Sir Crispen Tickell's talk at the 2009 AGM

SAFAD Annual Seminar
Thursday 5 May 2009
The Economic Crisis and Development

At present we are preoccupied with the global crisis over money and credit; but beyond and behind it there is another global crisis of immensely greater proportions. This is the human impact on the planetary environment, and consequently the future of society as we know it.

Our greatest need is to think differently across the whole spectrum. This does not mean devising measures, as most now do, to correct obvious mistakes, blame the right people (bankers, regulators etc),and revert to making the past work better. It does mean putting together a wide combination of factors, including market forces, and working out new directions for our society and its future development.

We have to recognize that our current situation is unique. Other societies and civilizations have collapsed before, for environmental and other reasons, but the circumstances of today have not happened before. As the title of a recent book puts it: we have Something New Under the Sun. What is new? The broad effects of the industrial revolution some 250 years ago, the almost incredible increase in agricultural productivity since then, and the establishment of a particular mindset of “development”;among such effects is human proliferation:
one animal species – our own – is out of control;

• degradation of land, consumption of often irreplaceable resources, accumulation of wastes;
• dependence on energy from diminishing stocks of fossil fuels;
• growing shortages of fresh water, and pollution of both salt and fresh water;
• destruction of other species and damage to ecosystems with unknown results, especially on human health;
• destabilization of climate world wide, again with unknown results, including sea level rise and increasing food insecurity: current droughts and deluges (as in Australia and China);
• development of new technologies and increasing globalization often with the result of polarizing wealth and poverty

These factors, together and separately, affect everything we do, and above all why we do it. Our current mindset of “development” is built on the assumption that industrialization in one form or another is the model for all. Hence the much used, and essentially artificial, distinction between “developed”, “developing”, “under developed” and even “over developed” countries. This is now part of the international vocabulary, and has been at the basis of much economic thinking, and corresponding institutions, over the last half century. The consumer society, as we know it, is fundamentally unworkable. We need to think again.

What are my priorities? Above all we have to rethink a lot of economics: how we measure wealth, welfare and the health of the human condition. Definition of the aim is not easy, but here are
some past attempts at it:

• arete: goodness and fulfilment of purpose and potential (Greek);
• eudaimonia: wellbeing expressing our true nature (Greek and Roman);
• xiao kung: long term wellbeing andharmony over generations (Chinese).

None exactly fits the restless consumption of modern society.
at present we continue to fail to bring in externalities and true costs in our system of measurement. As has been well said, markets are marvellous at fixing prices but incapable of recognizing costs. The shortcomings of“growth”, GDP/GNP etc, are at last being recognized, notably in the Financial Times (29, 30 and 31 January 2009); and there arerenewed efforts to establish new systems of measurement: for example:

• the Human Development Index
• the work of the New Economics Foundation
• the new Commission established by President Sarkozy chaired by Joseph Stiglitz and Amatya Sen

More than 20 years ago I was the Permanent Secretary of the Overseas Development Administration, now the Department for International Development. My main job was to find ways of correcting the enormous and still growing disparities between rich and poor. Then as now the ghost of Malthus stalked the Earth.

• One way was to work out programmes of help for countries according to their specific geographical and other circumstances. The principle was to help them help themselves, and make best use of their own resources. We avoided any application of universal criteria. In other words we aimed for "appropriate" development.
• Another was to bring in environmental impact assessments of all projects to know what was feasible and beneficial over the long as well as short term.

I cannot over emphasize the importance of the environment in all progress, change and “development”. First we should recognize that the economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment. Development has to take account of all the factors, singly and together, which I mentioned at the beginning. The damage we are now doing requires a change of mind not only among politicians but also in the business community. Already the message is coming through from market leaders with an enormous flow of funds into greenery (but beware of greenwash). Conferences all over the world now recognize the vital relationship between the economic crisis and the complex of environmental problems. In particular we have the Stern Review of November 2007 and subsequent work on the social and economic impacts of climate change, and Al Gore in his book and film “An Inconvenient Truth”. The President of the Royal Society has given our civilization only a 50% chance of surviving this century. There is no secret about the actions we now need to take to make sure it does survive. They range from respecting and preserving the natural capital of the Earth and its living systems to restraining human population increase, devising new energy policies, redesigning our cities, and understanding and conserving the other organisms on which our species wholly depends.

In conclusion I draw attention to a central point familiar to SAFAD. We need to be articulate and sometimes courageous in persuading people of the nature of the crises now facing us, and of the urgency of corrective action. I am sometimes asked: What’s in it for me, my country, my business, my society? The answer is simple:

Survival.

Projects for 2009-2010

SAFAD projects 2009-10

Women International Coalition Organisation (WICO)

Community Health Education and School Sanitation (CHESS) Africa Project

• Two placements
• Nine months
• Community water supply, and water sanitation

The aim of the project is to work in collaboration with communities across Africa to assist them in providing clean/safe water and adequate sanitation to eradicate poverty, create jobs, and improve the environment and the livelihoods of the people and using children and youths as an agent of change.

WICO would like one volunteer to apply their skills in managing projects in water supply and another volunteer to manage sanitation projects – both for assisting WICO in improving community health and livelihoods.

The projects will be based in the Eastern Region of Ghana in rural locations with occasional visits to more urban areas. Accommodation will be in a rural village, safe and with access to water, but electricity maybe limited.

http://www.wicohome.org/africa.htm

Tea Institute Tanzania

1. Investigating the potential for irrigation in the small-holders tea based production systems

2. Water and soil conservation practices in erosion prone tea growing areas of East and West Usambara

• Two placements
• Six months
• Agricultural development
• Water management

These two projects aim at developing and adapting agricultural management practices that will lead to improvement on productivity and sustainability of the smallholders tea production systems in Tanzania.

This placements offer a great internship opportunity for those wishing to pursue careers in tropical agricultural development.

The institute will be provides accommodation, minor medical care and security for its employees and volunteers.

www.trit.or.tz

Anjali House, Cambodia Anjali Home Farm

To create a home farm to reduce our food costs, create employment for some parents and educate the children on biology, ecology and the environment/conservation. Food and livestock will be used at the centre and as food aid for the families with any surplus being sold locally with profit going back into the centre.

· Two to four placements

· Six to four months

· Food security

· Health

· Education

Anjali House has requested people interested in developing the farm initiative who would be keen to learn and apply practices about locally gown produce and livestock. They would also need them to make future plans for the garden use in terms of sustainability, especially after the volunteer(s) leave. Investigating the application of modern and traditional farming practices for this project and perhaps others, and develop an educational programme for parents and pupils of the centre, plus the wider community.

Accommodation will be arranged in suitable locations, likely in an urban setting.

www.anjali-house.com

Azafady – Madagascar

Sustainable Finance for Community Conservation and Reforestation

Development of a Voluntary Emission Reductions (VER) Programme

This project aims to evaluate local conditions and the voluntary carbon offset market in Madagascar, looking to position Azafady as a trusted supplier of VERs. Through analysis of the existing situation and development of a robust and compliant VER program Azafady is looking to become a key player in supporting the long-term management of local resources.

The roles of volunteers can be in the selection of tree planting sites, assessment of existing carbon stocks, development of woodland management plan, prediction of sequestration, and the monitoring of changes in carbon stocks.

In Azafady’s own words, the responsibilities of the volunteers will be:

“The volunteer will be expected to have already done a detailed literature search prior to arrival and have a good basic understanding of what a VER is and have an understanding of sequestration modelling. The volunteer will be required to do a local situation analysis, including looking into national trends and the emerging legislation that governs (or may govern) the market in Madagascar. Internet access will be provided for this purpose. The volunteer will then engage in field work and provide Azafady a report and recommendations to Azafady on the five keys areas of interest when establishing a forestry VER, being”:

1) Selection of planting sites

2) Assessment of existing carbon stocks

3) Development of a woodland management plan.

4) Prediction of sequestration

5) Monitoring of changes in carbon stocks

This placement will involve competencies in project management as well as background knowledge of carbon sequestration, but SAFAD believes it to me an excellent opportunity for Cranfield graduates to apply themselves to and a chance to begin applying skills in influencing overseas conservation programmes.

Azafady is a well resourced organisation and will arrange suitable and safe accommodation and a good level of in-country support.

www.azafady.org

Development of Saaka University Campus Site - Mountains of the Moon University, Fort Portal, Uganda

The University is in the process of relocating to a beautiful, but environmentally sensitive site around the crater lakes at Lake Saaka. The project aims to examine the environmental aspects of site planning, including the ecological restoration of the site and the land use of the site in balance with the development of the University. Related to this is the development of the site for Agricultural teaching and training, including the development of Mother Gardens, Horticulture Unit and Animal Unit.

Volunteer 1 – survey and evaluation of land use plan for the site, including a plan for environmental restoration. Researching and writing proposals for possible funding of the plan.

Volunteer 2 – planning land use for agricultural training on the site, including proposals of resources required. Researching and writing proposals for funding of the project. Evaluating the commercial aspects and returns possible form agricultural activities. Evaluating the relevant scientific data necessary to support agricultural training and extension services in the Rwenzori region – alternative cash crops, floriculture diversity etc. Building capacity in the staff.

There would be the opportunity to integrate the work of the two volunteers.

Agua Para La Salud - Nebaj/Solola Water System Project and the PAVA water training Project

Nebaj and Chimaltenango, Guatemala

The Nebaj/Solola project is an ongoing project of implementing water system solutions ; and school sanitation and water solutions . The PAVA project is to assist this NGO with training of a person to be their main water system solution Circuit Rider.

1) The volunteer in Nebaj will be responsible for designing water system solution and do ongoing training with the masons in the project.

2) The volunteer in PAVA will do the same with an emphasis on training an individual in water system design and field studies.

Good back ground in math and the use of EXCEL to develop hydraulic designs using our formulated spreadsheets. Skills in Spanish and presentation of training courses in water system design.

International Rescue Committee:

Project not yet specified but previous projects been in Ethiopia and Chad working with internally displaced peoples providing water and sanitation

The Water Project and Bridge Water Project Western Kenya, Kakamega area

2 volunteers Working with drilling NGO

Evaluate current WAT-SAN program and its impact through site visits, interviews and other means.

Suggest any short-term improvements in the program and monitor implementation.

Develop, implement and train Bridge Water Project staff on a new or improved sanitation and hygiene education program.

Develop training materials for WAT-SAN programs.

Communicate and educate The Water Project’s supporting constituency, from the field, through online blogs and photo-journalism. We seek to broaden awareness of this program within the large context of water issues facing developing nations.

Recommend improvements to the overall program and its implementation by the NGO for the long-term.

Nepal Red Cross; Rural Water Supply and Sanitation project

2 Volunteers

The overall aim and objective of the project is to provide clean and wholesome drinking water to the remote and underprivileged community and improve the condition of public health as well as help in the income generation for women by conducting project on drinking water and sanitation.

Role:

Training support by conducting training in software activities, Skill development of junior and youth will be the major tasks, roles and responsibilities from each volunteer during their stay in our organization. We expect the transformation of technology and exchange the ideas system.

SAFAD First Blog

So SAFAD has decided to start blogging. Stay updated with the latest events, projects and fund-raising news.

With 11 projects on the cards it's going to be an exciting summer