In July 1998, the Centre d’Actions et de Réalisations Internationales (CARI) was set up with the aim of supporting the development of populations fighting against land degradation in arid areas, through the implementation of agroecology 🌿. The year 2023/2024 thus marks CARI’s 25th anniversary 🎂 and is an opportunity to look back at some of the achievements.
Today, a team of around ten employees and a volunteer board of directors of around fifteen people are committed to achieving CARI’s objectives. Although it has faced many difficulties along the way, CARI can also look back on a number of successes, both in the international arena, through its involvement in negotiations within the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and in the field, in the Sahel, the Maghreb and more recently in Tanzania. As a manager of multi-country projects to support the agro-ecological transition, and as an inspiration and trainer for the development of agro-ecology in the oasis environment in the Maghreb, CARI has often acted as an alarm bellwether on the degradation of oasis lands and ecosystems… Born of volunteer commitments, and now structured as an international Non-Governmental Organisation, CARI and its teams of employees and volunteers work on a daily basis with a range of associative partners, researchers, local or regional authorities and technical ministries in the countries where it operates in the South, as well as in France and Europe. CARI has always maintained links with its local area, in particular with local authorities such as the Département de l’Hérault, and more recently with the Occitanie Region and the Metropole of Montpellier. It is also involved in a number of national and international cooperation networks, some of which have governance structures.
Specific CARI actions over 25 years
From the outset, CARI has sought to take collective action. It was with this in mind that CARI set about organising, mobilising and strengthening the capacities of civil society, in particular to make their voices heard, facilitate their participation and the contribution of their experience and know-how to decision-making in national and international bodies. With this in mind, CARI has taken the initiative of creating and running several networks of national and international civil society players. It has also enriched itself by participating in other collective dynamics, sharing its experience and strengthening its national and international advocacy.
CARI’s mission is to support and strengthen development players, influence public policy and raise public awareness. To achieve this, CARI is committed to capitalising on and disseminating information in its field of action, as well as on the results of its various initiatives in France and abroad, using a variety of media. For example, the campaign to protect oasis ecosystems began with a single action in Tunisia, followed by the development of a programme in southern Morocco, and culminated in the creation of an international network as a whistleblower at the Johannesburg Summit. This network was subsequently involved in international negotiations aimed, among other things, at ensuring that the oasis issue was taken into account in public development policies. The outputs from these commitments are aimed at a variety of audiences: development players, to share experiences and tools with them; national and international bodies, with advocacy or decision-making documents; and the general public or less informed players, to inform them about international issues and the association’s activities, and to raise their awareness of the issues on which CARI is working.
Another of CARI’s original initiatives since 2006, which has become a benchmark in the field, is the organisation of the International Civil Society Summit: Désertif’actions, with the aim of encouraging and maintaining a dynamic of decompartmentalisation of the players involved in implementing the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Désertif’actions includes a number of key events: plenary sessions, thematic workshops, an international press cartoon competition, a festival open to the general public and a concert. Some editions have been supplemented by preparatory actions in different countries, online work sessions, post-COP meetings to share results, etc. The last edition of Désertif’actions (2022) took place over 10 months, with numerous workshops in the participating countries, a 3-day Summit in Montpellier attended by almost 300 participants and a day open to the general public with the Festival.
This year, CARI is taking part in the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Desertification Convention (COP16) in Saudi Arabia, with its partners. Participation in the COPs is in line with CARI’s strategy of fostering a favourable context for the deployment of agroecology and sustainable land management. CARI is convinced that the contexts (intervention policies, donor orientation, etc.) are impacted by the decisions taken at the COPs. This is why it has invested heavily in advocacy at this level from the outset! In 25 years, CARI has taken part in 16 Conferences of the Parties in all regions of the world, the most recent of which was held in Abidjan in 2022. During these events, CARI organised more than 18 side-events and supported around 100 participants from its partner countries.
25 years of solidarity, and we’re not stopping there!
Being able to blow out 25 candles is no coincidence for an organisation like CARI. It’s thanks to the presence and commitment of a number of determined players, combined with CARI’s will and determination to act, that we’ve been able to achieve such longevity! A salaried team committed to its day-to-day work, available and committed directors who share their time and experience, partners who have sometimes been involved with CARI for 25 years, it is through this diversity of players and partners that CARI pursues and develops its action every day. It is with gratitude that we must salute this and all those who contribute by enabling CARI to evolve! When CARI was set up in 1998, it could only rely on its volunteers and its own motivation. Today, it has between 8 and 10 permanent employees, more than 60 project partners, the coordination of several networks and platforms, and operations in more than 15 countries. 25 years of action in favour of the most vulnerable is nothing compared to the challenges of combating land degradation, and this collective cause is becoming more urgent every day. And this in a national and international context that is hardening in favour of every man for himself. This is why it is undoubtedly more important than ever for CARI to continue its commitment. And we will not give up. Will you be at our side?
