1553 proposal on the implementation of selected value chains en

Proposal on the Implementation of Biodiversity Friendly Value Chain For Livelihood Development in PNKB NP Buffer Zone Introduction To forward with achievements of livelihood development for buffer zone communities in previous phases, and on the basis of locals’ urgent demand, GIZ Component of the PNKB Regional Project commits to continue its supports on livelihood development focusing on biodiversity friendly value chain and poor communities, especially for women and ethnic minorities Beside its continued supports on buffer zone livelihood development, project activities will enhance capacity on monitoring impacts of social economic development on biodiversity conservation in the national park for its partners at all level Based on its capacity, experience and complete operation system, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) and its line agencies at all levels are identified as main partner for jointly implementing these activities With the objective of the phase “Approaches and learning experiences for integrated nature conservation in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang region are used for local management and national policy-making”, it is expected that the results, approaches and experiences of the project of the final phase will be documented and integrated into the current government system of livelihood development for local households in the buffer zone and other regions Sustainable livelihood development in buffer zone requires typical measures of linking biodiversity conservation of PNKB NP The selection of potential and biodiversityfriendly livelihood activities for suitable target groups is necessary and crucial in this phase Furthermore, the supports need to ensure that these livelihood activities not only increase sustainable income for each benefited household, but up scaling potential and community as the beneficiaries are also important Thereafter, a sustainable and marketoriented approach of supporting poor and semi-poor households and ethnic minorities in developing selected livelihood options is essential The project was cooperating with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to conduct a “Selection and Planning Workshop for biodiversity-friendly livelihood development in the Buffer zone of Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park” in February 2014 in Dong Hoi The project partners at all level participated actively in experience sharing and discussion on selection of the most potential livelihood alternatives that can be supported with the project’s means and capacities For further detail information of workshop outputs, kindly see the detail workshop report Main Outputs of the Workshop and Advisory with District and Commune Authorities According to the Workshop Report, 06 livelihood models were selected out of 17 proposed potential livelihood alternatives The participants use three sets of criteria (11 specific criteria) that are relevant to biodiversity friendliness and market-orientation The selected alternatives include: Chicken Raising, Bee Keeping and Honey Production, Integrated Agro-Forestry Model, Tourist Souvenir Products made from Bamboo and Rattan, Mushroom Cultivation and Sweet Potato Cultivation Based on the outputs, project team had consulted a technical group of DARD and agreed on lists of livelihood models that will be supported by the project in the buffer zone under this phase These include: 1) There are selected alternatives instead of models as agreed during the workshop, as Sweet Potato production is rather challenging for ethnic minorities and poor households due to lack of cultivated land; and 2) 11 communes instead of 13 communes in buffer zone were reselected for implementation (crossing Hung Trach and Phu Dinh Communes, as there are no ethnic minorities in these two communes and low impact level to the NP) See List of Selection Criteria and Selected Alternatives in Annex By late May, 2014, project officer and DARD, Division of Agriculture and Rural Development at district level, and agriculture extension system consulted to district authorities and 11 buffer zone communes on selected potential livelihood models in order to identify a suitable model for each commune, considering specific conditions and capacity After the discussion and analyzing with representatives of the communes, each commune agreed to implement 02/05 selected models Most highland communes selected two models, tourist souvenir products made from bamboo and rattan and beekeeping and honey production due to natural condition, habit and local capacity AgroForestry model will be implemented in mid-land communes because households have plantations and regeneration areas The mushroom cultivation model was selected for implementation by some communes, neighboring to the PNKB NP for its high market potential to restaurants for tourists and for availability of production material source Chicken rising is popular and flexible to different conditions Besides, the local authorities and communities proposed many potential alternatives with other characteristics for project’s support Nevertheless, due to limited resources in technical assistance and time, the project is focusing on the selected activities See Result Report on Consultancy with District and Commune Authorities Approach Within the PNKB regional project framework, the technical assistance of GIZ component is designed as a basis for financial supported activities to upscale project impact to buffer zone communities Besides livelihood activities supported by GIZ, the financial support component has supported buffer zone households with forest handing-over, production plantation, regeneration, ingenious plantation and community forests with an aim to create employment opportunities and to increase income Over 700 households have been supported on plantation and regeneration; 09 community groups have been supported on implementation of community forest model The cooperation of supported resources between project components is required to increase project impacts to these beneficiaries The following basic issues need to be considered for selecting project approach in order to implement livelihood supports to communities:  Based on actual experience of livelihood development under project support in previous years and actual community demand, value chain approach for the poor is recommended to apply This approach will enhance production skills and new technical knowledge for households, encourage them to participate in competitive market and through the involvement, they get updates on markets, marketing skills and develop their capacity through interacting with other agents in the market The supports to households on implementing selected livelihood products help them one way or another to update and apply advanced production technique, using new genre in production to improve product quality and quantity  It is more important to find out how to link the beneficiaries to markets and focal enterprises The participation of local business in supporting households to implement livelihood models for activity sustainability in the future need to be considered and enhanced  The main target groups of the project in this phase are the poor and semi poor households, with a focus on women and ethnic minority groups Thus, implementation methods and livelihood model selection should be in accordance with their capacity, conditions and custom A suitable approach will increase production knowledge and skills to create sustainable income for participated households This then help increasing their awareness on natural resource and forest protection  Using technical consultant services and providing existing input services at the local need to be promoted to secure linkage of producers to service providers and ensure the sustainability of activities after the project support ends This also helps promoting consumption of outputs for households as well as provides input services and offers site technical assistance during the production process in the future  DARD will select the participated households carefully based on specific criteria to ensure their capacity and up scaling conditions for implementing the activities List of households will be provided by local government and appraised by DARD, Division of Agriculture and Rural Development at district level During the selection process, the households that received supports on plantation and community forest by the project will be considered if they meet given criteria Due to different conditions for each model, list of criteria for household selecting on each model will be basically different See List of Criteria for household selecting on each model in Annex  For its sustainability and upscale within communities, there will be a benefit sharing mechanism to ensure selected households to have concrete commitment on responsibilities and benefit sharing to nearby households  Currently, the project “Sustainable Rural Development for the Poor” funded by IFAD is implementing on 8/13 buffer zone communes, with objectives of livelihood improvement for poor and semi-poor at these communes Value chain and linkage to focal enterprises approach are applied for implementation This is a good chance for cooperation and integrating supports by different projects in the same area to enhance maximum benefit for beneficiaries and on the other hand, to reduce implementation expense and overlapping  Within the technical assistance framework of GIZ component, there are around 300 households in this phase; especially ethnic minorities will be supported with livelihood models In the hope that the approach and implementation method will be a basis for up scaling in buffer zone communes and reaches to more benefited households from livelihood support fund by financial support component, KfW, in the project last years  Beside, GIZ will support DARD and Division of Agriculture and Rural Development at district level to develop evaluation and monitoring system for livelihood models in this current phase Through the activity, capacity building for officers at all level and standard MRV process and results of livelihood models in buffer zone will provide precious data for planning process of social-economic development at local level Implementation Process and Method Due to different production cycle, technical requirements, materials and technical consultant services to each activity, implementation method requires to be diversed for suitable and effective implementation of each value chain DARD is the main partner at provincial level and Division of Agriculture and Rural Development of three districts are in line partner at district level during implementing these activities at local area Based on partners’ experience and speciality as well as on technical service providers, to ensure a smooth and effective implementation of technical assistance, expected method of implementing product value chain will be applied at buffer zone communes as following: - Argo-Forestry and Chicken Raising activities will be implemented through local contract between GIZ and DARD In which DARD and District DARD are responsible to implement on site and follow up the process DARD will make input service contract for the activities, technical consultant service contract for locals for a successful implementation - Other activities including Tourist Souvenir Products from Bamboo & Rattan, Mushroom Cultivation, Bee-keeping and Honey Production will be implemented through technical consultant service contracts and input service contract between GIZ and service providers DARD, District DARD and the project will coordinate to follow up the activity implementation and achievements After consultation with DARD, 05 product value chains was selected and proposed for implementing at 11/13 buffer zone communes based on their natural conditions and specific characteristics These communes include: Table 1: List of Product Value Chain in each commune and participated households: Product Value Chain Bo Trach District Minh Hoa District Unit Sơn Trạch Phúc Trạch Tân Trạch Thượng Trạch 20 20 Tourist Product Souvenir from Bamboo and Rattan Hous ehol d Mushroom Cultivation Hous ehol d Bee-Keeping Hous ehol d Integrated AgroForestry Model Hous ehol d Chicken Raising Hous ehol d 10 10 5 17 17 34 24 Total Q Ninh Dist Xuân Trạch Thượng Hóa Trung Hóa Hóa Sơn Trọng Hóa 40 Dân Hóa 25 Total househo lds Trường Sơn 25 130 6 14 20 10 10 10 3 5 20 17 17 51 39 42 25 60 28 275 4.1 Tourist Product Souvenir from Bamboo and Rattan by Ethnic Minorities: Based on the output from the pilot activity on souvenir products from traditional bamboo and rattan handicrafts made by ethnic minorities in Dan Hoa and Trong Hoa communes, Minh Hoa district, the project will continue supporting under this current phase to upscale the pilot results to the whole commune and to potential communes With the pilot outputs, over 10 production groups were found in Y Leng (Dan Hoa) La Trong and Ramai (Trong Hoa) The groups were supported on pilot producing 04 types of products (03 designed for man labors and 01 designed for woman labor) based on designed proposed by the consultant who based on traditional products of Khua and Sach People After 10 months of implementation, around 35 products were made by the group and are on sale in PNKB tourism center Over 20 members of multi groups joined a study tour to traditional handicraft villages in Hue with objective of raising awareness on products and markets Besides, under supports by Mekong Sub-Region Project, over 20 craftsmen in Truong Son commune formed a group, designed products and guide on crafting products with high art value These products were used in a showroom by Van Xuan Co Ltd in an international fair on handcrafted bamboo and rattan The important point is how to continue supports for these groups to strengthen their skills and create more employment opportunities and sustainable income from these products? With that approach, it is expected that the continued support on tourist souvernir products from traditional bamboo and rattan by ethnic minorities will be implemented in a higher level and approach to different groups with more unique designs Aim to identify clearly of scale and participated households as well as commitment and desires of local authorities and of benefitarias, a quick survey will be done in mid September, 2014 Collected information will be used as a basis and orientation for planning a specific support schedule and drawing a suitable approach The supports will expectedly focus on:  Enhance group operation and skill training (for groups found in a pilot time and supported by Mekong Sub-Region Project)  Survey skilled households and identify potential groups in new communes and support on group establishment (for new communes)  Support on designing some new products and have technical training to groups  Train craftsmen for the groups  Support on developing traditional handicraft village model in a commune  Train on business skill and linkage to markets  Link products to sale stores in PNKB tourism center and within the province Method:  Technical consultant service contract will be signed to Van Xuan Bamboo and Rattan handicraft to provide supports on group building, training, product designing and producing training, linkage products to the market (the only enterprise provide the service in the province)  Connect to Craft Link Co to provide intensive training on teamwork skills and group development  DARD, District DARD and local governments is responsible to follow up during implementation, achievements; local government supports the groups Scale and Expected Location:  Strengthen 12 existing groups with around 90 participated households in Dan Hoa, Trong Hoa and Truong Son  Develop 05 new groups with around 40 participated households in Tan Trach and Thuong Trach Expected Outputs:  Around 15 skilled groups develop stably (around 130 participated ethnpport in this phase will focus on helping famers to be more proactive on the seedling/chick in the area In the communes were selected for implementation in this phase, communes were supported incubators to help famer proactively on the quality seedling to reproduce Due to the power, Tan Trach and Thuong Trach commune cannot use this technology However, farmers can buy seedling from Son Trach commune Each commune will choose a household which is responsible for management and using the incubators to ensure that the whole community gets benefits The supports will expectedly focus on:  Support for the technical training for households  Support breeding chickens and inputs (veterinary medicines, vaccines )  Consulting to make the henhouse  Consulting and supporting the technical issues at the household level Method:  Local grant was signed by GIZ and DARD to support for the implementation of the models  DARD, District-DARD, commune authorities play a role on the monitoring the implementation process and results of the model; local authorities will support the famer production groups  The contract to provide the technical training and inputs/materials for the farmers will be signed with the district-AEC and stakeholders by DARD  Project, DARD and local authorities will develop the mechanism of management, using and getting benefits from the incubators  The commune, village is responsible for monitoring the implementation process and prepare a list of beneficiary households Scale and Expected Location:  Approximately 60 households will be supported in communes  5-10 household/commune will be supported, 70 chickens (90% hen) and other inputs Expected Output:  95% households successfully and maintain the chicken raising after the implementation  Create the jobs for 1-2 workers per household 10  Increase more than 30% monthly income of the household  Households committed to scaling up 4.6 Support to develop the systems for monitoring and evaluation of livelihood models in the buffer zone: With lack of capabilities and limitations of equipments, staff in all level encountered many difficulties and challenges in the monitoring, evaluating and reporting the results of the livelihood models that were supported from many program/projects in the buffer zone Besides, the management of this information in a systematic way, that provides the relevant authorities in the local socio-economic development plan, still faces a lot of difficulties Therefore, DARD and District DARD has proposed the project to develop a system to support the monitoring, evaluation and reporting for all kind of livelihood activities in all levels (province, district, commune) The supports will expectedly focus on:  Establish the software on the computer for monitoring system, evaluation and report at the district and provincial offices  Develop monitoring forms and periodic reports  Training for staff at all levels (including AEC staff at district and commune level)  Providing the necessary equipments for provincial office (Technical division) and districts Method:  Contract with a technical consultant to support to set-up the system; training staff; develop the forms…  GIZ provided the necessary equipments Expected Location:  DARD Office (Technical Division)  District-DARD in districts Expected Output:  95% staff at all levels can operate the system  Cooperate with relevant departments in monitoring and evaluation  Reports is used by the authorities involved in the socio-economic development plan Expected Budget With the approach mainly focused on technical support and within a limited budget, the support of GIZ will focus on capacity building, knowledge and skills of beneficiary groups to ensure the sustainability and impact of livelihood activities in the community after the project finish ((See the attached proposed budget) The schedule for implementation 11 Products Activities Developing the proposal and contracts Field trip, survey and choosing the household Enhance the farmer group Develop the training course and the training plan Technical training Training for the group and design the products Support to build the house/factory Training course for farmers to make the new products Supply the seedling, breeding and inputs for the farmers 10 Training the farmer groups, support the during the production time 11 Technical support at the household level 12 Technical support at the household level 13 support the Time -20/9 Handicrafts Mushroom Beekeeping x x 25-30/9 25-30/9 x 1-10/10 x 12-30/10 12-30/10 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 12/2014 – 5/2015 12/2014 – 10/2015 12/2014 x x x 15-25/11 25/11 – 30/12 x Remarks x 1-15/11 1-20/11 Chicken x Agroforestry x x x x 12 farmer group, Develop the Village of Traditional handicraft files 14 Marketing and selling products 15 Final workshop and report – 3/2015 4-8/2015 x 810/2015 x x x x x The cooperation mechanism and responsibilities of the implementation      Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARR), District-DARD, in collaboration with PPMU will over-all supervise and direct the implementation of models in the buffer zone DARD and Project will cooperate and use of the technical services and other inputs to connect local producers with service providers, and collect the outcomes/products as well Local authorities (district, commune and village) is responsible for monitoring the implementation at the households There should be coordination between projects, programs that is implementing in the area to ensure minimal the cost, human resources and avoid duplication DARD, in collaboration with project and stakeholders, is responsible for the final summary report 13 Annex 1: List of Selection Criteria Pre-selection Criteria (internal workshop) Innovativeness (new in the area) Significance and potential for up-scaling Availability of Skills /Capacities at community level Competitive advantage (over other locations) Biodiversity-Friendliness Selection Criteria (Selection Workshop proper) Economic Criteria Market Demand Market Access Potential for Value Addition Sustainability 10 Capacity of Supporting Services Social criteria 11 Labour Intensity 12 Opportunities for Women 13 Compliance with cultural traditions 14 Compliance with government strategies Environmental criteria 15 Biodiversity-friendliness 16 Reduction of pressure on PNKB NP The final selected products 14 Annex 2: Criteria for the selection of farmers to participate the livelihood model General Criteria - Priority for the poor or near-poor households, women and ethnic minorities - The households who live on the forest, illegal logging and wildlife poaching - Priority for the households who participated the afforestation activities of the PNKB project - Enthusiastic and have adequate resources to implement the model (land area, human resource and capital for contribution, etc ) - Ability to learn in the training process as well as in the application of new science and technology - Undertaking during the implementation process, are willing to share experience and knowledge with other famers The criteria for the specific model The basic criteria for the chicken raising model (this model can be integrated into the agroforestry models) N o Criteria Yes No Other Having appropriate cage/ committed to make the cage for chicken, warm enough in the winter season Willing to make a new henhouse or improve the old one Can invest lighting systems, heat systems for chicken Feed for chicken available There is enough garden/yard area for the chicken free5 range raising Experience of chicken raising/ or willing to learn Enthusiastic, willing to share the experiences for other farmers Human resource available 15 The basic Criteria for the handicrafts model No Criteria Yes No Other Choosing the villages which have a great number of weaving farmers Available of rattan and bamboo materials Famers have the good weaving techniques Willing to learn new weaving techniques Commitment, enthusiastic, creative Team work and think about community 7 8 - The basic criteria for the mushroom cultivation model Resources: human resources, material Contribution capital for the model investment Ability to learn the new technology in the training process and apply the new technology in the implementation Enthusiastic, eager to learn No Criteria High area, not affect from the flood Clean freshwater available Firewood available Yes No Other Requirements of the factory: The minimum area of 15m2, height minimum 2.5m; cool, ensuring light ( enough to read), rotation air For factory: commitment to upgrading the house at the guidance of the technical staff For making new factory: commitment to build according to the plan agreed between the household and technical staff that ensures project requirements Human resources: at least 02 labour/household 16 Easy to access the household Choose 03 households, nearby make a group, ensure the criteria Enthusiastic, eager to learn Ability to digest and apply technology techniques The basic criteria for the beekeeping model No Criteria Ability to digest and apply technology techniques Priority for the households which have experience/ knowledge on the beekeeping model Interested in the beekeeping model Ensure food/flowers sources Human resources available Inquisitive, enthusiastic, and willing to share the experience to other farmers Yes No Other Yes No Other The Basic criteria for the Agro-forestry model No Criteria Ability to digest and apply technology techniques Forest land available, can combine to develop the agricultural model on that forest land Having adequate resources: human resource, land, capital for contribution… Inquisitive, enthusiastic, and willing to share the experience to other farmers 17 Agro-forestry model * Forest: Available * Cultivation: maize, peanut, banana, lemon-grass, edible cannas… * Stock: chicken, cow 18 ... authorities play a role on the monitoring the implementation process and results of the model; local authorities will support the famer production groups  The contract to provide the technical training... supported on plantation and regeneration; 09 community groups have been supported on implementation of community forest model The cooperation of supported resources between project components is... commune) The supports will expectedly focus on:  Establish the software on the computer for monitoring system, evaluation and report at the district and provincial offices  Develop monitoring