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FCB workshops with stakeholders

FCB workshops with stakeholders

Forest Conservation Botswana(FCB) last week held the first ever meeting with stakeholders to get feedback on the progress so far made and challenges faced at the Botswana College of Agriculture Auditorium

Giving the objectives of the event, FCB Financial Manager, Ms Tsheko said the purpose of the workshop was to inform the stakeholders and grant recipients of the status of the funded projects and to share best practices.

“We selected one group per category of funded projects based on progress made so far so that they could share experiences and how they handled challenges to be where they are today,” she said and added that they would share these experiences with the board and shareholders at the Annual General Meeting.

Speaking at the day long event, Forestry Conservation Botswana's Board Chairman, Edmont Moabi said the the company was set up with money the government of Botswana owed the United States government.

“The Botswana government owed the US government some money and the US government redirected the repayment into a fund; Tropical Rainforest Fund,” Moabi said. FCB is a company established under the Companies Act following the signing of the Tropical Forest Conservation Agreement between the Government of Botswana and the US government in October 2006. The company has two shareholders; the two governments. So far 23 projects have been funded

Moabi said the success of the fund depended on the grantees' participation and efforts. “As professionals out there in the field, you are better placed to guide us. We rely on you to give us guidance and advice as to the direction we should take,” he said and urged them to properly account for the money they get so they could continue getting more.

Acting CEO Richard Keitumetse complained of late submission of reports and said in some cases they did not get any reports despite calling grantees many times to remind them. “If there is anything that hinders the submission of reports, please communicate with us,” he said.

Keitumetse further said there was a lack of proper financial management and no record keeping as well as projects not meeting time-lines. He however promised that they would continue to offer refresher training and engage consultants to capacitate those grantees without financial management backgrounds. He said they would also impose time-lines on subcontracted work.

Grantees shared their own challenges which they said included lack of funding which had led to them being forced to downsize. This downsizing led to them having to multi-task and thereby leading late submission of reports if at all.

The participants got more time to network and share ideas in the evening at the cocktail that was organised for them.






















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  1. Happy to find your blog via Facebook. You are doing Great Work, Archie and all the best to your future. God bless you.

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