1. About the NGO

Bird Watch Zambia (BWZ) is a membership environmental NGO established in 1969. Its main objective is to promote the study, conservation, and general interest in birds and their habitats in Zambia. As a Birdlife International affiliate in Zambia, BWZ is part of a vibrant global environmental and conservation partnership.

BWZ activities and programmes are funded from membership fees, contributions from members, as well as project support from various foundations and agencies. BWZ?s main activities are centred on Zambia?s 42 Important Bird Areas (IBA) and are based on 4 focal areas of:

? Species: Take Action on Species, particularly Globally Threatened;
? Sites: Take Action for Important Bird Areas (IBAs)
? Habitats: Collect Data on Habitats and influence land use and other policies impacting birds and their habitats
? People: Promote links between biodiversity conservation and rural livelihoods, promote interest in birds, conservation and the environment through public awareness campaigns and educational programmes

BWZ is headed by a democratically elected executive committee consisting of a chairperson and vice, secretary, treasurer, and up-to 6 committee members as well as a technical advisor. The Executive Committee is responsible for BWZ policy and programme development and supervision of the secretariat.
The BWZ secretariat is headed by a project manager and has a staff compliment of 6, Project Manager (Head of Secretariat), Site Support Group (SSG) Coordinator; Education Coordinator; Biodiversity Monitoring Coordinator; Logistics Officer and Accountant. It consists of 3 units broadly divided into Science (Biodiversity, Conservation and Monitoring programme), People (SSG, Community development, livelihoods and conservation) and, Education (schools and people programme, awareness campaigns, and advocacy).

2. Project?s main objective

2.1 To enhance biodiversity conservation and reduce poverty by reducing anthropogenic pressures on the IBA and provide communities with alternative but sustainable and viable sources of income both at household and community levels

3. Specific Objectives

3.1 Ensure that construction of the community camp is completed, the site becomes functional with earnings from the entity contributing towards poverty alleviation and biodiversity conservation in the IBA
3.2 Ensure that construction of the women?s crafts center is completed, the women led enterprise becomes productive with earnings from the entity contributing towards poverty alleviation amongst women in the IBA
3.3 Enhance business and management capacities of the women?s group and SSG and ensure effective and profitable management of their respective entities
3.4 Provide lessons to various stakeholder groups on the pros and cons of community based conservation and entrepreneurship.
3.5 Analyze the viability of baobab fruit trade as an alternative enterprise for women in the IBA


4. Key project outcomes

4.1 A community owned avian-tourism camp under management of the SSG is completed, becomes functional and contributes to biodiversity conservation through proceeds from the camp
4. women led craft center and craft business becomes functional and contributes to poverty alleviation amongst women members through sales and proceeds from the enterprise
4.3 The number of households covered under the livestock ?pass on gift? is increased with livestock contributing to the wealth status of beneficiaries
4.4 Upon completion and becoming functional, project components provide lessons and insight to other communities and stakeholders on community based enterprises and conservation.