Participants

Participating Organisations

In this year’s Green Action Week, we have organisations participating from around the world. Below we list a few.

Water

Association for the Defense of Consumer Rights (ADDC-Wadata)

ADDC-Wadata will focus on promoting the production, processing and consumption of cassava as a complement to cereal production, which is still in deficit in their country. Cassava is a shrub widely cultivated in Africa, and able to grow in all seasons and terrains. Both the leaves and roots are edible. In Niger, cassava is grown in fields, gardens and family concessions. Increasing production and consumption can contribute to bringing about food security in the country and, as its leaves are rich in iron and its roots in carbohydrates, it can contribute to reducing malnutrition. There are many ways to use this plant – it can be eaten raw, used in stews and sauces and to strengthen peanut sauces. The leaves can be eaten raw or as a vegetable in sauces and stews.

Rwanda Consumers Rights Protection Organization (ADECOR)

The project ‘Nurturing a Sharing Community for Sustainable Agriculture’ in Rwanda addresses the issue of inadequate intake of healthy, sustainable and nutritious foods due to poor agricultural practices in Musanze district, Rwanda. Its objectives are to increase access to fresh produce, enhance community resilience, strengthen social cohesion and raise awareness of smart agriculture. It will nurture a sharing community that fosters collaboration and resource-sharing for sustainable agriculture. The main activities include community gardening events, training sessions, awareness meetings, radio talks and stakeholder workshops targeting smallholder farmers, local leaders, civil society and the community. The project prioritizes gender equality by empowering women and girls in all aspects of project activities.

Association Ivoirienne des Consommateurs (AIC)

In Côte d’Ivoire, most of the population is not aware of the need for sustainable development. They will focus their campaign on raising awareness of urban biodiversity and the need to protect it. They will inform citizens of the important role that biodiversity plays in urban areas and showcase practical ways of protecting it. They will organise a hands-on workshop in which participants can learn organic gardening techniques, learning how to garden without the use of chemicals; green spaces in neighbourhoods are another opportunity to promote appreciation for biodiversity through the presence of plants. A tree-planting day in public spaces like parks, schools and business premises will also help to raise awareness, as will outings to observe local fauna like birds, insects and small mammals in the urban landscape.

Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB)

CAB’s campaign aims to address the issue of food waste in Bangladesh by promoting community-based initiatives. By fostering collaboration within communities, the project will implement sustainable practices to reduce food waste by consumers. Activities will include community awareness campaigns, establishing food sharing networks, and improving post-harvest management through training. These efforts will enhance food security, improve livelihoods, and promote sustainable consumption practices. The project aligns with the Green Action Fund 2024 theme of ‘Sharing Community’ by increasing access to sustainable goods and services, fostering community collaboration and reducing environmental impact. By leveraging local expertise and networks, this initiative aims to create a scalable model for reducing food waste across Bangladesh.

Yemen Association for Consumer Protection (YACP)

This campaign aims to enhance community awareness about the environmental and health risks associated with improper disposal of pesticide containers and use of expired pesticides, and to promote the adoption of safe practices. This will be done through an awareness campaign and training workshop targeting farmers and agricultural workers. The project aims to enhance collaboration with governmental entities and NGOs, encouraging them to adopt responsible environmental practices for a healthy and sustainable environment. The campaign will engage the local community, emphasising active involvement of women and youth. It aims to help protect ecosystems from chemical pollution and promote safe and sustainable disposal of pesticides, thereby contributing to the protection of consumers, soil, water and biodiversity from pollution.

Colectivo Ecologista Jalisco, A.C. (CEJ)

With the vision of Sharing Community as a Forever Forest Community, their Green Action Week campaign will focus on raising awareness and spurring action to protect forests against harmful agri-food models. They will use systems thinking tools and convene experts in biodiversity and the creative industry ecosystem to innovatively communicate the role that consumers can play in guaranteeing forests forever in Jalisco. Additionally, they will explore how they can promote national and international actions that put pressure on the agri-food sector to stop deforestation. By bringing together diverse perspectives and leveraging creative communication strategies, they aim to inspire and mobilise a broad coalition dedicated to forest conservation.

Consumer Lebanon (CL)

The world’s limited freshwater supplies are under strain due to an expanding human population, the effects of climate change, and unsustainable practices. To fulfil the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the international community must effectively manage water resources, as most of the Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved without it. Every drop counts. After collecting data on water consumption, they will collaborate with other associations to share this information with consumers, aiming to reduce water consumption in Lebanon and conserve water resources. Their campaign will address Lebanon’s water challenges, including human development needs, water security, water quality, water availability, the root causes of water scarcity, water distribution and equity, and the interactions between climate change and water.

Consumer Unity &
Trust Society (CUTS)

The widespread use of plastic items is causing significant environmental issues in India. India banned the manufacturing, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of single-use plastic items with low utility and high littering potential in July 2022, but it has become evident that the success of these measures relies on a change in user behaviour. In this context, they will organise Best out of Waste training sessions. These sessions will target identified communities in Jaipur, with a focus on women and low-income groups. Communities will be engaged in awareness activities, trainings and multistakeholder consultations at local level. A larger city-level consultation will be held with stakeholders such as government departments, industry representatives, local administration, and civil society actors.

IBON Foundation

IBON’s partnership with food producers and right to food and development advocates and organisations through knowledge-sharing forums, direct producer-consumer platforms and urban farming collaboration will aim to amplify the land to the tiller, food for all campaign. In addition, the right to water campaign focuses on the privatisation of public local water districts. Lobbying will be held to press the nullification of harmful joint venture agreements with big-business water firms. Area-wide consultations to gather consumer experiences will be conducted to culminate in a Local Water Districts Summit in November. These form part of their networks’ voters’ education campaign that will critique big-business biased policies and further advocate pro-people policy.

Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG)

Women, especially mothers, bear the heavier burden brought by the challenges of the conventional food system. They are expected to ensure the health of the family but are marginalised due to the prevailing social system that further solidifies patriarchy; their labour is regarded as inferior to men’s, manifested by lower income or no income for women. Women tend to have less participation in the community decision-making activities, as men are continued to be regarded as family heads. Despite this, women in the agriculture sector continue to participate and are often first adopters of alternative sustainable practices to ensure safe and nutritious food for the family. Their campaign aims to further empower women in agriculture by sharing their stories and struggles, most especially their important role in the promotion of agroecological practices.

Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Kenya

PELUM Kenya’s campaign will focus on restoring the degraded areas of Kibwezi West through an on-going environmental programme by Utooni Development Organization. A baseline was conducted by Utooni to establish the root cause of hunger and malnutrition in Kibwezi sub-county. The community also identified simple and routine interventions to gradually address the problem. These interventions align with their campaign focus on community sharing towards improved livelihoods and environment. They will use different strategies including awareness creation on the importance of restoring the degraded areas and lobbying stakeholders to play active roles in supporting and promoting agroecological practices. In the campaign they will emphasise the promotion of indigenous seeds and food production, tree planting and advocacy with the county government.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania – Eastern and Coastal Diocese (working with SAFCEI)

Climate change is affecting communities with unpredictable weather conditions including flooding causing property destruction and family displacement, and conversely drought in some areas. Yet, young faith leaders are not engaging in climate change initiatives; they are not equipped to design projects nor engage effectively on the topic in their churches. Their campaign will raise awareness of climate effects and mitigation measures amongst young people from different denominations in faith communities in Dar es Salaam. This will be done through the establishment of Youth Ecumenical Platforms with capacity building of young faith leaders and the launch of a campaign involving radio and television programmes as well as social media campaigns.

Health Excellence
(working with SAFCEI)

They will hold an environmental workshop that showcases best practice, featuring a keynote address, presentations and a panel discussion, with breakout groups. The panel discussion will feature experts on climate change, urban sustainability and faith-based environmental initiatives. In breakout groups, participants will discuss environmental stewardship practices, including how to use church resources, such as lands and buildings, for climate-friendly projects, engaging youth in environmental action and undertaking faith-based advocacy for environmental policies. Participating churches will share successful climate action initiatives they have undertaken in a best practice showcase.

Socio Economic Welfare Action for Women and Children (SEWA)

Flowers play an essential role in Nepali celebrations, infusing colour, fragrance and symbolism into various cultural practices. During festivals, people create intricate garlands and floral decorations, but afterwards, these are often discarded as waste. Floral offerings made at temples and shrines are considered sacred and are usually not thrown away but rather piled up on roadsides, leading to pollution of the beauty, air and land or dropped into local water bodies, affecting water quality and aquatic life. This is one of the causes of dead rivers in Kathmandu Valley. It can be addressed with inexpensive techniques.
They will organise awareness campaigns and skill development sessions to turn waste into wealth by transforming floral waste into value-added products like incense and natural colour dust, aiming to create job opportunities, reduce waste and cultivate partnerships in the supply chain.

Toxics Link

Their campaign ‘Reviving the repair culture’ focuses on repair strategies aimed at reducing waste by adopting sustainable measures for resource use and conservation. It centres on the key idea of raising awareness, educating and providing skills to promote behavioural changes through sustainable practices. By incorporating repair techniques and community engagement, the project tries to create a circular economy where products are repurposed and reused rather than discarded. By repairing damaged items instead of discarding them, they extend their lifespan and reduce the need for new products, which in turn decreases resource consumption and waste generation. They will reach out to student communities that can be empowered with repair skills to reduce waste and collaborate with startups that offer repair services, to demonstrate to students how repair can create economic opportunities.

Association for the Defence of the Environment and Consumers (ADEC)

ADEC’s campaign aims to contribute to heightened consumer awareness, education and communication to strengthen Senegal’s food safety policy. Campaign activities aim to educate and inform consumers on the country’s food safety policy and will mobilise women’s groups, youth and members of consumer protection associations in this regard. They will develop a guide of good practices in the production, sale and consumption of safe food and share with the communities in Rufisque, Dakar and Guédiawaye in the Dakar region and the city of Thiès. This campaign is an extension of their previous work on this issue, and its a strengthening of awareness-raising activities on this topic.

Ambio Sociedad Civil (Ambio)

Changes in the climate and incorrect political decisions have generated a series of problems in the environment. Sustainable consumption has not been promoted among citizens, the latest data show an increase in the amount of solid waste generated, for example. Water resources are lacking in some communities, where service cuts are frequent, and reduced rainfall has had a significant impact on hydropower generation, resulting in the threat of national power cuts. The outlook for consumers is bleak. Ambio seeks to contribute in some way to sharing and promoting changes and experiences that serve to raise consumer awareness with information that is easily replicable in other communities. Focus areas include solid waste, solar energy generation, electric mobility and water resource management.

Benin Consumer Health and Survival (BSSC)

BBSC’s campaign will raise awareness of food cultivation methods for vulnerable households living in peri-urban areas. The aim is to improve the nutritional health of pregnant women and children in less than five years in the community of Abomey-Calavi. Institutional reports note that malnutrition affects about 1.1 million children in Benin and is the greatest risk factor for mortality and morbidity in children. About 45% of child deaths are attributed to malnutrition each year. Most interventions focus on rural areas, their campaign will focus on urban and peri-urban households. Campaign activities will focus on sharing knowledge on how to produce food in a soilless environment, as most families do not have access to land to grow food.

Consumer Council of Fiji (CCF)

CCF will host a series of Community Repair Cafes to combat the growing issue of electronic waste (e-waste) in Fiji. These cafes, rotating through villages and towns, will create a vibrant Sharing Community by connecting skilled volunteers with residents. This collaborative approach empowers people to repair broken electronics instead of discarding them, promoting resourcefulness and extending the lifespan of valuable appliances. By reducing the amount of electronics dumped in landfills, which can leak harmful toxins, they contribute to a cleaner and healthier Fiji. Additionally, the cafes encourage responsible consumption by empowering communities to reuse electronics – a sustainable alternative to the constant cycle of buying and discarding. Through collaboration and education, the Fijian Community Repair Cafes empower communities and pave the way for a more sustainable future.

Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC)

CERC’s ‘Aap-Le no Otlo’ (A Platform for Sharing) has been in place for the last nine years and has gained in popularity in Ognaj village. This year, they will conduct a fun fair titled “Come to Aap-Le no Otlo (Fun Fair) – Exchange of Pre-Loved Items”. This will create an opportunity to engage the entire village. Sharing of pre-loved items is an environmentally conscious choice with multiple benefits and plays a pivotal role in reducing waste, conserving resources and extending product life. Awareness-raising activities and display of handmade products made out of waste by students will spread the idea of sustainable consumption, as will street plays, making posters/slogans/artworks, pamphlets and wall paintings. Community sharing activities during festivals like Navratri and Durga Puja will be carried out.

Consumer Voice

Consumer Voice’s work and campaign aims to address the growing waste concern in Indian cities by promoting circular economy practices. With an annual growth in waste from 377 million urban residents projected to rise from 55 million tons to 125 million tons by 2031, a change from linear consumption to the circular way is a must. They aim to sensitize consumers about the benefits and how-to of the circular economy through workshops, digital campaigns and on-the-ground engagement. They aim to work with experts and artisans to bring detailed information on the environmental impacts of different kinds of consumer choices and will engage with the Ministry of Environment and other implementing agencies to ensure that the Eco Mark and similar standards for sustainable products are adopted and promoted. This will reduce waste, conserve resources and reduce pollution.

EcoWaste Coalition

The world is facing an environmental crisis, with single-use plastics (SUPs) polluting the lands and waters, endangering marine life and ecosystems. As a developing country, Philippines plays a pivotal role in the global plastic pollution crisis since their local markets are flooded with consumer products packed in SUPs. Their campaign will provide practical and eco-friendly solutions to ordinary consumers to jumpstart a thrifting and reuse movement that shall help combat this problem. They are proud to introduce their natural, non-toxic yet “reusable” alternatives, purposely initiated to replace single-use items that are commonly found in households and partner communities. They shall take step further by embracing “thrifting” tradition as way to curb throw-away culture but also to make a conscious decision to support the removal of plastic waste from the environment.

Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa do Consumidor (IDEC)

IDEC promotes sustainable consumption in São Paulo with activities like farm visits, community events offering organic products, swap fairs, and online webinars during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, we expanded our efforts nationwide by selecting local civil society initiatives across Brazil to promote sustainability in their communities. We partnered with 14 organisations, directly impacting 2 553 people and reaching 28 833 more through media dissemination. We aim to enhance our communication strategy to reach more people and establish a network for sharing sustainable practices. We propose continuing to establish a Green Action Week node in Brazil to adapt Green Action Week’s methodology and further promote sustainable consumption habits.

National Federation of Consumer Associations of Ivory Coast

The focus of this campaign is on informing traders and consumers at a market in Abidjan about the dangers of using plastic bags and packaging for their health and the environment. They will organise workshops and information sessions to raise awareness among traders and consumers about the harmful effects of plastic bags; highlight health risks, such as toxic chemicals present in single-use plastics and propose alternatives. This includes encouraging the use of reusable fabric bags, wicker baskets or other sustainable containers. Their campaign will demonstrate how to reduce dependence on plastic bags through the adoption of more environmentally friendly solutions. There is an emphasis on engaging the community, and inviting traders and consumers to refuse to purchase plastic bags from resellers.

Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Uganda

Uganda’s natural forests, holding 109 million metric tons of carbon and hosting more than 1 592 species, are ecologically and economically vital. Severe deforestation has, however, reduced forest cover from 4.9 to 2.5 million hectares in 30 years due to population growth, agricultural expansion, industrial development, corruption and unsustainable practices. Their campaign aims to restore and conserve natural forests in Kigezi sub region by raising awareness about the benefits of native tree species. An agroforestry fair will showcase propagation methods and uses of native trees, provide a platform for sharing of seed and seedlings. These initiatives aim to manage climate change, enhance biodiversity, and restore soil fertility, promoting sustainable forestry practices and conservation.

Baha’I Faith
(working with SAFCEI)

Food waste is a growing concern in the community and the globe at large, where there is the injustice of sufficient food being inaccessible to many. Food forms the important part of their lives. However, there are many challenges that arise due to its unhealthy environmental ways of consumption. A lot of food ends up as wastes per year. There is a need to promote cultures that support sustainable food consumption. Their campaign is a one-day workshop that will focus on sustainable ways of food consumption. Participants will share knowledge on better ways of managing food and learn about planting organic seeds that are well adapted to their environmental conditions and soils.

United Church of Zambia (working with SAFCEI)

Africa Muslim Women Action Network (AMWAN) (working with SAFCEI)

AMWAN will organise and host an awareness-raising environmental symposium on 29th September, the International Day for Food Loss and Waste, to highlight the importance of food security, consumption and production, wastage and hunger, and how to take action to reduce waste. There will be keynote addresses and panel discussions, with audience participation. The project, in partnership with ZAYED Micro-enterprise Seed Support Grant, Manyatta Youth Entertainment CBO and local government, will raise awareness in the community on food waste management.

FLEAT Malawi Cohort II (working with SAFCEI)

The Malawi FLEAT II Cohort will implement community-led initiatives from August to October, focusing on reducing the adverse effects of climate change on food production for sustainable food security, with a clean and healthier environment for all. Activities include training of volunteers and communities in sustainable eco-justice agriculture practices, including climate-smart agricultural technologies; demonstration plots for eco-justice farming technologies; establishing school gardens and tree seedling nurseries; training of communities in gender issues related environmental conservation and food production, village savings and loans methodologies and business skills and in use of wood energy saving technologies; and an environmental open day in the first week of October for nature walks and exhibitions.

Life Initiative for Change
(working with SAFCEI)

This campaign will enhance community resilience and promote sustainable environmental practices. The focus is on tree planting, seed exchange, community engagement, and the establishment of community nurseries. The aim is to raise awareness about the importance of environmental sustainability and climate resilience; encourage sustainable practices in waste management, water, sanitation and nutrition; strengthen community ownership of climate action initiatives; and increase local biodiversity through tree planting and seed exchange. They will host seed exchanges, plant fruit trees in household gardens, establish community nurseries, host community meetings, and train volunteers in nursery management.

Associação para Defesa do Consumidor (ADECO)

The project “Eat what the earth gives you” aims to encourage the consumption of healthy foods, especially local ones, to promote healthy and sustainable eating in Cabo Verde. The project is linked to the knowledge sharing community. A nutritionist shares information and experiences about healthy eating, and the transmission of knowledge based on Cabo-Verdean food culture with a school community (cooks, students, mothers and fathers) during Green Action Week. By promoting healthy eating habits in Cape Verde, they are lowering health risks, reducing pollution, and waste and strengthening the country’s economy.

Asociación Peruana de Consumidores y Usuarios (ASPEC)

ASPEC’s campaign, titled ‘Eco heroes: sustainable consumers in action’, seeks to inspire and empower consumers to adopt eco-friendly practices in their daily lives. Through a series of educational activities, community events and social media content, the campaign will highlight the importance of the actions in the fight against climate change, the preservation of the environment and resources for future generations from small changes in lifestyle to more conscious purchasing decisions. The main idea is to illustrate how each person can become a hero for the planet, also involving social impact. The campaign also recognizes and celebrates those who are already making a difference, inspiring others to follow their example. With a focus on positive action and collective impact, the campaign promotes a more sustainable future for all.

Centro Ecologico

The state of Rio Grande do Sul/Brasil has been experiencing an astounding process of ‘sharing is caring’ since the onset of the flood tragedy that hit the territory. This will continue for a long time, as the perspective of reconstruction/re-ecologisation is expected to last very long. Centro Ecologico’s campaign is to organise, systemise and document actions and initiatives that express what the region has been doing since May 2024 from different groups, such as farming families, schools and other collectives’ realities. They will also share news, information and testimonials from those who have experienced the issues firsthand and their feelings about the future. It will be essential to establish the connection between climate change, public authorities’ negligence and the territorial experience, as a learning process to deal with present and future.

Consumer Council
of Zimbabwe (CCZ)

CCZ will run a Bring a Bag Campaign to support voluntary reduction strategies that will allow consumers time to change their consumption patterns and provide an opportunity for affordable and eco-friendly alternatives. The project focuses on promotion and adoption of reusable bags as an example of a reduction strategy where the choice lies with the consumer. Consumers will be encouraged to make reusable bags out of t-shirts they are no longer using. This strategy will change consumer behaviour and reduce the use of conventional plastic bags. In partnership with the Environmental Management Agency, they will undertake an extensive consumer campaign on the harmful effects that are brought by plastic packaging. The awareness program will be done in Marondera, Mashonaland East province, using community radio stations, CCZ/EMA social media platforms, schools, short dramas and skits.

Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group (CAG)

CAG’s campaign addresses the urgent need for sustainable consumption practices in light of resource depletion. With projections from the United Nations suggesting that sustaining current lifestyles for a population of 9.8 billion by 2050 would require nearly three planets, adopting responsible habits becomes paramount. The campaign intends to raise awareness about these practices, by organising a day long mela with material highlighting the three Rs, organic food, eco-friendly products, alternatives to plastics, e-waste collection, and a demo session on waste segregation, and composting. A programme to create awareness among the students on responsible consumption and the importance of sharing resources is planned. E-waste is a major concern, so the youth will be educated on repair and reuse of e-products and proper disposal of e-waste.

Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP)

The Sharing Energy Saving Tips: Cooling Naturally campaign aims to reduce energy consumption and to address the critical issue of climate change driven by excessive energy use. This campaign encourages the exchange of knowledge, resources and sustainable practices among communities. Through an engaging workshop and seed-sharing, they will provide practical tips for saving energy and demonstrate the benefits of natural cooling methods, such as using cooling plants and creating healthy and natural cool drinks. This sustainable approach will help communities lower their electricity bills and combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Their efforts will contribute to climate resilience by encouraging the adoption of eco-friendly practices and reducing reliance on energy-intensive appliances.

Educar Consumidores

Educar Consumidores’ campaign will focus on inspiring conscious and healthy consumption with gastronomic art. The campaign, carried out with cooks from Villavicencio, seeks to transmit through an artistic experience how local gastronomy becomes an option to take care of human health by guaranteeing good nutrition, reducing the carbon footprint of transporting food and contributing to the local economy. Information on nutrition will be shared, promoting the exclusive use of natural ingredients, excluding chemical or industrial additives and inviting the consumption of local products. In this way, delicious and healthy preparations of local gastronomy are offered in the dishes of the peasant market, their beauty highlighted through their artistic presentation and sharing of the knowledge of women cooks about the culinary traditions of the region.

Institute for Sustainable Development (ISD)

ISD is dedicated to promoting ecological organic agriculture (EOA) in the South Wollo Zone by linking healthy EOA products with consumption practices that align with EOA principles. A key aspect of their approach is the emphasis on the role of women and youth in the agricultural system. One of their project areas is the Werebobo district, which faces challenges due to the returnee migrant women from Saudi Arabia. The semi-arid climatic condition of the district experiences water scarcity. Their campaign will use the concept of sharing community and the culture of helping each other to create awareness so that the community can support these small number of returnee women in different ways, for example by sharing food. They aim to strengthen the community’s culture of sharing by involving various social groups and sensitising the community on the perspective of sustainable consumption.

Organización Servicio de Educación al Consumidor (SEDECO)

SEDECO will use their campaign to address the contamination of rivers with mercury in Bolivia. Activities will focus on raising awareness of the associated health risks and need for implementation of municipal controls to prevent the sale of contaminated foods, as well as promoting sustainable practices to protect water resources. In addition, they will host an art contest at schools. This campaign will be co-created with women, men, girls and boys to ensure an inclusive and collaborative approach. The goal is to strengthen environmental awareness and prompt action towards the creation of a safe and more sustainable environment for all.

Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI)

SAFCEI is a multi-faith organisation committed to supporting faith leaders and their communities in Southern Africa to increase awareness, understanding and action on eco-justice, sustainable living and climate change. SAFCEI’s focus areas are energy and food and climate justice, as well as enabling faith leaders and communities to play their part in caring for the Earth. SAFCEI manages a Faith Leader Environmental Advocacy Training (FLEAT) programme. The organisations that follow are affiliated to SAFCEI, undertaking Green Action Week activities under its banner.

Chesvingo Baptist Church (working with SAFCEI)

Women, particularly elderly women in the Masvingo area, struggle with nutritional issues. Sesame is a very good source of protein, fibre and healthy fats. Most elderly women have had experience in preparing relish with sesame, but the supply of this crop has not been consistent. This project shall help the elderly to grow organic sesame to be used as a cooking ingredient in place of refined cooking oil. The group shall also sell some of the sesame to earn some income. The project will involve members of a church in Masvingo and will focus on the restoration of health foods and habits in the community. Participants will be provided with emotional and spiritual support, in recognition that human well-being extends beyond physical health.

Brac Maendeleo
(working with SAFCEI)

Their campaign Green Action Day: Growing Futures will focus on urban agriculture within educational spaces. Activities will include an engaging introduction to urban agriculture, hands-on planting sessions, interactive workshops, and a celebratory harvest festival. Participants will gain practical skills, share knowledge, and build networks. The involvement of local media will ensure widespread coverage, maximising the project’s reach and impact. The project is inspired by the need to promote sustainable urban living, enhance food security, and educate communities about environmental stewardship. Transforming educational spaces into urban gardens empowers individuals, strengthens community bonds and contributes to a healthier, greener future.

Qwaanu Twenty Four Seven Solution
(working with SAFCEI)

This campaign will hold an awareness session on climate change with charcoal burners and timber traders and facilitate village-to-village video awareness shows on climate change. Due to high poverty levels in the province, local people provide those living in urban areas with charcoal, resulting in high levels of deforestation. Members of the community will be encouraged to venture into charcoal briquettes, biogas and other renewable energies with a view to reducing dependency on trees. They will establish anti-deforestation clubs at village level and a provincial union of charcoal burners, with the introduction of charcoal briquettes as an alternative to charcoal burning. Synergies will be built with stakeholders to contribute towards climate justice.

New Earth Aquaponics
(working with SAFCEI)

New Earth Aquaponics will focus campaign activities on a recycling and landfill waste clean-up around the Castle of Good Hope, as well as tree and garden planting as activities for 30 to 50 young people. Participants will collect and remove recycling and landfill waste and engage in tree and garden planting on property surrounding the Cape Town castle moat and heritage site. Volunteers will also engage in a subsequent clean-up activity. Education and awareness will be raised about recycling and landfill waste.

TheNetwork for Consumer Protection

As part of the sharing community, TheNetwork aims to help effectively enforce the various legal instruments banning single-use plastic and promoting recycling and reuse, having inconsistent enforcement. Pakistan is facing a severe plastic pollution problem, with over 3.3 million tons of plastic waste annually, making the Indus River the second-largest receiver of plastic waste globally. If dumped together, it would reach a height of 16 500 metres, equivalent to the height of two K2 mountains, the world’s second-highest peak. The project involves university students to investigate the reasons behind the ineffective enforcement and make recommendations. In addition to desk research, a survey will be conducted at points of sale and among consumers, and the report will be disseminated widely among consumers, and law/policy makers.

Youth Education Network (YEN)

Climate change is threatening the food security of rural communities through unpredictable rainfall, flash floods and soil erosion from mudslides. Most rural households depend on subsistence farming with communities sharing their harvest among themselves as part of culture and tradition. Their campaign will focus on sensitising farming communities in Mumias, particularly women farmers, on how to use biodegradable woven sacks filled with soil and manure to boost food production year-round. This technology requires minimal labour to plant and harvest vegetables and is a sustainable alternative to land cultivation. It will address food security and help build resilience to climate change. They will train 500 women on how to create these ‘standing gardens’ and demonstrate how to plant and harvest. Media will be engaged to share the campaign broadly.