The agencies involved in preparing grant applications for the next phase of the Southern Voices program cheered in unison, as news was received that both applications were approved for further funding.
This means that when the Southern Voices programme in its present form ends, this will mark a new beginning.
"The program will take a new direction and the advocacy efforts will center on two thematic areas: adaptation to climate change, and low carbon development. Peter With, Program Coordinator explains.
From mid 2014 the SVP will be separated in two different projects. CARE Danmark, Ibis and DanChurchAid will support the first- "Southern Voices on Adaption to Climate Change: Setting the Standard for Pro-poor Adaption". The second, titled "Promoting Pro-Poor Low-Carbon Development Strategies" will be supported by Sustainable Energy Denmark and CAN-International.
"We understand the uncertainty that our climate networks in the South faced when the Danish government decided to outsource its climate finance for civil society."
Since the COP15 in Copenhagen, the Southern Voices had privileged access to funding for capacity building of Southern civil society networks, but as the funding was increased and outsourced to CISU (Civil Society in Development) the organisations had to apply for funding in a competitive call for proposals.
"Unfortunately, not all the networks interested in working on adaptation could be included in the Southern Voices on Adaptation – given the funding ceiling of the CISU Climate and Environment fund," Peter With from CARE Denmark emphasizes.
"We have included 5 core partner networks, and during the start-up we can select additional 5-8 partners networks. We wish to have a good mix according to geography and experience of networks. Therefore, we will call for proposals by 2nd quarter 2014," he adds.
"We have invested a lot of efforts in the Southern Voices Program to develop our new website and on working on the climate change advocacy toolbox,"
"The two new grants will still allow us to use both the website and the toolbox in our work to promote civil society advocacy on pro-poor adaptation and low-carbon development," Peter concludes.
Image courtesy of staceymyers.com