A total of 10 out of 25 grassroots organisations that emerged as winners of the 2012 Equator Initiative (EI) a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) completion are from Africa.
They included Swazi Indigenous Products of Swaziland, Zenab for Women in Development of Sudan, Abrha Weatsbha Community of Ethiopia, Amising Association of Morocco, Anja Miray Association of Madagascar, and Fishers’ Association of the Rural Community of Senegal, Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust of Kenya and the Medicinal Plants Association of Egypt.
Ms Eleen Ravin, Manager, Equator Initiative of the UNDP who disclosed this in an interview with Ghana News Agency at the on-going World Indigenous Network (WIN) conference said the competition seeks to recognise and advance local sustainable development solutions for people, nature and resilient communities.
The event is being attended by about 1,500 delegates from more than 50 countries including Ghana, to share stories, knowledge, cultural experiences and ideas on how to better manage ecosystems, protect the environment and support sustainable livelihoods.
WIN seeks to improve on the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of natural resources, improve social cohesion and increase economic opportunities and alleviate poverty.
Ms Ravin said EI seeks to recognise the success of indigenous initiatives, create opportunities and platforms to share knowledge and good practice, inform policy to foster an enabling environment for local action, and develop the capacity of indigenous initiatives to scale-up their impact.
Ms Sindile Mamba, Programmes Officer of the Swazi Indigenous Products said her outfit owns a natural seed oil enterprise that provides jobs and income to local women.
She said the group is mainly involved in protecting the ecosystems by sustainably cultivating and collecting wild marula, trichilia, and ximenia tree seeds in the Lubombo region of the country.
“The women-led initiative also runs a tree-planting programme and offers environmental education training for more than 2,400 seed collectors. Their capacity have been built on issues relating to the environment including the threats of over-grazing, soil erosion and unsustainable harvesting methods,” she said.
Ms Mamba said the seed oils are used to produce skin care products as well as local skincare products called Swazi Secrets, which had captured a greater share of the market supply-chain.
Sharing the success story of the community that was nominated for the award, Mr Koto Koku Agbee a member of the Ando Kpomey of Togo said after a devastating bush fire in 1973, the area created a green belt buffer around that has grown into a 100-hectare forest.
He said a participatory management committee was established to monitor the forest and its resources and to regulate its use.
“The community authorises limited resource extraction to meet livelihood needs – both timber and non-timber forest products – and manages revenues generated from the sale of forest-based products.
“Local women are authorised entry to the community forest to access firewood, significantly reducing the average time needed to forage for cooking fuel.
“Various crops are grown in the forest, including a range of medicinal plants, which have served to bolster local healthcare needs,” he said.
By Albert Oppong-Ansah
Source: GNA
