THE CO-ORDINATION UNIT FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

P. O. BOX 2916
BLANTYRE
MALAWI

TEL: (265) 645 757
FAX: (265) 645 492

BACKGROUND

CURE stands for the Co-ordination Unit for the Rehabilitation of the Environment. It is an independent Non-Governmental Organisation established in March 1994, in an effort to provide technical support and improve networking amongst NGOS, the Government of Malawi, Donors and other organizations or individuals working in the area of Environnt.

CURE's MISSION is to

Assist NGOs enhance the impact, gender equity

and sustainability of community based natural resource management interventions through capacity building, coordination, information exchange and advocacy.

NETWORKING

CURE is a recognised and credible apex NGO for environmental issues and initiatives in Malawi. It maintains strong ties with both the local and international NGO community, and collaborates with various Government departments in the fields of Environment and natural Resource Management. CURE has cultivated a number of linkages with regional and international networks like IUCN, SADC/ ELCMS and The Forest Action Network. Combined, this networking makes CURE an effective environmental focal point for information flow, capacity building and training in various participatory development aproaches to community-based natural resource management.

More than ever before it is becoming apparent that the sound stewardship of Malawi's environment and natural resources necessitates increased cooperation and collaboration between the government, Non-Governmental Organisations, and more importantly the communities. To this end CURE's primary objective is to facilitate and promote the flow of information on sustainable community based natural resources management and integrated rural development.

The Environmental Learning and Resource Centre (ELRC) is a place for development practitioners, decision-makers and the general public. It is a place to get together, network, and learn about the environment and natural resource issues. The resources and information available in the ELRC help and encourage partners in development to adopt holistic approaches to natural resource management and environmental rehabilitation activities. The centre is also actively involved in raising environmental awareness amongst the civil society in Malawi.

The ELRC houses a wide range of books, materials, reports, videos and other forms of information on:

Contemporary environmental issues in Malawi, the region and the whole world;

Community mobilisation and strategies for enhancing popular participation in projects and programmes;

Intergration of gender concerns into environmental projects of all kinds.

Most of the centre's books, magazines, periodicals, manuals, training guides and visual aids are available on a temporary loan basis to members of the centre. Non members are allowed to use the resources on an in-house basis only.

Besides the library, CURE staff assists you in a variety of other ways. They can help you find information on a specific environmental topic, give you the right direction and put you in touch with the appropriate co-partners; they can also help you organize and facilitate your special workshops on specific environmental topics.

The ELRC has an inhouse desk top publishing facility which produces publications that provide details and contacts that you need in order to network effectively with other NGOs and the rest of the development community in Malawi. Staff in this section can also assist you develop your own small pamphlets, brochures, bulletins and other environmental publications.

ERLC falls under the Co-ordination Department which holds quarterly Environmental Co-ordination Meetings - another fantastic opportunity to network and share ideas with important organizations and people interested in meeting to solve Malawi's growing environmental challenges.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

CURE believes in an environment that will provide for , support, and maintain Malawi's present and future generations in a productive, sustainable and dignified manner. To this end CURE seeks to improve Coordination, planning, implementation and the overall management of environmental activities at the national, district and community level amongst primarily NGOS, but also through consultations with government and donors, CUREs activities are concentrated in three main areas:

Service delivery in the form of training of trainers and capacity building; Information , communications and environmental networking;

Policy development and advocacy

CURE provides training and capacity building services in the following areas:

PARTICIPATORY RURAL APPRAISAL

GENDER SENSITISATION AWARENESS AND ANALYSIS

COMMUNITY MOBILISATION AND PARTICIPATORY DEVELOPMENT METHODS

NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

CUREs programe and networking activities include

THE COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION

A GENDER ADVISORY PROGRAME

QUARTERLY ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATION MEETINGS

THE CURE NEWSLETTER , DIRECTORIES AND REFERENCE MATERIALS

THE PROMOTION OF LOCAL NETWORKS

PARTICIPATION ON NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES For more information contact us on the following address and lines CURE P.O. BOX 2916 BLANTYRE TEL: (265) 645 757 FAX: (265) 645 492 And ask fo any of the following

Robert Kafakoma - Executive Director

Lingalireni Mihowa - Gender Coordinator

Tadeyo Shaba - Coordinator

Patricia Kaupa (Mrs) - Programme Secretary

Emmanuel Kamangira - Communications Coordinator

Ulemu Munthali (Ms) - Adminstration Officer