Annual Report 2016

2016 was a year full of change. First and foremost, it was the year that our two new strategic partnerships with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took off. As Lead of the Fair, Green and Global (FGG) Alliance, we get the opportunity to further expand our work on environmental and social justice within the context of the global economic system. These efforts pay off. In 2016, for example, after years of working on the Suape harbour case in Brazil, we finally made a breakthrough, which increases our confidence in future success. In addition, as an alliance we generated a shift in focus from trade policies discussions towards sustainability and equity issues.

As member of the Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action (GAGGA), we will deepen our work on women’s rights by engaging with women’s funds and civil society groups that challenge large scale developments pushed by today’s extractive economies. In this first year of GAGGA, we forged numerous new connections between people and their organisations in different parts of the world. The programme is an inspiring source of energy for the entire organisation and will assuredly help us draw attention to the much neglected social challenges of the ‘green’ agenda. In the coming years, we will certainly reap the fruits of these connections.

Both in the Netherlands and globally, the context in which we operate is changing ever more rapidly. Most remarkable is the rise of authoritarian or right-wing populist regimes in several countries. Their emergence signifies that international frameworks we have taken for granted for the past decades, most notably the human rights framework, are under increasing pressure. This translates into a sensitive and strategic loss of civic space, which in turn makes countries that continue to publicly support both human rights and civil society, such as the Netherlands, important actors in the international context.

The vision of Both ENDS is a world where long-term environmental sustainability and social equity take priority over short-term profits.

In order to make our vision reality, Both ENDS strengthens global civil society to gain decisive influence on the use of nature and the environment, thus contributing to societies that stay within our planetary boundaries and respect all human rights, including the rights to water, food and a safe living environment.

Civil society actors should have a free, independent, active and influential voice about the use of the natural resources that determine the quality of their daily lives and the future of their children. Respecting the planetary boundaries is a precondition for sustainable development. We should minimalise climate change, loss of biodiversity, pollution and ozone depletion, and use land and water in a responsible way, in order to keep our planet livable. At the same time, sustainable societies should respect all human rights. Not only the rights to water, food and a safe living environment, but also gender equity, indigenous rights and space for civil society.

OUR THEORY OF CHANGE

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Civil society in countries of the Global South plays a key role in the process of achieving real system change for a more equitable and sustainable world. Our southern counterparts are crucial in identifying, developing and implementing innovations that ensure the fair management of natural resources and more sustainable livelihoods. They play an equally vital role in calling attention to and combatting developments which have led to an ever-widening gap between rich and poor, the destruction of the natural world, and violations of human rights.

WHO ARE OUR PARTNERS?

Any organisation that shares Both ENDS’ vision of fair, sustainable and inclusive development can become a partner. Our partners include all kinds of civil society organisations (CSOs), community based organisations (CBOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and research institutions. They can be based in countries in the Global South, in the Netherlands, or anywhere in the world. Both ENDS’ process of identifying which partners to work with does not follow a single or strict protocol. Organisations generally become partners following an organic process of getting to know each other, based on commonalities between our thematic work fields, similar strategies and approaches, complementary needs, and of course positive joint work experiences that have shown to deliver good results.

Both ENDS’ partners can be grouped into four, often overlapping, categories. These are: ‘sparring partners’ – organisations with which we maintain regular contact to exchange of information, content, advice, or contacts; ‘networking partners’ – organisations that are part of the formal and informal networks that Both ENDS established, facilitates or advises; ‘project partners’ – organisations with which we usually have a financial relation in ongoing projects carried out at the local, national or international level; and ‘strategic core partners’ – organisations with which we tend to have long-standing relations and which play an important role in the development of Both ENDS’ strategy and quality monitoring processes.

HOW BOTH ENDS WORKS WITH ITS PARTNERS

Strengthening and empowering civil society organisations in the Global South that work towards creating a more equitable and sustainable world is Both ENDS’ core business. We do this, firstly, by giving direct support to CSOs, which can involve financial support, knowledge sharing and mutual capacity building. Secondly, we work with our partners through several networks. We develop a shared agenda focusing on national, regional or international policy influencing and coordinate our activities. Thirdly, we often work together with our partners in investigations and research. Together, we analyse policies, projects and investments. Both ENDS complements the knowledge of our partners about tangible policy impacts at the local level with knowledge about and insights into Dutch and international policy and financing arenas. This cooperation often results in building a joint case to address human rights violations or people’s grievances about environmental injustice. We equally join hands in our efforts to develop sustainable alternatives based on local experiences and needs. This joint work often leads to long-term commitment and engagement of all parties towards shared advocacy efforts for a more equitable and sustainable world.

THE FUTURE OF OUR WORK

Both ENDS’ work focuses on strengthening civil society globally, to play its role in the transition to sustainable and equitable societies. The organisation is part of a wide range of networks and movements. As part of civil society, we have achieved significant results in setting the agenda of critical policy processes, both through advocacy and through the development of alternative development paths. In many cases, this has led to policies, rules and regulations that strengthen civic space, protect human rights defenders, and the prevention of negative impacts on nature and people’s environments.

The gap between these international agreements, guidelines and national policies, on the one hand, and concrete actions by governments and private companies, on the other, is widening. There is a great urgency to start ‘walking the talk’. Thus, Both ENDS will shifts its focus from agenda-setting to monitoring the implementation of existing policies and regulations related to trade and investment. We will support concrete action by both the public and the private sector to create civic space by implementing recognised standards and regulations, such as the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and ILO 169 (FPIC). In addition, we will continue to advocate for redress mechanisms and clearer rules in areas such as the public financing of the fossil fuels industry.