Objectives

To strengthen conservation of Komodo dragon and other globally threatened species in Flores through integrated approaches across multiple use landscapes-seascapes.

Other

Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.

Target Groups

The IN-FLORES project will generate a range of socio-economic benefits as it invests in protecting the environmentally sensitive areas and extending conservation measures beyond the PA system. The multi-stakeholder coordination platforms are designed to bring together groups and institutions that are not accustomed to collaborating on issues related to land use, natural resource management, and biodiversity conservation. As such, the coordination platforms have the potential create opportunities for more organizations and groups to participate. Although communities, governments, NGOs and the private sector may share a common interest in ensuring that Flores’ unique biodiversity resources are well managed, it will be necessary to develop the capacity and mechanisms for working together. Across different sectors, the capacity of stakeholders in biodiversity management will also be enhanced through various capacity building workshops organized under the multi-stakeholder coordination platforms in both west and north Flores landscapes-seascapes. The multi-stakeholder coordination platforms will allow for the sharing of knowledge about local ecosystems to support decision making and environmental education campaigns targeted to increase local awareness about the Komodo dragon and the other globally threatened species. Support community development, particularly those initiatives that contribute towards generating multiple benefits. At the grass-roots level, local communities including customary communities, will participate and in the planning and implementation of project activities. In addition, they will participate in identifying the areas for OECMs where they can clarify their priorities for conservation planning. The OECMs will contribute to good governance, effective management and long-term biodiversity outcomes, and be inclusive of diverse contributions to conservation within and beyond protected areas. Conservation initiatives outside the protected areas will be supported by the creation of business and investment models for biodiversity conservation. Project beneficiaries will gain access to funding from institutions which in turn will result in improved access to markets; more livelihood opportunities and increased income. There will also be new business ventures to be tested thus improving communities’ entrepreneurship capacity and opening the door to more investment. Introduction and adoption of income generating measures. At the local level, increased income generating measures and economic incentives will be promoted that give local communities reason to adopt them, and these measures will generate economic benefits to the communities in the short as well as longer term in order to be considered sustainable. The biodiversity-friendly livelihood and business ventures are expected to increase land productivity and enhance food security. The target landscapes-seascapes are situated within a high priority tourism destination identified by the Government of Indonesia. Local tourism operators will benefit from capacity building on best practices, linkages with sustainable certification schemes, and strengthened concession arrangements with protected areas. Increased inclusion of Adat communities in natural resource governance. Adat communities will be engaged in the governance and management of OECMs involving Adat villages, protecting and respecting customary bylaws and traditional knowledge. Engagement of Adat communities will be ensured through obtaining free, prior and informed consent (FPIC). Capacity development and women empowerment. Facilitating partnerships through the multi-stakeholder landscape platforms, delivering capacity building on improving financial management skills, and disseminating information on available financing options for local community organizations will help enhance small-scale entrepreneurship, with a particular emphasis on engaging women-led community-based organizations and local enterprises. Improved management of human-wildlife conflicts and increased awareness of risks associated with zoonotic diseases. The project strategy has a strong focus on increasing engagement with local communities in the target landscapes-seascapes. Part of this engagement involves improving how human-wildlife conflicts are managed, e.g., through preemptive measures and capacity building, as well as increasing awareness on the risks associated with zoonotic diseases. Strengthened resilience to the risks associated with climate change and natural disaster hazards. Promoting sustainable livelihood and business alternatives will help reduce unsustainable practices in the target landscapes-seascapes, and increase the awareness and coping capacities of local communities. The project is relevant to a number of SDGs, most notably SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), as outlined below in Table 1 of the Project Document.

General

Support to the Stabilization Coherence Fund (SCF) for implementation of the International Stabilization Strategy (ISSSS) in Eastern DRC. The fund, established in 2015, is administrated by the UNDP Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF-O) in New York. The overall goal of the ISSSS is to strengthen the social partnerships between the state and the population in order to strengthen accountability and the management of violent conflict. This goal is furthermore divided into three results: achieving socioeconomic resilience against increased armed conflict; Improved security for women, girls, boys and men in the eastern provinces; and strengthen the legitimacy of the Congolese state and its institutions. The Stabilization Strategy is based on five pillars to deal with multisectoral and multi-dimensional challenges, as well as enabling conflict dynamics to be addressed in an integrated manner. 1) "Democratic dialogue" focuses on activities that help address the interaction of a number of conflict dynamics identified at the local level. Support is given to the population to develop the ability to analyze and transform conflicts peacefully, thus reducing the risk of mobilization by conflict actors. State actors are part of the recipients in order to transform the state-society relationship. 2) The "Security Component" deals with the interplay between the security actors and the mobilization around land and identity as a cause of conflict. Activities under this component focus on the local interplay between the military and the population. Activities support the promotion of behavioral change within the military and promote the "good behavior" of commanders and troops that will help to create internal mutual pressure to hold each other responsible. 3) The "restoration of state authority" (RSA) focuses on bridging the gap between state actors and communities and ensuring equitable delivery of services based on local needs. It also seeks to address fragmented governance structures and improve the legal framework. 4) The "Return, Reintegration and Economic Recovery" (RRR) component addresses the socio-economic causes of conflict in order to address the underlying causes of poverty, sociodemographic pressure, land access and fragmented Congolese identities. 5) Addressing "sexual violence" within the framework of ISSSS means focusing on root causes by transforming harmful gender norms. It is about discussing perceptions of masculinity and femininity in a local context and its impact on the conflict. Projects also look at how to strengthen the defense, security and justice system, and to increase the social, economic and political participation of women and girls. The trust fund is to date supported by DFID, the Netherlands, Norway and the Peacebuilding Fund.

Objectives

Improved mutual accountability and capacity of the Congolese state and society to cope with and mitigate the main factors of violent conflict in the eastern provinces and to strengthen the legitimacy of the social contract and promote long-term economic development. The International Security and Stabilisation Support Strategy (ISSSS) has developed an innovative approach to programming based on conflict analysis, targeting one or more main conflict dynamics identified in the stabilization zones. This approach allows for programming that targets: the transformation of existing, open or latent, intra- or inter-community conflicts; the strengthening of the security of women, girls, boys, and men in their communities; the fight against the exploitation and illegal trafficking of natural resources; and analyzing and addressing regional conflict dynamics identified in the priority zones. Furthermore, the ISSSS acknowledges that conflict actors (women, youth, and men) are at the center of the transformation process of the main conflict dynamics identified. In order to address the main conflict dynamics, collaboration between the State, traditional authorities, and women, youth, and men is necessary. Finally, in order to successfully transform conflict and promote sustainable peace, we need to address structural and sociocultural barriers to women's and girls' participation in these processes.