CYNESA’s Mission is to help young Catholics in sub-Saharan Africa – their movements and communities, individually and with their colleagues – to respond to the twin challenges of environmental degradation and climate change in an effective, coordinated and evangelical manner, culturally sensitive and spiritually grounded. Its mission is to link young Catholics together with colleagues in mutual encouragement and support.
1. Effective : CYNESA aims to create core teams of young Catholic leaders in each country, appreciating what Catholic youth are doing and making these efforts known, strengthening initiatives already underway, and helping potential programs to get off the ground.
“Today the ecological crisis has assumed such proportions as to be the responsibility of everyone…. Its various aspects demonstrate the need for concerted efforts aimed at establishing uties and obligations that belong to individuals, peoples, states, and the international community.” –Pope John Paul II
2. Coordinated in mutual encouragement and support, working not individualistically but as a body, taking advantage of social media to communicate and give shape to this initiative. As in any network, communications is CYNESA’s nervous system and its blood supply too. With Catholic youth scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa, communications are vital capillary and nervous systems which help bind us into one body. CYNESA encourages those involved and links them together step-by-step in an active continental network with its own voice and capacity to act and advocate in coordination.
3. Evangelical: As God’s children, we have a special responsibility toward each other and the rest of Creation. Nature is our sister. As responsible stewards and co-workers with Christ, we are part of Creation, not separate from it. We must demonstrate the meaning of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection in our treatment of Creation. We are to begin the process of properly conserving, developing, and restoring Creation, a process that will be completed by God – the Creator (Father), Redeemer (Son), and Sanctifier (Holy Spirit) of the whole Universe.
“For the mystery of the Incarnation of God is the salvation of the whole of Creation.” ~ St. Ambrose (about 339-397).
4. Culturally sensitive: Globalized culture is obviously imposing itself on Africa with irresistible orce, manifesting itself through consumerism and individualism. African indigenous knowledge on the environment has guided communities over many generations in making environmentally sound choices. This knowledge needs to be integrated in current responses, and must not be allowed to erode in the face of globalization. CYNESA aims to make its contribution by engineering its responses in a way which is sensitive to local culture, faith and spirituality, and which works side by side with other agencies in the field, especially within the Church.
5. Spiritually grounded: An ongoing formation of moral conscience and discernment for making difficult choices according to Gospel and Church teaching, is a main pillar in CYNESA’s approach to the environmental crisis. Our relationship with Christ is fundamental in walking the path of social responsibility and responsibility for creation. Such fidelity is the “guarantee of freedom (cf. Jn 8:32) and of the possibility of integral human development.”
We the SACDEP Board, Staff and Development partner communities are sincerely delighted to have you as our most valued guest.
We are glad to take you with us as we share with you our thoughts, beliefs, philosophy and experiences with regard to developmental achievements and challenges in people’s livelihoods.
On this site we strive to give an overview of who we are and a brief of what SACDEP has achieved in the last 20 years of operation in Kenya. We appreciate the fact that our work continues to focus on smallholder farming communities, “those at the BOTTOM OF THE PYRAMID” in facilitating them to unlock their existing potential towards achieving tangible economic benefits that ensure improved livelihoods.
Our main activities are geared towards filling the existing technological gaps through building the skills of communities on the principles and practices of Sustainable Agriculture.
Who We Are
Our Vision
Knowledge for better livelihoods.
Our Mission
To strengthen the capacity and policies of African countries and institutions to harness science, technology and innovation for sustainable development.
Our Value Proposition
- To conduct high quality research, policy analysis, capacity strengthening and outreach on applications of science, technology and innovation policies to sustainable development in Africa
- To facilitate and convene evidence based policy dialogue and debate
- To inform development policy and practice
- To put critical issues of science, technology innovation on the Development Agenda
- To provide independent and objective policy advice to African governments and agencies, regional economic communities and institutions, private sector, civil society and community actors and agencies.
A Brief History
The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) is a pioneering development research think tank on harnessing applications of science, technology and innovation policies for sustainable development in Africa. ACTS is an Intergovernmental organization founded in 1988 to pursue policy oriented research towards strengthening the capacity of African countries and institutions to harness science and technology for sustainable development. ACTS envisions a sustainable economic, social and environmental future for Africa, through science, technology and innovation.
Article 3 of the Charter of ACTS, empowers the Organization to undertake capacity building, conduct research, provide advisory services and disseminate information on the policy aspects of the application of science and technology to sustainable development in Africa. It also requires ACTS to:
- Promote capacity building in the developing countries in the field of policy analysis related to sustainable development.
- Monitor international trends in science and technology, undertake technology assessment and forecasting and analyze the impacts of new technologies for purposes of providing policy options to African and other developing country governments.
- Promote, enhance, inspire, study and conduct the building of the institutional framework requisite for the management, assessment, sustainable utilization and conservation of natural resources.
- Foster the exchange of information and networking between the Centre and other governmental and private institutions and individuals that have similar or related interests at the local, national, regional and international levels, with particular emphasis on policy matters.
- Promote, encourage, inspire and undertake technical cooperation activities between and within nations.
Since its founding, ACTS has been instrumental in enlarging the range of policy choices for sustainable development in Africa. Over the last quarter century, ACTS’ work has influenced patent (i.e. industrial property) legislation and policy (Kenya); environmental impact assessment standards (Eastern and Southern Africa); bio-energy and biofuels policy (Kenya, Eastern Africa, West Africa); agricultural policy, bio-diplomacy, biotechnology and biosafety (Africa-wide); climate change adaptation and mitigation (Africa-wide).
ACTS remains among the leading institutions working on sustainable development in Africa. In 2013, it was rated amongst the top Environment Think Tanks in Africa and the world. ACTS is also a past winner (1991) of the Justinian Rweyemamu Prize from CODESRIA (Africa’s Social Science Research Council) for its work in expanding the knowledge base for Africa’s development
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) is a Parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Environment. The Agency was established by NESREA (Establishment) Act, 2007, thus repealing the Federal Environmental Protection Agency Act Cap F10 LFN 2004.
The vision of the Agency is to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for Nigerians, whereas its mission is to inspire personal and collective responsibility in building an environmentally conscious society for the achievement of sustainable development in Nigeria.
The broad mandate of the Agency is to enforce all environmental laws, guidelines, policies, standards and regulations in Nigeria; and to prohibit processes and the use of equipment or technology that undermine environmental quality. It also has responsibility to enforce compliance with provisions of International agreements, protocols, conventions and treaties to which Nigeria is signatory.
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has worked assiduously on the review of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (Establishment) Act, 2007 which was amended this year 2018. The reviewed Act addressed certain observed legislative inadequacies and noticeable drafting errors in the old Act which has continued to stall the operations of the Agency and weaken enforcement measures.
One of the major changes addressed by the amendment is the inclusion of the Federal Ministry of Health in the composition of the Governing Council of the Agency. This is considered overdue considering the very critical and strategic role of the Federal Ministry of Health in public health and environmental matters.
Imperatively the amendment now empowers the Agency to be able to establish and enforce administrative penalties. This will in no small measure strengthen her enforcement measures.
The provision of Section 30 of the Principal Act hitherto was a major impediment in the enforcement drive of the Agency; hence the amendment to enable the Agency’s authorised officer(s) to seal and close down premises or facilities, whose pollution to the environment is of imminent danger to life and property, while an application to the Court for a warrant or order is being sought.
In the old Act provisions on penalties were not deterrent enough as the hands of the Judges were tied to the operational words, “not exceeding”. In the amended Act now the word, “not exceeding” has been replaced with the words “not less than” wherever it appears in the Act, which gives the presiding Judge the latitude to issue out appropriate sanctions to erring facility or person.
The issues on wrong cross-referencing was also addressed in the amendment. This will help in doing away with ambiguity and inconsistencies in the old Act, for instance under Section 31 which provides for offences and penalties made reference to section 3 of the Act which is on the composition of the Governing Council of the Agency.
350.org is building a global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis. Our online campaigns, grassroots organizing, and mass public actions are led from the bottom up by thousands of volunteer organizers in over 188 countries.
350 means climate safety. To preserve our planet, scientists tell us we must reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere from its current level of 392 parts per million to below 350 ppm. But 350 is more than a number—it’s a symbol of where we need to head as a planet.
350.org works hard to organize in a new way—everywhere at once, using online tools to facilitate strategic offline action. We want to be a laboratory for the best ways to strengthen the climate movement and catalyze transformation around the world.
We operate at a large scale to take on the world’s greatest challenge. In October of 2009 we coordinated 5200 simultaneous rallies and demonstrations in 181 countries, what CNN called the ‘most widespread day of political action in the planet’s history.’ On 10/10/10, we organized a day of climate solutions projects–from solar panel installations to community garden plantings–and changed communities from the bottom up with over 7000 events in 188 countries. And at the end of last year, we coordinated a climate art project so large it had to be photographed from a satellite in outer space.
In 2011, we are building people power in every corner of the planet. With a huge mobilization planned for September and a series of bold campaigns in strategic countries around the world, we’ve got big plans. With the help of millions of people, we’ll create a wave a hard-hitting climate activism all over the world that can lead to real, lasting, large-scale change.
We think we can turn the tide on the climate crisis–but only if we work together. If an international grassroots movement holds our leaders accountable to realities of science and principles of justice, we can realize the solutions that will ensure a better future for all.
Environmental Rights Action (ERA) is a Nigerian advocacy non-governmental organisation founded on January 11, 1993 to deal with environmental human rights issues in Nigeria. ERA is the Nigerian chapter of Friends of the Earth International (FoEI). ERA is the co-ordinating NGO in Africa for Oilwatch International, the global South network of groups concerned about the effects of oil on the environment of people who live in oil-bearing regions. Oilwatch was founded in 1995 (in Ecuador), in the aftermath of local struggles against oil companies such as Shell (in Nigeria) and Texaco (now Chevron) in Ecuador. Both cases have given rise to well-known court cases where damages in the billions of euros are being claimed at present. ERA has been the winner of the Sophie Prize.
The organisation is dedicated to the defence of human ecosystems in terms of human rights, and to the promotion of environmentally responsible governmental, commercial, community and individual practice in Nigeria through the empowerment of local people. ERA will mainly provide its great knowledge of oil extraction conflicts and gas flaring to Work Package 2 on the database of environmenal conflicts and to Work Package 4 on oil and gas extraction and climate justice, as well as giving input in many other parts of the EJOLT project. ERA is also the coordinating NGO for the Nigerian Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA).
At KeNRA, we consolidate and coordinate community efforts in advocating for policies that promotes equitable access, control & sustainable use of Natural Resources in Kenya.
Become our member today so that together we promote inclusion of community-centred sustainable management of natural resources in Kenya.
The objective of the Society is to generally promote public health, conserve natural resources and protect the environment through the following:
- Ensure that members or organizations working or associated with Waste Management conduct their operations in accordance with good standards of practice and ethics of the Industry.
- Providing expert opinion on waste management to Nigerian public, develop technical guidance and promote competition through the spread of best practice, exchange of knowledge and experience in planning, investigation, collection, treatment, recycling and disposal of all streams of wastes
- Build public consciousness and develop members on Waste Management through industrial training scheme, professional publications, conferences, seminars and exhibitions.
- Promote scientific research and development in matters in or related to waste management with the desired coordination between our country and others.
Global Hand is a matching service: a non-profit brokerage facilitating public/ private partnership.
Although today’s world sees many parties wishing to respond to global issues, the problem they often face is connectivity. Who should they partner with and how?
Global Hand is designed to bring together people from all parts of the spectrum. You can use this site to find partners wherever you fit. Your area of interest may be:
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Philanthropy
- Disaster response
- Poverty alleviation
- Advocacy
- Microcredit
- Job Creation
- Guidelines/Best Practice
- Doing business with the poor
- Sustainable Development
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Gifts-in-kind
- Services-in-kind
- Humanitarian Aid
- Fair Trade
- Corporate Volunteering
Mount Kenya Environmental Conservation is Non Governmental Organization registered and working in Kenya since 2015. The organization started as a self-help group called Save Mount Kenya Forest from Extinction group in 2007 consisting of youth who came together to rehabilitate part of Mount Kenya forest which over the years had experienced massive deforestation. Beside rehabilitation of Mount Kenya forest, the other goals and objectives was to promote farm forestry so that community members stop relying on the forest for products. Also our organization was involved in many activities like ; community sensitization on the importance of conserving mount Kenya forest and reporting all illegal activities taking place inside the forest. Trainings focusing on ; tree nurseries establishment and managements, transplanting of tree in the forest, site preparation and after planting management which included weeding and protection from animals were also undertaken. Community empowerment which was geared towards improving community livelihoods through value addition to products grown on farms and also planting beneficial trees which improve milk and meat production were done hand in hand with various Government Ministries like Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and Kenya Forest Service. Greening schools programmmes aimed instilling knowledge of conservation to young children was also undertaken where by seedlings were donated to schools and planted by school pupils.
kiangure Springs Environment Initiative (KSEI) is a registered Community Based Organization under the laws of Kenya that works towards enhancing resilience of communities towards impacts of climate change in the Aberdare ecosystem of Kenya. The Project is located on the Eastern side of the Aberdare Forest. The Aberdare forest is the source of Rivers that are tributaries of Tana,Kenyas biggest river. Our overall objective is to support the upper Tana catchment community in Poverty reduction through improved livelihood systems and the Conservation of Community natural resources and initiatives for enhanced environmental management and governance.Our beneficiaries include the catholic community in Nyeri Diocese.
Our Programmes are:
1) Renewable energy promotion-(improved cook-stoves, briquettes, solar, and bio-gas) Under this programme we have enabled 1000 households adopt ICS,500 adopt solar lamps ,19 households adopt biogas and 10 secondary schools adopt Biogas technology, promotion and production of Briquettes
http://www.trust.org/item/20150429114132-tnby1
2) Environment conservation- tree planting (bamboo, fruits, indigenous tree species) Planted over 500,000 seedlings in the Aberdare ecosystem
3)Environmental education https://www.apeuk.org/youth-aberdare-art-project/project Working with youth groups, schools and community groups to promote environmental education.
4)Climate change and environmental awareness http://www.paintinganewworld.com/galleries/int-murals-index.htm Working with Canadian Organization to create community level awareness on climate change through mural art.
5)Governance & Democracy The purpose of this program is to create an empowered society that can demand for democratic practice at all levels and participate in governance issues. The main projects under this include Alternative Leadership Programme, Women Civic Empowerment Program, Youth Empowerment program and Natural resource management . The overall objective of this programme is to entrench community participation in governance and democratic processes thereby creating an informed society that can demand for democratic practices at all levels and participate in governance issues.
6)Food Security &Sustainable livelihoods This project seeks to improve food security and ensure sustainable livelihoods through integrated intervention focusing on:
a)Sustainable Agriculture The main activities under this program include crop diversification, promotion of organic agriculture and initiation of community agricultural extension schemes. Similarly, livestock, fish, and poultry farming are encouraged with emphasis on efficient utilization of the small farm sizes. Over 500 households have benefited with poultry ,fish and Dairy goats.. There is emphasis on climate smart agriculture to reduce emissions, improve soil fertility, and conserve our water resources.
b) Community Health & Nutrition This is an initiative through which KSEI trains community health workers (CHWs), and peer educators to promote health education within the community and hence promote best practices in community health and nutrition
c)Gender & HIV/AIDS Project Under this project KSEI has in the last three years been involved in awareness creation, sensitization and behavior change advocacy focusing especially on women as the most vulnerable group
d)Water & Sanitation This component focuses on the improvement of sanitation both at domestic and institutional level. The domestic water supply and quality to mitigate the effects of waterborne and other diseases in the community. This is done through sanitation education and adoption of Integrated Biogas technology and conservation of natural water sources.
NEST mandate is limited to matters related to the environment and sustainable development, primarily in Nigeria but with general global interest.
It specifically includes:
- Participating in and promoting research and publications on the environment and sustainable development,
- Striving to influence policy to secure the sustainable use of environmental resources,
- Raising public awareness of environmental and sustainable development issues, and
- Supporting popular action on the environment
As a means to achieving its mission of biodiversity conservation, RSCN has dedicated itself to Setting up and managing of nine protected areas in Dana, Wadi Mujib, Azraq, Shaumari, Dibeen, Ajloun, Fifa, Yarmouk and Wadi Rum, covering over 1200 square kilometers in some of the finest natural landscapes in the country to safeguard Jordan’s natural environment and biodiversity. Currently, a reserve is being set up in Burqu, while eight additional sites are proposed locations for the establishment of new reserves in the upcoming years;
- Enforcing the Wildlife Protection Act through a special mandate from the Ministry of Agriculture, and working closely with law enforcement agencies, such as the environmental police unit (Rangers), to protect biodiversity. RSCN is also designated as the management and enforcement authority for CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
- Conducting research to provide a scientific base to aid conservation efforts.
- Raising awareness on environmental issues, with a focus on school students through establishing nature conservation clubs, providing educational programs in the reserves, and integrating biodiversity concepts in school curricula.
- Running captive breeding programs and successfully saving several endangered species from extinction, such as the magnificent endangered Arabian Oryx, gazelle, and ibex and re-introducing them into the wilderness. RSCN has currently moved away from the process of captive breeding and embraced a new method of conservation, which involves a shift from species-oriented conservation programs to habitats-oriented conservation programs.
- Developing large-scale conservation projects that aim to integrate environmental protection with the socio-economic development of local people living in and around the nature reserves. RSCNs socio-economic projects include a wide variety of eco-tourism programs, as well as the production of unique handicrafts and organic food items. These nature-based businesses provide jobs tied to the protection of natural areas and create improved livelihoods for poor rural communities. All of RSCN products and eco-tourism ventures are marketed under the trade name “Wild Jordan” and the full range of handicrafts are available at the Wild Jordan Center in Amman.
- Providing training and capacity building to environmental practitioners and other institutions throughout Jordan and the Middle East in an attempt to share our expertise and empower others to join in the protection of nature.
- Encouraging the public to become more involved in conservation efforts by joining RSCNs membership program and becoming a voice for nature.
- Promoting public action for environmental protection through campaigns and activities run by an advocacy committee comprised of volunteers from different sectors.
In 1983, both black rhinos and northern white rhinos declared extinct throughout Uganda. Therefore, our purpose is to return rhinos, a vital aspect of both environmental and cultural heritage, back into Uganda, through our breeding and release program.
Located in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the 7 000 hectares of savannah and woodlands has provided us with land for the rhinos. Owned by Captain Joe Roy, a Ugandan citizen, a land usage license has been agreed to give us sole usage rights for thirty (renewable) years.
From this, the first six southern white rhinos were translocated in 2005/6, with four from Kenya, and two from Disney Animal Kingdom (USA). As it was northern white rhinos that once populated Uganda’s national parks, our rhinos are technically considered an exotic breed!
It was four years before the first rhino was born in March 2008. Unfortunately, Bella’s baby was a still born.
The next year – 24th June 2009 – we had a healthy male calf, making history by being the first rhino born in Uganda in approximately 30 years! He was named Obama, making history, with his mother from the United States and his father from Kenya.
Solterra was born out of a need and wish to address South Africa’s energy crisis. We understand that in order to bring about the changes required in the South African energy landscape we needed a highly specialized commercial and residential product. South Africa faces a massive shortage when it comes to experienced, competent and technically sound energy consultants. Solterra aim to fill this void. We are the fastest growing renewable energy consultancy in Southern Africa, offering the public consistent, trustworthy solutions nationally.
With head office accountability, ethical standards and integrity we do not only exist to sell products – we exist because we are a group of individuals who believe in making a significant difference. We undertake comprehensive client engagement in order to understand their requirements, making the correct recommendations, ensuring that sustainable and accurate solutions are provided. We do not compromise on quality, and will only offer the best in class products, matched with industry leading design and implementation
The Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS Network) is a regional conservation organization with the mission to enhance biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of natural resources in the Albertine Rift region, Africa Great Lakes region and African Mountains through the promotion of collaborative conservation actions for nature and people.
ARCOS’ overall goal is to enhance conservation of critical ecosystems and promote sustainable development in the Albertine Rift region, Africa Great Lakes region and African Mountains through collaborative actions between various partners.
ARCOS is registered in the UK as a Charity and Company Limited by Guarantee, and in Rwanda and Uganda as an international NGO.
Who we are
The Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) is an independent public policy research and advocacy Think Tank based in Uganda, working in the East and Southern Africa sub-regions on a wide range of public policy issues. Our core business is policy research and analysis, policy outreach and capacity building. Since the organisation was formed 19 years ago, ACODE has emerged as one of the leading regional public policy Think Tanks in Sub-Saharan African. ACODE has been recognised among the Top-100 Think Tanks worldwide by the University of Pennsylvania’s 2017 Global-Go-To Think Tank Index Report.
As a non-partisan and independent organisation, ACODE does not align with any political party or political organisation. However, given the direct relationship between development policy and politics, we believe that our work is political and it must stand for certain political causes of a bi-partisan nature. Such causes are legitimate issues of research interest so long as they are defined on the basis of constitutionalism, the rule of law, as well as national and regional interests as expressed in the relevant treaties, strategy documents and declarations.
Vision: Inclusive, sustainable and prosperous societies in Africa
Mission: A premier think tank striving to make public policy work for people through research, civic engagement and evidence-based advocacy.
Values: Academic and intellectual freedom, non-partisanship, integrity, non-discrimination, and excellence.
Wildlife Conservation
Protecting an astounding diversity of species. (Humans included.)
Africa is home to keystone wildlife species that are facing extinction, including the mountain gorilla, Grevy’s zebra, and Ethiopian wolf. To protect populations from further decline, our on-the-ground safeguards involve training rangers and using sniffer dogs to stop wildlife traffickers. Wildlife must survive in their natural habitats, so we empower local communities through conservation-friendly development and work with international agencies to protect Africa’s natural resources.
Critical to protecting these vital ecosystems are people. Sharing land across the continent, local communities and wildlife often live alongside each other, leading to struggles for space and water. If people and wildlife learn to live together — inside and outside of protected areas — the future for all will thrive.
The Grevy’s Zebra Trust (GZT) is the only organisation in the world with a mission focused solely on conserving the Grevy’s zebra. Recognising that the survival of the Grevy’s zebra depends on its ability to coexist with people living in northern Kenya, GZT believes these communities must be at the centre of designing and driving conservation efforts. GZT therefore works in partnership with communities from monitoring Grevy’s zebra through citizen science, to co-designing site-specific and tailored solutions to threats facing the species. In all of its work, GZT seeks ways to use data and information to inform decisions and solution for positive conservation outcomes.
Care international has various programmes which include:
Food and Nutrition Security and Climate Change
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
The Council for Renewable Energy Nigeria (CREN) was born in November 2004 out of the spirit of Energetic Solutions – An international renewable energy conference held in Nigeria. This conference included representatives from Africa, the Americas and Europe, and was a follow up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development and Bonn Renewables conference to address the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and issues of energy and development.
During the conference, Nigerian government, private, civil sector representatives came together to combine their efforts to envision a renewable energy future for the country. Their vision was encapsulated in the Calabar Declaration, an action plan for renewable energy in Nigeria.
Founded and comprised of stakeholders from all sectors of renewable energy , the Council For Renewable Energy Nigeria is in a unique position to effectively build partnerships to facilitate the large scale implementation of renewable energy in Nigeria.