to create food security.  This has been challenging for many families with children.  This is despite the fact that there were some humanitarian corridors to enable the flow of essential foods, drinks and medicine between African countries.  Although many African countries tried to overcome these restrictions, the problem of hunger up until now persists with African children paying the most price of it.

So, ending hunger, achieving food security and improving nutrition have still a long way to go by 2030 and are even now a nightmare for many African children who often go to bed without food.  COVID-19 has just made is worst for them.  Sustainable agriculture has been confronted with various COVID-19 related problems in terms of travel and transport for supply and outlets.

 

Goal 3: Good health and well-being / Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all

 

The fact that the coronavirus pandemic is still rampant and has new variants is a serious challenge to the goal of good health and well-being, not only for adults but for children as well.  This test is also expressed by the lack of resilient healthcare facilities capable to respond to pandemic’s aggression.  

Additionally, not all children from poor families have been able to access protective equipment (such as sanitizers to clean their hands and their living environment).  Many of those families who are the beneficiaries of our Africa-based Sister Organisations do not have affordable healthcare access and healthcare protection or insurance.  This lack of affordable healthcare access and protection is combined with lack of healthcare facilities. 

Many children of these families live where there are no safe, functioning and accessible toilets; no toilet tissues; no wash hand facilities; no safe drinking water infrastructures, etc.  This is let alone the lack of facilities to protect against mosquitos, tropical diseases such as malaria, etc.  Although these problems were already there, the health crisis brought by COVID-19 has made them worse, including the achievement of universal health coverage.

 

Goal 4: Quality education / Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

 

The COVID-19 and subsequent lockdowns have re-exposed the digital divide and the difference in accessing online learning opportunities between children from poor families and those from rich ones.  The COVID-19 and related lockdowns have highlighted the poor studying conditions of children from poor families who continue to work in poorer home studying settings (such as lack of space to study, lack of electricity at home, lack of table and study equipment) and cannot access digital learning tools.

To realise the dream of quality education for poor children will be delayed or at worst not becoming a reality as COVID-19 and the lockdowns have just shown us.

 

Goal 5: Gender equality / Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

 

The uneven distributional effects of COVID-19 and lockdowns may have reinforced gender inequality.  In some places in Africa, women have borne the greatest burden of increased domestic and care responsibilities. 

Many studies show that the informal employs more women than men in Africa.  Since many of those women have lost their informal jobs in Africa, this could have a differentiated impact on them and children, especially in households run by women and have only or more girls than boys.

So, the dis-equalising effect of COVID-19 and lockdowns may have left some gender fractures or scars.  This is despite some of CENFACS’ Africa-based Sister Organisations are working to address this COVID-19 engendered inequality.

 

Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation / Ensure access to water and sanitation for all

 

By definition, the COVID-19 is a health crisis, a crisis featured by many things such as the lack of sanitation and related elements surrounding sanitation like clean water and environmental health.  Before the coronavirus pandemic broke out, sanitation was still a problem for many places in Africa.

For example, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organisation (6) claim the following:

“An estimated 367 million children attend a school in which there is no sanitation facility at all.  Over half of these children live in two SDG regions: sub-Saharan Africa (213 million children) and central and southern Asia (200 million children)” (p. 43)

Where many of CENFACS’ Africa-based Sister Organisations work, many families suffer from the lack of access to safe drinking water and a lack of safe control of physical factors that could harm these families’ health and safety (such as safe toilet and water facilities).  CENFACS worked with some of them in water collection project in Mali and schools to build basic sanitation facilities in Togo.  However, the coronavirus pandemic disruption may have reversed the hard work done on this particular area of health and safety for children.

In all, despite the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic’s wake, poverty reduction is still happening in Africa and for African children like some of the examples given above show. 

CENFACS’ Africa-based Sister Organisations are continuing to work with poor families and their children so that they can relieve themselves from the brunt of the pandemic’s lasting scarring impacts or effects. 

The work they are doing with them can make us to believe and hope that these families and their children, the generation of global goals, can navigate their way out of coronavirus-induced poverty and hardships.

For those who would like to hear more about the stories of poverty reduction happening in Africa from CENFACS’ ASOs working with children, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

__________

 

Reference List

 

(1) https://www.who.int/healthsystems/universal_health_coverage/en/

(2) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/sres.2487

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

(4) United Nations Children’s Fund (2020), UNICEF Humanitarian Action for Children 2021 Overview

(5) United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (2020), Economic Report on Africa 2020: Innovative Finance for Private Sector Development in Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

(6) United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organisation (2020): State of the World’s Sanitation: An urgent call to transform sanitation for better health, environments, economies and societies, 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!

27 January 2021

 

Post No. 180

 

The Week’s Contents

 

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

• Leaves that Reduce Consumption Poverty

• Donor and Stewardship Development and Maintenance

 

… and much more!

 

Key Messages

 

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

 

There are many crises which are going on in the world.  Amongst them is the health crisis characterised by the coronavirus pandemic which has currently high profile and has more captivated attention than any other ones.  However, this does not mean one should forget or undermine the severity of other crises. 

The other crisis or emergency which is happening is about the life-threatening and destroying conditions of children in Central Sahel of Africa.  There are almost 7 million children there who are in need of humanitarian protection and assistance due to the insecurity, forced displacement, lack of access to basic sanitation services and the socio-economic impacts of COVID.

With and on behalf of these children of Central Sahel of Africa, we would like to ask for the halving of poverty and hardships they are facing.  CENFACS would like to work with those who would like to halve poverty by supporting children who are in emergency in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in order to meet their basic life-sustaining needs and dreams.   

Under the Main Development section of this post, you will find some details about halving poverty for and with these needy children of Africa’s Central Sahel.

 

 

 

• Leaves that Reduce Consumption Poverty

 

There are many types of leaves that are consumed or used in order to satisfy human needs in the forms of food, medicine or other use.  This week, we are interested in leaves that are affordable for poor families and that can help to meet their food needs as well as to reduce food or consumption poverty.

For example: Cassava leaves can help any families in some parts of Africa including those on low income to purchase or grow them if they have a garden. This basic commodity can help to meet basic consumption needs of food.  Cassava leaves are rich source of protein, minerals and vitamins as many studies show.  It is the consumption of properly processed cassava leaves that we are talking about.  Detoxified cassava leaves can serve as a safe nutrient source.  They are an important source of protein and micronutrients.  Processed cassava leaves can play a vital role in terms of food security and commercial crop by sustaining the livelihoods of poor farmers.  In this respect, the leaves can help to alleviate malnutrition and reduce stunting amongst poor populations.  

As part of our Leafy Year, we are going to search on how many affordable consumable leaves (like cassava leaves) that make the plates or dishes for ordinary families are sustainable.  In this exercise, we hope to include the sustainability element while taking into account other forms of use or consumption of leaves such as medicine or drugs in natural medicine to cure a variety of illnesses or diseases. 

Those who may be interested in our Leafy Year and Responsible Consumption of leaves, they can contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Donor and Stewardship Development and Maintenance

 

Last year, we continued our solicitation to some of you as donors and /or stewards of poverty relief, particularly those who wanted to build bond and loyalty to CENFACS and CENFACS’ work.  It was an opportunity given to those who wanted to engage and develop their interests in CENFACS’ work.

As a result, we carried on by offering to the donor market a donor status to enable those who want to commit themselves on regular basis to giving or boosting their status as donor to have the opportunity to do so.

This year, we are moving towards the same direction by developing what we created two years ago and in inviting those who want to commit themselves as funder or donor to do so.    You can do it by supporting CENFACS with a silver donation, a great relief and a product booster.

 

• • Free for Supporters: Silver Status

 

Silver status is the legacy of CENFACS’ “Quadranscentennial” Year (2019).  Support our projects as you can or as you choose if you visit them or if you happen to be within the area of them. This will boost your support and help you to win a silver status as CENFACS’ Supporter in a CENFACS’ Leafy Year.  Alternatively, you can fund CENFACS’ Leafy Year to win the same status and continue CENFACS’ legacy.

 

• • Want to provide Great Relief as a Supporter

 

You can provide great relief by becoming a regular giver or supporter, adding value to you support and boosting your support.  For example, at this challenging time we need those who can provide that sort of relief to keep our action going and out of the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns.  Many individuals and organisations stepped in to support their good causes during this storming time of the health crisis; you can do the same by supporting CENFACS.

Please contact CENFACS for details about becoming Great Reliever.

 

• • Need to boost your support or stewardship as a Product Booster

 

You can choose a particular sustainable initiative or programme or even CENFACS as your boost product.

You can support 3 projects or 2 projects and CENFACS

You can support 3 programmes or 2 programmes and CENFACS.

This will elevate your position as a Project or Programme Funder or a Product Booster

For further details about boosting your support or stewardship, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Gifts of Peace, Edition 2020-2021: Ends 31 January 2021

 

Gifts of Peace for Edition 2020-2021 are coming to an end this Sunday.  If you have not yet supported, there is still four days to go.  You can still do something for poverty relief and for healing the scars of coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns.  

We know that many supporters of good causes have been affected by the adverse impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.  However, for those who can please do not hesitate to support these good causes of peace since the potential beneficiaries of them are doubly impacted by:

(a) The coronavirus pandemic which has brought economic and social lockdowns

(b) The already extremely poor conditions in which they are living

Every support counts to help reduce and end poverty.  To support, just contact CENFACS or go to http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/.

 

 

 

• COVID-19 Campaign –

Integrating COVID-19 Mutation into a Shadowing Model of Resilience against COVID-19

 

Our Campaign of Resilience against and Recovery from the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19 Campaign) continues.  As part of this campaign, we are re-purposing our shadowing model against COVID-19 by considering the new COVID-19 variant and its fastest and aggressive impact.

Indeed, as we have been informed by the epidemiologists and medical experts, the new COVID-19 variant is very aggressive.  Besides that, the number of COVID-19 cases does not show any sign of abating since it continues to grow to the extent that many non-essential economic activities are still closed and lockdowns are still in place.  Like last Autumn, this Winter has been sinusoidal with some rises and decreases of the epidemiological curves of the coronavirus pandemic; the rising trends being the most noticed.  There is even a speculation or thinking about the possibility of a third lockdown.   

In the light of this situation, there is a need to rework our shadowing model of resilience against and recovery from the coronavirus pandemic so that one does not lose ground on the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.  In practical terms, it means that the more and better one applies to letter the COVID-19 health and safety restrictions and measures, the higher the probability of winning the battle against the coronavirus pandemic and variant will be.  This is every things remaining equal and without ignoring the contribution that a COVID-19 vaccine rollout can make. 

This could as well imply that one needs to match the aggression and power of the new COVID-19 variant or any mutation with a bold evolving determined action.  This is all shadowing is about.  It is about matching our level of responses and means to that of the challenges and threats that any COVID-19 mutation will pose.  In brief, this requires integrating COVID-19 mutation into our shadowing model of resilience against and recovery from it.

For any further details about the match/fit of our shadowing model against COVID-19 aggression; please do not hesitation to contact CENFACS.   

 

 

 

 

• 2021 All Year Round Projects (Triple Value Initiatives): Play, Run and Vote for Poverty Relief and Sustainable Development

 

CENFACS’ Triple Value Initiatives, the All Year Round Projects, are now back for this year.  You can play, run and vote to reduce poverty this year again.

The 2021 Edition of All-year Round Projects has kicked off.

You can Run or Organise a Run Activity to Reduce Poverty in 2021. 

You can Play the CENFACS League for Poverty Relief.

You can Vote your 2021 African Poverty Relief Manager.

Before proceeding with one of the All Year Round Projects, it is good to speak to CENFACS.  We can discuss together your plan or the way you want to participate or engage with these initiatives.

 

• • How CENFACS can help you to engage with Triple Value Initiatives

 

The following examples show what we can discuss together before you start.

 

Example 1: Run Themes

For example, let’s take Run to Reduce Poverty.  There are Run Themes.  You can Run alone or Run as group or even Run for fun.  You can do Seasonal Run or Run to raise money or even Run to raise awareness.  However, due to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns, there are health and safety restrictions that everyone who will be involved in this Run activity must follow.  

There are ways of making your Run event simpler.  To do that, you can contact CENFACS before you plan your event.  CENFACS can help you to select your theme.  You need to confirm the date and time with CENFACS.

There are other things to consider as well such as: location, engagement in activities, prizes (rewards for participants), COVID-19 health and safety issues, child protection policy if children are involved, insurance cover, budget, etc.

 

Example 2: Play station Game

Let’s take another example: Playing CENFACS’ League for Poverty Relief

You can create your own play station game with CENFACS’ League and run your own tournament and matches.  You can even involve colleagues, friends and families sharing the same passion about how the selected African countries are working to reduce poverty.  You can group or rate these countries according to poverty reduction performance (showing which one comes on top, middle and bottom).  You can as well use game theories. Like for Run activity, you must include the coronavirus pandemic health and safety measures and guidance.

 

Example 3: People to Watch

Let’s take the last example: Voting your Poverty Relief Manager

You can create your own list of 21 Top People to Watch throughout the year.  One or two of them will be potentially the best managers of 2021.  You can collect data and facts about them, follow their annual performance and vote the best between the two at the end.

After running or organising a run activity, playing the CENFACS’ League and voting your Manager of the Year 2021; we would like you to share with us and others your news, events, experiences, stories and reports regarding these projects.  The end product of your share will be a kind of Action-Results report 2021.

 

• • What we would like to hear at the end of this process

 

We would like to hear from you the following three bests

√ The Best African Countries of 2021 which will best reduce poverty

√ The Best African Global Games Runners of 2021

√ The Best African Development Managers of 2021

The deadline to tell us your bests is 23 December 2021.

As we progress throughout the year, further information will be released for CENFACS’ Triple Value Initiatives.

For more information about these projects, please contact CENFACS.

 

Vous pouvez commander et lire ce dernier numéro (no. 70) du FACS.

 

Pour commander ce numéro du FACS (en version française), simplement contactez le CENFACS.

 

Main Development

 

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

 

The following summarises data, needs, request, use and outcomes that briefly make the case for halving poverty for and with children in emergency in Central Sahel of Africa.

 

• • Data telling the story of children in emergency situation in Central Sahel of Africa

 

Various organisations working on this issue have come up with the following data.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (1) argue that

“The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered an unprecedented global health, humanitarian, socio-economic and humanitarian crisis, exacerbating the vulnerabilities of affected children… Across the Central Sahel some 13.5 million people (7.2 million children) are in need of humanitarian assistance due to insecurity, forced displacement, lack of access to basic services and the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19” (p. 6)

Taking the same line of argument, the United Nations Population Fund (2) point out that

“The conflict in the Central Sahel region…, has created a protection crisis for women and girls.  Escalating violence and displacement have heightened the risk of gender-based violence and harmful practices and disrupted access to basic services.  Of the 13.4 million people who require humanitarian assistance, 6 million are women of reproductive age and adolescent girls” (p. 10)

Likewise using a statistical approach to the impact of the COVID-19, the Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities (3) state that

“Children already left behind will likely bear the brunt of the pandemic’s impact, whether through missing out on life-saving vaccinations, increased risk of violence, or interrupted educated” (p. 54)

Furthermore, in its last economic report on Africa the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (4) predicted in general terms the following:

“The COVID-19 pandemic could push additional 5 to 29 million Africans into extreme poverty and exacerbate existing income inequalities” (p. 21)

Although the figure from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa is not directly linked to a situation of emergency for children, it nonetheless gives some indication on what may happen if nothing is done to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic on Africans and African children of Central Sahel who are part of those people who could be in extreme poverty.

We can finally argue that the above numerical and text data provided indicate the life-threatening and destroying conditions in which children are in the Central Sahel (particularly but not exclusively in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger).

 

References

 

(1) United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF Humanitarian Action for Children 2021 Overview, Dec. 2020

(2) United Nations Population Fund: Humanitarian action 2021 Overview, Dec. 2020 (www.unfpa.org)

(3) Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities (UNCTAD): How COVID-19 is changing the world: a statistical perspective, 2020 (https://unstats.un.org/unsd/ccsa/)

(4) United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Economic Report on Africa 2020: Innovative Finance for Private Sector Development in Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

 

 

• • The Needs

 

There are almost 7 million children in need of emergency support as well as adolescent girls amongst 6 million women of reproductive age who are in protection crisis and at risk of gender-based violence and harmful practices.

Like anywhere in the world every child matters in Central Sahel of Africa where children are looking for an end to life-threatening and destroying conditions they are in due to the insecurity, COVID-19 adverse impacts, extreme natural weather events, armed conflicts, etc.  They need health and economic protection not only to end poverty but also to fulfil their potentials and ambitions like any child in a free world.

 

• • The Asks

 

CENFACS is asking to those who can to donate whatever they can to help HALVE POVERTY FOR AND WITH THE PROTECTION NEEDY CHILDREN OF AFRICA’S CENTRAL SAHEL.  Any support will be welcome.

Your support will help to save children’s life, reduce child poverty and assist early childhood development and fill the gaps in protection funding needs of children in Central Sahel of Africa, specifically in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

 

• • The Uses and Beneficiaries

 

Your support will help to protect and save children’s lives as they are suffering from disruption from access to basic services, civil insecurity, displacement, interruption of their education because of insecurity and socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, etc.

Amongst the beneficiaries, we can count or list the following children in need who are:

√ At risk of losing life to preventable diseases

√ Displaced

√ Impacted by mobility restrictions

√ At risk of violence, exploitation and abuse

√ Experiencing interruption of education because of COVID-19, civil insecurity and natural events

√ Frontline responders to COVID-19

√ Vulnerable living in informal settlements and conflict settings

√ Girls at risk of gender-based violence

√ Excluded from social protection

√ Orphaned as a result of civil conflicts

Etc.

 

• • The Outcomes

 

One can hope that the following results will be achieved through their giving:

√ Stopping of children’s displacement and organising the return to where they come from or belong to

√ Resumption of education for children in a coronavirus-safe environment and or the organisation of distance learning courses with them

√ Improvement in children’s physical and mental health conditions

√ Reduction of violence, exploitation and abuse towards children

√ Increase peace, security and economic contribution of these children

√ Decrease or end of child trafficking, labour, or soldier

In brief, one can hope to have children who will be happy, healthy and safe through this initiative.

To enquire and or support CENFACS’ Halving Poverty for and with Children in Emergency Situation in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, please contact CENFACS.

Many thanks!

 

Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going this Festive Season.

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!

20 January 2021

 

Post No. 179

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• FACS, Issue No. 70, Winter 2021: Generational Economics and Reduction of Intergenerational Poverty 

• 2021 as Leafy Year

• The Objective of Ensuring that Poor People Consume Sustainably, Safely and Healthily

… and much more!

 

 

Key Messages

 

• FACS, Issue No. 70, Winter 2021: Generational Economics and Reduction of Intergenerational Poverty

How to avoid and reduce the transmission of poverty to future generations

 

The 70^th Issue of FACS, CENFACS’ bilingual newsletter, looks at poverty reduction from the intergenerational perspective or an intergenerational approach to poverty.  The Issue uses economic theories of the household or family while drawing inspiration from the work carried out by CENFACS’ Africa-based Sister Organisations in order to help reduce intergenerational poverty.  The Issue also considers some elements of basic generational accounting at family level.  In doing so, the Issue deals with intergenerational transmission of disadvantages and risks that may induce poverty.

Far from being an account on intergenerational transmission of poverty, it provides some basic recipes for those working with intergenerational poor in order to explore ways of helping them to reduce or escape from intergenerational and life-cycle poverty.  Amongst these recipes, there are: the improvement of the socio-economic mobility and earnings capacity, mobility of intergenerational poor, the intergenerational transmission of well-being and wealth, etc.   

Under the Main Development section of this post, we have given Key Summaries making the contents pages of FACS Newsletter, Issue No. 70.

 

 

• 2021 as a Leafy Year

 

2021 has been dedicated as a leafy year or a year of leaves of poverty reduction.  Indeed, leaves and herbs can help to relieve from illnesses or pains.  As we are in a global situation of a challenging pain brought by the coronavirus pandemic, we thought it could be a good idea to focus on leaves as ways of relieving us from pains. 

In fact, many medicines come from natural plants, herbs and leaves.  One can think of medicinal plants in traditional medicine.  Plants, herbs and leaves have some curative or healing power.  They can heal from illnesses or ill health or health poverty.  Ourselves, we use a leaf as our logo, a leaf of poverty relief.

This 2021, we will be celebrating what leaves can do for those living in poverty.  Leaves are the main organs of photosynthesis and transpiration.  Leaves can have many functions to play in human lives such as they can help to manufacture food through the photosynthesis process. 

Since we are in January month of Responsible Consumption, we would like this month to be of responsible and sustainable consumption of leaves.  It means whether we consume leaves for manufacturing our food or healing ill body and mind, consumption of natural leaves need to be responsible and sustainable.  This is our way of keeping harmony between our consumption of leaves and nature.

2021 will be a year that we would like to turn over a new leaf; a year of resolve covered with poverty reduction leaves to do better for and with those in need.  As we go along the year, we shall release more activities and events that will make our year of leaves of poverty reduction, a Leafy Year.

For further details about CENFACS’ Leafy Year, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

 

• The Objective of Ensuring that Poor People Consume Sustainably, Safely and Healthily

 

This week, we are as well revisiting our Poverty Reduction Goals Project, particularly its Goal No. 2 and Objective 5 of Ensuring that Poor People Consume Sustainably, Safely and Healthily.  We are doing it to echo our month of Responsible or Sustainable Consumption.

Indeed, it is possible to decrease or end the state of lacking money and or material possessions in order to use available resources to satisfy one’s wants or needs.   In simple terms, consumption poverty can be tackled, reduced and ended.

Consumption poverty can be tackled like any other types of poverty.  It is possible to work with consumption poor to create ways for them to consume sustainably, responsibly, safely and healthily.  We will be working with them to achieve this objective 5 as part of the implementation of our Poverty Reduction Goals project and related Goal No. 2.

For those who may be interested in this implementation, they should not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Gifts of Peace: Only 11 Days to Create Life-Changing Magic of Peace

 

Our Gifts of Peace highlighting the Season of Giving will soon reach the deadline.  We continue to appeal to those who did not have the opportunity to donate by telling them that there are only eleven days remaining to create a Life-Changing Magic of Giving something for Sustainable Peace. 

We understand that at this time of the COVID-19 shock and adversity it is difficult for people to donate.  However, for those who can we are appealing to them to donate since the need is still urgent and pressing for those who need both health and economic peace to mitigate the distributional and differentiated effects of the COVID-19 and lockdowns.

We hope you will keep these Gifts of Peace in your minds and help us reinvigorate the giving season (which has been tarnished by COVID-19 and lockdowns) through your donation or Gift of Peace.

 

 

 

• Transitional Development Programme, Africa-based Sister Organisations and African Continental Free Trade Area

 

This week, we are also looking at how Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) are preparing or have prepared themselves in order to embrace the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) despite the COVID-19 and lockdown handicaps.  

The AfCFTA could be much the story of businesses that are looking for market niches and opportunities.  However, this does not stop organisations from the voluntary and community sector to explore ways of gaining some not-for-profit benefits within the AfCFTA.

Our work (in the context of Transitional Development Programme) about this preparation is on anything that the ASOs are trying to do in order to be part of this new experience or process of delivering service to continental market or users.  This preparedness could include things such as training, seminars, webinars, online discussions and forums, conferences, etc.

It is indeed about making sure that ASOs are not lagging behind any new developments in Africa, especially at this time when most economies in the world have moved towards regional economic trading blocks.  This trade integration shift has some consequences in the way organisations like ASOs can deliver their services to their local and national beneficiaries.  It could mean that ASOs can start to prepare for transition in catering for a wide market of poverty reduction and sustainable development.

For further details about how ASOs are reacting to stay on top the poverty relief game and agenda, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• COVID-19 News from the Field

 

We have good and bad news from some of our Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) which are carrying out work to support those who have been severely affected by the health and socio-economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and related lockdowns in Africa.

The bad is that COVID-19 is still rampant in Africa even if it is spreading at a lower rate.  The good news is that there are ASOs that are trying to support those who have been severely affected by the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For example, they are helping in places like Congo Brazzaville where there has been food shortage and insecurity, in the Central African Republic where there is still insecurity regarding the outcome of election and adverse effects of COVID-19, etc.  ASOs are still working in places where there have been natural events (e.g. torrential rains that caused life-threatening and destroying floods) in countries like Madagascar to assist flood-impacted people and communities to come out the natural disaster.

All the above is happening under the background of COVID-19 and lockdowns.  The above are what we call Poverty Relief Happening, simply meaning that poverty reduction is still happening despite the mounting pressure of the coronavirus pandemic on poor and most vulnerable people.

The above is just the news from the field we have so far.  For those who have been doing fieldwork or visited projects in Africa, if you have any news; we would be grateful if you could share it with us.  Thank you!

 

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• FACS, Issue No. 70, Winter 2021: Generational Economics and Reduction of Intergenerational Poverty

 How to avoid and reduce the transmission of poverty to future generations

 

The contents and key summaries of the 70^th Issue of FACS, which is the sole development of this post, are given below.

 

• • Contents and Pages

 

Key Concepts – page 2

Africa-based Sister Organisations and the Allocation of Non-renewable Resources between Different Generations – Page 3

The Gender Dimension of Intergenerational Transfers of Poverty – Page 3

Intergenerational Vulnerability to Wealth Transfer as Key Driver of Intergenerational Poverty in Africa – Page 4

Excessive Feeling of Immediate Living Well as a Contributing Factor to Intergenerational Poverty in Africa – Page 4

Comment les organisations africaines peuvent-elles travailler avec des familles africaines pour endiguer ensemble la pauvreté intergénérationnelle? – Page 5

La contribution des organisations africaines à la réduction des inconvénients corrélés – Page 5

Comment les organisations africaines peuvent-elles encourager des politiques de pré-distribution et de distribution des ressources économiques pour juguler la pauvreté la transmission de la pauvreté intergénérationnelle? – Page 6 

La réduction de la pauvreté intergénérationnelle passe aussi par la restructuration des structures familiales – Page 6

The Dilemma in Investing in Current Consumption and Children’s Future by African Parents – Page 7

Strategies to Avoid and or Reduce Intergenerational Transfers of Poverty – Page 7

Distributional Effects of COVID-19 on Intergenerational Poverty Transfer – Page 8

Continuous Income Deficit as a Source of Intergenerational Poverty – Page 8

Survey on Global Goals, African Children and Intergenerational Poverty Transfer – Page 9

African Voices on Generational Shift:  How African Diaspora’s Money Transfer is Complementing Intergenerational Well-being Transfer in Africa – Page 9

Question about Intergenerational Advantages and African Continental Free Trade Area – Page 9

Well-being and Wealth Transfer Project – Page 10

 

 

 

 

• • Key Summaries

 

Please find below the key summaries of the 70^th Issue of FACS from page 2 to page 10.  These key summaries start with the clarification of the economic jargons used in this Issue since not all our readers and followers understand them. 

Before moving on to other key summaries, we are going to define the key concepts of the Issue which are: generational economics, intergenerational poverty and intergenerational transmission of poverty.

 

• • • Key Concepts (page 2)

 

What is generational economics?

Generally the dictionary definition (1) of economics refers to economics as

“the study of the problem of using available factors of production [e.g. natural resources, labour and capital] as efficiently as possible so as to attain the maximum fulfilment of society’s unlimited demands for goods and services” (p. 153). 

Generational economics is part of economics or economic knowledge and thoughts that explains us how resources are allocated between different generations at a point in time and analyses how this is done.  It is that part of economic theories that is relevant in interpreting patterns in intergenerational transfers.  Generational economics tends to deal with the best use of the resources between current consumption and investment in future generations.  In this respect, there could be competing needs between current and future ones.

From the above conceptual clarification, the 70^th Issue of FACS is about dealing with the limited availability of economic resources that parents or families may possess to fulfil their unlimited needs while meeting the needs relating to the development of their children’s human capital.    

  

What is intergenerational poverty?

To understand intergenerational poverty, we have selected the following online definition given by a Commission on Poverty of Hong Kong (2):

“Intergenerational poverty refers to the poverty induced by the socially/economically challenged background of a person’s parents.  It therefore follows that tackling intergenerational poverty would involve the provision of support and opportunities essential to a person’s sound, balanced and sustainable development but which support and opportunities would, if not for the intervention, be beyond reach as a result of the socially/economically challenges his/her parents face.  Since life cycle development is cumulative, the earlier the compensatory intervention takes place, the less will be the impact of deprivation on the development of a child/youth”. (p. 1)

From this intergenerational perspective of poverty, the 70^th Issue examines at a practical level how for example Africa-based Sister Organisations are trying to work with local parents in order to establish a compensatory mechanism and avoid the repeat of poverty to their children and grandchildren. 

 

What is intergenerational transmission of poverty?

Briony Smith and Karen Moore (3) point out that

“Intergenerational transmission of poverty can be defined in terms of the type of transmission, the type of poverty, its irreversibility, and the individual/household/contextual factors which enhance or interrupt transmissions” (p. 4)

From the points made by the above named authors, we can now borrow the definition of intergenerational transmission of poverty from Kate Bird and Kate Higgins (4), who argued the following:

“The intergenerational transmission of poverty can be described as the private and public transfer of deficits in assets and resources from one generation to another.  Poverty is not transferred intergenerationally as a package; but as a complex set of positive and negative factors that affect an individual’s chance of experiencing in the present or at a future point in their life-course” (p. 9)

In terms of the 70^th Issue of FACS, we are talking about private intergenerational transfers of these deficits in assets and resources.  We are as well working on poverty transmitted from parents to children and grandchildren, but not the one transmitted from young generation to old generation.

 

 

 

• • • Africa-based Sister Organisations and the Allocation of Non-renewable Resources between Different Generations (Page 3)

 

One of the concerns when the topic of generational economics is raised is about the allocation of natural resources that cannot be replaced when they are used up; allocation between current and future generations.  In this matter, we have Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) that are striving to work with local people so that the allocation of resources can happen in a fairly balanced way.  This is despite the fact that those who are in urgent and pressing need may not immediately see the benefit of a fair distribution or use of these resources.

For further details about this work of ASOs on resources allocation, please contact CENFACS.

 

• • • The Gender Dimension of Intergenerational Transfers of Poverty (Page 3)

 

Poverty can be transmitted from mother to girls and granddaughters.  For example, early pregnancies for young girls or early marriages (child marriages) can increase the probability of intergenerational transfer of risks that induce poverty and gender inequality.

To back the above statement, Kate Bird and Kate Higgins (op. cit.) argue that

“Women and girls who lose out in asset inheritance are not always compensated through higher investments in human capital.  This limits their agency, capabilities and livelihood options, making it more likely that they will be poor.  This has implications for their children and their intergenerational transfers of poverty” (p. 23)

For those who would like to dip into the gender dimension of intergenerational transfers of poverty, they can request the full article about this from CENFACS.

 

• • • Intergenerational Vulnerability to Wealth Transfer as Key Driver of Intergenerational Poverty in Africa (Page 4)

 

The inability of poor families to withstand what hinders wealth transfer within a family line can be the main reason that poverty is passed down to future generations.  Withstanding the handicaps of wealth creation and transfer would help them to reduce intergenerational poverty.

Those who would like to go beyond this summary on this subject, they can contact CENFACS.

 

• • • Excessive Feeling of Immediate Living Well as a Contributing Factor to Intergenerational Poverty in Africa (Page 4)

 

Vulnerability to exposure to attacks and arms is one thing.  The other thing is when parents would like to live very well for themselves without seeing the benefits of investing in future or the future of their children.  Most parents would not do that.  However, this narrow thinking can be found amongst the few. 

For example, some of the work carried out by our Africa-based Sister Organisations found this type of behaviour amongst some small raw materials traders and diggers in places where diamonds and gold are dug and traded in the Eastern provinces in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Many of those who behave like that fail to pass down their wealth to their children.  

 

• • • Comment les organisations africaines peuvent-elles travailler avec des familles africaines pour endiguer ensemble la pauvreté intergénérationnelle? (Page 5)

 

La pauvreté intergénérationnelle a des causes multiples et complexes.  Malgré cela, les organisations africaines peuvent s’organiser avec leurs bénéficiaires et les locaux pour la réduire.  Elles peuvent par exemple procéder à des actions concrètes suivantes pour réduire le mécanisme de transmission de la pauvreté intergénérationnelle:

√ Développer le capital humain des enfants des familles pauvres ou nécessiteuses

√ Informer ces familles et améliorer leurs capacités de gagner de revenus élevés

√ Améliorer ou réduire des mauvaises ou peu productives connexions des parents pauvres

√ Rendre meilleur leurs conditions de logement, de voisinage, d’éducation, d’alimentation et autres

En gros, il s’agit de parvenir à une répartition équitable et équilibrée entre la dépense de consommation courante et l’investissement dans l’éducation et la formation de leurs enfants afin d’éviter et de réduire la pauvreté intergénérationnelle.

L’ensemble de ces initiatives aura des effets bénéfiques sur les ressources économiques que ces familles ont ou pouront avoir accès.

Pour ceux ou celles de lecteurs ou lectrices qui voudront aller dans les détails de ces initiatives ou ce que les organisations africaines font sur le terrain concernant la réduction de la pauvreté intergénérationnelle, ils/elles peuvent contacter le CENFACS.

 

• • • La contribution des organisations africaines à la réduction des inconvénients corrélés (Page 5)

 

L’une des caractéristiques fondamentales des familles pauvres est l’accumulation des inconvénients corrélés et multiples.  Pour réduire la pauvreté intergénérationnelle dont ces familles font l’objet, il faut diminuer ou anéantir ces inconvénients corrélés et multiples qui les entourent. 

La réduction de ces inconvénients corrélés et multiples passe par le travail avec ces familles ou parents pauvres pour améliorer leurs circonstances et leurs ressources réelles et non-monétaires.  On peut y arriver par les moyens ci-après: la formation des adultes, l’aide pour améliorer leurs conditions d’emploi et à trouver des occupations mieux rémunérées ou au-dessus du seuil minimum.  S’ils ou elles sont des pauvres agriculteurs ou agricultrices, il faut les aider à avoir des prix rémunérateurs de leurs produits.

Grosso modo, il s’agira de rehausser le niveau et la qualité des ressources réelles et occupationnelles qui sont à l’origine de la transmission de la pauvreté aux générations futures, c’est-à-dire leurs enfants et grands enfants.

 

• • • Comment les organisations africaines peuvent-elles encourager des politiques de pré-distribution et de distribution des ressources économiques pour juguler la transmission de la pauvreté intergénérationnelle? (Page 6)

 

Loin d’être un problème de moyens seulement, la pauvreté intergénérationnelle est aussi un choix de politique familiale.  Un choix de politique familiale parce que nous parlons de la transmission privée, mais pas publique, de la pauvreté.

Pour encourager des familles pauvres à réduire la pauvreté intergénérationnelle, les organisations africaines peuvent travailler avec ces familles afin de les sensibiliser sur le bien-fondé d’une politique familiale basée sur une pré-distribution et redistribution équitable and équilibrée entre les besoins actuels de la famille et ceux des générations à venir de cette même famille.  Cela peut demander une remise en cause de certaines valeurs de consommation immédiates pour des valeurs d’épargne futures pour le bien-être de ses progénitures futures.

Pour y arriver, cela demandera une ouverture de dialogue franc entre ces organisations et des familles concernées sur des choix et sacrifices à faire en matière d’élaboration et d’application d’une telle politique afin de créer des conditions nécessaires et favorables à la préservation du bien-être familial.

 

• • • La réduction de la pauvreté intergénérationnelle passe aussi par la restructuration des structures familiales (Page 6)

 

Quelque soit le choix fait sur le plan culturel ou structurel entre la polygamie ou la polygénie, il y a lieu d’oeuvrer pour faire en sorte que le mode de famille découlant de ce choix culturel ou structurel ne constitue pas un handicap majeur pour des progénitures issues de ce choix.  Cela étant, des organisations africaines peuvent travailler avec des familles au sein des structures et cultures que sont les leurs pour que la pauvreté ne se transmet pas à des générations futures.

L’une des conséquences de ce genre des travaux est que cela peut demander de bouger les lignes traditionnelles si vraiment on veut empêcher que la pauvreté atteigne les générations futures de ces structures ou cultures familiales.  D’ores et déjà, la plupart des organisations africaines travaillant avec des familles ont perçu un changement de valeurs familiales avec la modernisation et les exigences économiques actuelles.

Pour conclure, tout en respectant la culture et structure de chaque famille, il y a moyens de travailler ensemble afin que la pauvreté ne soit pas intergénérationnelle pour la famille concenée.    

 

• • • The Dilemma in Investing in Current Consumption and Children’s Future by African Parents (Page 7)

 

Most sensible parents including the poor ones value the investment in their children’s future.  However, because of the level of poverty is so higher for some of them (like the ones working with CENFACS’ Africa-based Sister Organisations), investing in their children’s human capital could become a challenge if not a distant prospect.  The poverty challenge is so unbearable that some of the children of these families had to work as child labour.

Nonetheless, no one of them does lose sight about the need to maintain a fair balance between parents’ current consumption and investment in children’s human capital.  The only and main problem these African poor parents have is the lack of means to finance current consumption and to save at the same time for the needs of their children in future.  There is some support which often falls short as the need is big and complex.

One could hope that the work that CENFACS’ Africa-based Sister Organisations are carrying out with them will enable some of these parents to find solutions to the long standing problem of investing in their children’s human capital.   

 

• • • Strategies to Avoid and or Reduce Intergenerational Transfers of Poverty (Page 7)

 

Although intergenerational poverty is very complex and multi-dimensional one, it is possible to work with those who are being affected by this in order to avoid, reduce and end it.  To do that it requires a clear strategy with projects and well defined realistic goals to be achieved within a specified time frame.  Africa-based Sister Organisations can improve their work in this matter by raising awareness about this type of poverty and developing a strategy to mend it even if this is going to take time. 

In the development of this strategy, they need take into account the new factors such as COVID-19, the African Continental Free Trade Area, economic downturn in which many African economies are in because of the COVID-19 and lockdowns, etc.  They also need to figure out how they can mobilise African resources inside Africa before appealing to outside donors or funders.

 

• • • Distributional Effects of COVID-19 on Intergenerational Poverty Transfer (Page 8)

 

COVID-19 has already shown what impacts it can have on health and the economy.  From what we have seen so far, it can as well impact poor families in terms of intergenerational transfers of wealth and well-being.  The more poor families become poor because of the effects of any disaster (like COVID-19), the more likely they can pass down poverty to their children and grandchildren.  Poverty could become hereditary and a life-cycle one in future.  That is why eliminating the intergenerational impacts of COVID-19 to poor people and families should not be undermined by just simply arguing that COVID-19 is just like another health crisis.

Those who would like to discuss further about the intergenerational transmission of COVID-19 in terms of poverty, they can do it with CENFACS.

 

 

 

• • • Continuous Income Deficit as a Source of Intergenerational Poverty (Page 8)

 

Poor people or families who often experience income deficit year after year may not have any other alternative than to build and pass down intergenerational poverty to their children and grandchildren.  There could be various factors that could be at play and beyond their own control especially if they are poor, vulnerable and living below poverty threshold. 

However, whatever the reason about the continuing income deficits, the fact of matter is that this could create an irreversible situation that could become a way of feeding intergenerational poverty for their future generations.  This is why through CENFACS’ Zero Income Deficit Campaign, we are trying to work with income deficit families to help them control the level of their income deficit or turn them into a surplus.  We know it is not easy knowing the circumstances of these families and the threats and risks brought by the coronavirus pandemic to ordinary families.  But, one must try if they want to see an end to poverty on their children and grandchildren.

Interested in CENFACS’ Zero Income deficit Campaign, please let us know.

 

• • • Survey on Global Goals, African Children and Intergenerational Poverty Transfer (Page 9)

 

The 10^th African Economic Conference (5) held in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) in 2015 argued that

“the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals may have a significant impact on eliminating intergenerational poverty and inequality in Africa”.

In the light of this argument and as part of our work on generational economics and the reduction of intergenerational poverty, we are conducting a survey on the effects of global goals (such as the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals [MDGs] and Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs]) between different generations. 

The survey is about how MDGs did or SDGs can affect different generations and intergeneration poverty (here poverty between two generations).  These two generations are: the generation of children born during the UN Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015) and those of generation of UN Sustainable Development Goals (2015-2030).

We are specifically studying if there is any intergenerational mobility or change has occurred between the generation MDGs and the generation SDGs.

For those who are willing to take part in this survey and / or to complete the questionnaire designed to that effect, please do not hesitate to let CENFACS know.

 

• • • African Voices on Generational Shift:  How African Diaspora’s Money Transfer is Complementing Intergenerational Well-being Transfer in Africa (Page 9)

 

It is known that COVID-19 and lockdowns have disrupted money remittances from African Diaspora to Africa.  Despite that Africans are still remitting money to help families and relatives to get out poverty.  How this transfer is contributing to intergenerational well-being in Africa. 

Those who would like to add or raise their voices about this, they can contact CENFACS.

 

• • • Question about Intergenerational Advantages and African Continental Free Trade Area (Page 9)

 

Do you think that African Continental Free Trade Area will provide more opportunities than challenges for intergenerational advantages for those in need?

 

 

 

• • • Well-being and Wealth Transfer Project (Page 10)

 

Well-being and Wealth Transfer Project (WWTP) is a project of intergenerational poverty reduction that consists of working with poor families in order to identify the barriers to wealth creation while setting up strategies and building skills that will empower them to develop wealth transfer policy and practice.  Through this project, users will learn techniques and skills on how to save income, build inheritance and resources transfer so that their future generations do not inherit poverty and hardships.

WWTP is indeed about how to build generational wealth and well-being which involves the following: investing in children’s human capital, saving for future generations, creating an income earning capacity to pass down to children, financial literacy skills and how to handle resources and assets.

For details including full project proposals and budget for WWTP, please contact CENFACS.

The full copy of the 70^th Issue of FACS is available on request.  For any queries and comments about this Issue, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

_________

References

(1) Christopher Pass, Bryan Lowes & Leslie Davies (1988), Dictionary of Economics, HarperCollins Publisher, London & Glasgow

(2) https://www.povertyrelief,gov.hk/archive/2007/en/pdf/TFCYPaper4_2005E.pdf

(3) https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/128111/WP59_Smith_Moore.pdf

(4) Kate Bird & Kate Higgins (2011), Stopping the intergenerational transmission of poverty: research highlights and policy recommendations, Working Paper No. 214, Chronic Poverty Research Centre (www.chronicpoverty.org), https://assets.publising.service.gov.uk/media/57a08ae6e5274a27b2000827/WP214.pdf

(5) https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/the-sdgs-can-help-to-eliminate-intergenerational-poverty-and-inequality-in-africa-14973

 

Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going this Festive Season.

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!

13 January 2021

 

Post No. 178

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Translation to Reduce Poverty

• Essential Consumers’ Experience about Substitution Effect

• Poverty Reduction Happening Despite COVID-19 Rebound

 

…. and much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Translation to Reduce Poverty

How to reduce poverty by putting one piece of text into another language

 

The first key message of this week’s post is about the Translation Service that CENFACS offers.  Although this service is still the same, the way of consuming it may change as the needs and development landscapes are changing.

Indeed, the poverty relief and development environment is mutating with the economic exit of the UK from the EU and the new African Continental Free Trade Area.  Because of these new developments, CENFACS is adapting its translation service to cope with the new reality, a new way of delivering poverty reduction work while still staying at the front of the campaign for the resilience against and recovery from COVID-19 outbreak and rebound.

For further information about this first key message, please read under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

 

• Essential Consumers’ Experience about Substitution Effect

How many of poor consumers are attracted by essential consumption goods?

 

As part of the month of Responsible Consumption and of Essential Consumption, we are looking for essential consumers’ experiences of substituting non-essential consumption goods to the purchase of essential consumption goods in their shopping basket.

We are precisely working on the elasticity of technical substitution between non-essential consumption goods and essential consumption goods.  In other words, our work is on the substitution of one non-essential consumption product for an essential consumption one resulting from a change in their relative prices.   We are trying to find out the substitution effect of these two types of goods whether or not they are economically interchangeable by poor consumers in order to reduce poverty. 

The result of this work will help us to determine how many of poor consumers are attracted by essential consumption goods or a particular one.  In doing so, we can improve our perception about essential consumption goods and the support we give through the Consume-to-Reduce-Poverty project/resource.

To take part in this study or to tell us your experience of the use of essential consumption goods in relation to non-essential consumption goods, please contact CENFACS.  Also, anyone who has reliable data on this matter; it will be good to let CENFACS know.

 

 

 

• Poverty Reduction Happening Despite COVID-19 Rebound

 

Poverty reduction is happening despite the difficulty that people and organisations are having with the coronavirus pandemic and other factors hindering the realisation of poverty reduction and sustainable development.

This 2021, we are going to work with local people and Africa-based Sister Organisations to share more cases, news and examples of poverty reduction that has happened and continues to happen despite the challenge posed by COVID-19.

Through this sharing exercise, we hope to build a better picture of these cases with features, similarities, differences and patterns for learning and development experience of our system of poverty reduction.

To tell or share your experience on how poverty reduction has happened to you or those you know despite the mounting pressure of COVID-19 and lockdowns, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Challenges and Opportunities for Africa-based Sister Organisations in 2021

 

2021 could be a year of uncovered opportunities for Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs); opportunities from the challenges they face from the coronavirus pandemic, financial uncertainty, economic impact of lockdowns and global economic downturn.

Amid of the challenges they face in 2021, ASOs can still have a window of opportunities and play a significant role in the spheres of poverty reduction and sustainable development.  There are opportunities or market niche they need to seize.  They can proceed with the following in order to stand out for poverty reduction and sustainable development:

√ Intervene in any efforts to reduce or end the disruption of supply chains as the legacies of COVID-19 and related lockdowns

√ Work with local people and communities to reduce misinformation and end mystique surrounding COVID-19

√ Campaign for an increase or upgrade of logistics and infrastructures for coronavirus vaccines

√ Help in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines

√ Assist in food security and distribution

√ Be a supportive force for women informal cross-border traders

√ Advocate for the repair of unequal distribution of the effects of lockdowns

√ Conduct sensitization campaigns about the COVID-19 vaccines

√ Support the conflict-impacted and climate change-stricken communities

√ Help create opportunities and develop talent initiatives for the African Continental Free Trade Area

Etc.

The above are just the few opportunities that ASOs can seize in order to continue to work with local people to reduce poverty, especially health and economic hardship that has been brought by the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. 

CENFACS will continue to work ASOs in the above mentioned areas of opportunities where they need our support and advice.  CENFACS is willing to partner with them to mitigate the challenges of the 2021.  Those ASOs that would like to raise their level of ambition and start or continue the work of poverty reduction in 2021 with us in the above named areas; CENFACS is ready to go ahead.    

In all, ASOs have assets and a role to play in the post-pandemic recovery period as highlighted by the listed opportunities. 

 

 

 

 

• Support the Severely Socio-Economic and Health Impacted of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Africa

 

The majority of the countries in Africa have been affected by COVID-19 and related lockdowns.  Humanitarian relief supporters are not exempt by the effects of COVID-19 and linked lockdowns.  However, there are differences in the distributional impacts of COVID-19 and lockdowns.  There are areas of countries and communities that have been affected severely, others moderately and others more lightly.  This differenctiation can require humanitarian relief responses, especially where people have been severely affected.

In this first wave of appeal under the Light Projects, we would like to send a message of hope to those vulnerable people, communities and livelihoods in Africa that have been severely affected by the socio-economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Our first wave of action via a Blaze of Hope will go to areas of countries that have been severely affected by the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19.  Amongst them are the severely food insecure local people in countries such as Burundi, Central African Republic, Madagascar and Congo.   

One can hope that every effort will be made by those who can help so that logistics and channels for food assistance will be put in place so that those in need can have access to food and other essential commodities.  Likewise, one can as well expect that effort will be made to support locally grown food to meet the recovery need on the ground.

The above is our Blaze of Hope or Light Appeal for post-life following the coronavirus disaster.  For any query or enquiry about this Light Appeal, please contact CENFACS. 

 

 

 

 

• Digital and Social Media Campaign –

Level 4: Distance Working and Learning Technologies

 

In the progression of our Digital and Social Media Campaign, we would like to take into account the deprivations experienced by many of our users and members in accessing distance working and learning technologies, especially at this time of the COVID-19 rebound and lockdowns. 

At this challenging time of COVID-19 rebound and lockdowns, many projects, services and programmes have been moved to online infrastructures since non-essential activities are close and physical contacts are subject to COVID-19 restrictions and rules.  For example, at the moment online schooling or home-schooling is now an essential way of learning for children. 

Yet, many of our members and volunteers have not these technologies (like laptop, tablet, smart phone, video calling device, etc.) to respond to the challenge that COVID-19 and lockdowns have posed as well as to participate to online activities.  The lack of these technologies include what is required for these technologies to be effectively run, in particular reliable internet subscription, software (e.g. running security software, Microsoft Office Applications, etc.), and meant to provide the service they need.

Moreover, many ICT places (like public library, internet hubs, etc.) that enable public access to Information Communication Technologies (ICT) are close as they are not considered as essential while the ratio of distribution of distance working and learning technologies per capita is very low. Not every poor person or family can afford to buy or is being offered these remote technologies, let alone the skills to handle them. 

Because of these issues that have been experienced by our members and volunteers in terms of distance working and learning technologies, we are undertaking this campaign for the support of online technology-deprived people and families to access or have access to them.  This problem has also been experienced by our volunteers who do not have this equipment to keep essential poverty reduction services (such as Advice Service) running to help people stay home, protect the NHS, save lives and support people’s essential economic occupations during lockdowns.

One could hope that every effort will be made to reduce the asymmetrical distributional effects of COVID-19 and subsequent lockdowns as far as the distance working and learning technologies and the means to run them are concerned.

To support the level 4 of our Digital and Social Media Campaign, just contact CENFACS. 

      

 

 

Main Development

 

• Translation to Reduce Poverty

How to reduce poverty by putting one piece of text into another language

 

Before looking at how translation to help to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development, let us briefly give you the idea about CENFACS’ Translation Service.

 

• • What is Translation Service at CENFACS?

 

Translation Service is one the first services since CENFACS’ registration in 2002.  Translation, which is a text-based service of knowledge of two languages (here French and English) consisting of putting one piece of text into anyone of these languages, was designed to support both the French-speaking people and those related to them in the UK as well as our Africa-based Sister Organisations in Africa.  We had and have as well interpretation service for spoken language service. 

This was done with the aim of reducing poverty due to the language and communication barrier.  Since then, translation has always been at the centre of our poverty reduction work and action as we believe the better those in need can have their needs better translated the better chance they may have to find services, activities and projects to meet their needs.  It is not an accident if the 59^th Issue of FACS, CENFACS’ bilingual (French and English) newsletter, focussed on Language of Poverty Relief in Africa.  In this Issue, we explained the relevancy of translation in our work with those in need.

For further details about the 59^th Issue of FACS, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

• • Language Translation as a Means to Reduce Poverty

 

Both computerised and digital translations and human translation can be used to help reduce and end poverty.  In particular, we are talking about translation (e.g. CENFACS’ Translation service) for the community in need of a language to fully function in the UK society and those of our Africa-based Sister Organisations wanting their needs to be properly expressed. 

Translating works for those people from communities who find difficult to express their needs in English are proved to be effective in addressing the need of these communities.  This is the case of the translation conducted by CENFACS to help French-speaking people and families.  

Although the aim of the languages projects at CENFACS is to empower people in need to communicate their needs and aspirations by themselves in their chosen languages; where they fail to do so because of language barrier, CENFACS works with them through the learning of the English language.  This enhances their integration and participation as economically active members of the UK society.  The same applies to our Africa-based Sister Organisations needing their voices to be heard and appeals for support to be considered.  However, needs do change as new events appear.  When they change, we need to respond to them with our translation service or any other service if one wants to stay on track in their work of poverty reduction and sustainable development.   

 

• • Translation Service to Meet the Changing Needs and New Development Landscape

 

As the community in the UK has grown and become more able to help themselves in English language than before, and also as online translation has expanded, we had to refocus our translation on our internal or in-house needs while still retaining the original role of translation service to the community and be ready to serve the members of the community in need.

As the UK exited the EU and the Africa Union has embraced the African Continental Free Trade Area, we thought that there could be a new dynamics to provide more translation service to those in need whether in the UK or in Africa.   Due to these two changes or factors, we are again delighted to expand and present to those in need of translation our language service.  For those who are looking for translation service (French to English and vice versa), please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

• • Who is for?

 

CENFACS’ Translation Service (French to English and vice versa) is designed for those in need of translation to reduce poverty and hardships they are experiencing.  Translation request can come from those living in the UK or in Africa.  We can translate as well for Non-Governmental Organisations, international development community and voluntary organisations, charities and other organisations that have texts to be translated from French to English and vice versa.

 

• • Areas of Translation

 

They include the following:

Campaigning/advocacy, Debt, Economics, Health (Coronavirus Pandemic), Human Rights, Education, Trade Integration, Sustainable Development, Aid, Gender Development, Social Justice, International Migration, Black and Ethnic Minority and Refugees, Child Protection, Labour, Orphanage, Neighbourhood Renewal, Climate Change Issues, Environmental Disaster, Emergency Relief, etc.

In brief, we can translate documents or texts relating to local and international development issues.

 

• • Services provided

 

They include both general and specific translation in plain French or English where documents to be translated are submitted with Microsoft Office Word Application for Windows (7 or 10)

We can provide the following:

√ Translation and revision of documents from English to French and vice versa

√ Post-editing of machine-translated contents from English to French and vice versa

√ Re-examination of online translated texts or phrases

√ Review and approval of any translated documents

√ Feedback on translated texts (in the form of quality score) if required

Etc.

 

• • Formats of the Finished Documents

 

The finished product is sent to the beneficiaries as a standard computer file in the form of Word document via an e-mail or attachment.

 

• • Voluntary Donation

 

We welcome a voluntary donation to continue to run the translation service as this service is not funded.

Those who would like a translation service (French to English and vice versa), they should not hesitate to enquire about CENFACS’ Translation Service terms and conditions. 

To have your documents to be translated from French to English and vice versa, please contact CENFACS. 

 

Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going this Festive Season.

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!

06 January 2021

 

Post No. 177

 

 

The New Year’s Contents

 

• What is New at the Start of the New Year and What is on this January 2021?

• The 9^th Issue of Consume to Reduce Poverty, in Focus: Essential Consumption

• Coming up this Winter: The New Year’s and Next Issue of FACS (The 70^th Issue) to be entitled as Generational Economics and Reduction of Intergenerational Poverty

 

… and much more!

 

 

 

The New Year’s Key Messages

 

• New Year, New Hope & New Relief

Happy New Year and Welcome Back to Poverty Relief and Sustainable Development in 2021!

 

• What is New at the Start of the New Year and What is on this January 2021?

 

We have got the following initiatives making this January 2021 calendar at CENFACS:  

√ Consume to Reduce Poverty (Issue No. 9) with a Focus on Essential Consumption

√ Zero Income Deficit Campaign

√ COVID-19 Campaign in 2021

√ Post-coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring and Post-exit Economic Development Projects (New)

The above mentioned initiatives are amongst the ones we have selected to kick-start 2021.  We shall soon unveil the other selected initiatives making the Season of Light at CENFACS.

 

 

 

• The 9^th Issue of CRP (Consume to Reduce Poverty), in focus: Essential Consumption

 

January is the month of Responsible Consumption for CENFACS.   The initiative featuring this month is our resource entitled Consume to Reduce Poverty and Climate Change.  The 9^th Issue of this resource will be on “Essential Consumption”.

 

• • January as a Month of Responsible Consumption within CENFACS

 

Some of you are aware that January is our month of Responsible Consumption following CENFACS development calendar.  It means that the theme for January is Responsible or Sustainable Consumption and the monthly project carrying this theme is Consume to Reduce Poverty.   

It is the month we act against consumption-based poverty and we deal with measures of poverty reduction through consumption.  It is also an opportunity to act to preserve a good relationship between the way in which and products we consume on the one hand and the reduction of climate change on the other.  In particular, January is a climate reminder month as it is the month in which we raise awareness of the relationships between humans and the nature through sustainable consumption; that is consumption that does not destroy the nature.

This January we will go further miles by exploring the relationship between humans and essential consumption since the coronavirus and related lockdowns have made the non-essential economy to shut down; meaning that humans need to rely on essential consumption as the fight against the coronavirus continues.  

Consume to Reduce Poverty (CRP) is our users’ New Year supporting information and accompanying booster that focuses on Buying and Consumption elements conducive to the reduction of poverty and hardships.  It is indeed a complimentary support to our Autumn Festive Income Boost resource.

The Festive Income Boost is an income-generating resource while CRP brings in a consumption-led look in our fight against poverty.  The next issue (issue no. 9) of CRP will be on Essential Consumption as mentioned above.

For further details about CRP project, go to http://cenfacs.org.uk/services-activities/

 

• • The 9^th Issue of CRP (Consume to Reduce Poverty), in focus: Essential Consumption

 

We will be working on Essential Consumption. Since there is a surge of coronavirus pandemic with a new COVID-19 variant which forced decisions to be taken for a further lockdown of the non-essential economy, we thought that it could be a good idea to focus on Essential Consumption in this year’s issue of CRP.

Under the Main Development section of this post, we have given some highlights about this Issue.

 

 

 

• The New Year’s and Next Issue of FACS (The 70^th Issue) to be entitled as …

Generational Economics and Reduction of Intergenerational Poverty –

How to avoid and reduce the transmission of poverty to future generations

 

Poverty can be transmitted between different generations.  In the 70^th Issue of FACS, we will be exploring ways of reducing this transmission.  The Issue will show that it is possible to avoid and or reduce the transmission of poverty to generations to come.

In order to do that we shall refer to the generational economics which is that part of economic knowledge and theory that explains how resources are allocated between different generations at a point in time and analyses how this is done. 

Through this study, we shall apprehend that a better allocation of resources, especially non-renewable ones, between different generations at any point in time can help to reduce even to eradicate intergenerational poverty that many income deficit people and families face, particularly but not exclusively in Africa.  In this respect, the 70^th Issue will deal with the intergenerational poverty and the intergenerational transmission of poverty. 

The 70^th Issue will therefore extend the topic of income deficit which featured our last Festive Income Boost resource while putting into practice Goal no. 5 of our Poverty Reduction Goals Project.

More details about this Issue will be given this Winter.  However, for those who would like to enquire about it before it appears, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.    

 

 

 

The New Year’s Extra Messages

 

• Africa-based Sister Organisations in 2021 of Africa’s Free Trade Area

Can Africa-based Sister Organisations find any room for poverty-relief creation from the new African Continental Free Trade Area?

 

As African countries are starting to trade in the context of the new African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), we will be discussing how Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) can reap off the benefits from the new space provided by the AfCFTA in order to further up poverty reduction.  This discussion is a continuation of the discussion which we started last year about the implications of AfCFTA for poverty reduction.  This time, the focus is on ASOs, on how they can benefit from this new trading space. 

The main aim of the AfCFTA is to create a single continental market for goods and services with free movements of persons and investments while laying down the foundations for the establishment of a continental customs union. 

From this aim, it is clearly true that AfCFTA is an economic and profit-making or driven integration area in the meaning of the neo-classical theory of trade and regional economic integration.  However, this does not stop not-for-profit and voluntary organisations like ASOs to search for windows of opportunities in order to find new ways and or markets of poverty reduction. 

Likewise, ASOs can use this new platform to form and build poverty-relief alliances or improve the links with other organisations of similar aims in order to better deliver cross-border poverty relief outcomes, especially in the post-coronavirus era. 

Furthermore, they can together develop and or improve poverty relief value chains across Africa.  This kind of chains will enable to deliver more and better poverty reduction results to those in need. 

Briefly, it is for them to make happen or make sure they get poverty-relief creation effects or gains, if any, from the new trading space.   It means they need to be prudently active and intelligently engaged with this new space if they want any continental poverty-relief creation to happen; otherwise they may face poverty-relief diversion effects from the new space.

To discuss poverty-relief creation or diversion effects of AfCFTA for ASOs, just contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Zero Income Deficit Reports and Campaign

 

In December 2020, we ran a campaign on how not to carry forward an income deficit into 2021.  As we are now in 2021, we would like to share together income deficit experience from those who managed not to carry it forward in 2021.

This sharing is about supporting each other in any effort to maintain a zero income deficit or income surplus policy so that one can reduce the level of poverty transfer to future generations, especially for those who have children. 

Our work on this matter is about how to pursue this zero income deficit or income surplus policy without adversely affecting other areas or items of expenses/consumption budget.

For those who may have any experience to share or report in this area of zero income deficit or income surplus practice, please do not hesitate to do it with CENFACS.

 

 

• Campaign for Resilience and Recovery from the Coronavirus Pandemic

 

Due to the persisting life-threatening and –destroying situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, we are stepping up our COVID-19 Campaign.  We are doing it since we are again in a national lockdown in England and it is taking much time for the country and the world to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.  Our COVID-19 campaign, which was about resilience, is now and also about recovery from it.

In Summer 2020, we argued about a sinusoidal Autumn 2020 where there would be rises and falls in the coronavirus trend.  Unfortunately, the sinusoidal effects of the coronavirus still continue and apparently we are back where we were in March 2020.  Yet, we thought that at this time of the year 2021 we would have been at the phase of Rehabilitation Strategies, phase 3 of our COVID-19 Campaign.  Instead, with new COVID variants in the UK and in Africa, there is urgency to step up the COVID-19 Campaign in all its three phases and dimensions. 

As result, we are bringing back all the tools we have so far developed to fight coronavirus, tools that can be found in a new CENFACS COVID-19 Poverty Relief Station.  We are continuing to follow to letter the coronavirus rules and restrictions as requested by the UK Government, the World Heath Organisation, the NHS and the charity sector.  We hope that everybody is doing the same in following COVID-19 guidances and restrictions for their interest and of the public health.  Our shadowing model of following the epidemiological curves of the coronavirus is still in place and in application.

Because of the current challenging situation, many of our projects and programmes have been scaled down or postponed until such time we are able to implement them.  However, because of the new and changing needs that the coronavirus has brought there are services that are still running and even they have been re-organised to meet  the current challenge.  One of them is the Advice service to help during this very difficult time.  Those who need coronavirus-related services, they can check with CENFACS’ COVID-19 Poverty Reduction Station.

We hope you will keep looking after each other as you did it during the first national lockdown.  Please do not hesitate to remotely contact CENFACS, should you need any help.      

 

 

 

 

The New Year’s Main Development

 

• The 9^th Issue of CRP (Consume to Reduce Poverty)

In focus: Essential Consumption

 

Key highlights, Tips & Hints

 

• • What is Essential Consumption?

 

Essential consumption is the fundamental or indispensable fulfilment to meet basic life-sustaining needs of food, health, housing, information, shelter, education, etc.   Generally, these needs are met via essential consumption goods that enable us to fulfil the basic requirements of life.  For example, consumption of food productions that is essential for good health.  In time of the coronavirus outbreak, face masks are essential consumption to protect against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Essential consumption can also be sustainable. It is sustainable consumption when one consumes or uses products, materials and energy that have minimal impact on the environment.  Generally, these kinds of consumption and uses will meet sustainable development goals and principles.

 

• • Essential Consumption Shopping Basket

 

Using the internet, e-mail, social networks and other communication technologies; it is possible to get enough information about products and services that meet essential consumption while reducing poverty at the same time.  It is as well possible to find resources and websites that compare these kinds of products, services and prices.  People can then choose products and services that are good value for essential consumption and add them to their online shopping basket.

 

• • Reducing Poverty through Essential Consumption

 

Individual and family strategies of reducing the state of having little or no money or even no material possessions can be implemented via essential consumption or use.  Individuals and families (including the poor ones) can consume essential products and services that do not have negative waste, but that help to reduce or even end poverty.  People and families can leapfrog poverty reduction to essential consumption. 

 

• • Essential Consumption and Circular Economic Model

 

Embracing the recipes of the economic model that decouples (bad) exploitation of natural resources and the desire to meet human needs and wants (circular economy), can help improve consumer behaviour via essential consumption.  It is said that all processes create waste.  However, the circular economic model helps to direct consumption towards what is essential to maintain human life; in doing so it benefits humans to fix, reuse, reduce and save resources through their consumption. 

 

• • Essential Consumption and the Growing Climate Economy

 

The process of using resources in a frugal way to satisfy human wants and needs can goes hand in hand with an organised system for the production, distribution and use of goods and services that takes into account the changing weather conditions.  In other words, consuming anti-wasteful and essential products and resources can help reduce adverse climate change.  As climate economy continues to grow, it can bring new climate educational opportunities, economic savings and improved well-being for the poor.  These attributes of the Growing Climate Economy can help them consume goods and services that are essential and have less or no harmful wasteful materials.

 

• • Essential Consumption in the Context of Changing Climate and Life-threatening Impacts of Climate Change

 

Maybe enough has been said about the impacts of changing climate.  If not, then one area of work could be for humans to rethink about the negative waste that their consumption can create.  If there is such harmful waste for some types of consumption, then there could a need to reduce it and shift to essential consumption for the sake of the environment and the nature on which we all depend.

 

• • Essential Consumption as Means for Fighting COVID-19 and Surviving Lockdowns

 

The coronavirus and lockdowns have forced many economies to close non-essential retail.  Since the coronavirus has threatened and destroyed many lives and economies, many economies have resorted to essential economy to survive.  Likewise, people are now reconnected with essential consumption as means to keep the fight against COVID-19 and manage lockdowns.

 

• • Poor Consumers and their Affordability of Essential Goods

 

Essential consumption is not always the cheapest one.  Not everybody can afford to buy essential goods as many of them may even lack access to affordable essential goods and services.  Since the first COVID-19 lockdown, many low income people and families are struggling to access even essential goods and commodities.  The asymmetry in the distributional effects of the lockdowns has denied to many of them even the access to essential consumption goods.  Their expenses budget has gone up with the new coronavirus-related health items.

Giving them advisory support in terms how to increase their income, to make some changes in their expenses budget and find affordable essential consumption goods and services should be a priority amongst other ones.  In this respect, a list of where to find affordable essential consumption goods in this CRP resource is essential to save and protect lives at this challenging time of the coronavirus surge.

 

• • Essential Consumption Good Practices within the Community

 

Despite the problem of affordability of essential goods for low income poor people and families, there are nonetheless essential consumption good practices within our community.  To back up these practices, the 9^th Issue of CRP highlights some cases of essential consumption good initiatives undertaken by the CENFACS Community that underpins essential consumption accounts as part of every day’s human life.

In this respect, those who have cases of essential consumption practices and who may find them worthwhile to share and be added to this issue of CRP, they can let CENFACS know.

 

• • Demonstrative Projects of Essential Consumption

 

In essential consumption economy, like the one in a close non-essential economy and lockdown where only essential economic activities are allowed to operate, every shopper demonstrates the ability to follow the rules of essentially consuming.  Within the forced pattern of COVID-19 close non-essential economy, there could be those consumers who do more by taking a proactive action to consume essentially.

Likewise, there could be local projects (for example, local artists, local soap and face mask makers to fight COVID-19) that could display demonstrative talents and skills in promoting essential consumption goods, services and habits as a way of living rather than as an accident caused by the COVID-19 and subsequent lockdowns.

For those members of our community who have developed this kind of demonstrative projects of essential consumption, it could be a good idea to let us know so that we can add them to this CRP resource.

 

• • Barriers to Achieve Essential Consumption Goals

 

There could be some handicaps for people and families to achieve essential consumption goals.  One of the barriers is the lack of income that extremely poor people experience that could push them out of reach of essential consumption products.  Despite that in charitable world and economy in which no one is left behind there could be still access for everybody to essential consumption goods and services.

However, people and families do not like essential consumption to happen to them in this way since they would like to work and pay for their essential consumption.  Because of the barriers they face in finding opportunity to work and earn decent income, their prospect for meeting their essential consumption goals becomes remote.

As part of tackling these barriers, the current resource provides some leads in terms of print and online resources that users can further  explore in order to respond to some their essential consumption problems.

 

• • Budgeting for Essential Consumption

 

It is a good idea for users to budget for essential consumption goods and services as part of the overall of household budget.  This kind of preparation in terms of financial statement for any planned incomes and expenses for a particular period can help to maximise the use of resources and reduce wasteful spending in terms of what is essential and non-essential consumption.  It can as well provide alternative to essential consumption to reduce poverty and hardships due to waste.

 

• •  Essential Consumption Indication on Products for Verification, Identity and Authenticity

 

It is a good idea for any consumer, rich or poor, to check essential features on their buys and other specifications and read other people’s testimonies, reviews or comments about it.  In this respect, selling the positive idea of essential consumption could be helpful for essential consumers.

 

• • Essential Security and Guarantee 

 

When buying essential consumption products and services (whether using online or a physical store), one needs to check, compare and contrast products, terms and conditions of business, buying terms, prices, etc.  There is a need to check as well guarantees and safety policies for essential features in terms of the coronavirus pandemic.

If you are buying online, before you sign up, add to your essential consumption shopping basket and purchase an item; you need to read, discuss and check what you are agreeing on.  You may even take more precautions when selecting items, filling up buying forms to enter your personal, financial information and sensitive details.

You should also be aware of scams and illegal and malicious practices.  For own online security, use the e-safety tools and advice.

To support Essential and Responsible Consumption and get the full issue 2021 of Consume to Reduce Poverty and Climate Change, please contact CENFACS.

 

Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going this Festive Season.

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.

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We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support throughout 2021 and beyond.

With many thanks.