Bridging Advocacy and Action: Surge Africa's Session at Rise Africa Action Festival 2024

Surge Africa sparked a powerful conversation on climate action at the Rise Africa Action Festival 2024 with the theme ‘‘Solutions Only, Failures Also.’’ Partnering with ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, we hosted a session centered around "Policy Perspective: Intersecting Advocacy with Climate Governance." This webinar brought together policy makers, advocates, and climate experts to discuss the need to move from talk to real action, and why an integrated approach that takes a long-term vision of change from a local perspective through a systemic alliance with governments is crucial to achieving both state and international commitments to climate change.

Moderated by Nasreen Al-Amin, Founder and Director of Surge Africa, with our esteemed guest speakers, Hon. Abubakar Buba, Commissioner, Kaduna State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and Hafsat Abiola, the President of Women in Africa Initiative (WIA), the session provided a fertile ground for practical ways in which advocacy efforts can be aligned with policy initiatives and the to build strong partnerships between state actors and civil society organizations (CSOs) to drive meaningful climate action. 

Key Highlights of the Session:

1. Building Bridges Between CSOs and Policy Makers

One of the core discussions centered around the importance of creating strong connections between advocates and policy makers. Honourable Abubakar Buba emphasized that governments cannot do it alone, thus CSOs need to work together with state actors. Hafsat Abiola also stated that If we want change on climate issues, we need both internal and external pressure. This two-pronged approach means applying pressure on the government from both within and outside the system. CSOs can act as a source of "external pressure" by advocating, raising awareness, and holding governments accountable. Panelists called on CSOs to effectively communicate the urgency of climate issues to those in positions of power, fostering a collaborative environment where both parties work towards common goals and create better results.

2. Case Study: Northwest Commissioners Summit on Climate Change (NCSCC)

During the session, a real-world example of successful advocacy campaigns that have led to concrete policy changes was presented. The case study served as a source of inspiration and a blueprint for future efforts. The session highlighted objectives of Surge Africa’s Northwest Commissioners Summit on Climate Change held in February 2024 and the critical role it played in shaping climate governance, demonstrating the power of collective action. The Summit led to the signing of the historic Kano Declaration on Climate Change and Environment, a decree that seeks to mobilize actors to develop a framework for a State Climate Action Plan and a Climate Fund to support it – among many of our initiatives. Read the Kano Declaration on Climate Change and Environment here.

3. CSOs Can Serve as Watchdogs

Panelist Honourable Abubakar Buba noted that CSOs can engage the government in areas where they observe that the government is lacking or not placing the required focus. They can act as watchdogs, monitoring government efforts and identifying areas where policies might be weak, lacking ambition, or not receiving enough focus. Once these gaps are identified, CSOs can engage with the government in a constructive way. This engagement could involve proposing solutions, advocating for stronger policies, or providing data and expertise to support more effective climate action.

4. Replication of the Kano State Declaration on Climate Change and Environment

Surge Africa's Rise Africa session highlighted the importance of maximizing the impact of the Kano Declaration before replicating it across Nigeria. Panelist Hafsat Abiola emphasized this point, suggesting stakeholders focus on measuring the Declaration's effectiveness and using its success as a springboard for further action on climate issues, such as promoting renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures.

5. Practical Ways to Bridge the Gap

The session harped on the need to bridge the gap between civil society organizations (CSOs) and state actors at regional and local level. Hafsat Abiola noted that the government is overwhelmed with governing issues across the country. She added that to get climate issues to be high on their agenda, CSOs need to build momentum on these issues. Participants discussed how to build strong partnerships between governments and civil society organizations (CSOs). This collaboration is key to driving impactful climate action that gets results.

6. The Intersection of Approaches and Outcomes

The Rise Africa session underscored a crucial truth: collaboration is key! Participants emphasized that building respectful dialogues with state actors remains fundamental to achieving shared climate goals. This highlights the importance of CSOs engaging in constructive conversations to ensure their voices are heard by policymakers.

Conclusion

The “Policy Perspective: Intersecting Advocacy with Climate Governance'' session at the Rise Action Africa Festival 2024 was a testament to the power of collaboration and the critical role of advocacy in shaping climate governance. The session provided valuable insights and actionable strategies for aligning advocacy efforts with climate governance. As we move forward, the lessons from this session will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in driving key partnerships between CSOs and state actors and inclusive climate action across Africa at regional and local levels.