ACT Alliance member DanChurchAid (DCA) has launched an internal initiative to increase the awareness and engagement of its staff on issues related to climate change. The initiative, which spurred some friendly competition was created to promote awareness among staff on the carbon footprint generated by the work of DCA. Staff were encouraged to make personal commitments to combating climate change on the basis of innovation, greenhouse gas reduction, and the overall well-being of staff. The prize for the contest was a solar mobile charger.

“As an organisation we call for climate justice, and we have many proposals to governments and other stakeholders to take action on climate change. However, we should be aware that our own activities generate emissions, and that we as DCA staff can make a difference”, says Mattias Söderberg, Senior Advocacy Adviser at DCA.

The winner of the DCA climate award is Chhit Piseth, Finance officer based out of the Phnom Penh, Cambodia office of DCA. Chhit’s five commitments are;

1. I commit to not consume beverages through plastic or paper cups but only through glass;
2. I commit to not buy food for lunch which is packaged in paper or plastic;
3. I will seek approval from my country director to place the slogan “Climate Action for a Sustainable and Green NGO” in the office;
4. I will encourage my colleagues to bike from their homes to the office;
5. I will have a good mood in the office and my desk will be decorated with flowers and plants that smell good and have environmental benefits.

“It was important to me to make the commitments that I did because many people seem to not consider the environment enough in their daily routines, and a healthy environment is important for our health,” said Chhit.

“The commitments that I have made are beneficial for the environment but can also have a direct benefit on our health and well-being, for example, one can bike to work for its health benefits while simultaneously reducing our contribution to air pollution,” she continued.

“The impact of DCA’s emissions may be small in comparison to global emissions. However, climate change is influenced by our way of living, and so we must all consider our way of life. One person may not be able to change the world, but together we can create miracles. Someone has to start!” said Mattias.

Chhit’s contributions have been recognized for her commitment to change her own behaviour, but also for her energy to want to inspire her colleagues to follow her example.

ACT Alliance is proud of the initiative created by DCA to contribute to the fight against climate change and welcomes all members to engage in similar initiatives on issues of specific concern to the organization.

For more information on the DCA Climate award, please contact Mattias Söderberg msd@dca.dk

This month, ACT Alliance has entered into regional agreements between ACT’s Asia Pacific regional office and UNICEF’s East Asia and the Pacific regional office, and between the ACT Argentina Forum and the UN Development Program’s Argentina office.

Anoop Sukumaran, ACT’s Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, wrote to ACT members in the region about the new agreement with UNICEF:

“United by our common desire and belief that all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential, UNICEF and ACT Alliance are delighted to announce the formation of an institutional partnership to work more closely together with faith leaders, actors and faith communities in our joint goal of ensuring that children’s rights are achieved globally.

“The common purpose of this partnership is to collaborate in agreed joint projects at global, regional and national levels, to mobilise stronger, more effective, evidence-based and rights-based engagement, advocacy and action between both organisations and the communities they seek to assist.

“For ACT Alliance, the rights of children need to be upheld in all aspects of our work —humanitarian, development and advocacy.  A partnership with UNICEF will make it possible for ACT members to be an even stronger voice at the national, regional and global levels, championing the rights of children in all we do.

“UNICEF firmly upholds that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is about the future of both people and planet. Both are under severe threat. In some cases that is because of actions committed and in others because of what has been omitted. Faith-based organizations and actors are at the centre of humanity’s actions and reactions and together with country leadership, the ACT partnership can bring change on the ground for children and their families.

“We hope this would pave the way for increase collaboration between the organisations.”

Read the letter signed by UNICEF and ACT here.

CREAS, an ACT member based in Argentina, signed the MoU with the UNDP’s Argentina office.   The purpose of this memorandum is to highlight the contribution of FBOs in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

UNDP Argentina, the National Council of Coordination of Social Policies (CNCPS), the Secretariat of Worship of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship and ACT Alliance forum members as well as other FBOs involved in these areas of work will share information, technical cooperation in preparing a report on the contribution of FBOs to the SDGs, and will promote this model in the framework of South-South cooperation with other countries.

For over a year now, members of the Latin American and Caribbean Interreligious Alliance for the 2030 Agenda have met with the World Bank and UNDP on “Ending extreme poverty: a moral and ethical imperative” and two high-level dialogues on “International Financial Architeture: Ethics and Economics” organised by regional and international FBOs, universities, the Development Bank for Latin America, UNDP and the Argentinian government.

ACT forums in Latin America will be encouraged by this collaboration model.  The close contact with UN agencies and active participation of ACT forums in the national mechanisms for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda will be of benefit to all involved.

The third United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) was hosted in Nairobi, Kenya November 29 – December 6, 2017. Over 4,000 stakeholders and guardians of the environment gathered at the home of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) to explore the overarching theme of Pollution and to discuss commitments Towards a pollution-free planet.

As the world’s largest Orthodox and Protestant network engaged in humanitarian, development and advocacy work, ACT Alliance was present and represented by the United Church of Canada, the Anglican Development Services of Kenya and ACT Secretariat staff. Along with other civil society organisations, ACT Alliance explored the potential for strengthening the role of faith-based organisations (FBOs) in the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

The recognition that environmental stewardship requires commitments from a variety of stakeholders was evident in the diverse representation of actors to the UNEA consultations. A special invitation this year from the UNEA to FBOs to contribute to the consultative process is further reflective of the growing interest of multilateral organizations including UNEP to engage with and benefit from the diversity of experiences and perspectives of FBOs.

ACT Alliance supports the notion that an appropriate remedy to environmental concerns will require the engagement of all. However, there will need to be a differentiated level of responsibility in the efforts of certain actors. “The reality that we are facing today is one where those who are the least responsible for environmental degradation are most affected by it. It is the moral and ethical responsibility of those most responsible to take extra efforts to address the problem,” said Gezahegn Gebrehana, ACT Alliance Regional Representative for the Africa region.

ACT Alliance provided inputs to the draft strategy document of the UNEA Secretariat. ACT emphasized the importance of the role of faith leaders in combatting pollution and urged the UNEA to consider further the experiences, beliefs and perspectives of people of different faiths, as well as those of indigenous peoples. In order to work towards a more inclusive structure, ACT Alliance has suggested the creation of a network of FBOs with a focus on environmental issues.

Within the ACT Alliance this has the potential to come to life in the form of a Community of Practice. A dedicated network would allow for a more thorough engagement of FBOs with institutions like UNEP, creating a potential to transition away from individual consultative events towards an ongoing and constructive dialogue that is reflective of environmental situations and realities.

“We are currently at a point where there is great danger posed to the planet. At the same time, there is an opportunity in front of us. Opportunities can only be effectively realized if stakeholders understand the gravity of the problem and work together on an ongoing basis,” said Isaiah Toroitich, Global Advocacy and Policy Coordinator of ACT Alliance.

The involvement of ACT Alliance in such platforms presents an opportunity to further develop dialogue and partnerships between the UN and other organizations. “There is a lot of work to be done. We need to start from where we are, use what we have and do what we can,” said Peter Denton of ACT Alliance member the United Church of Canada.

More information on the outcome of UNEA 3 can be found here.

PRESS RELEASE

On Tuesday, 12 December 2017, the French President, Emmanuel Macron will welcome governments and representatives from all over the world to celebrate the 2-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement at the One Planet Summit. The Summit presents an opportunity to reaffirm global climate commitments to combat climate change and to emphasize the transition from negotiation to implementation of the Paris Agreement.

The General Secretary of the ACT Alliance, Rudelmar Bueno de Faria commented, “We welcome the opportunity to celebrate the Paris Agreement. However, we must not forget that the Agreement is only a framework for cooperation. The Paris Agreement can only deliver results if countries fully commit to climate action and to increasing their ambition.”

“It is people and communities living in poverty and in vulnerable conditions that are already struggling with the impacts of climate change who face the greatest burdens. Solutions to alleviate these burdens exist and we know what must be done. It is time to turn the paragraphs of the Paris Agreement into concrete action,” said Bueno de Faria.

To enable concrete climate action, the availability of and accessibility to climate finance will be essential. “Financial institutions and industries must transform to become Paris-compatible in order to provide financial support for the energy transition needed to keep global warming below 1.5C and to strive for resilient societies,” said Martin Vogel, co-chair of the ACT Alliance Climate Change Group.

“Adequate support for climate action is long overdue and remains a sensitive topic as nobody wants to pay the bill. However, funds are needed for investments to provide renewable energy access for all and to help people to adapt and manage situations of loss and damage due to climate change,” said Vogel.

ACT Alliance is concerned of the current approach of multilateral development banks such as the World Bank, the European Investment Bank and other institutions on climate finance. “There is a much needed reform of multilateral development banks to increase the transparency around the impact of their investments in energy and to enhance financial innovation to better support the adaptation needs of developing countries,” said Vogel.

ACT Alliance will be present during the summit. For updates, and interviews, please contact Bruno Nicostrate, Climate Change policy advisor at ACT Alliance EU.

Mail: bruno.nicostrate@actalliance.eu
Phone: +32 484 024 684
Twitter: @BNicostrate

About 900 government representatives and 100 representatives from civil society, UN agencies, and the private sector have been meeting in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, since Monday to deliberate on the outcomes of this year’s thematic and regional consultations for the adoption of a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

The purpose of this stocktaking exercise has been to identify commitments for concrete action which will be included in the zero draft of the Global Compact document, which is expected to be drafted by the end of January, and will form the basis of intergovernmental negotiations next year.

Christian Wolff, ACT’s Programme Manager for Migration & Displacement, contributed a statement to the stocktake. He shared ACT’s concerns for protecting the rights and interests of migrants including:

• emphasizing the need for more regular pathways for labour migration,
• the need for human rights protection for migrants returning home,
• for participatory planning of their eventual reintegration, and
• the need to address crucial issues that affect people on the move in both the Global Compact on Migration and the Global Compact on refugees.

The full text of ACT’s contribution to the process can be read here.

ACT Alliance’s General Secretary, Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, issued a statement today expressing ACT’s concern over President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

“We consider this decision to be a grave violation of International Law and the UN Resolutions vis-à-vis the Palestinian Israeli conflict, particularly UN Resolution 181,” wrote de Faria. “This decision will have serious ramifications on and cause irreversible harm to the peace process, the Status Quo of Jerusalem and interreligious relations in the region.”

“As a humanitarian network, we are very conscious that this decision will also add to the human suffering of the Palestinians,” he continued. “This will have the potential of escalating tensions, violence and the loss of innocent lives, not only in the Palestinian Occupied Territories, but also throughout the region.”

The full statement can be read here.

This weekend’s announcement that the US will take no further part in the process for agreeing on a UN Global Compact for safe, orderly and regular migration is of great concern to all migrants and those who work with and for them, including the members of ACT Alliance worldwide. The US announcement came only hours ahead of a major international Migration conference being held by the UN in Puerto Vallarta Mexico, which is taking stock of a detailed consultation process around the world, which has been gathering inputs for the text of the Compact, and in which many civil society organsiations, including ACT and its members, have been actively involved.

The Compact presents a once in a lifetime opportunity for the global community to unite to protect the rights of people on the move. Not without its own challenges, the Compact process has been underway since September 2016, triggered by the New York Declaration, which was hailed as a watershed moment, having been unanimously passed by the UN General Assembly. The US government at the time was one of the key states backing the declaration.

ACT Alliance’s support for the Global Compact process has been resolute from the outset. ACT recognizes the importance of such a compact in the protection of peoples’ rights. There is a need to safeguard the rights of people on the move. A multilateral process under the auspices of the UN is indispensable for ensuring this. The US assertion that, “the declaration contains numerous provisions that are inconsistent with US immigration and refugee policies and the Trump administration’s immigration principles” stands in sharp contrast with the prevailing, global consensus on the need to reach an international agreement on migration policy.

In addition, from the outset the Compact was never intended to infringe upon member states’ national sovereignty. Instead, it has been an attempt by the UN to develop a global understanding about the rights of people on the move, whose numbers will likely continue to increase due to unresolved conflicts, as well as the growing socio-economic interdependence between nation states, and that efforts need to be made to regularize movement, while simultaneously acknowledging the sovereignty of states, as well as the interdependence between them.

We are dismayed at the Trump administration’s decision, we also recognize that it runs counter to the continued goodwill and support of people for migrants and refugees globally, and also within the United States. In a similar way as happened after the US announced its intention to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, when many US cities remained committed to act on climate change, we are confident that the heartfelt and passionate work of the people, including our US members, at state, district and local levels will be able to maintain the much-needed support for migrants and refugees.

We urge the US administration to reconsider its decision, and constructively engage on the issues of migration by returning to the multilateral process. Migration is a global phenomenon which requires a global response. Like all countries, the US is not immune to the global forces that drive human migration. We call on all governments engaged in the Compact to not be distracted by the US withdrawal, but instead to redouble their efforts to address this critical issue.

We are also encouraged by the positive spirit of the discussions taking place in Puerto Vallarta at the moment, and we therefore urge the international community to carry on in its determination to find human rights-based, long-term and sustainable solutions to address the plight of people on the move. In this effort of collaboration, we also support the Statement from US Civil Society Participants during the UN Stocktaking Meeting on the Global Compact for Migration.

by Umesh Pokharel, Document Manager, LWF Nepal

The night of August 14^th, 2017 was a night to remember for Sundari Chaudhari (35) from the Bhitaria village of the Joshipur Rural Municipality, Kailali, Nepal. Woken up by a slap in her sleep, Sundari recalls the flood that inundated her house, “I squirmed and saw my mother-in-law warning me against rising water level.” The flood swept away her cattle and destroyed her paddy crops.  The flood was triggered by an inadequate drainage system in the plains and heavy rain, which caused the river to overflow.

According to the Nepal Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), the flood was responsible for approximately 150 deaths in 18 districts of Nepal.  Sundari’s house was only one of the 100,000 houses that were damaged and a further 80,000 houses were completely destroyed by the flood.

The immediate response of ACT Alliance

ACT Alliance member, the Lutheran World Federation in Nepal (LWF Nepal), which is rooted in the community, was present to respond to the flood.

As the rain continued to inundate Kailali through the night, The ACT Nepal Forum, in collaboration with various district agencies, prepared a relief plan. Together they mobilized the relief plan, “since the water-level was above 5 feet, we took a boat to reach the flood-affected people,” said Bal Krishna Chaudhari, LWF Nepal’s coordinator of the Western regional office. Chaudhari and his team provided relief to the affected communities of, Jabalpur village in Janaki Rural Municipality, Gothchaur village of Bhajani Municipality and Bhitraya village of Joshipur Rural Municipality in Kailali.

Sundari was one of the beneficiaries in the LWF Nepal response in Bhitraya village. She received rice, pulse, iodized salt, cooking oil, beaten rice, and instant noodles. Apart from these food supplies a dignity kit was provided. “Since most of the families from my village were taking shelter in same place, getting relief materials including a dignity kit meant a lot for me,” Sundari said.

Similar to the response in Kailali, ACT Alliance members have provided relief materials to hundreds of households in Jhapa and Morang districts of Nepal’s eastern development region.

Life after the flood

In the aftermath of the flood Sundari and her family took shelter at her elder sister’s house for a month. Her husband had migrated to the Gulf and was not present to assist with the reconstruction of her home. With the help of her neighbours, Sundari repaired her house and moved back to her ancestral land, “we supported each other to repair our houses and resettle in our beloved place,” she said. Many of her neighbours have been able to return and settle back in their village.

Towards Resilience

As Sundari and her neighbors resettled on their ancestral land, signs of resilience were evident. Her elder son was able to continue with school and people in the community resumed planting crops and raising domestic animals as they did before the flood. ACT Alliance members and their partner organizations such as Digo Bikas Samaj in Kailali have been a great source of support for the community in rising from the disaster.

A Food Grain Bank and an emergency fund that was established by ACT Alliance and its partner organizations before the flood helped the village to avoid a potential famine and provided immediate relief.

In a similar response ACT Alliance member, LWF Nepal and its partners are planning to provide temporary shelter, livelihood support, water and sanitation facilities and intend to address the psychosocial and protection needs of the community in Kailali, Jhapa, Morang, Sarlahi and Chitwan districts.

Way Forward

ACT Alliance members including LWF Nepal have adopted the Build Back Better approach in their humanitarian response. This response uses the learnings of the past and builds activities based on this experience. It is important to note that the Food Grain Bank and emergency fund set up before the bank was a result of this approach.  “The ongoing flood response activities funded by ACT Alliance and other bilateral donors are designed based on a needs assessment and LWF’s previous experience. Therefore, the activities are more sustainable,” says Dr Prabin Manandhar, Country Director of LWF Nepal.

The huge impacts of businesses on the communities in which they operate often bring benefits, but companies can disregard and even harm people’s rights in pursuit of economic gain.

The World Council of Churches (WCC), ACT Alliance and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) hosted a side event at the 6th United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva on November 28, in this context.

The event, called “Stop Human Rights Abuse! – Meaningful Dialogue with Communities” brought together leaders from faith-based organizations, the United Nations and civil society to discuss the impact of businesses on communities and families, particularly in the developing world.

Dr Isabel Phiri, deputy general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), recounted a recent visit to Zambia.

There she witnessed first-hand how a company extracting iron ore had displaced entire villages from their homes and sources of sustenance as well as destroyed sacred places of worship.

“Our role as churches or faith-based organisations is to lift up the voices of those who are suffering from such violations of human rights,” Phiri said.

Dr Ojot Ojulu, LWF’s Interim Assistant General Secretary for International Affairs and Human Rights, noted that the Lutheran communion “is committed to addressing corporate land-grabbing and upholding communities’ land rights.”

In the face of exploitative mining activities and land-grabbing, “faith-based actors have to engage with the business or private sector,” said Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, general secretary of ACT Alliance, not least with a view to protecting people’s rights and ensuring communities’ access to remedies.

Meaningful dialogue between various stakeholders can be an effective way to begin to remedy or mitigate business abuses and the side-event shared practical examples from Africa.

The Bench Marks Foundation, a church-initiated corporate watchdog in South Africa, has developed an Independent Problem Solving Service (IPSS).

While dialogue is at the centre of the IPSS, “genuine dialogue is not possible without addressing unequal power relations between impoverished communities and mining corporations,” said Bench Marks Foundation director John Chapel.

“The IPSS helps to empower communities affected by extractive activities through organising, building capacity, providing relevant information and developing coalitions,” he said.

In a Mozambique land-grab case, the LWF is mediating between a biofuel company, the government and communities.

Yet, bringing companies to the table is not easy.

“A key challenge has to do with changing the beliefs of the company – they have to learn that human rights must be respected,” said Nordine Ferrao from the LWF Mozambique office.

“Another challenge is to bring any violations to the attention of the government, who may not know what is happening,” Ferrao pointed out.

The side-event also examined human rights defenders pressing for businesses to be held accountable.

An increasing number of them are being criminalized, threatened and even killed.

Åsa Beckius from Diakonia, a member of the ACT Alliance, cited a recent report by Michael Forst, UN special rapporteur on human rights’ defenders which said, “businesses have to do much more including by demanding accountability in their supply chains and protecting spaces for civil society.”

ACT Alliance has joined with the World Council of Churches to issue a “Minute on the situation in Zimbabwe” from the WCC’s Executive Committee meeting in Amman, Jordan this week after events in Zimbabwe have led to the resignation of President Robert Mugabe.

“The WCC executive committee, together with the ACT Alliance, welcome and affirm the joint statement of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, issued on 15 November 2017, as reflecting the clear common mind and witness of the churches of the country in this critical moment,” the minute reads. “We affirm and endorse the call of the churches of Zimbabwe for prayer for the nation, for calm and peace, for respect for human dignity and rule of law, for a transitional government of national unity to oversee the transition towards free, fair and credible elections, and for an inclusive process of national dialogue to capture the aspirations of all sectors of Zimbabwean society and for building a democratic state under the rule of law.”

The full minute can be read on the WCC website here.