The Southern Voices Programme is an extension of a project implemented by the Climate Capacity Consortium in 2009-2010 entitled 'A stronger voice of developing countries in the international climate negotiations.' In 2009, the consortium was formed as a joint effort to promote the engagement of Southern civil society organisations (CSOs) in the international climate negotiations towards the COP15 in Copenhagen.
The 2009-2010 project supported a wide range of civil society organizations in capacity-building on climate issues and the negotiations, advocacy and knowledge-sharing. After COP15 in Copenhagen, the project was extended to the end of 2010 and supported activities towards COP16 in Cancun. The project was funded with 9.9 million Danish Kr through the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. See original PowerPoint presentation of new programme as well as pictures from our planning meeting and side event.
Short Genealogy of the Southern Voices Progamme:
| November 2010 | The Southern Voices Capacity Building Programme – strengthening climate policy networks in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific, is granted 8 million Danish Kr. by Danida. The programme will support a range of Southern Climate Networks. It is implemented by the Climate Capacity Consortium with Care Danmark as the lead organisation. |
| April 2010 | Climate Capacity Workshop in Copenhagen gathers the Consortium and selected Southern partners to discuss the draft evaluation of the project and to discuss how to follow up. The key recommendations are to strengthen the many Southern climate networks which were established in the mobilisation towards COP15, through capacity building and organisational development – in a three year perspective and to further the exchange of experience and know how between the networks. |
| March 2010 | The consortium project is extended to end September 2010to use remaining resources to maintain the Southern NGO engagement in the COP15 follow up and for capacity-building. |
| December 2009 | COP15 Climate Summit in Copenhagen – includes a very strong representation by Southern NGOs demanding climate justice and a fair ambitious and binding agreement. The Copenhagen Accord presented but not adopted – falling short of the expectations of civil society and governments alike. During the summit an evaluation of the project is initiated – pointing towards an interest in a follow-up – since COP15 will not deliver. |
| July 2009 | A new grant from Danida allows for upscaling and increasing the activities in the consortium project towards COP15, allowing for participation in the new UN negotiation meetings arranged in Bangkok and Barcelona. |
| May 2009 | Civil Society towards COP15 – A strategy conference including both Southern and Northern NGOs in Copenhagen, by the 92 Group include a range of the members of the consortium and their Southern partners. |
| January 2009 | The consortium project “A stronger voice of the developing countries the international climate negotiations” starts with funding from Danida. Capacity building and training of Southern NGOs initiated by consortium members as a preparation to engage in UN climate negotiation meetings in Bonn towards COP15. |
| December 2008 | At COP 14 at Poznan in Poland, 25 Southern NGO representatives participate as observers sponsored through the consortium. Capacity building of partners and advocacy towards governments. |
| October 2008 | The NGO COP15 Consortium is formed in October including seven organisations: The Danish 92 Group, DanChurchAid, Care Danmark, Ibis, IIED and CAN-I. |