Defining, Measuring and Verifying CMO Sustainability

For a Community Managed Organization (CMO) to be sustainable, it must continue to deliver a minimum level of valued services or benefits, such as protecting and sustaining biologically significant ecosystems and improving the lives of people dependent on those areas. The CREL project assessed CMOs using a large number of indicators, which can be grouped into five key criteria necessary for a CMO to be sustainable. These criteria include legitimacy, organizational functioning, governance and inclusiveness, adaptive participatory management, and resource mobilization. The indicators for each criterion are designed to measure the point or level of performance that is judged to be sustainable, based on CREL's experience of assessing the performance of CMOs and past history of CBOs and CMOs in Bangladesh. Legitimacy is a critical component of CMO sustainability, as it involves being recognized by government and local councils, as well as having community organizations and groups represented in the co-management body. Organizational functioning is also essential, as it involves transparency and efficiency in organizational operations, including self-organized timely meetings, effective record keeping, and sound financial management processes. Governance and inclusiveness are also crucial, as they involve accountability and responsiveness to the needs of NRM users, particularly those who are disadvantaged. This includes processes for electing and changing leaders, active involvement of women and poor people in consultations and decision-making, and fair access to resources. Adaptive participatory management is also necessary, as it involves planning and learning, and effective climate-resilient NRM must be based on adaptive management processes that adjust to a changing context and experience. Finally, resource mobilization is essential, as it involves securing sufficient funds and in-kind support for a CMO to implement planned NRM, cover the costs of any protection measures, and for the CMO itself to function. This includes resource mobilization capacity, including proposal writing, and securing regular fund and in-kind sources. The CREL project has developed a comprehensive framework for defining, measuring, and verifying CMO sustainability, which provides a clear understanding of the key indicators and measures necessary for a CMO to be sustainable. This framework can be used by CMOs, CBOs, and other stakeholders to assess and improve their sustainability, and to ensure that they are delivering valued services and benefits to their communities.