About Us
Rural Action for Climate Resilience
Partnering with rural community-based organisations and faith leaders to build social, economic and environmental resilience to climate change.
Although rural populations are the most vulnerable to climate change, they are the least prepared for the impact. They are not able to participate in discussions on how to respond to climate change, and their indigenous knowledge systems are often ignored when challenges and solutions are debated.
The Social Change Assistance Trust (SCAT), Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI), and Heinrich Böll Stiftung (HBF) are responding to this challenge, in a project funded by both the European Union and HBF. Rural communities in the Eastern, Western, and Northern Cape are being supported to put their ideas into practice and to make their voices heard in local and national debates on climate change.
The project recognises that community-based organisations (CBOs), advice offices, and faith leaders have an important role – to strengthen the ability of their communities to protect their basic needs, including water and food. Women and young people, in particular, will be provided with support to build their capacity, make decisions and identify strategies in response to the climate crisis.
The Project
aims to:
Help rural communities to understand what is meant by climate change, why it affects women more than men, and how they can learn to cope. This will be done through learning events, regional workshops, education materials, and small grants that enable local learning actions, where this information can be shared. We will also assist different rural communities to connect, and with decision-makers and experts – to share experiences, influence decisions, and learn together.
Fund eight rural community partners with financial and technical resources to enable them to put their projects in place to respond to climate change.
Ensure that rural community partner voices are heard and that they are involved in discussions about climate change that are organised by the government both locally and nationally.
Journalism training will be provided to young people, who will be
able to tell their own stories of climate change and resilience in national and local media –including on radio, in newspapers, and online.
Rural community partners will be able to connect online with each other and civil society organisations, to exchange information about climate change-related policy and how decisions are made.
Ensure rural communities can contribute towards South Africa’s climate change response, described in the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (NCCAS) and the updated draft Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) documents, and to push for the rights described in our Constitution – including the right to sufficient food, nutrition and health, a healthy environment, and social security.
Activities
August 2021
4th
6th
Event
Inception Workshop Western Cape
Inception Workshop Eastern Cape
participants
15
15
Place
Online
Online
September 2021
1st-3rd
15th-17th
30th
Event
Regional Workshop Western Cape
Regional Workshop Eastern Cape
Microgrant applications roll-out starts
participants
27
25
Place
Online
Online
October 2021
6th
15th
22nd
26th
Event
Localised Climate Impacts
Vulnerability Assessments (Part 1)
Vulnerability Assessments (Part 2)
Building Resilience – Adaptation & Mitigation
Core Grant applications open
Youth Citizen Journalist Fellowship applications open
participants
53
40
51
37
Place
Online
Online
Online
Online
November 2021
4th
Event
Core Grant Seminar
Selection of YCJ applicants
participants
47
Place
Online
December 2021
9th
Event
Food gardening Workshop
Review Micro and Core grant applications
participants
23
Place
Online
January 2022
28
Event
Review Micro and Core grant applications
First batch of Micro grants paid
participants
23
Place
Online
February 2022
3rd
14-16th
21st
24th
Event
IDP Seminar
Youth Citizen Journalist Training
Second batch of Micro Grants paid
Gender & Climate Change Workshop
participants
31
8
39
Place
Online
Woodstock, Cape Town
March 2022
8th
Event
Women’s Climate Strike
participants
Place
Woodstock, Parliament Cape Town
May 2022
9 – 12th
Event
Western Cape Regional Workshop
participants
23
Place
Cape Town
Media
Stories by the Youth Citizen Journalists coming soon!
Blog
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Team
Claire Tapscott - SCAT
Position
Climate Change Programme Coordinator
Thabo Molelekwa - (HBF)
Position
Youth Citizen Journalism Fellowship Coordinator
Phatiswa Somdaka - (SAFCEI)
Position
Junior Communications Coordinator
Abigail Steedsman - SCAT
Position
Administrator
Nosimilo Filita-Kukhala - SCAT
Position
Finance administrator
Indiphile Matini - SCAT
Position
Intern
Brigett Matomela - SCAT
Position
Intern
Youth Citizen Journalists
Anelisa Yonto - Eastern Cape
Position
Writer
Imameleng Masitha - Western Cape
Position
Writer and broadcast journalist
Lindiwe Pakati - Eastern Cape
Position
Writer and a bit of radio/broadcast
Kabelo Moratwe - Northern Cape
Position
Writer
Keamogetswe Thomas - Northern Cape
Position
Writer
Siphosethu Phikelela - Western Cape
Position
Writer and broadcast journalist
PROJECT PARTNERS
Social Change Assistance Trust (SCAT)
SCAT is a veteran South African non-profit organisation that has worked for 37 years with over 500 CBOs in rural communities, to strengthen their capacity as agents of social change and justice. SCAT targets women, children, and youth and has made a significant impact regarding access to justice, gender equality, youth, and food security. Currently, SCAT supports 30 CBOs with grants, capacity building, and mentorship, of which 25 are advice offices, 12 run food security projects, and 9 run youth projects. These projects focus on gender equality and addressing gender-based violence in communities. SCAT’s publication, ‘Rural Voice: 35 stories for 35 years’ shares a collection of stories from rural partners about their purpose and mission. You can read the publication here. SCAT is an accredited training provider with the Services SETA, known for its capacity building of CBOs, having trained over 250 people in 2019, of whom 65% are women. It mentors, monitors, and supports these CBOs on and off-site and, through this model, has strengthened agency in rural communities.
Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute ( SAFCEI)
SAFCEI is a regional institute of people of many faiths, which through collaboration, networking, research, and action, confronts environmental, climate, and socio-economic injustices to facilitate effective, responsible, and ethical action; reviews and formulates policy and guidelines; and raises awareness to address our environmental impact. SAFCEI is well known for its court victory in 2017 to stop an ‘illegal and unconstitutional’ nuclear power deal. It advocates for better governance in energy planning through engagement with policy processes and has made an important submission to the Zondo Commission regarding energy procurement.
Heinrich Böll Stiftung (HBF)
HBF is the German Green Political Foundation affiliated to the ‘Alliance ’90/The Greens’ political party. As part of a global green network, HBF works with more than 100 project partners in over 60 countries and currently maintains 32 international offices. In the Southern African region, HBF has actively promoted the consolidation of democracy and human rights, advancing gender and social justice, and supporting the shift to ecologically just and sustainable development models. Through partnerships, the HBF’s Cape Town office has supported advocacy and lobbying for sustainable solutions to food justice, energy, and poverty in the country. It has also facilitated energy and climate-related capacity building among civil society, parliamentarians, and government officials.
Resources
Gender and Climate Change booklet
RACR 1st Newsletter (PDF)
RACR Quarterly Newsletter 2 - April to June 2022
Get in touch:
Cape Town
160 Sir Lowry Street
Buchanan Square
Woodstock, Cape Town 8100
Tel: +27(0) 21 418-2575