Program description:

Project development objective
Improved framework for environmentally sustainable coastal zone management in place.

PDO outcome indicators

i. Availability of a Coastal Zone White Paper, based on ICZM principles, agreed upon and 
   signed by key stakeholders (MET, MFMR, MME, MAWRD, MRLGH, MWTC) by year 5. 
ii. Institutional and operational capacity for ICZM strengthened, as defined in the 
   monitoring and evaluation (M&E) manual, by year 5, compared with baseline situation

Project global objective

Conservation and mainstreaming of biodiversity in coastal ecosystems in Namibia strengthened.

PGO outcome indicators

i. Area and # of biodiversity "hotspots" (including MPAs ) under effective management 
   increased by 40 percent by year 5, compared with baseline situation.

ii. Biological monitoring at the end of the Project indicates that the integrity of 80 
   percent of the targeted sites is secure with no significant change in habitat block size, 
   compared with baseline surveys.

iii. Biodiversity aspects are incorporated into sector (tourism, fisheries, mining and urban 
   development) policies and plans at national, regional and local levels, and appropriate 
   regulations and implementation plans are adapted accordingly by year 5.

Project components

As a result of the Project, enabling conditions for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, including those related to mainstreaming into coastal management and development planning at the national, regional and local levels, will be improved, and a strategic approach will be put in place to address root causes of biodiversity loss and coastal degradation (see section B, Annex 4 and 5). The environmental and economic potential of the coast will consequently be sustained. The Project would, therefore, provide local, regional, national, international (including benefits to its riparian coastal states, Angola and South Africa) and global benefits. 

The Project will be co-financed through local, regional and national government counterpart funds and other associated donor-funded interventions totaling US$ 48.93 million (see D1, Annex 16). Below is a summary of the four interlinked components and sub-components of the NACOMA Project (see Annex 5 for detailed Project description):

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Component 1:      
                                                                                                            

Policy, Legal and Institutional Framework for Sustainable Ecosystem Management of the Namib Coast (Total US$: 8.01 - GEF US$: 0.91 million)

Sector issue addressed and expected outcomes

The objective of this component is to fill the current gap for mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation and management into policy, legal and institutional structures affecting the development of the coastal zone. Such a policy should fall within existing national, regional, local and sectoral frameworks, i.e. Vision 2030, RDP, NDP 2, NBSAP, NAPCOD, all of which call for sustainable development of the coastal zone of Namibia. This component focuses on enhancing Namibia's policy, legal and institutional framework to support the development of a joint coastal zone strategy/policy based on the principles of biodiversity conservation and integrated coastal zone management. It will be based on a highly participatory approach involving the identified stakeholder groups in multiple consultations and meetings (see Annex 17 for a public participation plan).

Primary target group:
National (mainly MET, MFMR, MME, MAWRD, MWTC, MRGLH), regional and local governments involved in CZM.

Sub-components (see Annex 5 for detailed description)

1.1. Review of Existing Laws and Support for Appropriate Legislation 
Existing legislation, from which respective ordinances derive mandates to set regulations for coastal zone management, result in an overlap in the jurisdictional areas of different relevant line ministries, such as MET, MME, MFMR and MAWRD. The Project will support appropriate amendments to these acts and enhance their harmonization consistent with an integrated coastal zone policy, which will result in a clear definition of jurisdictional areas for these line ministries. Emphasis will be placed on providing access to benefits from coastal resources for local communities (including tourism activities and other economically beneficial developments such as aquaculture and fisheries), while enforcing the protection of areas of national and global interest, including wetlands and fragile watersheds. Finally, under this sub component, the Project will provide the MET with targeted support and technical assistance in EIA to accelerate the adoption and implementation of the Environmental Management and Assessment Bill.

1.2. Clarification of Institutional Mandates 
This sub-component will provide institutional and legal input to support a shift from nationalized to regional and local management of biodiversity and coastal resources through their mainstreaming into the ongoing decentralization process. The clarification of institutional mandates will be particularly relevant for the future role of the ICZMC, which could potentially be the lead structure to facilitate mainstreaming coastal biodiversity conservation into sectoral policies and actions.

1.3. Development of ICZM Policy Framework
This sub-component will support the development of a highly participatory national ICZM policy framework to guide national, regional and local planning and management processes in terms of principles (including SEA), objectives, and substantive content relating to coastal resource conservation, development planning, socio-economic issues, enforcement etc. The activities include the organization of a series of broad-based stakeholder consultations and workshops (see Annex 17). 

1.4. Development of Coastal profiles 
Through the participatory development of regional coastal profiles, this sub-component will further bridge the knowledge gap about socio-economic, environmental and biodiversity conservation and development issues and their linkages. These profiles will in turn be used as a basis for local, regional and national decision-making processes, and will feed back into the State of Environment Report and National Resource Accounting efforts.

Specific outputs 
(i) Clear statement of roles and responsibilities of national, regional and local 
    stakeholders; 
(ii) Coastal management white paper and corresponding action plan, including proposals 
    where necessary for new or amended legislation; and 
(iii) Coastal profiles for each coastal region.

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Component 2: 

Targeted Capacity-Building for Coastal Zone Management and Biodiversity Conservation (Total US$: 18.31 - GEF US$: 1.52 million)

Sector issue addressed and expected outcomes

Capacity-building has been identified as one of the main bottlenecks for sustainable development in Namibia (see Vision 2030, NDP 2 mid-term review and National Capacity Self Assessment (NCSA) reports). Moreover, it is widely recognized that the lack of capacity at the national, regional and local levels for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, including its mainstreaming, stems from: 
(i) a shortage of qualified staff and restricted budget for additional positions; 
(ii) limited resources and time for training activities and uncoordinated sectoral efforts; 
(iii) the slow decentralization process; 
(iv) limited understanding of coastal biodiversity and linkages to development planning 
    and management; and, finally, 
(v) weak and fragmented communication channels between the various stakeholders.

This component will fill the capacity gap at the local, regional and national levels in support of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, including mainstreaming of coastal biodiversity and resources into development planning and management.

Primary target group

Local, regional and national government (MME, MET, MFMR, MAWRD), ICZMC members and RDCCs involved in CZM.

Sub-components (see Annex 5 for detailed description)

2.1. Training for ICZM 
Based on the results from Sub-component 1.1. (Clarification of institutional mandates) and a detailed training needs assessment, this sub-component will partner with other initiatives to provide cost-effective training to identified stakeholder. It will further provide targeted support to MET's efforts to pilot decentralization of its mandate for biodiversity conservation by strengthening local and regional delivery mechanisms.

2.2. Biodiversity Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism 
This sub-component will support targeted technical assistance to build the skills identified in Sub-component 2.2 (in particular related to planning, management and monitoring of biodiversity conservation, ICZM, communication etc.) at the various governmental levels. It will also support the creation of a sustainable institutional framework at the regional and national levels conducive to coastal biodiversity conservation, including a coastal biodiversity M&E mechanism. 

2.3. Coastal Biodiversity Knowledge Management 
This sub-component will further enable stakeholders to develop and make best use of appropriate communication tools and channels based on a sound communication strategy and action plan, including feedback loops for inter-sectoral, vertical and international sharing of lessons and best practices.

Specific outputs

(i) Strengthened capacity to manage coastal biodiversity through a shared ICZM 
    approach among key stakeholders; 
(ii) Skills to formalize and establish a coastal biodiversity ecosystem monitoring 
    mechanism linked to other existing and/or planned sectoral and national, regional and 
    local biodiversity monitoring efforts; and 
(iii) Enhanced knowledge related to coastal biodiversity and sustainable use, including 
    mainstreaming into development planning and management and improved 
    communication channels at the local, regional and national levels.

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Component 3: 

Targeted Investments for Biodiversity Conservation, Sustainable Use and Mainstreaming in Critical Ecosystems (Total US$: 20.02 - GEF US$: 1.52 million)

Sector issue addressed and expected outcomes

This component uses targeted investments and activities to address on-the-ground gaps in coastal biodiversity conservation and sustainable use throughout the Namib coastal and marine ecosystems rooted in under- and un-protected biodiversity hotspots. These activities will be complemented by MET's National Park Project, which addresses, in particular, management and sustainability issues in all national parks.

The Project will focus on:
· Terrestrial coastline hotspots within national parks that are currently under-protected, 
  in particular the Skeleton Coast Park where the Project would provide support for the 
  revision of the management plan to address growing management challenges, such as 
  mining activities ; 
· The creation of marine protected areas; though none currently exist, they are urgently 
  needed; 
· Islands and near-shore sites; 
· Ramsar sites and other wetlands of biodiversity value that lack tools for management; 
  and 
· the Sperrgebiet coastline as a priority global environmental hotspot in the coastal zone. 

The Project will seek a balance between investments in established conservation areas and mainstreaming efforts in production landscapes through the participatory approach supported by the ICZMC and at the regional level by the RDCC, making use of the coastal profiles and existing national, regional and local development and biodiversity priorities (e.g., RDPs, MET NBSAP).

Primary target group

Local, regional and national government (MET, MAWRD, MFMR, MME) involved in CZM, local communities and the private sector around biodiversity hotspots.

Sub-components (see Annex 5 for detailed description)

3.1. Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Management Plans 
This sub-component includes a participatory review, update and development of management plans for some key biodiversity priority conservation sites and their buffer zones (e.g. Skeleton, Ramsar sites, future MPA sites), in line with recommendations on the appropriate financial and institutional mechanisms and capacity development emerging from Components 1 and 2. In order to increase functioning biodiversity conservation management in priority coastal areas, demarcation and gazetting of sites will be supported.

3.2. Implementation of Priority Actions under the Management Plans
This sub-component will further support implementation of specific management plans through targeted investments related to biodiversity conservation and rehabilitation, if needed, in and outside identified hotspots for sustainable use activities linking biodiversity conservation with economic development and benefits for the local coastal communities. It would prioritize sustainable use activities with high potential for piloting, testing and learning (replicability). Targeted and site-specific investments that are eligible for funding under the NACOMA Project and provide global environmental benefits (in addition to local ones) have been identified during preparation. Potential biodiversity conservation activities as outlined in existing management plans are: GIS surveys and mapping, species-specific conservation measures (e.g. for Damara tern, flamingos and lichen fields), control and regulation measures (e.g. sports fishing, quad biking), soil erosion control and vegetation cover rehabilitation. Potential investments related to sustainable use include income-generating activities that are connected to ecosystem services, such as guiding facilities, ecotourism (desert hikes, campsites), rehabilitation of existing tourism facilities such as desert paths, viewing sites and sign posts, sustainable fish farming, etc. This sub-component would further provide support for limited infrastructure and equipment for site management purposes.

Specific outputs

(i) Strengthened and mainstreamed network of coastal and marine conservation areas 
    (including MPAs) with defined and improved management plans under implementation; 
(ii) Enhanced biodiversity status in critical coastal and marine ecosystems in Namibia; 
(iii) Co-management in buffer zones around conservation areas consistent with 
    conservation and sustainable use objectives.

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Component 4: 

Project Management and Performance Monitoring (Total US$: 2.58 - GEF US$: 0.95 million)

The Project will support the establishment and operationalization (through staffing, office infrastructure and Project management-related capacity-building) of a slim Project Management Unit (PMU) housed in the Erongo Regional Council.

Primary target group

Project Management Unit staff.

Sub-components (see Annex 5 for detailed description)

4.1. Project Office and Management

This component will support the recruitment of one long-term staff, a NACOMA Coordinator and two Environmental Advisors. Additional PMU support staff for administration, financial management and procurement and monitoring will be contracted on part-time basis.

4.2. Project Reporting and Information

The PMU will be responsible for performance and impact monitoring, evaluation of Project progress and M&E reporting. (see Annex 7).

Specific outputs

(i) Coordination and management to achieve successful Project implementation according 
    to implementation and work plan; and 
(ii) Compliance with fiduciary requirements

Contact details:

NACOMA Project Coordination Office
Sam Nujoma Avenue
Standard Bank Namibia
1st Floor, Room 8
P.O.Box 7018
Swakopmund
Tel: +264 64-403-904
Fax: +264 64-403-906
Project Coordinator: Timoteus Mufeti  
E-Mail: tmufeti@nacoma.org.na  

Mr. T. Nghitila
Director: Directorate of Environmental Affairs
Ministry of Environment and Tourism
Tel: +264 61 249015 
Fax: +264 61 240339 
E-mail: nghitila@dea.met.gov.na

For more information about NACOMA project, please consult the project website: http://www.nacoma.org.na