The project ?Farmer Managed Wetlands Ecosystems Conservation and Regenerative Agriculture for Chebvute Rambatemwa Wetlands in Zvishavane District? is a demonstration project that focuses on the restoration of wetlands ecosystems, Siboza gully reclamation, regenerate agro-based livelihoods through conservation, sustainable climate-smart agriculture that make use of Ecosystems based Adaptation for supporting communities threatened by land degradation, climate shocks and other stressors to build resilience in ecosystems and rural food and income security. A total of 2,835ha of landscape covering Chebvute Rambotemwa Wetlands will be restored using a wetland-based landscape-scale adaptation.

A total of 1011 smallholder farmers will benefit directly (430) and indirectly (396) from climate change participatory scenario planning that strengthens their resilience and adaptation. Out of the 16 hectares to be fenced for conservation purposes, a total of 6 hectares (4 at Siboza and 2 at Chebvute) will be put under the regenerative agroecological model that include gardening and tree nurseries to provide skills and increased food production to 80 smallholder farming households. Using the food forestry model, a diversity of vegetables, tubers, cover crops, fodder and fruit trees will be grown in the agroecological garden. The Siboza centre activities will include rehabilitation of the gully, establish a fence making facility for the community and processing centre for women cooperatives. A total of 4 research papers will be produced to influence policy and a community of practice. Maintenance of key habitats for threatened grey-crowned bird species will be protected and restored to support the breeding of the threatened species.

2. Project Justification and Baseline

Problem Analysis:
State the
Problem/Issue or Challenge Wetlands degradation in the arid areas of Chebvute is occurring at a faster rate that is threatening vulnerable species and undermining rural food and water security. Climate change and human activities are aggravating factors in threatening agriculture and wetlands. Communities in Chebvute Rambatemwa are now dependent on food aid and their water situation has threatened livelihoods.
What are the causes of the problem/issue or challenge? Direct Causes Indirect Causes
1. cultivation in wetlands
2. livestock trampling
3. veld fires
4. firewood collection
5. soil erosion Droughts and climate change effects
Poverty
Lack of information and knowledge

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This project focuses on Biodiversity Conservation, one of the key areas addressed by GEF SGP Country programme which aims to protect threatened ecosystems. This will have multiple benefits that support community livelihoods, food security, water, and income for communities that are stewards of their environment. The project will increase the number and quality of protected areas. The project will be implemented in synch with other GEF SGP projects and government initiatives. The project will support the National Development Strategy 1 which seek to ensure Zimbabwe becomes an upper middle-income country by 2023. The national agricultural policy and interventions, wetlands policy, climate change action and the GEF funded FAO sustainable forests management projects will be implemented in a way the generates co-benefits for communities participating in biodiversity protection around wetlands and regenerative agriculture. Working with women and improving their participation, decision making and leadership in conservation and regenerative agriculture will be a huge step towards adapting and building women?s resilience to climate change. The project has a key considerations of interests and role played by social groups in wetlands conservation and agriculture value chains. Capacity development through training activities will leave no one and no place behind in terms of alternative sustainable livelihoods and biodiversity conservation goals. Youth and women will be engaged and motivated to participate in social enterprises that are climate-smart and wetland conservation-supportive. These social enterprises include food forestry and forestry / agricultural enrichment projects supported by climate-smart agricultural techniques.

3. Project Goal, Objectives, Activities, Outputs and Outcomes

Please describe the project framework and implementation plan by completing the table 1 below:
a) Overall Goal/Primary Objective: Proposed project should include environmental objective, along with development/livelihood objective as relevant.

b) Specific objectives: List all objectives to be addressed by project
c) Activities: List all activities to be implemented per objective
d) Project Outputs: Please describe measurable changes which will have occurred by the end of the project as a result of the planned intervention (e.g. XX hectares of community management conservation area established. XX community members is trained and improved on waste management).
e) Project Outcome: Please describe what will be produced as project results, in terms of changes in the institutional and behavioral capacities, changes in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, policies, livelihoods and environmental conditions.

(For this section, please complete the Results Framework Table below)







Table 1 - Results Framework: (This is the most important part of the project proposal. Please take your time and use the guidelines provided)
GOAL
OBJECTIVES ACTIVITIES
INDICATORS FOR PLANNED ACTIONS OUTPUTS OUTCOMES
To support farmer-managed wetlands ecosystems conservation and regenerative agriculture that builds community resilience against shocks and stressors affecting their livelihoods and protection of vulnerable ecosystems. 1. To conduct a baseline study for Chebvute Rambatemwa wetland characterization that informs management plans for the protection and potential registration of a RAMSAR site within the first 3 months of the project. -Baseline study publication
-Development of local wetlands management plan.
-Development of wetlands management By-Laws
-Knowledge fairs organized
-Develop How-to-tool kits on plant propagation, gully reclamation, wetlands protection and species inventory. Baseline:
? 0 baselines published.
? 0 wetlands management plans developed.
? 0 By-Laws developed.
? 2-hectares fenced
? 0 How-To Toolkits developed
Target:
? 2 baseline and practice publications
? 1 management plan developed.
? 1 By-Law developed
? 16 hectares fenced
? 4 How-To Tool Kits developed Community and local institutions utilize information for wetlands management. Improved wetlands conservation status and the resilience of smallholder food systems achieved.
2. To support and build the capacity of local institutions in the governance of wetland ecosystems within the first 12 months. -Train local institutions on wetlands policy and conservation.
-Exchange visits to Chitora, Musavadha and Hillingden communities by local institutions.
-Training on nursery establishment
-Fence making training for women
-Beehive making and beekeeping training
-Land Use Cover Change study
-Market Linkages training
-Annual Knowledge Fairs - World Wetlands Day Commemoration Baseline:
? 2 local institutions trained
? 4 exchange visits participants
? 0 farmers trained on nursery development
? 0 women trained on fence making
? 0 women trained beekeeping
? 0 studies on Land Use & Cover changes
? 1 linkage with markets
? 0 Annual Knowledge Fairs
Target:
? 12 local institutions trained
? 60 participate in exchange visits
? 40 farmers trained on nursery development
? 20 women trained on fence making
? 20 women trained beekeeping
? 1 study on Land use and cover changes study
? 3 Market linkages established
? 1 Annual Knowledge Fair Management of wetlands ecosystems improved.
3. To support the smallholder farmers to develop resilient livelihoods through regenerative agriculture and wetlands management practices within the first 15 months of the project timeframe. -Fencing of Siboza Centre
-2 Gully reclamations covering 400 metres
-Borehole drilling and installation at Siboza centre
-Regenerative climate-smart agriculture training.
-Climate resilient inputs provision
-Food forestry/forestry enrichment training
-Indigenous poultry production
-Market linkages Baseline:
? 0 hectares fenced
? 0 gully reclamation
? 1 borehole drilled and installed
? 20 farmers practicing CSA
? 1 hectare under forestry enrichment
? 1 group in poultry production with 50 birds
? 0 market linkages
Target:
? 10 hectares fenced
? 2 gully reclamation covering 400 metres
? 2 boreholes drilled and installed
? 100 farmers practicing CSA
? 8 hectares under forestry enrichment
? 2 groups in poultry production with 600 birds
? 5 market linkages Smallholder farmers increase food production and wetlands conservation
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