General Presentation of ama History – Objectives – Areas Strategies - Projects
Welcome to ama! The Environmental NGO – associação do meio ambiente (ama) was founded in 1990 in the Capital of the most northern Province of Mozambique, Cabo Delgado, by a group of young People with special interest in the conservation of natural resources. Since then ama grew and developed into a major local actor in strengthening and sensitizing local communities regarding a sustainable management of nature and its Vision: A protected and conserved resources. natural environment by the sustainable use of natural Basic principles of ama: honesty and respect, resources, for the well being of valorization of local potential and knowledge and the communities. gender equality. General Presentation of ama 2
Objectives & Areas of Action Specific Objectives • Use of adequate and sustainable practices for the exploration of natural resources Strategic areas of ama • Proper application and implementation of public policies and laws • Strengthened mechanisms of community participation and inclusion • Environmental education for reducing environmental and health risks • Organizational and institutional development within ama General Presentation of ama 3
The People at ama Most of the work within ama is carried out by the approximately 50 employees which are highly qualified and experienced in their specific area. The administrative team is lead by an Executive Coordinator and consists of three internal departments - Human Resources, Finance and Communication. The project structure includes regional and The organization has more than project coordinators, project officials and seventy members which technical staff together with a vast extension represent the general assembly, system supported by local activists and and together with the direction “animators” in the different fields of activity. and the financial organ constitute the institutional basis of ama. Additionally the management team is supported by consultants in specific areas. General Presentation of ama 4
Geographical Areas & Partnerships Since 2005 ama forms part of different national and international partnerships with organizations The activities of ama are mainly such as: focused on the districts of the - HELVETAS-SWISS INTERCOOPERATION northern province of - INTERMON OXFAM Mozambique, Cabo Delgado. - ACTION AID - WWF MOÇAMBIQUE - AUSTRAL-COWI - ITC (KPMG) - DIAKONIA - DFE-DANISH FOREST EXTENSION - HORIZONT3000 - MS-MOÇAMBIQUE - JUSTIÇA AMBIENTAL - Cooperação Francesa - CIP - BIOCLIMATE - ZSL (Zoological Society London) General Presentation of ama 5
Cooperation & Development The active cooperation with other Civil Society Organizations and the establishment and support of platforms and networks is strongly promoted. Knowing that together we can achieve more, ama engages intensively and takes a leading role in the Thematic Group of Natural Resources and Environment of Cabo Delgado. The group mainly promotes activities to ama places high emphasis on achieve and guarantee a proper implementation its organizational and of legislation within the thematic area. institutional development, on capacitating its human resources and on monitoring systems for guaranteeing more sustainability, autonomy and transparence. General Presentation of ama 6
Sustainable Use of Natural Resources Marine Resources ama develops activities which aim to reduce the negative impact on the environment and natural resources by promoting ways of sustainable management and alternative income. Special focus is put on the creation and the institutional strengthening of community based organizations such as fisher-committees or committees for natural resources. These civil society organizations are supported by ama to play a more active role within their region, tax explorers in alignment with the legislation and protect their resources in designated areas. Project experiences with WWF, BIOCLIMATE and ZSL General Presentation of ama 7
Forest Resources A wide range of good practice Examples in this area have been developed in the FEFA project (Extensão Florestal Para Camponeses de Ancuabe) financed by the (DFE) Danish Forest Extension from 2007 to 2013. Besides experiencing and implementing sustainable Forest, Agriculture and Agro- Forestry techniques which Especially forest resources are are adapted to the local being explored in an accelerated circumstances again one pace in the northern region. main objective is that the local communities achieve The promotion of sustainable practices in this area forms an owner-ship and control over strategically important part of the their natural resources and activities within ama. exert their rights. General Presentation of ama 8
Food Security by Conservation Agriculture As an environmental ama establishes fields and facilities for organization, ama works with demonstration of the agro-forest and conservation agriculture and conservation systems developed, where the agro-forest systems for food results of various successful interventions and security. innovations become visible for the local population. Project examples: SAAN (Segurança Alimentar e Agro Negócios) – with Helvetas MVS (Meios de Vida Sustentáveis) with Intermon Oxfam FEFA with the DFE General Presentation of ama 9
Mineral Resources and Hydrocarbons ama´s first action in this new area consists of monitoring the activities of the exploring companies in relation to their contracts, corporate plans, communications, promises and the existing national laws. Simultaneously ama develops actions for collecting the worries, problems and needs of Mozambique in general, and the local communities in connection with the specifically the northern region, is exploration processes. extremely rich in mineral resources and precious stones, and a large reserve of natural gas has been A further step is to support the inclusion of the found recently. voice of the local Civil Society in the decision taking processes by active advocacy. The search processes and the future exploration by national and international co operations will have major impacts on the environment and the communities. General Presentation of ama 10
Community Participation The creation and mobilization of capacities within the Basic Community Organizations and their proper empowerment is one ama facilitates the constitution of the basic of the main objectives for ama. community organizations, such as the CDCs (Community Development Committees), ama works on the integration of supports their regular meetings and the community concerns into the elaboration of annual development plans. governmental plans through a ama provides Know-How and training in rights based approach and the use of the national legislation, rights and decentralization and decentralization policy. works together with all levels to achieve a good coordination and communication between different CDCs and the Conselhos Consultivos (Government Bodies on the District level). This also includes monitoring the activities and the functioning of these Government Bodies. Project experiences with HELVETAS and Action Aid. General Presentation of ama 11
Environmental Education, Hygiene & Sanitation Formal Environmental Education Activities Environmental Education forms an integral part of ama´s • Advocacy actions for the inclusion of programs together with environmental and natural resource topics sensitizing on topics of hygiene into the formal education plan of the districts and sanitation. • Strengthening of education facilities Concrete actions are aimed at the • Production of manuals and lecture construction and use of proper documents for students and teachers latrines and hand washing facilities and information Informal Education Activities regarding water and health issues. • Community work based on PHAST or CLTS / SANTOLIC • Waste management Campaigns Project Examples • Hygiene and Sanitation in the Quirimbas National Park with WWF • Environmental Education on Wheels with DFE General Presentation of ama 12
Communication & Advocacy The area of communication and Activities of ama in this area: advocacy is transversal. • Support the community organizations so that their plans are given attention by government The main objectives are: • giving voice to marginalized • Monitor the extent of integration of the groups community plans in the actual annual plans • influencing political processes (PESODs) and decisions • guaranteeing the proper • Create liaisons and cooperate with networks, implementation of laws and platforms and groups within the civil society regulations • Lift and actively share information and evidences regarding violations of community rights in natural resource exploitation (Resettlements, Compensation Payments, implementation of policies and legislation) • Notify cases of violation of the Forest Legislation and of illegal forest exploration. General Presentation of ama 13
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