About Us

Southern Alliance For Indigenous Resources

Rural communities with resilient livelihoods in a sustainably managed natural environment

The Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources (SAFIRE) is a local non-governmental organization established in 1994 to assist rural communities in economic development through sustainable utilization of their natural resources. SAFIRE is a registered NGO under the PVO Act and under registration PVO 5/96. Through promoting Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM), SAFIRE has enabled communities to cope and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change and achieve food and income security. SAFIRE has further supported communities through strengthening institutions in areas of forest management, Human wildlife conflict management, Disaster Risk Management, Biodiversity assessments and sustainable agriculture mostly to support rural livelihoods. Currently the organization operates in 15 of the 57 districts in Zimbabwe, on six different projects, three projects working as a sole implementing agency and the rest being consortiums. The organization is headed by a Director, who is assisted by a senior management team reporting to a board.

Why SAFIRE?
Southern:

Reflecting both its geographical origins in Southern Africa and its orientation towards southern (i.e. local) approaches to sustainable development rather than northern (i.e. imported) ones.

Alliance:

Implying collaboration between a diverse range of participating members and hinting at the strength derived from such a union.

Indigenous Resources:

Meaning locally found natural and human resources and suggesting that improved management of these resources will contribute significantly to the sustainable development of the region. 

Our Aims

  • To develop the self-sufficiency of rural communities through the improved management and sustainable utilisation of indigenous natural resources.
  • To promote the development of income generating enterprises based on the sustainable natural resources use
  • To assist in the alleviating of environmental degradation in refugee impacted areas
  • To support the management capabilities of local level institutions in the sustainable resources utilization
  • To encourage local efforts and responsibility in participatory natural resources management
  • To encourage collaboration between those institutions active in the indigenous resources management
  • To advocate for policies that achieve any of the above

Vision

To be the regional leader and service provider of first choice benefit driven sustainable natural resource management by rural communities.

Mission

To facilitate the development and application of innovative approaches to diversity and improve rural livelihoods based on the utilization, commercialization and sustainable natural resources management.