Working with governments and communities

In the 21st century we see evidence that a more systemic view of the world is emerging.  This recognizes that security lies in long-term economic, social and environmental viability.  Moral pressures for sustainable development are increasingly being bolstered by fiscal and legal mechanisms and by the overwhelming pressure of costumers and voters. Living Earth works in partnership with national and local governments to assist in policy development and most importantly putting that policy into practice.

However, as well as running government training schemes in Nigeria and a range of other locations Living Earth has always sought to ensure that local communities are also fully consulted and involved in the process, meaning that long term viable solutions are developed and implemented.

We don’t preach solutions to problems; we help people to understand issues and reach their own resolutions. We believe that a truly participatory process allows the community and all those involved to take the initiative and operate independently of external institutions.

“Not only do the communities play a role in defining environmental problems, they also played a significant role in the choice of strategy for the Environmental Education Programme…Communities rely heavily on oral means for information transfer.  The choice of radio as a medium for Environmental Education …and the establishment and support of community drama groups were decisions made based on partnership with those communities.”

Dara Akala, Programme Manager, Living Earth Foundation

Living Earth’s belief in the need to engage fully with local communities, and not just with recognized governing bodies, is presented in an article published in the MGD Review. The article calls for full engagement as a means to deliver effective and sustainable development and can be accessed online by the following link:

http://www.mdg-review.org/apr2009.html