Communities Regreen the

Year report 2018 2 3

Year report 2018 Content

04 Map of Sahel 18 Lobby and advocacy 29 Yacouba Sawadogo and the Right 40 Annual meeting 2018 Livelihood Award 07 Introduction 19 Acces to markets 42 Sahel in the spotlight 30 Communication 08 Milestones 23 Region 44 A sneek peak into 2019 33 Region Senegal 11 Region Niger 24 In conversation with Pierre Omer 46 Financial report Ouedraogo 34 In conversation with Mamadou 12 In conversation with Prof. Toudou Fall 47 Colophon Adam and dr. Abasse Tougiani 25 Results Burkina Faso 35 Results Senegal 14 Results Niger 4 5 Sahel Sahara

Sahel NIGER Icons SENEGAL

BURKINA FASO

Milestones Collaborations Preview

Budget / Finance Specials Policy

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Personal stories Region Market 6 Introduction 7 Dear reader,

2018 was the first full year of the Communities In this first year, the consortium was built, Regreen the Sahel programme. A year in strengthened and/or expanded and the first which we dreamed together with all partners. real implementation on the ground started. A year in which we dived in complex planning, The actual work on farmers’ fields mainly took coordinating and cooperation processes. A place in Niger, and to a lesser extent in Burkina year in which we had highlights and challenges Faso and Senegal. This was mostly due to the during meetings and travels. A year in which fact that Niger builds on an existing network local and international attention for the of partners, and in the other countries a Sahel region has grown rapidly. A year that consortium still had to be set up. However, we resulted in a strong are happy to say that consortium ready for all country-consortia the coming years. A year in which local and are now up to speed A year to remember and ready to regreen. as the start of an international attention for impressive movement the Sahel region has grown In this first annual of FMNR advocates, report we want to who already consider rapidly take you on a road themselves to be part trip through last year. of a family. Great pride, We invite you to travel but perhaps above all modesty was what to the Sahel with us and get a glimpse of the we felt during the annual meeting in Senegal activities done and foreseen, after which we last October. The room was filled with over will take drones and satellites to zoom out and 25 people, coming from 4 different countries. see the many links and rural roads that already Different from what we have often experienced, exist between the local and regional work and this time we did not need to be in the lead. The global challenges and developments. country coordinators, together with the representatives of the different Happy reading and bon voyage! organisations took a leading role, which assured me once Kind regards, also on behalf again that –although in a of all teams, different way in each of Roos Nijpels and Fiona the three countries – the Dragstra consortium has ownership of the programme and the Co-coordinators partners really feel they are in control. 8 Milestones overview Milestones overview 9 Programme goal 1 Programme goal 2 and 3

Burkina Faso Senegal Niger

AREA REGREENED (HA) LOBBY & ADVOCACY ACCESS TO MARKETS

After the establishment of the Lobby & Advoacy team, Target descriptions: (1) Average yield increase the milestones were discussed and per milestone the (millets, sorghum) of regreening farmers. (2) % of 2018 Baseline: 7.000 2018 Baseline: 8.000 2018 Baseline: 13.688 team has identified indicators (see below) Furthermore, farmers applying regreening techniques with access a framework for a L&A baseline study has been agreed to markets for their (added value) products. (3) % of upon for the national and local advoacy challenges farmers applying regreening techniques that add value and is expected soon. This will be followed by a to their products. Target: 15.000 Target: 15.000 Target: 20.000 coordinated joint and individual action plan. Potential regional and international policy frameworks and There are no results yet on increase of production AVERAGE TREE DENSITY PER HECTARE (ON AVERAGE) / TREE SPECIES DIVERSITY FOR BIODIVERSITY climate funds have been identified, such as the or market relations, since the first year focussed on Beating Famine conference, the Green Climate Fund, identifying the current status and potential. For each the UNCCD and UNFCCC COPs and Désertif’actions baseline study, a lot of information is gathered on the 2019. different products and potentials. Since this is a quite new topic for most organisations, special attention Proposals presented and discussed with the regional will be paid during the coming years to strengthen the Baseline tree density: 15 - 46 Baseline tree density: 10 to 25 Baseline tree density: 9 to 85 government/central government/implementing exchange and experience on product development Baseline tree species: 2 to 9 Baseline tree species: 3 to 6 Baseline tree species: 2 to 38 agencies and/or Legislative Assembly. and access to markets. Target tree density: 20 to 25 Target tree density: 20 - 25 Target tree density: 40 - 50 Indicators: INCEPTION PHASE Target tree species: 4 - 8 Target tree species: 4 - 8 Target tree species: 5 - 10 # of submitted proposals whose processes have been documented; # of consultations organised NUMBER OF MUNICIPALITIES IMPLEMENTING REGREENING with regional, national institutions, etc; # of structures Year 1 had a special target for the establishment of involved in the formulation process of the proposals; a project consortium and action plans. This annual Baseline: 22 Baseline: 4 to 7 Baseline: 5 # of institutions to which proposals have been report shows how the consortia have been established Target: 4 - 6 Target: 4 - 6 Target: 7 - 8 submitted; in each country. Both within and between the NUMBER OF VILLAGE COMMITTEES ESTABLISHED AND STRENGTHENED countries connections and plans for exchange and Agreements approved to support FMNR. cooperation have been made. Since working together in such a manner is quite new, it was intensive and Indicators: # of Community Development Plan (PDC) time demanding to create clear and good working in municipalities that take FMNR into account; # of relationships based on mutual understanding. Baseline: 37 Baseline: 10 to 15 Baseline: 69 local agreements and local agreements established Therefore, the first priority was put on alliance building, Target: 50 - 80 Target: 50 - 80 Target: 120 - 150 in communities’ intervention; # of processes engaged after which joint action plans and baseline studied RATIO OF WOMEN/MEN IN VILLAGE COMMITTEES with service techniques in the context of formulating could be done. Because we wanted to do it right, agreements; this process ran into 2019, which can be see in some Baseline: 2 on 5 Baseline: 2 on 5 Baseline: 1 on 4 delayed budget uses and delayed plans. However, Target: 1 on 5 Target: 1 on 5 Target: 1 on 5 Policy and budget measures introduced/improved the teams are now up to speed and made joint action VILLAGES WHERE AGREEMENTS AMONG FARMERS AND PASTORALISTS ARE ESTABLISHED supporting FMNR and/or good land governance. Done plans to catch up on their delays and deliver their by regional and/or national authorities. foreseen results for 2019. Baseline: 1 to 3 Baseline: 2 to 6 Baseline: 0 Target: 5 to 10 Target: 5 to 10 Target: Indicator: # of institutions that have adopted the proposals submitted in the context of regreening; VILLAGES WHERE AGREEMENTS AMONG FARMERS AND PASTORALISTS ARE ESTABLISHED

Baseline: 600 Baseline: 500 Baseline: 704 Target: 2000 Target: 2000 Target: 3000 10 Map Region 11 Niger

ALGERIA

Niger is by far the vastest country of “Communities and evaluation of regreening through FMNR in Niger, Regreen the Sahel”. With its 1.268.000 square kilome- particularly in the regions of Maradi, Zinder and Dosso. ters, and largely desert and sand dunes covered land, Around 5 million hectares of degraded land has already not necessarily the country you would expect to be been restored. In the coming years, the Nigerien regreened at large. Luckily, our partners are proving the consortium partners will focus on the regions of Dosso contrary. Over 45.682 hectares of land in Niger is being and Tahoua. It will expand its work in the communities NIGER used for agricultural production and more than 80% of of Dogonkiria and Soucoucoutane, where FMNR work the population is dependent on small-scale agriculture has started about 2 to 3 years ago. Moreover, in 2018, in rural areas. In the past years, our Nigerien consorti- three new communities were added, Matankari and MALI um partners, led and coordinated by the Regional Cen- Dankassari in the department of Dogondoutchi, and ter for Specialised Education in Agriculture (CRESA) of Alléla, in the department of Birni N’Konni. In the course the Faculty of Agronomy (Abdou Moumouni University of the coming years, the FMNR message will be widely of Niamey), and including INRAN, R.A.I.L. CNCOD/ spread as more and more communities will join. ReSaD and HIMMA, have contributed to the promotion

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NIGERIA 12 Interview Niger Interview Niger 13

MARKET ACCESS communicate properly to our local move forward. We also see a clear In conversation with “What surprised me a lot this partners as well as Both ENDS. comparative advantage with the year”, Toudou continues, “was how I feel like we are getting there differences in all countries where about working on market access and the together. Moreover, as we are two we can be complementary to one enabling environment right from coordinators in Niger – myself another.” Prof. Toudou Adam and 2018 the beginning, can already have as a national coordinator and Toudou: “If I look at the past year I such an impact in the way farmers Abasse as a scientific coordinator am most proud of how the com- adopt FMNR practices. Often, we – we managed to bring nuance munities position themselves. saw that after the first trainings, to how we coordinate and also What is very clear is that all they dr. Abasse Tougiani farmers adopt FMNR, but after a communicate amongst ourselves. need is a small pushand they pick while the “and now what?” questi- For us, after years of experience, it up themselves. I’m very pleased DR. ABASSE TOUGIANI AND PROF. DR. TOUDOU ADAM other countries provides a unique on popped up. We are very happy we have seen that the link, trust with the engagement of the ma- learning experience for all of us. and pleasantly surprised with the and work with communities is the yors and chefs de villages in all CO-COORDINATE THE DOB-PROGRAMME IN NIGER. work from ONG HIMMA, who star- most important. 5 communities. They are actively THEY SHARE THEIR REFLECTIONS ON 2018: Dr. Abasse underlines this and ted their work in Soucoucoutane Abasse: “I completely underline engaged and working hard. And I notes how the involvement of and Dogon Kiria. They will team up this, for us our biggest challenge already mentioned that I am very different partners results in more with the farmers from Dan Saga this first year was figuring out how proud of our choice to work with interesting and diverse impact to teach the other communities as to reflect all that we were doing ONG HIMMA. They already prove on the ground. “Furthermore”, well that they should not only de- on the ground, with meeting the to be a good counterpart that can he says, “the way pictures and velop a non-timber forest product standards of reporting to Both do a lot with very little resources. stories of people have become a market, but also work on a sustai- ENDS as well as DOB. Another But maybe most of all, I am very big part of the results we show is nable marché du bois. Now that big learning for us this year was proud of all the young and dyna- different than before. But above HIMMA engages with communities the management of the various mic facilitators in the communities. TOUDOU ADAM ABASSE TOUGIANI all, thisprogramme focusses on the that have done FMNR for about different organisations and They understand and adopt our long-term, which is very important 2-3 years, they can start working institutions on a national level. approach, and are engaged and when talking about trees”. on that “and now market access” There were many expectations, very serious about their jobs. I’m question. With those activities, we and we had to figure out our vision very proud to see how they are oudou: “In the past years Cattle, representatives of the state Toudou: “After the first start-up integrate FMNR in the daily lives as well – it took some time, but I working with the same monitoring we have built on quite (mayors, prefets, governors and phase in April, I feel like we finally of farmers and communities as a feel like we are on the right track.” system. This means that they are extensive experience chefs de villages). Within the village kicked-off. We have facilitators whole.” in fact in charge of the monitoring, Tthrough other FMNR related committees we needed to make in each community, we have PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS together with the farmers.” projects in Niger. The DOB sure that we had a representation done exchange visits, wesetup BUMPY START JOURNEY programme for us thus feels rather of farmers, cattle herders, livestock the village committees, started “Of course, not all was easy this Abasse: “I’m very proud of the SUCCESS IS LIKE A TREE natural. It provides us with the farmers and other professions, as community radio programmes first year. We noticed that it took extent to which we work in “For us”, Toudou concludes, “our opportunity to grow and expand well as an equal representation and setup a monitoring system in some time for all of us to get at strong cohesion with the other program will be a great success our past work, while incorporating of youth and women. For us the each community. Throughout the the same level regarding reporting implementing countries. We when we can show communities the lessons learned from earlier biggest difference with other past year, we were still looking and budgeting – with Both ENDS, communicate openly and have in Niger, and beyond, that we can experiences. We kicked off the projects is that this program into ways of moving forward but also in relation to our local been together since the beginning. indeed really make a difference year with two ‘older’ communities: is focused on scaling-up. This with implementing all aspects partners in Niger. As a coordinator This programme truly permits us to on a large scale – and that it is the Soucoucoutane and Dogon Kiria makes us think clearly: “We have of the programme, especially I want to be as transparent as construct a « DOB family » in the communities that do so. We see and as of April 2018 we started to make this work, and the only the dissemination of information possible, so I want to be able to Sahel, where we learn from and the development of our program activities in 3 new communities: way to make it work is together through farmer networks and share with each other in order to as a tree: If we have trees, we have Matankari, Dan Kassari and Allela. with the farmers”. They are the peer-to-peer trainings. Luckily, more time for the other trees to I believe we made a great start!” ones who are at the core of our severalfarmers from Dan Saga [a grow, and the only way to show planning, execution, monitoring community in Maradi – outside that we are getting results is if we FIRST RESULTS and follow-up. They play a central of current DOB intervention can show trees. Our results are the “Our first results are clear: we role in this program – without them area, red.] approached us with “I’m very proud of the extent to which stories of people and their trees: a mobilised and shared information we cannot move forward and we a proposal. We just signed long-term sustainable result.” with all actors active in the can definitely not reach scale. a convention with them to we work in strong cohesion with the program. For Niger those are: Moreover, compared to other reach more farmers through the Ministry of Environment and projects, the emphasis on working community radio and farmer-to- other implementing countries” the Ministry of Agriculture and together and in synergy with farmer trainings to disseminate information on FMNR.” 14 Results Niger Results Niger 15

branches as well as disrupting ones FMNR process lead to penalties within the community – as set by the villagers themselves. A big lesson learned herein was that in the past, Village Committees would not have women present (as women representation is still a sensitive issue in Niger). Men would complain how women would continue to chop trees for firewood (for cooking) whereas the men had received trainings. Results After deliberation for a solutions, women, equally, got trainings on FMNR and the benefits of trees in BUILDING ON YEARS OF EXPERIENCE ecosystems, increasing their understanding of the Considering the extent of the degradation in terms of The baseline study found that importance of protecting the trees - and lowering the areas affected and the speed of the phenomenon, DID YOU the practice of FMNR is found in their risk on penalties and increasing their sense of it is urgent to scale-up the pilot success cases, as well KNOW? all the socio-economic groups ownership. Crop-garden of a farmer, Niger as protect and continue to support the areas that have of the 5 communities in a already managed to regreen and consolidate these proportion of To ensure good and open implementation of FMNR achievements. Partners aim to do so by strengthening practices, as well as having a constant presence of the densities of preserved trees and their specific knowledge on FMNR in the communities, CRESA diversification and use, by improving biodiversity has trained and employed five young facilitators in In 2018, Niger also executed and peoples living environment, and by contributing all communities. These young men are also in charge to the restoration of the productive bases of land for of the local monitoring and evaluation of farmers’ an extensive baseline study, 11%Among the rich and the middle, agriculture and livestock. In short: the restoration of fields, the tree density and variety, and are open the ecosystem through FMNR. The key to success to all questions the farmers might have. After first specifically focused on is an approach that advocates full community evaluations in December 2018, we can safely and participation and active support of village institutions, surely say that 100% of all farmers who have received three observatories, placed local, regional and national authorities, NGOs, and training in 2018, are still practicing FMNR. in three villages in three academic partners. The approach also promotes 40% of the farmlands have over 300 gender inclusivity, agriculture-livestock integration pieds of trees per ha. The poor different climate zones in and all other beneficiaries of ecosystem services into and very poor households have monitoring committees at village level. Adequate less than 300 trees on their Niger frameworks of this integration have been created and farmlands. are active to ensure the protection of trees and sites thus restored (for about the first 4 years). The partners also plan to facilitate market access for products the gaps in laws and policies towards FMNR on a derived from FMNR, including NTFPs. regional level. For the dissemination of information Communal awareness workshops about the causes from farmer to farmer and through local radio, CRESA YOUNG FACILITATORS AND NEW PARTNERS of environmental degradation were held with all local found another partner. A newly formed organisation The beginning of 2018 was centered around setting- stakeholders and the service techniques of the Eaux Toudou showing the booklet of champion farmers from Dan Saga, Maradi, asked up the new partnership in Niger, building on earlier et Forets helped in raising awareness about the role CRESA if they could share their expertise with experiences as well as working with new partners. of trees in ecosystems and FMNR. It is important to other farmers through the network of CRESA. They Niger held its first inception meeting from February 2-4 have a ray of actors and users of land– pastoralists, submitted a proposal and have become an official part in Niamey. After that, the national team was officially producers, village chiefs, mayors and government NEW AXES TO NIGER’S APPROACH ON THE of the Niger-family as of December 2018. Moreover, established and an action plan was formed. The first agents – present in the FMNR trainings to ensure a GROUND new partner HIMMA – an almost completely female- steps were all concerning the implementation of first good understanding of FMNR within the community. The Niger team has seen an evolution of its approach led organisation from Maradi - was asked to work field visits to the new communities, and going back to After the initial trainings, the actors in the communities throughout the years, by constantly adopting their on the implementation of market access and NTFP Soucoucoutane and Dogonkiria to introduce the DOB formed village committees or FMNR monitoring strategy to the needs of communities themselves. But production from FMNR. HIMMA’s approach towards programme. committees. These committees (comprising often of now, something new was added to their strategy to market access, as well as their experience with agro- a mix of young, elderly, male and female farmers and strengthen it even more. With the help of new partner pastoral conflict and land management proved to be pastoralists) were given the mandate by the rest of the CNCOD/ReSaD, a lobby and advocacy strategy was very valuable. CRESA is happy to have them on board. community to operate as monitors of people’s lands. set-up. CNCOD/ReSaD already worked together HIMMA’s approach shows that women’s cooperatives, This is to ensure that illegal chopping of trees and with ReSaD in Burkina Faso (SPONG) to understand mobilised and organised around the production of 16 Results Niger Results Niger 17

OBSERVATOIRE 3 OBSERVATOIRE 1 • Zone Soudano Sahélienne NTFPs deriving from FMNR, can be autonomous after flora consists mainly of: Acacia tortilis var. raddiana, valleys. The observatory in Alléla has an annual rainfall • Zone Nord Sahélienne • Agricole 8 months. They are keen to share their lessons learned Acacia senegal, Leptadenia pyrotechnica, Aristida of 600mm. The vegetation in this zone is varied. In the • Agropastorale • Zone proche du Nigéria mutabilis, Tragus racemosus, Tephrosia nubica and Combretum with other partners, also from the other countries. dry forest you will find species like the • Pluviométrie < 500 mm • 700 < Pluviométrie < 600 mm Cenchrus biflorus on the dunes; and species such micranthum, Manilkara multinervis, Combretum • Existence des marchés • Existence des marchés OBSERVATORIES as Acacia seyal, Schoenefeldia gracilis, Euphorbia nigricans, Combretum collinum, Crossopteryx In 2018, Niger also executed an extensive baseline forsskaliiand Cordia sinensis in low areas. The febrifuga, Afromorsia laxiflora, Dioscorea dumetorum, study, specifically focused on three observatories, observatory of Matakari is located between 500- Costus spectabilis, Aloe buettneri, Zigotritonia crocea, placed in three villages in three different climate zones 600mm of rainfall. The vegetation of the zone is a sort Dioscorea quartiniana and Dioscorea praehensilis; in Niger. The observatories are located in Dodoria, in of “tiger bush” on lateritic plateaus, steppes on sandy gallery forests composed mainly of Albizia zygia, Dogon Kiria, for the Northern zone, in Madobi/Gaouna, terraces, fixed dunes and in dry valleys. The flora Acacia hockii, Acacia dudgeonii, Nauclea latifolia, Matankari, for the Central zone, and in Kanguiwa, in includes Guiera senegalensis, Commiphora africana, Daniella oliveri, Kigelia africanaand Albizia chevalieri; Alléla for the Southern zone. Combretum micranthum, Acacia macrostachya, dry valleys with Butyrospermum paradoxum, Neocarya Lannea acida, Croton gratissimus, Acacia ataxacantha, macrophylla, Borassus aethiopium and Andropogon The observatory in Dogon Kiria is characterised by an Combretum nigricans, Boscia senegalensis and gayanus and dunes attached to Vitex doniana, average annual rainfall oscillating between 200 and Boscia angustifolia, on lateritic plateaus and Hyphaene Sterculia setigera, Parkia biglobosa and Cymbopogon 400 m. Vegetation consists of treed steppes in low thebaica, Bauhinia rufescens, Annona senegalensis, giganteus. areas, and shrub steppes on sandy substrates. The Combretum glutinosum and Faidherbia albida in dry NIGER The observatories will serve as continued monitoring OBSERVATOIRE 2 • Zone Sud Sahélienne points throughout the coming years to better under- • Agricole stand how and why some approaches work and others • 500 Pluviométrie < 600 don’t, how households and individual famers’ lives mm are improving and how climate change might change • Existence des marchés the conditions. Other countries are following Niger’s Table 1 Woody stock of the North Observatory in Dogon Kiria approach and follow suit. Next to all local activities, the team from Niger was Frequency Density Renewal also very happy to be part of the first annual meeting Scientific names Family Numbers (%) (number/ha) rate in Senegal in October, and to represent the Communi- ties Regreen the Sahel programme during the first ever Guiera senegalensis Combrétacées 780,00 75,88 124,8 36,43 partner meeting of the DOB Ecology family in South Boscia senegalensis Capparacées 93,00 9,05 14,88 48,04 Africa. Combretum glutinosum Combrétacées 64,00 6,23 10,24 17,95 Piliostigma reticulatum Césalpiniacées 18,00 1,75 2,88 43,75 Table 2 Combretum micranthum Combrétacées 11,00 1,07 1,76 26,67 Example of data derived from baseline on socio-economic status of households Faidherbia albida Mimosacées 10,00 0,97 1,6 23,08 Very poor Acacia nilotica Mimosacées 9,00 0,88 1,44 30,77 Variables poor Average Rich Calotropis procera Asclépiadacées 8,00 0,78 1,28 0,00 Gender and education Gender Male 16,7 25 25 25 Dichrostachys cinerea Mimosacées 8,00 0,78 1,28 50,00 level of head of Female 8,3 0 0 0 Balanites aegyptiaca Balanitacées 6,00 0,58 0,96 0,00 household Education level Literate 0,0 20,0 20,0 60,0 Boscia angustifolia Capparacées 6,00 0,58 0,96 33,33 Koranic 16,7 22,2 33,3 27,8 Ziziphus mauritiana Rhamnacées 4,00 0,39 0,64 0,00 Primary 0,0 25,0 50,0 25,0 Euphorbia balsamifera Euphorbiacées 3,00 0,29 0,48 0,00 No 75,0 25,0 0,0 0,0 Commiphora africana Burseracées 2,00 0,19 0,32 50,00 Main activities and Agricultural Agriculture 100 100 100 88,9 Boscia senegalensis Capparacées 1,00 0,10 0,16 0,00 sources of income Livestock 0 0 0 11,1 Annona senegalensis Annonacées 1,00 0,10 0,16 0,00 Not agricultural Sale of wood yes 6,7 20,0 33,3 40,0 Boscia senegalensis Capparacées 1,00 0,10 0,16 0,00 no 93,3 80,0 66,7 60,0 Combretum aculatum Combrétacées 1,00 0,10 0,16 50,00 Farm labour yes 77,8 44,4 0 0 Combretum nigricans Combrétacées 1,00 0,10 0,16 0,00 no 22,2 55,6 100 100 Leptadenia hastata Asclépiadacées 1,00 0,10 0,16 50,00 Total: 18 10 1028,00 100,00 164,48 36,35 Small business yes 16,7 20,8 29,2 33,3 H’: 1,48 no 83,3 79,2 70,8 66,7 H max: 4,17 Exodus yes 55,6 57,1 77,8 55,6 E: 0,35 no 44,4 42,9 22,2 44,4 Land acquisition Heritage 100 83,3 83,3 75 Source: Baseline study, Niger method Purchased 0 16,7 16,7 25% 18 Special Special 19

actions and jointly shaped a framework for a baseline We realise we do have several study specifically focused on the local and national challenges among the teams in terms context first. Key questions in this format are to identify of the start-up phase, reporting and Lobby and the lobby and advocacy capacities in each country, language barriers, but we’re confident describing the national and policy landscapes, look and look forward to putting FMNR on at the main national initiatives and support programs the map at all different levels, where related to FMNR and map which lobby and advocacy each team member has their specific advocacy tools are best known to and used by the team role to play informed and connected members. At the end of 2018, the teams were still in to the other activities within the the writing phase, but the baseline studies for lobby programme. and advocacy will be a great way to learn from each ESTABLISHING THE LOBBY AND other’s strengths and areas of improvement, and a ADVOCACY TEAM good base to coordinate individual and joint actions. In IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH 2018, 2019, the succinct L&A strategies for national and local THE FIRST VISITS FROM BOTH ENDS’ PART will be written and carried out. Also, after the annual meeting, an email list serve for the L&A team has been OF THE DOB TEAM TO BURKINA FASO, established which gives us an easy and direct way of NIGER AND SENEGAL TOOK PLACE, AND communication. THIS PROVIDED A GREAT FIRST SENSE OF LOOKING FORWARD PARTNERS’ IDEAS REGARDING LOBBY AND Since October 2018, several actions regarding lobby ADVOCACY. and advocacy took place. Burkina and Niger have elaborated advocacy plans on a regional level with Access to markets ReSaD, and IED Afrique made an elaborate study on uring these visits we also had the chance to the policy framework in Senegal. In Niger, CNCOD visit several relevant policy makers – such was supposed to do advocacy activities on a local THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL MARKETS FOR THE FIRST as national coordinators of the Great Green level, but were found to not be a great fit for that TIME, ORGANISATIONS ARE INVOLVED PER COUNTRY WITH DWall, the UNCCD and the Green Climate Fund. In work. For 2019, the L&A work in Niger will be split October 2018, the full lobby and advocacy team was between ReSaD on a national level, and a local farmers SPECIFIC ‘ACCESS TO MARKET’ EXPERTISE. THESE ARE formed, with organisations with different expertise organisation from Maradi on a local level. MOSTLY ORGANISATIONS WITH EXPERTISE IN FORMING and from different backgrounds. This was quite a COOPERATIVES AND FEDERATIONS, ACCESS TO (MICRO) challenge in the beginning, but should also been seen In 2018, Both ENDS was able to initiate talks to several FINANCING AND EXECUTING MARKET ANALYSIS OF THE as one of the key aspects of mutual learning. Also, it specialists of the Green Climate Fund secretariat to get provides a lot of potential for progress, as we are all an initial idea of the chances of the FMNR approach PRODUCTS THAT FARMERS (WOULD LIKE TO) PRODUCE. very complementary. During our first conversations to Green Climate Fund funding during the three board we found out that in Niger there is great expertise meetings throughout 2018. The plan is to bring these to advocate for FMNR at the national government, actions together during several side-events in 2019. These organisations EXPERTISE WITH PRODUCTION on baobab fruit processing while in Senegal there is a large expertise in national mainly see challenges in AND VALUE-ADDITION TO techniques. The product has a and regional legislation, in Burkina Faso the focus is processing the products NTFPS real potential because it is sold mostly directed to regional and international policy T(now often very labour intensive), From the baselines it becomes in the village but also in some frameworks, such as the UNCCD, and Both ENDS applying the required technology clear that there is limited localities during ceremonies. The has a lot of experience in climate finance and climate for sustainable production and experience in processing and marketing is very organised and funds, focused on (but not limited to) the Green processing, and making the marketing of (forest) products the product is packaged in sachet. Meeting at Climate Fund. products (packaging) attractive in the regions and that there However, as heard in Kaffrine, the office of to the (inter) national and local are challenges concerning the one of the difficulties that women the district INSPIRING AND LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER market. For the time being, the access to markets, also because encounter with transforming governor, During the annual meeting, we had inspiring focus is on further cooperative of regulations. In Senegal, in and selling baobab products are Zinder, Niger discussions about how we all defined ‘Lobby & development and the expansion Daga Birame, in the community the regulations concerning the Advocacy’ and how we could learn from each other. of the acreage. In time, a few of Ndiognick, women organised sale of baobab fruits, since it We spoke about local, regional and international areas products will be selected per themselves into a group called is a protected species. Women for advocacy, further defined our indicators for our country that may be suitable for Soukali and benefited from training cooperatives experience difficulties the international market. 20 Special Special 21

in understanding the policy HIMMA identifies these species framework. In two communities, in collaboration with farmers, to the few cases of valorisation ensure that it is their choice. After noted are the result of personal that, they train and support farmers initiative. In Mboula, in Yang Yang collectives – especially women’s Gao in bloom. village, there are some individual cooperatives and federations Faidherbia albida: the super-tree. The gao (or kadd or balanzan in experiences of transforming the (about 80% of the total groups Hyphaenethe baica: the doum Ziziphus mauritiana: fruits – jujuba fruit of balanitesa egyptiaca into oil. trained) – about the species, palm is appreciated for the shade Wolof or Bambara), a large tree – are rich in vitamin C, the leaves are from the Fabaceae family, is very The women have even acquired and on how and when certain it provides. All parts of the tree food for livestock. are useful, but the most important commonly known among the Sahel small-scale processing machines trees are to be exploited, how product is the leaves. The fibre and as a super-tree. It’s a farmers’ for product recovery and bottling products from the trees should be leaflets are used to weave baskets, favourite when it comes to farm- of 250 ml to facilitate its selling at transformed and how value could mats, as well as to make brooms, land based trees, because it’s very ropes, string and thatch. The timber market level. be added. In 2018, together with useful for several reasons. The is used for posts and poles, furniture 142 cooperatives (either revived or gao has a ‘reverse life strategy’ Burkina Faso manufacture and beehives, and Experience in recently set-up), HIMMA identified firewood. Its fruits (dates) are eaten compared to most dryland trees: teaches us that the value chain and collected NTFP products by people and livestock. The shoots it is the only tree in the semi-arid Acacia raddiana: used for of the karité (shea butter) and stemming from FMNR fields for of the germinated seeds are also Sahelian zone to lose its leaves in traditional medicine. Its fruits and mango is strongly developed in the start of transformation and eaten as a vegetable. Apart from the the rainy season and to regreen leaves are consumed by livestock use of the fruit as food, juice and as well some regions, specifically in the valorisation processes. Another at the end of the rainy season, palm wine are also extracted. Onions on the market in Niger south. However, in many other example from HIMMA is worth extending its leafing period in the communities, especially in the noting: when training the women dry season (“reverse phenology”). Leaves that are dropped at the north, farmers have mentioned cooperatives on the possibilities of beginning of the new rainy season, a decline in formerly forested NTFPs and the benefits of being decompose better. The gao is an areas with trees that were used part of a cooperative to use these interesting species for agroforestry In Mboula, in Yang Yang village, there for production of NTFPs such possibilities, HIMMA found that because it offers shade and fodder as the mango, tamarind, néré, many women had difficulties in appreciated by livestock. The are some individual experiences of baobab and jujuba. The loss of understanding how women can be tree’s roots g