The Mau Forest Complex in Western Kenya covers an area of over 400,000 ha and is ecologically and economically critical for Kenya and parts of East Africa. 60,000 ha of South Western Mau is one of the 22 forest blocks of the Mau Forest Complex. 20,000 ha has been severely degraded due to human activities including overgrazing, logging and encroachment among others. Deliberate efforts are being made to restore and conserve the forest. IDH through the Initiative for Sustainable Landscape (ISLA) launched an ambitious campaign to rehabilitate and conserve the forest in 2018 and opted to adopt a community-based approach to see the campaign to fruition.
The significance of the Southwest Mau is paramount for the sustained viability of agriculture in the region. It plays a dual role, not only in climate regulation but also in providing essential biodiversity. Agricultural practices heavily rely on rainfed methods, with no irrigation in place. Hence, the forest is a crucial component, contributing significantly to the agricultural sector.&nbsp;
<h1>Governance Structure</h1>
Together with the relevant stakeholders a governance model is designed and set-up. The bodies of the governance structure consist of a Trust (to be registered), the Board, the Secretariat and three Technical Working Groups.
Trust
The Trust, to be established and registered as Charitable Trust in 2016, is made up of five (5) trustees. The Trust provides oversight on the functions of the board, raise and allocate funds and be legally accountable for the program. It is expected to last into long term, to ensure sustainability of the program, beyond the ISLA Program. The Trust will meet once or twice a year.
ISLA&nbsp;Board
The&nbsp;board,&nbsp;in&nbsp;consultation&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;secretariat,&nbsp;defines&nbsp;the&nbsp;program&nbsp;strategy&nbsp;and&nbsp;action&nbsp;plan&nbsp;and&nbsp;oversees&nbsp;the&nbsp;implementation&nbsp;process.&nbsp;Members&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;interim&nbsp;board&nbsp;include:
<h3>Government&nbsp;and&nbsp;government&nbsp;agencies</h3>
<ul>
<li>
County&nbsp;governments&nbsp;of&nbsp;Kericho,&nbsp;Bomet&nbsp;and&nbsp;Nakuru;
</li>
<li>
National Government Institutions (KFS, WRA and KWTA);
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Private&nbsp;sector</h3>
<ul>
<li>
Private Sector companies including KTDA, Lipton Tea and Infusions, James Finlay Kenya/ Browns Plantations, KENGEN and the Timber Manufacturers Association;
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Civil&nbsp;Society&nbsp;and&nbsp;Research&nbsp;Organizations</h3>
<ul>
<li>
NGO/Civil Society (Rhino Ark)
</li>
<li>
Community&nbsp;groups&nbsp;(CFAs&nbsp;and&nbsp;WRUAs);
</li>
<li>
Knowledge partner (KEFRI, CIFOR).
</li>
</ul>
The&nbsp;Dutch&nbsp;Embassy&nbsp;attends&nbsp;as&nbsp;an&nbsp;observer&nbsp;while&nbsp;the&nbsp;ISLA&nbsp;Kenya&nbsp;team&nbsp;plays&nbsp;the&nbsp;role&nbsp;of&nbsp;secretariat,&nbsp;and&nbsp;chairs&nbsp;the&nbsp;meetings.&nbsp;The&nbsp;board&nbsp;will&nbsp;meet&nbsp;on&nbsp;a&nbsp;quarterly&nbsp;basis&nbsp;(4&nbsp;times&nbsp;a&nbsp;year).
Technical&nbsp;Working&nbsp;Groups
Three&nbsp;Technical&nbsp;Working&nbsp;Groups&nbsp;will&nbsp;be&nbsp;established&nbsp;based&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;program&nbsp;building&nbsp;blocks&nbsp;i.e.&nbsp;forest&nbsp;conservation; &nbsp;improvement&nbsp;of&nbsp;water&nbsp;flow&nbsp;and&nbsp;access; &nbsp;sustainable&nbsp;energy; &nbsp;with&nbsp;alternative&nbsp;livelihoods&nbsp;as&nbsp;a&nbsp;cross&nbsp;cutting&nbsp;issue.&nbsp;Member&nbsp;organizations&nbsp;are&nbsp;presented&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;management&nbsp;/&nbsp;expertise&nbsp;level.&nbsp;Technical&nbsp;working&nbsp;groups&nbsp;will&nbsp;meet&nbsp;to&nbsp;deliberate&nbsp;on&nbsp;technical&nbsp;and&nbsp;implementation&nbsp;issues.&nbsp;Activities&nbsp;include: &nbsp;further&nbsp;development&nbsp;of&nbsp;models&nbsp;and&nbsp;approaches&nbsp;for&nbsp;prototyping,&nbsp;sharing&nbsp;lessons&nbsp;learned&nbsp;to&nbsp;expand&nbsp;collective&nbsp;expertise,&nbsp;identify&nbsp;opportunities&nbsp;for&nbsp;improvement,&nbsp;expansion&nbsp;and&nbsp;up-scaling&nbsp;of&nbsp;activities.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Technical&nbsp;Working&nbsp;Groups&nbsp;will&nbsp;meet&nbsp;on&nbsp;a&nbsp;need-basis&nbsp;and&nbsp;report&nbsp;their&nbsp;findings&nbsp;and&nbsp;observations&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;board.&nbsp;Initially&nbsp;the&nbsp;groups&nbsp;will&nbsp;be&nbsp;constituted&nbsp;as&nbsp;follows:
<h3>Proposed&nbsp;members&nbsp;of&nbsp;working&nbsp;groups:</h3>
Forest working group members: KFS, KWS, NTZDC, Rhino Ark, Finlays/Browns Plantations, Lipton Tea and Infusions, Counties and ISLA
Water Working Group: WRMA, WRUA, CIFOR, Kericho, Bomet and Nakuru Counties, Finlays KTDA, KENGEN and ISLA
Secretariat
The&nbsp;Secretariat,&nbsp;made&nbsp;up&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;IDH&nbsp;team,&nbsp;will&nbsp;be&nbsp;responsible&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;implementation&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;ISLA&nbsp;Kenya&nbsp;action&nbsp;plan; &nbsp;contract&nbsp;management&nbsp;with&nbsp;consultants&nbsp;and&nbsp;implementing&nbsp;partners; &nbsp;gathering,&nbsp;collating&nbsp;and&nbsp;analysis&nbsp;of&nbsp;information&nbsp;required&nbsp;to&nbsp;support&nbsp;program&nbsp;development&nbsp;and&nbsp;monitoring&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;evaluation&nbsp;and; &nbsp;the&nbsp;administration&nbsp;and&nbsp;coordinating&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;program&nbsp;activities&nbsp;and&nbsp;events.
<ol>
<li>
Day-to-day&nbsp;management&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;ISLA&nbsp;program
</li>
<li>
Facilitate&nbsp;the&nbsp;smooth&nbsp;functioning&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;board&nbsp;and&nbsp;technical&nbsp;working&nbsp;groups
</li>
<li>
Represent&nbsp;ISLA&nbsp;to&nbsp;outside&nbsp;stakeholders
</li>
<li>
Provide co-funding for approved joint actions
</li>
<li>Field level monitoring</li>
</ol>

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