BirdLife's Africa Partnership has embraced the SSG approach, applied in all nineteen network countries. Zoom In

New guide to building successful Site Support Groups

16-03-2007

An important new publication from the BirdLife International Africa Partnership provides a step-by-step guide to establishing and managing Site Support Groups. Although the focus is on Africa, Conserving Biodiversity In Africa: Guidelines for applying the Site Support Group Approach will be equally useful to partners on other continents.

Site Support Groups (also known as IBA Local Conservation Groups and Caretaker Groups) are organised, independent groups of volunteers who work with their communities, with the national BirdLife Partner and with other organisations to promote conservation and sustainable development at Important Bird Areas and other key biodiversity sites. They are one of the most practical approaches to conservation.

The book has a section on identifying the organisations or individuals who will form the SSG, and on building partnerships between the SSG and governments, development organisations and the private sector. Another section deals with developing and managing the SSG: its skills and capacity, its funding and governance, and managing the inevitable conflicts.

“There are over 145 SSGs in more than 19 African countries, with the membership surging into thousands, and more being formed.” —Hazell Shokellu Thompson, Head of BirdLife International’s Africa Division

Other areas covered include the factors that make a group sustainable, the efficient use of funds, alternative income generation, the need for clearly defined roles and responsibilities, and even what happens when a well established SSG begins competing for donors with the BirdLife Partner which set it up.

The final paragraphs describe how to devise an ‘exit’ strategy –  preparing the SSG for the day when it must stand on it own feet, while the partner shifts some of its support to fledgling SSGs elsewhere.

“There are over 145 SSGs in more than 19 African countries, with the membership surging into thousands, and more being formed,” said Hazell Shokellu Thompson, Head of BirdLife International’s Africa Division. “About 10% are strong institutions able to fundraise and implement their own site conservation action and livelihood improvement projects. Our new guide should enable more of them to become self-sustaining, as well as explaining best practice to partners in countries where the SSG approach is still in its infancy.”