| Overview : The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry (MECTHI), with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), developed a project to mitigate development challenges associated with biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, and climate change consequences. The project is entitled “Strengthening Biodiversity and Ecosystems Management and Climate-Smart Landscapes in the Mid to Lower Zambezi Region of Zimbabwe”, also known as the “Zambezi Valley Biodiversity Project (ZVBP)”. The challenges to be addressed include, poaching and illegal wildlife trade, human wildlife conflicts and retaliatory killings, deforestation, and climate change consequences (droughts, floods, increased frequency of veld fires) in the Mid to Lower Zambezi Area of Zimbabwe. ZVBP overall objective is to promote an integrated landscape approach to managing wildlife resources, carbon and ecosystem services in the face of climate change in protected areas and community lands of the Mid to Lower Zambezi Areas of Zimbabwe. The Project has four components, and these are (1) Strengthening capacity and governance frameworks for integrated wildlife and forest management and wildlife and forest crime enforcement in Zimbabwe; (2) Strengthening Zimbabwe’s Project Area estate and CAMPFIRE Wildlife Conservancies in areas of global Biodiversity significance; (3) Mainstreaming Biodiversity and Ecosystems management, and climate change mitigation, into the wider landscape; and (4) Knowledge Management, M&E and Gender Mainstreaming. ZVBP is being implemented under the National Implementation Modality (NIM) through which the MECTHI is the Implementing Partner (IP). There are three entities (Responsible Parties), that have been selected to act on behalf of the IP, to directly collaborate with project partners and local communities in delivering relevant project outputs. The Responsible Parties (RPs) are Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA), CAMPFIRE Association and Forestry Commission (FC). The Environmental Management Agency also works closely with all RPs to support and implement some of the project activities.
This Call for Proposals (CfP) is for projects to be implemented in Muzarabani District, focusing on components 1 or 3 of the ZVBP. Through this CfP, UNDP is inviting interested NGOs/CBOs to develop proposals for innovative projects towards supporting either conservation awareness and education or sustainable livelihood activities on community based Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), Sustainable Land Management (SLM) and Human Wildlife Conflict (HWC) Management in Muzarabani. The focus should be on any one of the following thematic areas:
• Thematic area 1 -Awareness and Education: Awareness campaigns targeting Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT), deforestation and climate change adaptation and mitigation. This thematic area contributes to output 1.6 of the ZVBP
• Thematic Area 2 - Livelihood Enhancement: Sustainable livelihood activities that contribute directly to community based SFM, SLM and HWC management outcomes. This thematic area contributes to output 3.2 of the ZVBP
2. RATIONALE
The ZVBP baseline findings revealed that in the Zimbabwean context there is a great reliance on natural resources as coping mechanisms such that natural resources in the communal lands and protected areas become the next available sources of income and this has resulted in increased pressure on natural resources. There is increased illegal activities (wildlife, forest crimes) and the subsequent depletion of natural resources as communities seek to earn a living through these natural resources. In areas of high wildlife populations, there is greater interaction between people and wild animals resulting in conflicts as animals raid crops and attack livestock further affecting already strained livelihoods. Protected areas and rural communities are in the same landscape and require coordinated planning and implementation to avoid displacement pressure that manifests in the outlined challenges. Zimbabwe’s vast natural resources provide a basis for social and economic transformation. However, the challenges of deforestation, land degradation and biodiversity loss are not only enhanced by high levels of poverty, but also directly affect the livelihoods of local communities negatively. Deforestation due to conversion to agriculture and firewood harvesting for domestic uses are very serious
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issues for Muzarabani District. Poaching, IWT, climate change, deforestation and land degradation are significant threats towards the attainment of the country’s priority Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (goal 2 on zero hunger, goal 5 gender equality, goal 6 clean water and sanitation, goal 7 affordable and clean energy, goal 13 climate action) as well as other SDGS (goal 1 no poverty, goal 10 reduced inequalities, goal 12 responsible consumption and production, and goal 15 life on land).
Muzarabani district is divided into two geographical locations (upper and lower Muzarabani), which present different vegetation types mainly due to variations in altitude, soils and rainfall. The lower Muzarabani landscape, which borders Mavhuradonha Wilderness to the north is largely region IV, which receives 450-650mm of rainfall annually. The project baseline identified opportunities for sustainable livelihoods through commercialization of non-timber forest products such as Masau, Baobab, Ilala, Marula and Honey in Muzarabani district. The study noted that Hyphaene pertesiana (Ilala palm) is abundant in the eastern part of lower Muzarabani particularly in ward 27. Sclerocarya birrea (Marula) is available in most of the areas covered by the study. The Marula fruits have limited use in Muzarabani with most of the fruits being consumed by wild animals such as baboons and elephants. The baseline observed that out of 21 potential activities in Muzarabani, most of the community members on average rely on two to three livelihood activities.
The ZVBP has a small grants window for NGOs and CBOs, focusing on Component 1, output 1.6 and Component 3, Outputs 3.2 of the ZVBP. This Call for proposals is therefore founded on these two (2) outputs, which are (i) project area awareness campaigns targeting IWT, deforestation and climate change adaptation and mitigation and (ii) livelihood activities on community based SFM, SLM and HWC management. UNDP and MECTHI are committed to implementing the small grants projects through local NGOs/CBOs because these are locally rooted institutions that have great potential in promoting sustainable community development. This is also an opportunity to strengthen capacities of local NGOs/CBOs in delivering results for locally owned development project activities. International NGOs can also apply.
3. PURPOSE OF THIS CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS
The objective of this Call for Proposals is to invite NGOs and CBOs to submit proposals for innovative projects to be implemented in Muzarabani on any one of the following thematic areas:
1. Conservation Awareness and Education: Project area awareness projects targeting Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT), deforestation and climate change adaptation and mitigation
Under this thematic area, applicants are being invited to submit project proposals that have innovative project approaches for conservation awareness and education. The ZVBP project seeks to pilot new innovations, technologies, and methodologies that are more effective and transformative in promoting conservation awareness and education in the project area.
Some of the recommended activities for thematic area 1:
• Support of environmental clubs, education camps and Climate Smart Gardens for school children living in the target conservancies and adjacent areas to PA estate.
• Publication of brochures and booklets for local communities on criminal and administrative responsibilities and penalties for poaching, wildlife trafficking, illegal logging and mining.
• Publications of best practices and success stories on CBWM, Sustainable Land Management, Climate Smart Agriculture and Sustainable Forest Use.
• Involvement of traditional leaders and chiefs in outreach programmes for local communities on sustainable wildlife and forest use.
• Regular publication in local newspapers news on the project progress and activities.
• Radio and TV translation of interviews with environmental and conservation leaders.
• Targeted environmental education programme for government officials of RDCs in the project area.
• HWC prevention tools and strategies
• Innovation to implement awareness activities whilst adhering to Covid-19 guidelines |
