Quarterly Report: USAID-Wula Nafaa, April – June 2009

The program's general objective is to increase revenues of rural producers and communities by assisting local authorities to become more autonomous and promoting integrated, participatory, decentralized management of natural resources. The Wealth Creation component of the program pursued baobab and fonio production and marketing during the second quarter of 2009. Significant profits were recorded due to sales of products with value added and sales of baobab seeds that produced su. The component also focused on developing business plans for the production and marketing of these products, with the goal of increasing the income of rural producers. The Governance Improvement component of the program worked to strengthen the capacity of local authorities to manage natural resources. This was achieved through the implementation of a participatory approach to natural resource management, which involved the active participation of local communities in decision-making processes. The component also provided training to local authorities on the use of participatory tools and methods for natural resource management. The Biodiversity and Sustainable Natural Resource Management component of the program focused on the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in Senegal. This was achieved through the implementation of a range of activities, including the establishment of protected areas, the promotion of sustainable agriculture practices, and the development of community-based natural resource management plans. The Policy and Communication component of the program worked to promote the program's objectives and activities through a range of communication and advocacy activities. This included the development of a communication strategy, the production of information materials, and the organization of workshops and meetings with stakeholders. Crosscutting activities, including coordination and management, small grants, and monitoring and evaluation, were also implemented during the second quarter of 2009. These activities were designed to support the implementation of the program's components and to ensure that the program's objectives were met. Overall, the second quarter of 2009 was marked by significant progress in the implementation of the USAID-Wula Nafaa program. The program's components made significant contributions to the reduction of poverty and sustainable local development in Senegal, and the program's objectives were advanced through a range of activities and initiatives.