Who are CSO s Their roles in addressing societal problems CSO Observer and their roles with CIF Highlights on challenges / Constraints faced by these

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2 Who are CSO s Their roles in addressing societal problems CSO Observer and their roles with CIF Highlights on challenges / Constraints faced by these CSO Observers Capturing the voice of CSO Observers How CSO Observers could be empowered to address Climate change challenges Advocacy Strategy to support CIF programs Best practices Recommendations 2

3 WHO ARE CSO: Civil Society Organizations (CSO) means an active accredited/registered Civil Society, not-for profit making organizations that provide selfless voluntary services, who in synergy unites to address immediate societal challenges/problems. THEIR ROLES IN ADDRESSING SOCIETAL PROBLEMS CSO is known globally as an active player in implementing most community based initiatives and projects in health, education, environmental and other related issues. They are known to be direct executing agencies that squarely tackle major community based challenges. As a third sectors, they have been playing vital roles in awareness creation of policies of the Government, Donors, MDB, and Private sector programs. In scaling-up activities relating to challenges of Climate Change, CSO has contributed immensely in mitigating the adverse effects of global warming. 3

4 HIGHLIGHTS ON CHALLENGES/CONSTRAINTS FACED BY CSO OBSERVERS Effective relationship with CSO Observers is the only way forward towards achieving CIF programs and Objectives. The following are some of the major constraints being faced by CSO Observers; Poor Funding mechanism for CSO participation to CIF programs. One year time-limit representation as CSO Observers with CIF should be re-considered to avoid apathy, alienation, low participation and performance among the stakeholders. Ineffective synergy and coordination mechanism of the stakeholders. Lack of adequate leadership approach which has alienated the active CSO Observers in their process and decision making. Non-implementation of some contributions and recommendations made by these active CSO Observers at CIF meetings has triggered them with low interest and participation. It has also been observed by some CSO that during most CIF meetings, most speakers at the committees and sub-committees meeting are not audible enough to communicate effectively with other stakeholders during her meetings. Lack of technical assistance and sound operational capacity in implementing most CIF policies and programs at national and regional level in other to achieve CIF objectives. Regional constituency called on Administrative Unit for agenda inclusion to CIF Chair on the issue of Coal for Energy financing. {Coal for energy financing is carbon positive}. 4

5 Capturing the Voice of CSO {Setting up an Effective and Meaningful Feedback mechanism} CSO Observers comments and recommendations at most CIF meetings should be acknowledged and appreciated. CSO observers should not be made to feel marginalized, even at the level of decision making. CSO observers should be active and contribute in CIF meetings by building a better synergy and good communication process. CSO observers has noted that failure to capture their voice as an active observers during the CIF meetings will create low interest in participation. What do you do if no-one believes you? And when your views, recommendations and inputs does not count? Alienation 5

6 How CSO could be empowered to address Climate change challenges: Create funding mechanism to CIF AU that will support CSO s in implementing programs at the pilot countries. Provision of adequate costed funding for capacity building to active CSO observers to reach out to other stakeholders in their constituencies at national and local community level on CIF objectives. Integration of CSO at CIF policy design and formulation level by identifying their involvement in addressing climate change problems isenvisaged. Reducing stringent conditions in selection process that will knock-off CSOs participation/opportunity in accessing some policy documents on CIF programs in tackling negative impact of climate change in their communities. 6

7 Decentralize the MDB process of funding channel and Include CSO in the climate change transformational process. Funds from MDB are channeled into weak government institutions in the South are bedridden with poor service delivery in most pilot countries because they have weak governance structures, with or no effective performance, When there is governance change, the funds fizzle out. Most times the affected communities do not see the CIF fund nor know where the project is sited, and they are not the cause of the climate change and yet, they are the one who pay back the loan on climate financing investment in weak governance who are the implementer of CIF climate financing. Decentralize the process by creating a Climate financing window to CSOs for project quality and desired outputs. Finally, as CSO works among the communities that are negatively affected by climate change. 7

8 CSO Observers acknowledgement Let Observers voice count and noted in the CIF meeting minutes. Observers should have access to all relevant information in advance of meetings, remain engaged throughout the meetings and informed of activity and decisions within CIF governance. Selection of CSO Observers should take place when the current Observers have revised and agreed on an amended setting of criteria. 8

9 Advocacy Strategy to support CIF programs Capacity Building Availability of CIF policy documents to CSO Provision of Funds to organize workshops on CIF programs at the pilot countries. Set up CIF Council of Observers to meet every two years to review Observers milestone, and evaluate CIF project performance in pilot countries. Setting up CSO Observers at national level and providing them with adequate funding to oversee project performance of CIF activities so as to avoid project failure. 9

10 Best Practices CSO Observers acknowledgement at policy making level is vital. Avoid positive Coal for Energy Investment. Funding massive wind and solar energy and other of Climate mitigating projects, to be accessed by the poor. Infrastructural Empowerment to Observers/CSO, Private Sectors. Monitoring and Evaluation of the works of the Observers and CIF. 10

11 Avoid positive Coal for Energy Investment CIF should avoid the financing of coal for energy investment, this contradicts their objective in carbon sequestration/reduction. For instance, In Tata of India coal for energy sponsored by World Bank sent communities packing away as the ash from the plant is emptied into the river, women and children depend on the river for domestic use. Also in Tennessean Dike in America collapsed, with all the environmental technologies put in place couldn t handle the level of spillage. What will happen to Africans where Coal Plants will be sited? Coal ash carry toxic substances that include mercury, arsenic and lead. It irritate skin, trigger allergies, and even cause cancer, worst coal has high level carbon content. Women and Children in Africa depend on river for domestic use. 11

12 Effective Monitoring and Evaluation of the works of the Observers and CIF Allow CSO Observers roles to be indicated in every funded project in Monitoring and Evaluation of project performance so as to avoid CIF commissioned consultants in compromising with project performance reports. Institutionalization of National process for evaluating actual impacts of CIF-financing projects at grassroots/local levels be set-up with National observers included. Give room for gathering local feedback on programs, plans and pilot projects. 12

13 Recommendations Adopting and adhering to NGO observers voices and views. Constituting of CIF Council Of CSO Observers to meet every two years during the Partnership forum to review CSO Observer /CIF performance. The present CSO Observers and Alternates, as propose to be automatic members of CIF Council of CSO Observers. The rotated off- CSO Observers should be integrated into National CIF CSO Observers to tap into their wealth of experiences. Staggering selection of CSO Observers should be expunged as this does not lead to an effective engagements with CIF. Let CSO Observers serve three years and then allow the present observers one more year as they have acquired experiences, new ones will come to learn the CIF process and be rotated off. We want to hand over a working transformational process to new observers. Collaborate with Private Sectors for massive production of Clean Technology gadgets and hybrid cars to reduce unit cost of production/price for easy accessibility. Forests are the lungs of the earth in carbon sequestration, Embark on massive forest development to mitigate carbon emission, remove all forest bureaucratic process that hinder implementation. Establish National Observers that will create knowledge capacity at the Pilot Countries Costed fund be allowed to Observers to deliver CIF services to their constituencies. Let the CIF Administrative Unit copy the GEF auditorium setup in Washington DC. Create window Climate Financing for CSOs and CBOs to draw and Relax stringent conditions of Donor/CSOs relationship to enable CSO to implement CIF objective. 13

14 ONE VOICE, ONE VISION, ONE CSO OBSERVERS THANK YOU Elder Emeka Ogazi Active NGO Observer - Africa Strategic Climate Fund CIF teditransparency@yahoo.com 14