AFES membership consists of youth drawn from the the communities where the project will be implemented. The field activities will be mainly spearheaded by the youth of the different communities.
Concerted efforts will be made to strengthen the role of women in natural resources management. There will be training sessions on group formation and management which will clearly define the roles of both men and women in project implementation.
Planning non gef grant
Depending on the availability of non-GEF grants, it may be possible to scale up this initiative.
Inovative Financial Mechanisms
During implementation, there will be regular planning and review meetings with project stakeholders including the beneficiary communities during which vital information will be shared. At the conclusion of the project, project write ups and a fact sheet will be developed to be circulated as part of experiencing sharing on the project outcomes.
Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
Local community members are part of local site management committees and there will be information sharing and joint decision making during project implementation.
Replication of project activities
Once assessed as successful, project activities will be replicated in neighboring communities and elsewhere.
Project sustainability
Sustainability elements built int project design include the strengthening of existing village level committees to oversea the execution of project activities and to undertake the necessary follow up actions.
Policy Influence
The project aims to influence both local and national policies on sustainable land management within the context of the landscape/seascape conservation approach which will be piloted in the project villages.
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
The project aims to introduce alternative livelihood activities in the target communities. The proposed activities will include salt processing, small ruminant management, harvesting of natural forest resources, skills training, oyster harvesting, fishing and fish processing, etc.
Policy Impact
The project aims to introduce climate smart agro-ecology practices in the landscapes/seascapes in order to increase agricultural yields, attain food security and reduce poverty among farmer households. The attainment of these objectives will influence local as well as national policies in environmental management, food security and poverty reduction sectors.
Capacity - Building Component
There is a need for the community members to be trained on the landscape/seascape conservation approach as this was identified during the assessment carried out in the area. Capacity building sessions on ago-forestry, land management and institutional development and enhancement of local resource management committees will be some of the trainig sessions that will be implemented.
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
There will be training sessions at the community level geared towards enhancing public awareness and promoting greater community participation in the project. In addition, there will be quarterly project management committee meetings aimed at information sharing and ensuring that the project attains its set objectives.
Planning gef grant
This will depend on the availability of GEF projects and the success of the project.
Project Results
? Project Consultative Meetings attended by about 1, 050 people including village elders, Alkalos, small holder farmers and youth groups of the various Village Development Centres from the 5 target villages of Darsilami, Barianding, Bakang, Karantaba and Tambana to communicate the scope, objectives, rationale/significance, benefits/expectations and activities of the biodiversity project
? Revival of 5 dormant and weak Village Development Centres and Youth Groups in the target villages by filling in the vacant positions as well as instituting simple administrative measures to ensure their smooth operation
? Built capacity of 122 members of the 5 Village Development Centres and 5 Youth Groups of the 5 Villages in Planning, Project Implementation, Management and Monitoring & Evaluation ? Project Management Cycle - as well as on Administration to strengthen the management of Village Development Centres and projects at the village level.
? 2 workshops to build the capacity of 70 Smallholder Farmers on Climate Smart Agriculture
? 1 workshop to build the capacity of 50 Smallholder Farmers (totally made up of women) on Alternative Livelihood Initiatives specifically in the areas of Tie and Dye, Batik and Macramé
? Hired the services of a Tree Nursery Specialist to assist in the establishment of a Tree Nursery
? Establishment of a tree nursery of 35,000 seedlings in the village of Darsilami for plants/trees such as eucalyptus, cashew, lime, kembo, netto, taloo and gmelina
? Carried out an excursion to a model seed store, a poultry farm, a tree nursery and a woodlot to present to 50 participants best practices in terms of planting time, right seedlings and on management of nurseries.
? Trained members of Village Development Committees of the target communities as well as 150 small holder farmers on conservation and protection practices of natural resources.
? Successfully mapped out the landscape and seascape units of Darsilami, Bakang and Tambana communities in preparation for planned interventions for their restoration and protection.
? Successfully completed the propagation of seedlings of Eucalyptus, Cashew, Lime, Kembo, Netto, Taloo, Baransang, Mahogany and Gmelina for onward distribution to small holder farmers for planting has been completed.
