Site-Level Assessment Of Governance And Equity (SAGE)
A SAGE workshop was conducted by SCERA in December 2021 in collaboration with the International Institute
for Environment and Development (IIED) and the lead facilitator was a social expert, from the University
of Zambia, Dr. Donald Chikumbi. The SAGE assessment workshop was to identify weaknesses and gaps in park
management and the level of involvement of communities. The assessment was done against various aspects of
governance quality such as legitimacy, performance, accountability, fairness, and rights. It involved the
consultation of stakeholders and actor groups from the 12 critical communities around the park. It targeted
major issues that hinder conservation work and addressed governance and equity principles.
The SAGE assessment at Okomu National Park provided baseline information on important issues to stakeholders
and led to the creation of a stakeholders' forum known as Okomu Biodiversity Stakeholders Platform (OBSP).
Since 2021, the OBSP meetings have addressed major concerns of host communities, improved cooperation between
communities and park management, and provided a grievance redress system. It has also seen increased participation
and interest of stakeholders in management activities of the Okomu National Park.
A Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT-4) assessment was also carried out to determine the capacity of
the park in implementing conservation and management activities. METT assessments help PA staff to consider their
work and its impact and enable them proffer suggestions for improving PA management. At Okomu National Park this
has helped park management and stakeholders to better understand the status and threats facing the Park and to
identify where there are gaps hindering management effectiveness of the park.