Progressio Ireland

The project’s overall aim is to strengthen the capacity of Environment Africa to support agro-ecology based livelihoods. It will do this through promotion of innovative agricultural practices, increased utilisation of alternative renewable energy, sustainable utilisation and conservation of natural resources and marketing of sustainably produced agricultural products among rural communities in Zimbabwe and Malawi. In addition the project contributes to the alignment of national and regional policies by enhancing the capacity of EA to design and implement programmes that respond to environmental issues.

Two Development Workers have been placed in EA Zimbabwe to provide technical support to enhance its effectiveness in supporting peasant farmers.

In Zimbabwe an agro-ecology specialist will work with the partner organisation on a research study to identify agricultural and forest products (including bio fuel crops) that are likely to bring maximum benefits to the identified communities. Once identified, the DW will then assist the partner to set up a pilot project with small farmers as a model for the implementation of the larger project. The DW will also coach the identified small scale farmers on how to manage the projects and how to engage in mixed farming production. The DW will also train and assist the partner to mobilise communities to develop water projects that will boost production during dry months of the year. Finally the DW will work with the partner organisation to identify and produce crops to be adopted for mixed farming activities

In Malawi the Development worker will enhance the capacity of EA to develop and implement strategies for improving vulnerable groups’ access to resources for their economic and nutritional empowerment. This will contribute to food security and increased income generation at the household level. More specifically this will include strategies for strengthening local food production systems, improve both large and small livestock population, management, multiplication, utilisation and marketing for the resource poor in selected project areas. It will improve the availability of water for local food production and consumption. The project will also broaden household access to affordable alternative energy systems. The project is set up with the aim to reduce livelihood vulnerability. It will also provide a model of a sustainable livelihood system at village level that integrates principles of food security, renewable energy and income generation.

In line with the basic business principle of producing what sells, rather that trying to find a market for what one produces, market research and product development activities will be implemented earlier in the process with the support to production systems scheduled for the later part of the project period. To ensure that the partner organisation retains the skills and know-how in designing and implementing such interventions, they will employ appropriately qualified personnel to understudy the DWs and scale up the programmes following this initial project.

…inter-country coordination, exchange and learning:
The DWs, their counterparts and Country Programme Coordinators in both countries will constitute a project implementation team that will share strategies, jointly monitor implementation and disseminate learning from the project at various levels. Through joint annual project planning and review sessions and targeted mutual technical support, the team will coordinate and share lessons between the two countries. The team will also produce regular reports that will be distributed strategically to inform environmental and livelihood policy processes in the region. The reports will promote sustainable subsistence agricultural approaches in the two countries. Cross-country visits to the projects impact areas by the CRs, Country Programme Coordinators, DWs and their counterparts will be key in ensuring that cross-learning between the two countries.