ARCOS’ contribution to community livelihoods through Conservation Agreements Yvonne Bigengimana, ARCOS La Palisse Hotel, Kigali November, 4th 2015

1. Yvonne Bigengimana
Executive Assistant, ARCOS
La Palisse Hotel/Kigali
November, 4th 2015
ARCOS’ contribution to community livelihoods
through Conservation Agreements
Collaborative action for nature and people

2. ARCOS Background
• ARCOS is a regional conservation
organisation focusing on AR region
(from the northern end of Lake
Albert to the southern Lake
Tanganyika), the Great Lakes region
and African Mountains;
• Mission: Enhance biodiversity
conservation and sustainable
management of natural resources
through the promotion of
collaborative conservation action for
nature and people

3. ARCOS’ 20 Years Markers
1 AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN PROMOTING
COLLABORATIVE ACTIONS
2 FACILITATING DIALOGUE ON CONSERVATION AND
DEVELOPMENT ISSUES
3 BUILDING LOCAL INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY
4 FACILITATING REGIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEM
5 INTEGRATED LANDSCAPE AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
6 ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS ON AFRICAN MOUNTAINS
AND GREAT LAKES FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
7 CIVIL SOCIETY NETWORKING AND DEVELOPMENT
8 ADVOCATING FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN DEVELOPMENT
AGENDA
9 BUILDING COMMUNITY ENTERPRISES AND
RESILIENCE
10 STAFF AND BOARD LEADERSHIP

4. Supporting Nature Based Community Enterprises
(NBCEs) through Conservation Agreements
Community Conservation Agreements (CAs) Approach:
• Support communities business who in return commit
to engage in good environmental practices (tree
planting, Patrolling protected areas, share
information, etc.)
• In Rwanda: NBCEs in Mukura, Gitarama, Nyungwe
and Rugezi landscapes are supported:
• 2 cooperatives around Mukura Forest: KOTEREM-beekeepers
and JYAMBEREMUNYARWANDAKAZI-farmers,
• 6 community groups of beekeepers around Rugezi marshland
• 3 coffee growers cooperatives in Sholi, Gitsi and Shangi
(Coffee certification)
• 15 new NBCEs to be added through FONERWA Project (Bugesera and Rusumo landscapes)

5. Conservation Agreements Process
• Conduct feasibility study and value chain analysis
• Conduct due diligence to identify which community
group to work with
• Define conditionalities and Terms of Agreement
• Signing of agreement and provision of funds
• Implementation Stage
• Provide training to Selected community groups
• Conduct participatory business planning and Market linkage
• Conduct regular M&E and experience sharing

6. Results
• Community engaged in Environmental
Conservation through the signing of CAs
• Improved community groups Governance
• Coffee Certification process initiated (Coffee
shading, organic manure, waste water treatment,
etc.)
• Good practices for sustainable agriculture and
beekeeping (soil erosion control and agroforestry,
modern beekeeping)
• Awareness raised

7. Lessons learned
• Engaging community is not an easy job,
• it requires a lot of effort and good approach to
rise their attention and insure the long term
commitment.
• Working with good partners has made the
Conservation Agreements approach successful
• Built experience in managing high expectation
with limited funds
• Change people’s mind is a long process

8. I think
communit
y photo
would be
better
Murakoze!