Conservation of Managed Indigenous Areas (CAIMAN)Please note this is a closed archived program. In keeping with its long-standing commitment to environmental initiatives, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) established the Biodiversity and Sustainable Forestry (BIOFOR) program. The contract was awarded to two consortiums of organizations under an Indefinite Quantity Contract (IQC) with a ceiling value of US$75 million. Pact is a member in the consortium lead by Chemonics International Inc. Due to the global importance of Ecuador's biodiversity, USAID/Ecuador has financed biodiversity conservation activities for decades. From an initial emphasis on conventional conservation, the USAID-sponsored program evolved to incorporate the enhancement of local livelihoods through improved resource management and conservation-based income generating activities. Under the CAIMAN program, increased emphasis has been placed on conservation-based income generating activities and facilitating alliances between indigenous groups and private sector entities. The importance of indigenous organizations (e.g., federations) that can represent and speak on behalf of indigenous people is likely to increase as indigenous peoples are forced to interact more closely with the society at large around environmental issues. Federations, such as FCAE, representing the Awa people, can and do exert a certain regulatory and coordinating function within the indigenous territory; however, other federations such as ONHAE, representing the Huaoranis, and FEINCE, representing the Cofáns, are ill-equipped to face the challenges that lie ahead. At the same time the organizations that have helped bring the federations to their current level of operation, have themselves capacity building needs that need to be addressed if they are to continue to provide the necessary support to the indigenous organizations.
Pact's approachAfter a successful first year with the CAIMAN project through a subcontract from Chemonics, in which Pact provided organizational assessments and planning services to local NGOs and indigenous federations, Chemonics has extended Pact's subcontract for an additional 18 months.Pact's activities will center on activities in areas inhabited by the Cofán, Awa, and Huaorani groups. Pact will work with the indigenous federations and non-governmental organizations FCAE, ONHAE, and FEINCE, and Altrópico. In the previous year with the CAIMAN program Pact found that, although all of these are developing organizations that need assistance to become more effective partners, the levels of efficiency, analytical capability, strategic planning, and alliance-building were different in each organization. The organizations have analyzed their weaknesses and internal operations, leading to an action planning process aimed at organizational strengthening and the development of sustainable capabilities. They have begun a process of organizational strengthening to make their operational, technical and administrative processes efficient. Pact will carry out this program according to the following objectives:
Interim results
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