Context

Indigenous Community Conserved Area (ICCAs) defined as "natural and/or modified ecosystems containing significant biodiversity values and ecological services, voluntarily conserved by (sedentary and mobile) indigenous and local communities, through customary laws or other effective means"(IUCN World Parks Congress Recommendation V26, 2003). They are spaces de facto governed by indigenous peoples or local communities through their local knowledge, norms and practices with evidently positive outcomes for the conservation of biological and cultural diversity. These areas are called Indigenous Community Conserved Area and Territory for Life (ICCAs).

The Global Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas and Territories Support Initiative (ICCA GSI) in collaboration with the GEF Small Grants Programme provides supports to territories and areas, which are conserved by indigenous peoples and local communities around the world. Tanzania Natural Resources Forum (TNRF) a membership-based organization is the recognized national ICCA catalyst organization that through this initiative strengthened and supported ICCAs members, partners and communities to effectively engage in the management and conservation of the ICCAs in Tanzania. TNRF. TNRF identified the ICCAs and chart out a framework to support the indigenous communities which are already investing their resources in ensuring the areas they have set aside continue to provide their Livelihoods while meeting the national and global Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) objectives. In the period TNRF conducted situational analysis across the country and built capacity of members on self-strengthening process. TNRF in collaboration with UNDP recruited 8 ICCAs community-based projects and recruited more 5 projects with Innovative, replicable and scale-up elements that support self-strengthening and sustainability of ICCAs as well those projects that enhance biodiversity conservation improved sustainable livelihood and gender within ICCAs.

This project intends to build capacity of trusted partners that acquired fund from GSI-ICCAs to implement community-based projects, and also to support monitoring and evaluation and financial verifications of each projects. The project also intends to promote ICCAs in various levels and establish ICCAs networks in Tanzania and link with regional and global ICCAs networks.

About the Proponent:

The Tanzania Natural Resource Forum (TNRF) is a network organization registered in 2006 as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), with the aim of promoting the improvement of natural resource governance to achieve more sustainable rural livelihoods and better conservation outcomes. TNRF works for improved natural resources governance by helping to bridge the gap between i) People?s local natural resource management needs and practices, and ii) National natural resource management priorities, policies, laws and programs

In 2017, TNRF was identified through competitive processes as national ICCA catalyst organization to pilot ICCA in Tanzania through strengthening and supporting ICCAs members, partners and communities to effectively engage in the management and conservation of the selected ICCAs. In Tanzania, the initiative aimed to establish a national ICCA database, documentation and publication of ICCAs situation in the country, promote ICCAs? recognition national-wide, and establish network of local level ICCAs to global ICCAs network. In 2018, TNRF received grant support from UNDP Tanzania office to support this initiative with the project titled ?Management of ICCAs Projects in Tanzania?.

As National Catalyst Organization NCO in Tanzania, TNRF supported the process of piloting of GSI -ICCAs. Among of key activities supported by TNRF in the process include engaged with selected ICCA(s) by identify the needs and challenges within the ICCA and support self--?strengthening processes using UNDP methodology; National level Consultation meetings to qualify and agree on the ICCAs situation in the country; support indigenous communities and coalitions/networks in the ICCA(s) to manage and secure tenure security; facilitated the review of the ICCA Network situational analysis in Tanzania and community to national level ICCA dialogue and communication

Project?s Primary Objective:

To coordinate trusted members of ICCAs that are working and supporting ICCAs in Tanzania to implement community-based projects that enhance sustainable biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, ICCA governance and institutional strengthening process, Gender equality and women empowerment in the ICCAs.


Specific objectives:

? To build capacity of ICCAs members and partners (13) to manage Community based projects within ICCAs by December 2020
? To provide technical and resources support to thirteen (13) partners with Innovative, replicable and scale-up elements that support self-strengthening and sustainability of ICCAs by December 2020
? To promote recognition of ICCAs in the district, national and regional frameworks and fora?s by December 2020
? To establish ICCAs network and link with regional and global ICCAs networks by December 2020