Natural Resource Management and Governance

We work to ensure stakeholders from communities, government, civil society and disadvantaged groups gain the skills and abilities needed to better manage and sustainably utilize their natural resources.

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pact 1828 L street nw • suite 300

washington, dc 20036 202.466.5666 • pactworld.org

info@pactworld.org

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How We Work At the intersection of where governance and natural resource management meet, Pact works to strengthen the frameworks, laws and policies and incentive mechanisms of the various institutions that together compose the system of governance or control over natural resources. The process involves bringing all stakeholders together, providing access to information, enabling communities with the capacity to plan, setting expectations of responsible leadership and creating space for participation and collaboration with the objective of realigning the power structure around NRM. This supports the movement towards transparency, accountability, effectiveness and environmental justice. We believe in a “people first” approach to natural resource management, and in doing so, Pact utilizes a variety of

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What We Do Pact works with communities, institutions and governments to responsibly conserve, sustain and manage natural resources, enabling systemic solutions that allow those who are poor and marginalized to take part in the benefits that nature provides. Pact accomplishes this by strengthening local capacity, forging effective systems for the governance of forests and natural resources, and strengthening nature-based enterprises for development. Our efforts encourage ecological resiliency, improved and stable governance and local economic development compatible with landscape level conservation. We link conservation to livelihoods, governance, knowledge management, conflict resolution, equity and the strengthening of local, regional and national institutions.

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governance approaches in order to cultivate sustainable change. Within the governance realm, Pact regularly engages in elements of peace building, advocacy, participatory land use planning/management, accountability and transparency, and media engagement. Pact also works to build Climate Change resiliency into our NRM interventions, taking into account the importance of adaptation to changing conditions, as well as strategies to help prevent or lessen the emission of greenhouse gases contributing to climate change. Pact achieves this by addressing vulnerabilities among communities to the impacts of climate change, and by assisting local authorities and working with government to plan for adapting to climate change in a participatory and sustainable manner. Why it’s Effective Pact recognizes that successful natural resource management and conservation places individuals at the center of their own solutions, empowering them to be the drivers of change in their lives, while working with governmental authorities to remove institutional barriers which may inhibit sustainable natural resource management.

CASE IN POINT: KENYA AND ETHIOPIA

Pact’s Constructive Dialogue Initiative (CDI) program in Ethiopia worked to support government organizations, civil society organizations and community initiatives to enhance Government-civil society collaboration, increase access to relevant information and increase effectiveness of conflict management policies and practices. CDI also worked with communities and local government to facilitate participatory forest management (PFM) and land use planning, and supported capacity building activities with civil society organizations so that they could adapt and comply with the new Civil Society Organization (CSO) law. Additionally, CDI supported key partners such as the Ministry of Federal Affairs and seven universities in capacity building and technical assistance.

For More Information Shari Bush Director, Natural Resource Management sbush@pactworld.org Marc Cassidy Director, Governance mcassidy@pactworld.org

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The Environment and Natural Resources Management (ENRM) component under the Kenyan Civil Society Strengthening Project (KCSSP) was implemented with the overall purpose of deepening impacts of conservation organizations by enhancing their capacity to improve conservation of biodiversity through promotion of Nature Based Enterprises through grant making. Over 40 sub-grants were issued to about 27 organizations to implement projects across five landscapes namely: Amboseli/Tsavo, Western Mt. Kenya landscape, Nakuru/Naivasha, Kakamega Forests, and Kiunga, Boni and Dondori landscape/ecosystem. This is in addition to support provided to four national level advocacy organizations and one regional advocacy organization working to influence policy changes in the sectors of Forestry and Wildlife management and conservation, Fisheries, Climate Change and Tourism.