CCNN to Be the Apex Climate Change Network

A coordination meeting was held to bring together the different NGO networks and groups working on climate change. The participants were CCNN, DP Net, Youth Climate Change group, NGO group on Climate Change, FECOFUN, Association of INGOs, CA member's network on Climate change and many others who are working. This meeting was organized with the twin purpose of knowing each others work and developing strategies to build coordination and synergy among different networks.

The meeting was held in Practical Action on 27th May, 2009. The participants suggested that there was a need of one body of 1 representative of each network. The issues were raised particularly on issues of inclusion, representation of district and national level. The potential for existing networks like CCNN taking leadership, but expanding to become more inclusive and representative of all the NGO networks was discussed.

CCNN is favored due to its long history of engagement in climate change, existing relationship with the GoN, willingness to expand and include more civil society and its credibility of past performances.  It was also suggested to propose CCNN in widening its membership criteria by giving membership to all networks and institutions who are working in Climate change. The participants even suggested going beyond Climate NGOs to include other sectors in order to realize the need to get out of fixed black box approach and encourage others due to the reality that it needs more mainstreaming and involvement of other sectors then just environmental organizations.

It was also suggested to have a joint declaration on endorsing CCNN by the government and other agencies. The participants unanimously agreed to make a stronger and inclusive network by convincing the existing network and groups to come to consensus in endorsing CCNN. This endorsement then becomes basis for negotiating with government for recognition.

Participants reached to the conclusion of keeping the coordination mechanism as loose network dealing with issues of making more inclusive and representative of real civil society across the country. It was agreed to make CCNN as the NETWORK for future negotiation with the government for the representation and engagement, if CCNN can expand to be more inclusive, and if endorsed by all other represented networks.