Mozambique: Community- Based Enterprise Development to support participatory natural resource management
This project was launched in September 2003, as a follow-up phase aimed to support the Community Forestry Unit of the National Directorate of Forest and Wildlife. One of the project¿s objectives is to further disseminate participatory natural resource management in the country with special focus on the sustainable use of natural resources and on poverty reduction at the community level. Therefore, the project included a Market Analysis and Development component for community-based enterprise development activities that was implemented since December 2004. The project has a strong emphasis on activities at the provincial level and aims to assist the national team in the development of an implementation strategy for the creation of capacity and opportunities for local communities in Nampula and Sofala provinces. The project¿s ultimate objective is to help local communities to actively participate in forest and wildlife management and generate tangible benefits from sustainable practices. An interesting interaction exists between two of the project components. Both, the Monitoring and Evaluation System (SIPSA), aimed to monitor illegal harvest and commercialization of forest products at the village level, and the forest and tree community-based enterprise development, are mutually supportive activities. The reason is that illegal harvesting and commercialization of forest products creates unfair competition and negatively affect community-based enterprises profitability. The latest achievements at the Nampula and Sofala provinces are as follows: Nampula province hosts a series of enterprise interest groups such as: carpentry and charcoal production. Activities accomplished include: completion of two of the three main phases of the MA&D process; the Munchagalene carpentry group is receiving support in preparation of its enterprise development plan. Enterprise development plans were developed for the charcoal enterprise and market surveys were conducted at district and provincial level for some of the selected products. Phase 1 and Phase 2 of MA&D process were conducted with the Crusse women¿s group in Matebane area. The products short-listed by the women´s group are fisheries products, beauty and hygiene products, tourism-realted services. The Nampula market was identified as a potential market for Mussiro and Tapathia local products selected by the women¿s group. The carpentry group has achieved spectacular results, thirteen apprentice were trained and earnings amount to 10 million Mt. between November 2004 and May 2005 (1USD= Mt25.41) This group was also able to support the loggers group with 5.8 million Mt., it also shared 3 million Mt. among the interest groups, the rest of the earnings was reserved for the purchase of wood to support production. Other activities such as the preparation of enterprise development plans, control of illegal forest products in Nampula market, training of field staffs in Phase1 and Phase2 of MA&D and the creation of strategic alliances to scale up implementation are on their way. In Sofala province, the main achievements involve the Mucombezi management committee constituted by three villages managing a total area of 29,000 hectares. The committee is formed by 12 members and the productive activities include charcoal production and carpentry. The Mucombezi Charcoal and carpentry committees have already been trained in the three phases of MA&D. The enterprise interest groups are being supported to negotiate their business plans with other institutions to access initial capital. This year, the group managed to obtain a production license for 10,000 bags of charcoal. Technical skills training is being planned for the interest group members on improved and sustainable charcoal production. The interest group is beginning to gain significant income from the sale of charcoal at their local stall. This first experience confirmed their determination to go on, but it also showed them the limits of working in a competitive market environment. Finally, the MA&D Field Facilitators Guidelines have been translated into Portuguese. For more information, please contact: