Mzimba is endowed with diverse natural resources that include fertile soils, forests, abundant water and fish resources. These natural resources are not properly utilized to support sustainable socio-economic development poverty reduction in the district. Previous efforts have emphasized conservation without balancing it with human needs for survival. These efforts have largely failed hence the need to promote a people centred development initiative where natural resources utilization will be linked to the responsibility to manage such resources. The hotspots include Zombwe, Madise, Embombeni and Enukweni areas where resource depletion is exacerbated by the combined effects of population growth, charcoal burning, tobacco farming and unsustainable agricultural practices such as shifting cultivation and other poor land management practices. Women are the hardest hit by the effects of environmental degradation due to the gender roles, which they play in resource utilization such as firewood and water collection. Despite women being the main victims of natural resources degradation, they are largely absent from community policy making and project management fora. It is against this background that PDO intends to implement this practical capacity building project to promote sustainable land management.

Project?s Main Objective
The overall aim of the project is to empower and build capacities of community structures to enhance sustainable utilization and management of their natural resource base and encourage long-term food and energy security options. To this end, the project intends to introduce and promote both agro-forestry and non-forest based micro-enterprises among economically weak and nutritionally insecure households. Specifically, the project intends to:

? To promote soil and water conservation technologies in at least 50% of the households
? To strengthen the community structures in the management of already existing natural resources as a means of preventing further land degradation
? To introduce alternative sources of energy for cooking and promote energy efficient cooking technologies.


Implementation Strategy
? Facilitation of activities while emphasizing community empowerment
? Capacity building through training to enhance self reliance
? Community organization, awareness raising and education
? Community-level action planning and implementation
? Training in and scaling up of micro-enterprises and agroforestry
? Regular monitoring of activities and evaluation of impacts
? Experiential learning and information sharing.
? Study tours and community level workshops
Key Project Outcomes
? Increased knowledge and skills for the communities to effectively manage a range of small-scale income generating activities
? Improved governance for local development structures in natural resources management sector
? Increased tree cover for both on-farm and off-farm land areas.


Sustainability of Project Results
1. Sensitization and training of rural communities on NRM will have long lasting impacts
2. Involvement of rural communities through participatory approaches in all stages of the project planning and implementation will ensure community ownership.
3. Establishing strong partnerships with other development players will ensure complementarities and hence combined efforts in securing the common and shared benefits
4. Alternative income generating activities tend to be sustainable because of the direct cash benefit to project participants. These would carry on even after funding phase.