This building block aimed to establish a robust governance framework through the development and implementation of essential management tools. Financial management systems, such as QuickBooks, were introduced to streamline budgeting, accounting, and financial reporting. Additionally, standardized reporting templates and monitoring frameworks, along with key management tools such as the Code of Conduct, Human Resources Manual, Gender Policy, Environmental Policy, Court Policy, Procurement Policy, Dispute Resolution Manual, Stakeholder Engagement Plan, and Business Entrepreneurship Sustainability Tool were developed to ensure effective resource management in the WMA. These tools promote adherence to human rights, enhance data collection and evaluation, ensure transparent communication with stakeholders, foster meaningful engagement, incorporate gender considerations, and support sustainable business practices. Their integration has significantly improved financial accountability, operational transparency, and decision-making, thereby fostering trust among community members and external stakeholders.

This building block focused on recruiting and training a professional management team (initially the General Secretary and Accountant) for MBOMIPA WMA to enhance its operational efficiency. The team comprises individuals with expertise in conservation, financial management, and community engagement, ensuring a holistic approach to managing the WMA. Soon after recruitment, the onboarding commenced with the training sessions conducted on governance best practices, financial reporting using QuickBooks,  other resources such as human and assets management, and the application of conservation technologies like EarthRanger for real-time monitoring. These trainings equipped the management team to handle day-to-day operations, engage with stakeholders effectively, and ensure sustainable management of natural resources. The professional team was tasked with coordinating patrols, managing budgets, and improving the overall governance of the WMA.

MBOMIPA WMA engages communities in decision-making and alert systems.The community is responsible for electing the board members and engaging in making decisions on management of the WMA. The community is also responsible for providing information to VGS on elephant presence in their farms or when elephants have moved out from WMA, heading to the village land or farms. They normally contact VGS directly through phones, or report to the village chairperson so that he/she can report to the MBOMIPA HWC Response Unit. The Response Unit then responds towards local farmers' alerts. This has strengthened local participation in conservation efforts and fostered trust and shared responsibility between the WMA and local villagers.  

MBOMIPA WMA in partnership with STEP have integrated the use of novel conservation technology such as EarthRanger (ER) in management of HWC around MBOMIPA WMA. The established HWC Response Unit uses the ER app in their smartphone to record information related to the reported HWC incidents and the unit is being tracked live (through an InReach device) for accountability purposes and to help mobilize scarce resources efficiently. The use of ER has also simplified data collection, reduced errors associated with data entry from paper forms, and reduced the time required to process information.This technology allowed scouts to be more strategic and efficient in their patrols, leading to improved protection for both wildlife and crops. 

STEP and Honeyguide Foundation facilitated training at MBOMIPA WMA to equip Scouts and drivers with effective techniques for safeguarding community farms from elephant damage. The training equipped Scouts with knowledge on elephant behavior and how to use the HEC toolkit (torches, horns, chili crackers, and roman candles) to push elephants away from farms. Participants also learned techniques for safely relocating elephants based on their behavior and group composition (namely, whether they were all-male, all-female, or mixed groups). Refresher trainings have been regularly provided to the team to ensure safety.

The capacity-building program for the governance board involved providing training, workshops, peer visits, and supporting their meetings focused on the effective management of the WMA. It included the establishment of the first professional WMA management team, which comprised a general secretary and an accountant. This team underwent various coaching sessions and was equipped with management tools, office renovations, and essential working gear. As a result, the management team and board have successfully improved WMA operations by enhancing protection measures, managing HWC, and attracting investors. This model of capacity building can be adapted to other contexts to strengthen governance structures in similar conservation areas.

The debriefing occurs both during and after the game. Brief debriefs can take place after each session to gauge participants’ feelings about the game at individual and territorial levels. These are kept light to maintain the game’s flow.

Once the game is over, a more in-depth debriefing can take place. It doesn’t necessarily have to happen immediately after the game; it could be scheduled for the following day. Some preparation is required for this discussion. The facilitator should bring a list of prepared questions and a printed map of the territory. During this debriefing, participants will identify the challenges they faced regarding land use, as well as the causes of those challenges. Key actors needed for resolution and potential solution ideas will also be discussed. The map serves as a visual aid to guide the discussion. Some basic questions that could be asked include:

• What happened during the game? How much, how quickly, and why did the soil degrade?
• What were the main conflicts that arose during the game? Between which actors?
• Did you find any solutions?
• Did you try to implement them? What was the outcome?

Of course, the questions can be more specific and adapted to the participants and the situations that arose during the game. 

To start the game, a map representing the local area is first created. The facilitator begins by asking participants to describe their land and sketches features as they respond. Once all key elements are outlined, color-coded hexagonal tiles, called ‘parcels,’ are placed over the drawing to form the board. Each tile’s color reflects soil fertility, ranging from high to low fertility. These parcels generate trees and resources based on their fertility levels. The board is designed to represent various landscapes, including mature forests, young forests, savannahs, and rivers or lakes. Wildlife such as forest animals and fish can also be added. Additionally, extra tiles may be introduced to capture local specifics.

Next, players are assigned a certain number of family members to manage. For each family member, they choose activities such as farming, breeding, or fishing to gather resources. To encourage new perspectives, the facilitator invites players to select activities different from those they do in real life. The game proceeds in rounds alternating between rainy and dry seasons, with each season affecting activities and resource availability. Throughout the game, the facilitator introduces events and, at the end of each season, leads a brief debrief to discuss players’ feelings about the current situation.

Before the game can be played, the facilitator must be trained, and the participants selected.

The choice of a game facilitator should fall on someone knowledgeable about land use issues and who knows the social background, culture, language and customs of the local communities, as this expertise is crucial for leading the final debate. To prepare the facilitator, a good approach is to have them play the game once, along with other future facilitators. The goal of this first trial is not only to train them, but also to adjust the game rules to the local context. The game functions better when tailored to the local context. After the trial, a debriefing should be conducted to assess what worked well, what didn’t, and to determine what events or tokens could be created to best represent the region where the game will be played.

To select the participants, the organizers can work with the village chiefs, who will help identify and mobilize the various groups affected by the land use issue to participate in the game. They also can assist in selecting an appropriate location for the game to take place.

Participants should come from diverse groups, including young people, women, farmers, breeders, and others. During the game, it may be beneficial to sometimes keep these groups together and at other times mix them, in order to foster different dynamics and debates.