WI 2021-2024 Source to Sea: Eastern Africa Wetland Initiative

The proposed intervention seeks to advance previous achievements of Wetlands International (WI) to safeguard and restore wetlands for their full range of values using ecosystem-based, inclusive approaches across whole landscapes. It primarily focuses on conservation of wetland in the identified two ecoregions using knowledge as a foundation through inspiring and mobilizing communities and other local stakeholders to develop a common vision, leading to demonstration projects and integrated management plans which safeguard biodiversity and optimise sustainable use of natural resources. In general, the proposed intervention will address the drivers to loss of wetlands and their biodiversity in Eastern Africa by putting in place enabling conditions for integrated wetland management solutions at landscape and ecoregional scales.  Specifically, the proposed intervention is divided in to five inter-connected work packages that each have corresponding outcomes, which combine together to deliver impact. There is also an overarching management and coordination component considered to be the fifth work package. The work packages are: 1) Knowledge generation and dissemination: with a specific objective of developing and disseminating information on trends in status, distribution and values of wetlands in Eastern Africa, with a specific focus on the Rift valley and East African mangroves ecoregions and the 4 target sites therein. 2) Institutional strengthening and capacity development: with a specific objective of strengthening the capacities of government agencies, knowledge institutes and civil society in wetland and biodiversity management based on identified needs. 3) On the ground intervention: with a specific objective of developing and working towards a joint vision for the integrated management in each of the four selected wetland landscapes (Ziway-Shalla, Omo-Turkana, Lamu, Rufiji). Building on existing local stakeholder networks, involving local communities, government officials and private sector representatives, we will collaboratively develop a pathway towards achieving this vision, consisting of a set of complementary conservation, restoration, livelihoods, and sustainable development interventions. 4) Mainstream wetland and biodiversity conservation into regional, national and sub-national policy frameworks: with the objective of strengthening existing regional networks involved in the management of wetlands and will work with them to collectively develop a long-term vision for the conservation and restoration of the Rift valley and Mangrove Coast Ecoregions respectively. 5) Programme management and coordination: with the objective of ensuring the efficient coordination and management of the Programme. This includes mobilizing the programme team, coordinating between work packages and offices, ensuring timely M&E and donor liaison. An adaptive management approach will be adopted, where programme activities are aligned based on changes in the external environment and emerging insights and opportunities. The details in this appraisal reflects a contribution to be implemented by Wetlands International (WI) in a period of three years (2021 - 2024) with a total sum of 64 201 200 SEK, all of which will be contributed by Sida.