Strengthening Grassroots Climate Action: PACJA’s Workshop for the South African Designated National Platform (DNP)

The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) has long been at the forefront of advancing climate justice across the African continent. A cornerstone of PACJA’s governance structure is the Designated National Platforms (DNPs), which act as crucial units linking the Alliance’s strategic initiatives with its members in African countries and communities. These platforms are the primary interface between PACJA and the broader civil society, ensuring that climate justice advocacy is deeply rooted in local realities.

The DNPs play an indispensable role in anchoring PACJA’s work across communities, nations, and Regional Economic Integration Blocs. The Ideal DNP Framework provides a structured guideline for civil society organizations (CSOs) within each country to organize themselves effectively. This framework outlines the formation of committees, the organization of meetings, the establishment of relationships, and the definition of member mandates. Through these guidelines, PACJA ensures that its grassroots efforts are cohesive, effective, and aligned with its overarching mission of climate justice.

Recognizing the importance of aligning national platforms with the Ideal DNP Framework, the PACJA Secretariat organized a consultative workshop for the South African DNP and its members on May 15, 2024. This workshop was a significant step towards strengthening the South African DNP, enabling it to better serve as a conduit for climate justice efforts within the country and beyond.

The primary objective of the workshop was to familiarize the participants with the Ideal National Platform (DNP) Framework and to align the South African DNP with the recommended structure that was established during the 2023 PACJA General Congress in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This alignment is crucial for ensuring that all national platforms operate within a unified structure, thereby enhancing the collective impact of PACJA’s initiatives across the continent.

Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in robust discussions about their roles within the DNP and reflected on the progress made towards achieving the goals outlined in the PACJA 2024 Strategy. This strategy is a roadmap for advancing climate justice in Africa, focusing on advocacy, capacity building, and the mobilization of resources to address the pressing climate challenges facing the continent.

A key outcome of the workshop was the election of a National Steering Committee to lead the South African DNP. This committee will play a pivotal role in guiding the platform’s activities, ensuring that they are aligned with PACJA’s broader objectives while addressing the unique climate challenges facing South Africa.

The consultative workshop for the South African DNP marks a significant milestone in PACJA’s efforts to strengthen its governance structures and enhance its impact at the grassroots level. By aligning the South African DNP with the Ideal National Platform Framework, PACJA is ensuring that its work is deeply anchored in the communities it serves, driving meaningful and sustainable climate action across the continent.

As PACJA continues to expand its reach and influence, the role of DNPs will remain critical in ensuring that the voices of African communities are heard and that their needs are addressed in the global climate justice movement. The success of the South African DNP workshop is a testament to the power of collaboration, alignment, and strategic planning in advancing climate justice in Africa.

Workshop Summary