Pamoja Environmental Focus (PAMOJA)

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Pamoja Environmental Focus (PAMOJA) is a member based Non Governmental Organization, incorporated in 2012. PAMOJA exists to make a positive difference by enhancing community participation in sustainable management of natural resources and inclusive development through targeted initiatives for poverty alleviation, improving food security and conserving the environment. Also by promoting feasible economic options for income generation and creation of employment. PAMOJA promotes environmental education in addressing inadequate capacity in environmental conservation and awareness among rural and urban communities mostly due to environmental degradation, loss of ecosystem benefits and unsustainable resource use. Pamoja engages communities in identification and application of viable solutions including result-based microfinance initiatives for improving community's livelihoods for economic empowerment and job creation.

Vision: A state where people live sustainable lifestyles in a stable natural environment.

Mission: To improve people's quality of life by developing their capacities to respond to new challenges and opportunities and enabling them take active and well-informed decisions and actions that result into positive environmental management which integrate viable livelihoods and sustainable lifestyles.

Objectives:
• Promoting environmental education and awareness, particularly in forestry, wildlife, freshwater, marine, oil and gas as well as climate change and energy.
• Enhancing community participation in sustainable management of natural resources through initiatives that are geared towards eliminating poverty, improving income and food security, and conserving the environment.
• Promoting sustainable livelihood options for economic empowerment and climate smart entrepreneurship.
• Promoting sustainable consumption and production for increasing resource efficiency and sustainable lifestyles.
• Promoting environmentally focused economic empowerment, access to finances and employability under micro-savings and lending initiatives for Vulnerable, marginalized, voiceless, underprivileged or disadvantaged groups adjacent to conservation areas through to improve their income and save the environment.
• Enhancing community participation to peacefully address environmentally related conflicts, interfaith initiatives, health and sanitary services.

Activities:
• Facilitated re-survey and boundary demarcation, review of management plan and by-laws for the Kisago Village Forest Reserve, at Msosa Village, Kilolo District, Iringa Region, Tanzania: A Community conservation project was implemented at Msosa village, (North-West of the famous Udzungwa Mountains National Park), Kilolo District, Iringa, with the purpose of supporting Msosa community to effectively manage the village forest reserve, to improve conservation status, eco-tourism potentials and community livelihoods.
• Improving access to social support and finances through sustainable livelihoods & micro-savings and lending approaches for members of Tree Growers Association (TGAs) in the Southern Highlands. Funded by the Participatory Forestry Programme (PFP), a programme implemented jointly by the Government of Finland and the Government of Tanzania. Facilitated in formation, training and mentoring of Village Savings and Lending Associations (VSLAs) to forestry communities among TGA members in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. PAMOJA also facilitated in establishment of viable livelihoods and entrepreneurship training. PAMOJA established 80 VSLA groups in 29 villages in Ludewa, Madaba, Mbinga and Nyasa District Councils in Njombe and Ruvuma Regions respectively.
• Mtwara Marine Community Project to improve communities participation in marine and terrestrial resources management for 22 villages within the Mnazi Bay Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park: Funded by BG Tanzania to improve communities participation in marine and terrestrial resources management. Established 52 micro-savings and lending groups and 11 community livelihood groups engaged in beekeeping, fish farming and local chicken keeping. Supported school greening and school environmental clubs through teacher training and school greening initiatives; printed two environmental awareness books.
• West Usambara Mountains Freshwater Resources Conservation Initiative: It focused on awareness about environmental threats and negative effects of cultivation in wetland areas and in valley bottom areas along river banks, as a cause of decreasing water levels in all major rivers in the district. It also promoted application of by-laws while farming close to river banks; planting of trees in catchment areas and along river banks; and establishment of water management teams in each sub-village.

Stuart Heddi is the Executive Director of Pamoja Environmental Focus (PAMOJA).

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.