Highlights of key Activities, Achievements and Plans
The increasing issues such as ecosystem fragmentation, population growth and climate change will intensify the pressure on natural resources and threats to biodiversity and related goods and services. At the same time, the introduction of new technologies, greater access to information and communication and consolidation of expansion of democratization process may open new opportunities which could make it easier to respond to growing challenges.
Managing opportunities require individuals and institutions in the Albertine Rift to have sufficient knowledge, capabilities and resources including the capacity to ensure constructive involvement of a diversity of stakeholders. The process of capacity building development itself involves continual adaptation and experimentation. – development of an enabling environment, that supports stakeholders, operate within an adequate policy and legal framework, – development of management capacity: knowledge, skills and strategies of NGOs.
ARCOS is committed to assist local scientists and conservationists in their efforts to access academic training, on-site training and participation at workshops. In the past, ARCOS was able to secure academic training with funding from The Wellcome Trust for MSc. in Applied Conservation at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the UK. Another aspect of building local skills is to assist local organisations in fund-raising, project development and organisation development.
Major achievements have been fulfilled by ARCOS in the promotion of a regional network, dialogue and collaboration among local conservation initiatives. With funding mainly from The Netherlands Committee for IUCN, The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation and MacArthur Foundation, ARCOS has established and maintained links with a network of local NGOs in the region. The last survey of local NGOs was conducted in 2006 to assess their needs, expertise and ongoing initiatives.
A first regional priority-setting workshop on “Promoting community-based conservation and regional information exchange in support of Albertine Rift montane forests” was facilitated by ARCOS in 1999. In October 2006, ARCOS facilitated a “Regional NGO Networking Workshop for Conservation and Development in the Albertine Rift”. The purpose of the workshop was to provide a framework for enhanced NGOs performance in the Albertine Rift, based on the current conservation and development context, challenges and opportunities in the region. The workshop had three main objectives: to review conservation and development challenges in the countries of the region, to assess the role of civil society and its involvement in development agenda, and to develop a plan of action for enhanced NGOs engagement.
Accordingly, it is essential that stronger bridges are built between civil society and the policy makers and planners, and that these bridges are built on strong foundations of better awareness, improved advocacy, consultation, participation, documentation, monitoring and feedback.
Future plans on training, capacity building and networking during the period 2006-2010:
- Review capacity needs assessment of local partners throughout the region
- Establish and support Regional Civil Society Network
- Facilitate local level capacity building focusing on project cycle management, fundraising
and organisation development - Support capacity and skills development in lobbying and advocacy and community development
