As issues related to climate change and global warming start to occupying large spaces on our tables, it is high time that we also made preparations to address them in a holistic manner. Many NGOs are not yet ready to equip themselves with information on climate change either because they still believe it is too scientific or because it can easily divert their current work strategies. While it is important to remain focused on issues of interest, it is also necessary to keep our eyes and ears open to the world. Projects on climate change are the next big thing for NGOs (like it is used to for HIV and AIDS some years ago) as donors continue to look at NGOs as strongest mediums to reach out communities in poor and developing countries (of course, in a pyramid-like top-down fashion). Nevertheless, climate change is a critical issue (as we have all been feeling about it in our homes) and all organizations should start considering it as an issue of highest relevant and work in its direction either in a full-fledged manner or as a cross-cutting theme in their other projects. Besides, in the recent times, we have all observed high number of call for proposals advertised by NGOs concentrating mostly on addressing climate change and global warming and we cannot ignore the fact that it is the poor (with whom we work) who bear the greatest brunt of these problems
Considering the challenges that NGOs may face in developing proposals to address these issues, we are presenting some useful information on how to write them effectively.
Writing a Project Rationale
It is important to justify the importance of implementing or proposing a project to address climate change and global warming in the most convincing manner; therefore, the project rationale should be an analysis of the problem related to climate change in our area. For example, we may be working in an area with 70% forest cover but recently, due to continuous deforestation activity, we have observed change in the weather. Besides, this may have also caused soil degradation and droughts in the area nearby, affecting agricultural crops and livestock and causing food security problems for the people. If this situation has been observed, it is important to carry out quick research through interaction with the stakeholders: the community, village councils, CBOs, the governmental agencies, the private sector and other organizations working in the area. If the problem has been discussed with them, it is also possible to arrive at a solution like planting extra trees. This should be carefully documented in the project rationale of the proposal.
Next>>>
Guides and Tools for NGOs
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
