Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests of Tanzania and Kenya ...

CEPF will support efforts to raise further funds for this hotspot in partnership with an institutionworking in Tanzania or Kenya.5.1 Establish a professional Resource Mobilization Unit, within an appropriate local partnerinstitution, for raising funds and resources for the hotspot. An appropriate institution in Tanzaniaor Kenya should be identified to host or co-host an RMU for the Eastern Arc and Coastal Forestshotspot. Depending on the arrangements, this RMU could provide services to both thatinstitution and CEPF or it could concentrate on hotspot funding alone.5.2 Utilize high-level corporate contacts to secure funding from the private sector for thehotspot. There has been relatively little private sector involvement in the hotspot. In a few cases(notably with TFCG in Tanzania), private sector support has been obtained, but this has mostlybeen through local approaches to mid-level management and the funding obtained has beensmall-scale. Given the global importance of the hotspot and the interest this has stimulated, it istime to move up the corporate ladder and seek support from higher levels of management,particularly within the multinationals that have interests in East Africa. CEPF is in a goodposition to facilitate this process and a professional RMU would quickly follow up anyopportunities that might arise.5.3 Train local NGOs and community-based organizations in fundraising and proposalwriting for the hotspot. Although many of the local NGOs and some community-basedorganizations have developed skills in fundraising and proposal writing, the standard is still lowin the international context in which funding is being sought. The RMU could be of greatassistance in raising this standard through workshops, publications, sharing databases andcollaboration with local NGOs and community-based organizations in proposal developmentfrom the inception of an idea to the submission of the document.SUSTAINABILITYThe issue of sustainability for conservation interventions is usually addressed by one or acombination of five strategies:1. establishing sustainable funding mechanisms such as a Trust or Endowment Fund;2. building local human capacity to manage conservation issues;3. fostering private sector involvement in conservation;4. establishing/assisting commercially viable conservation projects; and5. leveraging further donor funding.62