ERMIS has provided several capacity development services on Participatory Resources Governance. Our services targets Community-based Organisation, NGO, Governments and donor intermediaries.
To date we have trained over 1000 development practitioners from some leading organizations/institutions such as:
i. Catholic Diocese of Nakuru Water Program - Nakuru, Kenya
ii. PACT-Kenya –Nairobi, Kenya
iii. SUMAWA Project – Egerton & Moi Universities, Kenya
iv. Northern Water Services Board, Kenya
v. WRMA – Rift Valley Catchment Areas and Ewaso Nyiro North Catchment Area , Kenya
vi Municipal Council of Kisumu, Ugunja Community Centre, Kenya
vii. Menengai Medical Research Institute, Kenya
viii. IFRA -South Africa, Kenya
ix. Uganda Ministry of Geology and Mines, Kenya
x ICRAF (CGIR –Uganda), Uganda
xi Zambia Land Alliance, Zambia
xii Ministry Local Authority – Tanzania
ERMIS has developed a long term capacity in Environmental Information Systems by integrating spatial-based environmental planning and management tools with participatory learning and action methodologies towards supporting sustainable development in various sectors.
The key Spatial Information Management Tools include :
- Geographic Information System (GIS)
- Global Positioning Systems
- Surveys,
- Remote Sensing,
- Participatory 3-Dimensional Modeling,
- web-mapping tools and customized mapping systems
(i) Participatory GIS Tools:
We have adapted Participatory-GIS tools and approaches for mapping of resources for collaborative planning and management of natural resources.
Examples include: PGIS activities with the 4 key watersheds (Mau Forest Area, Cherangany, Mt Kenya, and Mt Elgon Areas).
a. Facilitation of Geo-referenced 3-Dimensional of Ecosystems such as Watershed, Forest and Agro-pastoral areas
b. Facilitation of GPS and Cyber Tracking surveys to natural and cultural landscape including watershed resources such as water catchments.
c. Participatory aerial photo-mapping for mapping of traditional ecological knowledge, innovations and practices
Based on participatory GIS experiences, ERMIS in collaboration with other International Organisations has development a tool kit the has been used to training communities, government and civil society in participatory mapping technologies
(ii) Spatial Data infrastructure, Clearinghouses and Forums::
We have designed and developed diverse geo-portals for sharing of spatial data, ideas, skills and approaches. Examples include: Geoportal: Mau Spatial Data Infrastructure and Clearinghouse (MauSDI)
(iii)Multi-stakeholder Forums for Natural Resources Management:
ERMIS has facilitated the establishment of “Communities of GIS Practice” e.g. Kenya Community Mapping Network; Mau Conservation Approaches and Technologies “MauCAT Forum” and Eastern Africa Indigenous Communities Mapping Network.
Climate Change: REDD+: ERMIS piloted Community REDD-plus initiatives within Mau complex (with support from the Embassy of Finland), Aberdares Ecosystem (with financial support from CDTF) and Mt Kenya Ecosystem (with support from GEF/SGP. The pilot project were aimed at creating awareness among 3 CFA spread in the three ecosystems and develop REDD+ elements that could support the National REDD+ steering committee.
The pilot activities included:
(i) Energy saving stoves in Sururu CFA – aimed at (reduction in dependency on forest fuel wood from Sururu forest over time;
(ii) design and pilot the development of a Community Forest Monitoring in Uplands , Gathiuru CFA and
(iii) undertaking forest enrichment and conservation of forest carbon stock by planting trees in degraded areas.
The outputs from the above pilot were shared with National REDD-plus Consultative meetings for purposes on scaling-up and replicating the approaches to REDD-plus initiatives in other areas around the country with similar social-economic and ecological characteristics
As a first step, ERMIS organized field reconnaissance surveys for 289 households with 50% of them selected as pilot sites in the 1st phase of the project. The terms of supporting Community initiatives included:
• 
ERMIS agrees to provide the beneficiaries with “Energy Saving Jikos” specifically designed to fit the rural set up to minimize wood fuel consumption. This will go alongside training on use and installation of the Jikos.
• ERMIS shall provide 20 tree seedlings to the beneficiary that shall supplement as woodlots for fuel to promote farm forestry. The beneficiary agrees to plant more trees to supplement the seedlings given. The beneficiary agrees to provide monitoring reports on the daily usage of the “energy saving jikos”. These Jikos are aimed at reducing forest degradation by community members as they fetch wood fuel from the forest.
• The beneficiary agrees to provide any other additional reports required by ERMIS