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| Establishing
Efficient Liaison and Information Exchange
The
COMPASS Team is developing both formal and informal methods for
communication and information exchange among CBNRM programs. We envision:
a computer-based
information network that improves the quantity and quality of communications
among CBNRM promoters and practitioners in Malawi and elsewhere;
a public
awareness campaign that targets rural areas where community-based natural
resource management activities are practiced. This enhances partners' capabilities
for using television, radio and print media to disseminate information
to the large number of stakeholders who do not have direct access to computers;
a series
of workshops and conferences designed to facilitate linkages, disseminate
best practices, and encourage participation in strategic planning processes.
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| Computer
Information Network |
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In
the spirit of the central theme of DAI's
approach of engendering efficient and widespread dissemination of knowledge
through promoting collaboration via the Internet, COMPASS
employs this technology to link people to information and potential partners.
This network includes a Geographical Information System (GIS)
component to facilitate sharing spatial data on the project and from existing
spatial databases.
This
information network consists of:
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an information
management system (Lotus Notes + GIS)
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the
COMPASS Website on the World Wide Web,
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an e-mail
distribution list (ListServ).
This network
serves to link the CBNRM Information Network to existing information systems
in Malawi.
Additionally,
components of the CBNRM Information Network link to natural resource management
networks in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region.
These include the SADC Natural Resource Management Network , the
Participatory Development Network, the Sustainable Development
Network, the Agroforestry Network, and the Forestry Network
for Africa, among others.
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| Public
Awareness Campaign |
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The
COMPASS Team provides training to CBNRM promoters on how to establish
effective media campaigns through radio, television, bulletins and newsletters.
Following the training, COMPASS assists in launching a CBNRM public
awareness campaign.
A
related activity helps encourage the development and dissemination
of technical papers, particularly case studies on successful
CBNRM models developed in Malawi through the COMPASS
Small Grants Program. We closely track upcoming regional and
international conferences on CBNRM and encourage COMPASS
Partners to submit case studies. Follow the link to view publications
generated so far.
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| Conferences
and Workshops |
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Regardless
of the potential for computer networking in Malawi, it is COMPASS'
belief that effective information exchange and relationship building requires
periodic face-to-face meetings.
COMPASS
provides leadership in developing workshops and conferences
to facilitate these opportunities. Aside from the consensus
building workshops for planning a comprehensive CBNRM strategy
with its partners (see publications
under policy), other activities in this area include:
Training
Workshops - to provide a variety of skills to a diverse
array of CBNRM partners including government agencies, NGOs
and community groups. These skills include, amongst others,
community mobilization, natural resource management, and enterprise
development (see listing in our publications)
Annual
Conference - of COMPASS Partners intended for policy-makers,
practitioners and disseminators. These meetings focus on institutional
innovations that enhance the community-based management of renewable natural
resources (forests, range lands, soils, water, fisheries and biodiversity)
and that help alleviate poverty. The topics include:
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Institutional
arrangements particularly suitable for specific sectors, for different
degrees of ecosystem stability and health; and for varying socio-economic
circumstances;
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The conditions
under which natural resource based enterprises can be viable, can generate
benefits for stakeholders, and can actually contribute to conservation;
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Effective
land tenure arrangements (such as model community natural resource concession
contracts);
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Effective
training methods;
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Efficient
monitoring and evaluation systems; and
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Effective
models for community participation in policy reform processes.
see
outcomes of annual
conference |
next
section: improving community mobilization skills
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