F.a: Involving the Rural Communities of the Beira and Nacala corridors in the protection and sustainable management of their natural resources. The project is a continuation of the earlier projects in the development of sustainable livelihoods and the improvement of the environmental situation in Sikasso region in the three municipalities of Koussan, Finkolo-Ganadougou and Garalo. The capacity bui
lding of the local population to further the development of sustainable local economic activities, as well as the development of local natural resources management will continue, with this phase being a further deepening of local empowerment and ownership 
of the developed local training and activity hubs ‘Centres of Excellence’ in the three municipalities. The aim is to strengthen the possibilities for local economy building vis-a-vis the pressures of the non-sustainable extractive economy (agribusiness
 + mining). The Centres ties with the host communities at large will be strengthened and the work towards increased autonomy of the centres from outside support will be intensified. The activities of transforming the local products (cashew, shea, honey, mi
lk) will be strengthened and diversified. Trainings and developing of peer support mechanisms in sustainable practices in gardening, waste management, use of energy saving stoves etc. will be continued and the centres will be developed further to be run as
 permanent demonstration sites for these practices. Environmental awareness and understanding of the processes of the governance of the local natural resources, as well as of the possibilities and rights to participate in the decision making will be streng
thened with the trainings organised at the centres and with environmental campaigns, cultural and sports activities and radio programs. The participatory governance model for each of the Centres will be consolidated and a local financing model for the acti
vities will be designed. The communal platforms of local associations and cooperatives around each of the Centres will be consolidated. The beneficiaries of the project will be the populations of the communities of the municipalities of Koussan, Finkolo an
d Garalo, as well as their organisations, associations and cooperatives. Through the FENA environmental forum process (FENA =Forum Environnemental National Annuel), public policy makers as well as the larger population will be reached out to. www.malifolke
center.org