Strategic PES in Africa

Alice Ruhweza & Sam MuhumurePrivate Katoomba Meeting, Jinja

UGANDA17 Sept, 2005

Why Africa?

Africa’s rural populations depend upon ecosystem services for their livelihoods

PES can have a major role in PRSP’s & national plans/MDG’s

Growing private sector interest

Potential role of PES to restore degraded ecosystems

Numerous activities emerging around PES

Enormous interest from African partners

What have we done?

• East & Southern Africa wkg grp• In country planning meetings• Country Inventories on PES • 2 Case Studies in Uganda/field trips • Strategic planning wkshp

Country Inventories

Uganda, Kenya & South Africa prepared country inventories which covered:-

- Existing PES initiatives on carbon, water and biodiversity

- Supporting legislation

- Supporting agencies and services

Findings - continued

UGANDA• Projects on carbon & biodiversity (no water?)• Money has exchanged hands in some projects• Mostly funded by Government/development

partners- Some self organized private deals• Strong supporting legislation – NEA (polluter

pays, beneficiary pays)/Sectoral policies provide for economic incentives/Strong supporting agencies – NFA, NEMA, UWA etc.

FINDINGS

UGANDA KENYA SA

Carbon & BD payments

Biodiversity Payments

Water pmts

More Government

deals

More private self organized deals

private

Enabling legislation/

Enabling legislation

Enabling legislation

Findings - continued

KENYA-Most projects still in planning phase- Mostly self-organized private deals-Carbon – no payments /Water – no payments-Biodiversity – some payments in cash/others in kind -Strong supporting legislation – NEM Act, Forest

Bill, Water Act-Strong supporting agencies-NEMA, Kenya Wildlife

Service, etc, etc

Findings - continued

SOUTH AFRICA• Payments for watershed services• Carbon and biodiversity projects in planning phase• Carbon projects rely on Govt and international

community funding (buyers); Water deals are more privately orientated except the working for water programmes that are funded by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry

• Enabling legislation for water/biodiv & carbon being strengthened

What are the main gaps?

• Understanding what payments are and how they can add value/fulfill overall govt & business objectives

• Defining/identifying the relevant services• Project design - How to identify activities or land

use practices needed to promote the services• Market Information- linking sellers to buyers • Little or no involvement of private sector • Specific policies and structures for PES-

Gaps continued ……..

• Valuation issues – what to pay for, how much, whom to pay, for how long

• Establishment of baselines and assessment of impact

How can we fill the gaps?Research and scientific knowledge transfer and networksProject design - Practical case study projects/implementable

and coordinated project sites from which lessons can be learnt

Capacity building for implementers and support servicesPutting PES onto the private sector agenda is a real needLong term partnerships between the innovators and the hosts

of successful PES projects – backstoppingContinued advocacy –governments to support establishment

of PES projects as an option for achieving conservation & poverty reduction

Objectives of the Mweya meeting

-Build an understanding of PES and how it works especially in the context of rural develoment and conservation  - Sharing experiences and lessons from around the world  - Build communication channels between partners and across countries  - Develop ountry strategies for investing in pro poor PES  

Outcomes expected from Mweya

     Gaps inhibiting PES identified and actions for addressing them identified

     Enhanced understanding of PES for all stakeholders – govt, private sector, civil society

     Enhanced interest in PES as a viable option to achieve conservation and development

     Sources of expert knowledge and information on PES identified

     Country strategies and actions developed