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Kajiado County Natural Resource Network: Improved Planning, Awareness and Scale-Up of FLR among communities
The Kajiado County Natural Resource Network (KCNRN) exemplifies a governance-led approach to scaling Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR). Registered in June 2022, the KCNRN unites over 25 member organizations under a shared framework for sustainable natural resource management. The network improves FLR outcomes through strategic planning, raising public awareness, and enabling collaboration among local actors, government institutions, and private partners. The network’s focus areas include wildlife, agriculture, rangelands, and community engagement, with an emphasis on sustainable land use and cross-sectoral learning. Innovative initiatives, like “Miti Festival,” highlight the network’s success in mobilizing resources and fostering public participation. This solution was implemented by WWF under the AREECA project, a Consortium financed by BMUV and composed of AUDA-NEPAD, FAO, GIZ, IUCN, the World Bank, and WRI. KCNRN’s strategic planning, financial policy, and governance structure provide a replicable model for scaling FLR.
Farmer Field Schools demonstrating conservation agriculture with trees to scale up soil conservation
In Ntcheu District, Malawi, a Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) project, supported by FAO, IUCN, WRI, GIZ and funded by BMUV, empowers local communities through Farmer Field Schools (FFS). Addressing challenges such as low community engagement, unsustainable land use, and economic pressures, the project leverages local leaders and lead farmers to build capacity and ownership of restoration practices. FFS blends traditional knowledge with sustainable techniques, demonstrating economic and environmental benefits that align with community needs. By providing hands-on training in agroforestry and soil conservation, FFS increases yields and offers alternative incomes, reducing reliance on deforestation-driven practices. Through strong support systems, continuous monitoring, and strategic alignment with local socio-economic goals, the project creates a replicable, resilient model that fosters both ecological restoration and socio-economic growth, enhancing resilience against climate impacts and safeguarding vital water resources.
SME Training and Coaching Loop to support small and medium enterprises
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are considered an engine for economic and social development. However, framework conditions for their development are often unfavorable and support is not tailored to the context and situation of the individual enterprise.
The SME Loop responds to this need. It is a combined training and coaching approach and aims to enhance competitiveness, income, and the demand for labor. The SME Loop consists of seven phases and is implemented over a six-to-nine-month time span. After their selection, entrepreneurs follow two alternating classroom business trainings and several individual coaching sessions on business analysis, strategy formulation and business linkages among others. The SME Loop was recently adapted to the specific need of women led enterprises, start-ups and social enterprises.
More information and training material is available on the website of the International SME Loop Association e.V. (sme-loop.com).
SME Training and Coaching Loop
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are considered an engine for economic and social development. However, framework conditions for their development are often unfavorable and support is not tailored to the context and situation of the individual enterprise. Responding to this need, the SME Loop approach was developed, refined and scaled up by different projects implemented by GIZ and financed by BMZ. The SME Loop is a combined training and coaching approach. It aims at increasing competitiveness, generating income and boosting the demand for labour. The SME Loop is implemented over a six to nine month time span. It consists of seven phases of alternating individual coaching sessions and class-room business training. Service providers, financial institutions, political partners and other relevant actors have been associated during different stages of implementation to insure the sustainability of the achieved impacts.
Farmer business school (FBS): Entrepreneurship training to understand agriculture as a business.
Micro, small, and medium agribusiness enterprises provide incomes, jobs and feed the growing population. However, entrepreneurship, despite its importance to empower farmers for business and equitable participation in sustainable economic growth, remains a marginalized field. The FBS approach has been developed by GIZ in 2010 together with partners and with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) as well as the World Cocoa Foundation. FBS training strengthens agricultural smallholders’ business skills for more income from diversified production. During five subsequent morning sessions, male and female producers discover that agriculture
is business and how to improve it. Different public and/or private stakeholders pool resources to implement FBS training. By doing so they reduce risks of business and open access to a wider range of services and new business opportunities. In practice, FBS complements agricultural extension and financial services.
Training for Post Harvest Loss (PHL) Reduction
More than 30% of the world’s food is lost between the field and the plate, which threatens food security. PHL have been addressed in almost all country packages of the Green Innovation Centers. In 2020, a so-called “PHL Booster” has been launched in 8 country packages targeting various value chains. Women play a major role in post-harvest activities and are specifically targeted. The post-harvest management (PHM) is generally part of training approaches on Good Agricultural Practices and Farmer Business School. However, specific training material has been elaborated in some countries. The training not only refers to technical solutions, but also assesses the perceptions of stakeholders along the whole value chain and identifies critical loss points to locate the most effective entry points for successful interventions.
The main implementing organizations are partners from the public and private sector and training centers in the countries.
Adapting to climate change: Innovative techniques in the smallholder aquaculture sector
In response to challenges faced by small-scale aquaculture farmers due to climate change, the Global Programme Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (GP Fish), implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), developed adaptation strategies for the sub-sector to mitigate these impacts. These strategies include the intermittent harvest method, the implementation of agroforestry practices, and digital climate information systems.
Multi-Stakeholder Engagement for Improved Management of the Mvai Forest Reserve in Ntcheu District, Malawi
The AREECA project addresses severe encroachment and degradation in Mvai Forest Reserve, Malawi, to protect vital natural resources. A multi-stakeholder approach, initatiated by FAO and IUCN, was used to tackle encroachment drivers, including firewood collection, charcoal production, and farming expansion, which threaten Mvai’s ecosystem and the Mpira Dam’s water supply. Key interventions involved degradation mapping to assess impacted areas, the establishment of a Chief’s Forum to coordinate governance, the formulation of stricter by-laws with local enforcement, and demarcation of reserve boundaries with community input. Additionally, woodlot creation and alternative livelihoods such as banana, pineapple, livestock farming and bee keeping were introduced to reduce pressure on the forest. This collaborative approach, involving local chiefs, government bodies, and surrounding communities, has led to a reduction in encroachment and provided sustainable economic alternatives.
Reviving High Quality Coffee to Stimulate Climate Adaptation in Smallholder Farming Communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda
The burgeoning specialty coffee sector in DRC offers a compelling example of how regenerative agricultural practices can enhance both environmental sustainability and market value. By focusing on producing high-quality coffee and implementing improved farming techniques, Congolese coffee farmers are tapping into a growing global demand for ethically sourced specialty coffee. Higher product standards command premium prices and contribute to increased economic resilience within local communities.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) funded a partnership between the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Nespresso, and TechnoServe through this project. Through Nespresso’s AAA Sustainable quality program, the project supported the sustainability of smallholder coffee farming households in South Kivu, DRC, while working to restore and revitalize degraded natural environments. Nespresso, TechnoServe, and DRC coffee farmers and cooperatives have partnered since 2019.
Site-level tool for identifying other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) : first edition (Khmer version)
Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) are sites outside protected areas that deliver effective and long-term in situ conservation of biodiversity. Biodiversity conservation may be the primary objective of the site, a secondary objective of a site that is managed for other purposes, or it may be an unintended consequence of the way the site is managed. OECMs may be governed and managed by governments, private entities or Indigenous peoples and local communities, or a combination of these. This tool guides an assessor through three steps to apply eight criteria which determine if a site qualifies as an OECM as set out under the Convention on Biological Diversity. For sites which do not currently meet all the criteria, the tool serves to highlight areas where further information or improvements in governance and management are required.
General guidelines for surveillance of diseases, pathogens and toxic agents in free-ranging wildlife : first edition
This document provides broad guidance on surveillance of infectious and non-infectious wildlife diseases, pathogens and toxic agents to assist in the implementation of a national surveillance programme for free-ranging wildlife. It is intended to promote a common understanding, which can serve as a foundation for training and operational procedures. While this guidance is geared to surveillance of free-ranging wildlife (whether in spaces managed by the public or private sector), much of the information is also generally applicable to (though not comprehensive for) wild animals in captive settings.