The SAGE methodology uses a stakeholder-led, self-assessment process to assess the quality of governance and equity.
The initial activity started with the identification of the key actor groups who have significant interest in the WMA or have power to influence conservation activities likely to affect conservation either positively or negatively e.g benefit sharing, livelihood projects supporting conservation and environmentally damaging activities whereby five different actor groups were identified and engaged as participants in the SAGE process. These actor groups represented members of the AA (Authorized Association), the board, representatives from men and women community, representatives from government, investors and other partners working in the same area.
Engagement of these key actor groups was the very significant success of the SAGE process because they have the better knowledge of the local environment and all the underlining activities going around in their WMA and they provided the right assessment and recommendation of their WMA.
The identification of the key actor groups to be engaged in the SAGE process was done successfully following the information obtained through the meeting held at the WMA offices before the SAGE workshop whereby the WMA management, members of Authorized Association and the board, key influential people, partners and government official were able to identify other important actors within communities who should be engaged in the SAGE process including traditional leaders.
The involvement of different partners working in the same area or have worked in the same area, village leaders and government officials assisted in the provision of important information which widened our scope of identifying and engaging important key actors in the WMA.