Sustainability and Globalization in Latin America

OIKO LOGICA has been selected by German GIZ - CEPAL consortia to be part of a team together with GFA Consulting Group GmbH to conduct the Evaluation of the impact of a major multidisciplinary UN Program: "Sustainability and inclusive growth through Globalization in Latin America". In January, February and March we will be traveling to Uruguay, Brasil, Chile and Panama, among other countries, to conduct interviews with Government officials and program beneficiaries and collect evidence of program impacts. Too bad we missed the Carnaval in Rio this time! 

The world until Yesterday

We are inspired by Jarred Diamond's writing: humanity's increasing dissonance with the natural world. He describes how small groups of humans – ranging from a few dozen to a few hundred hunter-gatherers – survived several ice ages, kept close to nature and still managed to conquer the world. "I believe the few remaining tribes and nomad groups left on the planet have a great deal to teach us," he says and it is this belief that inspired The World Until Yesterday.

 Jarrred Diamond´s is not shy about pointing out the lessons from traditional societies

Some tribal customs, such as widow-strangling, will not be missed, of course. "We should not romanticise traditional societies," he says. "There are horrible things that we want to avoid, but there wonderful things that we should emulate."

THE TAILOR OF PANAMA

Panama faces today the need to provide better security and protection to its citizens. Crime and violence have increased in recent years, and they represent an important challenge for Panamanian authorities and public institutions. The government is determined to reduce levels of insecurity. On that ground, the government directed its effort in 2011 to designing, consulting and coordinating the national strategy on public security and civil conviviality. OIKO LOGICA is sending a budget support expert to assist the government of Panama in the formulation of a sector support programme in the field of citizens´ security, in close coordination with the relevant national institutions, particularly with the Ministry of Public Security. OIKO LOGICA will be working with SAFEGE in this European Union Assignment.

Climate Change Vulnerability in Namibia

A team from OIKO LOGICA is flying today to Namibia. We will be working with AETS, providing   Technical assistance to the Government of Namibia in the formulation of the 'Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Project, including energy'.

Bhutan

OIKO LOGICA has recently completed another assignment in Bhutan. Under the FWC COM 2011 – LOT 1, and in partnership with ABb consultants, we have been part of an international team to represent the EU in the Joint Annual Review Mission of the Local Governance Support Programme in Bhutan and have also conducted an Assessment of sector progress of the  Support to Local Governance Support Programme (SLGSP) in BHUTAN. 

RIO +

"We recognize that poverty eradication, changing unsustainable and promoting sustainable
patterns of consumption and production, and protecting and managing the natural resource
base of economic and social development are the overarching objectives of and essential
requirements for sustainable development.

We also reaffirm the need to achieve sustainable development by: promoting sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth, creating greater opportunities for all, reducing inequalities, raising basic standards of living; fostering equitable social development and inclusion; and promoting integrated and sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystems that supports inter alia economic, social and human development while facilitating ecosystem conservation, regeneration and restoration and resilience in the face of new and emerging challenges".

blessed but vulnerable

Although blessed, both Cabo Verde and saint Vincent and the Grenadines are alarmingly vulnerable today. Small island nations face similar disadvantages because of their size: a narrow range of resources, excessive dependence on international trade, food imports to respond to poverty, lack of economies of scale for transport investment. Vulnerability to external shocks, isolation and fragility of island ecosystems, high cost of technology imports. In addition, natural disasters and climate change are of special concern to small islands because of their dependence on agriculture and tourism which are particularly vulnerable to natural and environmental disasters.

Thousands of family livelihoods depend on the effects of climate change in the near future in Cabo Verde, like these salt evaporation ponds in Pedra de Lume. Something to remember the next time you’re shaking it over your chips…