On the occasion of the Twelve Conference of the Parties for United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

Ankara, Turkey

15th October 2015

1

AFRICAN LANDCARE NETWORK “Achieving Land Restoration through LandCare”

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

People and Natural Resources

African LandCare Network in a nutshell

Opportunities offered by ALN and overall LandCare Movement

Impact

Conclusion

2

NATURAL AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

• The survival of mankind is dependant on the effective, sustainable management and utilization of its natural resources thereby improving

on people’s health and well-being

• LandCare is a necessity as it provides for:-

Restoration of land to function again

AND makes provision for collective effort with

potential to cover large areas

• The most important element in NRM is when people have knowledge on how to manage their resources - it involve mind set-up and secure future

• Essentially research that involves people will bring greater results and benefits

3

SOUTH AFRICA LANDCARE APPROACH

4

No Care

LandCare

How is LandCare programme funding

High Social Need

High Economic Return

High agricultural Concern

Priority Funding Programme Intervention

5

JUNIOR CARE MODEL

• Awareness• Gardening• Nursery• Greening• Environmental camps

6

LANDCARE PROGRAMME CONTEXT The Goal is:

To support farmers and agricultural communities to optimise the productivity and the sustainable use of their

natural agricultural resources

Keeping in mind that:

The long term sustainability of food supply is dependant on the state of our natural resources, the

use thereof, applied technology and

the agricultural research capability

7

QUARTELY OUTPUT PERFOMANCE ON LANDCARE DURING APRIL 2012 TO MARCH 2013

8

QUARTELY OUTPUT PERFOMANCE ON LANDCARE DURING APRIL 2014 TO MARCH 2015

9

AFRICAN LANDCARE NETWORK - CONTEXT

• To build a network of country LandCare programmes as a general strategy to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa by:

• Promoting the LandCare approach, as a community-based approach to resolving many of the environmental problems, Inequalities and poverty issues that most African countries share.

• LandCare is a necessity as it provides for:-

Restoration of land to function again

AND makes provision for collective effort with

potential to cover large areas

10

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

11

International LandCare

Secretariat

Steering Committee

Co- chair (SA and ICRAF)

Country Coordinator(South Africa)

Country Coordinator(Kenya)

Country Coordinator(Uganda)

Country Coordinator(Tanzania)

Country Coordinator(Namibia

Country Coordinator(Swaziland )

Country Coordinator(Zimbabwe)

Country Coordinator(Malawi)

Country Coordinator(Zambia)

PURPOSE OF THE ALN IN RELATION TO LANDCARE OBJECTS

• Integrate LandCare into Africa-wide and sub-regional programmes.

• Facilitating access to and skills transfer through tertiary institutions and effective extension of research and development innovations.

• Providing capacity building to country members and other stakeholders with LandCare philosophies.

• Collecting and developing a database of LandCare success stories.

• Mobilizing financial resources to facilitate strategic investments in LandCare.

• Promoting partnership and creating buy-in among government structures for policy inclusion

12

ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE

• Governance document developed

• Draft communication strategy developed

• Hosted a number of Master class session i.e. Uganda and Malawi

• Participation in major events such as UNCCD.

• Hosting of annual meetings as part of SA Biennial conference.

• Leverage on S.A Funding to ALN to reach more countries.

13

HOW CAN INSTITUTIONS CONTRIBUTE TO LANDCARE MOVEMENT

• Limited Funding

• Support and strengthening of Countries to align activities with existing programmes

•Limited Human resources

•Most work is based on volunteerism and country coordinators.

•Up scaling of Junior LandCare Programme and out of school Youth employment through restoration of land and exchange programmes

14

CONCLUSION

The Landcare movement provides opportunities to: Adress the SDG goal 15 (3) and serve as catalyser for community development Collectively attract a substantial increase in funding

• Government• Private sector• International organisations

Up scaling natural agricultural resources management strategies• By the farming community• Long-term and outcome based approach• Facilitate other opportunities needed by communities through:

» Skills transfer and exchange programmes » Capacity development – Master Class» Research – shared approaches and methodologies to combat land degradation

15

“You too, may partner with LandCarers to make a difference”

Thank You!!

16