Document Type: Progress Reports

TGCC provides USAID the opportunity to explore the relationship between the governance of agriculture, forests, and fisheries landscapes and achieving sustainable land use and resilient communities through technical analysis, field work, and policy engagement. During this quarter, activities included:

Zambia: The Petauke District Land Alliance (PDLA) focused on carrying out validation activities in Sandwe Chiefdom of household data, as well as collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and the Department of Resettlement on the Ukwimi Resettlement Area. The Chipata District Land Alliance
(CDLA) was able to advance the distribution of customary certificates in Mshawa chiefdom, and continue on parcel administration. TGCC also continued coordination with government on engagement with the House of Chiefs, and projected collaboration on validation of the National Land Policy. TGCC completed methodologies for land conflict resolution and for land-use planning.

Burma: From the policy side, the TGCC Land Tenure Project (LTP) supported donor coordination discussions and participated in the Agriculture Policy Unit (APU) further clarifying its role with government moving forward. LTP carried out pilot site three activities in the Sagaing Region through partnerships with two local civil society organizations (CSO). LTP focused on mapping engagements with additional local CSO subcontractors and the completion of a series of lessons learned engagements with each pilot site. These are in the process of being shared at national meetings with government and integrated into program outcome reports.

Vietnam, Mangroves, and Marine Tenure: In Vietnam, the field team completed marine spatial planning activities across the three participating communes in Tien Lang District. The resultant planning process was well received, and is being shared both with government counterparts and academia. Work with CIFOR was completed this quarter for global, Indonesia and Tanzania reviews. TGCC finalized country assessments associated with marine tenure lessons and is consolidating lessons learned into a public summary.

TFA 2020: Activities in Ghana progressed smoothly with the documentation of almost 200 farms through a subcontract with Landmapp, the completion and presentation of the financial model with Ecom, and dialogue with chiefs and community leaders on alternative dispute resolution. USAID carried out a site visit at the end of the quarter demonstrating the commitment of project partners. TGCC partner World Resources Institute (WRI) launched work in Paraguay supporting consolidation of indigenous peoples’ land claims through a spatial database that will allow these groups to work with private sector actors and government on forest land use in Paraguay. Based on a series of meetings, protocols for submitting and validating data were agreed upon.

Challenges: TGCC’s budget realignment request (submitted in early 2016) was not approved, resulting in substantial revisions to how grants and subcontracts are used on the project. TGCC revised its approach to expand the use of grants in the last eight months of the contract, and cut back on some interventions.

Priorities: In the coming quarter, TGCC will focus on finalizing internal country deliverables, carrying out lessons learned and final report-out events in each project country, and staying within budget across all countries. TGCC will work on communicating country and thematic results in preparation for project closeout.

The present Semi-Annual Progress Report provides an update on implementation of FY12 annual work plan activities and progress made towards FY12 targets established in the updated Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP). For the FY12 period the project has met or exceeded all targets. This report complements the first semi-annual report as well as weekly and monthly reports that are submitted to the Contracting Officer´s Representative (COR).

The Project´s implementation strategy remains focused on reducing the following four main threats to biodiversity conservation in six priority sites along the coast of Ecuador: (1) Loss and/or alteration of critical habitats, (2) Climate change, (3) Lack of economic alternatives, and (4) Insufficient institutional capacity for biodiversity conservation. To this end, the project builds local capacity to manage Protected Areas, implement climate change adaptation measures, and manage integrated farms. In addition, the project has provides tools for communities and local governments to mitigate and respond to climate risks and is helping develop a climate change strategy for the entire Guayas province. It is also promoting market access for products that support conservation (such as red crab, which depend on protecting mangroves; tagua, which depends on forest conservation; and organic cacao produced using environmentally safe practices). To improve livelihoods it also helps people access cash-for-conservation payments for protecting natural forests under the Ministry of Environment´s (MAE) Socio Bosque Program. Lastly, the project continues to work in close partnership with the MAE and provide high level forestry policy guidance.

To date, the Project has trained 3,657 people, promoted 16 new commercial linkages, and helped individuals and communities access $9.1M in cash-for conservation payments for protecting 38,745 hectares. As a result of project technical assistance, over 11,120 people are benefiting economically and 426,133 hectares are under improved management. Parallel to this, the Project strengthened conservation coalitions that serve as platforms for coordinating natural resource management with local public and private sector actors, and has leveraged over $14.3 million. For a more detailed summary of results to date please see Section 1.

Especially noteworthy achievements this reporting period include (1) launching red crab stock analysis results with the National Fishery Institute, (2) conducting an assessment of tagua palm populations within Machalilla National Park and then developing guidance on how tagua harvesting could be manageed within Protected Areas (3) helping establish three tagua collection centers and drying racks and linking their value added products (dried tagua) with new markets at higher prices (4) developing a Manual Protected Area Operational Management and developing a pilot annual operations plan for Machalilla National Park and Antisana Ecological Reserve based on the manual (5) helping communities (Puerto Roma, Mondragón, etc) apply for and obtain a new mangrove concessions, (6) supporting the Galera San Francisco Marine Reserve promote sustainable fishing practices (7) supporting Ecocacao become technical advisors for the Caja Campesina Agro-Ecológica Muisne (CCAM) (8) continuing technical assistance for integrated farm management (9) publishing a Comparative Study on Development of Climate Change Adaptation Measures for Machalilla National Park and El Salado Wildlife Production Reserve (10) holding a series of community workshops to improve fishery management in Churute (11) working with the Guayas provincial government to prepare the Guayas Climate Change Adaptation Strategy,(13) continuing to support Machalilla National Park to improve protected area management, including tourism and fishery management and strengthening surveillance and monitoring systems (14) helping communities develop new applications to protect over 7,000 hectares under Socio Bosque, and (15) helping the Río Blanco community obtain its land title. This period the project has also expanded communications materials, launching the second project video regarding its work to protect Machalilla National Park. The project recognizes the role, the guidance and continual support the COR, Rocío Cedeño, has played in meeting its FY12 targets. Key to the project´s ability to complete the FY12 work plan activities and meet its goals is the MAE´s collaboration and recognition of project technical assistance, which is also an integral part of their internal work plans and goals.

Feed the Future Tanzania Land Tenure Assistance (LTA) seeks to clarify and document land ownership, increase local understanding of land use and land rights, and support land use. This monthly report covers project activities undertaken for the period December 1-31, 2015.

Feed the Future Tanzania Land Tenure Assistance (LTA) seeks to clarify and document land ownership, increase local understanding of land use and land rights, and support land use. This monthly report covers project activities undertaken for the period January 1-31, 2016.

Feed the Future Tanzania Land Tenure Assistance (LTA) seeks to clarify and document land ownership, increase local understanding of land use and land rights, and support land use. This monthly report covers project activities undertaken for the period February 1-29, 2016.

Feed the Future Tanzania Land Tenure Assistance (LTA) seeks to clarify and document land ownership, increase local understanding of land use and land rights, and support land use. This monthly report covers project activities undertaken for the period March 1-31, 2016.

Feed the Future Tanzania Land Tenure Assistance (LTA) seeks to clarify and document land ownership, increase local understanding of land use and land rights, and support land use. This monthly report covers project activities undertaken for the period May 1-31, 2016.

Feed the Future Tanzania Land Tenure Assistance (LTA) seeks to clarify and document land ownership, increase local understanding of land use and land rights, and support land use. This monthly report covers project activities undertaken for the period June 1-30, 2016.

Feed the Future Tanzania Land Tenure Assistance (LTA) seeks to clarify and document land ownership, increase local understanding of land use and land rights, and support land use. This monthly report covers project activities undertaken for the period July 1-31, 2016.

Feed the Future Tanzania Land Tenure Assistance (LTA) seeks to clarify and document land ownership, increase local understanding of land use and land rights, and support land use. This monthly report covers project activities undertaken for the period August 1-30, 2016.