Conservation South Africa

Co-funded PPE/tools provision to K2C landscape supports continuity of fieldwork.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Accredited First Aid/HSE and Eco-Rangers training builds transferable skills supporting participant pathways to employment and micro-enterprise beyond the project.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

10 villages have increased resilience to climate change through improved access to clean water, improved grazing land, and reduced fire risk; improved livelihoods of young people living in these areas.

Reported by the partner · Round 3

Villagers are better prepared to adapt to climate change.

Reported by the partner · Round 4

Climate-smart work and social opportunities for disadvantaged rural communities.

Reported by the partner · Round 4

Villages are more resilient to extreme weather and resource insecurity.

Reported by the partner · Round 4

Enhanced individual and community capacity to respond to climate risks.

Reported by the partner · Round 4

Ecosystem function and access to ecosystem services improved.

Reported by the partner · Round 4

Increased economic resilience and self-reliance.

Reported by the partner · Round 4

Increased accuracy of data collected and reported.

Reported by the partner · Round 4

Sustained support for climate resilience programming.

Reported by the partner · Round 4

On the job skills learnt: Nature conservation - hands on experience in nature conservation, climate change, fire management and clearing wattle; some participants beginning to explore a career in nature conservation.

Reported by the partner · Round 3 · Conservation South Africa close-out report, Round 3

Water Management - participants acquired experience in spring protection and maintenance, understanding importance of safeguarding water sources for sustainable community supply.

Reported by the partner · Round 3 · Conservation South Africa close-out report, Round 3

Provision of PPE's, Uniform and Tools - valued the quality of tools and PPE/uniforms provided, enabling safe and comfortable work.

Reported by the partner · Round 3 · Conservation South Africa close-out report, Round 3

Use of Biometrics on the [the payroll system] System was the most effective and reliable way of tracking attendance, despite occasional technical glitches.

Reported by the partner · Round 3 · Conservation South Africa close-out report, Round 3

Salaries were received promptly with no delays, which the team appreciated.

Reported by the partner · Round 3 · Conservation South Africa close-out report, Round 3

This cohort was included in two phases although [the programme] typically enrolls individuals for one phase; CSA advocated for IDC to extend the phase, ending April 20, 2025. If IDC approves a new phase, new participants will be hired so more of the community benefits.

Intended outcome · Round 3 · Conservation South Africa close-out report, Round 3

No major challenges were experienced during the start-up phase; minor operational adjustments were resolved within the quarter.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Validating participant documentation and finalising attendance system.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Severe weather conditions resulted in the areas around the Kruger to Mozambique being flooded; no work could be done in January 2026 due to safety concerns.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Participants leaving work early or not reporting, late arrivals, alcohol use at work, a team leader pawning off the [the programme] cellphone, and a participant refusing [the payroll system] biometric enrolment.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Election-year employment programmes: Competing public employment initiatives during the election period presented alternative opportunities and were identified as the largest contributing factor to drop-offs.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

The original PPE budget has been completely depleted and CSA is not able to cover further replacement costs due to higher than normal drop offs (average PPE cost of R3,000.00/participant, adding R294,000 to the PPE Budget for 98 drop-offs).

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Delays in procuring PPE and tools may prevent teams from conducting fieldwork, resulting in reduced outputs and participants remaining office bound.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Disruption of programme continuity; inability to sustain community work beyond funded periods; loss of impact in priority communities.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Weak or inconsistent collaboration with local partners may slow implementation, limit access to communities, or delay permissions needed for field activities.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Insufficient support from key stakeholders or community beneficiaries may reduce participation levels, hinder site access, or slow programme rollout.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Incomplete or late submission of participant records, attendance, or payroll documentation may affect payment accuracy and audit readiness.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Daily targets not met on certain days due to heavy rains, steep terrain, difficulties related to gender and health conditions of workers, and challenge of tools that had to be shared.

Reported by the partner · Round 3 · Conservation South Africa close-out report, Round 3

Signing in at a working place far from home negatively impacted time management, particularly on rainy days (30 minutes to an hour walking).

Reported by the partner · Round 3 · Conservation South Africa close-out report, Round 3

Some plot sizes/hectare measurements too large for certain individuals, particularly some female workers and those with health conditions, causing difficulty meeting daily targets.

Reported by the partner · Round 3 · Conservation South Africa close-out report, Round 3

Limited supply of PPE's forced sharing, resulting in delays meeting daily targets; cutting blades frequently got damaged.

Reported by the partner · Round 3 · Conservation South Africa close-out report, Round 3

Lack of Site Manager visits left participants' concerns and challenges unaddressed.

Reported by the partner · Round 3 · Conservation South Africa close-out report, Round 3

Cattle caused issues with stored grass for future grazing.

Reported by the partner · Round 3 · Conservation South Africa close-out report, Round 3

Minor operational adjustments such as validating participant documentation and finalising attendance systems

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Delays in procuring PPE and tools may prevent teams from conducting fieldwork, resulting in reduced outputs and participants remaining office-bound.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Disruption of programme continuity; inability to sustain community work beyond funded periods; loss of impact in priority communities.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Weak or inconsistent collaboration with local partners may slow implementation, limit access to communities, or delay permissions needed for field activities.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Insufficient support from key stakeholders or community beneficiaries may reduce participation levels, hinder site access, or slow programme rollout.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Incomplete or late submission of participant records, attendance, or payroll documentation may affect payment accuracy and audit readiness.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

With minor operational adjustments, these challenges were resolved within the quarter.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

The working days were on-passed to the month of February.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Improve procurement planning, maintain buffer stock levels, and streamline approval processes to ensure timely resource allocation.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Diversify funding sources, including pursuing match-funding opportunities from synergistic programmes such as ECOWYL, GAC, and AKO; strengthen financial planning to prioritise essential implementation costs.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Strengthen local partnership engagement plans, hold regular coordination meetings, and formalise roles through MoUs or structured commitments.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Intensify stakeholder involvement, maintain transparent communication, hold monthly community structure engagements, and use traditional authority structures to reinforce local legitimacy.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Conduct routine compliance checks, ensure all landscapes update the [the payroll system] system weekly, and provide refresher training for HR and site managers.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Improve procurement planning, maintain buffer stock levels, and streamline approval processes to ensure timely resource allocation.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Diversify funding sources, including pursuing match funding opportunities from synergistic programmes such as ECOWYL, GAC, and AKO; strengthen financial planning to prioritise essential implementation costs.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Strengthen local partnership engagement plans, hold regular coordination meetings, and formalise roles through MoUs or structured commitments.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Intensify stakeholder involvement, maintain transparent communication, hold monthly community structure engagements, and use traditional authority structures to reinforce local legitimacy.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Conduct routine compliance checks, ensure all landscapes update the [the payroll system] system weekly, and provide refresher training for HR and site managers.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

The issue of signing-in could be revisited.

Reported by the partner · Round 3 · Conservation South Africa close-out report, Round 3

Workers require training on how hectares are measured.

Reported by the partner · Round 3 · Conservation South Africa close-out report, Round 3

Require more blades or higher-quality ones.

Reported by the partner · Round 3 · Conservation South Africa close-out report, Round 3

Request more regular visits from Site Managers to assess work, provide support and guidance.

Reported by the partner · Round 3 · Conservation South Africa close-out report, Round 3

Site Managers to facilitate community meetings on keeping cattle from stored grass; installing fencing could protect the grazing field.

Reported by the partner · Round 3 · Conservation South Africa close-out report, Round 3

Extend working days from 8 to a minimum of 11-15 per month; increase salary; ensure timely material deliveries; provide stone for sharpening axes; more frequent Site Manager visits; provide raincoats, gumboots, and hard-cap knee pads/supporters.

Reported by the partner · Round 3 · Conservation South Africa close-out report, Round 3

Requested guidance from the IDC on how to co-fund in this situation.

Reported by the partner · Round 4 · Conservation South Africa quarterly report, Round 4

Approach to dealing with IOD and match funding. Social benefits - skills, CRRP, value nature. Economic benefits. Environmental benefits.

Reported by the partner · Round 3 · Conservation South Africa close-out report, Round 3

Effective collaboration among colleagues fostered teamwork; workers regrouped to help each other meet daily targets; general workers valued support from Team Leaders.

Reported by the partner · Round 3 · Conservation South Africa close-out report, Round 3