SECTION A: PROJECT RATIONALE AND APPROACH

1.1 Project Summary
Dowera Development Association is a community-based organization aimed at improving the general livelihood of communities in Chikomba ward one of Hone Valley in Mutasa District. The organization is the brainchild of a local visionary leader Mr Chingoza who after receiving training in beekeeping and natural resources management from Zimbabwe Farmers Development Trust (ZFDT) and mobilizing efforts of Mr Timaremoyo got inspired to improve the environment and livelihoods of fellow communities.
The association is found in Sadondo Village of Chikomba ward one in the catchment area of Nyamukombe river that stems from Inyangani Mountains (the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe) and flow into Pungwe river an international river also in Honde valley.
Nyamukombe basin, part of Honde valley is popular for its rich plains and forest with indigenous trees and fruits like mangoes, guavas, bananas and avocados. This woodland ecosystem serves as a natural barrier to soil erosion but due to unsustainable land use practices such as deforestation, poor farming methods and high demand for arable land the flora and fauna in the area is under threat of extinction and land suffers heavily from land degradation.
The project seeks to protect the Nyamukombe basin from land degradation. Sustainably manage existing forests and improve livelihoods options. This contributes to the anticipated impact of the current GEF / SGP Strategy for Zimbabwe, which is a strategic community driven intervention that addresses the livelihood need of communities while securing global environmental benefits in the relevant GEF/SGP focal areas.
The project is contented on the hypothesis that with better conservation and sustainable utilization of natural resources through tree planting, soil conservation and improved land husbandry, there will be reduction in land degradation and sustainably manage forests. The introduction of beekeeping in existing forests riverine forest will also be seen as a deterrent to deforestation as communities begin to derive value from the conservation of natural resources and riverine tree species. DDA has a theatre group to promote awareness on natural resources conservation and communities? empowerment.
Fundamentally, the project forms the basis for contributing to MDG goal on Environmental sustainability as well as meeting the objectives of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).

1.2 Organizational Background and Capacity to implement the project.
Dowera Development Association (DDA) is the brainchild of a local visionary Mr Chingoza who, after receiving training in beekeeping and natural resources management from the Farmers Development Trust, decided to mobilize and train his onw community and ecourage them into bee keeping. DDA is a therefore a community based organization is aimed at improving the general livelihood of communities in Chikomba ward one of Mutasa District found in Manicaland Province. In combating degradation the group is planting indigenous trees in deforested areas, claiming gullies and slides, awareness on veld fires and introduced beekeeping, drink making and operating fish ponds to improve nutrition. DDA is also involved in bamboo crafts, awareness through drama, an initiative which is being supported by STEP Zimbabwe to combat poverty economically and promote community empowerment.
The association was formed in 2007 through mobilizing efforts of Mr Timaremoyo and Towe Association. The group is mobilizing the community through workshops on beekeeping, and wood conservative stoves promoted by Step Zimbabwe.
Dowera Development Association is led and steered by an eight member management committee, consisting of three men and five women. The executive meet once a month the whole groups meet twice a month and hold training lessons on beekeeping. However, the group has no stipulated salaries for its staff only offers transport and food allowances to a member on association duty.
The association is under Trust registration process waiting for its certificate. It is targeting to work with all population groups especially women and youth who are left at home doing farming works. In its operations it will include indigenous people to help implement laws to stop cutting down of trees. From the onset, the group was working towards a reduction in land degradation and biodiversity loss and improved farming methods thereby promoting forests build-up and reduced polluting rivers. On the other hand, is mobilization of community to stop stream bank cultivation to build a stable riverine environment? The presents of a skilled and experienced Mr Luke Chingoza in beekeeping, fish farming and nursery management means that the project can be guaranteed success and much easier technology transfer and knowledge sharing to other community members.
The association has established collaborative working relationships with Nyahari Association and STEP Zimbabwe. Since 2011 STEP Zimbabwe has worked closely with DDA through which current initiatives were strengthened. The support included nursery establishment, piloting wood serving stoves, extending awareness programmes beyond Dowera community and introducing commercial bamboo weaving. Through this support 2 members of the community have been supported to participate in Bamboo weaving training in India in November.
DDA consists of 4 villages namely Sadondo, Sagambe, Mupereti and Makwenzi, involving 42 households, in which 18 males and 24 females are members of the association. Of these, 12 are youths. 170 beneficiaries will directly benefit whilst an estimated 4500 in the adjacent wards are expected to indirectly benefit.

1.3 Project Objectives and Expected Results

PROBLEM STATEMENT OR CHALLENGE THE PROJECT INTENDS TO ADDRESS

OVERALL PROJECT GOAL / PRIMARY OBJECTIVE
The overall objective of the project is ?To conserve and utilize land and other natural resources within the area in a sustainable manner through reducing land degradation and biodiversity loss whilst improving livelihood of communities?.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
1) To minimize biodiversity loss by practicing forests conservation reforestation, agro forestry and awareness dramas.
2) To promote sustainable soil conservation practices and improved land husbandry so as to improve soil fertility as well as reducing levels of siltation in Nyamukombe River.
3) To reduce the demand for arable land and dependency on agriculture for food security and economic sustenance by introducing beekeeping, fish farming, drink making and bam boo weaving.

RATIONALE / JUSTIFICATION OF THE PROJECT
This project seeks to preserve rivers, reverse biodiversity loss and promote management of forests, and to protect the Nyamukombe river basin from land degradation through sustainable land management and diversifying livelihoods options.
The project is premised on the hypothesis that with better conservation and sustainable utilization of natural resources, reforestation, soil conservation and improved land husbandry there will be a reduction in biodiversity loss and the promotion of empowered communities. The introduction of beekeeping in the existing forests and riverine forests is also seen as a deterrent to deforestation as communities begin to derive value from the conservation of riverine tree species.
Taking cognizance of the decline in crop yields and increasing poverty, the project intends to introduce agro forestry gardens, upscale beekeeping, and fishing and promote bamboo weaving so as to improve food security and raise income levels at household level. This may translate to a reduction in demand for arable land, which has been the main cause of land degradation in Honde valley.
The project supports the National Environmental Policy Strategy objective of (Sustaining the long-term ability of natural resources to meet basic needs of people, enhance and improve food security, reduce poverty and improve the general livelihoods of communities).

Activities
1.1.Conduct 3 community workshops in forest management, agroforestry, natural resources conservation and community project management and organize communities into natural resources management
1.2.Conduct 1 Leadership workshop on good governance and gender
1.3.Exchange visits to Nyahari, Towe and other projects in Mutasa District to promote learning and sharing.
1.4.Establish two community nurseries of indigenous and fruit trees and train communities in planting of indigenous trees in deforested areas across the ward.
1.5.Distribute 4000 tree seedlings and conduct two tree planting events at local institutions
1.6.Remove Lantana camara growing along side road network and other desirable areas.
1.7.Introduce beekeeping for effective forest resources management and bio diversity conservation
1.8.Plant 4000 trees (indigenous and fruit trees) by the end of the first year of the project.
2.1.Establish a community nursery for vertiver grass (Soil stabilizing agent.)
2.2.Establish bamboo plots
2.2 Gully reclamation and soil stabilization on hill sides, along roads and in grazing areas
2.3 Construction of demonstration wood saving stoves for 20 households
3.1. Training in honey processing, beekeeping, candle making, fish farming, drink making and bamboo weaving.

3.2. Conduct Entrepreneurship development and recording management training
3.3. Set up a demonstration centre for honey processing candle making, drink making and craft.
3.4. Undertake baseline survey for honey, fish, juices and craft markets
3.5. Identification of sites for fish farming (Bream) and digging of fish ponds and stocking.
4.1. Procure information capturing, processing and communication equipment and other materials
4.2. Document lessons and best practice and disseminate
4.3. Produce a theater on DVD on wider conservation issues and disseminate
4.4. Conduct field days and commemoration events on special environment days

Outputs (0-6 Months Completed)
1.1Three forest and natural resources management training workshops conducted for all villages in the targeted ward
1.2At least 4 community natural resources management groups established and natural resources management committees revived.
One training workshop
Two exchange visits conducted within the district
Two community nurseries established, with at least 10 different local tree specie
Tree planting events held at local institutions
Equipment to eradicate Lantana camara procured and distributed to lanta eradication teams
Nine (9) hacters of land cleared of Lantana camara along the road in the first year of the project.
Three training workshops on bee keeping
400 beehives bought and distributed 6 months into the project
400 hives established and are colonized by bees at the end of the first year
4. Project members intensify agro forestry and reduce demand for arable land.
Indicator: Number of fruit trees successfully integrated.
Vertiver nurseries established
Bamboo plots established in two sites by end of year 1
Two gullies reclaimed
Slopy and fragile sites stabilized by vertiver
20 households trained and constructed stoves in their main cooking area
5 training sessions conducted for each enterprise
Indicator: Workshop reports and list of participants
1 training session and ongoing guidance on record keeping
Indicator: Workshop reports and community records
Materials procured and processing plant set up
3.1 Project members have knowledge to process honey, make candles, make drinks and weave bamboos.
Indicator: Number of project members fully engage in the activities.
Baseline survey conducted
Indicator: Baseline report
Fish ponds established and stocked
Indicator: 10 fish ponds; number of fish stocked.
Equipment procured
Indicator: Laptop, cameras, connectivity equipment in place
Informal publications disseminated
Indicators: range of information materials produced
Number of information materials disseminated
One Drama produced on DVD
Indicator: Number of DVDs produced and disseminated
Two commemorations held at site and at a selected institution
Indicators: Reports of commemorations and field days


Outcomes (1 year after Completed)
Community has capacity and skills to reduce levels of land degradation.
Community groups are actively involved in conservation activities and are guided by functional institutional mechanisms for natural resource management.
Increase in the area under active management.
Communities are effectively applying soil conservation and improved land management techniques by the end of first year of the project.
Community leaders are able to guide groups, formulate instruments and mechanisms and enforce them
Groups are functional and efficient
Issues are addressed, activities planned and conducted with a gender perspective
Target communities are more knowledgeable, aware of good practice and exhibit good practice.
Nurseries thrive, survival rate is above 60%
A sustainable supply of seedlings to project members and community.
Indicator: Number of seedling distributed to each member is assured in first 6 months of the project.
Active participation of households in tree planting
9 hactares planted with indigenous seedlings
Increase in the growth of indigenous shrubs along the road network.
400 hives set in existing forest by the end of the project.
Increased protection of forest ? reduced incidences of fires and deforestation and reduced encroachment of farming
4.1 Potential for land degradation minimized and demand for fertilizers reduced.
Indicator: Percentage reduction in area under arable farming by project members at end of the project. Indicator: 15 hectares existing woodlots conserved in first year of the project.
Nurseries are thriving and form and well managed
Indicator: Number of trees and species diversity
Number of members actively manning the nurseries
Bamboo adapted by community as viable soil stabilizing agent.
Indicator: Number of households engaged in bamboo planting in the first 6 months of the project and number of sites under bamboo
Soil erosion reduced and land degradation reduced.
Indicator: Quantity of soil erosion deposited along road sides after heavy rains.
Vertiver grass adapted by community as viable soil stabilizing agent.
Indicator: Number of households engaged in vertiver planting in the first 6 months of the project and number of sites under vertiver
Soil erosion reduced and land degradation reduced.
Indicator: Quantity of soil erosion deposited along road sides after heavy rains.
Stoves are actively used.
Reduction in wood fuel use in participating households
Indicator: Number of households using stoves
and amount of wood fuel used
Participants demonstrate knowledge, skills and confidence
Indicator: approach to business planning and implementation and quality of products
Participants maintain good records
Indicator: quality and consistency of records
Households actively engage in alternative livelihoods activities
Indicator: number of households adopting at least one income generating activity
Processing plant functional and the range of targeted products is consistently under production
Indicator: Quantities and range of products under consistent production
Project management team and targeted communities are aware of the status and set targets for achievement
Indicator: Baseline and targets set
Fish farming is adopted as one of the nutrition security and income generating activities by most households
Indicator: Fish harvested consumed and or sold, households participating in fish farming and income generated
Project capacity to document and communicate enhanced Indicator: quality of information materials produced
Increased awareness, knowledge and practice
Indicator: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice evidenced
Increased awareness, knowledge and practice
Indicator: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice evidenced
Increased awareness, knowledge and practice
Indicator: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice evidenced