The Inter Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD), comprises the nations of Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Somalia. IGAD's mission is to achieve regional cooperation and economic integration through promotion of food security, sustainable environmental management, peace and security, intra-regional trade and development of improved communications infrastructure.

The IGAD sub-region is diverse, both in terms of ecosystem types and biodiversity with many areas of endemism occurring, for example, in Uganda, the horn of Africa and the mountains of Ethiopia. Much of this biodiversity is under threat due to population pressures, land use changes and conflict. Competition between the conservation of natural resources and the use of resources for human needs, especially those of pastoralists and farmers, is on the increase. Key natural resource issues such as dry season grazing, wetland conversion and forest encroachment can no longer be solved by traditional "command and control" methods but may require more innovative approaches to empower local people and communities to plan, own and manage their resources on a sustainable basis.

In 2000, IGAD commissioned IUCN to develop a regional community-based natural resource management project, based on the premise that:

• Communities are aware of the value of the natural resources around them and the potential for exploiting, on a sustainable basis
• More innovative and enabling approaches are required to support sustainable natural resource management
• Governments need to create an enabling policy framework to allow for greater community and private sector involvement in natural resource management; and
• In-situ conservation of biodiversity of national importance should be community based.

The Community-Based Natural Resource Management for the IGAD Region project was developed through the use of national consultants and national workshops together with a regional planning workshop. Community Based Natural Resources Management experiences in six countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Sudan) were documented. During the formulation of this project, a substantial amount of valuable information and practical experiences concerning natural resource management in the sub-region was gathered. Some of the experiences were as a result of projects implemented by governments and NGOs, while much of the experience relates to natural resource management that communities have been practicing for generations. Many differences within and between countries were highlighted as to the kind of resources concerned and the type of arrangements by which communities manage those resources. In addition, a wide range of policies and legal frameworks where identified which either enabled or restricted community-based management. .

Information was collected and practical experiences analysed, forming the basis for a project with the overall goal of enhancing people's livelihoods and food security through the sustainable use of their natural resources. The project will focus on capacity building, awareness raising, increased understanding of the natural resource base, valuation of transboundary natural resources and policy dialogue with respect to community based natural resource management.

Both IGAD and IUCN feel that this richness of experience should be shared more widely both within the countries and further a field. The two organizations have initiated an activity aimed at synthesizing the collected material and information into a publication that will be made available to natural resources practitioners. The publication is expected to be released early next year.