As part of the project, CQHPCSL with funding from GEF SGP and in partnership with GIZ Selva Maya conducted two (2) training sessions conducted on internal policies resulted in the drafting of an internal policy document. There is no indication that this document has been approved or whether the policies outlined are being implemented but it was presented.
At the moment when this project was completed, there were no plans to scale up to a medium sized GEF grant.
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
Information about the project goals, objectives, results and activities will be shared with the general membership of the cooperative, collaborating partners and other interested members of the community. This will be done through the internet, workshops, meetings, field days to model beehive farms, exchange visits and awareness building. Pamphlets would also be produced and distributed to members. Especially green activities that relate to good agricultural practices and sustainable production. Whenever possible the media would also be used to inform the members and communities.
Replication of project activities
One of the outcomes of this project is the lessons learned on how to manage and handle apiaries. The training can be replicated by other Bee Keepers in Belize. The increased knowledge of honey production as a business can also benefit other organizations.
Inovative Financial Mechanisms
The Cayo Quality Honey Producers Cooperative is very conscious of the importance of gender as an important component in the future development of the cooperative. Members will make special efforts to ensure that more women and youth become members of the cooperative. As a matter of fact, a section of the first objective of this proposal is directed towards gender equity by increasing the participation of both women and youth in the affairs of the cooperative. One of the main activities of the project is to include 10 new members to cooperative targeting women and youth
Gender Focus
The activities are separated into two main categories. The first category addresses the Institutional Capacity building needs of the cooperative, including gender. The Cayo Quality Honey Producers Cooperative is very conscious of the importance of gender as an important component in the future development of the cooperative. Members will make special efforts to ensure that more women and youth become members of the cooperative. As a matter of fact, a section of the first objective of this proposal is directed towards gender equity by increasing the participation of both women and youth in the affairs of the cooperative. One of the main activities of the project is to include 10 new members to cooperative targeting women and youth
Notable Community Participation
The cooperative is expecting to develop a Strategy for the inclusion of women and youth in the cooperative.
Project sustainability
The evaluative findings suggest that at this particular point in time, CQHPC may not have the institutional capacity and financial resources to effectively continue this project on its own outside of GEF SGP and/or another donor; and without technical support from partners (Departments of Agriculture and Cooperatives). From an operations management stand point, the cooperative is limited in its capacity to manage its affairs which involve the administration of business practices to create the highest level of efficiency possible within the organization; thereby, converting materials and labor into goods and services as efficiently as possible to maximize profit. This inability has resulted in members operating to some degree independent of the cooperatives in order to ensure sale of all their products.
In terms of financial sustainability, this is negatively impacted by the cooperative’s capacity. An organization is financially sustainable if its core work will not collapse, even if external donor funding is withdrawn. In this case, the core work of the cooperative is marketing and sale of honey which they are constrained in doing.
Indications are that despite the cooperative’s position as described above, members will continue to engage in honey production and utilize techniques learnt through the project. Given the environmentally friendly nature of beekeeping and newly acquired skills, cooperative members will remain stewards of the environment and will continue to promote the need to safeguard the forest among other stakeholders.
Linkages gef projects
The overall objective of the project addresses SGP Operation Programme (OP) 5 Immediate Objective 10: Enhance and strengthen capacities of CSOs (particularly community-based organizations and those of indigenous peoples) to engage in consultative processes, apply knowledge management to ensure adequate information flows, implement convention guidelines, and monitor and evaluate environmental impacts and trends and Outcome 10.2: Improved information flows to/from CBOs and CSOs regarding good practices and lessons learned, and application of such practices
The project’s main contribution to SGP OP 5 is premised on its support for reducing of rural poverty through investments in sustainable livelihood opportunities. Through the project, CQHPC was successful in having farmers adopting sustainable honeybee farming practices.
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
This project will enhance economic sustainability by creating opportunities for members to increase their beehives, through the provision of production inputs, as well as the technical assistance necessary to increase production output.
Capacity - Building Component
Training needs of members in cooperative philosophy & management assess, and appropriate training modules to be design and delivered.
Project Results
The main Project Conclusions were:
-The project remains relevant as it addresses two critical development issues that is still a concern in the Vaca Forest Reserve and the surrounding communities: 1. Improvement of Livelihood and 2. Reduction of Land Degradation and Deforestation.
-The project focused on increasing the Cooperative’s productive capacity and failed to adequately address its institutional capacity. Achievement of project targets could have been enhanced if the cooperative’s institutional capacity was stronger.
-Many risks materialized that were not identified during project design and as such, no mitigating activity was considered for hurricanes, storage of excess honey produced, among others which should have been anticipated risks identified in the project design These risks negatively impacted project delivery and created some challenges for the cooperative.
-Project steering committee meetings were not consistently conducted throughout the term of the project. This infrequency of meetings limited the effectiveness of the PSC.
-The Cooperative still faces challenges in the production, storage, marketing and sale of honey. This has affected the relationship the cooperative has with its older members as members do not bring in all their produce to the cooperative.
-The technical skills of the honey producers has been significantly improved through the various training provided in beekeeping.
Recommendations:
- A complementary education outreach campaign should be conducted particularly targeting farmers and other forest users and caretakers as part of the livelihood related intervention. While it is anticipated that the negative impact of the cooperative’s members will decrease, their numbers and activities are too low to reasonably expect any significant changes on the environmental situation in the forest.
- Conduct an institutional assessment of the grantee during the project’s design and incorporate appropriate activities to address areas of institutional weakness.
- For executing agencies with limited capacity and experience in project management, allowance for contracting a project coordinator should be made.
- Conduct a thorough risk assessment during project design and ensure that mitigating actions are incorporated in the project.
- Conduct more frequent PSC meetings. In the case of those low capacity executing agencies, the SGP should closely monitor to ensure that the meetings are being conducted.
- Format the meetings where issues are discussed and recommendations provided in addition to the executing agency’s providing of project updates.
- The Cooperative requires on-going technical support in the form of coaching to assist with production.
- A comprehensive marketing and business plan for the cooperative needs to be developed.
- The Cooperative need to hire a Manager that will be responsible for its operations. This person should have skills in marketing and sales.
- Promote knowledge transfer of members trained to younger members and new honey produces. This can be done through replication of demonstration farms as was done in the project.
