Osmond Mugweni

Founder and Executive Director of Njeremoto Biodiversity Institute Zimbabwe Websites: www.njeremoto.org; http://njeremotoblogspot.com; Email: [email protected] 1. My organization, Njeremoto Biodiversity Institute, is facing desertification of semi arid rangelands, land degradation, increasing poverty of families and communities as well as increasing household food insecurity as current major challenges. To address these challenges the Institute is implementing the time controlled grazing model in semi-arid rangelands in satellite rural communities in order to increase livestock and wetland productivity, eliminate poverty and improve livelihoods. 2. My current responsibilities at Njeremoto Biodiversity Institute are: ensuring sustainable environmental management; working with local communities; building local self-reliance; supporting conflict resolution and problem solving; empowering communities to influence higher levels of governance to create and optimize an enabling environment for local community effectiveness and building sustainable, peaceful, secure and crisis-resilient communities in ecologically stable, highly productive ecosystems. I also ensure the attainment of the Vision, Mission and objectives of the Biodiversity Institute. 3) To augument the work on time controlled grazing in the rangeland area, the Institute engages in wetland utilization using rainwater harvesting techniques at the Institute and with satellite communities. The specific actions are constructing dead level contours, digging approximately 2 metre wide by 10 metre long infiltration pits at 20 metres intervals along a contour to capture running water, planting banna grass, vertiver grass, sugar cane. The planting is done on contours, ridges and furrows to control run-off water and increase infiltration. In the wetland utilization project, we also plant on the ridge crops such as vegetables and maize as well as on the furrow plant rice and bananas. These activities are economically empowering the communities and improving their livelihoods. Address:Stand 17 Wistaria Road, Rhodene P.O. Box 135 Masvingo. ZIMBABWE. Tel/Fax: (+263-39) 64008 (Home) Cell phone: (+263-912) 738 474 & (+263-713) 158 667 Email: [email protected] & [email protected] Languages English; Fluent spoken & Very Good Written Shona: Fluent spoken & Very Good Written Chichewa: Spoken Working Language Only Chinyanja: Spoken Working Language Only Ndebele: Working language only EDUCATION St Anne’s Mission Goto Wedza 1961 to 1968 Primary School 1969 to 1972 Secondary School SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS 1993 Master of Science Degree in Ecology and Resource Management with Distinction. University of Edinburgh: Kings Building: Scotland: United Kingdom funded by ODA through British Council. 1991 Bachelor of Science Degree (Geography and Psychology) by correspondence. University of South Africa (U.N.I.S.A.): Pretoria self sponsored. 1986 Certificate in Holistic Resource Management. Center for Holistic Resource Management: Albuquerque: New Mexico State: U.S.A funded by USAID. 1977 First Class Diploma in Agriculture with Distinctions in Agricultural Engineering and Farm Management. Chibero College: Norton: Zimbabwe sponsored by Bata Zimbabwe Scholarship. FELLOWSHIPS 2008 BEARHS ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME FELLOWSHIP ELP 2008 FELLOW 2003 ASHOKA ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRUNUIR FELLOW: Ashoka Class of 2003 1997 Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD) from LEAD International, New York U.S.A. funded by Rockefeller Foundation. EXPERIENCE AND AREAS OF EXPERTISE I have experience (34 years) and professional qualifications in the following areas: Agricultural Extension including Participatory Extension Approaches and Methodologies Livestock both Large and Small Stock Production including Fish Farming in an Integrated Production System Participatory Development guided by the Participatory Rural Appraisal Process and Participatory Extension Approaches, Leadership for Environment and Development, Environmental Management and Conservation; Community Participation in Sustainable Development; Institutional & Organizational Development; Catchment Rehabilitation and restoration; Integrated Rural Development Holistic Resource Management and Sustainable Agriculture Development: - focusing on enhanced household Food Security and Increased Incomes to mitigate poverty for Smallholder Farmers and disadvantaged rural communities. Facilitation and empowerment of communities in participatory development management (PDM) and the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) NGO Management and Administration AWARDS 1991 From Center for Holistic Resource Management “for his Irrepressible Enthusiasm and Leadership, as well as, the tremendous progress made in extending his knowledge of Holistic Resource Management to people who were able to use it to enhance their quality of lives and increase the productivity and ecological stability of their land resou