NL-KVK-41210098-FGG
Both ENDS
Fair, Green and Global Alliance
The Fair Green and Global (FGG) alliance is an alliance of six civil society organisations. Both ENDS is the lead agency, and other member organisations are: ActionAid, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth Netherlands), SOMO and Transnational Institute.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Netherlands
ActionAid Netherlands
Clean Clothes Campaign
Vereniging Milieudefensie
Stichting Onderzoek Multinationale Ondernemingen
Stichting Transnational Institute
Stichting Both ENDS
Stichting Both ENDS
info@bothends.org
59523750
722826
398537
308708
1330760
1623117
1181718
1658554
1821155
1506577
FGG-CCC-4
1391377
FGG-AA-2
211802
839422
FGG-SOMO-1
59523750
FGG-Total incoming commitment
9325387
1698843
FGG-SOMO-3
2324879
FGG-MD-4
2117304
FGG-TNI-4
601666
FGG-ToC3-4
343809
FGG-ToC2-4
1048652
FGG-TNI-1
1014384
FGG-CCC-2
1142561
FGG-SOMO-2
386803
FGG-ToC1-1
171904
FGG-ToC2-1
2117304
FGG-TNI-3
2324879
FGG-MD-3
773606
FGG-ToC1-3
1026032
FGG-AA-1
1152940
FGG-MD-1
1421536
FGG-TNI-2
1699033
2072297
1515080
2117541
249766
1250690
773607
FGG-ToC1-4
7936500
FGG-2
298160
300833
FGG-ToC3-1
11904750
FGG-3
370687
FGG-ToC3-2
11904750
FGG-4
601666
FGG-ToC3-3
2072065
FGG-AA-3
2072065
FGG-AA-4
743289
FGG-CCC-1
1506578
FGG-CCC-3
1559419
FGG-MD-2
1698843
FGG-SOMO-4
476619
FGG-ToC1-2
5952375
FGG-1
11904750
343809
FGG-ToC2-3
2325140
FGG Annual Report 2016
FGG Annual Plan 2018
FGG Annual Plan 2017
FGG Annual Report 2017 Annex I indicators
FGG Annual Report 2017
FGG IATI Exclusion Policy
FGG Annual Plan 2019 Annex I Indicators
FGG Annual Plan 2019 Annex I Indicators
FGG Annual Report 2018
FGG Annual Plan 2019
FGG Annual Plan 2020
FGG Annual Report 2019
Annual Report 2020 & End of Term Report 2016-2020
ToC2 - Outcome E: Policies Changed
Policies related to trade and investment are improved, so that they advance policy coherence for development.
2.E FGG overall
# mechanisms, policies and regulations improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
13 mechanisms, policies and regulations were improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
9 mechanisms, policies and regulations were improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 11 mechanisms, policies and regulations are improved by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs.
13 (15-2 double counted) mechanisms, policies and regulations were improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 13 mechanisms, policies and regulations are improved by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 5 mechanisms, policies and regulations are improved by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs.
In 2019, 15 (16-1 double counted) mechanisms, policies and regulations were improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs.
In 2020, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 2 mechanisms, policies and regulations are improved by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs.
In 2020, 9 (10-1 double counted) mechanisms, policies and regulations were improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs.
MFA - DD2 (FGG outcome E)
Laws, policies and norms/attitudes, blocked, adopted, improved for sustainable and inclusive development.
DD2
# of laws, policies and norms/attitudes, blocked, adopted, improved for sustainable and inclusive development.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, FGG contributed to 55 laws, policies and norms/attitudes being blocked, adopted, or improved for sustainable and inclusive development. Of these policy changes, 19 were cases where national, regional and international government bodies improved or introduced mechanisms, policies and regulations to ensure companies promote more sustainable practices and are held accountable for respecting human rights and the environment and providing adequate remedy to victims of adverse impacts. For example, a policy was improved by the village government in West Kalimantan through advocacy of a local NGO supported by Both ENDS: a by-law which forbids logging of community forests was introduced by the customary/cultural leaders and recognized by the village leader, which ensures communal and indigenous land rights and customary forest management practices are recognised and protected from encroachment of industrial developments. Another 13 policies were improved or introduced by companies on transparency and safeguards, conflict resolution mechanisms, and policies promoting social justice, decent work and sustainability. For example, three more brands (Haglöfs, Kjus and the Dutch SuitSupply) signed up to the Indonesia Freedom of Association protocol and adapted their internal policies accordingly as a result of continued lobby towards this aim by CCC and its network partners. In our second ToC, 9 mechanisms, policies and regulations were improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs. For example, Ecuador established an independent commission to audit its BITs; TNI staff Cecilia Olivet headed this commission. As a result, president Correa announced that Ecuador would terminate its 16 remaining BITs. The decision was reiterated by Minister of Foreign Affairs. In another example, in December 2017 the Dutch government officially committed a cap of 5% as limit to biofuels, and outphasing of palm oil and soy, including a reference to land issues that need to be prevented. At EU level a cap of 7% until 2030 was adopted. ActionAid supported other CSO efforts on this, as well as met with Ministries, emailed MEPs directly and used social media, building on work in the past as well. Finally, in the area of financial and tax systems, 8 measures were taken by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure financial, tax and spending policies advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs. For example, in January 2017, SEATINI Uganda and other CSOs under the Tax Justice Alliance developed alternative revenue proposals. Among these was a paper highlighting alternative revenue measures aimed at contributing to an increase of and more equitable domestic revenue mobilisation. One proposal was adopted by the Ugandan Parliament in the tax bills for 2017/18, namely: to impose excise duty on imported furniture other than local furniture and specialized hospital furniture was taken on and included in the Tax Bills for FY 2017/18. Another 6 policies were improved or introduced by public financial institutions and private actors on accountability, transparency and safeguards, and investment policies adopted that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs. An important example for FGG was that FMO published its new sustainability policy at the end of 2017 after extensive public stakeholder consultation and side meetings with Both ENDS, together with SOMO and Oxfam Novib. The experience with the Agua Zarca project and the strong reactions and engagement with this project (by FGG members but also together with national and local partners, and the Dutch government) were one of the main reasons for this policy change. The new policy includes greater emphasis on human rights and gender (including human rights defenders and FPIC) and some strong commitments for implementation (human rights risk assessments; HRDs protocol among others). [For more information about these results, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie, Friends of the Earth International, and SOMO), results FGG ToC 1-3 F (indicators a and b) 2017.]
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 56 mechanisms, policies and regulations are improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure companies promote more sustainable practices and are held accountable for respecting human rights and the environment and providing adequate remedy to victims of adverse impacts; and/or policies improved or introduced by companies on transparency and safeguards, conflict resolution mechanisms, and policies promoting social justice, decent work and sustainability (ToC1); and/or mechanisms, policies and regulations improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs (ToC2); and/or measures taken by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure financial, tax and spending policies advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs, and/or policies improved or introduced by public financial institutions and private actors on accountability, transparency and safeguards, and investment policies adopted that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs (ToC3).
In 2018, the FGG Alliance contributed to 63 laws, policies and norms/attitudes being blocked or adopted in order to improve corporate conduct, trade and investment and financial and tax systems. ToC1 Due to FGG’s lobbying and advocacy efforts, 26 mechanisms, policies and regulations were improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure companies promote more sustainable practices and are held accountable for respecting human rights and the environment and providing adequate remedy to victims of adverse impacts. For example, CCC and SOMO brought together their partner organisations’ inputs for the Fair Wear Foundation’s (FWF) revised Enhanced Monitoring Programme policy for Myanmar, and presented their recommendations in a meeting of FWF’s Committee of Experts. After long deliberations, FGG’s recommendations were accepted and processed in the formation of a new policy document. The Enhanced Monitoring Programme Myanmar-Update 2018 (April, 2018) now includes concrete requirements for FWF member companies with regard to transparency, due diligence and the promotion of freedom of association. In addition, there is now a clear requirement for members to refrain from doing business with factories with links to the military. Companies also improved policies on transparency and safeguards, conflict resolution mechanisms, and policies promoting social justice, decent work and sustainability. In total, 14 of such policies by companies were improved. ToC 2 13 mechanisms, policies and regulations were improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs. For example, in 2018, building on earlier successes and activities in the area of gender mainstreaming, FGG Alliance members ActionAid, Both ENDS, Milieudefensie, SOMO and TNI (together with WO=MEN and Partos) lobbied the Parliament and the Ministry, which contributed to the explicit statement in the new trade policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that there will be agreements on gender in new EU trade agreements. Furthermore, in the new aid and trade policy, Minister Kaag pledged to make positive steps towards gender mainstreaming, which means gender will be considered in all elements of her policy: trade, corporate accountability, emergencies, food security, climate etc. ToC3 Successful FGG Alliance lobbying contributed to 4 measures taken by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure financial, tax and spending policies advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs. Furthermore, 6 policies were improved or introduced by public financial institutions and private actors on accountability, transparency and safeguards, and investment policies adopted that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs. For example, over the course of 2018, FGG members SOMO and Both ENDS, together with other CSOs and with regular involvement of FGG partner organisations from LLMICs, established a regular, structural dialogue on International Financial Institutions (IFIs) with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance. The dialogue has helped ensure a strong line of communication between CSOs and the government about its position on environmental and social standards and accountability at these institutions. The strengthened relationship allowed FGG to work closely with the Dutch Government to secure improvements to the accountability mechanisms at several IFIs, including the AIIB and the European Investment Bank (EIB). Strong, effective accountability mechanisms are necessary to ensure communities in LLMICs (in which IFIs often lend) can access remedy for the harms caused by IFI-financed projects, especially in contexts where communities may not feel safe raising objections to their local or national authorities for fear of retaliation. On several occasions, with input of FGG members and partner organisations (such as CEE BankWatch Network and CounterBalance), the Dutch Government was instrumental in securing improvements and reforms at IFIs. For example, the recommendations of the Dutch Government led to better oversight of EIB’s Complaint Mechanism Policy and its cases at its Board of Directors. The final policy still contains significant deficiencies. The Ministry of Finance has asked the FGG Alliance to inform them if the concerns FGG has with the complaint process materialise. [For more information about results on this specific indicator, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid Netherlands, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth International/Friends of the Earth Europe, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), results FGG ToC 1-3 E (indicators a and b) 2018. For a more analytical reflection on and overview of FGG’s results in 2018, please see our Annual Report 2018 in IATI]
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will contribute to halting, adopting or improving 101 laws, policies and norms/attitudes for the sake of sustainable and inclusive development.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance expects to contribute to 78 laws, policies and norms/attitudes being blocked or adopted in order to improve corporate conduct, trade and investment and financial and tax systems. Of these policy changes, 28 are expected to be cases where national, regional and international government bodies improve or introduce mechanisms, policies and regulations to ensure companies promote more sustainable practices and are held accountable for respecting human rights and the environment as well as providing adequate remedy to victims of adverse impacts. For example, FGG members ActionAid Netherlands and Both ENDS actively advocate for addressing women’s land rights and gender considerations in the Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation policy of the Netherlands. This advocacy is based on the experiences and practices of a multitude of partner organisations in a variety of LLMICs. The improved policy should contribute to strengthening women’s land rights in amongst others LLMICs. Companies are also expected to improve or introduce policies related to transparency and safeguards, conflict resolution mechanisms, and policies promoting social justice, decent work and sustainability. 35 of such improved or new policies are foreseen. We expect a (Dutch) clothing brand to publicly support the development of the Pakistan Safety Agreement, and sign on when ready, as a result of FGG member Clean Clothes Campaign's lobby and advocacy work on brands in regard to this topic. Related to trade and investment treaties, the FGG Alliance aims for the improvement or introduction of 5 mechanisms, policies and regulations by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs. For example, FGG partner organisations and members specifically aim to influence new government policies on climate, agriculture and energy, to reduce harm and promote positive impacts on land and food, specifically in LLMICs. ActionAid Netherlands will carry out their advocacy in the Netherlands as well as regarding decision-making processes on climate at EU and UN level. The FGG Alliance pursues 7 measures by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure financial, tax and spending policies advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs. The Ugandan government, for example, is expected to revise a bilateral tax agreement to avoid tax avoidance of multinational companies, as a result of lobby and advocacy of CSOs, including ActionAid Uganda. The Zambian government is also expected to review a bilateral tax agreement as a result of ActionAid Zambia’s engagement with government and corporates on changes in tax laws and policies, as well as exemptions reduction. Both ActionAid Uganda and ActionAid Zambia work closely together with ActionAid Netherlands on these matters. 3 policies are expected to be improved or introduced by public financial institutions and private actors on accountability, transparency and safeguards, and investment policies adopted that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs. These targets relate to the advocacy of FGG members Both ENDS, SOMO and partner organisations to improve the FMO human rights defender regulations, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s PPM (project-affected peoples mechanism), the European Investment Bank’s energy lending criteria and the World Bank Guidance notes which relate to sustainability and human rights of IFIs and FMO. Mutual Capacity Development forms the basis of this advocacy: FGG members and their partner organisations jointly improve their knowledge and advocacy skills, and develop concrete cases which show the harmful effects of investments in e.g. Senegal and several LLMICs in Asia. [For more information about these plans/targets, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid Netherlands, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth International/Friends of the Earth Europe, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), targets FGG ToC 1-3 E (indicators a and b) 2019.]
DD2 (E): # of laws, policies and norms/attitudes, blocked, adopted, improved for sustainable and inclusive development In 2019, the FGG Alliance contributed to 86 laws, policies and norms/attitudes being blocked or adopted in order to improve corporate conduct, trade and investment and financial and tax systems. ToC1 Due to FGG’s lobbying and advocacy efforts, 28 mechanisms, policies and regulations were improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure companies promote more sustainable practices and are held accountable for respecting human rights and the environment and providing adequate remedy to victims of adverse impacts. Companies also improved policies on transparency and safeguards, conflict resolution mechanisms, and policies promoting social justice, decent work and sustainability. In total, 35 of such policies by companies were improved. For example, the CCC network lobbied the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) and the Dutch Agreement for Sustainable Garment and Textiles (AGT) to make the Transparency Pledge a condition for their member brands. This resulted in a strengthened transparency policy including a factory list with suppliers of the FWF member brands. This list is publicly available through a search function on the website. Now factory workers and trade unions know who is responsible for the factories and their employees, and in case of violations they can hold them accountable. This lobby also resulted in eight Dutch brands signing the Transparency Pledge at the stakeholder day of the AGT. They all promised to disclose their supply chains according to the transparency pledge standard. Another example in this regard is the result of the Institut Dayakologi which enabled the Indigenous Kendawangan community in Indonesia to reach a heads of agreement for a negotiated settlement of a 10-year land conflict with a palm oil company. In 2010, the company grabbed over 700ha of customary lands. The settlement includes measures to improve the conduct of the local operating palm oil company. Both ENDS has been supporting Institut Dayakologi with strategic advice and leverage via the RSPO platform and relationships with senior staff of the palm oil company. ToC 2 15 mechanisms, policies and regulations were improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs. One example is the contribution of Both ENDS’ and TNI’s partners in improving regulations on a regional level. In September 2019, Investor Sate Dispute Settlement (ISDS) was removed from Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a trade agreement between 15 Asian countries. This followed years of lobby and advocacy by partners, including from Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar and India, and with support of TNI, FoEI and Both ENDS. By removing ISDS from RCEP, investors can no longer file complaints for income loss against governments that take measures in the public interest. Governments can lose large amounts of money with these complaints, which otherwise could be used for public services. The threat of ISDS claims influences governmental decision making processes and hinders democracy. ToC3 Successful FGG lobby and advocacy contributed to 6 measures taken by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure financial, tax and spending policies advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs. In Uganda, 16 organisations are now members of the Tax Justice Alliance and through the FGG programme they were able to strengthen their capacity to continue influencing progressive tax policies. Together, the members of the Tax Justice Alliance have conducted a series of joint activities including widespread media engagement, and developing and presenting the CSO position on the tax bills for financial year 2019-2020 to parliament. As a result of this lobby and advocacy work, the Ugandan Parliament amended the Income Tax Bill which will limit tax avoidance and tax evasion. ActionAid Uganda provided technical, financial and logistical support to these activities of the Tax justice Alliance. Also, Ugandan CSO’s, as part of the Tax Justice Alliance, organized a meeting with officials from the Dutch Ministry of Finance who are part of the tax treaty negotiating team from the Netherlands. The CSOs shared their concerns on clauses within the Uganda-Netherlands Double Taxation Agreement, and elaborated on the impacts for them and their country. Furthermore, 2 policies were improved or introduced by public financial institutions and private actors on accountability, transparency and safeguards, and investment policies adopted that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs. [For more information about results on this specific indicator, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid Netherlands, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth Europe, Friends of the Earth International, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), results FGG ToC 1-3 E (indicators a and b) 2019. For a more analytical reflection on and overview of FGG’s results in 2019, please see our Annual Report 2019 in IATI]
DD2 (E): # of laws, policies and norms/attitudes, blocked, adopted, improved for sustainable and inclusive development The FGG Alliance’s work under the umbrella of three Theories of Change (ToCs), aims at improved corporate conduct (ToC1), improved trade and investment (ToC2) and improved financial and tax systems (ToC3). For 2020, the FGG Alliance expects to contribute to 48 laws, policies and norms/attitudes being blocked or adopted in order to improve corporate conduct, trade and investment and financial and tax systems. This DD2 indicator is linked to FGG indicator ‘’E’’, policy change. This specific outcome aims at improved policies by governments and companies related to corporate conduct, trade and investment and financial and tax systems. ToC1 FGG’s advocacy efforts will contribute to 15 mechanisms, policies and regulations are being improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure companies to promote more sustainable and inclusive practices and to be held accountable for respecting human rights and the environment and providing adequate remedy to victims of adverse impacts. For example, the government of Kenya will most likely revise its national land policy 2009 after its 10 years’ timeframe has elapsed. It is expected that in 2020 a revised national land policy will be adopted which will include strong safeguards including components of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). This will be the result of lobbying and advocacy efforts by FGG partner organisation ActionAid Kenya and its partners. ActionAid Kenya will also mobilize women, communities and CSOs to engage in this process. Companies also are expected to improve their policies on transparency and safeguards, conflict resolution mechanisms, and policies promoting social justice, decent work and sustainability. In total, FGG anticipates that 22 of such policies by companies will be improved. For example, FGG aims for the result that one major palm oil trading company in Indonesia improves its policy on community engagement, land acquisition or smallholder policies to increase recognition and protection of the rights of local stakeholders after consultation with local CSOs supported by FGG member Both ENDS in terms of joint strategizing, advocacy and program development. ToC 2 2 mechanisms, policies and regulations will be improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs. For example, in 2020, building on earlier successes and activities of FGG Alliance members ActionAid, Both ENDS, Milieudefensie, SOMO and TNI (together with WO=MEN and Partos) in the area of gender mainstreaming in trade policies, the Alliance will continue to promote policy options (based on Southern partners’ experiences) for gender-just trade and investments policies towards the Dutch government. ActionAid, for example, will do this by analyzing and highlighting the instrumental and tokenistic use of women’s rights and/or gender-blind approaches within the formulation of the Dutch trade and investment policies. In this context, ActionAid will engage with the Dutch government on the Action Plan on policy coherence for development and it is expected that the government will improve the Action Plan in order to prevent negative gender impacts when it comes to trade and investment. ToC3 Successful FGG Alliance advocacy will contribute to 6 measures taken by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure financial, tax and spending policies advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs. Furthermore, it is expected that 3 policies will be improved or introduced by public financial institutions and private actors on accountability, transparency and safeguards, and investment policies adopted that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs. For example, it is aimed for that the Green Climate Fund (GCF) board adopts a new gender policy with improved text on at least specific definitions, time paths and a strong role for human and women’s rights. Both ENDS, as part of the international group of CSO observers, together with partners will play an active role in the advocacy towards the GCF Board and the secretariat to improve this policy, during and in-between board meetings. [For more information about targets on this specific indicator, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/FoE Europe, FoE International, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), targets FGG ToC 1-3 E (indicators a and b) 2020. For a more analytical reflection on and overview of FGG’s targets in 2020, please see our Annual Report 2020 in IATI]
DD2 (E): # of laws, policies and norms/attitudes, blocked, adopted, improved for sustainable and inclusive development
In 2020, the FGG Alliance contributed to 35 laws, policies being blocked or adopted in order to improve corporate conduct, trade and investment and financial and tax systems.
ToC1
Due to FGG’s lobbying and advocacy efforts, 8 mechanisms, policies and regulations were improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure companies promote more sustainable practices and are held accountable for respecting human rights and the environment and providing adequate remedy to victims of adverse impacts.
One of the mechanisms that the FGG Alliance (ActionAid, SOMO and Milieudefensie, through MVO Platform) has been lobbying for over the past years, is mandatory human rights due diligence. This mechanism would force businesses to take action to prevent negative impacts of their activities on human rights and the environment. In 2020, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs adopted a new corporate accountability policy of which mandatory human rights due diligence at the EU level is part. Although not yet formalised in a policy, the fact that four Dutch political parties included the need for national mandatory human rights due diligence in their election programmes and called on the government to introduce legislation for International Responsible Business Conduct -after FGG (SKC/CCC, ActionAid, Milieudefensie and SOMO) provided them with inputs- is an important stepping stone towards mandatory human rights due diligence.
Companies also improved policies on transparency and safeguards, conflict resolution mechanisms, and policies promoting social justice, decent work and sustainability. In total, 6 of such policies by companies were improved.
ToC 2
9 mechanisms, policies and regulations were improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs.
One international investment agreement that severely threatens the climate transition as well as the autonomy of LLMIC governments to adopt energy policies for the public good, is the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). FGG (TNI, Both ENDS, SOMO, FoEE, with partners from - among other countries - Uganda) actively advocated against the expansion of the ECT. In 2020, this resulted in the halting of the treaty expansion: the ECT was not expanded to countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia and has suffered a significant blow. These countries included LLMICs Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, Morocco, and the Philippines. Formal invitations to accede to the ECT have now been put on hold. We consider this a major campaign success.
ToC3
Successful FGG lobby and advocacy contributed to 6 measures taken by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure financial, tax and spending policies advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
Also for FGG’s work on tax, advocacy at national level in LLMICs goes hand in hand with advocacy in the Netherlands and at EU level. In 2020, the Ugandan Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Development launched the Domestic Revenue Mobilisation Strategy. This strategy will make it possible for the Ugandan government to mobilise the needed revenues for investments in (gender-responsive) public services and to reduce inequalities. Notably, at the launch of this strategy, the Tax Justice Alliance (of which ActionAid Uganda is part) was given credits for their contributions to the strategy and for their work on tax justice.
Also in 2020, the Dutch government adopted a new Tax Treaty policy (Notitie Fiscaal Verdragsbeleid 2020) that contains UN model treaty clauses which are improvements for countries in the Global South. More specifically, this new policy should ensure that companies can no longer avoid paying taxes in LLMICs by channeling financial flows through the Netherlands. FGG (ActionAid, with support from ActionAid offices in LLMICs) fed this process through research and advocacy, and provided guidance to political parties submitting parliamentary questions about this matter.
Furthermore, 6 policies were improved or introduced by public financial institutions and private actors on accountability, transparency and safeguards, and investment policies adopted that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
[For more information about results on this specific indicator, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid Netherlands, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth Europe, Friends of the Earth International, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), results FGG ToC 1-3 E (indicators a and b) 2020. For a more analytical reflection on and overview of FGG’s results in 2020, please see our Annual Report 2020 in IATI]
ToC3 - Outcome F: Practice Changed
There is successful and sustainable implementation of: financial regulation by governments and financial policies in corporations; tax regimes and corporate tax practices; and accountability, transparency, safeguards and gender aware policies in public financial institutions.
3.F.a FGG overall
# mechanisms for improved financial, tax and spending policies implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, 2 mechanisms for improved financial, tax and spending policies were implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, 2 mechanisms for improved financial, tax and spending policies were implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 2 mechanisms for improved financial, tax and spending policies are implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies.
In 2018, 3 mechanisms for improved financial, tax and spending policies were implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 3 mechanisms for improved financial, tax and spending policies are implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 2 mechanisms for improved financial, tax and spending policies are implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies.
In 2019, 3 mechanisms for improved financial, tax and spending policies were implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies.
3.F.b FGG overall
# concrete steps taken by public financial institutions and private actors to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their investments, and concrete steps taken that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, 2 (3-1 double counted) concrete steps taken by public financial institutions and private actors to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their investments, and concrete steps taken that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, 4 (5-1 double counted) concrete steps taken by public financial institutions and private actors to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their investments, and concrete steps taken that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 6 concrete steps are taken by public financial institutions and private actors to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their investments, and concrete steps taken that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
In 2018, 8 concrete steps taken by public financial institutions and private actors to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their investments, and concrete steps taken that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 7 concrete steps are taken by public financial institutions and private actors to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their investments, and concrete steps taken that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 9 concrete steps are taken by public financial institutions and private actors to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their investments, and concrete steps taken that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs (the total FGG members' targets are 11).
In 2019, 10 concrete steps taken by public financial institutions and private actors to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their investments, and concrete steps taken that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
In 2020, the FGG Alliance is aiming for 8 mechanisms implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies for improved financial, tax and spending policies/concrete steps taken by public financial institutions and private actors to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their investments, and concrete steps taken that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
In 2020, 7 concrete steps taken by public financial institutions and private actors to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their investments, and concrete steps taken that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
ToC3 - Outcome A: Enabling Environment
Both the rights and the legal and political spaces needed to claim and defend those rights are protected for women and men, communities and civil society actors in LLMICs, enabling them to address misconduct and grievances successfully, and promote improved financial and tax policies.
3.A.a FGG overall
# mechanisms put in place or improved by governments and/or financial institutions and developments banks that guarantee access for civil society to (democratic) decision-making processes related to finance, tax and spending, including the right to resist developments.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, 7 (8-1 double counted) mechanisms were put in place or improved by governments and/or financial institutions and developments banks that guarantee access for civil society to (democratic) decision-making processes related to finance, tax and spending, including the right to resist developments.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, 19 mechanisms were put in place or improved by governments and/or financial institutions and developments banks that guarantee access for civil society to (democratic) decision-making processes related to finance, tax and spending, including the right to resist developments.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 13 mechanisms are put in place or improved by governments and/or financial institutions and developments banks that guarantee access for civil society to (democratic) decision-making processes related to finance, tax and spending, including the right to resist developments.
In 2018, 6 mechanisms were put in place or improved by governments and/or financial institutions and developments banks that guarantee access for civil society to (democratic) decision-making processes related to finance, tax and spending, including the right to resist developments.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 14 mechanisms are put in place or improved by governments and/or financial institutions and developments banks that guarantee access for civil society to (democratic) decision-making processes related to finance, tax and spending, including the right to resist developments.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 9 mechanisms are put in place or improved by governments and/or financial institutions and developments banks that guarantee access for civil society to (democratic) decision-making processes related to finance, tax and spending, including the right to resist developments.
In 2019, 7 (8-1 double counted) mechanisms were put in place or improved by governments and/or financial institutions and developments banks that guarantee access for civil society to (democratic) decision-making processes related to finance, tax and spending, including the right to resist developments.
3.A.b FGG overall
# effective legal and other grievance mechanisms adopted or improved by corporations and/or financial institutions and development banks via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments, financial institutions and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, 2 (3-1 double counted) effective legal and other grievance mechanisms were adopted or improved by corporations and/or financial institutions and development banks via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments, financial institutions and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, 2 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms were adopted or improved by corporations and/or financial institutions and development banks via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments, financial institutions and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 4 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms are adopted or improved by corporations and/or financial institutions and development banks via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments, financial institutions and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
In 2018, 2 (3-1 double counted) effective legal and other grievance mechanisms were adopted or improved by corporations and/or financial institutions and development banks via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments, financial institutions and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 7 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms are adopted or improved by corporations and/or financial institutions and development banks via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments, financial institutions and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 3 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms are adopted or improved by corporations and/or financial institutions and development banks via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments, financial institutions and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
In 2019, 5 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms were adopted or improved by corporations and/or financial institutions and development banks via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments, financial institutions and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
In 2020, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 6 effective legal and other (grievance) mechanisms are adopted or improved by governments, corporations and/or financial institutions and development banks which guarantee access for civil society to (democratic) decision-making processes related to finance, tax and spending, including the right to resist developments/ via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments, financial institutions and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
In 2020, 4 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms were adopted or improved by corporations and/or financial institutions and development banks via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments, financial institutions and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
ToC1 - Outcome E: Policies Changed
These include improved government and corporate policies on corporate accountability, including transparency and safeguards policies, conflict resolution mechanisms, and policies promoting social justice, decent work and sustainability.
1.E.a FGG overall
# mechanisms, policies and regulations improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure companies promote more sustainable practices and are held accountable for respecting human rights and the environment and providing adequate remedy to victims of adverse impacts.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, 22 (23-1 double counted) mechanisms, policies and regulations improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure companies promote more sustainable practices and are held accountable for respecting human rights and the environment and providing adequate remedy to victims of adverse impacts.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, 19 (20-1 double counted) mechanisms, policies and regulations were improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure companies promote more sustainable practices and are held accountable for respecting human rights and the environment and providing adequate remedy to victims of adverse impacts.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 16 mechanisms, policies and regulations are improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure companies promote more sustainable practices and are held accountable for respecting human rights and the environment and providing adequate remedy to victims of adverse impacts.
In 2018, 26 mechanisms, policies and regulations improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure companies promote more sustainable practices and are held accountable for respecting human rights and the environment and providing adequate remedy to victims of adverse impacts.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 31 mechanisms, policies and regulations are improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure companies promote more sustainable practices and are held accountable for respecting human rights and the environment and providing adequate remedy to victims of adverse impacts.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 28 mechanisms, policies and regulations are improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure companies promote more sustainable practices and are held accountable for respecting human rights and the environment and providing adequate remedy to victims of adverse impacts (the total FGG members' targets are 29).
In 2019, 28 (29- 1 double counting) mechanisms, policies and regulations improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure companies promote more sustainable practices and are held accountable for respecting human rights and the environment and providing adequate remedy to victims of adverse impacts.
1.E.b FGG overall
# policies improved or introduced by companies on transparency and safeguards, conflict resolution mechanisms, and policies promoting social justice, decent work and sustainability.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, 3 policies were improved or introduced by companies on transparency and safeguards, conflict resolution mechanisms, and policies promoting social justice, decent work and sustainability.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, 13 policies were improved or introduced by companies on transparency and safeguards, conflict resolution mechanisms, and policies promoting social justice, decent work and sustainability.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 13 policies are improved or introduced by companies on transparency and safeguards, conflict resolution mechanisms, and policies promoting social justice, decent work and sustainability.
In 2018, 14 policies were improved or introduced by companies on transparency and safeguards, conflict resolution mechanisms, and policies promoting social justice, decent work and sustainability.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 32 policies are improved or introduced by companies on transparency and safeguards, conflict resolution mechanisms, and policies promoting social justice, decent work and sustainability.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 35 policies are improved or introduced by companies on transparency and safeguards, conflict resolution mechanisms, and policies promoting social justice, decent work and sustainability.
In 2019, 35 policies were improved or introduced by companies on transparency and safeguards, conflict resolution mechanisms, and policies promoting social justice, decent work and sustainability.
In 2020, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 37 policies or regulations are improved or introduced by companies or national, regional and international government bodies on transparency and safeguards, conflict resolution mechanisms, and policies promoting social justice, decent work and sustainability/to ensure companies promote more sustainable practices and are held accountable for respecting human rights and the environment and providing adequate remedy to victims of adverse impacts.
In 2020, 14 policies were improved or introduced by companies on transparency and safeguards, conflict resolution mechanisms, and policies promoting social justice, decent work and sustainability.
ToC1 - Outcome A: Enabling Environment
Both the rights and the legal and political spaces needed to claim and defend those rights are protected for people, communities and civil society actors, enabling them to address misconduct and grievances successfully, and promote improved corporate conduct and related governmental regulation.
1.A.a FGG overall
# mechanisms put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to corporate conduct, including the right to resist developments.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, the FGG Alliance and partners contributed actively to 12 mechanisms being put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to corporate conduct.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, the FGG Alliance and partners contributed actively to 13 mechanisms being put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to corporate conduct.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 11 mechanisms or effective legal and other grievance mechanisms are put in place, adopted or improved by governments and corporations that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to corporate conduct, including the right to resist developments.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance and partners contributed actively to 12 mechanisms being put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to corporate conduct.
In 2016-2017 the FGG Alliance will ensure that 18 mechanisms or effective legal and other grievance mechanisms are put in place, adopted or improved by governments and corporations that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to corporate conduct, including the right to resist developments.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019 the FGG Alliance will ensure that 10 mechanisms or effective legal and other grievance mechanisms are put in place, adopted or improved by governments and corporations that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to corporate conduct, including the right to resist developments.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance and partners contributed actively to 12 mechanisms being put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to corporate conduct.
1.A.b FGG overall
# effective legal and other grievance mechanisms adopted or improved by governments and corporations via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
The push for adoption of grievance mechanisms is starting to bear fruits, with 9 such mechanisms put in place or improved. In Zambia and Zimbabwe, 4 grievance mechanisms related to mines were installed due to pressure of ActionAid partners. The RSPO Dispute Settlement Facility and Complaints System were reviewed with inputs from Both ENDS and partners. The Fair Wear Foundation’s complaint procedure was improved based on inputs from the CCC network. The European parliament improved the complaint mechanism in its Code of Conduct after year-long lobby on the issue by FoEE. And Germany formally agreed to restructure and improve its NCP after engagements with SOMO.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
The push for adoption of grievance mechanisms is starting to bear fruits, with 13 such mechanisms put in place or improved.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 11 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms are adopted or improved by governments and corporations via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
The push for adoption of grievance mechanisms in 2018 contributed to 7 such mechanisms put in place or improved.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 15 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms are adopted or improved by governments and corporations via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 18 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms are adopted or improved by governments and corporations via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 11 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms are adopted or improved by governments and corporations via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
In 2020, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 26 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms are adopted or improved by governments and corporations via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights/guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to corporate conduct, including the right to resist developments.
In 2020, the FGG Alliance ensured that 18 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms were adopted or improved by governments and corporations via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights/guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to corporate conduct, including the right to resist developments.
MFA - DD5 (FGG outcome B)
CSOs with increased L&A capacities.
DD5
# of CSOs with increased L&A capacities.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, FGG contributed to 248 CSOs in LLMICs increasing their lobby and advocacy capacities and using these to effectively lobby and advocate. In this sense, the FGG indicator that we use to monitor progress on mutual capacity development, and the related data gathered, is at a slightly higher level than the MFA indicator DD5; as we monitor at outcome level, meaning that for each of these 248 organisations we have tracked that they actually went on to lobby or advocate using their advanced capacities, in 2017. Of this result, 197 CSOs increased capacities related to improving corporate conduct. For example, in 2016 and 2017 Milieudefensie and a Swiss CSO supported six CSOs in four West African countries by addressing in the Netherlands and Belgium the export of bad quality fuels that cause severe air pollution in West African cities (these refined fuels, which have a.o. a high sulphur content, mainly originate from Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp). Milieudefensie's press and advocacy work resulted in massive media attention in the Netherlands in September 2016, and support for the Swiss and West African CSOs' pleas, from Dutch MPs, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Ms. Ploumen (who called the practice "a crying shame" on Dutch public television), and the Municipality of Amsterdam (the owner of the city's large port). Minister Ploumen together with the Nigerian Minister for the Environment 5 December 2016 organised a conference "Clean Fuels for West Africa" with the participation of a.o. EU member states, West African states, UNEP, OECD, the Dutch ports, fuel companies, West African CSOs and Milieudefensie. After the Dutch government took measures to prevent the illegal act of blending wastes into export diesel (see 1.F.a), Milieudefensie and the Swiss CSO commissioned a research by Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL) on the relevance of two international conventions, with the aim to prevent also the export of high sulphuric fuels that are not produced through waste blending practices. CIEL showed that the 'Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal' in combination with the 'Bamako Convention on the Ban of the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within Africa' can be used to prevent the dirty diesel export to West Africa. Press work and advocacy by Milieudefensie around the publication of this report in February 2017 again gained media attention and the engagement of Dutch MPs. Another 59 CSOs increased capacities related to improving trade and investment policies. For example, CCC shared knowledge and lobbying strategies among (16) partner organisation in South Asia during the South Asia meeting on a special session on GSP/GSP+. They have a better understanding on how the GSP mechanism can be used to improve both labour laws as well as the actual implementation of these in their respective countries; and have contacts with relevant MEPs. They have (both collectively as CCC partners and individually) spoken to MEPs, sent delegates to EP hearings on the subject and participated in expert meetings. And finally, 31 CSOs increased L&A capacities to improve tax and financial systems. For example, Both ENDS, SOMO and TNI worked with various civil society groups in Indonesia to engage in a dialogue with public and private policy makers on the Masterplan for National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD), supported by Dutch development finance. Together, the FGG members and local partners developed research into the environmental and social impacts of existing plans for coastal development as well as alternatives. They also cooperated in publication of their findings and related media and advocacy work. All of this has led to a higher prioritisation –also by (public) investors- of local participation, waste water management and land subsidence in the design phase of infrastructure masterplans. Meanwhile the partners in the cooperation learned from each others’ expertise, skills and experiences in the process, enabling them to engage more effectively in similar research, lobby and advocacy activities in future. [For more information about these results, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie, Friends of the Earth International, and SOMO), results FGG ToC 1-3 F (indicators a and b) 2017.]
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will support 305 CSOs in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for responsible corporate conduct, improved policies related to trade and investment, and/or improved financial, tax and spending policies, based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
In 2018, FGG contributed to 475 CSOs in LLMICs increasing their capacities in order to effectively lobby and advocate. FGG monitors this indicator at outcome level, meaning that for each of these 475 organisations, these increased capacities contributed to improved lobby and advocacy initiatives. ToC1 284 CSOs have improved their lobby and advocacy capacities and used these strengthened capacities to better lobby and advocate for improved corporate conduct. Together with 61 trade unions and garment worker support organisations, of which 41 from LLMICs, CCC organised a ‘Garment Worker Labour Rights’ workshop and exchange meeting in Yangon, Myanmar and an Urgent Appeal Global Strategising and Capacity Development meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. The meetings supported participants to exchange knowledge and strategise around issues such as factory closures, reinstatement of dismissed activists and gender-based violence. These meetings enhanced the capacity of participating organisations to lobby and advocate towards brands, governments, European institutions and the ILO around cases that pertain to shrinking civic space (such as persecution of human rights defenders), gender-based violence and freedom of association violations, wage theft and occupational health and safety. ToC2 In 2018, 131 CSOs in LLMICs lobbied and advocated for improved policies related to trade and investment, based on improved skills, knowledge or network contacts. An example is the mutual capacity development that FGG members Milieudefensie, SOMO and TNI organised with fisheries and coastal organisations in 2018. TNI, for example, conducted workshops on gender and fisheries in Myanmar with two CSOs. As a result, these groups sensitised gender issues in their advocacy on coastal and marine issues at the community level. Another example concerns exchange programmes that Milieudefensie organised with national CSOs, contributing to capacity development of fisher communities in Togo, Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique, Colombia, Brazil and Honduras. Representatives of the communities organised and strategised on how to deal with existing or planned offshore oil and gas extraction projects threatening their livelihoods. The communities elaborated alternative, autonomous sustainable territorial development schemes, were trained in policy influencing, and used their new knowledge and skills in several jointly developed advocacy initiatives. ToC3 60 CSOs were able to better lobby and advocate for improved financial, tax and spending policies as a result of capacity development in the FGG programme in 2018. A Zambian ActionAid partner organisation, for instance, trained three partners on mineral revenue tracking, and these partners in turn trained three communities in their respective districts on practical revenue expenditure. As a result of their increased capacity, the partners together with the communities carried out practical expenditure tracking and analysed the local authorities’ strategic plans and budgets, with particular attention on revenues from the mining companies and how they are being spent on service provision. The partners and communities made recommendations to the local authorities based on their analyses, first and foremost to ensure the inclusion of local needs and priorities in the plans. In addition, ActionAid’s partner organisation trained one of its partners to carry out action research on mineral revenue collection and spending on social service delivery. As a result, the partner carried out action research, involving key informants such as District Heads, mining companies, community leaders, women, youth and children. This research will result in a report that ActionAid’s partner organisation will use for lobby and advocacy for improved tax and spending policies. [For more information about results on this specific indicator, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid Netherlands, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth International/Friends of the Earth Europe, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), results FGG ToC 1-3 B 2018. For a more analytical reflection on and overview of FGG’s results in 2018, please see our Annual Report 2018 in IATI]
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will contribute to increased L&A capacities of 280 CSOs.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
By joining forces, complementing each other and strengthening each other’s skills, knowledge and networks, through what we call mutual capacity development, the FGG programme is geared towards increasing the lobby and advocacy capacity of CSOs, specifically in LLMICs. We measure progress in this area by monitoring the number of CSOs with improved skills, knowledge and network contacts that actually use this improved capacity to lobby and advocate effectively. This unit of measurement implies somewhat more outcome-level monitoring than is the case in the MFA indicator DD5 (the numbers of CSOs that we count here are CSOs that not only have increased lobby and advocacy capacities, but that actually use these in practice). In 2019, we expect that 401 CSOs in LLMICs will increase their lobby and advocacy capacities and use these to effectively lobby and advocate. On the basis of their improved capacities, 275 of these 401 CSOs will lobby and advocate for improved corporate conduct. For example, with technical and logistical support from FGG member Transnational Institute (TNI), a network in Southeast Asia with members in Indonesia, Cambodia and the Philippines will advocate nationally and regionally for corporate accountability. Likewise, with financial and technical support from TNI, a network of CSOs in Southern Africa will advocate towards their governments for a binding treaty and binding regulation on corporate power, reaching a wider audience and improving their advocacy work. 75 CSOs will use their improved capacities for more effective lobby and advocacy on trade and investment policies. For instance, it is expected that training and awareness raising sessions at regional strategy meetings and in FGG member Friends of the Earth International's Schools of Sustainability in the Latin America and Asia Pacific regions will strengthen the capacity of four CSOs in LLMICs to engage in advocacy on trade and investment agreements and especially ISDS, including denouncing the differentiated impacts of trade and protectionism and injustice on women. The CSOs will use the strengthened capacities to advocate at their governments and at the international level for just gender, climate and economic trade and investment policies. We also expect partner organisations in Sri Lanka and Pakistan to better leverage the GSP+ process thanks to their improved knowledge and international support on this matter. We expect this to result from content input and lobby towards the European Parliament from FGG member Clean Clothes Campaign. 51 CSOs with increased capacities will apply their learnings to lobby and advocate to improve tax and financial systems. For example, FGG member Both ENDS and two CSOs in LLMICs and CSOs in other countries, will advocate for improvements in new (potentially) insured projects by ADSB, based on improved capacities, which result from evidence building, designing strategies and information exchange with communities, in which Both ENDS supports the CSOs and exchanges information. Another example relates to our work on tax: ActionAid Zambia will strengthen the capacity of three partner organisations on the topics of gender responsive public services and public expenditure tracking. As a result, these partner organisations will be better able to lobby and advocate for tax justice and to hold duty bearers accountable for financial spending policies. [For more information about these plans/targets, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid Netherlands, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth International/Friends of the Earth Europe, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), results FGG ToC 1-3 B 2019.]
DD5 (B): # CSOs with increased L&A capacities In 2019, FGG contributed to 639 CSOs in LLMICs increasing their capacities in order to effectively lobby and advocate. FGG monitors this indicator at outcome level, meaning that for each of these 699 organisations, these increased capacities contributed to initiated or improved lobby and advocacy. ToC1 343 CSOs have improved their lobby and advocacy capacities and used these strengthened capacities to better lobby and advocate for improved corporate conduct. For example, five members of the UNCCD CSO panel (CSOs from Togo, Moldova, Argentina and China, and Both ENDS) have collaborated with Both ENDS’ partners from Drynet, a global initiative which works to improve drylands. These CSOs mutually developed the advocacy capacity of more than 50 CSOs from 25 LLMICs. Their collaboration informed the CSO panel’s preparations and the CSO interventions in the 14th Conference of the Parties of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in Delhi, India. The CSOs present at the COP and the CSO panel flagged the importance of implementation of the voluntary guidelines on the responsible governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests in the context of national food security (VGGT) in a COP14 decision. The joint advocacy was successful: the UN member states decided to implement the VGGT in policies regarding land degradation, land restoration and sustainable land use. In addition they decided to further implement the Gender Action Plan and strengthen gender-responsive monitoring. This is a huge result, as after long and extensive FGG advocacy, the UNCCD has finally acknowledged the link between land tenure security and degradation, restoration, and sustainable use of land. Flagging the importance of the VGGTs is something Both ENDS and ActionAid also did in close collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They provided input for example for the LAND-at-Scale fund to financially support local interventions that strengthen land governance in line with the VGGTs. ToC2 In 2019, 233 CSOs in LLMICs lobbied and advocated for improved policies related to trade and investment, based on improved skills, knowledge or network contacts. For example, in September 2019, the CCC network organised a two-day consultation meeting in Nepal, in which 21 unions and NGOs from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka took part. They came together to learn and mutually develop capacities from GSP/GSP+ action experiences, and to develop strategies to lobby the EU and national governments to comply to GSP/GSP+. The EU’s GSP/GSP+ (Generalised Scheme of Preferences) reduces or fully removes import duties from products coming into the EU market from LLMICs that implement international conventions related to human rights, labour rights, protection of the environment and good governance. Countries where such rights and practices are being violated are liable to lose their GSP/GSP+ status, something which offers lobbying opportunities against such violations and has the potential to advance human and labour rights, as well as promote civic space. The meeting resulted in the drafting of a joint statement, which –after sign-off by all- unions and NGOs will use in their advocacy and campaigning in the following year. ToC3 123 CSOs were able to better lobby and advocate for improved financial, tax and spending policies as a result of capacity development in the FGG programme in 2019. Two of these CSOs are partners of TNI from the West Bank and Gaza, and Kenya. Their communications, profiling and networking capacities were strengthened. This helped them to organise local groups with online and offline local actions to promote their initiatives and attract public votes for the Transformative Cities Award. This award showcases and promotes transformative initiatives that protect the right to water, energy, housing and food. Through participation in the Transformative Cities project the CSOs were able to bring their initiatives to a wider public, allowing others to learn from these experiences. Part of being selected at final candidates meant that their experiences were documented by journalists in written form and also put on video. The communications around their projects increased their visibility also at national level and strengthened their position vis a vis adverse actors. [For more information about results on this specific indicator, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid Netherlands, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth Europe, Friends of the Earth International, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), results FGG ToC 1-3 B 2019. For a more analytical reflection on and overview of FGG’s results in 2019, please see our Annual Report 2019 in IATI]
Up till the end of 2018, the FGG Alliance has contributed to increased L&A capacities of 676 CSOs. [Full programme period actual]
DD5 (B): # CSOs with increased L&A capacities FGG links indicator DD5 to its outcome B ‘’capacities developed’’ which aims at increasing the capacities of civil society actors to research, network and advocate on corporate conduct, trade and investment and financial and tax policies. FGG monitors this indicator at outcome level, meaning that for each organisation increasing its capacities, we expect that these increased capacities in turn will contribute to improved lobby and advocacy. In 2020, FGG aims to contribute to 381 CSOs in LLMICs increasing their capacities to effectively lobby and advocate. ToC1 It is expected that 284 CSOs will improve their lobby and advocacy capacities and use these strengthened capacities to better advocate for improved corporate conduct. FoE Europe will e.g. strengthen the capacity of Environmental and Human Rights Defenders and CSOs in LLMICs working with people affected by corporate crimes in one or two cases by providing them with expertise and contacts, highlighting the role of European companies in environmental and human rights crimes and by supporting Defenders/CSO pressure on these companies. Capacities of these groups will also be strengthened by FoE Europe through cooperation on the negative impacts of oil and gas exploration. Through participation of FGG member ActionAid in ActionAid’s Global Women’s Rights campaign, to which one of the main contributions is to create an understanding on the role of corporate accountability and gendered due diligence in achieving women’s economic justice, FGG will strengthen the capacity of partners in countries engaged in this campaign on these topics through collaboration on campaign activities in the Netherlands (as through the campaign tour), dissemination of materials and through sharing spaces as webinars. As a result, it is expected that several partners will advocate at the UN level for a binding treaty and at national level for the support and implementation of such a treaty and for the implementation of the feminist economy as an alternative to current corporate accountability strategies. ToC2 In 2020, 60 CSOs in LLMICs will advocate for improved policies related to trade and investment, based on improved skills, knowledge or network contacts. For example, at least six organisations from CCC’s network will have strengthened capacities to lobby and advocate for improved labour rights. CCC will engage in capacity development on the General Scheme of Preferences (GSP) to support partners from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Cambodia on how GSP operates and how to potentially leverage GSP as a tool to improve labour rights within their respective countries. Following on this, CCC will support the development and implementation of National Engagement Plans (GSP country strategies) in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Cambodia. A key component of this will be developing networks nationally and at the EU level as well as identifying additional opportunities for the partner organisations to engage e.g. participate in events, facilitate meetings with EU stakeholders, or publish reports on the issue. Another expected result of FGG member SOMO is that by the end of 2020, one CSO in Indonesia and one CSO in Tunisia have their capacities increased to research, network and advocate, which they will use in their advocacy for human rights protection and democratization in relation to trade and investment agreements. SOMO’s role is to coordinate and financially support the capacity development and strategize with key partners, to support the further development of the network in which SOMO and these CSOs operate and to respond to ad hoc challenges. ToC3 FGG expects 37 CSOs being able to better lobby and advocate for improved financial, tax and spending policies as a result of capacity development in the FGG programme in 2020. For example, with video training, resources and joint strategizing from TNI, an Nigerian partner organisation will continue to fight the privatisation of the Lagos water utility and advocate for the human right to water in Nigeria. [For more information about targets on this specific indicator, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/FoE Europe, FoE International, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), targets FGG ToC 1-3 B 2020. For a more analytical reflection on and overview of FGG’s targets in 2020, please see our Annual Plan 2020 in IATI]
DD5 (B): # CSOs with increased L&A capacities
In 2020, FGG contributed to 476 CSOs in LLMICs increasing their capacities in order to effectively lobby and advocate. FGG monitors this indicator at outcome level, meaning that for each of these 476 organisations, these increased capacities contributed to initiated or improved lobby and advocacy.
ToC1
362 CSOs have improved their lobby and advocacy capacities and used these strengthened capacities to better lobby and advocate for improved corporate conduct.
In a joint effort to advocate for a strong UN Binding Treaty, FGG members (ActionAid, Milieudefensie, FoEI, FoEE, TNI) have focused on supporting partner CSOs from among other countries Mozambique, Togo, Indonesia, Guatemala, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Malawi, as well as regional CSOs from Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America, to provide valuable inputs during virtual meetings between the Chair of the OEIGWG and civil society, as well as in (online) meetings with their national missions, media work and/or public (online) events. Through joint strategising and (gender) analysis of the draft for the treaty, and with financial support from FGG, partners were able to put forward their (gendered) recommendations and get them on the agenda of the treaty negotiations and of their national governments.
ToC2
In 2020, 98 CSOs in LLMICs lobbied and advocated for improved policies related to trade and investment, based on improved skills, knowledge or network contacts.
Throughout 2020, FGG (SOMO, Both ENDS, Milieudefensie) has been involved in capacity development and joint advocacy around the Indonesian Omnibus Law on Job Creation, and more generally Indonesia’s trade and industrialisation agenda. Through the Omnibus Law, the Indonesian government aims to relax their laws to attract foreign investment, therewith risking environmental and human rights violations. With financial and strategic support from FGG (SOMO), two Indonesian partners were able to consolidate a broad social movement against the Omnibus Law. Meanwhile in the Netherlands, FGG members and other CSOs wrote a letter to Trade Minister Sigrid Kaag to express their grave concern with the Omnibus Law and its impact of labour and environment in Indonesia, in an effort to use their leverage in the Netherlands to push for change in Indonesia.
ToC3
57 CSOs were able to better lobby and advocate for improved financial, tax and spending policies as a result of capacity development in the FGG programme in 2020.
De-privatisation of and democratic control over water is a priority for FGG partners in among other countries Bolivia, Indonesia and Nigeria. FGG (TNI) supported these partners financially, with research, and by connecting them to other groups to advocate for the remunicipalisation or democratisation of public water. In several other countries, including Kenya and Bangladesh, FGG (Both ENDS) has collaborated with partners to strengthen their capacity to advocate for inclusive water governance. Especially on tidal river management in Bangladesh, the involved FGG member and partner strengthened each other’s capacities, mostly through knowledge development at both sides and through linking each other with relevant actors in the water sectors in both countries.
[For more information about results on this specific indicator, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid Netherlands, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth Europe, Friends of the Earth International, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), results FGG ToC 1-3 B 2020. For a more analytical reflection on and overview of FGG’s results in 2020, please see our Annual Report 2020 in IATI]
MFA - DD3 (FGG outcomes A & D)
CSOs successes in creating space for CSO demands and positions through agenda setting, influencing the debate and/or creating space to engage.
DD3
# of times that CSOs succeed in creating space for CSO demands and positions through agenda setting, influencing the debate and/or creating space to engage.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, FGG contributed to CSOs creating space for CSO demands and positions through agenda setting, influencing the debate and/or creating space to engage 228 times. To begin with, 13 mechanisms were put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to corporate conduct, including the right to resist developments. For example, in Zimbabwe, ActionAid and its partner organisation supported community groups to write a petition to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy to improve the government’s consultation mechanism. The communities requested the government to start organizing the consultations at community level to ensure that communities have access to this process. Resulting from the petition, the consultation mechanism has been improved by the government as the meetings are now held at local level throughout the country instead of organizing them merely in the capital city Harare. This opens up the space for communities to participate in these meetings. Another 13 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms were adopted or improved by governments and corporations via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights. For example, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Dispute Settlement Facility (DSF) was revamped, as part of RSPO’s revised Integrated Grievances Mechanism – DSF Standard Operational procedures and guiding step-wise approach to guide disputant parties are in place and capacity building is rolled out for NGOs and companies. Both ENDS formulated a roadmap that has been applied in the DSF. Both ENDS is co-chair of DSF Advisory Group and liaises intensively with RSPO Secretariat coordinating the DSF and Complaints Panel. Within the working are of corporate conduct, FGG also contributed to agenda setting in the sense that 93 proposals for improvement of corporate conduct were discussed by private and public sector decision makers and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements. An important example in this respect was the fact that the continued efforts by FoE Europe, FoE International, TNI, SOMO and others, to push for continued negotiation of a UN Binding Treaty on Business and Human Rights were successful also in 2017. The UN Treaty has gone from an idea in the minds of civil society and a few states to a real negotiated international treaty. FoE Europe with advocacy in 2016 and 2017 contributed to progress made at the EU level, where several member states became much less negative on the UN Treaty (a.o. some parliamentary and ministerial support in the Netherlands), contributing to the EU's European External Action Service being more constructive during the 3rd session of the UN's Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with respect to Human Rights, in October 2017 in Geneva. The EU has agreed on a mandate to engage in the UN Treaty meetings, though not yet on a mandate to negotiate on the content, and took part in the discussions on a text for a UN Treaty. In the October 2017 negotiations, elements for a treaty were presented by the IGWG chair, and discussed. This IGWG 'elements paper' includes many of the recommendations made by FoE Europe, FoE International, Southern FoE groups, SOMO and TNI. Within the work on trade and investment policies, FGG contributed to 4 mechanisms being put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to trade and investment, including the right to resist developments, while 2 grievance mechanisms were adopted or improved by governments via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances related to trade and investment. For example, Milieudefensie, Both ENDS and SOMO participated in the Trade Policy Advisory Group (Breed Handelsberaad) to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which critically assesses the government's position on trade and investment policy. Advocacy by SOMO, TNI, Both ENDS and Milieudefensie, together with Greenpeace, Ondernemers van Nu and Transparency International Nederland, regarding lack of transparency around the revision of the Dutch model bilateral investment treaty (BIT) contributed to a resolution by the Dutch parliament urging publication of the new model BIT, and the promise of the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation to share this model with parliament. The Minister already announced some improvements to the proposed model BIT, including exclusion of letterbox companies, inclusion of certain obligations for investors, and stricter rules on arbitrators. In May Milieudefensie had further contributed to public awareness on the topic of investment protection (via letterbox companies in the Netherlands) by exposing in a campaign five cases of environmental and social problems in which transnational extractive industry corporations used ISDS in Dutch and other BITs against governments in the Global South: Nigeria, Uganda, Indonesia, Ecuador and Colombia. FGG and partners also ensured that 40 proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment were discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private policy makers, in academia, public agenda, media and social movements. For example, in 2016 the European Commission announced plans to establish a Multilateral Investment Court as an alternative to the infamous ISDS dispute settlement system between foreign investors and states. FGG members participated in several consultations with EU commission and the Dutch Government on this in spring of 2017. Since the proposal had received little public scrutiny Friends of the Earth Europe, CEO, TNI, SOMO , Both ENDS and Ecologistas in action, organized in Brussels on 22 September a public event with international experts to discuss the proposal and examine alternative approaches. In the area of tax and financial systems, FGG contributed to 19 mechanisms being put in place or improved by governments and/or financial institutions and developments banks that guarantee access for civil society to (democratic) decision-making processes related to finance, tax and spending, including the right to resist developments. For example, the African Development Bank (AfdB) decided to organise a CSO Forum around its annual meeting in 2018 which illustrates their stronger engagement with CSOs and on the Sendou case, and which was the result of continuous efforts of Both ENDS, SOMO and the FGG partners in the CSO network around IFIs in Senegal. Meanwhile, 2 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms were adopted or improved by corporations and/or financial institutions and development banks via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments, financial institutions and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights. In Zambia, ActionAid and its partner organisation had been advocating for the establishment of a platform where the local government, the mining company and ActionAid's partner could be holding interface meetings to discuss and share information on tax. As a result the mining company have set up this platform in 2017 in which information on tax and CSR is being shared and discussed. Finally, FGG and partners ensured that 42 proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies were discussed by private and public policy makers, and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements. For example, the Indonesian Supreme Court ordered termination of water privatisation and restoration of public management to ensure human rights in water provision. The TNI partner has supported the citizen lawsuit filed by the coalition against water privatisation. TNI has supported this partner in the last 8 years through research, expertise, media engagement, and financial support. [For more information about these results, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie, Friends of the Earth International, and SOMO), results FGG ToC 1-3 F (indicators a and b) 2017.]
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 46 mechanisms are put in place or improved by governments (and/or financial institutions and development banks) that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision-making processes related to corporate conduct and/or trade and investment and/or finance, tax, and spending, including the right to resist developments (A.a), and/or effective legal and other grievance mechanisms are adopted or improved by governments, corporations, and/or financial institutions and development banks, via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments, companies and financial institutions, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights (A.b). In addition, the FGG Alliance will contribute to 123 proposals for improvement of corporate conduct and/or policies related to trade and investment and/or financial, tax and spending policies discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private and public sector decision makers and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
Contributing to the ability of CSOs to create space for CSO demands and positions is key to the FGG programme. FGG monitors at outcome level (concrete social change) rather than output level (the activity level, e.g. ‘number of workshops held’). In this way, the numbers show what FGG aims through its programme: actual changes on the ground and in peoples' lives. So, for this specific DD indicator, FGG does not count the number of times CSOs ‘create space to engage’ (which could in principle include ‘one-off’ instances), but measures how many mechanisms were (structurally) adopted by governments or corporates to allow CSOs and citizens to engage, as a result of such efforts. In other words, what FGG’s monitoring and evaluation system counts as results are in FGG’s view the more structural and sustainable outcomes. In 2018, in 302 different cases, FGG set the agenda, influenced the debate, and created space to engage for CSOs. ToC1 FGG lobbied successfully in 2018 for 12 mechanisms improved or put in place by governments, which guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision-making processes related to corporate conduct, including the right to resist developments. In addition, FGG’s lobbying and advocacy contributed to 7 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms being adopted or improved by governments and corporations via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights. For example, one Zambian partner organisation of FGG member ActionAid engaged (together with three of its local partners) with three mining companies on women’s economic and social empowerment to formalise engagement of women’s movements. This resulted in one mining company b putting in place a mechanism to respond to community concerns, aspirations and values to ensure that basic needs are supported. They also made it a company policy to continuously engage with communities, and share information through the Community Advisory Committee, where women movements representatives are now also included. In terms of setting the agenda, 147 proposals for improvement of corporate conduct were discussed by private and public sector decision-makers and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements. For example, FGG members CCC and SOMO have, together with activists, unionists and workers from various LLMICs, including Bangladesh and Myanmar, advocated for improved supply chain transparency in the garment sector, and created several campaigning and capacity development activities to convince brands that disclosing information about their supply chains is eventually in their own interest. CCC continued participation in the OECD advisory group and in the OECD forum on due diligence in the garment and footwear sector, and CCC co-organised sessions on transparency. As a result of CCC’s active participation in these forums, transparency is higher on the political agenda of the OECD, which was illustrated by OECD officials speaking out on the need for improved transparency. ToC 2 9 mechanisms were put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision-making processes related to trade and investment, including the right to resist developments. For example, related to their development of a model text for Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), the Dutch government decided to hold a public consultation of the draft text in May and June 2018. The final version of the text, presented to the Dutch Parliament in October 2018, demonstrated that the government had actually used inputs of FGG members Both ENDS, Milieudefensie, SOMO and TNI, and Dutch citizens. FGG members’ inputs were based on FGG’s partner organisations’ recommendations and geared towards a more just balance between the rights and duties of foreign investors and states, and therewith to safeguard investors’ respect for human rights and the environment. Notably, these FGG inputs were just one of the many advocacy initiatives undertaken by FGG members and their over the past years: Both ENDS, Milieudefensie, SOMO and TNI have been advocating for improvements in these BITs, and for transparency of the new model BIT text process for years. In total, 64 proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment were discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private policymakers, in academia, media and social movements and by the wider public. For example, FoEI and TNI, together with Asian partner organisations, analysed the secrecy around the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) negotiations in which Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, among others, participate; and developed a detailed set of recommendations on how to democratise this process to improve transparency and public participation. ToC 3 Partly as a result of the FGG programme in 2018, 6 mechanisms were put in place or improved by governments and/or financial institutions and developments banks that guarantee access for civil society to (democratic) decision-making processes related to finance, tax and spending, including the right to resist developments. For example, in response to the request of Filipino partner organisations and FGG member Both ENDS, Deltares and a Filipino CSO representative have met in 2018 to discuss the Manila Bay Masterplanning process. Deltares has started to regularly invite (critical) CSOs to consultation meetings. Next to these results, 2 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms were adopted or improved by corporations and/or financial institutions and development banks via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments, financial institutions and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights. Furthermore, FGG’s lobbying and advocacy efforts contributed to 55 proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies being discussed by private and public policymakers, and/or in academia, media and social movements, and by the general public. For example, ActionAid Uganda and one partner organisation SEATINI conducted an analysis of Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs), resulting in a matrix of issues on the DTA between Uganda and The Netherlands. In 2018, they shared this matrix with a range of government actors, including Members of Parliament under the Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development, several officials from the Tax Policy Department of the Ministry of Finance, and representatives from the Uganda Revenue Authority. Out of the ten issues raised in the matrix, four were eventually included by the Ministry of Finance in their proposals for the renegotiation of the DTA between Uganda and The Netherlands. [For more information about results on this specific indicator, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid Netherlands, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth International/Friends of the Earth Europe, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), results FGG ToC 1-3 A (indicators a and b) and D 2018. For a more analytical reflection on and overview of FGG’s results in 2018, please see our Annual Report 2018 in IATI]
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will support 171 CSOs in creating space for CSO demands and positions through agenda setting, influencing the debate and/or creating space to engage.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
Contributing to the ability of CSOs to create space for CSO demands and positions is key to the FGG programme. In 2019, we expect to set the agenda, influence the debate, and create space to engage for CSOs in 247 instances. This takes different forms: we aim for 10 mechanisms to be put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to corporate conduct, including the right to resist developments. One of the mechanisms that FGG member Friends of the Earth Europe will actively advocate for, is an improved EU Transparency Register that will give CSOs and citizens -including civil society from LLMICs- more power to scrutinise EU decision-making and hold decision-makers accountable. In addition, we plan for another 18 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms to be adopted or improved by governments and corporations via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights. One such mechanism to be improved is the auditing and remedy process of the Fair Wear Foundation, which is expected to be adapted after dialogue with and critique from FGG member Clean Clothes Campaign on a number of concrete cases. We also aim to set the agenda of private and public sector decision makers and/or in academia, among the general public, the media and social movements, more specifically through 89 proposals for improvement of corporate conduct. In 2019, the European Coalition for Corporate Justice -with financial and possibly technical support from FGG member SOMO- will lobby for the installation of an EU policy officer or department responsible for business and human rights issues. We aim to get this on the agenda of the European Parliament and European Commission in the run up to and after the European Parliament elections held in May 2019. Having such a policy officer or department in place could ensure that victims and organisations from LLMICs can better address business-related human rights abuses at European level. In our work on trade and investment policies, we aim to contribute to the establishment or improvement of 7 mechanisms by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to trade and investment, including the right to resist developments. In this regard, one of our aims for 2019 is that state agencies in Kenya will adopt components of the charter of demands on women’s land, property and natural resources rights. This would ensure the engagement and decision-making power of civil society in future land investments. To convince state agencies of the need to adopt and implement this charter of demands, FGG partner ActionAid Kenya brings together CSOs and women’s groups to mutually strengthen capacities, gather evidence and use this evidence in their lobby and advocacy towards government bodies for a binding framework and the implementation of procedures to protect women’s land rights. In 2019, the FGG Alliance will also be working towards ensuring that 79 proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment will be discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private policy makers, in academia, public agenda, media and social movements. For example, FGG members Transnational Institute and Friends of the Earth International will mutually develop capacities with CSOs in the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, India and the EU to develop proposals on the different flaws of the Investor State Dispute Settlement, Investment Court System and Multilateral Investment Court, and to improve advocacy skills in order to get these proposals on the agenda of a multitude of parliamentarians and policy-makers in these countries. Under the umbrella of our third ToC, on tax and financial systems, the FGG Alliance aims to contribute to 9 mechanisms to be put in place or improved by governments and/or financial institutions and developments banks that guarantee access for civil society to (democratic) decision-making processes related to finance, tax and spending, including the right to resist developments. This work will be combined with efforts to ensure that 3 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms will be adopted or improved by corporations and/or financial institutions and development banks via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments, financial institutions and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights. For example, we aim for three mining companies establishing grievance handling structures through engagements with FGG partner ActionAid Zambia and its partner organisations. ActionAid Zambia and partner organisations will advocate at national and local level for public disclosure of all Development Agreements (DAs), emphasise any clauses of the DAs that are still applicable (working with government and mining companies) and lobby for review of clauses that are no longer applicable to the current development context. We expect this to iron out grievance issues pertaining to mistrust and transparency and to enable communities to claim their environmental and human rights through the established structures. In addition, FGG members and partner organisations aim to ensure that 32 proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies will be discussed by private and public policy makers, and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements. One of these spending policies that we aim to address and put on the political agenda of the European Commission and European Parliament, is the policy of European subsidies for fossil fuels. Together with and based on the demands of partner organisations and their constituency, Friends of the Earth Europe’s campaign on the negative impacts of oil and gas, demonstrates how the continued use of oil and gas contributes to climate change and undermines the Paris Climate agreement. This is expected to convince European policy-makers to put this matter higher on their agenda. [For more information about these plans/targets, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid Netherlands, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth International/Friends of the Earth Europe, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), targets FGG ToC 1-3 A (indicators a and b) & D 2019.]
DD3 (A&D): # times CSOs created space for CSO demands and positions through agenda setting, influencing the debate and/or creating space to engage Contributing to the ability of CSOs to create space for CSO demands and positions is key to the FGG programme. For this DD indicator, FGG measures how many mechanisms were (structurally) adopted by governments or corporates to allow CSOs and citizens to engage, as a result of such efforts, and how many times agendas of decision-makers were actually set to e.g. address these mechanisms. In 2019, in 527 different cases, FGG set the agenda, influenced the debate, and created space to engage for CSOs. The numbers show what FGG aims through its programme: actual changes on the ground and in peoples' lives. ToC1 FGG lobbied successfully in 2019 for 12 mechanisms improved or put in place by governments, which guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision-making processes related to corporate conduct, including the right to resist developments. In addition, FGG’s lobbying and advocacy contributed to 11 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms being adopted or improved by governments and corporations via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights. For example, ActionAid Zambia (AAZ) and its partner organized three meetings with a mining company on environmental management and grievance handling mechanisms. Through the engagement of AAZ and its partners, mostly CBOs, the mining company has strengthened the mandate of its community advisory committee that handles grievance mechanisms, to ensure that women and their communities are regularly engaged. The mining company has also allocated a specific office to deal with complaints and grievances from local communities, to ensure that AAZ’s partner and the women are engaged on a regular basis, with a deliberate agenda on matters as human rights and other issues affecting the local communities. In terms of setting the agenda, 313 proposals for improvement of corporate conduct were discussed by private and public sector decision-makers and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements. For example, SOMO, together with GoodElectronics, and the Business, Human Rights and Environment Research Group (BHRE) of the University of Greenwich, has boosted the discussion on supply chain transparency in the electronics industry. The rights of workers in the global electronics industry are too often violated. Harmful working conditions and poverty wages result in poor livelihoods, injuries and sometimes even death. These human rights violations can continue because most companies are refusing to increase transparency about their supply chains. Companies so far approach disclosure as voluntary, while in the SOMO/GE/BHRE “Right to know” report, the workers’ right to know or the right to access to information is the point of departure. Workers as rightsholders are entitled to all information that affects their lives and livelihoods. Companies, as well as states, have the duty to properly disclose such information. SOMO, GoodElectronics and the BHRE research group wrote a report based on consultations with a large number of organisations and experts, including workers from LLMICs such as Indonesia, and presented the executive summary at a forum attended by representatives of public buyers, the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), electronics companies, workers’ organisations and civil society. The report will be used to stir up dialogue on the workers’ right to access information on the supply chain they are part of. The report offers strong arguments to make the case for mandatory transparency. ToC 2 5 mechanisms were put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision-making processes related to trade and investment, including the right to resist developments. Furthermore, 77 proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment were discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private policymakers, in academia, media and social movements and by the wider public. For example, ActionAid Cambodia and partners organized a training for representatives of nine fishery communities. This training was about the Importance of Mangrove Forest and the possibilities for influencing corporate and government actors to do no harm, or protect these forests. By overfishing, many (international) corporate actors disrupt the local and national fish-chain. Negative impacts are for example decreasing fish stocks in both short and long term. The training was also attended by several government officials (Fishery Administrative Offices and Commune Councils, Department of Tourism, and Department of Environment). Together they discussed elements of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), corporate social responsibility (CSR), Land Tenure, and Land Dispute Resolution and Access to Remedy, which can be used as instruments in fighting for their rights. As a result, community representatives have increased access to these government officials and are better able to advance their views in consultations meetings at the provincial level. ToC 3 Partly as a result of the FGG programme in 2019, 12 mechanisms were put in place or improved by governments and/or financial institutions and developments banks that guarantee access for civil society to (democratic) decision-making processes related to finance, tax and spending, including the right to resist developments. For example, in 2019, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) adopted procedures for its new independent accountability mechanism, the Independent Redress Mechanism (IRM). Whenever people and communities are harmed by GCF-financed projects around the world, they can file a complaint through and seek redress through the IRM. The improvements in the IRM are in line with comments that SOMO provided on the draft procedures; and on recommendations that SOMO wrote on the basis of partners’ experiences with GCF financed projects. Both ENDS, as part of the CSO active observer team of the Green Climate Fund, provided comments and inputs in formal and informal calls for inputs and during direct conversations with the relevant policy holders. Furthermore, FGG’s lobbying and advocacy efforts contributed to 97 proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies being discussed by private and public policymakers, and/or in academia, media and social movements, and by the general public. For example, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation was supportive in making a case that the Nigerian Government has failed to carry its obligation on water for the Nigerian people. TNI coordinated with affected communities and their organisations, from Mexico, Indonesia and Nigeria, the reporting of negative impacts of water privatisation. This was used in their final report on private sector participation in the water sector in the view of human rights. TNI and partners shared their report with the Rapporteur and connected the Rapporteur with the impacted communities, providing him with first-hand evidence of human rights violations. [For more information about results on this specific indicator, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid Netherlands, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth Europe, Friends of the Earth International, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), results FGG ToC 1-3 A (indicators a and b) and D 2019. For a more analytical reflection on and overview of FGG’s results in 2019, please see our Annual Report 2019 in IATI]
DD3 (A&D): # times CSOs created space for CSO demands and positions through agenda setting, influencing the debate and/or creating space to engage This DD3 indicator is linked to FGG outcome ‘’A’’ (enabling environment) and outcome ‘’D” (agenda setting). Contributing to an enabling environment and to the ability of CSOs to create space for civil society demands and positions is key to the FGG programme. FGG monitors at outcome level (social change) rather than output level (the activity level). In this way, the numbers show actual changes on the ground and in peoples' lives. So, for this specific DD indicator, FGG does not count the number of times CSOs ‘create space to engage’ (which could in principle include ‘one-off’ instances), but measures how many mechanisms were (structurally) adopted by governments or companies to allow civil society to engage. In other words, FGG considers its monitoring and evaluation system more structural and sustainable outcomes. Outcome ‘’D’’ (agenda setting) aims for decision makers prioritising inclusive and sustainable policy measures due to support from influential civil society actors, critical media attention, increased public awareness and effective scrutiny of corporate conduct, trade and investment policies and financial and tax policies. In 2020, in 239 different cases, FGG will set the agenda, influence the debate, and created space to engage for CSOs. ToC1 FGG will advocate in 2020 for 10 mechanisms being improved or put in place by governments, which guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision-making processes related to corporate conduct, including the right to resist imposed development. In addition, FGG’s advocacy will contribute to 16 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms being adopted or improved by governments and corporations via which communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies, and claim their environmental, human and workers’ rights. For example, it is expected that the government of Indonesia will put 1 mechanism in place that provides recognition of customary land rights of local communities and indigenous peoples and their tenure security. This is the result of advocacy, community capacity development and empowerment activities by local civil society organisations of FGG partner organisations in Indonesia, with strategic and financial support of FGG member Both ENDS. In terms of setting the agenda, FGG aims to have 120 proposals for improvement of corporate conduct to be discussed by private and public sector decision-makers and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements. For example, through FGG member CCC’s and their partner organisations’s advocacy, it is expected that the proposal for a Living Wage Enforceable Brand Agreement will be discussed and covered by major media and will contribute to an increased international acknowledgment of living wage as a human right. It is also expected that this proposal will be accepted and promoted by the broader NGO community, which will result in the endorsement of renowned NGOs working in related fields, the coverage of mainstream media and therefore a reaction on this proposal by major brands. ToC 2 The FGG Alliance anticipates that 7 mechanisms will be put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision-making processes related to trade and investment, including the right to resist imposed development. Furthermore, it is expected that 1 effective legal and other grievance mechanism will be adopted or improved by governments via which communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies related to trade and investment and claim their environmental, human and workers’ rights. For example, ActionAid Kenya and several partner organisations in Kenya will work to expand linkages and dialogue between investment companies, communities and civil society organisations through different forums that share information and best practices regarding ‘Human Rights Gap’. Human Rights Gap is the gap between official policy commitments on human rights and the actual implementation in practice. An example is the National Forum on Oil, Gas and Mining, a platform of CSOs that highlights best practices and gives a voice to communities. Therefore, the local CSOs will be supported to advocate for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to resolve community – corporate disputes. As a result, FGG anticipates that companies will adhere to this ADR in resolving disputes with aggrieved communities. This is one of the many advocacy initiatives undertaken by FGG members and their partner organisations over the past years: ActionAid, Both ENDS, CCC, Milieudefensie, SOMO and TNI have been advocating for improvements of EU trade and investment treaties that guarantee access for civil society for democratic decision-making for years. In total, it is expected that 34 proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment will be discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private decision-makers, in academia, media and social movements and by the wider public. For example, climate justice movements in Europe and Latin America will campaign against ISDS in general and Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) in particular and will propose to their governments to withdraw from the ECT or refrain from joining it, based on an understanding of how ISDS/ECT undermines the fight for climate justice and energy transition. FGG member TNI will contribute to this result by providing analysis and capacity development trainings and dedicated material that will explain the impact of ISDS/ECT on the energy transition. ToC 3 Within the target setting for the FGG programme in 2020, it is expected that 2 mechanisms will be put in place or improved by governments and/or financial institutions and developments banks that guarantee access for civil society to (democratic) decision-making processes related to finance, tax and spending, including the right to resist imposed development. For example, 4 Rural District Councils in Zimbabwe will scale up the Community Forums on Tax Justice and Delivery that were set up in 2018, and they will strengthen the capacities of Forum members through trainings on for example budget tracking. Through these Forums, communities and community groups gain access to decision-making processes related to tax collection and management, as they will be able to discuss these topics with local government officials on a regular basis. This will be the result of FGG member ActionAid Zimbabwe and its Zimbabwean partner organisation’s advocacy activities. Also, the FGG Alliance works towards 4 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms adopted or improved by corporations and/or financial institutions and development banks via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments, financial institutions and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights. Furthermore, through advocacy FGG aims to contribute to 45 proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies that will be discussed by private and public policymakers, and/or in academia, media and social movements, and by the general public. For example, it is expected that 2 research briefings of FGG member SOMO that analyse the impacts on LLMICs of Dutch and international policy proposals to combat tax avoidance, will be discussed in Parliament and the media. This will contribute to the agenda setting on this issue. Another expected result is the increased support within the Dutch government and other actors such as Export Credit Agencies (ECAs), for an abolition of subsidies for the fossil fuel industry in relation to SDG13 on climate action, SDG 15 on ecosystems and SDG7 on clean energy (such as direct subsidies, tax exemptions, public finance, government purchases, export credit insurances etc.). With this increased support it is aimed to achieve policy coherence for development and redirection of public investment towards renewables and just transitions for workers and poorer communities. This will be the result e.g. of advocacy of FGG member Milieudefensie and its partner organisations from LLMICs united in FoE International's Climate Justice and Energy Programme. Also advocacy initiatives of FGG member Both ENDS partner organisations from Uganda, Togo, Kenia and Nigeria will carried out through the development and sharing of proposals to support Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) in developing transition policies, for example related to energy. [For more information about targets on this specific indicator, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/FoE Europe, FoE International, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), targets FGG ToC 1-3 A (indicators a and b) and D 2020. For a more analytical reflection on and overview of FGG’s targets in 2020, please see our Annual Report 2020 in IATI]
DD3 (A&D): # times CSOs created space for CSO demands and positions through agenda setting, influencing the debate and/or creating space to engage
Contributing to the ability of CSOs to create space for CSO demands and positions is key to the FGG programme. For this DD indicator, FGG measures how many mechanisms were (structurally) adopted by governments or corporates to allow CSOs and citizens to engage, as a result of such efforts, and how many times agendas of decision-makers were actually set to e.g. address these mechanisms. In 2020, in 413 different cases, FGG set the agenda, influenced the debate, and created space to engage for CSOs.
ToC1
FGG lobbied successfully in 2020 for 10 mechanisms improved or put in place by governments, which guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision-making processes related to corporate conduct, including the right to resist developments. In addition, FGG’s lobbying and advocacy contributed to 8 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms being adopted or improved by governments and corporations via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
In parallel to advocacy initiatives on a variety of specific cases of corporate misconduct, FGG (ActionAid, CCC, Milieudefensie, FoEI, FoEE, SOMO, TNI, with partners from all continents) has long been advocating for a UN Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights. This treaty should provide a legal instrument to regulate transnational corporations and defend human rights. In the past years, support among governments and civil society organisations for this treaty has grown enormously, and the draft treaty text is in its second stage of revision. FGG played a vital role in founding and/or building movements and coalitions around the globe to advocate for a strong treaty that is underpinned by an intersectional-feminist perspective. In 2020, after FGG advocacy for transparency, the UN working group for this treaty, the Open-Ended Inter-Governmental Working Group (OEIGWG), agreed that texts being forwarded by governments and civil society will be circulated to all states and not only to the Chair. This is an important gain for transparency of the negotiations going forward.
Notably, in 2020, despite opposition from business actors and influential states (incl. China, Brazil and Russia), the negotiations for a UN Binding treaty moved forward and entered into a new phase: negotiations over text proposals. The international coalition Feminists for a Binding Treaty, of which ActionAid is a member, continued advocacy efforts to make sure that the gender dimension was integrated in the second revised draft and efforts are now focused on ensuring these provisions are kept and further developed in the text.
In terms of setting the agenda, 256 proposals for improvement of corporate conduct were discussed by private and public sector decision-makers and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
One such proposal concerns the recommendations of ActionAid Zambia and partners to assure that relocation around mining projects receives adequate attention, and that the Zambian Mines and Minerals Act will be reviewed in a gender-responsive way. ActionAid Zambia discussed their proposals with government representatives on International Women’s Day, and through a platform that was established between CSOs and the Ministry of Mines. As a result, the Ministry of Mines commenced the process to review the Mines and Minerals Act of 2015 to take into consideration the gaps identified by CSOs and host mining communities; and the government, traditional leaders and mining companies committed to a number of follow-up steps to improve corporate accountability in the mining sector.
ToC 2
7 mechanisms were put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision-making processes related to trade and investment, including the right to resist developments.
An example of such a mechanism, put in place in 2020 upon FGG (ActionAid Kenya) advocacy, is a multi-stakeholder platform which the Kenyan government initiated in Kitui. Together with a group of political, religious and cultural leaders, ActionAid Kenya’s partner CHRCE, as member of this platform, will actively monitor women’s land rights violations. The platform will closely work together with the land committee at the County Assembly on addressing women land rights.
Furthermore, 60 proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment were discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private policymakers, in academia, media and social movements and by the wider public.
As a sustainable and just alternative to large scale industrial agriculture, FGG (ActionAid, Both ENDS, FoEI, TNI and their partners) has been advocating for agroecology. The efforts of FoEI and partners to promote agroecology has in 2020 resulted in a municipality in a Central American LLMIC officially declaring itself free of pesticides. The creation of a public policy of rejection of pesticides is a sign that agroecology is gaining ground in the country. This was also demonstrated with the creation of a law for the promotion of urban and peri-urban agroecological family gardens, which was presented to the legislative assembly by a CSO network partly financially supported through FGG. This agroecological gardens law is now waiting to be approved by the Legislative Assembly.
Noteworthy is the fact agroecology has been kept high on the FAO’s agenda. The FAO civil society consultation in Latin America and Caribbean, with FGG (FoEI) input, led to a final declaration urging governments to implement public policies for agroecology in partnership with social movements; denouncing the attempts of corporate capture of agroecology; and proposing how the FAO should support the implementation of the civil society vision on agroecology. Also in the Netherlands, in 2020 policymakers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality have responded positively to FGG (ActionAid, Both ENDS) recommendations on how Dutch policies can be more supportive of agroecology, and of CSOs in the Global South implementing agroecology on the ground in particular.
ToC 3
Partly as a result of the FGG programme in 2020, 3 mechanisms were put in place or improved by governments and/or financial institutions and developments banks that guarantee access for civil society to (democratic) decision-making processes related to finance, tax and spending, including the right to resist developments.
The FGG Alliance advocates towards several international financial institutions and development finance institutions, with the aim of ensuring that their investments serve people and the planet. One of the institutions targeted by FGG (Both ENDS with partners from Cameroon and other African countries) is the African Development Bank (AfDB). As a result of inputs from these partners into the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) review, the draft review already includes several CSO recommendations, e.g.:
- The mechanism allows complaints from individuals, removing restrictions on non-local representatives, including a more favorable timeline for filing complaints.
- A restructuring of the mechanism so that its functions are carried out by permanent staff.
Furthermore, FGG’s lobbying and advocacy efforts contributed to 66 proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies being discussed by private and public policymakers, and/or in academia, media and social movements, and by the general public.
Together with and in support of Zambian partners, FGG (Both ENDS) has been able to put forward, discuss and agree upon several proposals with the Zambian National Designated Authority for the Green Climate Fund. These proposals touch upon how CSOs should be consulted in Readiness Support and policy formulation, on which agreements with the NDA were made and a clearer role of Gender and Gender Inclusiveness in climate finance decision-making in Zambia; and on community consultation and inclusiveness, which will be prioritized in project design, implementation and evaluation.
[For more information about results on this specific indicator, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid Netherlands, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth Europe, Friends of the Earth International, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), results FGG ToC 1-3 A (indicators a and b) and D 2020. For a more analytical reflection on and overview of FGG’s results in 2020, please see our Annual Report 2020 in IATI]
ToC1 - Outcome F: Practice Changed
Improved corporate policies and government regulations have been put into practice and enforced.
1.F.a FGG overall
# concrete steps taken by governments to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of corporate activities and those in corporations' value chains.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, 7 concrete steps were taken by governments to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of corporate activities and those in corporations´ value chains.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, 18 concrete steps taken by governments to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of corporate activities and those in corporations´ value chains.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 9 concrete steps are taken by governments to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of corporate activities and those in corporations' value chains.
In 2018, 7 concrete steps were taken by governments to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of corporate activities and those in corporations´ value chains.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 10 concrete steps are taken by governments to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of corporate activities and those in corporations' value chains.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 17 concrete steps are taken by governments to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of corporate activities and those in corporations' value chains.
In 2019, 16 (18 - 2 double counting) concrete steps were taken by governments to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of corporate activities and those in corporations´ value chains.
1.F.b FGG overall
# concrete steps taken by companies to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their activities and those in their value chains.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, 16 concrete steps were taken by companies to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their activities and those in their value chains.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, 21 concrete steps were taken by companies to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their activities and those in their value chains.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 28 concrete steps are taken by companies to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their activities and those in their value chains.
In 2018, 30 concrete steps were taken by companies to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their activities and those in their value chains.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 34 concrete steps are taken by companies to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their activities and those in their value chains.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 35 concrete steps are taken by companies to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their activities and those in their value chains.
In 2019, 22 concrete steps were taken by companies to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their activities and those in their value chains.
In 2020, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 38 concrete steps are taken by governments and/or companies to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their activities and those in their value chains.
In 2020, 83 concrete steps were taken by companies to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their activities and those in their value chains.
ToC2 - Outcome A: Enabling Environment
The rights and (legal) space of people, communities and civil society actors in Low- and Lower-Middle Income Countries (LLMICs) active on trade and investment are protected.
2.A.a FGG overall
# mechanisms put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to trade and investment, including the right to resist developments.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, 6 (7-1 double counted) mechanisms were put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to trade and investment, including the right to resist developments.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, 4 (5-1 double counted) mechanisms were put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to trade and investment, including the right to resist developments
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 7 mechanisms are put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to trade and investment, including the right to resist developments.
In 2018, 9 (10-1 double counted) mechanisms were put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to trade and investment, including the right to resist developments.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 7 mechanisms are put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to trade and investment, including the right to resist developments.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 7 mechanisms are put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to trade and investment, including the right to resist developments.
In 2019, 5 mechanisms were put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to trade and investment, including the right to resist developments.
2.A.b FGG overall
# effective legal and other grievance mechanisms adopted or improved by governments via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies related to trade and investment and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, 0 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms were adopted or improved by governments via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies related to trade and investment and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, 2 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms were adopted or improved by governments via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies related to trade and investment and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
No results are foreseen for 2018
In 2018, no (0) effective legal and other grievance mechanisms were adopted or improved by governments via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies related to trade and investment and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 3 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms are adopted or improved by governments via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies related to trade and investment and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
No results are foreseen for 2019.
In 2019, no (0) effective legal and other grievance mechanisms were adopted or improved by governments via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies related to trade and investment and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
For 2020, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 8 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms are adopted or improved by governments via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies related to trade and investment and claim their environmental, human and worker rights/guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to trade and investment, including the right to resist developments.
In 2020, 9 effective legal and other grievance mechanisms were adopted or improved by governments via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies related to trade and investment and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
ToC2 - Outcome C: Alternatives Developed
Alternative approaches to the current trade and investment regime—which are people-driven, gender inclusive and sustainable policies and practices that improve policy coherence for development, such as the Alternative Trade Mandate—have been developed, piloted and promoted by FGG and civil society actors.
2.C FGG overall
# alternative approaches to the current trade and investment regime developed with CSOs in LLMICs that have been developed, piloted and/or promoted.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016 (11-2 double counted) alternative approaches to the current trade and investment regime developed with CSOs in LLMICs that have been developed, piloted and/or promoted.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, 10 alternative approaches to the current trade and investment regime developed with CSOs in LLMICs that have been developed, piloted and/or promoted.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will develop, pilot and/or promote 9 alternative approaches to the current trade and investment regime with CSOs in LLMICs. (The total FGG members' targets are 10).
In 2018, 11 (12-1) alternative approaches to the current trade and investment regime developed with CSOs in LLMICs were developed, piloted and/or promoted.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will develop, pilot and/or promote 13 alternative approaches to the current trade and investment regime with CSOs in LLMICs. (The total FGG members' targets are 14).
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will develop, pilot and/or promote 10 alternative approaches to the current trade and investment regime with CSOs in LLMICs.
In 2019, 20 alternative approaches to the current trade and investment regime developed with CSOs in LLMICs were developed, piloted and/or promoted.
In 2020, the FGG Alliance will develop, pilot and/or promote 9 alternative approaches to the current trade and investment regime with CSOs in LLMICs.
In 2020, 12 alternative approaches to the current trade and investment regime developed with CSOs in LLMICs were developed, piloted and/or promoted.
ToC2 - Outcome D: Agendas Set
Decision makers prioritise improvement measures due to support from influential civil society actors, critical media attention, increased public awareness and effective scrutiny of trade and investment policies.
2.D FGG overall
# proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private policy makers, in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, 24 (25 -1 double counted) proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment were discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private policy makers, in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, 40 (43 -3 double counted) proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment were discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private policy makers, in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 18 proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment are discussed by national, regional and international government bodies.
In 2018, 64 (67-3 double counted) proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment were discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private policy makers, in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 29 proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment are discussed by national, regional and international government bodies.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 79 proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment are discussed by national, regional and international government bodies (the total FGG members' targets are 80).
In 2019, 77 (83-6 double counted) proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment were discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private policy makers, in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
In 2020, 34 proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment will be discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private policy makers, in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
In 2020, 60 (65-5 double counted) proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment were discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private policy makers, in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
MFA - DD1 (FGG outcome F)
Laws, policies and norms implemented for sustainable and inclusive development.
DD1
# of laws, policies and norms, implemented for sustainable and inclusive development.
All baselines are set at 0.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, FGG contributed to 50 real changes in practice on the ground – twice as many as we achieved last year. For FGG, this change is translated in 18 concrete steps taken by governments to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of corporate activities and those in corporations´ value chains. For example, due to advocacy by ActionAid and partners in 2016, concrete improvements in terms of transparency and multi-stakeholder dialogue were achieved in Zambia: the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), a government body, has in 2017 improved their transparency on the impact mining companies’ activities have on water. ZEMA managed to get back to the community to give feedback and explanations on the issues of water testing, facilitated by ActionAid and its partners. There has also been a stakeholder platform initiated, which brings together mining companies and local government to hold interface meetings on issues of human rights violations. In addition, 21 concrete steps were taken by companies to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their activities and those in their value chains.Six of these concerned so-called Urgent Appeals cases that the CCC network is campaigning on towards several garment companies, which were resolved in 2017. For example, in one such case in Sri Lanka workers voted to have the trade union recognised as legitimate bargaining partner in a workers’ referendum in two factories following on a period of intimidation of workers for their union membership and other union busting measures. The union is now recognized as a legitimate representative in the conflict on behalf of the workers. Actions included CCC, League, IndustriALL and other international partners addressing international buyers of the company. In the area of trade and investment policies, 5 mechanisms, policies and regulations were implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs. For example, one concrete step was taken by the OECD NCP system on 14 November 2017. A major shift in practice was made by accepting a case related to the climate impacts of a company, reversing years of practice of rejecting such complaints. SOMO had assisted a group of CSOs in filing an OECD Guidelines complaint against ING Bank for the climate impacts of the bank’s investments in fossil fuels. Previous attempts to use the NCP system to address climate change had failed when NCPs rejected the complaints, but this time SOMO provided the CSOs with strong technical advice and argumentation that convinced the Dutch NCP to accept the case, making it the first ever complaint related to climate change to be accepted and handled by an OECD NCP anywhere in the world. The acceptance of this case sets a precedent for the entire NCP system and makes it possible for CSOs and unions around the world, including in LLMIC, to use the OECD Guidelines to address the adverse climate impact of companies. Finally, 6 practice changes were achieved in the area of financial and tax regimes, including public finance. Two mechanisms for improved financial, tax and spending policies were implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies. For example, A water rights campaign led by TNI partner in Nigeria, mobilised public resistance and halted the Lagos State Environmental Laws (that would further criminalise the informal sector and deny peoples' access to water). In 2017, the government allocated 185 million dollars of the budget to ensure clean water for people as a result of the campaign. TNI made a financial contribution to the campaign and TNI's expertise was used in the joint publication. Also, 4 concrete steps taken by public financial institutions and private actors to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their investments, and concrete steps taken that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs. Importantly, in July 2017, FMO and Finnfund exited from the Agua Zarca hydropower project in Honduras. Renowned human rights leader, Berta Caceres, who led the protest against the project was murdered in March 2016. Following her murder, FMO and Finnfund commissioned an independent mission and then announced it would start a process of responsible exit. That process took almost a year to conclude. SOMO and Both ENDS met repeatedly with FMO to urge them to divest, while TNI also supported partner organisations to advocate for the same. FGG members provided comments on the draft mission report, were in communication with COPINH, providing information and advice, and provided input to the facilitator who was organizing the exit process. [For more information about these results, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie, Friends of the Earth International, and SOMO), results FGG ToC 1-3 F (indicators a and b) 2017.]
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will contribute to 45 concrete steps taken by governments and/or companies to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of corporate activities and those in corporations´ value chains (ToC1); and/or mechanisms, policies and regulations implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs (ToC2); and/or mechanisms for improved financial, tax and spending policies implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies, and/or concrete steps taken by public financial institutions and private actors to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their investments, and concrete steps taken that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs (ToC3).
In 2018, the FGG Alliance’s work under the umbrella of three Theories of Change (ToCs), aimed at improved corporate conduct (ToC1), improved trade and investment (ToC2) and improved financial and tax systems (ToC3) contributed to 49 changes on the ground. ToC1 37 of the changes in practice that FGG achieved related to corporate conduct, concerned concrete steps taken by governments and companies to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of corporate activities and those in corporations’ value chains. For example, after five years of struggle, union members of the Meridian Garment Industries Limited factory in Cambodia were finally reinstated and/or received payment, as a result of cooperation between international labour rights groups, including FGG member CCC, and brands that sourced from the factory. Five years ago, the union activists were unlawfully dismissed after trying to form a branch of a union in their factory. In May 2018, the factory finally successfully compensated the last of the involved workers. ToC2 FGG’s efforts for improved trade and investment materialised in 1 mechanism, which advances policy coherence for development in LLMICs, and which was implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies. Since the beginning of the FGG programme in 2016 Both ENDS, Milieudefensie, SOMO and TNI and have been advocating for fundamental change in Dutch Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), which can be harmful especially for LLMICs, because of the investment protection clauses in these BITs, which bypass national justice systems and undermine democracy. In 2013, FGG member TNI published a briefing on BITs between EU Member States (intra-EU BITs), and FGG members advocated for the termination of these BITs. In March 2018, The European Court of Justice ruled all intra-EU BITs are illegal, meaning that 1500 BITs in different EU Member States will be cancelled. The ruling provides for an opening for CSOs in LLMICs to challenge BITs between their countries and European countries. ToC3 In 2018, 3 mechanisms were implemented for improved financial, tax and spending policies and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies. Also, 8 concrete steps were taken by public financial institutions and private actors to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their investments, and advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs. For example, specific meetings, in which two FGG partner organisations from Senegal participated, contributed to FMO (The Netherlands Development Finance Company) encouraging its client to improve the technical design of the Sendou coal-fired power plant. This improvement is expected to lead to less negative environmental impact and improve the community outreach of the company. FMO has started monitoring the compensation process and uses inputs from one FGG partner organisation, Both ENDS and SOMO in making informed decisions. Furthermore, these meetings led to improved communication between FMO and FGG members Both ENDS and SOMO and their partner organisations. [For more information about results on this specific indicator, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid Netherlands, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth International/Friends of the Earth Europe, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), results FGG ToC 1-3 F (indicators a and b) 2018. For a more analytical reflection on and overview of FGG’s results in 2018, please see our Annual Report 2018 in IATI]
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will ensure the implementation of 57 laws, policies and norms for sustainable and inclusive development.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance aims to contribute to 66 real changes in practice on the ground under the umbrella of three Theory of Changes (ToCs): improved corporate conduct (ToC1), trade and investment (ToC2) and financial and tax systems (ToC3). The changes on the ground in the area of corporate conduct should materialise in 17 concrete steps taken by governments to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of corporate activities and those in corporations´ value chains. An example of the concrete steps that we aim for is the implementation and enforcement of stronger customary land rights by a local government body in Asia, related to palm oil plantations. To this purpose, FGG member Both ENDS will collaborate with partner organisations through jointly creating strategies and linking with policy platforms where needed. Not only governments, but also companies are expected to take concrete steps to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their activities and those in their value chains. More specifically, we aim for there to be 35 such steps taken. For example, in the garment industry we expect that more brands will join the Transition Accord in Bangladesh. We will pay particular attention to drawing in the home textile sector and Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) brands, through lobby activities and campaigning by FGG member Clean Clothes Campaign and partner organisations from LLMICs. Another example is that we expect that oil and gas companies take measures that reduce negative environmental and/or human rights impacts of their operations, after joint advocacy by FGG member Friends of the Earth Europe and their partner organisations in LLMICs. Through our work on trade and investment, we aim to ensure that 3 mechanisms, policies and regulations are implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies. Thus advancing policy coherence in trade and investment for development in LLMICs. In 2019, FGG member ActionAid Netherlands and various partner organisations will for example continue to lobby for the institutional requirements to ensure SDG implementation and policy coherence, such as good dialogue and coordination mechanisms between different Ministries in the Netherlands, as well as implementation of the policy coherence action plan, good impact assessments and an SDG test. Research by FGG member Transnational Institute and partner organisations from several Asian and Latin American partner organisations, and advocacy on the basis of this research, are expected to contribute to the withdrawal of an LLMIC’s support for the signing of the Energy Charter Treaty - a treaty that has triggered more investment lawsuits than any other agreement. By working on improvement of financial and tax regimes, the FGG Alliance expects to achieve 11 changes in practice. On the one hand, we aim for national, regional and international government bodies to implement and enforce improved financial, tax and spending policies. One of the two mechanisms that we aim for is a tracking mechanism to improve public finance management in the mining sector. ActionAid Zimbabwe and a partner organisation will organise various meetings with government and other actors to convince them of the need to implement this mechanism. On the other hand, we aim for public financial institutions and private actors to take 9 concrete steps to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their investments, and to advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs. One of the concrete steps we aim for concerns compensation measures taken by the International Finance Corporation and/or a sugarcane company to 300 sugarcane workers in Latin America, as a result of a complaint filed by these workers, supported by FGG member SOMO. These benefits should compensate for the health and economic problems that the workers suffer as a result of Chronic Kidney Disease, which they suspect to be partially caused by the poor labour conditions of the sugar company. [For more information about these plans/targets, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid Netherlands, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth International/Friends of the Earth Europe, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), targets FGG ToC 1-3 F (indicators a and b) 2019.]
DD1 (F): # of laws, policies and norms, implemented for sustainable and inclusive development. In 2019, the FGG Alliance’s work under the umbrella of three Theories of Change (ToCs), aimed at improved corporate conduct (ToC1), improved trade and investment (ToC2) and improved financial and tax systems (ToC3) contributed to 53 changes on the ground. ToC1 38 of the changes in practice that FGG achieved related to corporate conduct, concerned concrete steps taken by governments and companies to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of corporate activities and those in corporations’ value chains. An example at the national level is the case of the PT Kahoindah Citragarment factory in Indonesia. In 2018, the owners of the factory announced their intention to close down the factory, which would have severe consequences for the garment workers employed there. The workers were denied severance, which was against Indonesian law. In turn, they contacted their trade unions, and members of the CCC network got involved. CCC member Workers Rights Consortium (WRC) conducted an investigation in response to complaints from workers. Violations of US university labour standards and buyer codes were identified, and WRC lobbied brands (Fanatics, Gap, and Under Armour) to pressure the supplier. As a result, the supplier agreed to honour its obligations, and WRC – with input from workers - worked with the supplier to develop a plan for the efficient distribution of funds to the former employees. After a WRC-led worker outreach effort, more than 99% of the eligible workers visited a designated meeting place near the location of the closed factory to sign documents confirming their acceptance of the planned payments. WRC was also a signatory in the agreement. The total amount will be 4.5 million USD, which is the largest amount workers have ever won in a single case of illegally denied severance and an important precedent in Indonesia. ToC2 FGG’s efforts for improved trade and investment materialised in 2 mechanisms, which advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs, and which were implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies. One example on international level concerns the new Dutch Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) model. In 2019, the Dutch government improved the text significantly, and based on the renewed model BIT –with better human rights safeguards, an improved level of transparency, and fewer options for business to call upon investment protection measures- the Netherlands started new negotiations with Ecuador, Argentina and Burkina Faso. This is the first time the new model text forms the basis of BIT negotiations. This is a result of years of joint advocacy of partners and FGG members Both ENDS, SOMO, Milieudefensie and TNI for improvements of the model text and transparency of the process. Partners are from - amongst others - Togo, Kenya, Burundi and Sri Lanka. These partners faced negative consequences of BITs for years, impacted communities were not able to access effective remedy, and businesses could sue governments for policy changes in favour of the public but with possible negative influence on businesses’ profits. ToC3 In 2019, 3 mechanisms were implemented for improved financial, tax and spending policies and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies. Also, 10 concrete steps were taken by public financial institutions and private actors to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their investments, and advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs. One example of a private sector actor improving its policies at the international level is Shell. Through staunch advocacy and campaigning, the FGG Alliance contributed to transparency of Shell which published its first Tax Contribution Report. The FGG members, in close collaboration with and in support of partner organisations, amongst others in Nigeria, contributed through years of research and advocacy on tax justice and country-by-country reporting, and by publishing reports in 2017 and 2018 that showed how Shell avoided the dividend tax. Shell’s report enables CSOs and the general public to analyse how much tax Shell pays in the countries they operate in, such as Nigeria, and it enables them to hold the company or the government in question accountable for possible tax avoidance. Profit shifting out of LLMICs undermines their ability to spend tax incomes on basic public services such as health care and education. This report also sets an example for other companies. It is a big step forward that Shell now complies with this demand. [For more information about results on this specific indicator, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid Netherlands, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth Europe, Friends of the Earth International, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), results FGG ToC 1-3 F (indicators a and b) 2019. For a more analytical reflection on and overview of FGG’s results in 2019, please see our Annual Report 2019 in IATI]
DD1 (F): # of laws, policies and norms, implemented for sustainable and inclusive development. The FGG Alliance’s work under the umbrella of three Theories of Change (ToCs), aims at improved corporate conduct (ToC1), improved trade and investment (ToC2) and improved financial and tax systems (ToC3). For 2020, the FGG Alliance expects to contribute to 46 laws, policies and norms, implemented for sustainable and inclusive development. This DD1 indicator is linked to FGG outcome ‘’F’’, practice change. Within this outcome, we aim for improved corporate policies, government regulations and trade and investment policies and processes being implemented and enforced. We also aim for successful and sustainable implementation of financial regulation by governments and financial policies in corporations; tax regimes and corporate tax practices; and accountability, transparency, safeguards and gender aware policies in public financial institutions. ToC1 For 2020, in the area of corporate conduct the FGG Alliance aims to achieve 38 concrete steps taken by governments and companies to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of corporate activities and those in corporations’ value chains. For example, it is expected that in approximately 4 Urgent Appeal cases, which are appeals to clothing brands regarding violation of workers’ rights, brands will take concrete steps to mitigate these violations as a result of the pressure from partner organisations from LLMICs and FGG member CCC´s advocacy and campaigning. Steps can include to pay back wages, to re-hire unjustly fired workers, or other remedies. The focus on which cases are taken up is partly determined by the type of violations and which ones the partner organisations find most pressing and strategic. ToC2 Over the past years, FGG members and partner organisations have been intensively advocating for improvements of EU trade and investment treaties that guarantee access for civil society for democratic decision-making. Achieving practice change in this area, is often the end result of long-term processes, which can take years and years. As 2020 does not seem the momentum to achieve real practice change in this area, FGG will mostly focus its work within trade and investments on capacity development, developing & promoting alternatives and agenda setting, with the aim to achieve practice change in following years. Therefore, all of FGG’s targets within the area of improved trade and investment for next year will be reported under DD2-DD5. ToC3 In 2020, it is expected that 3 mechanisms will be implemented for improved financial, tax and spending policies and will be enforced by national, regional and international government bodies. Also, 5 concrete steps will be taken by public financial institutions and private actors to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their investments, and advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs. For example, partner organisations together with FGG members SOMO and Both ENDS, will continue their advocacy for improvement of practices of (the accountability mechanisms) of different financial institutions. One of Both ENDS’ targets is to improve, in collaboration with local partners, the functioning of the Independent Complaints Mechanism of FMO and the capacity of the mechanism to increase access for local communities to claim their environmental, human and worker rights. Another expected result of the cooperation between an FGG partner with the support of SOMO, are the concrete steps taken by an International Finance Corporation and involved company in providing health care, alternative work or improved labour conditions to 300 sugarcane workers in Nicaragua whom are suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease. This suffering is suspected to be caused, in part, by poor labour conditions. This result will follow from a complaint filed by workers represented by the FGG partner organisation. [For more information about targets on this specific indicator, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/FoE Europe, FoE International, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), targets FGG ToC 1-3 F (indicators a and b) 2020. For a more analytical reflection on and overview of FGG’s targets in 2020, please see our Annual Plan 2020 in IATI]
DD1 (F): # of laws, policies and norms, implemented for sustainable and inclusive development.
In 2020, the FGG Alliance’s work under the umbrella of three Theories of Change (ToCs), aimed at improved corporate conduct (ToC1), improved trade and investment (ToC2) and improved financial and tax systems (ToC3) contributed to 93 changes on the ground.
ToC1
83 of the changes in practice that FGG achieved related to corporate conduct, concerned concrete steps taken by governments and companies to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of corporate activities and those in corporations’ value chains.
Such changes in practice are ultimately what the FGG Alliance aims at: changes for and in the lives of people we work with. The changes we achieve are often combinations of changes in the practices of Northern governments and companies, and concrete changes in LLMICs. This was also the case in the results we achieved around land rights: after a successful FGG member (ActionAid and Both ENDS) lobby with involvement of partners for VGGTs, FPIC and women’s land rights in Dutch MinFA policies and programmes such as Land@Scale, Dutch high-level policy-makers committed to women’s land rights and implemented principles of the VGGT in for instance their IRBC policies and in certain trade mission programmes.
This success coincides with land rights-related results achieved in LLMICs. A clear example of such a result is the fact that local leaders from a community in Northern Uganda decided to stop investors from grabbing land of community groups. This happened after a local women’s group successfully used peaceful resistance tactics against land grabbing, after receiving a training on this tactic by a local FGG (ActionAid) partner. Together with their fellow community members they started a singing campaign in which they would start singing in large groups during any gathering, constantly repeating this same message: “no one should take our ancestral land. This land belongs to us and our children and we will not allow anyone to grab it.” The local leaders eventually demanded the investors to leave their land.
Also garment brands took action to mitigate human rights violations in their value chains, as a result of pressure exerted through FGG (CCC with members of their global network) lobbying and campaigning: A group of workers in Romania received their full back wages after an intense media campaign went viral and international pressure led to three brands (Inditex, Holy Fashion, and a UK high street brand) sourcing from the factory to take responsibility; and three brands (Disney, Tesco and Starbucks - NBC Universal followed in 2021) paid 26 Burmese migrant garment workers from the Kanlayanee factory in Thailand who had been fighting against wage theft.
ToC2
FGG’s efforts for improved trade and investment materialised in 3 mechanisms, which advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs, and which were implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies.
Building upon results in previous years, in 2020 FGG (Both ENDS with partners from various LLMICs) contributed to important developments concerning the termination of Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) between LLMICs and EU countries: 23 EU Member States signed the agreement for the termination of intra-EU BITs (“Termination Agreement”). This makes it politically easier for LLMICs to terminate their BITs with EU member states which amount to approximately 200 BITs. Both ENDS and partners have played an active role in advocating for the termination of all treaties that contain ISDS as well as calling for the EU to fulfil the related ruling of the European court of justice in 2018. Notably, the advocacy of Both ENDS and partners on BITs has in fact already -also in 2020- contributed to the actual termination of BITs: the termination of 8 BITs (7 BITs of India with Jordan, Myanmar, Serbia, Mozambique, Syria, Brunei and 1 BIT of Indonesia with Australia) entered into force in 2020. This is a relief for civil society in those countries, as they have faced the negative consequences of these BITs for years: affected communities couldn’t access effective remedy and governments could be sued by companies for adopting policies for the public good that could harm these companies’ profits.
ToC3
In 2020, 4 mechanisms were implemented for improved financial, tax and spending policies and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies. Also, 3 concrete steps were taken by public financial institutions and private actors to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their investments, and advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
For years, FGG (CSOs in Brazil, Both ENDS and SOMO) has sought justice for communities severely affected by specific port developments in Brazil in which Dutch companies participated. They advocated for changed practices to alleviate related social problems and environmental damage. Following a formal complaint, the National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines in Brazil called on all parties involved to continue mediation efforts to resolve issues around the Port of Suape (Pernambuco) that had been signalled in the initial complaint. In 2020 the anchor area for ships waiting outside the port was moved outside traditional fishing areas, and the removal of a dam that obstructs the natural flow of a river in the port area was taken on the agenda by the port.
[For more information about results on this specific indicator, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid Netherlands, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth Europe, Friends of the Earth International, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), results FGG ToC 1-3 F (indicators a and b) 2020. For a more analytical reflection on and overview of FGG’s results in 2020, please see our Annual Report 2020 in IATI]
ToC1 - Outcome D: Agendas Set
Private and public sector decision makers have prioritised improvement measures due to support from influential civil society actors, critical media attention, increased public awareness and effective scrutiny of corporate conduct.
1.D FGG overall
# proposals for improvement of corporate conduct discussed by private and public sector decision makers and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, 56 (59 -3 double counted) proposals for improvement of corporate conduct were discussed by private and public sector decision makers and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, 93 (98 -5 double counted) proposals for improvement of corporate conduct were discussed by private and public sector decision makers and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 77 proposals for improvement of corporate conduct are discussed by private and public sector decision makers. (the total FGG members' targets are 80).
In 2018, 147 (151-4 double counted) proposals for improvement of corporate conduct were discussed by private and public sector decision makers and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 57 proposals for improvement of corporate conduct are discussed by private and public sector decision makers. (the total FGG members' targets are 58).
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 89 proposals for improvement of corporate conduct are discussed by private and public sector decision makers (the total FGG members' targets are 93).
In 2019, 313 (319-6 double counted) proposals for improvement of corporate conduct were discussed by private and public sector decision makers and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
In 2020, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 120 proposals for improvement of corporate conduct are discussed by private and public sector decision makers. (This number takes double counting into account. The total of FGG members' targets, without double-counting, is 121).
In 2020, 256 (259-3 double counted) proposals for improvement of corporate conduct were discussed by private and public sector decision makers and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
ToC2 - Outcome F: Practice Changed
Improved trade and investment policies and processes are implemented and enforced.
2.F FGG overall
# mechanisms, policies and regulations implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
There was one case of practice change in 2016, as the Dutch government announced that it has received an official notification from Indian authorities seeking termination of the bilateral investment protection treaty (BIT) signed between the Netherlands and India in 1995.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
No results are expected in 2018
In 2018, the FGG Alliance contributed to 1 mechanism, policy and/or regulation implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 3 mechanisms, policies and/or regulations are implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 3 mechanisms, policies and/or regulations are implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance contributed to 2 mechanisms, policies and/or regulations implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs.
For 2020, no targets are set for this specific indicator.
In 2020, the FGG Alliance contributed to 3 mechanisms, policies and/or regulations implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs.
ToC3 - Outcome C: Alternatives Developed
A range of alternative, people-driven, inclusive and sustainable approaches to the current financial and tax regime have been developed and advanced by civil society actors.
3.C FGG overall
# alternative proposals to financial and tax and spending policies developed, piloted, and promoted with CSOs in LLMICs.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, 10 alternative proposals to financial and tax and spending policies were developed, piloted, and promoted with CSOs in LLMICs.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, 13 alternative proposals to financial and tax and spending policies were developed, piloted, and promoted with CSOs in LLMICs.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 9 alternative proposals to financial and tax policies developed with CSOs in LLMICs find support in influential areas.
In 2018, 14 alternative proposals to financial and tax and spending policies were developed, piloted, and promoted with CSOs in LLMICs.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 19 alternative proposals to financial and tax policies developed with CSOs in LLMICs find support in influential areas.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 13 alternative proposals to financial and tax policies developed with CSOs in LLMICs find support in influential areas.
In 2019, 15 alternative proposals to financial and tax and spending policies were developed, piloted, and promoted with CSOs in LLMICs.
It is aimed for that 13 alternative proposals to financial and tax and spending policies will be developed, piloted, and promoted with CSOs in LLMICs, partly as a result of the FGG Alliance’s advocacy.
In 2020, 13 alternative proposals to financial and tax and spending policies were developed, piloted, and promoted with CSOs in LLMICs.
ToC3 - Outcome E: Policies Changed
These include improved financial regulation by governments and improved financial policies in corporations; improved tax regimes and corporate tax practices; and effective accountability, transparency, safeguards and gender aware policies in public financial institutions.
3.E.a FGG overall
# measures taken by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure financial, tax and spending policies advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, 7 measures were taken by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure financial, tax and spending policies advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, 8 measures were taken by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure financial, tax and spending policies advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 7 measures are taken by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure financial, tax and spending policies advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
In 2018, 4 (6-2 double counting) measures were taken by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure financial, tax and spending policies advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 15 measures are taken by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure financial, tax and spending policies advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 7 measures are taken by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure financial, tax and spending policies advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
In 2019, 6 (7-1 double counting) measures were taken by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure financial, tax and spending policies advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
3.E.b FGG overall
# policies improved or introduced by public financial institutions and private actors on accountability, transparency and safeguards, and investment policies adopted that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, 6 policies were improved or introduced by public financial institutions and private actors on accountability, transparency and safeguards, and investment policies adopted that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, 6 (8-2 double counted) policies were improved or introduced by public financial institutions and private actors on accountability, transparency and safeguards, and investment policies adopted that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 9 policies are improved or introduced by public financial institutions and private actors on accountability, transparency and safeguards, and investment policies adopted that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
In 2018, 6 (7-1 double counting) policies were improved or introduced by public financial institutions and private actors on accountability, transparency and safeguards, and investment policies adopted that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 10 policies are improved or introduced by public financial institutions and private actors on accountability, transparency and safeguards, and investment policies adopted that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 3 policies are improved or introduced by public financial institutions and private actors on accountability, transparency and safeguards, and investment policies adopted that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
In 2019, 2 policies were improved or introduced by public financial institutions and private actors on accountability, transparency and safeguards, and investment policies adopted that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
In 2020, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 9 policies are improved or introduced by public financial institutions and private actors on accountability, transparency and safeguards, and investment policies adopted that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs/ and measures taken by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure financial, tax and spending policies advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
In 2020, 12 policies were improved or introduced by public financial institutions and private actors on accountability, transparency and safeguards, and investment policies adopted that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
MFA - DD6 (FGG Total Partners)
CSOs included in SPs programmes.
DD6
# of CSOs included in SPs programmes.
All baselines are set at 0.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
This DD indicator aims to show the scope of the Strategic Partnership. As this was not something the FGG Alliance monitored in its own PME framework, it was decided to take as reference for this indicator the number of partner organisations in our ‘partner database’ at the end of the year reported on. On 31st December 2017, this number was 329, including partner organisations receiving funding through the FGG programme, but also organisations with whom FGG members have a non-financial collaboration. We have concluded that the scope of our programme is in fact much wider if we take all the CSOs and CBOs into account that take part in the activities funded through the programme (many of these are reported on under DD5/FGG indicator B); we will make an effort to complete our partner database in 2018 in order to ensure this number is more representative at the time of the next reporting round.
This DD indicator shows the scope of the FGG programme within the Strategic Partnership of Dialogue and Dissent. This number amounts to 1028 CSOs, CBOs, networks and other partners with whom FGG members strategically collaborate. The number includes partner organisations receiving funding through the FGG programme, but also organisations and other partners with whom FGG members have a non-financial collaboration.
This DD indicator aims to show the scope of the Strategic Partnership. As this is not something the FGG Alliance monitors in its own PME framework, it was decided for planning purposes to take as reference for this indicator the number of partner organisations that we expect to collaborate with in 2019. This number amounts to 633 CSOs, including partner organisations receiving funding through the FGG programme, but also organisations with whom FGG members have a non-financial collaboration. Already at the time of our reporting, we have concluded that the scope of our programme is in fact much wider if we take into account all the CSOs and CBOs that take part in the activities funded through the programme (many of these are reported on under DD5/FGG indicator B).
DD6: # CSOs included in FGG programme This DD indicator shows the scope of the FGG programme within the Strategic Partnership of Dialogue and Dissent. This number amounts to 1129 CSOs, CBOs, networks and other partners with whom FGG members strategically collaborate in 2019. The number includes partner organisations receiving funding through the FGG programme, but also organisations and other partners with whom FGG members have a non-financial collaboration. From the beginning of the programme in 2016, we have collaborated with 1335 partners.
This DD indicator shows the scope of the FGG programme within the Strategic Partnership of Dialogue and Dissent. This number amounts to 1028 CSOs, CBOs, networks and other partners with whom FGG members strategically collaborate. The number includes partner organisations receiving funding through the FGG programme, but also organisations and other partners with whom FGG members have a non-financial collaboration. [Full programme period actual]
DD6: # CSOs included in FGG programme from the beginning of the programme This DD indicator shows the scope of the FGG programme within the Strategic Partnership of Dialogue and Dissent. As this is not something the FGG Alliance monitors in its own PME framework, it was decided for planning purposes to take as reference for this indicator the number of partner organisations that we expect to collaborate with in 2019 together with the number of partner organisations we have been working since the beginning of the programme. In 2020, the aggregated number is expected to be 1186 CSOs, CBOs, networks and other partners with whom FGG members strategically collaborate. The number includes partner organisations receiving funding through the FGG programme, but also organisations and other partners with whom FGG members have a non-financial collaboration on shared visions and agendas.
DD6: # CSOs included in FGG programme
This DD indicator shows the scope of the FGG programme within the Strategic Partnership of Dialogue and Dissent. This number amounts to 671 CSOs, CBOs, networks and other partners with whom FGG members strategically collaborate in 2020. The number includes partner organisations receiving funding through the FGG programme, but also organisations and other partners with whom FGG members have a non-financial collaboration. From the beginning of the programme in 2016, we have collaborated with 1471 partners.
ToC3 - Outcome D: Agendas Set
Decision makers prioritise improvement measures due to support from influential civil society actors, critical media attention, increased public awareness and effective scrutiny of financial and tax policies.
3.D FGG overall
# proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies discussed by private and public policy makers, and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, 21 (22-1 double counted) proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies were discussed by private and public policy makers, and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, 42 (44-2 double counted) proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies were discussed by private and public policy makers, and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 25 proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies are discussed by policy makers.
In 2018, 55 proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies were discussed by private and public policy makers, and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 21 proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies are discussed by policy makers.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 32 proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies are discussed by policy makers (the total FGG members' targets are 33).
In 2019, 97 (99 - 2 double counted) proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies were discussed by private and public policy makers, and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
In 2020, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 45 proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies are discussed by policy makers.
In 2020, 66 proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies were discussed by private and public policy makers, and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
ToC3 - Outcome B: Capacities Strengthened
Increased capacity of civil society actors to research, network and advocate on financial and tax policies.
3.B FGG overall
# CSOs and communities in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for improved financial, tax and spending policies, based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, the FGG Alliance helped strengthen the capacities of 36 CSOs and communities in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for improved financial, tax and spending policies, based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, the FGG Alliance helped strengthen the capacities of 31 (33 - 2 double counted) CSOs and communities in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for improved financial, tax and spending policies, based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will support 57 CSOs and communities in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for improved financial, tax and spending policies, based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts. (The total FGG members' targets are 62).
In 2018, the FGG Alliance helped strengthen the capacities of 59 (63-4 double counted) CSOs and communities in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for improved financial, tax and spending policies, based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will support 50 CSOs and communities in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for improved financial, tax and spending policies, based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts. (The total FGG members' targets are 88).
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will support 51 CSOs and communities in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for improved financial, tax and spending policies, based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance helped strengthen the capacities of 123 (126-3 double counted) CSOs and communities in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for improved financial, tax and spending policies, based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
In 2020, the FGG Alliance will support 37 CSOs and communities in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for improved financial, tax and spending policies, based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts. (This number takes double counting into account. The total of FGG members' targets, without double-counting, is 53).
In 2020, the FGG Alliance helped strengthen the capacities of 57 (60-3 double counted) CSOs and communities in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for improved financial, tax and spending policies, based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
ToC2 - Outcome B: Capacities Strengthened
Increased capacity of civil society actors to research, network and advocate on trade and investment.
2.B FGG overall
# CSOs in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for improved policies related to trade and investment, based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, the FGG Alliance helped strengthen the capacities of 46 (51-5 double counted) CSOs in LLMICs so that they were able to better lobby and advocate for responsible corporate conduct based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, the FGG Alliance helped strengthen the capacities of 59 (70-11 double counted) CSOs in LLMICs so that they were able to better lobby and advocate for responsible corporate conduct based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will support 38 CSOs in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for improved policies related to trade and investment, based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts. (The total FGG members' targets are 48).
In 2018, the FGG Alliance helped strengthen the capacities of 108 (143-35 double counted) CSOs in LLMICs so that they were able to better lobby and advocate for responsible corporate conduct based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will support 80 CSOs in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for improved policies related to trade and investment, based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts. (The total FGG members' targets are 106).
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will support 75 CSOs in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for improved policies related to trade and investment, based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts (the total FGG members' targets are 82).
In 2019, the FGG Alliance helped strengthen the capacities of 233 (259-26 double counted) CSOs in LLMICs so that they were able to better lobby and advocate for responsible corporate conduct based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
For 2020, the FGG Alliance will support 60 CSOs in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for improved policies related to trade and investment, based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts. (This number takes double counting into account. The total of FGG members' targets, without double-counting, is 83).
In 2020, the FGG Alliance helped strengthen the capacities of 98 (106-8 double counted) CSOs in LLMICs so that they were able to better lobby and advocate for responsible corporate conduct based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
ToC1 - Outcome B: Capacities Strengthened
Increased capacity of civil society actors to research, network and advocate in relation to the conduct of corporations has been increased.
1.B FGG overall
# CSOs in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for responsible corporate conduct based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2016, the FGG Alliance helped strengthen the capacities of 144 (150-6 double counted) CSOs in LLMICs so that they were able to better lobby and advocate for responsible corporate conduct based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, the FGG Alliance helped strengthen the capacities of 197 (207-10 double counted) CSOs in LLMICs so that they were able to better lobby and advocate for responsible corporate conduct based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will support 190 CSOs in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for responsible corporate conduct based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts (the total FGG members' targets will be 195).
In 2018, the FGG Alliance helped strengthen the capacities of 284 (341-57 double counted) CSOs in LLMICs so that they were able to better lobby and advocate for responsible corporate conduct based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will support 150 CSOs in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for responsible corporate conduct based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts (the total FGG members' targets are 212).
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will support 275 CSOs in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for responsible corporate conduct based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts (the total FGG members' targets are 281).
In 2019, the FGG Alliance helped strengthen the capacities of 343 (426 - 83 double counted) CSOs in LLMICs so that they were able to better lobby and advocate for responsible corporate conduct based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
In 2020, the FGG Alliance will support 284 CSOs in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for responsible corporate conduct based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts (This number takes double counting into account. The total of FGG members' targets, without double-counting, is 316).
In 2020, the FGG Alliance supported 362 CSOs in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for responsible corporate conduct based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts (This number takes double counting into account. The total of FGG members' targets, without double-counting, is 381).
ToC1 - Outcome C: Alternatives Developed
A range of alternative, participatory initiatives and models related to corporate conduct have been developed, piloted and promoted by FGG and civil society actors, from best practices through to enforceable multi-stakeholder agreements.
1.C FGG overall
# alternative, participatory initiatives and models related to corporate conduct meeting core criteria including sustainability, participation (m/f), transparency and equity (m/f), that have been developed, piloted and/or promoted.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will develop, pilot and/or promote 19 alternative, participatory initiatives and models related to corporate conduct meeting core criteria including sustainability, participation (m/f), transparency and equity (m/f). (The total FGG members' targets are 22).
In 2018, the FGG Alliance developed, piloted and/or promoted 19 alternative, participatory initiatives and models related to corporate conduct meeting core criteria including sustainability, participation (m/f), transparency and equity (m/f). (The total FGG members' results are 20).
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will develop, pilot and/or promote 17 alternative, participatory initiatives and models related to corporate conduct meeting core criteria including sustainability, participation (m/f), transparency and equity (m/f).
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2019, the FGG Alliance will develop, pilot and/or promote 33 alternative, participatory initiatives and models related to corporate conduct meeting core criteria including sustainability, participation (m/f), transparency and equity (m/f) (the total FGG members' targets are 34).
In 2019, the FGG Alliance developed, piloted and/or promoted 31 alternative, participatory initiatives and models related to corporate conduct meeting core criteria including sustainability, participation (f/m), transparency and equity (f/m). (The total FGG members' results are 32).
In 2020, the FGG Alliance will develop, pilot and/or promote 22 alternative, participatory initiatives and models related to corporate conduct meeting core criteria including sustainability, participation (m/f), transparency and equity (m/f) (This number takes double counting into account. The total of FGG members' targets, without double-counting, is 23).
In 2020, the FGG Alliance developed, piloted and/or promoted 34 alternative, participatory initiatives and models related to corporate conduct meeting core criteria including sustainability, participation (f/m), transparency and equity (f/m). (The total FGG members' results are 36).
MFA - DD4 (FGG outcomes C & D)
Avocacy initiatives carried out by CSOs, for, by or with their membership/constituency.
DD4
# of advocacy initiatives carried out by CSOs, for, by or with their membership/constituency.
All baselines are set at 0
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
In 2017, FGG contributed to 219 advocacy initiatives being carried out by CSOs, for, by or with their membership/constituency. FGG recognises two phases in this: first, the development by civil society organisations of viable alternatives; and second, agenda setting on existing problems and presenting these alternatives as possible steps in direction of solutions. In the area of corporate conduct, the FGG Alliance and its partners in 2017 developed, piloted and/or promoted 21 alternative, participatory initiatives and models related to corporate conduct. For example, in Cambodia, ActionAid was one of the organizations to set up a CSR platform to develop an alternative mechanism to improve engagement between public and private sector and civil society (organizations). In 2017 this platform has become most active. It promotes corporate social responsibility, VGGT, UN guidelines, including more sustainable corporate conduct and participation of communities. The CSR Platform encompasses 17 private companies, 3 Chambers of Commerce and 7 CSO members, and has a three pronged strategy such as: capacity building, advocacy and regulatory reform. The Goals of the CSR platform are to mainstream and materialize CSR guidelines, tools and principles in Cambodia, CSOs and government institutions to start adopting and implementing CSR guidelines, tools and principles. FGG also contributed to agenda setting in the sense that 93 proposals for improvement of corporate conduct were discussed by private and public sector decision makers and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements. An important example of this was the Transparency Pledge: a public campaign together with a coalition (CCC, HRW, ICAR, ILRF, WRC, Maquila Solidarity Network, IndustriAll, ITUC, UNI Global Union), targeting 70+ brands to publish their supply chain. 70.000 signatures were gathered. Several brands started making the data available due to the campaign. As a result Hugo Boss started to publish its production sites and Primark would start publishing its production sites in February 2018. In the area of trade and investment, FGG developed, piloted and/or promoted 10 alternative approaches to the current trade and investment regime with CSOs in LLMICs. For example, FoEI worked with member groups across all regions (including CSOs in Mozambique, Indonesia and Philippines) to develop a joint proposal to transform the economy. This set of demands is: public services for all through tax justice, grow the cooperative and solidarity economy, support fair trade and local markets, creating economies of purpose not profit and enacting binding rules for big business. The proposal was presented in an 18-page report called ‘Transforming Our Economy: Scaling up the Solutions’ in 4 languages (English, Spanish, French, Portuguese; designed version launched 2018 but in use in 2017). This framework of FoEI’s economic transformation vision is based on local and national examples and 25 ideas of how to scale up solutions. The report has been used with allies at social movement events, including at the Continental Convergence for Democracy and Against Neoliberalism (Montevideo, Nov. 16-18), a massive gathering of social movements in Latin America, also supported by FoEI financially and with coordination staff and Real World Radio coverage. FoEI also produced 10 social media info-graphics on solutions and local case studies and produced one two-minute video highlighting one element of the proposal (cooperativism), which had over 250,000 views. FGG and partners also ensured that 40 proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment were discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private policy makers, in academia, public agenda, media and social movements. For example, TNI hosted several seminars and workshops in 2017 in Latin America (Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay) to put the ISDS issue back on the agenda of social movements and CSOs in the region. The activities opened up new constituencies interested in the issue among CSOs and trade unions and statements on for example the EU-Mexico agreement got wide CSOs sign-ons. The issue is clearly getting more attention again among CSOs in the region. In 2017, FGG, together with CSOs in LLMICs, developed, piloted, and promoted 13 alternative proposals to financial and tax and spending policies. For example, SOMO contributed to the development and presentation of alternative demands in four different areas of financial policy such as 1: financial architecture, 2: debt, 3: socially and environmentally sustainable finance, as well as 4: tax, anti-money laundering, corruption. Twenty-four NGOs of which 8 Southern NGOs (of which five from LLMICs) contributed directly in a governmental meeting, as well as indirectly at a meeting co-organized by SOMO. Statements were presented to change the financial system. The alternatives from civil society based on the C20 Finance working group were presented to the G20 Ministers of Finance through the created official channels between the C20 and G20. The decisions of the G20 on finance have an important effect on LLMICs although goverments of LLMICs have no place at the G20. Finally, FGG and partners ensured that 42 proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies were discussed by private and public policy makers, and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements. For example, TNI's research on remunicipalisation to prove the failure of privatisation in public services has become a reference point for progressive municipalist, labour and trade movements to develop alternative economic strategies. For example, the head of the energy cities alliance started using the term Energy Democracy in their reports and strategies. Other organisations are Our water, our Right campaign in Lagos, and the Coalition of Jakarta Residents Opposing Water Privatization (KMMSAJ), Indonesia. [For more information about these results, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie, Friends of the Earth International, and SOMO), results FGG ToC 1-3 F (indicators a and b) 2017.]
In 2018, the FGG Alliance will contribute to 123 proposals for improvement of corporate conduct and/or policies related to trade and investment and/or financial, tax and spending policies discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private and public sector decision makers and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements. In addition, the FGG Alliance will ensure that 41 alternative, participatory initiatives and models related to corporate conduct meeting core criteria including sustainability, participation (m/f), transparency and equity (m/f), have been developed, piloted and/or promoted; and/or alternative approaches to the current trade and investment regime developed with CSOs in LLMICs; and/or alternative proposals to financial and tax and spending policies developed, piloted, and promoted with CSOs in LLMICs.
In 2018, 310 advocacy initiatives were carried out by CSOs, for, by, or with their membership/constituency. The FGG Alliance links indicator DD4 to the number of alternatives developed and agendas set within the FGG programme over the course of 2018. FGG monitors at outcome level (concrete social change) rather than output level (the activity level, e.g. ‘number of workshops held’). In this way, the numbers show what FGG aims for through its programme: actual changes on the ground and in peoples' lives. So, for this specific DD indicator, FGG prefers to measure how many alternative models to promote social justice were developed and how many times agendas of decision-makers were actually set to e.g. address these alternatives. In other words, what the FGG monitoring and evaluation system counts as results are in FGG’s view the more structural and sustainable outcomes. ToC1 The FGG Alliance lobbied successfully for 19 alternative, participatory initiatives and models related to corporate conduct meeting core criteria including sustainability, participation (m/f), transparency and equity (m/f), being developed, piloted and/or promoted. The proposal for a UN Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights is an alternative UN instrument advocated for by FGG members ActionAid, CCC, Milieudefensie, FoEI, FoEE, SOMO and TNI, and the more than 200 members of the Global Campaign that TNI facilitates. The proposal includes specific articles on sustainable and equitable development as well as measures to ensure access to justice for communities affected by the impunity of corporations whose operations violate their human rights. In 2018, the FGG Alliance, jointly with the Global Campaign, welcomed the Zero Draft as a significant step towards achieving an alternative instrument for corporate accountability but made its critique and indicated where the Zero Draft needed stronger measures on the regulation of TNCs. FGG partners and members gave concrete suggestions for improvements. For example, FGG partner organisation FoE Africa published in October 2018 a proposal for a jurisdictional mechanism as part of the UN Treaty with the aim of better protecting the rights of communities and populations who fall victim to rights violations by transnational corporations: 'A tribunal to live' (and they presented it at the 4th IGWG negotiation round in Geneva). Another example is FGG member ActionAid which, as part of the Feminist for a Binding Treaty coalition, calls specifically for the inclusion of measures to promote gender justice and to pay attention to gender-specific and identity-based risks. The Zero Draft process will now continue towards the development and negotiation of a First Draft Treaty text to be presented in October 2019. FGG also influenced the agenda of private and public sector decision-makers, academia, the general public, media and social media: these actors discussed 147 proposals for improvement of corporate conduct. ToC2 11 alternative approaches to the current trade and investment regime were developed, piloted and/or promoted with CSOs in LLMICs. For example, FGG members ActionAid, Both ENDS, FoEI and TNI, together with partner organisations around the world, actively promote agroecology as an alternative to large-scale agriculture. Agroecology helps to increase food security and resilience, boost livelihoods and local economies, diversify food production and diets, promote health and nutrition, safeguard natural resources, biodiversity and ecosystem functions, improve soil fertility and soil health, adapt to and mitigate climate change, contribute to women’s empowerment, and preserve local cultures and traditional knowledge systems. FGG’s work around agroecology in 2018 contributed to the UN High Level Panel of Experts of the Committee on Food Security making substantial changes to five areas of the Zero draft on agroecology, following five substantive comments made by civil society. The civil society input was organised by the drafting team of the working group on agroecology of the Civil Society Mechanism of the UN Committee on World Food Security, which is facilitated by FoEI. Besides this, FGG’s work on agroecology took the shape of a pilot project on agroecology in urban agriculture in San Salvador, set up by a CSO in El Salvador, with financial and planning support from FoEI. In addition, this CSO developed a curriculum for trainings, which were subsequently implemented by almost 30 CSO actors. FGG and partner organisations in addition ensured that 64 proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment were discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private policy makers, in academia, public agenda, media and social movements. ToC 3 14 alternative proposals to financial and tax and spending policies were developed, piloted, and promoted with CSOs in LLMICs, partly as a result of the FGG Alliance’s lobbying and advocacy efforts. For example, in the area of energy democracy, which provides a new framework in which communities, local governments and workers have ownership over the energy transition and developing a new energy model. Together with partner organisations, including transnational union movements, TNI further developed the Energy Democracy framework by researching strategies and lessons learned for democratic energy models at national and local levels, and at meetings to map energy democracy. In related work, FGG member FoEI supports partner organisations to ensure particular attention to (the role of) women and gender mainstreaming in energy policies, for example in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Influenced by the lobbying and advocacy of FGG members and partner organisations, private actors, public policymakers, academia, the general public, media and social movements discussed 55 proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies. [For more information about results on this specific indicator, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid Netherlands, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth International/Friends of the Earth Europe, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), results FGG ToC 1-3 C and D 2018. For a more analytical reflection on and overview of FGG’s results in 2018, please see our Annual Report 2018 in IATI]
In 2016-2017, the FGG Alliance will contribute to 156 advocacy initiatives carried out by CSOs, for, by or with their membership/constituency.
N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”.
Contributing to advocacy initiatives carried out by CSOs is key to the FGG programme, also in 2019. The Alliance aims to contribute to 256 advocacy initiatives carried out by CSOs, for, by or with their membership/constituency. This work is composed of two elements: on the one hand, FGG members and their partner organisations aim to develop viable alternatives to current policies and practices; and on the other, they aim to set agendas on existing problems and present their alternatives as a possible way forward. In 2019, in the area of corporate conduct, the FGG Alliance aims to develop, pilot and/or promote 33 alternative, participatory initiatives and models related to corporate conduct. For instance, with FGG members Transnational Institute's, Friends of the Earth International’s and SOMO’s technical and facilitating support, the framework proposed for a UN Binding Treaty on transnational corporations and human rights in 2017 will be a basis for the Global Campaign on Corporate Impunity to engage in the OEIGWG on the Zero Draft for a Binding Treaty on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights. This framework incorporates proposals that address the architecture of impunity of International Financial Institutions, Free Trade Agreements, and Investor State Dispute Settlement and makes regulatory proposals for corporate operations. The proposal will be promoted and articulated with specific application to sectoral supply chains, indigenous peoples, women and rights of affected communities. Agenda setting is expected to be done with 89 proposals for improvement of corporate conduct, which are expected to be discussed by private and public sector decision makers and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements. For example, a research publication by the India Committee of the Netherlands and FGG member Clean Clothes Campaign’s Indian partner organisations on the harsh working and living conditions of (migrant) workers in the garment and textile industry in Tamil Nadu, is expected to result in an increased understanding of the topic among brands and retailers, business and multi-stakeholder initiatives. We aim for this increased understanding to eventually contribute to improved policies and actions taken by private and public sector decision makers. An example would be the inclusion of improved guidelines for migrant housing in companies’ Codes of Conduct. Regarding trade and investment policies, the FGG Alliance aims to develop, pilot and/or promote alternative approaches to the current trade and investment regime with CSOs in LLMICs – notably 10 alternatives are foreseen. For example, in the area of climate investments, our partner organisations in LLMICs will cooperate with FGG member(s) and other CSOs in Friends of the Earth International's Climate Justice Programme, to develop and promote an alternative 1.5 degree pathway (as related to the Paris Climate Agreement) without bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) or geoengineering. When developing such joint alternatives with our partner organisations, our Mutual Capacity Development approach is fundamental. In the field of agenda setting, we aim for 79 proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private policy makers, in academia, public agenda, media and social movements. FGG members and partner organisations in LLMICs and in other countries e.g. plan to lobby and advocate decision makers intensively to put issues such as land grabbing and GMOs on the agenda. Simultaneously, they will present alternatives such as agro-ecology as a solution for food sovereignty. A concrete plan is to jointly advocate for a policy round table at CFS and to establish permanent structures within the UN, specifically within the FAO, to promote and strengthen agro-ecology to enhance food sovereignty. In 2019, the FGG Alliance will work towards the development, piloting and promotion of 13 alternative proposals to financial and tax and spending policies. One of these alternative proposals concerns the topic of Quantitative Easing (QE) and subordinated financialisation. By the end of 2019, in a conference organised by SOMO and several partner organisations in Latin America, a proposal on the topics of QE and subordinated financialisation will be piloted and promoted. The partner organisations will be trained on the topic as to strengthen their grip on policy-makers in their respective countries in Latin America, namely: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Bolivia. The aim is that this will result in a proposal concerning QE issues for improvement of financial policies. Following the work that we have done in the past years, we will continue to ensure that proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies will be discussed by private and public policy makers, and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements. The target in this area of our work for 2019 is set on 32 proposals. For example, one proposal for improvement relates to policies of the Zambian National Green Climate Fund. This proposal concerns the participation of CSOs and women groups in decision-making processes, human rights, environment, transparency and local access to Green Climate Fund related policies and projects. This result is expected to be achieved through joint strategic work by Both ENDS and Zambian CSOs, and exchanging information on national and international processes in order to mutually strengthen each other’s lobby and advocacy capacities for this purpose. [For more information about these plans/targets, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid Netherlands, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth International/Friends of the Earth Europe, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), targets FGG ToC 1-3 C&D 2019.]
DD4 (C&D): # advocacy initiatives carried out by CSOs, for, by or with their membership/constituency In 2019, 553 advocacy initiatives were carried out by CSOs, for, by, or with their membership/constituency. The numbers show what FGG aims for through its programme: actual changes on the ground and in peoples' lives. So, for this specific DD indicator, FGG measures how many alternative models to promote social justice were developed and how many times agendas of decision-makers were actually set to e.g. address these alternatives. In other words, what the FGG monitoring and evaluation system counts as results are in FGG’s view the more structural and sustainable outcomes. ToC1 The FGG Alliance successfully developed, piloted and/or promoted 31 alternative, participatory initiatives and models related to corporate conduct meeting core criteria including sustainability, participation (f/m), transparency and equity (f/m). Together with partners and affected communities in many countries, including Guatemala, the Philippines, Nigeria and Gambia, TNI has been developing initiatives and models that strengthen people’s sovereignty and democracy from below. These initiatives touch upon a variety of issues, ranging from the environment and gender justice to new ways of organising public services. Together, they organized trainings and the application of the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles, as well as capacity building in evaluating their actual and alternative livelihood prospects. Communities were enabled to have a meaningful, participatory engagement with governments and corporations (blocking the renewal of the Financial & Technical Agreement for Ashanti Gold in the Philippines) in resource policy governance or in Sustainability Impact Assessments (SIAs). In this way, participation from below strengthens a more community rights-based democratic policy making process at local/provincial and national level, instead of centrally organized issues and top-down implementation. In 2019, TNI launched a virtual ‘People’s Sovereignty Lab’ to enable the promotion and discussion of these initiatives. TNI also began work on preventing the privatisation or corporate capture of democratic institutions including in relation to the UN, at a workshop in 2019, from which a small group was established to further develop this work. FGG also influenced the agenda of private and public sector decision-makers, academia, the general public, media and social media: these actors discussed 313 proposals for improvement of corporate conduct. One example concerns the promise of C&A to implement so-called ‘hostel guidelines’ in their supply chain. These guidelines outline the conditions for accommodation of workers. CCC and its network member Arisa published on C&A’s promises in a 2018 report that was based on interviews with Indian garment factory workers. In 2019, Arisa monitored the implementation of this promise: according to the workers that they met again, no improvements in hostel conditions were realised. C&A again promised to share the almost finalised hostel guidelines soon. The workers, together with Arisa, have set C&A’s agenda and they are building a case in order to be able to submit a formal complaint with the AGT's complaint mechanism if concrete improvements will not follow soon. ToC2 20 alternative approaches to the current trade and investment regime were developed, piloted and/or promoted with CSOs in LLMICs. A CSO from El Salvador developed and proposed a national law for the promotion of agroecology. With the financial and communications support of FoEI a communications strategy was created and two press conferences were organized. They received national media attention for their advocacy in favour of this alternative approach to unsustainable agribusiness and its negative impact on nature and people. The proposed law was presented to the Agriculture Commission of the Legislative Assembly on 22 October by 16 CSOs accompanied by a mobilization of 350 peasants. Also in The Netherlands the FGG Alliance advocated for agroecological practices through a joint lunch lecture with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality to explore the innovative role of agroecology in transforming food and agricultural systems. FGG and partner organisations in addition ensured that 77 proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment were discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private policy makers, in academia, public agenda, media and social movements. During the UNCITRAL April session, SOMO and FoEE advocated together with ClientEarth and Public Citizen towards multiple representatives of LLMICs, among others from Nigeria, Bolivia and Ecuador. They also organized a side event about the virtues and pitfalls of the EU proposal for a Multilateral Investment Court. This side event was participated by at least 40 people, among which the European Commission, academic experts, NGO representatives, and representatives of LLMIC governments. They have successfully advocated towards these participating (LLMIC) governments to touch in their discussions upon issues such as regulatory chill, investor obligations and counterclaims, and better alignment with overarching frameworks of SDGs and Paris climate agreement. Multinationals can use ISDS to undermine government regulations that are beneficial for people and planet but harm multinationals’ business. Settlements of these ISDS claims can e.g. result in major losses in tax revenues, which especially in LLMIC are highly needed for public services. ToC 3 15 alternative proposals to financial and tax and spending policies were developed, piloted, and promoted with CSOs in LLMICs, partly as a result of the FGG Alliance’s lobbying and advocacy efforts. For example, Bangladeshi organisation Uttaran, Youth Water (Pani) Committees and Both ENDS have been in continuous dialogue on gender and youth for the management of the Tidal Rivers in Bangladesh. The current conventional approach of dealing with the tidal rivers involves top-down technical and managerial solutions. Together with communities, Uttaran is advocating for a nature-based and inclusive approach. If communities can meaningfully contribute to the design, implementation, and monitoring of tidal river management, then measures would be responsive to the needs, realities and concerns of the people living in the area. By involving different generations, women, and men, different interests will be addressed and everybody could participate. Uttaran and the Pani Committees have already developed very clear ideas on how this could be implemented. Throughout 2019 they have discussed these ideas with relevant government authorities. Gender is made a strategic priority with the near-equal representation of young women and men in the youth water committees. The younger generation is less constrained by the traditional patriarchal norms and values, which allows for more gender-transformative conversations. In addition, they are well aware of the gender differentiated impacts of waterlogging. Hence, they have laid the groundwork for a gender-impacts analysis, which should inform decision-makers for the implementation of gender-responsive measures. Influenced by the lobbying and advocacy of partner organisations and FGG members, private actors, public policymakers, academia, the general public, media and social movements discussed 97 proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies. In Zimbabwe, ActionAid and two partners have organized a Youth-Led Tax Justice Symposium. During the symposium, ActionAid and its partners discussed their proposals for better capacity strengthening for youth on tax justice issues with local government representatives. ActionAid Zimbabwe also organised related national radio station discussions from the Youth-Led Tax Justice Campaign, to inform the general public. This resulted in broad media attention for tax justice. [For more information about results on this specific indicator, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid Netherlands, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth Europe, Friends of the Earth International, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), results FGG ToC 1-3 C and D 2019. For a more analytical reflection on and overview of FGG’s results in 2019, please see our Annual Report 2019 in IATI]
DD4 (C&D): # advocacy initiatives carried out by CSOs, for, by or with their membership /constituency In 2020, 243 advocacy initiatives will be carried out by CSOs, for, by, or with their membership/constituency. The FGG Alliance links indicator DD4 to FGG outcome ‘’C’’, number of alternatives developed and FGG outcome ‘’D’’, agendas set. For this specific DD indicator, FGG measures how many alternative models to promote inclusive environmental and social justice were developed and how many times agendas of decision-makers were set to e.g. address these alternatives. ToC1 The FGG Alliance is aiming to develop, pilot and/or promote 22 alternative, participatory initiatives and models related to corporate conduct, which meet core criteria like sustainability, participation of people (f/m), transparency and equity (f/m). For example, one of those proposals is a UN Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights, which presents an alternative UN instrument that has been advocated for by FGG members ActionAid, CCC, FoE Europe and FoE International, SOMO and TNI, and more than 200 members of the Global Campaign on Corporate Impunity. For 2020, in light of this campaign, TNI together with social movements, affected communities and other members of the Global Campaign on Corporate Impunity including from LLMICs, will facilitate the establishment of the Peoples’ Centre on Corporate Impunity. This centre aims to document and publish cases of corporate impunity in order to contribute to regulations that will hold corporations to account. The Peoples Centre will provide an interactive space and tools for social movements and affected communities to address corporate impunity. It will also mobilise a network of academics working on corporate power and link with other networks of organisations monitoring corporate behaviour. FGG will also actively contribute to the perspectives and discussions on binding regulations for corporations of private and public sector decision-makers, academia, the general public, media and social media, and it is expected that these actors will discuss 120 proposals for improvement of corporate conduct. For example, it is expected that national parliamentarians in 5 different countries, pledge their support for the UN Binding Treaty and sign-up to the global interparliamentary network in support of the Binding Treaty. This is the result of FoE International’s and other CSOs’ advocacy efforts. FGG member ActionAid will continue to highlight the gendered impacts of corporate abuse and put forward the feminist perspective to the binding treaty on Business and Human Rights together with CSO members of the Feminist for a binding treaty coalition. One of the expected results of FGG member SOMO’s is that through advocacy by the MVO Platform working group on Mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence (developed with financial and technical support from SOMO) 2 Dutch political parties will include Human Rights Due Diligence Law in their election programs, in anticipation of the elections in March 2021, to ensure that business-related human rights abuses in LLMICs and elsewhere are better prevented and remedied. ToC2 FGG expects 9 alternative approaches to the current trade and investment regime will be developed, piloted and/or promoted with CSOs in LLMICs. For example, building on previous work, FGG members ActionAid, Both ENDS, FoE International and TNI, together with partner organisations around the world, actively promote agroecology as an alternative to large-scale agriculture. Agroecology focusses on farmers’ knowledge and capacities while mimicking nature. Agroecology helps to increase food security and resilience, boost livelihoods and local economies, diversify food production and diets, promote health and nutrition, safeguard natural resources, biodiversity and ecosystem functions, improve soil fertility and soil health, adapt to and mitigate climate change, contribute to women’s empowerment, and preserve local cultures and traditional knowledge systems. In 2020, TNI together with FoE organisations, La Via Campesina, and community organisations, will continue to promote agroecology as an alternative to corporate food systems. In Uruguay (the Semillas Network) and in Colombia (Colectiva Huertopia) agroecology advocacy continues at the national level and agroecology practices are being piloted. In the Netherlands the FGG Alliance will continue discussions with the Dutch government on the Dutch approach to agroecology. FGG and partner organisations aim to ensure that 34 proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment will be discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private decision makers, in academia, media and social movements. For example, FoE International’s proposals on agroecology, specifically concerning: (i) the implementation of the FAO Global Knowledge Product on Agroecology; and (ii) the FAO Committee on Agriculture (COAG) work on agroecology will be discussed at the upcoming FAO regional conferences. FoE International will contribute to this outcome through advocacy for the proposal at the FAO and by coordinating the participation of CSO representatives from Asia, Africa and Latin America to promote agroecology in regional FAO civil society consultations, and by supporting the engagement of civil society in similar advocacy by facilitating the International Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty (IPC) of the food sovereignty movement’s working group on agroecology. Another expected result is that CCC’s and partners’ recommendations in relation to the GSP country strategies will be incorporated into the functioning of and discussed by the GSP Platform, which represents a group of human rights and development organisations, trade unions and other stakeholders seeking to advance human rights and labour rights; as well as promote civic space in the context of the trade preferences of the European Union ToC 3 It is aimed for that 13 alternative proposals to financial and tax and spending policies will be developed, piloted, and promoted with CSOs in LLMICs, partly as a result of the FGG Alliance’s advocacy. For example, 4 CSOs from Uganda, Togo, Kenia and Nigeria jointly develop proposals to support Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) in developing policies, for example related to energy. FGG member Both ENDS facilitates research on the activities of ECAs in these countries and supports the development of the proposals. FGG member ActionAid will launch a company case report that will highlight the tax avoidance of a multinational operating in several developing countries via a mailbox company in the Netherlands. The report will also provide recommendations for alternatives to the current tax model that are more beneficial to LLMICs and feminist alternatives to tax rules as part of a bigger project on the feminist economy. The alternatives focus on fair Dutch international fiscal policies, in particular tax treaty policies and policies on source taxation and will be promoted among CSOs and policy makers. Influenced by the advocacy of FGG members and partner organisations, it is anticipated that private actors, public policy makers, academia, the general public, media and social movements will discuss 45 proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies. For example, it is expected that 1-5 municipal policy makers in Nigeria, Indonesia, Bolivia, El Salvador and South Africa will discuss democratization of public services, including in water and energy, as a result of advocacy by local partners, with the support of research and analysis from FGG member TNI. [For more information about targets on this specific indicator, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/FoE Europe, FoE International, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), targets FGG ToC 1-3 C and D 2020. For a more analytical reflection on and overview of FGG’s targets in 2020, please see our Annual Report 2020 in IATI]
DD4 (C&D): # advocacy initiatives carried out by CSOs, for, by or with their membership/constituency
In 2020, 441 advocacy initiatives were carried out by CSOs, for, by, or with their membership/constituency. The numbers show what FGG aims for through its programme: actual changes on the ground and in peoples' lives. So, for this specific DD indicator, FGG measures how many alternative models to promote social justice were developed and how many times agendas of decision-makers were actually set to e.g. address these alternatives. In other words, what the FGG monitoring and evaluation system counts as results are in FGG’s view the more structural and sustainable outcomes.
ToC1
The FGG Alliance successfully developed, piloted and/or promoted 34 alternative, participatory initiatives and models related to corporate conduct meeting core criteria including sustainability, participation (f/m), transparency and equity (f/m).
FGG has been working on a variety of models that could serve as environmentally sustainable and socially just alternatives to current practices and policies. To support decision-makers and movements in holding polluting industries liable for the climate damage they (knowingly) cause, FGG (FoEI with the Make Big Polluters Pay coalition) launched the Liability Roadmap in 2020. The Liability Roadmap provides tools for the local, national and international levels and contains for each of these levels, and multilevel, a variety of approaches that can be harnessed depending upon the type of leadership one holds. More concretely, through the roadmap, FoEI and partners aim to advance liability through “1) strengthening international legal instruments and institutions that already exist, 2) drawing from best practices and precedents, and 3) enshrining new, bold, and visionary aspirations for what is needed to transform systems and advance justice.” (liabilityroadmap.org)
FGG also influenced the agenda of private and public sector decision-makers, academia, the general public, media and social media: these actors discussed 256 proposals for improvement of corporate conduct.
One of the issues put on the agenda by FGG (SKC and SOMO) is the due diligence reporting performance of the Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile (AGT) member brands. An FGG report was discussed in Dutch parliament, and members of parliament from three political parties tabled written questions following this report, leading to an official response by the AGT, publicly recognising that the shortcomings reported by FGG should be improved within the AGT.
ToC2
12 alternative approaches to the current trade and investment regime were developed, piloted and/or promoted with CSOs in LLMICs.
Together with partners and movements from several African and Asian LLMICs, FGG (TNI, ActionAid, Milieudefensie, FoEI) has been developing the concept of a just transition towards greener, more resilient, democratic, people-centered energy and food systems. In 2020 a coalition of trade unions and environmental organisations launched a powerful joint statement identifying core principles of a Just Transition. Movements from Pakistan, the Philippines, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Indonesia collectively developed their understanding of Just Transition, working to deepen and expand the notion to include engagement with questions of food sovereignty and resource justice. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, this was elaborated in the form of proposals for a Just Recovery, driven by grassroots communities and small-scale food producers.
FGG (ActionAid, Both ENDS, CCC, FoEE, FoEI, Milieudefensie, SOMO, TNI, partners from around the globe) proposals for a Just Recovery from the pandemic emphasise the need for responding to the pandemic and climate crises simultaneously, moving away from fossil fuel dependency to 100% community-owned, renewable energy for all; protecting and valuing the environment, building resilient ecosystems and tackling climate change; safeguarding human rights, protecting the most vulnerable, incorporating gender into the response to COVID-19 through locally-based, women-led responses to the crisis, and strengthening democracy; creating an economy that cares for people and planet (and thus: holding companies legally accountable for creating fairer and more sustainable supply chains, plus making sure that ISDS does not undermine governments’ ability to adequately respond to the crisis); taking measures to assure that the Dutch tax system does not negatively impact on LLMICs but in fact contributes to a fair and more equal world.
FGG and partner organisations in addition ensured that 60 proposals for improvements to policies related to trade and investment were discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private policymakers, in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
For food security and people-controlled food systems built upon the principles of agroecology, FGG (Both ENDS with East African CSOs) considers it key that trade agreements allow for farmer-managed seed systems. Currently, clauses in several trade agreements provide a form of intellectual property protection for plant varieties, which undermines farmers’ rights to save, use, exchange and sell farm-saved seed. Extensive FGG advocacy in Uganda resulted in 2020 in increased public awareness, strengthened collaboration amongst Ugandan CSOs, and five members of parliament committing themselves to opposing policy frameworks that criminalise indigenous farmers in Uganda.
ToC 3
13 alternative proposals to financial and tax and spending policies were developed, piloted, and promoted with CSOs in LLMICs, partly as a result of the FGG Alliance’s lobbying and advocacy efforts.
Because current economic systems generally undermine the position of women and increase gender inequality and injustices, FGG (ActionAid, with partners from Senegal, India, South Africa, Brazil, Jordan and Guatemala and feminist networks) has been working to further develop the concept of and promote feminist economic alternatives. They have written several reports on this concept, which also contain proposals for fair taxes and gender-responsive public services as an integral part of achieving a feminist economy based on well-being and care.
Influenced by the lobbying and advocacy of partner organisations and FGG members, private actors, public policymakers, academia, the general public, media and social movements discussed 66 proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies.
A just energy transition requires an end to fossil fuel development, and thus an end to government support to fossil fuel companies. FGG actively supports partners in among other countries Mozambique, Uganda, Brazil and Nigeria to resist fossil fuel development projects. FGG advocacy (Both ENDS, Milieudefensie, and partners from Mozambique, Uganda, Nigeria, Togo and Ghana) -particularly showing how investments in the fossil fuel sector negatively impact on LLMICs- in 2020 resulted in engagement from Dutch politicians and the Dutch government for an end to state financial support via the Dutch export credit agency (ECA) for fossil fuel development in the Global South.
Until recently, the Dutch government claimed that no fossil fuel subsidies exist in the Netherlands. However, at the end of 2019, in response to adopted parliamentary resolutions calling on the government to take action on fossil fuel subsidies (that were submitted after FGG (Milieudefensie and Both ENDS) advocacy, the Netherlands commissioned the OECD and the IEA to peer review its fossil fuel subsidies framework to inform policy on the topic. This creates an important opportunity for the government to turn long-standing commitments into concrete action, and the 2020 results show that this is at least high on the Dutch government’s agenda.
[For more information about results on this specific indicator, please see the FGG member files (ActionAid Netherlands, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth Europe, Friends of the Earth International, SOMO and the Transnational Institute), results FGG ToC 1-3 C and D 2020. For a more analytical reflection on and overview of FGG’s results in 2020, please see our Annual Report 2020 in IATI]
NL-KVK-41210098-FGG3BE
Both ENDS
Fair, Green and Global Programme
The Fair, Green and Global Alliance (FGG) aims to increase the power and decision-making influence of organised, mobilised and informed civil society, especially women, to advance fair and green trade and value chains. FGG believes that poverty, inequality and exclusion are caused by power asymmetries. We see the unprecedented power of capital over people and planet as the primary obstacle impeding realisation of fair and green trade and value chains. The FGG programme focuses on recalibrating power within the global architecture of trade and value chains by amplifying the voices of targeted rights-holders – small producers and traders, workers, fishers, rural and Indigenous peoples, religious and ethnic minorities, and migrants, especially the women and youth among them – who are practising, claiming or defending human rights and fair and green economic practices, and/or whose rights are being ignored, threatened or violated by corporations and/or governments. We aim to transform social relations so that these rights-holders’ voices are heard and heeded. FGG’s eight members (ActionAid, Both ENDS, Clean Clothes Campaign, IT for Change, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth International/Friends of the Earth Europe, Samdhana Institute, SOMO and the Transnational Institute) cooperate with some 1000+ partners and allies in our many worldwide networks to strengthen collective capacities to advance a common vision of fair and green trade and value chains.
Both ENDS
Both ENDS
Both ENDS
Both ENDS
https://www.bothends.org/en/
2022229
2059773
2207440
445061
808892
1397810
11338
459809
434494
2183355
1487314
6196
Negative intrest 2021
1213338
10492740
364613
2021
A
strengthened capacities
2g
# targeted civil society actors with strengthened capacities relevant to advance gender justice
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Of these 96 CSOs, 22 including will strengthen capacities that are relevant for their advocacy for gender justice. These CSOs, from Africa, Asia, and Latin America including from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Kenya and Mozambique will for example strengthen their knowledge about the VGGTs (which have gender justice as one of their key pillars) and the gendered impacts of the EU-Mercosur deal, as well as improve their skills to advocate towards an IFI for the implementation of a GBV plan. In addition CSOs will enhance their understanding of the RSPO to protect women’s rights incl. inclusion of women voices in decision making spaces, violation of women (laborers’) rights in and around plantations and effects of displacement and changing land use systems for position and workload of local women.
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Of these 94 CSOs, 36 will strengthen capacities that are relevant for their advocacy for gender justice. These CSOs, from Africa, Asia, and Latin America including from India, Uganda, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Kenya will for example continue to strengthen their knowledge about the VGGTs (which have gender justice as one of their key pillars); they will engage in gender and trade coalitions in ongoing FTA negotiations such as the EU-Indonesia, EU-Mercosur and EU Mexico FTAs; and they will strengthen their advocacy skills, with the aim of getting an IFI/DFI to recognise gender justice as vital to their strategies and implementation, and to implement a plan for Sexual and gender-based violence prevention and response. In addition CSOs will enhance their understanding of the RSPO complaints system to protect women’s rights incl. inclusion of women voices in decision-making spaces.
For more information on our concrete targets, we refer to the target narratives published on FGG3
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strengthened capacities
3
# targeted civil society actors that lobby and advocate for improved policies and practices in trade and value chains and advance fair and green practices based on capacities mutually developed
1) In 2021 3 partners from Uganda, Tanzania and Indonesia used their strengthened knowledge on the link between de SDGs and trade policy, to lobby their national governments for civil society participation in Trade Policy. Both ENDS provided technical support.
2) In August 2021, a partner from Uganda used it’s strengthened knowledge on ISDS clauses in BITs– gained through knowledge exchange and joint strategizing with Both ENDS – to advise policy makers of Burundi to stop current unfair BITs.
3) From September to December 2021, 3 partners from Indonesia together with partners from Europe used their strengthened knowledge on the EU-CEPA Indonesia – gained through knowledge exchange and joint strategising with Both ENDS – to discuss with Indonesian and European trade negotiators CSOs concerns’ on Trade and Sustainable Development within the EU-CEPA.
4) In November and December 2021, through strengthened advocacy and media skills, a Ugandan partner published lobby and advocacy materials including open letters, petitions, and communiques that were directed towards Ugandan policymakers and embassies of countries with an active ECA in Uganda. The materials were also shared with the media and called on the policymakers to embrace ECAs transvestments and align their development agenda with the commitments under the Paris Agreement. Both ENDS helped in strategising which policymakers and embassies to target, leading to a larger network and increased knowledge which the partner integrated in their lobby and advocacy activities.
4a) In 2021, together with 1 network of community champions, a Ugandan partner, used its strengthened networking and advocacy capacities to generate and submit comments to the Ugandan government on the EACOP and Mining Bill that was submitted to the parliament committee on natural resources for adoption with the Just Transition agenda. Both ENDS provided financial support, joint strategizing and knowledge exchange.
5) In 2021, 1 CSO and 3 local fishers-communities in Indonesia shared the impacts they faced from the CPI land reclamation project insured by the Dutch state with ADSB. Both ENDS facilitated the exchange. Based on this, the CSO and Both ENDS made recommendations for ADSB to improve its due diligence process and discussed remedy.
6) In November 2021, 1 CSO and 1 local fishers-community in Indonesia advocated to representatives of the local and national government and the CPI project owner regarding the impacts that they have faced of previous sand mining projects, and their concerns for future projects. Both ENDS contributed by financial support, joint strategizing and knowledge exchange.
7) In 2021, 3 partners from Senegal used their strengthened knowledge of networking and access to decision making spaces for meetings with the IRM on the TER case, a meeting with a parliamentarians, and outreach to FMO for remediating the harm done in the TER and Sendou projects, raising specific attention on gender justice, including disaggregated impact studies for women. Both ENDS contributed through financial support, joint strategizing and knowledge exchange.
8) In 2021, 3 partners from Uganda used their strengthened constituency for advocacy meetings with the community and local government to ensure land rights are better respected by the Ugandan government. Both ENDS contributed through financial support, joint strategizing and knowledge exchange.
9) In 2021, 2 partners from Panama used their strengthened access to decision making spaces for participating in a International Complaints Mechanism (ICM) visit with the aim of recognition of FMO that the harms need to be remedied. Both ENDS contributed through financial support, joint strategizing and knowledge exchange.
10) In 2021, 2 partners from Malawi, used their strengthened constituency and access to decision making spaces at FMO and MIGA for meetings with FMO and MIGA, and advocacy letters, for ensuring that FMO and MIGA contribute to solving the concerns of community members in the Salima project, including the adverse impacts of the project on women. Both ENDS contributed through financial support, joint strategizing and knowledge exchange.
11) In 2021, 1 partner from Mozambique, used its strengthened access to decision making space at Dutch dredging company Van Oord and COP 26 for advocacy meetings with Van Oord and participation in the COP 26 for locating missing UPC members (Van Oord) and finding reparations to the harms done in the Moz LNG project (COP 26). Both ENDS contributed through financial support, joint strategizing and knowledge exchange.
12) In 2021, 1 partner from Cameroon created 6 working groups with in total 30 community representatives, among which 12 female representatives and 10 youth, to ensure engagement with the development banks responsible for the construction of the Nachtigal hydroelectric dam. Both ENDS contributed to their lobby by joint strategizing and financial support.
13) In 2021, 1 partner from Cameroon used it expanded knowledge of international financial institutions (IFI) to extend its work on IFI-funded projects in Cameroon, which included among others a mapping exercise, the organizations of two strategy meetings which led to the development of two action plans on mitigating the negative (climate) impacts of World Bank, FMO and AfDB investments in Cameroon.
14) On 28-29 October 2021 in West Kalimantan Indonesia, 15 participants from, three communities, who had their capacity strengthened in earlier workshops supported by Both ENDS held a monitoring and advocacy meeting about asserting HR remedies by using international and corporate standards in supply chains: monitoring complaints with NDPE (No Deforestation, No Peat and No Exploitation) and downstream buyers for the plantations PT MISP, PT PLD and PT MAS. Both ENDS contributed with strategic consultation and financial support.
15) October/November 2021 in Kalimantan Indonesia, based on the training on IWRM & gender which included training on water quality monitoring, NGO partner uploaded test results on social media and raised public interest. Both ENDS contributed with financial support and international outreach
16) Second half of 2021 in Indonesia, one NGO and one CBO who received capacity strengthening on this topic in 2020 ,undertook an investigation on the implementation of RSPO and/ ISPO, by recording violations of palm oil sustainability standards. Both ENDS contributed a.o. with financial support.
17) In 2021 in Indonesia one NGO and one grassroots community CBO that works on green economy empowerment, undertook water patrols and water quality monitoring near palm oil plantations. Water samples were measured at BARISTAN laboratory who had SNI certification. The Water Quality Report will be used in information campaigns and for formal complaints. Both ENDS contributes with financial support, networking and strategic alliances.
18) In 2021, 3 partnering network hubs and 4 CSOs in Asia used its gained access to renewed and expanded funding to continue their efforts in terms of constructive dialogue with government authorities concerning indigenous customary land rights and sustainable forest, wildlife conservation and water management. Both ENDS contributed by offering strategic counseling.
19) in 2021, a partner in Asia used its increased knowledge on fundraising and strengthened funding base to sustain its policy work with regards to protection and restoration of forest and streams and tree nursery development, and recognition of the key role of women in successful tree nurseries and plantation programmes, e.g. by featuring a resource center and wild food nursery garden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwLQFqO0G3A. Both ENDS contributed through mutual capacity development incl. financial support and fundraising assistance.
20) In 2021, a women's organization from Indonesia used it’s improved access to the COP26 to represent the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development in relevant side-events, including the Women and Gender Constituency (WGC) side event, the COP Presidency’s “Dialogue with the local communities and indigenous people platform at COP26’’ and the “4 female PM/Presidents on feminist climate action” side event. Interview with Canadian media on the struggle of women in Indonesia to gain climate justice. : https://apwld.org/ https://apwld.org/press-release-missingvoicescop26-yet-again-cop26-uk-presidency-fails-women-from-the-global-south/. Both ENDS contributed with mutual capacity development incl. financial, fundraising and brokering support as well as strategic advice from Both ENDS.
21) In 2021, a Nigerian partner used it’s strengthened constituency and funding base to advocate to the Cross-River State government for the halting of illegal logging and environmental destruction. Both ENDS contributed through mutual capacity development including fundraising support.
22) In 2021, 4 partners in Malaysia improved their advocacy for improved regulation of the plantation and logging sectors in Malaysia land use systems, fair treatment of workers and remedy for women affected by exploitation and violations of their human rights. In one instance this also directly relates to Dutch policies, namely on timber imports from Malaysia. Both ENDS contributed to their strengthened advocacy by serving as a sounding board.
23) In September 2021, a Cameroonian community, together with its Traditional Ruler, organised a peaceful street protest in which they demanded immediate action from the administration of a commune in Cameroon Littoral Region to investigate and resolve the conflict between a community and an agro-company based on the knowledge acquired through the capacity building workshops of a Both ENDS partner, an action that prompted significant media attention and a response from the administration (a consultation meeting was scheduled). Both ENDS contributed with financial support to the capacity building workshops. and subsequent consultation meeting.
24) From September to December 2021, one partner from Cameroon has helped a network of local CSOs to convene regularly to actively support a local community in their struggle, including study sessions, strategy development and the drafting of a letter to a Senior Divisional Officer of a commune to stick to promises made during a consultation meeting held in September 2021. Both ENDS contributed with financial support.
25) During various moments in 2021, 7 FGG partners from Manila (the Philippines), used their strengthened lobby and advocacy capacities (in terms of increasing network, access to decision-making spaces, and leverage and influencing capacity) in (i) consultations with Atradius DSB and due diligence consultants of the project’s lenders group, and (ii) jointly submitting four letters of concern, in relation to the NMIA project, addressed to Boskalis, Atradius DSB, The Netherlands Ministry of Finance and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both ENDS provided financial support, facilitated stakeholder meetings and access to Dutch actors, and jointly strategised with partners, which contributed to this result
26) During 2021, 1 FGG partner in Manila (the Philippines), used their strengthened lobby and advocacy capacities (mainly in terms of strengthening their advocacy message), in their advocacy towards the local government level to support their campaign against the NMIA project. Both ENDS provided financial support and the joint strategizing with partners indirectly contributed to this result
27) In January 2021, and based on the initiative of Both ENDS, 1 FGG partner from Manila (the Philippines), used their strengthened lobby and advocacy capacity in terms of knowledge, network and advocacy message to get invited to the Global Adaptation Summit and to present about the NMIA project for addressing the human rights abuses and environmental damage and calling upon Boskalis to withdraw from the project. Both ENDS provided financial support and facilitated contacts with the organisers of the Global Adaptation Summit.
28) During 2021, based upon facilitation by 1 FGG partner, representatives from local farmer groups and local water committees in Bangladesh strengthened lobby and advocacy capacities (amongst others to access decision-making spaces) to engage in quarterly meetings with local government authorities to build and maintain a constructive dialogue in order to attract government support for agroecology and open fisheries, which showcase the importance to restore the south-west tidal river ecosystem through the implementation of Tidal River Management. Both ENDS provided financial support and the joint strategizing with partners indirectly contributed to this result.
Throughout 2022, we aim for 71 civil society actors from Asia, Africa and Latin America (e.g. India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Uganda and Kenya) to lobby and advocate among other things for fair and green trade and investment agreements (incl. stopping the expansion of the ECT, ISDS clauses and adding strong human rights and environmental chapters), inclusive land governance (incl. the implementation of VGGTs), improved corporate accountability processes (i.a. at the RSPO and public financial institutions), increased finance for transformative practices, and inclusive and sustainable water management and spatial planning. They will do so with enhanced knowledge, networking and advocacy capacities, strengthened through mutual capacity development activities including knowledge building support, joint strategising as well as network facilitation.
1) Throughout 2022, a total of 7 FGG partners from the Philippines (7) used their increased knowledge about the role of the Netherlands in relation to the New Manila International Airport (NMIA), strengthened through their collaboration with Both ENDS, to conduct joint lobby and advocacy towards Dutch stakeholders in the form of 1 op-ed published in a Dutch national newspaper in February and a Philippines national newspaper in March, as well as two letters of concern targeting the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Both ENDS and partners submitted in March and August. In November, 4 of these FGG partners used their strengthened knowledge to articulate their demands to the Dutch embassy in Manila, through an in-person meeting in Manila with the Dutch deputy head of mission.
(2) In March 2022 1 FGG partner from the Maldives (1) used its increased knowledge of the Netherlands role in the Gulhifalhu port project through joint strategising and learning with Both ENDS, to advocate and express their concerns about the impacts of the Gulhifalhu project to representatives from Atradius DSB and their due diligence consultants, during a meeting that was facilitated by Both ENDS.
(3) In August and November 2022, 2 FGG partners from Kenya (2) used their increased understanding of the historical background of the current water distribution and people’s water rights, gained through networking and financial support from Both ENDS, to advocate for enhanced community water access to Ruiru dam and the sustainable management of Lari swamp during multi-stakeholder events that were attended by public officials and politicians. Both ENDS facilitated an online platform where these experiences were shared and discussed with policymakers, financiers and civil society from different agencies and countries.
(4) Throughout 2022, 1 FGG partner from Kenya strengthened the capacity of at least 3 Water Resource Users Associations (WRUA) to lobby & advocate more effectively (2), by strengthening their knowledge and constituency/network by facilitating engagements with key stakeholders about water rights and the historical background of the current water distribution, and by recruiting new members. In addition to financial support, Both ENDS hosted a session during the 16th International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, which was jointly prepared with this FGG partner who presented their work on community-based water management to an international audience, including civil society, policymakers and financiers from different agencies and countries.
(5) In 2022, 2 FGG partners from Bangladesh (2) used their increased understanding of the techniques and benefits of agroecological practices, to engage in lobby and advocacy activities for improved policies and practices in relation to agro-ecology through meetings and facilitating field visits with government officials, water development board and agricultural department. Both ENDS provided financial support and has jointly strategised with this partner about the opportunities to promote the need for the restoration of the tidal rivers in order to let agroecological farming thrive in the area.
(6) In December 2022, 7 partners from Mozambique (7), used their strengthened constituency and knowledge of the situation of community members in the Palma district, gained through financial support from, and knowledge exchange and joint strategizing with Both ENDS, for lobby and advocacy towards the project owner, the government and its financiers on solving issues for community members affected by the Mozambique LNG project.
(7) In April and September 2022, 2 partners from Senegal (2), used their strengthened constituency, and advocacy and communication skills, gained through financial support from and knowledge exchange and joint strategizing with Both ENDS, to advocate for improved practices in relation to the Sendou case towards FMO and AfDB.
(8) In September 2022, 2 partners from Senegal (2) used their strengthened constituency and advocacy and communication skills, gained through financial support from and knowledge exchange and joint strategizing with Both ENDS, to advocate for improved practices in relation to the Malikounda case towards AfDB.
(9) In January, March, August and October 2022, 8 partners from Cameroon (8) used their increased knowledge of the functioning of the CAO, strengthened constituency in the Nachtigal-affected communities and improved advocacy skills, gained through financial and technical support from and knowledge exchange and joint strategizing with Both ENDS on IFIs to advocate at the different IFIs involved.
(10) In 2022, 3 partners from Uganda (3) used their strengthened constituency, increased knowledge of international financial institutions, particularly Climate Investor One, and improved communication skills, gained through financial support from and knowledge exchange with Both ENDS, to advocate for their land rights related to the Achwa hydropower projects in radio talk shows and towards the responsible government.
(11) In 2022, 3 partners from Malawi (3) used their strengthened constituency, increased knowledge of international financial institutions, particularly FMO and MIGA and improved advocacy skills gained through financial and technical support from and knowledge exchange and joint strategizing with Both ENDS, to advocate for the rights of community members affected by the JCM Solar project towards the company and financiers.
(12) In May 2022, a global network of CSOs (1) and Both ENDS used their strengthened constituency, increased knowledge on safeguards and improved advocacy skills to advocate for better safeguards at the AfDB and its shareholders. They strengthened their capacities through technical support from and knowledge exchange and joint strategizing with Both ENDS.
(13) In November 2022, 2 partners from Cambodia (2) together with SOMO and Both ENDS, used their increased knowledge on Amret and FMO’s investment in Amret and strengthened collaboration, gained through technical support from and knowledge exchange and joint strategizing with Both ENDS, to advocate towards FMO to not approve a loan to Amret.
(14) Throughout 2022, 2 partners from Panama (2) used their strengthened constituency and advocacy capacity, gained through financial and technical support from and knowledge exchange and joint strategizing with Both ENDS, to advocate for respect for indigenous rights in Panama, specifically a responsible exit by FMO and DEG from the Barro Blanco project, which seeks to address and mitigate the damages caused.
(15) In May 2022, during the UNCCD COP 15 in Abidjan, Drynet, a global network of CSOs working in drylands (1) and Both ENDS used their joint knowledge, mobilising and strategizing capacities to contribute to the CSO learning sessions and the daily CSO meetings for the 100+ present CSOs on the agenda of COP15 (Drought, Land Degradation Neutrality, Gender, CSO inclusion, inclusive land governance, implementation of the VGGTs, Finance for Agroecology). More than 100 CSOs (more than 290 CSO representatives, of which approximately 80% originated from countries of DAC List of ODA Recipients) were present at COP 15 and at least 50% (50 CSOs) were present at the CSO exchange meetings and have learnt from the network members on UNCCD procedures and content. Both ENDS provided financial support through FGG and experience and knowledge.
(16) From January 2021 until May 2022, Drynet, a global network of CSOs working in drylands (0) and Both ENDS contributed actively to the development of a partnership with IUCN on supporting capacity and knowledge development of CSOs for better recognition of community activities (regarding sustainable land use and land restoration) in the context Land Degradation Neutrality policies and monitoring. This partnership was proposed by IUCN to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for support.
(17) In 2022, 1 indigenous organization from Asia (1) used its increased knowledge and advocacy skills, gained through strategic networking and lobby advice from Both ENDS, and in collaboration with a Swiss Fund and a big data analyst organization from Asia, to engage in effective dialogue with policymakers and the media in The Netherlands around illegal and unsustainable logging in Sarawak in relation to Dutch timber procurement policies and flaws in certification. Both ENDS facilitated access to respectively, Dutch Parliamentarians and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. Both ENDS also offered advice on how to best present concerns and suggestions for remedy to the media and arranged for an interview with a Dutch daily newspaper, Trouw. Both ENDS also offered media communication advice, to enable the Indigenous representatives to be well prepared for the newspaper interview and for a video recording arranged by Both ENDS. https://www.trouw.nl/opinie/nederland-controleert-dubieuze-claims-van-duurzaam-tropisch-hardhout-niet~b688c459/ https://www.trouw.nl/economie/duurzaam-hout-uit-maleisie-is-zo-duurzaam-niet-zeggen-inheemse-bewoners-uit-borneo-bulldozers-walsen-door-het-woud-heen~b3aeb89d/
(18) In 2022, 8 ILED-network members (8) (including partners from Thailand, Panama, Kenya, Philippines, India, and Costa Rica), advocated towards communities and external stakeholders (such as governments and donors) for the promotion of, and to implement Indigenous-Led Education (ILED) as a vital ingredient to create opportunities for youth leadership, gender justice and community resilience in the face of climate change and external pressures. The ILED-network members did so based on a deeper understanding of each other’s realities, increased know-how and strengthened strategising, which Both ENDS facilitated through financial support, fundraising assistance, networking support and backstopping.
(19) In 2022, after continued collaboration and joint strategising with Both ENDS, a partner from Uganda (1) used its enhanced knowledge of (gendered) labour rights violations on palm oil plantations and the tools it gained to address –via the court system - severe women rights and labour rights violations on palm oil plantations (a joint venture of an international multinational and the Government of Uganda) in Uganda. Both ENDS arranged specialist content advise and exchanges for the partner by the Amsterdam law clinic of the University of Amsterdam to map, compile and present common elements of burden of proof, evidence standards and admissibility requirements in legal proceedings regarding human rights violations in environmental/investment cases; provided Information about the obligations of the multinational under the latter’s own grievance system and the RSPO (Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil) Standard; shared in-depth insights into this public-private venture through a study earlier commissioned by Both ENDS upon request of the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL). Enhanced capacity on these three aspects helped the partner to argue their case in the court with reference to specific aspects of Ugandan law and international trade and investment agreements.
(20) In 2022, a federation of indigenous tribes in the Philippines (1) used the knowledge they gained through organisational advice from Both ENDS, to gradually diversify and consolidate their financial basis and strengthen their institutional basis and ability to support their members (namely the associated tribes and their communities) to effectively advocate for recognition of their customary land rights and obtain Certificates of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADT). Furthermore, Both ENDS offered financial support, networking support and backstopping, which in turn enabled the federation to commission a consultant to offer guidance (on specific legal provisions and procedures with regard to indigenous tenurial land claims) and assist communities in dialogue with the provincial and national authorities, the Provincial and National Commissions on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to secure the CADT land titles and gain access to government services.
(21) In 2022, a partner in Sarawak-Malaysia (1) used their strengthened knowledge and networking capacities, gained through joint strategizing and in continuous brainstorm sessions with Both ENDS, to launch a social-media campaign with animation video to inform indigenous communities about their ancestral land rights to reach well informed positions vis-a-vis policymakers.
(22) In 2022, 4 partnering network hubs and 6 CSOs in Asia (10) used the access they gained to renewed and expanded funding to continue their efforts in terms of constructive dialogue with government authorities concerning indigenous customary land rights and sustainable forest, wildlife conservation and water management. Both ENDS successfully brokered collaboration between these local organisations and a pool fund of private family foundations, and offered guidance with proposal development, which in turn led to a contract being signed between these parties. Both ENDS continued to offer hands-on field support, training in support of advocacy on sustainable land use, gender and land tenure aspects and strategic policy counselling, as well as advise and feedback on reporting and financial auditing aspects to consolidate longer term collaboration with the pool fund.
(23) In 2022, a partner in Asia (1) used its increased knowledge of fundraising and strengthened funding base to sustain its policy work with regards to protection and restoration of forest and streams and tree nursery development, and recognition of the key role of women in successful tree nurseries and plantation programmes, e.g. by featuring a resource centre and wild food nursery garden. Both ENDS continued to contribute training, networking and co-organised exchange visits, financial support, including fundraising assistance. This enhanced capacity enabled the partner to showcase high quality afforestation methods to policymakers. See for a video on nursery techniques: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwLQFqO0G3A.
(24) In 2022, a Nigerian partner (1) continued to use its strengthened constituency and funding base to advocate to the Cross-River State government for the protection of community forests, local village-based voluntary forest guard teams and to expose the drivers behind illegal logging. Also this year, Both ENDS contributed specific content advice and funding geared towards the enhancement of community advocacy in support of protection of their forest against illegal logging. This also included advice regarding the safety of local-villages volunteers patrolling their forest against the timber mafia. Both ENDS also organised fundraising capacity development support to assist the partner to sustain their advocacy efforts also at the longer run.
(25) In 2022, Both ENDS offered 1 FGG partner from Malaysia (1) strategic input in terms of know-how and arranging access to decision-making at the level of RSPO’s Dispute Settlement Advisory Board and RSPO’s CEO, and feedback and advocacy support to enhance the Conflict Prevention Platform to resolve land and labour disputes between plantation companies and, respectively communities and workers, to be also approved as an appropriate mechanism by RSPO.
(26) In 2022, the ILED network (1) increased its networks and access to decision-making spaces. This resulted in the ILED network being invited by UNESCO and one ILED representative delivering a speech on the need and methods to pass on indigenous knowledge to the young generations of indigenous people at a high level meeting in Paris. Both ENDS supported ILED’s capacity by co-organising webinars for knowledge exchange, networking support, brokering contacts with funders and by direct financial support for local and online regional and all-ILED network exchanges of expertise, ideas and experiences enhancing cross fertilization and joint strategizing.
(27) In 2022, 28 representatives from 9 CSOs and CBOs from Asia, Africa and Latin America (9) met for a preparatory meeting prior to the RSPO Round Table and General Assembly. Both ENDS co-organised the meeting to exchange knowledge and experiences around strategic and operational aspects of RSPO’s policies and negotiations. This helped the CSOs and CBO representatives to gain relevant insights on who and when to effectively lobby during the RSPO Round Table dialogues, ensuing negotiations during specific RSPO committee meetings and the RSPO General Assembly.
(28) In 2022, 1 FGG partner from West Kalimantan (Indonesia) (1) used its increased information on FPIC analyses and gendered human rights, and technical capacities, gained through joint strategizing and financial support from Both ENDS, to legally empower 4 indigenous Dayak communities (including women and youth organizations) (4) with trainings, analyses and awareness raising sessions (on among others FPIC, human rights impacts, the effects of transmigration townships (KTM) and palm oil, and in the participatory mapping of their territory). They used their strengthened capacities and the community maps to continue high level national dialogues with District governments for the recognition of 5 mapped indigenous territories into revised District and provincial spatial plans. In addition, as a result of strengthened capacities, a community legal empowerment processes was initiated, in which the communities filed a law suit against PT Mitra Inti Sejati Plantation (PT MISP) and a complaint and grievance against PT Mitra Abadimas Sejahtera with palm oil buyers from RSPO and POIG members (who have sustainable palm oil certification). This entailed seeking remedy for community grievance and a human rights violations by using international and corporate standards in palm oil supply chains. In addition, the partner facilitated and accompanied dialogue meetings with key national government authorities to make government officers aware of the real situations and structural problems in the biofuel and palm oil sector and regarding the new transmigration projects (projects where labour migrants are recruited by the government for large scale food estates and palm oil plantations) - that threaten the land and tenure rights of indigenous communities who already live there. Representatives of indigenous women and youth organisations actively took part in these dialogues, and contributed their concerns and aspirations, problems and solutions.Both ENDS contributed with financial support and strategic advise.
(29) In 2022, female palm oil workers from 3 communities in Kalimantan Indonesia (3), through the continuous support of 1 FGG partner in Indonesia (1), used their strengthened advocacy capacities from the process of assessing women’s conditions in the palm oil sector, to advocate for their labor rights towards the management of Genting Plantation Berhard and to the management of Agro Andalan plantation. Some of the labor rights for women that have been advocated for are now being handled step by step by the management of Genting Plantation Berhad. In addition, they advocated in an official complaint to the management of Agro Andalan plantation to immediately pay for the rights of the laid off women oil palm plantation workers. Both ENDS contributed with financial support.
(30) In 2022, an international forestry network (1) (global, based in Costa Rica, with members in 20 countries) used strengthened networking capacities through networking and financial support from Both ENDS to participate in internal debrief sessions in the EU regarding regulations around the import of Deforestation-Free Products, asking for the ban of imported products issued from deforestation. The network presented the expected impacts of these products on producer countries, smallholders and companies. In addition, the network participated in discussions on the main advocacy opportunities that lie ahead when it comes to the implementation of the EU Regulation.
(31) In June 2022, 2 FGG partners from Cameroon from 2 villages (2) affected by Greenfil company’s activities used the knowledge they gained from a training organised by 1 partner (1) with the financial support of Both ENDS. During this training they learned which formal steps need to be followed during large scale land acquisition for any investment project. Equipped with this knowledge, they were able to review the existing MoU signed between the company and the partners during a meeting organized by Greenfil company at the company’s headquarters in Yassa-Doula, Cameroon. The meeting resulted in the preparation of a draft of a revised MoU and a list of steps needed before being able to finalise it. The 2 principal steps were: 1. conducting a participatory mapping exercise to know the real area occupied by company fields and the area of its future plans in order to develop a land use plan that will guarantee secured access to land for the community members on the long term; 2. Greenfil company will carry out a new social and environmental impact report of their activities as the previous one was flawed.
(32) In June 2022, 2 partners from Mozambique (2) organised a conference with international women activists and land experts to strengthen their constituency and network as well as their capacity and the capacity of their members (rural women) to conduct advocacy and exert influence at governmental level on land policy and mainstreaming gender and women's rights, so that they can ensure that the legal framework currently being discussed will be just, inclusive and gender equal. The participants applied their learnings by writing a declaration about the need to include women in the national policy and law review processes and by presenting this declaration during a conference they organised directly after the retreat, and to which the Deputy Minister of Land participated.
(33) In November 2022, 3 partners from Liberia (1) used their strengthened advocacy skills on land valuation and land ownership reclamation which were gained through the participation in a forum on land right act and land valuation organised by 1 partner with the financial support of Both ENDS, to engage in a county level dialogue calling for open and transparent information regarding the operations of Western Cluster – a Class “A” mining company operating in the county. Though the National Legislature has taken some steps to claim and dig further in the company’s agreement with the Country, 2 FGG partners are working with the local community to ensure that the process is collective and considers the voices of women in the region.
(34) In September 2022, 2 partners from Liberia (0) strengthened their knowledge through legal education and land and natural resources awareness trainings organised by one partner with financial support from Both ENDS. They used the knowledge they gained to organise in Klay Town (one of Liberia’s area the most affected by oil palm activities), Bomi County, a campaign commemorating the International Day of Struggle against Monoculture Tree Plantations. It was the first time in Liberia that that day was celebrated. The women presented a statement to the gender coordinator of Bomi County and the district commissioner of Klay district denouncing the expansion of MANO oil palm plantation. The statement also stated the specific negative impacts that the concessions have on women and girls (lack of basic social services; women have to walk longer distance to get fire wood; they have lost their land and have become food insecure; sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment cases). They requested that their demands will be forwarded to the counties authorities (Bomi and Cape Mount counties).
(35) In October 2022, a partner from Indonesia (1) together with communities in Makassar used their strengthened knowledge and advocacy and communication capacities, gained from engaging with communities, financing and joint strategising with Both ENDS to provide input on the assessment report of ADSB concerning the complaint against ADSB for its involvement in the dredging project that affected these communities, advocating for improvements in ADSB’s CSR policies and local reparations. Both ENDS compiled the input and submitted it to ADSB’s complaint manager.
(36) In 2022, a partner from Uganda (1) used their strengthened knowledge and strategizing capacities, gained from joint strategising, advocacy and financial support from Both ENDS, to support communities to submit eight petitions, three memoranda, and four newspaper articles targeting their local leaders and demanding for Uganda to look beyond oil and gas due to the impacts it has on their livelihoods.
(37) In 2022, 6 partners from Uganda, Togo, Kenia and Ghana (6), together with international partners such as Both ENDS and Milieudefensie, used their strengthened knowledge and advocacy and communication capacities, gained from engaging with communities, financing and joint strategising with Both ENDS and Milieudefensie to jointly advocate for the continued withdrawal of Export Credit Agencies (ECA) from supporting oil and gas projects.
(38) In November 2022, 5 partners from Uganda, Togo, Kenia and Ghana (0) and Both ENDS used their strengthened knowledge of ECAs and a just (energy) transition and advocacy and communication capacities, gained from a joint workshop organized by the partners and joint by Both ENDS, engaging with communities, financing and joint strategising with Both ENDS and Milieudefensie to organize an official side event during COP27, calling on governments to stop their ECA support to fossil fuels and support a just energy transition.
(39) In December 2022, 3 Brazilian CSOs (3), Both ENDS, Milieudefensie and Oil Change International used their strengthened knowledge of the Santos project and advocacy and communication capacities, gained from joint strategising with Both ENDS and Milieudefensie to advocate towards the Dutch government to not provide ECA support to the proposed Santos FPSO in Brazil. https://www.bothends.org/en/Whats-new/Letters/No-export-credit-support-for-Santos-FPSO/
(40) In May 2022, a partner from Uganda (1) used its increased networking capacities and knowledge of ECAs and a just energy transition, gained through financial support, community engagements and joint strategising with Both ENDS, to present the voices from Global South groups during a high-level discussion (trialogue) around the COP26 implementation with the relevant Ministers and industry leaders. This partner advocated for a full stop on support for fossil fuels and the need for supporting a just transition. Both ENDS, Milieudefensie and Oil Change International joint the discussion.
(41) In August 2022, 5 African FGG partners (0) used their strengthened knowledge and access to information, gained through joint efforts from Milieudefensie and Both ENDS, to provide input to the official consultation concerning the Dutch implementation of the Glasgow statement, with the concrete ask not to support fossil fuels after the 2022 deadline. In total 60 CSOs submitted a response. Both ENDS and Milieudefensie provided input to the consultation and shared information on the draft implementation policy with the CSO network for them to define their own inputs. https://atradiusdutchstatebusiness.nl/nl/producten/consultatie_cop26.html
(42) In March 2022, a partner from Uganda (1), used its knowledge of investment protection, trade and gender, gained through joint strategizing and financial support from Both ENDS, to lobby the UN Commission on the Status of Women 66 for “Women in trade in Africa” and its implication for women.
(43) In May 2022, a partner from Uganda (0) used its strengthened network capacities, gained through financial support and network facilitation support by Both ENDS, to lobby the African Union against the Seeds Homogenisation policy plans in favour of farmers seed system managements in line with food security and environmental sound practices via a public meeting.
(44) In December 2022, a partner from Uganda (1) used its increased technical capacities, gained through knowledge exchange, joint planning and strategizing, and financial support from Both ENDS, to provide an in-depth training to policymakers of Burundi on East African Community (EAC) trade policy, International Investment Agreements and implications for human rights and the environment.
(45) In February and July 2022, a Peruvian partner (1) used its increased knowledge and technical capacities, gained through knowledge exchange, technical and financial support by Both ENDS, to lobby civil society actors, policymakers, and members of the national committee for trade and foreign affairs for just policies and enforceable mechanisms in the EU-Andean Countries Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
(46) In July 2022, 1 Indonesian Partner (1) used its strengthened technical capacities, gained through joint strategizing, technical and financial support from Both ENDS, to lobby the Indonesian Minister of Agriculture against joining UPOV91 via sending a direct letter explaining the issues and consequences. The Minister acknowledged privately the concerns of civil society.
(47) In July and August 2022, 1 partner from Indonesia (0) together with 6 local farmer groups (6) and 2 European (civil society) allies strengthened their knowledge on the harmful effects of including Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of seeds in trade agreements for small farmers, specially for women. The gendered impact of these IPR clauses was a central issue in this capacity development work. They did this by setting up webinars for relevant actors (a.o. CSOs and policymakers) across Indonesia and the EU on these IPR clauses, with special attention for their gendered impacts. In addition to strengthened knowledge, organising this webinar series also resulted in an expanded networks for these partners with other actors in this field. Both ENDS strategised with the partners and provided technical and financial support.
(48) In December 2022, 12 partners from Indonesia (10) strengthened their knowledge of national trade and investment policy in Indonesia, especially related to the WTO as well as the need for increased civil society participation in trade policy processes, by exchanging knowledge and jointly strategising with Both ENDS prior to and during the WTO meeting in Geneva. This joint preparation and increased knowledge enabled/empowered the partners to reach out to and engage with Indonesian policymakers present in Geneva, thereby also increasing their access to policymakers/decision-making spaces. In addition to technical assistance Both ENDS also contributed with financial support.
(49) In September 2022, 1 partner from Uganda (0) used its acquired capacity on the Gender and Youth protocol in the AfCFTA, gained through joint strategizing and knowledge exchanges with Both ENDS, to lobby the Secretary General of the AFCFTA in Tanzania via a meeting and a follow up letter towards inclusive gender and trade clauses.
(50) In May 2022, 1 partner from Uganda (0) used its acquired capacity on WTO negotiations to lobby the Ugandan Government to include CSOs perspectives in its WTO ministerial participation via a 1 to 1 meeting in Geneva during the WTO Ministerial. Both ENDS planned and strategised with the partner and provided technical and financial support.
(51) In September 2022, 1 partner from Uganda (0) used its increased information and technical capacities, gained through joint strategizing and financial support by Both ENDS, to lobby the East African Legislative Assembly via a petition letter to review the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community and the adoption of the Model Investment agreement to work for women and the youth.
Throughout 2023, we aim for 46 civil society actors from Asia, Africa and Latin America (e.g. India, Indonesia, Uganda) to lobby and advocate for among other things fair and green trade and investment agreements together with Domestic Advisory Groups (this includes advocacy to stop the expansion of the ECT, renegotiate and terminate IIAs and BITs with ISDS clauses, and add strong Trade and Sustainable Development Chapters to FTAs), inclusive land governance (incl. for the implementation of the VGGT), improved corporate accountability processes (i.e. towards public financial institutions), increased finance for transformative practices (i.e. for agroecological practices), and inclusive and sustainable water management and spatial planning. They will do so with enhanced research, knowledge, networking and advocacy capacities, strengthened through mutual capacity development activities including knowledge building support, joint strategising as well as network facilitation.
For more information on our concrete targets, we refer to the target narratives published on FGG3
B
agenda-setting, momentum-building and increased support
4
# key actors (government, private sector, other) who put FGG policy/practice recommendations on their agendas (e.g. meetings, debates, media coverage)
1) From July – November 2021, following the years long call by CSOs including Both ENDS, for the need to reform EU trade policy the European Commission opened a public consultation on the Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) Review (here civil society involvement is a key issue) seeking input from civil society. Both ENDS made a related submission: It will have to be seen what elements we have raised put on their agenda will be taken on board and addressed in their related communication [expected in 2022].
2) In December 2021, new Tanzanian politicians advising the President on Trade Policy, discussed the reviewing of current BITs signed by Tanzania and that are set to expire, after recommendations of FGG Partners. Both ENDS has been supporting with technical knowledge to CSOs in Tanzania.
3) In 2021, Ugandan Government officials requested the input of an FGG partner in Uganda, whose capacity on this topic was strengthened by Both ENDS, to understand the social impact of the investment national code.
4) In 2021, the African Union requested the input of a partner in Uganda, whose capacity has been strengthened by Both ENDS, to understand the possible social impact of the AfCFTA.
5) In 2021, after a Ugandan partner enhanced its media engagement with both print and broadcast we have seen increased media reports and publications on ECA financing in Uganda. Over 5 media channels have reported on ECAs in Uganda which has increased public awareness regarding the impacts of ECA financing on fossil fuels, unsustainable projects that have impacts on climate, economy as well as public debt.
6) In 2021, based on the meeting with local Indonesian communities, an Indonesian CSO and Both ENDS, ADSB put remedy and improved due diligence on its agenda for the resolution of the complaint procedure in relation to the support provided by ADSB for the CPI reclamation project. These include recommendations on incorporating a specific gender due diligence policy, and recommendations to defend civic space in countries where the supported projects of ADSB take place. (g) (x)
7) In November 2021, 6 key media channels in the Netherlands covered that the Netherlands was not willing to join a coalition of governments at COP26 that committed to stopping public finance for fossil fuel projects overseas. Both ENDS informed journalists before and at COP26, as well as organised an official side event on Paris alignment of ECAs together with international partners.
https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/rutte-roept-op-tot-actie-in-glasgow-maar-weigert-zelf-daad-bij-woord-te-voegen~bbb0a230/
https://www.nu.nl/klimaat/6165737/nederland-haakt-niet-aan-bij-plan-om-te-stoppen-met-investeringen-in-olie-en-gas.html
https://nos.nl/collectie/13871/artikel/2404345-vs-en-canada-stoppen-met-buitenlandse-fossiele-investeringen-nederland-tekent-niet
https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2021/11/dutch-dont-sign-cop26-pledge-to-phase-out-foreign-fossil-fuel-funding/
https://www.trouw.nl/politiek/na-dagen-vol-onbegrip-en-verontwaardiging-ondertekent-nederland-toch-verklaring-fossiele-energie~b2ea5862/
https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/nederland-maakt-draai-toch-einde-aan-steun-fossiele-brandstofprojecten-in-het-buitenland~aae3c89c/
8) In 2021, following the media attention on COP26, 5 political parties raised parliamentarian questions and filed a motion to call for the government to commit to the COP26 statement to stop public finance for fossil fuels by the end of 2022. Both ENDS briefed parliamentarians for years on this issue.
9) In 2021, a Parliamentarian from Senegal visited the Sendou project showing specific interest in the impacts of the project on women after lobbying and media attention raised by a Senegalese partner CSO. Both ENDS contributed through financial support, joint strategising and knowledge exchange. (g)
10) In 2021, a Cameroonian partner enhanced its media engagement which led to increased media awareness and five published newspaper articles on the negative impacts of the Nachtigal hydroelectric dam on surrounding communities. Both ENDS contributed through financial support, joint strategising and knowledge exchange.
11) In 2021, Partij voor de Dieren from the Netherlands asked parliamentary questions regarding FMO and the Agua Zarca case, including questions on gender justice, after advocacy efforts by Both ENDS.(g)
12) In December 2021, the Dutch Financieel Dagblad published a series of several articles questioning the functioning of Dutch Development Bank FMO after advocacy by Both ENDS and partners, creating momentum for further discussions on FGG priorities such as human rights due diligence, increased transparency and adequate control systems.
13) In April 2021, the Dutch Representation in the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Dutch Ministry of Finance discussed Both ENDS recommendations on strong banking policies, on country systems safeguards, and consultations with civil society during the expert session about the ADB requested by the Dutch MoFa and organized by the Dutch MoFa and Both ENDS, after lobbying in the Tuesday Group by Both ENDS.
14) In March 2021, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs discussed Both ENDS recommendations on safeguards, consultations and accountability for development banks during the deep dive sessions organized by the Ministry after lobbying in the Tuesday group by Both ENDS.
15) In 2021, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs discussed Both ENDS recommendations on the approach paper for Development Finance Institutions policy consultations during conversations with DFIs on upcoming consultations after a learning session on consultation by Both ENDS.
16) In 2021, FMO’s Independent Complaints Mechanism (ICM) promoted that FMO remedies the violation of FPIC rights and harms done in the Barro Blanco project during a site visit, investigation and in conversations with Both ENDS after joint advocacy by BE and partners.
17) RSPO Board of Governors adopted a proposal by Both ENDS to host a special meeting on labour with partner CSOs and union representatives: the meeting took place and local partners, including the Indonesian plantation workers union – represented on the RSPO Board, counseled by BE, CNV-International and Oxfam - informed the Board about pressing ground realities of human rights violations, especially women rights violations, and the difficulties faced by (female) workers, young women included, to be allowed to be organised and voice their concerns and demands without fear for reprisals. (g, x)
18) The Steering Group of the convenant Duurzaam Bosbeheer (incl. the Dutch MoFA, private sector actors and NGOs) discussed during its sessions Both ENDS’ suggestion to broaden the scope of a follow up to the Convenant to the EU arena and Parijs-Glasgow Climate Accord.
19) After a first open strategic brainstorm with Both ENDS on the role of Both ENDS, other INGOs, the Ministry, the embassies and expertise networks in the regions itself – in terms of assessing risks, and preventive and remedial actions and instruments, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has agreed to follow-up with a dialogue and organise a follow-up meeting to brainstorm further about this with a number of embassies. (X)
20) In 2021, FMO profiled company-community programmes as proposed by Both ENDS, featuring the promotion of non-timber forest products and other sources of livelihood and forest conservation through dedicated company community collaboration. See FMO’s special publication: https://future-minded.fmo.nl/future-minded-biodiversity/at-the-frontlines/
21) Ugandan prime-time media invited a Ugandan partner to various talk shows, to discuss the violations of human rights of women working in commercial investment schemes. This is has increased general public awareness of this issue. Both ENDS contributed by offering financial support and a sounding board. ( X,g )
22) Prime-time Nigerian TV covered the call to stop the illegal logging and destruction of Cross River State rainforests see for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlweqrrIq8g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOlL5R_KuEQ. This came after Both ENDS Nigerian partner co-launched an international campaign to generate pressure of the Cross River State government, including a petition which was signed by over 100.000 people: https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/petitions/1239/nigeria-save-cross-river-states-unique-forests
23) In September 2021, after four years of inaction, the Senior Divisional Officer of a commune in Cameroon and a representative of tan agri-company operating in this commune discussed the demands and recommendations of one local community and one local CSO network in relation to respecting the community’s rights and sticking to contractual arrangements and rights frameworks (FPIC, and ensuring civil society consultation) during a consultation meeting initiated by a local Both ENDS partner and members of the CSO network and promised to convoke a meeting between the director of the agri-company and the Chief of the local community to review the existing MoU based on the flaws observed and discussed during the meeting. (x)
24) In 2021, various government officials and journalists from Chirundu District in Zambia discussed the importance of human rights and responsible land-based investments guidelines (including the National Resettlement Policy) during a training organised by a local Both ENDS partner in the Monze district, whose deliberations made top headlines on a local radio station (Modern Voice radio on 99.5 FM).
25) Based on public outreach in 2021 through media (opinion piece in Vice Versa) and a direct letter to the Dutch Minister of Trade and Development Cooperation via the informal Food4All coalition that Both ENDS helped set up, Both ENDS has stressed the importance of including the voices of small-scale farmers and food producers in multilateral decision-making processes in general and spaces like the UN Food Systems Summit in particular. In his response, the Dutch Minister of Trade and Development Cooperation has acknowledged the concerns raised, inviting Both ENDS and other members of the Food4All coalition to more in-depth discussions on the issues highlighted with high-level officials at both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. (x)
26) In 2021, the Dutch governmental task force that leads the organisation of the UN Water Conference in 2023, formally consulted Both ENDS in three occasions in which Both ENDS shared recommendations on how to organise the process and the conference itself in an inclusive manner and by ensuring the meaningful participation of civil society, particularly youth and women.
27) In 2021, following a Letter of Concern written by a large consortium of international, Dutch and Filipino civil society organisations, Atradius DSB invited FGG partners to share their environmental and human rights concerns about the NMIA project, which were subsequentially put on the agenda of Atradius DSB.
28) In 2021, following contact with Both ENDS, members of parliament submitted questions to the Minister of Finance regarding the role of Atradius DSB and the provision of an export credit insurance to Boskalis for the land development and dredging activities for the New Manila International Airport.
29) In 2021, following a Letter of Concern written by a large consortium of international, Dutch and Filipino civil society organisations, Boskalis invited Both ENDS and other Dutch NGOs to discuss their impact mitigation plans concerning the land development and dredging activities for the New Manila International Airport.
30) In 2021, following requests by an FGG partner, the NCEA initiated a conversation with Atradius DSB to explore a potential independent review by NCEA of the ESIA associated with the New Manila International Airport for which Boskalis had requested an export credit insurance.
31) During the World Water Week in August, Both ENDS co-organised an official SIWI-seminar on the Politics of Water, for which 2 FGG partners set the stage from a justice point of view, and after which the issue was further discussed among (high-level) government officials, stakeholders from the private sector, knowledge institutes, and other civil society organisations.
32) During the World Food Safety Day in June, a national Kenyan TV Channel interviewed an FGG partner about the benefits of organic agriculture for safe and nutritious foods, after continuous outreach on the topic of the FGG partner the last few years (Both ENDS supported their work financially and by joint strategising).
33) In December 2021, The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) of Kenya decided to host the World Wetlands Day celebration at Ondiri Wetland, which is a clear sign of the importance of this wetland and a recognition of the concerted efforts by Both ENDS and 1 FGG partner during the FGG 2 programme to promote the conservation of this wetland.
34) In December 2021, 3 local newspapers of Satkhira district Bangladesh covered the project of 1 FGG partner which talked to the newspapers during a field visit about the benefits that community-based Tidal River Management brings for the development of agroecological livelihoods. This is the result of continuous work on TRM in practice and outreach on the topic by the FGG partner (Both ENDS supported their work financially and by joint strategising).
35) In November 2021, the IOB evaluation unit of MoFA invited Both ENDS and 1 FGG partner to contribute to an evaluation regarding foreign policy coherence by the Netherlands on water, climate adaptation/ mitigation, and food security – particularly focusing on Bangladesh for a case study. Both ENDS and the FGG partner stressed the importance of ecosystem restoration and inclusive approaches. This invitation is the result of continuous work and outreach on the topic.
36) In November 2021, after various conversations about the benefits of Tidal River Management initiated by 1 FGG partner from Bangladesh and Both ENDS, a Dutch and internationally renowned water consultancy firm brought together a potential consortium – including Both ENDS and 1 FGG partner from Bangladesh – to promote the implementation of Tidal River Management in south-west coastal Bangladesh by writing a project proposal to the Bangladeshi government for the strategic implementation of the Bangladesh Delta Plan.
We expect that 25 key actors, including local and national governments, parliaments, international organisations, and private actors from Africa, Asia and Europe (from e.g. Uganda, Kenya, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Mozambique and the Netherlands) will put FGG recommendations on their agendas regarding fair and green trade and investment agreements (incl. BITs, IIAs, and EU FTAs), and inclusive land governance, improvement of corporate accountability processes (i.a. at the RSPO and public financial institutions), financing transformative practices, and inclusive and sustainable water management and spatial planning.
(1) In May and December 2022 the Dutch Ministry of Finance responded to a letter of concern authored by Both ENDS and FGG partners from the Philippines regarding Dutch involvement in the NMIA project, by means of a letter to parliament and the authors expressing, among other things, their assurance that the OECD Guidelines would be adhered to in relation to this project.
(2) In November 2022, representatives of the Dutch prime time documentary series Frontlinie decided to shoot a documentary about the NMIA case and the role of the Netherlands after reading the 2021 op-ed by Both ENDS and FGG partners from the Philippines and speaking with Both ENDS representatives.
(3) Mid 2022, the international human rights NGO Global Witness decided to expand their analysis of New Manila International Airport project to include the role of Atradius DSB after initiating several meetings with representatives of Both ENDS about this case. The analysis was published as a report in 2023.
(4) In January 2022, Birdlife magazine published an article on the significance of Northern Manilla bay (Philippines) for endangered bird species and threats posed by large scale developments such as the NMIA, after attending a meeting with the NMIA due diligence consultants with other FGG partners, upon invitation from Both ENDS.
(5) In July 2022, The Policy and Operations Evaluation Department (IOB) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited a representative of Both ENDS to discuss the Dutch Beira city partnership (Mozambique) during an expert meeting on Dutch policy coherence in Mozambique on the topic of policy coherence vis a vis food security, water and climate change.
(6) In November 2022, Deltares and RVO invited a representative of Both ENDS to lead a dialogue with various Dutch and Mozambican water sector professionals about implementing the Negotiated Approach to water governance in Beira city, Mozambique, during an event of the Community of Practice of Social Inclusion of the Dutch water sector, which is funded by RVO and coordinated by Deltares.
(7) In October 2022, the AfDB-Independent Review Mechanism confirmed via e-mail to have raised concerns on an incident on civic space of 1 FGG partner from Senegal and Both ENDS to behind closed doors encourage the Senegalese government to release the arrested TER (Dakar Regional Express Train) project affected persons and staff, after Both ENDS and the partner sent letters to several actors within the Bank, contributing to countering shrinking civic space. After among others, this effort by the AfDB, the arrested people were released. (x)
(8) In January 2022, at least 6 Senegalese media outlets discussed the recommendation by 1 FGG partner from Senegal on the TER (Dakar Regional Express Train) project financed by the AfDB in their news-outlets after campaigning by the partner. Both ENDS has been supporting with financial support and knowledge exchange.
(9) In September 2022, the AfDB, Malicounda Power, Senelec and Africa 50 committed to the recommendation of a Both ENDS partner from Senegal to participate in a mediation trajectory with the Independent Review Mechanism after this partner supported communities to file a complaint that requested mediation regarding the Malicounda project. Both ENDS contributed with financial support , joint networking and knowledge exchange.
(10) In September 2022, the Independent Redress Mechanism (AfDB) and the Independent Complaints Mechanism (FMO) implemented Both ENDS’ partner’s request to conduct another site visit to the Sendou plant, after LSD advocated for this visit to take place.
(11) In July 2022, the CAO, Inspection Panel and IRM supported one Cameroonian partner’s request for a complaints process by deeming eligible the complaint on the Nachtigal project. This partner filed the complaint on behalf of affected communities earlier that year, with technical and financial support of Both ENDS.
(12) In December 2022, the Mozambican district government and Total in Mozambique verbally committed to Both ENDS’ partner UPC’s recommendation to re-start the tripartite regular meetings on the resettlement process of the Mozambique LNG project after UPC’s advocacy on this. Both ENDS supported financially and technically.
(13) In 2022, FMO and DEG continued to promote M10, ACD’s, Both ENDS’ and SOMO’s recommendation for a responsible exit from the Barro Blanco project by visiting the communities and engaging in dialogue.
(14) In the first half of 2022, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Dutch Ministry of Finance put FGG recommendations (during the joint submission on the AfDB Safeguards Consultation – with FGG’s recommendation for improvements for the Integrated Safeguards System at the African Development Bank), including gender justice on their agenda. They did this, as shareholder, giving their own input in line with FGG recommendations, into the review process of the AfDB Safeguards.(g)
(15) In June 2022, Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant discussed the petition against FMO after 1 FGG partner from Honduras and Berta Caceres’ family members filed a report at the public prosecutor against FMO. Both ENDS has been supporting with network building and knowledge exchange.
(16) In July 2022, Dutch newspaper Trouw discussed the problematic Dutch involvement in the Mozambique LNG letter, after Both ENDS and partners sent a public letter to the responsible Dutch ministries.
(17) In 2022, Professor Karanja, a facilitator contracted by FMO and MIGA for the Salima case in Malawi, promoted CHRRs and IAPs recommendations, including on gender justice, in his report of the facilitated dialogue after advocacy and written input by the CSOs. Both ENDs supported financially and technically, IAP CHRR and Both ENDS continuously strategize together. (g)
(18) In September and October 2022, 3 Ugandan media outlets discussed the recommendations of 1 FGG partner from Uganda related to the land conflict on the Achwa Hydro project after campaigning. Both ENDS has been supporting with financial support and knowledge exchange.
(19) In December 2022, a Dutch Parliamentarian (from GroenLinks) asked Parliamentary questions about the independent review on the safety situation in the LNG Mozambique project after Both ENDS and Milieudefensie repeatedly updated the Parliamentarian on the situation in Mozambique.
(20) In July 2022, FMO committed via a High Level Dialogue as well as a written letter to a certain extend of support for Both ENDS recommendations on community engagement, accountability, climate, financial intermediaries and transparency in a letter to Both ENDS. The commitments FMO made included concrete steps for improvement. This was a result of years of advocacy on these topics by Both ENDS and SOMO.
(21) In December 2022, FMO (1) committed via e-mail to postponing their decision to invest in Amret, Cambodia and to investigate the concerns Both ENDS, SOMO and partners raised as well as if the loan would be approved, to include additional conditions, after a letter sent by Both ENDS, SOMO and partners that urged FMO not to further invest in the microfinance sector in Cambodia as long as the risk remains as high as it currently is.
(22) In 2022, based on internal CSO conversations and briefings, and lobby within the RSPO Board and various RSPO constituencies (plantation companies, GCMs, retail, financiers, processors and traders): Forbisi, Both ENDS and other partnering NGOs submitted 2 resolutions for voting during the RSPO General Assembly: 1 on increasing civic space by the inclusion of small holders in RSPO/governmental Jurisdictional Approaches and one on amending the RSPO Code of Conduct. These resolutions have been formally tabled on the formal agenda at the RSPO general assemble for discussion, deliberation and voting. (x)
(23) In 2022, Both ENDS successfully lobbied the RSPO Board of Governors to agree for the RSPO Secretariat to formulate a 2nd phase RSPO Outreach Programme to Intermediary organisations and allocate budget for this, to enhance the capacity of CSOs, workers, women organisations and communities to effectively engage in RSPO negotiation process and hold companies to account through RSPO’s complains system. To that effect, Both ENDS with RSPO Secretariat prepared a decision memo which was subsequently adopted by the RSPO Board. The proposed outreach programme, with specific attention to womens’ rights, is to effectively provide a safe space for local stakeholders, e.g. women, workers and communities to participate in RSPO processes at local, national and international level. Without fear for intimidation or facing obstacles that hinder their effective participation or the expression of their voices. (g) (x)
(24) In 2022, Both ENDS contacted various Dutch parliamentarians to ask their attention to indigenous and environmental rights violations related to MTCS timber, intimidation of spokes persons (through a so called SLAPP suit) and deforestation in Malaysia in relation to the Dutch timber procurement policy. As a result of the briefings which Both ENDS organised together with Malaysian partners, one Dutch political party (Green Left Party) raised questions about these problems. This concerns the pressing intimidation of local indigenous organization, and is expressing concerns about shrinking civic space due to the continues logging in Indigenous land by a Malaysian logging company without indigenous peoples having proper access to a grievance system, protection and remedy. See questions raised in parliament: https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/kamerstukken/2022/10/07/beantwoording-kamervragen-over-door-de-nederlandse-regering-erkende-mtcs-certificaten (x)
(25) In 2022, Dutch newspaper Trouw covered the human and environmental rights violations related to MTCS timber from Malaysia and the related SLAPP suit against indigenous spokes persons based on interviews with indigenous spokes persons whose visit to The Netherlands was co-facilitated by Both ENDS. The Dutch delegation came to the Netherlands in defence of their civic space - to seek support, solidarity and media exposure – and to defend their rights without fear for intimidation and retaliation. See: https://www.trouw.nl/economie/duurzaam-hout-uit-maleisie-is-zo-duurzaam-niet-zeggen-inheemse-bewoners-uit-borneo-bulldozers-walsen-door-het-woud-heen~b3aeb89d/ (x)
(26) In 2022, one of Asia’s largest state-owned mining consortia agreed to explore the possibilities of rehabilitation of abandoned mining sites following the methods of and led by a partner of Both ENDS. The mining consortium came to this agreement in the context of continuous dialogues with the government about the need for social and ecological rehabilitation, notably also of mining-induced displaced communities, just energy transition and the potential to make these destroyed landscapes productive again.
(27) In 2022, one Asian’s state National Institute on Nutrition agreed to a formal partnership with an FGG partner to jointly make an inventory of and explore wild foods from the forest. This partnership is an important step forwards as it expresses recognition by a formal leading governmental agency in support of Both ENDS’ partners’ advocacy to gain official recognition for the vital importance of wild food from the forest for hundreds of millions of people, most of whom living in poverty.
(28) In 2022, female palm oil workers from 3 communities in Kalimantan Indonesia, through the continuous support of 1 FGG partner in Indonesia, used their strengthened advocacy capacities from the process of assessing women’s conditions in the palm oil sector, to advocate for their labor rights towards the management of Genting Plantation Berhard and to the management of Agro Andalan plantation. Some of the labor rights for women that have been advocated for are now being handled step by step by the management of Genting Plantation Berhad. In addition, they advocated in an official complaint to the management of Agro Andalan plantation to immediately pay for the rights of the laid off women oil palm plantation workers. Both ENDS contributed with financial support.
(29) In November 2022, key actors such as FNV and 8 scientists in economics, who hadn’t spoken out on this issue before, provided input on and co-signed an opinion article on the Dutch implementation of the Glasgow Statement, which Both ENDS coordinated writing. https://fd.nl/opinie/1458272/de-geloofwaardigheid-van-nederland-staat-op-het-spel
(30) In October 2022, European political parties S&D and the Greens joined a meeting with ECA-watch members, co-lead by Both ENDS. They committed to and followed-up by exchanging information in order to align EU ECAs with the goals of the Paris Agreement and human rights, including gender equality. (g) (x)
(31) In 2022, a partner from Uganda used their strengthened knowledge and strategizing capacities, gained from joint strategising, advocacy and financial support from Both ENDS, to support communities to submit eight petitions, three memoranda, and four newspaper articles targeting their local leaders and demanding for Uganda to look beyond oil and gas due to the impacts it has on their livelihoods.
(31) In March 2022, the UN Commission on the Status of Women 66 acknowledged and pledged to use the input of CSOs on “Women in trade in Africa” for its report via a public meeting. Both ENDS exchanged knowledge with and provided financial support to the CSOs.
(32) In November and December 2022, policymakers of the transition team of the newly elected Brazilian government invited partners to discuss and obtain input for just trade perspectives into trade agreements, in particular the EU-Mercosur FTA, Brazil-Chile FTA, Brazil-Singapore FTA. Both ENDS provided financial support and discussed the results with Mercosur CSOs.
(33) From May to December 2022, 14 national and international mainstream news outlets used our partner’s (bilaterals.org) information and articles for analysis and magnification of issues associated to trade agreements and investment creating awareness on harmful clauses Both ENDS and bilaterals.org have been advocating against via bilaterals.org. Both ENDS provided financial support to and shared knowledge with the network for advocacy.
(34) In June and August 2022, Tanzanian policymakers from the ministry of Investment, trade and industry in charge of trade and investment policy acknowledged with FGG partners to have received input on harmful investment protection clauses in trade policy and committed in private to review the Tanzanian National Investment Development Policy (NIDP) of 2022 to be in line with CSOs input. Both ENDS has been supporting CSOs in Tanzania with technical knowledge.
(35) In June 2022, Indonesian policymakers accepted the invitation of our partners to meet and discuss the role and impact of the ongoing WTO ministerial negotiations for Indonesia’s agriculture, fisheries and access to vaccines in Geneva during the WTO ministerial. The politicians committed in private to incorporate CSOs input into their positions. Both ENDS facilitated CSOs’ participation at the WTO and provided technical support.
(36) In February and July 2022, the EU Parliamentarian Committee on International Trade invited FGG Peruvian partner to collect input on how to best strengthen environmental and human rights provisions in the EU-Colombia, Ecuador and Peru Free Trade Agreement. Both ENDS provided technical knowledge to and shared relevant information on EU trade policy with the partner.
(37) In 2022, a partner from Uganda was added to the National committee on the AfCFTA. This committee is to follow up with the implementation and trading under the AfCFTA. The African Union requested the input of the partner to understand the possible social impact of the AfCFTA.
(38) In 2022 the EU Parliamentarian Committee on International Trade committed to consult officially in the EU Parliament CSOs from the Andean countries after a lobby encounter in Peru with FGG partners in which they advocated amongst other things for improved involvement of civil society in trade policy making processes. (x)
(39) Mid-2022, 2 Dutch Ministries (the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) organised two sessions with civil society, academics and private sector on what role the Netherlands can take in response to the global food crisis, herewith putting on the agenda FGG recommendations: the importance of (i) ensuring financial support ends up in the hands of those who need it most (local farmers and communities, especially women and youth) and (ii) resilient food systems (including addressing dependency relations). Both ENDS articulated these recommendations the last years towards the Ministries and parliament (which evolved into a passed motion asking for a ‘stappenplan’ for global food security in response to the food crisis). (g)
(40) In June 2022, the Dutch parliament (Commission on Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) organised a Round Table Conversation on land and ownership rights with civil society, academics and private sector/government (amongst which a representative of civil society from Kenya), hereby following a recommendation of the Dutch LANDdialogue to increase the knowledge of parliamentarians on land rights (in particular for women) in order to integrate this knowledge in their work related to agriculture and food policy, financial flows, feminist foreign policy and the IRBC law. Both ENDS was leading the process of the LANDdialogue on the recommendation towards parliament. (g)
(41) In June 2022, the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality put resilient food systems and food security on the agenda by organising a panel during the ‘terugkomdagen’ of the Dutch agricultural councils, and invited panellists to reflect on this (amongst others Food Security Unit of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a representative of Both ENDS). Both ENDS has been advocating for more attention to resilient food systems and food security as a starting point in the work of agricultural councils.
(42) In May 2022, a progressive funders network initiated a panel discussion on food sovereignty and trade – including stronger recognition of the role of women in these topics- during their regional gathering in Europe, after several conversations in which Both ENDS raised the issue of innovative funding for (i) agroecology with local groups (farmers/women) and (ii) on the nexus with trade – as much of the structural changes can occur in the trade paradigm (g)
(43) In 2022, Dutch MPs discussed and asked several questions in Parliament based on Both ENDS’ concerns about the impacts of existing Dutch Bilateral Investment Treaties for the phasing out of fossil fuels. Both ENDS highlighted their concerns at a round table discussion in parliament on 23 February 2022. In May 2022, MP Van Raan (PvdD) asked related questions in parliament and in November similar questions about investment protection agreements beyond the ECT were asked by the fraction of the ChristenUnie.
(44) In July 2022, the Dutch Senate discussed the role and powers granted to new committees the EU intends to establish in all its future trade agreements. This discussion was based on an analysis made by Both ENDS of the CETA text on the role and powers granted to new committees the EU intends to establish. After the publication and dissemination of the analysis, Both ENDS engaged in related awareness raising activities through among other things social media, targeting members of the Dutch Senate, about the potential challenges in terms of democratic control of these new committees.
(45) In July 2022, the Dutch online platform Joop of BNNVARA, a broadcasting association and network within the Dutch public broadcasting system, published an opinion article of Both ENDS based on an analysis made by Both ENDS of the CETA text on the role and powers granted to new committees the EU intends to establish.
(46) In May and October 2022, the Dutch newspaper Trouw and food website ‘Foodlog’ published an opinion article of Both ENDS about the importance to ensure funding ends up in the hands of sustainable, small-scale farmers. Both ENDS wrote the opinion article, and it is especially meaningful that a national newspaper -Trouw- pays attention to the topic. https://www.trouw.nl/opinie/geef-meer-geld-aan-lokale-duurzame-voedselproducenten-in-ontwikkelingslanden~bd07f611/ https://www.foodlog.nl/artikel/nederland-kan-de-voedselcrisis-helpen-oplossen/
(47) In November 2022, The county authorities of Liberia invited women leaders and CSOs to a dialogue on land valuation and land ownership reclamation and to find the rightful redress process. This was the result of advocacy efforts by 1 FGG partner from Liberia who gained strengthened advocacy skills on land valuation and land ownership reclamation by participating in a forum on land right act and land valuation organised by 1 FGG partner and with the financial support of Both ENDS. The partner used these acquired skills to call the county authorities for an investigation regarding the huge extraction of timber from their county, arguing this is destroying their primary forests and not benefiting the communities. The process is still ongoing and followed by one partner with Both ENDS financial support.
(48) In January 2023, the Senior Divisional Officer of the Nkam department of the Littoral region from Cameroon implemented the partners recommendations by organising a spatial data verification visit of the Greenfil plantations in the village of Ndogbakand as a result of the ongoing dialogues initiated by 4 FGG partners from Cameroon with the national government and Greenfil company and also of the media coverage (also initiated by 1 FGG partner) exposing the problems caused by the company’s activities. The dialogue process and the media coverage were financed by Both ENDS.
(49) In October 2022, 2 policymakers from the Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Trade, and Environment and representatives of 7 counties - (Kiambu, Murunga, Busia, Makueni, Machakos, Vihiga and Kajiado) from Kenya expressed verbally their support for sustainable food systems in general and agroecology policies in particular by collectively acknowledging the need to increase their synergy in order to foster more sustained and broad-based support of agroecology practices among decision-makers. This resulted from the first cross-sectoral exchange forum between different ministries and different counties organised in Kenya and was the first of its kind. It was organized by 1 partner in order to facilitate understanding and collaboration between these actors to increase the spreading of agroecology practices. This was realised with Both ENDS financial support.
We expect that 23 key actors, including local and national governments, parliaments, international organisations, and private actors from Africa, Asia and Europe (from e.g. Uganda, Cameroon, Kenya, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Mozambique and the Netherlands) will put FGG recommendations on their agendas regarding fair and green trade and investment agreements (incl. BITs, IIAs, and EU FTAs), inclusive land governance (e.g. related to the implementation of the VGGTs, focusing on legitimate tenure rights, participatory land use planning and women’s land rights), improvement of corporate accountability processes (i.a. at the RSPO and public financial institutions), financing transformative practices, and inclusive and sustainable water management and spatial planning.
For more information on our concrete targets, we refer to the target narratives published on FGG3
A
strengthened capacities
1
# of CSOs included in the FGG programme
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
B
agenda-setting, momentum-building and increased support
4x
# of instances in which the recommendation a key actor puts on its agenda aims to contribute to expanding/defending civic space
N/A
From these 25 actors, we aim for 7 policymakers and private actors from Asia, Africa and Latin America, including from India, Indonesia, Kenya, and Mozambique ), to put an FGG recommendation on their agenda that contributes to defending or advancing civic space. These recommendations concern among other things improved civil society engagement in decision making processes regarding land governance, corporate accountability processes in the palm oil sector, and water-related spatial plans and infrastructure.
N/A
From these 23 actors, we aim for 4 policymakers and private actors from Asia (including from India and Indonesia), to put an FGG recommendation on their agenda that contributes to defending or advancing civic space. These recommendations concern among other things improved civil society engagement in decision-making processes regarding land governance, corporate accountability processes in the palm oil sector, and water-related spatial plans and infrastructure.
For more information on our concrete targets, we refer to the target narratives published on FGG3
A
strengthened capacities
2
# targeted civil society actors with strengthened capacities for lobbying and advocacy
1) From February-May 2021, 6 partners from the Mercosur bloc strengthened their knowledge on the EU-Mercosur deal through knowledge exchange and in depth interviews in preparation for the EU-Mercosur publication. Both ENDS conducted and analyzed the interviews, hereby functioning as a bridge between the local groups from the Mercosur bloc and the Handel Anders coalitie.
2) In October 2021, 2 partners from the Mercosur bloc, strengthened their knowledge regarding the government procurement in the EU-Mercosur deal by/through knowledge exchange with BE.
3) In 2021 partners from Uganda , Tanzania and Indonesia, strengthened their knowledge on the link between the Sustainable Development Goals and trade policy (i.e. the importance of civil society participation in trade policy) through knowledge exchange with and technical support from Both ENDS (x).
4) In November 2021 2 partners from Uganda and Tanzania strengthened their knowledge on harmful clauses included in Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) to lobby and advocate for stopping and renegotiation of current BITs in Burundi. Both ENDS provided technical information in the virtual workshops organized by the partners.
5) In March 2021, 5 partners from Indonesia held a workshop to strengthen their knowledge on national laws related to the SDGs, and Trade and environmental protection regulations in Indonesia. Both ENDS provided financial support and shared technical information.
6) In November 2021, one partner from Indonesia together with European partners (incl. SOMO) and European CSOs held virtual meetings and presentations to strengthen their knowledge on enforceability of the Trade and Sustainable Development chapter in the EU-CEPA Indonesia. Both ENDS provided technical support via a presentation and answering questions as well as financial support.
7) In April 2021, 2 partners from Indonesia strengthened their knowledge on which laws are incompatible with the Sustainable Development Goals in order to be able to advocate for stronger laws on Trade and Sustainable Development through capacity building events organized by another Both ENDS partner with financial support from Both ENDS .
8) In 2021 6 partners from Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique and Zimbabwe held information workshops and advocacy trainings on the risks of the African Continental Free Trade Area for women’s rights. Both ENDS had provided input for the material used in the trainings and financial support (g).
9) In December 2021, one partner from Uganda, strengthened the capacity of women and girls with knowledge and skills to actively participate in activities within the energy sector and demand for transvestments from the gender perspective by organizing a community training, through financial support from and joint strategizing and networking with Both ENDS (g).
10) In October 2021, one partner from Uganda, built staff and community champions capacity on digital and physical security and adapted its operational strategies on how to continue operating safely within a volatile environment through financial support from and joint strategizing and networking with Both ENDS. (x)
11) In 2021, a Ugandan partner established a network of 36 resilient community clean energy champions, comprised of youth and women who are leading the decarbonization campaign at the grass-roots level. They are working to mobilize other communities to engage with duty bearers through the submission of petitions, letters, demanding the greening of ECA investments in the country. The champions are continuously reaching out to their fellow community members, strengthening their networks and resilience to campaign for greening investments. Both ENDS contributed through financial support and joint strategizing (g)
12) In 2021, via joint strategizing, knowledge exchange and financial support with/from Both ENDS, an Indonesian partner mobilized fishermen, youth and women from communities to stand up for their rights with regards to sand mining projects in the coastal waters around Makassar. Through exchanging knowledge and experiences the network between these communities has been strengthened and a shared advocacy agenda has been developed. The communities received trainings on what their rights are, for example on being informed and consulted in decision making that affects their livelihoods. They have formed teams that will prepare legal cases against this legislation that damages the livelihoods of fishermen, women and youth. (g) (x)
13) In 2021, 4 partners from Senegal strengthened their constituency/network in the affected communities as well as with national CSOs, access to decision making spaces at FMO and AfDB, advocacy/communication skills to raise attention for the TER and Sendou case, and leverage/influencing skills with focus on gender justice in community meetings, through strategy meetings with Both ENDS and joint advocacy activities towards FMO and AfDB. Both ENDS also provided financial support (g).
14) In 2021, 3 partners from Uganda strengthened their constituency/network in the affected communities, access to departmental and national decision making spaces, advocacy skills by having better knowledge of rights and regulations, leverage governments institutions and ability to act freely and safely on the topic of land rights related to the development of hydropower projects in the North of Uganda. They achieved this through community workshops organized by 2 Both ENDS partners , community advocacy meetings with specific focus on gender justice, and joint strategy meetings with Both ENDS. Both ENDS provided financial support (g)
15) In 2021, 2 partners from Uganda strengthened their knowledge on shrinking civic space through organizing strategy meetings with Ugandan lawyers on state repression to strengthen their response towards shrinking civic space and joint strategy meetings with Both ENDS. (x)
16) In 2021, 2 partners from Panama, strengthened their local constituency and, access to FMO’s Independent Complaints Mechanism (ICM) and Inter American Court on human Rights, by organizing community meetings, joint strategy meetings and joint advocacy meetings with Both ENDS targeting the ICM. Both ENDS also provided financial support.
17) In 2021, 2 partners from Malawi, strengthened their constituency/network in the communities affected by the Salima project, their access to FMO and MIGA, and their leverage/influencing skills with focus on gender justice by organizing community meetings and workshops for accountability clubs, , as well as joint strategy meetings and advocacy towards FMO, MIGA and the project owner with Both ENDS. Both ENDS also provided financial support(g)
18) In 2021, 1 partner from Mozambique, strengthened it’s constituency network , access to decision making spaces at the COP26, and ability to act freely and safely through joint strategizing with and financial support from Both ENDS to locate the partners’ members dispersed by war and continue organizing themselves, organizing constituency meetings, participating in a COP 26 event organized by Both ENDS and joint advocacy with Both ENDS towards Dutch dredging company Van Oord. Both ENDS provided financial support(x)
19) In 2021, 1 partner from Cameroon strengthened its knowledge of and access to the CAO-IFC complaint mechanism through working sessions and exchanges a.o. with CAO IFC staff, where-in a complaint was prepared for filing at this complaint mechanism against deficiencies in compensation for communities affected by the World Bank financed Nachtigal hydroelectric dam. Both ENDS organized the working sessions and provided financial support.
20) In 2021, a partner from Cameroon worked with 3 communities and 3 groups of workers affected by the construction of the World Bank financed Nachtigal hydroelectric dam, on strengthening their knowledge of the minimum social and environmental safeguards of international financial institutions and their opportunities for engaging in dispute resolution. Both ENDS contributed through financial support, having joint strategy meetings with the partner and sharing knowledge.
21) In 2021, a partner from Cameroon organized a capacity building workshop for its CSO membership on projects financed by international financial institutions. Both ENDS contributed by providing financial support, having joint strategy meetings with the partner and sharing knowledge.
22) Between September and December 2021, a partner from Brazil engaged in training and capacity building of 20 women representatives of 2 local communities. They have strengthened their knowledge of agro-ecological practices, gender equity and lobbying strategies – with a focus on the women’s access to land rights – by conducting and participating in a series of workshops and practices on agro-ecological gardening and a series of workshops for lobby skills called ‘10 steps towards engaged citizenship’. Both ENDS has contributed by continued strategizing with this Brazilian partner on for example the inclusion of agro-ecological practice into their work and information exchange about policies concerning the port of Suape.
23) From July to November 2021 , a partner from Peru has trained various local communities members strengthening their knowledge of agro-ecological practices as well as lobbying strategies with a focus on access to land rights, community monitoring, involvement of youth and women community members in decision making. They did this by conducting and participating in a series of workshops an training sessions Both ENDS contributed by financially supporting the work of this partner with the community.
24) On 16th September 2021 in West Kalimantan Indonesia four transmigrant communities and indigenous peoples strengthened their skills in participatory mapping of their indigenous customary territories in order to defend their indigenous territories from land grabbing by oil palm plantation and mining companies, facilitated by an Indonesian partner. Both ENDS contributed with financial support for trainings and networking.
25) On 30-31 October 2021 in West Kalimantan Indonesia, 20 indigenous women participants from four communities who are involved with existing cases with oil palm plantations and forestry sector, followed a training on women leadership for human rights and environmental defence; they have strengthened their leadership capacity and women activism , and improved the ability to advocate for women issues in their own home communities. Subsequently on 1-2 November 2021, the women’s groups received training to be strengthened in understanding human rights and how to apply FPIC, in particular community and gender based human rights and environmental defending monitoring system. Both ENDS contributed with financial support . (g)(x)
26) In September 2021, in Indonesia 2 women groups in Kalimantan were established and received training on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and gender, and in the training additionally women socio-economy and environment impact of palm oil was mapped. The training resulted in increased skills to monitor water quality, understanding river management, mapping changes on their socio-economy and environment, and knowledge and skill on organic waste management. Both ENDS contributed with financial support. (g)
27) Throughout 2021, with financial support and organisational advice from Both ENDS, a federation of indigenous tribes in the Philippines enhanced its ability to assist communities to negotiate land tenure and gain access to government services. For background, see: https://www.peopleandplants.org/traditional-foodways/the-philippines and http://spnkk.org/ (x) (g)
28) In 2021, through strategic counseling from Both ENDS, a partner in Sarawak-Malaysia strengthened it’s knowledge and advocacy skills related to Native Customary Land Rights in the context of the Sarawak elections and how to best stimulate indigenous communities to make informed decisions about this issue amidst ongoing land-grab, violation of customary land-rights and deforestation.
29) In 2021, with counseling offered by Both ENDS, CNV and Oxfam Novib, a plantation workers union in Indonesia enhanced its ability to become a more effective member of the RSPO Board of Governors by increasing its knowledge of the workings of this RSPO governance body. See e.g. https://www.rspo.org/ga17/GA17Nominations_SNGO_BOTHENDS.pdf
30) In 2021, with fund raising and brokering support and organizational advice from Both ENDS, 5 NGOs and 4 partnering network hubs in Asia gained access to renewed and expanded funding. This enabled the partner a.o. to expand it’s capacity building training and financial support to 12 local CSOs and, over 80 indigenous communities, which included training to especially tribal women which encouraged these women to take up a role as community leaders and voice and advocate concerns of women in the field of forest management, land tenure and basic needs, including the lack of civil society/IPLC involvement in related decision-making processes (g, x)
31) In 2021, with fund raising and hands on strategic and practical advice from Both ENDS, a partnering tribal CSO in Asia strengthened its ability to offer legal and negotiation support to 6 indigenous communities on matters of land rights and promotion of governmental use of the partner’s expansive tree nurseries with endemic plants.
32) In 2021, with fundraising and hands-on strategic advice from Both ENDS, a partner in Asia increased it’s knowledge on fundraising and strengthened its funding base which enabled the latter to sustain its policy work with regards to protection and restoration of forest and streams and tree nursery development, and recognition of the key role of women in successful tree nurseries and plantation programmes, e.g. by featuring a model resource center and wild food nursery garden.
33) In November 2021, with funding and networking support from Both ENDS, a women organization from Indonesia strengthened it’s access to the UNFCC COP and related sessions in Glasgow, including: the Women and Gender Constituency (WGC) side event, the COP Presidency’s “Dialogue with the local communities and indigenous people platform at COP26’’ and the “4 female PM/Presidents on feminist climate action” side event. (g)
34) In 2021, with the financial support and fundraising assistance from Both ENDS, an Asian partner strengthened its funding base which enabled it to support local CSOs to assist a.o an indigenous hunter-gatherer community, which was severely hit by Covid and a cyclone, to rebuild capacity to advocate for their land tenure by an improved understanding of their legal rights and how to submit a formal submission for recognition and restoration of their land rights, and to simultaneously address immediate subsistence needs such as rebuilding houses and to gain access to primary health care.
35) In 2021, with financial, fund raising and brokering support as well as strategic advice from Both ENDS, a Liberian partner strengthened it’s knowledge of and leverage in the RSPO, which helped this partner to successfully partner with RSPO as a key NGO-Hub assisting local CSOs to promote the regulation of the oil palm sector in post-civil war Liberia, amidst conflicts over land, with competing claims between villages and plantation companies, and neighboring Anglo-phone countries. This, with a focus on enhancing CSOs and CBOs increased influence on decision making which directly affects land rights, rights of labourers, women rights and possibilities for alternative, more sustainable and inclusive land and forest uses, and the ability of local CBOs, communities and women (incl female plantation workers) to stands up for their rights . (g, x) https://www.rspo.org/news-and-events/news/lessons-learned-from-liberia--improving-community-modalities-towards-sustainable-palm-oil
36) In 2021, with Both ENDS offering a sounding board, financial assistance and fundraising support a partner in Nigeria strengthened its L&A capacities. They strengthened their constituency by building stronger local NGO and village based activist groups and enhancing the safety of community forest protection committees amidst threats against villagers accompanying illegal logging. An important element here was training local women in advocacy. They also strengthened their institutional capacity by diversifying their funding basis. (x) (g)
37) In 2021, through collaboration with Both ENDS, and the Free University of Amsterdam to develop a legal position on the Ugandan government’s legal obligations – in the context of Ugandan law and international trade and investment agreements – a Ugandan partner strengthened it’s ability and ‘tool’s to address – via the court system - serious women rights and labour rights violations on palm oil plantations (a joint venture of an international multinational and the Government of Uganda) in Uganda. Both ENDS also offered the partner strategic information, options and contacts which enabled the latter to take informed choices whether or not to use the company’s own grievances system and the complaints system of RSPO. (g, x) (See also annual report 2020 for background: https://docplayer.net/219499754-Center-for-food-and-adequate-living-rights.html
38) In 2021, through jointly organized webinars with Both ENDS to exchange experiences, know-how and work on joint positions, 3 partners from Thailand, Panama and Kenya enhanced their capacity to advocate to Indigenous-Led Education as a vital ingredient to create opportunities for youth leadership, gender justice and community resilience in the face of climate change and external pressures: (g) https://www.rutufoundation.org/indigenous-led-education/
39) In 2021, a Nigerian partner has strengthened their local constituency by entering into an agreement with the federation of traditional Village Chiefs. This framework helps to advance (1) Safety training & support for village volunteers-activists; (ii) training of women on advocacy. Both ENDS contributed with strategic and financial support. In addition Both ENDS also assisted them with a diversification of their funding basis. (x, g)
40) In 2021, a global network of CSOs working with communities in drylands and Both ENDS mutually strengthened their lobby & advocacy capacities through joint strategising and knowledge exchange. The network strengthened Both ENDS’ knowledge by providing input for the advice of the UNCCD and its member countries for COP15. In turn, Both ENDS strengthened the network’s capacity by increasing their access to policy making spaces and bringing in the networks’ input in the UNCCD intergovernmental working group on Drought developing this advice.
41) In 2021, a network of CSOs working with communities in drylands, strengthened their knowledge on the implementation of the VGGTs in Land Degradation Neutrality policies by joint strategising with Both ENDS.
42) In 2021, a network of CSOs working with communities in drylands, strengthened their access to policy making spaces by joint strategizing with Both ENDS regarding participation in the UNCCD’s gender tool development (g)
43) In July and August 2021, one CSO and one community from Cameroon strengthened their capacities on advocating for the respect of human rights in large-scale land based investments by jointly carrying out a situational analysis, learning more about Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) to have their voices heard, and the rights and obligations of different stakeholders in the land concession process of Cameroon through various trainings and workshops facilitated by a local Both ENDS partner. Both ENDS contributed with financial support.(x)
44) In the second half of 2021, three Community Land Advocacy Committees (CLACs) from Zambia have been trained by a local Both ENDS partner on advocacy, land rights, responsible land investment and monitoring impacts of land-based investment and the development of advocacy plans around awareness raising, certification, lobbying and paralegal support. Both ENDS contributed with financial support.
45) Throughout the year 2021, 3 FGG partners from Kenya strengthened their lobby and advocacy capacity (mainly in terms of evidence building, which was used in their advocacy messages) on the governance of, and access to water surrounding Ruiru Dams 1 and 2 in Kiambu county through research and validation workshops with community and government stakeholders. Both ENDS provided financial support, and joint strategizing with partners and networking contributed to this result
46) During various occasions and based on the research conducted in 2021, 3 FGG partners from Kenya strengthened the lobby and advocacy capacity (mainly in terms of influencing skills, network, knowledge and access to decision-making spaces) of approx. 30 farmers and water users in Kiambu county on the governance of water in Kenya and the possibility to exert influence on the local management of water resources surrounding the Ruiru Dams 1 and 2 through active membership in a Water Resources Users Association by organising various public ‘baraza’s (meetings) and workshops. Based on the research on current water governance, the capacity building workshops highlighted how current water policies and practices are disproportionately affecting women’s access to water; the participants emphasized the importance to address gender inequality in order to promote more inclusive water governance. Both ENDS provided financial support and the joint strategizing with partners and networking indirectly contributed to this result.
47) Throughout the year 2021, 3 FGG partners from Kenya strengthened their lobby and advocacy capacity (mainly in terms of knowledge and evidence building) to address the threats of conventional farming and to promote agroecological farming as a socio-economically, and environmentally viable alternative, by conducting research on the current policies and practices of agriculture in Kenya. Both ENDS provided financial support and the joint strategizing with partners and networking indirectly contributed to this result. During a workshops organised in 2021, which built on the research done by the 3 FGG partners, the lobby and advocacy capacity (mainly in terms of building the advocacy message) of approx. 100 farmers and water users in Kiambu county (Kenya) was strengthened to more effectively address the policies and practices that promote conventional farming, including the use of dangerous agro-chemicals, and to promote agro-ecology as a a socio-economically, and environmentally viable alternative which can contribute to more gender. Both ENDS provided financial support and the joint strategizing with partners and networking indirectly contributed to this result
48) Throughout the year 2021, various lobby and advocacy workshops in Satkhira district (Bangladesh) organised by 1 FGG partner have led to strengthened lobby and advocacy capacity of farmer groups (including young and marginalised farmers, and women-only groups) who participated: more specifically the capacity of farmers for engaging in dialogue and negotiating with local government officials about the support for agroecological practices, practising open fisheries, and sustainable land use through both governmental policies, regulations, and funding mechanisms. As part of these workshops, the FGG partner trained women and youth to further develop and strengthen their L&A messages tailored at their specific needs and realities, in order to promote solutions that are mindful of gender and intergenerational inequalities. Both ENDS provided financial support and the joint strategizing with partners and networking indirectly contributed to this result.(g)
49) During quarterly meetings in 2021, through participation in exchange visits organised by 1 FGG partner, farmer groups working on agroecology and open fisheries in Satkhira district (Bangladesh), and the youth water committee of the area, strengthened the argumentation of their messages to lobby and advocate more effectively for community-based Tidal River Management based on the benefits that this brings for alternative livelihoods that incorporate agroecological practices and open fisheries. Both ENDS provided financial support and the joint strategizing with partners and networking indirectly contributed to this result
50) In 2021, with the support from Both ENDS in terms of joint strategizing and access to Dutch stakeholders, 7 FGG partners in Manilla (the Philippines) have strengthened their lobbying and advocacy capacities in terms of increasing network, access to decision-making spaces, and leverage and influencing capacity to oppose to the New Manila International airport.
51) The lobby and advocacy capacities of the fishing communities of Bulacan (the Philippines) opposing the New Manila International Airport project have been strengthened in 2021 in terms of capacity to mobilize communities and create awareness, mainly through activities by 1 FGG partner. Both ENDS provided financial support and the joint strategizing with partners and networking indirectly contributed to this result
52) In 2021, 1 FGG partner in Manilla (the Philippines) has strengthened their lobby and advocacy capacities (mainly in terms of strengthening their advocacy message) towards the local government level to support their campaign against the NMIA project. Both ENDS provided financial support and the joint strategizing with partners indirectly contributed to this result
53) Throughout 2021, 1 FGG partner in Manilla (the Philippines) strengthened their lobby and advocacy capacity to formulate effective lobby messages by conducting policy research on the NMIA project. Both ENDS provided financial support and the joint strategizing with partners indirectly contributed to this result
54) In 2021, 2 indigenous communities in Kalimantan Indonesia strengthened their capacity through trainings on customary institutions and management of customary areas and critical law ; and on strategies of securing recognition to Indigenous Peoples customary territories and forests. This increased their leverage/bargaining position, critical awareness and knowledge in defending their territories and customary forests as their identity and life. It facilitated the process of reclaiming the customary lands and forests from corporations and the government back to customary institutions. Both ENDS supported with networking and financial support.
We aim for 96 civil society actors from Asia, Africa and Latin America (including the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Uganda, and Kenya) to strengthen their capacities (knowledge, constituency building, access to decision making spaces, communication skills, ability to exert influence and to act freely an safely) to lobby and advocate towards governments, private sector actors and international organisations for among other things fair and green trade and investment agreements (incl. renegotiation of BITs, IIAs, EU FTAs and seed IPR clauses), inclusive water governance, inclusive land governance (incl. Implementation of VGGTs and FPIC), improvement of corporate accountability processes (i.a. at the RSPO and in public financial flows), increased finance for transformative practices, and the protection of (E)HRDs. To this aim, we engage in mutual capacity development activities such as learning exchanges, joint strategising, network building, and trainings.
(1) Throughout 2022 a total of 8 partners from the Philippines (8) strengthened their lobby and advocacy capacity in relation to the New Manila International Airport project (NMIA) through activities supported by Both ENDS. 6 of these partners enhanced their knowledge of the role of the Netherlands in relation to the airport project, through joint strategising and knowledge sharing that was facilitated by Both ENDS. 3 of these partners expanded their constituents and knowledge of sand mining impacts in relation to the airport project by means of a solidarity mission to the community of Rosario in Cavite, Manila Bay, in November 2022 that was financially supported by Both ENDS.
(2) In November and December 2022, 1 FGG partner in Indonesia (1) strengthened their knowledge of the impacts of the Sepaku hydrodam development on indigenous Balik communities, in relation to the new capital city development in East Kalimantan, by starting an in-depth participatory research in order to build evidence that can feed (future) lobby & advocacy on this topic. This research includes a specific focus on the (gendered) impacts of these developments on Balik woman. Both ENDS provided financial support. (g)
(3) Throughout 2022 1 partner in the Maldives (1) strengthened their lobby and advocacy capacity by enhancing their knowledge of the role of the Netherlands in relation to dredging projects in the Maldives, and specifically the the Gulhifalhu port development project, through joint strategising and knowledge sharing with Both ENDS.
(4) Throughout 2022, 1 FGG partner from Kenya strengthened the capacity of at least 3 Water Resource Users Associations (WRUA) to lobby & advocate more effectively (3), by strengthening their knowledge and constituency/network by facilitating engagements with key stakeholders about water rights and the historical background of the current water distribution, and by recruiting new members. In addition to financial support, Both ENDS hosted a session during the 16th International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation, which was jointly prepared with this FGG partner who presented their work on community-based water management. .
(5) Throughout 2022, 1 FGG partner from Kenya (1) strengthened their knowledge on safe alternatives to dangerous chemicals and affordable renewable energy technologies through conducting (ongoing) research and producing publications to build evidence for their lobby and advocacy against the use of these harmful chemicals and in favour of agroecological practices. This enhanced knowledge was subsequently widely shared with Water Resource Users Associations and farmers groups that are part of the Athi River Community Network, who – through FGG – are advocating for inclusive water governance and agroecological practices. In addition to financial support, Both ENDS facilitated joint strategising discussions between the FGG partner from Kenya and other FGG members who work on promoting agroecology.
(6) Throughout 2022, 1 FGG partner from Bangladesh (1) strengthened their knowledge on indigenous fruit and vegetable varieties and cropping systems in Tetulia & Islamkati union of Tala upazila in Satkhira district by conducting participatory research with the aim of promoting agroecological practices. In addition to financial support, Both ENDS has jointly strategised with this partner about the opportunities to promote the need for the restoration of the tidal rivers in order to let agroecological farming thrive in the area.
(7) Throughout 2022, partners from Senegal (4) strengthened their constituency with communities affected by the TER phase 2 project in Senegal, organized in a collective, as well as their network with national CSOs from the region. They did so by organizing capacity development workshops in the communities affected by the TER 2 project as well as a regional meeting with communities affected by Sendou, Malikounda and TER in Ivory Coast and national CSOs from the region with the goal of increasing exchange and relations between these different partners. In these capacity development exercises there was a specific focus on bringing forward the voices of women. Both ENDS contributed financially, as well as with jointly developing and implementing advocacy strategies towards the DFIs financing the projects. (g)
(8) Throughout 2022, 3 partners from Malawi (3), strengthened their L&A skills towards the financiers of the Salima project, namely FMO and MIGA. They did so by organizing community meetings with the goal to maintain and strengthen their constituency in the community as well as trainings for the community based accountability clubs to increase their understanding of the role of IFIs and the rights communities hold. Moreover, partners and communities increased their capacity to exert influence by jointly preparing for and participating in a dialogue process with a consultant hired by FMO and MIGA and the project owner JCM. Both ENDS contributed financially, by jointly preparing and evaluating the dialogue process, as well as developing and implementing joint advocacy strategies towards FMO and MIGA on any concerns about the dialogue process.
(9) Throughout 2022, partners from Uganda (3) strengthened their network with other Ugandan CSOs with expertise on working in the context of shrinking civic space. They did so by organizing information sharing meetings on incidents related to shrinking civic space, as well as getting expert advice from lawyers. Both ENDS contributed financially, as well as with developing and implementing joint advocacy strategies on the issue of civic space towards financiers and governments being able to leverage the Ugandan government. (x)
(10) In 2022, 8 partners from Cameroon (8) increased access to decision-making space at the IFC by participating in the complaint procedures with CAO. In the preparation for the in-person meetings with the banks' mechanisms, women organized a fact finding mission on the impact of the Nachtigal project specifically for project affected women. This fact finding mission allowed the women to collect evidence and self-assess their situation. Outcomes have informed the assessment of CAO and IRM and helped them to voice their concerns on the Nachtigal project during the in-person meetings. Both ENDS contributed financially, as well helped in preparing the complaint as well helped in developing an approach and strategy towards the banks. (g)
(11) In 2022, 7 partners from Mozambique (7), strengthened their network and constituency, by locating UPC members dispersed by war, organizing meetings for the Palma CSO platform and participating in community meetings with the objective to continue civil society mobilization and monitoring of the resettlement process in Palma district related to the Mozambique LNG project. Both ENDS contributed financially, by jointly developing and implementing advocacy strategies, as well as exchanging information on the status of the Mozambique LNG project.
(12) In 2022, 2 partners from Panama (2), strengthened their capacity to advocate and exert influence in order to ensure development banks FMO and DEG respect their rights by preparing for and participating in a negotiation process with FMO and DEG for a responsible exit, with the communities as well as with the CSOs involved. Both ENDS and SOMO contributed financially, and by jointly developing and implementing strategies during the participation as well as the negotiations itself.
(13) In November 2022, 2 partners from Cambodia (2), strengthened their advocacy skills and access to FMO’s decision-making spaces by jointly making an analysis and writing a letter on the harmful impacts of FMO’s investment in Amret, together with SOMO and Both ENDS.
(14) In may 2022, 1 partner, a global network with most members in Africa (1), strengthened their skills to actively engage in policy discussions with International Financial Institutions, specifically the African Development Bank. The network did so by increasing their understanding of the proposed new AfDB Integrated Safeguards System through conducting a joint analysis and writing a joint submission for the consultation process. Gender justice was a key element of both the analysis as well as the joint submission. Both ENDS contributed to the joint analysis as well as coordinated the joint submission. (g)
(15) Between June and December 2022, a partner from Brazil (1) engaged in training and capacity development of 22 women representatives of 2 local communities (2). Building on the experiences of 2021 they focussed on further strengthening the knowledge and practical application of agro-ecological practices, information about gender equity and lessons on lobbying strategies – with a strong focus on the women’s participation in decision-making around the defence of their community’s land rights and rights to their livelihoods (such as fishing and shellfish trade) all under pressure from the expansion of the industrial complex of Suape port. The work on agro-ecology was done together with a local NGO from Brazil who are experts on community level agro-ecological practices. Concretely this was done by holding and participating in a series of workshops (practical and theoretical) on agro-ecological gardening and one processing their garden’s products. The FGG partner furthermore organised a series of workshops to enhance the lobby skills and practices of the women, again building on the first steps of the previous year. The workshops included awareness raising around climate change impacts and rights, as well as various meetings on conflict resolution and coordinating responses of the immediate threats of the expansion of the port and new dredging activities. Both ENDS has contributed by continued strategising with the FGG partner on for example the inclusion of agro-ecological practices into their work and information exchange about policies concerning the continued expansion of the port of Suape and the related dredging activities by Dutch company Van Oord. (x) (g)
(16) From September to December 2022, a partner from Peru (1) has worked on an extensive mapping exercise documenting the human rights violations and attacks on this community and Human Rights Defenders in the Peruvian Amazon. This report is an important tool to raise awareness inside and outside of the community of the threats to indigenous people in particular in Peruvian Amazon, and through the report also the partner itself gained a deeper understanding of the human rights violations taking place in the region. The partner will use the report in the coming year to demand more attention for and better protection of the Indigenous communities especially as it relates to their struggles for land rights. The report is based on interviews with local community leaders and source analysis. Both ENDS contributed by financially supporting the work of the FGG partner with the community. (x)
(17) From January to May 2022, Drynet, a global network of CSOs working with communities in drylands (1) and Both ENDS mutually strengthened their knowledge and advocacy through joint strategising and knowledge exchange on the UNCCD COP15 agenda such as implementation of the VGGTs in Land Degradation Neutrality, Gender Action Plan. In October, the network organised, with the support of Both ENDS, an away-day session of 3 days to further consolidate the network, to develop a 5 years strategy for cooperation and advocacy in order to future proof the network. The strategy was adopted by all 18 network members, from among others Iran, Senegal, Mali, India, Bolivia, Pakistan, Mauritania, Cameroon and Bangladesh.
(18) In 2022, a plantation workers union in Indonesia (1) and Both ENDS mutually strengthened their capacity to be an effective member, in terms of understanding RSPO procedures, alliance building with other RSPO member constituencies, and participation in relevant RSPO committees, of the RSPO Board of Governors and during the RSPO General Assembly that knows how to exert influence. Both ENDS continued to offer counselling to the union regarding the functioning of RSPO bodies in collaboration with CNV. See for more information about the RSPO board of governors: https://rspo.org/who-we-are/governance/board-of-governors/
(19) In 2022, with fundraising and brokering support as well as organisational advice from Both ENDS, 10 partners (6 CSOs and 4 community-based networking hubs) in Asia gained access to renewed and expanded funding (10). Through this new funding, the partners were able to expand their capacity development training of and financial support to a network of 12 local informal CBOs (1) and over 250 indigenous communities. The partners’ support to this network and the indigenous communities included training to especially indigenous women and youth, encouraging them to take up a role as community leaders, and to voice and advocate for concerns of women in the field of forest management, land tenure and basic needs, including the lack of civil society/IPLC involvement in related decision-making processes. In addition, the training sessions addressed issues and approaches on how to deal within the context of shrinking civic space e.g. in situations with increasing surveillance, reduced access to external funding, and administrative rules and restrictions.(g, x)
(20) In 2022, Both ENDS offered capacity development support to an indigenous CSO in Asia (0) to enhance its ability to offer legal and negotiation support to 5 indigenous communities (0) on matters of land rights and promotion of governmental use of the partner’s expansive tree nurseries with endemic plants. Both ENDS contributed with continued fundraising support and hands on strategic and practical advice, contacts and networking support for knowledge exchange and training on advocacy and communication skills.
(21) In 2022, with the continued fundraising and technical, administrative and strategic support of Both ENDS, 12 CSOs (of which 11 women-led) in Asia (11) strengthened their fundraising capacity (with success) and increased their network, enabling these CSOs to continue working with over 80 villages on issues of forest protection, land tenure and sustainable agriculture and wild foods, basic governmental facilities, health and women leadership empowerment. In a political context of rapidly shrinking civic space, through technical support from Both ENDS, the CSOs were able to increase their knowledge of and improve their practices related to digital security, and learned how to avoid confrontational profiling through reports and publications which may enter the public domain which in turn may lead negative tagging by the government. (g, x)
(22) In 2022, a partner in Asia (1) further increased its knowledge of fundraising and strengthened its funding base which enabled the partner to sustain its policy work with regards to protection and restoration of forest and streams and tree nursery development, and with regard to recognition of the key role of women in successful tree nurseries and plantation programmes, e.g. by featuring a model resource centre and wild food nursery garden. Both ENDS contributed with continued fundraising support and hands-on strategic advice.
(23) In 2022, an Asian partner (1) continued its support and backstopping for local CSOs to effectively assist an indigenous hunter-gatherer community (0), which was severely hit by Covid and a cyclone. This support increased the partner’s claim-making power to obtain a larger land tenure title by preparing formal submissions, and enhanced their food security and livelihoods through NTFP (non-timber forest products) development. Both ENDS provided financial support and fundraising assistance to this Asian partner.
(24) In 2022, a Liberian partner (1) strengthened its knowledge of and leverage in the RSPO to bring forward community grievances to the RSPO Complaints Panel. The partner’s partnership with RSPO, brokered by Both ENDS earlier on under the heading of RSPO Outreach to Intermediary Organisations, had enhanced the partner’s capacity to strengthen the ability of local CBOs, communities and women (including female plantation workers) to stands up for their rights. Both ENDS provided continued financial and fundraising support as well as strategic advice. This enhanced capacity to use the RSPO system is also reflected in the way in which the RSPO complaints process is being used, see the minutes of the complaints panel meeting: https://rspo.org/wp-content/uploads/minutes-of-the-complaints-panel-meeting-no.42022_.pdf and see for an example on how the RSPO governance itself with the RSPO board and the RSPO committees: https://www.rspo.org/news-and-events/news/lessons-learned-from-liberia--improving-community-modalities-towards-sustainable-palm-oil (g, x)
(25) In 2022, a partner in Nigeria (1) strengthened their constituency by building stronger local NGO and village-based activist groups and enhancing the safety of community forest protection committees amidst threats against villagers accompanying illegal logging. They also strengthened their institutional capacity by diversifying their funding basis. Both ENDS offered a sounding board, financial assistance and fundraising support. (x)
(26) In 2022, in total 9 partners, from Africa and Asia (8), strengthened their fundraising skills through a tailor-made training. This enabled the partners to diversify their funding basis and also raise funding domestically. Both ENDS organised and funded the training, in collaboration with implementing counterpart Wilde Ganzen.
(27) In 2022, 8 ILED-network members (7) (including partners from Thailand, Panama, Kenya, Philippines, India, and Costa Rica), mostly indigenous federations, were able to exchange experiences and know-how and work on joint positions and modestly expand their funding basis. As such they deepened their understanding of advocacy for the importance of recognising indigenous knowledge in different parts of the world. Both ENDS, together with counterparts Rutu Foundation and FPP provided continued financial support, fundraising assistance, facilitation networking and backstopping.
(28) In 2022, a partner from West-Kalimantan (Indonesia) (1) organised capacity development sessions for 4 women groups (4) on human rights and environmental defence. Indigenous women and youth were active participants in the trainings, through which they increased their knowledge on: 1) human rights and on how to apply FPIC for women group organisations; women leadership for human rights and environmental defence; and community and gender-based human rights and environmental defending monitoring systems; 2) participatory mapping of indigenous territories and customary forests as collective human rights and environmental rights defenders strategic measures; and 3) community customary workshops to determine boundaries and participatory mapping field work activities. This is all part of evidence building for advocacy towards (re)claiming land rights in the context of palm oil expansion and transmigration, and for good governance. Both ENDS contributed with financial support. (g) (x)
(29) In 2022 (in May, June, July, August, December), a CSO from Indonesia (1) mutually strengthened capacities with 5 villages (5) in Kalimantan through the facilitation and support of 1) the investigation and assessment of women's conditions in the palm oil sector, which was discussed in focus groups discussions in the 3 villages; and 2) a workshop in November on Gender Equality and the Condition of Indigenous Women. This resulted in enhanced knowledge of indigenous women’s rights and evidence building for (future) advocacy towards increased political power of women, recognition of the role of women in the palm oil sector and society, and the protection of their health and livelihood by palm oil companies and government institutions 45 women from 5 villages took part in this workshop. Both ENDS contributed with financial support. (g)
(30) In August 2022, a partner organization from West Kalimanatan (Indonesia) (1) strengthened their own knowledge and the knowledge of 5 indigenous peoples CBOs (5) on strategies and steps regarding securing recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ customary territories & forests and strengthening customary institutions. They did so by facilitating trainings, workshops on spatial planning, and collection of sociocultural and ecological data for evidence building to be used for lobby for their land rights. In addition, in 8-9 October, they organised a training on publication, broadcasting and production of Rakom news and online media for youth representatives of 3 communities, therewith strengthening their communication skills. Both ENDS supported with financial support.
(31) In 2022 a partner from the Philippines (0) convened the ReSisters Dialogue, a platform for indigenous women leaders to mutually deepen their understanding of political dynamics in the Philippines and strengthen their capacity to strategize for advocacy campaigns for indigenous women rights in Asia. The platform organized the 2-day National Indigenous Women Gathering “Our Stories, Our Struggles, Our Resistance”, an online gathering, in which almost a hundred women participated coming from 22 indigenous communities in the Philippines (1). The gathering was a space to take stock of what happened during the 2022 Philippines elections, their collective assessment and reckoning of the Duterte regime, and articulating the policy agenda that they would push for the Marcos Jr. government. During this convening Indigenous Women shared their experiences and strategies, and affirmed their commitment to the continuing struggle for their rights to their land, access to their natural resources; to work hard against all forms of violence against them as indigenous women and as women human rights defenders. At the end of the gathering, they drafted a plan to be able to push for their agenda, as well as to strengthen themselves as communities of ReSisters. Both ENDS contributed with financial support and joint networking and outreach to similar networks in order to form a broad intersectional movement that advocates for indigenous women’s rights. (g)
(32) In June 2022, 2 communities from Cameroon (2), strengthened their knowledge of the formal steps needed during large scale land acquisition for any investment project in Cameroon to ensure that the Greenfil company will respect their rights. This was realized by actively participating in a training on this topic organized by an FGG partner. As a result of the training, they also strengthened their network by forming an alliance with another partner from Cameroon (1) who supported their efforts by providing the necessary technical expertise on land mapping, developing of MoUs or contracts, conducting a social and environmental impact study and following the implementation of the mitigation plan. The training was organised by a Cameroonian partner and financed by Both ENDS.
(33) In June 2022, 2 partners from Mozambique (2) organised a conference with international women activists and land experts to strengthen their constituency and network as well as their capacity and the capacity of their members (rural women) to conduct advocacy and exert influence at governmental level on land policy and mainstreaming gender and women's rights so that they can ensure that the legal framework currently being discussed will be just, inclusive and gender equal. The conference’s costs have been financed by Both ENDS. (g)(x)
(34) During the first half of 2022, 1 partner from Uganda (0) strengthened their constituency and network by organizing legal clinics, which included knowledge and (advocacy) skills building trainings for Makerere law school students (1). The young lawyers learned to promote business and human rights and to protect the right to adequate living for persons working in commercial investment schemes by using toolkits that were developed during a project with law students from the University of Amsterdam. They further learned to promote human rights in trade and investment schemes by understanding food as a fundamental human right and an underlying factor to the enjoyment of other rights. And finally, they learned to interact with community members and to provide them with legal services by participating to legal clinics. These legal clinics have been funded by Both Ends.
(35) In January 2022, 8 partners from Uganda (7) mutually strengthened their skills in assessing risks, and plan security measures in order to protect and defend themselves and their organisation by participating in a security training organised by 1 FGG partner. Both ENDS provided financial support. (x)
(36) From September to December 2022, a partner from Liberia (1) strengthened their advocacy skills to address women’s rights violations and land management issues at county level, by engaging in a process to formalise their organisation into an (almost) legally recognised network and by participating in Iegal education as well as land and natural resources awareness trainings. Having a formal and (almost) legally recognised network enables women to increase their capacity and space to claim their rights, to engage in decision making processes and to address women’s specific issues. All these activities were organised by 1 partner, with financial support of Both ENDS. (x) (g)
(37) In November and December 2022, 2 partners from Liberia (2) strengthened their awareness of land ownership and land valuation and their capacity to advocate for their rights by participating in a Land Right Act and land evaluation forum organised by 1 partner with financial support of Both ENDS. The forums brought together different active community participants including young people (especially women), local leaders and leaders of women groups. The forums were geared towards providing more insight in the key provisions of customary land ownership within the Land Right Act and the opportunities to strengthen participants’ engagement with investors through the eye opening on the value of their land and resources through land valuation exercise. (x) (g)
(38) In June 2022, one partner from Indonesia (1) strengthened its capacity to lobby and advocate for the rights of women affected by sand mining on Kodingareng Island by formalizing and engaging with the first grass-roots coastal women’s organisation (1) on the island and one of few in Indonesia that gained advocacy and communication skills . This resulted in a strengthened constituency and network for the partner. Both ENDS contributed via joint strategising and advocacy and financial support. (g)
(39) In 2022, through community meeting dialogues and debates with one partner in Uganda (0), communities under the leadership of community champions from areas including EACOP-affected districts, CPF-affected areas, Tilenga-affected communities living around Murchison Falls National Park, and Kingfisher Project-affected communities (1), were able to participate in seven engagements that have helped strengthen their advocacy and communication skills towards their government and the involved companies. As a result of these trainings, the partner has strengthened their constituency and network by increasing the number of community champions of 11 communities from 36 to 61 (29 female and 32 male), who are critical in mobilizing other communities to join efforts and demand a transition to clean energy. Women in these communities are the driver of the advocacy in terms of organising the communities and identifying specific issues affecting women and raising them with relevant stakeholders. They are motivated to do the advocacy as access to clean energy benefits them the most. Both ENDS contributed via joint strategising and advocacy and financial support. (g and x)
(40) In 2022, one partner in Uganda (0) strengthened its advocacy capacity on decarbonizing export credit agencies by strengthening their constituency and network by involving women's and youth advocacy organizations, including 4 CSOs in Uganda (3). These CSOs strengthened their knowledge, constituency and network on ECAs during these engagements. Both ENDS contributed financially and to the strategy of this partner. (g)
(41) In 2022, one partner in Ghana (1) strengthened its advocacy capacity on decarbonizing export credit agencies by strengthening their constituency and network by involving youth organisations, including 1 youth foundation, 1 youth climate council and 1 youth initiative for Africa and 1 CSO from Ghana. These organizations (4) strengthened their knowledge, constituency and network on ECAs during these engagements. Both ENDS contributed financially and through joint strategy development.
(42) In October 2022, two partners in Ghana (1) organised together with Both ENDS and Milieudefensie a seminar on Paris Proofing public and private finance and a just energy transition. 28 partners from across Africa (15) joined and deepened their own and the organisers’ understanding of ECAs, IFIs and private banks and how they support energy related projects in African countries.
(43) In 2022, 5 partners from Peru, Brazil, Uganda, Tanzania and Indonesia (5), strengthened their knowledge on the links between Sustainable Development Goals and Trade policy, in order to lobby their respective national governments for increased civil society participation in trade policy making. Both ENDS strategised and provided technical support.
(44) In December 2022, 2 partners from Uganda and Tanzania (0) increased their knowledge of the risks of International Investment Agreements (IIAs) to inform their lobby for stopping and renegotiating IIAs in East Africa. Both ENDS contributed by providing technical support through a training on this issue as well as financial support.
(45) In June, July and August 2022, 1 partner (0) and 10 other CSOs from Tanzania (10) formed the Tanzanian Trade and Investment Coalition (TATIC) to collectively strengthen their network and capacities to influence the Tanzanian National Government on the harmful elements of the Tanzania Investment Policy 222, Tanzania Investment Bill 2022, Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and to advocate for stopping the Tanzania BITs with China, Mauritius and Canada. Both ENDS engaged in joint strategising with the partner and provided technical and financial support.
(46) In March and April 2022, 1 partner from Indonesia (0) together with 1 youth CSO (1) strengthened their knowledge and communication skills to lobby and carry out advocacy on Indonesia’s position on issues of fisheries subsidies, access to vaccines, medicines and diagnostics, the digital economy, and agriculture at the WTO through capacity development trainings on these topics as well as on how to issue press releases. Both ENDS shared knowledge and financial support.
(47) In July and August 2022, 1 partner from Indonesia (0) together with 6 local farmer groups (6) and 2 European (civil society) allies strengthened their knowledge on the harmful effects of including Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of seeds in trade agreements for small farmers, specially for women. The gendered impact of these IPR clauses was a central issue in this capacity development work. They did this by setting up webinars for relevant actors (a.o. CSOs and policymakers) across Indonesia and the EU on these IPR clauses, with special attention for their gendered impacts. In addition to strengthened knowledge, organising this webinar series also resulted in an expanded networks for these partners with other actors in this field. Both ENDS strategised with the partners and provided technical and financial support. (g)
(48) In December 2022, 11 partners from Indonesia (10) strengthened their knowledge of national trade and investment policy in Indonesia, especially related to the WTO as well as the need for increased civil society participation in trade policy processes, by exchanging knowledge and jointly strategising with Both ENDS prior to and during the WTO meeting in Geneva. This joint preparation and increased knowledge enabled/empowered the partners to reach out to and engage with Indonesian policymakers present in Geneva, thereby also increasing their access to policymakers/decision-making spaces. In addition to technical assistance Both ENDS also contributed with financial support. (x)
(49) From April 2022 until November 2022, 1 partner from Brazil (0) strengthened its access to national Brazilian trade policy spaces by carrying out webinars and capacity development engagements with CSOs that gained them visibility in the public sphere. Because of that visibility, this partner is now being consulted by the new president elect Lula to provide input on the Trade and Economic and Social justice transition team and agenda of the new government. One of the key issues this partner works on is on expanding civic space, by increased civil society participation in trade policy in Brazil and the Mercosur region. Both ENDS contributed by engaging in joint strategising and providing financial support. (x)
(50) In September and October 2022, 1 partner from Peru (0) strengthened their capacity to lobby and carry out advocacy on trade policy and its effects on agriculture and labour rights and genuine civil society participation in the Domestic Advisory Group of the EU-, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru FTA. In particular. Both ENDS provided technical knowledge and information intelligence.
(51) In March and April 2022, 3 partners from Peru, Colombia and Ecuador (2) strengthened their access to their respective national trade policy spaces by carrying out various capacity development and advocacy activities which caught the attention of relevant policymakers, with whom they now have advocacy meetings to lobby for a reform on the Trade and Sustainable Development Chapter under the EU-Colombia, Ecuador and Peru Free Trade Agreement. Both ENDS provided financial support, technical knowledge and engaged in strategic meetings.
(52) In April 2022, 3 partners from Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya (1) strengthened their knowledge of the negative implications of the Investment Chapter for human and gender rights under the African Continental Free Trade Area. They did this by exchanging information via joint meetings and webinars. Both ENDS strategised with and provided financial support to these partners.
(53) In May 2022, 1 partner from Uganda (0), strengthened its knowledge and understanding of the AfCFTA Gender and Youth Protocol by conducting an analysis on this announced protocol and organising a webinar with civil society actors to facilitate discussions on their findings. Both ENDS supported with knowledge exchange on gender issues and with financial support. (g)
(54) In October 2022, 2 partners from Uganda (1) strengthened their knowledge of the dynamics of human and labour rights abuses, in particular under international investment ventures, via strategic and intelligence sharing meetings with female workers of foreign investment ventures. Both ENDS exchanged knowledge, discussed the findings and supported financially. (g)
We aim for 94 civil society actors from Asia, Africa and Latin America (including Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Philippines and Uganda) to strengthen their capacities (knowledge, constituency building, access to decision making spaces, communication skills, ability to exert influence and to act freely and safely) to lobby and advocate towards governments, private sector actors and international organisations for among other things fair and green trade and investment agreements (incl. renegotiation of BITs, IIAs, EU FTAs, AfCFTA and seed IPR clauses), inclusive natural resources (water and land) governance (incl. CADT, TRM, FPIC and the implementation of VGGTs), improvement of corporate accountability processes (i.a. at the RSPO and in public financial flows), increased finance for transformative practices, and the protection of environmental and human rights defenders. To this aim, we engage in mutual capacity development activities such as learning exchanges, joint strategising, network building, and trainings.
For more information on our concrete targets, we refer to the target narratives uploaded under FGG3
A
strengthened capacities
2x
# targeted civil society actors with strengthened capacities contributing to and/or relevant for lobby and advocacy aiming at expanding/defending civic space
N/A
Of these 96 CSOs, 23 will strengthen capacities that are relevant for their advocacy to advance or defend civic space. Through mutual capacity development (i.a. joint strategising, network building, knowledge sharing, and financial support), these CSOs, from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, including from Indonesia, India, The Philippines, Bangladesh, Kenya and Uganda, will be better able to claim their place at the decision making table on among other things corporate accountability processes (e.g. at the RSPO and in public financial flows), inclusive water governance and inclusive land governance (incl. IPLC rights such as self determination).
N/A
Of these 94 CSOs, 20 will strengthen capacities that are relevant for their advocacy to advance or defend civic space. Through mutual capacity development (i.a. joint strategising, network building, knowledge sharing, leadership development and financial support), these CSOs, from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, including from Indonesia, India, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Kenya and Uganda, will be better able to claim their place at the decision-making table to meaningfully influence decision-making on among other things corporate accountability processes (e.g. related to public financial flows) and inclusive natural resources governance (incl. through an RSPO outreach programme, and by claiming/securing the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities).
For more information on our concrete targets, we refer to the target narratives on uploaded to FGG3
B
agenda-setting, momentum-building and increased support
4g
# of instances in which the recommendation a key actor puts on its agenda aims to contribute to gender justice
N/A
From these 25 actors, we aim for 5 policymakers and private actors from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe (incl. The Netherlands) to put an FGG recommendation on their agenda that contributes to gender equality. This agenda-setting concerns, among other things, protecting women’s rights in the palm oil sector, inclusive land governance (incl. implementation of VGGTs and agroecology – which both have gender justice at their core).
N/A
From these 23 actors, we aim for 10 policymakers and private actors from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe (from e.g. Kenya, Bangladesh, and the Netherlands) to put an FGG recommendation on their agenda that contributes to gender equality. This agenda-setting concerns, among other things, protecting women’s rights in the palm oil sector, inclusive land governance (incl. implementation of VGGT which have gender justice at the core).
For more information on our concrete targets, we refer to the target narratives published on FGG3
C
governments increasing democratic decision-making
5C
# key actors who support and/or promote FGG policy/practice recommendations
1) In July 2021, The Secretary-General of the UN transmitted to the General Assembly the report of the UN Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises on Human rights-compatible international investment agreements. It includes a lot of demands and recommendations made by CSOs. For example it highlights the importance of “developing an investment policy from the bottom up with the meaningful participation of all stakeholders, including civil society organizations, women’s organizations and trade unions.” Both ENDS and partners actively contributed to this process by e.g. the participation in regional consultation meetings of the working group and by providing written submissions] (x) (g)
2) In a letter to parliament in December 2021, the Dutch Government declares that it intervened at the EU level to strengthen the enforcement of the sustainability chapters in trade agreements. They also insisted on a timely publication of Sustainable Impact Assessments (SIAs). The government indicated they ‘paid special attention to the input of organizations that are part of the national advisory groups under trade agreements’ – in which Both ENDS participates and has been lobbying for this.
3) In December 2021, the policy makers of Burundi committed to review all current BITs for possible stopping and renegotiation during a workshop on ISDS clauses in BITs provided by two FGG partners from Uganda and Tanzania. Both ENDS provided technical knowledge and financial support.
4) In December 2021, policy makers of Tanzania committed to reviewing current BITs for possible stopping and renegotiation after a meeting with a Tanzanian partner. Both ENDS has been providing technical knowledge and financial support..
5) In 2021, the EU started a consultation towards strengthening the implementation of the TSD chapter in current FTAs. Both ENDS participated in the EU-Central America and EU-Andean countries DAGs and provided input in the consultation.
5a) The Dutch parliament adopted a motion {MOTIE VAN HET LID PIRI C.S. proposed 17 June 2021} requesting the Dutch Government to act on the EU level to support the so called COVID TRIPS waiver at the WTO and to work at EU level to end European opposition to temporary suspension of patents. Both ENDS has been actively lobbying on this, targeting the EU and Dutch policy makers.
6) In 2021, through financial support and joint strategizing with Both ENDS, a Ugandan partner worked with like-minded Members of Parliament and established an ECA forum of 29 MPs (11 women and 18 men) who are passionate about transvestments and Just Energy Transition (JET). This group is currently spearheading the decarbonization agenda for ECAs at the Parliamentary level. The forum works with the Ugandan partner to carry out high-level advocacy on policy formulation using the evidence generated by the partner on impacts of fossil fuel projects on communities, especially on women, youth, environment, and economy. The forum also acts as a point of contact that the partner and communities are using to raise policy and legislative recommendations for transvestments.
7) In 2021, the UNCCD Intergovernmental Working group on Drought adopted various recommendations on how to improve cooperation, coordination, policies and financial instruments related to drought preparedness and response from a.o. Both ENDS in the written advice of the UNCCD to its member countries for COP15 that will take place in Abidjan in May 2022. Both ENDS actively participated in these negotiations in the UNCCD Intergovernmental Working group on Drought.
8) In 2021, the FAO has incorporated recommendations on women land rights and IPLC land rights from Both ENDS and a partner network of CSOs into the new FAO technical guide on sustainable land use restoration and halting land degradation (g)
9) In 2021, the local agricultural government agency in Satkhira District in Bangladesh co-developed, co-produced and promotes a crop calendar for agroecology for the Tala Upazila area – combined with a training module for local farmers – with 1 FGG partnering collaboration with farmer groups. Both ENDS contributed financially to this partner.
10) In 2021, after collaboration with 1 FGG partner, the local agricultural government agency in Satkhira District in Bangladesh promoted open fisheries in practice (the actual release of fish) as an alternative livelihood option for farmers living in polder areas where agricultural activity is not feasible during monsoon, which also showcases the benefits of Tidal River Management for river ecosystem restoration. Both ENDS contributed financially to the FGG partner.
We aim for 5 key actors, including national governments in WTO negotiations (incl. Uganda) and the EU Commission to support and promote FGG recommendations, by for example expressing support for CSOs views in WTO negotiations and developing an amendment to the EU-Mercosur deal.
(1) Following the advocacy of 2 FGG partners from Kenya – for better access to the Riuru dam to ensure their access to water - during a multi-stakeholder event in October 2022 that was attended by public officials and politicians, the Governor of Nairobi city agreed to create three water access points to Riuru dam for the communities in question.
(2) In 2022, an Asian National Institute on Nutrition supports partners’ approach to promote forest based wild foods as key source of nutrition, based on an inventory of over 30 wild foods. Both ENDS helped make the connection, initiated meetings and was involved in formulating the proposal for collaboration, with priority areas and an agreed methodology.
(3) In 2022, an Asian National Institute on Nutrition agreed to enter into a formal partnership with our partner, thereby explicitly endorsing our partners’ approach to promote forest based wild foods as key source of nutrition, based on an inventory of over 30 wild foods. Both ENDS helped make the connection, initiated meetings and was involved in formulating the proposal for collaboration, with priority areas and an agreed methodology.
(4) In 2022, the Minister of Land of Mozambique recommended that the commission for the revision of the national land policy should involve 2 FGG partners in the working meetings so that they could ensure that (rural) women’s concerns would be taken into account. As a result, the 2 partners were involved in the review process and the policy text now explicitly mentions and takes into account concerns and rights of (rural) women. This is a result of the pressure put by the partner on the government (they organised a conference in which the Deputy Minister of Land participated, succeeded in achieving media coverage of an FGG-facilitated women’s declaration for a just and inclusive land policy -and its revision process-, and organised a meeting with the Minister of Land). The 2 FGG partners will continue to be involved in the second step of the legal process, which is the revision of the law, based on the new policy. All these activities have been funded by Both ENDS. (g)
(5) In March 2022, the European Council adopted conclusions acknowledging the need to adapt export credit policies in an effort to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. It announced the member states’ intention to determine by the end of 2023 their own science-based deadlines for ending officially supported export credits to fossil fuel energy sector projects. Both ENDS advocated towards the Council, Parliament and Commission. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/03/15/the-council-adopted-conclusions-on-export-credits/
(6) In 2022, the Ugandan Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development issued an official request to a partner from Uganda to collectively ensure that there is an improved access to remedy mechanisms for the communities/workers whose rights are affected by the investment schemes. Both ENDS has been providing technical support for years in issues of rights and investment mechanisms. (x)
(7) In 2022, the EU Commission officially committed to make the Trade and Sustainable Development Chapters of its Trade Agreements (TSD) more enforceable and to support financially CSOs of the global south for a sustained participation. Both ENDS has been advocating for TSDs reform via its participation on the EU-Central America and EU-Andean countries Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs).
(8) In October 2022, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation announced that also The Netherlands will work towards implementing a Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP). Based upon amongst others consultations (in which Both ENDS and partners actively participated), both ministers outline their approach to FBB in a letter to parliament, herewith putting forward the ambition to promote FBB in international fora, to embed a gender lens throughout the complete policy cycle, implement gender budgeting, address root causes of power inequalities, meaningful consultations, policy evaluations including impact on women, and critically assess their own organisation as Ministry of Foreign Affairs. https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/kamerstukken/2022/11/08/kamerbrief-inzake-feministisch-buitenlandbeleid (g)
(9) In September 2022, the EU commission announced that provisions on dispute settlement applicable to the Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) Chapter have been incorporated in a revised EU proposal for the Dispute Settlement chapter in the EU trade agreement with India. While the text is not in the public domain, following the demand by Both ENDS and partners the EU decided to extend the standard state-to-state dispute settlement compliance phase to the TSD chapter and to include the possibility to apply, as a last resort, trade sanctions for material breaches of the Paris Climate Agreement and the ILO fundamental labour principles.
We aim for 6 key actors, including (districts) governments (incl. in Nigeria), national governments in WTO and UNCTAD negotiations (incl. Uganda) and the EU Commission, to support and promote FGG recommendations, by for example expressing support for CSOs views in WTO negotiations, and the UNCCD supporting the implementing and monitoring of the Gender Action Plan and the VGGTs in Land Degradation Neutrality.
For more information on our concrete targets, we refer to the target narratives published on FGG3
C
governments increasing democratic decision-making
5Cx
# of instances in which the supported and/or promoted recommendation by a key actor aims to contribute to expanding/defending civic space
N/A
No targets for 2022.
N/A
From these 6 actors, we aim for 1 key actor, namely a local government in Nigeria to actively support FGG policy/practice recommendations concerning the issue of illegal logging on community land and issues of corruption. The supported recommendation pleas for increased involvement of CSOs and communities in decision-making processes and ultimately increased protection of indigenous peoples’ rights.
No targets for 2024
C
governments increasing democratic decision-making
5Cg
# of instances in which the supported and/or promoted recommendation by a partner aims to contribute to gender justice
N/A
No targets for 2022.
N/A
From these 6 actors, we aim for 3 key actors, including UNCCD policymakers, local and national governments (from e.g. Indonesia, Kenya and Bangladesh) to support FGG policy/practice recommendations concerning gendered impacts of agricultural value chains, spatial plans and related infrastructure projects to support the agricultural practices of local communities and the implementation and monitoring of a Gender Action Plan.
For more information on our concrete targets, we refer to the target narratives published on FGG3
C
governments increasing democratic decision-making
6C
# instances in which key actors adopt and/or implement FGG policy/practice recommendations
1) In July 2021, UNCTAD agreed to let CSO participation in the events around UNCTAD 15 be determined by self-nomination procedures rather than selection by UNCTAD. This provides more room for civil society organisations to determine how to best make their voice heard at these events. This decision followed joint lobby and advocacy by the wider CSO network actively engaging with UNCTAD 15 that was supported and facilitated by Both ENDS (x)
2) On 2 dec 2021, 67 countries agreed on the text for the so called Joint Statement Initiative on domestic regulation at the WTO. As one of its elements it also for the first time translates the principle of gender equity into binding WTO law. Unjustifiable gender discrimination with respect to granting licences for foreign services providers will now be illegal and sanctionable by the WTO dispute settlement mechanism. This follows long time advocacy by Both ENDS towards the Dutch Government to translate the principle of gender equity into enforceable hard law. (g)
3) On 29 June 2021, WTO agreed to extend TRIPS transition period for LDCs until 1 July 2034
(https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news21_e/trip_30jun21_e.htm). BE actively lobbied for that targeting EU and NL gov and BE was also part of a joint letter targeting the WTO .
5) In 2021, with financial support of Both ENDS following advocacy by a Ugandan partner and their CSO colleagues the Ugandan Ministry of Water and Environment incorporated CSO comments into the final country’s climate change adaptation plan and Nationally Determined Contributions to climate change. It adopted a clear roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels and recommitted to promote clean energy such as solar and wind in Uganda. The comments were generated from community and CSOs consultation and focused on ensuring that the rights of women, youth, and other vulnerable groups are taken care of.
6) In 2021, the UNCCD has incorporated recommendations on women land tenure from Both ENDS and a partner network of CSOs into the UNCCD Gender Tool that will help countries better understand how land use policies impact women and men differently (g).
7) In 2021, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched the ‘Reversing the Flow’ program which was strongly informed by recommendations from FGG2 with regards to the structure and goals of the programme, including supporting local CSOs to shift the power to grassroots organizations within the context of landscape management, as well as the accessibility of Dutch funding to grassroots organizations. This programme is a direct result of Both ENDS’ advocacy for more inclusive programming and small grants funding to grassroots organizations.
We aim for 2 instances in which UNCCD policymakers, (district) governments mainly in Asia (including. the Philippines, India, and Indonesia) adopt or implement FGG policy/practice recommendations concerning i.a. (elements of) the VGGTs leading to increased protection of communal and individual land rights and action against land degradation, desertification and droughts.
(1) In 2021 and 2022, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) developed the FAO Technical Guide on the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for the responsible Governance of Tenure of land, fisheries and forests (VGGTs) in the context of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) with the aim that national governments and CSOs can use this guide for inclusive land governance. Both ENDS and Drynet members (CARI - France, AIDER - Peru, EMG - South Africa and CENESTA – Iran) actively engaged, through coordinated action, with FAO on the development of this Technical Guide. In May 2022, the UNCCD 15th Conference of the Parties (UNCCD COP 15) adopted the Technical Guide, which therefore is added to the toolkit for national governments and other actors for the implementation of Land Degradation Neutrality. https://www.fao.org/publications/card/en/c/CB9656EN/
(2) In May 2022, the member states at UNCCD COP15 in Abidjan adopted the presented findings and recommendations of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought towards national governments. Over 2,5 years, Both ENDS had actively participated and contributed to the Working Group based on insights and proposals from Drynet partners regarding inclusion of local communities in national drought-related policies and decisions. (The mandated of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought: https://www.unccd.int/convention/governance/intergovernmental-working-group-drought; The findings of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought: https://www.unccd.int/sites/default/files/2022-03/ICCD_COP%2815%29_20-2202073E.pdf. The report by the intergovernmental working group: https://www.unccd.int/official-documentscop-15-abidjan-cote-divoire-2022/iccdcop1520; The COP15 decision regarding the findings of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought: Decision 23/COP 15: https://www.unccd.int/sites/default/files/2022-10/23_cop15.pdf.)
(3) In 2022, the UNCCD secretariat has adopted the gender responsive questionnaire to the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) toolkit, which is to support national and subnational policymakers and policy implementers in their effort to scale up sustainable land management practices for women and men equally. From April 2021 until May 2022, Both ENDS has actively contributed together with members from Drynet, a global network of CSOs working with communities in drylands (members from South Africa, Peru and Iran), to the UNCCD Gender responsive questionnaire on Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). https://www.unccd.int/resources/publications/questionnaire-gender-responsive-sustainable-land-management-slm-technologies (g)
(4) In November 2022, the Minister of Land of Mozambique adopted articles on the importance of prioritizing and valuing rural peasant women in the national land policy and law after 2 FGG partners from Mozambique, with financial and strategic support from Both ENDS, were actively involved in the Commission’s process to review the national land policy. As a result, the National Land Policy has been published in the Boletim da Republica November 2022, with the above mentioned articles emphasising the importance of ensuring women's participation in decision-making at community and family level, such as the recognition of the need for women to be involved and consulted in the process of allocating large portions of land to investors and the government. The policy further recognises that women play a key role in the management of natural resources and biodiversity and that they should be involved in the design of policies and laws. (g)
(5) Until the end of 2022, 6 export credit agencies including Euler Hermes, SACE and Bpifrance, stated that they will not support the EACOP project in Uganda or any associated infrastructure. Both ENDS provided financial support and jointly strategised with the partners in Uganda that are part of the StopEACOP campaign. See for an example and more information on SACE’s statement: https://www.eca-watch.org/publications/newsletter-items/italys-sace-joins-major-banks-reject-finance-totals-eacop
(6) By the end of 2022, 9 countries and 1 financial institution (namely the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, France, Sweden, UK, New Zealand, Finland, Canada and the European Investment Bank) presented policies that limit public finance for fossil fuels following the Glasgow Statement signed at COP26. Both ENDS co-lead the ECA-watch network to engage with these governments.
(7) In October 2022, the Dutch Minister of Climate and Energy decided to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), which is officially stated in parliament, and is significant for civil society, especially in the Global South, as this weakens the ECT and strengthens the call to terminate the ECT. This decision follows actions of amongst others the coalition Handel Anders (of which SOMO, TNI, ActionAid and Both ENDS are active members). Both ENDS has contributed to a joint analysis of the reform proposals made by the ECT that were shown to be insufficient. Both ENDS had been working with partners for a number of years to raise awareness about the disadvantages of the ECT, especially in countries in the Global South that were considering joining the treaty.
(8) From May to November 2022, EU member states, such as Spain, Slovenia, the Netherlands, France and Germany announced their intention to depart the Energy Charter Treaty due to its incompatibility with the Paris Agreement. This led the EU commission to pause its engagement with the ECT modernisation process until 2023. Our partner bilaterals.org together with the S2B network lobbied and carried out advocacy against ISDS which is contained in the ECT. Both ENDS has provided technical knowledge on ISDS used for advocacy for years. Both ENDS strategised jointly and provided financial support. See the following links for public statements about the withdraw from the ECT here: (Spain)https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/eu-spain-to-follow-poland-italy-in-exiting-energy-charter-treaty-csos-welcome-announcement-urge-other-eu-countries-to-withdraw/, (The Netherlands) https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/netherlands-pull-out-treaty-protecting-energy-investments-2022-10-19/, (France) https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/france-joins-other-european-countries-pulling-out-treaty-protecting-energy-2022-10-21/
(9) In September 2022, the EU Commission tabled their text proposal for a chapter on Trade and Sustainable Development in the negotiation of a new EU trade agreement with India. The text shows that the EU commission adopted and implemented several demands of Both ENDS and partner organisations, such as to include a dedicated civil society mechanism to provide input to monitor and review the implementation of a Trade and Sustainable development Chapter, and to include a chapter on “Trade and gender equality”. (x) (g)
(10) In July 2022, the WTO reached an agreement to stop the WTO ban on import tariffs on trans-boundary electronic transaction, if no agreement can be reached by 31 March 2024. This was following the demand by Both ENDS and partner organizations to give governments the policy space to regulate e-commerce in the public interest. The EU insisted on a WTO ban and rejected to get into any meaningfull discussion how to deal with such trans-boundary electronic transaction. If the EU now does not change its attitude, governments will automatically get the policy space beginning in the second quarter of 2024 to tax such flows without getting punished by the WTO.
(11) In July 2022, the WTO reached an agreement on Fishery subsidies. While this agreement did not fully accommodate the concerns and demands of Both ENDS and partner organisations, at least an exception was granted to developing countries like Indonesia that allows them a 2 year longer transition period before they have to stop subsidies to small fishers that might do so-called “unreported and unregulated fishing”. This was following related advocacy work by Both ENDS and partner organisations.
(12) In July 2022, the WTO reached an agreement on a waiver on WTO rules on intellectual property rights on COVID vaccines. While this agreement did not fully accommodate the concerns and demands of Both ENDS and partner organisations, it was agreed to negotiate the extension of this agreement (that currently only covers vaccines) to also cover the production and supply of COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics.
(13) In July 2022, after Both ENDS had published an analysis highlighting the risks of Art 8.10(3) of CETA for policy space to regulate investment in the public interest, the German Government required that these potential loopholes are closed. This led to an EU decision to change the definition of the investment protected under CETA to “ensure that the parties can regulate in the framework of climate, energy and health policies while at the same time preventing the misuse of the investor to State dispute settlement mechanism by investors”.
(14) In July 2022, the EU commission released new Operating guidelines for the Single Entry Point and complaints mechanism that are implementing and clarifying the procedures for civil society and Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs) to lodge complaints on violations of sustainability commitments in EU trade agreements. Based on earlier criticism by Both ENDS and partners it is now introducing specific timelines that the Commission will follow as general rule to treat complaints related to obligations in the chapter on Trade and Sustainable Development complaints. (x)
We aim for 2 instances in which UNCCD policymakers, (district) governments in Africa (Nigeria) adopt or implement FGG policy/practice recommendations concerning i.a. (elements of) the VGGTs leading to increased protection of communal and individual land rights and action against land degradation, desertification and droughts.
For more information on our concrete targets, we refer to the target narratives published on FGG3
C
governments increasing democratic decision-making
6Cx
# of instances in which the adopted and/or implemented policies/practices by key actors contribute to expanding/defending civic space
N/A
In 1 of the 2 instances of policy or practice change, (district) governments in Indonesia , the Philippines, and Malaysia will recognise and implement elements of the VGGTs, leading to increased involvement of CSOs and communities in decision processes and ultimately increased protection of communal and individual land rights.
N/A
In each of the 2 instances of policy or practice change, the changed policy will contribute to expanding/defending civic space: a local (district) government in Nigeria and a UNCCD policymaker will adopt policies leading to increased involvement of CSOs and communities in decision-making processes and ultimately increased protection of communal and individual land rights; in the case of the Nigerian district government this concerns land and forest management.
For more information on our concrete targets, we refer to the target narratives published on FGG3
C
governments increasing democratic decision-making
6Cg
# of instances in which the adopted and/or implemented policies/practices by key actors contribute to gender justice
N/A
n 1 of the 2 instances of policy or practice change, UNCCD policy makers will incorporate the gender sensitive FGG recommendations on how to better link gender and land rights issues in the implementation of VGGTs in international UNCCD policy.
N/A
No targets for 2023.
For more information on our concrete targets, we refer to the target narratives published on FGG3
D
governments regulating the private sector
5D
# key actors who support and/or promote FGG policy/practice recommendations
1) In December 2021, the Dutch state secretary of finance committed to doing an independent research into the due diligence process of ADSB regarding the export credit insurance for the Mozambique LNG project. The research will especially focus on the local safety situation and the human rights situation of the affected communities. This was the result of parliamentarians raising questions in a debate based on a media article about the results of a FOI request filed by Both ENDS, Milieudefensie, FOEE and SOMO in December 2020. The results of the research will be presented at the end of 2022. (x)
2) In November 2021, the Dutch government together with 34 other governments and 5 public financial institutions committed to stopping international financial support for fossil fuel projects by the end of 2022. This commitment requires all signing governments – including the USA, the UK, France, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands - to stop ECA support for the fossil fuel sector by the end of the year 2022. Both ENDS advocated for this commitment for 6 years. At COP26 Both ENDS, together with partners, organised a side event, spoke to journalists and advocated directly to the delegations. https://ukcop26.org/statement-on-international-public-support-for-the-clean-energy-transition/
3) In 2021, FMO and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs committed to organizing two High Level Dialogues between FMO, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Both ENDS, SOMO and other CSOs that should create the foundation for a more constructive dialogue between the attending parties, after advocacy by Both ENDS in structural dialogues.
4) In March 2021, FMO expressed support for Both ENDS and partners recommendations to adopt a policy statement on Financial Intermediary (FI) investments. Throughout 2021, Both ENDS, together with SOMO and other civil society organizations held a dialogue on improving the monitoring and transparency of FI investments. These discussions led to the publication of a draft Position Statement on Environmental, Social and Governance Standards for Financial Intermediaries, showing that the bank is considering to improve social and environmental outcomes and development impact of its FI investments, after advocacy by Both ENDS.
5) In May 2021, FMO expressed support for Both ENDS and partners recommendations to improve their disclosure practice, by inviting civil society stakeholders to provide input to a new to be development roadmap on disclosure, showing willingness to explore and commit to steps to increase transparency surrounding investments and improving its own disclosure standards, after advocacy by Both ENDS in the structural dialogue. Positive steps are that FMO has invited civil society to provide assistance in improving local disclosure practices, and that it is considering longer disclosure periods and publishing more extended project information. (x)
6) In 2021, during several joint lobby meetings, FMO and MIGA expressed support for Both ENDS and partners recommendations to get actively involved in monitoring and seeking solutions for harm done in the Salima project, after publication of research by Both ENDS and partners, joint advocacy and several letters, by starting a Facilitated Dialogue process.
7) In 2021, after joint advocacy meetings with a local CSO organisation and Both ENDS, Dutch dredging company Van Oord committed to some of our recommendations and agreed to locate lost members of this local Both ENDS partner and support this partner and members in an agriculture support project.
8) In 2021, European representation at the AIIB supported Both ENDS and partners’ recommendation to temporarily suspend loan disbursement to the Mandalika project level, Indonesia and requested a (resettlement) action plan during board meetings after Both ENDS and partners regularly informed the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs for updates and exchange.
9) In 2021, Dutch representation at the IDB promoted Both ENDS and partners’ recommendation to implement an action plan to repair adverse impacts and compensate communities in the Guatemala Hydroelectric Projects during board meetings after Both ENDS and partners regularly informed the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs for updates and exchange
10) In 2021, at least one municipal mayor showed support for the campaign of FGG partners in Manilla (the Philippines) against the NMIA project. Both ENDS provided financial support.
11) In 2021, legislators in the Philippines developed the ‘People’s Green New Deal’ and submitted it to congress, calling for (among other things) a moratorium on land reclamations in Manilla Bay and recognition of the role of woman and youth in biodiversity conservation. This all happened after continuous advocacy of FGG partners in the Philippines (supported financially and strategically by Both ENDS)
12) Dutch Advisory Committee on Bio-feedstock adopted recommendations from Both ENDS regarding approval of bio-feedstock. They also incorporated these recommendations in their formal advice to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management concerning the latter’s framework of minimum criteria for bio-feedstock. With an emphasis on ensuring human rights - women rights in particular, consultation of local stakeholders incl. civil society, and land rights as well as ecological and climate sustainability. Both ENDS was invited as an expert for this Committee and offered oral advise and textual input on addressing social-environmental and women rights issues. (x, g)
We aim for 4 key actors, including public financial institutions such as FMO and the AfDB engaged in projects in mostly Africa to support FGG recommendations by expressing support for a different theory of change and disclosure practice, implementing a GBV plan, as well as supporting outcomes of a mediation process that benefit the local community.
(1) In May 2022, following contacts with Both ENDS, Dutch parliamentarians from the PvdD party (1) explicitly stated their support for the situation in Manila, submitted parliamentary questions and requested a parliamentary debate about Dutch financial support, in the form of an ECI, to the Dutch dredger Boskalis in relation to the NMIA project.
(2) In 2022, FMO (1) continued to promote two partners’ recommendation for a responsible exit from the Barro Blanco project by visiting the communities and engaging in dialogue. BE and SOMO contributed by joint advocacy towards FMO and participating in the preparations for the dialogue and the dialogue itself.
(3) In October 2022, the Independent Complaints Mechanism (1) of FMO confirmed one partners’ assessment of the negative impacts of the Barro Blanco project in their published monitoring report, after years of advocacy by this partner and other allies including Both ENDS and SOMO on this project.
(4) In February 2022, FMO (1) committed during a Quarterly Dialogue and via e-mail to a roadmap to improve their ESG Transparency and Disclosure after years of advocating on this by Both ENDS and others including SOMO via policy dialogues and written input.
We aim for 7 key actors, including (district) governments (i.e. in Africa and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and public financial institutions (such as ADSB, FMO and the AfDB engaged in projects in mostly Africa), to support FGG recommendations among others by expressing support for the new RSPO outreach programme for CSOs, supporting a different theory of change and disclosure practice, implementing an SGBV plan, and supporting outcomes of a mediation process that respect human rights and benefit the local community.
For more information on our concrete targets, we refer to the target narratives published on FGG3
D
governments regulating the private sector
5Dx
# of instances in which the supported and/or promoted recommendation by a key actor aims to contribute to expanding/defending civic space
2 of these 4 key actors, including public financial institution such as FMO will make meaningful commitments to adapt their disclosure policies and increase their support for a different theory of change with improved involvement of CSOs and local communities.
2 of these 7 key actors, a district government in Indonesia and a public financial institution (such as ADSB), will support recommendations that foster civic space: the former will increase its support for improved involvement and recognition of CSOs and local communities in decision processes; the latter will improve its CSR policy. This will lead to increased involvement of CSOs and communities in decision-making processes and ultimately increased protection of (indigenous) people’s rights.
For more information on our concrete targets, we refer to the target narratives published on FGG3
D
governments regulating the private sector
5Dg
# of instances in which the supported and/or promoted recommendation by a partner aims to contribute to gender justice
3 of these 4 public financial institutions such as FMO will implement amongst others a GBV plan and support a new theory of change that reflects FGG’s gender justice recommendations.
1 of these 7 key actors, namely a district government in Indonesia, supports and recognises the important role of women in fishing communities and their rights. This reflects FGG’s gender justice recommendations for inclusive land tenure rights and governance.
For more information on our concrete targets, we refer to the target narratives published on FGG3
D
governments regulating the private sector
6D
# instances in which key actors adopt and/or implement FGG policy/practice recommendations
1) In October 2021, an agreement was reached at the OECD to further restrict support for coal fired power plants. As of now, ECAs can only support abated (effective CCUS) coal-fired plants. While this is progress, continued support for associated facilities related to coal (infrastructure and mining) remains very problematic. Also, the OECD still fails to even start talking about serious restrictions on ECA support for oil and gas. Both ENDS, together with other NGOs from around the globe, advocated towards the European Commission to submit a strong proposal. It did, however push back from mainly Japan, Turkey and Australia limited progressive decision-making. https://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=2313 and https://www.oecd.org/newsroom/agreement-reached-at-oecd-to-end-export-credit-support-for-unabated-coal-fired-power-plants.htm
2) In June 2021, the Dutch Development Bank FMO adopted a new ‘Position Statement on Fossil Fuels in Direct Investments’, which commits to bringing an end to new direct finance in the downstream and midstream coal and oil sectors in, after advocacy by Both ENDS. In October of the same year FMO reiterated this position by under signing the COP26 statement on international public support for the clean energy transition.
3) In 2021, the Common Fund for Commodities, a multilateral organization, implemented the recommendation to establish an independent complaints mechanism, after several advocacy letters and conversations by Both ENDS. (x)
4) In 2021, AfDB’s Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) implemented recommendations on how it would be strengthened after intense lobbying by Both ENDS and two networks of partners. (x)
5) In 2021, FMO from the Netherlands, implemented the recommendation to end all financial relations with the Honduran bank FICOHSA, after several letters written by Both ENDS and 40 other partners, and media attention.
6) In 2021, the European Investment Bank (EIB) adopted Both ENDS’ recommendation requiring an informed decision making process, in which environmental, social and climate appraisal, risk categorization, as well as appropriate monitoring requirements are included in the documentation that is submitted to the board for approval after Both ENDS participation in the consultation.
7) In 2021, the European Investment Bank (EIB) adopted Both ENDS’ recommendation on due-diligence at pre-appraisal and appraisal stages to consider analysis of country context, including those related to human right track record after Both ENDS participation in the consultation. (X)
8) In 2021, the European Investment Bank adopted Both ENDS recommendation to include gender in relation to physical climate risk assessment, and widen the definition of gender to reflect non-binary and gender non-conforming communities in the new EIB ESF Standard 5 on Climate Change after Both ENDS participation in the consultation. (g)
We aim for 12 instances in which key actors such as public financial institutions and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (incl. FMO and ADSB), mostly engaged in activities in Africa and Asia to change their policies and/or practices, e.g. by divesting from fossil fuel projects, improving their CSR policy, improving compliance with OECD guidelines, compensating local communities negatively affected by publicly financed corporate projects, improving disclosure practices, and generally amplifying the voice of communities and CSOs including explicit attention for the voice of women, to ensure changed practice of their clients.
(1) In 2022, APREL, the company owning the land concession of Aioli and Achwa ranch, implemented FEDs recommendation and pulled back and gave back the land to the government after FED exposed the land conflict related to this concession and did advocacy towards the financiers (Climate Investor One) of the project. Both ENDS supported with technical and financial support, as well as knowledge exchange, joint advocacy and joint strategizing.
(2) In October 2022, FMO published their final version of their Position Statement on Impact and ESG for Financial Intermediaries (FIs), after Both ENDS advocated for an FI policy for several years via policy dialogues and written statements.
(3) In December 2022, FMO published their Climate Action Plan, including more ambitious steps towards Paris Alignment, after Both ENDS and others advocated for this via policy dialogues and written input.
(4) In December 2022 the CPRH (National Environmental Licensing Agency of Pernambuco) inserted a condition in the environmental license rules consisting of authorizing dredging only in the winter period. This was in direct response to the successful lobby efforts from a local partner in Brazil and the demands from affected communities concerning renewed dredging activities by Dutch company Van Oord for the Brazilian Port Suape. This is a major victory as it will drastically lower the impact of the dredging works on the livelihoods of the local community. Both ENDS supported the local partner through supplying financial contributions which helped the partner continue their work in supporting the local communities struggle, as well as joint lobbying towards Van Oord to prevent the dredging in the summer months.
We aim for 6 instances in which key actors such as public financial institutions and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (incl. FMO and ADSB), mostly engaged in activities in Africa and Asia, to change their policies and/or practices, e.g. by divesting from fossil fuel projects, improving their CSR policy, improving compliance with OECD guidelines, compensating local communities negatively affected by publicly financed corporate projects, improving disclosure practices, and generally amplifying the voices of communities and CSOs with explicit attention for the voices of women, to ensure that the practices of their clients are just and sustainable.
For more information on our concrete targets, we refer to the target narratives published on FGG3
D
governments regulating the private sector
6Dx
# of instances in which the adopted and/or implemented policies/practices by key actors contribute to expanding/defending civic space
In 7 of the 12 instances of policy or practice change, key actors will advance or defend civic space. For example, we aim amongst others for ADSB to install a communication protocol on how they involve input from local communities and for FMO to amplify the voice of communities and civil society organisations, including explicit attention for the voice of women, to ensure changed practice of their clients in various cases of corporate rights violations.
In 1 of the 6 instances of policy or practice change, a key actor will advance or defend civic space. This could concern ADSB, which we want to adopt a protocol on how they involve input from local communities, including women and youth.
For more information on our concrete targets, we refer to the target narratives published on FGG3
D
governments regulating the private sector
6Dg
# of instances in which the adopted and/or implemented policies/practices by key actors contribute to gender justice
In 3 of the 12 instances of policy or practice change, a public financial institution will for example establish a policy on assessing gendered impacts, generally amplify the voice of communities and CSOs including explicit attention for the voice of women, to ensure changed practice of its clients
In 1 of the 6 instances of policy or practice change, the change will have a positive influence on gender equality. This could concern a public financial institution establishing a policy on assessing gendered impacts, generally amplifying the voices of communities and CSOs with explicit attention for the voices of women, to ensure that the practices of their clients are just and sustainable.
For more information on our concrete targets, we refer to the target narratives published on FGG3
E
private sector actors respecting human rights and the environment
5E
# key actors who support and/or promote FGG policy/practice recommendations
1) The RSPO board agreed on recommended follow-up actions put forward by partners and summarized by Both ENDS (formally minuted, forth coming on-line: https://rspo.org/resources/board-of-governors/board-of-governors-meeting-minutes/2021) , including ways to address women rights issues (such as GBV) and human rights (workers’ rights such as freedom of association and dissent) in general working in risk prone situations, exposed to intimidation. (g, x)
We aim for 2 key actors part of the RSPO, active in Africa, Asia, or Latin America to support and promote FGG recommendations for example by recognising the rights of local communities (FPIC) and expressing support for stronger compliance.
(1) In 2022, JCM in Malawi committed to revise the implementation of the Livelihood Restoration Plan in Salima, by finding another organisation that will be able to implement the Plan as well as adding the needs of communities such as supplying different agricultural machines and goats in the Plan, after Both ENDS, CHRR and IAP advocated for this towards FMO, MIGA and JCM. Both ENDs supported financially and technically, IAP, CHRR and Both ENDS continuously strategize together.
(2) In 2022, the RSPO Board agrees to recommendations by Both ENDS and partners regarding RSPO’s Complaints Panel improvement and review process and appointed Both ENDS as member of the RSPO steering group supervising this process. This decision reflects RSPO board acknowledgement that the complaints process needs to accommodate the effected local stakeholders in vulnerable conditions, including women, Indigenous people, and workers, to be enabled to express their concerns and complaints in safe fashion without fear for retaliation. The focus of the recommendations was specifically on the rights of communities, workers and more explicitly women. RSPO published this commitment on their website: https://rspo.org/who-we-are/governance/working-groups/rspo-complaints-and-appeals-procedures-cap-review-steering-group/ (x, g)
(3) In August 2022, Greenfil company from Cameroon agreed to create a follow-up committee composed of 20 people (10 members from the community and 10 members from the Greenfil staff), during dialogues which were initiated by 4 partners. This committee will follow-up the project activities, monitor compliance with norms, the MoU and the environmental mitigation plan. They will meet at least once a month and the expenses of the committee shall be covered by Greenfil Company. The dialogues between the partners and the company were financially supported by Both ENDS. (x)
We aim for 1 key actor to support or promote an FGG recommendation: we aim for the RSPO to recognise the rights of local communities (including to FPIC) and express support for stronger compliance mechanisms through the implementation of the RSPO grievances system.
There are no targets for this indicator in 2024
E
private sector actors respecting human rights and the environment
5Ex
# of instances in which the supported and/or promoted recommendation by a key actor aims to contribute to expanding/defending civic space
N/A
Of these 2 key actors we aim for 1 actor part of the RSPO active in Africa, Asia or Latin America to support and promote recommendations that contribute to civic space by recognising the rights of IPLCs to have a say in decision making about their territories (FPIC).
N/A
We aim for this key actor - the RSPO - to support and promote recommendations that contribute to civic space by recognising the rights of IPLCs to have a say in decision-making about their territories (most notably through FPIC).
There are no targets for this indicator in 2024
E
private sector actors respecting human rights and the environment
5Eg
# of instances in which the supported and/or promoted recommendation by a partner aims to contribute to gender justice
N/A
We aim for both these 2 RSPO actors mostly active in Africa, Asia or Latin America to support and promote recommendations that contribute to gender justice. For example, we expect RSPO to recognise the concerns and demand of CSOs regarding violation of women’s rights in and around plantations, esp. those of female laborers and effects of displacement and changing land use systems for position and workload of local women.
N/A
We aim for this key actor -the RSPO - to recognise the concerns and demands of CSOs regarding violation of women’s rights in and around plantations, especially those of female labourers, and the effects of displacement and changing land use systems for the position and workload of local women.
There are not targets for this indicator in 2024
E
private sector actors respecting human rights and the environment
6E
# instances in which key actors adopt and/or implement FGG policy/practice recommendations
1) In April and September 2021, as a result of advocacy by a group of Ugandan and international CSOs and media attention five private banks confirmed not to support the EACOP pipeline. Since it has become harder and harder for the project to go ahead, the project costs have increased from 3.5 to 5 billion dollar. Both Ends contributed with financial support, joint strategizing and knowledge sharing. https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/africa/pipelines-africa/317029/total-eacop-french-banks/ ; https://www.banktrack.org/success/east_african_crude_oil_pipeline_more_banks_to_stay_away_from_troubled_total_project
2) In 2021, as a result of petitions, communiques and media campaigns by a group of Ugandan CSOs, the network of community champions, youth leaders and women groups from the Albertine region they support, 5 fossil fuel companies (Total Energies, CNOOC, Petrolieres, PetroAfrik Energy, Niger Delta Petroleum Resources) that showed interest in the second round of oil exploration in the biodiverse Albertine garden licensing shied away, thereby halting the project. Both ENDS contributed via strategizing and knowledge sharing.
3) As a result of advocacy pressures by Both ENDS and a Nigerian partner a logging company has ceased logging in the ancestral forest of an indigenous people, and the construction of a logging road has been halted.
4) Both ENDS and FPP and partners advocated the RSPO Board to ensure independence of the RSPO Complaints Panel. The RSPO Board adopted our proposal to reposition the RSPO Complaints Desk. Consequently, the Complaints Desk no longer resorts under the Assurance Department but is directly line-managed by the CEO. This will help guarantee a strict division of tasks within the RSPO, whereby the Complaints Desk and the Secretariat units responsible for the domain of certification are separated – thereby also creating more guarantees for confidentiality of single voices by whistle-blowers and WEHRDs. For background see: https://askrspo.force.com/Complaint/s/.(x)
5) Both ENDS, FPP and Oxfam advocated the RSPO to adopt a RSPO Outreach to Intermediary Organisations Programme in both Honduras and Guatemala and seek partnership with a Central American counterpart which commands the trust of the CSO-community. This proposal has been adopted by RSPO. The outreach will specifically enhance capacity of CSOs, CBOs, unions and women organisations to act safely and freely by addressing human rights and women rights in particular of (female) workers and communities living adjacent to (expanding) palm oil plantations (x, g)
We aim for 3 instances in which private sector actors (specifically the RSPO and its members) mainly active in Asia and Europe but also in Africa (including the Philippines, India, Indonesia, and Uganda) adopt or implement FGG recommendations such as improved corporate accountability processes.
(1) In 2022, RSPO General Assembly adopted two resolutions concerning the amendment of the Code of Conduct and inclusion of Small Holders in Jurisdictional approaches, lobbied for by partners supported by Both ENDS. These two resolutions, from the moment they were adopted by the RSPO General Assembly (the highest governing body of RSPO, representing over 5000 companies), have automatically become new policy, tasking members and the RSPO Secretariat to implement these two policies. This adoption of the two resolutions reflect the RSPO board acknowledgement that the complaints process needs to accommodate small holders, to be enabled to express their concerns and complaints in safe fashion without fear for retaliation, increasing and defending civic space in jurisdictional approaches. (x)
(2) In 2022, the RSPO Assurance Standing Committee unanimously adopted new Labour Auditing Guidance lobbied for by Both ENDS and partners. The Guidance will help improve the auditability of labour requirements of the RSPO standard and provide Certification Bodies (CBs) with a clear methodology that ensures a consistent system and approach to plan and execute RSPO P&C audits. In effect, it stipulates how auditors need to take all precautions to (a) enable workers and community representatives to voice concerns and (b) ensure these representatives when attempting to bring issues to the forefront do not face limitations, repression or retaliation https://rspo.org/rspo-labour-auditing-guidance-based-on-the-rspo-principles-criteriahandbook-for-auditors/(x)
(3) Until the end of 2022, in total 21 private reinsurance companies including Argo Group, Axis Capital and RSA Insurance, stated publicly that they will not support the EACOP project or any associated infrastructure. Through their statements they provide pressure on other reinsurance companies to also withdraw from the EACOP project. Both ENDS provided financial support and jointly strategised with the partners in Uganda that are part of the StopEACOP campaign.
We aim for 4 instances in which private sector actors (specifically the RSPO and through RSPO its member companies) active in Latin America, Asia, Europe and Africa (including India, Philippines, Indonesia and Uganda) adopt or implement FGG recommendations such as on improved corporate accountability processes by i.e. implementation of the RSPO resolution on smallholders, andimplementing strong social auditing guidelines
There are no targets for this indicator in 2024
E
private sector actors respecting human rights and the environment
6Ex
# of instances in which the adopted and/or implemented policies/practices by key actors contribute to expanding/defending civic space
N/A
In 2 of the 3 instances of policy or practice change, RSPO related actors will contribute to civic space by for example improving civil society involvement in their corporate accountability processes.
N/A
In 1 of the 4 instances of policy or practice change, RSPO member companies and members will contribute to civic space by improving the structural involvement of civil society in their corporate accountability processes and decision-making spaces.
There are no targets for this indicator in 2024
E
private sector actors respecting human rights and the environment
6Eg
# of instances in which the adopted and/or implemented policies/practices by key actors contribute to gender justice
N/A
In 1 of the 3 instances of policy or practice change, the RSPO and its members will incorporate gender sensitive FGG recommendations on for example inclusion of women (and labourers’) voices in related corporate accountability mechanisms.
N/A
In 2 of the 4 instances of policy or practice change, the RSPO and through RSPO its member companies will incorporate gender-sensitive FGG recommendations on for example inclusion of women’s (and labourers’) voices and rights in their corporate accountability mechanisms e.g. through the social auditing guidelines.
There are no targets for this indicator in 2024
F
governments, government-backed agencies, donors, private sector actors increasing policy space and support for fair and green practices
5F
# key actors who support and/or promote FGG policy/practice recommendations
1) An Asian provincial government endorsed and supported proposals from an Asian partner and Both ENDS to undertake reforestation schemes using native species and seedlings raised by experts from indigenous communities.
We aim for 2 key actor such as the Dutch parliament to support increased finance for transformative practices.
1) In 2022, GEF committed to more support for CSOs. At the UNCCD COP15 in May 2022, the CEO (1) of the Global Environmental Facility made an official commitment to increase space for CSOs within GEF funding using the argument that non-state actors, such as communities, CSOs and private sector are in many cases the drivers of transitional actions that lead to change within countries. More financial and political support from GEF to CSOs will increase civic space for CSOs to better participate in policy making processes on sustainable land management and inclusive land governance. Drynet and Both ENDS have been advocating since 2017 for more appropriate funding mechanisms for CSOs who are supporting sustainable land use and restoration activities of communities in the context of the implementation of the UNCCD in general and Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) more specifically, by addressing this during official interventions in the UNCCD COP, and by inviting GEF as a speaker in the side events organised by Drynet and Both ENDS. In addition, In May 2022, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) informed Both ENDS and Drynet, a global network of CSOs working with communities in drylands, that they were willing to support Drynet on capacity and knowledge development of CSOs for better engagement with policymakers and more recognition of community activities regarding sustainable land use and land restoration, such as agroecology, farmer managed-natural regeneration and other transformative practices in the context of Land Degradation Neutrality policies and monitoring. Both ENDS has contributed actively to the process of the cooperation between Drynet, IUCN and GEF. (x) https://www.thegef.org/newsroom/news/record-pledges-gef-aims-more-flexible-environmental-funding
https://www.thegef.org/projects-operations/projects/10993
(2) In 2022, an Asian provincial government supports proposals from an Asian partner and Both ENDS to undertake reforestation schemes using native species and local seedlings, which were addressed by experts from indigenous communities. The government endorsed these proposals by among others purchasing endemic seedlings from communities, with the support from the Asian FGG partner, and by engaging the partner staff in training with staff of the forest department. Trainings focussed on tree nursery development and effective plantation practices.
(3) In December 2022, the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared a ‘Stappenplan’ Global Food Security with Dutch parliament, emphasizing the importance of resilient and local food systems, while recognizing for the first time that current food production methods and consumption patterns in the Netherlands and the West exceed ecological limits and threaten food security. Although the policy is not perfect, these elements follow upon recommendations of Both ENDS and a passed motion in Dutch parliament asking for a ‘stappenplan’ for global food security in response to the food crisis.
We aim for 4 key actors such as policymakers (e.g. in Bangladesh, and the Netherlands) to support increased finance for sustainable and inclusive agricultural development (e.g. agroecology) and transformative practices and support the implementation of for example Tidal River Management (TRM).
For more information on our concrete targets, we refer to the target narratives published on FGG3
F
governments, government-backed agencies, donors, private sector actors increasing policy space and support for fair and green practices
5Fx
# of instances in which the supported and/or promoted recommendation by a key actor aims to contribute to expanding/defending civic space
No targets for 2022.
No targets for 2023.
There are no targets for this indicator in 2024
F
governments, government-backed agencies, donors, private sector actors increasing policy space and support for fair and green practices
5Fg
# of instances in which the supported and/or promoted recommendation by a partner aims to contribute to gender justice
Both of these 2 key actors -including Dutch decision makers to support recommendations that are aimed at contributing to gender justice, such as the recommendation to increase finance, especially small grants, for gender just transformative practices such as agroecology.
Of these 4 key actors we aim for 3 actors such as policymakers (e.g. in Kenya, Bangladesh and the Netherlands) to support FGG recommendations to promote more gender equality, such as recommendations to promote more inclusive policies to increase finance and policy support for sustainable and inclusive agricultural development (e.g. agroecology and livelihood development with special focus on women groups) and transformative practices and support the implementation of for example inclusive Tidal River Management (TRM) where the voices of women are included in decision-making processes.
For more information on our concrete targets, we refer to the target narratives published on FGG3
F
governments, government-backed agencies, donors, private sector actors increasing policy space and support for fair and green practices
6F
# instances in which key actors adopt and/or implement FGG policy/practice recommendations
No targets for 2022.
We aim for 2 instances, in which the Dutch government and the GEF adopt and/or implement FGG policy recommendations for better financial mechanisms for transformative practices such as agroecology.
There are no targets for this indicator in 2024
F
governments, government-backed agencies, donors, private sector actors increasing policy space and support for fair and green practices
6Fx
# of instances in which the adopted and/or implemented policies/practices by key actors contribute to expanding/defending civic space
N/A
No targets for 2022.
N/A
No targets for 2023.
There are no targets for this indicator in 2024
F
governments, government-backed agencies, donors, private sector actors increasing policy space and support for fair and green practices
6Fg
# of instances in which the adopted and/or implemented policies/practices by key actors contribute to gender justice
N/A
No targets for 2022.
N/A
Of these 2 instances we aim for 1 instance in which the Dutch government through RVO adopts and/or implements financial policy mechanisms that enhances the financial space for agroecology and decision-making capacities of women for land-related Transformative Practices which will contribute to gender equality.
There are no targets for this indicator in 2024
SCS
governments, government-backed agencies, donors, private sector actors increasing policy space and support for fair and green practices
6SCS1
# of laws, policies and norms, implemented for sustainable and inclusive development
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
There are not targets for this indicator in 2024
SCS
governments, government-backed agencies, donors, private sector actors increasing policy space and support for fair and green practices
6SCS2
# of laws, policies and norms/attitudes, blocked, adopted, improved for sustainable and inclusive development
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
There are no targets for this indicator in 2024
Process
process
l
learning sessions organised by FGG members and partner organisations
Several learning sessions were organised by FGG members and partners:
With partners and Both ENDS:
- In February 2022 a learning session was setup by Both ENDS to learn about mutual capacity development successes and spaces for improving with our Ugandan Partner on Trade and Investment.
- Both ENDS and Milieudefensie organised regular calls with EGI and CSOs from Ghana and Togo to exchange information, learn from each other’s experiences and reflect on strategies around the different projects that the partners oppose, as well as discuss our joint international strategy towards ECAs.
- On 22 November Both ENDS organized the meeting “Online Exchange and Learning on Gender Justice” with BE FGG staff and 15 partner organizations, in which we discussed how to (better) include gender justice in our work, in particular regarding lobby and advocacy vis a vis financial flows, international trade, inclusive governance of natural land sustainable land and water use. Topics of sharing and discussion included working with local communities on gender justice, how to include gender in our lobby messages, how to better organize our internal learning and sharing. Subsequently we discussed further collaboration and starting developing a narrative on gender justice.
- In order to support the Indigenous-Led Education (ILED) network – consisting of 7 indigenous federations/organisations and CSO support groups in 6 countries, Both ENDS contributed financially, logistically and strategically co-hosted 2 webinars to exchange experiences and enable a process of joint strategizing
- An NGO from Uganda: Both ENDS, and Free University of Amsterdam (Law Clinic) collaborated to enhance the NGO’s informed strategic choices and a tool box to address women rights violation in the plantation sector though Uganda’s court system, thereby giving women a voice to express their grievances and to seek redress.
- A fundraising capacity training was prepared with partners in 2021 – to be executed in 2022
Internally within Both ENDS:
- Meetings related to developing the new Both ENDS trade strategy, in which we looked back on based on lessons learnt from a.o. interviews with partners and experts
Learning is an integral part of our programme cycle and is for example one of the key objectives of the yearly reflection meetings that we organise per thematic group. In these sessions we reflect on how our work is progressing, what lessons we can learn from this and if and where there is a need for different activities, goals and strategies. These lessons inform our decision making on if and how we adapt our activities, targets, and strategies. In addition, for FGG3, we have developed a learning agenda around various key topics (i.e. gender justice, youth responsiveness, dealing with shrinking space, alternatives/solutions for public financial systems and international trade and investment agreements, case development and upscaling transformative practices)on which we aim to strengthen our capacity. In 2022, we aim to learn on these topics together with our partners from Africa, Asia and Latin America through e.g. joint learning sessions and conducting landscape mappings around certain topics.
Several learning sessions were organised by FGG members and partners. In 2022, learning was an integral part of our programme cycle and one of the key objectives of the yearly reflection meetings that we organise per thematic group. In these sessions we reflected on how our work is progressing, what lessons we learned from this and if and where there are needs for different activities, goals and strategies. These lessons inform our decision-making on if and how we adapt our activities, targets, and strategies. In addition, for FGG3, we have developed a learning agenda around various key topics, including gender justice, youth responsiveness, dealing with shrinking civic space, alternatives/solutions for public financial systems and international trade and investment agreements, case development and upscaling transformative practices) on which we aim to strengthen our capacity. In 2022, we aimed to learn on these topics together with our partners from Africa, Asia and Latin America through e.g. joint learning sessions and conducting landscape mappings around certain topics.
With partners and Both ENDS:
Together with Delft-IHE Both ENDS organized three online round-tables for the development of a shared water governance agenda that were attended by more than 40 representatives from civil society and academia from around the world. During these sessions participants shared their knowledge and defined key principles for water governance. This content was collected for the formulation of the Transformative Water Pact (TWP) that was launchedhttps://transformativewaterpact.org/ in 2023 in the run up to the UN Water Conference in New York. in 2023 in the run up to the UN Water Conference in New York. The pact was developed and authored by a diverse group of 40+ environmental justice advocates from civil society and academia, notably from the Global South, who work extensively on water-related issues throughout the world. It’s content was defined through a process of online round-tables and writing from December 2022 to February 2023. The TWP is a living document that can serve as a basis for further discussion and refinement.
A learning and capacity development session was co-organised by Both ENDS for 60 representatives of 28 NGOs and CBOs in preparation of the RSPO Round Table and General Assembly in November 2022
A FGG partner from Asia, with support from Both ENDS, organised an NTFP-training in an Asian country with over 40 participants from CSOs and indigenous organisations.
ILED organised two learning and exchange sessions, engaging 6 ILED members as well as funders. Both ENDS facilitated through financial support, fundraising assistance, networking support and backstopping.
Led by local trainers and supported by Both ENDS and key counterpart Wilde Ganzen, one intensive fundraising capacity development training was organised stretching a longer period of time for 128 representatives from 9 partners from Asia and Africa. This training was also evaluated with the partners through a survey to harvest lessons for improvement.
Both ENDS together with the Dutch ministry of Foreign Affairs and a number of Dutch embassies, organised sessions to exchange experiences, information and ideas with regards to shrinking civic space and threats to (Women) Environmental Human Rights Defenders and options to offer assistance in a preventative and crisis response manner.
In October 2022, Drynet, a global network of CSOs working with communities in drylands organised, with the support of Both ENDS, an away-day session of 3 days to further consolidate the network, to develop a 5 years strategy for cooperation and advocacy in order to future proof the network.
Internally within BE
Both ENDS organised an internal learning session to discuss and exchange experiences and ideas about how to better address issues faced by partners in terms of shrinking civic space and threats to (Women) Environmental Human Rights Defenders.
Both ENDS organised an internal learning session with IOED partners to discuss the Indigenous-Led Education Network (ILED) and its importance also for Both ENDS own work and networks.
Both ENDS organised an internal learning session to update the Both ENDS strategy concerning palm oil and the RSPO.
Learning is an integral part of our programme cycle and is for example one of the key objectives of the yearly reflection meetings that we organise per thematic group. These thematic groups are about Trade & Investment; Public Financial Institutions; and inclusive land and water governance. In these sessions we reflect on how our work is progressing, what lessons we can learn from this and if and where there is a need for different activities, goals and strategies. These lessons inform our decision making on if and how we adapt our activities, targets, and strategies. In addition, for FGG3, we have developed a learning agenda around various key topics (i.e. gender justice, youth responsiveness, dealing with shrinking space, alternatives/solutions for public financial systems and international trade and investment agreements, case development and upscaling transformative practices) on which we aim to strengthen our capacity. In 2023, we will among other things engage in learning sessions on gender justice as part of the process of updating the Both ENDS gender strategy; we will do a mapping of our current youth work; we will continue with our (+/- 8 weekly) team meetings where we exchange with the whole FGG team about a different content related topic each time (often related to the topics in our learning agenda).
Process
process
g
lines of work in which FGG members and partners build upon gender analysis and incorporate gender justice in their strategy
TRADE & INVESTMENTS:
In the work of Both ENDS on the EU trade Agreements with Indonesia and the EU Mercosur agreement, Both ENDS highlighted the lack of sufficient analyses of gender specific implications of these trade agreements and the need to reform the EU Sustainable Impact Assessment procedure. We also highlighted the importance that recognition of the importance of gender equity has to move from soft law to hard law.
Partners from Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique and Zimbabwe held information workshops and advocacy trainings on the risks of the African Continental Free Trade Area for women’s rights . Both ENDS had provided input for the material used in the trainings and financial support
One of the important outcomes in 2021 was that unjustifiable gender discrimination related to granting license for foreign service providers will be banned by 67 WTO member states, and becomes sensational under WTO law
FINANCIAL FLOWS:
In the different ECA supported projects that an Ugandan partner opposes and the advocacy towards the Ugandan government, capacities of women and youth have been strengthened and they are part of the advocacy that the partner does. In the advocacy towards governmental promotion of renewable energies, the position of women and youth in these solutions is on the agenda.
Gender justice has been a key pillar in the work that an Indonesian partner does with the communities in and around Makassar. Building on the experiences from the past years, BE and the partner together with the communities have build a strong case towards ADSB.
Building upon earlier analyses and strategy-building, 2 partners from Malawi, strengthened their constituency/network in the communities affected by the Salima project, their access to FMO and MIGA, and their leverage/influencing skills with focus on gender justice by organizing community meetings and workshops for accountability clubs, as well as joint strategy meetings and advocacy towards FMO, MIGA and the project owner with Both ENDS.
INCLUSIVE LAND GOVERNANCE:
Partner in Brazil held a series of workshops between September and November 2021 especially for 20 women representatives of two communities in order to empower the women to be able to claim their land rights and advance their connection to their own lands again.
A partner in Peru held training on land rights and land monitoring with a specific focus to also include youth and women representatives of the communities.
2 partner organizations in Indonesia working with communities that are highly affected by large scale palm oil production integrated gender justice aspects in their work. They set up separate women groups or trainings for women in order to better map and address how women are affected by the palm oil industry, their daily problems like water pollution, diminishing fish as livelihood source, as well as rights regarding land & natural resource use and their position in their communities . In 2021 mainly the capacity of women was strengthened regarding leadership capacities, FPIC and gender based human rights , Knowledge and skills building specifically on IWRM & gender and on water monitoring on pollutions and biodiversity. In the next years the skills and the outcomes of monitoring and testing will be used in local and national advocacy. One NGO partner shared their knowledge and skills with partner organizations in the GAGGA Alliance, directed at evidence building by women on pollution by the mining industry in 5 Asian countries.
Gender and women rights have been an integral part of capacity building in the fields of (i) CSOs efforts at regulating the palm oil sector and holding plantation companies accountable for gendered aspects of land grab and disputes and violation of workers rights; (ii) CSOs and CBOs work to engage (young) women in local goverment and village level institutions governing land and forest resources and enable them to obtain skills and confidence in order to be effective in claiming and employing decision making powers as elected/appointed representatives, officials or spokes persons.
INCLUSIVE WATER GOVERNANCE:
In Kenya (Kiambu County), based on the research on current water governance, the capacity building workshops highlighted how current water policies and practices are disproportionately affecting women’s access to water; the participants emphasized the importance to address gender inequality in order to promote more inclusive water governance. Lobby and advocacy work as well as work with the communities have build upon these insights.
Various lobby and advocacy workshops in Satkhira district (Bangladesh) organised by 1 FGG partner have led to strengthened lobby and advocacy capacity of farmer groups (including young and marginalised farmers, and women-only groups) who participated: more specifically the capacity of farmers for engaging in dialogue and negotiating with local government officials about the support for agroecological practices, practising open fisheries, and sustainable land use through both governmental policies, regulations, and funding mechanisms. As part of these workshops, the FGG partner trained women and youth to further develop and strengthen their L&A messages tailored at their specific needs and realities, in order to promote solutions that are mindful of gender and intergenerational inequalities.
Gender justice is one of the core pillars of our programme strategy and long term goals. This is reflected in all our lines of work under the FGG programme by focusing on amplifying the voices of women through the networks we are involved in , translate their asks to advocacy on the complicated system of public financial flows and international trade and investment agreements and the advocacy for more space for inclusive land and water management including transformative practices. In addition, both in our work with partners as well as in our own advocacy we pay attention to the gendered impacts of the issues we work on and make sure our work is responsive to that gender analysis. While for our work on inclusive land governance, inclusive water governance and transformative practices, gender is already an integral part of all activities we undertake, for our work on trade and investments and public financial flows updating our gender analysis an d further incorporating gender justice in our activities is an important priority for 2022.
Gender justice is one of the core pillars of our programme strategy and long term goals. This is reflected in all our lines of work under the FGG programme by focusing on amplifying the voices of women through the networks we are involved in, translate their asks to advocacy on the complicated system of public financial flows and international trade and investment agreements and the advocacy for more space for inclusive land and water management including transformative practices. In addition, both in our work with partners and in our own advocacy we pay attention to the gendered impacts of the issues we work on and make sure our work is responsive to that gender analysis. While for our work on inclusive land governance, inclusive water governance and transformative practices, gender is already an integral part of all activities we undertake, for our work on trade and investments and public financial flows updating our gender analysis and further incorporating gender justice in our activities was an important priority for 2022.
Based on a gender justice workshop with partners in 2021, Both ENDS FGG team had a brainstorm on how to further integrate gender justice in their work in 2022, more specifically on (I) how gender is relevant for FGG themes, (ii) how we work together as civil society and with communities on gender justice and have the conversation about it in an equal way (i.e. mutual capacity development), (iii) how do we translate gender justice into concrete lobby asks, (iv) how do we put a feminist approach into practice in our FGG BE team. The FGG BE team took insights on board in both FGG work within the organisation as well as in Both ENDS as organisation broader than FGG (for instance in Both ENDS input on the Dutch Feminist Foreign Policy https://www.bothends.org/en/Whats-new/Letters/Both-ENDS-input-to-the-Consultation-Feminist-Foreign-Policy-of-Ministry-of-Foreign-AffairsZa-/).
Other Examples:
Inclusive Land and Water Governance
Partner Forum Suape in Brazil organised various trainings and workshops for the women’s groups (ca 20 women representatives from local communities), with topics such as: building an understanding of their rights under the ILO Convention 169 on FPIC as well as the Paris Climate accords and the CBD. But also on Agroecology and Rights to Food Security. This last training included a specific practical element on enhancing the women’s economic position and food security by including a training on how to market the produce of their local gardens. The aim is to ensure the women’s participation in the political decision-making of their communities but also improve their socio-economic position, which often prevents them from being able to engage fully in political work.
In West-Kalimantan (Indonesia) one of our partners organised capacity development sessions for 4 women groups as human rights and environmental defenders. Indigenous women and youth were active participants in trainings on: 1) human rights and on how to apply FPIC for women group organisations; women leadership for human rights and environmental defence; and community and gender-based human rights and environmental defending monitoring systems; 2) participatory mapping of indigenous territories and customary forests as collective human rights and environmental rights defenders strategic measures; 3) community customary workshops to determine boundaries and participatory mapping field work activities. This is all part of evidence building for advocacy towards (re)claiming land rights in the context of palm oil expansion and transmigration, and for good governance. Both ENDS contributed with financial support.
In addition, a partner from the Philippines convened the ReSisters Dialogue, a platform for indigenous women leaders to strengthen each other’s capacity and to strategize on advocacy campaigns for indigenous women rights in Asia. The platform organized the 2-day National Indigenous Women Gathering “Our Stories, Our Struggles, Our Resistance”, an online gathering, where almost a hundred women participated coming from 22 indigenous communities in the Philippines. The gathering was a space to take stock of what happened during the 2022 Philippines elections, their collective assessment and reckoning of the Duterte regime, and articulating the policy agenda that they would push for the Marcos Jr. government. During this convening Indigenous Women shared their experiences and strategies, and affirmed their commitment to the continuing struggle for their rights to their land, access to their natural resources; to work hard against all forms of violence against them as indigenous women and as women human rights defenders. At the end of the gathering, they drafted a plan to be able to push for their agenda, as well as to strengthen themselves as communities of ReSisters. Both ENDS contributed with financial support and joint networking and outreach to similar networks in order to form a broad intersectional movement that advocates for indigenous women’s rights (this activity overlaps with GAGGA).
In June 2022, 2 partners from Mozambique organised a conference with international women activists and land experts to strengthen their constituency and network as well as their capacity and the capacity of their members (rural women) to conduct advocacy and exert influence at governmental level on land policy and mainstreaming gender and women's rights so that they can ensure that the legal framework currently being discussed will be just, inclusive and gender equal. The conference’s costs have been covered by Both ENDS.
An FGG partner in Indonesia strengthened their knowledge of the impacts of the Sepaku hydrodam development on indigenous Balik communities, in relation to the new capital city development in East Kalimantan, by starting an in-depth participatory research in order to build evidence that can feed (future) lobby & advocacy on this topic. This research includes a specific focus on the (gendered) impacts of these developments on Balik women. Both ENDS provided financial support.
Public Financial Flows
In 2022, EGI, AERC, FOE Togo, AbibiNsroma Foundation, FOE Ghana and WALHI South Sulawesi have all strengthened their capacities on engaging with women in the communities they work with. In all communities it has been a challenge to engage with women directly as this is either not accepted culturally or women are not used or comfortable to speak out when men are present. Engaging with the women in the communities was crucial for both gathering input on the impacts faced by women in the communities as well as hearing their needs and wishes for resolving the impacts they faced. In Indonesia, WALHI South Sulawesi succeeded in formalizing a women’s group on Kodingareng Island. To their knowledge, this is the first coastal women’s organisation to strengthen the capacities of women on dealing with the impacts of sand mining and finding activities that can strengthen the island’s economy now that income from fishing has reduced and the island is facing threats of climate change, such as sea level rise.
In Uganda, most of the advocacy in 2022 has been driven by women in the communities. Women in the communities are the drivers of the advocacy in terms of organising the communities and identifying specific issues affecting women and raising them with relevant actors. They are motivated to do the advocacy as access to clean energy benefits them the most.
A global network with most members in Africa, strengthened their lobby and advocacy skills on engaging in policy discussions with International Financial Institutions, specifically the African Development Bank. The network did so by increasing their understanding of the proposed new AfDB Integrated Safeguards System through conducting a joint analysis and writing a joint submission for the consultation process. Gender justice was a key element of both the analysis as well as the joint submission. Both ENDS contributed to the joint analysis as well as coordinated the joint submission.
Trade
In May 2022, a partner from Uganda strengthened its knowledge and understanding of the AfCFTA Gender and Youth Protocol by conducting an analysis of this announced protocol and organising a webinar with civil society actors to facilitate discussions on their findings. Both ENDS supported with knowledge exchange on gender issues and with financial support.
Another example is that in July and August 2022, a partner from Indonesia together with 6 local farmer groups and 2 European (civil society) allies strengthened their knowledge on the harmful effects of including Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of Seeds in trade agreements for small farmers, specially for women. The gendered impact of these IPR clauses was a central issue in this capacity development work. They did this by setting up webinars for relevant actors (a.o. CSOs and policymakers) across Indonesia and the EU on these IPR clauses, with special attention for their gendered impacts. In addition to strengthened knowledge, organising this webinar series also resulted in an expanded networks for these partners with other actors in this field. Both ENDS strategised with the partners and provided technical and financial support.
Gender justice is one of the core pillars of our programme strategy and long term goals. We will work with CSOs from Africa, Asia, and Latin America (including from India, Uganda, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Kenya). This is reflected in all our lines of work under the FGG programme by focusing on amplifying the voices of women through the networks we are involved in, translating their asks to advocacy on the complicated system of public financial flows and international trade and investment agreements and the advocacy for more space for inclusive land and water management including transformative practices. In addition, both in our work with partners as well as in our own advocacy we pay attention to the gendered impacts of the issues we work on and make sure our work is responsive to that gender analysis. While for our work on inclusive natural resource (land and water) governance and transformative practices, gender is already an integral part of all activities we undertake, for our work on trade and investments and public financial flows we made some steps last year but updating our gender analysis and further incorporating gender justice in our activities is an important priority for 2023. We might further improve our plans/way of working on gender justice after the Both ENDS gender strategy planned for 2023.
Process
process
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the extent to and ways in which FGG involves local groups in the design and implementation of the FGG programme
In general, Both ENDS is in regular contact with partners throughout the year. Before plans are being made for the next year, partners are consulted by colleagues for their ideas and input. The activities and work of partners as part of an MoU and its contribution to the FGG ToC are defined by themselves in consultation with Both ENDS colleagues. Partner talks to reflect on the collaboration are done every year with a couple of partners. While doing all this, we are conscious that Both ENDS still holds the money and eventually decides upon the budget division between partners. Acknowledging this and finding ways to make it more equal are good first steps, but is something we want to continue reflecting upon and working on.
2021 was a very challenging year with the regard to collaborating with partners. The inability to see each other and have in-depth brainstorm sessions hindered the mutual capacity development. Whilst certain meetings were able to be held online, bad connection and/or limited time/different preferences made it harder to keep each other up-to-date. At the same time, those moments were we did come together (online) were used to reflect on how collaboration under a ‘new normal’ can improve in the future. The outcomes of some of those reflections will be implemented in 2022.
A couple of examples of how local groups have been involved in the design and implementation of the programme:
– In 2021, the Handels Anders coalitie, of which BE is a member, has written a publication on the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement. As representing the perspectives of local groups was a central goal of the publication, 7 local partners were strongly involved in the process. Local groups in the Mercosur countries have expressed their concerns around the EU-Mercosur agreement, and notoriously its harmful impacts on their livelihoods. in their communities and their natural living environment. However, little transparency around the FTA and little public debate in the Mercosur countries about the trade agreement fueled the need of local partners for more research and written analysis. The publication is a result of this and aims to spark further debate and knowledge exchange between CSO´s in 2022.
- A Ugandan partner has built a group of 36 community champions that are involved in the strategizing and implementation of the advocacy by EGI and play a key role in building the capacities of the wider communities that they are part of.
- Both ENDS, FPP and Rutu Foundation and Southern based co-founding members of the ILED network organized a number of virtual meetings. This enabled joint decisions about governance of the network and the drawing up on an Action Plan by the 8 ILED-partners. It also led to a process of peer-to-peer support of local ILED project development and joint decision making on a common small grants fund and allocation of small grants. It also led to appointment of regional coordinators, mandated by the ILEDS-network partners to facilitate and initiate further network development.
- Both ENDS offered strategic and funding support aiding a Malaysian NGO a sounding board to design a new lobby agenda to address native customary land right (NCR) issues – this in view of the outcome of the last State elections in Sarawak. The partner decided to take stock of which new policymakers and legislators, corporate stakeholders, the media and civil society to engage to promotr NCR, using the angle of climate change and good governance (especially environmental, social and corporate governance) in the light of Malaysia’s commitments to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow in November 2021. Thereby building on the webinar - jointly organized by PPSKS and the University of Malaya Law Faculty, with Both ENDS support the previous year- with eminent legal experts, including the former President of the Malaysian Federal Court and and a Legal Review Paper on the status of NCR lands in Sarawak.
- Both ENDS and a partner in Nigeria worked on strategizing around new avenues to halting illegal logging and environmental destruction and enhance the abilities and safety of community forest protection committees, with participation of women and youth. This encouraged the partner to step up the international campaign to put pressure on the Cross River State authorities.
- Both ENDS, in joint collaboration with four partners in Asia and SEI organized and co-hosted a webinar with grassroots Women Environmental Human Rights Defenders in Asia, and funding agencies for which the WEHRDs were assisted to present their challenges, needs and priorities to funders. The webinar was moderated and logistically organized by one of the Asian partners. A number of funders expressed interest in collaborating in follow-up support to WEHRDS. For background; https://www.sei.org/perspectives/women-environmental-defenders-protect-communities/ and https://ntfp.org/2020/11/courage-in-the-face-of-struggles/
Ownership and representation of local groups is part and partial to Both ENDS’ way of working. In all the work that we will undertake we will closely collaborate with our partners in the global South which are often local CSOs that have strong relationships with local communities, CBOs or communities directly. We ensure their involvement in all phases of the programme, from design to implementation and evaluation and are in constant dialogue with them. One of the key ways in which we will ensure sound representation of our local partners is by continuing to letting plans and agenda be driven by the issues and needs identified by our partners. FGG members’ agenda will continue to be driven by the needs identified by our partners in the global South. In addition, we will continue to engage in mutual capacity development with our partners where both BE and partners strengthen each others L&A capacities by learning from each other’s often complementary knowledge, skills, and positions. This mutual capacity building is generally followed-up with joint lobby and advocacy activities from our Southern partners and BE. In our advocacy we will continue to aim to bring our partners themselves in the room as much as possible. When this is not possible, it will be our number one priority to convey the perspectives of our partners as well as possible in these decision making spaces. While representation of local groups is already a fundamental priority in our work, in 2022, we do expect to enhance representation of local groups, e.g. we aim to start collaborating with new partners.
Ownership and representation of local groups is part and parcel to Both ENDS’ way of working. In all the work that we undertake we closely collaborate with our partners in the global South which are often local CSOs that have strong relationships with local communities, CBOs or communities directly. We ensure their involvement in all phases of the programme, from design to implementation and evaluation and are in constant dialogue with them. One of the key ways in which we ensure sound representation of our local partners is by continuing to letting plans and agenda be driven by the issues and needs identified by our partners. In addition, we continued to engage in mutual capacity development with our partners through which both Both ENDS and partners strengthen each others lobby and advocacy capacities by learning from each other’s often complementary knowledge, skills, and positions. This mutual capacity development is generally followed-up with joint lobby and advocacy activities from our Southern partners and Both ENDS. In our advocacy we continued to bring our partners themselves in the room as much as possible. When this was not possible, it was our number one priority to convey the perspectives of our partners as well as possible in these decision-making spaces. While representation of local groups is already a fundamental priority in our work, in 2022, we enhanced representation of local groups and started collaborating with new partners.
In general, Both ENDS was in regular contact with partners throughout the year. Before plans were made for the next year, partners were consulted by colleagues for their ideas and input. The activities and work of partners as part of an MoU and its contribution to the FGG ToC are defined by the partners themselves in consultation with Both ENDS colleagues. Partner talks to reflect on the collaboration are done every year with a couple of partners. While doing all this, we are conscious that Both ENDS still holds the money and eventually decides upon the budget division between partners. we acknowledge this and make an effort to find ways to increasingly share this power. Also in 2022, we continued reflecting upon and working on facilitating more equal partnerships.
Examples
In 2022, EGI, AERC, FOE Togo, AbibiNsroma Foundation and FOE Ghana developed strategies around just energy transition that were relatively new to Both ENDS and the FGG programme. We incorporated these views and tactics to ensure the FGG programme contributes to these strategies and implements them in for example the advocacy towards decision-makers on international levels.
SEPA and CBI, Malaysia, helped develop two Conflict Prevention Platforms in Sabah, to facilitate remediation of land conflicts and worker related disputes between respectively palm oil companies and communities and workers. This innovative format for informal, close to the ground, facilitated conflict resolution offered Both ENDS a new, promising example which will aid us in advocating changes during RSPO’s review of the formal Complaints process and Dispute Settlement Facility.
Ownership and representation of local groups is part and parcel to Both ENDS’ way of working. In all the work that we undertake we closely collaborate with our partners in the global South which are often local CSOs that have strong relationships with local communities, CBOs or communities directly. We ensure their involvement in all phases of the programme, from design to implementation and evaluation and are in constant dialogue with them. One of the key ways in which we will ensure sound representation of our local partners is by continuing to letting plans and agenda be driven by the issues and needs identified by our partners. FGG members’ agenda will continue to be driven by the needs identified by our partners in the global South. In addition, we will continue to engage in mutual capacity development with our partners where both Both ENDS and partners strengthen each others lobby and advocacy capacities by learning from each other’s often complementary knowledge, skills, and positions. This mutual capacity development is generally followed-up with joint lobby and advocacy activities from our Southern partners and Both ENDS. In our advocacy we will continue to aim to bring our partners themselves in the room as much as possible. When this is not possible, it will be our number one priority to convey the perspectives of our partners as well as possible in these decision-making spaces.
In our planning process, every BE colleague consulted partners in roughly three ways:
1.Through continuous exchanges throughout the year about joint strategies and added value
2. Specifically during travels (Indonesia 2x, Cameroon, Bangladesh, Panama, India, Ivoorkust, Senegal and international conferences/meetings in Europe with partners)
3. When a colleague did not have sufficient feeling with and knowledge of the agenda and plans of partners for 2023, this colleague initiated an extra call before the planning process
While representation of local groups is already a fundamental priority in our work, in 2023, we do expect to enhance representation of local groups even further as we aim to start collaborating with new local partners. In addition we will also engage in the Both ENDS broad learning process on shift the power, after which we may make adjustments to further enhance local ownership in our programme.