Executive Summary Quarterly Progress Report EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

At the start of this quarter, the World Wide Fund for Nature – (WWF- SA) opened a new office in White River close to the border of the and within the Khetha program area. A full complement of staff now works out of this office, guided by a draft Work - and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning plan. Program management systems are being developed to oversee work plan commitments, partnership activities and to direct the work of service providers and consultants.

The Khetha Program was formally launched in , , in cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), WWF Mozambique (WWF-MZ) and other partners, and a first formal partners meeting was held to discuss the Khetha work plan, to share the results of research reports, and to discuss the complexities of working on illegal wildlife trade (IWT) in South Africa and Mozambique.

A number of the deliverables, guided by Fixed Award Agreements (FAAs), were completed as part of the inception phase. The purpose of these work packages was to increase Khetha’s knowledge about key aspects related to IWT – such as wildlife poisoning, mitigating IWT-related corruption and understanding the dynamics of IWT in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA). The outputs of these research projects will help Khetha determine the baseline of key IWT-related indicators and to design evidence-based interventions.

Six geographical focus areas were identified within the GLTFCA landscape. These will be Khetha’s focus areas for developing innovation nodes for testing community-based approaches to improve the relationship between communities and wildlife. However, Khetha also works beyond these geographical boundaries with partners to increase crime prevention, detection and prosecution. The work plan is being finalized early in the next quarter and interventions, as per the work plan, will be designed and implemented with partners in the landscape.

2 Table Of Contents Quarterly Progress Report TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION 5

2. BACKGROUND 6 2.1 WHERE WE WORK 6 2.2 INNOVATION NODES 7

3. HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS QUARTER 8 3.1 TIMELINE 9

4. ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRESS 10 4.1 RECRUITMENT OF CORE TEAM 10 4.2 ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE 10 4.3 PROJECT VEHICLES 10 4.4 FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION 10

5. PROGRAM & TECHNICAL PROGRESS 11 5.1 DEVELOPING THE WORK – AND MEL PLAN 11 5.2 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT 11 5.3 PROGRESS MADE WITH EXISTING RESEARCH CONSULTANCIES AND FAAs 13 5.4 PROGRAM PARTNERS MEETING AND LAUNCH 15 5.5 LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR PARTNERSHIPS 17 5.6 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES 18

6. PROGRAM CHALLENGES 19

7. UPCOMING ACTIVITIES 20 7.1 OPERATIONALIZING THE WORK PLAN 20 7.2 COMMUNICATIONS WORKSHOP 20 7.3 MEL WORKSHOP 20 7.4 DEVELOPMENT OF MEL TOOLS 20

APPENDIX Appendix 1: Partner presentations at program launch Appendix 2: SurveyMonkey feedback on partner meeting & launch

FIGURES Figure 1: Defined areas for protected area and community support as well as broader scope of illicit trade routes 7 Figure 2: Snapshot of Work 11

3 Acronyms Quarterly Progress Report ACRONYMS

ANAC National Administration of Conservation Areas – Mozambique AO Agreement Officer AOR Agreement Officer’s Representative CIRAD Centre de cooperation international en recherché agronomique pour le développement/ French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora DEA Department of Environmental Affairs EMI Environmental Management Inspector EMMP Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan ESARO Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office EWT Endangered Wildlife Trust FAA Fixed Award Agreement FLoD First Line of Defense GEF Global Environment Facility GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit/German Society for International Cooperation GLC Greater Lebombo Conservancy GLTFCA Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area GLTP Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park ICCWC International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature IWT Illegal Wildlife Trade K2C Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Reserve KNP Kruger National Park LACE Legal, Authorization, Compliance and Enforcement LNP MEL Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning MoU Memorandum of Understanding NPA National Prosecuting Authority NUPAS Non-US Organization Pre-Award Survey PGR Attorney General – Mozambique PPF Peace Parks Foundation SADC Southern Africa Development Community SANParks South African National Parks SAPS South African Police Service SSA State Security Agency SULi Specialist Group on Sustainable Use and Livelihoods USAID United States Agency for International Development WCS Wildlife Conservation Society WWF-SA World Wide Fund for Nature – South Africa

4 Introduction Quarterly Progress Report 1. INTRODUCTION

“Khetha” is a word associated with the Nguni languages of southern Africa, meaning “choose” or “choice” and spoken by Zulu and Shangaan people commonly located in eastern and northeastern South Africa and western Mozambique. The word “Khetha” reflects the program goal to offer communities surrounding protected areas an opportunity to choose to conserve wildlife whilst making informed choices to improve their livelihoods.

Khetha is a five-year United States Agency for International Development (USAID) program, implemented by the World Wide Fund for Nature – South Africa (WWF-SA), aimed at halting the impacts of wildlife trafficking on key populations of flagship species in the South African and Mozambican landscape of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA). The goal of the program is to contribute to achieving positive growth rates in black and white rhino populations and maintain positive growth rates for elephants in the focal area by 2022. The overall goal of the project will be achieved through collaboration between WWF and partners towards the following objectives:

1. Support innovative partnerships and novel approaches within civil society, communities, private sector and government in at least four innovation nodes in GLTFCA to improve relationships between people and wildlife, by July 2022.

2. Support the implementation of critical wildlife trafficking policy frameworks for South Africa and Mozambique to increase crime prevention, detection, prosecution and collaboration, by July 2022.

3. Learn, collaborate and coordinate with influential institutions in the GLTFCA landscape to strengthen the collective response to wildlife trafficking, by July 2022.

The project objectives contribute to the implementation of the United States National Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking and complement further regional and bilateral programs managed by USAID and other United States Government agencies in southern Africa and ongoing responses by donors, governments, private sector and other organizations.

5 Background Quarterly Progress Report 2. BACKGROUND

The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region is facing an unprecedented increase in the poaching of elephants, rhinos and other wildlife for illegal financial gains. In response there is a growing international effort to combat wildlife crime and the associated threat that wildlife trafficking poses to realizing sustainable development objectives in many parts of the globe.

Wildlife trafficking weakens the economic prosperity of many countries. It threatens their natural capital and undermines sustainable economic development, including development benefits derived from legal sustainable use and nature-based enterprises like tourism. Illegal wildlife trafficking and poaching thrives where governance is weak, corruption is high and poverty is prevalent. In these circumstances communities often lose control of their own systems of governance and are subjected to the rules and whims of criminal networks. Communities with a high reliance on natural resources are often exposed to security threats and the destruction of their livelihoods. With limited access to employment or other means of income, along with an often conflictual relationship with wildlife, community members - especially young men - become involved in illegal wildlife trafficking.

Furthermore in this landscape, the long-term relationship between communities and adjacent protected areas and conservation agencies is complex due to historical, social and political factors, including the displacement of communities from protected areas, which remain largely unacknowledged1.

The majority of significant and important populations of elephants remain in southern Africa, including approximately 35,000 within the (GLTFCA). South Africa, in particular the Kruger National Park, is also home to the majority of the world’s remaining rhinoceros populations. Khetha supports USAID’s aim to combat wildlife trafficking in the transboundary area of South Africa and Mozambique, located within the borders of the GLTFCA.

2.1 WHERE WE WORK

Fundamentally, the Khetha Program is grounded within the Kruger National Park (KNP) and the Limpopo National Park (LNP), home to globally significant rhino and elephant populations. The Program’s work under Objective 1 is focused in innovation nodes located around the protected areas as detailed below (Figure 1). Khetha recognizes that illegal wildlife trade is driven by transnational organized syndicates and that the product should be followed from the source to the market. Thus, under Objective 2 the program’s work extends from the key nodes within GLTFCA to identified ports of entry and exit in both South Africa and Mozambique.

Hübschle, A. (2016). Security coordination in an illegal market: the transnational trade in rhinoceros horn. Politikon, 43(2), 193-214.

6 Background Quarterly Progress Report

Figure 1: Defined areas for protected area and community support as well as broader scope of illicit trade routes

2.2 INNOVATION NODES

• (1a) Greater Lebombo Conservancy (GLC), located in the of , Mozambique • (1b) Greater Lebombo Conservany (GLC), located in the of Maputo Province and in the of , Mozambique. • (2) Pafuri Node, Mozambique, located in of Gaza Province in Mozambique • (3) Makuya Node, located in the Vhembe District of the Limpopo province, South Africa. • (4) River Node, located in the Mopani District of the Limpopo Province, bordering the Sabie River, South Africa. • (5) Matsulu Corridor Node, located in Ehlanzeni District of Province, South Africa.

7 Highlights Of This Quarter Quarterly Progress Report 3. HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS QUARTER

‘98 Highlights Of This Quarter Quarterly Progress Report

3.1 TIMELINE

9 9 4. ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRESS

4.1 RECRUITMENT OF CORE TEAM

Three members of the Khetha core team (Fradreck Kaondera-Shava: Grants Manager, Lara Rall: Communications Manager and Tiyani Kubayi: Office Manager) who were recruited late in 2017 took up their appointments in early January 2018. The MEL position was initially undertaken as a consultancy by Lindie Botha, until March 2018 when converted to a full-time position as Deputy Program Manager, with the approval of the AO and AOR. New staff members attended a formal induction process in the WWF Cape Town office and received training on relevant HR, IT, legal and financial systems.

4.2 ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE

During the reporting period the Khetha office has been established at the Bagdad Centre in White River. Khetha procured a number of items of furniture such as desks, chairs and kitchen appliances needed to operationalize the office. Air-conditioning units and an alarm system have also been installed. In the new quarter Khetha is acquiring the services of a professional interior designer to assist with the remaining furniture needed in the office and décor to ensure the Khetha working environment is inviting and encourages productivity. Signage with the USAID and WWF logos has been erected in three places inside and outside the Centre.

4.3 PROJECT VEHICLES

Two of the three vehicles budgeted for have been purchased and are in operation. The remaining vehicle is earmarked for Mozambique and will be purchased as part of the Mozambique work plan implementation.

4.4 FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

With the appointment of the Grants Manager the account is now liquidated and advance requests aligned with actual expenditure and projected activities. In addition to this the required policy and system revisions identified in the Non-US Organization Pre-Award Survey (NUPAS) were implemented with the documentation submitted to USAID on February 16, 2018.

10 5. PROGRAM & TECHNICAL PROGRESS

5.1 DEVELOPING THE WORK – AND MEL PLAN

Khetha submitted to USAID its work and MEL plan for the period of February 17, 2018 to September 30, 2019 on February 16, 2018. A workshop was held using a Theory of Change approach to develop these plans. Implementation of the approached highlighted the teams’ understanding of the problem of wildlife trafficking, particularly in relation to rhinos and elephants in the GLTFCA, what Khetha plans to do about it, and how the program will track progress. Khetha combined the work - and MEL plans into one document since the two processes are interdependent. Below is a snapshot of the elements that informed the development of the work –and MEL plan (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Snapshot of Work – and MEL Plan components

Subsequent to the submission of the work plan, some clarification questions from USAID were received and detailed responses submitted. Once formal approval of the work plan is received, implementation will commence and the MEL tools will be finalized.

5.2 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT South Africa

• The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). There have been extensive discussions with DEA during the reporting period regarding activities to be undertaken by Khetha. These activities have currently focused on Objective 2 but will expand to Objective 1 once the Global Environment Facility (GEF) 6 program is launched. An inter-agency meeting was held with DEA, the South African Police Service (SAPS), State Security Agency (SSA) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to identify key opportunities for partnership with the Khetha Program. The Khetha Program Manager also attended a symposium organized by DEA on rangers / Environmental

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Management Inspectors (EMIs). In addition, DEA had representatives at the Khetha launch in Maputo. The relationship with DEA will be formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the next quarter. • SANParks. There continues to be close collaboration with SANParks. The Khetha Program has provided input into the Kruger Management Plan and is currently working on an MoU with SANParks to guide cooperation going forward. • Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Reserve (K2C). In the reporting period, Khetha identified K2C as one of the key local stakeholders to be consulted for the First Line of Defense (FLoD) scoping exercise. Two informative meetings were held to explore areas of collaboration. K2C was represented at the Khetha launch. • Sabi Sands Wildtuin / Pfunanani Trust. Like K2C, the Sabi Sands Wildtuin / Pfunanani Trust have been identified has important local stakeholders. Representatives were consulted during FLoD scoping and have continued to maintain contact. Sabi Sands Wildtuin / Pfunanani Trust also attended the Khetha launch. Mozambique

• National Administration of Conservation Areas – Mozambique (ANAC). The program directly and through WWF – MZ has maintained its collaboration with ANAC with key needs incorporated into the Khetha work plan. ANAC was present at the Khetha launch. • Attorney General – Mozambique (PGR). There has been further, but limited, contact with PGR through WWF-MZ, pending the approval of the Khetha work plan by USAID. The PGR attended the Khetha launch. • GLC. The program has been engaging with the GLC specifically around the Sabie Game Park but also more broadly with other land owners in collaboration with WWF- MZ and PPF. • Peace Parks Foundation (PPF). Khetha and PPF have remained in communication through ongoing work in the Mangalane community in Mozambique, initially supported by WWF-SA and PFF which the Khetha program is planning to support. PPF are in the process of negotiating funding from the Norwegian government to support collaborative activities which will link closely with areas identified by Khetha for support. PPF also attended the Khetha launch. • French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD). In February, CIRAD contacted Khetha to advise that they were initiating a rural livelihoods support program funded by the European Union in one of the Khetha innovation nodes. Khetha is meeting with CIRAD in the next quarter to explore potential areas of collaboration. Bi-lateral

• GLTFCA. Their Khetha Program was formally presented to GLTFCA at the meeting of the Joint Management Board in January. Khetha worked in close collaboration with the International Coordinator of the GLTFCA on a wildlife poisoning study in the GLTFCA parks. Khetha and the GLTFCA have identified further opportunities for collaboration,

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including support to implement the GLTFCA livelihoods strategy and facilitating linkages with the private sector stakeholders in Mozambique. • GIZ/SADC. There has been engagement with SADC/GIZ on their development of a Community Engagement Strategy. A workshop was attended in in February to discuss the findings of an engagement consultancy report and draft strategy. Co-financing opportunities between Khetha and GIZ were identified and GIZ sent a representative to the Khetha Program launch. • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)/United National Environmental Program (UNEP)/IUCN Specialist Group on Sustainable Use and Livelihoods (SULi). A meeting of the Communities and Indigenous Peoples Working Group was organized and hosted by UNEP in February. The meeting examined possible mechanisms for greater engagement of communities and indigenous communities in CITES. The Working Group is expected to report back to the Standing Committee in October 2018. Any proposed resolution of the parties will have to be agreed by December 22, 2018.. • Social media workshop. Two Khetha team members attended a workshop hosted by SANBI and the Digital Geography Lab, University of Helsinki, on “social media data for conservation science and practice with a focus on illegal wildlife trade and conservation marketing.” Khetha is very interested in exploring the application of social media to influence how people think and talk about IWT in the GLTFCA. The Khetha team has established good relations with the Lab and will look for opportunities to collaborate in the future to experiment with some of these emerging methodologies.

5.3 PROGRESS MADE WITH EXISTING RESEARCH CONSULTANCIES AND FAAs

A Wildlife Poisoning study was undertaken by a research consultant in collaboration with GLTFCA and PPF. The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP) is the site of multiple incidents of wildlife poisoning and understanding the current status of this phenomenon is essential. A literature review and field work, which included interviews with informants, informed a report “Provisional findings of the wildlife poisoning baseline study in the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park” which is currently under review by Khetha. The report covers details of poisoning instances, as well as an overview of current offenders, sites, drivers and motivations. In the next quarter the consultant will conduct another field trip to further interview local community members who live near poisoning sites, law enforcement and other conservation stakeholders not interviewed in the first field trip, to understand the impact of wildlife poisoning on local communities, to source any knowledge of perpetrators and the supply chain and test the public’s access to poison. The data collected will be analyzed and the findings will be presented to the GLTFCA’s and wildlife poisoning task team.

Initial scoping mission by the IUCN FLoD team, comprised of consultants and staff, has been completed, and final report received.

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TRAFFIC is in the process of finalizing the following deliverables:

• A draft scope of work and research methodology on the dynamics of the illegal wildlife trade in South Africa and Mozambique, including analysis of existing wildlife trade in Mozambique, from the TRAFFIC/WWF database. • Identify specific illegal wildlife trade information needs in Mozambique from the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) toolkit assessment • Meet with and/or communicate with key agencies in Mozambique and South Africa to explain intention to enhance knowledge on trade dynamics and determine the information needs of the agencies and integrate this information into the draft research methodology. • Finalize illegal wildlife trade research plan for South Africa and Mozambique, including budget. • Determine the options for hosting/managing a wildlife trade research position to carry out illegal wildlife trade research in Mozambique - based on discussions with WWF-MZ and agencies in Mozambique. • In collaboration with WWF-MZ, determine the illegal wildlife trade capacity needs of agencies in Mozambique and what role TRAFFIC could play in meeting these • In collaboration with WWF-MZ, conduct preliminary needs assessment of agencies and possible methods for mentoring of wildlife crime investigators in Mozambique.

Reports on these thematic areas have been submitted in draft form and will be finalized in the next quarter.

EWT has finalized the following deliverables:

• Develop gap analysis report on wildlife trade research: A mapping analysis was done of key actors in the South African landscape with regards those requiring information and sources of data available. Gaps were identified and areas where greater understanding were required by key actors working on illegal trafficking of high value wildlife species in South Africa and Mozambique

• Assess the applicability of restorative justice in addressing wildlife offences: Restorative justice was found to be a well-established approach to justice that can and will have meaningful impacts on wildlife offences in South Africa. It can promote enhanced community engagement, provide an opportunity to the victim to be properly heard and will contribute to a change in mind shift and reduce possibility of re-offending.

• Assess the applicability of anti-corruption approaches in addressing wildlife trafficking: A key finding was that corruption does not happen in a uniform fashion and due to the links to social and cultural nuances, and that methods need to be devised to address the context-specific challenges in the GLTFCA. Also, an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of different anti-corruption approaches was done and recommendations made regarding the most appropriate activities and possible implementing partners.

14 Program & Technical Progress Quarterly Progress Report

Dr Morné du Plessis, CEO of WWF South Africa, giving a keynote address at the Khetha launch in Maputo, Mozambique

“During the partner meeting I learned more about the complexities of the Mozambican landscape. I really look forward about becoming more sensitive to and aware of the challenges faced by our counterparts there” ~ Khetha team member reflecting on what she had learned during the partner meeting & launch.

WWF- Mozambique is in the process of finalizing the following deliverables:

• Development of a IWT Communications Strategy • Development of a Wildlife Crime Prevention Strategy • Identification of key research areas • Identification of Khetha Operational Areas • Development of Wildlife Trade and Monitoring Plan • Engagement Strategy with ANAC • Engagement Strategy with the Attorney General’s Office

5.4 PROGRAM PARTNERS MEETING AND LAUNCH

The Khetha Program Partners meeting was held in Maputo in late March 2018. Thirty-four people attended, representing various organizations and institutions, including USAID, SANParks, ANAC, PGR, DEA and a range of partner NGOs prominent in the GLTFCA landscape. During this half-day meeting, the Khetha team was introduced and the Work – and MEL plan was presented. Updates were also given by Khetha partners EWT, TRAFFIC and WWF-MZ on progress made. See Appendix 1 for these programmatic updates. The

15 Program & Technical Progress Quarterly Progress Report

Group photo of participants in the Khetha launch in Maputo, Mozambique

“I was reminded again that this complex and challenging project has many very capable and committed people that are either directly or indirectly involved; but also that the environment that we are working in is tough and there are many stakeholders with different needs and expectations. Implementation is going to be challenging and often stressful, and strong leadership and a true team approach are going to be critical for success” ~ Attendee reflecting on the Khetha launch in Maputo. last hour of the workshop was dedicated to Questions & Answers and participants had the opportunity to delve deeper into the complexities of working on IWT issues in the GLTFCA landscape.

Fifty-eight people attended the official Khetha launch, which was held in cooperation with WW-MZ, USAID, the governments of Mozambique and South Africa and implementing partners. Keynote addresses included Mr. Solani Mhango, Conservation Manager, WWF- MZ; Dr. Jennifer Adams, USAID Mozambique Mission Director; His Excellency Mandisi Mpahlwa, South Africa High Commissioner to Mozambique; Dr. Edmundo Carlos Alberto, Vice-Attorney General; Dr. Morné du Plessis, CEO, WWF-SA; and Dr. Jo Shaw, Senior Manager: Wildlife Program,WWF-SA.

Eleven people who attended both the partner meeting and the launch responded to an online questionnaire to help Khetha better understand how the program was perceived. The results of the questionnaire is shared in Appendix 2.

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5.5 LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR PARTNERSHIPS

IUCN

As per the FAA with IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO), a FLoD scoping exercise was conducted January 15 – 25, 2018 with a team of two consultants and one IUCN staff member. During this period the IUCN team met with the Khetha Team and local stakeholders, such as SANParks, K2C, Sabi Sands Wildtuin, Pfunanani Trust and WWF Water Stewardship Program. It was agreed that it was not appropriate to engage directly with community members at this stage due to the need for stakeholders to be exposed to the FLoD process for a longer period of time than the field trip allowed. IUCN produced a report which indicated that the sites visited were not ready for a FLoD exercise and further listed a set of criteria that needs to be met in order to undertake the FLoD work in these areas.

The possibility of undertaking a separate exercise to test the theory of change of the core team of the Khetha Program using the FLoD methodology was identified and discussed as a possible activity for 2018.

WWF-Mozambique

Building on the stakeholder engagement process in 2017, WWF- MZ has continued to work on the deliverables identified in their FAA. Due to the Christmas-holiday break and the late start in January, along with capacity constraints, progress was slow. In response, Khetha will provide technical support by incorporating the WWF MZ communications strategy into one overall communications strategy for the program, and likewise with the prevention of wildlife crime strategy.

During this period WWF-MZ has participated actively in:

• Preparation of the Khetha Work plan • Preparation of the Khetha Launch in Maputo • Discussions on the issues between Sabie Game Park and the Mangalane community • Discussions on Khetha implementation in the wider GLC • Activities around World Wildlife Day including the production of an illegal wildlife trade awareness poster with support from WWF-SA • Discussions and engagement with ANAC and PGR on program activities.

EWT

In the reporting period EWT was able to complete all of the deliverables required in its FAA and participated in the development of the Khetha Program work plan. The exact details of the work that they will undertake will be determined in the next quarter once the work plan is approved.

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TRAFFIC

In the reporting period TRAFFIC has worked with WWF-MZ on an IWT analysis. Due to a late start in the FAA process their deliverables remain in draft with final products due early next quarter. The TRAFFIC focal point participated in the development of the Khetha Program work plan during a meeting held in Cape Town in early February.

5.6 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES

During this quarter, ten work packages/consultancies from the Work Plan were conceptualized and documented in detail to be ready for submission to WWF’s internal Project Approval Committee. The committee meets monthly to review the rationality and appropriateness of the proposed project spending. The following consultancies will be presented to the committee in the next quarter:

Under Objective 1:

• Stakeholder and institutional analysis/mapping and engagement strategy to foster cooperative governance in Khetha nodes. • Assess the role and applicability of long-term spatial planning / land-use and community inclusion in relevant decision making structures in South Africa and Mozambique • Investigate policies which influence relationships between communities and Protected Areas / wildlife • Baseline and follow-up research on community attitudes and perspectives towards Protected Areas / wildlife • Program to develop ranger leadership skills • Develop a strategy to address corruption linked to wildlife trafficking and implement pilot activities

Under Objective 2

• Improve operational anti-poaching capacity through provision of support to counterparts in Mozambique. • Developing accredited curriculum and training program for field rangers in Mozambique. • Assessment of situational wildlife crime prevention approaches founded on conservation criminology principles. • Investigation of policy and enabling conditions required in Mozambique to utilize asset forfeiture

18 Program Challenges Quarterly Progress Report 6. PROGRAM CHALLENGES

The following challenges were faced during this reporting period:

• Incorporating new Khetha staff into USAID and or WWF-SA administrative and management procedures. In-house training. Staff training is ongoing to ensure organizational processes goes smooth.

• Developing and maintaining communications with stakeholders. This is an ongoing process and communication procedures are still developing, especially in Mozambique. It has been a challenge in this quarter but will improve as the work plan is implemented. Khetha now has regular face-to face and telephonic meetings with its stakeholders to ensure regular communication.

19 Upcoming Activities Quarterly Progress Report 7. UPCOMING ACTIVITIES

7.1 OPERATIONALIZING THE WORK PLAN

Subsequent to approval of the Work -and MEL-Plan by USAID, Khetha will assess and contract a range of consultants to commence work under Objectives 1 and 2. In addition, a number of key activities under all objectives will be initiated directly by Khetha staff members in collaboration with government partners such as SANParks, DEA and ANAC.

7.2 COMMUNICATIONS WORKSHOP

In April, the Communications Manager will facilitate a communications workshop with the Khetha team, including communications experts from the WWF-SA, Cape Town office and the WWF Black Rhino Expansion Program. The purpose of the workshop is to discuss the critical elements of the Khetha Communications Strategy and craft the content for the strategy. The purpose of the Communication Strategy will be to ensure effective engagement with stakeholders, efficient implementation of the Khetha work plan and to support the program in achieving its programmatic objectives. In particular, the aim is to learn, collaborate and coordinate with influential institutions in the GLTFCA landscape to strengthen the collective response to wildlife trafficking. The outcomes of the communication workshop will inform a draft communication strategy that will be shared with Khetha’s key partners, such as WWF-MZ for their input.

7.3 MEL WORKSHOP

Khetha staff will take part in a two-day MEL training to be facilitated by the Deputy Program Manager. The purpose is to give staff a general introduction to MEL principles, processes and methodologies to co-develop data collection and reflection tools that will become the back-bone of learning, reflection and reporting within the Khetha Program.

7.4 DEVELOPMENT OF MEL TOOLS

We will pilot the use of monthly internal reports that will become the source of data for future quarterly reports. Thus, the format of the quarterly report will change to better reflect indicators in the logframe, but also to capture more of the learning and reflection nuances. A huge task lies ahead in terms of establishing the qualitative baselines relevant to objective 1, such as gaining a deeper understanding of the social, economic and political dynamics in pilot sites in the nodes, and learning more about current tensions, successes and governance arrangement between communities and protected areas.

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