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The Second Annual Workplan for the Components of the Malawi Environmental Monitoring Programme:
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SECOND ANNUAL WORKPLAN: PREPARED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA / CLARK UNIVERSITY
Workplan Organization
This Workplan details the MEMP, PLUS and NATURE funded activities which combined encompass the programme. The programme is divided into three primary sub-programmes, as follows:
An important difference between this Second Annual Workplan and the First Workplan is the level of inter-relation achieved between the three sub-programmes. The linkage of sub-programmes occurs at the component level. This integration will enhance and reinforce activities to improve the performance of the Programme as a whole in its efforts to deliver quality Outputs. An example of this inter-relationship is the linking of elements from the PLUS component, to include some of the methodologies developed under PLUS, with the development of the Environmental Information System (EIS). Specific expanded environmental monitoring technologies (Sub-programme I) will have the active participation and oversight of the Environmental Science Advisor who is the technical lead for strengthening environmental research and training (Sub-programme II). Additionally, linkages are made between Sub-programmes I and II and that of environmental policy (Sub-programme III).
Government of Malawi Participation in Workplan Development
The Workplan covering the MEMP Program included extensive consultation with the key Governmental Agencies in the development of the workplan objectives for the 1997/1998 period. The result of these consultations provided additional programming clarifications incorporated into this document. These discussions were pursued in an informal workshop held at Sheila’s Lodge on April 17 and 18, 1997, where the following agencies were represented:
At another meeting on 17 April attended by the Secretary to the Treasury, USAID Mission Director, NATURE and AFS Programme Officers, GABLE Project Officer and UA-NATURE advisor, resolution of the problems experienced in dispersing NPA funds to NATURE, ASAP and GABLE project agencies was discussed. No clear resolution was achieved of the NPA dispersal problems as the Ministry of Finance appears to be depositing NPA funds in a general fund which is drawn upon for all government agency needs. Due, in part, to the size of the funds required for NATURE, it appears increasingly uncertain that funds disbursement will be resolved . However, there is a possibility that some ASAP funds can be made available to support MEMP activities.
Concerns regarding the availability of Non-Project Assistance Funds (NPA)
Concern regarding NPA funds is highlighted as most of the MEMP components require NPA funds to support GoM staff for training or field activities. With the strong likelihood of a reduced level of NPA support from the government, UA/CU must consider where it will be necessary to reduce activities which are NPA dependent, or designate increased levels of Project funds (PA) to cover activities which are essential to demonstrating some results over the period of this workplan, or eliminate activities which will not be able to be pursued in the absence of NPA funds. If NPA funds prove not to be available for sub-programme components or an insufficient amount is available, then certain objectives may not be achievable solely through direct Project funds.
Second Annual Workplan: prepared by the University of Arizona / Clark University
An important development for programme implementation is the explicit effort to achieve greater linkage among sub-programmes. The linkage will be achieved at the component level by interrelating activities that are likely to benefit from a tighter focus and delivery of project resources by concentrating available personnel and funds on a more limited set of objectives. These linkages are expected to improve the effectiveness and quality of sub-programme outputs.
Previously, annual reviews were used as the means to formulate programming activities for the UA/CU technical assistance. Because the July 1996 Annual Review Report is still being prepared, the recommendations from Watershed Monitoring End of Mission Report which has been widely circulated and favourably reviewed will be used as a guide for implementing catchment monitoring and catchment research. The Watershed Monitoring report highlights the need to distinguish between monitoring and research. Additionally, this Second Workplan reflects the arrival of the Environmental Scientist at the beginning of 1997.
The implementation of the prototype Environmental Information System will draw heavily from the design paper Strategy For An Environmental Information System (April, 1997). This prototype EIS will be participatory and develop incrementally so that capacity building occurs simultaneously with EIS development.
PROGRAM I: EXPAND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING TECHNOLOGIES
Component One: Catchment Monitoring
Develop a monitoring strategy for small catchments
The objective of the monitoring strategy is to design a more efficient way to study soil erosion problems occurring in each catchment and to recommend conservation practices that can effectively control soil erosion.
As mentioned in Slack (1996), fundamental differences exist between research and monitoring activities. A research activity should be lead by an individual knowledgeable of the subject matter with the time to be involved in all aspects of data collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation of results. On the other hand, a monitoring activity should be easy to implement by field assistants and the results should be easy to analyze by desk officers. Moreover, a monitoring activity should provide answers to farmers on matters that relate to the adequacy of the current land management practices in controlling soil erosion and should make recommendations so that farmers can adopt best management practices for each catchment.
Taking into account the Slack report, the environmental science advisor and the MEMP technical advisor will assist in the development of an appropriate monitoring strategy which allows conservation experts to adopt better land management practices for soil erosion control.
Tasks and Output:
T1. Develop a monitoring strategy for MEMP catchments
T2. Specification of methods for data collection at a regional scale or major watershed level.
Reporting and communication of environmental information
Improvements in environmental reporting is a principal objective of the MEMP program. However environmental reporting remains weak. Efforts to utilize performance based agreements in the government agencies have not been formalized and efforts to link agency funding with outputs continue to be impeded by inconsistent disbursements from Treasury. It should be noted concern exists that the linkage of EIS development to newly formalized structures such as the Technical Committee for the Environment and the National Committee for the Environment (recently mandated as part of the Environmental Management Act) is also untested. Therefore, the EIS design mission recommends use of a task force of medium duration to produce a situation analysis report. The Core Committee has recommended a similar approach to produce the 1995/96 monitoring report.
Tasks and Output:
T1. Develop synthesis reporting format for integration of sectoral data and reports for both small and large catchments.
T2. Perform in-service training in data analysis and report production using information provided from models and analytical software for the MEMP catchments and secondary data for larger watersheds.
Summarize lessons learned from catchment monitoring
The objective of this activity is to determine the lessons learned from the intensive catchment monitoring and where these lessons might be applied elsewhere in Malawi. Much of the work of the Core Committee, of which two members of the UA/CU team are members, may be tied to this activity as results summarized in a report.
T1. Perform a critical review of monitoring methods across catchments as part of the evaluation of the draft final report prepared by the Core Committee.
T2. Summarize lessons learned regarding the monitoring using rainfall/runoff relationships.
T3. Develop recommendations for the use of these methods in monitoring other catchments.
Component Two: Develop Prototype Environmental Information System
In the Strategy for an Environmental Information System in Malawi (April, 1997) an environmental information system (EIS) is defined as a technical and institutional structure that produces and uses environmental information for environmental management and decision making. A functioning environmental information system therefore includes information about the environment (data, maps, and publications), institutions (government, private, etc.), defined linkages between institutions (data exchange protocols, defined mandates for custodianship, etc.), a technical set up (computers, software, etc.), and a direct connection to decision and policy making.
The strategy proposes three steps to reach the objective of a functioning EIS for Malawi: 1) Assessment of the causes of sedimentation in the Shire River to produce recommendations or information for or on mitigation activities. The assessment will be completed by a Task Force of up to eight individuals who will receive technical oversight from a Technical Steering Team. 2) Plan and implement a functioning Shire monitoring program that will serve as a pilot EIS based on the experiences gained during the production of the Shire River Situation Analysis Report. 3) Development of a national or sub-national EIS based on the experiences with the pilot EIS. Only steps one and two will be achieved during the period of this workplan but significant recommendations will be developed for step three.
UA/CU technical assistance will be provided to assist the development of a prototype EIS for the Shire River Valley as outlined in the Strategy for an Environmental Information System in Malawi. The technical assistance provided will focus on the mid and upper Shire River Valley for the areas covered by Blantyre and Machinga Agricultural Development Districts (ADDs). The Technical Steering Team will provide technical guidance to a multi-sectoral Malawian Task Force which is responsible for the production of the Shire River Situation Analysis Report. In addition, the Technical Steering Team will make recommendations on the most appropriate means to develop the Pilot EIS based on the experiences learned during the production of the Situation Analysis Report. These recommendations will be submitted to a sub-committee of the Technical Committee for the Environment (TCE) which was recently mandated under the Environmental Management Act to report on environmental issues to the National Committee for the Environment (NCE).
The prototype EIS is an example of continued efforts to build linkages between donors and the Government of Malawi to meet a common goal. The Task Force is funded through the World Bank supported Environmental Management Program. The UA/CU technical assistance team will provide both long term and short term technical assistance to the Task Force and the Technical Steering Team. The MEMP Technical Advisor and Environmental Policy Advisor will attempt to identify additional donor support to contribute to the development of national data sets and infrastructure development. In addition, they will help to strengthen ties to the EIS with existing programs which are currently providing environmental information in Malawi such as the FEWS program and the Public Lands Utilisation Study (PLUS).
The PLUS "digital atlas" currently nearing completion will incorporate existing data from FEWS and with additional data for the Shire River from the Blantyre and Machinga ADDs. The UA ARSC Lab will provide technical assistance for Task 1 and Task 2, Outputs 2 and 3, respectively. In addition, the Environmental Policy Advisor, and PLUS Field Coordinator will provide recommendations on the use of the framework for decision making as a model for reaching consensus on addressing the causes of sedimentation in the Shire River.
Assessment of Causes of Sedimentation in the Mid-Shire River
The objective is the development of data necessary to support a prototype Environmental Information System (EIS). An EIS implies that a sustainable and coordinated institutional capacity exists to address environmental problems. Because environmental management most often includes the use of geographic information, the existence of a geographic technical capacity must also exist to collect and analyse appropriate data . Much of the groundwork has been laid during the early stages of MEMP which will significantly contribute to the development of both the institutional and technical capacities within Malawi. The prototype EIS will be a problem-focused activity in a clearly defined area (BLADD and MADD) that addresses a national environmental priority. The result of this activity will supply valuable information to decision makers within the Government of Malawi on the state of the environment with particular attention to increasing sedimentation in the Shire River Valley.
T1. Provide technical support for data collection and archiving provided to the Task Force Analysis Team.
T2. Provide technical support for GIS/Remote Sensing analysis by the Task Force Analysis Team
T3. Develop an action oriented, community based social research methodology that is replicable by the Government of Malawi and linked to environmental problems identified by geographic and physical analysis.
T4. Produce a chain of explanation which will advise the GoM on potential scenarios for intervention and their respective anticipated impacts for the sedimentation problem identified in the Shire watershed.
Review of Shire River Situation Analysis Reporting
An objective of this activity will be to provide recommendations through the Technical Steering Team on the way forward in developing a prototype Shire River Valley EIS. Technical assistance will be provided to support the development of environmental information as outlined in the previous activity.
T1. Provide technical input to improve institutional and technical infrastructures and analytical capacities.
Develop EIS Technical Infrastructure
This objective of this activity is to support the development of a coordinated effort to supply digital map data products for environmental decision making. A critical component of an Environmental Information System is the coordinated development of a Mapping Program including digital map data products that can support the application of geographic information systems and related map display and analysis tools. CU will work with a multi-agency group in the development of the concept and implementation of a Mapping Program.
T1. Develop prototype digital map data geo-referencing standards.
T2. Develop prototype digital map data production and distribution formats.
T3. Develop a digital map data distribution medium and capability.
T4. Strengthen existing the Environmental/Natural Resource Management (E/NRM) system for data archiving, distribution, and communication.
Develop prototype Shire River Valley EIS covering Blantyre and Machinga ADDs
The objective is a prototype EIS which addresses issues pertaining to the mid-Shire River Valley investigation into sedimentation. This response will be backstopped through CU/UA technical assistance working with the Task Force and the TCE.
T1. Provide technical support for the integration of data developed and collected as a result of the Shire River Valley sedimentation investigation that can be used by decision makers.
T2. Provide Technical Steering Team recommendations for establishment of Shire River Information System
Provide recommendations to establish future National Level Environmental Information System
The objective will be to employ the prototype EIS to inform the Government of Malawi on both the state of the environment for the Shire Valley and on long-term EIS development strategies. In consultation with the GOM, UA/CU will prepare reports on the prototype application which will include lessons learned and recommendations for developing a larger-scale initiative.
T1. Report to the Government of Malawi and the Technical Steering Committee.
Component Three: Public Lands Utilization Study (PLUS)
The objective of the Public Lands Utilization Study (PLUS) is to provide biophysical data and socio-economic information associated with publicly-held lands and their use in order to assist decision making processes concerning the use of public lands. The primary pressure faced by protected areas is agricultural expansion, followed closely by utilization of and impact on natural resources. These land and resource demands are often diametrically opposed, leaving decision makers in need of a better understanding of how the two relate. In that regard, a compilation of the suitability of all public land areas for agriculture relative to land cover will provide decision makers with a basic assessment of the potential for change in land tenure vis a vis a corresponding loss of resource base.
Land suitability information is of little use to the decision maker without socio-economic as well as physical measures of human pressures on resources and land. However, collection of these data requires a field intensive effort which is only feasible in a limited number of protected areas selected by Government of Malawi. This explains the need for two levels of analysis – a national level to give the broad picture, and a protected area level which can show the relationship between the physical and human factors.
Undertake a utilization study of publicly-held lands in Malawi
PLUS will use five case studies of selected protected areas and neighboring communities to produce a characterization of public lands which will: spatially define their location, distribution, and size in a geographic information system (GIS); provide an assemblage of relevant national-level data layers; document the rationale for their creation and current tenure where this information can be made available by GOM.
For the five selected protected areas, this characterization will: provide a high-resolution assemblage of similar data; determine suitability for agriculture for five selected reserves based on the standards developed by the Land Resources Evaluation Project (LREP); map land cover based on analysis of 1984 and 1994 satellite imagery; map change in land cover based on comparison of 1984 and 1994 satellite imagery; develop and apply methodology to determine potential soil loss by combining soils and agro-climatic data with elevation and slope data; document resource use patterns by neighboring populations; assess the role they play in local economies; develop techniques to evaluate the relationship between the biophysical and socio-economic factors; and incorporate the results of this evaluation into a decision making framework.
The findings of this study will be of direct utility to land use planners, senior managers, natural resource management line agencies, and national policy makers in identifying the key factors (i.e. biophysical, socio-economic, etc.) for tenure and use decisions on protected areas.
Tasks and outputs:
T1. Provide a set of spatially referenced maps and associated data for physical characterization at a national level (Level-1) and at a more detailed level for five selected public lands sites (Level-2).
T2. Summarize results of field intensive study of land use and resource use patterns of communities adjacent to five selected protected areas. (Level-2)
T3. Enhance local capacity to conduct similar research on additional locations in future.
The objective of this activity is to incorporate the results of PLUS into a decision making framework. The framework will encompass the complementary themes of analysis, i.e. how to generate technical land use recommendations from the results of PLUS and the other land utilization studies, and institutional development, focusing on the process of decision making and the appropriate location of authority. This will involve the identification and organization of multi-sectoral specialists, each contributing expertise or local knowledge which, when combined, should enhance the potential for a consultative, consensus-based decision making process. The utility of the framework will be maximized by building upon national expertise comprised within the Lands Steering Committee. To enhance this potential, PLUS, in conjunction with NATURE, will provide capacity building support to the Policy Planning Unit (PPU) of the Ministry of Lands and Valuation (MoLV) which chairs the Lands Steering Committee. The focus of this support will center on preparations to receive PLUS products and manipulate them in the preparation for policy making phase of the PPU’s action plan. These efforts will contribute to the institutional development and data assembly activities of the Environmental Information System (EIS). This in turn will insure the continuous use of the information as well as a technical structure upon which decision makers can rely when faced with land tenure decisions involving protected areas:
Tasks and outputs:
T1. Provide assistance to the MoLV PPU in strengthening the institutional capability of the Lands Steering Committee as a foundation for the framework for decision making.
T2. Insure broad availability and distribution of data, information products, and findings from PLUS activity.
T3. Incorporate PLUS data and methodologies into the EIS to insure continued use and analysis of the data beyond the completion of the study.
T4. Develop a "framework for decision making" to provide recommendations for the assessment of the future role of public land in the national land budget.
Component Four: NDVI time series analysis and interpretation
The objective is provide assistance to specific GOM agencies in interpretation of NDVI data sets. Use of NDVI time series data is part of a technology transfer component to the Departments of Meteorology and Forestry. The Dept. of Forestry has reached a level of expertise in analysis of NDVI dataset for monitoring forest cover change and has requested further technical assistance in interpretation of their results.
This activity is intended to develop a data infrastructure and to promote Southern African regional organizational linkages to Harare. Clark University will assist in the development of a relationship with the SADC Remote Sensing Unit in Harare for the provision of 3 Km AVHRR data to accompany currently supplied 7.6. Km data to the Department of Meteorology in Blantyre.
T1. Assess use of different resolutions of NDVI data for monitoring vegetation change in large watersheds with the Dept. of Forestry.
T2. Assess the potential of using multi-date 3 Km AVHRR imagery from Harare;
T3. Assess the value of time series analysis of 7.5 km NDVI imagery;
Component Five: Area Sample Frame in Machinga ADD
The objective is to assess the utility of the agronomically-derived Area Sample Frame as a methodology for environmental information models. The area sample frame has been constructed for Machinga ADD. Due to implementation limitations, the survey instrument was not administered during the previous workplan, as anticipated. Further the Forestry and Water components have been set-up as sub-sampling activities which the consultant may not support. Current funding under the subcontract only allows for one or two trips to extrapolate and summarise findings for crop production, socio-economic data, natural resource use by tenure class, and the use and effectiveness of soil and water conservation practices.
To facilitate the use of this data, support will be provided to present the findings from the ASF as policy options to sectoral agencies and national bodies such as the TCE and NCE.
The data produced by the ASF may provide the opportunity to:
T1. Oversee field testing the field plot assessment strategy, verification of strata, and testing of photo delineation maps with the Dept. of Forestry.
T2. Assist the Dept. of Forestry undertake woodland assessment in woodland strata
T3. Develop surface water monitoring system for major drainages in the Machinga ADD to relate landuse change to water quantity and quality change with the Hydrology Dept.
T4. Develop methods to collect soil erosion parameters for use in soil loss estimating models with the LR&CB.
T5. Assess use of different resolutions of NDVI data for monitoring vegetation change in large watersheds with the Dept. of Forestry.
PROGRAM II STRENGTHEN ENVIRONMENTAL TRAINING AND RESEARCH
Develop an environmental science curriculum (UNIMA)
The objective of this activity is to ensure that the curriculum currently taught at UNIMA colleges addresses the environmental problems facing Malawi. The type of environmental science curriculum varies from college to college and will be determined from discussions with the deans and head of departments of each college.
For Bunda College, the environmental science advisor will develop a curriculum that would enable students in Bunda College to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture with an environmental science option. However, before establishing the environmental science option, it is important to have the required coursework in place. A curriculum that consists of existing courses that have some aspects of environmental education (i.e., soil and water conservation) and new courses will, therefore, be developed by the environmental science advisor.
The curriculum development needs of the other colleges will also be determined by meeting with Polytechnic and Chancellor College officials. Once developed, the environmental science curriculum would not only enable students to become aware of the environmental problems facing Malawi but would also enable them to identify, monitor, and develop mitigating measures at an early stage in their professional career development.
T1. Establish a teaching curriculum in environmental sciences for at least one of the Colleges.
Provide training on environmental data analysis, interpretation, and reporting
The objective is to enhance the capacity of the line agencies to analyse, interpret, and present environmental monitoring data. This training activity would enable MEMP participating agencies to collect accurate data, learn methods to examine the quality of the data, analyse and interpret the environmental monitoring data, and provide reports that can be used by decision makers and planners. To assist MEMP participating agencies in developing capacity to deal with environmental data, a general workshop on data collection methods, quality control procedures, model development and testing, and interpretation and reporting of the results will be held at APRU. Depending on the needs of the agencies, the environmental science advisor and APRU staff will conduct the training. The need for short-term consultancy for this training is not yet determined.
T1. Enhance the capacity of line agencies and MEMP Unit in analyzing and interpreting environmental data
Identify external training courses
The GoM Three Year Workplan identifies external training requirements to support capacity building currently not provided in Malawi. Some of the requests such as training to the level of M.Sc. and Ph.D., are beyond the scope of the current programme, if most of the six current participating agencies are to receive the opportunity to go for external training. In addition, other requests for training such as Environmental Impact Assessment, while falling under the Monitoring and Management Unit, are outside the USAID supported objectives.
The objective of this activity, with the coordination of the Environmental Science Advisor, MEMP Technical Advisor and Clark University, will be to identify courses or specialized training which will enhance the desk officers of participating agencies in analyzing, interpreting and reporting on environmental information. Where courses are available in Malawi, consideration of support for in-country training will be made if NPA funding is not provided.
Possible examples of external training include; training in construction, use and analysis of the digital LREP dataset, attachment to World Resources Institute (WRI) for State of the Environment Reporting, training in automatic sampling and analysis with United States Geological Survey (USGS).
T1. Identify external and internal short course training for up to six MEMP agencies or officers.
Teach specialized short courses
The objective of this training activity is to provide specialised training to students in Bunda College of Agriculture or to MEMP participating agencies personnel. Some topics that will be taught by the environmental science advisor include lectures on the economics of soil and water management to graduate students in the Rural Development Department. Some additional needs of short courses may be identified by APRU or MEMP participating agencies. Once the need for training is identified by APRU or MEMP participating agencies, the environmental science advisor will develop a training program that meets the specific training needs of that particular agency whenever possible.
Graduate students will be trained in special tools which may be necessary to do environmental research under the Small Grants Research activity. Under these circumstances, the environmental science advisor may teach graduate students on specific research tools such as the calculation of rainfall erosivity from rainfall intensity data. After graduate students become competent of the all necessary tools, a contract research may be awarded as a graduate thesis. As recommended in Slack (1996), an erosivity map for Malawi can be constructed by one or two graduate students under the small grants research program. This is the best way to build capacity and yet perform a cost-effective research program.
T1. Conduct specialized training of students at Bunda College on key environmental technologies.
T2. Conduct specialized short course training for research assistants of Polytechnic, which may include students applying for the Small Grants Research.
Strengthen GIS technical capacity
The goals of this initiative are to continue to train and build capacity for the GOM to conduct environmental monitoring through the use of GIS methodologies. Clark University will continue its technology transfer program which includes both training in geographical technologies such as GIS and Remote Sensing, and in specialty topics specifically related to MEMP initiatives. This training has utility in guiding policy and mitigation activities and, will build broader technical and scientific capacity upon which an EIS can be based. The first training planned under the revised work plan will be conducted in June 1997. This will complete the training sequence begun in September 1996 and the training of over 30 Government of Malawi officers and University staff. It is from this group of trainees and former trainees that will form the core of future technical EIS activities and the Shire River Investigation Team. Particular emphasis during this last round of trainings is given to the use of geographic technologies for EIS activities in Malawi.
T1. Continue environmental research and training with emphasis on geographical technologies and methodologies.
T2. Conduct specialized training activities for research into the mid-Shire River Valley.
Institutional Capacity Building Activities
The objective of this activity is to GIS as part of a Malawian environmental information system given the principles of integration and long-term sustainability. The involvement of UNIMA is critical on both counts. As part of our efforts, the Clark University team will work with the long-term TA at Bunda and UNIMA towards three interrelated goals: 1) to develop a core curriculum for teaching GIS and remote sensing (GIS/RS) within the university system, 2) to augment technical expertise amongst university faculty who will be teaching GIS/RS, and 3) to facilitate integration of EIS activities with the research and support potential that UNIMA could provide.
T1. Conduct UNIMA GIS Training of Trainers; incorporate trainees into training program.
T2. Integrate geographic technologies into existing UNIMA courses and structure.
T3. Facilitate integration of EIS activities within the UNIMA system.
UNIMA Small Grants Research Program
The goal of the small grants research program is to provide UNIMA researchers and graduate students the opportunity to conduct research on environmental topics which meet MEMP environmental priorities. To be eligible for the Small Grants Research, it is suggested that a research proposal should fit one of these categories: (1) reveal an environmental problem, (2) raise awareness of the need for a solution, (3) devise and test remedial measures, and (4) monitor the effects of policy changes.
While selecting proposals for funding under the Small Grants Research program, priority will be given to research topics that address the major environmental problems facing Malawi as listed in the NEAP report. Proposals should focus on the MEMP priority of expanded environmental technologies which may include an emphasis on GIS utilization and development, or Environmental Information Systems data acquisition and development, or large catchment modelling, or soil erosion modelling, or develop rainfall intensity databases or maps. The MEMP Programme looks upon proposals centered upon the Shire River Valley as a preferred geographical location for research.
Some of the recommended research themes will be considered as graduate theses. In such cases, the environmental science advisor will act as an advisor or co-advisor to students. This is particularly important for conducting research on priority themes where there is a limited local capacity to conduct research. Proposals will be requested from each College by the Environmental Science Advisor. Proposal review and selection will be done by
the research committee of each College with upon which the Environmental Science Advisor has a seat.
T1. Provide funds for UNIMA small research grant program to meet MEMP environmental research priorities.
Strengthen MEMP small watershed research component
The objective of this research is to study the magnitude of on-site soil erosion from field plots and small catchments. The environmental science advisor will examine the quality of the data collected by MEMP in 1994/95, 1995/96, and 1996/97 season and, if reliable, will analyze, interpret and present the results as research findings. Independent of the quality of previously collected MEMP data, the environmental science advisor will conduct research and lead data collection efforts on two MEMP catchments during 1997/98 season.
Research data will be collected only from control plots, shallow wells, sub-catchment streams, and main catchment streams but not from farmers’ field plots. Unlike the previous MEMP catchment monitoring activities, the objective of the research is not to monitor the environmental impacts of burley tobacco production but to study the effect of land use (forest, grass, urban and cropland) on non-point source pollution.
Control plot data will be used for calibrating and validating soil erosion models such as SLEMSA and USLE. The stream runoff, sediment, and water quality data will be used for calibrating appropriate hydrologic and water quality models. These models will be used for predicting future trends and will provide a mechanism for monitoring changes in the MEMP catchments after the data collection is discontinued
T1. Analyze the data and present results as research findings.
Develop an environmental monitoring methodology for large watersheds
The objective of this research is to develop a methodology for environmental monitoring that does not require intensive field data collection activities. The methodology will be used for studying the effect of land use and vegetation cover changes on the hydrologic regimes (drought and flooding) and water quality (sediment and nutrient loss) of rivers that drain into Lake Malawi or the Shire River. This research could reveal the causes of the increased flood frequency and magnitude as well as soil erosion and siltation of lakes and rivers in Malawi. To accomplish this objective, two types of data are needed. First, satellite imagery and NDVI data will be used for estimating land use and vegetation cover changes throughout the catchment. Second, rainfall, runoff, and climatic data are needed in order to study the effect of the land use and vegetation cover changes on the hydrologic regimes of the catchment.
Once the methodology is tested to a particular catchment and models are developed or existing models are calibrated, the methodology can be applied to other catchments. If properly implemented, in future projects, this research could extend the applicability of the MEMP environmental monitoring methodology for all 17 major catchments in Malawi. This research will be conducted with environmental science advisor’s counterpart in APRU.
T1. Study the impact of land use and vegetation cover changes on soil erosion, hydrology, and water quality of a sub-catchment of the Shire River Valley or Lake Malawi watersheds.
PROGRAM III STRENGTHEN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND LEGISLATION DEVELOPMENT, AND INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY
Establish Comprehensive Policy, Legislative, and Institutional Framework
Following the approval by Cabinet of the National Environmental Policy in February 1996, an environmental framework law - the Environment Management Act was enacted in August 1996. This enactment completed the first round of actions to create an over-arching policy and legal environment for the development of sectoral policies and laws and the clarification of institutional roles. Other significant achievements of the Environment Affairs Department (EAD) during 1996/97 included: (1) the dissemination of the principles of environmental policy and law to politicians through a series of awareness-raising workshops, and (2) the drafting of a report highlighting inconsistencies between the approved policy and legal framework and existing sectoral statutes. The latter was undertaken by a legal consultancy supported by the UNDP/UNEP Environment and Law Programme.
Activities planned for 1997/98 include the further dissemination of the principles of environmental policy and law to traditional and community leaders, the provision of technical guidance related to the NEP and EMA to sectoral agencies engaged in policy and legal reform, and the drafting of subsidiary environmental legislation. The environmental policy advisor will play an active supporting role in the first two of these activities.
The objective is to assist EAD in maintaining close contact with the parallel reform initiatives in order to draw attention to issues which threaten the integrity of the program approach before they reach the statute books. Given the diverse nature of the reforms in E/NRM policies and legislation planned for the coming two years, and in particular the central importance of land policy in determining the shape of future natural resource tenure regimes, the EAD has a sensitive but vital coordination role. The environmental policy advisor will assume a specific responsibility for support in this field.
T1. Assist with interpretation of the National Environmental Policy and the Environment Management Act (1996)
T2. Support the EAD in the monitoring of sectoral policy and legal reforms to ensure compatibility with the National Environmental Policy and the Environment Management Act (1996)
Support agencies in revising sectoral policies, legislation and institutional roles
The review and reform of sectoral policies, legislation and institutional roles in key E/NRM agencies forms a major theme in the NATURE Program. During 1996/97 detailed, budgeted action plans were developed by nine participating institutions and subsequently approved by the Ministry of Finance. The consolidated, multi-agency action plan was expected to have been under implementation throughout 1997/98, with the active participation of the environmental policy advisor, and with the provision, under the UofA Cooperative agreement, of key short-term technical assistance inputs in the cross-cutting fields of watershed management (with reference to the policy relationships in the agricultural, forestry and water sectors) and resource tenure (the relationships between tenure of land, forests, wildlife and fish). The action plan effectively coordinates inputs anticipated under NATURE with those to be made available by UNDP/UNEP under the regional Environment and Law Programme, which will support legislative reform in selected priority sectors. The review and reform process has been designed to draw wherever possible upon expertise available through other programs within the Cooperative Agreement. The clearest example of this is in the Public Lands Utilization Study, which will provide an information base of fundamental importance for the development of land policy and of policy towards protected areas in the departments of Forestry and National Parks and Wildlife. There exists also a strong link between the study and modelling of watershed processes, which form the central theme of Program II (Strengthen Environmental Training and Research) and the development of land use, forestry and water resource management policies. The opportunity exists therefore to channel this community of interest into the reform process at critical junctures.
The GOM would normally finance work programs implicit in the conditionality of the Program Agreement through the normal recurrent budget process. However, because the action plan was developed in mid-1996, after the 1996/97 budgets had been set, and because also the GOM contribution to the cost of the action plan was large relative to the budget ceilings of some of the participating agencies (although small relative to the NPA disbursements), the MoF agreed in August 1996 to finance the action plan as a discrete activity outside the budgetary process. A delay in financing was anticipated in the final action plan document of December 1996, which included a provision for revising the implementation and monitoring schedules on the basis of a funding program to be negotiated with Treasury. A continued delay in the release of approved funds culminated on May 9th in the announcement by MoF that the GOM budget was now fully committed, and that the action plan will not therefore be financed beyond the extent of existing revenue account allocations, themselves subject to a 20% reduction. In practical terms this means that the reform process cannot proceed unless or until an alternative financing mechanism is identified and made operational.
The objective of this activity, therefore, will be to develop contingency plans to implement the reform process.. Instead of facilitating and monitoring the implementation of the action plan, the policy advisor will initially work with the participating agencies, USAID and other donors to develop a contingency plan to implement the reform process (Task 1, below). Under these circumstances, the achievement of results related to the NATURE program conditionality (i.e. the reviews and reforms themselves) are questionable, and will not be included in this workplan. It is not possible at this time to assign a time-frame to this task. Once a solution to this problem has been found, a workplan revision, detailing outputs which can be monitored against a time schedule (Task 2, below), will be submitted for approval.
T1. Assist line agencies, USAID and other donors to identify and develop a contingency funding mechanism for the GOM action plan for policy, institutional and legal reform in the environment/natural resource management sectors.
T2. Assist line agencies in implementing action plans
Improve donor and implementing partner coordination
Environmental management, policy, and information have become popular targets for donor funding. The increased interest in these areas has led to a corresponding increase in the amount of time GOM staff in agencies related to these areas must spend servicing donor needs. The broad range of potential investment opportunities and the pressing nature of some environmental issues, such as those in the Shire River Catchment Basin, strongly favors a more focused and coordinated approach to programming investments and technical inputs into the sector. The previous annual workplan proposed a coordination role for MoREA based on regular monthly GOM-donor meetings to be chaired by the Principal Secretary. In practice those donors involved in the E/NRM sectors commenced meeting independently of Government, later inviting MoREA’s participation.
Although the donor meetings form an invaluable forum for the exchange of information, a more important requirement is the finalization of the GOM Environmental Support Programme as a comprehensive and prioritized approach to investments in E/NRM.
The objective of this activity will be to plan coordinated investments in E/NRM. To this end, MoREA has initiated a series of workshops to improve the conceptual basis for the ESP using the Results Framework planning methodology. The first of these, centered on Community-based NRM (CBNRM), was held in February 1997: two further workshops will focus on protected area management and pollution/waste management. The environmental policy advisor will give active support to MoREA’s Policy and Planning division to refine and finalize the ESP document on the basis of the workshop outputs, and to establish a corresponding mechanism for monitoring and coordination.
T1. Finalize the Environmental Support Programme using the Results Framework methodology.
T2. Design and establish a monitoring and coordination mechanism within the Environmental Affairs Department.
Improve the effectiveness of law enforcement in the forestry, fisheries and wildlife sectors
In addition to the government’s intended reliance on community participation in the management of natural resources, including communities’ policing of their own management rules, an effective government enforcement service will always form an essential part of the national management system. Indeed, unless enforcement of the current and/or new legislation is not improved as a matter of urgency, there will be few resources left for the communities to manage. In practice, natural resources have suffered from a management vacuum since the 1993 referendum. New-found political freedom, combined with a policy shift away from central government control and political misinformation about the nature of ownership of, access to and utilization of natural resources led to the abandonment of the old management style before a new, community-based order had been established.
The objective of this activity is to improve law enforcement in the forestry, fisheries and wildlife sectors. Technicians and politicians alike now recognize the danger inherent in allowing this situation to persist, and are agreed that the strengthening of enforcement capacity is an urgent necessity. Such strengthening could include amendments to the penalty clauses of existing legislation in advance of the broader legislative reforms planned for the coming two years.
T1. Assist the Ministry of Natural Resources to prepare a time-bound action plan for improving law enforcement in the forestry, fisheries and wildlife sectors.
Introduce performance based management practices and procedures
The objective of this activity responds directly to the third theme of the NATURE program, the implementation of results-driven natural resource management programs, by supporting the development of multi-year priority work programs with clear links between funding and performance. The introduction of a Performance Based Budgeting System (PBBS) commenced in 1996/97 with the development of guidelines for the preparation of priority programs for financing through the recurrent budget process. During 1997/98 the environmental policy advisor will support some agencies (it is suggested between four and six) in the design and submission of programs to MEP&D, and will support the latter agency in evaluating proposals and making recommendations to Treasury. The policy advisor will also monitor and report on progress as the first group of proposals pass through the budget cycle.
T1. Support line ministries and departments in the formulation of NRM programs for consideration for PBBS support.
T2. Support MEP&D in the evaluation of proposals and onward submission to Treasury, and monitor and support the approval process.
Note: The preparation and implementation of sectoral PBB programs offers no short-term financial benefits to the participating agencies, although in the longer term it is anticipated that those agencies which perform well in these programs would see a net gain in the allocation of recurrent budget resources. It is likely that the willingness of agencies to participate in the PBBS may be linked to the ability of NATURE to support mainstream incremental programs in policy and legal reform. All of the outputs projected in the above component should therefore be seen as dependent to a degree on the success of efforts to secure funding for the implementation of the approved action plan for policy, institutional and legal reform, even though there exists no direct functional relationship between the two components.
Explore options for long-term financial sustainability of E/NRM programs and functions
The objective of this activity is the establishment of sustainable E/NRM programs. Two major steps towards the provision of sustainable financial support to priority initiatives in the E/NRM sectors were taken during 1996/97 with the establishment of an Endowment Fund Working Group under NATURE and the decision to merge the proposed NATURE endowment fund the GOM/UNDP/UNSO National Desertification Fund. The union of the two funds will provide for additional technical assistance resources in support of the fund’s inauguration and also for the retention of a full-time coordinator to ensure a high rate of progress against defined targets. The environmental policy advisor is a member of the Endowment Fund Working Group and will continue to monitor progress and to support the group in its tasks of assessing demand for the Fund and operational modalities; however his role will probably be less prominent than was formerly envisaged.
T1. Assist the Endowment Fund Working Group to assess legal, financial and organizational dimensions of establishing a national endowment for E/NRM activities.
T2. Assist Endowment Trust Working Group to prepare action plan for Environmental Endowment, if warranted.