Integrated Biodiversity Conservation, Health and Community Development around Bwindi

Impenetrable National Park, SW Uganda

Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, Ashoka Fellow

Founder, Conservation Through Public HealthJapan MIDP Award Presentation

19th June 2013

Presentation Outline

• Problem

• Solution

• Replication

• Need for support

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Problem

The Innovation

• Ashoka Fellowship for leading social entrepreneurs in 2007

• Merging Uganda’s wildlife management and rural public health programs to create common resources for both people and animals

Conservation Through Public Health

Mission• Promotes biodiversity conservation by enabling

people, wildlife and livestock to coexist through improving their health and livelihoods in and around Africa’s protected areas

Vision• People, wildlife and livestock living in balance

health and harmony with local communities acting as stewards of their environment.

The Solution

Three integrated programs:

• Wildlife Conservation

• Community Health

• Sustainable Livelihoods

Wildlife Health

Water Conservation/Hygiene and

Sanitation

Village Health and Conservation Teams

• Recognized Ministry of Health (MOH) structure

• Monthly Data collectionfor MOH and UWA

• Hygiene and sanitation• Family planning

• Disease identification and

referrals(TB, scabies,

HIV/AIDS, diarrhea)

• Nutrition• Conservation education

Achievements – Public Health

• 12 fold increase in modern family planning new users within four years

• improved hygiene and sanitation indicators (increase in hand washing facilities, clean water storage and drinking containers)

• 11 fold increase in TB suspect patients identified

Achievements - Conservation

• Improved conservation attitudes and practices

- agriculture (soil and water conservation)

- reduced poaching

- greater protection for gorillas on community land.

• Reduced incidences of wildlife disease

Sustainability

• How to continue VHCTs - Village Health (and Conservation) Teamsbeyond donor funding?

• Supporting VHCTs with income generating projects and Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs)

Innovation - Sustainability of VHCTs in Kanungu District, Bwindi

• Bicycles (adopted by MOH)

• Cupboards (for CBDEPO providers)

• Livestock

• VSLAs

VHCT income generating projects

Sustainability of VHCTs - VSLAs

• Two Village Savings and Loans Associations in 2 parishes

• 25 members (15 VHCTs and 10 others)

• $0.4 to $2 contribution per weekly sitting

• 10% Interest rate over 3 months lending period

• Promote group cohesion and a unified local support system

Sustainability of VHCTs - VSLAs

• School fees, family emergency; business

• 100% paying back rate

• No volunteer drop outs in 6 years

• Welfare fund for meetings with CTPH

• VSLAs successful because of no external funding and common goal (VHCTs)

A Sustainable and Scalable Model

• VHCTs or VHTs or CBDs

• Income generating projects (livestock, honey etc.)

• VSLAs

• Link to MOH, UWA

• Lasting social and environmental impact

VHCT model replicated, but a challenge for MOH to sustain

• Kisoro District with high human and gorilla conflict

• Queen Elizabeth National Park (savannah)

• Virunga National Park (DRC)

• Lake Victoria Basin (Kenya and Uganda) with CTPH playing an advocacy role.

Locations planned for replication around protected areas

• Similarities

• high human population densities;

• park encroachment;

• human and wildlife conflict

• Limited access to social services

• Poverty

• Water scarcity

• Differences

• Ecosystems (savannah, freshwater, mountain)

• History of protected area formation

• Conservation threats

• Culture

• Diversity of ethnic groups

• Mount Elgon

Replication in all districts by MOH

Sustaining VHTs – so far

• Policy change - CBDEPO

• Bicycles

The Future

• Livestock or other income generating projects with VSLAs

Budget to establish VHCT income generating project and VSLA in one location

Item Amount (USD)

Personnel 9,384

Travel 2,640

Meetings and Trainings 8,400

Supplies (livestock) 2,676

Other costs 2,400

Indirect Costs 4,500

Total Project costs 30,000

Conclusion

• By integrating conservation, public health and microfinance, through supporting Village Health and Conservation Teams with Village Saving and Loan Associations, we have developed a sustainable and scalable model for uninterrupted provision of community based social services, meeting the health and livelihoods needs of both people and animals.

Thank you – Japan GDN

www.ctph.orggladys@ctph.org