Civil Society Involvement in Programme Implementation

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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
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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 Niles 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.

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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).

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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.

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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 MGPs 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Key Actors and Funding Received

• 25 local NGOs have received grants from the MGP
  (of which 50 percent are womens 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
  US75,000 per NGO through FFW.

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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.).

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Accomplishments

• Land protection and soil improvement
• Construction of 8 ha of radical terraces
• Delineation of 903 km of contour lines
• Forestry
• Production of 2 million forest seedlings (1,600
  ha)
• Production of 1 million agro-forestry seedlings
  (800 ha)
• Production of 26 000 fruit seedlings

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Accomplishments (contd)

• Management and protection of parks and nature
  preserves 15 km of quickset hedges
• Water quality management removal of over 5 tons
  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.

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Accomplishments (contd)

• Livestock reconstitution
• 50 milk cows
• 60 pigs
• 1,900 goats
• were distributed to households via a Community
  Solidarity Chain

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Constraints or Challenges Encountered

• Presence of several organizations requesting
  funding
• Overall limited means
• US25,000 do not meet populations expectations
• Weakness of local organizations capacities for
  project formulation
• Post-project management.

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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.

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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.

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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

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• PICTORIAL ILLUSTRATION OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES

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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)

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Soil Protection (contd)

• 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)

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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

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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)

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Reforestation

• Production of nearly 2 million forestry
  seedlings (2006-2007 period)
• Top Maintenance work at a nursery by the
  womens group Dukingirikibira of Bugarama
  (Commune and Province of Muramvya)
• Top Nursery established by the
  Dusanurivyasambutse Association of Mubaragaza
  (Commune of Mutumba, Province of Karuzi)

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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)

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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)
  

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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)

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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 )

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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)

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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

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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)

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Monitoring and Support of Field Activities by the
NSC
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Thank you very much