Lessons Learnt in Implementation of a Lessons Learnt in Implementation of a Multi-Country (Regional) UNEP/GEF Multi-Country (Regional) UNEP/GEF Desert Margins Programme (DMP)Desert Margins Programme (DMP)

Mohamed F. Sessay

UNEP/GEF

Summary Description of DMPSummary Description of DMP

DMP is a six year, 3 phased (2 years/phase) project

Aims: to arrest land degradation in Africa’s desert margins by specifically addressing: loss of biodiversity, reduced sequestration of carbon, and increased soil erosion and sedimentation associated with land degradation in drylands

Goal: to conserve and restore biodiversity in the desert margins (drylands) through sustainable utilization

Objective (Purpose): to develop and implement strategies for conservation, restoration and sustainable use of drylands biodiversity (to enhance ecosystem functions and resilience).

A Multi-dimensional PartnershipA Multi-dimensional Partnership

Participating countries: Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe (southern Africa); Kenya (eastern Africa) and Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Senegal (western Africa)

Participating Institutions: ICRISAT (EA) in partnership with NARs (KARI, DRFN, ARCZ, INRAN, INRAS, University of Botswana, North West University, South Africa, etc.); CGIAR/IARCs (ICRISAT, ICRAF, IFDC, CIAT/TSBF, ILRI), ARIs (CIRAD, CEH, IRD), Sub-regional Organization (CORAF for western Africa, SADC/SACCAR for southern Africa and ASARECA for eastern Africa) Plus UN (UNEP & UNDP as GEF IAs)

Project Cost & FinancingProject Cost & Financing

Target Population: 120 million people with some of the highest population growth rates in the world (NB: one-third of World’s 6 billion people live in drylands)

Livelihoods of population: rain-fed agriculture and natural rangelands, particularly vulnerable to climate change and impact on food security

Project Cost and Financing: Total cost 49.5m of which GEF US$ 16m and cash and in-kind co-finance of US$ 33.5m from governments and development partners

High

Low

Non-degraded

DMP member countries

DMP potential countries

Land degradation severity in desert margins of SSA

DMP Outputs and ComponentsDMP Outputs and Components

Ecological Monitoring and Assessment: for improved understanding of ecosystems status and dynamics with regard to loss of biodiversity

Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use: strategies for conservation, restoration and sustainable use of degraded ecosystems developed and implemented

Sub-regional, National and Local Capacity Building: capacity of stakeholder and target populations enhanced

Alternative Livelihoods: alternative livelihood systems tested and promoted

Outputs and Components (Continued)Outputs and Components (Continued)

Policy and Legal Framework: sound policy interventions/guidelines for sustainable resource use formulated, adopted and implemented

Extension of Sustainable Natural Resource Management: participatory NRM methods are implemented

Stakeholder Participation: the target populations are involved at each stage of the project cycle

Challenges at Start of ImplementationChallenges at Start of Implementation

Multi-Country, Bilingual and Geographical Coverage: of project and implications for coordination and communication

Management at regional and national levels: EA and other CGIAR institution with primary focus on research, IARCs also research, NARS with limited capacity and embedded in government structures and bureaucracy

Financial: routine monitoring of disbursement, ensuring that counterpart contribution is fully committed, received and deployed on time

Challenges (Continued)Challenges (Continued)

Monitoring Implementation: location of UNEP (GEF IA) in Nairobi, and EA’s HQ in India with Regional Office (RCU) in Niger , sub-office in Bulawayo, plus NARs

Beneficiaries: not homogenous group; bringing on board as owners/partners within reasonably short time

Weak Extension Services: in countries but especially in drylands (perception of harsh environment not conducive for attracting the best nationally)

Opportunities DMP PresentsOpportunities DMP Presents

UNEP & GEF Flagship Project: of fight against land degradation and desertification and biodiversity conservation and enhanced livelihoods in marginal areas (raison d’etres).

DMP a multidimensional partnership: that exists to pull resources and help partners build expertise to achieve positive impact on the ground in a cost-effective manner

Recognizes the synergies that exist among various stakeholders and systematically using these for mutual benefit

Builds on existing NAP of UNCCD, formulate and pilot appropriate sustainable solutions

Lessons Learnt during Implementation of Lessons Learnt during Implementation of DMPDMP

Strong Project Management at regional, sub-regional – (a) GCU (b) Adequate and timely financial flow to partners

Research is paramount but must be complemented with strong extension and should support livelihoods of target population (if impact is to be sustained)

Up scaling of proven technologies and sharing of best practices between sub-regions and with others should be fast tracked.

Lessons Learnt (Continued) Lessons Learnt (Continued)

Linkages with policy is important and must be promoted in order to achieve up-scaling. Constant dialogue with policy and decision-makers is a prerequisite

Improvements of livelihoods (provision of alternative livelihoods) of local population is both an entry point for project and also guarantees sustainability of project impacts

To look out for and take advantage of new emerging opportunities (whether new resources, technology/best practices, partnerships, etc.)

Lessons Learnt (Continued)Lessons Learnt (Continued)

Capacity Building of Stakeholders/ Beneficiaries as well as project personnel should be given high priority. Advanced training linked to project activities and impacts sought to create a pool of professionals at national level

Priority to identifying and making use of indigenous (local) knowledge and expertise and including that as integral part of capacity building

Documenting and reporting of experiences for validation, sharing and accountability should be high priority

Lessons Learnt (Continued)Lessons Learnt (Continued)

Personal fulfillment – time committed is extremely high but with deep commitment the reward is equally satisfying and that is seeing positive impact on the ground

An example of A Sahelian Eco-Farm

Micro-doses of mineral fertilizer

Problem:• Declining soil fertility -> declining yields• Low or negative economical return of standard doses of mineral fertilizer on rainfed crops• Access to fertilizer

Solution:Micro-doses of mineral fertilizer (NPK or DAP) double yields on deficient soils minimize risk trigger a positive snowball effect on production system OM (livestock, wind erosion control through mulching)

Thank you

for

your attention