ICAA Support Unit

The Support Unit strengthens the efforts of the Conservation Consortia efforts, promotes the development of alliances and networks, and supports program administration. The Support Unit is composed of an interdisciplinary team of professionals offering services in communications, training, performance monitoring and knowledge management, as well as promoting public-private alliances for conservation and administering a Small Grants Program. As well, the Support Unit coordinates program-wide efforts to address climate change, landscape management, sustainable production and markets and gender integration. This consortium is led by International Resources Group and Socidedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental in cooperation with the Academy for Educational Development and Social Impact, Inc.

• Performance Monitoring The Support Unit provides technical assistance and capacity building services to the ICAA Conservation Consortia to improve program-wide performance monitoring and evaluation. Shared performance goals and monitoring plans improve the management and evaluation of the distinct efforts of the Conservation Consortia and Support Unit towards common conservation goals, allowing more accurate reporting on program progress and results to donors and the public.

• Capacity Building Through consultations with the ICAA Conservation Consortia, the Support Unit has designed a training and capacity building strategy to meet the specific needs of ICAA partners, and increase inter-institutional cooperation to address emerging themes that are relevant for ICAA as a whole. Although ICAA partners are the focus of the program's capacity building efforts, other actors may participate in courses and other iniatives in this area.

The ICAA Support Unit has implemented various training methodologies including the sharing of experiences developed with indigenous organizations, working with ICAA partners in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia, as well as distance education courses in various subjects.

• Communications Effective communication is central to achieving a shared vision within ICAA. Dissemination of clear, consistent, and targeted messages enables ICAA partners to raise awareness and create networks that will promote the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the region. ICAA Support Unit communication efforts are oriented towards disseminating program information and supporting the ICAA Conservation Consortia to raise awareness about priority issues in the region. The Support Unit builds capacity and provides assistance to USAID and Conservation Consortia for the design and development of communications strategies and products. The Conservation Consortia propose communication activities as well as contribute technical information and feedback for communications products and transform information into action through their field-based activities. Communications activities are closely coordinated with knowledge management activities that are oriented towards internal communication and knowledge sharing.

• Knowledge Management Knowledge management is a fluid process which is focused on facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing between professionals or communities with common interests and expertise. Within ICAA, there is a constant exchange of knowledge and information between the ICAA Conservation Consortia including news, reports, and training materials. The goal of the knowledge management component is to improve the capture, organization and application of this information. The Support Unit applies diverse tools for knowledge management including an internal website, partner listserv, virtual and in-person meetings. Knowledge Management efforts support work on priority themes by providing a platform for the exchange of information, as well as for the capacity building component through the design of distance-learning tools.

• Small Grants Program The goal of the ICAA Small Grants Program (SGP) is to develop thecapacities and build relationships between organizations that are involved in the management of Indigenous lands. In addition to strengthening indigenous organizations, the program will support improved management and conservation of indigenous territories, which constitute approximately 20 percent of the Amazon forest. The SGP will support indigenous organizations, individuals and networks at the local, regional, and national level which are working in the Amazon regions of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, preferably under the leadership of a legally established indigenous institution or network. Other participants can be non-governmental organizations (NGOs), NGO networks, and/or universities and research institutions.

• Conservation Alliances ICAA defines Conservation Alliances (CA) as collaboration between non-profit organizations working to implement development and conservation programs, and other, primariliy private sector actors. In this context, the Conservation Alliances will identify "win-win" models which bring benefits to both parties. Conservation Alliances under ICAA will contribute to the long-term financial sustainability of ICAA conservation efforts, strengthening ICAA capacity and promoting institutional development, while also contributing to building a positive image, and increasing contact with decision makers through associations with the private sector.

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