Collective action for sustainable development

Collective action in climate change adaptation and sustainable development in Lubombo

This project is part of a larger strategy and intervention implemented by COSPE, its partners and relevant stakeholders (Ministry of Agriculture, Farmers’ Associations and Groups, Rural Women Associations and Groups, Research Centres, CSOs) in the Lubombo Region. It contributes to the collective action and protagonism of local community groups in promoting climate change adaptation and sustainable development. COSPE coaches Seed Banks Committes, Women Cooperatives and Community focus groups to assure they play a vital role in their communities to create a long lasting impact involving more people in creating and promoting change: more local seeds varieties will be available in the market, community household will benefit from the sale of the seeds and of local products produced under the Eco-Lubombo Brand (see A value chain system made by local farmers), and community groups will identify and implement their own priorities in term of climate change adaptation.
In the previous years, sahee has contributed to such strategy thanks to the projects “Green Food” (see Cool!) and “Lubombo Value Chain” (see A value chain system made by local farmers.
The overall strategy is grounded on the results of a participatory processes carried out according internationally recognized methodologies (such as Climate Vulnerability and Capacity Analysis and Local Adaptation Plans-LAPs) for the identification of adaptation measures to the main climatic risks. The output of this process is a Local Adaptation Plan document, a community tool for identifying and promoting community’s priorities in term of climate change adaptation. The development of LAPs at community level has been carried out by COSPE in 23 communities of the Lubombo Region, and it is still on-going.
During the past years sahee's contribution has helped in strengthening the different local groups COSPE and its partners are working with. In particular the Seed Banks Committees and the LEP Cooperative. A lot of work has been done for capacitating the groups in establishing a functioning working system, elaborating management plans, obtaining a HACCP certification that can allow them to access formal national and international markets.
The objective of this project phase is, to enable the seed bank committees and the LEP Cooperative to reach economic sustainability and to act collectivelly without COSPE's assistance.

Project site

Lubombo district, communities: Mpolonjeni, Langa, Tikhuba, Shewula, Maphungwane, Mambane, Lunkuntfu (Map)

Beneficiaries

Women: 298 direct, 1054 indirect
Men: 229 direct, 1054 indirect
Children under age 16: 0 direct, 2108 indirect

Project costs and assistance by sahee

The entire project costs are CHF 115’000.–, whereas sahee takes over CHF 65’000.–.

sahee stays in regular contact with the project leaders, monitors the activities and visits the project once a year on site.

Duration of assistance

1st of January 2023 to 31st of December 2025

Local counterpart

Cooperation for the Development of Emerging Countries (COSPE)

Project site

cospe.org