How is ReNOKA doing things differently?

What does ReNOKA do differently?

Too often Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) is implemented as piecemeal, short term projects with a defined short lifespan, rigid set of project partners and intervention areas.

As catchment restoration needs a long-term and multi-sectoral approach, ReNOKA is actively working to break this short-term, project-driven logic and aims to establish and sustain an inclusive and coherent ICM Governance structure for Lesotho.

“A vital issue for Lesotho’s natural resources and ICM is establishing a permanent authority to develop a long-term programme that donors and other entities can support, as opposed to piecemeal, short-term projects.”

Prof. Qalabane Chakela in Meta-Review: Interventions for Sustainable Natural Resource Management in Lesotho, 1970-2020

ReNOKA is conceptualised not only as a national programme but also as a movement that fosters ownership of all Basotho for addressing land and water conservation challenges. ReNOKA works together with different sectors of society, notably Basotho in rural and urban parts of Lesotho, government, traditional authorities including the royal household, civil society, the private sector and international development partners. By establishing and strengthening sustainable institutions with coordination functions at national, catchment and local level, including identifying and piloting financing mechanisms for ICM institutions and processes, ReNOKA aims to facilitate multi-sectoral, sustainable ICM planning and implementation. Innovative approaches seek to increase efficiency of ICM implementation. Effective monitoring and reporting on ICM measures on progress of the national programme ensures accountability and transparency.

Innovation is key for the ReNOKA movement. What does this different approach look like?

A gender- and youth-inclusive, community-driven and informed multi-stakeholder approach

Under the umbrella of ReNOKA, community members, community-based organisations, the government, academia, and development projects all work together to advance integrated catchment management (ICM). ReNOKA also partners with the private sector to jointly implement rehabilitation and watershed protection activities. This multisectoral, collaborative approach aims to enhance coordination of stakeholders to foster integrated (multi-sectoral) catchment management based on the needs and priorities of all Basotho and especially the communities in rural areas.

It creates a space for on-the-ground experiences to be integrated into joint planning and decision-making processes that empower communities, including women and youth, to lead and own the ICM measures. ReNOKA’s Catchment Planning Units (CPUs) – located at district level and made up of a catchment manager and representatives from relevant participating ministries – provide support and guidance to the communities for the planning and implementation of ICM measures. Guidelines such as the Gender & Youth Mainstreaming guideline provide tools to ensure inclusivity in ICM processes. 

Find out how Ministry of Gender & Youth is already a ReNOKA partner

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A nexus and risk-informed development approach

ReNOKA applies nexus approaches to uncover and reduce negative interactions between uphill land use practices and basin-wide energy, water and food security. It promotes ICM as an instrument and platform for integrated problem solving. ReNOKA’s risk-informed ICM planning processes address the human causes of land degradation, water and food insecurity, including unsustainable agricultural and grazing practices, while addressing climate and other risks. This approach aims to restore and protect Lesotho’s catchments and to improve water security for Lesotho and the Orange-Senqu River Basin. Through studies, assessments and trainings, stakeholders and institutions involved are strengthened in their capacities to make risk-informed decisions to increase the resilience of the country and the region as a whole against the complex risks faced today.

ICM planning approaches at two levels

ReNOKA introduced ICM planning processes at Catchment Management Area (CMA) and at sub-catchment level to plan holistic ICM measures including ecosystem-based adaptation measures and nature-based solutions. They aim at restoring and conserving Lesotho’s catchments, enhancing climate resilience of the land, its people and infrastructure investments as well as fostering equitable and sustainable livelihoods for Basotho.

  • Planning at CMA level: Integrated Catchment Management and Development Plans (ICMDPs) are developed for the six CMAs through involvement of relevant stakeholders. In-depth assessment such as Situational Assessments, Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessments (CVAs) and Aquatic Ecosystem Assessments inform their development. The ICMDPs guide the selection and prioritisation of interventions including appropriate climate change adaptation measures during the community-driven planning processes at sub-catchment levels. Furthermore, they form the base for the development of a National Integrated Catchment and Development Plans or National Strategic Framework.
  • Planning at community level: Community Council ICM Action plans are community-driven plans jointly developed by the communities and CPUs. Through transect walks and community visioning exercises, CWTs guided by CPUs identify the challenges to be addressed in their environment and jointly decide on solutions to address them. These CWT ICM Plans are then aggregated by the CPUs into Sub-Catchment Action Plans (SCAPs) and translated into Community Council ICM Action Plans which form part of the Community Council Plans. A new Compendium of Soil and Conservation Measures guides the planning processes as well as the identification, costing and implementation of climate resilient ICM measures. Through this bottom-up approach, ReNOKA is empowering communities to take ownership of the ICM measures towards restoration and protection of land and water resources.
Innovation and indigenous knowledge

Sustainable institutions and governance

ReNOKA is advocating and supporting the restructuring and strengthening of a set of institutions:

(a) Community Watershed Teams (CWTs) and Village Watershed Teams (VWTs) enable representatives from local natural resource user groups such as herders and farmers to jointly manage local water and land resources. VWTs send representatives to the CWTs which have been capacitated to develop ICM plans together with the CPUs and to orient community members in catchment rehabilitation and protection efforts;

Natural resources that overlap across council and district boundaries call for joint planning by community and district authorities. These groups known as Catchment Management Joint Committees (CMJCs) supervise the implementation of ICMDPs at Catchment Management Area (CMA) and sub-catchment levels.

(b) effective engagement of existing and new inter-ministerial structures at national and district level i.e. the National Technical Secretariat (NTS), the ReNOKA Data Reference Group (DRG) and CPUs at district level technically and cooperatively support communities, the authorities and ICM relevant line ministries in planning and implementation of ICM within their respective mandates.

(c) establishment of the ICM Coordination Unit (ICU) as functional and sustainable ICM coordination structure at the national and sub-national levels to support intersectoral ICM planning, implementation and monitoring.

To create a conducive legal framework, these ICM institutions and their functions as well as the introduced ICM planning processes (see above) are anchored through policy reforms in relevant legal documents such as the revised Water Act and the Water Resource Management Bill. This ensures a strong legal basis and the sustainability of the movement long into the future. Guidelines for ICM planning, the soil and water conservation measures, gender & youth mainstreaming and for by-law drafting are developed and relevant structures trained on them, to empower communities to plan, implement and enforce ICM priorities in their jurisdiction.

ReNOKA

New financing mechanisms to fund ICM institutions and processes

To improve the sustainability of ICM institutions and to fund ICM planning and implementation, ReNOKA puts into place and tests new financing mechanisms. A Financial Architecture Study recommended two mechanisms: 

(i) a Revolving Fund as the main instrument to ringfence funds to cover the recurrent expenditure i.e. for ICM planning, research and monitoring as well as the financing of community-led small-scale measures supervised by CPUs; and 

(ii) an Impact Outcome Fund as a fully independent financing mechanism for ICM implementation to be conceptualised in alignment with the Regeneration Opportunities Fund with its own board, regulations etc.

Both funds will need to rely on sound (micro-)project proposals with prioritised measures from the ICM planning process as well as organisations / structures with implementation experience and absorption capacities to achieve disbursement targets and impact. Therefore, ReNOKA is piloting different financing instruments and implementation modalities to build capacities and routines of councils and communities for the implementation of ICM measures including their financial management. This includes 

  • Providing grants to Community Councils from an ICM-LoCAL fund in collaboration with UNCDF for the implementation of prioritised ICM measures from their Community Council ICM Action Plans. This also supports fiscal decentralisation and empowerment of Councils for the sound financial management of funds;
  • Supporting the implementation of ICM measures from the Community Council ICM Action plans through Direct Material Support to communities for the (voluntary) implementation of ICM measures. Furthermore, small grants for community-based organisations are piloted to support the implementation of small-scale ICM-related projects. These support schemes aim to increase experiences and capacities for the implementation of ICM measures at grassroot level to prepare for the flow of funds through the above mentioned financing mechanisms and instruments. 
ReNOKA

Data and research for effective ICM planning, monitoring and reporting

ReNOKA views ICM through a holistic lens and seeks to apply a data-driven management approach. Quality data and research are crucial for planning, implementation and monitoring of sustainable and inclusive ICM measures. ReNOKA uses all available data sources such as land cover, hydrological, climatic and socioeconomic data to allow for evidence-based, risk-informed planning and decision making. Evaluating data from before and after interventions, complimented with research studies carried out with the National University of Lesotho (NUL) renowned research institutes, allows ReNOKA to analyse and compile evidence on the most effective approaches and methodologies to engage with local communities and to plan and implement sustainable ICM and livelihood measures. This guides and improves future planning and implementation and allows ReNOKA to identify best practices for sustainable management of Lesotho’s catchments. 

A Data Reference Group has been set up to coordinate land and water management data in the country. This inter-ministerial and multi-stakeholder group with members from Government, civil society and the private sector ensures coordination to allow for tracking and custodianship of all ICM-related data collected in the country. It offers ReNOKA Data Services ranging from flying a drone for data collection and monitoring purposes to carrying out full-fledged bio-physical (baseline) assessments.

A ReNOKA Land Cover Database with map and dynamic dashboard has been developed. The system uses a state-of-the art machine learning model to recognise land cover types from satellite images and track land cover changes over time. It provides a critical baseline and tool to monitor and evaluate land degradation as well as the effectiveness of integrated catchment management measures. 

ReNOKA Land Cover Database

Finally, the generated data and studies are used to increase transparency and accountability of ReNOKA’s interventions. Monitoring and subsequent reporting on the effectiveness and impacts of ReNOKA takes place at national level but monitoring data including from the ReNOKA Land Cover Database also contributes to reporting at regional and international level towards international development agendas and climate conventions.

Visit the Lesotho Land Cover Dashboard and ReNOKA GIS Data Hub to learn more about land cover changes in Lesotho.

View the Lesotho Landcover Dashboard

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View the ReNOKA Data Hub

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Indigenous knowledge integrated into innovative approaches

Through innovative approaches such as nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change, payments for ecosystem services, and Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessments and Public Infrastructure Engineering Vulnerability Committee (PIEVC) Protocols, ReNOKA adopts applicable methods to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of ICM implementation in Lesotho and increases the resilience of communities and of public infrastructures vis-à-vis climate and other environmental risks. These innovative tools are combined with proven indigenous knowledge practices to effectively and holistically address soil erosion, range and storm water management challenges and to increase acceptance of communities for the measures. The roll-out of ReNOKA’s interventions is accompanied by social behavioural change communication awareness raising, based on rigorous behavioural change research to foster ownership and accountability of communities for the ICM measures and to promote long-term behavioural change in the communities.

Sustainable livelihoods improve resilience and reduce pressure on natural resources

To diversify incomes, to increase resilience and to incentivise communities for sustainable resource management, livelihood measures are integrated into the ICM plans and are implemented alongside ICM measures. This approach further helps to reduce pressure on natural resources. In partnership with CRS, ReNOKA has established Saving and Internal Loans Communities (SILCs). These groups set saving targets and lend money to their members to reach their individual household goals. SILC members have used these funds to cover medical and school expenses or to improve their housing. Others used the loans to buy agricultural inputs or to create small businesses. Marketing groups are supported to improve producers’ linkages with markets through improved production, marketing, and commercialisation techniques. Small grant receiving CBOs promote i.e. bee-keeping and fruit orchards to diversify communities’ livelihoods. In farmer learning centres, volunteering lead farmers have tested and disseminated intercropping of corn with fodder crops. As fodder production has an enormous potential for generating income, improving quality of meat and wool from the animals as well as for reducing pressure on range lands, ReNOKA will strengthen support to this practice i.e. through more research and domestic exchange visits. Promotion of more sustainable agricultural and range practices also builds on the results of behavioural change studies.

Building a new generation of ICM experts and leaders

ReNOKA is working to create a society that exchanges information about intersectoral best practices to promote efficient, educated implementation of ICM that is equipped to adapt to current and future challenges. Its aim is to expand understanding of river catchments and their sustainable, integrated management among all Basotho from the community level to academia, private and public sector technical staff and decision-makers. Capacity development is meant to be in line with national, regional and global strategies, hence the need to complement local skills with globally relevant skills, knowledge and technologies where local answers are limited.

ReNOKA has therefore developed tailor-made learning formats for non-formal, basic and university education as well as professional short courses, on-the-job trainings and domestic and international exchange visits through collaborations with renowned educational partners such as the SADC subsidiary WaterNet, Lesotho’s Geography and Environment Movement (GEM) and the National University of Lesotho (NUL). These learning formats strengthen skills and knowledge on ICM and build a new generation of ICM practitioners and leaders.

Browse ReNOKA training materials

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Learn more about the new Integrated Catchment and Water Resource Management Master at NUL

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Regional Integration and coherence

ReNOKA is also committed to situating the programme within the region as a lighthouse initiative on Integrated Catchment Management and an example for vertical integration between a member state, ORASECOM and SADC. Through exchanges at national and regional level through organisations like SADC and ORASECOM, ReNOKA participates in the benchmarking of the programme and shares approaches, best practices and lessons learnt i.e. through knowledge products, exchange visits and participation at regional events and conferences to promote replication and upscaling in the region. Transboundary awareness raising activities and learning exchanges increase awareness for the challenges but also the benefits and economic value of transboundary water management and improve peer-to-peer learning.

ReNOKANews

    If you want to learn more about ReNOKA’s approaches, tools and studies, visit our Resource library.

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