Utariri: Integrated Biodiversity, Climate and Livelihoods Programme Utariri: Integrated Biodiversity, Climate and Livelihoods Programme - Utariri; Integrated Biodiversity, Climate and Livelihoods Programme The programme sets out to empower communities to act as incentivised custodians of the Zambezi Valley landscape, sustainably utilising the natural resources around them while ensuring that future generations can derive the same benefits. Communities will be supported to diversify their income streams, participate in the wildlife economy, implement climate smart agriculture and reduce human-wildlife conflict. 

The programme has four strategic objectives: i) natural resource protection, restoration and management; ii) reduction of human-wildlife conflict; iii) improved income earning opportunities for communities; and iv) stakeholder capacity building skills and knowledge. Programmet syftar till att stärka lokala samhällens kapacitet och incitament att förvalta Zambezidalens landskap, nyttja naturresurser på ett hållbart sätt och säkerställa att även framtida generationer kan nyttja naturresurserna på samma sätt. Lokala samhällen kommer att få stöd för att diversifiera sina inkomstkällor, delta i ekonomin kring djur och natur, utföra klimatsmart jordbruk och minimera konflikt mellan människor, djur och natur. 

Programmet har fyra strategiska mål: i) skydd, restaurering och förvaltning av naturresurser; ii) minimerad konflikt mellan människor, djur och natur; iii) förbättrade inkomstmöjligheter för lokala samhällen; och iv) stärkt kapacitet och kunskap hos involverade aktörer. Strategic Objectives of the Utariri Programme are

1. Natural resource protection, restoration and management

Outcome 1: Increased community stewardship and sustainable utilisation of natural resources focusing on pro-poor and gender sensitive empowerment actions. 

This will be achieved through increased community stewardship focussing on pro poor and gender sensitive empowerment actions. The key programme activities will include a huge drive for reforestation and support for indigenous tree woodlots for over 1000 households and 20 local schools. Activities also include expanding the use of the Community Share Ownership Trust model which brings the communities, private sector and authorities to a roundtable to share burdens and profits associated with biodiversity management and builds on the extensive lessons learnt from the CAMPFIRE Programme. The key implementors in this objective will be DCA and AWF.

2. Reduction of Human Wildlife Conflict

Outcome 2: Enhanced ecological restoration and improved landscape planning for communities.

This will be achieved through improved landscape planning for communities. Programme activities will include careful landuse planning and positioning of strategic and solarised (where appropriate) water points for both communities and wildlife, use of chilli and beeehives as natural fences (these also create income earning potential), use of technology such as collaring animals and training and equipping of community-based scouts. The key implementors for this objective will be DCA, AWF and BAT.

3. Improved Income Earning Opportunities for Communities

Outcome 3. Enhanced participation of women and youths in livelihoods and resilience building efforts.

This will be achieved through multiplication and diversification of livelihood opportunities with a particular focus on inclusion of women and youth. Activities include promotion of agrobased activities that are climate smart and high value for example quinoa, amaranth, chillies and mushrooms as well as value chain strengthening of apiculture and non-timber forest products. Support will be in the form of starter kits, agro ecology training, establishing community associations for on and off farm products, developing logistics systems to enable online market linkages and promotion of tourism based local economies. The key implementors will be FACHIG and FOHF.

4. Stakeholder Capacity Building and Skills and Knowledge Transfer

Outcome 4. Increased gender sensitive public, private participation in sustainable biodiversity management, climate, and research. 

The objective is to ensure that responsible authorities can meaningfully deliver their mandates and for increased gender sensitive public, private participation in natural resource management. Activities include supporting research work and innovations by local NGOs or community-based organisations working in biodiversity management, assisting Zimbabweans to participate in wildlife value chains and creating opportunities for women and youth to be paid custodians of the ecosystem. All consortium members will work in collaboration to achieve this objective.

Each consortium member brings specific expertise in at least one of the objective areas in a particular geography of the Zambezi Valley. The consortium partners will build each others capacity and complement each others work to achieve the ambitious targets set.