Oromia Environment, Forest and Climate Change Authority

Oromia Forested Landscape Program

Field supervision support and Monitoring on OFLP on the ground

investment activities (PFM, A/R and Other Administrative Issues)

By:

1. Taye Dugassa

2. Tesfaye Mekonnen

3. Dereje Likissa

4. Olika Belacho

5. Tesfaye Tola

November, 2018Finfine

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Contents7. Over view of the Field Visit 3

8. OBJECTIVE 3

9. Scope 3

10. Approaches 3

11. Field Observation Results 4

5.1 West Guji zone 4

5.1.1 Zone level discussion results 4

5.2 Guji zone observations 8

5.2.1 Zonal level Desk Review 8

5.2.2 Bore Woreda 9

5.2.2.1 Bore Woreda nursery site Observation 9

5.2.2.2 Bore Woreda Plantation site Observation 9

5.2.3 Adola Rede Woreda 12

5.2.3.1 Adola Woreda Desk review 12

5.2.3.2 Afforestation Reforestation site observation and its condition 12

5.2.3.3 Nursery site observation and its condition 13

6 Challenges 19

7. Solutions provided and /or the way forward 19

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1. Over view of the Field VisitThe day-to-day task of collecting and reviewing information that reveal how an operation proceeds are considered as monitoring the progress of the planned action. Monitoring is a continuing function that uses the systematic collection of data on specified indicators about operation and the extent of progress and achievement of results in the use of allocated funds to inform management and main stakeholders. On this basis, the OFLP team based in the regional office has established a team consisting experts from the region, lead facilitation and safeguard coordination offices. This team were organized to oversee the progress of the A/R, PFM and other administrative activities at zonal & woreda office level, and OFWE branches and district level and also at nursery and sample plantation sites of the activities. And hence, the activities of the A/R, PFM and administration issues of the program implementation is monitored and technically supported to enhance the program effectiveness. The team established has five program staffs that travel from woreda to woreda and from zones to zone to oversee and technically support and direct the implementer at each level. In addition, each woreda coordinators coordinating the program from the coordination office in their respective cluster and the ZEFCCA and WEFCCA managements and expertise and also OFWE managers/Expertise were additional members involved in this technical and administrative supervision.

Accordingly, South and South Eastern OFLP deforestation hotspots were supervised, monitored and technical support was given. The task of the team was targeted to A/R, PFM activities and administrative issues in the West Guji and Guji zone. The team has monitored the progress and has given corrective direction for A/R, PFM activities and some administrative issues at zonal, OFWE branch and woreda level & district of OFWE and nursery sites. The details actions and results are presented herein under.

2. OBJECTIVE

The ORCU, through its OFLP Zonal and woreda coordinators, is responsible for monitoring the performance of A/R and PFM and the areas to be planted (plantation and nursery site preparation along with WEFCCA, OFWE district), and also preparing regular reports based on a Geographic Information System (GIS). As a result, a team of the project staff is established from the region down to the woereda level to monitor the program progress. So, the objective of the assignment is to monitor, know the status and ensure the potential of woredas to implement forest investment and give technical backup on selected forest investment sites (A/R and PFM).

3. Scope The field monitoring includes but not limited to A/R and PFM activities located at zonal, Woreda, Branch & Districts of OFWE, and monitor the progress and situation of the nursery & plantation sites in the five selected woredas of the west Guji and Guji zones. Thus, the scope of the field monitoring is to A/R, PFM and administrative activities of the program in the five sample woredas of West Guji and Guji zones.

4. Approaches

The approaches used in this monitoring and field support were first establishing team for the task. South Eastern cluster supervision team was composed of experts assigned from the regional ORCU, the

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lead facilitator, safeguard coordinator and woreda coordinator in their respective clusters where the woreda coordinators were limited to their cluster. In addition, the respective zones and woredas, local ZEFCCA, WEFCCA and OFWE staffs were also jointly monitoring with the team in their respective zone and woredas. The processes of the monitoring were started at the office level in the zone & woreda of Z/WEFCCA and districts and branches of OFWE.

At the office level, the paper work, most specially related to site demarcation and seeds and nursery tools distribution progress and other A/R and PFM related activities were reviewed at the zonal and woreda level. In addition to paper work, discussions were made with the zonal administrator, ZEFCCA head/deputy head, ZEFCCA government technical staffs, OFWE branch/district representative, Woreda administrator, WEFCCA head/deputy head, WEFCCA government technical staffs and in some cases representative of the office of Land use, Agriculture and program staffs brought together from region to woreda level. As described herein, the discussion was made before the team travel to site and also after observing the progress to give feedback for the decision making.

5. Field Observation Results5.1 West Guji zone 5.1.1 Zone level discussion results

In the zone, the Desk and file review was made within the office of ZEFCCA, along with OFWE representative and expertise. Discussion were made with ZEFCCA head and deputy head, OFWE district representative, ZEFCCA government Technical staffs and program staffs at all level except the woreda coordinator who was out of office for social cases. The discussion forum was led by ZEFCCA head and the participants. The points of discussion in the meeting were issues about plantation and nursery site preparation, distributions of the tree seeds and nursery tools to woredas and progress of the nursery sites, Woreda readiness to deliver ToT on nursery activities and management, the stakeholder participation and coordination (PFM and A/R), the preparation for the PFM activities and the actions for other initiatives and coordination activities in the cluster.

The zone has 9 Woredas, where all are deforestation spot areas and six of them are considered deforestation hotspots. Due to this Zone EFCCA and other stakeholders have positive attitude for REDD+ and OFLP program. The overall assessment result at zonal level is presented herein.

● The contribution of the safeguard coordinator in supporting and working with the line stakeholders are an exemplary that each program implementing institutions, technical work group/ CRGE technical group and steering committee has owned the program and have been well committed to implement the program activity as their usual and recurrent activities of their respective institutions.

● There was regular reporting to respective sectors of the zone offices in monthly basis that monthly progress were review to expedite the program activities

● The detail training and site preparation were presented by zonal EFCCA and safeguard coordinator though they do not suffices the program requirement such as community consultation and site

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coordinate demarcation realities. This is related with security issue in the recent months and lack of awareness in selection of plantation site criteria before.

Challenges

1. The team discovered that although there is startup of community consultation in the site identification, there is still gap in its implementation. The site demarked was not spatially correct when they were overlaid on the Google earth it indicates out of the site. As a result, they were directed to demark the site through the consultation of ORCU MRV whenever they face challenges even with phones. And also, the land to be demarcated should be with the consent of the community who will own the forest that the monitoring team has directed the zone and respective woreda to consult the community and to have the appropriate coordinates of the site and submit it within three weeks’ time.

2. In relation to the tree seeds, an action was taken to transport to some woredas and some others are also placed at the zonal level as they failed to transport them in to the woreda due to the security and logistic problems. In addition it was observed that the tree seeds are affected by weevils. The monitoring team has directed the implementers and the program staffs at the local level to distribute the tree seeds and nursery tools to the locality and report it to the regional ORCU office when finalized. In addition, to overcome the effect of the weevils, the team has advised to filter the tree seeds from this insect and seal it with plastic sealing until sowing time.

3. The security is one main challenge throughout the Zone Woredas. Although community consultation has been made at some levels, it was hard to implement throughout Woredas for the last eight month. The security problem also challenged ZEFCCA and WEFCCA and OFWE in the cluster to work harmonically with each other’s, with the program staffs and also with other program technical group and steering committees in the cluster. Besides, the team originally planned to monitor and support two woredas in this zone that are Suro Berguda and Dugda Dawa. But due to the security condition in Suro Berguda, it was not possible to monitor and support the woreda. Instead one additional woreda of Guji zone were used as the other woredas of west Guji zone are also in an insecure condition.

4. The site selected and sent to ORCU before were random selection without community consultation, the selection should be with community agreement for each plantation and PFM site. So, it was agreed that site selection and demarcation should follow, community consultation.

● In the discussion, they were stating about the establishment new nursery site which might

cost much more than the allocated budget in some Woredas. As a result, the monitoring team suggested as they need to analyze the cost benefit analysis of using the originally existing nursery site of the government use against the possible condition of new establishment.

5. Another critical issue and bottle neck of this zone and the project raised was existence of high deforestations, particularly in Megada, Hambela Wamena, Abaya and Galana woredas. The kero declared by stating that forest is the reason for our life that anyone who deforest a forest shall be punished by the Kero’s and the original cultural rules like obliging the one who deforest to load and unload the deforested tree from and to the vehicles many times and also using the elderly to

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punish by their local punishments cultures. However, also efforts are there to minimize deforestation; it is still a challenge in West Guji Zone.

6. The budget transferred to the woreda for its utilization for the A/R and PFM activities are in unknown condition as the connection with woreda is loose due to the security. ZEFCCA is showing a threat along with this budget utilization as it is open for use for non- program activity. The transferring and budget utilization letter should be as descriptive as it were used in the program staff budget notice letter.

7. The last critical problem pointed both by Zone EFCCA and Zone safeguard coordinator was lack man power related to Woreda OFLP coordinator. One person was assigned to manage nine woredas, but it is challenging to manage all and even in the absence of logistic.

8. Due the security problem in the zone it was hardly possible to consult the local community and demark the PFM sites in Suro Bargudo, Ambal Wamana, Dugda Dawa and Birbirsa Kajawa Woredas. So, the team strongly advised to follow the program in the Woredas.

Figure 1. Photograph taken during during the discussion within zonal EFCCA office (West Guji Zone)

5.1.2 Dugda Dawa Woreda supervision result

In addition discussion and desk review were made in the Dugda Dawa woreda administration office along with Z/WEFCCA staffs and heads. Monitoring, site demarcation and consultation were given and corrective direction was given to improve the nursery site activities in the Woreda. Although, the security is still an issue and no one had a condition to travel to the kebele, the nursery and plantation sites for the long. But the monitoring team both from the program at all levels, Z/WEFCCA in the locality had traveled to Burkitu Megada nursery site before the desk review and discussion (See section 5.1.2.1).

After the site observation, the monitoring team had made discussion with the Woreda administrator along with the woreda Z/WEFCCA staffs. In the discussion the monitoring team has shared the program overview and the role of the woreda administration on the program implementation to the administrator. Following this, the woreda administrator has pointed out that, even the security in the woreda is so challenging and whatever condition is there, Dugda Dawa woreda is self-committing for any community benefiting task. And hence, the woreda will do all the best possible to support the implementation of program.

● In the locality, there is no land limitation though there are security conditions that hamper

to identify the land with the program requirement and community consent. So, there is a 6

need to consult the community within possible mode and shall enforce this in the following one month. From the past conversation they know that the community is willing to work and give their consent for the program implementation in their respective locality.

● The Woreda administrator along with WEFCCA head has agreed that the site for A/R

identification and geo referencing will be updated in the three week time and the site identification and geo-referencing for PFM purpose will also be finalized in a month time.

● The woreda administrator indicated that the woreda co-working sector will also support

the program implementation and coordination periodically.

Figure 2 Some of the photos taken during discussion with Dugda Dawa Woreda at administration office

5.1.2.1 Nursery site conditions and observation

Burkitu Megada is the nursery site monitored and supported by the program team. The area of the site is 1.75 hector as measured during field monitoring. It is observed that some of the tree seeds are sown by the WEFCCA using fund borrowed from the government treasury for the program. In addition, tree seeds bed was prepared. The ZEFCCA has transported the tree seeds and the nursery tools to the woreda and the woreda is on the process of transporting it to the nursery site. The nursery site has a store where they accumulate the nursery tools and other adjacent. The site is owned by the pastoralist commission which was built by Pastoralist community development partner and it is allowed by Woreda cabinet for WEFCCA to work on. The site is well and properly managed and the team found that there is strong initiation and startup to develop this project site.

Figure 3 Water Harvesting tools and store at Burkitu Megada Nursery site

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It is observed that the site is nearby the small river from which water can be fetched for the seedling preparation process. The slope of the small river arrangement of the land is sloppy that it cannot be possible to bring water to the site using irrigation means that is only through fetching that water can be brought from the river unless electric means is used for. The size of the water of the river is small that the monitoring team suggests accumulating the water using the already prepared water storage

Within the site it was observed that the tree seed were sown thought it has no registered history of the seedling preparation. As a result, the monitoring team suggested for the WEFCCA management and site foreman to have three registry documents. One of the registries is used for the follow up of the attendance of the employee working on within the nursery site. The second registry was suggested to be used to record the history of the seedling preparation from the entrance of the tree seeds and nursery tools to the production and dispatch of the prepared seedling for planting and for any authorized mobility. The third registry was suggested to have a free suggestion recording by any observer of the site for review and qualification of the seedling preparation.

Figure 4 some of the photos taken from Burkitu Megada Nursery site

5.1.2.2 The plantation site condition and observation

Due to the security condition in the locality, the woreda administrator has advised the monitoring team not to go to the site. As a result the team has not visited the plantation site in the woreda. Rather an advice was given to timely identify other plantation sites and send the site plan to ORCU within one month.

5.2 Guji zone observations5.2.1 Zonal level Desk Review

In Guji zone, meeting was made with the zonal administrator, the zonal ZEFCCA staffs and monitoring team within the zone administration office. Detail condition of the zone and support required from the zonal administration were shared to the zonal administrator by the monitoring team. Following the description, the administrator and zonal ZEFCCA has shown their commitment to support and work on the achievement of the program in their zone. The zonal administrator has directed the ZEFCCA head

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to give priority for the program activity. Following the direction, desk & File review, and meeting were held in ZEFCCA office.

Following the review in the office discussion were made with ZEFCCA head and vice head, ZEFCCA government Technical staffs and program staffs at all level except the woreda coordinator who was out of office for training purpose. Issues regarding plantation site demarcation and its incorrectness were also discussed with the ZEFCCA management, government technical staffs and monitoring team. They indicated that the incorrectness was due to the technical gap and there is also logistic problem to solve the issue soon. However, based on the resources that the administration shall provide them, they indicated that they will monitor and support the woredas. The monitoring team also gave a series condition that is happening in shakiso woreda, related with nursery site establishment, plantation site identification and high deforestation rate experiencing in the zone, particularly Odo shakiso Woreda.

In addition discussion and desk review were made in four wereds of the zone namely Bore, Wadara, Odo shakiso and Adola rede woredas. And also four nursery site and four plantation sites were visited and monitored in these Woredas. In addition, discussion was made with OFWE branch and district in the zone. The overall observation of each Woreda activity is presented below.

Figure 5 some of the photos taken during desk review and images of some sites recorded after discussion

5.2.2 Bore Woreda 5.2.2.1 Bore Woreda nursery site Observation

The team together with WEFCCA head and expertise, Deputy of Agricultural office and Woreda coordinator has visited the nursery site called Abayi Kuture which was provided to them by Woreda Agriculture office. The site has been demarcated and 0.3 ha was identified during field supervision. But no any activity is conducted on this site except the land allocation done between WEFCCA and Wereda agricultural office. But, it is explained that the nursery site seedling preparation season starts from December on ward. From this time onward they are ready to supply soil, sand and other necessary materials and start seedling preparation. On the other hand the team observed that the nursery site has wind break which blocks sunlight from the nursery plot.

5.2.2.2 Bore Woreda Plantation site Observation

Following the nursery site visit, the team has travelled to plantation site called Maride in Suta Kebele. The area is sloppy with grazing land and shrub covered area at the foot of the hill. The area is

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demarcated during the field supervision that 8.6 ha land is identified correcting the incorrect spatial data. But it is more than that if a grass shrub in the valley is considered.

Figure 6 Field Observation at Maride plantation site, Bore Woreda, Guji zone. The left figure shows demarcation made now (Highlighted) and demarcation made and reported before. The other two figures are photos taken during the field work.

5.2.2.3 Bore Woreda discussion results

In the next day meeting were held within the office of the administration along with the administrator. Detail discussion was made with the administrator regarding the progress and the support required from the woreda administration for the program coordination. In this meeting, the land use office head, WEFCCA head and their staffs including the OFLP woreda coordinator and the monitoring team were the members. The Monitoring team has presented the program overview, the progress obtained from the woreda office and the observation obtained from the nursery site and plantation site. In addition, the monitoring team has indicated the condition of the coordinating sectors and the integrity required in the woreda to enhance community consultation to inhibit deforestation and enhance the afforestation in the woreda and in the plantation site. As a result, discussion was made among the team members. Based on the discussion, the following viewpoints are concluded.

Nursery site:

● The nursey site is already identified, but the startup of any activity is delayed. So, also the season is not late it was agreed that the WEFCCA will start in the beginning of December.

● In the woreda, four nursery sites were identified, mostly in wetland area. But due to lack of all-season water in that area and ecological and budget problem it was agreed to limit nursery site to one site. Although most intended plantation sites are far from nursery site, the supervision team advised them to consider the availability of water, cost of transport and time it took to establish new nursery site. The team doesn't dictate but recommend them to model the case by consulting the forest specialist and also within the existing budget.

Plantation site identification and demarcation:Already the woreda has strong initiation to send the demarcated plantation site to the regional office. However, the shapefiles of the data produced by ORCU MRV from sent row GPS data showed that three of AR sites i) Muri Murato, Melka Alati and Muchuchatu are within agricultural ii) Elicha, Kora Laga and Keransa are out of Oromia Regional state, and iii) Mididi, Yudo and Malaya are within settlement and wetland areas. So, the spatial incorrectness, some are less than 2 ha and environmental issues are the main problem the sites have. During the pictorial description of the problems was presented and all are convinced with the issues.

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● In agreement they all agreed to check the spatially incorrect once and find additional land to substitute incorrect once.

● In most sites the community is clearly communicated about the plantation and the benefit of the plantation most especially the benefit after the plant is ready for use.

● The grievance committee has been established in each kebele to solve any grievance related to the project activity

● Since the identified but not confirmed A/R areas are not more than 53 ha, additional land till 109 ha has to be identified in short period. As agreed the identified land will be re-georeferenced and communicated to the regional ORCU in three week time.

Training and coordination● Training was given to the DAs which in turn created awareness to the local community that the

community is well aware about. This helped the woreda technical and steering committee to be able understand the rationale of the program and their respective role in the program. Thus, the program is owned as a government program in the woread. CRGE committee of the woreda is acting as a technical work group of the program in the woreda.

Challenges● The woreda has a problem of office arrangement and also some of the sector offices in the

Woreda are in office rent. As a result, WEFCCA has only two small rooms that they use as an office for 15 staffs.

● One of the plantation sites which are far from the woreda is 42 KM. The nearest plantation site is 15 Km from the woreda. The sites are also at different corners of the Woreda which are far from the nursery site. This might have a challenge on logistic supply and utilization of the allocated budget for the intended objective.

● There is only one GPS in the woreda that is owned by land administration office ● There is also logistic problem in the woreda. The distance of the kebele from the woreda is far

and also the woreda coordinator is working with other far woredas that availing any possible option for the transportation may help the program achievement

● No good working condition exists between OFWE and WEFCCA and as well the community and the OFWE. Some perceive that this OFLP project is as of the OFWE project hindering them the right use within this intended project. So, it was agreed that all stakeholders including the woreda administration should give an attention while consulting the local community, as they are the owners of the forest they plant.

Figure 7 some photos of taken during the discussion

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5.2.3 Adola Rede Woreda 5.2.3.1 Adola Woreda Desk review

In Adola woreda, discussion was made with the WEFCCA head, OEFCCA technical staffs and woreda coordinator within WEFCCA office. The discussion was about the progress of the program in the woreda and within the cluster woredas. In the discussion the monitoring team has pointed out the desired detail progress of the A/R activities of the woreda and the progress of PFM activities of other woreda clustered under the woreda coordinator. From the discussion held the following points are concluded.

1. Due to the delay with budget transfer from ORCU, WEFCCA has borrowed 40,000 birr from the government budget to expedite the program activities.

2. Existence of good relationship between other sectors and stakeholders and even, using expertise from them. For example, Contrary to Bore Woreda, Adola Rede WEFCCA and the OFWE have harmonic and good relationship between OFWE district and branch offices in the cluster.

3. The Woreda Finance office is claiming to submite report to regional office in a situation where the program has a project accountant who will support in execution and collection of report. This has created conflict of interest that the office is not positively supporting the program though they had borrowed the fund for WEFCCA permitted by the Woreda Cabinet.

4. Awareness for the community is given at different stages and households around the planned AR site are consulted and they are agreed to undertake afforestation.

Figure 8 Photo taken while discussion was held in Adola Rede EFCCA office

5.2.3.2 Afforestation Reforestation site observation and its condition

Following the discussion, the monitoring team together with the WEFCCa technical staff has travelled to plantation site called Gara Barko in Shakiso Boke Kebele to visit the situation of the plantation site and check the correctness of GPS coordinate sent to ORCU. In the given site, the area they informed the team is 105 ha and this was assured by ORCU MRV expert and it

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was 106 ha. Some GPS coordinates of the area is taken from different corners and at the middle and then checked by overlying with GPS points provided by WEFCCA expert. The coordinates are relatively correct except some forest areas are included at the border.

Figure 9 Gara Bork A/R sites (A), Community consulted during our field visit (B) and points taken by Woreda EFCCA expert (Red color) and area adjusted by MRV exert and agreement is made for it with Woreda expert and OFLP Coordinator (Green color).

The land is non-agricultural sloppy, which is important for the intended plantation. In fact there is a bit rocky condition in the top of the sloppy that might be demarcated out or should be concerned during plantation. In addition, there are peripheral forests that can be protected when this land is forested. In addition, many people have gone out following our arrival that they were asking why the team was there. As a result, the team members have clarified what the A/R activity is and how they own the forest and how the program will supply them the seedling. In that discussion they confessed that the land is communal land that they were happy with getting such opportunity and in the contrary some saying that you are here to sell our land to others. As a result, they were well cleared with the issues they have and then they become clear with the direction. And hence, it was observed that the community was not well convinced about the program and it requires the WEFCCA and program staffs located there to clarify issues for them well and also associate them in a group to own the forest.

5.2.3.3 Nursery site observation and its condition

After visiting the plantation site, monitoring team along with the Woreda WEFCCA staffs traveled to visit the nursery site called Anferara. The nursery site was given to WEFCCA from the Woreda

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Agriculture office. The coordinate value of the nursery site was demarcated and measured during the field visit that it is 0.3 ha. Since the nursery site was previously owned by Agricultural office, some pots with coffee are inside the boundary which will be moved from the nursery site. The soil, the sand and other nursery site materials were supplied by the money borrowed from the government. The foreman and the other workers are working in the nursery site and plantation is started.

Figure 10 Anferera Nursery site activity in Adola Rede Woreda

5.2.3.4 Adola Rede Woreda level discussion

After the visit and observations are made, the team has come to the woreda and has discussed with the woreda Deputy administrator, Agriculture office head and OFWE staffs. The monitoring team pointed out the discovered progress such as the condition of the coordinating sectors and the integrity required in the woreda to enhance community consultation to inhibit deforestation and enhance the afforestation in the woreda and in the plantation site. Having the initials of the monitoring team, the progress report of WEFCCA and OFWE the participants have been discussed on what has been done, what has to be done and what support is required from the woreda administration and collaborating sectors. Based on this, the woreda Deputy administrator and Agriculture office head has indicated the following points to enhance the commitment their woreda administration office and their respective sectors.

● The woreda has good understand of the program. An exemplary activity done is approval of borrowing budget asked by WEFCCA.

● The nursery tools and the tree seeds supplied from the region are distributed to each woreda (except for Girja woreda where they took it lately while we were there, due to logistic problem in that area).

● Each tool received and dispatched to the woreads and from the region has been made as the government rule of good receiving and dispatching invoice.

● The role that the woreda coordinator plays in the woreda is very good that things have gone accordingly.

● 106 hector of plantation site is identified in Shakiso Boke kebele● Woreda administration is agreed to give supportive and administrative role to aware other

stakeholders and the community. ● The OFWE team also indicated that PFM activities of the last year are mostly conducted, except

for the management plan. This remaining activity is waiting for budget allocated to this achievement. Similarly, this year PFM activity is not yet identified and demarcated, due to budget limitation.

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Challenges● Although the startup is good nursery production is late due to late budget transfer from ORCU.● Transportation and Logistic problem. The woreda does not have sufficient transportation

vehicles and motor bicycle. So, an agreement is made to aware ORCU to work on and address the issue soon.

● In the woreda deforestation is high and also the supremacy of the law in the woreda is low due to the current insecurity issues. It is good if the regional OEFCCA may devise a means to adopt for reducing deforestation.

● In general, the woreda need the regional ORCU/OEFCCA to seriously look at the deforestation condition in the woreda and peripheral woredas in addition to supplying necessary logistics and transportation means.

● Lack of GPS owned by WEFCCA to conduct demarcation timely.

Figure 11 some of the photos taken during office discussion with Adola Rede administration

5.2.4 Wodera Woreda Desk Review 5.2.4.1 Discussion at woreda level

In the woreda, the WEFCCA head/deputy head, the focal person for the program and the monitoring team has discussed within WEFCCA office. Wodera woreda is one of the deforestation hotspot woreda coordinated by the woreda coordinator based at Liben woreda. While the monitoring team where monitoring the progress the woreda coordinator was out of office to train the government staffs in their operation. But in wodera woreda, the program focal person is assigned that the discussion was made in a very smooth ways. During the discussion the following points were addressed.

● There is startup of the nursery site activity having the nursery site given to WEFCCA from pastoralist commission.

● Previously the Woreda has identified plantation site but they are not georeferenced due the fact that the candidate who took training for this person has passed away. Moreover, after the training made it was known that plantation sites previously identified have environmental issues and even cannot suffice REDD+ A/R criteria’s. So, the Woreda is obliged to identify another AR sites in consultation with the local community and thus due to the existence of land for plantation they can get even more than 93 ha (allocated A/R area for them).

● The woreda coordinator of the cluster has given the motor bicycle to the woreda to effect the A/R and PFM activities of the woreda that has a bit helped the woreda to work on A/R and PFM activities.

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● Sectorial action plan for REDD+ OFLP activity was prepared and all stakeholders WEFCCA, Water, mineral and Energy, land administration and pastoralist community has their own contribution and action plan for this project at Wadera Woreda level.

Challenges- The Woreda strictly addressed that allocation of budget mostly stationary materials and fuel has

a great challenge in the Woreda. - Deforestation is high in the woreda. As a result, WEFCCA is seriously working with public

prosecutors and judges against discovered deforesters. But, still deforestation is continuing and no budget is there to consult community on the issue.

- The woreda has identified the forest for PFM to be implemented by WEFCCA though there were no demarcation and community consultation. But, WEFCCA indicated that they did not receive approved plan for the PFM activity. As a result, the monitoring team has communicated them the entire forest management activity plan.

● Untimely fund transfer has an effect on the activity that the woreda suggest timely fund transfer for the program activity.

● In general, transportation and other logistic problem is a bottleneck for the WEFCCA. ● The awareness on the program is law because the government employee and leaders turnover is

high.

Figure 12 Wadera Woreda Stakeholders action plan

5.2.4.2 Nursery site observation

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● Sokora Jidu nursery site is visited and the area is appropriate, well managed and nursery activity is already started. The activities in the nursery site have started before the arrival of the budget by borrowing fund from the government treasury. Soil, sands and other materials and tools for the nursery site has been placed to the nursery site. Separate WEFCAA store is built within the nursery site

Figure 13 Sokora Jide Nursery site of Wadara Woreda. The site is properly fenced and managed, nursery materials are transported to the storage and there is well documentation of activities and resources

5.2.4.3 Plantation site observationAs discussed under section 5.2.4.1 the problem with identification and demarcation is there due to the absence of GPS expert. Most of the area previously identified was also removed and the woreda is trying to identify new more plantation sites. From the newly identified sites Midhidi site in Harte Kebele was visited and demarcation was conducted at the field stage, identifying 6 ha plantation site. The site is much degraded in some portion and some plantation is there at the border.

Figure 14 Midhidi plantation site in Wadara Woreda

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5.2.5 Shakiso WoredaField observation and office desk review was conducted in Odo shakiso Woreda of Guji Zone. The result of each field observation and desk review is presented below. Discussion was made in relation to the status of A/R site identification and community consultation, PFM status, coordination within different sectors and stakeholders together with Shakiso Woreda administration, Woreda EFCCA, OFWE Districts and others.

5.2.5.1 Shakiso Woreda Desk Review Result

● Afforestation reforestation site identification was late and no one site was selected and consulted with the local community. The problem raise here is that the existing land in most areas is within patches of forest and land with clear and it is difficult to obtain large area extent. So, no any land for A/R site was identified and no any shapefile was prepared.

● Another reason indicated was lack of budget, logistic, security issue and, skilled personal and GPS instrument for identification and demarcation of A/R site from Land administration office since he was busy with other activities.

● Other than lack of these activities the Woreda EFCCA and the administration agreed to quickly convene consultation with the local community and identify A/R sites, even going far from nursery site location. Related to Skilled personal, ORCU trained one expert to conduct field identification and demarcation. So he was convinced to do this activity together with other experts and solve GPS issues conducing field work using mobile GPS temporarily.

5.2.5.2 Nursery site condition and observation

The team visited the Hawata Nursery site exist in Dugo Hawata Kebele and identified its condition and statues as showed below.

● GPS track of the area was taken, but we found difficulty in identifying the boundary since the area is also functioning as private nursery activities.

● Although some preparation of the site is started (clearing, soil preparation), it is mostly covered with long grasses and private nursery pots which might affect the sustainability of this nursery site.

● From the discussion made in the office, they argued that the season of nursery site preparation is still not late and an advice was given to clearly conduct all nursery site and seedling preparations.

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Figure 15 Nursery site in Odo Shakiso Woreada. The left figure is a startup of nursery site preparation, the middle one is the area is populated with grasses and the last figure is an individual coffee plants in the nursery site.

5.2.5.3 Afforestation Reforestation site observation

Based on the recommendation of Woreda EFCCA the team had A/R site visiting and found that the area visited is not suitable for this activity, since mostly covered with forest. And the team advised to select other areas which can suffice plantation condition and submit the demarcation site till two weeks. As per our discussion with Woreda administration and EFCCA, the overall activity of the woreda is much lagged which need quick reaction together with other stakeholders. And then report of the 113 ha plantation site and nursery site activities should reach regional office till two weeks.

6 Challenges There are many challenges that have been threatening the program implementation that needs

continuous follow up by the respective stakeholders. Some of the challenges that are bold out and need

strategic support are indicated herein.

● Lack of basic transpiration means in the eight A/R woreda and two PFM woreads that the

transportation means is the challenges even in the other woredas too

● Lack of proper community and stakeholders Consultation before demarcation of A/R site. This

created the removal of most sites which require additional site identification which is time taking.

● Poor nursery management and delay of nursery activities ( E.g. Odo Shakiso Wereda, Bore

Woreda)

● Site identification problems for A/R and PFM (area and criteria setted in most Woredas)

● Spatial data location problem due to error in GPS coordinate reading.

● The security condition of the cluster has a great challenge on the project implementation (i.e. A/R

and PFM site identification and demarcation, community consultation and budget utilization.

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● Lack man power related to Woreda OFLP coordinator. In West Guji Zone one person was

assigned to manage nine woredas, this had a challenge to manage all and even in the absence of

logistic.

● Poor technical support at different levels

● Another challenge throughout the cluster is the existence of high deforestations, particularly in

Bule Hora, Hambela Wamena, Abaya and Galana, Odo Shakiso and Adola Rede Woredas.

Continuation of this challenge in this cluster will have great impact on the overall implementation

of the program objectives.

7. Solutions provided and /or the way forward

● Technical support on GIS and GPS reading, site selection, safeguard management and nursery

establishment and management has been made in some sites.

● Immediate A/R and PFM sites identification/selection and demarcation is needed in both sites. .

As well Re-demarcation or delineation of some A/R site where there is overlap with

Environmental and social issues is needed. So, each Woreda EFCCA expertise and Woreda

OFLP coordinators jointly perform site identification, demarcation and reporting as agreed

during field supervision.

● Establishing monitoring system and close supervision and follow-up by Woreda OFLP

coordinators, Zone and region OFLP expertise is required.

● Provide awareness to the local community and take low enforcement in high deforestation sites

by local administration, OEFCCA and ORCU. ORCU should take in to account deforestation

activities and its impact on overall project objectives and its implementation. In addition each

Woreda administration and EFCCA should give care, consult the local community and try to

provide solution in minimizing deforestation and forest degradation activities at local level.

● The care rent activity ongoing in at regional level should be facilitated, at least to enhance a

challenge in transportation at Woreda levels.

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