Subnational | PANORAMA

South America

Manejo integrado de vicuñas que promueve la salud, bienestar y medios de vida de comunidades en el área protegida de Apolobamba

Fabian

Beltran

Coordinación multisectorial para el monitoreo, vigilancia y manejo adecuado de vicuñas

Monitoreo y vigilancia del estado de las poblaciones y de la salud de vicuñas

Desarrollo de capacidades en bienestar animal, bioseguridad y obtención de fibra de mayor calidad

Implementación de estrategias para fortalecer la conservación y la salud de vicuñas y de su hábitat

West and Central Africa

East and South Africa

TREES Project: International research tandems for FLR impact assessment

Dr. Katharina

Löhr

Evidence through research

Pathogen and disease detection under the PREDICT and PREDICT-2 projects as well as other research initiatives have generated a strong evidence base on the drivers of zoonotic diseases. In Liberia, the finding of Ebola virus antibodies in a bat provided evidence that Ebola is circulating in wildlife in the West Africa region and signaled that there are ongoing spillover risks requiring public health attention.

Involvement and partnership of international and national institutions ensured best practices in research activities. The National Public Health Institute provided important leadership to support outreach on the significance of the Ebola finding. Another key factor was the model practices demonstrated by the sampling team, involving safe handling and sampling and attention to animal welfare, which itself helped to increased awareness of these aspects by observant communities.

In the past, communities in Liberia have distrusted foreign researchers and do not typically have direct access to the findings from research activities. Communities were aware of the sampling activities around their villages; by seeing Liberian scientists involved in this work with their own eyes, they were more receptive to the findings.

Awareness raising

Many people interact with wildlife and domestic animals in Liberia, but overall awareness about zoonotic disease risks is low. Raising awareness involved information about the purpose of the project, as well as dedicated engagement using the 'Living Safely with Bats' visual book. This messgaing integrated biodiversity and health information, in line with a One Health approach.

Collaboration on an international project allowed for sharing and optimization of materials, including adaptation of the information and visuals in the 'Living Safely with Bats' book to the Liberian context. Holding engagement sessions as a group allowed for questions and norms to be considered in a respectful and open community-led manner. The trust established allowed for the messages to be positively received.

Changing perceptions and norms takes time and sustained engagement, particularly in settings where health literacy is limited. With accurate information and practical strategies for their context, communities are empowered to take on actions that reduce disease risk and protect animals and ecosystems.

Entirety

Local

Subnational

Living Safely with Bats

Trust building

Communities were initially concerned about outsiders coming to their villages. Sustained engagement with community leaders, and outreach to community members, helped to establish trust over time. In particular, a key feedback was hearing the appreciation that the team came back to share information.

Implementation by Liberian scientists ensured the local conditions, complexities of the issue, and needs were considered. Building in time and resources to return to communities from the start of the project was important, to be able to honor promises to return to share information from the evidence base.

Perception and understanding of the issues varies by community. Local leaders, such as Paramount Chiefs, play a crucial role in their communities and are vital partners in trust building.

Entirety

Local

Subnational

West and Central Africa

Integrating Biodiversity and Health Messaging and Tackling Superstition with Communities in Liberia

Catherine

Machalaba

Trust building

Awareness raising

Evidence through research

West and Central Africa

Integrating Biodiversity and Health Messaging and Tackling Superstition with Communities in Liberia

Catherine

Machalaba

Trust building

Awareness raising

Evidence through research

West and Central Africa

Integrating Biodiversity and Health Messaging and Tackling Superstition with Communities in Liberia

Catherine

Machalaba

Trust building

Awareness raising

Evidence through research

Partnerships

AREECA project officials and government interacting with Gomeza Community and pupils at Gomeza Primary School, Ntcheu, Central Malawipartners

Taken by contributor who authorized use

Although Gomeza Community used Self-drive to restore the forest reserve, the community attracted attention from government and non-governmental organisations. The partnerships led to provision of technical capacity building to the community on sivicultural aspects. Other insitutions also supported the community in their vision. This led to reduced resource need per institution to work with the community.

Accommodating
Cooperation
Joint planning

Prevent the duplication of efforts by close cooperation and joint planning

Building trust and improved networking are key elements of starting partnerships

Community Self-drive

The communities realised that they need to take actionin order achieve their dreams and support their ecosystem to retain its functions. They set up social structures and identified responsibilities in the form of positions and work plans. The community use volunteerism to carry out their duties nd drive the restoration efforts. They also formed their own by-laws to manage the Gomeza forest reserve, thereby adding not only social but also a regulatory framework set up to serve their needs.