IP should include capacity development, information dissemination and awareness raising as a project component; This is what Phase 1 of the Initiatives Programme is all about ? a series of workshops designed to cater to the needs of different ranges of literacy whilst keeping in mind the knowledge resource that communities have always had. These aim to be participatory, information sharing days where all relevant development, environmental, economic and social issues are discussed, with the communities ultimately being empowered to make their own decisions based on an holistic understanding of ecosystem services and their constitutional rights.

IP should promote sustainable livelihoods and focus on marginalised/ disadvantaged groups. The impact of this human resource development will be long-term and inter-generational as it will begin a process of human-scale sustainable livelihoods in Phase 3 of the programme. It is focussed on rural people on the Wild Coast who have been marginalised because of their low education levels. Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) principles will be introduced and will form the core of planning.

IP will ensure that gender and equity concerns are addressed; This will be done through employment and selection of people to be trained as the majority of people in this community are women. The kinds of projects selected by the community ensure gender and equity (eg bakery, poultry, vegetable gardens).

Initiatives Programme will address global environmental problems through innovavative local solutions. It will also increase rural knowledge of interaction and inter-dependency between environment and human society, and will therefore communications an increased awareness of the important role they play as prime custodians of a unique environment.

Proposals have been developed in a participatory and transparent way. This proposal is the culmination of 3 years of general and 1 year of intensive networking by SWC with the communities concerned and emanates from their own needs and aspirations. The draft concept has recently been workshoped with representatives from the communities (including 2 Chairpersons of the Local Development Committees) and this proposal is what has emerged. Continuous consultation with the communities as a whole and their representatives as a smaller group has been factored into the budget.

The Wild Coast Conservation and Sustainable Development Project (WCCSDP) will be highlighted so that community expectations are in line with meta planning and policy for the Wild Coast.