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MDGF-1679: Enabling pastoral communities to adapt to climate change and restoring rangeland environments

PLEASE NOTE THIS CONCEPT NOTE IS THE ORIGINAL SUBMISSION TO THE FUND. IN MANY CASES INDICATIVE BUDGET AMOUNTS APPROVED BY THE STEERING COMMITTEE ARE CONSIDERABLY LOWER THAN THAT REQUESTED AND INDICATED HERE-IN. FINAL BUDGET AMOUNTS WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE AFTER APPROVAL OF THE FINALIZED DETAILED JOINT PROGRAMME DOCUMENT.
Thu, 2007/06/07 - 10:18am — Olla.Hassan@undp.org
Fri, 2007/06/08 - 8:44am
Thu, 2007/06/14 - 11:32am
Olla.Hassan@undp.org
English  (current)

ID: MDGF-1679

Environment and climate change
Round 1
(26/04/2007 - 31/12/2009)
Ethiopia
$7,843,600
36 Months
Enabling pastoral communities to adapt to climate change and restoring rangeland environments

Attached Documents:

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A. Applicant Information

Africa
  • Least Developed Country
  • Low Income Country
  • Low HDI, according to UNDP's 2006 Human Development Report
  • Fidele Sarassoro
  • rr.rc@undp.org
  • Joseph Oji
  • joseph.oji@undp.org
  • Girma Hailu
  • UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Assistant Resident Representative Programme
  • Girma.Hailu@undp.org
  • Strike Mkandla
  • UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme
  • Representative
  • smkandla@uneca.org
  • UNDP - United Nations Development Programme ($1,423,100)
  • WFP - World Food Programme ($1,916,000)
  • FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ($2,953,000)
  • UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme ($1,551,500)
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B. Concept Note

This joint programme will enable pastoral communities dependent on climate dependent livestock farming to better adapt to climate variability and climate change. This will be achieved through development and implementation of consolidated adaptation programme including alternative income generation opportunities; improving rangeland management; raising awareness of stakeholders on adaptation options; empowering pastoral communities to better participate in decision making related to their livelihoods and integrating these options in relevant plans and policies. This programme will involve the participation of pastoral communities, central and local government, civil society, private sector as well as several UN Agencies within the UNDAF framework, including FAO, UNEP,WFP and UNDP. The total cost of the joint programme is USD7,843,600 and will be implemented over a three year period. The programme will target communities in Afar, Somali, SNNPR and Oromia Regional states.

Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world with about 73 million people, primarily rural population surviving on subsistence agriculture and particularly vulnerable to Climate Change. Pastrolism constitutes a unique and important way of life for majority of the 12-15 million agro-pastrolists. The pastrolist areas are characterised by unpredictable and unstable climatic conditions as well as ecologically fragile ecosystems which is further stressed by rising populations. Frequent climate related calamities particularly drought, have been increasing in the recent past. The Plan for Acceleration and Sustained Development to End Poverty (PASDEP) represents the second phase of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Program. Overall the poverty headcount has declined from 44% in 1999/00 to 38% in 2004/5. It is projected that over the PASDEP period (2005/6-2009/10) the national poverty head count will further decrease to 29%. PASDEP contains a range of tailored program and policy responses specific to pastoralist areas and the communities with the key objective to improve pastoral livelihoods and asset base. This would be achieved through among others implementation of key elements such as management of rangelands and encouraging livelihood diversification and establishing micro financing institutions tailored according to pastoralist nature and character. The 2007-11 UNDAF has identified significantly strengthened capacities of government, communities and other stakeholders to respond to threats to livelihoods and enhancement of economic growth as major outcomes. The National Adapatation Plan of Adaptation (NAPA) prioritizes agriculture in adaptation strategy. There are various past and ongoing initiatives, which target the pastoralist communities implemented by government and other stakeholders. These include UN OCHA communication initiative whose overall goal is facilitate better understanding of pastoralists by decision makers. A World Bank funded Pastoral Community Development Project has three components; pastoral community planning and investment fund, disaster prevention and contingency, and project support and coordination services. USAID, various NGOs and the government are supporting various communities to recover looses caused by drought. USAID is implementing a Pastoral Livelihood Initiative and a project on Livelihood Enhancement for Agro Pastoralists, which are implemented through non-governmental organizations including VOCA, CARE USA, Save The Children USA, COOPI Italian ngo, WFP, Mercy Corps and Tufts University. FAO-Ethiopia is currently implementing a Sustainable Land Management Project in Kafa Zone, SNNPR that supports efforts on sustainable poverty reduction through protection and conservation of natural resources that stimulates policy dialogue on environmental priorities in Kafa Zone. UNDP is implementing the Mille Integrated Dry land Development project to support the improvement of pastoral livelihood in the Afar Regional State of Ethiopia. WFP's Managing Environmental Resources to Enable Transitions to More Sustainable Livelihoods (MERET) project is undertaking activities aimed at improving food security for the most vulnerable and in particular women headed households through a sustainable use of natural resources in the pastoral communities in Afar, Oromia, SNNPR and Somali regions. However none of the initiatives has implemented a comprehensive and consolidated project for reducing the vulnerability of pastoral communities to long term climate change. This joint programme, targeting the above-mentioned regions, provides a unique opportunity to pilot an innovative approach that can be replicated among various pastoral communities. The proposed programme is also in line with the priorities outlined in the Master Plan for Spanish Cooperation (2005-2008). Within the context of the Clean Development Mechanism the Federal Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is striving to prepare and implement integrated land use plans and sustainable utilization of natural resources at various levels. One of the focus areas of this activity is rangeland resources management at pastoralists level. EPA is of the opinion that the proposed program will minimise climate change induced problems faced by the pastoralists through the development and implementation of viable adaptation plan. The programme will compliment on-going initiatives. The proposed programme is in line with the strategies and priorities of EPA, especially to "Ethiopian Millennium Summit on Environment for Development".

The joint programme aims to improve the climate change resilience of pastoralist communities. To achieve this, four outcomes are envisioned as follows: pastoralist adaptation options enhanced; policy on mainstreaming adaptation options for pastoralists adopted; awareness on pastoral adaptation options raised; rangeland management improved; pastoral communities empowered to participate in the policy decision making processes. The programme will be implemented in the pastoral communities in the Afar, SNNPR, Somali and Oromia regions where the environment is conducive as there are minimal conflicts among the communities. Notably where relevant, the programme will use and enhance indigenous knowledge in conflict resolution and resources management. Outcome 1.1 Pastoralists adaptation options enhanced The first step towards achieving this outcome will involve an evaluation of climate change impacts on the pastoral communities. An assessment of various adaptation options will be done leading to development of a toolkit for such options including a woreda (district) level environment management plan. A training programme for the pastoral community will also be required to efficiently implement the adaptation options (including business management). It is envisaged that this will include diversification of pastoral livelihood sources towards which support mechanisms in form of cooperative financing scheme and a business plan on commercial use of prosopis will be developed. Support will be provided to the pastoral communities to enable them establish SMEs to trade in products from prosopis, mainly furniture, carvings and charcoal. A specific pastoral women-focused income generation and enterprise development scheme will be established. These outcomes ensure that the pastoral communities manage their herds in sustainable manner with minimal impact on the environment which they depend on as well generate income from other alternative besides livestock and hence reducing their poverty levels and dependence on livestock. Outcome 1.2 Policy on mainstreaming adaptation options for pastoralists adopted. Based on the results associated with outcome 1.1, a training programme on pastoral communities adaptation options for policy and decision makers in government, NGOs, UN and donor agencies, will be developed and conducted to assist them in integrating these options in development plans, programmes and initiatives. This should result in a policy document for which guidelines will be developed to ensure the mainstreaming of pastoral community adaptation options. Outcome 1.3 Awareness on pastoral adaptation options raised. To facilitate widespread adoption of pastoral adaptation options, a communication strategy and tools, will be developed to raise the awareness among local stakeholders (communities, local government and civil society, etc.) of the importance of this process and the challenges associated with it. This will contribute towards increasing resilience of pastoral communities to climate change. Outcome 1.4 Rangeland management improved The outputs are a rangeland rehabilitation programme (e.g. rangeland mapping, rainfall multipliers, gulley treatment, area closure implemented through community participatory planning approaches) and an implementation strategy of this programme. Outcome 1.5 Pastoral communities empowered to participate in the policy decision-making processes This will entail establishing forums conducive for pastoral communities to effectively communicate their needs and issues to authorities and decision makers. An information community strategy will be developed to ensure they are well informed and in timely manner on decisions by policy makers and other stakeholders on decisions likely to affect them and their sustainable development. These outputs would ensure that locally grown solutions are integrated in decisions that ultimately affect pastoral communities, hence ensuring cooperation of the communities, easy cultural transformation and sustainable development. B. Sustainability of Local/National Capacity The joint programme will rely on pastoral communities, local government and civil society organisations’ knowledge and experiences in developing adaptation options as well as to gather the relevant data. The programme will draw on the expertise developed through ongoing initiative relating to pastoral community development. In the development of the financing mechanisms the programme will use the experience gained by local microfinance initiatives. By empowering the pastoral community to better access and influence decision makers, the joint project will ensure the interests of the community are taken into account in the short and longer term.

This joint programme will be implemented among pastoral communities in the Afar, Oromia, SNNPR and Somali regions where they are accessible and full implementation of the programme is assured. The specific locations for the projects will be consulted with the Regional Governments. In addition the results can be easily replicated and scaled up in regions that have pastoral communities. The pastoral communities in this area are suffering significant poverty levels especially since their livelihoods are climate dependent. While various initiative to improve the survival of livestock, especially during the drought periods, have been undertaken increased effort and investment is needed to ensure these are sustainable. Assisting these communities and other stakeholders to adapt to climate change is therefore one of the ways to contribute to poverty reduction as well as to enhance environmental sustainability and reduce the economic risk associated with climate change. The programme has been jointly designed by UN Agencies and the Government of Ethiopia and will be implemented in partnership with the various levels of government, NGOs and local communities. It targets increasing resilience of pastoral communities to climate change through supporting implementation of various adaptation options including diversifying livelihood options particularly for women. Outcome 1.1 will be achieved mainly through the development of a screening tool for climate change impact analysis on livelihoods and adaptation of tools for evaluation pastoral adaptation options. This will lead to the design of the implementation programme for adaptation which is expected to encompass fooder banks, paddock systems and a management programme for prosopis. To enable the pastoral communities to adopt the adaptation options, a targeted training programme will be developed and conducted. In addition a business plan on use of prosopis and establishment of SMEs, with particular emphasis on supporting women entrepreneurs, will be prepared. To ensure the business is operated in a sustainable manner, the entrepreneurs will be trained on business management skills. Since communities generally lack the necessary capital to establish viable business, a cooperative financing scheme will be established. Given the minimal experience in establishing these prosopis, where such weed is prevalent, based businesses among pastoral community it will be necessary to support the entrepreneurs in accessing the market mainly in Addis Ababa but also export markets. Outcome 1.2 will be achieved through development and implementation of a training programme pastoral adaptation options for policy and decision makers in government, NGOs, UN and donors. To enable mainstreaming of policy of adaptation options for the pastoral communities, guidelines for relevant stakeholders will be prepared and a lobbying and advocacy strategy designed and conducted to push for adoption of the policy. Outcomes 1.3 will be achieved through the implementation of awareness raising activities, which entails the development of a communication strategy pastoral adaptation options and the associated communications tools and outreach activities. The experience from using the Child in Local Development (CHILD) approach will be used to make schools in pastoral areas centers for information and awareness creation on climate change and environment. Outcome 1.4 will be achieved through the establishment of a stocker/feeder programme through private and local cooperatives and supporting its implementation. Other activities will be designing and implementing strategies to protect the good and fair range from degradation and to upgrade the depleted range. The programme will also implement previously used rotational range use systems as a means to control the depletion. Outcome 1.5 will be achieved through analysing the prevailing community management structures as a basis for strengthening these. The communication mechanisms between the community and decision makers at all levels including NGOs, and UN agencies will be evaluated and then a strategic communication strategy which enables the pastoral communities to better access local authorities and the decision makers will be designed. Towards this the community ideas and suggestions of appropriate communication mechanisms will be sought through participatory forums. This will ensure that the community indigenous adaptation options and implementation strategies are taken into account. Local/National Capacity The joint programme will rely on communities, local government and NGOs’ knowledge and experiences on coping options to develop strategies, guidelines and approaches as well as to gather the relevant data. The programme will also draw on the expertise developed at all levels in implementation of pastoral orientated projects. Coordination UN involvement in the joint programme will be coordinated by the UN Country Team (UNCT). A Steering Committee will be formed comprising of relevant government ministries, UNCT, donors local authorities and key community leaders. This will be complimented by a technical committee that encompasses all stakeholders involved in the implementation process. Sustainability of Results Sustainability of results will be ensured through the Integration of adaptation options into policies and programmes, combined with systemic capacity development at local and national level. The adaptation options will be mainly based on existing practices (which have so far not been implemented in the consolidated approach proposed in this joint programme) and will require little external inputs as well as non-invasive change in existing practice. The contributions to poverty alleviation from the joint programme’s outcomes should provide a strong incentive to replication and continuation of such approaches in the future, both within and outside of the programme geographical area.

The Joint project M&E establishes a system of measurement of performance in order to effectively manage development results including outputs and outcomes as envisaged in the project document. M&E of nationally executed projects shall give appropriate emphasis to national ownership, management capacity of implementing agencies and sustainability. This pastoral coping mechanisms/livelihood enhancement project M&E is a joint responsibility of the Government executing and implementing agencies at federal and regional levels, beneficiary communities and UNCT partners. Depending on the selected priority areas in the four regional states of Afar, SNNPR, Somali and Oromia, a survey shall be undertaken to map out the state in which the ecology, social and institutions that affect the livelihood of the pastoral community exist. In turn, this information will form the baseline for determining the measurable outputs and outcome indicators. An integrated, resulted oriented and participatory system of mechanisms and specific activates with baseline and target indicators for monitoring and evaluating the project shall be defined at the formulation stage to be appropriately incorporated in the project document. 1.Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) will be an integral activity within all outcomes and will have a number of objectives: 1.1 Provide stakeholders and partners with information to measure progress; 1.2 Determine whether expected impacts have been achieved; 1.3 Provide timely feedback in order to ensure that problems are identified early in implementation and that appropriate actions are taken; 1.4 Assess the project's effectiveness in enhancing the coping mechanisms of the pastoral communities; 1.5 Evaluate the benefits accruing to the local communities; and 1.6 Track the level and quality of public participation in the affairs of the pastoral community. 2. The project will be implemented through an adaptive framework that feeds the findings of M&E into operational planning, thus enabling management strategies and activities to be adjusted as necessary. 3. A number of impact and progress indicators will be selected inline with the objective, outputs and outcomes. 4. The project M&E will include: 4.1 Independent, external evaluations as per the UNDP rules and regulations specifically to determine whether the set outputs/outcome are achievable; 4.2 Annual project review meetings that will be carried out jointly in each pastoral region covered in this project; and 4.3 Site-level monitoring of key ecological, social and institutional attributes associated with each output and outcome.

The proposed institutional arrangements for the Spanish MDGs Environment Fund are guided by two interlinked principles of ensuring timely and efficient delivery of services and maximizing of all national capacity. National execution will continue to be the primary mode of delivery. In the context of partnership and shared responsibility for this modality, the comparative advantages of both the Government and UNCT will be drawn on fully to serve clients in the field. A more flexible and wider application of the National execution guidelines to enhance delivery of programmes is expected to lead to (a) increased participation of the beneficiaries, NGOs, CBOs and the private sector in programme design, delivery and monitoring; (b) devolution of increased responsibilities for programme and financial management to the woreda levels, where the Spanish MDGs Environment Fund projects are implemented. The above efforts are also supported by interventions for capacity development for decentralized management at the woreda levels and NGO/CBO strengthening anticipated through the capacity building component built in the project. The UNCT harmoized delivery, monitoring and evaluation mechanism of United Nations programme in Ethiopia as envisaged in the UNDAF 2007-11 will be the modus operandi. UN agencies will manage specific components of the Pastoral Livelihood Joint project based on their respective mandates and areas of comparative advantage. UNDP will serve as the fund manager and coordinator liaising with Spanish MDGs Environment Fund for financial and project management purposes. Individual agencies will divide the responsibility of managing finances and programmatic delivery of the specific components such as FAO, WFP, UNEP and UNDP as per the output logframe, the details of which will be worked out during the inception planning phase. The UNCT shall establish a Steering Committee composed of relevant and key Government counterpart institutions including Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Water Resources, Federal Environment Protection Agency, Ministry of Federal Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Donors, key community leaders and UNCT to guide and monitor the project. To enhance impact through linkages and synergy, the Steering Committee shall work closely with existing pastoral initiatives in Ethiopia. To facilitate such work, the Steering Committee may be supported by technical sub committees established for specific purposes. UNDP and Ministry of Agriculuture and Rural Development shall serve as the co- secretary of the UNCT/Gov Steering Committee.

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C. MDG-Related Indicators

  • Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
  • Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
  • 1. Proportion of population below $1 (PPP) per day
  • 30. Proportion of population with sustainable access to an improved water source, urban and rural
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D. Formulation Advance

Yes
$20,000
UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
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E. Resident Coordinator's Undertakings

  • The Concept Note has been reviewed by the national government and the UN Country Team.
  • If approved by the MDG-F Steering Committee, the UN Participating Organizations undertake to submit a draft Joint Programme Document within eight weeks of notification.
  • All UN Participating Organizations have or will sign the global Memorandum of Understanding with the Multi-Donor Trust Fund Office.