Congo Basin Impact Monitoring Programme
About the Programme
The Congo Basin Impact Monitoring Programme aims to enhance the effectiveness of conservation efforts through systematic monitoring and evaluation of ecological and socio-economic data. This initiative focuses on creating reliable data that informs policy and management decisions in the region.
Our Vision
A biodiversity preserved and managed sustainably based on reliable ecological and socioeconomic data from countries with strong capacities for the well-being of people in the Congo Basin.
Global objective
By 2027, an adequate monitoring and evaluation system for WWF’s inclusive conservation efforts, supports the adaptive management of priority landscapes and demonstrates conservation impacts in the Congo basin.
Our Vision
A biodiversity preserved and managed sustainably based on reliable ecological and socioeconomic data from countries with strong capacities for the well-being of people in the Congo Basin.
Global objective
By 2027, an adequate monitoring and evaluation system for WWF’s inclusive conservation efforts, supports the adaptive management of priority landscapes and demonstrates conservation impacts in the Congo basin.
Scope of work
-
0 Countries
Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon 0+ Sites
High priority for WWF located in six (6) landscapes0+ million hectares
Targeted for data collection. Priority sites and their peripheral zones represent about 20% of the surface area of the six landscapes.
STRATEGIC AXES
The Congo Basin Impact Monitoring Programme focuses on five strategic axes to enhance conservation efforts
The collection of reliable and structured data is the basis for the success of a monitoring program. This strategic axis is therefore the foundation of the program. It is based on seven (7) distinct and complementary components of data to be collected presented here as monitoring pillars. Those monitoring pillars have been designed according to the expected results planned in the country conservation strategies. Its implementation will follow a specific approach:
- Integration into field activities by setting up specific ecological monitoring programs, that take into account the necessary information (including socioeconomic data) to meet the objectives and goals of conservation programs.
- Capacity building to ensure reliable data collection, good management and adequate analyses at field level.
- Centralization and cross-cutting analyses of data to provide necessary information for the evaluation of conservation activities.
The monitoring of field activities is essential to ensure achievements over time if all human and material resources are available to attain the expected results. It is important to check whether the results obtained reflect the initial expectations and to evaluate the corresponding level of success. It is therefore necessary to:
- Involve Monitoring & Evaluation / Ecological Monitoring experts in project and program designing processes.
- Define measurable indicators for outcomes and impacts of conservation activities.
- Design monitoring plans that ensure quality achievements and impacts. Those monitoring plans enable the proper planning and budgeting for the collection of the needed data for the assessment of outcome and impact indicators.
A mastery of data collection techniques, data processing and reporting on key results is essential to ensure that program objectives are met.
- Regular training to strengthen countries’ capacities to apply the standards required to ensure quality data.
- Harmonization of tools to be used across Central Africa to ensure uniform compilation and comparison of data at national and regional levels.
- Inform other entities (international institutions, donors, government institutions, other national and international NGOs, local communities, the scientific community, etc.) about the activities carried out and the results obtained.
- Use data and results to influence decision-making at all levels (local or national management, political advocacy or fundraising, etc.)
- Put in place a system to ensure proper data protection and sharing.
- Provide biodiversity data to update national and international databases.
In order to guarantee the sustainability of activities, the program must build partnerships and get it fully integrated in other conservation programs/projects.
- Establish a strong partnership network, both internally and with other conservation structures, private and public partners, research institutions, government institutions.
- Promote country conservation objectives through the development of ecological monitoring projects.
- Ensure collaboration with partner institutions with the support of the WWF network.