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Windhoek, 2L December 2010 MEDIA RELEASE
Launch of the Conservancy Development Support Grants Fund (CDSGF) Embargo: For immediate release The Millennium Challenge Account Namibia (MCA-N) launched its Conservancy Development Support Grants Fund (CDSGF)
on 21 December 2010. The launch was well attended by various Community-based natural resources
management (CBNRM) stakeholders including the private sector and the media and was an early Christmas gift for conservancies which have struggled for years
to
access adequate funds
to contribute towards joint ventures or
community-owned tourism enterprises, marketing, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, translocations and related services. The CDSGF was launched by Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment & Tourism, on behalf of Hon. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the Minister of Environment & Tourism. Hon. Ndaitwah noted that through this arrangement, communities are able to add sustainable use of wildlife and
ecotourism development to their existing land use and livelihood options. Out of the 59 registered conservancies, 31, (53% of registered conservancies) will be supported by MCA Namibia through the CDSGF. Since most conservancies do not have adequate collateral to attract finances at favourable interest rates from financial institutions, the CDSGF came at a time when the Namibia CBNRM sector is constantly striving to improve tourism enterprises in conservancies. The goal of CDSGF is to direct a larger share of tourism revenues to formerly disadvantaged Namibians who are members of communal conservancies, while the objectives of the fund are to: a) reduce barriers conservancy members encounter as partners in JVs; (b) promote investment by the private sector on communal lands and offset the high transaction costs of working with community organizations; (c) strengthen capacity of conservancies to protect their natural resources; and (d) strengthen the capacity of conservancies to attract investments and achieve financial sustainability.
After wise words from Hon. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who has been very supportive towards the CBNRM sector overthe years, the CDSGF was officially launched. Duringthe launch, Dr. Shangula handed overthe CDSGF Manual containing the application procedures and relevant information to members of Doro-!Nawas,0ibasenTwyfelfontein and Sorris Sorris conservancies. These conservancies' members could not hide their joy at being selected as beneficiaries of the CDSGF.
Amingo /Honneb, Chairperson of the Doro !Nawas Conservancy, was visibly delighted on the inclusion of their conservancy on the CDSGF menu. He indicated that the CDSGF will move assistance to conservancies from merely capacity building through training to some tangible infrastructural development where conservancies will be able to see and touch the assistance they will receive through the CDSGF. Members of 0ibasen-Twyfelfontein and Sorris Sorris conservancies were also equally happy about the CDSGF and thanked the Government of the USA through MCC and MCA-N for making approximately NS 62 million available for conservancy support. The CDSGF will fund
of the CDSGF, the First Call for Applications was also launched. This Call invites Applications from eligible conservancies like Orupembe, 0ibasen-Twyfelfontein, Sanitatas, Ehirovipuka, Together with the launch
Omatendeka, Sesfontein Torra, Puros, Anabeb, Marienfluss, Ogolonkadhi-Ruacana; Doro !Nawas; NraJaqna, #Khoadi //H6as, Sorris Sorris, Uukwaludhi, Sheya Uushona, King Nehale, Muduva Nyangana; George Mukoya, Naye-Naye, Kwando, Mayuni, Mashi, Wuparo, Balyerwa, Sikunga, lmpalila, Salambala, and two (2) potential new conservancies or similar units that may be established in the vicinity of Namutoni, Okakuejo or Narawandu Gates
of Etosha National Park. For
the First Call, Conservancies maV applv for funding from the
CDSGF
for:
Pre-grant Funds for Professional Services: To provide funds for professional services necessary
to obtain
information to prepare Grant Applications by conservancies that have not yet secured a Joint Venture Pa
rtner.
Partial Financing of Tourism Joint Venture (JV) Lodges and Trophy Hunting Businesses: To provide partial funds to conservancies for investments in Joint Ventures.
r
Game Translocations: To provide funds for game capture trans-location, and monitoring costs when game
is bought from private game dealers or to provide funds for game capture, translocation and monitoring costs when game is donated by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. For this funding category the
Ministry of Environment & Tourism may also apply provided the game is translocated to one or more of the 31 eligible conservancies. The recently contracted facilitator for the Conservancy Development Support Services (CDSS) will be assisting the conservancies in the application process. Applicants for this grant must adhere to the guidelines and procedures as set forth in the CDSGF Manual and First Call for Applications closes on Monday, 28 February 2011 at 1-3h00. MCA Namibia encourages all applicants to study the CDSGF Manual prior to submitting Applications. Iss
by
Demas
Actin
ef Executive Officer: MCA Namibia
Enquiries: Selma Nangolo Conserva ncy Gra nts Ma nager
E-mail:
[email protected] +26a (6I\ 410 400
Tel:
