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In this section we present information on our survey of African climate, agri-food, and environmental organizations in which we inquired into the multiple principles, processes, and practices they employ to build economic and political power to shift from extractive economies to regenerative ones.
Methodology
Survey design
The survey content was designed with the advisory support of internal and external reviewers with expertise in our structural focus areas of food systems, environment, energy, and climate, as well as reviewers with expertise on global corporate power, finance, worker rights, and democratic rights. We drew from reviewers in different institutional roles and relationships to African social movements, including policy advocacy, labor organizers, and grassroots community-based organizations.
Respondents were informed that we intend to use the information gathered from the survey to facilitate collective dialogue, collaboration, and thought leadership amongst our Institute and climate, agri-food, and environmental organizations across Africa. To foster trust and accountability, respondents were also informed that we intended to share the findings from the survey with their organization, including through this white paper.
Respondents were asked to answer four types of questions about their organization: select-one, select top three choices, and short write-in response. Write-in responses pertained only to the respondent’s information, organizations the respondent’s own organization is partnered with, and any additional information the respondent wished to share and that was not already covered in the survey.
Survey audience and dissemination
The survey was distributed directly to organizations we selected from the UN Development Programme’s (UNDP) list of Accredited African Environmental Organizations and Afrika Vuka’s list of partner organizations. The survey was also distributed directly to organizations our colleagues and networks recommended that were not on these lists, and to partner organizations we identified during the outreach process. Finally, the survey was distributed through the Othering & Belonging Institute’s email list.
The criteria for dissemination and participation were:
- the organization identifies as an NGO, non-profit, or community-based organization;
- the organization is based in Africa;
- the organization works on climate, agri-food, and/or environmental issues.
Organizations that completed the survey but did not meet these criteria have not been included in these findings. The list of organizations that completed the survey and meet these criteria is available in appendix A.
Survey instrument
The survey was designed and disseminated through Google Forms, a web-based platform used to create and conduct online surveys. The survey collected information about respondents’ roles in their organization, in addition to information about the organization itself and their partner organizations.
The survey was distributed in English, Arabic, and French. The survey questions are available in English in appendix B.
Who we heard from
The survey ran from February 15 to March 21 and was extended twice to reach as many African countries and organizations as possible. During this period, we heard from 51 African climate, agri-food, and environmental organizations.
Location: We heard from respondents whose organizations are based in 30 countries across all five regions of Africa as defined by the African Union. The regions most represented include Western Africa (21 organizations) Eastern Africa (14 organizations), and Northern Africa (8 organizations). The countries most represented include Nigeria (6 organizations), Democratic Republic of Congo (4 organizations), and Kenya (4 organizations).
Scale: We heard from respondents whose organizations work at and across diverse scales. Most respondents’ organizations work at the national level (82.4 percent) and the local level (76.5 percent). Defined as working across multiple neighboring countries, many respondents’ organizations work at the regional level (45.1 percent). Fewer organizations work across the African continent (25.5 percent), and globally (27.5 percent). Several organizations that work at the local level also conduct their work at the national level (34 organizations) and the regional level (19 organizations).
Most organizations responded that they work at the national level (82.4%) and the local level (76.5%)
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Partners: We heard from respondents whose organizations maintain diverse partnerships. Most respondents’ organizations work with other organizations in Africa (84.3 percent). Fewer respondents’ organizations work with organizations outside of Africa (58.8 percent). We found that organizations that work at the local level largely work with other organizations in Africa (79.5 percent), while fewer that work at the local level work with organizations outside Africa (56.4 percent).
Most organizations responded that they work with other organizations in Africa (84.3%)
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Findings
Our survey of African climate, agri-food, and environmental organizations focused on the following matters:
- Organizations’ populations and issues of interest;
- Organizations’ strategies and goals;
- Organizations’ use of frameworks;
- Organizations’ needs and requests;
- Organizations’ assessment of the activities of non-African organizations;
- Organizations’ demands upon non-African organizations and the international community.
In this section, we detail the most compelling findings that we believe to be indicative of areas to facilitate collective dialogue, collaboration, and thought leadership among our institute (and other such institutes in the Global North) and climate, agri-food, and environmental organizations across Africa.
Organizations’ populations and issues of interest
What are the primary communities your organization serves?
Among the organizations we heard from, the majority responded that the communities they primarily serve are rural populations (62.7 percent), farmers (58.8 percent), and women (47.1 percent), with a significant number also focusing on youth (39.2 percent).
Among the organizations we heard from, the communities that were least focused on included unemployed people/informal workers (3.9 percent), workers (2 percent), and the elderly (0 percent).
Most organizations responded that they primarily serve rural populations (62.7%), farmers (58.8%), and women (47.1%)
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What are the primary climatic problems your organization is trying to address?
Among the organizations we heard from, the majority responded that the climate problems they are primarily concerned with are pollution (58.8 percent) and water shortages (41.2 percent). Other major climate problems of concern include drought (39.2 percent), desertification (35.3 percent), soil erosion (33.3 percent), and floods (29.4 percent).
Among the organizations we heard from, the least prevalent climatic problems of concern were extreme temperatures (13.7 percent) and wildfires (13.7 percent).
Most organizations responded that the climate problems they are primarily concerned with are pollution (58.8%) and water shortages (41.2%)
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What are the primary socio-environmental problems your organization is trying to address?
Among the organizations we heard from, the majority responded that the socio-environmental problems they are primarily concerned with are food insecurity (66.7 percent), pollution (45.1 percent), and poverty (45.1 percent). Other major socio-environmental problems of concern include resource extraction (33.3 percent), soil fertility and land exhaustion (29.4 percent), and land tenure (23.5 percent).
Among the least prevalent socio-environmental problems of concern were water privatization (3.9 percent), foreign ownership of land (2 percent), and foreign ownership of infrastructure (0 percent).
Most organizations responded that the socio-environmental problems they are primarily concerned with are food insecurity (66.7%), pollution (45.1%), and poverty (45.1%)
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Organizations’ strategies and goals
What does your organization believe are the short-term solutions to the issues your organization is trying to address?
Among the organizations we heard from, the majority responded that the short-term solution to the issue they are trying to address are to advance food sovereignty (66.7 percent) and increase or improve environmental regulations (56.9 percent), such as emissions and fuel quality standards, and protected areas.
Other major short-term solutions include advancing women’s rights (43.1 percent), advancing farmers’ land rights (41.2 percent), and increasing access to technology, such as agricultural equipment and infrastructure for electricity production (35.3 percent).
Among the least prevalent short-term solutions were improving infrastructure such as dams, reservoirs, and seawalls (15.7 percent) and canceling or mitigating external national debt (15.7 percent).
Most organizations responded that the top short-term solution is to advance food sovereignty (66.7%) and that the top long-term solution is to scale up sustainable agriculture (54.9%)
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What does your organization believe are the long-term solutions to the issues your organization is trying to address?
Among the organizations we heard from, the majority responded that the long-term solution to the issue they are trying to address are to scale up sustainable agriculture, such as agroecological methods and reduced petrochemical use (54.9 percent), ensure food sovereignty (49 percent), and eliminate poverty (39.2 percent).
Among the least prevalent long-term solutions were to strengthen regulations for multinational corporations (5.9 percent), improve public health infrastructure (3.9 percent), and improve transportation infrastructure (2 percent).
What work is your organization actively doing to advance toward these short and long-term solutions?
Among the organizations we heard from, the majority responded that the work they are actively doing to advance toward these short and long-term solutions includes organizing campaigns and advocacy in communities (70.6 percent), raising public awareness (62.7 percent), and consulting with impacted communities (51 percent).
Among the least prevalent activities include providing education curricula on the climate crisis (5.9 percent), consulting with multinational corporations (3.9 percent), and securing and distributing technology (2 percent).
Most organizations responded that they are actively organizing campaigns and advocacy in communities (70.6%)
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Organizations’ use of frameworks
Is your organization using particular frameworks or concepts to guide its work?
Among the organizations we heard from, the majority responded that the particular framework or concept they use to guide their work is food sovereignty (43.1 percent). Other major frameworks and concepts include environmentalism (35.3 percent), social justice (35.3 percent), human rights (29.4 percent), and sustainable development goals (27.5 percent).
In addition, several organizations responded that the framework or concept they use to guide their work is Just Transition (21.6 percent). Among those organizations guided by the framework of Just Transition, all were based in Nigeria (3), Democratic Republic of Congo (2), Ivory Coast (2), South Africa (2), Algeria (1), Libya (1) and Togo (1).
Fewer organizations responded that they are guided by the frameworks of equity (2 percent) and labor rights (0 percent).
Most organizations responded that the particular framework or concept they use to guide their work is food sovereignty (43.1%)
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Organizations’ needs and requests
What kinds of material support does your organization need to remedy the challenges it seeks to address?
Among the organizations we heard from, the vast majority responded that the material support they need to remedy the challenges they seek to address is funding (90.2 percent). Other major needs include training for IT, research and development, and funding procurement (58.8 percent), information technology infrastructure (52.9 percent), and staff training (51 percent).
Among the least prevalent need was research (23.5 percent).
Most organizations responded that they need funding (90.2%), connections to international organizations and networks (94.1%), and connections to international funders (92.2%)
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What kinds of institutional support does your organization need to remedy the challenges it seeks to address?
Among the organizations we heard from, the vast majority responded that the institutional support they need to remedy the challenges they seek to address are connections to international organizations and networks (94.1 percent), connections to international funders (92.2 percent), and connections to regional organizations and networks (68.6 percent).
Few organizations responded that they need legal advice (21.6 percent).
Organizations’ assessment of the activities of non-African organizations
Overall, how effectively do Global North NGOs address the most important environmental, agri-food, and climate problems that affect the communities or constituencies your organization serves?
Among the organizations we heard from, most view Global North NGOs’ work on African environmental, agri-food, and climate problem areas as somewhat effective (54.9 percent) and not effective (27.5 percent), with fewer considering their work effective (17.6 percent).
Do you think people outside of Africa adequately understand the risks that the climate crisis and other agri-food and environmental problems pose to Africans?
Among the organizations we heard from, most believe that people outside of Africa somewhat understand (58.8 percent) the risks that the climate crisis and other agri-food and environmental problems pose to Africans, with fewer believing they do not understand (21.6 percent) and understand (19.6 percent) such risks.
Do you think environmental, agri-food, and climate organizations outside of Africa adequately understand the risks that the climate crisis and other agri-food and environmental problems pose to Africans?
Among the organizations we heard from, most believe that environmental, agri-food, and climate organization outside of Africa somewhat understand (52.9 percent) the risks that the climate crisis and other agri-food and environmental problems pose to Africans, with fewer believing they understand (27.5 percent) and do not understand (19.6 percent) such risks.
Organizations demands upon non-African organizations and the international community
What can Global North NGOs do to support African environmental, agri-food, and climate organizations more effectively?
Among the organizations we heard from, most believe that Global North NGOs can support African environmental, agri-food, and climate organizations by fostering working relationships and partnerships between African organizations and Global North civil society (51 percent), providing unrestricted funding (39.2 percent), amplifying and centering the voices of African organizations to Global North civil society (37.3 percent), and by fostering working relationships and partnerships among African organizations (33.3 percent).
Many organizations also believe that Global North NGOs can support African environmental, agri-food, and climate organizations by focusing on shifting policies and practices within their home countries to reduce the exploitation of land, resources, and labor from the African continent and Africans (29.4 percent), advocating for increased regulations on multinational corporations (27.5 percent), and by modifying and conducting their activities in line with suggestions, insights, and demands from African organizations (27.5 percent).
Few organizations believe that Global North NGOs can support African environmental, agri-food, and climate organizations by reducing their activities in Africa (2 percent), and few believe that such support be a matter of providing technology or technological equipment (2 percent).
Most organizations responded that Global North NGOs should foster working relationships and partnerships between African organizations and Global North civil society (51%) and provide unrestricted funding (39.2%)
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What should African environmental, agri-food, and climate organizations demand from the international community to address the social and environmental problems facing African communities?
Among the organizations we heard from, most believe that African environmental, agri-food, and climate organizations should demand that the international community challenge economic exploitation of Africa’s natural resources by multinational corporations (62.7 percent) and promote a genuine commitment to transparent, equitable, and mutually beneficial trade agreements (52.9 percent).
Many organizations believe that African environmental, agri-food, and climate organizations should demand that the international community have a greater commitment to reducing GHG emissions (42.1 percent) and advance public investment in African sustainable agriculture (31.4 percent).
Very few organizations believe that such demands should include greater public investment in African education (7.8 percent), physical infrastructure (3.9 percent), and public health infrastructure (0 percent).
Most organizations responded that the international community should challenge economic exploitation of Africa’s natural resources by multinational corporations (62.7%)
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Significance
Multiple frameworks for African just transitions
Through our survey, we confirmed the findings of our online content analysis: Most African climate, agri-food, and environmental organizations do not explicitly use the Just Transition framework, and those that do are largely based in countries with high GHG emissions and prominent hydrocarbon industries. We also confirmed that organizations from other African countries—and indeed even organizations within such countries with high GHG emissions and prominent hydrocarbon industries—by and large use the frameworks and principles of food sovereignty and sustainable development to advance their work, more so than the JT framework. Finally, by inquiring about the framework(s) used as well as the nature of their work, our survey confirmed that African organizations collectively employ diverse frameworks across multiple sectors in ways that all foster just transitions. That is, building economic and political power to shift from extractive economies to regenerative economies—even when the JT framework is not cited. Such findings affirm the ways that the JT framework is simply an umbrella framework for climate action.
Alternative economies and development trajectories
What our survey revealed was the specific processes, practices, communities of interest through which African climate, agri-food, and environmental organizations foster African just transitions, and how exactly the framework(s) they employ serve their objectives, strategies, and activities. For example, most respondents shared that they are targeting the immediate issue of food insecurity, and that the most effective long-term strategy for doing so is scaling up sustainable agriculture, such as agroecological methods and reduced petrochemical use. In doing so, they highlight food systems as a key set of relations through which just transitions can be fostered. Unsurprisingly, therefore, most respondents shared that the framework that guides such work is by and large food sovereignty—a framework that is centrally about groups of people making their own decisions about the food system, which spans multiple sectors and populations. Most of the organizations that responded shared that they carry out their work through community-based public awareness and advocacy campaigns, and do so for and with farmers and rural populations, women, and youth.
The Global North’s role in helping build capacity and reduce harm
Collectively, respondents shared that their work is focused on creating local and regional economies and development trajectories that are sustainable and just. Yet what respondents shared regarding the role of Global North civil society and organizations highlight the multiple and multiscalar processes, practices, and strategies required for the success of such regenerative economies, and thus the success of just transitions in Africa and elsewhere. When asked what Global North NGOs can do to support African environmental, agri-food, and climate organizations more effectively, such organizations responded that relationship building with the Global North was key. Yet their responses highlight that these relationships must help build capacity among African organizations—namely, through unrestricted funding, the amplification of the voices of African organizations, and the facilitation of relationship building among African organizations. Such support, these organizations responded, must also extend to Global North NGO efforts to drastically reduce the Global North’s exploitation of land, resources, and labor from the African continent and Africans.
