http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/RSS news from Norwegian Church Aid5<p>Norwegian Church Aid strongly condemn the recent threat by a Florida-based pastor to burn copies of the Koran on the 11^th of September (9/11).</p>http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=7725&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Misuse-of-the-the-Christian-Religion-/Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:00:50 GMT<![CDATA[<p>Our impression is that this is an act that is intentionally designed to offend what is sacred and dear to Muslims. This plan has rightly been denounced by the heads of Christian communities around the world. Norwegian Church Aid likewise strongly denounces this threat and we would like, in this case, to express our solidarity with the Muslim community at large. To us this is misuse of the Christian Religion to attack others.</p> <p dir="ltr">Norwegian Church Aid has raised the issue with the Church of Norway to coordinate with church structures in the US to put pressure on this radical group in Florida to discourage them from/ convince them not to realizing their threat. Whatever issue they may have to raise should be communicated in a way that is dignified and respectful, rather than humiliating/slandered &nbsp;and demeaned.</p> <p dir="ltr">In all such situations, the religious communities need to defend one another across the boundaries of their religious communities. It is&nbsp;critically important for religious leaders and communties to stand together in solidarity whenever any religious community is slandered and abused.</p>]]In march 2010 representatives of women organizations from Iraq participated in the UN CSW 54th session, organized by Norwegian Church Aid.http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=7481&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Iraqi-women-in-the-UN-CSW-sessions/Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:17:56 GMTIrak<![CDATA[<p><br />Under the new time frame of the Capacity Building and Human Rights Program for Iraq, Norwegian Church Aid&nbsp;facilitated the participation of women activists and committed leaders of women’s organizations in Iraq, in the 54th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) held in New York at the beginning of March 2010. </p> <p>This year’s session of the Commission was of particular importance and interest to the global women’s movement, as it was marking the 15th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action.</p> <h3>Better understanding</h3> <p>Participation in this session and in the lobbying process with NGOs from around the globe was an opportunity for empowerment for women from Iraq. It also gave a better understanding of the Beijing Platform for Action and its 12 critical areas of concern, for enabling them to use the Platform as a tool in their own work in their organizations, addressing violence against women in Iraq.</p> <h3>Report from the participation</h3> <p>The&nbsp;report from the sessions sheds light on the special importance of the participation of women from Iraq in the UN CSW sessions, as women from Iraq have had very limited possibilities for contact with the international women’s movement or the international community in general. </p> <p><a href="/Documents/Kirkens%20N%c3%b8dhjelp/Geografiske%20filer/Midt%c3%b8sten/CSW%20Report%202010.pdf" target="_blank">Read&nbsp;the full report here!&nbsp;</a> </p> <h3>Insight into the UN system<br /></h3> <p>Furthermore, participation aimed at giving them an insight into the UN system, and the lobbying mechanism, this way raising their competence and enabling them to have their voices heard both nationally and internationally. This occasion also provided a unique opportunity for networking, creating links with the international women’s movement, and making alliances.<br /></p>]]Norwegian Church Aid does not proselytize in any of the countries in which it works. This policy is also enforced in Afghanistan.http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=7312&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Norwegian-Church-Aid-in-Afghanistan/Mon, 31 May 2010 14:37:19 GMTNyheter<![CDATA[<span lang="EN"> <p dir="ltr" align="left">Norwegian Church Aid has been working in Afghanistan since 1979 and has since 1995 mainly implemented its programs through Afghan organizations. These organizations know the local conditions and culture better than international organizations do, and this means that we have earned a high level of credibility and legitimazy in Aghanistan. One example of work that we support is strengthening traditional local Shuras for conflict prevention and resolution. </p> <p dir="ltr" align="left">Our Afghan partner organizations enjoy a high level of trust in the local communities and work according to Islamic values. Norwegian Church Aid is working for human dignity in partnership with these organizations by meeting humanitarian needs in the country. Norwegian Church Aid has no mandate to influence people’s religious beliefs in any part of the world – neither in Afghanistan.</p> <p dir="ltr" align="left">Norwegian Church Aid’s overall goal in Afghanistan is to improve living conditions for vulnerable and marginalized people through sustainable utilization of local human and natural resources in integrated agricultural development projects. </p> <p dir="ltr" align="left">Norwegian Church Aid in Afghanistan works with food security and development of agricultural techniques. The project portfolio also includes water and renewable energy, non-discrimination and women’s participation, emergency prevention and response, conflict prevention and response. Project activities are mainly concentrated in four provinces: Uruzgan, Daikundi, Bamyan and Faryab.</p><font size="2"> <p dir="ltr" align="left"></p></font><font face="Calibri" size="3"><font face="Calibri" size="3"> <p dir="ltr" align="left">&nbsp;</p></font></font></span>]]Norwegian Church Aid has joined one of the world's largest humanitarian bodies working in 125 countries with a combined budget of 1,5 billion USD.http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=7141&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Norwegian-Church-Aid-joines-ACT-Alliance/Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:48:01 GMTNyheter<![CDATA[<p><br />The new ACT Alliance of just over 100 organisations provides emergency food aid, shelter, water and sanitation facilities, and poverty reduction programmes in the world's poorest countries. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lmAOM2TAuJA&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0" width="460" height="277" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Through ACT, Norwegian Church Aid has been at the forefront of lifesaving work in Haiti since January 12, the day the massive earthquake destroyed much of Port-au-Prince. On that day, nine ACT organisations were operating in Haiti and were able to swing into relief efforts immediately. </p> <p>As a global giant, ACT was able to assist survivors of the Chile earthquake six weeks later. </p> <p>Norwegian Church Aid already supports programmes in more than 50 countries. With the creation of ACT, Norwegian Church Aid's effectiveness is enhanced in these communities and is extended&nbsp; to other countries. </p> <p>ACT will launch on March 24, with celebrations in every continent.</p> <p>The alliance works for the world's poorest people, fighting the causes of human suffering and injustice. ACT members are long-standing organisations already working in the communities. When disaster strikes, these organisations are ready to work and are at the forefront of the emergency response. </p> <p>ACT Alliance General Secretary John Nduna says the creation of the alliance of church-based organisations means ACT's humanitarian and development work will reach every corner of the globe. </p> <p>"The membership of the ACT Alliance is wide. We find ACT members in every part of the world. ACT members are grounded in local civil society of all parts of the world. Almost everywhere we have churches, we have ACT. We are big and we make an impact on the lives of the poorest in societies around the world." </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>]]Norwegian Church Aid in Kenya and other civil society organizations have over the last two years engaged in advocacy as a key strategy to transform society, eradicate poverty and empower the poor. http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=6706&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Empowering-poor-and-challenge-the-powerful/Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:30:13 GMTNyheter<![CDATA[<span lang="EN"> <p dir="ltr" align="left"><br />&nbsp;</p> <h3>Integrated approach</h3> <p dir="ltr" align="left"><br />In addition to the long term development goals of protecting and supporting women and girls from harmful traditional practices and HIV/Aids and accompanying the poor and vulnerable who have been affected by the impacts of climate change amongst other issues, NCA has seen the need to challenge those in power.</p> <p dir="ltr" align="left">Governance is at the heart of NCA Kenya’s advocacy strategy. It is leadership that has to be challenged to ensure that it delivers on the rights of the people. And in many cases, leadership and governance have been responsible for negligence or gross violation of the rights of the people.</p> <p dir="ltr" align="left">In this endeavor, empowering people to speak out for their own rights is crucial. NCA Kenya has worked mainly with youth and community groups in its climate advocacy and campaign. Over the last two years youth have become the main carriers of the voice for climate justice. The efforts to integrate gender justice, economic justice and other specific issues at the local, national and international arena have also been initiated by young women and men.</p> <p dir="ltr" align="left"><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/%c3%98st-Afrika/Kenya/ungdomsarbeid/mutava%20Musyimi460.jpg" /><br /><em>Youth Discuss issues with Mutava Musyimi, Member of Parliament</em>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Youth creativity</h3> <p dir="ltr" align="left"><br />Using creativity in the arts, media and culture, youth have spoken out loud and clear. The youth network in Kenya organized several engagements with members of parliament, government officials, religious leaders and others in society to speak out for justice. Top on the agenda for 2009 was the climate justice advocacy campaign that was under the Kenya Climate Change Working Group (KCCWG). Through this network, Kenyan youth and civil society organizations made a strong influence on the national climate negotiations prior to the Copenhagen conference and also during the conference. With various celebrities and media personalities, songs, dances and other forms of art were used to mobilize students in universities to join in the campaign.</p> <p dir="ltr" align="left"><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/%c3%98st-Afrika/Kenya/ungdomsarbeid/isaiah_ungdommer460.jpg" /><br /><em>Isaiah Kipyegon Toroitich (to the left) together with young people attending the National Climate Conference 2008.</em> </p> <h3>Strength of civil society</h3> <p dir="ltr" align="left"><br />So far civil society organizations working on climate change have been mobilized into one strong network. The youth on the other hand have formed a strong movement that is partnering with other regional and global movements such as Change Maker International. This has achieved more synergy amongst people fighting for justice and the government of Kenya and members of parliament and other leaders are keenly listening and responding to the demands of the youth and also civil society. </p> <p dir="ltr" align="left">Through this effort, a Bill on climate change is being made to be tabled in parliament, the government is reviewing its policy on climate change, and peoples movements are making more impact in their own communities and nationally. Ultimately integrating development work and emergency work with advocacy has provided an avenue for the people of Kenya to achieve more sustainability in their livelihoods and to demand their rights from the government. <br /></p></span>]]Annual report 2009: Annual report from Norwegian Church Aid’s anti-corruption work in 2009.http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=6704&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Anti-corruption-work-in-2009/Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:38:50 GMTNyheter<![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>By Anne Kristin Sydnes (Director of International Programmes) and Eivind Aalborg (Head of International Staff Division) in Norwegian Church Aid</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Norwegian Church AID (NCA) works in 50 countries, has Representations in 20 countries, and works with long-term development aid, advocacy and political processes and emergency organised through 1,000 projects. NCA works with local, national and international partner organisations. 2009’s budget volume was NOK 750 million.</p> <p>NCA’s standpoint is zero tolerance with respect to corruption and financial irregularity, and is proactive with anti-corruption initiatives and attitudes. Specific cases that are detected are included in a competence enhancement programme. The programme’s preventative goal is reached both through specific lessons learnt from individual cases, to detect signals as quickly as possible, and to leave no doubt that NCA takes corruption extremely seriously.</p> <p>Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) is committed to transparency in its work against corruption. This is the second year that NCA publishes the cases the organisation has worked with during the year, although the article published in February 2009 was not translated from Norwegian.</p> <p>The cases outlined below vary in complexity and size. Regardless of the differences, one common aspect is that NCA staff members at different levels in the organisation initiate immediate enquiries in all cases. This is consistent for all issues, whether discovered through our incident reporting (whistle-blowing) mechanisms or brought to light through normal reporting lines. </p> <p>If the issue relates to a partner organisation which receives funds from several donors, NCA informs the other donors on the ground, and in many situations close cooperation with donors is sought in taking further steps.<br />NCA staff members in different parts of the global organisation worked on the following cases during 2009:<br /></p> <h3>Brazil:</h3> <p>During autumn 2009 the Brazilian magazine “Veja” published an article containing allegations of misused funds in the organisation ”Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra” (MST), which is also a partner of NCA. MST was established in 1984 as a social movement to fight for the rights of the landless and has been a target of harassment from the right wing in Brazil. MST has had many successful campaigns through the years. NCA have always prioritised the need for responsible financial management in organisations connected to MST, such as CEPATEC. Our information, including audited financial statements, indicate no reasons to link the allegations to funds provided by NCA. Despite this, the Norwegian MFA decided in December 2009 to stop further support for MST, judging that there was too much insecurity with MSTs working practices and financial management. NCA will be working together with other organisations in investigating further the accuracy of the allegations in the Brazilian press. </p> <h3>Burundi:</h3> <p>&nbsp;NCA received information in autumn 2009 indicating contradictory information from the United Baptist Church of Burundi (UEBB) in its reporting to different donors. Additionally, the Secretary General of UEBB started his own organisation, which he then introduced to donors as a new department of UEBB that would implement development and emergency projects for UEBB. Information received later revealed that the new organisation has no formal connection with UEBB, and is a separate organisation. Several rumours of internal struggles and financial irregularities have sprung out of the organisation. In response, NCA has initiated a process to conduct a special audit, in close coordination with other donors. The audit will commence shortly.</p> <h3>Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) I:</h3> <p>In August 2009 the Head of Finance and Administration at NCA’s field office in Goma discovered falsified vouchers from one of NCA’s drivers. Further enquiries, some with the assistance of a local lawyer, uncovered fraud amounting to USD 955, comprising of USD 755 relating to travel and visit to Dar es Salaam to fetch a vehicle transferred from another NCA Representation, and USD 200 relating to falsified papers concerning the import of an electric cable from Rwanda to DRC. The driver was immediately dismissed and a repayment plan agreed on. After careful consideration, NCA decided not to report the incident to the police, mainly due to concerns relating to the country’s legal system. Management decided that strategic and operational risks associated with pressing charges were too high; it may even have led to unfortunate, unforeseeable consequences for NCA’s staff members and other projects in the country.</p> <h3>Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) II:</h3> <p>During summer 2009 the Norwegian MFA enquired how NCA followed up and monitored the project work through the local partner CELPA. The cause of the enquiry was indications of possible irregularity at the partner. NCA stopped all transfers to the partner and decided to instead transfer funds to NCA’s field office in Bukavu, and take a more ‘hands on’ approach to managing the project. We have no reasons to suspect misuse of NCA funds, and are following up CELPA in accordance with NCA’s strict auditing and reporting requirements.</p> <h3>Guatemala:</h3> <p>In July 2009, the Director, Administrator and Accountant in the partner organisation ”Proyecto Vida” were dismissed for complicity in stealing money from bank accounts of the organization by falsifying cheques and vouchers. All three were reported to the police and put in jail, but released after paying bail. The case continues in Guatemala’s legal system. A preliminary audit sanctioned by NCA, and other internal and donor-financed investigations, indicate that no NCA funds have been defrauded.</p> <h3>Haiti:</h3> <p>The Norwegian MFA had received information indicating possible irregularities at NCA’s local partner ISPOS. The grant letter for 2008 to NCA included a requirement for an independent audit to be conducted in addition to the normal annual audit, and by another auditor than ISPOS’ normal auditor. In accordance with NCA’s normal routines, including the invitation to competing bids, it was necessary to seek proposals from international firms also outside Haiti. No firms based outside Haiti were willing to take on the assignment, citing primarily security risks. In the mean time, the MFA did not extend the grant, and ISPOS’ Director decided to close the institute as a consequence of lack of financing. The normal external audit report for 2008, concluded after the closure, did not include any issues to confirm the initial indications of irregularities.</p> <h3>Malawi:</h3> <p>Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM) has received NOK 12.5 million from NCA in the period 2006-2008 towards its critical work in Malawi’s health sector nationwide. Based on signals of unsatisfactory financial management in the organisation NCA decided in May 2009, in close cooperation with other donors, to initiate an extraordinary audit. The audit report revealed that NOK 3 million of funds from all donors in total had been used on administrative work at CHAM’s Head Office, not directly on health projects. The auditors also reported a loan authorised by the Executive Director to himself. Subsequently, the Executive Director resigned and has now repaid the borrowed funds. <br />NCA has put into use several initiatives to secure closer monitoring and control of CHAM’s financial management than previously, also in close cooperation with other donors. CHAM is now in the process of repaying donors, including NOK 280,000 to NCA.</p> <h3>Mali:</h3> <p>A previous employee at NCA’s Representation in Mali informed NCA Head Office about irregularities at the Representation. Head Office therefore decided to sanction an independent auditing firm to investigate the allegations. The audit did not uncover a fraud, but did recommend a number of improvements to strengthen the control environment. These recommendations have been and are being implemented.</p> <h3>Tanzania:</h3> <p>Observations from NCA’s holistic monitoring and control routines stimulated NCA to contract an international auditing firm to perform a special audit of NCA’s partners BAKWATA and WCRP. NCA drafted the Terms of Reference for the assignment and chose the auditing firm. The auditors reported several control weaknesses but did not discover any fraud specifically. The organizations have until end-March 2010 to submit a status report on implementing the recommendations from the auditors. Both partners have been granted a reduced budget in 2010. </p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Previous years:</h3> <p><br />The following two cases are not new in 2009, and are included here as they have demanded resources from NCA in 2009.</p> <h3>Chechnya:</h3> <p>In 2006 NCA’s local partner Chechnya, Centre for Peacemaking and Community development, CPCD, with headquarters in England was deemed insolvent. NCA had ceased the partnership a few months previously, due to the failure by CPCD to submit audited financial statements. A previous director in CPCD, based in England, had borrowed significant amounts from the organisation and funnelled them to private property projects. The trustee in bankruptcy has issued an indictment against the previous director, and the case continues in the British legal system.</p> <h3>Somalia:</h3> <p>In this case NOK 250,000 of funds for the Gedo and Puntland programme were defrauded by an earlier programme coordinator based in Nairobi. Charges were pressed in May 2006, and the case continues in Kenya’s legal system. There have been many court adjournments because of a variety of reasons, including Somali interpreters not being sufficiently competent and the defending attorney being held up at a seminar. In November 2009 the case was moved to Isiolo, abut 300 km north of Nairobi, in accordance with the judge being moved. The alternative to moving court was to start the case again. Fees paid to date to forensic auditors and lawyers are significantly in excess of the amount lost to the fraud.</p> <h3>Conclusion</h3> <p>NCA believes it necessary to be open and transparent about cases we are working on. This must be done in a responsible manner in order to stimulate the discovery of more cases, and to feed into learning throughout the global organisation in the fight against corruption.</p> <p>We are working with other organisations in the ACT Alliance (Action by Churches Together) and with other Norwegian organisations. <br />In accordance with our fundamental belief in transparency at all levels, NCA committed itself in 2009 to the principles and standards of the <a href="http://www.hapinternational.org/" target="_blank">”Humanitarian Accountability Partnership” (HAP)</a>. </p> <p>HAP is an international competence organisation that specialises in certifying NGO’s work in terms of accountability. NCA’s goal in the medium term is to be certified by HAP. Therefore, HAP’s auditors will examine our work and routines, with the objective of ascertaining whether NCA meets HAP’s requirements.</p> <p>We acknowledge that combating corruption requires financial resources and competence, and NCA considers these to be important and necessary investments in the long term.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>19 February 2010</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>]]Norwegian Church Aid began its youth programme in 2008. AYICC Kenya nominates NCA youth NGO of the year, 2009. http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=6370&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Kenyan-Youth-Programme-gets-recognition/Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:59:53 GMTNyheter<![CDATA[<p>The National youth conference on Climate Change held in Nairobi November 2009 was attended by over 100 youth from all parts of Kenya, the Environment Secretary, Heinrich Boll Foundation, Oxfam GB, Nowergian Church Aid, Kenya Private Sector, UNEP, PACJA, Christian Aid, Earth-watch Institute, Universities, Members of Parliament and Media Houses.<br /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>“This could not have been possible without the support of the Norwegian Church Aid office in Nairobi,” says AYICC on their web site.&nbsp; Now they have nominated Norwegian Church Aid youth NGO of the year 2009. </p> <p>“We are very grateful.&nbsp; This is an honour and it commits us to continue our engagement together with Kenyan youth,” area representative Gaim Kebreab says. </p> <p><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/%c3%98st-Afrika/Kenya/ungdomsarbeid/mutava%20Musyimi460.jpg" /><br /><span lang="EN"><em>Youth Discuss issues with Mutava Musyimi, Member of Parliament</em>.</span></p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Progressive voices</h3> <p>“It is been very fruitful to work with young people. Their influence politicians and the government has been phenomenal and their voices were the loudest and most progressive at the Copenhagen Climate Conference,” says programme officer Isaiah Kipyegon Toroitich who runs Norwegian Church Aid’s youth initiative. </p> <p><br />“The hope for our country and our continent is our youth – development organizations and governments must begin to empower them more and harness their energy, creativity, and numbers to bring positive change,” Toroitich says.</p> <p><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/%c3%98st-Afrika/Kenya/ungdomsarbeid/isaiah_ungdommer460.jpg" />&nbsp;<br /><em>Isaiah Kipyegon Toroitich (to the left) together with young people attending the National Climate Conference 2008.</em> </p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Young people take action</h3> <p>Norwegian Church Aid in Kenya began its vibrant youth programme in 2008 with a National Youth Confernce on Climate Change. This paved way to youth mobilization in both urban and rural areas, where young people are empowered first to take action in protecting their environment and training other youth people in schools, churches, mosques, and universities. Secondly, the youth hold their leaders both at local and national level accountable. </p> <p>“So far our main advocacy work is run by youth alongside civil society. Celebrities and politicians have joined NCA youth initiative and are currently building momentum for further engagement on issues such as governance, constitutional review and economic justice,” Toroitich says.<br />&nbsp;The Kenya youth movement works very closely with Change Maker in Norway.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/%c3%98st-Afrika/Kenya/ungdomsarbeid/Youth%20climate%20forum%2009_460.jpg" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>]]Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) considers the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet’s use of the caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed to illustrate its story misguided and thoughtless.http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=6361&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Thoughtless-illustration/Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:40:27 GMTNyheter<![CDATA[<p>On 3 February 2010 the paper published a news story on a facebook page belonging to the Norwegian Police Intelligence Services, which contained links, posted by external users, to web pages containing&nbsp; caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed. Although the story intended to criticize the intelligence services’ facebook page, the use of the caricatures will be perceived as yet another needless provocation. </p> <p>NCA encourages greater sensitivity in the use of these caricatures not out of fear, but out of respect for each other. When debating in the public sphere, we would like to see participants employ a more constructive and dignified approach. Rather than focusing solely on the freedoms and rights we enjoy as equals, we should be able to express mutual respect and uphold each others dignity when we approach what is considered dear and sacred to people.<br /></p>]]Norwegian Church Aids emergency team are making sure that thousands of refugees are getting tents and access to clean water and latrines in the hardest areas of Haiti.http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=6321&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Tents-and-water-for-thousands/Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:58:56 GMTNyheter<![CDATA[<p><em>In Haiti: Arne Grieg Riisnæs/NCA (tekst og foto)</em></p> <p>The two first tents functioning as simple sick wards were put up by Viva Rio’s medical team just hours after NCAs lorries with 45 tonnes emergency aid arrived at the refugee camp Kay Nou in Port-au-Prince. Viva Rio is NCA’s biggest partner organisation in Haiti.</p> <p><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Haiti/barn_telt460.jpg" /><br /><em>Happy children in front of some of the first 500 tents that were sent from NCA’s emergency warehouse to the refugee camp in the area of Bel Air in Port-au-Prince.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Working all out</h3> <p>The medical team is working all out to take care of all the injured and sick, and the tents mean necessary protection and security.</p> <p>"The tents make a big difference for the team and especially for everyone being treated for serious injuries here in the camp", explained nurse Bjørg Rødland in the psychosocial team to NCA in Haiti.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Haiti/legeteam460.jpg" /><br /><em>Very many children were seriously hurt when the earthquake struck, and the medical team is working against time with the injured. They have now at least a tent that functions as a simple ward for those most in need.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Spacious family tent</h3> <p>Recently, more and more have been able to move into spacious family tents, which can shelter 10-15 people. People are living under open skies overall in the capital city Port-au-Prince, in parks, on football pitches, parkin spaces and even on roads and streets, using all sorts of cloths and material as the only source of comfort and protection. With NCA and Viva Rio’s help, they receive tents and access to clean water and latrines.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Haiti/ivonne_ak.jpg" /><br /><em>Ivonne Josette broke her leg at several points when her home collapsed. She received first aid from NCAs partner Viva Rio, and is very happy that her family now have a proper tent to live in.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Deeply grateful</h3> <p>&nbsp;"The first 500 tents will provide shelter for 3,500 refugees, and all who have received a tent so far express deep gratefulness", commented Manfred Arlt, team leader for NCAs emergency team in Haiti. </p> <p>He explained that NCAs first efforts with water will eventually secure clean water for almost 30,000 people per day.</p> <p>"The enormous queues that appear every time water bottles are distributed somewhere in the city proves that the need for secure drinking water is still desperate", stated Manfred Arlt.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Haiti/ak_jente460.jpg" /><br /><em>Anne Kristin Sydnes, Director of International Programmes in NCA with 9 year old Develyne Saint Vilus, one of many thousand homeless who now has a tent from NCA to live in.</em></p> <p><em></em>&nbsp;</p> <p><em></em>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>]]In a historical landmark in fighting Gender Based Violence, Zambian Churches have united yet again to root out Gender based Violence and Discrimination in Zambia. http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=6080&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Commitment-from-the-Churches-in-Zambia-to-fighting-Gender-Based-Violence-and-Inequality/Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:22:07 GMTNyheter<![CDATA[<p>The Three Church Mother Bodies in Zambia which have long been united in speaking out on various injustices, have now come together and developed a commitment to root out gender based violence and inequality through <a href="/Documents/Kirkens%20N%c3%b8dhjelp/Geografiske%20filer/S%c3%b8rlige%20Afrika/declaration%20ZAMBIAN%20CHURCH%20DECLARATION%20ON.docx" target="_blank">“the Zambian Church Declaration on Gender Injustice and Gender Based Violence”.</a> They have recognized that gender inequalities, imbalances and gender based violence do exist within the churches.</p> <p>The Leaders of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia, the Council of Churches in Zambia, and the Zambia Episcopal Conference committed their member churches to working for gender justice in the various decision making structures within the churches and the rest of society.&nbsp; They also committed themselves to gender mainstreaming in their institutions. </p> <p><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Sorlige%20Afrika/Zambia/signing_gbv_launch460.jpg" /></p> <p>Norwegian Church Aid in Zambia has Gender and Good Governance in the churches as one of its priority areas of work, because if the Church wants to be engaged in the fight for equal rights, the Church need to put her own house in order before criticising others.</p> <p>The Norwegian Ambassador to Zambia Mr. Tore Gjøs congratulated Norwegian Church Aid and its partners on the good work towards gender justice. He further referred to the United Nation’s resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, and said: “I feel that what we are experience today is a long step towards achieving these objectives in Zambia“.</p> <p>Mr. Ronald Mukuma, the Minister for Presidential Affairs also appended his signature on the Theological Declaration to illustrate both the&nbsp; commitment from Government and as an affirmation of the unity that is required between different organisations in fighting gender based violence.</p> <h3>The signing of the Gender Declaration was a commitment by the Churches to the following;</h3> <ol> <li>Promoting and attainment of gender equity and equality within our Church structures, operations, and practices in the society in which we live.</li> <li>Ensuring the proper training in interpretation of some portions of scripture in our theological schools, seminaries and colleges is adequately provided.</li> <li>Protecting women and men, boys and girls from the vice of gender injustice and gender based violence.</li> <li>Supporting the cause to stiffen punishment and strengthen the Penal Code on gender injustice and gender based violence.</li> <li>Imploring the Zambian Government to do what it takes to open up the bill of right (for us) so that social, economic, and cultural rights are addressed.</li> <li>Working with the Law enforcing agencies in dealing with gender injustice and gender based violence.</li> <li>Ensuring that the Church and our society in general become gender friendly through the on-going advocacy against gender based violence.</li> <li>Facilitate gender mainstreaming/sensitivity in our Church.</li></ol> <p>&nbsp;<img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Sorlige%20Afrika/Zambia/kvinner_gbv-launch460.jpg" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><br />&nbsp;</p>]]NCA’s local partner Viva Rio has been in action, providing assistance, in the slum area, since Day 1. Norwegian Church Aid is working intensely with critical emergency relief. Se photos from our emergency work. http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=6071&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Photos-from-our-work-in-Haiti/Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:57:44 GMTNyheter<![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Securing water for 30,000</h3> <p><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Haiti/luke_man460.jpg" /><br />NCA’s water specialists Manfred Arlt and Luke Dokter setting up the water-purification system that will secure water for 1,600 people. When all NCA’s water equipment is functioning, it will secure clean water for up to 30,000 people. (Photo:Arne Grieg Riisnæs/NCA)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Help for the suffering<br /><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Haiti/atle_kvinneogbarn460.jpg" /></h3> <p>General Secretary Atle Sommerfeldt meeting a seriously hurt woman and her children, who are getting help from NCA’s local partner Viva Rio. (Photo: Arne Grieg Riisnæs/NCA)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Water equipment being assembled<br /><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Haiti/atle_luke460.jpg" /></h3><span lang="EN-GB"> <p>NCA’s water specialist Luke Dokter (right) leading a local team assembling water systems in the camp run by our local partner Viva Rio. Several thousand people from the poor slum area Bel Air have gathered here. General Secretary Atle Sommerfeldt (left) watching and learning.(Photo: Arne Grieg Riisnæs/NCA)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p><span lang="EN-GB"> <h3>Distributing water in a poor area<br /><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Haiti/atle_vann300.jpg" /><br /></h3><span lang="EN-GB"> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>10 000 litres pillowtank assembled by NCA team<br /><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Haiti/vanntank300.jpg" /><br /></h3> <p><span lang="EN-GB"></span>&nbsp;</p><span lang="EN-GB"> <h3>Participated in a funeral at a home for the elderly</h3><br /><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Haiti/begravelse460.jpg" /><br />General Secretary&nbsp;og priest Atle Sommerfeldt&nbsp;participated in a funeral by the remains of a home for the elderly in the poor area Bel Air in Port-au-Prince (Photo: Arne Grieg Riisnæs/NCA)&nbsp; <p>&nbsp;</p><span lang="EN-GB"> <h3>Deep impressions from meeting people<br /><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Haiti/atle_gammelmann460.jpg" /></h3><span lang="EN-GB"> <p>Atle Sommerfeldt&nbsp;talking with one of the survivors at a home for the elderly in the poor area of Bel Air in Port-au-Prince. (Photo: Arne Grieg Riisnæs/NCA)&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p><span lang="EN-GB"> <h3>Extreme destruction</h3> <p dir="ltr" align="left"><br /><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Haiti/odeleggelser460.jpg" />&nbsp;<br /><span lang="EN-GB">The extreme destruction in Haiti’s capital city can be seen overall. The population of Port-au-Prince has struck by an unimaginable disaster, and will need wide-ranging assistance for many years, stated Atle Sommerfeldt. (Photo: Arne Grieg Riisnæs/NCA&nbsp;</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p><span lang="EN-GB"> <h3>Survived the collapse of her home<br /><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Haiti/jean300.jpg" /></h3> <p>Develyne Saint Vilus (9 years) was in her home in Bel Air together with her mother, father and uncle when the earthquake struck. The house collapsed, but everyone in the house survived although with injuries. Her uncle was especially hard hit, and Develyne does not know where he is now. (Photo: Arne Grieg Riisnæs/NCA)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Getting treatment<br /><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Haiti/forstehjelp300.jpg" /></h3><span lang="EN-GB"> <p dir="ltr" align="left">Jean Babtiste Fabienne&nbsp;(17) had just left school with her cousin when the earthquake struck. She was buried under a building that collapsed on them. Her cousin died. Jen Babtiste lay unconscious for two days before she was found. Her friends carried her to Viva Rios camp where she received treatment from a medical team. She now lives in Viva Rios camp, as her house is destroyed.</p> <p dir="ltr" align="left">"I am extremely grateful for the help I get here. But I am scared all the time for new earthquakes. I don’t know anything about my future. I hope it will be okay", said the young girl.</p> <p dir="ltr" align="left">&nbsp;</p></span><span lang="EN-GB"> <h3>Thousands gathered in Viva Rios camp</h3> <p dir="ltr" align="left"><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Haiti/leir460.jpg" /><br /></p></span><span lang="EN-GB">Several thousands have gathered in the area where NCAs partner Viva Rio are based, in the slum area of Bel Air in Port-au-Prince. NCA&nbsp;is distributing water here. (Photo: Arne Grieg Riisnæs/NCA) <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>]]The suffering caused by the earthquake in Haiti is inconceivable, unimaginable. Norwegian Church Aid is working intensely with critical emergency relief.http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=6056&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Emergency-work-in-Haiti/Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:17:06 GMTNyheter<![CDATA[<h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Clean water for 30,000</h3> <p>The NCA team, including highly-experienced water specialists, is in the slum area of Bel Air in Port-au-Prince. On Monday new water-purification equipment and tents from Norway arrived in the capital city. We will be setting up 45 tonnes of water-purification equipment in the coming days. This will make it possible for water to reach 30,000 people.</p> <div class="imgWithTxt"><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Haiti/luke_man460.jpg" /><br />The NCA team: Manfred Arlt and Luke Dokter are setting up water-purification equipment. (Photo: Arne Grieg Riisnæs/Norwegian Church Aid)&nbsp;</div> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Invaluable local partner</h3> <p>NCA’s local partner Viva Rio has been in action, providing assistance, in the slum area, since Day 1. 300 volunteers have been working since the earthquake struck.</p> <p>”Viva Rio is distributing water, building on NCA’s long term development work focusing on water cisterns and wells. Several of these cisterns are in working order, despite the earthquake, and lorries loaded with water fetch water from a reservoir outside the slum area”, explained NCA’s Programme Coordinator Ingvild Skeie.</p> <h3>More help coming</h3> <p>A further two Norwegian women entered Haiti from Dominican Republic yesterday for NCA. They are specialists in psychosocial work and protection of women and children. </p> <p>Anne Kristin Sydnes, The Director of International Programmes, and Petter Skauen, Advisor, are departing Norway on Tuesday morning. Petter Skauen is generally acknowledged as one of those with most expertise on Haiti; he has worked “hands on” with peace and reconciliation work in the country for many years.</p> <h3>Praying with Haiti</h3> <p>The Baptist Church held a church service on Sunday at its national centre in Haiti. Several thousand made homeless by the earthquake, especially from the poorest areas in Port-au-Prince, are now seeking refuge around church centres. Atle Sommerfeldt, General Secretary, was at the church service.</p> <div class="imgWithTxt"><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Latin-Amerika/Haiti/atle_bonn460.jpg" /><br />Secretary Atle Sommerfeldt prayed at the church service held outdoors on Sunday morning. (Photo: Arne Grieg Riisnæs/Norwegian Church Aid)</div><span lang="EN"> </span>&nbsp; <p>"It was powerful and moving experience, meeting people who are clearly struggling with trauma and deep sorrow.&nbsp; The experience of not being to fully comprehend what they have lived through and how they foresee the future was at best humbling. At the same time, it is truly wonderful that we are together in relation to Jesus, and the message that God helps and supports especially those struck by disaster and need", said Atle Sommerfeldt.&nbsp;</p> <h3>Emergency team assisted with a birth</h3> <p>In the slum area of Bel Air in Port-au-Prince, several thousand people have gathered in an area where NCA’s local partner Viva Rio works. The area looks likes a refugee camp.</p> <p>"Viva Rio informs us that the security situation in the area is relatively good, and that people are moving around on foot in the slum. Viva Rio has set up its own emergency team, and they report that it’s working very well. On Thursday they even helped with a birth", said Ingvild Skeie.</p> <div class="imgWithTxt"><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Latin-Amerika/Haiti/haiti_ruin2_460.jpg" />&nbsp;<br />People are doing their best to ensure that life goes on in Port-au-Prince. (Foto: Arne Greig Riisnæs/Norwegian Church Aid)</div> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Church-based partner assisting refugees</h3> <p>More and more refugees are heading for the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.</p> <p>Our church-based partner SSID has responsibility for a refugee camp containing nearly 10,000 people in the border town of Dajaban. The Churches are doing an enormous job, and it is great to see the unity and solidarity the church network is showing across the border between the two countries.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><br /></p>]]NCA is prioritizing the water and psychosocial competence in the Haiti team. Several of the team members also have experience from the post-Tsunami work of 2004.http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=6025&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/8-Norwegian-Church-Aid-staff-members-in-Haiti-soon/Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:26:58 GMTNyheter<![CDATA[<p><br /><br />NCA’s local partner Viva Rio has been in action in the capital city Port-au-Prince from Day 1. They will now be joined by several Norwegian and international staff from NCA.<br /></p> <p>A team of four landed in The Dominican Republic yesterday and expect to come into Haiti today. The team comprises of two water experts, Luke Dokter and Manfred Arlt, water engineer Bjørn Støwer, and communications advisor Arne Grieg Riisnæs.<br /></p> <p>We are also planning to dispatch a logistician from DanChurchAid and NCA’s Emergency Coordinator from Guatemala.&nbsp; General Secretary Atle Sommerfeldt departed from Oslo Gardermoen Airport on Friday Morning. He will be landing in The Dominican Republic this evening at 2330 hrs local time. </p> <p>Two Norwegian advisors with expertise in gender and childrens’ protection as well as psychosocial work will be departing&nbsp; tomorrow at 0630 hrs. Anna Margrethe Oliver is a health&nbsp; advisor in Asker, outside Oslo. She has significant experience with disasters, and was involved in the post-Tsunami work. Bjørg Rødland is a public health nurse and psychiatric expertise and has experience from emergency work in Chad.</p> <p>The Norwegian team will work together with NCA’s partners Viva Rio, Lutheran World Federation Haiti and local church-based organisations in the country.<br />Arild Isaksen (<a href="mailto:ai@nca.no">ai@nca.no</a>) and Sindre Stranden Tollefsen (<a href="mailto:sit@nca.no">sit@nca.no</a>) are NCA’s contact people this weekend.<br /></p>]]Norwegian Church Aid’s (NCA) Emergency Coordinator in Guatemala will travel to Haiti today. Three staff from the head office in Oslo will also arrive in country tomorrow afternoon.http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=5999&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Norwegian-Church-Aids-response-in-Haiti/Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:58:23 GMTNyheter<![CDATA[<p><br />The most pressing issues are to ensure access to safe water and protection of the local population, especially women and children who are especially vulnerable in this situation. We are coordinating our response with our international alliance, Action by Churches Together (ACT), and our partners on the ground, said Anne Kristin Sydnes, NCA’s Director of Department of International Programmes. </p> <p>NCA has an extensive program in Haiti, including a project in the slum areas where the earthquake has hit the hardest. The organisation is now working on sending a significant amount of emergency supplies, including water purification equipment and tents.<br /></p> <p>It is extremely tragic that the poorest country in the western hemisphere is again struck by a natural disaster. The country is not equipped to deal with an emergency of this scale and will be totally dependant on international assistance. NCA has worked through local partners in Haiti for over 20 years and will continue this work after the cameras are turned off, said Sydnes.</p> <p>NCA works in Port-au-Prince, the area which has been hardest hit. We work with water, health, schools, youth and women in the slum areas. Our program is implemented through 6 Haitian partner organisations, three of which are especially skilled in assisting in disasters such as this.</p> <p>NCA will send a team to Haiti on Wednesday to follow up on the emergency response. The team will be made up of two water and sanitation advisors, Luke Doktor and Manfred Arlt, and one of our communication advisors, Arne Grieg Riisnæs.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Contact</h3> <ul> <li>Anne Kristin&nbsp;Sydnes, Director Department for International Programmes,&nbsp;tlf +47 977 14 303</li> <li>Johan Hindahl, Head of Division, tlf&nbsp;+47 93 24 24 62</li> <li>Ingvild Skeie,&nbsp;Programme Co-ordinator Haiti and Dominican Republic, tlf +47&nbsp;991 62 730</li> <li>Arild Isaksen, Head of Division Emergency Preparedness, tlf +47&nbsp;913 70 599</li> <li>Henriette Bjerke,&nbsp;press contact, +47&nbsp;932 42 491</li> <li>Jorunn Strand Askeland,&nbsp;Press Contact, +47&nbsp;93 242 463</li></ul><span lang="NO-BOK"> <p dir="ltr" align="left"></p></span><br />&nbsp;]]Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) rejects the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten’s claim that it was necessary to re-publish the facsimile of the caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed. http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=5975&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Needless-provocation-from-Norwegian-newspapers/Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:21:06 GMTNyheter<![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p> <p>"This is not a constructive way of promoting the freedom of speech. NCA advocates the right to freedom of speech, but we are disappointed that Norwegian newspapers choose to promote freedom of speech in a way that is dismissive of what Muslims in Norway and abroad cherish as sacred", says Mr. Arne Sæverås, special advisor on peace and reconciliation with NCA.</p> <p>Freedom of speech is a freedom in need of continuous protection and maintenance, but it is also a freedom that comes with an obligation to uphold it responsibly. If one seeks to criticize Islam, Christianity or other religions this should be done in a respectful and direct manner providing space for the actors to voice their opinion. A debate of this nature must be tolerated. Rather than facilitating reconciliation and peaceful co-existence, re-publishing the cartoons will generate starker divides, which erode the basis for meaningful dialogue", says Sæverås.</p> <p>Sæverås further states that "The attack on the Danish cartoonist Mr. Kurt Westergaard was an act that we strongly&nbsp;reject on the same level as we reject all forms of violent reactions to free speech".</p> <p>NCA was the first Norwegian organization to reject the caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed when the self professed Christian newspaper Magazinet published them in February 2006. NCA has maintained close dialogue and collaboration with Muslim leaders in Norway and abroad and partner organizations. A specific outcome of these partnerships and relations was a joint statement condemning the violent reactions that followed the publication of the cartoons.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>]]Thousands of Activists Gather in 15 Countries to Warn of Worsening Conflict. http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=5964&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Sudan365-A-beat-for-peace/Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:36:07 GMTNyheter<![CDATA[<p>Celebrities and Activists Caution One Year to Prevent War in Sudan<br /></p> <p>9 January 2010 thousands of activists are gathering at events in 15 countries in a global coordinated effort, calling on world leaders to take urgent steps to prevent a return to severe and widespread conflict in Sudan. </p> <p>Sudan365 (<a href="http://www.sudan365.org">www.sudan365.org</a> ), a year of campaigning for Sudan, has been organised by a coalition of groups including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Save Darfur Coalition, FIDH, Refugees International, Darfur Consortium and Arab Coalition for Darfur. </p> <p>The effort comes with one year remaining until a referendum that will decide the future of Sudan and marks the five year anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the civil war between Northern and Southern Sudan and called for this referendum. </p> <p>With many highly contentious issues still to be resolved and amidst increasing inter-ethnic violence in the South and continued attacks on civilians in Darfur, there is a real risk of a return to conflict that could destabilise the entire region and place civilians in grave danger. </p> <p>Sudan365 is being supported by some of the world’s most famous drummers - including Phil Selway, Radiohead; Stewart Copeland, The Police; Nick Mason, Pink Floyd; Jonny Quinn, Snow Patrol; Caroline Corr; Richard Jupp, Elbow; Middle Eastern star Mohammed Mounir and Mustapha Tettey Addy who has been drumming since the 1970s. </p> <p>The celebrity drummers are coming together to create a ‘beat for peace’ in Sudan. A film of this global beat for peace, featuring drummers from five continents, will be released to coincide with the launch of the campaign. </p> <p>Activists will also drum along at events worldwide to call on governments to take action to prevent worsening violence and ensure civilians are protected. </p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Activists are calling on world leaders to dramatically increase their engagement to:</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Provide intensive and coherent diplomatic support to Northern and Southern Sudanese parties on unresolved issues such as wealth sharing and borders and security</li> <li>Increase international monitoring and reporting on human rights violations throughout Sudan in the run-up to the April elections and referendum, and support measures to protect civilians from potential violence related to these events</li> <li>Push the United Nations Security Council to strengthen the civilian protection mandate of the Sudan peacekeeping force (UNMIS) by increasing its presence in remote and volatile areas and by rapidly deploying its personnel to conflict-prone areas.</li></ul> <p>The 2011 referendum will determine whether or not the Southern region of Sudan becomes independent from the North. Experts fear that instability in the run-up to the referendum or its aftermath could reignite a civil war and cause massive human rights abuses unless international efforts are intensified to find a peaceful path through the next 12 months. </p>]]Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) supports the Church of Norway Council on Ecumenical and International Relations’ (the council hereafter) critique of Switzerland’s referendum vote to ban the building of Minarets.http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=5749&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Supports-critique-of-Switzerlands-referendum/Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:03:11 GMTNyheter<![CDATA[<p>Religious minorities should be handled with respect and dignity in Europe. This is key to NCA’s credibility when promoting this view in other parts of the world. The ban is clearly in breach of freedom of religion as protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCP), and discriminates on the basis of religious belief, affiliation, and activity. NCA joins the council in its call on the Norwegian government to encourage Switzerland to fulfil its human rights obligations. </p> <p>NCA also wishes to express its appreciation for the work of the Islamic Council Norway (ICN). The ICN deserves recognition for its considerable work on religion and human rights. NCA recognizes that adherence to the ICCP is conducive to close and constructive relations between faiths in our society. In our work to promote peace and reconciliation with multi-faith platforms around the world we draw strength, knowledge and courage from the kind of relationship we have with the ICN. </p>]]By the end of September, the Norwegian Church Aid office in Kosovo will close. http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=5320&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Office-in-Kosovo-is-closing/Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:26:53 GMTNyheter<![CDATA[<p>The office&nbsp; has been covering the Western Balkans region, and was established as a local office for Norwegian Church Aid&nbsp;work in Kosovo in 1996. Later it became an office for the Western Balkan region, and has covered Kosovo, Serbia, Macedonia and Albania.&nbsp; During 2007 Norwegian Church Aid&nbsp;decided to close the office in 2009, due to the fact that the funds for work in Western Balkan was gradually diminishing.</p> <p>Norwegian Church Aid&nbsp;will continue to work with partners in Western Balkan through direct follow up from&nbsp;our Head Office in Oslo. Part of the operational work implemented by Norwegian Churvh&nbsp;Aid&nbsp;in&nbsp; Kosovo the last years, will be followed up by a local organization, KAAD, which was established in January 2009 by previous local&nbsp;staff and others. </p> <p>We sincerely thank each member of the&nbsp;staff in Kosovo, since October 2007 lead by Area Representative Ragnar Hansen, for all their work and their efforts during these years ! Some of our staff from the region and from Kosovo has worked for Norwegian Church Aid&nbsp;for more than ten years and we are particularly grateful for their input and contribution to Norwegian Church Aids work in the Balkans.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>]]NCA and partner work on capacity building and accountable local governance is reaping fruits as was witnessed during the period/processes leading to the April 2009 elections.http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=4429&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Working-together-can-we-do-more/Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:01:34 GMTNyheter<![CDATA[<span lang="NO-BOK"> <p>More than half a year before the elections, the NCA partners based in the KwaZulu Natal province including KwaZulu Natal Christian Council (KZNCC) through its membership and active partners like Democracy Development Programme (DDP) and Diakonia Council of Churches were already engaging in extensive civic education, covering issues like the right to vote, political tolerance, training of provincial election observers, they also engaged in violence monitoring and peace and conflict mediation. On election day the work of partners was highly visible as they were able to deploy close to 300 observers across the province and especially in areas and points previously considered violence hotspots. KZN has been the most volatile region in South Africa in previous elections but in 2009 the province impressed the south Africa and the world as the anticipated violence did not happen. While many factors contributed to this situation including mature political leadership, the work on NCA partners over the years and especially in the period running up to the elections certainly contributed to this positive outcome</p></span> <table width="277" align="right" border="0"> <tbody> <tr valign="top"> <td> <p align="right"><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Sorlige%20Afrika/Moreblessings_1.jpg" /></p></td></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <p><em>&nbsp; Moreblessings Chidaushe is NCAs regional&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; </em><em>advisor in Southern Africa</em></p></td></tr></tbody></table>The dust around the South African elections has now settled, a new government, the 4th South African government, under the controversial administration of Jacob Zuma is now in place.&nbsp; Predicting African National Congress (ANC) victory was no rocket science, the money and the support were apparently in abundance. More than R200 million was spent on the campaign trail and Zuma won by a landslide but what may not have necessarily been anticipated was that the ANC would not get the two thirds majority it would have needed to dominate policy and decision making –( a significant plus for the consolidation of democracy in the country). The Democratic Alliance (DA) – a white dominated party has become the official opposition having won 14% of the votes. The new born Congress of the People (COPE) garnered 8% of the votes. <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>In his inaugural speech on May 9th, Zuma’s tone was much reconciliatory and progressive, highlighting that the country needs to come together and move on. A cabinet has now been sworn in and six new ministries have been created outside the traditional 28 ministries at a reported one billion rand extra cost. Only one opposition member - of the VF party has been given a cabinet post. Although not yet achieved, significant progress has been made in terms of the 50/50 agenda, with a total of 4 of the 8 ANC provincial Premiers being female and 14 of 34 ministers also being female. The women ministers are commendably being placed in traditionally male dominated ministries including defense, home affairs, correctional services and mining. New on the block is a ministry for Women which has been combined with the Youth, children and Disability. While it is now all systems go, many questions are being asked for instance about the capacity of the ANC to deliver, the quality of the cabinet , the relevance of the new ministries and many challenges also face the ANC in the coming five years.</p> <p>South Africa is the second highest country in the world with inequalities (after Brazil). Impressive economic growth of the 70s and 80s has earned the country middle income country status but the growth divident has not translated to decreasing poverty on the ground. Much like under the apartheid regime, the majority of black South Africans remain poor and marginalized. Policies and efforts of the first three governments have had little impact on redressing the situation. The ANC much recognizes this and in-fact, its manifesto does highlight these challenges and thus prioritize for the ANC government in the coming five tears the key areas of:</p> <ul> <li>High unemployment</li> <li>Poverty</li> <li>Deepening inequality</li> <li>Rural marginalization</li></ul> <p>To address these challenges, creation of decent work and sustainable livelihoods, education, health, crime, rural development including land reform, food production and security will be targeted. Whether or not the ANC government will be able to deliver for the benefit of its people - only time will tell. </p> <p>Some potential challenges await the ANC in the coming years:</p> <h3>A divided society</h3> <p>The Mbeki question brought to the fore the issue of division along tribal lines - largely Zulu and Xhosa lines. It has been evident since the Polokwane conference in 2007 and through the campaign period that the elections became much about getting one tribe out and the other into power. The question now is, will the tribal tussles end and all can come to work together and do more for the country? Another dimension is the white voice has spoken with a not so small voice making itself the official opposition. Although the whites are minority and the country can never again go back to the apartheid era, the dynamics of the different ideologies and interests (black, white, Zulu, Xhosa) converging can create scenario which may lead to either the consolidation or undermining of democracy in the country. Should the parties be able to work together despite their differences then South Africa can be congratulated on a mature democracy. The opposite will undermine democracy as one party dominates above the rest and certainly undermine the spirit of achieving more by working together.</p> <h3>Resources</h3> <p>Unfortunately the macroeconomic outlook is not necessarily in the Zuma Administration’s favor. The government annual budget for 2009 is in excess of R800billion and already a deficit 3.8% exists. Export earnings are projected to decrease by 1.4%, the consumer price inflation falls from 11.6% in 2008 to 5.8% in 2009 and the Gross Domestic Product also falls from 3.1% in 2008 to 1.2% in 2009 a grim picture increasing the new government’s challenges to delivery. These are estimates made before the new government came into power and with the increase in the number of ministries; it is not yet clear where the extra resources will come from – a huge resource gap therefore presents an immediate and present challenge for performance.</p> <h3>Capacity to deliver</h3> <p>Service delivery remains a major challenge in South Africa, the country has seen a record number of increases in service delivery demonstrations in last few years as the masses revolt against the lack of performance in service delivery by local municipalities. Capacity constraints have been such a significant factor affecting the municipality expenditures to the extent that under spending has become a norm with huge sums being returned to treasury every year. The technical expertise remains lacking with the country relying heavily on foreign labor. Although efforts are being made to address the issue of capacity constraints, it will be a long time and process before this can be addressed; hence the current government may face the same levels of displeasure as the Mbeki government for failing to deliver at local level – but then again will this really matter as long as a people’s government is in place? </p> <h3>Neo-liberalism vs pro-poor growth/development</h3> <p>Recent South African economic growth is owed to initiatives like the Growth Economic and Redistribution Policy (GEAR ) – a neo-liberal self imposed structural adjustment programme designed much along the Washington Consensus, a programme much criticized for its anti –poor ideology. Much like in the rest of the developing world, structural adjustment programmes have resulted in more widespread poverty dismissing the nexus between growth and poverty reduction. In efforts to assure the international community and uphold their confidence in the country (now with the world’s longest serving finance minister gone!), both the ANC Treasurer and the new Finance Minister have indicated that the country’s economic policies will not change , (at least not much). Such a scenario puts the Zuma government in an awkward position in trying to fulfill its mandate as a national government but also responding to international/external pressures of the global village South Africa finds itself co-existing in. The tension between the neo-liberal agenda and the government’s priorities and pro-poor policies will definitely be worth watching in the coming few years.</p> <h3>International credit crunch – lower demand for export commodities, falling gold prices and weakening rand:</h3> <p>The prevailing international context is not and will not help the Zuma government much either. The IMF has recently revised the global and continental projected growth rates focusing on a grimmer picture. Although the South African government so far insists that the crunch will not bite much locally, as the international growth continues to shrink the impact will definitely be felt in South Africa and especially by the poorest with high job losses as witnessed already by the motor , mining and tourism industries. International and regional demand for goods is definitely reducing and so are gold prices leading to the continued weakening of the rand. This impact will also be felt stronger as the capacity of South Africa’s regional trading partners continues to be eroded and their ability to trade with South Africa is also eroded.</p> <p>All said and done, South Africans spoke and achieved their wishes through a very democratic election process. Although there are challenges, it is too early to judge how the Zuma administration will perform but the good thing is that it has been given a chance to prove itself. The rest of the world can only wish South Africa good luck.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>For more information, contact:</h3> <ul> <li>Moreblessings Chidaushe, Regional Advisor in&nbsp;Southern Africa<font face="Calibri" size="3"> <br /></font>e-mail: <a href="mailto:Moreblessings.Chidaushe@nca.no">Moreblessings.Chidaushe@nca.no</a> </li> <li> <p>Merete Skjelsbæk, Programme coordinator&nbsp;for Southern Africa<br />email: <a href="mailto:mes@nca.no">mes@nca.no</a></p></li></ul>]]Mrs. Vera Lesko, Executive Director of Vatra center, was honored by the United States of America with the award "Woman of Courage" of the Secretary of the American State.http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=2750&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Vera-Lesko-wins-award-for-her-courage/Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:47:49 GMTEuropaNyheter<![CDATA[<p>Vera Lesko is the founder and director of Vatra, a partner of Norwegian Church Aid. Vatra is working on preventing slave trade. The organization runs a crisis centre as well as being engaged in the fight against the phenomenon of human trafficking and that of domestic violence. She is awarded the price in honor of her courage and leadership in advocating for women’s rights.</p> <div> <table width="250" align="left" border="0"> <tbody> <tr valign="top"> <td><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Europa/Vera%20Lesko,%20200x273.jpg" align="left" /></td></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <table width="100%" border="0"> <tbody> <tr valign="top"> <td><strong>Woman of Courage: Vera Lesko.</strong> <em>(Photo: Bente Bjercke/Norwegian Church Aid)</em></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>Norwegian Church Aid is proud</h3> <p>- Norwegian Church Aid is proud to be a partner with Vatra and Vera Lesko, says program coordinator for West Balkan, Ingvild Langhus. The award as "Woman of Courage" is well deserved. Vera Lesko is a sharp critic of the Albania government’s lack of will to live up to international treaties. She has been very important for a great number of girls and women who have been victims of human trafficking, and she has taken many risks while fighting against organized human trafficking in Albania. She has earned great respect for her professional skills, says Langhus. </p> <p>Vera Lesko is also one of the finalists for the 2009 Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award</p> <h3>For more information, contact:&nbsp;</h3> <ul> <li>Ingvild Langhus, program coordinator West Balkan, phone: +47&nbsp;982 02 491 </li> <li>Bjarte Lien, communication officer, phone: +47 958 03 734</li></ul></div>]]A large number of people are suffering in the current crisis in Zimbabwe. In this situation the churches have stepped up and taken action. Norwegian Church is partnering with Christian Care. http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=2711&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Zimbabwian-churches-saving-lives/Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:38:28 GMTAktueltSørlige AfrikaZimbabwe<![CDATA[<p>Christian Care (CC) is a service arm of the churches in Zimbabwe. - Food security for Zimbabweans remains particularly precarious and this has seen the demand for general relief in Zimbabwe increasing because of a volatile mixture of challenges, says Reverend Forbes Matonga, National Director of Christian Care.</p> <h3>Food aid </h3> <p>- In Masvingo Christian Care is distributing food to 3 380 house holds amounting to 16 900 beneficiaries. This programmes focuses on food aid and conservation farming. Christian Care and Lutheran Development Service (LDS)&nbsp;are working hand in glove in implementing this programme with the support and full participation and blessing of the countrywide network of Zimbabwe Council of Churches member churches, says Matonga. LDS is also a Norwegian Church Aid partner in Zimbabwe. </p> <p>However Christian Care has other food distributions going on country wide through its regional offices, funded by several partners. Matonga says that CC all together is reaching out to more than 750.000 people. </p> <table width="250" align="left" border="0"> <tbody> <tr valign="top"> <td><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Sorlige%20Afrika/Workshop%20(CC)Gokwe%20town3%2020.02.09,%202.jpg" align="left" /></td></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <table width="100%" border="0"> <tbody> <tr valign="top"> <td> <p><strong>Work shop in Gokwe. </strong><em>(Photo: Anne Kristine Ådland/Norwegian Church Aid)</em></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>The Cholera epidemic </h3> <p>Nurse Anne Kristin Ådland from Norway is one of the many members of Norwegian Church Aid's Emergency Preparedness Roster. She was recently in Zimbabwe, where she was working with both CC and LDS. </p> <p>– People infected with cholera experience very harsh conditions in the hospitals and clinics. There is a lack of resources and capacity, says Ådland. – That’s why it is so important to work with preventive health measures in order to teach people how to&nbsp;avoid getting&nbsp;infected. Ådland emphases all the passionate people she met in Zimbabwe. – The health personell I met and worked with were keen on learning, in order to train other people in the local communities.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Internally displaced</h3> <p>In a programme for the internally displaced Christian Care is also working hard. They want&nbsp;to go beyond offering humanitarian assistance and psychosocial support, and&nbsp;to rehabilitate and reintegrate these affected people in selected districts of Zimbabwe. CC intervened and temporarily housed over 3 000 households displaced by the violence in the aftermaths of the June 2008 presidential run off elections in Zimbabwe, and ministered to their day to day needs in various parts of the country.&nbsp;</p> <p>National Director of Christian Care, Forbes Matonga, is concluding by saying that all the aid we can get is life saving. But the hope and goal for the local communities is to be self sufficient and avoid becoming donor dependent.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>For more information, contact:</h3> <ul> <li>Bjarte Lien, communications officer, phone: + 47 958 03 734 </li> <li>Merete Skjelsbæk, program co-ordinator,&nbsp;phone: + 47 932 50 269</li></ul> <p>&nbsp;</p>]]South Africans go to the polls on April 22nd, 2009. Already a record number of voters (more than 23 million) are registered to vote. This is being regarded as the most exiting of the elections so far in the history of the country.http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=2000&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/South-Africa-ready-for-election/Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:01:22 GMTSørlige AfrikaSør-AfrikaNyheter<![CDATA[<p>The birth of The Congress of the People (COPE ) in late 2008 has indeed presented new and interesting dynamics to the political landscape of the country. For the first time, analysts say there is "credible" opposition to the growing ANC dominance. Whether or not COPE is a real threat to ANC remains to be seen but general agreement is that it was time for another force to come in and many view this as a positive and necessary step in the consolidation of democracy in South Africa. Such is necessary for averting the scenario in which other countries in the region led by liberation movements have fallen into.</p> <h3></h3><strong> <h3>Death treats</h3></strong>The build-up to the elections has not been easy in some parts of the country and especially in KwaZulu Natal (KZN) with violence marring the campaign trail. In KZN, disruption of political rallies, death threats and even assassinations are being reported, in some places, no-go-areas for certain political parties are becoming common-place. <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>The Church&nbsp;may ensure a fair election<br /></h3> <p>The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has made a special call for churches to play an active role in the election process to ensure that the elections are free and fair. Areas in which the church can intervene vary from violence monitoring, conflict resolution, civil education, and election observation amongst others.</p> <p>Recently however, the role of the Church in politics has come under a special spotlight with the official announcement of Bishop Mvume Dandala by COPE as their presidential candidate in the April elections. COPE states that this new dynamic is bringing in the desperately needed moral card against a background of corruption and a widening gap between the leaders and the people and that years of ANC rule have not brought change to the South African people. Instead, poverty and inequality are on the rise. </p> <h3>Political involvement raises questions</h3> <p>The big question in the minds of many South Africans is whether that is the right thing to do for COPE and if at all the church should be involved in politics. On the other hand, questions are also being asked whether the church is not a political institution itself and how it can/should separate itself from the political context it exists in. But what about the prophetic voice of the church?</p> <p>NCA Southern Africa office is following the South African elections with interest and is journeying together with a number of its KwaZulu Natal based partners who are visibly working on the ground in a variety of areas including discussions with political parties on violence, civic education, distribution of various information and election observation.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>For more information, contact:</h3> <ul> <li>Moreblessings Chidaushe, Regional Advisor in&nbsp;Southern Africa<font face="Calibri" size="3"> <br /></font>e-mail: <a href="mailto:Moreblessings.Chidaushe@nca.no">Moreblessings.Chidaushe@nca.no</a> </li> <li> <p>Merete Skjelsbæk, Programme coordinator&nbsp;for Southern Africa<br />email: <a href="mailto:mes@nca.no">mes@nca.no</a></p></li></ul>]]”The humanitarian situation in Darfur is still alarming, with 90,000 having been forced to flee their homes in the last three months alone”, says Norwegian Church Aid’s Bjørg Mide.http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=1654&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Crisis-in-Darfur/Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:47:02 GMTNyheter<![CDATA[<p>“Civilians continue to be displaced from their homes and villages and the need for relief and assistance is still rising. Between January and August 2008, around 290,000 people were forced to flee,” explains Mide.</p> <p>This has brought the total number of internally-displaced people in Sudan’s western province of Darfur to 2.69 million. It is estimated that 4.72 million people are affected by the situation. </p> <table width="100%" border="0"> <tbody> <tr valign="top"> <td> <p><img alt="Darfur" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Darfur.jpg" /></p></td></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td><strong>The crisis deepens:</strong> <em>90,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the last three months alone. NCA leads a response operation in Darfur reaching out to over 350,000 people</em></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The ACT Alliance (Action by Churches Together) and Caritas Internationalis have now sent out a joint appeal&nbsp;to their sister organisations around the world for around NOK 80 million towards the Norwegian Church Aid-led <a href="http://www.act-caritas.org/" target="_blank">Darfur Emergency Response Operation</a>.</p> <h3>Critical funds</h3> <p>"This is an extremely important appeal for Norwegian Church Aid. The funds raised will support our programme in Darfur that provides emergency relief, healthcare, water and sanitation, as well as psychosocial assistance to at least 350,000 people in Darfur," says Mide.</p> <p>The Darfur operation began in 2004 and has now entered its fifth year.</p> <p>"The security situation makes it near impossible for internally displaced families to return to their homes, and for us to reach certain segments of the affected population," says Mide. Several aid workers have been attacked in recent months, and vehicle-hijacking is a persistent problem.</p> <p>"We are doing our utmost to get our aid to those that need it the most. This appeal will allow us to continue doing this," concludes Mide.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.act-caritas.org/" target="_blank">Darfur Emergency Response Operation</a> is a unique project for which both ecumenical and catholic relief organisations, through ACT International and Caritas Internationalis, have joined forces. 60 different organisations from around the world support the operation, which is led by Norwegian Church Aid, in Darfur.</p>]]In 2008 Norwegian Church Aid's partner organisation RDRS started an interesting climate change adaptation project in northern Bangladesh.http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=1522&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Climate-change-adaptation-projects-are-concrete-very-useful-but-must-also-be-aid-effective/Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:28:42 GMTNyheter<![CDATA[<p>The projects is&nbsp;building on&nbsp;RDRS' long experience from disaster response, -risk reduction and -mitigation, as well as the newest available information and data on how global climate changes will affect the vulnerable country which is cornered in by the Himalayas, India and the Bay of Bengal. RDRS will scale up the project in 2009 with NCA as the lead agency and with additional support from ACT sister agencies from Finn Church Aid and Church of Sweden.&nbsp;</p> <table width="100%" border="0"> <tbody> <tr valign="top"> <td><img alt="Plint-raising" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Asia/Bangladesh/plint_raising460.jpg" align="middle" /></td></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td><strong>Plint-raising:</strong> <em>House built on a platform to withstand flood.</em></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Climate Change in Bangladesh</h3> <p>Bangladesh will be one of the countries that will experience the strongest impacts from climate change. The range of effects and the severity of changes that will occur in Bangladesh will include: average weather temperature rising; more extreme hot and cold spells; rainfall being less when it is most needed for agriculture, yet more in the monsoon when it already causes floods; melting of glaciers in the watersheds of Bangladesh’s rivers altering the hydrological cycle; more powerful tornados and cyclones; and sea level rise displacing communities, turning farmlands and drinking water saline. The impacts of climate change will be intensified by the fact that Bangladesh is both one of the most populated and one of the poorest nations on earth.</p> <table width="250" align="left" border="0"> <tbody> <tr valign="top"> <td><img alt="Flooding in Bangladesh" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/Asia/Bangladesh/flom230.jpg" align="left" /></td></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <table width="230" align="left" border="0"> <tbody> <tr valign="top"> <td><strong>Flooding in Bangladesh.</strong> </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p></td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>Climate Change Adaptation</h3> <p>‘Climate Change Adaptation’ is the process through which people reduce the negative effects of climate on their health and well-being. There are a number of basic strategies that can be taken in response to climate change. Most important is that adaptation starts with the local community and its adaptive capabilities are vital especially because climate change adaptation is context specific.&nbsp; Mainstreaming climate change adaptation into development thinking and practices has also been recommended as a priority and there are already many innovative projects in Bangladesh and around the world addressing the growing impacts of climate change on local communities. There is a need for technology transfer, duplication of other well functioning adaptation measures around the world and the invention of new measures and strategies in the country itself. </p> <p>In Bangladesh, the National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPA) as recommended by the UN was endorsed in November 2005, but has so far only resulted in meetings, seminars, conferences and workshops in Dhaka and at international levels outside Bangladesh. Unfortunately, only a few adaptation projects have started in the rural areas since the NAPA was endorsed.</p> <h3>Projects</h3> <p>In 2008, NCA and its core partner RDRS mutually planned and started one of the first major climate change adaptation projects in Northern Bangladesh. It is a rather ambitious project containing three main components: a) Improving community coping capacity; b) Physical mitigation/preparedness and c) Improving food security for climate change affected and most vulnerable families. </p> <p>The basic idea is to build on RDRS’ existing experience within disaster risk reduction and sustainable livelihood promotion and to combine these into relevant climate change adaptation activities. Climate change measures don’t necessarily have to be something new. In this case it is about improving and strengthening existing activities to make them durable to increased pressure from climatic change. They are very concrete and relevant measures that are extremely helpful for the vulnerable communities in the Char areas – the Bangladeshi name for a mobile sandbank in the river system - e.g. plinth raising, homestead gardening, elevations of water pumps (meaning that the height of a house/homestead, garden, water pump and compost pit is height adjusted or built up to sustain a flood), village disaster management committees, rice seed banks, short-duration-rice production and rice cultivation with fish as pest control. </p> <h3>Effective Cooperation</h3> <p>In October, representatives from Church of Sweden and Finn Church Aid visited the village Kaunia on one of the many Chars to see some of the adaptation activities that RDRS and NCA started in 2008. Previously, RDRS and Finn Church Aid plus Dan Church Aid were also planning a similar project, but with more focus on risk reduction. Dan Church Aid just managed to get funding from European Union for such a project with RDRS.</p> <p>Knowing that focus on climate change related activities for Bangladesh will increase in the future, RDRS and the major ACT sister agencies has discussed how the ongoing adaptation project that NCA has funded in 2008 slowly can be scaled up, and at the same time how we can harmonize and combine our mutual resources into one larger programme in 2009. This will make life easier for RDRS and the agencies – but it is also to share lessons learned and best practices. </p> <p>NCA has been elected as lead agency for that process and Church of Sweden and Finn Church Aid will channel their funds through NCA, which will be responsible for technical support and advice, joint monitoring and reporting. </p> <p>Since the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness in 2005 , all ACT sister agencies have tried to improve harmonization initiatives, alignment and thus also impact. Besides improving the communities’ coping mechanisms on a much larger scale, the joint ambition is certainly also to make the aid even more effective.</p> <h3>For more information, please contact:&nbsp;</h3> <ul> <li>Steffen Rasmussen, regional representative in Sri Lanka, e-mail: <a href="mailto:steffen.rasmussen@nca.no">steffen.rasmussen@nca.no</a>, Tel: +94 11 250 2441</li> <li>Claes Book, environmental advisor, e-mail: <a href="mailto:Claes.book@nca.no">Claes.book@nca.no</a>, Tel: +47 464 42 108&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /></li></ul>]]A mid-term evaluation of Brazilian human trafficking projects supported by Operasjon Dagsverk is showing positive progress.http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=1508&epslanguage=enhttp://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/News/Latest-news/Evaluation-shows-progress-in-Brazil/Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:28:55 GMTNyheter<![CDATA[<p>In 2005, the work of Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) in Brazil received support from the annual Norwegian student’s campaign Operation Dayswork (OD). The funds are financing five projects working with Brazilian youth over a five year period (2006-2010). One of the main goals of the project has been to create a broader engagement and mobilization against human trafficking in Brazil. Now the project which was accorded in 2005 has been through a mid-term evaluation.</p> <p>The support in 2005 was received on the basis of NCA’s project proposal which concerned human trafficking as the main focus. The five partner organizations included in the programme are: Ação Educativa, Serviço à Mulher Marginalizada (SMM), Diaconia, Viva Rio and Instituto Socioambiental (ISA). The following is a short summary of the evaluation of the project so far. </p> <h3>Positive results</h3> <p>The results of the evaluation were, in general, very positive. Although the projects are still in progress, and will be concluded in December 2010, the level of reach of the proposed objectives was considered to be high, due directly to: i. the coherence between the activity plans and the proposed objectives. ii. The efficiency in the execution and timing of the planned activities, having respected all deadlines, as well as in the many additional actions and products. iii. High ability of the executive organizations to establish new partnerships, multiplying and fulfilling the potential of the activities of the projects supported by OD.</p> <p>The evaluators highlighted, in particular, the role of NCA in promoting and incentivizing actions against trafficking in the supported projects and organizations. The balance surprised the evaluators, not only due to the diversity and range of the activities carried out involving Trafficking (of which many had not been intended in the five-year plans), but also due to the verification that some partner organizations had become regional references on the theme.</p> <table width="100%" border="0"> <tbody> <tr valign="top"> <td><img alt="" src="/Global/bilder/Aktuelt/TraffickingdemoSao460.jpg" /></td></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <p><strong>São Sebastião.</strong> <em>"Open Your Eyes - Prevent yourself from Human Trafficking" (banner) High School students in OD supported project arranging march against Human Trafficking in São Sebastião, Brazil.</em></p></td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Youngsters integrated </h3> <p>The use of innovative methodologies and means of communication, has proved to be efficient in the promotion of youth participation. As a concrete result of these actions, many spaces related to public policies have been occupied by youngsters integrated in the projects: committees to combat human trafficking, participative budget networks, councils for enforcing children’s and adolescents’ rights, youth conferences, environmental campaigns, etc.</p> <p>As noted, the projects’ effects have been beyond the ones foreseen in the annual work proposals and plans. There is no doubt that the extensive network of partnerships established and/or strengthened by the five organisations in the area of project implementation has increased the potential of the evaluated initiatives in reaching their main goal: to promote the Brazilian youth as agents of transformation.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Related articles:</h3> <p><a href="/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=449&amp;epslanguage=en">Gender based violence</a></p> <p><a href="/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?id=435&amp;epslanguage=en">NCA Latin America</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>More information:</h3> <p><a href="/Documents/Kirkens%20N%c3%b8dhjelp/Tematiske%20filer/Kj%c3%b8nnsbasert%20vold/Evaluation%20human%20trafficking%20Brazil.docx" target="_blank">For full report,&nbsp;click here</a></p> <ul> <li>Christian Schøien, Program Coordinator, e-mail: <a href="mailto:Christian.Schoien@nca.no">Christian.Schoien@nca.no</a></li> <li>NCA press contact: +47&nbsp;932 42 493</li></ul>]]