AID cooperative agreement no. OTR-0158-A-00-0112-00 with The Nature Conservancy for a project to support biodiversity conservation program of PVO"s on Latin America and Caribbean countries

Each participating PVO will initiate at least two pilot community projects in sustainable resource use, develop membership and outreach programs to incase public support for conservation, and develop linkages with other conservation organizations. In addition, the PVOs will each install effective management and financial systems, and each develop a program to ensure self-sufficiency for operational costs. TNC"s assistance to participating PVOs will include the following: (1) TA, including short-term consultancies by 11 Conservancy Conservation Corps staff members who will each work for 2 months with a partner PVO on special projects, fundraising, and the development of economic enterprises in buffer zones (e.g.. alternative cropping, artisanal production); (2) training of four Conservation Fellows a year by TNC chapters in fundraising, project development, and management; (3) international workshops to train 30 PVO staff in building membership, developing linkages, and increasing community participating in conservation; (4) 3 workshops on financial self-sufficiency; (5) a newsletter for participating PVOs; and (6) development of a manual on PVO effectiveness, followed later by a manual on community development projects. In addition, early in the project a technical contractor will analyze opportunities for small enterprise development in buffer zones around Jamaica"s national parks and develop guidelines for TNC sustainable development projects throughout the region.