Civil Society Involvement in Programme Implementation

The Nile Basin Initiative Micro-Grant Programme

by

NDABIRORERE Salvator

GEF-OFP BURUNDI

DOUALA, June 2008

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 Nile’s 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.

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).

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.

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 MGP’s 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.

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.

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.

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.

Key Actors and Funding Received

• 25 local NGOs have received grants from the MGP (of which 50 percent are women’s 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 US$75,000 per NGO through FFW.

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.).

Accomplishments

• Land protection and soil improvement:

o Construction of 8 ha of radical terraceso Delineation of 903 km of contour lines

• Forestry

o Production of 2 million forest seedlings (1,600 ha)o Production of 1 million agro-forestry seedlings

(800 ha)o Production of 26 000 fruit seedlings

Accomplishments (cont’d)

• 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.

Accomplishments (cont’d)

Livestock reconstitution:

• 50 milk cows

• 60 pigs

• 1,900 goats

were distributed to households via a Community Solidarity Chain

Constraints or Challenges Encountered

• Presence of several organizations requesting funding;

• Overall limited means;

• US$25,000 do not meet population’s expectations;

• Weakness of local organizations’ capacities for project formulation;

• Post-project management.

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.

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.

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

• PICTORIAL ILLUSTRATION OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES

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)

Soil Protection (cont’d)

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)

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

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)

Reforestation

Production of nearly 2 million forestry seedlings (2006-2007 period)

Top: Maintenance work at a nursery by the women’s group Dukingirikibira of Bugarama (Commune and Province of Muramvya)

Top: Nursery established by the Dusanurivyasambutse Association of Mubaragaza (Commune of Mutumba, Province of Karuzi)

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)

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)

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)

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 )

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)

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

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)

Monitoring and Support of Field Activities by the NSC

Thank you very much