Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources (SAFIRE) is a regional non governmental organisation with a mandate to operate in the south. The organisation’s focus is the promotion of rural development through the sustainable utilisation, commercialisation and management of natural resources. The organisation currently operates in 10 countries of the South using its own staff and through collaboration with partners.
Mission:
To facilitate the development and application of innovative approaches to diversify and improve rural livelihoods based on the utilization, commercialization and sustainable management of natural resources.
Vision
To be the regional leader and service provider of first choice in benefit-driven sustainable natural resources management by rural communities.
Objectives:
− Diversify livelihood options of rural communities through improved management and sustainable utilization of indigenous natural resources
− Support and develop the management capabilities of local level institutions in participatory benefit driven natural resources utilization
− Mainstream natural resources management and related livelihood enhancement programmes in refugee settings and hosting communities
− Encourage collaboration and effective exchange of experiences and knowledge amongst institutions and communities active in indigenous resource management
− Advocate for policies that facilitate achievement of the above objectives
Activities/Main areas of work:
Benefit-Driven Natural Resource Management
Goal of the programme
To promote the economic, social and environmental development of communal areas based on the sustainable productive use and management of natural resources through: Development and promotion of community-based enterprise
Strengthening the capacity and skills of local communities and local authorities to manage natural resources sustainable Supporting the development and adoption of institutional arrangements that facilitate sustainable natural resources management at the local, district and national levels
Enhancing food security and nutrition
− Assisting farmers to organize themselves into self-managing units
− Extending improved production technologies
− Assisting the farmer groups to establish linkages with agribusiness
− Promoting improved production and processing of indigenous natural foods
Information for development
− Documentation and the exchange of experiences from SAFIRE’s project beneficiaries as widely as possible supported by a range of different information and communication technologies
− Promotion of the use of ICTs (Information Communication Technologies) as tools for information exchange
− Documentation of ITK (Indigenous Technical Knowledge) and promotion of access to information that is relevant to their livelihood situations
− Strategic partnerships in order to increase its sphere of influence and create greater impact
Coverage:
Zimbabwe, Zambia and through partnerships in Malawi, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Chad, Uganda and Mali
Beneficiaries:
SAFIRE works with more than 20,000 households in poor and marginalised communities in marginalised communities in Africa.
Membership/Affiliations
− IUCN
− Phytotrade Africa
− Southern Africa Regional Poverty Network
− International Society for Ecological Economics
