ANCE-TOGO is providing civil society organisations tools about best practices in the fight against green corruption
Alliance Nationale des Consommateurs et de l'Environnement (ANCE-TOGO), Transparency International's representative in Togo, has been gathering fifteen representatives of civil society organisations at its headquarters in Lomé since Thursday for a two (2) day training workshop on mitigating climate change by fighting corruption in the wildlife sector.
The importance of this theme stems from the observation that efforts to protect our environment are being increasingly undermined by the spectacular growth of environmental crime and, in particular, wildlife trafficking, especially of large mammals, despite the major role they play in revitalising flora and fauna and in retaining carbon in the soil. Wildlife trafficking also paves the way for the resurgence of environmental corruption.
Aware of the important contribution that Togolese civil society can make to the fight against environmental crime and the green corruption it generates, ANCE is focusing on the first day of the workshop on upgrading sister organisations interested in environmental crime issues on the various international, regional, EU and national texts on the fight against climate change, international wildlife trade and the fight against green corruption.
In addition to legislation, a module on the link between green corruption, environmental crime, money laundering, the financing of terrorism and organised crime is also part of this day's agenda.
After journalists workshop last May, it is up to civil society organisations to attend ANCE's training courses. These activities are part of the implementation of the project 'Mitigating climate change by fighting corruption in the wildlife sector', funded by the Waverley Street Foundation (WSF) and Transparency International. This will enable civil society organisations to be better equipped to play their essential role in contributing to accountability, integrity and good governance of the country.