We all are renowned with the existence of Pygmy people of Africa from our childhood obsession with the comic of masked hero called The Phantom. These indigenous hunters-gatherer people can be found southwestern skirts of Central African Republic and northern portion of Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Tanzania, Uganda etc. They’re one of the oldest ethnic group dependent of an ancient stone-age group still adjusting into our modern culture. The average adult height of pygmies are not more than 155 centimeters( 5 feet 1 inch), which has became they’re catastrophe against modern people. Pygmies neither educated nor have any knowledge regarding their rights, law, or basic sense of human needs. Pygmies also known as forest people’s standard of living is poor because of absence of medical treatment , schools, jobs, land rights etc. We can say they’re trapped behind the tall walls of societal discrimination.
Agriculture is the biggest single industry in many developing countries of the world. Benin is a West African country in which agriculture plays an important economic role. The agricultural sector employs about 70% of the population and contributes to 39% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (Awoye, 2015) of Benin. It also provides about 88% of the country’s export earnings (Awoye, 2015). The lack of modern farming technologies, poor soil, land degradation, and the rapid population growth constitute the challenges that Benin agriculture is facing. In Benin, the farmers rely highly on the rain–fed agriculture for crop productions. The high dependence on rain-fed agriculture combined with low socioeconomic development expose subsistence agriculture farmers to external shocks such as climate variability and climate change impacts. Empirical evidence reveals that the increasing of global temperature is likely to boost agricultural production in the temperate region, and it is expected to reduce yields in the tropical regions of the world (WTO –UNEP, 2009). Studies conducted by Afouda (1990), Houndénou (1999), Ogouwalé (2006)and Boko (1988) cited by Tidjani (2012) , revealed that there is increasing of minimum temperature and agricultural season length is shortening in Benin. Some regional climate models predict a decrease of annual rainfall up to 30% by 2050 in Benin with a significant within- region differences (Paeth et al., 2008). This change will decrease yield production already challenged by limited access to capital, markets, infrastructure and technology. Benin has already experienced food insecurity and climate change will exacerbate it through the increase in frequency of adverse weather events. The Northwest part of Benin (Atacora) is characterized by a unimodal rainfall regime (peak in August). This means the district is more heavily exposed to the impact of climate change. A well–known study in this respect is the one carried out on farmers’ perception and impact of climate change on production and yam varietal diversity in Northwest of Benin (Loko et al., 2013). Fewresearch works have been conducted in that on the impacts of climate change on the major staple food crops and farmers’ adaptation strategies to this change in the district. This present study examines the impact of climate change on major staple food crops (yam, maize, sorghum, and rice and bean productions) and farmers’ adaptation strategies to this change in Atacora. The section 2 explaines the methodogy used to achieve the goal of this study. The section 3 shows the results of the analysis.
Women Grants to End Violence Against Women and Children
In order to End Violence Against Women and Violence Against Children, a research grant is available to support research to improve prevention and response to VAW, VAC, and other forms of violence driven by gender inequality in low and middle-income countries – a major public health concern and human rights violation.
Project supported by the research Grant should:
Apply feminist and women-centred research and partnerships.
Be conceptualised within a human rights framework.
Adhere to international safety and ethical guidelines.
Strive for innovation in ideas, new methodologies and partnerships, while building on evidence.
Strive to be collaborative, cross sectoral and multidisciplinary.
Promote equitable participation and bring to the field diverse voices from low- and middle-income countries (researchers, survivors, marginalised groups).
Where relevant and appropriate, endeavor to engage the community where the research will take place.
Challenge the gender hierarchy that contributes to VAW and VAC in order to promote gender equality.
Inform policy, programmes and services and strengthen access to comprehensive care and support for survivors.
Women Grants to End Violence Against Women and Children – Funding Information
Applicants can apply for grants between $40,000 to $200,000 no longer than 24 months in length.
Women Grants to End Violence Against Women and Children – Types of Eligible Projects
The types of projects that may be supported under this grant include:
Research projects that are either standalone projects or a component of a larger project that will guide efforts to effectively address or prevent VAW and VAC.
Qualitative studies that explore the effectiveness and process of creating change with innovative VAW and VAC prevention interventions or the acceptability, impact, and process of change created by interventions that support and assist survivors of VAW and VAC.
Projects that seek to address VAW and VAC prevention and response together or simultaneously or in one intervention with distinct elements.
Projects that work to understand how to integrate VAW and/or or VAC programming into other sectoral work, for instance, large infrastructure development programmes.
Those that develop innovative methods and tools for VAW and/or VAC research.
Those that evaluate how to effectively expand tested VAW and VAC prevention and response interventions.
Secondary analysis of existing data that will provide insights into addressing VAW and VAC more effectively and sustainably.
Research on violence across diverse populations in situations of vulnerability, including persons with disabilities, people living with HIV, older persons, indigenous peoples, LGBTQI, refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants. >
Research on the impact of Covid–19 on VAW and the VAW / VAC intersections, including: conducting research and programming during times of widespread instability and anxiety; ethical and safe use of remote data collection; support services for survivors under restrictive regulatory environments.
Women Grants to End Violence Against Women and Children – Eligibility Criteria
Applications for support under this award should:
Be affiliated with a recognised, legally constituted research institution or organisation with existing research or programming capacity on VAW and VAC. Grants will only be made to institutions and not to individuals.
Where appropriate, involve partnerships between multiple organisations, for example, a local NGO, practice-based agency and an academic institution, or local government and an NGO or an academic institution. Preference will be given to academic/researcher – practitioner partnerships. The partnership arrangement must be clearly outlined and reflected in the proposal and budget allocation.
Preference will be given to proposals submitted and led by organisations based in LMICs. Where appropriate, have as an objective strengthening the research capacity of the implementing agency.
Other eligibility considerations to note:
Organisations or consortiums can submit up to two proposals, but only one proposal will be funded.
Previous grantees will not be considered as principal applicants.
Grant applications that are proposing work on behalf of UN Agencies, the World Bank
Group or other multilateral agencies will not be considered.
All projects under this call should focus on VAW and VAC prevention and/or response in LMICs.
If the funds are sought for scale up or dissemination activities, the application must provide sufficient information to enable the scientific quality of the original study to be assessed, as well as a description of the activities for which funds are requested.
The inaugural Pro Carton Student Video Award was a big success amongst media and business schools. The European competition for video storytelling about cartons and cartonboard is open for entries again now!
All students enrolled at a European school/university on a recognized full-time educational course at the time of entry are welcome to join the contest. The video should promote or explain one or more of the benefits of cartons/cartonboard in a creative way and there’s €5,000 to be won!
Cartons and cartonboard are an economically and ecologically balanced packaging medium and we want students to help us to tell the world!
Students can enter as a team of up to 4 people or are welcome to enter as individuals.
Deadline is June 25, 2021. -But don’t wait till then!
The WSA Young Innovators Award is an open call. The participation in the WSA Young Innovators is open to any entrepreneur, company, student group or project team – at least one of the founding members and the majority of the team must be under the age of 26 (born on or after January 1, 1995).
Eligible for young citizens of all UN member states, WSA Young Innovators is open to every start-up, social entrepreneur, NGO, student or individual!
The participation in the WSA Young Innovators is open to any entrepreneur, company, student group or project team – at least one of the founding members and the majority of the team must be under the age of 26 (born on or after January 1, 1995).
Submissions for the WSA Young Innovators can contain all mobile and web-based projects, such as: apps, web pages, applications for wearables, kiosk installations, SMS based products, games and interactive productions. There is no limitation regarding the platforms or channels the projects work with.
All submissions have to be launched products. No drafts, ideas or unfinished projects can be accepted.
By rephrasing our most intractable issues and identifying solutions that empower young people to take action, the YoungHero Scholar Fellows Program 2021 is creating a blueprint for our cultural future – reducing vulnerability through learning and working.
Our deliverable
Each fellow will submit their reframed social vision and the precise tested steps required to accomplish it at the conclusion of the year.
Their future is reframed in a straightforward manner.
The steps necessary to get there are defined.
Their skills polished to meet the job market demand.
The Scholar Fellows
Simple alterations in viewpoint have resulted in massive transformation throughout history. Our global society is today confronted with a slew of apparently insurmountable issues. Suppose we combine learning and working?
The YoungHero Scholar Fellows Program is designed to give young people, and drop-out adults the opportunity to take a step back, gain a new perspective, and develop an action plan in order to address their most critical concerns, while they get a placement in a formal workplace – It is a Learn-by-Doing experience.
The Fellowship program is a full year intense learning opportunity for young people living in Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Eswatini and Namibia. It is hosted at the Centre for eLearning and IT Research in Lusaka once a year. Fellows will be given a year to learn, train, investigate, design, and implement a basic practical change plan. How might we redefine poor? What is the best way to rethink poverty? What is the best way to rethink education? What is the question you have that has the potential to change the world?
The fellowship is cohort-based, including monthly remote collaborations and in-person meetings several times a year. A small startup fund is given to each fellow, at the end of the fellowship as well as ongoing mentoring, support, and access to experts.
Fellows Are Awarded
Free Learning Courses in technology, humanities, business, Fashion Technology and Art & Design (fellows have a choice of a Course).
Conferred with a Diploma by the highest academic institution and the regulatory body in Zambia.
Motivated co-working opportunity and a well-structured work atmosphere.
Expert coaches in your chosen field.
Travels to various locations within and outside the country to conduct research
6 months work experience in our partner organizations and other reputable companies
A $1,000 startup capital is available at the end of the fellowship.
This contribution is based on the previous experiences of a professional life spent in contact with Africa, whether these experiences are operational or result from the author’s last functions as a general officer, turned towards the analysis of crisis situations and strategic intelligence. The positions defended are therefore strictly personal and do not echo those of the Ministry of Defense or the French government.
Where does the importance of military power on the African continent and the role that the armed forces have played or play in the daily functioning of the State come from? The question makes sense when one notes that it has been in the news almost continuously since independence in the early 1960s.
The monopoly of the legitimate use of force is a fundamental regalian prerogative of the armed forces. The temptation is strong to divert the use of force to categorical, partisan, dictatorial or even personal ends, when sometimes even the mixing of genres is not the rule. There is no need for sophisticated arguments to demonstrate this. The facts, including the most recent ones, are still too often taken for granted.
On March 22, 2012, in Bamako, a military coup led by Captain Amadou Sanogo overthrew President Amadou Toumani Touré, who had been democratically elected in 2007 after a consultation held without “exaggerated” fraud. Since then, the replacement of the junta by a civilian transitional government has not, unfortunately, brought the demonstration into question, and the current conflict has some of its roots in this.
The institutional model inherited mainly from a common political system set up at independence by the former colonial power, partly explains the importance of the armed forces. The second reason is a consequence of the previous one. As holders of the legitimate use of force, the “people-at-arms ” take on a variety of functions and claim to be in the exclusive service of the country, in the name of an ethic of which they alone are the guardians. The weight of traditional cultural, ethnic, tribal and family factors in relation to national sentiment is a third reason. Finally, the continent is in the grip of economic difficulties, which the global crisis has only served to underline more strongly, leaving the field open for armed force to bring its powers to bear.
Some avenues for long-term change will serve as an opening for further reflection. However, the problem of transformation involves several antinomic aspects intrinsically linked to the divergent logics of action of the actors involved. One of the keys to success probably lies in a return to the “original” mission of the armed forces: the defense of the land and, from now on, in a much more significant way, also the defense of citizens.
In a detailed statement Armed conflict, corona virus pandemic and a ceasefire: Impact on children in Africa, Divina Maloum (pictured above), founder of Children for Peace and co-winner with Greta Thunberg of the influential 2019 International Children’s Peace Prize, outlines the impact of armed conflict on children and on public health systems in Africa. She warns about the dire humanitarian consequences if governments and militias continue fighting rather than cooperating to prevent spread of the coronavirus and mitigate its impact on public health and the economy
‘Healthcare systems across Africa could collapse under the weight of the coronavirus pandemic since conflict-hit regions have many hospitals that have already been damaged and the basics such as clean water and soap necessary to fight the virus are in short supply due to armed conflict. The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war. The global ceasefire is absolutely essential for an effective response to the crisis in areas of conflict. War doesn’t make any sense when we have an epidemic that affects us all.’ Divina Maloum, founder of Children for Peace and winner of the 2019 International Children’s Peace Prize.
The Guardian reports that eleven countries that are locked in long-term conflicts have now responded to the UN call for a worldwide ceasefire, and the total number of countries supporting the ceasefire call has risen to 70. (Click here for a joint statement from 53 supporting countries). However, the UN Secretary-General notes that “there was still a distance between declarations and deeds in many countries”. He has asked his special envoys across the globe to redouble their efforts to persuade combatants to lower their guns to allow humanitarian workers to combat the coronavirus.
A global petition supporting the ceasefire has already gained over 1.6 million endorsers. Click here to add your support.
Divina and other members of Children for Peace and ANYL4PSD, have also submitted memes for the Move the Nuclear Weapons Money social media campaign, making the connections between nuclear disarmament, peace, sustainable development and public health. Below are a few of these.
New research published earlier this year shows how tackling supply chain emissions can be a game-changer in the worldwide battle against climate change. Net-Zero Challenge: The Supply Chain Opportunity from the World Economic Forum and the Boston Consulting Group looks at the top eight worldwide supply chains that produce more than 50% of global greenhouse (GHG) emissions. They find that several corporations can multiply their climate impact by focusing on supply chain decarbonization.
On the other hand, even leading corporations struggle to set clear goals and standards for their suppliers and get the data they need.
How best can corporations build a meaningful pathway to deep decarbonization within their supply chains?
In this article, the GHG emissions management experts at SINAI explain what corporations should consider when getting to grips with supply chain emissions. We present practical and scalable ways in which corporations can achieve deep decarbonization, from setting a carbon baseline to automating data collection throughout your corporation’s supply chain.
Slowing down climate change
The Paris agreement is a legally binding global treaty on climate change aiming to slow down climate change. Unfortunately, current pledges do not go far enough. Many agree that to hit the targets set, deep decarbonization is needed, particularly in global supply chains across a variety of industries.
What is decarbonization?
The term “decarbonization” is used to represent the process of reducing and removing the carbon dioxide, or CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent, meaning, all 7 greenhouse gases included), output from a country’s economy. The most common way this is done is by decreasing the amount of CO2e released from active industries within each economy – including but not limited to utilities, transportation, consumer goods, construction, and materials.
A robust picture of emissions
The first step every corporation should take to get a handle on supply chain emissions is to gain a complete view of what those emissions are. The GHG Protocol’s Scope 3 Standard provides corporations with a methodology that can be used to account for and report carbon emissions from companies of all sectors, worldwide.
Corporations should consider building a detailed view of emissions with supplier-specific data to set ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions. You can take control of your supply chain’s carbon emissions by performing a carbon inventory.
You should be able to compare emissions sources and resource consumption together with quickly identifying trends and patterns. Ensure you can aggregate, sort, and filter your emissions data to manage risk better and help/support suppliers to find deep decarbonization opportunities.
A detailed carbon baseline
Corporations should consider exploring historical activity data to project emissions as their business grows and changes, creating forecast baselines they can use to monitor progress.
Establishing a comprehensive emissions baseline for your corporation is vital. Baselines are built according to business growth, and you can combine these with supply chain emissions with different levels of detail, to generate multiple baselines according to additional premises. Use granular data to analyze suppliers that contribute the most significant emissions.
Emerging software can help corporations easily match procurement data with environmentally extended input/output factors, building a high-level picture of their supply chain’s overall carbon footprint. Corporations can also leverage predictive analytics on resource consumption and emissions trends to gain better insight and business intelligence.
Automated GHG inventories
Corporations should consider engaging diverse partners in their supply chain in a meaningful way, assisting them in a value-based exchange of emissions data.
Work towards a flexible data collection process to move away from generic data sources and create custom emissions factors that you can track with ease.
Collaboration is crucial, and we know supply chain emissions data can be messy. By automating data collection, corporations can consolidate, analyze and organize data from various sources quickly and easily, leading to more accountable reporting and better decision making.
Smarter carbon emissions strategies
Corporations should look to optimize their carbon emissions strategy through scenario and sensitivity analysis and enhanced risk management for deep supply chain decarbonization.
Intelligent, data-driven scenario analysis can future-proof your corporation and your supply chain, with a heightened understanding of your projected deep decarbonization pathways.
Accurate and precise data can show which assets of the corporation are most at risk. Explore any reduction opportunities that exist and what cost-positive opportunities may be worth investing in, in the long-term. Suppliers that go over the same type of analysis, will ultimately reduce their scope 1 and 2, which will reflect back to their buyers’ scope 3. The overall approach helps everyone in the supply chain to reduce emissions, with their own individual definition of success.
Technology to help your organization to remain accountable
Front runners in several global industries are using innovative and cutting-edge technology to better manage their supply chain’s journey to deep decarbonization. They have a complete view of carbon emissions throughout their supply chain and baseline definitions in place, reviewing more granular data of those with the highest emissions. They are working towards deep decarbonization through automated carbon inventories from suppliers and following carbon emissions strategies, backed by data.
SINAI’s GHG emissions management solution can help you achieve supply chain decarbonization. Our software provides a seamless way to measure, analyze, price, and reduce emissions. Supply chain carbon management doesn’t have to be difficult, with the right solution that’s customizable to your corporation’s unique needs, you can move closer to net-zero.
To see SINAI in action, reach out for a demo today. This article originally appeared at SINAI
Earth Hour 2021: New Deal for Nature and People Coalition Advocacy
WWF’s report called Living Planet, released in October 2018, showed that globally, nature continues to degrade with devastating consequences for species and the planet. The global populations of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles decreased by 60% on average from 1970 and 2014. This is also true for the fauna and flora species of the Virunga National Park (PNVi) and of Salonga National Park, all declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and whose oil exploitation in these two protected areas would lead to the disappearance of ecosystems of incomparable flora and fauna, of exceptional economic value. Lake Edward, which once had 30,000 hippos in 1974, now numbers more than 300 hippos due to oil exploitation by several companies such as SOCO.
Just like during Earth Day, on this day of April 22, 2021 dedicated to Earth Hour, the organizations of the coalition on the New Pact for Nature and People led by the African Network of Young platform Leaders for Peace and Sustainable Development , strengthen advocacy for climate action, preservation and restoration of ecosystems. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, member organizations of the African Network of Young Leaders for Peace and Sustainable Development are increasing synergies to further address the issues of degradation of national parks and aquatic ecosystems through advocacy with local and national authorities. and polluting companies.
The object of the action is clear: their involvement in reversing the trend of the decrease in animal and plant species in Virunga and Solanga by promoting renewable energies as a source of sustainable socioeconomic development as opposed to the exploitation of fossil fuels in these protected areas.
—————— Heure de la terre 2021 : Plaidoyer de la Coalition sur le Nouveau Pacte pour la Nature et les Personnes.
Le rapport de WWF appelé Planète Vivante, publié en octobre 2018, a montré qu’au niveau mondial, la nature continue à se dégrader avec les conséquences dévastatrices pour les espèces et la planète. Les populations mondiales des poissons, d’oiseaux, des mammifères, d’amphibiens et des reptiles ont diminué de 60% en moyenne de 1970 et 2014. Cela est aussi vrais pour les espèces fauniques et floristiques du Parc National des Virunga (PNVi) et du Parc National de Salonga, tous déclaré site du Patrimoine Mondiale de l’UNESCO et dont
l’exploitation du pétrole dans ces deux aires protégées conduirait à la disparition
d’écosystèmes de faune et de flore incomparable, d’une valeur économique exceptionnelle. Le lac Édouard qui autrefois comptait en 1974, 30 000 hippopotames, aujourd’hui ne dénombre plutôt que 300 hippopotames à cause de l’exploitation pétrolière par plusieurs entreprises telles que SOCO.
Tout comme au cours de la journée de la Terre, en cette journée du 22 avril 2021 consacrée à l’Heure de la Terre, les organisations de la coalition sur le Nouveau Pacte pour la Nature et les Personnes conduite par la plateforme African Network of Young Leaders for Peace and Sustainable Development , renforcent des plaidoyers pour l’action climatique, la sauvegarde et la restauration des écosystèmes. En République Démocratique du Congo, les organisations membres de African Network of Young Leaders for Peace and Sustainable Development multiplient des synergies pour davantage adresser les questions de dégradation des parc nationaux et écosystèmes aquatiques à travers des plaidoyers effectués à l’égard des autorités locales et nationales et des compagnies polluantes.
L’objet de l’action est clair : leur implication pour inverser la tendance de la diminution des espèces animales et végétales dans le Virunga et la solanga par la promotion des énergies renouvelables en tant que source de développement socioéconomique durable contrairement à l’exploitation des énergies fossiles dans ces aires protégées.
