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| What does CONASA stand for? | |
| CONASA stands for COmmunity-based NAtural resource management and Sustainable Agriculture. This acronym highlights the focus on agriculture and natural resource management as a strategy to improve rural livelihoods and conserve natural resources. | |
| What is CONASA and what are its goals? | |
| CONASA is, therefore, a project for community-based natural resources management in three game management areas (GMAs) in the southern region of Zambia. The twin goals of CONASA are: | |
to improve the welfare of
rural people in the project area, and |
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to ensure the
sustainability of natural resources for future generations. |
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| When did CONASA start? | |
| CONASA began operations in early 2001, and will continue to work with the communities in the three game management areas up until March 2005. | |
| Where is CONASA working? | |
| CONASA's area of operations is three Game Management Areas on the southern border of Kafue National Park: Mulobezi, Sichifulo, and Bbilili. | |
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CONASA has a head office in Longacres in Lusaka, a field office in Kalomo and a Conservation Service Center in Livingstone. |
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CONASA Area of Operation |
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Who is implementing CONASA? |
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| CONASA is being implemented by a consortium of experienced non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This exciting team approach allows CONASA to make use of interdisciplinary strategies for improving human welfare and managing natural resources. CARE international in Zambia is the primary agency and coordinates the various activities. The Wildlife Conservation Society and African Wildlife Foundation are the other two main NGOs involved. | |
| In addition to the core partners, there are several collaborating NGOs who will work with CONASA in very specific areas. These partners include TechnoServe, The World Conservation Union (IUCN), SAFIRE, US Peace Corps, German Development Service, Conservation Farming Unit, Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia, Wildlife Producers Association of Zambia, and the Zambia Technical Assistance Center (ZATAC). | |
| CONASA is guided by a steering committee which consists of representatives from the core NGOs, the Zambia Wildlife Authority, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). CONASA has four years of funding from USAID. | |
| What exactly is CONASA doing? | |
| CONASA has three major program component areas as follows: | |
| Household livelihood security (HLS). | |
| The purpose of the HLS component is to assist people living in the project area to improve their standard of living and reduce their vulnerability to food insecurity. Activities under the HLS component include: | |
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Participatory rural appraisals,
to help everyone understand the many ways in which people earn a living, and
develop strategies to address the major livelihood constraints |
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Local group formation, because when people
work together in groups they have more power and can learn from each other |
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Agricultural extension, in areas such as
conservation farming methods, food processing, and agro-forestry |
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Income generation training, on topics such as beekeeping, leather
craft, sewing, etc. |
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Business skills training, including accounts,
business planning, marketing, proposal writing, etc. |
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Marketing outreach, to help rural groups find
places to sell their products, and help private sector agencies find sources
for agriculture and natural resource products |
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Micro-grants, to help kick-start
rural enterprises through small infrastructure improvement projects, equipment
purchases, etc. |
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| Policy and Civil Society Support Component | |
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This component aims to support civil society
organizations so that they can improve policies in Zambia for the betterment of
community-based natural resource management in rural areas. Policy areas
include not only formal legislation, but also administrative procedures,
pricing structures, negotiation and contracting procedures, etc. Activities
under this component include: |
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studies of major policies, which affect
natural resource management and agriculture in game management areas |
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communication and education programmes,
for civil society institutions such as local NGOs, trade associations, private
sector businesses, church groups, etc. |
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developing forums for discussion, of
policy issues in natural resources and rural development formation of a Kafue
National Park Consultative Forum, to discuss issues relating to management of
Kafue National Park and the surrounding areas
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| Transboundary Natural Resource Management Component� | |
| This component is designed to take advantage of economic opportunities presented by the important tourism circuit centered around Livingstone and Victoria Falls. The activities under this component aim to increase the number of tourists that visit Kafue National Park, and increase the benefits of cross-border trade to rural groups in Zambia. | |
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brokering of deals,
between tourism
operations and community enterprises |
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exchange visits, with protected area
managers and community based developmesnt programs in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and
Namibia |
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newsletters and
workshops, to exchange
lessons in community-based resource management |
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| What is the relationship between CONASA and the Zambia Wildlife Authority?� | |
| One of the most important natural resources for the communities in the project area is wildlife. CONASA will work closely with the newly restructured Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), which has legal authority over all wildlife in Zambia, to support each other in developing participatory methods of managing wildlife in communal areas. CONASA is a separate project from ZAWA's own community-based program, ADMADE, however the missions, resources, and strategies of the organizations are very complementary. To ensure a close relationship, CONASA has a liaison officer assigned to work with ZAWA, and ZAWA will be represented on the CONASA steering committee. | |
| How can I get more information about CONASA?� | |
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CONASA P.O. Box 36238 Lusaka Zambia Tel: 260-01-250456 Fax:260-01-253354 |
