Member profile
Ms. Natalie Brain
Organization:
Lions Clubs International
Country:
United States of America
Field(s) of expertise:
I am working on:
For more than 75 years, Lions International has participated in advocacy. Advocacy at Lions International is raising awareness for the causes Lions and Leos care about, educating club and community members on important issues, and creating positive change. Lions and Leos listen to the needs of their communities and use their voices to speak out on behalf of the people they serve.
Ms. Natalie Brain
1. To date, the efforts towards SDGs have not succeeded in reducing socio-economic inequality within and between countries. How can FAO and CSOs work together to regain the momentum lost and work jointly to "leave no one behind”?
Since the United Nations was founded, Lions International has shared in the humanitarian goals and has worked to help achieve them. From tree planting to improving access to education, providing eye care to empowering youth to build a better future, Lions Clubs are already complementing United Nations work. In 2017, on the occasion of the centenary of the founding of our Association, five global cause areas (Diabetes, Vision, Hunger, Environment and Childhood Cancer) were announced and closely align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and in particular the goals of FAO. Today, our mission pillars include improving health and well-being, strengthening communities, and supporting those in need around the world. Lions and Leos complete over one million service projects around the world each year, and service focused on hunger is the most reported service type.
CSOs represent a critical group of organizations that can provide on-the-ground, community-based insight that is often overlooked when formulating global solutions. For organizations such as Lions International with a global reach as well as operating on a local level, we can offer grassroots mobilization and community responsiveness to implement shared solutions to issues such as global hunger and food security.
Founded in 1917, Lions International is the world’s largest service club organization, with more than 1.4 million members serving in 200 countries and territories. Lions clubs plan and participate in a wide variety of service projects that meet the local needs of their communities. Last year, Lions served 539 million people served through 1.6 million service projects globally. Our members are serving locally and globally to help take on some of the biggest challenges facing humanity and are well positioned to partner with FAO in working jointly to leave no one behind.
2. FAO seeks to accelerate transformation of agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable as a means to achieve the 2030 agenda. What and how can CSOs contribute to such transformation to boost impact on the ground? Please suggest concrete actions.
Lions and Leos worldwide are contributing to the transformation of agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable. Service projects in the area of food system improvements are completed in countries around the world, and address a wide variety of challenges and community-led solutions. Service in these areas includes young and emerging farmer support, community education, and farm and garden maintenance.
There are now numerous communities around the world where Lions International has established water wells, aqueducts and agricultural schools and fostered the establishment of cooperatives, especially of women, for the development of women's empowerment and family support.
FAO can work more closely with CSOs such as Lions International to utilize our global membership to boost impact on the ground. The structure of Lions clubs at the grassroots, community level provides an effective approach to addressing issues on the ground, looking to community leaders to provide assessments for improvement, and incorporating their own needs assessments for strengthening agrifood systems. For FAO to partner with Lions International and use this model of collaboration, FAO can achieve solutions that are both effective and sustainable for global communities.
3. Climate change threatens our ability to ensure global food security, eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development. What FAO and CSOs could maximize collective impact to adapt and/or mitigate climate change?
Lions International’s global membership base allows Lions to lead the issues and needs of their communities, on causes such as environmental impacts. FAO can draw on the expertise and perspective of local communities around the world to find equitable and locally responsive solutions to adapting to climate change. Environmental service activities have the highest number of beneficiaries served of all of Lions International’s global causes, so there is great potential for FAO to tap into these grassroots networks.
4. Based on your partnering experience, can you share a good example of meaningful engagement with FAO or another UN agency/development partner? Please highlight what/why it worked well in your opinion.
One of Lions International’s most effective and far-reaching collaborations is with the World Health Organization (WHO). Lions and WHO have an ongoing partnership on the Elimination of Childhood Blindness, the very first international effort solely dedicated to the prevention and treatment of childhood blindness. Lions also work with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to implement Lions Quest, a social emotional learning/drug awareness program. As a result of the Lions-UNODC partnership, LCIF has piloted Lions Quest in Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Ivory Coast.
In addition, Lions International has an Appointed Representatives to the United Nations program, where each year we appoint a Representative to FAO. This representative has attended the FAO’s Committee on World Food Security since 2017, and continues to foster a positive and mutually beneficial partnership between FAO and Lions International.
In preparation for the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, Lions International proposed a concrete international collaboration with FAO targeting children and youth. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic ultimately did not allow this initiative to materialize, which would have allowed FAO to use the power of Lions International in the 200 countries and territories where we are present.
Moving forward, Lions International hopes to work more closely with FAO to increase visibility of Lions International with FAO and highlight how our service can directly benefit FAO in achieving its goals and alleviating global hunger.
5. At present, what are the most significant challenges CSOs face in their engagement with FAO? What could FAO do to address some of those challenges? Please provide concrete examples.
A clear source of communication and dialogue with CSOs in general can be prioritized. In addition, the FAO can focus on issuing clear opportunities for dialogue and collaboration with CSOs, including virtual forums such as this one as well as in-person or hybrid meetings. There should be dedicated and external-facing staff at FAO who focus on developing relationships with CSOs such as Lions International. Finally, FAO should better publicize how they are collaborating with other UN organizations as well as CSOs in addressing global challenges and implementing solutions.
Associations such as Lions International can be great communicators of FAO's aims and propagate its message to communities around the world, rather than thinking that only Governments can do it.