Cross sector partnerships enhancing community volunteering in nature
Full Solution
Volunteers assisting with field wildlife monitoring
CVA
Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) and Parks Victoria developed a highly successful cross sector partnership to explore, develop and implement diverse community volunteer engagement models to effectively engage the community to achieve priority biodiversity protection in Victoria’s protected areas. CVA is a not-for profit, practical conservation organisation and Parks Victoria is a statutory authority responsible for 4 million hectares of protected areas.
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Context
Challenges addressed
lack of understanding of practices and priorities between cross sector organisations
The diversity in environmental issues and similarly community profiles and priorities require varied approaches to achieve solutions. The decline in financial resources requires alternate modes of delivery. The growing disconnect between community and nature threatens biodiversity and human health.
Beneficiaries
Community Not for Profit and Public Sector Conservation Organisations, community and individuals, environment both Fauna and Flora
Location
Victoria, Australia
Oceania
Process
Summary of the process
For this Solution to be enacted as an effective mechanism for conservation the first step has to be the identification of 2 (or more) organisations that have an interest in working together and have similar goals and objectives. Once that has been determined you can move to Building Block 1, the Development of an MOU or a mutually agreed upon/signed document. The related organisations then discuss and define through the MOU/Agreement;
a)Clearly defined roles and responsibilities for each organization
b)Agreed vision and objectives that are in line with each organisations mission
c)A defined timeframe which allows sufficient time for development, implementation, evaluation and monitoring to enable success
Building Block 2 is a staff placement from one organization to the other (or if not viable one key contact within each organization). This staff placement then begins to enact the components of the MOU/Agreement.
Building Block 3, diversity of community engagement models, is utilized as a tool by the staff placement to effectively engage the wider community in active conservation projects to achieve critical biodiversity outcomes.
Building Blocks
Memorandum of Understanding (or signed Agreement)
In 2009 Conservation Volunteers Australia and Parks Victoria signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (a mutual agreement document) that defined the working relationship including roles and responsibilities of each organization, the shared vision and objectives and a nominated time frame. The document was essential in establishing the understanding between the two organisations and staff within that there was a desire to work together to achieve a shared vision. The shared vision and objectives were set through discussions between the organisations which included; highest priorities, best fit considering organization objectives eg CVA is a community engagement organization and importantly what had potential for success. The latter criteria was particularly relevant as it was important to demonstrate success in the early partnership years to gain confidence and staff commitment. The MOU also indicated a time frame of 5 years which was essential to provide both organisations with confidence that they had time to generate success rather than be subject to ambiguity on whether programs would continue or not dependent on funding cycles.
Enabling factors
1) Two or more organisations that share a vision 2) Clearly defined roles and responsibilities for each organization 3) Agreed vision and objectives that are in line with each organisations mission 4) A defined time frame which allows sufficient time for development, implementation, evaluation and monitoring to enable success
Lesson learned
A Memorandum of Understanding or a document that specifies agreement to work together is critical however it cannot only be owned solely by the developers it must be acknowledged and accepted by the organization’s staff at an implementation and delivery level. Effective communication that highlights the importance of the partnership and potential outcomes to all staff is necessary. Within a large organization it is still difficult to harness support from all so this is when it is important to accrue some project successes and allow inter personal staff communication to assist.
Staff Secondment/Placement
One of the key challenges the partnership aimed to overcome was the lack of knowledge of cross sector organisation work processes. Thus, a staff secondment or placement was developed in which a CVA (not for profit)staff member sat within Parks Victoria (Government) to investigate opportunities to expand community engagement, awareness and activity. The CVA staff member was still employed by CVA but Parks Victoria provided some cost recovery to the position. This has been an essential component of the partnership success as it has enabled a unique insight into the policies and practices across two diverse sectors and continues to develop a heightened awareness and understanding of the opportunities and challenges that surround each to better prepare and address opportunities.
Enabling factors
1) Commitment to embrace an external staff member within the organisational workplace 2) Open communication with the secondment/placement staff member including inclusion in meetings, workshops etc 3) Defined projects to work on initially with the expectation to expand 4) Workspace and associated resources including computer, office stationery 5) A dedicated contact to provide regular assistance, monitoring and evaluation
Lesson learned
It is critical there is clear communication around the purpose of this position and subsequently how to engage with the staff member/position to gain effective results. A simple reporting process to share successes is essential to gain further support and acknowledgement. It may not be possible to place a staff within another organsiation as in this example however the enabling factor in this model is the ‘one key contact’. If the same model is not possible creating a key contact within two organisations will allow for clear communication and the development of a strong partnership.
Diverse Community Engagement Models
We live in an increasingly diverse world with many different interests, spread across landscapes and varying health and socio economic conditions to name a few. Being able to create community engagement models that address and welcome diversity is key to success. The partnership developed varying practical engagement models for example varied delivery models; one day, half day, night and holiday experiences, targeted community outreach models; health, disability and lower socio economic communities, skill building models; training and youth and the list goes on, all that contribute positively to the environment.
Enabling factors
1) An ability to vary resources to suit different models for example staff hours, vehicle access, funding 2) A willingness to experiment with new ideas 3) A well developed recruitment process that includes being able to connect to diverse communities
Lesson learned
A willingness to try diverse program models is essential to finding a suitable fit. Conducting trials and pilots are effective in assisting. Undertaking monitoring and evaluation particularly gaining feedback by the engaged community is also essential in understanding whether the program is actually effective from a community and environment perspective.
Impacts
The partnership has delivered over 12,000 conservation volunteer project days across 125 Parks Victoria locations contributing over 400,000 volunteer hours, valued at $10million to critical biodiversity conservation. Volunteers have undertaken environment restoration, wildlife monitoring and recovery, natural disaster recovery, event management and much more.
Volunteers have planted over 300,000 trees, cleared 1,000 ha of weeds, constructed and repaired 750kms of walking track and conducted over 500 flora and fauna surveys. Long term critically endangered species recovery programs have been developed at recording over 20,000 community volunteer hours including predator proof fence repairs and environmental restoration.
In 2012, 47 critically endangered Eastern Barred Bandicoots were released, the population is now over 150, an increase of 25% to the overall species population. The partnership pioneered 8 new eco voluntourism products combining environmental and recreation activities which received ‘Best New Product’ at the Victorian Tourism Awards. Health programs have had a significant impact with 85% of volunteers regarded as 'healthier'.
Story
I had been working with CVA for 15 years when the opportunity arose to become a Partnership Officer charged with engaging the community to assist reintroducing a critically endangered marsupial, the Eastern Barred Bandicoot, onto a Parks Victoria protected area site. I was overwhelmed with the opportunity and up for the challenge. The first two years at the 280 hectare site involved; installing a floppy top predator fence 7km's long, removing woody weeds,, planting 18000 grasses and removing predators. In late 2012, 47 Eastern Barred Bandicoots were released. Our last monitoring in March 2015 provided an estimated population of around 150-200 increasing the total species population by over 25%. The key to this is engaging the community with over 3000 volunteers, managing the rare grassland, with less than 0.5% left in Victoria and patrolling the predator proof fence. In four and a half years we have traveled 11,494kms around the fence. To put this in perspective the major Australian highway (Highway 1) which circumnavigates Australia is 14,500kms!! I am in awe every day of the community effort and what can result from a unique organizational partnership like the one between Conservation Volunteers Australia and Parks Victoria. One volunteer who attends regularly has expressed 'to see that I can make a difference to a species that is at risk of extinction in my backyard gives me great satisfaction and inspires me to do more in my own life as well as here'.
