By Chloe Adloff | Communication Officer
Education and rural at the heart of AVN's programme
On September 15th last, AVN-Mali was invited by the Prefect of Dioïla Circle to take part in International Literacy Day, in the presence of M. Mohamed Ag Erlaf, Mali's Minister of Basic Education, Literacy and National Languages.
Despite a visible improvement over the last 15 years, the literacy level of Mali's rural populations is estimated at less than 40%[1]. The lack of suitable infrastructure is one of the principal causes; this is why AVN is trying to raise awareness about NV construction amongst local authorities, as a cross-cutting response to to local needs and challenges (solid and comfortable classrooms, local labour, youth training etc.)
During his speech, the Mayor of Dioïla stressed the involvement of AVN as one of the key rural development actors in the Circle and plans to make funds available for the construction of literacy centres and for the training of young local masons in the NV technique.
In addition, the AVN team had prepared information banners in Bambara, one of Mali's national languages, to raise awareness amongst as many of the participants as possible. The Minister then asked for other AVN documents to be translated, with a view to spreading information more widely about the NV concept.
[1]28,1% amongst women / 50,6% amongst men, according to the 2015 report: Enquête Modulaire et Permanente auprès des ménages (EMOP)
Climate Chance: the mobilisation of non-state actors for the climate
The meeting of non-state actors concerned about the climate - Climate Chance - took place last September in Agadir (Morocco), bringing together 5000 participants of 80 different nationalities from NGO's and territorial collectivities. For this second meeting particular emphasis was placed on the state of climate actions in favour of African countries, and, more widely, other countries of the global South.
Even though Africa is badly affected by the effects of climate change, it is also the "cleanest" continent with respect to greenhouse gas emissions. So it is extremely important for African actors to commit themselves to durable green solutions, for example through appropriate development policies in many domains (housing, economies, environment etc.).
A few weeks from COP23, the mobilisation of African collectivities is encouraging, through, for example, the commitment of local and regional elected representatives, in a declaration announced by some 30 mayors, to carry though the 'climate plans' and to involve all the actors in their territories: citizens, associations, economic actors etc.
The summit concluded with drawing up for signature of the Agadir Declaration[1] reiterating the priorities for accelerating climate transition. One of these - the strengthening of capacities of vulnerable populations for adapting to climate change - is a central objective of the AVN programme. This road map will be proposed to all the representatives of national governments and to the Executive Secretary of UNFCCC, Patricia Espinosa, ahead of COP23[2]
[1] Signed, amongst others, by AVN
[2] November 6-17, Bonn
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