AUGUST 23, 2021
Tahltan Stewardship Initiative | Capacity Development Project: Phase 1 – Assessment Project Charter 1. Project Purpose To assess, plan and support capacity development for the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) Lands, Wildlife, Fisheries and Culture and Heritage Departments to support decision-making, manage operations and engage communities for land, natural and cultural resource stewardship decisions for Tahltan Territory and Tahltan’s Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs).
2. Background Work towards shared decision-making for land and natural resource decisions requires organizational capacity and readiness to meet our responsibilities as stewards of the land. The TCG has experienced significant growth during the last decade including the additions of the Fisheries Department and the Culture & Heritage Department to the Natural Resource Management Administration. This growth is partially in response to the growing complexity of Natural Resource Management or Stewardship of Tahltan Lands. Climate change, development pressures, overfishing and harvest of our wildlife populations and the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples all contribute to this increasing complexity and how we make decisions to care for our land. The TSI brings the Natural Resource Departments together working towards a common vision: Continued stewardship of all lands, water, wildlife, fish and natural resources in Tahltan Territory for future generations. Sometimes when an organization grows quickly, time is not available to build the necessary foundation to support people to do the necessary work. “Capacity building is the systematic strengthening of the capabilities of an organization to perform more effectively.” This project will support the TCG to ensure it has the internal capacity to support decision-making, manage operations and engage communities for natural resource management decisions that support our stewardship goals.
Box 69, Tatl'ah (Dease Lake), BC , Canada VOC 1LO
TEL
250 771 3274
FAX
250 771 3020
tahltan.org
3. Objectives or Goals This project will be conducted in three phases with this Charter summarizing Phase 1. Phase 1 will be conducted in 2021/22 however certain activities that are part of Phase 2 and Phase 3 will also be carried out as needed. The phases are: Phase 1: Assessment & Baseline – 2021/22 Phase 2: Strategic Planning Phase 3: Implementation 1.1 RELATED TSI STRATEGIES
The Capacity Development Project will support TSI Strategy 2: Ensure the Tahltan Central Government has the internal capacity to support decision-making, manage operations and engage communities for land stewardship decisions. 1.2 RELATED TSI GOALS
TSI Goals that this project will support are: 2.2. Expand the TCG Lands, Fisheries, Wildlife, Culture and Heritage, Finance, and Communications Departments; and, 2.4. Identify Tahltan stewardship training, professional development needs and opportunities in partnership with the TCG Education and Training Department. 1.3 CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (CDP) PHASE 1 OBJECTIVES:
The following CDP objectives will support TSI related goals: 1) To conduct an Organizational Capacity Assessment for the Lands, Natural Resources and Culture & Heritage Departments of the Tahltan Central Government by February 2022; 2) Review and document history of each department; 3) Facilitate staff awareness and participation in department workshops to: a) Identify “what we currently do”; b) Identify “what we want or need to do” to meet our stewardship responsibilities; Box 69, Tatl'ah (Dease Lake), BC , Canada VOC 1LO
TEL
250 771 3274
FAX
250 771 3020
tahltan.org
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c) Identify current and future gaps in capacity (human resources and/or tools) to meet our stewardship responsibilities; d) Conduct a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis 4) Create pre-TSI organization charts for each of the participating departments; 5) Support department Directors on strategic planning including visioning, team charters, principles, etc.; and, 6) Support department Directors on drafting expressions of interest for capacity positions.
4. Scope The Capacity Development Project will apply an Organizational Capacity Assessment (OCA) to measure the overall capacity of the TCG Natural Resource Departments to meet the vision of the TSI. The OCA will address capability in five key areas: operational governance, organizational management, program management, human resources management, and financial management. In Phase 2, an Action Plan will be developed to address gaps identified in the OCA. 4.1 IN SCOPE
Other activities and items that are within the scope of the project are: • • • • • •
Identifying gaps in staffing, policies and procedures; Support for Directors on strategic planning, including visioning, objective setting, etc.; Drafting Department materials that describe the department; Connecting Directors and staff to existing resources, policies and procedures; The Lands, Fisheries, Wildlife and Culture and Heritage Departments; and, Consulting with the TCG Executive Director.
4.2 OUT OF SCOPE
Activities and items out of scope are: • • •
Policy development; Consulting with other TCG Departments (not included in the list above); and, Consulting with the Executive and Board of Directors.
Box 69, Tatl'ah (Dease Lake), BC , Canada VOC 1LO
TEL
250 771 3274
FAX
250 771 3020
tahltan.org
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