Starting in June, IFWEA affiliate SOLIDAR will be running a three-part Global Just Transition training session, featuring a focus on the Global Gateway. This is to improve understanding of this instrument and the main issues and challenges revolving around it.
Lavinia Mazzei, International Cooperation Policy Officer for SOLIDAR in Brussels, explains that the trainings are specifically aimed at partners in Latin America, Asia and Africa.
“We have a European Union (EU) coalition that works on Global Just Transition in relation to the Global Gateway, but we are missing vital input from people and partners in other geographical areas. It is no use doing good for oneself, but damaging other countries or having negative impacts in the process. For example, banning a pesticide in the EU, but then exporting it to a country such as South Africa, where it will cause harm,” she says.
Development of emerging markets and developing countries
To this end, the series of online three trainings will be in English, but with Spanish translation as many participants will come from Latin America and have requested Spanish interpretation. The sessions will also be held at an hour that best accommodates different time zones. Most importantly, the trainings will offer the space for participants, as representatives of their organisations, to raise issues relating to the Global Gateway and any challenges they face.
The Global Gateway strategy is a European Commission initiative that contributes to the development of emerging markets and developing countries which are EU partners. Launched in 2021, it aims to accelerate the digital, energy and ecological transitions in emerging markets and developing countries.
Lavinia explains further: “We want improve SOLIDAR’S partners’ understanding of the main issues of the Global Gateway, including main challenges to a meaningful civil society participation, democratic scrutiny and inclusion in the decision-making in EU’s development finance. We will discuss key problems in the strategy, ranging from appropriateness of financial instruments used, to weak human rights and environmental standards, and to questionable development.”
Transition development must be ecologically sound
“It is important to understand how the Global Gateway strategy works, so that transition development that is funded is genuinely ecologically sound, and transparent,” says Lavinia.
“It is important this is not just for the improvement and benefit of private companies. It doesn’t have to be a bad thing – but we need to know how to monitor these Golden Gateway investments.”
Hence the solid focus on the Global Gateway for the sessions.
“We want the sessions to be really interactive. We want to be able ask questions and work out the answers – what is the strategy behind the Global Gateway, what is the role of the private sector, what is the decision making structure? In order for the Global Gateway to be good, what will this look like, particularly for partners in the Global South?” asks Lavinia.
Session One will focus on a broad explanation of the Global Gateway and the “rebranding” of all its international investments.
Session Two will look into the implementation of Global Gateway projects – which sectors are involved, which partners are involved, where they are from. The goal is to zoom into a couple of projects to examine what is what is going on, especially from an environmental perspective, and to identify the aim of the project/s.
Session Three will focus on advocacy, and provide a platform for participants who may be working on projects. Key demands and mobilisation methods will be a part of this.
Local perspectives are important
“We want specific issues with Global Gateway projects to be brought up in sessions. Local perspectives are very important – if people see something being built, they need to know if local employment is happening, that correct materials are being used, for example. Our aim is to produce an advocacy toolbox,” says Lavinia.
This toolbox will provide participants with advocacy points, such as how to work with local authorities around Global Gateway projects, and how to work with investment banks in their own countries.
And while the sad news is that the training sessions are fully booked, the good news is that SOLIDAR aims for this programme to be replicated by organisations within their own constituencies.
“We want those who attend the Global Just Transition training sessions to be able to take these learnings and hold their own training sessions, especially with the help of the toolbox and other report material,” says Lavinia.
The Global Gateway strategy is not necessarily bad – but it is important to know how it works, so that it can be used for good,” she concludes.
IFWEA will be sending a representative to the Global Just Transition training sessions.