1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Reabilitação de terras e gestão das áreas de pastagem nos sistemas de produção agro-pastoris dos pequenos produtores no sudoeste de Angola (RETESA)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

FAO Angola (FAO Angola) - Angola

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

21/12/2017

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Approach

The transhumance pastoral communities of Southern Angola traditionally held gatherings of chieftains and community leaders to discuss management of commonly held pastoral resources. However, the conflicts of the last century led to the breakdown in traditional governance and the majority of the traditional management systems were abandoned. The RETESA Project has supported their recovery as a way to reduce land degradation and improve local livelihoods.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

The Approach was developed and implemented through the RETESA Project “Land rehabilitation and rangelands management in smallholder agropastoral production systems in south western Angola”. RETESA is a project owned and implemented by the Ministry of Environment of the Government of Angola with technical and methodological assistance from The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
From an early stage, RETESA identified management itself as the most effective tool to improve pastoral livelihoods and to reduce land degradation over large areas of land. However, the management terms and concepts used in conventional western cultures were difficult to convey to the pastoral communities. Thus communication of the needs and methods of appropriate grazing management were not fully understood and this led to confusion. After struggling initially with these challenges, the project technicians responsible for rangeland improvement and rehabilitation began to investigate the traditional management systems that were in place before the armed conflicts occurred. It was found that they adapted to modern rangeland management theory and practice and had a rich vocabulary which described in detail the timing and movements of the herds. Rather than teach a new way of viewing the natural world, the project's objective became one of resurrecting these lost systems and recuperating what was, in the communities' words, 'the ways of our elders'. In order to provide an underlying methodological basis which guided the process, the “Green Negotiated Territorial Development” (GreeNTD) methodology was introduced and used to negotiate the terms and agreements of the six management plans created and implemented during the process.
In essence, the role of the traditional management systems was to keep the animals in more remote, mountainous areas during the rainy season, the only time of year when water is available in these areas, and gradually bring them back to the lowland, river plains during the dry season. This simple system allowed for rangeland recovery and rest - and for agriculture to be practiced in the lowlands during the rainy season without the threat of intrusion by livestock, something which has become a constant source of conflict within the communities. The periods of 'recovery and rest' of the different areas also meant that important grasses and forage plants could grow, produce seed and multiply, something which was not occurring any longer, where the animals were now free to roam where they wished, returning to the same areas day after day and reducing ground cover to a bare minimum.
The modern discussion forums, or 'Jangos', are still traditional affairs run by traditional authorities and representatives from the communities. But they have adapted to include local Administrations and their technicians, as well as veterinarians, church leaders, NGOs, ranchers and farmers, so as to involve a broader range of stakeholders. The addition of these stakeholders and their involvement and approval of the decisions that come out of the forums are seen as key to the survival and effectiveness of the new management plans implemented.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• The approach relies on a combination of Traditional Inputs and the RETESA Project support

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

To establish Jango Pastoril as institutions in strategic areas and use GreeNTD methodology to develop and implement six natural resource management plans that address the causes of land degradation, and improve production and local livelihoods.

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	interactive	The first meetings and forums were organised by the Municipal Administrations and the Retesa Project, picking up from previous attempts at organising discussion forums to manage commonly held natural resources.
planning	interactive	Once Jango Pastoril were well established, the decision-making process was transferred to them, with technical support being provided by the SLM specialists and with the Municipal Administrators having final word.
implementation	interactive	The implementation of the decisions made was based on their type and complexity and often depended on input and action from various stakeholders. Where possible, external support in the form of technical knowledge, materials, food, machinery, etc. were organised to support the agreed upon activities and works.
monitoring/ evaluation	external support	At the current stage, monitoring and evaluation is being carried out by the RETESA Project and the supporting Administrations. In the best case scenario, monitoring and evaluation would be carried out by the Jango Pastoril themselves, though external support would most likely be needed, at least until the process is well understood by the forum participants.

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• all relevant actors, as part of a participatory approach

Explain:

FAO representatives facilitated the Forums, though decision-making and proposals came largely from the Forum participants themselves. SLM specialists did make clear their opinions and helped the group reach viable decisions on the use and adequacy of the technologies to be implemented.

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• personal experience and opinions (undocumented)

• The traditional management system used before the conflicts of the XX century provided important inputs to the final land management plans.

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

• Forum participants

If relevant, specify gender, age, status, ethnicity, etc.

Principaly male (livestock is male centred enterprise in the area, except for chickens and pigs), 40 to 60 years of age, leader/authority within the community and their is generally a mix of tribal backgrounds. Administrative representatives were more variable in gender, background and ethnicity.

Form of training:

• public meetings

Subjects covered:

Animal health and nutrition; native pasture and rangeland management; water management & illnesses (both human and animal); integrated landscape design and planning; development and governance of Community Management Forums.

Comments:

The first 2 Forums celebrated in each area opened with 2 hours of training and education. After the trainings sessions, the current livestock and rangeland management model was discussed and the members of the Forum proposed different ways of adapting current management to improve both grassland/rangeland health, as well as addressing current social conflicts arising from animal production issues (children not attending school to care for animals; livestock invading agricultural crops; animal theft; lack of administrative support). The following Forum sessions do not usually include training, but centre on consolidating previous agreements, developing management plans and assigning task to be carried out, with supervision from local authorities and Municipal representitives.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

Describe/ comments:

The Jango Pastoril have limited ability to provide advisory services, but they can be used by participants to find and meet those who can provide assistance.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, moderately

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local

Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

Creation of the Jango Pastoril as an institution in its own right has led to important benefits. Local, communal and municipal institutions have also been strengthened and provided with a direct link to the pastoral communities.

Specify type of support:

• capacity building/ training

Give further details:

The Jango Pastoril approach, underpinned by the GreeNTD Methodology, stands as an example of involving local people in decision-making processes around commonly held natural resources. Local and Municipal authorities have benefited by experiencing and overseeing much of the process.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

The idea is that the regularly scheduled Jango Pastoril are to act as monitoring bodies for the land management plans, evaluating results and taking action to correct mistakes or adapt to new conditions. However, for the most part it will be the Municipal authorities who decide whether the process is working and whether to continue with them or not.

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

No

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

No

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

Indicate the annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach in US$:

2200.00

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• < 2,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

It costs about US $500 to organise and fund a Municipal Forum, about US $200 for a Community Forum. Theoretically, there should be around 2 Muncipal Forums and 6 Community Forums per year per Municipality.

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

No

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• none

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• voluntary

Comments:

Breakfast, Lunch and Drinks were provided by the Project RETESA during the Municipal Forums (as many had travelled far to attend). Breakfast and Drinks were provided at the Community Forums by the Project.

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

If yes, describe how:

Given coordination and willingness, the communities and Administrations have the resources needed to continue on with Approach as it has been, albeit without the technical and logistical support given by the project until this point. In any case, the process has shown to be well accepted.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Through the Jango Pastoril, land users now have available an instrument to voice opinions and bring attention to issues affecting pastoral communities and the natural resources they depend on.
It brings people in contact with decision-makers and others who play important roles in community affairs.
The Jango Pastoril also serve as a source of information, for example, information on water and pasture availability, on livestock theft, on the Administrations point of view on key issues and priorities, on new projects or programmes

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The Jango Pastoril brings together a diverse and important group of stakeholders who normally wouldn't meet with the objective of addressing rangeland management and livestock issues. In doing so, it brings attention to a number of serious problems affecting the base of local livelihoods and promotes understanding and collaboration between those present and the communities they represent.
It is one of the few ways to directly deal with the root cause of land degradation, which in this case is the cause is poor land management. It was management processes which drove the land degradation, and land management should equally be the tool used to address the problems. The land management plans created through the Jango Pastoril hopefully return things to a process by which the land was productive and supported a wide array of life.
It creates an institution whose formalities and objectives are easily understood and appropriated by locals. This institution deals with issues that are of a common concern and that should be receiving more attention than they are.
The Jango Pastoril and the commonly agreed land management plans they produced add weight to the argument for maintaining the commons for public use and grazing. By entering into agreements and producing management plans that improve local resources, the communities can show unity and argue against those that want to divide and privatise land in the area.

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
It can require a lengthy trip and an overnight stay for participants who have to travel from isolated communities.	The Jangos were scheduled at the same time as other key events and meetings, so as to reduce costs and travel. The Municipal and Communal Administrations usually found accommodation for those that had to stay the night.
The issues discussed and decisions made will have outcomes that will affect some land users. Obviously, there are those that are benefiting from the current situation and they will try and ensure that things remain as they are.	The GreeNTD methodology discussed earlier has a well-established system for involving all stakeholders, assessing their motivations and publically producing a viable plan that addresses key issues.
The withdrawal of logistical and technical support by the RETESA Project will affect the Jango Pastoril forums.	Approach other projects coming into the area and find other funding opportunities to continue to support the growth of the forums.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The Jango Pastoril do little to improve the situation of the disadvantaged members of the population, or to improve gender equality. In other words, they perpetuate current cultural power bases.	Explore ways with the Jangos of bringing in more farmers and women into the discussions. Or create 'Jango Campones' which deal with cropping issues and land rights.
The Jango Pastoril do little to address land ownership issues or land rights.	It should be the Jango that ask for help on this issue, but the Jango Pastoril have proven to be in favour of the rangelands being open and available for community grazing.
Enforcement of laws and regulations is not always easy in such isolated territory.	Establish protocols and systems for dealing with offenders that are known to the local authorities and support all attempts to communicate the plans to land users and invite their feedback.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

FAO in Action: Using indigenous knowledge to reverse land degradation in Angola.

URL:

http://www.fao.org/in-action/using-indigenous-knowledge-to-reverse-land-degradation-in-angola/en/