The role of participatory learning and action approaches in integrated conservation and development projects
Publication
1996
Authors
Ingles, A. W.
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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.
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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.
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The main implementing organizations are partners from the public and private sector and training centers in the countries.
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Gender transformative approach to promote women in fisheries and aquaculture
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Lions appear to have dispersed over 400km to Mpem-Djim National Park (MDNP), in the Centre Region of Cameroon, an almost miraculous natural reintroduction in a rainforest-savanna mosaic. Lions and people are both adapting, and several livestock depredation events have occurred and proved challenging. This project on saving the lions of the MDNP was achieved by combining surveys of the local population, information gathered by local authorities, calling stations and camera trap techniques. Sensitization has been done in the targeted villages, and the local communities have been capacitated in boma techniques using local material like dry straw, earth brick, and tarpaulin. Since the start of the project activities in the area, human lion conflicts have been reduced by about 65% and the local communities are increasingly becoming tolerant to the presence of lions in the area. A major lesson learnt is that the participative approach in project implementation remains the most effective approach.
From bare to cover: Kasale Community roll up sleeves to dress up the deforested Mvai Forest Reserve
In Ntcheu District, Malawi, a Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) project, supported by FAO, IUCN, WRI, GIZ and funded by BMUV, empowers local communities to conserve Mpira Dam Catchment. The catchment is essential for the ‘life ‘of Mpira Dam which is source of drinking water for Ntcheu as well as surrounding Districts. The catchment is source of rivers that feed into Mpira Dam. Mpira Catchment also harbors the famous Mvai Forest Reserve. The reserve is 5600 ha. The reserve is divided into five blocks for ease of management. However, the blocks got deforested through unsustainable practices such as charcoal making and farming. Through the Forest Landscape Restoration under the Alliance for the Restoration of Ecosystems and Landscapes in Africa AREECA, the blocks committees and surrounding communities were strengthened to manage the reserve at block level through natural regeneration. One such block is the Kasale community who embarked on a journey to conserve the Kasale Block of 1400 ha.
