Growing the Wealth of the Poor - World Resources Institute

UPDATE: NAMIBIAincluding a limited culture of participation, a distrust concerningthe benefits of participation, and gender and ethnicinequalities (NACSO 2006:38–39; Seitz 2008). In the ruralcontext, these challenges are often exaggerated by physicalbarriers. The Khoadi Hoas Conservancy, for example, in thewestern semiarid part of Namibia, relies upon a single pickuptruck to ferry participants to meetings across the conservancy’smany square kilometers (Jones and Mosimane 2007:22).But as the benefits to participation become clear, even withinthe sparse rural terrain, communities have spoken up. Particularlywhen conservancy revenues accumulate, members tend toshow more interest in payouts and processes (NACSO2006:38,40). They begin to demand more accountability fromthe conservancy management committees and sometimes insiston changes to the constitution that place more power in thehands of members (Jones 2008).Greater participation is a mechanism for members to applypressure to conservancy committees, challenging them todeliver benefits fairly. One of the most contentious issues hasbeen the handling of finances, mainly because poor bookkeepingand auditing practices have resulted in missing funds anddisgruntled members (NACSO 2006:38). In the Torra Conservancy,for example, members complained that there was noclear process for recording the receipts of payouts. This led tosome instances of conflict, but also resulted in recommendationsthat a third party, like the Ministry of Environment andTourism, assume an advisory role to oversee the dispersion ofpayouts (Vaughan et al. 2003:19).Overall, as the experience of conservancy management committeesripens, the opportunities for participation are growing aswell. By 2006, some 80 percent of all conservancies wereholding annual general meetings in which conservancymembers were able to participate in decision-making, reelect orremove committee members, receive financial reports, andapprove conservancy budgets. In three conservancies where thecommittees did not at first submit audited financial documentsfor approval, conservancy members insisted that they do so,marking a heightened expectation of accountability (NACSO2006:38–39).NAMIBIAN ASSOCIATION OF CBNRM SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS (NACSO)OrganizationSupport Activities32Legal Assistance CentreNamibia Community-BasedTourism AssociationNamibia Non-GovernmentalOrganisation ForumNamibia Nature FoundationRössing FoundationMulti-disciplinary Research CentreNamibia Development TrustCentre for Research InformationAction in Africa – Southern AfricaDevelopment and Consulting!NARADesert Research Foundationof NamibiaRural People’s Institutefor Social EmpowermentIntegrated Rural Developmentand Nature ConservationNyae Nyae Development FoundationMinistry of Environment and TourismSource: MET 2005; NEEN 2004a,b,c; Weaver 2007; Jones 2008Supplies legal advice and advocacy on issues related to community-based natural resource management (CBNRM).Serves as an umbrella organization and support provider for community-based tourism initiatives.Represents a broad range of NGOs and community-based organizations.Provides assistance through grants, financial administration, technical support, fundraising, and monitoringand evaluation.Provides training and materials for CBNRM partners.Centre of the University of Namibia provides research-related support.Provides assistance to established and emerging conservancies in southern Namibia.Provides research, developmental assistance, and market linkages for natural plant products.Conducts capacity training in participatory, democratic management for conservancy communities and institutionssupporting communities.Researches arid land management, conducts participatory learning projects with communities about sustainablemanagement, and engages policymakers to improve regulatory framework for sustainable development.Provides assistance to established and emerging conservancies in southern Kunene and Erongo regions.A field-based organization working to support conservancy development in Kunene and Caprivi regions.Supports San communities in the Otjozondjupa region in the Nyae Nyae Conservancy.MET is not a formal member, but attends meetings and participates in NACSO working groups. Provides a broadspectrum of support in terms of policy, wildlife monitoring and management, and publicity.