General

The Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) has been implementing a research-based advocacy project on the extractives industries in East Africa. In 2014, AMECEA conducted a study entitled “Righting the Injustices in the Extractive Industry”. In The study found that most potential mine sites in the region are found in places where the poor live, and they are mostly indigenous peoples but they do not benefit from the wealth beneath their land, they do not adequately and meaningfully participate in decision making process relating to exploration and extraction of minerals within their regions and existing legal frameworks are not responsive to the needs of these communities. This project has been designed to respond to the recommendations of the study and will focus on building structures at the community level through the church structures to facilitate community sensitization on the mining and extractives sector and raising their capacity to participate in decision making processes on exploration and extraction of minerals. The project will form regional networks of CSO and hold regions reflection forums to deliberate with duty bearers the pertinent questions of transparency and accountability within the mining and extractives sector. AMECEA will work with national justice and peace commissions of Kenya and Uganda. Core project areas include coordinate regional reach national advocacy campaigns on mining, comprehensive and independent review of existing mining legislation and bills before parliament that are considered inconsistent with Kenya and Uganda’s Constitutions, international human rights principles and have an impact on access to land rights and justice and will facilitate stakeholder discussions on the findings of legislative audits and recommend appropriate amendments to parliaments. The project will cover Kenya and Uganda. Intervention will be implemented at the national level in collaboration with the national bishops’ conference and the national justice and peace commissions. At the diocesan level, the project will work through the diocesan justice and peace commissions. In Kenya, the project will focus on Kwale, Kitui and Lamu counties while in Uganda, the Project will focus on Gulu and Hoima districts. The project period is three years (April 2015 to March 2018) at a budget of £60,000 for year 1, Year two £ 30,000, Year 3, 30,000. Year one project components entail organisational capacity building of AMECEA Justice and Peace department. Recruitment of appropriate personnel and equipment. A detailed project proposal and budget will be developed by staff to be recruited.

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/

General

Chepangs and Tamangs live in the hills and mountains of central Nepal facing many types of hazard that affect both lives and livelihood.They are regarded as the most marginalized and resource poor groups in Nepal.Their tiny land holdings provide no more than 3 to 6 months of food security.The forest and overall landscape is degrading because of the human pressure in forest land.The already formed Community Forest User Groups are not functioning well because of their limited capacity.Due to lack of knowledge of efficient and sustainable agricultural practices and land-tenure rights, the communities practicing the traditional slash and burn cultivation have reduced the cultivation cycle from 3-5 years to one year.This had led to serious soil erosion problems that cause regular landslides that destroy agricultural fields and threaten the lives of people and animals. The main objective of this project is to uplift the livelihoods and food security of the Chepang and Tamang communities through agro-forestry development and improved community-based natural resource management.This is achieved by developing sound biodiversity management and sustainable livelihood activities in order to maintain, rebuild, and revitalize socio-ecological production landscape.Capacity building of CFUGs will be done to strenghten their operational capacity and women's self-help groups will be formed to promote women's empowerment and livelihood.The project will build capacities of local civil society organizations and duty-brearers and promote positive interaction between local government and Chepang and Tamang communities. The project implemented by NAFAN and supported by the Swallows supports Finland's development objectives by increasing food security and promoting sustainable use of natural resources, local democracy and participation of women in decision making. The project will strengthen local organization's capacity in community capacity building and establishing linkages between communities and local government. The project is expected to benefit directly around 2200 right-holders and 100 duty-bearers. In addition to this, approx. 3000 people are expected to benefit indirectly.