SECTION A:PROJECT RATIONALE AND APPROACH
1.1Project Summary
Biodiversity has been defined by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as ?the variability among living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems?. Sebungwe mouth is located on the southern side of the district from Binga Centre in Simatelele ward. The project area is found within this area and it is a peninsula which is situated adjacent to the Sebungwe River mouth, which is a tributary into the mighty Zambezi Lake. The peninsula has an eye catching site, which overlooks into the waters of Zambezi Lake. It is surrounded by a rich and mature forest cover evidenced by a huge biomass quantity and a high species richness of approximately 10 per hectare.

The forestry is uniformly structured into three different strata, which are the canopy, middle and ground layers. The ground layer is composed of species such as indigofera suffaiticosa, lippie javanica and regenerations of colophospermum mopane, diospyros quiloensis and a wide variety of mature and regenerating Acacia species. This layer covers the floor of the forest and is a habitat to many small animals, worms and insects that survives within the ecosystem. The middle layer is composed of different species that include Diospyros quilonensis, Terminalia prunoides, Acacia nigrescens, Accacia tortilis, Dychrostachis cinera, Pterocarpus antunensii, Commiphora merberi, a variety of Combretum species, Lannea discoloru. This layer is home to most small animals like birds and squirrels. It is also a camouflage to plain game which roam around the area. The canopy layer is the uppermost layer of the forest cover of the area. This area is also dominated by a variety of species such as Acacia tortilis, Colophospermum mopane, Sterculia Africana, Combertum elaegnoided, Pterocarpas antunesii, Tomarindus indica, Faidebia albda, Albizia gummifera, Acacia nilotica, Diospyros quiloensis and some few Adanzonia digitata. This layer being the uppermost top layer of the forest is a good habitat for some bird species which live, breed and hunt from these trees. . Within the forest are climbers, shrubs and grass varieties which also play a pivotal role of conservation within this ecosystem. From the assessment carried out, the area is rich in biodiversity given the diversity of species in terms of flora and fauna

The age of the forest was classified as a mature forest due to high level of biomass and dead organic matter that was identified. There was very little human disturbance identified in the project area and this has in the past contributed to the maturity of the forest. There is the presence of animal species which range from big to small game. Animals such as hippopotamus, crocodiles, impalas and migratory buffaloes are occasionally seen roaming around the peninsula and the vlei that surround the project area. Within the river ecosystem, there is also a wide variety of fish species which include the Kariba bream and the tiger fish that are common targets to fish anglers who visit the area occasionally for fish angling tournaments from as far as South Africa and surrounding countries within the SADC region.

The project area is also endowment by a heterogeneous species of birds such as the king fisher, a wide variety of ducks and many other small birds, which hunt for fish in the nearby waters. Some bee colonies were identified in these hallowed trees as well. The identification of bees brought the idea that the group members can also engage into other environmentally friendly projects, such as beekeeping, which does not only protect and enrich their environment but also help them generate extra income. The species interaction within the project area is balanced, with little or no cases of over exploitation of timber and non timber forest produce. However, the forest being the producer and source of food was found lacking indigenous fruits, with only three species of edible indigenous fruit trees found are Azanza gerkeana, Adansonia digitata and vangueria infausta. As such, at least 1,500 fruit trees of an assorted species such as mangoes, guavas, and grafted citrus fruits will be planted in the area for commercial purposes. Other exotic trees which can also assist in starting other projects such as beekeeping include Lucena lucicophala, which is a good fodder for livestock of the local communities, will be planted. At least 1,000 seedlings of an assorted species and woodlots of at least 10 hectares in size will be established to protect some species such as faideba albida, which is slowly being depleted in the project area.

The proposed project has been identified as a priority project by Siamuloba community members after consultations with the Binga Rural District Council (BRDC) officials and local leaders of Simatelele Ward. The project seeks to support communities in Simatelele (Ward 8) to operate viable Community-Based Ecotourism at Kamata base Island. The Siamuloba community also realized that the development of the Kamata base Island, which is located along Lake Kariba, is one of their alternative means of enhancing their livelihood and income base. For example, in addition to the community-based ecotourism project, the Siamuloba community will be trained to engage in non-wildlife based livelihood projects, that is, the production or sale of products derived from indigenous resources within the project area, such as beekeeping, crafts, and fish farming. The community is also going to be introduced to seedling production and species that are targeted such as Jatropha, which can be pressed to produce oils including soap. The project will be Fair-Trade accredited focusing on cultural comprising into village life.

The direct beneficiaries of the project are community members of Simatelele wardthat comprise 300 women and 150 men.A management committee comprising of 7 community members (see attached list) selected by Siamuloba Village will manage the project (including the lodges to be constructed on the Island) on behalf of the entire community. The project is a common property resource owned and managed collectively by Siamuloba community rather than by individuals (it is a CAMPFIRE model since the Island falls under communal land).Therefore, proceeds from the Chalets and related project activities will be community owned and managed with minimum external support (including business management training and marketing support services). Zubo Trust is only a facilitating agency that will help to support the community in terms of technical skills to implement and manage the project. Binga Rural District Council as the local authority will support the Siamuloba Community-Based Tourism under its CAMPFIRE department to mobilize local community involvement in wildlife/biodiversity conservation, establishment of self-governance, and incorporation of new management models for conservation.

The proposed project will construct the lodges and bring in tourists to the area. The project will not only focus on biodiversity but also on ecotourism, which will involve provision of accommodation for the tourists and also teach the tourists various aspects of the Tonga culture. By and large, the area has been receiving tourists from across the country, continent and the globe at large that were coming to tour the islands for fish angling and photographing birds and wild animals.The Tonga cultural village will be a set-up of chalets and accommodation facilities that resemble a traditional Tonga homestead targeting local and international tourists who visit the place. The idea is to provide more than just accommodation by going a step further to also give the clients a fist-hand experience on the Tonga Culture. The project will thus create a platform for cultural groups in Simatelele to showcase the artistry to local and international tourists. This will ultimately spread the Tonga culture not only across the country but the world. Zubo itself will not derive any direct benefit from the project as 100% of the proceeds from the project will directly benefit the Siamuloba Community. The benefit for Zubo is the capacitation of Binga women to take care of their financial needs, which is in line with its economic strengthening and livelihoods thematic programme. The local leadership, which includes the Ward Councilor and Village Head, have knowledge on Community Based Eco-Tourism through the exchange visit they had to Bulungula Village in South Africa.

In collaboration with the traditional leadership, Zubo, relevant state actors, Binga RDC and the community at large, Siamuloba Community Trust will identify women and men from the Simatelele to be employed to run the Lodges professionally as the project progresses. These will then be trained to enable them to execute their duties and responsibilities professionally. These employees will be paid from project proceeds. Zubo and other stakeholders will come up with the modalities of making at least 50% revenue available to the women of Simatelele as loans to start up various projects. The project is currently at planning stage where the proponent has already engaged the services of Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and Binga RDC to help the community acquire permits and licenses including the Environmental Impact Assessment certification from EMA. The community is committed to the project. They have already pledged to work with the Forestry Commission and CAMPFIRE in cases relating to unlawful exploitation of their natural resources as well as participating in the management of the ecosystem and construction of the bridge and village lodges.

1.2 Organizational Background and Capacity to implement the project
Zubo is a Non-Governmental Organisation that was registered in 2009. Zubo?s mandate is to create a platform where rural women in the Zambezi Valley come together to discuss issues that affect them and to come up with possible solutions. Zubo also provides business ideas, technical expertise and training for women engaged in the following key economic strengthening activities: a) Kapenta fishing; b) Fishing and dried fish production; c) Marula and baobab processing; d) Muyaaya (Maheu) production; and e) Arts and Crafts manufacturing. The organisation provides new innovations to the women?s groups regarding the sustainable exploitation of naturally occurring plants and other resources in the Zambezi valley. Zubo facilitated the first women?s group to run a Kapenta rig through the provision of a rig to a women?s cooperative (now registered as Bbindawuko Banakazi Kapenta Fishing Cooperative Society Limited). Zubo is located in Binga with all executive management based in Binga. Zubo?s main technical partners are experts in different fields who provide training for the women?s groups in the above mentioned five key lines of business. These include:Aquaculture Zimbabwe (Fish farming); Zvishavane Water Project (Baobab tree management); Zimbabwe Organic Producers and Promoters Association (ZOPPA) ? Specialists in organic farming; Bio Innovations Zimbabwe (BIZ) ? experts in local plants, pre and post harvesting experts in Marula fruit; and Forestry Commission

The proposed project will be guided by the following methods of implementation:a)Rights awareness, empowerment and advocacy: Opportunities will be created for local communities to engage in and influence the changes to legal and institutional systems that promote unsustainable exploitation of resources as well as the implementation of policies or strategic plans e.g. Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and the Kariba Lakeshore Combination Master Plan (KLCMP) at local government level by promoting new processes of engagement that will be acquired through capacity building. There needs to be fair access and benefit sharing (ABS) of resources. Rights awareness, empowerment and advocacy should be complimented by legal literacy among the poor and marginalized groups.b) Partnership approach: The project will promote the strategic sharing of expertise and experiences among the collaborative government partners especially Forestry Commission, Lake Navigation, Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (PWMA), Binga RDC (CAMPFIRE Department) and EMA. Partnerships between local government, relevant government ministries and agencies and like-minded organisations are significant for the effective implementation of the project activities, especially in terms of sharing resources and expertise.c) Rights-based approach to development ? Recognizingthat development choices are the result of the decision-making processes employed, the project will integrate a rights-based approach into decision-making processes to ensure that rights-holders are involved in key decisions and that rational choices are made which reflect their needs and interests. d) Capacity Building is an integral part of the project strategies and involves strengthening of rights-holders with knowledge and skills on key issues such as policy advocacy and lobbying, gender and knowledge that citizens can hold leaders accountable.

Organizational structure, governance and administrative framework

Board of Trustees: For governance accountability, Zubo is run by an active Board of Trustees (BoT) that regularly meets (on a quarterly basis) to review and guide organizational programs and management procedures. Within the board there are social scientists (development specialists) and a legal practitioner. All the board members are women. The Board comprises 7 female members all from the Zambezi Valley as shown in Annex 3. The BoT, in consultation with the District Advisory Council (DAC) determine the policies and overall direction of Zubo and its programs. The DAC plays a liaison and advisory role to the BoT and Management. Both the BoT and DAC technically assess progress in implementation and provide strategic advice on programming issues to management on emerging issues as well as connections and technical support, which gives Zubo, a local perspective and district-wide relevance. The DAC meets at least once a year. Secretariat and management(See annex 3): Zubo?s Key Personnel and Management Structure: Zubo has a staff compliment of seven (7) with five (5) being women (four of them in management roles), who are in charge of carrying out various projects and day-to-day management of the organization. Zubo has a team of paid staff with a minimum of a bachelor degree in their fields of expertise, which include international development and management qualifications. Special skills in gender and women?s rights, advocacy, media, social protection, monitoring and evaluation, accounting and finance also exist among front line program staff. There are two (2) volunteers and six (6) community-based facilitators who also provide programmatic support in the implementation of community-based activities.
1.6 1.3Project Objectives and Expected Results
? PROBLEM STATEMENT OR CHALLENGE THE PROJECT INTENDS TO ADDRESS
The community is concerned with the depletion of Faidebia albida population, which is a major species that contribute to catchment area protection. As a solution, the community has to propagate the species through raising it in the nursery and protect the few that are left through woodland or rangeland management practices that will be adopted to save the species. According to a needs assessment conducted by Forestry Commission, Binga RDC?s CAMPFIRE department, community and Zubo Trust, there is need for the natural forest to be protected ? there are poaching incidences or unlawful exploitation of resources, which pose a threat to the project continuity (especially the ecotourism component) if not addressed in good time. This will mean erecting a fence and constructing fireguards right round the spheres of the project area. Some villagers also leave their cattle to stray within the project area due to availability of palatable shrubs and grass.Another problem centres on legal and institutional systems that promote unsustainable exploitation of resources in the project area. Another habitat-displacing activity taking place near the project area is agricultural expansion due to population increases.

In the current global competitive economic environment, places such as Binga that are biodiversity rich with scenic areas but with poor agricultural potential, find themselves increasingly dependent on tourism related activities for socio-economic development. The Zambezi Valley, which stretches from Victoria Falls to Kariba, is described as one of the most tourist-dependent region in the country. The sustainability of the tourism industry requires an interrelated perspective, which includes protecting the natural environment, conserving and enhancing the cultural patrimony, strengthening linkages between tourism and other economic sectors and improvement of local communities in planning and in access and benefit sharing arrangements of the benefits derived from it. The Zambezi Valley districts (Hwange, Binga and Kariba) are well known for their unique tourism attractions centred on Lake Kariba, surrounding National Parks, Safari and Hunting Concessions and a number of unique landscapes . In addition, Binga district has unique cultural offerings which include the way of life of the Tonga people, their traditional artifacts, crafts, and homesteads among other things. These unique offerings have not been packaged for the economic benefits of the local communities. An opportunity to develop Siamuloba community based tourism has arisen as a result from the increased demand for community based tourism. Unfortunately, capitalist enterprises particularly the hunting safari concessionaires or ?safari operators? have been the major beneficiaries of the natural assets in the Zambezi valley. The issue of linkages between tourism and biodiversity conservation are even more important in light of the perennial droughts in the area and poor agricultural potential of the Zambezi Valley region that is fortunately endowed with a biodiversity of indigenous forests and woodlands and wildlife. The principal linkage opportunities of biodiversity and ecotourism present viable and sustainable products and services to tourism industry in Zimbabwe. These products and services include site tours, heritage, cultural, photographic sites, fishing, recreational tours, adventure, hunting, camping and a combination of all the above in community tourism and all other related services. These opportunities once enhanced will have to be promoted or marketed for the benefit of the local communities. Partnership in promoting these services and products is critical to achieving success. Hence Zubo Trust has roped in Forestry Commission, Lake Navigation, Parks and Wildlife Management, Binga RDC (CAMPFIRE) department, Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and local leadership to ensure project sustainability and success. For example, the establishment of any ecotourism enterprise would need to consider the implementation of safety and security strategies to cope with incidents that can involve visitors, for example, crocodiles and hippos that are abundant in the area, which may pose a threat during boat cruises or tours. Training in technical and managerial aspects of the ecotourism and biodiversity conservation as well as facility and service standards for the project sites is another success factor, which requires collaborative implementation arrangements. For example, on gulley reclamation, EMA will conduct trainings on the planting of vetiva grass and introduce the gabion system where application. Forestry Commission will lead the national tree planting day for 2015, which is earmarked for Sebungwe mouth due to its favourable conditions conducive for forest development.

? OVERALL PROJECT GOAL/PRIMARY OBJECTIVE
The main goal of the project is to contribute towards biodiversity conservation and increased revenue for Siamuloba community from the ecotourism project.

? SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
a) To reclaim degraded areas surrounding Siamuloba village lodge.
b) To increase vegetation cover through planting trees at the village lodge site as well as conserving existing woodlands
c) To build capacity of the community to conserve and preserve the biodiversity of the Siamuloba village ? thatincludes flora and fauna.
d) To rehabilitate the village lodge for the Siamuloba ecotourism site as a source for income generation.

? RATIONALE/JUSTIFICATION OF THE PROJECT
The project prioritiesconservation of biodiversity as a primary focal area and this is in line with the priorities of this call. In addition, the project has secondary focal areas of capacity development, since this is also a pilot project. The project is also relevant to and is supportive of the internationally and nationally agreed goals and/or specific priorities on biodiversity of indigenous forests and woodlands based on Agenda 21 among other instruments, which emerged from the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). In addition, GEF eligibility flows from Zimbabwe?s signing and ratification of the key global treaties on the environment .

In line with the secondary focus of capacity development, some of the activities that will be carried out by Zubo and its technical partners will facilitate improved rights awareness, increased capacity for citizens to demand rights, as well as legislative and institutional changes that ensure greater protection of rights. The project is compatible with the Zimbabwe United Nations Development Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF) as it supports citizen rights and opportunities for participation including planning and monitoring. It prioritizes opportunities for the poor and marginalized people to meaningfully participate in development activities that seek to improve their living conditions. The project has also been developed to address the problem of low level of interconnectedness of between conservation of biodiversity and tourism with local institutions and decision makers. In addition, the project will work with the local authority, Forestry Commission and Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (PWMA) on wildlife biodiversity and within the Kariba Lakeshore Combination Master Plan (KLCMP) framework that seeks to fill the gap between the regimes created by the Conventions and the reality on-the-ground.

TABLE 1: OBJECTIVES, ACTIVITIES, OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES
In terms of biodiversity conservation, there are natural forests to be protected, nurseries to be set up, woodlots to be established, wetlands and springs to be protected or important bird areas to be protected, bylaws to be put in place to safe guard resources etc.

Objective 1: To reclaim degraded areas surrounding Siamuloba village lodge

Activities relating to objective 1 Outputs (0-6months of completed activity) Outcome (1 year after completed activity)
1.1 Identify gullies that need attention
1.1: All the gullies leading to the site identified.
Indicator: Number of gullies identified. Reduced degraded areas and increased available arable land.
1.2 Fill the gullies with ? stones, soil and planting of vetiva grass etc.
1.2: Gullies filled with stones and planted with trees, vegetation etc
Indicator: Number of gullies reclaimed
Number of degraded area rehabilitated.
1.3 Build barriers along the bed of the gullies 1.3 Blocked silt and plants growing along the bed
Indicator: Number of degraded area rehabilitated. Reduced land degradation and improved the ecosystem?s resilience
1.4 Participatory land use and range land management training for community members 1.4 Communities trained on land use and rangeland management practices
Indicator: Number of people trained Improved community land use and rangeland management practices
OBJECTIVE 2: To increase vegetation cover through planting trees at the village lodge site as well as conserving existing woodlands
Activities relating to objective 2 Outputs Outcomes
2.1 Identification of trees that need to be planted as well as areas that need vegetation cover
2.1 Vegetation cover increased through reafforestation Indicator: Number of trees planted
? Hectares of natural woodlands conserved.
? Number of woodlots set up Improved vegetation cover and increased variety of tree species at the site

2.2: Establishment of nurseries 2.2: Nursery of various tree species established.
Indicator: Number of seedlings from various tree species planted.
2.3: Training in seedling production, gulley reclamation, transplanting of the trees
2.3: Number of Seedlings transplanted.
Indicator:
2.4: Monitoring of nurseries and woodlots 2.4: Progress on tree planting and woodlands management tracked and monitored
Indicator: Number of surviving tree species
OBJECTIVE 3: To conserve and preserve the biodiversity of the Siamuloba village- includes flora and fauna
Activities relating to objective 3 Outputs Outcomes
3.1: Erect a fire guard protecting the site 3.1 Erected a fireguard.
Indicator: Presence of a Fireguard
Number of hectares for total area protected with fire guard
Siamuloba biodiversity well preserved and conserved.


3.2: Erect a fence around the protected zone 3.2 Fence erected.
Indicator: Size of area in hectares protected with fence
3.3: Provide human security to the site. 3.3 Security guardroom erected, with security guard employed.
Indicator: Presence of a guardroom and the security guard.
3.4: Set up a watch-dog committee for the site 3.4: Established committee.
Indicator: Presence of a committee
Number of members in the committee
3.5: Buy and trans-locate game from Government estates 3.5: Game bought and trans-located.
Indicator: Number of wildlife translocated
3.6: Environmental education campaign workshops and biodiversity conservation training 3.6: Trained project and community members
Indicator: Number of workshops or trainings conducted
OBJECTIVE 4: To rehabilitate the village lodge for the Siamuloba ecotourism site as a source for income generation
Activities relating to objective 4 Outputs Outcomes
4.1: Clear the road to the site
4.1: Road cleared.
Indicator: number of km of a well defined road network to the site. Improved access to village lodge with proper road network.
4.2: Build structures at the lodge for community-based tourism 4.2: The village lodge constructed.
Indicator: Number of chalets established and other facilities.

OBJECTIVE 5: To realise income from the ecotourism project and biodiversity conservation.
Activities relating to objective 5 Outputs Outcomes
5.1: Market the lodge
5.1: Increased visibility of the lodge.
Indicator: Number of clientele enquiring about the lodge Increased revenue realized from ecotourism by the Siamuloba community.
5.2: Set up a web page for the lodge Increased visibility of the lodge.
Indicator: Number of clientele enquiring about the lodge
5.3: Erect signage for the lodge 5.3: Signage erected
Indicator: Number of signages erected at lodge
5.4 Promote non-wildlife based projects such as crafts, oil pressing, beekeeping etc 5.4: Alternative livelihood projects promoted
Indicator: number of women participating in non wildlife-based projects