Objectives

To reduce the use of mercury in the ASGM sector in Nigeria through a holistic, multi-sectoral integrated formalization approach, and increasing access to finance leading to adoption of sustainable mercury-free technologies and access to traceable gold supply chains.

Other

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

Target Groups

264. Mercury reduction is the project's main objective and key benefit for both the environment and human health. Considering that Nigeria is currently one of the main mercury-importing hubs where the use of this chemical is high, the contribution of the project in terms of global environmental benefits will be significant as well as the contribution to the country’s obligations under the Minamata Convention on Mercury.265.In addition, several socioeconomic benefits are anticipated under the GEF Gold+ Project in Nigeria, these socioeconomic benefits are envisaged to positively impact at national, state and local government levels.266.At the national level, the potential socio-economic benefits will include: · Sales of processed gold at internationally obtainable prices and an improvement in the quality of gold produced in the participating states due to uptake of mercury-free technologies and institutionalization of leaching plants which will ensure efficient and environmentally safe management of tailings.· Improved opportunities for Nigeria to compete in the global gold market especially due to quality assurance of gold processing activities not dependent on mercury use. · Considering that Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa, larger opportunities for foreign investments in the ASGM sector will be created specially based on the enhanced formalization of ASGM, access to finance, uptake of mercury-free technologies amongst mining cooperatives, etc. The fact that the country is adapting to global best practices in ASGM, and strengthening its quality assurance and control processes in the sector present wide short and long-term opportunities for value to the country’s economy, especially its roadmap for economic diversification through improvements in the mineral/mining sector.267. Nigeria is a federation. At the States level, specific socio-economic benefits are to be accounted· Mineral buying centers will be encouraged to purchase gold in higher quantities due to the integrity and quality of gold produced and sold by ASGM cooperatives. Additionally, other individuals and entities may be interested in venturing into gold purchases from ASGM cooperatives due to the improved gold processing systems and envisaged financial benefits associated with the national, regional, and global gold markets. · State governments stand to benefit from revenue, generated through ASGM activities within their state. · Envisaged indirect socioeconomic benefits may be associated with opportunities for state government-assisted vocational training camps, focused on transferring knowledge and skills on ASGM to unskilled persons, groups, and communities. · The elimination or significant reduction in the use of mercury and improper disposal of mercury-contaminated tailings is likely to reduce contamination of major environmental media such as surface and groundwater, soil, and air. Consequently, this tends to contribute to a lower incidence and/or occurrence of endocrine, reproductive and genetic disorders/diseases associated with mercury intoxication in communities within the participating states. · Applicability of SLA/JA which considers the jurisdictional influences of stakeholders within landscapes associated with ASGM or proposed for ASGM pilots under the Child Project.268. Benefits to be considered by the Local Government · Opportunities for improvement in the livelihoods of members of ASGM communities are envisaged. Mainly job creation and cash inflow into communities, creating additional demands and therefore additional business opportunities. In participating states such as Kebbi and Niger states, fishing communities where ASGM activities are likely to be carried out could benefit from the influx of workforce, who will depend on fish as a source of protein. Likewise, in Zamfara state where irrigated rice farming is usually practiced, rice-producing communities are likely to gain from an increase in sales to ASGM cooperatives and groups assigned leasing rights (SSML). · Agricultural communities can supplement low agricultural income in times of drought with mining income thereby improving livelihoods. In the overall, the application of SLA/JA will enable a balance of all these production systems within selected landscapes. · Better accountable stakeholder engagement which identifies stakeholder needs, expectations, concerns and suggestions especially at the community level. · SLA/JA pilots will consider stakeholder participation from communities and their roles in the multi-stakeholder platform (MSP). · Environmentally safe ASGM practices consistent with global best practices will improve opportunities for other socioeconomic developments in ASGM communities e.g. petty trading, catering, equipment/PPE sales, food vending, etc.269. The project will promote a scenario in which the ASGM sector can increase its economic incident and impact at the local and national level for the thousands of families that depend primarily, secondarily, or temporarily on this activity. Additional economic gains will be achieved through more efficient technologies and consequent higher gold recovery and responsible supply chains that will ensure access to formal markets and better prices. The economic gains can then translate to social well-being and livelihood security.270. Specific to women miners, the project will improve their access to finance, savings, and entrepreneurship, which will lead to economic empowerment that contributes to their well-being and their families. Gender mainstreaming activities will reduce gender inequalities among project beneficiaries.271. The transition towards more efficient and/or cleaner recovery technologies and the introduction of better practices will improve the working and living conditions of the miners including women and vulnerable population, leading to a better health for all. Better mining practices will also improve the quality of water, and therefore host communities will have access to cleaner water.272. The miners and communities will increase their skills and knowledge, leading to improved education in mining areas. Furthermore, promoting formalization processes will also allow miners to access social and financial services. Proper development of the ASGM sector can reduce conflicts over land use or linked to environmental pollution. 273.Finally, and in line with the innovative approach followed by the GOLD+ programme, apart from mercury reduction, the project will allow for better land management and proper handling and disposal of mine tailings, which will benefit biodiversity and will make communities more resilient to climate change.

General

Haki na Sheria is a Kenyan CSO that operates in Garissa, in Northern Kenya. The strenghts of the organisation include its local knowledge, trust of the local communities, and juridical expertise. This grant will support the capacity development and networking of Haki na Sheria. KIOS will also support Haki na Sheria's work to strenghten the capacity of local communities regarding for example land rights. The project is partly related to the big infrastructure project LAPSSET, which expands across Kenya. LAPSSET will most likely affect the communities in Garissa as it progresses. http://hakinasheria.org/

Objectives

To promote sustainable and comprehensive food systems that are deforestation free and provide ecosystem services, with a focus on palm oil productive landscapes

Other

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

Target Groups

Generating socio-economic benefits is not only a very desirable output of this project but key to its sustainability. If people don’t derive tangible socio-economic benefits from more sustainable food systems and restored landscape there is little hope that these systems will be chosen on the long run. This project’s objective is to create a common vision as a guiding principle for the landscape, ensuring that all stakeholders (even the most disadvantaged usually such as women and youth) feel empowered and benefit from sustainable landscapes. The development of green and inclusive SMEs as well as the support to larger enterprises to have a positive impact on the landscape and local livelihoods, are a key pillar of the project. Looking component by component the benefits are the following: Under Component 1, at the national level, the socio-economic benefit from the project is an enabling environment that includes institutions and coordination mechanisms with a stronger capacity to plan and implement. It is expected that these enhanced capacities will lead to improved and projects in an integrated manner. The project will also support supportive policies to reach the field level. Policies on land tenure are particularly important for communities and farmers to project themselves in a long-term vision for the landscape. Thanks to awareness raising at national and local levels, over 300 people will be trained in Integrated Landscape Management planning and lead the process in their communes to apply this knowledge and develop participatory integrated land use plans. These plans will be developed following multiple criteria including socio-economic ones. Raising awareness and enabling people to be part of a landscape plan, is empowering them to be a driver of change to transform current unsustainable food systems, overusing natural resources instead of nurturing them, to ensure they will be able to deliver their benefits on the long term. As part of the Integrated Land Use Plans some areas will be designated as needing to implement sustainable agriculture intensification to promote sustainable food producing practices and responsible value chain. In order for this change from traditional agriculture to sustainable intensification to be accepted and be part of a long term plan, local communities need to derive benefits from them. Under Component 2, up to 10,000 farmers will be trained through FFS and lead farmers on sustainable agricultural intensification practices. The exact packages to be used in each community will be defined depending on local condition and culture but the options proposed in the project are all defined in a way that will benefit the economic status of the farmers. This will be through diversifying the production, introducing rotation culture (allowing to produce several crops on the same land without exhausting its resources), or ensuring that the crop can adapt to changing weather patterns preventing the farmers from the devastating effect of a lost harvest. The linkages of this project with the AGRIFARM project that is supporting the development of cooperatives, roads and market opportunities will allow the farmers to sell their produces efficiently. The project also has a strong angle to support sustainable palm oil development in view of its growth in Guinea. The production and the transformation will be supported to include more sustainable practices. 15 groups, including mostly women who are usually in charge of this task, will be empowered to improve the transformation lowering the arduousness of the work and increase the yield. In parallel, the project will promote inclusive businesses. Together with the implementation of palm oil certification this will create an emulation for sustainable products and value with a direct socio-economic impact to the local communities. Women and youth will be recognized for their work and directly benefit from it, giving new energy. Under component 3, restoration activities in the Integrated Land Use plans will be implemented to restore threatened ecosystem services and a healthy environment. Value chains depending on these restored land will be supported to create a direct economic benefit linked to restoration. As part of the project, 4 NWFPs value chains will be supported in order to bring more economic benefits and have the restored lands considered as productive. The project will also look for new financing options to sustainable the restored land that will have direct socio-economic benefits. Both national and local project stakeholders will also benefit from more robust monitoring and knowledge management systems, under Component 4, that generate information in a participative way, share it in the form adapted to the target audience and disseminate data, information and best practices relevant to restoration. This will reduce time spent on research and development and facilitate learning and sharing of innovative ideas among and between local, national and international experts (through the IP FOLUR for example) and practitioners, possibly influencing program and policy formulation at different levels. The project’s strong focus on gender and youth equity is also expected to strengthen social sustainability. With equal rights and opportunities to participate and benefit from the project, women, men and the youth can become agents of change for sustained socio-economic development in their communities.All these efforts support ILM and FLR development at the local, regional and national levels giving both the tools to implement it and the incentives to keep doing it over the long term. Global Environment Benefits are reached through land degradation reduction, sustainable agriculture and forest management, improved biodiversity habitat connectivity and improved wellbeing.