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The Environmental Awards Scheme took place in The Gambia (the
smallest country in Africa). They wanted
to have a competition, doing a project on the environment, for everyone
to compete with each other. Everyone? So, they held simultaneous competitions
for different types of people: advocacy, enterprises, business or industry,
appropriate technology, women and environment, community sustainable development,
enhanced surroundings, etc. The objectives were to increase awareness,
to promote public participation, to promote the use of environmentally
friendly technologies, and to give recognition to individual / community
endeavors in environmental management. The organizational structure went
from the National Steering Committee, ministries, and NGOs down through
the National Environment Management Council, media, USAID, UNDP, then to
sub-committees for areas and thematic divisions. They provided support
(checklists, photocopies, etc.) for the Divisions (governmental administrative
sub-division). The Bahá’í organizers provided the money for
the prizes that were awarded, which were all equipment to help them carry
out their activities, such as wheelbarrows. They ended up with a majority
of men, so they worked to get more women and women’s organizations involved.
The achievements included increased government participation, collaboration
between government and NGOs, establishment of sustainable infrastructure,
increased interest and use of public media for the environment, a pooling
of resources, launching of environmentally friendly gardening projects
(women’s groups), forest fire prevention, the spread of fuel-efficient
stoves, and school beautification with trees that required little water.
Working for the environment brings people together who otherwise would
never come together. This was the first time that the traditional and governmental
leadership had ever gotten together.


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Last updated 23 May 2006