TOR Development Environment Group Co-ordinator, May 2015
Overall objective: to coordinate and support advocacy by the Bond DEG group with the UK
government and other external actors to achieve stronger integration of environmental
sustainability and social inclusivity in UK development policies.
Line management: DEG Co-chairs and Steering Group
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Strategy Development & Implementation
 Develop the Bond DEG advocacy strategy in consultation with Steering Group,
Sub groups, DEG members and the wider Bond membership and sector.
 Coordinate and manage a DEG work plan for 2015-16, updating it as necessary
and monitoring progress.
 Develop joint DEG positions on key issues and get member agreement.
 Undertake advocacy, research and policy analysis to support the strategy
implementation.
 Work to further develop Bond and DEG’s understanding and positioning of the
relationship between poverty reduction, economic growth and environmental
sustainability.
 With support from the Steering Group, actively fund-raising opportunities to
support Bond DEG advocacy
2. Coordinate Bond DEG engagement with UK government & external actors
 Support DEG advocacy around with the UK Government in line with the strategy
and agreed positions (e.g. organising meetings with relevant officials and
coordinating follow-up actions).
 Develop agenda & take minutes for DEG DFID quarterly meetings.
 Support the work of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Environment and
Development.
 As appropriate, represent DEG work to external audiences and feedback to DEG
Steering Group and members.
 Actively seek new external alliances.
 Work with the Steering Group and DEG members to develop communications
materials promoting environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive
development to a wider external audience.
3. Bond DEG Internal Coordination
 Report progress against DEG Strategy and key communication targets on a
quarterly basis and meet Bond reporting needs.
 Work with Steering Group to develop a system to evaluate the impact of DEG
activities, to facilitate learning and inform future strategy.
 Maintain regular communication with DEG Steering Group, sub groups &
members, Bond, DFID, other relevant networks etc.)
 As appropriate, represent DEG within the wider Bond membership, other Bond
groups and feedback to SG/members.
 Update members on relevant new evidence (reports, briefings etc.) that can
support DEG advocacy.
 Update and moderate the DEG web pages
 Actively seek new members.
Annex 1.
Background to Bond
Bond is the membership body for UK-based organisations working in international
development. Bond unites the sector by creating opportunities and inspiring members to
work together on common issues and challenges. With over 350 members, ranging from the
largest household names to small community-based organisations, the Bond network
represents the diversity of the sector.
Bond groups provide the opportunity for collective working and learning on key issues for the
international development sector. They work by garnering momentum and action for
collective advocacy work, and providing space for continual training and development for
members. Groups can also act as a source of advice and capacity building in their specialist
area.
Background to DEG
The Development and Environment Group (DEG) of Bond provides a forum where NGOs
working at the interface of environmental and poverty issues can exchange information,
enhance their analysis and coordinate their advocacy towards the UK Government and other
relevant institutions.
DEG is one of the most active of the Bond working groups. It has three subgroups working
on climate related issues, and is the main vehicle for NGO engagement with the UK
Government on development and environment concerns. DEG has a membership of 78
organisations, representing a diverse range of agendas and a supporter base of millions,
and works more widely in the sector with other networks, organisations and individuals. DEG
has a steering group made up of individuals from CAFOD, Care International, Christian Aid,
Greenpeace, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund, UNICEF and WWF.
The DEG goal and purpose
The overall goal of DEG is to support the development of civil society that understands the
linkages between poverty and environment and is able to advocate for policies that are
supportive of sustainable development that brings benefits to the poor. An important aspect
of this work is being able to influence the key players within the development community
(including aid agencies, multilateral donors, NGOs, national governments).
The UK plays an important role in shaping the development discourse at a European and
International level. Both DFID and several influential development NGOs are seen
throughout the world as lead organizations with regards to approaches to Aid and
Development. DFID is set to become the largest single donor to the World Bank.
Consequently, the UK is seen to lead the way in much development thinking and is an
important place from which to influence in terms of mainstreaming the environment and
development agenda. Influencing DFID and UK stakeholders is therefore a key part of
DEG’s role.
Poverty-Environment Links
Issues such as climate change, degraded ecosystems, natural resources supporting propoor growth, and resource-linked conflict show that the environment is key development
concern. However, “In all too many cases ‘environmental sustainability’ goals are seen as
being distinct from— and sometimes even as conflicting with— ‘development’ goals.” 1 This
is false dichotomy. In economic terms, natural capital constitutes a quarter of total wealth in
low-income countries and natural resources are often the principal source of income for the
poorest people. Managing natural resources properly is critical – it is about safeguarding
food production and water supplies, about preserving livelihoods and development
opportunities, and about reducing vulnerability and increasing resilience to climate change.
It is vital that the importance of biodiversity and healthy ecosystems are recognised,
effectively valued and incorporated into development work. Natural resources are the
fundamental building blocks of development. They provide critical services and ecological
resilience, supporting livelihoods, sustainable development, adaptation to climate change
and ultimately life on Earth. They are often a lifeline for the poorest and most vulnerable
people.
The environment can be a powerful unifying force for public opinion and for international
development. Environmental concerns can drive agendas such as local empowerment,
governance and equity (at global as well as local levels). The relevance of the environment
to the ‘mainstream’ development community is slowly being recognised – this is an
opportunity to help lead the way.
The Need for Co-ordination
The most successful and effective Bond groups have dedicated coordinators who have a
substantial part of their job committed to supporting the group. Until now, DEG has had to
rely on the latter through its co-chairs and sub-group coordinators. However, this approach
is not sufficient to maximise the DEG’s potential.
An opportunity has arisen to fund a DEG coordinator post, initially for a 12 month period on a
part time basis. This comes at a time when climate change has dominated the development
and environment agenda and for good reason, but when other pressing environment and
development issues are creeping back up the international agenda – ecosystem degradation
and biodiversity loss, green growth and development, etc. It is an opportune time to build on
the momentum and understanding of environmental limits created by climate change, and
the fact that climate change will exacerbate development and environmental issues
impacting the poorest people first and worst.
The post holder will work to build an understanding in key development and environment
actors that many of today’s global problems need to be addressed together and not as
separate vying issues.
1
Making The Economic Case: A Primer on the Economic Arguments for Mainstreaming PovertyEnvironment Linkages into National Development Planning, UNDP-UNEP Poverty Environment Initiative, 2008