WODOBUNE TOWN, River Cess—Rural Integrated Center for Community Empowerment has launched a project in River Cess to strengthen the management of community-based forests and protected areas. RICCE is also training community members to seek alternative sources of income to avoid cutting down the forests.
The project, supported by Partners in Development and UNDP, aims to conserve biodiversity in protected areas and proposed protected areas in four southern counties. RICCE recently conducted stakeholder engagement meetings to introduce and jumpstart the project in River Cess.
RICCE’s field officer, Renee Gibson, said the project aims to improve the rules and regulations for managing forests, increase awareness about the importance of protecting different plants and animals, and build the skills needed to maintain community forests for a long time.
“The purpose of the meetings was to identify and meet with key stakeholders, create awareness on the project, and solicit their support,” she said.
The organization is also expected to raise awareness about the Land Rights Law.
Other project activities include establishing village savings and loan associations in selected communities. VSLAs were established in ten communities following days of training in Weasein Clan, Central River Cess District. Following the establishment, Gibson made available US$2,400 as seed fund to the ten VSLAs to strengthen their loan portfolios. Each VLSA received US$240, along with necessary recordkeeping materials.
“The purpose of the VSLA within this project is to train participants to pull their own resources (funds) together and manage it effectively for the betterment of their lives,” said Gibson.
“This financial empowerment is crucial in supporting community-led initiatives that align with the broader objectives of improving forest governance, fostering sustainable livelihoods, and ensuring inclusive participation in conservation efforts, particularly among gender and youth groups.”
She said VSLA is a grassroots financial institution that enables members in rural and underserved areas to access financial services like savings and loans without relying on formal banking institutions.
The chairperson of one of the VSLA groups in Gbloseo Town, Cecelia Darway, thanked the project for providing the funds: “We [are] happy because we, the women of Gbloseo, can [now] save our own money.”
The groups developed their operational structure through a member-driven process in which policies, rules, and leadership roles were discussed, agreed upon, and documented.
A group during one of the trainings. Photo: Eric Opa Doue
RICCE also trained community members in regenerative farming methods for growing cassava. Additionally, the program provided training in value addition, food safety, packaging, handling, and marketing. Two clusters of women farmers’ groups were set up in seven communities for this training, with 64 women benefitting.
Gibson told The Bush Chicken that RICCE would supply each group with improved cassava varieties and processing machines. RICCE also trained individuals to trade in non-timber forest products such as Xylopia, bush peppers, and other spices to ensure that communities could survive without pillaging the forests.
Four handicraft groups were also set up to show communities how to use non-timber materials from the forest to produce crafts, such as mats, baskets, fishing nets, and driers that can be sold in communities and nearby markets.
RICCE’s field officer believes these measures can improve livelihoods while promoting traditional knowledge transfer among residents to preserve cultural and traditional practices.
Featured photo by Eric Opa Doue
