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CEN-IP
Activities
"The CEN-IP has a mission to support, facilitate
and advance the work of its member groups and their Southern partners
to protect the Earth and promote ecologically sound ways of life."
North/South Conferences
The CEN-IP hosts a conference every year or two to bring together Canadian
ENGOs and their international partners to strengthen their partnerships
and build shared visions. This year's conference - Energetic Solutions
was an international conference on making renewable energy a reality.
The purpose was to move theory into practice. The conference took place
in Abuja, the Niger Delta and Calabar in Nigeria November 21st to 27th,
2004. The outcomes include the Calabar
Declaration and the creation of the Council on Renewable Energy for
Nigeria (CREN). For more information, please contact Nikki
Skuce or visit the Energetics
page.
Building International Partnerships for Community-Based Resource Management/
Fortaleciendo Relaciones Comunitarias: Intercambio Internacional para
el Manejo de los Recursos Naturales/ - was held in Santa Maria Huatulco,
Mexico November 10-15, 2003. The conference was hosted by the CEN-IP in
conjunction with Falls Brook Centre and Grupo Autónomo para la
Investigación Ambiental, A.C. and showcased and trained groups
in:
- Analog Forestry
- Fair Trade
- Organic Agriculture
- Renewable energy systems (solar food dryers, community carbon credit
systems)
- Pedal Power
- Non-timber forest products
- Other environmental goods and services
For two years running, the CEN-IP has hosted a conference in January
prior to the Guelph Organic Conference in Ontario. Coaching in areas of
around financial management, North/South partnerships, networking, gender
and Results Based Management have been held as well as presentations by
international speakers on themes such as agriculture and renewable energy.
Speakers from China, Niger, Cuba, Columbia, Mexico and Canada have given
inspiring lectures and visual presentations. Interesting discussions emerge
and one of the outcomes is a more refined and well-supported policy
paper for CIDA. For more information, contact Jean
Arnold.
In October 2001, "Expanding Horizons" brought together close
to 30 ENGO leaders for a week-long conference on Thetis Island, BC. In
1999/2000, the CEN-IP organized a major climate change conference "Frostbite
and Sunburns" held in El Salvador.
Participants at the Expanding Horizons conference.
Government Liaison
As a network, the CEN-IP acts as an ongoing direct liaison between CIDA
and ENGOs, and the CEN-IP serves as a forum through which CIDA can communicate
between and among ENGOs. The CEN-IP has conducted a CIDA environmental
policy review, participated in CIDA's "Strengthening Aid Effectiveness"
meeting and organized an ENGO workshop on the Long Term Strategy. It is
currently finalizing a sustainable agriculture
policy for CIDA.
Capacity Building
In addition to its other activities, the CEN-IP tries to build capacity
amongst its members by sharing information, mentoring, developing model
documents and holding workshops. Activities have included sending a group
of Canadian CEN-IP members to an "Art of leadership" workshop facilitated
by Robert Gass and the Hollyhock Institute in the Fall of 2001. A model
"policy manual" is being developed as the basis for a management
guide for Southern ENGOs. The CEN-IP also has a gender
policy that is shared with members as a practicing model.
Participating in CEN Activities
CEN-IP Teamnet member Michael Simpson of One Sky is sitting on the CEN's
National Council for the next three years. There will also be an International
Day ahead of the CEN AGA in Montreal in October 2003. For more information
contact Teamnet member Stephane Gingras.
International Connections
The CEN-IP is involved in trying to partner Southern ENGOs with Canadian
organizations and promote international partnerships. An on-line, searchable
directory will help
facilitate this process. One teamnet member recently promoted Canadian-international
linkages in West Africa.
Educators working together for One
Sky's
partnership project with Friends of the Earth Sierra
Leone.
Communications
The CEN-IP maintains a directory of ENGOs involved in international work.
Most are subscribed to the CEN-IP listserve that acts as a medium to discuss
policy, share funding proposals, mentor, promote events, and essentially
provides a forum for networking.
Policy and guidelines development
The CEN-IP has written policy and guidelines on various topics over the
years, including Gender policy,
Ecotourism Guide, Code of Environmental
Ethics and an International Organic Agriculture
policy.
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