Engaging Business for Integrated Landscape Initiatives in Africa

Lee Gross,EcoAgriculture Partners

Between 2008-2020 – growth rate of 4%

New risks necessitate collective action

Climate Change

Poverty and Food Security

Competition for resources

Increasing demand

Source: KPMG, 2012. Expect the Unexpected: Building business value in a changing world.

Address Risk at Scales

Low private sector participation in integrated landscape initiatives in Africa

Industry

Agribusiness

Community Groups

Education/Research

NGOs

Marginalized Groups

Producer Groups

Government

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

% of surveyed initiatives

Only 8%

Source Milder, J.C., A.K. Hart, P. Dobie, J. Minai, C. Zaleski. 2013a. “Integrated landscape ini tiatives for African agriculture, development, and conservation: A region-wide assessment.” World Development, 54, 68-80.

"The landscape approach has been championed by organizations active in the development and conservation sectors for many years, though the concept has been slow to migrate into mainstream corporate thinking.

- José Lopez, Executive Vice President, Operations, Nestlé S.A.

Reducing Risk through landscape approaches

Requires More than Sum of Parts ThinkingMore than sum of parts thinking

Landscape approach interventions and support mechanisms

• Ecosystem service payments– watershed funds, conservation easements

• Financing instruments – short-term credits, impact investments or subsidies

• Secondary markets– non-timber forest products

• Product markets– voluntary sustainability standards and certifications

Overview of current initiatives• Regional partnership

mitigating a jointly identified risk – Lake Navaisha Initiative,

Kenya – George, South Africa,

Water Futures Partnership– Zambia, Community

Markets for Conservation, COMACO

Overview of current initiatives• Sourcing Business or

NGO led partnership mitigating regional risks – Uganda, British

American Tobacco Biodiversity Partnership

– Western Ghana, Juabeso- Bia landscape initiative

Overview of current initiatives• Policy Government or

International fund led Initiatives – Southern Agricultural

Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT)

– Rwanda Nyungwe (Gishwati) Landscape Restoration

Consensus Actions – how can the business sector be engaged in ILIs?

• Talk Business – construct the business case– Create incentives and a stronger case for business at any

scale to include ILI multiple objectives in running interventions.

• Create Wiki Tools for Business– Use landscape risk and opportunity assessment tools to

identify business risks and drive priority actions • Create business capacity – Set up the Business-as-Unusual School - Include ILI

knowledge in existing business and agricultural curricula.

Let’s talk business and landscapes…what do you think?

Breakout action groups

1. Talk business – construct business case

2. Landscape risk and opportunity assessment tools

3. Create business capacity

4. Market and incentivize based mechanisms

5. Others?6. Others?

ACTION PLAN• Short title

• Objectives • WHY (Rationale, why action is needed):• Key/Illustrative Activities

• WHO would be involved? With what roles? • WHAT is needed to make this happen? (endorsements,

resources, involvement of other actors, et al • NEXT Steps to mobilize Action • CHAMPIONS to ensure Next Steps happen (people in

Action Team and organization)