Regional CBNRM Project Achievements

Regional CBNRM Project Achievements

SACF logo / ©: WWF SARPO
Southern Africa CBNRM Forum banner, showing newly launched Forum logo, unveiled at Forum annual forum meeting in September, 2008
© WWF SARPO
Steady progress has been achieved by the Project during its Implementation phase. However, implementation of some objectives has fallen behind and there is need to be more strategic and focused when implementing the outstanding activities to ensure that the Project realises its purpose.
Implementation arrangements and responsibilities for the Project are divided amongst a number of organisations and stakeholders, with secretariats and steering committees of national CBNRM fora and regional thematic Working Groups playing a key role in the implementation of activities. Achievements by the project are highlighted below.
 

Project goal and purpose level achievements

The process of getting CBNRM principles, policy and practice adopted as a mainstream strategy for sustainable natural resource management and rural development has been rather slow but indications are begining to show signs of positive milestones.

The government of Botswana has shown financial and policy support for CBNRM by passing a holistic CBNRM policy, creating a post for a national CBNRM coordinator, and providing financial support for the roll out of the CBNRM policy. The approval of the Direct Payment System for CAMPFIRE revenues to communities - a form of devolution - and other policies in other countries designed to improve CBNRM indicate implicit support for CBNRM.

Incorporation of CBNRM in National Development Plans or similar initiatives is seen in the 5th National Development Plan for Zambia; Malawi Development Growth Strategy; Namibia Vision 2030, and Botswana's Vision 2016.

Recognition of CBOs in local and regional planning activities is illustrated through investments in conservancies in Namibia; formal approval of Community Resource Boards in Game Management Areas in Zambia; consultations and directives targeting Community trusts in Botswana; Mozambique's land act that allows communities to hold land rights, and secondment of government staff to work with CAMPFIRE in Zimbabwe, thereby acknowledging CBOs as stakeholders in national activities.

Output 1: Regional Forum for sharing best practices, information and carrying peer reviews supported

Support for national and the regional CBNRM fora to promote the sharing of best practices is provided under this output, as well as for peer review based on agreed guidelines and performance standards. Highlighted achievements include:
  • All national CBNRM fora in place, except for South Africa, with comprehensive workplans and budgets
  • Resuscitation of Zambia national CBNRM forum
  • All regional forum working groups holding review and planning meetings during the course of the year, except for the MOMS working that will meet in December
  • Regional forum, Southern Africa CBNRM Forum holding annual meeting and steering committee meetings as planned


Output 2: Appropriate CBNRM training supported in formal and non-formal institutions

/ ©: WWF SARPO
CBNRM manual cover
© WWF SARPO
This output promotes mainstreaming CBNRM at tertiary and vocational level. The key to successful project implementation is the development of strategic linkages with appropriate training institutions in the partner or project countries.
Support provided by the project has resulted in the following achievements:
  • Completion of curricula reviews in tertiary institutions in Zambia, and Nyamaluma CBNRM College adopting new curriculum
  • Assessment of CBNRM training status completed for Zimbabwe, and CBNRM training toolkit being developed
  • Regional CBNRM Forum Training Working Group held annual meeting and reviewed work plans after noting limited progress
 

Output 3: Strategic institutional capacity building of focal organisations involved in CBNRM

MOMS filing system / ©: WWF SARPO
Example of a MOMS filing system in Caprivi, Namibia
© WWF SARPO
Capacity building is more than training and includes backstopping, advising, guiding, advocating, mentoring and providing financial grants to improve operational delivery to communities and CBNRM constituency by the institution receiving support at country levels. The project identified focal partners in the participating countries and provides these with capacity building inputs to strengthen their position as implementers and supporters of CBNRM in their respective countries. During the implementation phase, the following achievements have been recorded:
  • First ever MOMS conference held in the region, and developments of MOMS framework for project countries
  • MOMS training conducted in Malawi and MOMS rolled out with 8 sites selected
  • A write shop conducted for the CBE Working Group and a CBE User Guide developed, capturing joint venture, private sector partnership, individual
  • entrepreneur and large membership models of community based enterprises
  • Assessment of CBNRM performance monitoring and evaluation systems conducted for Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe
  • CBNRM performance monitoring frameworks developed for countries and processes under way to develop sustainable national CBNRM monitoring systems
  • Links maintained with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) in South Africa on forum issues

Output 4: Policy and legislation support to promote and improve implementation of CBNRM

The Project engages in policy development and implementation to enhance CBNRM performance as well as mainstreaming CBNRM into other sectoral, national, regional policy processes.
Support for policy and legislation for improved implementation of CBNRM has not been quite as effective as envisaged, but all the same they have been some notable achievements, though a lot still needs to be done. The implementation phase has seen:
  • Support for the Botswana CBNRM policy process covering raising awareness of the policy and efforts to translate the policy into SeTswana (a vernacular language
  • Monitoring of the 20% decree in revenue sharing in Mozambique to gauge effectiveness of the policy
  • Review of the status of CBNRM policy and legislation in Malawi to gauge the extent of implementation of CBNRM principles
  • Chipanje Chetu in Mozambique supported to secure land rights following a dispute with the government
  • Draft of management policy for wildlife in GMAs in Zambia
  • Draft report on regional land reform study carried out by the Institue for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS)
  • Support for the implementation of the Direct Payment System for CAMPFIRE revenues in Zimbabwe

Output 5: Strategic Interventions implemented (e.g. mainstreaming HIV/AIDS and gender into CBNRM)

/ ©: WWF SARPO
Gender balance. Women at a workshop
© WWF SARPO
In addition to overall Project coordination, the Project Management Unit (PMU) is expected to function as a secretariat to the Regional CBNRM Forum, providing support for partnerships, fundraising, coordination, and acting as an information-clearing house. Emerging and crosscutting issues, such as promotion of gender balance, mitigating the negative effect of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and emerging issues suchs climate change are addressed under this output. Notable achievements are as follows:
  • Sensitisation of HIV/AIDS mainstreaming in most countries
  • Botswana study on impact of HIV/AIDS on CBNRM finalised, printed and distributed
  • Programmatic linkages with the Miombo ecoregion project, CIRAD BioHub project, and EU funded PARSEL project
  • Strategic funding and non funding partnerships established with CIRAD, IUCN, Resource Africa, Conservation Partnerships for Sustainability in Southern Africa (COPASSA), and Southern Africa Sustainable Use Specialist Group (SASUSG)
  • Exploring linkages with emerging issues such as Climate Change and bio-fuels and their implications for CBNRM

Output 6: Programme Management and Coordination (including communications and fundraising)

The Project Management Unit (PMU) based in Harare, Zimbabwe provides coordination and secretariat services for the regional CBNRM forum -  Southern Africa CBNRM Forum (SACF) - and facilitated the development and implementation of country fora programs and regional programs, as highlighted.
  • Review of national fora work plans and budgets to ensure conformity to project vision and agreed standards
  • Management of contracts and grants, review of work plans, disbursement of funds to national forum
  • Developing annual Project workplans and budgets and preparation of progress reports
  • Successful coordination of Regional CBNRM Forum working group meetings, annual meeting, and steering committee meetings
  • Produced CBNRM Project information pack or folder and distributing to stakeholders
  • Publication of four  Project technical documents under the WWF SARPO Occasional Paper Series, and dissemination through country fora and electronic media
  • Maintenance of Project web pages on the WWF International web site
  • Establishment of online Google discussion groups for PME, MOMS, CBO, CBE working groups and the Regional CBNRM Forum
  • Production of regional Southern Africa CBNRM Forum (SACF) logo, and regional forum promotional materials

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