Monitoring | PANORAMA

Sustainable Agriculture and Landscapes Management

The integration of sustainable agriculture and landscape management practices in land restoration efforts is crucial in conserving soil and water, promoting biodiversity, and mitigating climate change. This approach also improves livelihoods, enhances ecosystem services, and builds resilience. To achieve this, we conducted thorough assessments, engaged local farmers and other stakeholders, developed context-specific plans, provided training, monitored progress, and foster policy support. This ensures a holistic and sustainable restoration of degraded lands, benefiting both people and the environment, including water resources. It's important for the community to collaborate, contribute, and learn effective environmental management approaches to ensure the project's long-term sustainability and unsustainable agricultural practices.

Prioritizing alternative livelihood options in land restoration.
Sensitizing the community to environmental issues and methods to prevent land degradation.
Integrating climate smart agriculture in soil restoration.
Community Ownership and government support.

Emphasizing the importance of community participation to identify their top priority issues.
Raising community awareness of all interventions, including gully restoration and reforestation, through comprehensive awareness campaigns.
Establishing an interim engagement point, such as collaborating with traditional leaders, to secure community support

Documentation and dissemination of results

Participatory monitoring and evaluation for the management of community production projects

Canvas for planning and recording activities.

Rainforest Alliance México

MDE Mexico designed a Monitoring and Evaluation System to measure its performance at different levels, which allowed reporting its results and lessons learned. This system was based on documentary evidence of the activities carried out during the implementation of the initiative, as well as on the information reported by project beneficiaries and the operation of the Information and Complaint Request System, linked to compliance with the project's safeguards. In this sense, the creation of mechanisms and tools to obtain first-hand information from the beneficiaries, under participatory and inclusive processes, was fundamental for its operation, for which the Subproject Monitoring and Participatory Evaluation System (SiMyEPS) was designed and implemented. This system brought together a set of principles, processes and participatory tools, so that the beneficiary groups themselves could measure their performance by monitoring, analyzing and reporting progress in the fulfillment of their activities and results. By documenting in this way the fulfillment of activities and objectives, the beneficiaries obtained relevant information to strengthen decision-making in their productive projects, improve their management and contribute to transparency.

Design of a Monitoring and Evaluation System to measure performance at different levels, which allowed reporting results and lessons learned to the different levels of project governance.
Capacity building for system implementation, technical support, follow-up and training for beneficiaries (user manual).
Ongoing accompaniment and advice to the working groups to support monitoring tasks.
Information reported by project beneficiaries.
Designation of a monitoring focal point within each group, whose responsibility was to coordinate monitoring activities within their organization.
The strengthening of coordination mechanisms between facilitators to provide advice and follow-up in the field was key to simplifying the process of integrating technical reports, ensuring the quality of information and integrating evidence.
Development of an adaptation strategy for implementing SiMyEPS remotely and under the implementation conditions of the groups.
Generation of resources and didactic materials for the development of training activities, as well as the execution of participatory monitoring activities with a culturally appropriate language.
Design of dynamics to facilitate the development of the implementation stages of participatory monitoring by facilitators and group members.
Coordination between facilitators at the local level and the Monitoring Focal Point to ensure the correct implementation of the SiMyEPS, which facilitated the integration of technical reports and the systematization of evidence, which is the base information that feeds the result indicators of the MDE Mexico project.
Design of a mechanism to facilitate the process of participatory construction of technical proposals remotely to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from limiting capacity building and to encourage the adoption and implementation of participatory monitoring by the beneficiaries of the Social Inclusion Window. These mechanisms included the adaptation of instruments to record progress in the completion of activities and the design of didactic resources for remote capacity building (explanatory guides, instructions and video tutorials).

Participatory monitoring requires the adoption of tools to document and report on the fulfillment of activities and results in the implementation of a productive activity by local communities, using concrete evidence to contribute to the transparency and accountability of the financed projects.
Documenting the fulfillment of activities and objectives provides relevant information to strengthen decision-making in productive projects and improve their management and performance.
The development and strengthening of capacities for the participatory monitoring and evaluation of productive projects provides beneficiaries with the knowledge and tools for monitoring and reporting progress, as well as the achievement of goals, which will make it easier for them to carry out this activity in future projects financed by national or international donors.
The continuous improvement and adaptations of the participatory monitoring system facilitated the adequate design of processes and tools based on the needs of the beneficiaries, achieving a better adoption of monitoring activities from their own experience.
Technological and digital tools were innovative for documenting and evidencing progress remotely in pandemic contexts; however, direct follow-up and attention in the field was key to reinforcing beneficiaries' trust in the project and addressing specific challenges by improving the understanding and adoption of processes and tools.

Monitoring

Local

Subnational

Monitoreo y evaluación participativa para la gestión de proyectos productivos comunitarios.

Nota de Blog: Estrategias de Monitoreo y Evaluación Participativa para la gesti…

Implementation and Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning

Effective policy lobbying and advocacy must address the implementation of both existing and newly finalized policies to ensure they meet their intended goals. This involves continuous monitoring to track progress and assess the effectiveness of policy implementation. All partners involved in a program or policy must participate in this ongoing process to ensure alignment with objectives and adapt strategies as needed.

Regularly assess and compare the goals and objectives to evaluate progress and identify gaps. Research and analysis support this comparative review
Working through coalitions enhances policy advocacy efforts by uniting diverse voices, amplifying impact, and strengthening influence

Policy implementation is a lengthy process involving diverse stakeholders with varying priorities. Patience and persistence are crucial
Initially, we overlooked sectors like tourism that have significant stakes in natural resource management. Including all relevant sectors can reveal important interests and enhance advocacy
Engaging a wide range of stakeholders is essential. Excluding key players can hinder progress and make achieving objectives more challenging

Monitoring

Documentation and dissemination of results

Local

Subnational

National

Monitoring & Evaluation: The Core of Sustainable Conservation

Youth engagement efforts

Nourish Africa

Youth engagement efforts

Nourish Africa

Youth engagement efforts

Nourish Africa

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) is central to ensuring the sustainability of our tree restoration efforts. This building block allows us to track the progress of tree growth and refine our restoration strategies for better outcomes. We employ drones to capture before-and-after images, providing a clear visual comparison of the impact of our restoration work. By continuously assessing our efforts, we can make data-driven adjustments that enhance the effectiveness of our conservation initiatives.

Critical to success is the integration of robust MEL tools and systems from the start of the project. Regular reporting and analysis are essential for adapting and improving our strategies as the campaign progresses. Access to advanced technology, like drones, enhances our ability to monitor and evaluate restoration efforts, providing detailed insights that guide ongoing improvements.

We realised that incorporating MEL into our conservation efforts is vital for long-term success. New technologies, such as drones, have significantly improved our ability to track and assess the impact of our work. These tools not only provide more accurate data but also allow for more informed decision-making, ensuring that our restoration efforts are both effective and sustainable.

Monitoring

Documentation and dissemination of results

Local

Landscape Assessment for Species Success

Land assessment

Nourish Africa

Land assessment

Nourish Africa

The purpose of this building block is to conduct thorough landscape assessments on the land owned by colleges and universities. By evaluating the environmental conditions, we can determine which species are best suited to thrive in these areas. This careful selection process ensures higher success rates for planting and contributes to more sustainable conservation efforts. The landscape assessment serves as the foundation for effective planting strategies, aligning species selection with the specific ecological characteristics of the land, ultimately leading to more resilient ecosystems.

Key factors for success include having strong environmental technical expertise within the team and leveraging our partnerships with universities to access the land for assessment. These partnerships provide the necessary support and resources to conduct comprehensive evaluations, ensuring that the species selected are well-suited to the specific conditions of each site, which is critical for the long-term success of the planting efforts.

One of the primary lessons learned is that not all tree species can thrive in the same region. Conducting land assessments is essential for understanding the unique environmental conditions of each area. This knowledge allows us to select species that are more likely to succeed, improving the overall effectiveness of our planting efforts. By aligning species with their ideal habitats, we enhance the sustainability and impact of our conservation initiatives.

Identifying with the communities strategic locations for solar panel implementation

Identifying strategic locations for solar panel implementation with communities involves assessing areas with high sunlight exposure and low shading. Engaging local members ensures that sites are selected based on practical needs, accessibility, and minimal disruption. This collaborative approach optimize's energy efficiency and aligns solar installations with community priorities.

Community Involvement: Engage local members in identifying potential locations to ensure sites meet practical and cultural needs.
Site Assessments: Conduct thorough assessments of sunlight exposure, land use, and shading to determine optimal locations.
Local Knowledge: Leverage the community’s knowledge of the area for selecting suitable and accessible sites.
Technical Expertise: Involve experts in solar technology to evaluate and validate chosen locations.
Access to Resources: Ensure availability of necessary tools and technology for site evaluation and installation.
Infrastructure: Verify that selected locations have or can be developed with the required infrastructure for solar panel deployment.
Regulatory Compliance: Adhere to local regulations and obtain necessary permits for site selection and installation.

Site Assessments: Conduct detailed assessments of sunlight exposure, land use, and shading to determine optimal sites.
Utilize Local Knowledge: Leverage community expertise to identify potential sites based on local conditions and needs.
Technical Evaluation: Involve solar technology experts to validate site suitability and ensure technical feasibility.
Community Feedback: Regularly gather and incorporate feedback from the community to address any concerns and adjust plans as needed.

Planning phase

Monitoring

Local

Creating community led committees to ensure participatory approaches are implemented

Creating community-led committees ensures participatory approaches by involving local members in decision-making. These committees empower communities to actively engage in project planning, implementation, and monitoring, fostering ownership and accountability. This approach enhances relevance, cultural alignment, and sustainability, ensuring that solutions are effectively tailored to the community's specific needs and priorities. Community members would be chosen through election in their local language.

Inclusive Representation: Ensure that committees include diverse community members to reflect various perspectives and needs.
Effective Communication: Establish channels for open and transparent communication within the committee and with the broader community.
Supportive Leadership: Engage local leaders and influencers to endorse and support the committee’s efforts.
Regular Meetings and Feedback: Schedule regular meetings and feedback sessions to monitor progress and make adjustments as needed.
Clear Objectives: Define the committee's goals and roles clearly to guide effective participation and decision-making.

Community engagement is vital for a project to be successful . Involving the community throughout, using a participative approach is at the core of the success and sustainability of the project.

Development of Community Governance Structures for Sustainable Land Management

Loading seedlings for transportation to planting site at South Kinangop Forest Station by CFA and KFS staff.

NACOFA

CFA members transporting seedlings to riparian restoration sites

NACOFA

This building block focuses on developing and formalizing community governance structures to support sustainable land management. By leveraging networks, we connect various ecosystem management systems across Kenya to align resource management with livelihoods and conservation efforts.

We prioritize understanding the leadership within community groups and work directly with these leaders to engage the broader community. When requested by the community, we help formalize these existing structures to ensure our programs align with the established power dynamics and effectively address community needs.

Restoration agreements serve to formalize relationships with communities, acting as a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to align expectations and build trust among community members.
Government involvement is essential, requiring a direct line of communication with communities to ensure impactful ecosystem restoration.
Facilitating community elections to select leaders responsible for restoration networks empowers the community and ensures accountability.
Adhering to legal requirements in restoration policy that mandate community members to take on governance roles, thereby promoting the development of community institutions.

Building networks helps unite various community governance structures, fostering the sharing of knowledge and aligning efforts.
It is crucial to assess the community's need for governance structure facilitation while respecting existing power dynamics.
Community-driven network development creates a central power structure and formalized forum, ensuring that community concerns are taken seriously. This approach enhances visibility and influence with government stakeholders, strengthening CFAs as central institutions within the conservation framework.

Implementation

Monitoring

Local

Monitoring and research

Monitoring of planted seedlings for restoration and conservation purpose

Monitoring and research

Adigla Appolinaire Wedjangnon

Monitoring and evaluation allows us to effectively keep track of how the plants are doing by regulaurly studying the microsite conditions. The purpose is to gather information that helps us understand what works and what needs improvement. Continuous rese

Resource availability: Access to tools, trained personnel, and financial support for effective monitoring is crucial to gather reliable data. A regular data collection and analysis allow us to better appreciate species performances and factors that impact seedlings establishment.

Monitoring and research are important for data sharing. Based on soil properties predominantly related to the African Black Walnut development, our findings shed light on how soil parameters contribute to species distribution at the fine scale. Thus, we found new information concerning the habitat requirements which are quite interesting and valuable for the ex-situ management and conservation of Mansonia altissima.

Monitoring

Local

National

Development of Community Governance Structures for Sustainable Land Management

Local community awareness forums

NACOFA

Restoration agreements serve to formalize relationships with communities, acting as a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to align expectations and build trust among community members.
Government involvement is essential, requiring a direct line of communication with communities to ensure impactful ecosystem restoration.
Facilitating community elections to select leaders responsible for restoration networks empowers the community and ensures accountability.
Adhering to legal requirements in restoration policy that mandate community members to take on governance roles, thereby promoting the development of community institutions.

Building networks helps unite various community governance structures, fostering the sharing of knowledge and aligning efforts.
It is crucial to assess the community's need for governance structure facilitation while respecting existing power dynamics.
Community-driven network development creates a central power structure and formalized forum, ensuring that community concerns are taken seriously. This approach enhances visibility and influence with government stakeholders, strengthening CFAs as central institutions within the conservation framework.

Implementation

Monitoring

Local