1.1 Project Summary
Introduction
This proposal is being submitted under the consolidation phase of the project that was implemented between January 2010 and September 2011 and was supported by the GEF/SGP with funding amounting to US$27,000. STEP also contributed matching funds. The project was entitled Benefit Driven Land Rehabilitation and Biodiversity Conservation through Sustainable utilization of Masengere in Honde Valley. The main objective of the project was to contribute towards the reduction of land degradation and livelihood improvement of rural communities in Honde Valley through the development of a viable masengere craft sector.

The project had 3 main objectives namely:
(i)To promote environmental awareness and active environment protection interventions in selected wards;
(ii)To facilitate the development and adoption of effective techniques for sustainable utilization of Masengere; and
(iii) To facilitate the development of a viable masengere craft sector in Honde Valley emphasizing on the participation of women in the business and the development of markets for this and other ago based products.

It was implemented in 4 wards i.e. 1, 3, 4 and 5 targeting weaving households in these areas. The project worked with a total of 140 weaving households of which 52 were female headed households.

This first phase achieved increased environmental awareness, created new opportunities for agro and bamboo crafts entrepreneurship. These positive gains can only be sustained if project management committees are strong, women are fully involved and when the Pungwe catchment areas are actively re-forested. This proposed consolidation phase is expected to address these areas to ensure lasting effects. The next section presents the achievements of Phase I.

OBJECTIVE 1: To promote environmental awareness and active environment protection interventions in selected wards1.
1. Facilitate the development of community catchment management plans
1.2. Identify existing institutions for natural resources management and conduct a capacity assessment
1.3. Conduct training workshop for environment management committees
1.4. Define the roles and responsibilities of ward management committees
1.5. Demonstrate rehabilitation techniques
1.6. Facilitate the implementation of relevant environmental rehabilitation projects (gulley reclamation, indigenous trees planting,
1.7.Purchase water diversion pipes for a communal water harvesting project in 1 ward
1.8.Facilitate access to alternative energy sources e.g. firewood from neighboring forest plantation

Outputs
4 community catchment management plans developed
Participatory institutional assessment conducted, Role players in each ward identified,
4 Ward natural resources management committees established but two of the committees are functional
4 Rehabilitation techniques demonstrated in all wards emphasizing on use of local resources ? masengere gabions, bananas and vertiver, 540 sand bags. 3 sites showing signs of recovery
Propagation of 12 indigenous trees in 4 nurseries with 940 seedlings and 160 bamboo in pots enough to be planted over estimated 5 hac of catchment area
Commemorated national Fire week and Tree planting day. 2 gardens supporting 56 households. 12 rolls covering a distance of 2900m to one group of 25 women in gardening
Not achieved: distances too long and not cost effective for private sector forestry company
y in two wards
Distributed 8 wheel burrows, 8 shovels and 800 sand bags


Outcomes
Communities now are clear on environment management priorities, roles and responsibilities/obligations
Environmental management committees aware of roles and responsibilities and effectiveness improved
Rehabilitation techniques adopted and ecologically sensitive areas such as stream banks and slopes actively protected
An estimated 16 ha. of land area is under active rehabilitation through tree planting, gulley reclamation and control of runoff along the roads.Communities desist from stream bank gardening activities and move to homestead gardens
Gardening group has realized income from the sale of horticulture products i.e. Zindi-Chiteme Women Group. In their first season, they managed to plant onions and tomatoes and realized an income of $300


OBJECTIVE 2: To identify and facilitate the adoption of effective techniques for sustainable utilization of masengere

Activities relating to objective 2
2.1Conduct participatory resource assessment to establish stock levels and current threats
2.2 Conduct study on effective harvesting techniques of masengere including traditional techniques
2.3.Train users in effective harvesting techniques and promote awareness of the techniques
2.4.Conduct an assessment of institutional mechanisms in place for monitoring application of sustainable harvesting techniques, control of access and benefit sharing
2.5.Facilitate the development of by laws that govern effective management, control of access of masengere in the valley

Outputs
Bamboo participatory resource mapping conducted in 4 wards

Detailed assessments conducted in assessments completed in 2 wards and
1 Technical guide of all techniques for sustainable harvesting of masengere produced and distributed to all weavers

Techniques demonstrated in each ward to 74 male weavers and 56 women,

Report produced on institutional assessments for monitoring, control of access and benefit sharing produced

By laws for effective management and control of access developed in each ward

By laws not consolidated for submission to council

Outcomes
Shared knowledge on resource status and levels of utilization

An estimated 10% of the total 11800ha. of masengere forests is under active management.


Sustainable harvesting techniques adopted in all participating wards ensuring a more secure resource base

OBJECTIVE 3: To facilitate the development of a viable masengere craft sector in Honde Valley emphasizing on the participation of women in the business and the development of markets for this and other agro-based products

Activities related to objective 3
3.1. Conduct an assessment to establish current economic value of masengere in Honde Valley, existing market and products
3.2. Selection of entrepreneurial weavers
3.3. Skills assessment and skills development plan
3.4. Collect and show case possible products and facilitate new products development ? weaving workshops
3.5. Facilitate design collaboration with basketry experts
3.6. Facilitate exchange visits between the Honde Valley weaving community and other successful craft producer groups in the country
3.7. Conduct training in weaving as a business including pricing and negotiation skills
3.8. Facilitate market linkages for Outputs
1 report on the Status of Masengere business produced and disseminated

74 entrepreneurs in 4 wards identified
1 report skills assessment and training needs
Two design workshops conducted for all identified weavers,

3 institutions collaborated with the project in design training
37 new product designs of which 2 of the new designs were produced by women

3 Exchange visits conducted with communities in Binga, weavers in Harare, and neighboring wards in Honde
1 business training conducted in craft business
1 training in proposal writing
Permanent exhibition space has been secured at 3 ?up market? outlets
One export market has been secured in Cape Town and the response to the products has been positive.

Two wards out of the 4 had active committees. As a result the project could not proceed with the facilitation to establish the Masengere Weavers Association. The project failed to establish active Committees in all wards.
crafts and other agro produce
3.9. Facilitate the establish a weavers marketing association ? (registration of members, developing constitution, and conducting meetings meeting)

Outcomes
The appreciation of the potential of masengere as a productive asset has improved
Relevant weaving and business skills and entrepreneurs capacity to establish and operate a viable weaving enterprise has improved

Product diversity and marketability has increased

The ability to respond to market demands has increased

Generally, average income at baseline ranged between US$25 ? 40 per month. The project successfully increased income opportunities for specific households. This however varied highly between households, wards and seasons. Those who managed to sell goods realized an average income of US$110/month.

At least 34 women have started on weaving. One group had already produced a new basket. The first samples sent to the market earned the women?s group US$80.

Improved market access,
Improved networking to achieve economies of scale and coordinated marketing for crafts and other agro produce

Rationale and Justification

Phase I of the project was implemented for 18 months between the period January 2010 to June 2011. Phase I also successfully developed a market led weaving project in which individual weavers developed new products. 37 new product lines were introduced. 50% of the product lines have fairly promising markets. New markets were identified hotels, private schools, and one major Cape Town market secured through the New Basket Workshop.

To a greater extent the outcomes were realised but however there were a number of outstanding issues that still need to be addressed in order to realize the full range of intended outcomes. The principal deficiencies of the project and the outcomes not realized as a result included:

Challenges in Phase I

The main challenges faced in Phase I included:
? Community institutions were weak only 2 were functional
? Women involvement was below target
? Seedlings planting, reforestation
? Promotion of appropriate technologies for bamboo processing to encourage women to participate
? Quantification of achievement
? Small area rehabilitated 10 hac out of an estimated 98 hectares
? Business management training ? proposals, costing/pricing and a viable marketing strategy

The Gaps in Delivering Outputs in Phase I
? Although the project delivered outputs and achieved marked results, there are a number of outstanding activities that the project still needs to address to reasonably contribute towards the goal. A participatory evaluation of the first phase revealed the following shortfalls: Short project period which could not allow replanting of seedlings and full market development
? Limited attention to technology development for bamboo processing, fuel wood and agro processing
? Male dominated sector, women participation marginal
? Food insecurity, drew attention away from the project activities
? Limited progress towards institutional development due to a number of factors including large size of wards, competing priorities, perception as a weavers project, high expectations
? Divergent views among local communities on Lantana camara resulting in conflicting management approaches

These are elaborated as follows:

(i) The short project period (18 months) ? Because of the short period, the project only supported establishment of nurseries 3 indigenous tree nurseries established in the project wards and 1 woodlot established at Muparutsa, Ward 5, Primary school. An estimated 1200 tree seedlings were established in nurseries and 400 seedlings were distributed to households through school children in Muparutsa, Ward 5, villages. Due to the short project period, a rainy season was missed and the project had limited time for planting trees in selected areas.
(ii) Other aspects related to the short period included limited support to agricultural production and support towards value addition of agricultural products.
(iii) Limited attention towards appropriate technology development for processing masengere ? labor constraints were not fully addressed and this limited the participation of women in weaving and also jeopardized product development.
(iv) Involvement of women and youth was initially weak. Initially, there were no incentives for women?s participation ? the number of women that participated in the project was lower than planned.
(v) Limited progress towards institutional development ? two out of the 4 ward committees were functional at the end of the project. The wards were too large, training resources to fully develop the committees were limited and hence the committees poorly functioned and by the end of June 2011 they were not in a position to support or sustain the initiatives of the project.
(vi) Sustainability of community led awareness initiatives ? the number of initiatives within the area are isolated and there has been little exchanges between groups implementing these initiatives and limited documentation of the success stories to facilitate replication.

The key environmental problems still need to be continuously addressed. These are

? Land degradation due to poor livelihoods activities including cultivation on slopes and in stream banks
? Increase in the spread of Lantana camara
? Threat to international river system ? supported by the Pungwe catchment
? Decline in agricultural production due to climate variability
? Increasing dependence on Parks for forest resources

This project has therefore been designed to consolidate the outcomes on the initial initiatives and in addition address the aspect of value addition and technology in order to maximize the participation of women, improve sustainable harvesting of wild resources and increase income opportunities in the area. The next section outlines the proposed approach, location, target, objectives, activities, outputs and outcomes for



Proposed approach
The purpose of the project is to address the land degradation of the Pungwe upper catchment through agricultural and natural resources related market led initiatives. The project will support improved production efficiency in communal gardening projects, cropping away from stream banks, tree planting and sustainable management of forests and the consolidation of a bamboo crafts market chain system. The market led initiatives will be grounded on community led natural resources management initiatives that are meant to support sustained utilization of natural resources and production systems.

The project will have a particular focus on women and youths participation and will strengthen existing community institutions, consolidate local level bylaws for sustainable natural resources management, explore opportunities for value addition of agricultural products and introduce new appropriate technologies and techniques for processing bamboo and selected agro products. This will include yams, sweet potatoes and ginger. (the project will explore the possibility of extracting ginger oil).

Location of Project Sites
The project is located in Mutasa District, in Honde Valley. The Valley?s 14 wards cover the most northern part of the district. According to CSO (2002) Mutasa District has a population 166,646 from 39,629 households which is 52.91% and Honde valley is estimated to accommodate a third of the total district population. From the 2003 technical publication on the Pungwe IWRM project, it can be estimated that the valley population could be around 70,000. Honde Valley area falls predominantly in Agro-Ecological Region III. Major rivers that flow through the Honde Valley into Mozambique are Pungwe and Honde River and have a number of perennial streams that drain into them.



Fig 1: Map of the Operational Area, Map of Zimbabwe Showing Mutasa District, North/Honde Valley

Profile of the project sites and targeted communities involved
The proposed project will be implemented in 5 wards namely Ward 1 Chikomba, Ward 3 Zindi, Ward 4 Mandeya and Ward 5 Muparutsa and will target a total of 129 households and an estimated total of 800 direct beneficiaries.
? Ward 3 Zindi: 26 women and 10 men (36 households) involved in bamboo weaving, conservation activities and market gardening.
? Ward 4 Mandeya: The Batanai group in Mandeya consists of 23 women and 12 men (35 households) involved in rehabilitation activities, weaving and gardening.
? Ward 1 Chikomba: The project site consists of 41 households to benefit an estimated 240 individuals in Dowera area. The conservation group consists of 68% women.
? Ward 5 Muparutsa: The project will support a group of 15 women and 3 men (17 households) all of who are involved in bamboo weaving.
The project is designed to address critical threats in the Honde Valley including land degradation, international waters and related environmental awareness areas that contribute towards the national GEF/SGP programme.
1.2 Organizational Background and Capacity to implement the project
? Nature of the proposing organization ? STEP is a registered Trust (Reg # 000685/2011) Deed Protocol # 1/2009) that was established in 2009. It has a national office in Harare and supports a wide range of rural community institutions located in areas with high tourism potential.

? Introduction to STEP: STEP in an Environment and Development NGO which was established in March 2009 upon registration as a Trust under the registration number 2/2009. STEP is an outcome of an organic development of individual experiences in the field of environment, rural development and tourism. A consortium of 6 specialists decided to put in place the STEP initiative. The specialists form the Board and are responsible for designing the programmes and providing strategic leadership for STEP. STEP?s calling is to transform the lives of local disadvantaged communities through facilitating their involvement in community tourism. STEP facilitates (i) the establishment of viable community managed tourism enterprises through business skills development and market linkages and (ii) the management of catchments that support community based tourism services, products and activities including conservation, rehabilitation, and preservation of cultural and heritage assets.

? STEPs target groups: STEP targets rural and urban marginalised communities, specifically targeting vulnerable groups, in cultural/unique heritage areas, craft makers in rural areas who are making crafts from their local natural resources, and any communities who provide tourism services.

? STEPs competencies for relevant to the project: As a new organization, much of STEP?s strengths and relevant competency for the proposed project is drawn from the experience of the individuals who form and have been employed by STEP. Through their previous work with organizations like the Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources, Parks and Wildlife Management Authoring, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, Water and Sanitation Institute, STEP staff have been involved in various natural resources based rural livelihoods projects in almost all provinces in Zimbabwe. Directly related to this project, STEP staff have experience in community mobilization, facilitating benefit driven natural resources management. More specifically individuals that form STEP have successfully facilitated crafts and conservation projects in Chiredzi, Chimanimani, Chipinge and Binga Districts where communities have been assisted in establishing sustainable harvesting techniques and developed unique crafts that fetch better prices in tourism markets.

? Currently STEP employs five full time employees, the Executive Director, Programmes Officer, Program Assistant, Administration Officer and Care taker. The Executive Director, Mrs Anne Madzara is an Ecologist, Rural Development specialist and PRA trainer and facilitator with over 15 years practical experience in environment and development work. The Programme Officer, Ms Julia Rewai is a marketing specialist with experience in entrepreneurial skills development and marketing. It also employs an administrative assistant, Ms Mukwati, responsible for finance and administration.

? It is against this background of experience that STEP draws its confidence in its ability to implement the proposed project.

? Purpose and core activities of the proposing organization/group: STEP?s purpose is to transform the lives of local disadvantaged communities through facilitating their involvement in community based enterprises and environmental management initiatives that enhance livelihoods and tourism value chain. The core activities include landscapes management, environmental awareness; small communal gardening support; business training and enterprise development; and development/refinement of community tourism products and marketing.

? Organizational approach for project implementation: STEP?s approach to implementation is community led visioning, planning and implementation of interventions. In enterprise development, STEP will adopt market led value chain development which will be supported through training and exposure visits. It is expected that benefits derived from natural resource based enterprises will motivate and sustain environmental management in the targeted areas.

? Length of existence and project management experience: The project was initiated in January 2010. STEP Zimbabwe team has worked closely with community leaders and weaving committees to manage the project over the last 18 months.

? Organizational structure, governance and administrative framework: A 6 member board of Trustees, governed by a registered Constitution, oversees the organization through the Executive Director. The Executive Director is responsible for the day to day operations guided by a 5 year strategic plan. The Board meets quarterly to deliberate on strategic issues. The Board has a Finance and Administration Committee responsible for guiding the executive on all Financial and Administrative matters.
STEP has five paid members of staff.

? Membership and affiliation to associations: STEP is a member of the CBNRM Forum of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Forest Working Group and the Climate Change Working Group.

? Legal status: STEP is a Trust with a protocol number 1/2009 and has a Deeds Registration.

? Target population group: The project is targeting indigenous communities of Honde. The total direct participants are 129 households, an estimated total of 800 direct beneficiaries. An estimated 1500 households within the catchment are indirect beneficiaries. Of these 68% are women, 81% of whom are widowed or single women, 20% of the 129 members are youths.

? Previous experience relevant to the proposed project: STEP has experience in implementing environmental rehabilitation activities that range from resource inventorying, community action planning, gully reclamation, eradication of invasive species, sustainable forest management, sustainable forest utilization for selected species, environmental awareness and sustainable development at community level in the Honde valley and Mudzi Districts.

? Community Capacity to implement the project: The first phase worked through local leadership and councillors who already have vast experience in community mobilization, planning and to some extent, implementation. The project facilitated leadership training for key leaders and also facilitated a process of establishing project committee which oversees natural resources management planning and enterprise business. The women gardening projects are managed by a gardening committees. All committed have draft constitutions and developed community action plans that they were using to monitor implementation. The committees however need to be strengthened through training and involvement of more women and youths.
1.3 Project Objectives and Expected Results
The project objectives, expected results are already included in the project log frame below and highlighted herein.

Goal:
To contribute towards the reduction of land degradation and livelihood improvement of rural communities in Honde through the development of a viable masengere craft sector.

Objectives:
1. To scale up environment protection interventions in selected wards
2. To strengthen community institutions for viable enterprises and sustainable environmental management
3. To enhance the opportunities for agro and bamboo crafts income with special emphasis on women and youths

Expected Results
Result 1: Increase in area under active environmental management (Increased incidences of responsible behaviours and positive attitude towards the environment)
Result 2: Targeted households, particularly women headed, realize better access to dynamic and supportive markets for crafts and agro products.
Result 3: Increased efficiency and effectiveness of local institutions in managing community initiatives initiated by the project
Result 4: New labor saving technologies for weaving and watering introduced
Result 5: Options for value addition of key cash crops investigated and value addition plans developed

Description of Project Activities, Outputs and Outcomes for Phase II
Activities to be implemented
Upscale the rehabilitation of graded areas through use of bamboo gabion and replicate to other areas
Increase environmental awareness through drama and document environmental awareness messages/theater on video
Train project participants in M&E data collection and reporting to improve on quantifying outputs and GEF indicators
Establish more nurseries and facilitate forestation using indigenous trees
Establish bamboo pilot plots and promote management guidelines
Facilitate the participation of more women in the project
Develop a marketing strategy and facilitate viable market linkages for the Bamboo Weavers
Strengthen project committees and establish a formal bamboo crafters institution
Introduce fuel wood saving stoves
Introduce appropriate technologies and techniques for bamboo processing
Support one more gardening group with water diversion systems to reduce stream bank cultivation
Explore opportunities for agro products processing ? Research
Quantifiable Outputs
All 4 wards adopt use of bamboo gabions
1 video produced and widely disseminated; theatre showcased in all participating wards
4 workshops one in each ward on M&E data collection
At least 4000 indigenous trees planted, 20% are bamboo,
2 bamboo experimental plots established and maintained in Zindi and Mandeya, 1600sqm each
at least 50% of active beneficiaries are women
Marketing Strategy and market partnerships
All wards have functional project committees, Honde Bamboo craft producers group formalized
10 demonstration households
At least 2 new appropriate bamboo technologies introduced
1 technique for bamboo preservation adopted
1 new technique for dying adopted
All female weavers are provided with scrapping knives
2.3km of water diversion pipes supplied to Zindi and Rumbidzai group
Research report highlighting possible opportunities and a business proposal


Objective 1: To scale up environment protection interventions in selected wards
Activities
1.1. Environmental Awareness activities with Muparutsa, Zindi and Chinaka Primary Schools.
1.2. Promoting environmental awareness through Drama ? Dowera Drama Group supported through covering transport costs and documentation.
1.3. Planting of 4000 indigenous trees from nurseries along the Pungwe River and tributaries, 20% of which are bamboo and hardwood tree Muonya
1.4. Establish bamboo experimental plots in Zindi and Mandeya ?
1.5. Promotion of energy serving stoves - at least 10 pilot/demonstration households in each ward.
1.6. Rehabilitation of gullies - 3 gullies in each ward.
Outputs
Awareness events reports
Performances of the group in other wards
4000 trees planted reports
2 Experimental plots of 1600sq m each
10 households exhibiting stoves
3 gully rehabilitation plans and rehabilitation reports
Outcomes
Increase in area under active environmental management (Increased incidences of responsible behaviours and positive attitude towards the environment).

At least 60 % of the targeted communities are actively engaged in environmental management activities

At least 4000 indigenous trees are planted in degraded forest areas from seedlings that are sources from local nurseries

20% of planted trees are bamboo and muonya (a hard wood tree species)

Rehabilitated gullies showing signs of recovery

Objective 2: To strengthen community institutions for viable enterprises and sustainable environmental management
Activities
2.1. Facilitate the development of community action plans
2.2. Facilitate the development of constitutions for committees
2.3. Conduct leadership training
2.4. Conduct business and marketing training
2.5.Facilitate exchange visits between community groups
Outputs
Community action plans
Constitutions drafts adopted
Training workshop conducted and report produced
Training report conducted and report produced
Exchange visit conducted and report produced

Outcomes
All three wards have well constituted and functional project committees overseeing business and environmental management activities

Increased efficiency and effectiveness of local institutions in managing community plans initiated by the project


Outcomes
All three wards have well constituted and functional project committees overseeing business and environmental management activities

Increased efficiency and effectiveness of local institutions in managing community plans initiated by the project




Outcomes
All three wards have well constituted and functional project committees overseeing business and environmental management activities

Increased efficiency and effectiveness of local institutions in managing community plans initiated by the project

Objective 3: To enhance the opportunities for agro and bamboo crafts income with special emphasis on women aActivities
3.1. Conduct design workshops for weavers and provide constant support towards product development
3.2. Provide direct support to new women weavers and facilitate training and skills transfer between experienced male weavers and women
3.3. Conduct business training for weavers
3.4. Develop a marketing strategy and Facilitate market linkages and participation of weavers at national expos
3.5. Support the Zindi and Mandeya women with water diversion systems
3.6. Conduct research and explore opportunities for value addition of crops (ginger, leaches, yams, sweet potatoes, and bananas)
3.7. Develop a business proposal for value addition and facilitate resource mobilization and partnerships for value addition of selected crops
3.8. Conduct research on technologies for bamboo processing & Pilot test technologies (for bamboo and crops) and adjust
3.9. Provide scrapping knives and sample dyes for weaving groups
3.10. Investigate, develop and roll out techniques for bamboo products preservation
nd youths
Outputs
Training workshop conducted and report produced
Meetings in which male weavers mentor women weavers
Training workshop conducted and report produced
Honde Bamboo Crafts Marketing Strategy
3 major markets secured
Expo reports
Water pipes delivered and installed
Research report highlighting options
Business proposal document
Research report highlighting technology options
All targeted beneficiaries receive the knives and dye packs
Guideline on preservation, dissemination to all beneficiaries
Outcomes
Targeted households, particularly women headed, realize better access to dynamic and supportive markets for crafts and agro products

2 groups are active and producing crafts and at least two agro products

At least 50% of active participants are women

Options for value addition of key cash crops investigated and value addition plans developed

New labor saving technologies introduced for bamboo weavers