EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION PROCESS A GOOD PRACTICE CASE

EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION PROCESS – A GOOD PRACTICE CASE FROM ZAMBIA REYNOLDS K. SHULA Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Zambia PRESENTATION TO THE COMPREHENSIVE CLIMATE CHANGE PLANNING SEMINAR, WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA. 13 th OCTOBER 2011

PRESENTATION OUTLINE Zambia Building Consensus Stakeholders Consultations Local Level Consultations Outcome of Consultation Process Lessons Learnt

ZAMBIA Total population ~ 12 m (2000 census) 752, 000 Km 2 Total Land Area Has three Agro-ecological regions • I – 600 -800 mm pa • II – 800 -1000 mm pa • III- > 1000 mm pa Regions I and II most vulnerable, however consultations included region III Dependant on rainfed agriculture mainly (staple Maize, Millet and Cassava) 80% of rural population depend on agriculture

BUILDING CONSENSUS High level consultation (formal and informal) leading to formulation of TORs Stakeholder meetings Inception workshop for National consultations ◦ line ministries ◦ civil society with national mandate ◦ participants also from the provinces and selected districts Share the TORs, consult on the proposed implementation process and seek stakeholder consensus on the way forward and expected output.

Stakeholder consultation Independent facilitation of consultation process preferable with government representation ◦ Workshops ◦ Field Participants selected to ensure broad representation for Ministries and Civil Society, provinces and districts As time is a limiting constraint field consultations structured to ensure that all areas are covered.

Local level Consultations In the case of Zambia pooled provincial and district representation Including civic leaders, civil society and traditional leadership – custodians of land natural resources Involvement of provincial and District government structures to coordinate and own consultation process – important Issues of resource allocation may need to be addressed Field level consultations included contact with facilitators and resource users.

Outcome of Consultation process The National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS) National Climate Change Communication and Advocacy Strategy (NCCCAS) 2 -Provincial and District Awareness meetings

Lessons learnt Policy level stakeholder consultations critical to facilitate buy Local level consultations important to understand peculiarities and show government concern and appreciation Resource allocation issues may need to be addressed as some suspicion exists Feedback to stakeholders after the outcome of consultations has been synthesised and draft report produced. Adequate time and resources need to be set aside for an exhaustive consultation process.

Asante sana