Concern Universal, Civil Society and Climate Change

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Concern Universal, Civil Society and Climate
Change
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• Civil Society is understood to encompass all
  associations formal and informal that are outside
  the state and the private market sector. They
  are associations, not formally linked to the
  government, whose primary aim is social.
• Plays a key role in transmitting information and
  is critical to increasing individual and
  population responses to climate change

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• Civil Society influences policy on three main
  levels
• Grassroots
• National
• International
• Is a key tool in transmitting information across
  sectors and to multiple groups and coordination
  with each level should be tailored to meet
  specific agendas and focuses

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• A British based International NGO working in 8
  countries across sub-Saharan Africa
• Key organizational strength in working with civil
  society and capacity building of local
  organizations
• Supporting national organizations in environment
  mainstreaming through climate change capacity
  building

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• CU is involved in many different forms of civil
  society
• Member of TANGO , CONGAD, ASSET
• Gambia Social Forum
• Multiple farmer networks, agricultural training
  Organizations
• Environment learning and sharing groups
• Linkages with Governments and National Committees
  help get information to grassroots level

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International Objectives vs. Local Realities
GLOBAL OBJECTIVES
Human Rights, Health, Trade, Education, .....
International ? National
National ? Local
LOCAL REALITIES
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Concern Universal and Environment Mainstreaming

• Environment is a key contextual element in which
  we operate
• Adverse impacts from environmental degradation
  negating progress of previous development
  projects specifically the agricultural sector
• Increased advocacy CU is ideally placed to
  generate information within civil society and at
  national and international levels

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More Work to be Done

• Need continues for sensitization on attitudinal
  and habitual changes and increased uptake of
  alternative technologies and methods
• Activities/ Information Dissemination often
  limited due to lack of funding
• Better coordination of activities throughout
  civil society to avoid different info being
  promoted in communities

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• CU continues to strengthen its good relationships
  and collaboration with the Gambia Government,
  institutions, national organizations and local
  actors.
• ? knowledge on climate change adaptation,
  mitigation and response mechanisms in projects,
  communities, individuals and CBOs
• Integrated approach to environment through
  project design

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• Increasing advocacy and awareness, continued
  partnering with national actors
• Scaling up Carbon Crediting schemes used as
  additional community based mechanisms for
  development funding
• Increase mainstreaming and environment strategies
  within partner organizations. Disseminate
  Environment Integration Frameworks

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• www.concernuniversal.org
• mackenzie.dove_at_concern-universal.org
• Thank You