The East African Cross Borders Biodiversity Project (CBBP, 1998 - 2002) worked with communities and with district policy initiatives that affect forest and wetland resources in the four cross-border sites. In addition the project looked at central government policy issues which influence the conservation of biodiversity at local levels. Their immediate objectives are :

• Creating an enabling environment in which government agencies and communities can jointly regulate resource use. This has three outputs: addressing government agency capacity, community capability and the policy institutional environment.
• Balancing the supply and demand factors that impact on biodiversity conservation and wise use. This has four outputs: addressing the need for a participatory management strategy and action plan process for the sites of biodiversity interest; looking at alternative ways of using biodiversity resources, looking at alternative land-use options and livelihoods, and considering the broader planning perspective of District Environmental Plans, Pastoralist Strategies, etc. The Project is aware that it cannot accomplish all of this single handed, indeed a key component of GEF project planning is building linkages to other government and donor supported initiatives.