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I ntroduction
to the Project
Founded
in the year 2003 as a Community Based
Organization to make a contribution to
biodiversity conservation and sustainable
development in Uganda, Genesis Initiative
Uganda aims to uproot the habits and
practices which weaken and degrade our
environment, robbing from us the gifts
that were provided by Mother Nature.
Genesis Initiative Uganda also seeks to
improve good feeding and hygiene among the
beneficiaries.
Networks
and Capacity Building for Biodiversity
Conservation and Participatory Development
in Uganda has been conceived by Genesis
Initiative Uganda to be piloted in Mukono
District in Uganda and later implemented
in the entire country. The project concept
seeks to involve women, who will be
empowered to participate in bringing forth
positive changes in the areas of
conservation and improvement of the
environment, nutrition and hygiene. It is
hoped that the project will be enabled by
the helping hand of community based
tourists visiting our country who will
offer both skills and finances to these
women.
The
concept recognizes the essential role that
households and communities, applying
locally appropriate solutions, can play in
conserving biodiversity, reducing the
likelihood of adverse climate change, and
protecting their natural heritage and
international waters. The project is
conceived on the premise that people will
be empowered to protect their environment
when they are organized to take action,
have a measure of control over access to
the natural resource base, have the
necessary information and knowledge, and
believe that their social and economic
well-being is dependent on sound long-term
resource management. By raising public
awareness, building partnerships, and
promoting policy dialogue, the project
seeks to help create a more supportive
environment within Uganda for achieving
sustainable development and addressing
national and global environment
issues.
The
project is conceived to ensure the
participation of all groups with an
interest in and knowledge of biodiversity,
such as people working in natural resource
management, research, education, industry,
government, non-governmental organizations
(NGOs), and community members in the
target areas. The project will provide for
an independent, open process to foster
analysis and unencumbered dialogue to
address and build broader consensus on the
key ecological, economic, institutional
and social issues related to biodiversity
conservation and the implementation of the
agreed upon action plans from the regional
Convention on Biological
Diversity.
The
project will promote awareness to locals
by availing information on topical areas
including: Biological Diversity, Climate
Change, Desertification, Significance of
wetlands to Uganda and the international
community. Through awareness seminars, the
project seeks to promote dialogue on some
of the key issues facing the country in
its efforts to conserve and sustainably
use biodiversity. Key stakeholders will
include: District Local Governmens, local
NGOs and the local.
The
proposal will seek $ 649,000 to support
the costs of holding the awareness
seminars, including support for community
participation and in setting up of best
practice demo centers. The funds will be
used in the pilot phase to be implemented
in Mukono District.
Project
Justification
The
current situation presents a window of
opportunity for a carefully focused,
medium scale project to assist the
District Local Governments in promoting
their goals for the wise management and
conservation of their natural resources
for long time sustainability and
development. To this end, there is a
particular need for the development of a
project proposal and to seek funding to
further this cause.
Government
has drawn good policies and commissioned
several bodies to address the
environmental problems but has realized
little impact to the livelihood of
intended beneficiaries. The project
concept is to involve people who are
affected, and empower them to address the
issues that affect them. Women have
suffered social economic challenges- They
are the most affected and afflicted by the
environmental degradation.
The
project aims to develop a sustainable,
holistic, ecosystem wide management
approach to the conservation and
management of biodiversity resources and
to assist Mukono District, and later
Uganda, to fully participate in regional
tourism, conservation and environmental
initiatives. The participation of key
sectors and stakeholders is envisaged
through sector related implementation
components. These would be integrated and
coordinated through a participatory
planning process and management
framework.
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