A new initiative to strengthen the grassroots movement for environmental justice in South Africa
The French Embassy in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi has a partnership with the Environmental Justice Fund (EJF), an initiative dedicated to bolstering the grassroots environmental justice movement within the country.
EJF’s mission is to empower community-based organizations (CBOs) by providing both financial and capacity-building support to impactful civil society organisations. EJF aims to support a diverse range of organisations that do meaningful work, thus democratising access to support, irrespective of existing networks or funding. EJF’s strategy is deliberately designed to be inclusive and responsive. EJF is currently supporting 35 organisations across South Africa.
‘By activists for activists’ is EJF’s slogan; this reflects a belief that those most affected by environmental injustices are best positioned to design and implement effective responses. By empowering local activists, the aim to reverse environmental degradation at a grassroots level, and foster a more sustainable and just world.
EJF’s capacity-strengthening support is tailored to the unique needs of each grantee. This model includes assistance with budgeting and financial management, leadership development, legal registration, training on climate change and the just transition, and even security and psycho-social support for activists dealing with trauma.
The cohort of grantees is tackling some of the most critical environmental justice challenges of our time. Their work spans climate justice and the just transition, agro-ecology and food sovereignty, biodiversity protection, the promotion of indigenous knowledge, mining and land issues, reforestation and re-greening programs, waste management, community recycling initiatives, and water justice. Additionally, cross-cutting issues such as the impact of environmental degradation on women and youth, women’s leadership, and the protection of environmental human rights defenders are also important aspects in this work.
By supporting EJF, the French Embassy in South Africa is committed to supporting community-led solutions to the environmental and socio-economic challenges of our time. We recognise that those who live and work within communities are best equipped to run interventions that will work. Change happens at local, grassroots level.