The project conducted household surveys and community dialogues to incorporate local perceptions of soil, water, and biodiversity. Farmers' observations of drying springs, declining rainfall, and erosion were used alongside model outputs to co-design interventions. Practices like terracing, organic fertilization, and family gardens were promoted. Gender inclusion and respect for indigenous governance enhanced ownership and resilience.

The Protected Area Management System (PAMS) by NOARKTECH is a centralized, intuitive dashboard aggregating data from edge devices. Co-designed with forest officials and community members, it delivers predictive analytics, real-time alerts, and supports evidence-based decision-making.

Industrial fishing causes serious impacts such as the destruction
of the marine food chain -especially when catching key species
such as shrimp- and the use of fishing gear that affects dolphins,
turtles, sharks and even whales, which suffer injuries or stress
due to noise and blows. The purpose of the ban on industrial
fishing has been to reduce these impacts. In addition, responsible
artisanal fishing is promoted, avoiding altering the ecological
balance and using more sustainable methods, such as the use of
curved hooks that protect vulnerable species by preventing them
from being easily hooked. Their fishing is based on selective
techniques such as hand-lining or spinning, which conserves
species and ensures a viable fishery in the long term.

Several organizations and researchers have carried out
monitoring work focused on artisanal fisheries, generating
valuable information that highlights the importance of this area.
These data, complemented by technical assistance, have served
as a fundamental basis for establishing and sustaining the ZEPA.

The local leadership process began between 1997 and 1998,
when a group of artisanal fishers identified a growing conflict
with industrial fishing that affected their practices and territories.
The most critical point of the conflict occurred between 2002 and
2005, when the industry intensified its presence, generating loss
of equipment and greater pressure on the resources. This
prompted the community to organize to represent their interests
and seek solutions from the government. Leveraged by local
governance schemes, these leaders were able to support each
other in order to advance the process of establishing the ZEPA.

Building local and regional expertise in DNA barcoding and metabarcoding is vital for sustainable biodiversity conservation. Supported by BBI-CBD funding, our training programs target conservation practitioners from Lebanon, Tunisia, Côte d'Ivoire, and Jordan, including those without prior molecular biology experience. These hands-on workshops cover sample collection, laboratory techniques, data analysis, and interpretation, empowering participants to independently apply molecular tools in their contexts. Capacity building democratizes access to innovative technologies, fosters regional collaboration, and ensures continuity beyond the project lifecycle.

Through technical partners such as the Ministry of Natural
Resources and Forests, the partnership ensures members of the Malawi Green Corps will
benefit from peer learning, transfer of employable skills, and opportunities for youth engagement
in environmental networks and coalitions. Members of the corps receive training in social
accountability, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and civic engagement in order to take
advantage of opportunities from the bidder and/or other available training. Gender
mainstreaming will also feature prominently by offering equal opportunities to young women
and men to join the Green Corps, while also delivering protection and gender equality training
including on SGBV and HIV/AIDS, to all members. While the CO has experience with each of these
organizations, a RFP will be released to inform the final selection of service providers and
performance milestones. Outcome 4 will also identify opportunities to build the skills of youths
so that they are able to develop and pursue nature-based businesses, including through grant
applications to the new Zanchito initiative starting in 2021. This approach will expand the focus
beyond employability to green business development. The bidder will collaborate with UNDP
and the Zanchito initiative to promote access to skills development and entrepreneurship
training.

Up to 5,000ha of degraded land will be restored by the Malawi Green Corps, including through
clean-up of illegal dump sites containing non-hazardous waste. Recyclable materials will be
diverted from the waste stream for repurposing, recycling and/or sale, providing further job and
income generation opportunities. Afforestation and reforestation of degraded sites will focus on
vulnerable watersheds and maximize use of fast-growing indigenous species of trees, shrubs and
grasses suitable to the sites, with linkages to ongoing integrated watershed management and
land restoration initiatives being delivered through government and development partners,
including ecosystem-based adaptation initiatives financed through the GEF. For example, Green
Corps members may work in similar locations to participants in the national social protection
programme to ensure that restoration efforts are complementary, and may link to lake and river
basin interventions under the existing Transformational Action for Resilience in Malawi
(TRANSFORM) initiative.

Recruitment of youth prioritizes localizing economic benefits to host communities and
districts, with preference to engaging workers living adjacent hotspot areas. Leveraging UNDP’s
partnership with Malawi’s National Registration Bureau (NRB), biometric national ID cards will be
used by the service provider to validate personnel and ensure transparency of labour inputs and
remuneration. Recruitment guidelines will be finalized by the service provider in consultation
with UNDP and GoM, incorporating gender, disability and income-poverty considerations.
Consistent application of health and safety protocols, including those for COVID-19 as well as
protection safeguards for vulnerable people, will be adhered to by all partners. The service
providers must include personnel protective equipment (PPEs) as part of its procurement plan.

UNDP signed partnership agreements with the Government of Malawi and the selected service provider to deliver core objectives, including: identifying and rehabilitating environmental hotspots aligned with national watershed, forest, and landscape restoration priorities; confirming roles and responsibilities for district and community engagement; establishing a salary accountability and tracking system (linked to national ID); designing and sharing an online mentor and peer platform (co-supported by the UNDP Acceleration Lab); and an M&E framework for measurement.