Capacity building and economic empowerment of Wakashio-afflicted communities through sustainable Aquaponics




























25th of June, 2021
Caritas Ile Maurice
(With the active participation of Mssrs Danen Beemadoo and Chetan Ramchurn)
Table of Contents
Contents
1. PROPOSAL 4
SECTION A: PROJECT RATIONALE AND APPROACH 4
1.1 PROJECT SUMMARY 4
1.2 ORGANISATIONAL BACKGROUND AND CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT THE PROJECT 5
TRAINING SERVICE 6
ACCOMMODATION SERVICE 6
1.3 PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED RESULTS 9
Primary objective 9
Rationale 9
Specific Objectives 10
1.4 DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES 10
Set up aquaponic system for 6 families: 10
Output 1: Aquaponic installations will be open to public and school children with due attention given to health &safety: 11
Output 2: Market and sell aquaponic products 11
Output 3: Monitoring throughout the project 11
1.5 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND TIME FRAME 11
PROJECT MILESTONES ARE AS FOLLOWS: 12
1.6 PLAN TO ENSURE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION 12
1.7 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT 12
SECTION B: RISKS, MONITORING AND EVALUATION: 12
2.1 MONITORING, EVALUATION PLAN AND INDICATOR 14
TABLE 1: ACTIVITY PLANNING: PROJECT WORKPLAN AND MONITORING SCHEDULE 14
SECTION C: PROJECT BUDGET 16
3.1 FINANCIAL DETAILS 16
Project Funding Summary 16
Proposing Organization Contribution 17
Sustainability of Results Achieved 17
TABLE 5: PROJECTED EXPENDITURES 18













Country: Mauritius Submission date: 15th May 2021
Project Title: Capacity Building and Economic Empowerment of Wakashio-afflicted communities through sustainable Aquaponics

APPLICANT
Name of Organization: CARITAS ILE MAURICE
Year established: May 1965
Number of members: 667
Number of projects implemented: 3 services: grouped in 12 national projects implemented in 52 localities.
Mailing Address: 1, rue d?Estaing, Port Louis
Physical Address: 1, rue d?Estaing, Port Louis
Telephone: +230 212 2772 / 212 3910
Fax: +230 212 2772
E-Mail: sgcaritas@gmail.com / Caritas@intnet.mu
President: Brigitte Koenig
Project Contact/Manager: Danen Beemadoo (+230 52531515)

PROJECT
Capacity building and economic empowerment of Wakashio-afflicted communities through sustainable Aquaponics

Applicant : Caritas Ile-Maurice

Proposed Start Date: 1st July 2021 Expected Project Duration: 12 months
FINANCES
Total GEF SGP Request: Rs 1,997,750
Total UNDP : Rs 1,424,000
Total from Other Sources: Rs 2,854,000 (in kind)

Total project cost: Rs 6,245,750






1. Proposal

Following a request from the UNDP, Caritas is hereby submitting the proposal. This proposal will complement the project submitted to the GEF SGP Programme.
SECTION A: Project Rationale and Approach
1.1 Project Summary
Caritas Ile Maurice pursued goals in carrying out this project with Mssrs Beemadoo and Ramchurn is to offer food security and a means of livelihood to those families directly impacted by the Wakashio Oil Spill. It is also an opportunity for Caritas Ile Maurice to bring to the community an innovative way of agriculture. This will be achieved through aquaponic farming; a sustainable and high intensity organic food production method. Training and monitoring will be offered over a period of 12 months. Our idea is based on the Taoist philosophy which goes as follows: ?Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime?. Proper consultation will be carried out with the beneficiaries so that their needs are fully taken on board pertaining to the installations, the pace and language of training.

Through this endeavour, people and families will not be socially and economically disenfranchised, but will have a higher sense of self-esteem and responsibility and will be considered as models for their environmental stewardship. Additionally, due assistance with the marketing and commercialization of these products will be provided. A brand will be created for storytelling purposes so that a strong narrative can be weaved and engagement nurtured with the population. A label highlighting the organic and healthy (or health conscious) cachet of these products will be created, a strong social and traditional media presence showcasing the stories of the people adopting this method and the products sold by them will also be provided. Tours will be organised for school children so that this method is given due visibility and the reconnection with nature celebrated. This project will offer some much needed solace to those fisher families that were dependent on the sea to earn a living. The impacts of the oil spill will considerably affect them and through the implementation of this project, an alternative to an unstable life will be offered to people in these regions.

This initiative, which will also light an entrepreneurship spirit in the community, offers a viable solution to land injustice since farms can be installed on rooftops or in a confined space thus not requiring additional land for food production. This project meets several of the themes for grants listed by the GEF Small Grants Programme:

Promouvoir la gestion durable des terres dans les systèmes de production (agriculture, pâturages et paysages forestiers) à travers l?agroécologie, l?agroforesterie et l?éco-tourisme ; et la gestion durable des océans à travers l?aquaculture et la mariculture
(iii) Prévenir et réduire la production, l?utilisation et l?exposition aux substances chimiques et déchets dangereux (POPs, mercure, métaux lourds etc)
(iv) Promouvoir l?agriculture organique et la gestion des pesticides
(vi) Promouvoir la participation de la société civile et l?intégration sociale, et
(vii) Promouvoir les projets liés à des solutions communautaires, socialement inclusives et intégrées pour assurer un développement urbain résilient et à faibles émissions.

Full training of the aquaponic techniques will be provided. It will combine the advantages of both aquaculture and hydroponics while keeping away its drawbacks. This is a soilless multi-culture crop and a high density culture thus very little space is needed for growing plants. It can grow as much as 10 times compared to hydroponics or soil agriculture. The aquaponic system rejects all chemicals as it kills the system.

1.2 Organisational Background and Capacity to implement the project

Caritas Ile Maurice with the active participation of Danen Beemadoo and Chetan Ramchurn will constitute the team. Founded in May 1965, Caritas Mauritius was then defined by its founders as ?an initiative in which Charity would at the same time be devotion and expertise?. Caritas Mauritius was initially geared towards emergency relief as, during the period following independence in 1968, many families were experiencing difficulties while the country went through a severe unemployment crisis and had to face all kinds of disasters.
In 2001, after the diocesan synod, the preferential option for the poor became the priority for the diocese of Port Louis. So today, thanks to support on the ground from the diocese and 47 parishes, Caritas Mauritius works to rehabilitate the poor, the excluded and the oppressed through an action of love and proximity by welcoming and listening to them, visiting and accompanying them, so that they may rediscover their dignity and build together a fair and united community.

With over 55 years? experience of serving the needy, Caritas Mauritius is now a united network bringing together more than 1,000 volunteers in the service of 50,000 beneficiaries via its counselling centres located throughout the island.

Caritas Mauritius breaks down its actions into three services:
Accompaniment and development service
? Emergency relief, in the event of natural disasters, enables providing for the needs of victims in terms of food, transport, medical expenses and educational assistance.
? 52 counselling and development service centres (Service d?Ecoute d?Accompagnement et de Developpement,SEAD), which welcome, counsel, accompany and support the poorest.
? 17 Pre-school centres for infants (Centre d?Eveils), which focus on raising the sensory and motor awareness of vulnerable children in nursery school.
? 3 community garden/farm that offers training courses to improve life quality and food for the community.
Training service
? 20 functional literacy centres which offer a speaking, reading, writing and arithmetic learning method.
? The Life Skills Management Programme, a personal development training course with psycho-social counselling that aims to enhance trainees? skills.
? 2 Centres of Learning, a community development service to combat poverty and exclusion through training and accompaniment of local residents.
? 2 Domestic science schools to train beneficiaries in housekeeping in a professional context.
? 1 cake and pastry making school which offers professional courses in cake making and baking with internships.
Accommodation service
? The accommodation assistance fund enables low-income families to have decent accommodation, to become homeowners and to avoid seizure of their home thanks to non-interest-bearing loans.
? 2 night shelters to welcome and accompany homeless people in their social reintegration.
? The halfway home, an Abbé Pierre house, which makes a temporary apartment available to families to help them save up to fulfil their housing plans.

Project Leaders
Project leaders Danen Beemadoo and Chetan Kumar Ramchurn have been active participants in social, community and environmental initiatives for several years. Both are active members of the Lions Club Port Louis Doyen and are directors of their own companies. Their wish is to bring their experience and expertise to those in need.

Mr.Beemadoo is an engineer with strong hands-on experience in project management having worked for prominent multinationals. He has been trained in aquaponics for both backyard/rooftop and commercial courses and also on bio farming. He has spearheaded community initiatives with previous mayoral experience for the township of Quatre Bornes. He holds an MBA and a MASTER in Génie des Systèmes Industriels with specialisation in Biotechnology and is a past President (2018-2019) of the Lions Club of Port Louis Doyen Club. During his mandate, a number of initiatives were driven by him: diabetes testing across the island, vision checking for children, sensitisation around synthetic drugs with a national conference with leading experts of the island and international ones as main speakers, provision of food to disempowered families and children in Mauritius and Madagascar. Under his presidency the Club was ranked first at Zone and District levels out of 69 clubs within 6 countries. He was given the Melvin Jones Fellowship in 2019 by his Club.

Mr.Ramchurn is a graduate in Law and Management and holds a Masters in Marketing and Management. He is a seasoned marketing professional has worked on a number of branding initiatives and brand launches for leading conglomerates and has hands-on project management experience. Mr Ramchurn was also a former lecturer in Marketing at Charles Telfair Institute. An active member and past secretary of the Lions Club of Port Louis Doyen, he has been actively involved in the Club?s activities since his induction in 2017.

A project coordinator will be recruited to ensure implementation and the adoption of best practices. This team will work in close collaboration with the Caritas Ile Maurice.

For this specific project, Caritas Ile-Maurice and more precisely the Mahebourg branch which has a very broad experience and knowledge of the targeted region will be giving its assistance in carrying out this project.

Purpose and Core activities
The purpose of this project is to help 6 families affected by the MV Wakashio oil spill. The goal of this initiative is to offer food security and an alternative source of revenue for the 6 families.
An aquaponic system will be installed on the premises of the 6 respective families to produce food for their own consumption and the surplus will be offered for sale. This will be a source of revenue for the family.

Organisational Approach
Caritas Ile Maurice, with its broad experience in carrying out projects in that region, has assisted Messrs Beemadoo and Ramchurn in the identification of the 6 beneficiaries. Training will not be delivered in an academic way, but instead in a continuous and progressive approach all along the whole project. It will be an ?on the job? and ad hoc training.

Length of existence
Caritas Ile Maurice has existed since 1965.
Project Leaders Mssrs Beemadoo and Ramchurn have more than 25 years of combined experience in project management, logistics, communications and operations.

Organisational structure
A separate bank account will be created with two signatories, one from Caritas Ile Maurice office bearers and Danen Beemadoo as one of the project leaders. There will be project leaders, project coordinator and resources persons that will be paid as a token for the smooth implementation of the project.




Umbrella Grouping and Legal Status
Approached by Danen Beemadoo and Chetan Ramchurn to collaborate with them on the above-mentioned project, Caritas Ile Maurice has agreed to same. The project will be placed under the umbrella of Caritas Ile Maurice as legal entity, under a separate and dedicated endeavour with its own bank account.
1.3 Project Objectives and Expected Results
Primary objective
The primary objective of this project is to empower, through the setting up of an aquaponic project, 6 families living in the Bambous Virieux- Mahebourg region that have seen their livelihoods threatened as a result of the Wakashio oil spill. As the French newspaper Le Monde highlights in its 29thof October edition:

«Les pêcheurs ne peuvent plus vendre leur poisson : il est officiellement interdit de consommer rougets, mulets, calamars, ourites (poulpes) en provenance du sud-est de l?île. Les titulaires d?une licence sont censés toucher une aide de 10 200 roupies par mois (217 euros) de la part de l?Etat. Ceux qui relèvent du secteur informel ne savent à quel saint se vouer ou prennent le risque de proposer tout de même leurs prises sous le manteau.»

Besides using a chemical-free, organic process, this project will enable families to sustain themselves in terms of food and finances and will also bolster their self-esteem in the locality as a result of their environmental stewardship.
Rationale
Since the Wakashio oil spill in July 2020, access to the sea is prohibited. No fisher or any person is allowed to fish in that area. Fishes coming from the region afflicted by the Wakashio spill are prohibited for sale. The National Coast Guard is constantly monitoring the region to fine any person fishing in the region. Moreover, consumers are very well aware and do not buy any fish that comes from the afflicted region. Most of the people living in the region earn a living from the sea, be it as fisher, as skipper or any tourist related activities. And on above all, the effect of the Coronavirus pandemic, tourist related activities haves been affected since. Most people are trying to survive while embarking upon other activities like agriculture and home-base income generating activities. The macro-economic conditions are likely to worsen with people finding themselves trapped in a financial quagmire with several enterprises going out of business and unemployment likely to pick up. This disenfranchisement from working life could potentially lead people to go astray so as to sustain themselves as well as their families. This endeavour will give them greater financial autonomy and allow them to face the uncertain conditions better equipped.
Specific Objectives
Specific Objective 1:
In concrete terms, it is expected that with the proper training and support, a weekly production of 25 organic lettuces and other green leaves and 4 lbs. of chemical-free fish will be reaped from each installed aquaponic facility thus helping families to meet their weekly food requirements.
Specific Objective 2:
Additionally it will nurture an entrepreneurship spirit among beneficiaries, bolster their self-esteem and allow them to generate a new source of income.
Specific Objective 3:
Opening the farms to the community will allow for the promotion of food security and the showcasing of organic food which will be sold to the local community, restaurants and businesses.
Specific Objective 4:
After one year full training and mentoring, the beneficiaries will be encouraged to work together and create a synergy to regroup all the 6 families in some form of cooperative to market and sell their products. Each family will grow different varieties of vegetables in order to constitute an organic basket (fish and several vegetables) to the public. The basket will constitute several vegetables, salads and fish. A basket will be enough for a nuclear family for at least one week. The idea is to be able to have a least 10 baskets per week.
Specific Objective 5:
Create a label for this cooperative and a branding campaign will be put in place to help the beneficiaries to market their product. Diverse marketing tools will be used to help them sell their products with a high value added. The packaging will be worked out to respect the mindset of a real circular economy and will be a natural one.
1.4 Description of Project Activities
Set up aquaponic system for 6 families:
The team composed of 2 project leaders and a project coordinator along with the support of Caritas-Ile Maurice will accompany 6 families from the Mahebourg - Bambous Virieux / Grand Port region over a period of 12 months. Aquaponic installations on roofs and in backyards will be created. Proper monitoring will be carried out on these projects throughout their duration. The aquaponic system requires great care and monitoring. A discrepancy in follow-up can lead to the system failure and then all should be started again from scratch. These families will be trained in aquaponics and their stories told on social media so that their self-esteem is boosted and the marketability of their products enhanced at commercialisation phase. A special label for them will be created so that the chemical free and organic cachet of the products is properly showcased. Superfoods like Kale will be cultivated as it has the characteristic of eliminating cancer and would be attractive to potential customers.
Output 1: Aquaponic installations will be open to public and school children with due attention given to health &safety:
Upon the consent of the beneficiaries, the activities of this project will be given visibility not only through the creation of a following on social media but also through the organisation of visits to the farms. The team will liaise with the concerned authorities and bodies to inform them about the possibility of carrying out visits at the different farms. Through this, we will give visibility to this initiative at national level.
Output 2: Market and sell aquaponic products
The beneficiaries will be consulted and encouraged to offer useful insights on their lives so as to develop a narrative and a proper marketing strategy together with the broad experience of Mr Chetan Ramchurn so that the products can gain heightened awareness. Potential clients will be identified and a cooperative created for the selling of these products. These will be advertised on social media. Tasting campaigns will be organised to promote these organic vegetables and fishes.

Output 3: Monitoring throughout the project
Fortnightly reports will be sent to the GEF SGP so that the progress achieved can be measured in a regular manner. Regular site visits and exchanges with the beneficiaries, trainers and stakeholders will be carried out so as to ensure that the beneficiaries are engaged and are properly informed and given the opportunity to offer their views and that the project is on course and the sought objectives are achieved.
1.5 Implementation Plan and Time Frame
The project will be carried out over 12 months. It is expected that the commercialisation of products will start as from 3 months but full-fledged offers will be available after the 9th month. Training will be carried out over a 3-month period and monitoring during the whole process for the beneficiaries to fully master the system. The beneficiaries will be involved as from the first day. They are expected to do most of the implementation and setting up of the system. As mentioned previously, it will be an on the job training.
Project milestones are as follows:
After the first 3 months:
Site visits at different locations carried out and social agreements with beneficiaries finalised. Choice of system (rooftop or backyard) decided. A detailed planning offered to the participants. Training completed. Installation of farm infrastructure begins.
After the first 6 months:
Farm infrastructure set up with fish already being nurtured in them. First videos launched on social media. Press coverage on these activities will be sought.
After the first 9 months:
Full-fledged production of lettuces/greens and fish
After 12 months:
Possibility of setting up a cooperative proposed to beneficiaries, visibility enhanced, stories told.


1.6 Plan to Ensure Community Participation
This endeavour will include an initial group of 6 families based in Grand Port / Bambous Virieux - Mahebourg. People who depended directly on fishing in the region and are affected by the Wakashio oil spill have been identified by Caritas Ile Maurice are considered for this project. Other criterion will be the possibility of installing the aquaponic facility (availability of backyard and concrete roof). Other criteria that will be taken into consideration are the family size, the degree of motivation of beneficiaries. Caritas Ile-Maurice has profound knowledge and considerable experience of the region and its inhabitants.
1.7 Knowledge Management

Through regular press communiqués, online posts and by weaving a narrative that would detail the progress of the project as well through interviews of the beneficiaries on a regular basis, the key lessons, knowledge and good practices will be disseminated. Moreover, with the organisation of trips for primary school students, a new generation will acquaint itself with the project, thus helping a new generation to learn about the never giving up spirit, the will to fight and not let apathy take over.
SECTION B: RISKS, MONITORING AND EVALUATION:

Key assumptions of this project are:
-Participants are willing and able to participate
Mitigation measures if this is no longer the case: All measures taken so as to encourage participation with special focus on their self-esteem. Participants will be empowered and assume an environmental leadership position in their regions.
-The roofs and backyards are adequate for the installation of an aquaponic systems
Mitigation measures: Proper site visits with careful analysis of the facilities at hand will be carried out. The weight of the system is enough to sustain heavy wind. However, it will bear the same effect that planting in the soil in case of very strong winds.
-No major causes, or force majeure, will thwart the progress of the project (Difficult to say with the uncertain conditions)
Mitigation measures: Seedlings and fishes will be kept safely at another location so that they are not affected. The backyard installation will be laid on a concrete base to be more stable in case of heavy rain.
-Open market to a competitive price:
Mitigation measures: Prices will be readjusted and products reviewed based on customer feedback

1.7 Gender Mainstreaming

The project can only thrive if members of both genders in a family partake in maintaining and nurturing it. As such, there is no demarcation between the genders in their participation. In this endeavour men and women alike will be farmers, with responsibilities in ensuring that the system is functioning properly. This will also serve to bolster the image of women as entrepreneurs that are actively involved in the uplifting of their family livelihood.



1.8 Communication and Replication of Project Results

Through regular reports sent to the UNDP GEF SGP, a link to a quarterly newsletter disseminated online, a regularly updated Facebook page which will showcase the progress achieved and press releases which should allow for a wide dissemination of the landmarks achieved, key information shall be communicated to a wide audience.











2.1 Monitoring, Evaluation Plan and Indicator
Table 1: Activity Planning: PROJECT WORKPLAN AND MONITORING SCHEDULE
Project Number: Project Name: Capacity building and economic empowerment of Wakashio-afflicted communities through Aquaponics

Name of Grant Recipient: Caritas Ile Maurice (with the active participation of Messrs Beemadoo and Ramchurn)

Brief Description of General Objective of Project: Setting up aquaponic farming as a way of thwarting the effects of the Wakashio oil spill

GEF Focal Area: Chemicals and Wastes Project Start and End Dates: 1st of July 2021- 30thJune 2022
Brief Description of Specific Objective #1: Identification of Beneficiaries, legal agreements signed, choice of system, training and Infrastructure installation
List the activities necessary to fulfil this objective. Indicate who is responsible for each activity and an indicator of activity accomplishment. Duration of Activity in Months (or Quarters)
Activity Responsible Party Indicator 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
1.1 Selection of candidates carried out with Caritas Mahebourg. Site visits at different locations carried out. Danen Beemadoo, Chetan Ramchurn, Project Coordinator, Caritas Mahebourg. 7 participating families (gender disaggregated)






1.2 Social agreements with beneficiaries finalised. Danen Beemadoo, Chetan Ramchurn, Project Coordinator, Caritas Mahebourg 7 agreements signed

1.3 Choice of system (rooftop or backyard) decided. A detailed planning offered to the participants. Installation of concrete basement. Danen Beemadoo, Chetan Ramchurn, Project Coordinator, Caritas Mahebourg 7 system identified

1.4 Training completed. Installation of farm infrastructure begins. Danen Beemadoo, Chetan Ramchurn, Project Coordinator, Caritas Mahebourg Number of people
In the 7 families trained on project development, monitoring, evaluation, etc.
Brief Description of Specific Objective #2: Infrastructure set up, production starts and gradually escalates.

Activity Responsible Party Indicator 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
2.1 Farm infrastructure set up with fish already being nurtured in them. First videos launched on social media. Press coverage on these activities will be sought. Danen Beemadoo, Chetan Ramchurn, Project Coordinator, Caritas Mahebourg 7 Farms up and running. Video showed.

2.2 Full-fledged production of lettuces/greens and fish
Danen Beemadoo, Chetan Ramchurn, Project Coordinator, Caritas Mahebourg Increase in purchasing power by reduced spending, increased income, and/or other means
2.3 Cooperative set up, visibility enhanced, stories told.
Danen Beemadoo, Chetan Ramchurn, Project Coordinator, Caritas Mahebourg Number of NGOs/CBOs formed or registered

Indicate persons responsible for monitoring and progress reports: Monitoring Frequency / Reporting: Fortnightly or Monthly
Monitoring and Record-Keeping Chetan Ramchurn, Danen Beemadoo
Progress Reports Chetan Ramchurn, Danen Beemadoo

SECTION C: PROJECT BUDGET
3.1 Financial Details

Project Funding Summary
Table 2: Project funding summary
Funding Source Funding Plan, [local currency] Total [local currency]
a. GEF SGP 1,997,750 1,997,750
b. Community (in kind contribution) 1,214,000 814,000
c. Proposing Organization (in kind contribution) 1,640,000 1,640,000
d. UNDP 1,403,500 1,403,500
Total Project Cost 6,225,250 6,225,250


Table 3: Community Contributions/Beneficiaries Contribution/Other contributions
Sources of Contribution (Beneficiaries Contribution) Type (cash/in kind ) Committed or Projected?* Value, in local currency
1.Cleeven Francois- plot of land (40m2) Kind Committed 84,000
2.Louis Danick Matombe ? plot of land (35m2) Kind Committed 73,000
3.Marie Jeanne Apollon ? concrete based (10m2) Kind Committed 100,000
4.Emanuel Farelle Lagaillarde ? plot of land (35m2) Kind Committed 73,000
5.SomeraVaruna ? Roof top (40m2) Kind Committed 400,000
6.Latouche Louis Fredy Didieu ? Plot of land (40m2) Kind Committed 84,000
7. Marie Sandy Monrose and Marie Claire Robinson ? Roof top (40m2) Kind Committed 400,000
Total 1,214,000

Proposing Organization Contribution

Table 4: Proposing organizations contributions
Sources of Contribution Type(cash/in kind) Committed or Projected? Value, local currency
1.SEL Foundation (human resources and support) Kind Projected 840,000
2.Caritas Ile Maurice Kind Projected 800,000
Total 1,640,000

3.3 Bank Details
Caritas Bank details to be provided here:
CARITAS ILE MAURICE ?
MCB Acc no ? 000020141645
Iban: MU33MCBL0902000000141645000MUR

Sustainability of Results Achieved

This project seeks to achieve a template that can be replicated in other disenfranchised areas. By telling the stories of people from a region most severely impacted by events outside their control, this activity will give hope to other communities and show that there is the possibility of embarking on an entrepreneurship journey that will not only heighten their self-esteem but also ensure their livelihoods. We will also work on mitigating risks so that these do not lead to the failure of our endeavour. Through careful planning and monitoring the beneficiaries will be accompanied at every step of their adventure. Through stories weaved around the idea of never giving up, the voices of those benefitting from this project will echo with others. Financers through CSR funds or crowd funding or personal donations will be able to contribute towards similar projects across the island.












Table 5: Projected expenditures

Cost/Unit No. of Units Requested from SGP/Total (MUR) Requested from UNDP/Total (MUR)
Personnel/Labour
Project Leader 15,000 12 180,000
Service Fee (Project Coordinator, Caritas) 15,000 12 180,000
Marketing and Communication Coordinator 10,000 12 120,000
Training/meeting sessions (refreshments) 2,000 12 24,000
Welder, Plumber, mason, workers 30,000 3 90,000
Equipment/Materials
Aquaponic system 150,000 6 900,000 150,000
Concrete Basement 199,700 5 998,500
NFT system (Aquaponics Vertical System) 225,500
Seedlings 15 1,500 22,500
Fish 25 500 12,500
Tools 41,050 1 41,050
Seeds 5 3,000 15,000
Farm Gear 5,000 6 30,000
Water test kits 2,500 6 15,000
Organic fertilisers 400 48 19,200
Compost 1,500 6 9,000
Cooler Box 2,500 6 15,000
Transport
Transport Services 9,000 12 108,000
Marketing/Communications
Launching ceremony 43,000 1 43,000
T-shirts 350 100 35,000
Banners 6,000 6 36,000
Website (Hosting, Design, etc) 50,000 1 50,000
Branding 27,500 1 27,500
Facebook boosts over 12-month period 1,500 12 18,000
Videography and Photography (2 short films & 100 photo album) 57,000 1 57,000
Sub Total 1,997,750
Community (beneficiaries contribution) - In Kind
Cleeven Francois plot of land (40m2) 84,000 1 84,000
Louis Danick Matombe ? plot of land
(35m2) 73,000 1 73,000
Marie Jeanne Apollon ? concrete
based (10m2) 100,000 1 100,000
Emanuel Farelle Lagaillarde ? plot
of land (35m2) 73,000 1 73,000
Somera Varuna ? Roof top (40m2) 400,000 1 400,000
Latouche Louis Fredy Didieu ? Plot
of land (40m2) 84,000 1 84,000
Marie Sandy Monrose and Marie Claire Robinson - Roof top (40m2) 400,000 1 400,000
Sub Total 1,214,000 1,214,000
Proposing Organisation - In Kind
SEL Foundation (human resources and support) 840,000 1 840,000
Caritas Ile Maurice 800,000 1 800,000
Sub Total 1,640,000
Total UNDP 1,424,000
Grand Total 6,245,750

ANNEX 1

Profile of Beneficiaries:


Beneficiaries
1.Cleeven Francois (40m2)
Mr. Francois who works as fisherman and mason who showed great interest in the project, as demonstrated by the research carried out on the subject matter. Financially-affected since the oil spill, he is eager to see the project started and participate in same. He has some 40m2 to offer for the project, but after our first site visit and after having done some research on the subject, Mr Francois was even more enthusiastic and has made more efforts to double the area of the plot of land he wants to put at the disposal for this project. He is very keen to start and implement the business model. Mr Francois has shown that he can act as an ambassador for this project. Also during our last site visit, Mr Francois is well organized and we have seen that his family together with his father and mother, they are very well prepared to kick off the project.
2.Louis Danick Matombe (35m2)
Mr. Matombe works as a planter but used to rely on the sea to sustain his livelihood. As access to the sea is restricted and he finds himself in a difficult position to feed his family. He is keen to be embarked on the project as this will give his family a food security and be self-sufficient. After the oil spill, Mr Matombe has started to plant and to breed. When we approach him for our aquaponic project, we could see relief on his face. As he knows very well that this will be also another source of revenue for him. He indeed has no objection to show to the public the success of his project in the future. Mr Matombe has offered his backyard to implement the project.
3.Marie Jeanne Apollon (10m2)
Ms. Apollon is a fisherwoman heavily impacted by the oil spill. However, with the restrictions imposed, she can no longer fish. While she sells seashells to sustain a living, she needs another source food and income for her family. As seashells is a seasonal and restricted activity and that access to the sea is prohibited, she is seeking an alternative source and our project is spot on. Despite her being very shy, she has offered her terrace with a splendid sea view for the installation of the aquaponic system. She is also very used to consume fresh water fish like tilapia.
4.Emanuel Farelle Lagaillarde (35m2)
Mr. Lagaillarde lost his job as skipper some 2 years back and is in dire need of a new source of income. This project would give the opportunity start earning again and would complement their food supply. We have noticed an entrepreneurship leanings in Mr Lagaillarde as despite the tourist sector being dormant, he is finding ways for an alternative source of revenue. He was trying to breed crabs and wanted to follow an aquaponics course. Since his lack of know-how resulting from his lack of funds, he was not able to pursue this avenue. This project is like manna from heaven. He has the full support of his mother, father and sister for this project. He has already started to clean his backyard to install the aquaponics system.
5. Varuna Somera (40m2)
Mrs Somera is a housewife and her husband is a fisherman who has suffered from the ecological disaster. She sees the project as one where every member of her family can contribute and render successful. More importantly, a fish farm would present the family with a formidable financial and alimentary help. Mrs Somera has offered her roof top to implement the project. She has already showed interest in agriculture to be self-sufficient and she is very keen to implement such project.
6. Louis Fredy Didieu Latouche (40m2)
Fisherman in the area, Mr. Latouche breeds pigs and ducks and additionally works as planter. He is passionate about planting, farming and nurturing. The gentleman is very keen on joining the project as he has a client base in Curepipe and could sell the products of the aquaponic farm to it. He has offered his backyard for the implementation of the project. We have noticed the fighting spirit of Mr Latouche that he is willing to make this happen.
7. Marie Sandy Monrose and Marie Claire Robinson (40m2)
Mrs Monrose and Mrs Robinson are both sister and residents of Residences La Chaux, Mahebourg. The cumulated effects of the oil spill and the pandemic have impacted their respective household terribly. Mrs Monrose is very engaged in social works within the community and has been helping a lot during the hard time following the oil spill and pandemic situation. Mrs Robinson also is very affected her main source of revenue if from the sea. As their situation is very unstable, they have not hesitated at all to jump on the opportunity to partake in and promote the aquaponic culture on his roof top. Mrs Monrose and Mrs Robinson are very keen to venture in this project as they are very committed and are actively engaged in community development.