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THE ZEST PROJECT REPORT (Sunday, July 10, 2011)

As the ZEST (ZANZIBAR ENTERPRISE AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM) manager/coordinator, within the past few months, I have engaged with several ZEST project networks of partners by liaising and having direct contact with some of the stakeholders, partner project funders, the beneficiaries, partner network project coordinators and also potential organizations thinking about collaborating with the ZEST project. I am currently working with CARE INTL. in their JOCDO project headed by Winnie, to make an assessment on potential donors, and also coming with the most cost effective system of creating a market linkage between the beneficiaries and tourism and private sector. In Zanzibar, agriculture is by far the most important source of employment. About 75% of the population benefits from revenues directly or indirectly induced from the Agricultural sector. The information I gathered from visiting partner project sites, suggest that, agricultural production is predominantly subsistence, small scale and largely rainfed. As result of that, the network of partners have collaborated in the most efficient and pristine manner, by involving the communities they work with in new profit generating schemes like, Community Banking, Food Processing, Handicraft, Pottery, Mariculture Fish Ponds, Poultry and etc. Working closely with the network of partner projects, and having their full cooperation, I was successfully able to achieve and or work on the following: Accurate data collection, where necessary Development of sustainable mechanism to support long term growth Cluster creation and development Market linkage between the agricultural sector and tourism sector Promotion and development of Uwamwima farmers association Ability to interact with other cross functional organizations for possible future collaboration Devise a long term strategy to support continues growth of the farmers income & sustainability Made an assessment of the economic impact (information directly from the beneficiaries) Development of synergies amongst partners, sponsors, beneficiaries and project coordinators

Below, are profiles of some of the network of partners and what have achieved today and the challenges they face. UWAMWIMA
Project name: Uwamwima Vegetable Producers Farmers Association Project goal: To increase vegetable production of the members and create a long term market linkage and sustainability Benefits and Growth DIRECT BENEFITS: Vicobas-village community banking has mobilized community savings to create a credit scheme for the farmers to borrow for their farm activities. Twenty such banks have been formed with a circulation capital of TZS 12.000.000 and a membership of over 300 small holder farmers. They save because they have the will and the excess. There are meeting sheds. There are charcoal cold stores. There is bulking, grading, storage and group marketing of the vegetables. Field extension services. Seed supply store. Demonstration farms. Drip irrigation Technology. Office and cold storage. Office staff and facilities.

INDIRECT BENEFITS: More land is put into use. More food is produced. More groups are formed. Idling by the youth is scaled down. Bore holes are in demand to supplement the rain fed crops. The community is on the learning spree Challenges Water scarcity, Financial constraints, Delayed payment from agents and hotels Limited land pieces, High transportation cost,

UWZ
Project name: Tandarusi Handicraft Project for Women with Disabilities Project goal: Strengthening the capacity of people and guardians of people with disabilities to participate in entrepreneurial development in Urban and West Districts, through addressing skills deficiency, resources and gender inequality. Project objective: Economic empowerment for small holder people with disabilities handicraft producers through market oriented handicraft production in Urban and West Districts of Central Unguja Project name: Mtende Vegetable Farming Project for People with Disabilities Project goal: Strengthening the capacity of people and guardians of people with disabilities to participate in entrepreneurial development in Mtende, through addressing skills deficiency, resources and gender inequality Project objective: Economic empowerment for small holder farmers with disabilities through market oriented vegetable and fruit production in South district of South Unguja Region. Achievements and Goals These projects target specific disabled groups of people within the respective communities A major goal of Zanzibar Association of the Disabled is the full participation of all disabled peoples in the mainstream of life, particularly those in rural areas that form the vast majority of the countrys disabled peoples population. The organizations priority issues are education, sustainable livelihoods and human rights advocacy. The projects have shown very significant growth since their inception to date. The projects have reached over 160 disabled people that are directly involved in the activities.

The projects provide meaningful employment to people with disabilities and other family members who provide labor at various stages of production and marketing of the products. The groups which include disabled people, guardians & parents of children with disabilities and other family members has brought people with disabilities together to meet openly and work together and interact with customers and community members which were not possible before. The confidence among the people with disabilities involved in these projects is increasing as a result of the impact on attitude and behavioral change and reduction of stigma and discrimination. The economic impact from the projects has significantly improved their standards of living actually transforming their roles within the family. Another significant social impact is the visibility of people with disabilities in the community. The products from the projects have emerged to be popular within the community. The emerging visibility and acceptance of people with disabilities can largely be attributed to the projects. Enterprise activities also are directly changing customers behavior towards people with disabilities

All along within Zanzibar, people with disabilities have been viewed and treated as recipients of welfare and most Government institutions and civic organizations including Zanzibar Association of the Disabled, have focused on medical, welfare and other charitable interventions to support people with disabilities. This approach has left many who could participate in productive activities dependent, poor and vulnerable. The emerging results from this project prove that people with disabilities, given opportunities can be economically active, contribute to the economy and do not need handouts. Since poverty not only leads to disability, but also allows few concessions for the needs and aspirations of people with disability, these projects aim to provide role models of how to: Improve social participation Economically empower Address gender equity Equalize opportunities Increase visibility of people with disabilities in society Build the confidence, self-esteem, pride and overcome discrimination against people with disabilities and Bring about attitudinal change by families and communities towards people with disabilities. Interaction In the initial stages the interaction with the groups was done on daily basis during skills training and project implementation, however, after implementation monitoring is done on weekly basis and afterwards by the field staff. The idea is to allow the groups operate independently with mentoring done once every three months. The capacity of field staff and local volunteers has been enhanced to provide support to the groups. Challenges Lack of resources (financial) by partner organization to allow reach of other disabled peoples groups as well as enhancing capacity of the projects. Apart from these projects that have VSO support, there are no other projects that have been implemented by partner organization. Majority of people with lack education and skills which makes it difficult to initiate competitive projects that can compete in the lucrative tourist market.

ZAFFIDE
Project name: Developing Small-Scale Community Mariculture Projects in Zanzibar as an Alternative Sustainable Livelihood Project goal: The project's goal is to improve the quality of life of the coastal communities in Zanzibar through small-scale mariculture using appropriate and sustainable culture technologies and the project targets those poor community groups who are already involved in mariculture initiatives. Project objective: Initially the project started with mud crab fattening that later extends into fish farming and value addition techniques. The project is skills-specific and having to capacitate the right technology for those poor communities who are already involved and have background on mariculture, would reduce the use of resources to achieve sustainability. Moreover, the target groups were chosen according to geographical locations that meets the requirements of establishing mariculture systems i.e. fish ponds, crab cages. Benefits and Growth Other community groups around Unguja and Pemba have expressed interests to get training and engage in fish farming activities. Technical trainings and capacity building for appropriate mariculture technologies Operational/functional mariculture system/structures; Income proceeds upon harvests of cultured fish and crabs; Community empowerment of taking care their environment (mangroves and its associated resources to be specific); Monetary benefits in terms of labor assistance in the research; Increase of up to 15% of profit sharing, after they were trained to prepare the food for the fish and mud crab Interaction (32 hours weekly) Personal meetings Electronic mail Telephone conversation

Challenges Limited seed stock supply to expand technology especially mud crab Weather conditions Working ethics, cultures and commitment of community groups Financial constraints (for example release of funds for the mariculture activities were hindered by the Sector program office and heavy work overload to carry the task Transparency on communication and release of funds from the sector program office. The mariculture activities have been halted, especially the research and crab nursery techniques where recommendation for expanding mud crab fattening is specifically anchored

CARE INTL.
Project name: JOCDO and PESACA (Community Banking for Jozani Credit and Development) Project goal: To improve the economic situation of Zanzibaris on Pemba and Unguja Islands through improved financial services, business opportunities and market access Benefits and Growth Significant increase in the village savings and loan groups (audited quarterly) Capacity building Financial management knowledge Ability to expand an existing small business and or start a new one Membership request in demand Borrowed funds put in good use Good repayment rate Interaction Weekly personal meetings, Weekly Telephone conversations, Monthly group meetings Challenges Lack of funds Brian M Touray Project Manager Zanzibar Enterprise & Sustainable Tourism (ZEST) bmtouray@telus.net

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