Professional Project II

The project titled “Improved landscape management towards sustainable woodland entrepreneurship – Kavango West region – Sivara Village woman earning fair and secured income as community frontrunners and champion biodiversity conservation practitioners of natural resources as managers and owners” aims to address wealth inequality and promote sustainable practices in northern Namibia.

Initiated in 2019, this ongoing project is currently in its first phase, which was completed in 2020, and it is set to transition into phases II and III. The project focuses on empowering local women in Sivara Village by enhancing their capacity to manage natural resources effectively and earn fair incomes through sustainable woodland management.

The objectives of the project are threefold. First, it aims to facilitate participatory knowledge exchange workshops and training sessions with first link value chain partners on sustainable woodland management over two rainy seasons. Core activities include developing a dual system that integrates traditional environmental knowledge with modern practices, establishing and equipping rural training centers, and promoting volunteerism. Additionally, the project seeks to expand skills in indigenous plant cultivation and eco-agriculture among participants.

The second objective emphasizes ensuring that rural women actively participate in management processes and benefit from high-value natural products. Core activities under this objective include increasing the capacity and skills of women to address wealth inequality, promoting nutrition and well-being through sustainable food security initiatives, and advocating for the recognition of the interconnection between national prosperity, human health, and environmental health.

The third objective focuses on widening market access through new product development based on fair business principles while maintaining high-quality standards and securing new trade deals. Key activities include facilitating access to markets through exchange trips, ensuring the production of top-quality products, and building sustainable revenue streams through diverse income sources.

The project was planned through a participatory approach, involving local problem identification meetings,