Green Development Advocates (GDA) is a Cameroonian NGO which works with forest communities and indigenous peoples to support sustainable development activities and protect African tropical forests. GDA advocates for the inclusion of local community and indigenous peoples’ rights in different aspects of development processes, by building capacity of local and national civil society organizations, providing legal support, promoting alternative methods of forest management and supporting the use of community forestry to secure land for communities, alleviate poverty and protect forests from larger-scale destructive developments.
Mission
GDA’s mission is to contribute to the sustainable development of African tropical forests with respect for the cultures, rights, interests and needs of African peoples, paying particular attention to the rights of Indigenous Peoples and forest communities.
Our work in development finance
Among other things, GDA has supported the communities affected by the Nachtigal hydroelectric dam on the Sanaga River in the Center region of Cameroon. They have organized trainings on DFI safeguard policies, facilitated meetings and activities to ensure participation and stakeholder engagement within development processes, and assisted communities to file complaints to DFIs accountability mechanisms. For example, they have supported complaints to the IFC CAO, the World Bank Inspection Panel and the AfDB IRM.
Geographic Focus
Africa
Stay in Touch
Follow us at @RightsInDevt
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We are excited to announce that, w/ our member @WRIEquity, we are developing a new initiative to protect Grassroots Environmental #Defenders!
The Standing Together for Environmental Defenders (#STAND) will offer training, financial support and collaborative partnerships 🧵(1/4)
📢 Save the Date! 📅 16:00CET, 9 April
Join BHRRC’s @ChristenDobson as she speaks at the online launch of new Indicators on Business & Human Rights, spearheaded by @ISHRglobal.
Register here👉: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5m9V1XgyQ0mN83ltukcjFg#/registration
🚨Today, as their hearing takes place, we urge authorities in #ElSalvador to drop all charges against 5 environmental rights defenders from @ades_sm.
The criminalization of HRDs for peacefully protecting their territory must end❗️
https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/case/upcoming-hearing-five-community-leaders-and-environmental-rights-defenders-facing-2
Very worrying news from #Kyrgyzstan, where the president has signed the controversial law on "foreign representatives", that risks stigmatizing and silencing critical voices.
https://cpj.org/2024/04/kyrgyzstan-president-signs-russian-style-foreign-agents-law/
In a recent letter, local & intl CSOs had called on development banks to take a stance to protect #civicspace and use their leverage to push the Kyrgyz govt to stop the law.
https://rightsindevelopment.org/news/kyrgyzstan-foreign-representative-law/
Standing in solidarity with our Kyrgyz partners, we hope the govt will now withdraw the other proposed law on NGOs and will not use the new bill on foreign repr to target critics & silence dissent.
Read more in this analysis by @ICNLAlliance 👇
https://www.icnl.org/post/analysis/analysis-of-the-kyrgyz-republic-draft-law-on-non-governmental-organizations