Posted on November, 13 2023

The CAPA Initiative is funded by Global Affairs Canada and seeks to promote natural solutions to strengthen climate resilience and protect biodiversity in Fiji, Belize, the Greater Virunga and KAZA landscapes. Over 36 months, the International Institute for Sustainable Development(IISD) will work with conservation partners, World Wide Fund for Nature and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), local communities, traditionally underrepresented  groups, women, and national and local authorities to design and implement Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for adaptation in and around Protected Areas (PAs) and critical landscapes in the Global South, and to better integrate climate adaptation considerations into the management of these spaces. The targeted sites fall within the Hwange-Sebungwe landscape spanning across Matabeleland Province in Northwest of Zimbabwe with the target areas being Binga and Hwange Districts. Participants of the workshop included: the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), Forestry Commission (FC), Department of Agricultural, Technical and Extension Services (AGRITEX), Meteorological Service Department, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA), Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), Binga and Hwange Rural District Councils as well as local chiefs from the target districts, Department of Social Development (DSD), Women and gender representatives, representatives for Persons with Disability (PWD) and local youth organizations. 

The ultimate outcome of the initiative is increased resilience of women, men and gender-diverse people to current and future climate change in selected biodiversity-rich ecosystems of the Global South. The inception workshop was completed successfully resulting in a shared understanding of the CAPA initiative among stakeholders, clarity of the objectives, identifying key stakeholders and determining the anticipated impacts of Nature based Solutions on climate resilience and biodiversity protection. It facilitated the evaluation and exchange of existing knowledge and resources to develop partnerships and collaborations which is central to co-development and co-implementation of the project. Furthermore, the inception workshop managed to identify potential risks and challenges to the initiative with participants providing possible solutions and raising concerns where necessary. With the initiative having a strong focus on gender equality and social inclusion, gender challenges and opportunities were identified to build strong resilience among women, men and other vulnerable groups, capacitate key stakeholders on gender key concepts, gender planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and inclusivity. The workshop also managed to establish a project action plan which outlined the project's key milestones, responsibilities, and timelines, to ensure coordinated, inclusive and effective implementation.