Resource Africa UK

Trustee Report 2007

REFERENCE & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
ResourceAfrica (the Trust), was established in May 1991 as the Africa Resources Trust. The Trust is registered with the Charity Commission (Registered Charity Number 1003530). Its name was changed in 2002.

The address of the Principle office is Jupiter House, 4th Floor, Station Road, Cambridge, CB1 2JD.

During this financial year (2006/7) the Trustees comprised Sir Ramsay Melhuish (Chair), Mr KA Madders (Treasurer), Dr MW Adams, Mr K Chitepo, Mr KJ Ford, Ms EC Rihoy, Ms I Smith and Prof N Leader-Williams.

During the first half of the year, the policies of the Board were implemented under the supervision of Dr B Dickson (Precautionary Principle Project Manager) and in the second half by Ms Liz Rihoy in the role of Acting Director, ResourceAfrica UK.

The Trust’s Auditors are Chater Allan LLP, Beech House, 4a Newmarket Road, Cambridge, CB5 8DT.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT
The charity is a governed by a Deed of Trust. New Trustees are recruited by head-hunting and they are appointed by Trustee Resolution.

In November 2001 the Trustees entered into a collaborative agreement between the Trust and Fauna & Flora International (FFI) (UK Charity Number 1011102) in November 2001. The Trust and FFI share the common values and in particular the belief that poverty is one of the root causes of the erosion of natural resources and, conversely, that natural resources can be managed to enhance poverty relief. During 2003 this agreement was positively reviewed by the both the Trustees of ResourceAfrica and the Council of FFI and the agreement, with minor modifications, was renewed for three further years. During the year ended 31 May 2007 the parties to this agreement continued to benefit from the arrangement, with ResourceAfrica availing itself of the capacity building and fundraising expertise within FFI, while FFI harnessed specialist expertise and skills within the Trust to the benefit of its own conservation practises.

OBJECTIVES & ACTIVITIES
ResourceAfrica (the Trust), was established in May 1991 as the Africa Resources Trust to relieve poverty and sickness, and to advance education in Africa.

The mission of the Trust is to promote good governance and democratic practice in building community based institutions, as essential requirements for sustainable development and effective natural resource management.

The relative importance of the use of living wild resources to the livelihoods of human societies around the world has been debated extensively and recent information suggests that even in highly industrialised nations the use of natural resources can make an important contribution to a significant number of individuals and to national economies, even while the lives of the majority of individuals seem far removed from interaction with the wild. In less industrialised countries, even those with well developed agrarian sectors, the use of wild species can be fundamental to the livelihood strategies of large sections of society, providing benefits ranging from basic commodities to reduced vulnerability and improved income and well-being. However, despite this wealth of information, the precise relationship between the use of wild species and poverty remains contested. With the adoption of new global norms, such as the Millennium Development Goals, in which poverty relief is an overriding objective of economic development, the efficiency of investment in processes that enhance the sustainable use of wild resources is questioned. Greater numbers of the absolutely poor, it is argued, can best be reached through other mechanisms. Partly for this reason, donor enthusiasm for community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) as a strategy that can address fundamental issues of poverty and livelihoods has declined. At the same time, those interested primarily in biodiversity conservation, are re-stressing the importance of protected areas from which human activity is excluded. Given the dependence of rural communities on living wild resources, the net result is likely to be a conflict between livelihood needs and the biodiversity protection agenda. ResourceAfrica works with a range of partners to examine the relationship between human needs and biodiversity conservation. This will help identify the appropriate role of the sustainable use of wild living resources in conservation and protected area management to provide policy guidance to local community organisations, NGOs, national governments and the international community.

In February 2007 a working group of Trustees and programme staff undertook an assessment of the changing context in which RA-UK operates. This review noted that RA-UK has traditionally dealt with threats and opportunities at the international level to CBNRM in southern Africa. Two new sets of threats to CBNRM (with strong international dimensions) are HIV/AIDS and climate change. In both cases there is both the threat itself, and the internationally driven response to the threat. Both can affect CBNRM and RA-UK support to work in southern Africa. In the case of HIV/AIDS, the threat arises not just from the impact on key workers in CBNRM projects, but more broadly from the impact on rural communities who may be driven to exploit the natural resource base more intensively because, with the loss of young men and women, agriculture becomes more difficult. A number of specific points were made in the review process:

All activities undertaken within the remit of the Trust’s programme are scrupulously monitored by the Trustees to ensure that they do not involve political lobbying or other activities which might fall outside the remit of a UK Charity.

Support to the IUCN/SSC Sustainable Use Specialist Group. This network seeks to support the kinds of policy and practical developments that are enshrined in the Trust’s Mission. The Trust continued to provide support services to the group during the financial year. This included taking a leading role within the IUCN Southern African Sustainable Use Specialist Group (SASUSG) in promoting the ‘new challenges’ of climate change and HIV-AIDS in addressing sustainable use issues and research in the region. ResourceAfrica’s support and role within SASUSG in its Governance, Hunting and its Climate Change working group components continues to grow in 2008.
Support to ResourceAfrica-SA in project design and fundraising, including for the “Technology for Conservation and Development” (T4CD) project which is working to identify, introduce, adapt and report on mobile phones and their integration with other ICTs in support of conservation sustainable development in Southern Africa. It aims to bridge business and biodiversity by enabling the private sector, government bodies and civil society to work together for direct and indirect conservation gains linked to community development activities such as eco-tourism, income generation, recycling, wildlife protection and education.
A comprehensive review of ResourceAfrica UK programme in light of changing realities was undertaken and by mid 2007 the recommendations of this review process were being implemented. Concepts and proposals, focused mainly on climate change impacts, were developed and technical expertise provided to meetings of the IUCN Sustainable Use Specialist Group.
Establishment of relations with Chinese private sector and government: Over the last five years China has become increasingly involved in Africa, principally through investments in industry and support for infrastructural development initiatives. Whatever the perception of this increased Chinese presence in Africa, the reality is that it is here to stay and will be expanded. One result within China has been an increased interest in Africa from both the public and government, and an increasing realization that they need to ‘green’ their activities in Africa. Consequently there is an increasing interest in supporting conservation activities and a realization that there are many lessons that can be shared between China and Africa in relation to sustainable natural resource management. It is with this background in mind that RA-UK has developed a positive working relationship and work programme with Chinese private sector representatives and senior government officials. By the end of 2007 an initial pilot grant from the Chinese private sector had been received for support to CBNRM in southern Africa.
Proposal development focused on addressing the issue of Climate Change and impacts on rural communities in Africa. The process of development has been based on a consultative approach with RA’s CBNRM network in the region, involving presentations and discussions at the IUCN SASUSG AGM which secured the ‘buy-in’ of this important network and many of the regional institutions with which is it affiliated. In October 2007 a consultant was hired (funded by FFI) to develop RA’s climate change programme further, specifically to elaborate on the appropriate adaptation measures that the programme. Concept proposals have to date been submitted to UK’s DFID agency, to the European Union and to the Global Environment Facility. The Charity also initiated a programme of analysis and implementation in the techniques of Rain Water Harvesting.
RA-UK has been providing strategic support to various Kenyan community-based organisations (including the Maasai Environment Development Consortium (MEDEC) and Pepo La Tumaini Jangwani) on issues relating to water, climate change, HIV/AIDS and Natural Resource Management This has particularly focused on assisting with strategic planning and liaison with potential donors.

Monitoring and Evaluation
The work of ResourceAfrica is subject to monitoring by the Board of Trustees and various donors which require ongoing monitoring according to work-plans and activity schedules. The Trustees met shortly before the end of the financial year and received a detailed report from the Director. No external evaluation of ResouceAfrica’s work was undertaken this year, but the Trust’s accounts were audited.
ResourceAfrica was not involved in grant making during the year under review, neither was it involved with social or programme related investment activities.

Unpaid volunteers/donations-in-kind
The work of ResourceAfrica does not rely on unpaid volunteers, but voluntary inputs and student internships are welcomed and encouraged wherever appropriate. In May 2007 the services of a part-time voluntary fundraiser in the UK were secured. This individual undertook a comprehensive review of UK and EU based fundraising opportunities and submitted project proposals for rainwater harvesting initiatives to various different donors.
Whilst The Trust is principally dependent upon donations and grants in monetary form, it does receive donations-in-kind. These include donations of equipment, airfares, specialist services, hotel - accommodation and food and the free use of facilities for seminars and briefings.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Details on significant activities and achievements have been discussed above. The following is a summary. During this period the Trust:-

FINANCIAL REVIEW
At the end of the financial year ending 31 May 2007, ResourceAfrica held a balance of assets over liabilities of £43,448, a small decrease from £55,363 in the previous financial year reflecting the completion of a number of projects for which restricted funds had been received.

The Trustees of ResourceAfrica Trust have agreed a ‘reserves’ policy which stipulates that the Trust will keep in reserve no more than a sum sufficient to cover a year’s core expenditures. With respect to risk, The Trust has several key risk management measures in place, especially with respect to financial transactions.
No funds were in deficit.

PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS
During the next financial year the Trustees will be drawing on recommendations for the future of the Charity based on the internal programme review process undertaken in this financial year and implementing these findings in its work. Since the end of the financial year ResourceAfrica has recruited a full time Director whose main tasks in 2008 are to facilitate a 4 year Strategy and Business Plan, locate resources to implement the review findings and Strategy priorities and consolidate the private sector partnerships and initiatives established so far.

Sir Ramsay Melhuish
Trustee and Chairman