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Civil Society Involvement in Programme Implementation. The Nile Basin Initiative Micro-Grant Programme by NDABIRORERE Salvator GEF-OFP BURUNDI DOUALA, June 2008. INTRODUCTION.
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Civil Society Involvement in Programme Implementation The Nile Basin Initiative Micro-Grant Programme by NDABIRORERE Salvator GEF-OFP BURUNDI DOUALA, June 2008
INTRODUCTION • With a surface area of 27,834 sq. km and a population of 7.4 million, Burundi is one of the smallest and one of the most overpopulated countries in Sub-Saharan Africa; • Its population is 90 percent rural and entirely dependant upon agriculture; • The war which prevailed in the country for 13 years has caused further impoverishment of the population; • The freeze on international cooperation due to the war has resulted in an absence of development activities; • The country extends over two river basins : the Nile River Basin and the Congo River Basin; • It contains one of the Nile’s southernmost sources and contributes 9 percent of the total river flow; • Due to its geographic location, the country is a member of a number of subregional organizations in both river basins : ECCAS, COMIFAC, NBI, EAC, etc.
Background of the NBI/SVP • The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) is a partnership between the 10 riparian states of the Nile River • Goal : “To achieve sustainable socio-economic development through the equitable utilization of, and benefit from, the common Nile Basin water resources.” • In order to realize this vision, NBI has created the Shared Vision Programme (SVP) which includes the Transboundary Environmental Action Project (TEAP).
The Transboundary Environmental Action Project and Its 5 Components • Institutional strengthening aimed at facilitating regional cooperation; • Community-level land, water and forest conservation; • Environmental education and public awareness; • Wetland and biodiversity conservation; • Water quality monitoring throughout the basin.
II. The Micro-Grant Programme • The NBI Micro-Grant Programme (MGP) falls within the purview of the second TEAP component “Community-level land, water and forest conservation”; • The MGP’s main mission is to support grassroots communities and NGOs through capacity-building and financial and/or technical assistance centred on their local or transboundary initiatives aimed at preserving the environment and reducing poverty in the Nile Basin region.
MGP Institutional Framework • The MGP is housed within a local NGO called “Host NGO”, based in the Nile Basin region; • The Host NGO must be experienced in supporting local development and environmental protection initiatives; • The Host NGO signed an agreement with UNOPS to provide the MGP with the requisite assistance for the implementation of its activities; • In Burundi, the MGP is housed within the Union pour la Coopération et le Développement (UCODE) based in Ngozi.
Decision-Making Organ for Programme Implementation • The Micro-Grant Programme is supported by a National Steering Committee providing the bulk of its substantive contributions. • The main mission of the National Steering Committee includes the following: • Analysis, periodic review and implementation of the MGP National Action Plan; • Delineation of the geographic intervention zone; • Visits to micro-project sites for pre-screening and support through appropriate advice to project sponsors for necessary revisions to project proposals; • Selection and approval of micro-project proposals submitted to the MGP for financial or technical support as well as project implementation monitoring; • Promotion of MGP activities through enhanced visibility; experience sharing through success stories and networking.
Membership of the MGP National Steering Committee The membership of the MGP National Steering Committee includes the following: • Two Government representatives (Ministry of Environment and one GEF Focal Point); • One UNDP representative; • One academic institution representative; • Two local NGO representatives; • One religious organization representative; • One representative of the Micro-Grant Programme host NGO (UCODE); • One NBI representative (national level); • The Micro-Grant Programme Coordinator, ensuring secretariat.
Key Actors and Funding Received • 25 local NGOs have received grants from the MGP (of which 50 percent are women’s NGOs) • An amount of US$ 592,077 was injected in the sector over a three-year period (2006-2008) • Amount of funding for each micro-project: maximum US$ 25,000 • In order to enhance the interventions, the WFP provided support to the organizations up to US$75,000 per NGO through FFW.
Areas of Activities Conducted • Land management and conservation; • Promotion of environmentally sustainable agriculture; • Management of water pollution; • Agro-forestry; • Reforestation; • Management and protection of parks and nature preserves; • Promotion of alternative energy sources (improved stoves, biogas, etc.).
Accomplishments • Land protection and soil improvement: • Construction of 8 ha of radical terraces • Delineation of 903 kmof contour lines • Forestry • Production of 2 million forest seedlings(1,600 ha) • Production of 1 million agro-forestry seedlings(800ha) • Production of 26 000 fruit seedlings
Accomplishments (cont’d) • Management and protection of parks and nature preserves : 15 km of quickset hedges • Water quality management: removal of over 5tons of water hyacinth from lakes in the northern area of the country • Promotion of alternative energy sources: 4,400 improved stoves produced and distributed • Apiculture: 200 modern beehives and appropriate equipment distributed to rural households • Education and public awareness • Implementation of the GEF/SGP will be facilitated as a result of this experience.
Accomplishments (cont’d) Livestock reconstitution: • 50 milk cows • 60 pigs • 1,900 goats were distributed to households via a Community Solidarity Chain
Constraints or Challenges Encountered • Presence of several organizations requesting funding; • Overall limited means; • US$25,000 do not meet population’s expectations; • Weakness of local organizations’ capacities for project formulation; • Post-project management.
Steps Taken to Address the Problems • Submission to WFP for cofinancing of actions undertaken; • Training for local NGOs in project formulation; • Organizing field visits for monitoring of and support to funded projects; • Involvement of technical and territorial administrative entities in activity monitoring during and after project implementation; • Requests to GEF/SGP.
Lessons learnt • Local NGOs: light structures but close to the population and able to achieve a lot with limited means when compared to the Government. • Transparency and stakeholders’ involvement have a positive effect on the durability of activities on the ground, • The only impact obtained by those donors who worked alone is the project signage left behind.
Conclusions and Recommendations • The programme contributed to capacity-building in rural communities; • It contributed to job creation (for youth and women); • It had a catalytic effect and mobilized other donors / actors; • It enhanced social cohesion; • It helped raise awareness of environmental protection among rural women; • The achievements (obtained with partners and technical services’ involvement) are encouraging; • It would be desirable that the SGP be associated with all GEF-funded projects
Soil Protection Construction of radical terraces over 8 hectares Eradication of soil erosion • Top: Photo of radical terraces at Muyange (Commune and Province of Kayanza) • Bottom: Photo of radical terraces at Kididiri (Commune of Busiga, Province of Ngozi)
Soil Protection (cont’d) Establishment of contour lines and anti-erosion ditches in watershed (total 603 Km). Protection of soils against erosion Top: Photo of contour lines at Rukusha (Commune of Giteranyi, Province of Muyinga) Bottom: Photo of calliandra plantation along contour lines at Ntobwe (Commune of Buhinyuza, Province of Muyinga)
Soil Improvement Large livestock (50 cows) Soil fertilization with manure Top: Bovine breeding by the Dukingirikibira Association of Bugarama Bottom: Bovine breeding at Buhiga (Kagoma Hill) by a group of demobilized and repatriated persons
Soil Improvement Small livestock breeding (60 pigs and 1,900 goats) Soil fertilization with manure Photo : Goat herd at Musenyi (Commune and Province of Muyinga)
Reforestation Production of nearly 2 million forestry seedlings (2006-2007 period) Top: Maintenance work at a nursery by the women’s group Dukingirikibira of Bugarama (Commune and Province of Muramvya) Top: Nursery established by the Dusanurivyasambutse Association of Mubaragaza (Commune of Mutumba, Province of Karuzi)
Agroforestry Production of nearly 1 million agroforestry seedlings (2006- 2007 period) Soil stabilization and enrichment Top: Maintenance work at a calliandra nursery by the Garukirabakenyezi Association of Rusi (Commune of Shombo, Province of Karuzi) Bottom: Calliandra and maracoudja nursery established by the Dushigikirane NGO of Gatara (Province of Kayanza)
Fruit Trees Production of 26,000 fruit seedlings • Improvement of nutrition • Poverty reduction (sale of fruit) Top: Production of grafted avocado trees by a youth group of Makebuko (Province of Gitega) Bottom: Culture of maracoudja and Japanese plum trees by a group of Matongo (Province of Kayanza)
Management and Protection of Parks and Nature Preserves Demarcation of the Ruvubu National Park over a stretch of 15 km Biodiversity conservation and protection Photo: Demarcation of the Ruvubu National Park on the territory of the Commune of Buhinyuza (Province of Muyinga)
Water Quality Management Removal of 5 tons of water hyacinth. Water quality and biodiversity conservation Photo : Water hyacinth removal operation on the Akagera River (Rukusha Hill, Commune of Giteranyi, Province of Muyinga )
Promotion of Alternative Energy Sources (Improved Stoves) Production and use of 4,400 improved stoves: • Wood consumption reduced by 1/3rd • Reduction of wood harvesting rate • Work reduction for rural women Top: Use of an improved stove in a household at Bunywana (Commune of Buhinyuza, Province of Muyinga) Bottom: Improved stoves produced by the Garukirabakenyezi Association of Rusi (Commune of Shombo, Province of Karuzi)
Promotion of Alternative Energy Sources (Biogas) Establishment of a unit for training on biogas production and consumption in rural areas • Reduced fuelwood consumption • Waste reclamation Top: Cooking a meal with biogas in a household dwelling Bottom: Lighting with biogas in a household dwelling
Apiculture Modern apiculture (200 beehives) Biodiversity protection and poverty reduction Photo: Training session on beekeeping techniques for members of the Dusanurivyasambutse Association of Mubaragaza (Commune of Mutumba, Province of Karuzi)