KAZA UPDATE

UNCLAS GABORONE 000720 DEPT FOR OES/PCI, OES/ETC, OES/FO, OES/ENV DEPT FOR AF/S, AF/EPS AND EEB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV ECON EAID WA ZA BC SUBJECT: KAZA UPDATE ¶1. Summary. The U.S. State Department and USAID provide technical and financial support to the development of a consultation framework of the 5-nation Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA-TFCA) Initiative. The conceptualization and planning for this began in 2006 with Botswana, which received the mandate from the other members to sensitize donors and community-level stakeholders about KAZA and potential impacts for the region. These efforts culminated in a practitioner's workshop convened April 2008 in Botswana with the primary purpose of developing the consultation framework. In addition, Zambia launched June 18 in Livingstone and June 20 in Sioma Ngwezi its Integrated Development Plan (IDP) as part of its preparation for KAZA implementation. Attendees included senior national and local government officials, NGOS, and the private sector. A Namibian Tourism official informed REHO that KAZA implementation faced delays due to the shuffling of the KAZA portfolio between various departments. The KAZA Tech Committee met June 3-6 to map a way forward for KAZA implementation, one of its key responsibilities. Although progress on KAZA has been glacial, some movement has occurred. End Summary. Background -------------- ¶2. The five Southern African countries of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe signed December 7, 2006 at the Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe the MOU that formally launched the establishment of the KAZA TFCA. The proposed KAZA TFCA covers 278,000 square kilometers (i.e., 107,226 square miles) in a contiguous area of the five countries and 2.5 million inhabitants. It encompasses fourteen national parks and game reserves, as well as a large number of conservancies, game management areas and hunting concessions, including the Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls, the Kafue wetlands, and considerable tracts of riverine habitats along the Okavango and Zambezi Rivers and their tributaries. KAZA has the potential to become one of the greatest tourism developments in Africa. The creation of a significant new trans-frontier conservation and tourism development zone will seek to harmonize wildlife conservation and management, as well as tourism development and marketing, with major socio-economic development benefits to the five countries and the people resident in the zone. Practitioner's Workshop -------------- ¶3. Holding a practitioner's workshop was viewed by most stakeholders as critical to the process of developing a consultation framework for KAZA implementation. However, this could not happen before the KAZA Secretariat and KAZA Technical Committee became operational in order to obtain endorsement of the initiative by KAZA institutions. The practitioners advised on key elements of the initiative, drawing upon their collective expertise. The primary objectives of the workshop were to: a) identify mechanisms and strategies for stakeholder consultations at a local level; and b) identify roles for implementation of a pilot process of conducting consultations with community level stakeholders. The participants from the five KAZA countries included practitioners from non-government organizations (NGOs),community-based organizations (CBOs),and government officials, who were nominated in consultation with the Technical Committee members on account of their understanding of the issues and realities on the ground. ¶4. The Key Outputs of the workshop included: a)a set of principles that should form the foundation of any consultative process in the KAZA TFCA; b)a set of uniform messages regarding the KAZA TFCA to be shared at every site; c)an identification of stakeholders that will be important to consider throughout the consultation process; d) a set of activities that inform a consultative exercise throughout the KAZA TFCA; e)an action plan to be implemented at a pilot site based on all of the above, which can then be reviewed and improved upon before being rolled out to other sites within KAZA TFCA ; and f)a set of practical recommendations for the relevant authorities in taking this process forward. ¶5. In order to test the outcome of the workshop, the participants agreed on a pilot exercise as a follow-on activity, scheduled for later this year. The practitioners recommended the Mucusso Reserve in Angola as the pilot site due to: a) The KAZA Feasibility Study findings of a particular need for information in Angola; and b) The fact that the USAID-funded IRBM project has ongoing operations there. If Angola judges that a pilot exercise in Angola is not appropriate at this stage, the pilot may take place in another country following discussions with the Technical Committee of the alternate country and the U.S. State Department as the donor. ¶6. The workshop participants made recommendation that there be established community working groups under KAZA. Potential appropriate members of the community working group were identified through the process of selecting workshop participants. Involvement of some of the workshop participants in the community working group will allow for continuity. A role for the community working group was identified in the process of developing a consultative framework. This exercise can provide an opportunity for the community working group to focus on a task and to become actively involved in pertinent actions immediately. ¶7. As a way forward, the workshop agreed that, upon approval from the pilot country, and agreement on the roles and responsibilities relevant stakeholders, a six-month process will be initiated which would entail: a) meetings with a planning and implementation team; b) identification and analysis of stakeholders and institutional structures at the pilot site; c) development of information products for use in consultations; d)consultation with stakeholders); e)reporting on consultative products and processes; and f)review of the exercise and lessons learned to inform the roll-out to other sites. Zambia's Integrated Development Plan -------------- ¶8. The Zambian Minster of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (MTENR) Mr. Michael Kaiunga launched June 18 at the Royal Livingstone Golf Club in Livingstone and June 20 in Sioma Ngwezi its Integrated Development Plan (IDP) as part of its preparation for KAZA implementation. Among the attendees District Commissioners of Livingstone and Kazungula, Livingstone's Mayor, the Permanent Secretary for the Southern Province, the Director General of the Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) Dr. Saiwana, the Chairman of ZAWA Mr. Lisulo, Chief Sepute, Senior Chief Mukuni, the Chairman of the Zambian Tourist Board, the Chairman of the National Heritage Foundation, Chairman of the Environmental Council of Botswana, NGOS, including the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) and the Peace Park Foundation (PPF),the private sector (e.g., tour operators),the KAZA TFCA Coordinator and REHO. Speeches -------------- ¶9. Reading the remarks of the Minister of the Province, its Permanent Secretary (PS) reported that ZAWA had held many meetings since the December 2006 KAZA MOU signing at Victoria Falls with a view to designing a Zambian plan for KAZA implementation. He elaborated that meetings took place in the western and southern provinces with a wide array of stakeholders to seek their input in developing the plan. The PS marveled at the continuing growth in the building of infrastructure in the region, especially for the tourist industry. He concluded by observing the plan's launch represented the beginning of the Zambian component of KAZA. ¶10. In his speech, ZAWA's Director General Dr. Saiwana echoed the PS's remarks regarding ZAWA's multiplicity of meetings, especially with chairpersons and heads of various organizations, including NGOs. He revealed that ZAWA had worked on KAZA issues with the PPF. (Note: PPF not only prepared the KAZA Pre-feasibility Study for the KAZA members but also helped the Zambian Government develop its IDP. It also funds the KAZA Coordinator position in Botswana, currently held by Sedia Modise, who attended the IDP launch in Sioma Ngwezi. End Note). Saiwana said his organization did a lot of "sensitization" on the IDP in local communities because of their conviction that a people-centered approach to wildlife management and tourism is important. Moreover, this allowed ZAWA to inform the government of the people's needs and concerns. ¶11. Saiwana noted that in preparing the IDP, ZAWA worked with all levels of government to ensure compliance with Zambia's fifth National Development Plan. The IDP's three main focus areas are: i) reducing human-animal conflict; ii) enhancing income generation activities (e.g., bee keeping and tourism) and conservation; and iii) demonstrating the value of conservation as a viable land use option that is equitable. He stressed that the IDP represents the voice of the people reflecting on issues that matter to them. Saiwana then took the opportunity to reveal ZAWA's ongoing development plans for Sioma Ngwezi National Park, where six blocks will be put up for concessions. He thanked the PPF, the WWF, the German government (KFW) and other donors for their support of ZAWA, concluding as he accepted the IDP from PPF's Professor Van Riet that he was convinced that resources would be unlocked within the IDP area. This, he said, would mark step one in developing the region sustainably. ¶12. Chief Mukuni lauded ZAWA's participatory approach in developing the IDP, which he opined is a better document because of stakeholder input, especially during the ZAWA-sponsored National Experts Workshop. The Chief stressed that all partners, NGOS, donors, business, Community Trusts were responsible for the success of the IDP process. In closing, he opined that if the IDP were adhered to, the livelihood of communities would improve. ¶13. Minister Kaiunga began his remarks by revealing that the Ministers of Tourism for the five KAZA nations had held May 10 in South Africa an Indaba to promote KAZA. He also mentioned receiving a letter from the Botswanan Tourism Minister three days ago enquiring about Zambia's progress on KAZA. Becoming a bit somber, the Minister noted a rising concern about the effect the Zimbabwean situation could have on the progress of KAZA. He was thus "thankful for the IDP launch today." Kaiunga added that he was honored to have received the IDP, which reflects the voice of the people and provides the government a clear vision of development in line with Zambia's fifth National Development Plan. The IDP would thus help the government achieve its socioeconomic goals. He said the 2006 KAZA MOU signing reflected Zambia's commitment to regional integration. ¶14. Kaiunga also echoed Chief's Mukuni's extreme satisfaction with the stakeholder consultations that informed the IDP. He noted that the Kafue, Sioma Ngwezi and Mosi O Tunya National Parks are all included in the IDP assessment. He also commended the traditional leaders (i.e., chiefs) in the affected areas for their support and input, which are all reflected in the Plan. Kaiunga reiterated Saiwana's conviction that conservation would be proved to be a viable land-use option. He warned, however, that the IDP would not become a reality without the involvement of the private sector. This explains the government's policy of offering block concessions to develop ecotourism, which is predicated on public-private partnerships and a fair market value for any given endeavor. ¶15. Kaiunga used the opportunity to indicate the government's inability to properly manage Kafue National Park, which he said equals the size of Switzerland. So Zambia needs partners to co-manage Kafue. He also admitted that government need forge new policies to make Zambia competitive, which in turn will allow for the increased diversification of land use in its national parks. The Minister also alluded to complaints of local communities about human-animal conflicts and requests for solutions, all of which will fortunately be addressed in the IDP. He said communities will be taught how to live with wildlife and generate income such as bee keeping without destroying trees. Kaiunga also observed that the IDP would especially focus on intensive agriculture that would be irrigated by shared water resources. Finally, in signing and formally launching the IDP, the Minister thanked the donors, business and other stakeholders for attending this important event. Namibia's KAZA Preparations -------------- ¶16. In a June 13 meeting in Windhoek with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism's (MET) Merro Thaniseb from the Directorate of Tourism, REHO and CONOFF learned that Namibia's KAZA preparations have slowed considerably. Thaniseb explained that a key reason for this lay in the constant shuffling of KAZA responsibility from one department to the next. With distressing candor, Thaniseb admitted that since his office lost the KAZA portfolio, he did not know which Directorate (i.e., Scientific Services, or Parks and Wildlife Management) now handled KAZA issues. He mentioned that the KAZA Technical Committee held in Victoria falls (see below),where participants agreed that KAZA members should incorporate funding for KAZA in their nation budgets. Thansibeb intimated that Namibia is apparently the only one to have already done so. KAZA Technical Committee Meeting -------------- ¶17. The KAZA Technical Committee (TC) met June 3-6 to map a way forward for KAZA implementation, one of its key responsibilities. This, according to KAZA TFCA Coordinator Sedia Modise, who provided June 25 to REHO and USAID's Regional Water and Biodiversity Field Office an update on the Secretariat's activities. The TC discussed, inter alia, a financial sustainability strategy, Terms of Reference (TOR) for a Tourism Development Plan and IDPs, guidelines for Working Groups that are to be established to help the TC, a revised logo for KAZA, pledged and hoped-for donor support, and staffing for the Secretariat. Comment -------------- ¶18. It is fair to say that since the KAZA MOU signing in 2006 and the KAZA donor meeting in 2007, progress has been glacially slow. Nonetheless, there has indeed been some movement. The KAZA Secretariat and Technical Committee are now in operation (the former is still a one-person operation though) and can thus address KAZA issues that need to be brought to the attention of the Ministers of the member nations. The KAZA Technical Committee did meet earlier this month in Victoria Falls to discuss a way forward, and as noted above, Zambia launched its KAZA IDP. As the Pre-feasibility Study made clear and some Ministers echoed, KAZA implementation would be a long, complicated and painfully slow process. So far, they have been proven right. Drouin