Integrating participatory forest management and reproductive health in Ethiopia

The Bonga Forest is rich in biodiversity and includes natural resources of regional, national and international importance such as its unique and original wild Arabica coffee. However, rapid population growth, compounded by increasing poverty levels, has led to continuous deforestation and degradation as people living in the surrounding areas are forced by their economic situation to exploit the forest’s resources.

In order to reverse this alarming trend, DSW together with several cooperating partners have carried out integrated project activities in the Bonga Forest for more than ten years. The overall goal of these efforts is to improve the health and living conditions of local communities while contributing to the sustainable use and protection of the rainforest. A unique combination of health, social and economic support leads to sustainable development and continuous protection of the natural resources of the Bonga Forest.

The Kafa Forest Coffee Cooperatives Farmers Union and cooperating partners GEO schützt den Regenwald e.V., Naturschutzbund Deutschland e.V., and Original Food GmbH focus on the aspect of sustainable forest management. Due to common efforts, the Wild Coffee Forests have been recognised as UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in June 2011. Partners furthermore engage in marketing the wild Arabica coffee and support participatory forest management groups comprising coffee farmers and a range of community stakeholders. These groups and stakeholders learn about the socio-economic benefits of protecting and using forest resources in a sustainable manner, and local forest communities are empowered to take ownership over conservation and forest management efforts.

The Integrated Bonga Forest Project recognises that population, health and environment are intricately linked; rapid population growth and health needs can easily undermine economic and environmental development efforts. Therefore, DSW’s role in the initiative focuses on enhancing access of young people and members of the participatory forest management groups to sexual and reproductive health information and services and sensitising communities for the protection of natural resources.

In the current project phase (2010-2013), DSW’s activities are designed to meet the following two objectives:

• Increasing knowledge about sexual and reproductive health (SRH), family planning and the environment, especially among young people:
  Incorporated into five Forest Management Units and supervised by a reproductive health coordinator at the Forest Coffee Cooperatives Farmers Union, a network of five youth clubs engage in intensive information and sensitisation campaigns to equip young people, pupils, and participatory forest management groups with information on reproductive health. Club members reach their peers and communities through interactive approaches such as edutainment shows, coffee ceremonies, and panel discussions. The project provides trainings on SRHR, peer education, environmental protection, leadership and entrepreneurship skills to youth club leaders and peer educators. The acquired skills enable them to manage their clubs effectively, educate other young people and community members on SRH issues, and to engage in environmental activities, such as forest conversation, reforestation or selling seedlings as a way to generate income.
  
  
• Increasing access to SRH services and family planning:
  The project trains local health extension workers as well as community-based reproductive health agents (CBRHAs) on quality youth-friendly SRH services and relevant health topics. Youth clubs and health facilities are provided with contraceptive supplies, and traditional birth attendants and CBRHAs receive medical kits in order to provide SRH health services such as birth assistance. Additionally, referral mechanisms to nearby health facilities for young people and forest communities are strengthened and youth-friendly services are promoted.

During the project’s current phase, which began in April 2011, the following key outputs have been achieved:

• More than 5,000 community members have been reached by community based reproductive health agents (CBRHA) and informed on topics including HIV/AIDS, family planning, antenatal and post natal care, the prevention of unwanted pregnancy, immunisation, female genital mutilation as well as sexually transmitted infections.
• The five youth clubs conducted various awareness-raising and sensitisation activities, such as mass education, coffee ceremonies, drama shows, peer learning groups and panel discussions. They reached more than 3,600 young people and other community members, educating them on issues related to environmental protection, SRH and family planning.
• Contraceptive supplies, such as pills and condoms, have been distributed to 815 people.
• Two youth clubs received forest land from the local administration to conserve and aforest it and thus to generate income.