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Lake Jipe Conservation Initiative: Coordination of the UNDP/GEF/SGP supported projects, Taveta Division, Taita Taveta District
2. Implementer:
East African Wildlife Society (EAWLS)
3. Location:
Taveta Division, Taita Taveta District, Coast Province
4.
Problem statement:
Recent climatic changes coupled with human activities such as irrigation,
deforestation and diversion in the area leading to siltation of the river
mouth, the inflow has been drastically reduced leading to a multiplied
effect on both the ecology of the ecosystem and the socio-economy of the
area.
5.
Start date and duration of project:
July 2004 for a duration of two years
6.
Contribution from community:
The community members who are cosmopolitan in nature are all contributing
positively towards the restoration efforts. The communities are directly
involved in the activities in particular Afforestation efforts, desilting
the river course and canals, water harvesting and awareness creation.
7.
Project objectives:
The main objective of the project is to enhance the restoration of the
Lake Jipe/River Lumi ecosytstem through various community interventions.
8. Project activities:
As of July 2004 the East African Wild Life Society has been undertaking the coordination of the UNDP/GEF/SGP supported projects under the Lake Jipe Conservation Initiative. The specific tasks that the EAWLS was expected to undertake within the period between July to December 2004 are as follows:
1. The collection of baseline information the Lake Jipe/River Lumi Ecosystem.
2. Organise and facilitate the first Lake Jipe stakeholder’s workshop.
3. Develop a site strategy for implementation of interventions in collaboration with UNDP/GEF/SGP using polished results from the baseline survey and stakeholders workshop.
4. Aid the NGOs and CBOs to revise project proposals according to the results of the site strategy ready for screening by the UNDP/GEF/SGP secretariat.
5. Facilitate EIAs for the selected proposed projects and actions.
6. Organise and facilitate the second stakeholder’s workshop with selected implementing NGOs and CBOs to map out implementation of respective projects.
After which the EAWLS is expected to carry out some activities under the implementation stage that runs till June 2006. These activities are:
- Facilitate monthly meetings for project execution
- Peer monitoring and evaluation
- Submission by CBOs/NGOs of quarterly reports (technical/financial) to EAWLS.
- Publicity using brochures, newspaper supplementarys and posters.
- Enhancing organizational capacity of the CBOs/NGOs through mentoring.
- Facilitate discussions with transboundary stakeholders on the formulation of a management plan.
- Documentation through photography and video coverage.
Each
of the selected CBOs and NGO has specific project components, which the
EAWLS has been coordinating.
The following are the selected CBOs and NGO and their respective components:
- Njoro Springs conservation and protection-Reu Reu Environmental CBO
- Lumi river bank stabilization-Lumi River Rehabilitation Work Group
- Agro forestry- Jipe Farmers Association
- Household water pans, communal water pans and check dams- Jipe Lake Youth Group
- Fish pond rehabilitation-TRUE- Kenya
- Grogan canal rehabilitation- Lumi Farmers Group
- Community advocacy and governance – Tugurane Women’s Group
9. Number of people to benefit:
The whole population of Taveta District both indirectly and directly.
10. Livelihood benefits:
- Increased income from the fishing industry and tourism
- Improved quality of life
- Poverty reduction in the area
11. Capacity development for the community:
- Increased awareness and appreciation of the natural resources
- Proper management of the natural resources
- Increased awareness of natural resource management policies
- Organizational
capacity strengthened
12.
Sustainability plan:
The sustainability of the initiative depends on the establishment of a
Transboundary Lake Management Plan. One of the project activities is to
initiate transboundary discussions, which will eventually lead to the
formulation of a management plan.
Contact
us:
Project Coordinator
Raphael Omondi
Project Assistant
Joy Juma joy@eawildlife.org