Bukigai Farmers and Needy Association

This statement is an internal evaluation one of the “Strengthening Sustainable Environment and Natural Resources Management for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation" implemented by Bunaporo Farmers’ and Needy Association (BFNA) from May 1st 2014 to May 31st 2015.
The project was implemented in ten (10) villages of Bunaporo Parish (Napala, Manafwa, Shaneba, Bunamondo, Bukotita Upper, Bukotita Lower, Malabasi, Namwaku, Buwakooli and Bumangoye). The project goal was to facilitate and support the implementation of a strategy for participatory management of watersheds, effective agro-forestry practices and sustainable land-use and included four outputs : (i) An effective communication system between key stakeholders is in place and made operational, (ii) An enabling environment for the sustainable management of watersheds and land is established and improved, (iii) the 100 beneficiaries are actively and effectively involved in the sustainable use and management of watersheds, land, river banks, and other environment and natural resources, and (iv) Small-scale alternative livelihoods and sustainable development, as well as empowerment activities creating socio-economic positive impacts are developed.
The evaluation took place from May 23rd to June 2nd. The BFNA-PMU Project Management Information System provided information which allowed the evaluation of the Project’s performance and explanations. The field data collection included inquiries and surveys with communities based at three villages (Malabasi, Napala and Shaneba). The data collection also included interviews with main Project partners and Bududa local government and Bukigai Sub-County authorities.
Impacts
This project presents a significant probability of reaching its finality for the following reasons:
• The monitoring of the project activities (acquisition of 27,813 fruit and tree stands against the planted seedlings totaling 28,422 shows the high likelihood that project will significantly contribute towards the realization of the desired and expected impacts. Indeed, the survival rate so far achieved is 97.8%, yet the benchmark was 98%.
• The proxy indicators (gathered by the project), show slight improvement tendency in house-hold income change, sustainable development and empowerment amongst the beneficiaries.
• According to the survey of the perception by the beneficiaries of the project impact: the improvement of in agriculture productivity, profitability and sustainability is very positive, raising the “ownership” (appropriation) of the Project and consequently its sustainability.

In addition, beyond the Project’s purposes, Project induced other changes (unanticipated impacts) on the local governance in general. Local populations have perceived an improvement in community mobilization. In the same way, the population has also perceived that following the capacity building, sensitization and training in effective agro-forestry management, watershed management, and soil and water conservation measures initiated by the Project during the first quarter, building cooperation relationship with other actors became easier for the beneficiaries and the community at large.
Project effectiveness
This project is effective for the main following reasons:
The achievement of the purposes of the project effectiveness is ranked “satisfactory”. The project goal “aims at implementation of a strategy for a participatory management”; it is noted that
• Mechanisms for enhancing biodiversity conservation and restoration of degraded ecosystems are not in place
• Lack of effective Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices
• Non Promotion of Climate Change resilient developments
Output 1 (Mechanisms for enhancing biodiversity conservation and restoration of degraded ecosystems areas in place and made operational) is largely achieved, Its achievement is ranked “satisfactory plus”. The majority of the activities planned for the production of this output were carried out: 97.8% of expected activities were completely achieved and 98% of expected activities were achieved at more than 97.8%. Weaknesses included inadequate feedback from beneficiaries due to bureaucratic difficulties and the destruction of seedlings, as well as fruit and tree stands during the circumcision period.
Output 2 (An enabling environment for the sustainable management of watersheds, soil and water conservation management and agro-forestry is established and improved), are largely achieved, despite a few short-comings. It is ranked “satisfactory plus”. Over 98% of expected activities were completely realized. 7.3 Kilometers of contour ditches were excavated in Bunaporo Parish and reinforced with 24 sacks of Napier grass. However, management plans of the contours for instance de-silting could not be institutionalized by BFNA-PMU which constitutes an obstacle to co-management.
Output 3 (Beneficiaries’ Capacity Development, Policy and Innovation) is fully achieved, without shortcomings. It is ranked “very satisfactory”. About 89% of excepted activities were completely achieved. CBOs roles are reflected in
• application of effective watershed and agro-forestry management practices
• their key participation in developing and implementing community soil and water Management Plans
• their volunteer involvement awareness and training in the neighbouring communities for example, and by accepting/involvement in the whole project cycle and
• CBOs’ growing responsibilities.
Output 4 (Small-scale alternative livelihoods activities creating positive socio-economic impacts in pilot sites) has a very high achievement. Its effectiveness is ranked “Satisfactory”. The assessment of existing income generating activities in the 10 villages of Bunaporo Parish was realized.

Efficiency
A cost-benefit analysis was deemed implausible given the complexity of the project, the logistic difficulties inherent in working in this part of Bududa district, and the highly changeable weather patterns.
This project was found to be sufficiently efficient for the following reasons:
The mobilization of the resources (financial, human and material) is in conformity with the Project’s operational planning. The annual “disbursement” rate was 100%.
All 3 activities were completely realized amongst the 3 expected activities.

Viability:
The project durability is fairly uncertain because of some unrealized activities:
• The lack of development of income generating activities to reduce firewood cutting-effort and the pressures on the riverine and watershed resources
Recommendations:
• WWF/UNDP and Government of Uganda, as well as other key stakeholders’, should support BFNA to implement efficient energy saving stove project, so that, the existing trees are not tampered with in the quest of search for firewood
• Lastly, the results of this Project constitute an interesting academic case study of participative environment and natural resources management which deserves to be diffused for a replication both in term of approach and in term of scientific capitalization.

The Strengthening Sustainable Environment and Natural Resource Management, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (SENRMCAM) in Bunaporo Parish, Bududa District-Project IDs: UNDP: 00079653 and WWF: UG 003801 is a project funded by UNDP Uganda Country Office and implemented by World Wide Fund for Nature-Uganda Country Office (WWF-UCO) on behalf of the Government of Uganda. The project is being implemented in collaboration with Bukigai Farmers and Needy Association (BFNA), responsible parties’ drawn from various ministries and Bududa District Local Government. The project partners include the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE), the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD), Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Ministry of Local Government (MOLG), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Makerere University College of Agriculture and \environmental Sciences.

This Project aims to strengthen the efforts of Bududa District local Government, BFNA and Bunaporo Parish Community to sustainably manage and utilize natural resources and building a climate change resilient society in Bunaporo Parish Bududa District. The thematic priorities of BFNA sub project, Watershed Management, Agro-forestry, Soil and water Conservation Management to maintain Biodiversity for Increased sustainable Living Standards in Bunaporo Parish, includes, Conservation of Biodiversity in addition to Land degradation and Sustainable Development.

The project has taken three key outputs that include,
i. Mechanisms for enhancing biodiversity conservation and restoration of degraded ecosystems demonstrated
ii. Successful Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices identified and replicated
iii. Climate Change resilient development promoted

As a sign of increased committement and project ownership fostering SENRMCAM Project Small Grant Scheme of UNDP/WWF on May 20th 2015, released of the second and third tranches for the second and third quarters totaling Uganda Shillings 21,386,000 to BFNA, BFNA-PMU immediately embarked on several activities designed to support on ground natural resource management and climate change in the now 10 villages in Bunaporo Parish. This monthly report therefore details the objectives, activities undertaken, achievements, challenges, lessons learned, recommendations and conclusion for the month ended September 2014.

GOAL AND OBJECTIVES
The objectives during the month of May 2015 mainly included; Identification of competent supplier of 8,554 Alibizia Chinesis seedlings , 268 Grafted Mango seedlings and 24 sacks of Napier grass, excavation of 7.3 Kilometers’ contour ditches and follow-up and monitoring after successful implementation of planting of the 8,822 indigenous tree and Fruit Seedlings-8,554 Alibizia Chinesis, 268 Grafted Mangoes and 24,000 Kilograms of Napier Grass Cuttings by 100 beneficiaries (15 Adult Men, 30 Adult Women and 42 Youth) in the 10 villages of Bunaporo Parish,.
The overall goal during the month of May 2015 was to; plant the 8,822 indigenous tree and Fruit Seedlings-8,554 Alibizia Chinesis, 268 Grafted Mangoes on the remaining degraded riverbanks and watersheds and bare patches of land, and excavation of contour ditches to control soil erosion and reinforcement of the contour ditches by planting Napier grass so that this in the long run may result in strengthening sustainable environment and natural resource management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as producing development dividends amongst the beneficiaries that have benefited from the project so far.

The specific objectives included,
i. To identify competent supplier of 8,554 Alibizia Chinesis seedlings , 268 Grafted Mango seedlings and 24 sacks of Napier grass through open bidding
ii. To excavate 7.3 kilometres of contour ditches in the 10 villages of Bunaporo Parish
iii. To establish the total survival rate of all planted indigenous tree and fruit stands in comparison with the step-up milestone of a survival rate of 98%
iv. To prepare and submit the monthly monitoring report