While the creation of local associations is a common GIZ approach to strengthen local voices and support trade in raw materials and products, it requires careful coordination with regional authorities and a clear step-by-step process. In northeast Côte d’Ivoire, before engaging local communities, a meeting was held with prefects, sub-prefects, political representatives, and members of an existing successful association of traditional medicine practitioners. The association shared why it was formed and what it had achieved, leading to buy-in and support from local authorities.

In the second step, a workshop gathered traditional medicine practitioners from regional villages. The existing association again shared its process and results, inspiring other practitioners. However, tensions between established practitioners and those with different approaches who are not yet organised were acknowledged. Care needs to be taken to ensure that the association-building process remained inclusive and balanced.

In the third step, practitioners took this knowledge back to their communities, where they discussed the association’s structure and their involvement with local decision-makers. The process is supported by a sister GIZ project active on the ground.

Developed in Excel with partner Levoca, the tool enables Local Government Units (LGUs) and Fisheries Management Bodies (FMBs) to estimate the real costs of implementing and maintaining sustainable fisheries management with integrated EbA elements through the lens of Rare's Managed Access and Reserve (MA+R) models. It includes features for year-over-year projections, funding breakdowns, and integration with LGU planning cycles. Importantly, its input categories were standardized based on the Marine Protected Area Management Effectiveness Assessment Tool (MEAT), ensuring alignment with recognized MPA budgeting and management practices in the Philippines. This made the tool intuitive for LGU users and compatible with their responsibilities to submit Coastal Resource Management Plans (CRMPs).

Conducted in partnership with the Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI), the project analyzed how financial services—such as community-based savings clubs and responsible access to credit—can help fishers remain compliant with conservation regulations and recover from climate shocks. It also highlighted risks: for example, informal or poorly structured loans (which many turn to without formal alternatives) may drive overfishing. 

Through Rare's longstanding relationship with local governments and communities, the organization was able to provide research partners from the Center for Behavior to access to key stakeholders locally.

To advance the development of a value chain, a multi-stakeholder platform (MSP) was established. In the field of traditional medicine, it included representatives of local communities, traditional practitioners and/or small enterprises, researchers, and national government actors.

The first meeting introduced participants, clarified their roles and contributions, and allowed space to discuss interests, expectations, needs, and challenges. It also served to define strategic directions and a shared vision for the platform.

In a second workshop, stakeholders were trained by experts in the valorisation of traditional medicine- from plant to product- covering sustainable use, market access, toxicity testing, quality standards, and other key steps in building a viable value chain.

The third MSP meeting focused on building trust through intensive dialogue and the development of a joint action plan as well as a written agreement outlining each group’s roles and responsibilities.

The process was supported by a study on the availability and sustainable use of selected medicinal plants.

Joint results were presented to the Ministry of Environment during a public event with all stakeholders, media, a mini-exhibition, product displays, and a short video featuring community feedback.

The use of illustrated cards 

Natural Justice was commissioned to develop a set of eight illustrated cards and a facilitator manual to support local communities in understanding ABS processes. Designed for use in low-literacy, multilingual settings, these cards simplify complex topics like the value of genetic resources, value chains, and benefit-sharing agreements. This visual tool encourages dialogue enabling local communities to engage meaningfully in ABS discussions. Only the images are shown to participants, while the manual helps facilitators explain each concept and ask the right questions.

The cards allow community members to connect the content to their own lives strengthening ownership.

The use of role games

Role games help communities understand complex processes, such as ABS by simulating real-life access requests to local resources. Participants act out roles, being community members, government, and users (e.g., companies) to practice negotiations, benefit-sharing, and communication. Performed in local languages, the sketch is repeated until key ABS steps are correctly represented, helping embed knowledge through active participation. It should be explained that the role play is to illustrate how the procedure just explained works in practice. The script is explained to all participants before the sketch begins. 

The key game changer in the process was the inclusion of young community members, known as animateurs, who had been identified by GIZ’s bilateral Pro2GRN project, active in the Comoé region. Already engaged in local outreach, these animateurs supported the transfer of project ideas to village level. With their strong standing in local structures, they facilitate internal discussion of GIZ ideas, fostering local ownership without GIZ presence.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, the ABS Initiative conducted a workshop with around 40 animateurs. Using illustrated cards and role games, they were trained on key issues of valorising biological resources and ABS processes in an interactive, playful way.

The animateurs also developed initial criteria to identify local representatives for upcoming workshops. Over the next three months, they reached around 250 villages, raising awareness, helping communities select around 100 workshop participants. They provided crucial assistance with translating information and actions into local languages.

During the workshops, the animateurs facilitated group activities, led role games, translated, and enabled open, participatory dialogue on genetic resources, traditional knowledge, community needs, effective value chain participation and ABS.

The approach began at the national level, recognising the pivotal role of traditional leadership in community engagement. The National Chamber of Kings and Traditional Chiefs, representing 31 regions and thousands of villages, serves as a key communication channel between communities and the national government, even up to the presidency.

Together with the Ministry of Environment (MINEDDTE), an interactive workshop was held with ten kings to openly analyse the current context and co-design activities to better integrate local communities into the valorisation of biological resources. These sessions were not only informative but essential in shaping a locally grounded and culturally appropriate approach.

With official ministerial backing, the project engaged regional administrative representatives, followed by administrative and traditional authorities in northeastern Côte d’Ivoire, especially near Bouna and Dabakala.

At each level, interactive, participatory methods tailored to local realities were used. Authorities expressed support, shared insights, and provided key contacts. Their involvement enabled direct outreach to communities and laid the foundation for their participation in the value chains on medical plants.