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The new CJRF Governing Board poses for a photo during our recent retreat in Bangladesh. Photo credit: CJRF
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Dear Colleagues,
It’s been a time of transition for CJRF. In late 2022, CJRF’s former review board—made up of funding partner representatives—handed off power to a dynamic set of practitioners and activists. In February, we met with the new governing board in Bangladesh to build community and begin setting grantmaking and strategic priorities for 2023 and beyond. We invite you to read more about the meetings and their outcomes in this newsletter.
While in Bangladesh, we also visited three grantee partners: Center for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS), Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), and Helvetas Bangladesh. Board Member Zahid Shashoto reflected on our time with CNRS and had this to say: “What we have seen here today is very inspiring, especially how they have tried to make sure the whole community takes part in designing the projects. This is how we should implement projects in general: not by the NGOs themselves, but by what the community wants.”
Like the CJRF partners we visited, CJRF staff and governing board will also center the wants and expertise of our community as we develop our strategy moving forward. The board’s strategy development process will include opportunities for grantee partners and other CJRF community members to weigh in. Our goal is to share our new strategy before the end of 2023!
It has been an active and exciting time for our Fund. We look forward to seeing how the seeds we’re planting now grow into more power and resources in the hands of those best positioned to build resilience in communities hit hardest by the climate crisis.
Best regards,
Heather, Hilary, and Ayesha
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Our governing board met in Bangladesh in February. In addition to building trust, they also came to several major decisions about CJRF’s values, strategy, and grantmaking. Read more about these outcomes on our website.
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While in Bangladesh with our board, we saw firsthand how Center for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS) is improving access to fresh water while building important advocacy and leadership skills. We also visited sites where Helvetas Bangladesh is supporting people faced with the decision of climate-induced migration. Finally, Hilary Heath saw how Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) is training women in new skills after they have lost their ways of living as a result of the climate crisis. Want to read more about these visits and much more? Follow us on LinkedIn!
A young woman named Jannatul shows off the sewing skills she now uses to raise money for her family. Photo credit: Hilary Heath
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A Loss and Damage Growth Spurt
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A temporary shelter used by a household served by CARD—A CJRF loss and damage grantee. Photo credit: CARD
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At the 2022 United Nations climate talks (COP27), the global community formed a Transitional Committee to operationalize a new fund for loss and damage. The recent meetings of this global committee and the call for funding from communities at the front lines of this crisis signal that loss and damage is coming into power as a movement—far beyond proof of concept. Read our brief designed to inform the Transitional Committee on what we’ve learned through funding loss and damage in action. For more on this movement and CJRF’s loss and damage efforts, check out our website.
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Solutions for Climate Resilience
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Mokhlesur Rahman of Center for Natural Resource Studies describes how their efforts turned capture of freshwater canals into multiple positive outcomes for local communities.
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Since our last newsletter, eight of our grantee partners took the opportunity to present to CJRF’s community through webinars within our Solution Series. In this blog, five partners share strategies for building resilience in partnership with vulnerable communities. From restoring a dry water source to stopping elite capture of freshwater canals, see how our grantee partners are building resilience.
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CJRF at The Philanthropy Workshop
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CJRF Director Heather McGray recently traveled to London to participate in The Philanthropy Workshop (TPW) Marketplace on climate justice. Heather and several other organizations presented their efforts to promote climate justice and center the people most affected by climate change. The Marketplace took place before the TPW Global Summit. Read more about TPW and the Global Summit in Alliance Magazine’s summit report.
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In the News
CJRF Director Heather McGray wrote an opinion piece for Alliance Magazine on our transition from a funder-led to a practitioner-led board. Read "A power shift to the front lines of the climate crisis."
Community-based Adaptation (CBA) conferences have created a space for practitioners to share knowledge and perspectives for more than 18 years. Now, a recent evaluation is showing how their approach is having an impact on the adaptation landscape. Read what Director Heather McGray has to say about CBA on the IIED blog and register for CBA17 now!
The Loss and Damage Youth Council announced the 11 winners of their loss and damage grant. Read more about the winners and their solutions.
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