About

A network for community management of nature in Mozambique

Our history

In February 2018, at the 5th Community Management Conference held in Maputo, the challenges in implementing CBNRM in the country, and, in particular, the role of communities in the sustainable management of natural resources, were the main focus of deliberations. It was here that the need to create consensus for a Strategy and Action Plan for CBNRM in Mozambique was first discussed. As the conference drew to a close, a group of public and civil society organisations, and academic and non-governmental institutions came together to try to address this need.

In coordination with the government, a network would be established, that would work to build a model for engagement of rural communities and improve their involvement and participation in the management of natural resources, including their use and the sharing of benefits.

This was the birth of ReGeCom, as we’re known today. We aim to elevate CBNRM as a national economic agenda, supporting the harmonisation of sector-specific approaches and contributing to the real transformation of Mozambicans’ lives through the benefits generated from the
sustainable management of natural resources.

Our vision and mission

Vision

Communities in Mozambique lead the sustainable management of land and natural resources, based on improved models of community governance.

Mission

To drive the effective development of Community-Based Natural Resource Management across Mozambique.

Achievements to Date

Despite being in operation for just over three years, ReGeCom has established itself as the go-to network for community governance of natural resources in Mozambique. We are committed and passionate about our role in creating real change. Some of our achievements include the following:

Strong Reputation and Partnerships

This reputation has attracted some of the country’s top organisations working in community-based conservation and has allowed the network to establish strong and trusted relationships with numerous government institutions. These relationships extend beyond national borders, with ReGeCom having formed important partnerships with other networks and organisations in the region, such as the Community Leaders Network, Southern Africa’s network for natural resource management, and attracting funding from various donors. In this context, ReGeCom has become a regional civil society voice for CBNRM and is well-positioned to lead a new era of CBNRM in Mozambique.

Pioneering Community Governance Guidelines

One of ReGeCom’s most significant achievements to date, the guidelines for community governance, was developed in a participatory manner by the network’s member institutions and other key stakeholders, including the government. Drawn from lessons learned during the work of these institutions, this is the first guide of its kind in Mozambique. Community governance is one of the main gaps limiting community engagement, and the guidelines provide a foundation for establishing effective community governance systems for the sustainable management of land and natural resources in Mozambique. The proposed model places communities at the centre of resource management, emphasising effective representation and collective decision-making regarding the use of land and natural resources using tools developed and approved by the communities themselves. If widely adopted in Mozambique, the guidelines will pave the way for establishing strong, representative community institutions that are better prepared to make informed decisions about the use and management of land and natural resources and to negotiate the benefits derived from those resources. Currently, most project tenders for establishing community conservation areas launched by The Fund for Biodiversity Conservation (BIOFUND) and ANAC require using ReGeCom’s Community Governance approach.

Community Information Management System

The community information management system developed by ReGeCom presents socio-economic data about communities and their management of natural resources. Having this information available as open source promotes better and more efficient planning and decision-making regarding natural resource management. The system also offers an opportunity to accelerate community natural resource management initiatives, improve the complementarity of the network’s member institutions, and facilitate the planning and implementation of harmonised interventions involving the government, the private sector, donors, and the community itself.

Looking Ahead

Our strategy for the next 5 years

Going forward, our 2024-2028 strategy has been formulated with a conscious effort to scale the community governance approach to encompass communities living around and within protected areas.

Simultaneously, we aim to fulfil our internal objective of enhancing the capacity of our network members to continue supporting these communities.