Climate Action in Africa’s Sarisha Ramanand, Gioconda Ortega Alarie and Laurent Kossivi Domegni at UNCCD COP 15 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Blog post by Laurent Kossivi Domegni who works as a renewable energy advisor with Econoler based in Lomé, Togo.

(Le français suit)

As we celebrate World Environment Day globally, I want to share with you my reflection on Climate Action in Africa and how its contribution to climate action is interwoven in this year’s theme “Only One Earth”.

Funded by Global Affairs Canada, Climate Action in Africa is a 5-year Expert Deployment Mechanism, implemented by Alinea International in partnership with Econoler and WSP – for which I’m the renewable energy advisor.

Climate Action in Africa provides short-term technical assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa – aimed at combatting climate change and biodiversity loss. Support is demand-driven and based on needs identified at the local level.

The interventions of Climate Action in Africa fall under four pillars:

building climate change governance capacity,
climate change mitigation with a focus on energy and forestry and adaption with a focus on water and agriculture,
women’s participation and leadership in climate action,
south-south cooperation and knowledge sharing.

It has been 50 years since World Environment Day was first launched in 1973. Organized by the United Nations Environment Programme, World Environment Day is the largest global platform for environmental outreach. This year’s theme “Only One Earth” is an occasion to raise awareness and celebrate environmental action. And so, what are the environmental actions implemented by Climate Action in Africa so far and what are those it can support in the coming years?

So far, the project has started implementation with outreach activities through the participation in UN conferences such as the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2) in Kenya and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)COP 15 in Abidjan, where I was a participant. Both gatherings bring together member states, civil society, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to create policy to address global environmental issues. For Climate Action in Africa, both UNEA 5.2 and UNCCDP COP 15 are important opportunities to reach out to various Sub-Saharan African stakeholders that might be interested in technical assistance support provided by the project.

Renewable Energy Advisor, Laurent Kossivi Domegni, at the local reception for Climate Action in Africa at the Canadian Ambassador’s residence in Abidjan.

In addition, many stakeholders communicated that they felt Climate Action in Africa could play a part in filling a gap mostly missing in the climate projects cycle in Sub-Saharan Africa by supporting soft project aspects — such as project design and maturation.

As Climate Action in Africa enters its operational phase, I want to enumerate some of the environmental actions that can be supported under each of the four project pillars:

Pillar 1: strengthening national climate policy, gendered national climate policy framework
Pillar 2: clean cooking access to women and forest restoration, energy for gender equality
Pillar 3: building women’s leadership capacity for climate action
Pillar 4: project evaluation and knowledge products

My colleagues and I are more than eager to welcome requests for support and begin work on this important Government of Canada initiative.

Réflexion sur l’Action Climatique en Afrique et la Journée mondiale de l’environnement

Blogue de Laurent Kossivi Domegni qui travaille comme conseiller en énergies renouvelables chez Econoler à Lomé, au Togo.

Alors que nous célébrons sur le plan global la Journée mondiale de l’environnement, je souhaite partager avec vous ma réflexion sur l’Action Climatique en Afrique et de comment sa contribution à l’action climatique est imbriquée dans le thème de cette année “Une seule Terre “.

Financé par Affaires mondiales Canada, l’Action Climatique en Afrique est un mécanisme de déploiement d’experts d’une durée de 5 ans, mis en œuvre par Alinea International en partenariat avec Econoler et WSP – pour lequel je suis le conseiller en énergies renouvelables.

L’Action Climatique en Afrique fournit une assistance technique à court terme à l’Afrique sub-saharienne – visant à combattre le changement climatique et la perte de la biodiversité. Le soutien est axé sur la demande et basé sur les besoins identifiés au niveau local.

Les interventions de l’Action Climatique en Afrique s’articulent autour de quatre piliers :

le renforcement des capacités de gouvernance en matière de changement climatique,
l’atténuation des effets du changement climatique en mettant l’accent sur l’énergie et la foresterie et l’adaptation au changement climatique en mettant l’accent sur l’eau et l’agriculture,
la participation et le leadership des femmes dans l’action climatique,
la coopération sud-sud et le partage des connaissances.

50 ans se sont écoulés depuis le lancement de la Journée mondiale de l’environnement en 1973. Organisée par le Programme des Nations unies pour l’environnement, la Journée mondiale de l’environnement est la plus grande plateforme mondiale de sensibilisation à l’environnement. Le thème de cette année, “Une seule Terre”, est l’occasion de sensibiliser et de célébrer les actions environnementales. Quelles sont donc les actions environnementales mises en œuvre par l’Action Climatique en Afrique jusqu’à présent et quelles sont celles qu’elle peut soutenir dans les années à venir?

Jusqu’à présent, le projet a commencé à mettre en œuvre des activités de sensibilisation en participant à des conférences des Nations unies telles que l’Assemblée des Nations unies pour l’environnement (UNEA 5.2) au Kenya et la Convention des Nations unies sur la lutte contre la désertification (UNCCD) COP 15 à Abidjan, à laquelle j’ai participé. Ces deux rassemblements réunissent les États membres, la société civile, les organisations non gouvernementales et le secteur privé afin d’élaborer des politiques visant à résoudre les problèmes environnementaux mondiaux. Pour l‘Action Climatique in Africa, l’UNEA 5.2 et l’UNCCDP COP 15 sont des occasions importantes d’entrer en contact avec diverses parties prenantes d’Afrique sub-saharienne qui pourraient être intéressées par l’assistance technique fournie par le projet.

Ce que je retiens des différentes réunions, c’est que les activités de sensibilisation ont aidé à construire et à créer une conscience de l’Action Climatique en Afrique. En outre, de nombreuses parties prenantes ont fait savoir qu’elles pensaient que l’Action Climatique en Afrique pourrait jouer un rôle en comblant une lacune qui manque le plus souvent dans le cycle des projets climatiques en Afrique subsaharienne en soutenant les aspects non techniques des projets tels que – la conception et la maturation des projets.

Alors que l’Action Climatique en Afrique entre dans sa phase opérationnelle, je souhaite énumérer certaines des actions environnementales qui peuvent être soutenues dans le cadre de chacun des quatre piliers du projet :

Pilier 1 : renforcement de la politique climatique nationale, cadre de politique climatique nationale genrée.
Pilier 2 : accès à la cuisson propre pour les femmes et restauration des forêts, énergie pour l’égalité des sexes.
Pilier 3 : renforcement des capacités de leadership des femmes pour l’action climatique
Pilier 4 : évaluation des projets et gestion de la connaissance.

Mes collègues et moi sommes plus qu’impatients d’accueillir les demandes de soutien et de commencer à travailler sur cette importante initiative du gouvernement du Canada.

alinea’s whistleblower policy

1.1 Purpose

The following Whistleblower Policy has been established to provide guidance to Alinea International employees and sub-contractors on how to deal with known or suspected improper conduct within the organization. The objectives of this Policy are to:

Create awareness of the Policy and available whistleblower protections
Act as a reference guide to potential whistleblowers wishing to make a disclosure
Define the structure of the whistleblower system, including reporting and investigation procedures, whistleblower protections, and confidentiality, among others
Improve the communication and transparency in the processes associated with whistleblowing and assure protection against derogatory consequences, namely reprisals and detrimental action
Complement the current communication channels between employees, sub-contractors and immediate managers, and hierarchical channels flowing to the President and Senior Management team
Provide guidance to all parties involved in either whistleblowing or whistleblower protection.

1.2 Scope

Alinea requires all employees and sub-contractors to observe high standards of business and personal ethics in the conduct of their duties and responsibilities. All employees and sub-contractors of Alinea are required to comply with applicable laws and regulations of Canada and the countries where we operate. Any allegations of known or suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources will be dealt with in accordance with this Policy, and reasonable steps will be taken to protect those who come forward with allegations. Alinea’s Whistleblower Policy covers both internal and external whistleblowing, and establishes the controls and procedures for dealing with allegations of malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. This Policy is intended to encourage employees and sub-contractors to report known or suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources and to enable Alinea’s Senior Management team to address and correct inappropriate action. It is the responsibility of all Board of Directors’ members, the Senior Management team, employees and sub-contractors to report concerns about known or suspected malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. This Policy is applicable to all employees and sub-contractors of Alinea International.

1.3 Reporting Procedures

Alinea recognizes the value of transparency and accountability in its administrative and management practices and supports the making of disclosures that reveal improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources. Our internal controls and operating procedures are intended to detect and prevent malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. As detailed in Alinea’s Employee Policy and Onboarding manuals, employees and sub-contractors are encouraged to share complaints and/or concerns regarding ethical or legal violations with their immediate managers. If the employee or sub-contractor is not comfortable speaking with their immediate manager or is not satisfied with the response, they are encouraged to speak with the Gatineau or Calgary Office Managers, the Vice Presidents or, as required, the Chief Financial Officer. All members of the Senior Management team are required to report complaints and/or concerns about suspected ethical or legal violations in writing to Alinea’s Ethics Committee who has the responsibility to investigate all reported complaints and/or concerns. In the event that the complaint and/or concern is about the President, it should be raised by the employee or sub-contractor to their immediate manager or the Ethics Committee who will determine how the investigation will proceed. All reports will be promptly investigated and appropriate corrective measures will be taken if warranted by the investigation. Alinea’s Ethics Committee is responsible for acknowledging receipt of the suspected violation and notifying the whistleblower of the outcome of the investigation. Anyone filing a written complaint concerning suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed indicates a violation. Personal grievances or complaints related to employment are not covered under Alinea’s Whistleblowing Policy. For cases such as this, employees and sub-contractors are advised to first refer to Alineas Employee Policy and Onboarding manuals when considering a disclosure under the Whistleblowing Policy. Any allegations that prove not to be substantiated and which prove to have been made maliciously or knowingly to be false will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense.

1.4 Confidentiality

Maintaining confidentiality is crucial to ensure reprisals are not made against the whistleblower. Alinea is committed to safeguarding the identity of the whistleblower and to protecting the whistleblower against detrimental action taken in reprisal for allegations of suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources. The Ethics Committee is responsible for ensuring whistleblowers are protected from direct and indirect detrimental action, and that the culture of the workplace is supportive of suspected allegations being made. Any employee who retaliates against someone who has reported a violation in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment.

1.5 Review

Alinea is committed to implementing ‘best practice’ policies and procedures for dealing with allegations of suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources (as defined by this Policy) and the management and protection of whistleblowers making allegation(s). This Policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it meets the objectives of relevant legislation and remains effective for Alinea, and may be changed at the discretion of the Board of Directors at any time. For allegations of fraud, securities law, or human rights concerns, or when you are not satisfied or uncomfortable with following the Company’s open door policy, individuals should contact the Company’s Ethics Committee directly.

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World Environment Day: A reflection on Climate Action in Africa