are the lead and implementing agencies for this project amongst others. The GEF initiative in support to developing counties is addressing people's needs and issues so that we can harmonise them with the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and environmental  components for the long sustainable existence of mankind.

The policies of the three countries call for all related environmental agencies to work through communities, NGOs, CBOs, commercial (private) sector and individuals on projects/programmes related to the conservation of biodiversity and environment.

I am informed that this workshop has called a broad participation from the region, all together 27 participants. This participation is clearly in line with our three East African governments. I am sure we in East Africa stand to gain from communities that are going to benefit from this training Workshop.

I see that you have a very packed programmes of activities, so I look forward to sharing the outcome with you in the near future. In this workshop, you will explore many issues that are linked to rural people's ability to be food secure.

Your daily work within our communities tells you more than anything else of the importance of biodiversity in the struggle towards reaching food security for all and t he values of men and women's knowledge in achieving this.

 This workshop should also provide you with the opportunity of looking a the risks and benefits of sharing local knowledge, by looking international agreements, their impact on national policies and of course, on your work with our communities and the ways that we can protect that knowledge for future generations and our nations.

Moreover, there is a lot that you will learn from each other, because each of you have valuable ideas and  experiences to share, and therefore this  workshop has been designed in line with a participatory process in which  all participants and facilitators are partners in the learning process.

I have been made aware that the majority of the 27 participants come from among the key players from crossborder site districts of the project and only one or two are biodiversity project employees. This is a clear indication of the Global and National commitment to use the people at site to conserve and sustainably  use what they have within their reach.

This as a training workshop is intended to allow you to share your experiences. This will promote your knowledge in order for you to bring home the integrated concept of  Local Knowledge, Biodiversity and Gender. This is in order with the Environmental Policy directions of the East African countries. 

May I invite you all take your free time and see more in Arusha which is the home base of the East African cooperation and also see the rich biodiversity and environmental resources within our reach before you go home. I would like to register my special appreciation to the UNDP-GEF East African Crossborders Biodiversity Project in Tanzania  for linking up with the FAO LinKs Project, the Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre and hence facilitate this workshop.

I strongly support the idea and initiative taken to invite our neighbors from Kenya and Uganda as this endorses our East African Solidarity ( Umoja) in addressing crossborder community needs in order to address National and Global concerns.

I would like to conclude by wishing the workshop every success that meets your expectations and those of your Organisations.

I am now delighted to declare this workshop officially opened and wish you a happy stay in Arusha.

          National Project Manager, Mr. John Salehe Leading 
          the Participants in Icebreaker during the opening session.

SEAGA stands for Socio-Economic and Gender Analysis. It is an approach to development based on an analysis of socio -economic patterns and participatory identification of women's and men's priorities and roles that they play and potential hidden roles.

The objectives of the SEAGA  approach is to close the gaps between what people need and what development delivers.

By putting socio-economic analysis and gender analysis together, SEAGA helps us learn about community dynamics, including the linkages among social, economic and environmental patterns.

It clarifies the division of labour within a community, including divisions by gender and other social characteristics and it facilitates understanding of resource use and control and participation in community institutions.