Mohamed F. Sessay UNEP/GEF

1. Lessons Learnt in Implementation of a Multi-Country (Regional) UNEP/GEF Desert Margins Programme (DMP) Mohamed F. Sessay UNEP/GEF

2. Summary Description of DMP • DMP is a six year, 3 phased (2 years/phase) project • Aims: to arrest land degradation in Africa’s desert margins by specifically addressing: loss of biodiversity, reduced sequestration of carbon, and increased soil erosion and sedimentation associated with land degradation in drylands • Goal: to conserve and restore biodiversity in the desert margins (drylands) through sustainable utilization • Objective (Purpose): to develop and implement strategies for conservation, restoration and sustainable use of drylands biodiversity (to enhance ecosystem functions and resilience).

3. A Multi-dimensional Partnership • Participating countries: Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe (southern Africa); Kenya (eastern Africa) and Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Senegal (western Africa) • Participating Institutions: ICRISAT (EA) in partnership with NARs (KARI, DRFN, ARCZ, INRAN, INRAS, University of Botswana, North West University, South Africa, etc.); CGIAR/IARCs (ICRISAT, ICRAF, IFDC, CIAT/TSBF, ILRI), ARIs (CIRAD, CEH, IRD), Sub-regional Organization (CORAF for western Africa, SADC/SACCAR for southern Africa and ASARECA for eastern Africa) Plus UN (UNEP & UNDP as GEF IAs)

4. Project Cost & Financing • Target Population: 120 million people with some of the highest population growth rates in the world (NB: one-third of World’s 6 billion people live in drylands) • Livelihoods of population: rain-fed agriculture and natural rangelands, particularly vulnerable to climate change and impact on food security • Project Cost and Financing: Total cost 49.5m of which GEF US$ 16m and cash and in-kind co-finance of US$ 33.5m fromgovernments and development partners

5. Land degradation severity in desert margins of SSA High Low Non-degraded DMP member countries DMP potential countries

6. DMP Outputs and Components • Ecological Monitoring and Assessment: for improved understanding of ecosystems status and dynamics with regard to loss of biodiversity • Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use: strategies for conservation, restoration and sustainable use of degraded ecosystems developed and implemented • Sub-regional, National and Local Capacity Building: capacity of stakeholder and target populations enhanced • Alternative Livelihoods: alternative livelihood systems tested and promoted

7. Outputs and Components (Continued) • Policy and Legal Framework: sound policy interventions/guidelines for sustainable resource use formulated, adopted and implemented • Extension of Sustainable Natural Resource Management: participatory NRM methods are implemented • Stakeholder Participation: the target populations are involved at each stage of the project cycle

8. Challenges at Start of Implementation • Multi-Country, Bilingual and Geographical Coverage: of project and implications for coordination and communication • Management at regional and national levels: EA and other CGIAR institution with primary focus on research, IARCs also research, NARS with limited capacity and embedded in government structures and bureaucracy • Financial: routine monitoring of disbursement, ensuring that counterpart contribution is fully committed, received and deployed on time

9. Challenges (Continued) • Monitoring Implementation: location of UNEP (GEF IA) in Nairobi, and EA’s HQ in India with Regional Office (RCU) in Niger , sub-office in Bulawayo, plus NARs • Beneficiaries: not homogenous group; bringing on board as owners/partners within reasonably short time • Weak Extension Services: in countries but especially in drylands (perception of harsh environment not conducive for attracting the best nationally)

10. Opportunities DMP Presents • UNEP & GEF Flagship Project: of fight against land degradation and desertification and biodiversity conservation and enhanced livelihoods in marginal areas (raison d’etres). • DMP a multidimensional partnership: that exists to pull resources and help partners build expertise to achieve positive impact on the ground in a cost-effective manner • Recognizes the synergies that exist among various stakeholders and systematically using these for mutual benefit • Builds on existing NAP of UNCCD, formulate and pilot appropriate sustainable solutions

11. Lessons Learnt during Implementation of DMP • Strong Project Management at regional, sub-regional – (a) GCU (b) Adequate and timely financial flow to partners • Research is paramount but must be complemented with strong extension and should support livelihoods of target population (if impact is to be sustained) • Up scaling of proven technologies and sharing of best practices between sub-regions and with others should be fast tracked.

12. Lessons Learnt (Continued) • Linkages with policy is important and must be promoted in order to achieve up-scaling. Constant dialogue with policy and decision-makers is a prerequisite • Improvements of livelihoods (provision of alternative livelihoods) of local population is both an entry point for project and also guarantees sustainability of project impacts • To look out for and take advantage of new emerging opportunities (whether new resources, technology/best practices, partnerships, etc.)

13. Lessons Learnt (Continued) • Capacity Building of Stakeholders/ Beneficiaries as well as project personnel should be given high priority. Advanced training linked to project activities and impacts sought to create a pool of professionals at national level • Priority to identifying and making use of indigenous (local) knowledge and expertise and including that as integral part of capacity building • Documenting and reporting of experiences for validation, sharing and accountability should be high priority

14. Lessons Learnt (Continued) • Personal fulfillment – time committed is extremely high but with deep commitment the reward is equally satisfying and that is seeing positive impact on the ground

15. An example of A Sahelian Eco-Farm

16. Micro-doses of mineral fertilizer • Problem: • Declining soil fertility -> declining yields • Low or negative economical return of standard doses of mineral fertilizer on rainfed crops • Access to fertilizer Solution: Micro-doses of mineral fertilizer (NPK or DAP)  double yields on deficient soils  minimize risk  trigger a positive snowball effect on production system OM (livestock, wind erosion control through mulching)

17. Thank you for your attention