Improving Local Capacity in Zambia

Geographical location:

Africa/Madagascar > Southern Africa > Zambia

Summary

The project aims to work with local environmental groups in Zambia to address all the key issues adversely affecting biodiversity loss and management of natural resources.

It will address conservation and management of biological and water resources (rivers and wetlands), planning for and managing the use of land (deforestation of the Miombo woodlands in Zambia); managing biotechnology; managing waste from productive processes and managing the impacts of climate change.

Background

The Miombo Woodlands, comprising tropical grasslands, savannas and shrublands, covers much of southern and central Africa and is home to elephants, rhinos, giraffes and other wildlife. There are more than 8,500 plant species found here. Local people depend on the woodlands and natural resources for their livelihood.

The project is a jointly run in partnership with PELUM (Participatory Land Use Management), Farmers Support Programme (FOSUP), Green Living Movement (GLM) and WWF Zambia. It is coordinated by Self Help Africa - Development Fund Norway (SHADF) through a project called Environmental Movements in the South (EMiS).

The major environmental issues in southern Africa being experienced include loss of biodiversity, through unsustainable environmental practices.

Objectives

1. Contribute to an effective and empowered Zambian civil society which is able to support the rural poor to improve livelihoods and have a voice in creating an enabling environment.

2. Build competent and sustainable organisations able to improve livelihoods of the rural poor dependent on the natural resource base.

3. Improve knowledge base of environmental natural resource management by non-government organizations and community based organizations.

4. Conserve wetland and river catchments.

Solution

The project aims to strengthen environmental management capacity and advocacy of local NGOs. This will be done through SHADF and other partners through a joint programme for strengthening environmental policy advocacy. SHADF will facilitate the process through its Lusaka Office. The main themes the partners will be engaged in will include:

- Climate change
- Mitigation and adaptation
- Knowledge management and information dissemination
- Renewable energy
- Sustainable natural resources management
- Biodiversity conservation
- Sustainable agriculture
- Surface and underground water management
- Land use management
- Forest management
- Wetlands and wise use