Case Study

CSEF 2 was based on the understanding that while Zambia is richly endowed with environment and natural resource assets, future economic and environmental sustainability is dependent on improved management of these assets. Civil society is well placed to play a central role in this and CSEF 1 demonstrated that with well-focussed technical and operational support it can do so. CSEF 2 is building on these lessons to achieve greater results and consolidate gains through building sustainable capacity across Zambian Civil Society, focussing on the smallest and hardest to reach Zambian CSOs, many of which provide the critical interlocutor between the countries’ people, and the resources upon which their livelihoods and economic potential rest.

CSEF 2 has also further deepened the focus on environmental research and advocacy in Zambia, supporting a variety of CSOs to undertake and access high quality primary research on environmental issues, and their interface with the economy and society. Importantly, CSEF 2 has also gone further in supporting CSOs to use evidence in their advocacy approaches, working with Government and other key stakeholders to analyse the comprehensiveness and adequacy of the policy landscape, and to monitor its’ full and effective implementation.

To date, CSEF 2 has entered into more than 30 individual grant agreements with various CSOs working across Zambia on environment and natural resource management issues ranging from conservation and biodiversity, to climate smart agriculture, to solid waste management and beyond. A further 50 organisations have received dedicated capacity building support inclusive of capacity pathways which provide ongoing mentorship enabling CSOs to apply learned capacity in their actual day-to-day work.

A critical innovation in CSEF 2 has been the establishment of the CSEF 2 Environmental CSO Hub, which is a membership based networking and information sharing facility intended to increase the degree of effective coordination and collaboration amongst CSOs in the natural resource sector and between CSOs and other stakeholders. A further innovation has been the inclusion of private sector grant partners, recognising the increasing importance of multi-stakeholder approaches to natural resource stewardship and sustainability.

•    More than 37,949 individual beneficiaries have been reached and supported through CSEF 2 partner CSOs;

•    A group of CSEF2 supported CSOs made a written and verbal submission to Parliament in support of ratification of the Paris Agreement. The Agreement was ratified by the Government of the Republic of Zambia in December 2016;

•    CSEF 2 CSO partners are providing income generating activities and livelihood options for beneficiaries.  For plastic waste collection and recycling, recording a 40% change in income of beneficiaries. To date, 618 livelihoods have been secured (114 boys and men and 504 women and girls) from 15 wards.

•    In terms of agro-forestry: 6 Community Forest Management Groups have been established; 182,665 trees planted; 12,914 hectares set aside for forest regeneration/protection; 4,462 farmers trained in conservation agriculture, agroforestry and/or organic farming; 12,097 and litres of honey produced and sold.