1. PROPOSAL
SECTION A: PROJECT RATIONALE AND APPROACH
This section provides the rationale and background of the project, as well as the proposed approach.
1.1 Project Summary
Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a rapidly accelerating vicious cycle of environmental and bio-diversity degradation thereby threatening the ecosystem and the natural resource base?s self sustaining mechanisms as soils are being eroded, tree species disappearing, environmental pollution escalating climate change effects. All these issues must be dealt with simultaneously for the cycle to be broken. Some major environmental issues that are related to aquaculture and fisheries development and irrigation development in Zimbabwe are soil erosion, siltation, water pollution and its undesirable ecological impacts. Poverty reduction, bio-diversity and environmental sustainability cannot be separated. This is because; there exists a threshold below which those failing the daily dilemma of survival become destructive to simply survive. Poor rains in the past decade have affected the livelihoods of many families (both urban and rural) and no easy reprieve is expected because of the ongoing global warming with changes in climate. Zimbabwe has favorable climatic conditions and geography, which makes the practice of aquaculture easy and viable. Hence, promoting biodiversity through sustainable wetland/marshland rehabilitation, conservation and implementation of Integrated Agriculture -Aquaculture (IAA) in Zimbabwe has been identified by AZ as a priority area for setting up demonstration project on the selected perennial wetland resources in Muchapondwa in Domboshava.

Muchapondwa Community wetland site has been afflicted by unorthodox stream-bank agriculture and illegal gold panning activities along the Nyaure River which are rampant throughout the whole of Mazowe river basin. The lack of knowledge and awareness on land use planning has also been cited as contributing to the accelerated degradation in wetland areas. The Nyaure wetland rivulets stretching over several kilometers supports 1,370 households which heavily rely on market gardening livelihoods by selling their produce to wholesale buyers. This project will directly benefit 80 households spread across the Muchapondwa village within Ward 14, approximately translating to 480 individuals at a mean size of 6 persons per household.

Successful rehabilitation of the wetland site will see the community sustainably harnessing abundant agro-production opportunities which are inherent in such areas. This will ultimately enhance the community?s livelihoods, socio-economic status and their general dietary diversity.

The overall goal of the project is to develop a stable agro-ecosystem in which Integrated Agriculture-Aquaculture (IAA) is promoted to enhance bio-diversity and ensure environmental security together with food security for the resource poor and traditionally marginalized, vulnerable households. This project links well with the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEFSGP) country strategy thematic areas of biodiversity through Country Programme Strategy (CPS) Objective 2 on ?Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation and sustainable use into production landscapes through community initiatives and actions? and also land degradation through CPS Objective 7 on ?Conservation and sustainable use into production landscapes through community initiatives and actions?. Mazowe catchment area feed into the Zambezi river system which tallies the project with the GEF?s goal on international waters.

The total cost of the programme is US$160,396.49 over 36 months. The community will contribute US$46,200.00 in kind and other sources will contribute US$16,700.00 in kind of the total programme costs. Aquaculture Zimbabwe will contribute US$47,880.00 in kind and it is requesting US$49,616.49 from the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP) for setting up Integrated Agriculture-Aquaculture systems, wetland rehabilitation and conservation activities as well as strengthening the capacity of the target community.
1.2 Organizational Background and Capacity to implement the project
Aquaculture Zimbabwe Trust (Registration MA881/2008), a wholly Zimbabwean initiative, was established in early 2008 to support aquaculture projects that encourage the use of creative solutions to poverty through freshwater aquaculture and fisheries in all the local communities and enabling them to effectively participate, with credibility, in policy dialogue through representation at higher level fora so that the voices of these resource poor farmers can have a better impact in the development of agro- policies. The Trust is governed by a substantive Board of Trustees that sits at least once every quarter. The Board of Trustees is composed with men and women who have dedicated all their lives working in the field of livestock, aquaculture and fisheries with abundant local, regional and international experience, banker and a lawyer. The Chairperson is an accomplished aquaculturist and biologist, with over 20 years experience in the field. For guidance and wise counsel, the Trust relies on the maturity, experience and expertise of Dr Stuart Hargreaves who is the patron of the organization. Dr Hargreaves is a renowned veterinary scientist with over 38 years of experience in the control of livestock diseases (both aquatic and terrestrial) in southern Africa and Europe. The organisation has a Technical Team of 9 experienced personnel and 3 administration personnel. Five years down the line the team at Aquaculture is successfully intervening in vulnerable communities with the generous support of donors from the UN system such as ILO and others from the multi donor PRP year 4 and other NGOs (World vision, SNV, CARE).

AZ?s mission is to successfully mobilize resources for the sustainable development of environmentally friendly aquaculture and fisheries in Zimbabwe as a strategy to counter chronic poverty and improve people?s livelihoods. The Trust has a vision of becoming the leading developmental, networking front and a default information hub for sustainable, responsible aquaculture and fisheries systems supporting livelihoods in Zimbabwe .Since 2008, Aquaculture Zimbabwe has been actively involved in the lobbying and advocacy for the government to prioritise aquaculture and fisheries development as this is an important aspect of farming that can equally compete with other crops to significantly contribute to the country?s Gross Domestic Product. We realise that a lot needs to be done if Zimbabwe is to have a meaningfully sustainable aquaculture and fisheries sector and this has to begin with a clear roadmap that spells out the national strategy and vision for the sector. As a way of stepping up this process Aquaculture Zimbabwe has, with the help of other stakeholders such as the FAO, the University of Zimbabwe?s Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Livestock Production?s Fisheries Unit, set up a Fisheries and Aquaculture Working Group (FAWG). The FAWG which is chaired by AZ meets once every month to deliberate on issues pertaining to the sector. This is an open forum where all interested stakeholders and individuals can participate. The FAWG in turn reports to the Livestock Working Group which is coordinated by the FAO and is a larger body that deliberates on all issues pertaining to the livestock sector and makes recommendations to the donors and government. Apart from this process Aquaculture Zimbabwe has gained immense experience in working with communities as it has embarked on a number of projects that enhance livelihoods and economic empowerment to selected beneficiaries over the years. These projects include:
1. Integrated Agriculture Aquaculture for Sustainable Livelihoods (IAASL) in Masvingo Province, targeting 500 households within Chivi and Masvingo districts. This is a Protracted Relief Program funded by DFID and other partners with a budget of over 400 000 GBP, currently running and ending up on 31 September 2012.
2. National Freshwater Aquaculture and Fisheries Information Portal (www.aquaculturezim.org).
3. Training for Rural Economic Empowerment targeting youths in the Norton and Gokwe districts (Aquaculture Zimbabwe, University of Zimbabwe, International Labour Organisation of the UN ? Ongoing). A total grant of $70 000 support, targeting 100 youths? fish farming livelihoods.
4. Aquaculture Zimbabwe?s 5 Year Communication and Visibility Programme (Since January 2010 the drive has as so far flighted five 30-minute national radio programmes, one 60 minute long live-call in national television programme, over 10 national news clips, a quarterly newsletter, 3 national newspaper articles and an up and running website.)
5 Baseline evaluation and needs assessment on the Integrated Agriculture Aquaculture (IAASL) on 3 Smallholder Irrigation Schemes (Ngondoma, Insukhamini and Mkoba) in the Midlands Province ? This project was implemented in collaboration with the FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Mechanisation?s Department of Livestock Production and Development (DLPD).
Aquaculture Zimbabwe has a strong technical partner base from which specific programs can tap into depending on the needs arising on the ground. These strategic partners include The Department of Biological Sciences of the University of Zimbabwe (Fish Pathology), The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, The Department of Livestock Production and Development (DLPD) and the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS).

Project Objectives and Expected Results

OBJECTIVE ONE
To successfully integrate sustainable freshwater aquaculture practices into new and existing wetland agriculture activities to relieve pressure on bio-diversity, wild fish resources and land resources.

Activities

1.1 Rapid Progressive Learning Meetings (a participatory learning approach) on Wetland rehabilitation and Conservation. (10 sessions)
1.2 Setting up sustainable low cost environmental friendly aquaculture production systems on project site.
1.3 Culturing and stocking the production
Systems

Output (0-6 months after completed activity)
1.1 Increase in wetland management knowledge and techniques
Indicator:
-80 households
- 2 DLPD & 6 community development
officers extensionists trained
-Area of wetlands rehabilitated (16.1Ha)
-1 wetlands rehabilitated
-3 gullies to be reclaimed

1.2 Production of fish and increase in horticultural and herbal products.
Indicator:
-60,000 of Tilapia bream stocked
-horticulture and herbal products.

1.3 Mature fish for harvesting
Indicator :
- 24,000kg (3 years) fish harvested.

Outcome ( 1 year after completed activity)
-Improved understanding of ecosystem services and functions.
- Green Infrastructure establishments
-Balanced economies of scale
-Significant nutritional benefits indicated by an increase in availability of fish on the common market.
-Increase in households? income.
- Increase in wetland area.
-Reduction of soil losses.

OBJECTIVE TWO
Activities related to Objective 2
To develop a sustainable and stable agro-ecosystem characterised by increased productivity of specific elements in the system ? that is livestock/crops and fish.
Activities related to Objective Two
2.1 Creating an aquatic nature reserve through the enhancement of green infrastructure (bananas, sugar cane, fruit trees).
2.2 Rapid Progressive Learning Meetings on rehabilitation of wetlands, gullies reclamation, biodiversity and conservation.

Output (0-6 months after completed activity)
2.1Stable terrestrial and wetland systems as observed through the green technologies on project sites
Indicator:
-A variety of both terrestrial and aquatic species and a variety of wild birds, snails, reptiles, amphibians etc)

2.2 Community adopt rehabilitation and conservation practices in their wetland management.
Indicator:
-Extent to which guidelines and sustainable practices are being applied

Outcome (1 year after completed activity)
- Understanding and valuing of ecosystem goods and services
- Communities benefiting from a stable agro-ecosystem characterised by high biodiversity (although the original development may involve a significant ?change? in biodiversity).
-Application of techniques learnt by the entire community
-Well rehabilitated and conserved wetland and production systems.
-Increase in information sharing marked by increase in sites visits.
-Increase in wetland area.
-Reduction of soil losses.

OBJECTIVE 3
To impart best terrestrial, wetland and aquatic resource management practices to ensure bio-diversity conservation, environmental and food security for the whole community
Activities related to Objective 3
3.1 Creating market awareness over the fish and horticulture products from healthier agro-ecosystem environments. Including but not limited to exhibitions.
3.2 Rapid Progressive Learning Meetings on:
-Aquatic plant and livestock control.
-Soil erosion mitigation measures.
-Sustainable water conservation practices and water harvesting methods.
-Nutrients and biomass capacity of communal wetland resources.
-Harnessing local knowledge in handling water quality and nutrient levels for sustaining the ecosystem.
3 Commissioning of the project and field day.
4 Produce a simple guidelines for wetlands rehabilitation and conservation and How to set up Aquaculture production system



Output (0-6 months after completed activity)
3.1 Improved common market uptake of fish and horticulture products
Indicator:
-Increase in Local markets selling fish and horticulture products
- number of contracts sealed.
- 3.2 Demonstrations on environmental security practices.
- Indicator:
- 3 demonstrations carried out on environmental security practices.
-
- 3.3 Commissioning ceremony on the field day.

3.4 Use and references to the booklet.
Indicator :
-number of User-friendly booklets produced

Outcome ( 1 year after completed activity)
-Developing, improved markets and consumer awareness/certification and eco-labelling to ensure fair trade and best value for products through working closely with the Zimbabwe Organic Producers Association.
-Promotion of the right indigenous species based on market demands, ecosystem functions, and species requirements and to facilitate integration with other sectors.
-Increase households? income from of their produce
-Environment restored back to its natural and improved state through the combating of land degradation and soil erosion.
-Sustainable communal equity and gender empowerment
-Increase in information sharing and enhanced network
-Application of skills and technique at field and homestead level.
-Replication of project in areas
-Drawing attention of the policy makers as indicated by their commissioning of the projects.

Description of Project Activities
Project Activities will mainly be:
a) Rapid Progressive Learning Meetings (a participatory learning approach) on Wetland rehabilitation and Conservation -Aquatic plant and livestock control; Soil erosion mitigation measures; Sustainable water conservation practices and water harvesting methods; Nutrients and biomass capacity of communal wetland resources; Harnessing local knowledge in handling water quality and nutrient levels for sustaining the ecosystem.
b) Training of the trainer.
Department of Livestock Production and Development extensionist and some community development officers will receive aquaculture, entrepreneurship and business training.
c) Rehabilitation of the two wetlands (removing debris and gulley filling)
d) Setting up sustainable low cost environmental friendly aquaculture production systems on project sites.
This involves the actual digging, trenching and fencing of the fish ponds with labour from the benefiting households. 6 fish ponds (50m x 20m holding 10,000 fish, 10 fish per m2 each) will be constructed for the 80 beneficiaries. Fish will be harvested at an average weight of 250g per fish translating to 2 tonnes/pond in just about 6 months and 4 tonnes/pond in 12 months. At USD2.00 per kg, the expected total harvest of 24 tonnes a year can gross amount of USD48000,00 ? an ultimate graduation to a decent per capita income and consumption ratio.
e) Produce a simple guidelines for wetlands rehabilitation and conservation and How to set up Aquaculture production system
f) Culturing and stocking the production systems;
The ponds will be stocked with Tilapia bream (Oreochrommis Niloticus) fingerlings from Kariba bream farm in Kariba.
g) Creating an aquatic nature reserve through the enhancement of green infrastructure (bananas, sugar cane, fruit trees).
h) Rapid Progressive Learning Meetings on rehabilitation of wetlands, biodiversity and conservation.
i) Creating market awareness over the fish and horticulture products from healthier agro-ecosystem environments, including but not limited exhibitions, market linkages.
j) Commissioning of the project and field day