Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

28 October 2020

 

Post No. 167

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• FACS, Issue No. 69, Autumn 2020: Post-Coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring

• “A la une” Campaign, Note No. 3 – In Focus for Week Beginning 26/10/2020: Restoration of Marine Ecosystems

• Happening this Week: Making Memorable Difference Project, In Focus: African Sculpture and Representation of Historical Figures of the pre-1960s Era

 

… and much more!

 

Key Messages

 

• FACS, Issue No. 69, Autumn 2020: Post-Coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring

 

The 69^th Issue of FACS, CENFACS’ bilingual newsletter, is about the Post-Coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring.  It deals with the changes that may need to be carried out in the components of poverty reduction systems or structures in the post-coronavirus time.

The key message in this Issue is that it is possible to reorganise the elements contributing in alleviating the state of people having little or no money or no material possessions in the light of the current health and economic threats brought by the coronavirus.  This re-organisation can be done during and even after the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.   

An abstract regarding this Issue was already released at the beginning of this Autumn.  Under the Main Development section of this post, we have provided key summaries making this Issue.

 

 

• “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) Campaign, Note No. 3 –

In Focus for Week Beginning 26/10/2020: Restoration of Marine Ecosystems

 

Our third note of the “A la une” campaign for this year is on Marine Ecosystems.  Marine ecosystems are constitutive elements of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14, which is Life below water.

Marine ecosystem is defined in the Oxford Dictionary of Environment and Conservation (1) as

“A saltwater aquatic ecosystem that includes estuaries and coastal areas, along with the open sea and oceans”

Due to extreme weather events and human behaviour, marine ecosystem infrastructures can be damaged or altered.  Where damages and alterations become a serious issue for the upkeep of the nature, then action needs to be taken in the interest of nature’s heath and balance as well as for the benefits of all living beings including humans.

Our campaign on the restoration of marine ecosystems is revolving around three areas which are:  restorations of open oceans, of deep-sea oceans and of coastal marine ecosystems. 

The campaign is about restoring degraded marine ecosystems and of marine habitats, the stopping of illegal fishing, etc.  In this respect, some marine ecosystem restoration projects (e.g. projects in Southern Africa) are being looked at in our action.

This is the pitch for the third note.  For those who want to take action with us and or share actions on the restoration of marine ecosystems, they can contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Happening this Week: Making Memorable Difference Project

In Focus: African Sculpture and Representation of Historical Figures of the pre-1960s Era

 

The 12^th Event of Making Memorable Difference Project is in progress as scheduled.  It is a celebration of African Abilities, Talents, Skills and Gifts to Africa and the world.

For those who want to make contribution to our Virtual Two Days of African History, they are welcome to do so.  They can contribute to the understanding of African Sculptures and or to the Legacies and Gifts in terms of the Representation of Historical Figures of the Pre-independence Era (that is, before the 1960s).

To engage with this year’s Making Memorable Difference theme and or support this project, please contact CENFACS on this site. 

 

 

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Crossing the Monetary Threshold of US $1.90 a Day

How to end extreme poverty in the post-coronavirus era

 

At the beginning of October 2020 (see post of 07 October 2020), we tried to have some look and feeling from those who crossed the line of extreme poverty for the first time in going into more poverty.  We did it as an element of the Goal 2 of CENFACS 2020s Development Agenda and Poverty Reduction Programme.

This week, we are building on this activity about the line of extreme poverty (still in the context of the same Goal 2) since the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have continued to push many people and families to the edge or to cross the line of extreme poverty.  They have added health and personal hygiene costs to their normal expenses budget.  In doing so, these events have perhaps created new poor and or are holding the existing poor still poor.

Despite that there are people and families (even if they are few) who have managed to come out of deep poverty by crossing the monetary threshold of US $1.90 a day.  Although many economists would argue that crossing the monetary threshold of US $1.90 a day is not enough to end poverty; we would like to hear from those who have crossed the international poverty line of US $1.90 a day if extreme poverty has ended for them or not.

If you did cross the monetary threshold of US $1.90 a day in the direction of going out of extreme poverty, we would like to hear your experience of crossing this threshold.

To share your experience of crossing the international poverty line, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

 

• Art and Design for Poverty Relief and Sustainable Development

 

As part of Art and Design Project for poverty relief and sustainable development, we are asking supporters to illustrate their ideas of Africa’s Sculpture into artwork.  You can post your artwork related to African Sculpture and Representation of Historical Figures of the Pre-1960s to CENFACS to share and make memorable difference in your own way.

 

 

• Micro-Volunteer doing Smart Tasks with Smart Tools for Smart Relief

 

We have started to use micro-volunteering by doing smart tasks with smart tools and techs (such as smart phones, tablets, development of gadgets, tech fixes, etc.) to re-engage with our supporters. 

Smart tasks are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound tasks and activities to generate and increase support towards our good and deserving causes.

These tasks briefly include the following: prospecting potential supporters, running questionnaires, recruiting new supporters, engaging with supporters, sending and receiving messages from supporter, following the leads, etc.

By doing smart tasks with smart tools, one can achieve smart relief, that is a sustainable life support and saver that one can electronically (online technology-based) provide to help people to come out poverty and hardships, especially at this exceptionally difficult time of the coronavirus pandemic.

To enable us to continue our work, we are asking to those who can, both individuals and organisations, to support us with smart tools to enhance our micro-voluntary work.

To support CENFACS with Smart Tools and techs to Micro Volunteer doing Smart tasks to achieve Smart relief, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• FACS, Issue No. 69, Autumn 2020: Post-Coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring

 

The contents and key summaries of the 69^th Issue of FACS, which is the sole development of this post, are given below.

 

• • Contents

 

• Understanding the idea of “Post-coronavirus” (Page 2)
• Post-coronavirus Restructuring Models: Example the Neo-Schumpeterian Theories (Page 2)
• Needs Assessment for Post-coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring (Page 3)
• The Post-coronavirus Sustainable Development (Page 3)
• The Place and Role of Africa-based Sister Organisations in the Post-coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring World (Page 4)
• Africa-based Sister Organisations’ Post-coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring Work (Page 4)
• Les organisations africaines face aux mutations structurelles et relationnelles des systèmes de réduction de la pauvreté dans la période du post-COVID-19 (Page 5)
• Le financement des dépenses de restructuration pour les organisations africaines (Page 5)
• Le numérique au service de réduction de la pauvreté en Afrique dans le cadre de restructuration des organisations africaines (Page 6)
• Comment peut-on prolonger l’économie essentielle et l’économie de la santé dans le monde du post-COVID-19 restructuré? (Page 6)
• Restructuring Poverty Reduction in the Post-coronavirus World (Page 7)
• How Africa-based Organisations can continue to meet climate needs of project beneficiaries in a post-coronavirus poverty restructuring environment (Page 7)
• Post-coronavirus Restructuring Survey (Page 8)
• Restructuring of Poverty Reduction and History Month (Page 8)
• FACS Question of the Month (Page 8)
• Selected Poverty Data about Sub-Saharan Africa (Page 8)
• FACS Testimonies and Reviews (Page 8)
• The Future of the Essential Economy in the Post-coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring World (Page 9)
• Meeting the Needs of Poor People in the Post-coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring and Post-exited Economy (Page 9)
• Post-coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring Projects (Page 10)

 

• • Key Summaries

 

Understanding the idea of “Post-coronavirus” (Page 2)

The coronavirus pandemic is there and continues to claim its economic and health victims across the world.  When we talk about post-coronavirus, we just mean that the idea of coronavirus is in general mind set and is no longer a new phenomenon. 

Because this idea of coronavirus is already settled in humans’ minds, humans can intellectually and mentally move on from it and start to think about life after it or sequence of events.  One has already travelled in their minds.  In that travel or trajectory, one is now beginning to think about the next sequence and the work/life to be carried out/on knowing the coronavirus is there.

So, the idea of post-coronavirus should be understood as a state of mind in which the coronavirus is no longer a strange idea.  This is despite the fact that there is a lot of epidemiological work that needs to be done to understand the coronavirus as a virus and to discover a medicine and vaccine.  Nonetheless, the idea of a virus is in people’s minds, including its life-threatening and –destroying impacts.  They can now move on to the post-coronavirus area while continue to fight the coronavirus pandemic and its devastating effects. 

 

Post-coronavirus Restructuring Models: Example the Neo-Schumpeterian Theories (Page 2)

Given what happened so far in terms of health and economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, there are questions about the model or framework of analysis on the changes in the constituent parts of any economy (national, local, international, household, organisation, community levels, etc.).  If one needs to make strides in terms of poverty reduction, they cannot ignore the coronavirus pandemic or the current health crisis.  If they want to bring any useful contribution to their work of poverty reduction or change lives in need to better ones, they need to have a theory or theoretical representation of what they are going to do to serve as a guide in the construction of the changes.  With their theory or framework of analysis, they can explain how they are going to harness the new changes that are badly needed to continue to improve on poverty reduction.

There are many theories of restructuring which include: flexible specialisation, neo-Schumpeterian perspective, regulation theory, etc.  In the context of the current Issue of FACS, the neo-Schumpeterian conceptual approach could be one of them to use in order to tackle the post-coronavirus restructuring poverty reduction and development.  By referencing to this approach, it can help to recognize new knowledge and innovations as key driving forces of poverty reduction as well as of economic and sustainable developments.  Neo-Schumpeterian theories could help to justify the importance of holding innovative restructuring of the economy and poverty reduction.

By using this approach, one can develop guiding principles with hypotheses or premises and relations, etc.  In this exercise, there could be many restructuring models as long as they can provide the basis for explaining the kinds of changes they are up to.  Their representation of the changes they can bring will be clarified by their restructuring process; meaning that one can upgrade in the improvement of poverty reduction processes towards a more sustainably viable model of poverty reduction.

On can hope that the above will be enough to introduce economic theories that may be used in this Issue and understand the issues discussed in this Issue.  However, for further details about post-coronavirus restructuring models or theories or frameworks of analysis, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

Needs Assessment for Post-coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring (Page 3)

In order to undertake post-coronavirus restructuring, one may need to carry out a needs assessment.  In carrying out it, a distinction can be done between short term disturbance and long term one.  Depending on whether the disturbance is short term or long term, transitory changes or permanent changes may be initiated. 

Since studies on the coronavirus pandemic continue, it is difficult at this point to determine if it is transitory disturbance.  However, to be on safe side it could be a good idea to undertake structural changes or adjustments in order to be prepared and avoid future similar health crisis.  In this respect, there could be a need for technological innovations to drive post-coronavirus poverty reduction restructuring or structural changes. 

In terms of poverty reduction and poor people, in order to have restructuring that really benefits the poor it has to contain a long term vision.  Because there could be differences in the geographical aspects of restructuring; it could be wise to argue that the effects and benefits of post-coronavirus poverty reduction restructuring could different or uneven. 

Regardless of this unevenness or difference, a needs assessment for post-coronavirus poverty reduction restructuring needs to be conducted.

If anyone wants to carry out or is conducting this sort of needs assessment or analysis, it will be a good idea to share their findings with CENFACS.

 

The Post-coronavirus Sustainable Development (Page 3)

In the Brundtland Report (2) written under the auspices of the World Commission on Environment and Development, sustainable development is defined as

“a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

From the above definition, it is possible to argue that if one wants to seriously consider sustainable development in the Age of the coronavirus and post-coronavirus restructuring, they may need to take into account that part of the sustainable development, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; that deals with health, particularly sanitation.  They may need to make some changes in the constituent parts of sustainable development so that the protection and the quality of human health together with those of other living beings and the environment are preserved. 

Briefly speaking, sustainable development and its components can be reorganised in the light of the COVID-19 on-going crisis so that the needs of the generations to come are not undermined. 

 

 

The Place and Role of Africa-based Sister Organisations in the Post-coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring World (Page 4)

Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) have a place and role to play in the changes of the constituent parts of the post-coronavirus poverty reduction and sustainable development landscapes. 

As organisations working with people on the ground, they have the following features:

√ They are the closest entities to local people and local needs

√ They have experience and history of dealing with people searching for poverty reduction solutions via essential economy and health economics

√ They have expertise, legacy and local knowledge in matter of poverty reduction with local poor

√ They are the legitimate representative of their communities and or places in need in Africa

√ They are the reliable and appointed channels of transmission or linking organisations between CENFACS and end-users of our programmes and projects in Africa

√ They are countable piece in the value chains development of poverty reduction in Africa

√ They are the ones closely working with coronavirus-induced poor to help them survive the COVID-19 shock waves and come out poverty and economic hardships

For instance, they are helping coronavirus-induced poor and vulnerable people to access health facilities, safe drinking water, sanitation, income, food, security, distance learning resources and education, information about the coronavirus protection measures, especially in places where there has been little or no financial bailout at all for the poorest.

Because of the above work and attributes of ASOs, any changes in the makeup of poverty reduction systems need to be done by including ASOs.  They and those in need being part of this restructuring process will make the process owns by its beneficiaries.

For any queries or enquiries about the place and role of ASOs in the restructuring process, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.        

 

Africa-based Sister Organisations’ Post-coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring Work (Page 4)

The distinction between essential and non-essential activities, between healthy and unhealthy ones cannot leave ASOs silent.  These divisions should lead to some thoughts about the re-organisation of the components of their activities so that they can restructure, externalise, delocalise and re-localise them.  In re-organising their activities in this way, they can improve on the work of poverty reduction and sustainable development.

In the light of the experience we have so far with the coronavirus pandemic, this re-organisation or restructuring could be self-explanatory if these organisations would like to stay on top of the poverty-relieving game.   They have the potentials or capabilities for favourable re-organisation of their activities and systems of poverty reduction in different and improving way; a way that could make essential activities and health economics for the relief of poverty a driving force within the development sector.

The kind of restructuring we are talking here is slightly different from business restructuring since it is centred round the value of poverty relief and sustainable development rather than profit making or maximisation.

For any further thoughts or enquiries about ASOs’ Post-coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring Work, please contact CENFACS. 

 

Les organisations africaines face aux mutations structurelles et relationnelles des systèmes de réduction de la pauvreté dans la période de post-COVID-19 (Page 5)

D’aucuns disent que le coronavirus a exposé les faiblesses des économies et systèmes sanitaires un peu partout, y compris en Afrique.  Des faiblesses qui sont tant structurelles que relationnelles, mais aussi de positionnement sur des marchés internationaux et africains.  Ces faiblesses sont en plus celles de technologies et de ressources financières.  Des faiblesses qui se traduisent surtout par le financement des besoins locaux par le biais de l’aide internationale et d’envois d’argent par la diaspora africaine, pour n’en citer que ces deux méthodes de financement parmi tant d’autres.

Devant ces faiblesses, il y a lieu de faire des ajustements nécessaires sinon indispensables en terme de mutations.  Car, il faut aller au-delà des aspects conjoncturels pour amorcer des vraies transformations ou restructurations des systèmes de réduction de la pauvreté en Afrique tant sur le plan structurel que relationnel.  Les organisations africaines du secteur associatif ne sont pas épargnées de ces mutations si elles ne veulent pas rester derrière dans la course contre la précarité et la pauvreté extrême en Afrique.  Cela veut dire, elles doivent penser sur les modalités de reorganiser ou restructurer les pans entiers ou partiels de leurs systèmes de réduction de la pauvreté et de la précarité en Afrique.  Elles peuvent se décider si elles doivent définir une nouvelle structure, une nouvelle organisation leur permettant de continuer à remplir les besoins de leurs usagers tout en restant performantes face à la nouvelle donne économique and sanitaire qu’est la pandémie du coronavirus. 

Grosso modo, la crise de la pandémie du coronavirus a sonné une nouvelle alarme pour nos partenaires africains pour qu’ils commencent à envisager un autre modèle de réduction de la pauvreté qui s’adaptera aux exigences du moment, celles de la période de post-COVID-19.

 

Le financement des dépenses de restructuration pour les organisations africaines (Page 5)

Tout processus de restructuration ou réorganisation des activités et services demande des moyens tant physiques (ou matériels) que financiers ou autres (administratifs, technologiques, humains, évaluatifs, etc.) pour sa réussite. 

Dans le cadre de la restructuration post-coronavirus, il y a lieu d’élaborer un plan de financement avec nos partenaires africains; un plan qui contiendra aussi bien les sources de financement que les modalités du financement sans oublier le contrôle, le suivi et l’évaluation de ce plan de financement.  Des responsabilités financières seront établies en amont comme an aval.

Pour s’y atteler, notre service-conseils sur le plan international sera un outil adéquat qui travaillera la main dans la main en accord avec nos organisations soeurs africaines pour qu’ensemble nous déterminions le niveau de financement requis et les modalités de gestion de ce financement à travers une politique de financement transparente et responsable.  Cela permettra de mieux assurer l’exécution des plans financiers individuels de chaque organisation qui s’embarquera sur la restructuration post-coronavirus.  

Pour des organisations qui seront intéressées à notre service-conseils en matière financière dans le cadre de restructuration post-coronavirus, s’il vous plaît n’hésitez pas de contacter le CENFACS.

 

Le numérique au service de réduction de la pauvreté en Afrique dans le processus de restructuration des organisations africaines (Page 6)

Le processus de restructuration repose sur des nouvelles connaissances et technologies du moins si on se référe à la théorie néo-schumpeterienne.  Puisqu’on est à l’ère de percée fulgurante des technologies du numérique et en ligne, on peut y recourir pour continuer de réaliser des résultats sur la réduction de la pauvreté.  Ces technologies en ligne (par exemple, les appels sur vidéo) ont d’ailleurs fait leur preuve pendant des périodes de confinement contre le COVID-19.  Elles ont permis d’atteindre ceux qui souffrent et travailler ensemble avec eux pour qu’ils sortent du gouffre de la pauvreté.

Pendant la période d’après COVID-19, il y a une grande probabilité qu’on continuera de recourir à ces technologies, à celles du numérique.  Des organisations qui s’efforceront pour investir dans le numérique auront plus de chances d’augmenter, pas seulement le niveau et le taux de leurs activités, mais aussi la qualité de leurs services.  Ce qui leur permettra de survivre et vivre tout en suivant de plus près les transformations des besoins de leurs usagers.

Pour terminer, disons que le numérique continuera  d’assurer sa place dans la réduction de la pauvreté en Afrique dans le processus de restructuration des organisations africaines.   C’est aux organisations africaines de continuer à avoir le contrôle sur le numérique si elles veulent continuer à avoir la main sur leurs services de réduction de la pauvreté après la pandémie du coronavirus.

 

Comment peut-on prolonger l’économie essentielle et l’économie de la santé dans le monde du  post-COVID-19 restructuré? (Page 6)

L’économie essentielle et celle de la santé ont fait leur preuve pendant la crise du coronavirus.  L’économie essentielle a permis de découvrir, du moins pour le commun des mortels, cette partie de l’économie qui n’est pas essentielle pour résoudre le problème de réduction de la pauvreté en terme de revenu, d’emploi, de consommation, d’éducation, de salubrité, du logement, d’information, ainsi de suite. 

De même, l’économie de la santé a révélé la démarche économique que ceux qui sont pauvres peuvent faire afin de réaliser une allocation des moyens et ressources limités et rares entre les besoins illimités pour maximiser leur utilité.  Dans cette recherche de l’utilité maximale, elle a démontré que les pauvres ne maximisent pas la leur en matière de santé durant la crise sanitaire du coronavirus et même avant cette crise.

Ces révélations qui vont de soi et qui ne demandent pas des chiffres pour le prouver nous poussent à penser sur la manière de prolonger ces deux économies dans un monde du post-COVID-19 restructuré et restructurant.  Il y a donc lieu de faire en sorte que ces économies deviennent des vraies économies de résolution et de réduction de la pauvreté et précarité.  Cela veut dire qu’elles ne doivent pas être aperçues comme des économies circonstancielles ou accidentelles, mais plutôt comme des véritables économies sur lesquelles on peut compter pour résoudre l’épineux problème de la pauvreté qui a sévi l’Afrique depuis plusieurs années.  Néanmoins, le prolongement de ces économies dépendra de la manière dont on sortira de ce maux qu’est le coronavirus; c’est-à-dire si on sort par le haut ou par le bas de cette crise sanitaire.

Pour ceux ou celles qui veulent en savoir plus sur cette question du prolongement de l’économie essentielle et de celle de la santé, s’il vous plaît n’hésitez pas de contacter le CENFACS.

 

Restructuring Poverty Reduction in the Post-coronavirus World (Page 7)

Poverty reduction has always changed depending on the circumstances, conditions and events of the time.  When there is a health and economic shock of the magnitude like of the coronavirus, poverty reduction cannot remain the same.  Poverty reduction work can be restructured to deal with the kind of the crisis of the time. 

However, there could be need of evidence on the causes of any restructuring.  In the context of the coronavirus, there have been far-reaching consequences like the following: jobs destruction, mass redundancies, high levels of financial bailouts with furlough schemes, disappearance of many informal jobs on which many poor people depend upon, high upsurge of the levels of poverty and hardships, soaring indebtedness, local and national lockdowns, closed economies, etc.  Additionally, market economy has been pushed away by state economic intervention to save the economy and health systems.  In this kind of context, the work of poverty reduction cannot be the same as in the pre-coronavirus time. 

So, poverty reduction may need to be reorganised in order to better deal with the impoverishing impacts and legacies of this kind of mega crisis like the coronavirus.  It needs to be re-contextualised and re-conceptualised to save lives and economies as we are in a completely new situation. 

At CENFACS, we are working on these re-contextualisation and re-conceptualisation of poverty reduction.  If anybody is doing similar work, this is the time to exchange ideas about it.

 

 

 

How Africa-based Organisations can continue to meet climate needs of project beneficiaries in a post-coronavirus poverty restructuring environment (Page 7)

The needs to adapt and mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change will continue to exist within the framework of post-coronavirus poverty reduction restructuring.  For this framework to have any useful meaning, poor people’s climate needs must be considered.

Poverty-relieving organisations like Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) may have to tirelessly work with their users so that the requirements of limiting rising global temperature within the context of the Paris Climate Treaty are respected in any post-coronavirus poverty reduction restructuring proposals or projects.  It means that post-coronavirus poverty reduction restructuring needs to be carbon free or zero.  Likewise, ASOs would consider the climate needs of their users in adapting and mitigating adverse impacts of climate change in the post-coronavirus poverty reduction restructuring landscape. 

By taking into account the needs to adapt and mitigate the adversity of climate change and other linked elements to the Paris Climate Treaty; ASOs would be in a position to match the climate needs of their project beneficiaries in a post-coronavirus poverty reduction restructuring world.

Those who are interested in finding more about how ASOs can meet climate needs in the restructuring era, they are welcome to talk to CENFACS.

 

Post-coronavirus Restructuring Survey (Page 8)

We are conducting a survey about “HOW POST-CORONAVIRUS RECONSTRUCTING WILL AFFECT MY ORGANISATION” in the context of Post-coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring.  As part of this survey, there is a questionnaire that we are running which can be accessed on request.

For those who willing to take part in our survey and complete the questionnaire, CENFACS will contact them.

 

Restructuring of Poverty Reduction and History Month (Page 8) 

As a portion of October history month, we can look back on some of the historical elements that can help us to understand what past restructurings in Africa can teach us in order to carry out today’s and tomorrow’s restructurings.  This exercise of looking back is within the framework of FACS newsletter and an add-up to the two days of Make Memorable Difference Project which is on African Sculpture and Representation of Historical Figures of the Era before the 1960s.

Those who are interested in looking back history of restructurings in Africa, they can contact CENFACS.

 

FACS Question of the Month (Page 8) 

Restructuring: Do you agree to the changes in the constituent parts of your economy while the fight against the coronavirus pandemic is on?

Selected Poverty Data about Sub-Saharan Africa (Page 8)

We have selected the following data about extreme poverty from the World Bank for the readers of FACS.

According to the World Bank (3),

“Today, COVID-19 and the economic crisis are already reversing hard-won gains against global poverty, ending more than two decades of continuous progress”

“Sub-Saharan Africa would be the next most affected region after South Asia, with between 26 million and 40 million additional people predicted to be pushed into extreme poverty” (p. 5)

Poverty here is defined as living on less than US $1.90 a day or measured as the international poverty line of US $1.90 a day.

Although the above is a single figure/information, it could however help to generate more thoughts about the needs of post-coronavirus poverty reduction restructuring.

For those who would like to argue more about extreme poverty data, they can let CENFACS know. 

 

FACS Testimonies and Reviews (Page 8)

It will be a good idea for those who will provide their views as testimony or review to stick to the topic of Post-coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring.  In proceeding in this way, they will effectively contribute in getting better the impact of the current Issue amongst our audience and the public by enlarge.

To provide your testimony or review, just contact CENFACS with your views.

 

The Future of the Essential Economy in the Post-coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring World (Page 9)

As we argued it in the 68^th Issue of FACS, the essential economy is the absolutely necessary and careful management of available and scarce resources that can help to solve the basic economic problem of poverty and hardships.  It is indeed a revived economic paradigm which is deep-rooted in a sustainable vision of development and which deals with the problem of scarce resources to be allocated to unlimited wants via essentialist approach.

In order for the post-coronavirus poverty reduction restructuring finds its expression amongst its users, essential economy may need to be perceived and practised as the economy of everyday life and of the future life.  It should not be seen as a circumstantial or exceptional case used during the coronavirus crisis and be abandoned after the crisis.

Essential economy has to be given the place and weight it deserves in the fight against poverty and in the enhancement of sustainable development.  In this respect, the post-coronavirus poverty reduction restructuring should prolong and render essential economy as an economy for all lives, all times and all generations including the generations to come.

For further details about essential economy, please read CENFACS’ 68^th Issue of FACS Newsletter.

 

Meeting the Needs of Poor People in the Post-coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring and Post-exited Economy (Page 9)

No one knows the shape that post-exited economy will take as the UK has left the EU regional economic integration model.  Likewise, no one has the idea about the framework of the incoming post-coronavirus poverty restructuring landscape. 

However, what is sure is that the needs of poor people have to be met within the two contexts.  Meeting those needs would require post-restructuring and post-exiting environments and projects that really care and protect the interests of the poor and vulnerable people.  Any projects and programmes that will move away from this reality will have less scope for achieving poverty reduction goals.

The coronavirus and exiting economy have posed enormous challenges in the realisation of poverty reduction goals.  Those challenges are even unbearable for those who do not have any savings, assets and other collaterals in order to cover themselves from the crippling effects of these events. 

One can hope that projects, programmes and policies as well as their practices will be on the side of those who always get left behind and told to stay away.  One can also expect that the post-restructuring and post-exiting times to be the ones that will genuinely addressed poverty and vulnerability.

To further discuss ways of meeting poor people’s needs in the post-coronavirus and post-exited economy eras, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

Post-coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring Projects (Page 10)

Post-coronavirus Poverty Reduction Restructuring Projects (PCPRRPs) aim at reducing poverty and hardships via income generation and opportunities creation activities during the post-coronavirus poverty reduction restructuring time in Africa.  After developing a Coronavirus-related Organisational Relief Programme and a Coronavirus Rehabilitation Programme for African Organisations, we are now working on setting up PCPRRPs as a means to help African organisations and their locals to start building back better.

For further details (proposals) about these projects and to support, please contact CENFACS.

For a paper copy of the 69^th of FACS, please contact CENFACS.

______

(1) Chris Park (2011), Oxford Dictionary of Environment and Conservation, Oxford & New York

(2) Brundtland et al. (1987), Our Common Future, World Commission on Environment and Development (The Brundtland Report), Oxford University Press, London

(3) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/the World Bank (2020), Poverty and Shared Prosperity 2020: Reversals of Fortune, Washington, D.C.

______

 

Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going in 2020.

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 2020 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

21 October 2020

 

Post No. 166

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) Themed Activities, Note No. 2 – In Focus for Week Beginning 19/10/2020: Restoration of Inland Waters

• Sustainable Trajectories for the Nature

• Coronavirus Rehabilitation Programme for African Organisations

 

… and much more!

 

Can you tell CENFACS who will win this trophy of the pandemic year?

 

Key Messages

 

• “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) Themed Activities, Note No. 2 – In Focus for Week Beginning 19/10/2020: Restoration of Inland Waters

 

Inland Waters prolong the “Blue Spaces” theme we developed and campaigned for last month.  As part of this extension and this October 2020 “A la une” Themed Activities, we are working on restoration of inland waters, that is the process of re-establishing inland waters (in Africa) to close to their original condition. 

Restoring Inland Waters is indeed the rehabilitation of the structure and function of damaged inland waters.  This restoration is itself part of the sub-theme of the Restoration of Ecological Infrastructures (in Africa) as explained last week.

For the purpose of the main theme of the Upkeep of the Nature, the Restoration Inland Waters will be approached from a socio-ecological point of view.  Under the Main Development section of this post, we have provided further information about this second note and the said approach to it.

 

 

 

• Sustainable Trajectories for the Nature with…

Actions to Reduce and or Stop Rising Temperatures during the Post-coronavirus Recovery

 

Sustainable Trajectories for the Nature (STN), which is part of the “A la une” Campaign, is also an environmental campaign on its own.   This is because its contents are intertwined with some of the aspects of the “A la une” Campaign.

Under the STN, we are looking at Sustainable Trajectories in terms of the following trajectories:

√ Temperature

√ Sea levels

√ Wildlife population

√ Greenhouse gas emissions during the post-coronavirus recovery

 

During the Spring and Summer lockdowns, there were some good results and news about the reduction of air pollution, electricity, transport use, industrial activity and noise in some big cities of the world including London and Kinshasa.  Many confined places (in countries such as China) recorded low levels of energy demand and CO2 emissions. 

However, do these good results suggest the decreasing pattern of temperatures in relation to the climate goal of reducing the global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius or it was just an exception due to the Covid-19 confinement? 

Indeed, the Paris Agreement central aim is about strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.   

Our work under STN is about searching on actions taken so far to reduce rising temperatures by checking if we are moving towards a net-zero emissions world in the post-coronavirus recovery.  In this respect, we are looking at the above trajectories (that is temperature, sea level, wildlife population and greenhouse gas emissions trajectories in terms of rising temperature) if they are moving in the way of the Upkeep of the Nature. 

The above is the key message about the campaign for Sustainable Trajectories for the Nature.  To enquire about it and or ta add your input, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Coronavirus Rehabilitation Programme for African Organisations

 

In the process of rehabilitating lives and economies, one should not forget our Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) which are tirelessly working to support those in most need at this perilous time of the coronavirus bubbles.  To work with them, we have developed a coronavirus rehabilitation programme as part of the Rehabilitation Strategies phase of our Campaign for Resilience against the Coronavirus Pandemic (in short, the Covid-19 Campaign).

 

• • What is a Coronavirus Rehabilitation Programme for African Organisations (CRPAO)?

 

Like we did it with the Cube of Protection against the Coronavirus Pandemic, the CRPAO is a series of planned projects and activities to be undertaken with ASOs in order to reduce poverty and hardships induced by the coronavirus pandemic while supporting them in bringing back into good or better condition the services and activities they were offering in the pre-coronavirus period. 

The programme, which is a follow up from the Coronavirus-related Organisational Relief Programme which we set in Spring 2020, is about exploring the possibility of developing new and improved services and activities to cope with the changing reality on the grounds while incorporating the health (Covid-19) element into the programme. 

One can hope that through this programme and model of working together, ASOs will be able to return coronavirus-disturbed projects and activities to their original or renovated conditions so that they can save and preserve the lifeline of those in need.

 

• • Scope of the rehabilitation programme

 

As said earlier, CRPAO is part of the Rehabilitation Strategies phase of the Campaign for Resilience against the Coronavirus Pandemic (the Covid-19 Campaign) by CENFACS.  We have two rehabilitation strategies: one with the community in the UK and the other with ASOs in Africa. 

 

• • • Rehabilitation Strategy with the CENFACS Community

 

This level of rehabilitation is part of our Individual Capacity Development Programme where we are trying to work with those making our community to restore their capacities and capabilities damaged or lost because of the coronavirus outbreak and subsequent lockdowns.   In this respect, rehabilitation is defined in accordance to the World Health Organisation (1) as

“A set of interventions needed when a person is experiencing or is likely to experience limitations in everyday functioning due to ageing or health condition, including chronic diseases or disorders, injuries or traumas”.

In the context of our rehabilitation strategy, these conditions are the legacies of the coronavirus in terms of its health and economic threats and effects.

 

• • • Rehabilitation Strategy with our ASOs

 

The phase 3 of the Covid-19 Campaign (that is Rehabilitation Strategies) is extended to ASOs so that they can maximise or optimise their potentials and restore their damaged or lost capacity (because of the coronavirus pandemic) and deliver again their services and activities while the pandemic lasts and after it.

There is more information about the CRPAO within CENFACS’ Covid-19 Hub for Poverty Reduction which is a portal that centralises all the work and data about Covid-19.  For those who want to find more about this programme, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• African Sculpture and the Upkeep of the Nature

 

Our tasting of a slice of African history is still much on track this October 2020.  This week, this tasting is happening through some learning about African Sculpture and the Upkeep of the Nature.

The slice tasting in the lead up to the two days (27 and 28 October 2020) of Making Memorable Difference Project with its focus on African Sculpture and Representation of African Historical Figures of the Pre-independence Era; is indeed a pre-heat activity.

The pre-heat activity about sculpture and nature links the history month and our nature campaign “A la une”.  This link finds its essence as Africans draw resources from nature and environment in order to produce sculptural products.  There could be an impact on nature in terms natural resources exploitation and extinction.

So, this pre-heat activity is meant to connect us to the main feature of the history month, that is African Sculptures and Representation of African Historical Figures of the Pre-independence Era (era before the 1960s).

For any enquiries and or queries about the pre-heat activity, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• All year-round Projects (Triple Value Initiatives): Play, Run and Vote Projects in the Phase of Rehabilitation Strategies

 

The three components of our all-year round projects (that is Run, Play and Vote) are back this Autumn.  As we are heading towards the end of the year 2020, one can hope progress has been made for these projects; records have been taken since these projects started in January 2020.

However, like our other projects Triple Value Initiatives (TVIs) have been disturbed by the current social and economic development in relation to the coronavirus bubbles.  Lockdown pressed pause on our TVIs.  This is despite the fact that we integrated the Covid-19 factor in them and made them Covid-19 secure.

As a result of the Covid-19 integrations into Triple Value Initiatives, we suggested to those who were interested to undertake some recreational activities to break out the vicious of the coronavirus pandemic and to stay active during the social distancing rules and general lockdown in Spring and Summer 2020. 

As the Covid-19 bubbles continue, we are working on similar forms of exercises or activities to engage CENFACS’ audience and nurture the CENFACS Community by helping it, where we can, to take steps to return these initiatives to their original conditions.   These new forms of exercises or activities will be done under the Phase of Rehabilitation Strategies of our Covid-19 Campaign and in the context of our Individual Capacity Development Programme.  What does it mean for our Triple Value Initiatives (TVIs)? 

It means that we have started the process of restoring them to their initial or original condition while still fighting the coronavirus and its far-reaching consequences.  It also signifies we keep shadowing the coronavirus pandemic in the work of restoration.

The restoration process is a learning curve since we are trying to restore the normality in our TVIs while we have integrated the Covid-19 as a new normal.  In doing so, we are making sure that the fight against the coronavirus which is not yet over finds a room in our TVIs.

Because of the unprecedented time we are in at the moment, the need to work together is even greater than ever before.  For those who have their own rehabilitation strategies, it will be a good idea to share them (online or in-person) within the community.    

Just remember, at the end of the process of All year-round Projects and by the end of the year, one should be ready to announce the 2020 Action-Results for either of the project: Run or Play or Vote.

The final Action-Results will consist of finding out and revealing the following for the pandemic year:

√ The Best African Countries of 2020 which best reduced poverty

√ The Best African Global Games Runners of 2020

√ The Best African Development and Poverty Relief Managers of 2020

If you have not yet thought about this finding or revelation, please start thinking now and have your say about it!

 

 

 

• Micro-Volunteer doing Smart Tasks with Smart Tools for Smart Relief

 

Last week, we provided you with No Direct Cash Donations as ways of adding value to our traditional ways of getting support.  The coronavirus pandemic and its subsequent impacts have pushed us to go out of our way to innovate in increasingly using distance working technologies and means as physical or in-person activities were banned in order to protect the public health and keep the fight against the coronavirus in control.

This additional way of working and engaging with our audience and supporters has brought some opportunities.  We shall continue to use distance working and online technologies in our campaigns to reach out to our supporters.  As a result, we would like to enhance the use of micro-volunteering by doing smart tasks with smart tools (such as smart phones, tablets, video calling etc.) to re-engage with CENFACS audience and supporters. 

Smart tasks are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound tasks and activities to generate and increase support towards our good and deserving causes, which we badly need at this bubbling time of the coronavirus pandemic.

These tasks briefly include the following: prospecting potential supporters, running questionnaires, recruiting new supporters, engaging with supporters, sending and receiving messages from supporter, following the leads, etc.

To enable us to continue our work, we are asking to those who can, both individuals and organisations, to support us with smart tools to enhance our micro-voluntary work.

To support CENFACS with Smart Tools to Micro Volunteer doing Smart tasks to deliver Smart Relief, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

Main Development

 

• “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) Themed Activities, Note No. 2 –

 In Focus for Week Beginning 19/10/2020: Restoration of Inland Waters

 

The message through our second note of the “A la une” Campaign is about how we can help the Upkeep of the Nature through the Restoration of Ecological Infrastructures particularly Inland Water. 

In order to get our message across, we are going to explain inland water, clarify the approach used, expand on inland water as ecological infrastructure and identify good examples of water restoration projects in Africa.

 

• • What is Inland Water?

 

Without getting into complex definition about inland water, let us simply argue that it is any water space that is inside land territory.  In other words, inland water is an area of water does it not sea (e.g. lakes, canals, rivers, etc.) which is part of ecosystem infrastructures.

 

• • What is Restoration of Inland Water?

 

The restoration of inland water is the activity or act of re-establishing inland water (for example a river or canal or lake) to close to its original condition with the aim of improving the quality of water and resources it contains while protecting it from the adverse impacts of climate change. 

The restoration of inland water is part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15 (2) which is about Life on land.   The first target of this goal is stated as follows:

“By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and dry lands, in line with obligations under international agreements”.

For instance, in Africa the Lake Chad was damaged by drought (an adverse impact of climate change) and human insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin.  Restoring the Lake Chad and its natural capacity in terms of resources it contained and the quantity and quality of water it had is still a matter of ecosystem infrastructure and poverty reduction until today for those living in and around the basin.

 

• • Approach to the Restoration of Inland Water

 

There are many approaches or ways of dealing with the restoration of water.  In this campaign, inland water will be approached from the socio-ecological perspective, particularly in its function and ability to reduce poverty and economic hardships while providing a blend of other benefits in society, the African societies.  

We are looking at the socio-ecological dynamics that lies in human exploitation of inland water which made many valuable natural species to disappear or diminish.   We are as well dealing with the state of inland water infrastructure at this pressurised time of the coronavirus where many people are searching for safe inland water for drinking and cooking in many places in Africa.

 

• • Campaign Areas of Focus

 

As argued above, this note deals with the restoration of the function of inland water particularly its function to reduce poverty and hardships in water.  Our campaign is for keeping drinking water safe and saving wildlife.  As part of this campaign, we are dealing with the elements which impact the quality and quantity of inland water.  Amongst them are pollution, population growth and climate change.

 

• • • Pollution

Inland water is polluted by sewage, animal waste, dissolved chemicals and fertilizers.  Our campaign is against water pollution, but for the restoration of inland water infrastructure if damaged by chemicals dumping or any other forms of pollution.

• • • Population growth versus available inland water

Rivers, lakes and wells may not meet the growing needs of growing population like in Africa.  Our campaign on this matter is about the protection of inland water infrastructure while equating water distribution with population pressure

• • • Climate change

It is said in the United Nations World Water Development Report 2020 (3) published by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) that

“Impacts of climate variability on Africa’s water resources are already acute, as exemplified by the recent decrease in rainfall in Southern Africa” (p. 7)

“Such impacts will also increasingly interact with multiple non-climate-related drivers of water scarcity and water pollution such as growing population, economic development, and conflict and fragility, which are posing serious challenges for meeting not only the water targets but also the other development targets defined in the 2030 Agenda and the Africa Union’s Agenda 2063” (p. 132)

In response to the above impacts, our campaign is about mitigating and adapting to the climate change adversity while protecting inland water infrastructure from this adversity.

 

• • Inland Water Restoration Projects in Africa

 

Our campaign is looking at good examples of water damage restoration projects at local level in Africa.  There are numerous examples about water restoration projects developed and run by our Africa-based Sister Organisations. 

Those who are interested in these examples, they can let CENFACS know their interest. For example, water restoration infrastructure project for the Lake Chad is one of them.

For further details about this second note of “A la une” Campaign and the sub-theme of Restoration of Ecosystem Infrastructures, please contact CENFACS.

_______

(1) https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rehabilitation

(2) http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2015/09/24/undp-welcomes-adoption-of-sustainable-development-goals-by-world-leaders.html

(3) UNESCO, 2020: the United Nations World Water Development Report 2020, WATER AND CLIMATE CHANGE (www.unwater.org)

________

 

Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going in 2020.

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 2020 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

14 October 2020

 

Post No. 165

 

 

The Week‘s Contents

 

• “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) Themed Activities

• Giving No Direct Cash Donations

• Climate Protection and Stake in the Post-pandemic Development

 

… and much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) Themed Activities or Areas of Work

 

Our environmental campaign “A la une” has already started and is going to last for seven weeks.  The main theme of this campaign is still the same, which is Upkeep of the Nature; the sub-theme for this year being Restoration of Ecological Infrastructures.  The latter is the action of returning the natural or semi-natural structural ecosystem services to their former conditions.

The selected composed notes or themed areas of work that would work together to shape the central topic or theme of “A la une” Campaign this Autumn have been given under the Main Development section of this post.   We have as well provided the periods and titles of these composed notes or themed areas of work.

The first themed area of work is Restoration of Degraded Terrestrial Ecosystems; themed area which kicked off from the 12^th of October 2020.  Restoration of Degraded Terrestrial Ecosystems is about the action of returning to close to original condition the land-based ecological system relating to forest, desert, grassland or cropland where organisms (such as animals, plants and other organisms) live as habitat in a particular physical environment.  

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

 

 

• 8 No Direct Cash Donations

How to support CENFACS without directly giving cash

 

Ways of supporting charities have continued to change.  We at CENFACS have been implementing these new ways of giving and generating incomes.   There are many ways that one can use to support CENFACS without directly given cash.  One can unlock barriers to no direct cash donations for CENFACS. 

Those who would like to support CENFACS by using other means than directly giving cash, they can consider the following.

Eight ways of donating to consider this Autumn and in the lead up to the end of the year

(1) Giving unwanted goods and items to CENFACS e-charity store at  http://cenfacs.org.uk/shop/

(2) Sign up for a Gift Aid declaration from which CENFACS can earn an extra 25p for every £1 you give

(3) Nominate CENFACS for a donation at charity fundraising and donation events

(4) Select CENFACS as your preferred charity for donation from advertising revenue

(5) Raise free funds for CENFACS with your online shopping or choose CENFACS as a donation recipient of some of the profits raised from online shopping

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

(7) Name CENFACS as your favourite deserving cause if it happens that you have the opportunity to click the online option “donate cashback to charities”

(8) Donate any unwanted excess points of your loyalty card from apps that may give support to good causes

The above donations are just the few examples of ways of helping that one can think off or come across with to support CENFACS without having to directly give cash.  However, this does not mean one cannot donate cash.  They can and if you choose to donate cash, CENFACS will happily accept your cash donations. 

To support CENFACS without giving directly giving cash and or by directly donating cash, just contact CENFACS. 

 

 

• Climate Protection and Stake in the Post-pandemic Development

 

The priority for our Africa-based Sister Organisation (ASOs) during the post-pandemic development is to work together with them so that they can better come out the heavy and dreadful consequences of the Covid-19 outbreak and start to build back better.  In this challenging task, one should not forget the climate change issue.

This is why we are carrying on and out the work on climate protection and stake despite the fact that the climate talks that were scheduled in Glasgow for this year have been reported by the end of next year due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

We are particularly looking at areas of work with ASOs that need to be adapted to deal with the Covid-19 reality and mitigate its currently standing impact in terms of climate change and other climate issues.  The aim here is to protect poor people from adverse impacts of the climate change while advocating with them so that they can have a stake in any climate dividend during the post-pandemic development.

For any enquiries or queries about Climate Protection and Stake in the Post-pandemic Development, please contact CENFACS.  

 

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Africa’s 33 Least Developed Countries and the Programme of Action for them

 

Last May, we conducted an Impact Monitoring and Evaluation on CENFACS’ 2011-2020 Follow-up of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Our follow up work was related to the 33 African countries listed amongst the 47 least developed countries.  We noticed that since these 33 African countries were living under the constraint of Covid-19, it was in one’s interest to see how Covid-19 could affect efforts already made in terms of poverty reduction. 

 

• • May 2020 Impact Monitoring and Evaluation

 

In our impact analysis and the theory of change that we applied, we used the causality-and-attribution approach to explain the key changes that could have happened.

Our findings from the two levels of impact analysis conducted are as follows.

(a) Covid-19 impacted CENFACS’ Follow-up of the 2011-2020 Istanbul Programme of Action

However, one must be careful about this finding since the global health crisis started only by the end of 2019 whereas the Istanbul Programme was set up since 2011.  Therefore, many of the results from this programme would not be attributed to the coronavirus pandemic.  This is the same for the outcomes of our follow up.

(b) Covid-19 impacted progress made so far in halving child poverty in the 33 African countries  

It is probably possible to argue that some of the progress made about halving child poverty could have been affected by the health and economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. 

For details and contributions to this impact analysis, please contact CENFACS.

 

• • Findings from the UNECA’s Review

 

This week and October 2020, we are working on the findings from the 2020 Review of Progress made on the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020 by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (1) recognises that there have been noteworthy achievements in indicators (such as child and maternity mortality rates, literacy rates, access to clean drinking water and basic sanitation services) for the LDCs.    The UNECA concludes that

“In total, the progress being made against the Programme of Action is not entirely positive”.

In addition to the above findings, Covid-19 may have hampered these efforts made.  No-one exactly knows by how much, unless one produces data.  This is why we are working on the possible impact of Covid-19 on the users of this programme of action.

For any discussion about or further details about the work on the UNECA’s findings, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Covid-19 Campaign – Phase 3: Rehabilitation Strategies

 

Idealistically, the phase of rehabilitation strategies would have happened once the Covid-19 is nearly over.  It means that when the epidemiological curve of the Covid-19 symptoms and infections is flattening and gearing towards recovery point and stayed parallel or below the recovery point.

Yet, in the current situation of the virus this is not happening.  We are instead witnessing spikes of the coronavirus pandemic to the extent that there are discussions about new waves of lockdown or local lockdowns in some parts of the world including in Africa.  This situation poses a dilemma which is: how to rehabilitate economies and lives while keeping tight fight against the coronavirus pandemic?

The answer to this question/dilemma could vary.  There are many options available. 

One could learn from the mistakes and experiences from the methods and tools applied so far.  Then, one can try to redevelop or develop a clear rehabilitation strategy with new or improved tools to continue the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. 

One can also have a clever or prudent combination of both smart health restrictions/rules and the implementation of rehabilitation works. 

Furthermore, there could be a need to continue applying the shadowing model of following the epidemiological curves (“epi-curves”) of the coronavirus pandemic while undertaking the rehabilitation work as planned in a given rehabilitation strategy.   This way of proceeding could be about building back better while matching the efforts of building back better to that of rehabilitating the economy and lives in need by using the shadowing framework or model.

The above suggestions or options are neither a definite process nor an end itself as they are only some of the possible ways of approaching or looking at rehabilitation phase of our Campaign of Resilience against the Coronavirus Pandemic.

For more on Covid-19 Campaign by CENFACS and in-depth discussion about our rehabilitation strategy, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Revisiting the Appeal about the African Sahel and Lake Chad Basin

 

Last September, we carried out a review of the situation in the African Sahel and Lake Chad Basin.  As a result of this review, we launched an appeal to reduce extreme poverty in the African Sahel and Lake Chad Basin.

Last week, we discussed the situation of people crossing the line of extreme poverty for the first time.  We tried to find out from the consumption poor what it looks and feels like crossing the line of extreme poverty for the first time. 

Following on this discussion, we are revisiting the African Sahel and Lake Chad Basin Appeal in order to search on how people are dealing with extreme poverty and what has been done so far to work with them to come out this extreme poverty.  We are as well assessing how our appeal went down in terms of effectiveness about working with the peoples of these two areas to reduce extreme poverty.

We are therefore revisiting and discussing the above mentioned appeal in the light of the current difficult moments that ordinary and civilian people in these two areas are undergoing in terms of extreme poverty.  

To enquiry about this appeal revisiting and discussion, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) Themed Activities or Areas of Work

 

• • Seven Weeks of Campaign for the Upkeep of the Nature

 

As announced earlier, we have started our 7-week campaign work for the Upkeep of the Nature.  It is our well-known household campaign for nature in the autumnal season; a campaign which is happening against the background of the continuing economic and health threats from the coronavirus pandemic. 

Keeping this nature campaign alive at this difficult time could mean that one is trying to make an effort to maintain healthy relationships between humans and nature so that future health crisis can be prevented and/or further damage to our health systems and economies could be limited.  It could also signify that one is trying to keep their hands on the fight against the adverse impacts of climate change while still dealing with the mounting health and economic challenges brought by the coronavirus pandemic.    

Since we are acting in the context of Autumn of Acceptance and Integration in order to Build Back Better our lives and economies, the sub-theme of “A la une” will be about Restoration of Damaged or Degraded Ecological Infrastructures while the “A la une” theme remains the same which is: Upkeep of the Nature; as outlined earlier.

Within these theme and sub-theme, we have composed seven notes excluding monitoring and evaluation of the “A la une” Campaign.  These notes can be found below.

 

 

 

• • “A la une” Composed Notes or Themed Areas of Work

 

During the following periods within this Autumn and “A la une” season, CENFACS’ advocacy on environment will focus on the following areas from the beginning of every Mondays (starting from 12 October 2020 to the rest of November 2020).

 

Periods                                 Titles of notes or themed areas of work

12/10 to 18/10/2020              Terrestrial ecosystems

19/10 to 25/10/2020              Inland water

26/10 to 01/11/2020              Marine/aquatic ecosystems

02/11 to 08/11/2020              Nature species

09/11 to 15/11/2020              Ecological investment

16/11 to 22/11/2020              African organisations’ restoration work

23/11 to 29/11/2020              Finance for ecology

30/11/2020                             “A la une” monitoring and evaluation

 

In total, there are seven themed areas of work starting from the 12^th of October 2020 and thereafter every Mondays until the end of November.  These activities will help us to re-communicate our environmental message for the upkeep of the nature in existence as well as triggering better changes with our leaves of action.  At the end of these notes, we shall carry out monitoring and evaluation.

To engage with “A la une” themed areas, please contact CENFACS. 

 

 

 

• • In Focus for Week Beginning 12/10/2020: Restoration of Degraded Terrestrial Ecosystems

 

Before tackling the note about terrestrial ecosystems, let us explain some key concepts for this year’s sub-theme.  In particular, we are going to explain the following concepts so that readers and supporters know what we are talking about: ecological restoration and infrastructures.

 

• • • Understanding ecological restoration

 

According to Nature Education (2), ecological restoration

“aims to recreate, initiate, or accelerate the recovery of an ecosystem that has been disturbed. Disturbances are environmental changes that alter ecosystem structure and function. Common disturbances include logging, damming rivers, intense grazing, hurricanes, floods, and fires. Restoration activities may be designed to replicate a pre-disturbance ecosystem or to create a new ecosystem where it had not previously occurred.”

This definition will be used for our “A la une” Campaign.  This does not mean that it is the only one within the literature review.  We have just selected it for our work as we notice that it is a bit comprehensive.

 

• • • Interpreting ecological infrastructure

 

Ecological infrastructure can be explained in many ways. In the context of our campaign, we have selected the definition given by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (Ipbes) (3) which says that

“Ecological infrastructure refers to the natural or semi-natural structural elements of ecosystems and landscapes that are important in delivering ecosystem services. It is similar to ‘green infrastructure’, a term sometimes applied in a more urban context. The ecological infrastructure needed to support pollinators and improve pollination services includes patches of semi-natural habitats, including hedgerows, grassland and forest, distributed throughout productive agricultural landscapes, providing nesting and floral resources. Larger areas of natural habitat are also ecological infrastructure, although these do not directly support agricultural pollination in areas more than a few kilo-meters away from pollinator-dependent crops.”

The Ipbes definition will be one of the working terms we shall use in this campaign since it covers many aspects related to the ecological infrastructure.

Both ecological restoration and infrastructure are important in the restoration of degraded terrestrial ecosystems as the following elements of this first note shows.

 

• Restoration of Degraded Terrestrial Ecosystems

 

This is what the FAO and UNEP (4) said in their joint publication:

“We must build on this momentum to catalyse bold actions to prevent, halt and reverse the loss of forests and their biodiversity, for the benefit of current and future generations”.

From this saying, one can try to explain the degradation of terrestrial ecosystems.

 

• • Explaining the degradation of terrestrial ecosystems

 

One of the reasons that restoration of terrestrial ecosystems or land happens is because of degradation.   The website www.frontiersin.org (5) defines land degradation as

“the loss of functions and services provided by ecosystems”.

This website further explains that

“these include climate regulation, the provision and retention of water, conservation of biodiversity, the cycling of essential nutrients, and food security”.

From the above explanation, one can argue that Restoration of Degraded Terrestrial Ecosystems is the action of returning to close to its original condition the land-based ecological system relating to forest, desert, grassland or cropland where organisms (such as animals, plants and other organisms) live as habitat in a particular physical environment.

From the above perspectives, our “A la une” Campaign is about voicing for the return of land-based ecological system close to its original condition.  It is about working together with local people to re-establish the structure and function of a damaged habitat or ecosystem.

 

• • Restoration of degraded land as a global goal

 

Restoration of degraded land is part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15 of Life on land (6), which is about sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reserve land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.

Target 3 of this Goal 15 states that

“By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world”.

For example, according to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations) and the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) (4),   

“Africa had the highest net loss of forest area in 2010–2020, with a loss of 3.94 million hectares per year … Since 1990 Africa has reported an increase in the rate of net loss” (p. 11).

Additionally, the effects of the coronavirus pandemic may not be neutral to the conditions of land in Africa.  There could be a need to reassess the state of the land in Africa in terms of the Covid-19 effects.

 

• • The focus in the restoration of degraded terrestrial ecosystems

 

Our Restoration campaign focuses on the plan, cost and benefits of restoration projects dealing with aspects of ecological infrastructures related to terrestrial ecosystems.  In other words, any restoration of terrestrial ecosystems will need a plan and will incur cost and will involve finance.  The advantages or disadvantages of restoration will need to be properly assessed so that the campaign can reach its main aim of the upkeep of the nature in existence.

Finally, to materialise the context of Autumn of Acceptance and Integration, one may need to integrate the coronavirus effect in their restoration projects or any project of building back better terrestrial ecosystems.

Briefly, this is our first note of the “A la une” Campaign for this year.

To find out more about this first note and/or the entire “A la une” campaign, please contact CENFACS.

____

(1) https://www.uneca.org/publications/2020-review-progress-made-programme-action-least-developed-countries-decade-2011%E2%80%932020 (accessed 10/10/2020)

(2) https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/restoration-ecology-13339059/ (accessed on 10/10/2020)

(3) https://ipbes.net/glossary/ecological-infrastructure (accessed on 10/10/2020)

(4) FAO and UNEP, 2020: The State of the World’s Forests 2020 – Forests, biodiversity and people, Rome.  https://doi.org/10.4060/ca8642en

(5) https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/14001/restoration-of-degraded-terrestrial-ecosystems (accessed on 10/10/2020)

(6) http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2015/09/24/undp-welcomes-adoption-of-sustainable-development-goals-by-world-leaders.html

____

 

Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going in 2020.

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 2020 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

07 October 2020

 

Post No. 164

 

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• History Month with Making Memorable Difference Project – In Focus: African Sculpture and Representation of African Historical Figures of the Pre-independence Era 

• “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature) Campaign with Special Attention to Restoration of Ecological Infrastructure in Africa

• Just Been Launched: Autumn 2020 Humanitarian Relief Appeal in the Period of a Post-pandemic Recovery 

 

… and much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

  

· History Month with Making Memorable Difference Project – In Focus: African Sculpture and Representation of African Historical Figures of the Pre-independence Era 

 

This week, the lead story line of poverty relief and sustainable development at CENFACS is about Making Memorable Difference in October.  October is the History month in CENFACS development calendar.  We normally remember the African history through Making Memorable Difference (MMD) project. 

This year’s MMD, which is the 12^th one, is about African Sculpture and Representation of African Historical Figures of the Pre-independence Era (period before the 1960s).

The 12^th MMD or MMD 2020 will be about acknowledging African Legacies in terms of carving or modelling skills to represent in human form historically well-known African people; people known for their historical contribution to Africa. 

Since our work is about poverty reduction, MMD 2020 will focus on those types of African sculptures that represent those who showed exceptional talents in helping others to come out poverty during the pre-independence epoch.  We shall extend our interest to those who are drawing inspiration from these sculptural legacies in order reduce poverty in today’s world.

Because of the coronavirus outbreak and its spikes, the 12^th MMD Event of two days of work will be held virtually.  Like everybody, we are required to follow Covid-19 restrictions and social distancing rules to protect ourselves, the CENFACS Community and the public health.

For further information on this acknowledgement, read under the Main Development section of this post.  

Besides the main history theme of October, we are also running our environmental campaign “A la une” as planned. 

 

 

 

• “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature) Campaign with Special Attention to Restoration of Ecological Infrastructure in Africa

 

“A la une” campaign has already started with our work on the GREAT BEASTS and the “Blue Spaces” theme.   During these October and November 2020, we shall continue these two areas of advocacy while dealing with our work on Sustainable Trajectories for the Nature where we left it.  In this campaign about the upkeep of the nature, we shall pay a special attention to Restoration of Ecological Infrastructure in Africa. 

Restoration comes at the right moment since we are dealing with the process of building back better Africa from the coronavirus pandemic disaster.  Restoration is also part of the Rehabilitation Strategies making the third phase of our Covid-19 Campaign, a Campaign for Resilience against the Coronavirus Pandemic. 

As we mentioned it in our previous communications, in the process of building back better Africa, one should not forget flora and fauna.  Likewise, one should not leave behind ecological infrastructure in Africa.

Furthermore, last year we were in a situation of urgency of taking a bold climate action to keep under control the trajectories of rising temperature.  This year, there is a new urgency brought by the health crisis with the coronavirus pandemic.  This new urgency has been added to the last year’s one as the climate urgency has not been yet resolved. 

Because of these two urgencies, our work on the nature will take on board both of them.   By taking into account the two of them, we shall include the dilemma about how to help meet life-sustaining needs while handling life-threatening impacts of climate change and Covid-19.  In this respect, “A la une” campaign will integrate life-sustenance and life-treat.    

An outline of the contents of Restoration work that will make this year’s “A la une” campaign will be given in our future communication.

For any more information about this year’s “A la une” campaign, please contact CENFACS and or continue to read our posts over this Autumn season.

Before closing this chapter about “A la une”, we would like to just let you know that the environmental campaign known as “A la une” and humanitarian appeal are both part of our Autumn programme.

 

 

 

• Just Been Launched: Autumn 2020 Humanitarian Relief Appeal in the Period of a Post-pandemic Recovery 

 

The 2020 Edition of Autumn Humanitarian Relief Appeal is now live on the page Support Us at cenfacs.org.uk/support-us/

This appeal is about improving the quality of poor people’s lives and welfare by helping them to help themselves.  It is also about enhancing the quality of protection for the nature.

This appeal is not an ordinary humanitarian relief request like the one we launch every autumnal season.  It is an extraordinary one dealing with the problems that poor people, organisations and wildlife are facing in the contexts of life-threatening and destroying impacts of the coronavirus in a post-pandemic recovery period.  For people who are already poor and wildlife that has been continuously threatened, the current contexts of Covid-19 threat and economic restructuring make life even more difficult for them compared to other contexts.

In launching this appeal, we are mindful of the current difficult global health and economic contexts in which many of our supporters are.  Due to these conditions, the ability of many of them to support good and deserving causes has been reduced.   For those who can support, we are imploring to them to do something in the forms of donation, gift aid and other helpful support.

You can …

√ donate £2 to create 2 benefits (1 benefit for humans and 1 benefit for other natural livings) or any amount starting from £2 or more as you wish,

√ gift aid your giving,

√ and support these projects in a way that is the most suitable and related to your situation, capacity and willingness.

Support has no limits at CENFACS.  You can donate as much as you can.

To donate, gift aid and support otherwise to help poor people, flora, fauna, communities and organisations in Africa; please contact CENFACS at cenfacs.org.uk/support-us/.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Crossing the Line of Extreme Poverty for the First Time

 

As part of the implementation process of Goal 2 of our 2020s Poverty Reduction Programme and Development Agenda, we are dealing with the number of people who have crossed the line of extreme poverty for the first time, in particular the line of extreme consumption poverty.

Before going further, let us explain extreme poverty.  The United Nations (1) defines extreme poverty as

“a condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information.  It depends not only on income but also on access to services”.

During any severe crisis, it happens that many people and or families can be forced to cross the line of extreme poverty as defined above.  For those who are already poor and/or have experienced extreme poverty before, they know what is like to be extremely poor.  They know the struggle to pay for or access food, energy, water, health, housing, education, information, transport, equal rights, etc. 

This week, we are dealing with the poverty elements of Goal 2 since the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have push many people and families to the edge or to cross the line of extreme poverty.  They have added health and personal hygiene costs (such as the costs of buying personal protective equipment, sanitisation and disinfection products as well as the cost 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 did cross the line of extreme poverty for the first time to move to full extreme poverty area, we would like to hear your experience of crossing the line of extreme poverty for the first time.

To share your experience of crossing the line of extreme poverty for the first time, just contact CENFACS.

(1) United Nations, 1995: The UN 1995 Report of the World Summit for Social Development

 

 

 

• Covid-19 History and Poverty History

 

It may be too earlier to talk about the history of the Covid-19 since this type of virus in a family of coronaviruses has just been known recently.  In fact, researches have been still conducted to understand the nature and pattern of Covid-19.  However, as part of the October History Month and due to the continuation of battle against Covid-19, we are doing some history learning and development about it. 

We are studying the evolution of the epidemiological (epi-curves) curves of the Covid-19 since its outbreak, and its implications for and consequences on poverty and poverty reduction.  We will be looking at the evolution of poverty since Covid-19 outbreak began to see if there could be any correlation between the epi-curves of Covid-19 and poverty curves in the specific area of our operation in Africa.

This kind of work requires reliable data as well as good methodology and modelling technics (e.g. quantitative or statistical ones like econometrics).  If anyone is doing similar study or research within the community, it will be a good idea to share these findings with CENFACS.

For further details about Covid-19 History and Poverty History, please contact CENFACS.  

 

 

 

• Mission Year and History Month

 

Our Mission Year continues in this October 2020 of history learning and development. Likewise, the projet dealing with the Mission Year is still being implemented.  As part of this implementation process, we are applying this projet to the History Month.

Indeed, besides our Making Memorable Difference Project with its 2020 focus on African Sculptures and Representation of African Historical Figures, we are carrying on to learn the history of poverty reduction and sustainable development in Africa.  This history learning and development echoes our Mission Year and Project.

CENFACS’ Mission Year and Project is about embarking on poverty reduction charitable endeavour by working with and being on the side of those who are poor, especially at this exceptional time of the coronavirus pandemic and economic uncertainty. 

One can attempt to draw from the above that there could be a link between the contents and activities of our Mission Year/Project on the one hand and our desire to continue to learn and develop from the history of poverty reduction in Africa on the other.  There is an area of intersection between the activities of Mission Year/Project and those of History Month.   There is an area of common interest between our poverty reduction mission on the one hand and poverty reduction through African sculptures and the representation of African historical figures of the pre-independence era on the other. 

Briefly, poverty reduction can be looked at as a mission to accomplish and as a history subject to learn and develop.

To discuss and or enquire about CENFACS’ Mission Year/Project and History Month, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Main Development  

 

• History Month with Making Memorable Difference Project – In Focus: African Sculpture and Representation of African Historical Figures of the Pre-independence Era (i.e. Period before the 1960s)

 

• • What is MMD? 

 

MMD is

∼ a two-day event of Awareness, Thought and Recognition set up by CENFACS in 2009 to celebrate the Black History Month in our own way and feeling while preserving the tradition linked to this remembrance and standing on the shoulders of similar celebrations

∼ a historic project of collective memory about works carried out, heritage and legacies left by Africans

∼ all about collectively telling, acknowledging, studying and learning that every day Africans wherever they are (in Africa) or elsewhere (in the UK-Croydon and the world) are striving to improve the quality of their lives and of others. Through their historically valuable works, they are making memorable difference and the world a better place for everybody, including the generations to come.

∼ a celebration of African Abilities, Talents, Skills and Gifts to Africa and the world.

This year’s dedicated two days (27 and 28 October 2020) are virtual days of historical study, analysis and skill recognition and celebration of the legacies left by Africans in Sculpture and Representation of Historical Figures. 

So, our sharing and engaging content this October is on how the carving and modelling skills, abilities and knowledge of Africans helped in representing historical figures, while reducing poverty and enhancing sustainable development.

 

• • Two Virtual Days of African History: One Day for Sculptures and One Day for Representation of Historical Figures

 

Understanding Day (27 October 2020): Understanding of African Sculptures

In the first day of MMD will be about looking at how the art or act of carving or modelling with clay, wood, stone, plaster, etc. has so far helped in understanding African history and in relieving people from poverty and hardships.  During this virtual day, we shall look at some examples or patterns of sculptural work done by African sculptors while trying to identify or pick up any messages of poverty reduction in some of these historical works.

 

Legacies and Gifts Day (28 October 2020): Representation of Historical Figures of the Pre-independence Era (i.e. period before the 1960s)

During the Legacies and Gifts Day of MMD, we shall deal with the best sustainable and non- conflicting way of representing Historical African Figures of the Pre-independence Era (i.e.  a period before the 1960s).

This treatment of African history will be done in a way that avoids or minimises conflicts between previous and future generations, between the past and current worlds.  In other words, efforts will be made to find ways of best representing African historical figures while avoiding conflicts between generations, between ethnic groups, between civilisations.  In doing so, we shall try to build bridges between generations.

Briefly, the overall purpose of the MMD materials from African Sculpture and Figures Representation will be to extirpate the historical legacies and foundations in terms of poverty reduction and sustainable development in Africa.  They will be about finding out sculptural messages about how African sculpture and figures representation have helped to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development during the above defined era.  

To engage with this year’s MMD theme and or support this project, please contact CENFACS on this site. 

 

• • Making Memorable Difference Timeline

 

2009: CENFACS recognised environmental sustainability.

2010: We acknowledged and honoured sports contributions and history in relieving collective poverty and improving community lives beyond fitness and beyond individualistic achievements.

2011: We recollected, remembered and revered caregiving talents and legacies of young carers in enhancing human development (their own development and other people’s development) by reducing the burden of poverty.

2012: We dedicated our historical recognition to Africa’s Global Game Runners and the Science of Running.

2013: Our two days were about the Memorable Difference Made and brought by Working Poor (Miners & Factory Workers) in relieving poverty. We consecrated them to the historical study of The Role of Working Poor Miners and Factory Workers of Natural Resources and Extractive Industries in the Poverty Relief in Africa since the Berlin Conference (1884-5).

2014: We celebrated the place of the African Music and Dance in the pre– and post-colonial eras, the late 1950s and the early 1960s. This celebration focused on the African History of Singing and Dancing and their Impacts on Liberation and Freedoms.

2015: Making Memorable Difference focused on African Negotiators of the History. 

2016: We remembered the Protectors and Guardians of the African History and Heritage. 

2017: We acknowledged the Communicators of the African History 

2018: We learnt about African Communications and Oral History

2019: We searched on the African Health History

For further details about these past MMD events, please contact CENFACS. 

 

Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going in 2020.

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 2020 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

30 September 2020

 

Post No. 163

 

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• To be Launched this Autumn 2020: Autumn Humanitarian Relief Appeal 2020

• Poverty Reduction Goals Project – Goal No. 2: Reduction of Consumption Poverty

• Coming this October 2020: Making Memorable Difference Project

 

… and much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• To be Launched this Autumn 2020: Autumn Humanitarian Relief Appeal 2020

 

Our humanitarian appeal for Autumn 2020 will be soon launched this October 2020 and will be live on the Support Us page of this website at cenfacs.org.uk/support-us/

This appeal is about supporting needy people, flora, fauna, communities and organisations in Africa.  It will include the following five selected projects: 

1/ Skills for Building Back Better

2/ Symmetry Project

3/ Gender into Covid-19 Economic Recovery in Africa

4/ Back-to-School Support

5/ Save Flora and Fauna projects

A brief summary of these projects will be posted on the same page Support Us (http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/) of this website. 

The full project proposals of each project making this appeal will be available should any of the potential donor or funder makes a request. 

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

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

We understand that the world is experiencing an extremely difficult time with the coronavirus pandemic which has enormously disrupted the functioning of many economies, including the ability of people to support good and deserving causes. 

The effects of this health crisis are even stronger in place where there is a high level of poverty like in Africa.  This is why we will be launching this seasonal appeal to help not only to reduce poverty but also to save lives from the coronavirus disaster.

Once this appeal is live, we are inviting those who can to donate £2 to create 2 benefits (1 benefit for humans and 1 benefit for other natural livings) or any amount starting from £2 or more as you wish. 

You can gift aid your donation as well as support these projects in a way that is the most suitable and related to your situation, capacity and willingness.

To donate, gift aid and support otherwise; please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

 

• Poverty Reduction Goals Project – Goal No. 2: Reduction of Consumption Poverty

 

This week, we are starting the implementation process of our 2020s Poverty Reduction Programme and Development Agenda.  We are doing it through Poverty Reduction Goal 2, which is Reduction of Consumption Poverty.

Indeed, poverty comes in all shapes and sizes.  One of the types of poverty that people experience is the one related to the lack or insufficient consumption both in quality and quantity.  In our 2020s Poverty Reduction Programme and Development Agenda, we will be working with local organisations and people to improve ways of reducing poverty linked to consumption while taking stock about the work which has been undertaken so far. 

Under the Main Development section of this post, we have provided more information about Goal 2 of our 2020s Programme and Agenda; information which we are inviting you to read and share.

 

 

 

• Coming this October 2020: Making Memorable Difference Project

In Focus: History of African Sculpture and Representation of Historical African Figures of the Pre-independence Era (Period before the 1960s)

 

Let us first start by defining sculpture in order to make sense of what is the focus of Making Memorable Difference (MMD) Project.  Using Chambers’ Concise Dictionary (1), it says that sculpture is

“the art or act of carving or modelling with clay, wood, stone, plaster, etc.” (p. 1108)

Sculpture can help in understanding history or just the past.  It can as well help us to build imagination and represent better those who made the African world in which many Africans are living in today. 

Through the MMD Project, we shall try to identify history makers or historical figures of the pre-independence era in Africa.  Some of these people, who could be called historical figures and have their recognised place in our memory for the difference they made in their time and for the legacies they left which are being celebrated today, will be remembered during the two days of the delivery of MMD Project.   

So, as part of our Season of Autumn of Building Back Better Africa, we will be working on way of building back better the African sculpture and the Historical African Figures of the Pre-independence Era.  To do that one may need to reassess the contribution of these figures while comparing the pre-independence to post-independence/democratic periods of the 21^st Century.  

The above is just a brief about the theme of this year’s MMD Project.  For any enquiries about this brief or any other information, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Individual Capacity Development Activity: Application of the Model of Change Curve

 

As part of our Individual Capacity Development Activity in this Autumn of Acceptance and Integration, we are asking to those who can to apply the model of change curve by Elizabeth Kübler-Ross (2) at their personal and individual level. 

The purpose of this exercise is to use the two stages (acceptance and integration) from her 5 stages model to try to look at the possibility of accepting and integrating the effects of the coronavirus shock into their work/life balance. 

One can hope that by doing the exercise this can help them in the process of building back better from the ill or side effects of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. 

We are as well asking to those who may have done or will do this acceptance and integration exercise to share their outcomes or experiences. 

To discuss any issue regarding these requests related to the Individual Capacity Development Activity, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Back to the Upkeep of the Nature with the Theme of “Blue Spaces”: What to take away

 

Our three weeks activity on the “Blue Spaces” is now over.  However, we shall continue to work and campaign on issues related to the “Blue Spaces” as part of our conservation and heritage areas of work.

Following on the “Blue Spaces” theme, we would like to share with you these three takeaways:

(1) There is a need to develop or improve the model of working together with local people through the “Blue Spaces”

(2) Both poverty reduction and sustainable development can be blue

(3) Maintaining healthy relationships between any human efforts to reduce poverty and “Blue Spaces” can help to conserve the blue biodiversity.

As part of the monitoring and evaluation process of the “Blue Spaces” theme, we would like you to give us your views on the three notes related to this theme and your own experience of the “Blue Spaces” in terms of poverty reduction and sustainable development.

Thank you for your support.

 

 

 

• Virtual Open Day and Hours (VODHs) End but Advice Service Continues…

 

Our September Month of Advice-giving Sessions (of VODHs) ends today.  However, our advice service will continue as advice is part of the service we provide. 

For those who need advice and who could not contact us on the day (every Fridays of September 2020) and hours (between 10am and 2pm), they can still seek advice online, 24 hours and 7 days a week.

 

To request advice and or any other services (such as Basic Community Support, Consume to Reduce Poverty, Bridging Financial Information Gap), please have a look at http://cenfacs.org.uk/services-activities/

 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank those who contacted us for advice and or made enquiries about our other services. 

Need advice; please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• Poverty Reduction Goals Project – Goal No. 2: Reduction of Consumption Poverty

 

Reduction of Consumption Poverty is one of the seven goals making CENFACS’ 2020s Poverty Reduction Programme and Development Agenda.  Before looking at this second goal of our 2020s Poverty Reduction Programme and Development Agenda, let us define those who are called consumption poor.

 

• • Who is consumption poor?

 

Referring to the resource provided by the website www.borgenmanagerial.com (3), it is possible to argue that consumption poor are

“those who live or may be living above the income poverty line but spend the majority of their income on food or health care, rendering them unable to afford proper housing”.

Bearing in mind that the value of the international standard is $3.20 a day, this definition could be disputable.  However, it provides some insights to the understanding of consumption poor as well as it can help to measure consumption poverty at individual and household levels.  

Consumption poverty can as well be better understood by using various quantitative and qualitative measures.  One of the many measures or indicators used multilateral agencies is the Prevalence of Undernourishment. 

For instance, in a collective publication by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and other multilateral agencies (4), they argue that

“By 2030, the projected rise in the Prevalence of Undernourishment (PoU) would bring the number of hungry people in Africa to almost 433 million, 412 of whom would be in Sub-Saharan countries” (p. 10)

They further claim in the same publication that

“Africa has the highest PoU and the second highest number of undernourished people, accounting for 36.4 per cent of the global total” (p. 15)

With the current health and economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the PoU could increase just as the number of consumption poor in Africa could be higher than what any estimate may provide.

Once one understands or defines consumption poverty and its measures, they can then try to do something about it.  One way of doing something is to tackle or reduce it.

 

• • Reduction of consumption poverty

 

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.

Tackling any types of poverty (including consumption poverty) implies dealing with its root causes, improving way of measuring it through consumption-based poverty index or indicators and developing a strategy or plan of action to deal with it. 

In the case of CENFACS, we have developed the 2020s Development Agenda and Poverty Reduction Programme in terms of framework of action.  

 

• • • CENFACS’ 2020s Development Agenda

 

The 2020s Development Agenda is a series of processes and tools defining the 2020s development framework that will enable CENFACS deliver its poverty reduction goals.

It is indeed a summary and coherent list of the issues and challenges that poor people are facing in 2020 and will face throughout the 2020s; issues and challenges that need to be addressed in order to reduce and end poverty in Africa.  These issues and challenges will shape the kind of poverty reduction work CENFACS will do with its Africa-based Sister Organisations and local people. 

 

• • • CENFACS’ 2020s Poverty Reduction Programme (C2020sPRP)

 

C2020sPRP, which is a group of related projects and activities organised in a coordinated way to reduce and possibly end poverty, aims at identifying and reaching out to extremely poor and help them out of poverty through sustainable development means.

The programme, which has a ten year vision to change lives, has a long term poverty reduction commitment and various phases or tranches while aiming at achieving collective benefits or outcomes of the projects and activities making it. 

The programme, which is a collection or package of projects and activities, has been under the responsibility of a programme manager inside CENFACS to ensure that the overall goal of poverty reduction is delivered and preserved.

The programme, which reflects our knowledge and experience of poverty in Africa and the UK, is not an end itself but an open dialogue with those in need and CENFACS’ stakeholders in continuing to search for solutions about the current, new and emerging problems of poverty in the era of a changing climate and in the new Age of the coronavirus pandemic.

The programme, which is a renewed commitment with CENFACS’ stakeholders, plans to share good practice in poverty reduction and sustainable development in innovative ways while seeking to develop knowledge, research and skills within the CENFACS community.

In order to achieve the overall aim of the programme, the programme has been equipped with some goals, targets and indicators so that we know the direction of travel we are taking, whether or not we are reaching our fixed objective and how we can measure what we are doing.

In practical terms, it means breaking down this programme and each goal into specific targets or objectives.  This is what we are trying to do with Goal number 2 of this programme, which is the “Reduction of Consumption Poverty”.

 

• • Objectives related to the goal of reduction of consumption poverty

 

This goal covers the following objectives:

√ Improvement of access to anti-poverty programmes in the area of consumption for Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) and their beneficiaries

√ Tackling the lack of ownership of durable goods that many of their users are experiencing

√ Enhancement of access and availability of resources for consumption poor people

√ Developing means for them to create their own savings while making better use of these savings

√ Ensuring they consume sustainably, safely and healthily

The above are the kinds of targets or objectives that stemmed from the consultations we had with our ASOs and local people; targets that everyone invested in these consultations wish them to reach by the end of the 2020s. 

However, due to circumstances and factors that may be uncontrollable (like the coronavirus pandemic and climate change), it is better to be moderate and cautious in terms of any ambition to reach these objectives.  Also, ten years or so are so many years to go and many things can happen. 

Nonetheless, if one wants to reduce poverty and do development, they need to have a plan of action on how they are going to go about it.  It could be a one month, one year, five years or ten years, etc.  They must have something beforehand. 

One could hope that by the end of the 2020s, these objectives could be reached.  Like in any agenda and programme of action, there will be monitoring, evaluation, reviews and progress assessment as we go along to make sure that this goal 2 is on track as well as the entire 2020s Poverty Reduction Programme and Development Agenda.    

For any enquiries or queries about this programme and or the Goal 2, please contact CENFACS.

_________

(1) Chambers Concise Dictionary © Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd 2009 (www.chambers.co.uk)

(2) Kübler-Ross E., 1969: On Death and Dying, New York: Simon and Schuster, Inc.

(3) https://www.borgenmagazine.com/the-best-way-to-measure-poverty/

(4) FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO, 2020: The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020 – Transforming food systems for affordable healthy diets.  Rome, FAO (https://doi.org/10.4060/ca9692en)

 

Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going in 2020.

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 2020 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

23 September 2020

 

Post No. 162

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Autumn Help to Build Back Better

• Build Back Better Fauna and Flora

• Back to the Upkeep of the Nature, In Focus for Week Beginning 21/09/2020: The Place of the “Blue Spaces” in Sustainable Development in Africa

 

… and much more! 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Autumn Fresh Start Help and Resources

 

Autumn Fresh Start Help normally strikes or kicks off our Autumn programme.  It is our Autumn project striker.  Autumn Fresh Start Help and Resources are made of fresh start skills, tips, hints, tweaks, hacks, etc.  These are help and resources designed to overcome poverty and hardships. 

However, we explained last week that this year’s Autumn within CENFACS may not be about Freshness or Fresh Start due to the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.  Instead, it would be about Acceptance and Integration to Build Back Better.

Despite that the title of our Autumn ICDP (Individual Capacity Development Programme) resource known as Fresh Autumn Start will remain unchanged.  But, the focus for this year’s Issue of this resource will be on Building Back Better.  For this year, our Autumn project striker is Autumn Help to Build Back Better.

 

• • Fresh Autumn Start (FAS) resources

 

Autumn Help to Build Back Better comes with Fresh Autumn Start (FAS) resources.  The highlights of the 2020 Edition of FAS is within the context of the Pandemic Year. 

Our keywords for this Autumn are acceptance and integration to build back better.  The context in which we will be using these key words is of the dominance of the coronavirus pandemic over 2020.

Further details about these key words and contextual framework are given below under the Main Development section of this post.

 

• • Advice-giving as part of Autumn Fresh Start Help and Resources

 

Our advice-giving month of September continues as planned and will end next month.  Advice-giving is also part of our Autumn Fresh Start Help and Resources.  Although we put particular emphasis on advice-giving activity in our September engagement, other aspects of Autumn Fresh Start or striker are also important and will continue beyond September.

To ask for Help to Build Back Better and or access Fresh Start Resources, just contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Build Back Better Flora and Fauna (BBBFF)

 

In the process of Building Back Better from the Covid-19 disaster, one should make sure that the other living beings are not left behind.  This attention to other beings (like plants and animals) should be done; although during lockdowns some positive data have been recorded showing, for example the reduction of pollution in some cities, the decrease in noise and human traffic (including motor traffic, aircraft, etc.).  

BBBFF is one of our Starting XI Projects.  Through this Starting Project, we are continuing to advocate for the protection of animals in Africa and elsewhere in developing world whereby animals get killed, traded and extinct to such extent that some species are at the brink of disappearing. 

Our fauna advocacy aims at dealing with ways of tackling the threats to survival in the wild facing by the world’s big cats (such as lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, cheetah, snow leopard, puma, clouded leopard, etc.), the world’s majestic animals and symbols of power and courage.

Animals such as jaguars, tigers, elephants, snakes, alligators, rhinoceroses, etc. are under threat.  There are several reasons about it which include: hunting, illicit and illegal trade, over-harvesting, habitat loss, climate change, poaching, etc.

CENFACS’ Build Back Better Animals or Fauna advocacy is to advocate for the enhancement of protection of endangered, threatened and vulnerable species. 

In this process, we are as well interested in efforts made to protect animals from diseases including the coronavirus.  For example, people can still remember how tuberculosis killed elephants in South Africa, a few years ago. 

We are as well extending our advocacy to other species in danger like trees, plans and flowers (flora).  It is a two scopes campaign of Building Back Better Fauna and Flora.  This year’s advocacy for flora and fauna will include two actions:

(1) Action to integrate Covid-19 restrictions into the flora and fauna advocacy

This action is about following and applying to letter the health advice and restrictions with regard to plants and animals as far as Covid-19 is concerned.

(2) Actions to recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction  

This action is about making sure that, plants and animals regain, restore and rebuild their lives.

Building Back Better Fauna and Flora is only an iceberg of the wide natural creature protection campaign. 

CENFACS’ Build Back Better Fauna and Flora is run this week until the last week of September 2020 and will be soon after followed by our Autumn environmental umbrella campaign, “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action to Upkeep the Nature in Existence) project. 

“A la une”will take Build Back Better Fauna and Flora advocacy to the other level of environmental communications.  It will focus on the Restoration of Ecological Infrastructures in Africa.

To advocate and raise your voice to build back better endangered species, contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Back to the Upkeep of the Nature, In Focus for Week Beginning 21/09/2020: The Place of the “Blue Spaces” in Sustainable Development in Africa

   

This is the last note of our “Blue Spaces” theme.  In this last note, we are dealing with the Place of the “Blue Spaces” in Sustainable Development in Africa.

The “Blue Spaces” have a role to play and a place to occupy in sustainable development.  Indeed, many people and communities depend for their livelihoods on the biodiversity from the “Blue Spaces” and their surrounding environment.  Also, the “Blue Spaces” can absorb carbon dioxide. 

In the above circumstances, it is pointless to argue that the “Blue Spaces” play a vital role and have an important place in sustainable development in Africa and elsewhere.  It is not a surprise that the United Nations made life below water as its sustainable development goal no. 14 as part of the Agenda 2030. 

To maintain the place and role of the “Blue Spaces” in sustainable development in Africa and elsewhere, there is a need to protect them from land-based pollution and unsustainable use of resources from them.  This protection should be in times of peace and war. 

It is possible to aim at a model of poverty reduction and development that is non-polluting and not reliant on unsustainable use of natural resources from the “Blue Spaces”.  It is as well possible to work together to make sure that Blue Sustainable Development is preserved in our fight against the coronavirus pandemic; a sustainable development model that is “Blue Spaces” friendly. 

To support this note and/or the all “Blue Spaces” theme or to get information about it, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Capacity Development in Building Back Better

 

Some people can easily restart life after a shock like the coronavirus pandemic.   Others can manage their working life and take new initiatives at the start of a new season and after returning from the Covid-19 lockdown.  Other more may struggle or find it difficult to resume their activity or simply may take such a long time to restart since they had a long period of economic inactivity during the lockdown.

 

• • Capacity is needed to build back better from the Covid-19 disaster

 

As part of back-to-relief programme, we are looking forward to working with people in need to redevelop their capacity to build back better.  To build back better, it requires a certain level of capacity, especially as we are in a situation whereby certain capacities have been destroyed and some people are coming from economic inactivity due to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns.  Likewise, more people can go back to economic inactivity if the coronavirus spikes increase.

To enable them to have a smooth return or transition as the economies are starting the work of rehabilitation, restoration and reconstruction, it makes sense to have their capacity maintained and redeveloped.

 

• • What is capacity development to build back better?

 

This is a set of Autumn support made of fresh start essentials.  It is a process through which their capacity (that is their ability to perform functions of fresh start life is re-established or redeveloped) is recreated.  This process includes fresh start skills, knowledge and resources.  This redevelopment of capacity will go beyond their specific area of work to include capacity in some areas of health protection since the world is still battling against Covid-19. 

To enquire about Capacity Development to Build Back Better, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• African Poverty Reduction Movements in the Era of Covid-19

How African Poverty Reduction Movements can identify themselves in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic

 

Under CENFACS’ be.africa Forum, we are discussing the future development of poverty reduction movements (like the protest movements in Algeria).  Our discussion is about the link between poverty reduction movements, poor people and African organisations in Africa.  During this week’s discussions, we shall revisit the current and previous poverty reduction movements while having an outlook in terms of their prospects in terms of their contribution to poverty reduction and sustainable development in Africa.

This week, we are working on the interaction between the three entities, particularly on how the link between them can reshape outcomes about poverty reduction and sustainable development for poor people, where these movements take place in Africa in the era of the coronavirus pandemic.  Our discussion will indeed be about how these movements identify them in the battle against Covid-19 while keeping the integrity of their agendas about poverty reduction and sustainable development working according plans.      

To join and or add your input to this Autumn discussion, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• Mission Year and Advice-giving Month

 

CENFACS’ 2020 Mission Year is a coordinated plan by CENFACS to provide what is needed and necessary to support any efforts of poverty reduction.  In the context of Advice-giving Month, it is about linking this mission with the need to work together with vulnerable people and communities so that they can access life-protecting and –saving advice during this Autumn and beyond.

Working with local people to have appropriate choice of activities to reduce poverty and hardships will be the kinds of Mission we are having this month.  It is about working with them to find advice service and activities that are relevant to their needs of poverty reduction and sustainable development.  This is because not all types of advice can gear towards poverty reduction and sustainable development.   

The link between the Mission Year and Advice-giving Month is finally expressed in our efforts to help people and communities to help themselves to reduce poverty while working with them to access relevant advisory recipes to build back better from the adverse impacts caused by the Covid-19.

To enquire about how CENFACS will implement its mission and advice service at the same time, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

 

Main Development 

 

• Autumn Help to Build Back Better

            

• • What is Fresh Autumn Start (FAS)

 

FAS is a continuation of our Summer Support projects into the Autumn season.  It is a building block or additional back up of useful survival tips and hints to embrace Autumn as smoothly and trouble-freely as possible. 

It includes real life situations that users may face when and as they return from their Summer Break or season on one hand, and possible leads to proffer solutions to their arising Autumn needs on the other hand.

This FAS resource is not exhaustive or an end itself.  It has to be completed with other resources.  It is a good basic insight into a Fresh Start as it provides helpful advisory tools for a Fresh Start and confidence building for the rest of the Autumn season.  It could also be used as a reference for users to engineer their own idea of Fresh Start and the sustained management of autumn needs. 

The focus for this year’s FAS is on Building Back Better.  This focus was carefully chosen after considering what happened during this Summer with the coronavirus and subsequent lockdowns.  It has been agreed to focus on supporting beneficiaries to build back better after the effects of Covid-19 and lockdown rather than just expecting them to come back from the lockdown to freshly start as if no major crisis happened during Summer 2020.

At the end of this resource, there are some websites addresses or directories for help and support.  These sources of help and support are not exhaustive.  We have mainly considered third sector organisations and service providers as well as social enterprises. 

For further or extended list of service providers for your Autumn needs, one can contact their local authorities and service directories (both online and print).

 

• • The Focus of Fresh Autumn Start 2020 Edition

 

This Autumn, we are approaching Fresh Start Help from the perspective of building back better.   We know that Covid-19 is not over and the battle against it continues.  There is a probability for coronavirus spikes.  This is why we argued a case about a Sinusoidal Autumn, whereby there could be rises followed by decreases (and vice versa) of the epidemiological curves (epi-curves) of the coronavirus during this Autumn. 

However, since the economies are doing the work of rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction; we too are trying to find our way to help those in need in starting to build back better while prudently shadowing the stages of coronavirus outbreak or the evolution of the epi-curves of the coronavirus pandemic.    

Throughout this Autumn, we will try to work with beneficiaries in helping them to meet their basic life-sustaining needs of building back better in the context of the sinusoidal Autumn due to the persisting effects of the coronavirus pandemic.  We will as well work with them on the model of change they may embrace in terms of acceptance and integration of the effects of the coronavirus shock.  This will mostly be at individual level to meet individual needs after the first shock of Covid-19 while keeping an eye on any erupting effects of any probable shock waves of the Covid-19 during this Autumn.

So, Fresh Autumn Start will deal with the needs to build back better from the first Covid-19 shock, subsequent lockdown and any potential shock waves from Covid-19 this Autumn and beyond.

 

• • Key summaries of the contents of FAS 2020 Edition

 

The contents for 2020 Edition of Fresh Autumn Start (FAS) include:

• Autumn scenarios and actions to take

• Examples of Summer Break Expenses Track Record and Autumn Build-Back-Better Budget

• People needs and Autumn leads

• Integration of threats

• What you can get from CENFACS

• Autumn online and digital resources

 

• • • Possible Autumn Scenarios and Possible Actions

 

When returning from Summer Break and/or season or coronavirus-induced lockdown, people can find themselves in a variety of situations depending on their own individual circumstances and life experiences.  This variety of situations may require or be expected to be matched with a diversity of responses in order to meet people’s Autumn needs.  These variable circumstances and diverse responses or a course of actions can take the different shapes as well as can be framed in order to take into account the adverse impacts of climate change.

 

• • • Examples of Summer Break Expenses Track Record and Autumn Build-Back-Better Budget

 

Tracking down and reassessing summer break/season expenses is a positive step to put one through a positive start for the Autumn season.  As part of this positive step, FAS is packed with an example of Summer Break Expenses Track Record.

Budgeting Autumn items and needs is also good for a Fresh Start and for overall control over the start and rest of autumn season expenses.  Since our focus is on build back better, one can write a build back better budget.  Such a budget will help in costing the activities planned in the process of building back better.

To support this financial control, FAS contains two examples of budgets: Autumn build back better budget and fresh start budget.   

 

• • • People’s Needs and Autumn Leads 

               

Variable circumstances can obviously result in multiple needs.  One of these circumstances is the exceptional conditions of Covid-19 and lockdowns.  To meet those needs, we may have to gather resources, tools and institutions to guide us.  The 2020 Edition of FAS provides a table that gives an idea of the likely leads to satisfy people’s needs or just to guide them.

 

• • • Integrating the threats from the adverse impacts of various factors into FAS

 

The particularity of FAS 2020 edition is that it integrates the life-threatening impacts of the coronavirus and the probable adverse impacts of climate change.  This integration is at the levels of possible Autumn scenarios, Autumn budget and arising needs.  It is the integration of both life-sustaining needs and life-threatening impacts of the coronavirus and climate change. 

 

• • • What You Can Get from CENFACS in Autumn under Autumn Help to Build Back Better

 

The set of help provided in the FAS 2020 to Build Back Better is part of CENFACS’ UK arm of services and additional services we set up to overcome the negative effects of the coronavirus and lockdown.  Besides that it further takes into account specific needs of people that may require specialist organisations and or institutions to deal with them.  In which case CENFACS can signpost or refer the applicants to those third parties.

We hope that the basic tips and hints making the contents of FAS 2020 Edition will help you in some aspects of your Autumn needs.

Wishing you a Safe and Healthy Autumn season, and good work of Building Back Better!

 

Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going in 2020.

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 2020 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

16 September 2020

 

Post No. 161

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Autumn of Building Back Better

• Autumn Programme with XI Projects to Build Back Better

• Back-to-the Upkeep of the Nature with the “Blue Spaces”

 

… and much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Autumn of Building Back Better

 

Normally, Autumn is the season of Freshness or Fresh Start within CENFACS.  It is the season after the long sunny weather and break of Summer most of our beneficiaries return back to freshly restart. 

This year, because of the coronavirus pandemic and its continuing adverse effects we cannot simply assume that everybody can easily restart this Autumn.  The all Summer has been about healthiness issues.  There are many members of our community who have been seriously affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown.  There are even families whose children have not yet returned to school due the Covid-19 effects.  These effects on them have changed the nature of Autumn. 

 

• • The Changing Nature of the Autumn Season: Freshness to Building Back   

 

We have started to see a sinusoidal pattern in the coronavirus pandemic.  After having a short period of decrease of the coronavirus pandemic, there are now rises in some parts of the world including in Europe.  This pattern could mean some oscillations in people’s activities as well.

Because of this sinusoidal trend or the sine wave of the coronavirus pandemic, we are refraining ourselves to call this Autumn of Freshness or Fresh Start.  Instead, we will call this Autumn of Building Back as it will be of working together with our local people to build back better from the side effects of the coronavirus and lockdowns. 

We are going to work together to build back where they were before the coronavirus pandemic struck, and where possible, we will strive to build back better.  Therefore, the key words and phrases for our sharing and engaging contents over this Autumn are Sinusoid (or sine wave) and Build Back Better which will underpin all our works over this period.

 

• • Sinusoidal Autumn 2020 of Building Back Better

 

This Autumn could be a sinusoidal one at the start while hoping that at the end it could become of restoration.  Nobody knows the number of oscillations that may happen.  The entire waveform may shift in time to become linear by the end, in which case one could think of sign of recovery or restoration.

As the facts speak for themselves (with the recent increase in the number of Covid-19 infected cases), we can speculate that there could be rises and decreases in the number of infected persons.  This can only affect people’s Autumn life, happiness and work.  One can hope that there could be some signs of calming by the end of Autumn 2020. 

In meantime, we will work together to help build back lives while shadowing the evolution of the epidemiological curves (“epi-curves”) of the coronavirus pandemic.  One needs to be positive about the future if they want to help reduce poverty without ignoring the reality of the coronavirus pandemic.  As mentioned earlier, our Autumn will be of Building Back, and where possible of Building Back Better. 

 

• • Autumn 2020 of Acceptance and Integration

 

One can assume that this Autumn will be in a sine wave.  By referring to the 1960s theory of the five stages of grief or model of change curve by Elizabeth Kübler-Ross (1), it is possible to argue that after the Covid-19 shock, some of our people would be in a position where they could accept that change is inevitable, and they could return to where they were before the coronavirus with changes rather than against them.  After they experienced isolation (or self-isolation) and remoteness due to the lockdowns, they may need some levels of support to be maintained to return to an earlier stage.  By looking at again the Elizabeth Kübler-Ross model, one can sum up by saying that this Autumn is of Acceptance and Integration at individual and people’s levels.

For more details about the features of Autumn 2020 within CENFACS, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

(1) Kübler-Ross E., 1969: On Death and Dying, New York: Simon and Schuster, Inc.

 

• Autumn Programme with XI Projects to Build Back Better

 

Before talking about the Autumn XI Projects, let us clarify the concepts of Build Back Better.  From the body of literature we consulted, we have chosen this terminology from the United Nations General Assembly 2016 (2) which says that 

“Build Back Better (BBB) 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 societal systems, and into the revitalization of livelihoods, economies, and the environment”.

From this definition, we can argue that our Autumn 2020 will be about recovering, rehabilitation and reconstruction with the CENFACS Community and our Africa-based Sister Organisations.   To proceed with this post-coronavirus disaster work, we have selected the projects listed below.

 

Recover, Rehabilitate and Reconstruct with Build-Back-Better Projects from the Autumn 2020 Essential Programme

 

Autumn of Building Back Better is about working together with our users and stakeholders through helpful collection of Build Back Better projects blended together to give a new seasoned leaf of relief during Autumn 2020.  These projects implement new and improved ways of working with local people to meet changing need mainly led by the persisting adverse effects of the coronavirus pandemic. 

The Autumn 2020 Essential Programme is made of 

1/ Build Back Better Skills, Tips, Hints, Tweaks and Hacks 

2/ Transformative experiences  

3/ The Season’s appeal to stand up again against poverty and hardships  

4/ A Slice of Africa’s history 

5/ Build Back thoughts and inspirations for a Coronavirus-free poverty relief and development agenda 

All this is flavoured with hopes, dreams and reasons to believe in the future; a poverty-free, sustainable and coronavirus-free world. 

So, the line up for CENFACS’ Build Back XI Projects (or Build Back Better Projects) for this Autumn is as follows:

(1) Women, Children and Coronavirus Talks Day

(2) Poverty Reduction Goals Project: Goal No. 2 – NEW

(3) Ecology and Sanitation Advocacy – NEW

(4) Health Economics for the Poor – NEW

(5) Build Back Better Flora and Fauna

(6) Making Memorable Difference

(7) A la Une (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence)

(8) Essentia project – NEW

(9) Help to Build Back Better

(10) Covid-19 Campaign 

(11) Autumn Humanitarian Relief Appeal

For more on these projects, read below under the Main Developments section of this post.

 

 

 

 

• Back-to-the Upkeep of the Nature with the “Blue Spaces”

In Focus for Week beginning 14/09/2020: The Contribution of the “Blue Spaces” to Poverty Reduction

 

There are many ways which show that the “Blue Spaces” contribute to the reduction of poverty in Africa and elsewhere.  This contribution could come from water itself as a natural resource making a particular blue space (e.g. river, lake, canal, fountain, etc.) and other resources or wealth containing in blue spaces (such as fish, plants, minerals, etc.).

To understand that we are going to give a counter example of the Lake Chad in Africa that experienced drought due to the global warming and climate change.  This drought or lack of enough water in this lake had terrible consequences for those poor whose living has been dependent on the Lake Chad and its wealth.  This drought has affected the entire Lake Chad Basin.

There are countless examples which demonstrate that the “Blue Spaces” contribute to the reduction of poverty and hardships.  At this exceptional time of the coronavirus pandemic, where there have been travel restrictions on land, the “Blue Spaces” were an opportunity to those living nearby to access water resources to meet basic needs to maintain life and survive during this crisis.

So, through this week’s note on the theme of “Blue Spaces”, we can take stock of the first note, exchange knowledge and look forward in the process of making the “Blue Spaces” work for the poor and the neediest.  We can keep blue poverty relief working.

To add your input and or enquire about this second note, please contact CENFACS.    

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• Starting or Renewing your Involvement with CENFACS’ Work

 

The beginning of every season is an opportunity either to continue to do the things we always do as they work or to think of taking on new initiatives in the new season or to do both.  Likewise, in times of crisis like the coronavirus pandemic there are not only threats and losses; there are as well opportunities to do things differently.  One can use the opportunity of this health crisis to change things.  There are many ways in which one can build back better this Autumn.

For example, one can use the opportunity of the current health and rethink on the types of organisations and projects they support.  One may find appropriate to start or increase or even reduce their support to a particular development cause.  One could also think of getting involved in CENFACS’ work or renewing their commitment to it if they have ever got involved in it before.  The decision is theirs.

Below we have spelled out various ways in which one can enhance CENFACS’ cause and make a useful impact on poverty alleviation with us.

 

 

• International Advice Service: Health Check Service Promotion!

 

As part of our International Advice Service, we are having a promotion this week.  We are holding advice sessions on Health Check for African organisations under the Back-to-relief Programme. 

The purpose of this health check is to detect critical issues to improve the performance of Africa-based Sister Organisations, especially as many of them have been affected by the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.  Through these advisory sessions, there is a possibility to achieve the following:

√ Update organisational programmes of work

√ Track the traffic of services and activities

√ Clean up organisations’ processes and operations by removing malfunctions

√ Update organisations’ settings and fix problems

√ Track e-income streams

√ Tap into the coronavirus finance packages in the international funding market

Etc.

Need health check or general advice; please do not hesitate to take this week’s promotion from CENFACS.

 

 

• Data Analytics about All-Year Round Projects, Triple Value Initiatives (Play, Run and Vote projects)

 

Generally these projects are run separately.  In this Autumn, as part of data tracking we are continuing to study the relationship between the three of them.  To do that, we will be tracking data about them, especially from those who have managed to undertake the three of them.  So, the aim of this data tracking exercise is to combine data about them to generate an increased or add-on relief against poverty and hardships.  In doing so, we will be able to discover if there are some interactions or correlations between them.  Our analysis will not stop there, we will as well study the patterns in data collected and treated.

For further details about this data tracking and or to communicate your actions-results about them, please contact CENFACS. 

 

 

 

Main Developments

 

• Autumn Programme with XI Projects to Build Back Better (Build Back Better Projects)

 

Please find below the projects making CENFACS’ Autumn 2020 of Building Back Better.

11 PROJECTS TO BUILD BACK BETTER: 11 WAYS OF HELPING TO REDUCE AND END POVERTY THIS AUTUMN 2020

 

September 

~ Build Back Better Flora and Fauna projects (including the Big Beasts sub-advocacy) will continue our advocacy work on the protection of plants and animals while implementing new ways of working with local people and organisations in Africa to build back better flora and fauna at the time of the coronavirus pandemic (advocacy)

~ A la Une (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature in Existence) will include our sub-advocacy work on nature, which is Sustainable Trajectories for the Nature.  This year, A la Une project will focus on the Restoration of Ecological Infrastructures in Africa.(Campaign)

~ Autumn Help to Build Back Better (Resource): a new and enhanced support to the CENFACS Community returning from the lockdown and long Summer break 2020.  The resource will contain new information, tips and hints to help the community meet their changing needs due to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

October

~ Autumn Appeal to Support projects (Humanitarian appeal): a renewed engagement with supporters via an appeal to deal with the persisting side effects of the coronavirus on poor people in Africa.

~ Making Memorable Difference (History project): History of African Sculpture and Representation of Historical African Figures of the Pre-independence Era (Period before the 1960s)

~ Poverty Reduction Goals Project: Goal No. 2  – Reduction of Consumption Poverty which is one of the seven goals making CENFACS’ 2020 Development Agenda and Poverty Reduction Programme (Campaign) 

 

November 

~ Health Economics for the Poor: an innovative step forward and initiative that was set up as a result of our Summer 2020 Festival and response to the coronavirus pandemic.  The initiative will help to improve the cost-effectiveness of healthcare provision to the poor in terms of positive health outcomes (Sanitation poverty-relieving project)

~ Women & Children FIRST Development Day (Thoughts): a Talks Day about Child Care and Engendered Effects of the Coronavirus Pandemic in terms of coping and survival strategies against it.

~ Essentia Project: – A sustainable development and poverty-relieving initiative that uses the tenets and attributes of the essential economy in order to help people and communities in need to escape from poverty and hardships while connecting them to essential activities and motivating them to use non-polluting solutions to resolve their long standing problems of poverty and hardships (Essential economic project)

 

November/December 

~ Projects of Advocates against Sanitary Poverty and Unsustainable Ecology – A project of reduction of sanitation poverty and adverse effects on the structure and function of the nature, particularly but not exclusively in the mining sector in Africa (Environmental health project)

~ Covid-19 Campaign – Phase 3: The Campaign of Resilience against the Coronavirus Pandemic by CENFACS is now in in Phase of Rehabilitation Strategies and will continue over this Autumn since Covid-19 has not shown any sign of disappearance. (Health enhancing campaign)

 

Note: Although the above is scheduled for Autumn 2020, we may slightly alter our initial plan and or introduce occasional initiatives to cope with the reality of the unpredictability and complexity of development situations (e.g. coronavirus uncertainty, economic exit of the UK from the EU’s single market, humanitarian and emergency situations), in which case we shall let you know as early as we can.

 

 

 

• Getting the Most of your Involvement with CENFACS into Poverty Alleviation Work from Autumn 2020 and Beyond

 

~ Where to start: Sign up!

√ Register with us and or update us with your contact details

√ Respond to our communications and communicate with us when occasion arises

 

~ Stay in touch with our…

√ Newsletter, and other paper and free-paper communication materials

√ Regular updated and upgraded resources and supporting information

 

~ Involving us in raising awareness of the poverty relief issue

√ Advertise with us for helpful good causes

√ Pass our relief messages on to interested third parties 

 

~ Share your transformative experience

√ Tell us what you think and or your development story

√ Help us improve with your voices, comments, reports and feedbacks

 

~ Boost your support

√ Support us according to your means and limits as every support counts

√ Add value to your support, if you can, by improving your support to us to support you and or others

 

~ Get noticed to go further with your involvement

√ Register and keep up to date with information about your event, project, activity and so on

√ Join up our network of poverty relief and development work

 

~ Stay ahead of the game with us

√ Communicate with us before hands and when the needs arise

√ Often read our news alerts, tweets and switch to our new developments 

 

~ Deliver on your promises 

√ If you promise to do something for or with CENFACS and others, please do it

√ If you can’t do it, please let us know.  Don’t just stay silent!      

                           

~ Make our communications with you to be a two-way process and multi-channel approach

√ Talk to CENFACS and CENFACS will talk to you as well and vice versa

√ Help us improve the flow of information on poverty relief and development using a variety of channels and platforms 

 

~ Be contactable and present via

√ E-mail, (tele or mobile) phones, physical address and social media platforms

√ Word-of-mouth recommendations, outreach and other means of contact (like video calls)

 

~ Get the word out on your communication channels

√ Spread the word about CENFACS’ work on your social media links

√ Promote CENFACS’ work in what and where you think we can fit in

 

~ Keep your involvement with CENFACS digital and on papers

√ Up-to-date information on to your mobile by our free text alerts and messages

√ Check CENFACS’ website and make enquiries online 24 hours 7 days a week

 

~ Act upon information received from us

√ Don’t just read or hear them and do nothing about them.  Please react and be vocal!

√ If they are irrelevant to you, please pass them onto an interested and committed party

 

~ Continue the legacy of CENFACS’ work

√ It is now 18 years and two months that CENFACS has been working on poverty relief and sustainable development since it was registered in 2002.  You can continue this legacy with us.

√ You can be the face of CENFACS to those looking for a lifeline of support from us.

The above ways of getting involved in CENFACS’ work may not be exhaustive.  Should you have any other way, please let us know.

To get involved with CENFACS into poverty reduction work, just let us know.

 

(2) United Nations General Assembly, 2016: Report of the Open-Ended Intergovernmental Expert 2Working 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 in 2020.

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 2020 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

09 September 2020

 

Post No. 160

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• Back-to-school Poverty

• Back-to-the Upkeep of the Nature with the Theme of “Blue Spaces”

• Coming in Autumn 2020: The 69^th Issue of FACS Newsletter, to be entitled as The Post-coronavirus Poverty Relief Restructuring

 

… and much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• Back-to-school Poverty

 

The 160^th post of our blog page goes further in discussing the back-to-school poverty as the first key message and main development.  This key message and main development deals with back-to-school challenge, poverty issue, support that CENFACS can provide during the back-to-school period, expenses budget and the particularity of this year’s back-to-school; back-to-school which is happening in the middle of the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

Back-to-school poverty is what we are trying to help reduce or eradicate within our back-to-relief programme this Autumn 2020.  We are discussing it while carrying on back-to-relief programme and services. 

Back-to-school is a challenging time for many families and parents especially for those on low income brackets or just poor.  It is even extremely difficult for many of them as we are in an exceptional time of the coronavirus pandemic which has added more pain to these families and parents.  This pain is whether we talk about project beneficiaries here in the UK or in Africa.

For more on back-to-school poverty, please read under the Main Development section of this post.

 

 

• Back-to-the Upkeep of the Nature with the Theme of “Blue Spaces”

 

Our protection work on Oceans, which we conducted last September 2019, is continuing this year with the theme of “Blue Spaces”.  The protection of Oceans was an environmental case.  This year, the theme of “Blue Spaces” goes beyond environmental protection as the emphasis is put on the blue development and poverty relief. 

Indeed, we are trying to look at the extent to which the “Blue Spaces” together with the blue economy are helping people in Africa and elsewhere to alleviate or escape from poverty.   This is what one can call “blue poverty relief“.

We are as well revisiting the sustainable development goals by re-exploring the role and place that the “Blue Spaces” are playing in capacitating poor people’s sustainable development.  This is what one can term as “blue sustainable development“.

To materialise what we have just said, we have planned three key notes which deal with the environmental health, poverty-relieving and developmental aspects of our work on the “Blue Spaces”.  These notes are as follows:

(1) The coronavirus-induced Impacts on the “Blue Spaces”

(2) The contribution of the “Blue Spaces” to poverty reduction

(3) The place of the “Blue Spaces” in sustainable development in Africa

 

Let’s summarise the first notes of our September 2020 work on waters; notes which started from 07 September 2020.

 

• • Week beginning 07/09/2020: The Coronavirus-induced Impacts on the “Blue Spaces”

 

As mentioned in our communication of last week, we are dealing with the “Blue Spaces” (that is visible surface waters like rivers, ponds, lakes, canals, fountains, etc.).  These first notes of the “Blue Spaces” theme are on the indirect impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the different types of “Blue spaces”.   

In these notes of our water theme, we are trying to look at how the crippling effects of the coronavirus pandemic could have reached some of the “Blue Spaces”.  We are in particular gathering information and discussing through data based evidence how new products to protect humans against the coronavirus and the methods used to produce them are impacting the environmental health of waters and of humans and other living beings (plants and animals).

For example, we are searching if products such as disposal face coverings, personal protection equipment, gloves, cleaning products and so on are not ending in the “Blue Spaces” as waste disposal.  If they are ending in waters, there is a need to step up an awareness and educational campaign to stop the pollution of waters and air with the coronavirus protection products after their use.

The above is a summary of our first notes for the “Blue Spaces” campaign.  To enquire about this campaign and to add your input to it, just contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Coming in Autumn 2020: The 69^th Issue of FACS Newsletter

 

The Autumn Issue for our bilingual newsletter FACS will be entitled as follows:

The Post-coronavirus Poverty Relief Restructuring

The following is an abstract about this Issue and the kinds of contents that will make it. 

 

• • Abstract for the 69^th Issue of FACS

 

One of the lessons to learn from the coronavirus pandemic is that the business of poverty reduction will not be the same as it was in the pre-coronavirus period.  There will be a need to restructure the way in which poverty relief work is conducted. 

This restructuring is also an economic one.  The classification of economic activities between essential and non-essential, between healthy and unhealthy many need to be pursued so that one can exactly determine what economic activities are useful and helpful in reducing poverty and hardships, perhaps in ending them in Africa and elsewhere. 

Likewise, within the charity and voluntary sector there could be a need to remap activities and make them fit into the post-coronavirus emerging poverty relief and development landscapes.  The constituent organisations of this sector can reorganise their poverty reduction work in order to improve the poverty reduction outcomes.  This restructuring is not only economic one in terms of cutting costs, efficiency and generating more income; but it is mostly about delivering poverty-relief lasting value for the service provided so that one can see the end of poverty.

Our Africa-based Sister Organisations cannot be exempted from the restructuring storm.  Each organisation may need to reappraise and restructure its activities and operations in the light of the realities of the post-coronavirus development world.  This is not simply about labelling services or activities Covid-19 proof or secure.  Poverty Reduction Restructuring is more than that.  Then, what is it?

Poverty Relief Restructuring is deep like economic restructuring.  It is a total rethinking and rethought of our philosophy on the way we approach poverty issues.  Since the world is experiencing a global health crisis, Poverty Relief Restructuring is about integrating sanitation and health at the heart of the process of relieving poverty in both a specific and wider contexts.  Re-contextualise and re-conceptualise poverty reduction in this way will help to deliver service value for an end to sanitation poverty and poverty in general. 

The Post-coronavirus Poverty Relief Restructuring is about the kinds of changes that can be made to the constituent parts of the poverty relief architecture so that it reflects and provides the results that those in most need want.

The Post-coronavirus Poverty Relief Restructuring is a journey towards finding new ideas, practices and ways of relieving poverty in the newly reshaped development landscape while trying to rework some of the pre-coronavirus development paradigms of poverty reduction so that one can make them relevant to the post-Covid-19 world. 

The Post-coronavirus Poverty Relief Restructuring is also a move together with our local people and beneficiaries in finding better approaches to pull out poverty and hardships those who are still lagging behind in the cohort.  The Post-coronavirus Poverty Relief Restructuring is a theoretical shift from a conventional economic model to a coronavirus-free economic base or a pro-poor based economic model.        

The Post-coronavirus Poverty Relief Restructuring is more than just a tactical issue or make up.  It is about strategically rethinking on how to build and develop lasting poverty relief systems while taking into account the coronavirus pandemic and other threats or dimensions (like the climate change).   

The above gives a bit some flavour or idea about the next issue of FACS, the 69^th Issue of FACS Newsletter. 

For any enquiries and or queries about this Issue, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• 2020 September Advice service continues…

 

as planned for both UK and Africa projects.  We have provided below basic activities making the contents of advice services.  While this Advice-giving support is running, we are collecting and discussing Summer 2020 Reports or Tales as well.

The following are the areas covered by CENFACS‘ September 2020 Advice-giving Activities. 

 

• • Areas of Advice for Individuals we cover

 

We can provide advisory support on a wide range of issues which includes:

post-regional economic integration and economic transition skills, financial literacy and information, consumption and buying information, conversion of technical skills, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS awareness, education and training, educational development of children, cultural barriers, knowledge and respect of the British rule of law, opportunities for enterprises and credit access, social integration and behaviour, self-help development projects, coronavirus-induced poverty and hardships etc. 

 

• • Areas of Advice for Organisations we cover 

 

We can provide advisory support on the following areas:

project planning and development, investment in capacity building and development, resource mobilisation for African Sister Organisations for the Post-REI (Regional Economic Integration) and post-coronavirus times, sources of international fundraising, climate finance and digital finance, online fundraising strategies, etc.

You can request advice online by just filling an advice form at www.cenfacs.org.uk/services-activities and by posting it to CENFACS and CENFACS will get back to you.

 

  

• Virtual Open Day and Hours (VODHs): How They Work

 

Our Virtual Open Day, which is every Fridays of September 2020, is held from 10 am to 2 pm.

You can access VOHs by contacting CENFACS.

You do not need to register with us.

Every Fridays, you can either email or phone or even text between 10 am and 2 pm.

 

 

  

• Summer 2020 Reporting in Your Own Words and Numbers

 

Last week, we started to unlock or unpack our Summer holiday data and to prepare to tell our Summer holiday stories.  This week, we are going further in putting into practice our unlocked or unpacked data in support of Summer experiences or stories. 

From this week until Saturday the 19^th of September 2020, we are simply asking those who can to share with us and others their Summer experiences; experiences about what they did during the Summer break and think that it is useful for sharing. 

The 2020 Summer Experiences Reporting activity is a further experience of reporting, sharing, learning and development opportunity for those who have not yet informed us about the outcomes of projects; projects pending for reporting, personal experiences to be shared, lessons to learn and development trends to spot.

 

• • Sharing Development Experiences, Stories, Tales and Reports about Summer 2020

 

As we are nearly reaching the end of Summer 2020, we would like our users and supporters as well as those who sympathise with CENFACS’ cause to share with us and others their experiences, stories and reports about the following:

√ Run, Play and Vote projects (Triple Value Initiatives): You can feedback the outcomes or Action-Results of your Run, Play and Vote projects.

√ Volunteering and Creation Stories: You can also share your volunteering stories with us and others if you did volunteer during the Summer break. 

√ Summer programmes: Healthiness and Appeal projects: You may prefer to report on your use of Healthiness projects and your response to our Humanitarian Relief Appeal projects.

√ August 2020 Trending Activities: You can as well report on your experience of following the direction of poverty reduction through socials and virtual worlds.

√ Other Experiences and Stories Reporting: You can feedback on any moving experience or transformative story you have had during Summer 2020.

√ “Mission” Activities: As we are in CENFACS’ “Mission” Year, we would be more than happier to hear any stories related to this year’s dedication.

You can report your experience via e-mail, over phone and through social media networks or channels of communication (e.g Twitter).  

Thank you for supporting us with your Summer 2020 experience, story and report In Your Own Words and Numbers.

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• Back-to-school poverty

 

Our discussion revolves around the following matters: back-to-school challenge, poverty, back-to-school disrupted by the coronavirus and back-to-school budget and support.

 

• • Back-to-school time as a challenging period for a basic human right and a deserving cause

 

For some, back-to-school is a normal time to prepare and do normal purchase whether is for school uniforms or books or even any other school items.  However, for those who are struggling to make ends meet, back-to-school time could be a very challenging moment as they may not always have enough financial resources or support to cope with the requirements of the start of the new school year.  Yet, education is a basic human right and a deserving need for children and the all society. 

This year’s back-to-school is even more challenging as the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have disrupted the normal preparation of back-to-school.  This disruption starts since the lockdown began, from the purchasing of what pupils and students need to the format or formula of the school start.

 

• • Back-to-school disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns

 

This year’s back-to-school is special as the crippling effects of the coronavirus and lockdowns continue to disrupt the entire organisation of the back-to-school for this September school entry 2020/2021.   

The coronavirus pandemic has completely changed the way in which back-to-school has to be approached in many aspects by including enhanced health and safety measures such as social distancing rules, disinfection of educational materials and establishment, daily number of people allowed by square meter in any educational infrastructures, etc.

The coronavirus pandemic has introduced new items while increasing the level of spending for other existing items in the back-to-school budget.  It has brought new social rules such as the wearing of face coverings and the regular use of sanitising products.  This can only affect the togetherness and school community life. 

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the patterns and habits of working life and socialisation while introducing or reinforcing the virtual and online dimensions in the back-to-school preparation and delivery. 

Briefly, due to the coronavirus pandemic the all health and safety policies and practices have to be redesigned and tested against the pandemic.  While this has been done, some of those parents and families who do not have enough for their children can find themselves in a back-to-school poverty with them.  They could be in the back-to-school poverty while still struggling against sanitation poverty caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

 

• • Back-to-school poverty

 

Back-to-school poverty is the inability to afford the educational requirements of the start of the new school year.  It is the inability for parents and carers to meet the basic life-sustaining needs of education for their children in terms of purchasing school items (such as uniforms, clothes, books, electronics, etc.). 

This incapacity can include other expenses that compete against or with educational materials; expenses that are school fees, living expenses to start a new school year, transport cost to travel to schools, food, a place to study at home, family relocation, etc.

Besides these universal costs, there are new costs due to the coronavirus.  They can include the following: buying soaps and often wash children’s clothes to disinfect them from the traces of the coronavirus, preparing special lunchboxes with items to disinfect hands and tools before eating, providing to each child personal school utensils to avoid any exchange with other school mates, etc. 

Families and parents living in poverty or on a tight family budget may not be able to afford these additional expenses budget.  They are forced to currently deal with two types poverty: back-to-school poverty and sanitation poverty.  The first type of poverty is related to the start of the new school year whereas the second is caused by the pressure from the coronavirus pandemic.  There could be support for some of the vital educational and sanitation needs to be met; just as there is no support for others.

 

• • Back-to-school support at CENFACS

 

Any type of poverty needs response.  As far as CENFACS is concerned, we can support those falling into back-to-school poverty trap by providing advice through our advisory package under the back-to-relief programme.  This package includes activities such as advice, advocacy, information, guidance, signposting, etc. 

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we have enhanced health and safety aspects in this programme.  We are also providing support related to the adverse effects of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown on those who are looking for this type of support.  Although our support to fight both back-to-school poverty and sanitation poverty is small and limited, it can nevertheless help beneficiaries to get something and keep moving towards of a BIG relief.

Since the battle against the coronavirus pandemic is not yet over, there are limitations on the ways our support can be accessed.  It can be accessed as follows:

√ Only virtually on a no face-to-face physical basis, but on a one-to-one basis or as a group

√ Over phone

√ Via e-mail

√ and by filing the comment box on our website saying the type of support you need. 

 

Where beneficiaries have access to video technology, we can arrange a meeting via a video scream. 

Where a physical meeting with beneficiaries is unavoidable, extra precautionary health and safety measures will be taken before the advice can happen.

To seek advice or support regarding your back-to-school poverty or hardships, please contact CENFACS.

 

• • Back-to-school Special Budget

 

The 2020/2021 Back-to-school Special Budget is a special one for many parents and families as they have to cost and integrate the aforementioned aspects of protection related to the coronavirus pandemic into the educational budget of their children. 

Although young children may not be wearing face masks, there are still some levels of investment that parents and families may have to do to keep the education of their children to an internationally agreed standard.  They may have to proceed with the following initiatives:

√ Invest in distance learning technologies (such as tablets, laptops, mobile phones, etc.)

√ Improve their access to internet and broadband supplies

√ Reorganise space at home to create an office-like desk environment for e-learning and video calling for the educational purpose of their children

All this type of investment will create additional costs in the back-to-school plans, although some of these will not be at the start of the school.    

For poor families and parents, it is even more difficult for them to keep the educational level of their children to a good standard unless they get financial support to their back-to-school budget. 

For those parents and families who are struggling to write their back-to-school budget, we can help them to do that.  We can as well advise on some of the aspects related to the back-to-school budget preparation.  Furthermore, we can lead them to specific advice services related to back-to-school matters.

To seek advice or support regarding your back-to-school budget, please contact CENFACS.

 

Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going in 2020.

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 2020 and beyond.

With many thanks.

  

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

02 September 2020

 

Post No. 159

 

 

Welcome Message

 

Before starting the contents of the blog and post of this first week of September 2020, we would like to welcome all those who are returning this month. 

We are welcoming the following:

– All those who are returning from the coronavirus lockdown

– Our users, supporters and other stakeholders who came back from Summer break and holiday 

– Those who are or have been working during the Summer time 

– Those who lost touch with us for various reasons and would like to come back again.  

This welcoming message applies to both our UK and Africa Development programmes. 

Welcome back to all of you and healthy return! 

 

 

 

 

The Week’s Contents

  

• Back-to-relief Programme: Programme for Pre-autumn Season 2020

• Unlock your Summer Holiday Data and Tell your Story

• September: Advice-giving Month

 

… and much more!

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

The key message from our weekly communication and menu, which is often made of three courses, is as follows.

 

• Back-to-relief Programme: Programme for Pre-autumn Season 2020

  

Back-to-relief Programme is a set of related activities and services with an aim of reducing poverty amongst multi-dimensionally poor children, young and families (MDPCYPFs) by working with them to meet their needs after a long summer break and Covid-19 lockdown so that they can start September without or with less hardship.   

The programme is made of a number of supportive elements such as capacity and skills development, advice, advocacy, translation, information, guidance, support to child educational needs in Africa, signposting etc.  The programme is generally run around September and can be extended to October depending on the needs in the community.

This year’s programme is a bit special since there has been the coronavirus pandemic which led to lockdowns.  Many of our project and programme beneficiaries have experienced many months of economic inactivity since the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown began.  Now that some of them are returning or resuming their outdoor activities, they may need some advice to adjust their lives with the new normal imposed by the coronavirus and subsequent lockdown.

The Back-to-relief 2020 programme has been designed to include the need of these returnees from the lockdown.  It is also conceptualised to anticipate any changes of situation due to any potential spikes of Covid-19 and lockdown resumption as the battle against the coronavirus has not been yet won. 

For more on CENFACS’ Back-to-relief Programme, please read the details under Main Development section of this post.

 

 

 

• Unlock your Summer Holiday Data and Tell your Story

 

Throughout our July and August 2020 communications, we have been asking everybody to store and keep their Summer data so that when we all return we can report back or share parts of our Summer experiences that are shareable.

Now some of you are back, we can try to feedback our poverty-relieving and development experiences of using Healthiness projects and of the gradual reopening of the economy as well as of the coronavirus restrictions and rules over the Summer period.

One can also feedback of any creations made, of any interaction in the virtual worlds, of any community experiences and any volunteering stories, if they volunteered, over the last two months.  One can report back a personal Summer experience as well. 

For those who managed to store their Summer data and who would like to share their experiences, this is the time to start unlocking your Summer data and preparing to tell your Summer story.

Sharing your experiences with us in this way helps to keep the CENFACS Community active, engaged and together.  It also contributes in carrying out prescriptive analytics that enables to use smart data discovery capabilities to predict market developments and trends to help relieve or possibly end poverty and hardships within our community and beyond. 

Please share your poverty-relieving and development experiences and contents with us; parts of your experiences and contents that you think are shareable.

Should anyone have any concern about data protection issues regarding the sharing of their information, please let CENFACS know.  We will be able to assist.

 

 

 

 

• September: Advice-giving Month

 

We run Advice service as part of our activities throughout the year.  However, Advice is CENFACS’ main theme in September.  Because that, it is more pronounced in September compared to other months of the year.  In other words, we invest more resources in advice in September than at any other times of the year.

We provide advice to both individuals and organisations as mentioned above.  Advice can be given in the context of Back-to-Relief Programme and outside this context.  When Advice is given in the context of Back-to-Relief Programme, it becomes constituent part of this programme like other elements making this programme.

Under the Main Development section of this post, there is much more information about this year’s advisory support.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

  

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

 

After reviewing the situation in the African Sahel and Lake Chad Basin as well as the previous appeals launched for them, it has been noticed that very little has been done on the grounds to deal with the following:

– to reduce extreme poverty and internal displacement

– to improve poor people’s security and resilience

– to stop the life-threatening and destroying impacts of the climate change in these two areas. 

As a result, we are re-appealing for peace, security and extreme poverty alleviation in these two areas of Africa. 

To support or enquire about this re-appeal, please contact CENFACS.   

Likewise, our Summer 2020 Humanitarian Relief Appeal projects are still running and will end this September.   

To donate or support otherwise, please go to:   http://cenfacs.org.uk/supporting-us/

 

   

 

• Back-to-relief Activities in a September of Covid-19 Compliance

 

Our call for Covid-19 Compliance continues this September.   Many people would have wished the fight against the coronavirus pandemic to finish by now; unfortunately the coronavirus pandemic is still around with its side effects and threats.

Because of that, we have made efforts in the design of these Back-to-relief Activities to test the Covid-19 impact on them and to make them Covid-19 secure.  In other words, we have included the recommended measures of health and safety against the coronavirus in these activities.  In practical terms, social distancing rules, the use of sanitising and disinfection products as well as personal protective equipment will be fully compliant during the running of these activities.

For further discussions on Back-to-relief activities in a September of Covid-19 Compliance, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• Covid-19 Campaign Update

 

The Campaign for Resilience against Covid-19 (or the Covid-19 Campaign) is now between its phases 2 and 3. 

Phase 2 has been about Impact Monitoring and Evaluation of Covid-19 on our system of poverty reduction.  It seeks to answer a specific cause-and-effect question about changes directly attributable to Covid-19.  In this phase 2, we have been looking at the causality and attribution approach regarding the overall impact of Covid-19 on CENFACS’ work and system of poverty reduction. 

Phase 3 is the Post-Covid-19 Rehabilitation Strategies, which are processes of planning and conducting restoration in order to bring back our programmes, projects, activities, services and products to their original or normal condition.  It is a restoration or build-back campaign.  

We understand that economies cannot be shut down for ever.  Because the economy keeps reopening, we too are gradually moving to the Phase 3 of our Covid-19 Campaign, which is of Post-Covid-19 Rehabilitation Strategies. 

By speaking about Post-Covi-19 Rehabilitation Strategies, we do not mean that the coronavirus pandemic is over.  We just mean that in our mind set Covid-19 is a reality but not a fiction.  We have to understand it and live in the Covid-19 environment until a medicine and vaccine are found against it. 

So, the idea of the existence of Covid-19 has been already passed in our mind set.  What we need to do is to develop strategies to restore our work while taking into account the new coronavirus-led environment or reality.  In this respect, we are trying to Build Back Better our lives through a Build-Back-Better Campaign.

Some of you may have noticed that in our Covid-19 Campaign, there are two strands of thought. There are initiatives that we took that are related to our work in the UK.  There is a set of campaigning initiatives that have been linked to our work in Africa.

Regarding the Covid-19 Campaign in relation to our work on Africa, the Covid-19 extra message of this week is that we are continuing following the development of the epidemiological curves of the coronavirus pandemic in Africa where cases keep on increasing.  This increasing trend of the “epi-cruves” can only mean to us to keep up shadowing them (“epi-curves”) while motivating our Africa-based partners to carry on in rebuilding health systems to keep tight control on the Covid-19.  We continue to monitor the development of the “epi-curves” in Africa and respond with our shadowing model accordingly.        

To support and or to enquire about the Covid-19 Campaign update, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

 

Main Development

 

• Back-to-relief Programme: Programme for Pre-autumn Season 2020

 

• • Back-to-relief Projects 

 

As previously mentioned, most of our projects and programmes are organised to take into account the lives and needs of our beneficiaries; supporters as well.  Some of them will be back this week after the coronavirus disruption.  They are back for the New Academic Year and New Relief, year for which we have prepared projects and programmes to meet their existing, challenging, changing and coronavirus-emerging needs – the back-to-relief projects and programmes in a September of Covid-19 Compliance.

Amongst the back-to-relief projects and programmes, there are these two ones:  Virtual Open Days and Support to Children 

 

=> Virtual Open Days under Back-to-Relief Programme

 

Due to the health-threatening impacts and other crippling effects of the coronavirus pandemic, many of our services are virtually and online run.  Besides that it is not always easy for people, especially those who have some physical handicaps and parents with small kids, to physically move and meet service providers if this service provision cannot come to them even if the need is pressing. 

This is why we are organising these virtual days to enable those in need to virtually access services despite the coronavirus disruption and any physical inconvenience they may have.

Virtual Open Days are a back-to-relief initiative organised by CENFACS during this September 2020 to enable people in need to access our advice service and other similar services in order to reduce or end poverty linked to their situations or conditions of life.

For more on CENFACS’ Virtual Open Days and how they work, contact us.

 

=> Support for Children of Conflict- and Climate Change-affected Areas in Africa in this September

 

Another back-to-relief initiative for this September 2020 is Support for the Children of Conflict- and Climate Change-affected Areas of Africa in this September and beyond.  This initiative relates to the humanitarian appeals we launched this year (such as the 3-Frontier Area, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the African Sahel and Burkina Faso).  All these appeals were launched under the Light projects.   

The appeals were related to countries with displaced persons and victims of conflict (e.g. Burkina Faso); undergoing peace and institutional rebuilding work (e.g. DRC); children victims of conflict (e.g. the 3-Frontier Area); under armed attacks (e.g. African Sahel).

While one can still ask the progress made to save and rebuild lives in these stricken countries and areas, one can also question about the support that the children of the affected areas within these countries are receiving and/or received, especially at this difficult time of the coronavirus pandemic. 

This questioning is relevant as we are in September when a new school or academic year starts in many parts of the world.  This questioning is even founded at this time where educational systems in many countries have been affected by the adverse impacts of the coronavirus and subsequent lockdowns.  This negative effect is even greater for children from poor places in developing countries (like of Africa) where educational opportunities have been denied to many of them regardless of the coronavirus situation. 

So, during this September we will be working on this back-to-relief initiative to explore ways of keeping education alive for these unfortunate children living in those stricken areas or places.

For further details about this initiative, contact CENFACS.  

 

• • Back to the Upkeep of the Nature this September 2020

 

September is also the month we resume our advocacy work on the upkeep of the nature.  Normally, this advocacy starts from the protection and care of animals in Africa from illegal killings, extinction and poaching.  In the last week of September 2020, we shall focus on saving endangered animal species through our “Big Beasts” advocacy, which has already kicked off.

In September 2019, we worked on the Protection of the Oceans (particularly the waters surrounding Africa and the rivers and lakes in Africa) as well.  This September, we would like to carry on with the advocacy on waters through the theme of “Blue Spaces”.  We shall have a 3-week water protection work on “Blue Spaces” starting from the 7^th of September 2020.  To conclude the month, we will have some e-discussions on circular economy.

Briefly, Back to the Upkeep of the Nature this September 2020 will include the “Big Beasts” advocacy, the Protection of the “Blue Spaces” and an e-discussion on circular economy.

 

• • Back to Advisory Support this September 2020

 

As above mentioned, Advice is CENFACS’ main theme for September.  We provide advice to both individuals and organisations.

 

=> Advice service for Individuals

 

Some of you are aware that most of CENFACS services in the UK are designed to support multi-dimensionally poor children, young people and families (CYPFs).  After the long summer break and the Covid-19 lockdown, many of them will come back to start their life again.  From September onward, they will go back to school for CYPs and to work and training for parents and guardians. 

They may need support to restart or look for occupational opportunity or even just resume their routine activity in September.  Their needs could include the following:

√ Finding a new school or a nursery for children

√ Registration to health services

√ Finding accommodation or relocating

√ Accessing training opportunity or employment for those who lost their job due to the Covid-19

√ Looking for a new occupation to deal with the economic effects of the coronavirus and lockdown

√ Finding help to adjust their life after the lockdown

√ Looking for direction in a gradually reopened economy

Etc.

We can provide advisory support to them. Where our capacity is limited, we can refer and/or signpost them to relevant specialist services and organisations to help them meet their needs.

We do it under CENFACS’ Capacity Advice service which was established since 2003 (through CENFACS’ Capacity Advice and Development project for Croydon’s African and Minority Ethnic People) to help individuals gain various types of help.

  

The types of help we provide include: 

√ Translation (English to French and vice versa)

√ Interpreting

√ General advice

√ Guidance

√ Signposting

√ Referral

√ Advocacy

Etc. 

As we are in a digital era, we adapted the provision of this help while still retaining its essence. 

In the last months, we have even gone far with our Advice service as we were trying to deal with the coronavirus pandemic effect.  We have included the coronavirus restrictions and rules into our Advice service. 

You can contact CENFACS for the range of issues included in this service and to find out if your problem can be dealt with.

 

=> Advice service for Organisations 

 

The same advice service applies to overseas and Africa-based Sister Organisations. 

Under our international advice service, we can advise them on the following matters:

√ Capacity building and development

√ Project planning and development

√ Fundraising and grant-seeking leads

√ Income generation and streams

√ Sustainable development

√ Monitoring and evaluation  

 

Since we have set up a CENFACS Analytics Dashboard, it is even better to deal with problems.

Again, where our capacity to advise is limited, we can refer and or signpost them to relevant international services and organisations. This advisory support for Africa-based Sister Organisations is throughout the year and constituent part of our work with them.  However, they can take advantage of our advice-giving month to seek further advice on any of the above matters.

To access advice services, contact CENFACS.  To register for or enquire about advice services, go to www.cenfacs.org.uk/services-activities.

 

Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going in 2020.

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 2020 and beyond.

With many thanks.

 

Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!

26 August 2020

 

Post No. 158

 

 

The Week’s Contents

 

• CENFACS Annual Review 2019/2020

• Trending in Poverty Reduction in a Summer of Covid-19 Compliance – In Focus from Week Beginning 24/08/2020: Social Virtual Worlds as Means to Online Interaction to Reduce Reduction

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

…. and much more!

 

 

 

 

Key Messages

 

• CENFACS Annual Review 2019/2020

 

CENFACS Annual Review 2019/2020 is a snapshot of what we did between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020.  As it is stated, it is neither a statutory annual report nor an annual return.

It is a summary of the year 2019/2020 in the life of CENFACS that reports back to our supporters, users and other stakeholders the impact we have made; impact through stories, quantitative and qualitative data. 

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

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

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

 

 

 

• Trending in Poverty Reduction in a Summer of Covid-19 Compliance – In Focus from Week Beginning 24/08/2020: Social Virtual Worlds as Means to Online Interaction to Reduce Reduction

 

The last episode in our trending series in poverty reduction in a Summer of Covid-19 Compliance is about the impacts that Social Virtual Worlds can make on poverty reduction.  This week, we are following the social virtual world trends in their capacity of reducing poverty for those who are interacting in a virtual world environment.

Although the objective of virtual world is interaction in the world, it is still possible to check if poor gamers can use the opportunity of being in the virtual world to reduce poverty.  For example, one can try to check if poor gamers who are playing those massively multiplier online games (such as Fortnite, League of Legends, Pokémon, etc.) are finding any windows of opportunity to reduce poverty through those games. 

Before, going any further, let us say a few works about virtual worlds.

 

=> What is virtual world?

 

There are many online and print definitions of virtual worlds.  To make things easy we have selected the following online definition of virtual world which is this:

‘A virtual world is a computer-simulated representation of a world with specific spatial and physical characteristics, and users of virtual worlds interact with each other via representations of themselves called “avatars.”…

The objective of virtual worlds is to continue participating in the world, interact with other users, and gaining more status or experience within the virtual world’. (1)

Although this definition is technically restrictive and is telling us that playing in a virtual world is an end itself, we are interested in virtual world that is purpose-built for social or socialisation.  We are interested in social interaction-based virtual worlds through our process of following the direction of poverty reduction.

 

=> Following the direction of poverty reduction via social virtual worlds

 

We are looking at how interaction-based virtual worlds can help to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.  In other words, we are trying to find out if playing online video games like World of Warcraft can help their players or gamers to go beyond the interaction in the world by finding windows of relief from poverty and hardships, especially for those gamers of poor background. 

 

=> Poverty-relieving experience via social virtual worlds 

 

Although the objective of a virtual world is interaction in the world, it is possible for people engaged in the MMOGs to do their own assessment to find out whether or not social virtual worlds are helping them to reduce poverty and enhance aspects of sustainable development in their lives. 

The purpose here is that being in a virtual world is primarily for social interaction in the world.  However, if you are poor being in any world whether virtual or non-virtual should be also an opportunity to find ways of escaping from poverty and hardships.  This is regardless of what those who designed their world in which you are they may think of. 

For example, joining a computer-based online community environment is it poverty-relieving in itself?  If not, what can you do to make your journey in the virtual world an experience of relief from poverty and hardships?

The above is our way of following the direction of poverty through social virtual worlds. 

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

 

(1) https://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/courses/cs181/projects/2007-08/virtual-worlds/history.html

 

 

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

 

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

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

After analysing the information that the respondents provided and looking back what happened in the last financial year, we would like to share with you, through this report, some key information from the preliminary findings about your say and our look at last year’s poverty relief work.

 

Report on feedbacks from Individuals and Organisations

 

=> Aims

 

This report aims at examining and informing what you told us from the feedbacks we asked about the experiences you had with the programmes and projects we selected to monitor, evaluate and review last July.  In particular, it aims …

√ To get the experiences that project supporters and users had with the programmes and projects selected for monitoring, evaluation, review, assurance and analysis

√ To know the views of project supporters, users and other stakeholders on how they perceived and interacted with CENFACS’ products and services

√ To find out where things went well and where they did not

√ To reflect the needs of Africa-based Sister Organisations in future programmes and projects development

√ To improve the way we work with them.

 

=> Findings

 

Our findings from what you said are as follows:

√ To put a time limit on campaigns

√ To make the voices of the users resonate and visible in our advocacy materials and publicity

√ To get more data and further access to data about work in Africa with Africa-based Sister Organisations

√ To narrow the scope of appeals to match CENFACS’ mission, aims and objectives

√ To make the Individual-Capacity-Development-Programme resources reachable and accessible by all users

 

=> Recommendations

 

The report recommends the following:

 

√ To undertake a better advertisement or reach out in the future so that many people can turn out and contribute to children and women projects

√ To communicate the outputs and outcomes of each campaign at their different stages of delivery

√ To insert users’ description (e.g. quotes, comments, etc.) in the published advocacy materials

√ To reduce the gap in data availability and access as far as African projects are concerned

√ To ensure that appeals reflect specific and clearly defined needs of users and beneficiaries with specific aims and objectives to achieve

√ To improve the coverage of Individual-Capacity-Development-Programme resources to reach all the users while explaining all the technical jargons by making them understandable to our diverse audience

The report concludes that every effort will be made within CENFACS so that the wishes of supporters, users and African organisations as expressed in their feedbacks could be translated into tangible action in the future.

 

 

 

Extra Messages

 

• ‘Mission’ Activity for August 2020: Find 6 Social Trends in Health Poverty Alleviation

 

Our link of ‘Mission’ Year/Project to the month of Track, Trip and Trending via ‘Mission’ Activity continues this week.  The ‘Mission’ Activity of this week is to search and find 6 Social Trends in Health Poverty Alleviation and health-enhancing aspects of sustainable development.

We would like to ask to those who are doing it or decide to do it to share their experience about this ‘Mission’ Activity.  Thanks!  

To communicate or share your experience, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

 

• The Review of the African Sahel and Lake Chad Basin Appeals

 

There are similarities and dissimilarities about what is happening in the African Sahel and Lake Chad basin.  The commonality of these situations is insecurity, human displacement, climate change issues, etc.    People have been internally displaced, there are in- and out-of-camp refugees, there is a low level of resilience, extreme poverty is prevailing in the two areas, etc.  This is despite the fact that the two areas have a low number of Covid-19 cases.  Because of the poverty situation in both areas, we are reviewing the two appeals we previously and separately launched for them. 

The purpose of this review will be to evaluate these appeals in the light of the current situations in these two areas.  The review will also tell us whether or not there has been any progress since we first launched these appeals.  There will be stages in this review:  evidence-based process, information, verification of the information provided, analysis, etc.  At the end of this review, we shall decide whether or not to renew our appeal for the two areas.

To discuss or share your views about the African Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, please contact CENFACS.

 

 

• CENFACS Poverty Relief League: Team Countries Replacement Window

 

For those who are playing the CENFACS League of Poverty Relief, please note that there is only little time left for those who want to change or swap the teams.  This is because it takes time to complete the game and decide your best country that has best relieved poverty.

If one wants to change or swap team countries because they are having problems to get the poverty data, especially at this difficult time of the coronavirus pandemic, it is better to do it by the end of this Summer.  This will enable them to still have enough time to get data, analyse them, test them and decide their best poverty-relieving country by the 23^rd of December 2020.  

If anyone has any concern or query about Team Countries Replacement, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.

 

 

Main Development

 

• Annual Review 2019/2020

 

This review aims at explaining to those who are interested in the work CENFACS does to get a glimpse of what happened during the financial year 2019/2020.  It is a summary of our activities, performance, achievements and accounts for the financial year 2019/2020. 

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

 

• • The Contexts of Poverty Reduction of the 2019/2020 Financial Year

 

There are three key factors which affected or impacted our resources, plans and the way we conducted our poverty reduction work, which are:  the changing climate, economic uncertainty and transition, the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.  Like any organisation that could face this type of challenges, we had to develop a strategy or plan on how to approach our work differently during the year knowingly or unknowingly that events beyond our own control were going to happen.

We decided to choose the theme of changing climate since climate change was the dominant factor from the beginning of our financial year.  We did it while still having in mind the economic uncertainty linked to the exit situation of the UK from the EU.  The two factors (climate change and economic exit) were the prevailing external factors of the first part of our financial year. 

The second part of our financial year which literately started from January 2020 was dominated by the economic transition since the economic exit of the UK became clear with the new Government.  Then, the coronavirus pandemic came to largely influence our poverty reduction agenda in the last four months or so. 

Although we organised this review according these three key contexts, one should not think that the factors making them are separate or exclusive.  Let us explain.  When we speak for example about poverty reduction in the context of Covid-19, it does not mean that the climate change factor has disappeared.  We just want to mean and put emphasis on the dominant factor or the factor that impacted us the most at a particular time. 

Having clarified the contexts of work, let us now review our financial year 2019/2020.

   

• • Activities Review

 

This summary covers CENFACS’ financial year 2019-2020, which we started with a July 2019 consultation of our supporters and users about what we did in the last 11 months and two weeks preceding the above named financial year.

 

=> Poverty Reduction Activities in the Context of Changing Climate

 

While this consultation was going on, we organised our usual Summer Festival of Thoughts and Actions, the Seven Days of Development in July.  The Festival of Thoughts was about “How Democratic Transition Can Transform Poor People’s Lives in Africa”.

The Festival helped us to spot the signs of hope for poverty reduction that could be brought by the democratic transformations that were happening in Africa in 2019.  It also gave us the opportunity to think about how the transformations or the change of political climate could make our poverty reduction and the work of our African colleagues easy or stay the same.

We continued to develop CENFACS’ Analytics Dashboard as a project by making it an effective management tool of tasks for our system of poverty reduction.  We did it while delivering other areas of our programmes. 

The year was also about the best response that could be brought to support children living in conflict-stricken and climate change-affected areas in Africa, particularly in the new school year.  Our response was to launch an appeal to support them; which we did.

The context of life-threatening impacts of climate change and of armed conflicts continued to claim more hungry people in Africa.  As a result, we had to step up our Making Zero Hunger Africa campaign.  Likewise, we could not stay silent with what was happening in the 3-Frontier Area of Africa (made of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger) where people were displaced and fleeing from insecurity and violence in the area.  We set up an appeal for peace and stability to deal with this situation. 

As climate change was and still is an unavoidable factor in any of our work, especially with regard to its impacts on children, we continued to follow up the United Nations Climate Talks.  In December 2019, we followed the Madrid Climate Talks through our Climate Talks Follow-up Project under the advocacy of “Climate Protection and Stake for African Children, Phase 3”with “Madrid Makes It Work“, as our working theme.  To enable us to better follow up these talks in the future we agreed and set up our guiding principles which we summarised in what we called “The Compendium of Climate Advocacy”.  

Since 2019 was dedicated as a “Quadranscentennial” Year at CENFACS, we carried on delivering other areas of the “Q” Project in the last months of the year 2019.

2019/2020 was also the year of the discussions about the Twenty twenties (2020s) Programme.  This is a programme that took over the Twenty tens (2010s) Programme.  We started with these discussions in 2019 and finished them in the early 2020 with a new programme. 

 

=> Poverty Reduction Activities in the Context of Economic Transition

 

As we entered the new decade, there was still the problem of economic transition related to the confirmed exit of the UK from the EU after the election.  This transition affected the way we do our development work and poverty relief work in particular. 

Since our programme of the last decade ran out, we had to make sure that the new programme which was in discussion became a reality.  We had as well to develop new tools to fight poverty in the new decade.  

As a result, we set up the 2020s Poverty Reduction Programme and Development Agenda.  We also assembled various tools of poverty reduction system into a box to make up a Poverty Relief Tools Box.  In doing so, this would help us to deal with poverty reduction more effectively than in the situation where these tools are used separately.

 

=> Poverty Reduction Activities in the Context of Life-threatening Impacts of Covid-19

 

While we were trying to deal with economic transition of the UK’s exit from the EU, a new global economic and health threat emerged, the coronavirus pandemic.  This pandemic with the lockdown it has generated forced us to reorganise all our work like everybody did in the sector. 

We had to entirely go out our way to reinvent new tools to fight the coronavirus-induced poverty and vulnerability.  As a result, we developed a Cube of Protection against the coronavirus.  The cube contains most our munitions against the life-threatening and destroying impacts that the coronavirus has posed and still poses.  Besides that we had to stage a new campaign, the Covid-19 Campaign (or the Campaign for resilience against the Coronavirus Pandemic).

As part of our emergency and contingency plans, we had to reorganise both the Spring and Summer 2020 themes of our poverty relief work.   Life-salvation and healthiness came to dominate the Spring and Summer agendas respectively. 

We started the 2019/2020 financial year with democratic transitions as hopes for freedom from poverty in Africa, and we ended up the same year with healthiness as we continued to deal with sanitation poverty and the other far-reaching impacts of the coronavirus pandemic in our poverty reduction work and the lives of beneficiaries.

 

• • Achievements

 

We would be indebted if we end this review without mentioning or adding to the above summary of work carried out these three achievements:

 

(1) A new poverty reduction programme and development agenda

 

The 2020s Development Agenda is a series of processes and tools defining the 2020s development framework that will enable CENFACS deliver its poverty reduction goals.  It is also a summary and coherent list of the issues and challenges that poor people are facing in 2020 and will face throughout the 2020s; issues and challenges that need to be addressed in order to reduce and end poverty in Africa.

CENFACS’ 2020s Poverty Reduction Programme, which is a group or package of related projects and activities organised in a coordinated fashion to reduce and possibly end poverty, aims at identifying and reaching out to extremely poor and help them out of poverty through sustainable development means. 

The new agenda and programme will take into account the needs of our users and beneficiaries in the new development landscape and in the new Age of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

(2) CENFACS’ Compendium of Climate Advocacy

 

This Compendium is our guiding principles that are summarised in terms of what CENFACS and its beneficiaries would like the climate community (like the one gathering on annual basis to talk about climate change, the Conference of the Parties) to achieve for children, particularly but not exclusively African children, in terms of outcomes.

 

(3) CENFACS’ Cube of Protection against the coronavirus pandemic

 

This Cube brings together coronavirus-related initiatives that are intended to help poor, vulnerable people and incapacitated Africa-based organisations.  

 

• • Performance review

 

In terms of our performance this year, we would like to let you know that our cash funds continue their upwards trend passing from 22% in 2018/19 to 33% in 2019/2020 financial year.  However, in this net improvement there is a mix story picture brought by the coronavirus in our finances in the last four months of our financial year 2019/2020.  On one hand, we made some savings; on the other hand there is a different type of costs that have appeared. 

Because of the coronavirus and the lockdown effects, we were able to save on our payments accounts on items such as physical networking and meetings, transport and travel, postage stamps, outreach, printing and photocopying.  While these savings were made, there was appearance of other types of costs which were existing since we went digital a few years ago, but which became more pronounced by the end of our financial year 2019/2020. 

This appearance and increase was attributable to online and virtual way of working to counteract the adverse impacts of the coronavirus.  This led to additional investment in online and virtual technologies and infrastructures as we were trying to respond to an unprecedented health crisis and finding other ways of still helping to reduce poverty and hardships. 

In all, the savings made were higher than the increase in online and virtual costs.  We managed to control our finances despite the coronavirus-led economic and health adverse effects.  We did what we could in the midst of the pandemic to meet our key performance targets and indicators. 

  

• • Thank you

 

The work of CENFACS is a collective endeavour that relies upon the voluntary contribution of others, a key to our success.  As such, there is a number of people and organisations who contributed to the realisation of our financial year 2019-2020. 

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

Furthermore, we would like to acknowledge those who posted their comments and responded to our advocacy appeals and other development campaigns. 

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

Many thanks for making 2019-2020 another deservingly memorable year at CENFACS.

 

Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going in 2020.

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 2020 and beyond.

With many thanks.