GRC Ethiopia Takes Part in GOLD Approaches, Movement Building, and Climate Financing Workshop August 19-21, 2024

GRC Ethiopia was honored to take part in the three-day training on GOLD Approaches and Movement Building organized by YWCA Ethiopia and Action Aid Ethiopia. The training focused on equipping youth with social movement tools and mechanisms to lead their social movements effectively. The training included interactive brainstorming, group work, presentations, and theoretical and practical illustrations of social movements across the world. There were three main social movements that were highly discussed during the training: environment, human rights and gender movements. As such, the training ground was diverse, with trainees being from various social movements and organizations such as The Youth Print, Enfluenceers, Scout Ethiopia, GPs from Action Aid, Kandake Initiatives, MAU Ethiopia, Yubuntu, Egna Legna, and YWCA Ethiopia as well. GRC Ethiopia team believes it is crucial to share the knowledge gained from the training and share it with changemakers across Ethiopia and the world. We hope you find this article useful!

DAY 1: SOCIAL MOVEMENT CONCEPT, SETTING GOAL FOR SOCIAL MOVEMENT AND ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL MOVEMENT

Understanding social movements

- Social movement is a byproduct of political, economic, and cultural changes through time,

- It is the shared identity or interest of a group of people.

- These groups of people are not organized by an organization/institution.

- Building power means collecting mall powers into a bigger one.

- Social movements aim to shift power to those affected by a problem.

- Internal structure, power, and decision-making should be decentralized in social movements.

- Small groups/movements should be part of a bigger global movement.

- Leadership should be at the grassroots.

- Storytelling is crucial is important in building movements

- Examples include Environmental Protection, Civil rights, Youth Political Participation, Improving Economic Conditions

Elements of Social Movement

1. Collective action

2. Shared identity and solidarity among people

3. Challenging the status quo

4. Grassroot mobilization

5. Dynamic and evolving (with the changing environment, technology, politics, and economy,,,)

6. Long-Term Orientation

Why do social movements matter?

1. Amplify marginalized voices

2. Raise awareness and change attitudes

3. Apply pressure for policy change

4. Foster collective agency and empowerment

5. Inspire and catalyze the action

6. Challenge the status quo

7. To change cultural and social stereotypes

8. To address systemic inequalities

DAY 2: KEY COMPONENTS TO BUILD AND ORGANIZE SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

Key components of social movement building

1. Context Analysis

- the process of understanding our environment

- important for building a social movement

- helps to identify obstacles beforehand

- gives us historical knowledge/context (Eg, why and how have we reached this stage of women's violence)

- We should analyze the context in which we are planning on working on

2. Strategic Analysis

- identifying factors that contribute to the success or failure of the social movement

Questions to ask when organizing social movements?

- To what extent do the people affected by the issue constitute the movement?

- Where does the movement stand?

- To what extent it is working in solidarity

- What do the existing windows of opportunity (like elections and legal changes) and

trigger events (moments that suddenly change the political landscape and attract public attention) look like?

3. SWOT Analysis

- Strength, internally and externally (key assets, capacities, resources), Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats

4. Risk Analysis

- identifying, assessing, and prioritizing the risks that can cause a negative impact

- Operational risks (lack of clear roles and responsibilities, coordination challenges), reputational

(negative media coverage, communications challenges), security (threats, harassment), funding Types of Social Movement

1. Civil Rights Movements

2. Economic/Labor Movements

3. Environmental Movements

4. Peace and Anti-War Movements

5. Student and Youth Movements

6. Identity-Based Movements

7. Nationalist and Secessionist Movements Principles of Organizing Social Movements

● Clear goals and Objectives: Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART)

● Developing a Base

● Inclusive Participation

● Grassroots Mobilization

● Building Alliances and Coalitions

● Effective Communication

● Leadership Development

● Sustaining Momentum

● Strategic Action and Tactics

● Research and Education

● Crisis Management

● Emotional Connection

● Intersectionality

● Creating Structure and Systems

Organizing: PEOPLE, POWER AND CHANGE

● The process of building relationships, developing leadership, and mobilizing communities to take action on the issues that matter to them.

● The ability of ordinary citizens to take leadership and come together to create change through collective action is called people power. Safeguarding and priorities during movement building Participant protection Organizational integrity Legal compliance Ethical responsibility Long term sustainability

DAY 3: ORGANIZING AND MOBILIZING STAGES OF SOCIAL MOVEMENT BUILDING AND MOVEMENT ACTION PLAN DEVELOPMENT

Building people power in mobilizing and organizing process

What is people's power and critical mass?

At the heart of organizing, people power is a key issue!

Organizing is not only about solving problems but also about building people power. Building people power

- Power without love is reckless and abusive (Dr. King Jr.)

- The reason for injustice in the world is structural imbalance and inequality.

- Visible power (the power in government), Invisible power (like those held by reach

people and companies influence and interest; corporate powers), Hidden power (power within the culture, norms, and values within the community)

How to build people power

- Making decisions together (inclusivity)

- Directly challenging existing power structure

Effective strategies to build people power

- Inclusive vision and goals, collective goals

- Empower local leadership

- Building strong networks

- Education and capacity building

- Participatory culture

- Develop a strong narrative

- Foster leadership diversity

- Promote solidarity and mutual support

- Evaluate and adapt

Concept of Critical Mass

- It is a term for a group of people who make a drastic change, altering their behavior, options, or actions.

Mobilizers Vs. Organizers

Mobilizers: Tasked to mobilize the mass; the bigger the crowd, the better/the greater the power; kind of short-sighted and will use the mobilized people for a purpose for a specific time.

Organizers: Focus on quality individual leaders; more process-oriented * Mobilization and organization are both important for social movements

Movement Compass/Cycle

Movement compass helps organizers of people-powered movements understand the natural changes of a winning social movement.

1. Enduring Crisis

2. Uprising

3. Peak

4. Contraction

5. Evolution

6. New Normal

Enduring Crisis then triggers a point - rising heroic hope (uprising phase) - Honeymoon (peak phase) - Disillusionment, cooling of the movement (contraction phase) - reflection and learning; a little bit going up (evolution phase) - renovation (opportunity awaiting phase).

GRC Ethiopia Engages in Climate Financing Workshop: Aligning Efforts for Ethiopia's Climate Resilience

August 29, 2024

Green Rotaract Concept (GRC) Ethiopia recently participated in a climate financing workshop organized by YWCA Ethiopia and Action Aid Ethiopia. The event brought together key stakeholders from the government, NGOs, and local initiatives, all united in addressing Ethiopia’s mounting challenges in accessing and effectively managing international climate finance. Among the notable attendees was Misganaw Eyasu, head of the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) initiative, a national strategy under the Ministry of Finance that aims to make Ethiopia a middle-income, climate-resilient country by 2025.

The Struggle for Climate Finance

Misganaw Eyasu painted a sobering picture of Ethiopia’s current climate finance situation. Despite international pledges, only about half of the promised funds for climate projects are being accessed or utilized effectively. This shortfall is primarily due to gaps in institutional capacity, inefficient fund management, and a lack of robust accountability mechanisms. Ethiopia faces significant barriers in its efforts to absorb these funds and implement projects on the ground, hindering the country's progress toward climate resilience.

During the workshop, a representative from Kenya highlighted the difference between Ethiopia and Kenya’s approach to climate finance. Kenya has developed a more coordinated and effective strategy, with dedicated groups that streamline access to climate finance opportunities.

This proactive model has allowed Kenya to secure more resources and take meaningful action, serving as a valuable example for Ethiopia.

Vulnerable Voices: Insights from Those Affected by Climate Change

In addition to government and NGO representatives, the workshop also featured voices from communities directly impacted by climate change. These discussions underscored the disproportionate burden climate disasters place on vulnerable groups, particularly women and rural populations. A Kenyan representative emphasized how climate change hits women the hardest, as they are often responsible for agriculture and water collection—sectors most affected by droughts and floods. Yet, despite their central role in climate-vulnerable sectors, women are often excluded from critical decision-making processes.

The workshop highlighted that addressing gender inequity is essential to building climate resilience. Empowering women and marginalized communities by including them in leadership roles and decision-making processes will be crucial to developing a more comprehensive and effective climate response.

Building Unity: Aligning Climate Initiatives Under One Vision

One of the core themes of the workshop was the need for greater coordination and unity among Ethiopia’s various climate initiatives. Misganaw Eyasu, along with other stakeholders, stressed that many organizations currently work in silos, which weakens the collective impact of their efforts. Bringing these diverse initiatives under one umbrella and aligning them with a shared vision could streamline Ethiopia's climate strategy, leading to more efficient use of resources and a clearer path toward achieving national climate goals.

The discussions emphasized the importance of creating stronger networks among grassroots organizations, government agencies, and NGOs. By working together, these groups can share

knowledge, reduce duplication of efforts, and ensure that climate finance is directed where it is needed most. The workshop also underscored the importance of accountability, encouraging the establishment of transparent mechanisms to ensure climate finance is used effectively.

Looking Forward

For GRC Ethiopia, this workshop offered an invaluable opportunity to learn from both local and international perspectives. The discussions on institutional capacity, gender equity, and the importance of unity provided GRC with deeper insights into the complexities of climate finance and how grassroots organizations like theirs can play a role in the bigger picture. By engaging in these dialogues, GRC is better positioned to align its projects with national strategies and work towards a more climate-resilient Ethiopia.

The path forward may be challenging, but with stronger coordination, inclusive leadership, and a unified vision, Ethiopia can improve its capacity to manage climate finance and take significant strides toward climate resilience.