General

An estimated 80% of the global population lack secure water resources. Many also lack ready access to fuel wood and other tree derived benefits. However, the current scientific paradigm says that we must choose which problem to solve as increasing tree cover always reduces water availability. Consider the costs if this thinking is wrong. In Africa, 175 M ha of degraded lands are judged suitable for tree planting which could significantly enhance people’s livelihoods. Our previous research in the seasonally dry tropics indicates that an intermediate tree cover can often improve groundwater recharge. This need testing on a larger scale, but if confirmed will upend the prevailing view in hydrology and have profound implications for policies affecting millions of livelihoods and the environment.  Thus, the aim of this project is to provide evidence for better policies and management that will benefit poor people in drylands by evaluating the novel “optimum tree cover theory” for groundwater recharge across African drylands. The project involves four leading institutions; SLU, ICRAF, WU and NMBU. We will use the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework; a unique dataset that is available across Africa. It consists of multiple variables, including tree cover and key soil variables. We will do complementary strategic measurements of soil water flow and tree water use to model groundwater recharge as a function of tree cover under common conditions of the seasonally dry tropics.

General

New/additional funds to address COVID-19 Somalia is one of the fastest urbanizing countries in the world. The rapid urbanization is caused by significant forced displacements from rural areas into urban areas driven by conflicts, insecurity, search for economic opportunities and cyclical environmental adversities such as drought and famine. This has a huge impact not only upon livelihood opportunities, peace and stability and resilience, but also shifting rural and pastoralist livelihood to urban economies. The urban influx raises many challenges for the provision of basic urban services including secure access to land for settlement of IDPs and existing vulnerable communities. Lack of effective land administration and planning systems and weak institutions has led to arbitrary distribution of land and has aggravated contestation over land, housing and basic services. Intense competition over land exacerbates forced evictions particularly among IDPs and urban poor. The focus of this programme will be to promote inclusive employment opportunities for urban vulnerable populations, increase youth participation; integration of displacement affected households and to strengthen implementation of Durable Solutions and Youth development across Somalia. The programme will be implemented in Mogadishu, Kismayo, Baidoa and Dollow which are some of the majorly affected towns/cities.

Objectives

The main objective of the project is to: To contribute to sustainable urban development, building resilient communities and providing urban services and livelihood opportunities for residents and marginalised groups.  The project has 4 main outcomes: Outcome 1: Inclusive employment opportunities in market sector driven value chains under the sustainable productive sectors increased Outcome 2: Increased youth participation in peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts including engagement in local governance and national decision-making processes.  Outcome 3: Enhanced local social, economic and spatial integration of displacement affected households through urban regeneration and upgrading projects Outcome 4: Enhancing tools and frameworks that strengthen implementation of Durable Solutions and Youth development across Somalia

General

The initiative and future like-minded interventions, will result in that indigenous peoples and local communities in particular women and youth, have claimed a central role as empowered innovators, implementers and advocates for territorial governance and climate solutions that benefit people and nature in priority landscapes in Latin America. The project is a project support and will address socio-environmental issues that are critical for transboundary nature protection (mainly biological diversity and climate) in Latin America. It will focus on three key transboundary landscapes in Latin America, where WWF will aim to involve, empower, strengthen their voice, and pursue greater equity for IPLCs to be active in the pursuit of sustainable development that benefits people and nature.These landscapes are home to indigenous and local communities, who can play a key role in sustainable development, but whose human rights are often not adequately respected or implemented, including their right to land, access to information and participation in decision making processes. These communities often do not have the necessary prerequisites to amplify their voices and have a more prominent role in policy influencing. The landscapes selected also provide a useful context for addressing gender equality because IPLC women are often excluded for decision making processes. The lack of economic opportunities for IPLCs in these places particular pressure on women who are often left in the community with children when men migrate to the city in search of employment. The project aims to implement measures to address these inequality and challenges. From a regional and environmental management perspective, the focus on these transboundary landscapes will add value because it makes it possible to implement similar approaches and actions in each country and address connectivity needs between protected areas and across borders. Combining a landscape approach and regional coordination will lead to more effective conservation of biodiversity and benefits for people, which cannot be achieved through purely national interventions. It will be possible to scale up impacts through shared learning, building alliances across borders for policy influencing and work with organizations that transcend national borders Three main strategies will orient the course of this project: a) income-generating activities that promote sustainable livelihoods for men, women and their families, b) building capacities and alliances of rightsholders’ organizations, and c) advocacy for equitable climate and nature solutions. This project contributes to WWF global goals for Forest and Governance, the strategic plans of the WWF offices involved in this proposal and is aligned with the objectives in the strategy for Sweden’s regional development cooperation with Latin America 2021–2025.

Objectives

The project has three main outcomes with associated short- , medium, and long -term objectives: 1. Income generating activities that promote sustainable livelihoods, human wellbeing , and natural resource management - By 2024, at least 15 income generating activities are prioritized with rightholders. - By 2025, at least 8 income generating activities are being implemented with adaptive management considerations. - By 2026, At least 5,000 IPLC people participating in income generating activities. 2. Building capacities and alliances of rightsholders for more empowered territorial governance - By 2023, at least 15 IPLC organizations (5 per landscape) trained in organizationaland financial management and territorial governance. - By 2024, at least 30 IPLC will be trained on advocacy and leadership. - By 2025, at least 6 alliances (2 per landscape) between IPLCs and other key stakeholders should be established to support equittable climate and nature solutions 3. IPLCs have a stronger voice for equittable climate and nature solutions - By 2025 at least 15 IPLC organizations have amplified their voices in public debate for equitable climate and nature solutions