Interactive Discussion

From Allison Pecenka on Synergy among Strategies

3.) I found an interesting example of TOC application in the article “Conservation enterprises: Community-led businesses that contribute to conservation outcomes. A generic theory of change” (Boshoven et al. 2021). This paper examines the knowledge gap present when linking the initial establishment of conditions required to long-term, sustainable outcomes in the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) conservation enterprises. USAID has a long-standing history of creating incentives for various stakeholders to reduce threats/ damage to biodiversity including through the use of enterprises including ecotourism services, less destructive forest products, etc. A theory of change was created to facilitate cross-site learning for USAID’s past and current enterprise strategies while gaining insights on how to improve the design and implementation of those proving successful. After conducting a literature review on studies pertaining to sustainable enterprises and conservation outcomes, the authors proposed a set of “generic” objectives for realistic and successful conservation enterprise strategies. I really liked their framework of ‘SMART’ goals for projects: goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, results-oriented and time-bound. I believe this framework has the potential to increase the success of projects by keeping them realistic and easily evaluated, a quality vital to creating a successful TOC plan. I also thought the last point of remaining time-bound is very important, as it will keep objectives on track by providing a hard-set end date. I also found the author’s points on a viable business model (Table 1) to be interesting in that they brought up several, key economic points I had not yet considered in general conservation outcomes. The points on stakeholders needing access to credit and/ or capital, access to necessary inputs and equipment and a plan for external disturbances such as natural disasters all presented valuable considerations for any TOC model, I believe.

Boshoven, Judy, et al. “Conservation Enterprises: Community‐Led Businesses That Contribute to Conservation Outcomes a Generic Theory of Change for a Conservation Strategy, v 1.0.” Conservation Science and Practice, 17 Nov. 2021, 10.1111/csp2.582. Accessed 16 Dec. 2021.

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