Since its inception in 1986, Both ENDS (Environment and Development Service NGO) has been working towards strengthening environmental NGOs in developing countries. The core of Both ENDS’ activities is making connections – between South and North, environment and development, and between different sectors of society. Both ENDS plays an intermediate role in supporting individuals and social organisations all over the world that focus on ecological sustainability and social justice.
Both ENDS has a long history of collaboration with the NTFP Exchange Programme, providing advisory/guidance and supporting the network’s advocacy, lobby work and fundraising efforts. It has been instrumental in bringing the issues of the network to Northern players that may be able to influence economic and fiscal forces.
To date, Both ENDS has forged partnership arrangements with 16 NGOs and networks, mostly based in Africa, Latin America and Asia, and largely dealing on three thematic areas: integrated water management, sustainable land use and international capital flows. Both ENDS considers these organisations as “innovators” and have included them in the Encyclopedia of Sustainability, an ever expanding, online collection of innovative, people-oriented environment initiatives.
Recently, Both ENDS was conferred with a grant from the MFS (Co-financing) Programme of the Dutch government. This programme, to be implemented from 2008-2010, is envisioned to increase the capacities of NGOs to become more effective in combating poverty, generating sustainable livelihoods, and contributing to more sustainable policy and institutional frameworks. Not only does Both ENDS support inspiring, people-oriented examples of sustainable development and viable alternatives to often harmful mainstream approaches, it also sponsors internships, on-the-job training, action research and related learning experiences. The late Joke Waller-Hunter, former head of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, bequeathed her estate with clear instructions to utilize it for “capacity development of environmental organisations in developing countries.” From it, Both ENDS developed the Joke Waller-Hunter Initiative, a philanthropic program geared towards leadership development of partner NGOs.
As an important milestone for their 21 years of existence, Both ENDS invited its partner NGOs to a week-long celebration, which served as a venue to familiarize partners with the main pillars of their work and the MFS programme as well as to initiate and plan for convergent and synergistic efforts in the coming years. This was participated in by representatives from: South Africa – Forum for Environment (Ethiopia), Focarfe (Cameroon), Environmental Monitoring Group (South Africa), Southern and Eastern African Trade Information Negotiations Institute (Zimbabwe), Environmental Liaison Centre International (Kenya); from Central America – Fresh Water Action Network-Central America (Costa Rica), ECOA and Vitae Civilis (Brazil), Amichoco and Association for Responsible Mining (Colombia); from Asia – Gomukh (India), NGO Forum on ADB and NTFP-EP (Philippines), Telapak (Indonesia), BAPA (Bangladesh); and Poland – CEE Bankwatch.
From 6-8 March, workshops and brainstorming discussions led to identifying common working areas and priorities; defining activities, and generating ideas on how to strategically implement the MFS programme based on a shared agenda and a clear division of tasks based on skills, expertise, networks and target groups. On 9 March was the culmination activity – the anniversary meeting at the Kompaszaal in Amsterdam. The occasion convened various environmental and development organisations in Europe which interacted with the partner NGOs from the South. Aside from the usual meet-and-greet, we participated in a creative brainstorming activity where everyone had a chance to talk about global sustainability policies of the Dutch government and “dreaming sessions” on how to inspire a particular Ministry in pursuing sustainability policies.
The event also coincided with the launch of the Joke-Weller Hunter Initiative. Aimed at enabling talented people who work for environmental organisations in the South to develop themselves further, four of the seven fellows were present at the launch. Thabang Ngcozela of EMG from South Africa bagged the Public Choice Award, inspiring the crowd with notable endeavors in his country.
The saying “to make both ends meet” means to “live within one’s means.” Linguists say that the real etymology of the idiomatic expression comes from accountancy where “meet” used to be an adjective, meaning “equal” or “balanced.” The “end” was the end of the financial year in which both profit and loss accounts had to be balanced: the ends had to be met. During this event, I witnessed how connecting the literal both ends – North and South, rich and underprivileged, powerful and powerless can lead to equal opportunities to meet, greet, share ideas and plan for another 21 years (and more) with Both ENDS.
Email: vince@ntfp.org
