Livelihoods Projects

Community Information Centre Initiative - Ghana — by Web editor — last modified 2008-06-09 09:57

Ghana’s Ministry of Communications, through its agency GIFTEL, Ghana Investment Fund for Telecommunications, is constructing 230 Community Information Centres (CICs) as hybrid for profit and non-profit community resource centres to provide business services and community development information for remote communities with the aim to provide community information needs and enhance national integration; create ICT awareness in the rural areas; disseminate information to the rural communities especially in areas of education, agriculture, environment, health, local government; provide opportunities for ICT training in the communities; support business activities in the rural communities and support community-based organisations. Depending on the requirements of the particular District Assemblies, the support from IICD will target ten centres while providing strategic advice to Ministry and Assemblies in terms of the technical, organizational and financial sustainability of the CICs and further providing technical and business development training for CIC staff members, advising on connectivity solutions, deploying monitoring and evaluation tools, as well as facilitating knowledge sharing through the national ICT4D network GINKS.

Women and Development Project (WADEP) - Ghana — by Web editor — last modified 2008-06-02 14:46

Agricultural market access for small producers in the Volta Region, like elsewhere in Ghana, is poor and frustrating. Through this project, small-scale producers (the pilot starts with yam, cassava and cowpea producers) are given support by the Women and Development (WADEP) organisation with technical information regarding production, marketing skills and opportunities, and access to timely information. The knowledge they acquire allows them to improve their negotiation position with buyers and traders, which in turn contributes to the improvement of their livelihoods.

Business Development Support Services for SMEs using ICT - Ghana — by Web editor — last modified 2008-05-20 14:32

A Business Development Centre will be established in the office of PEPS-C to support and promote small and medium size private sector businesses. Using the ICT facilities, the project will provide capacity building in business skills, give access to market information and establish a platform to share knowledge.

Agriculture Information and Communication System Santa Cruz - Bolivia — by Web editor — last modified 2008-04-07 15:55

This leveraging programme builds on the project experience of ICO in the province of Vallegrande, who has implemented an agriculture price information system using a combination of internet-linked information centres and rural radio and information system providing information on expected production volumes at provincial level serving as a decision support system for farmers. The departmental government of Santa Cruz has decided to take over and replicate the system to 15 other provinces in the department.

Small Initiative Fund (SIF) 1 - Zambia — by Web editor — last modified 2008-02-26 09:49

The Small Initiatives Fund (SIF) 1 project was set up in 2004 to finance small-scale, manageable projects in Zambia. It targets Livelihoods and Life Skills Training programmes that are being carried out by community-based organisations for disadvantaged members of the communities. Most focus on the marginalised groups of Youth and Women that are expected to sustain the households, often without having enjoyed any formal education or having any professional skills. The approach has paid off as one project has been scaled up as a broader, longer-term project

Sene Kunafoni Bulon — by Web editor — last modified 2008-02-04 12:07

IER-TRANS is a branch of Mali’s national Institute for Agricultural Research (IER) that focuses on the transformation chain of products like mangos, onions, potatoes, etc. The regional bureau of IER-TRANS was set up in Sikasso in 2002. Over the past four years it has established close relationships with organisations of mango producers and mango transformers and the Federation of Potato Producers. In response to requests made by its members, it looks up information on production and transformation methods and passes it on to them. The project will improve the flow of information to and from IER-TRANS and between farmers in the region.

Quality + Fruilema: Information System to Increase Exports of Fruits and Vegetables — by Web editor — last modified 2008-01-28 10:58

Through this project, Fruilema, a Malian fruit and vegetable concern, is seeking to acquire the tools and resources needed to meet the stringent requirements for exporting Malian farm products to international markets. More specifically, the project involves setting up an information and communication system to identify producers, farm plots, and products quantity and quality for purposes of analysis, understanding and decision-making support. This database will be coupled with a website. The available information will be disseminated to various stakeholders such as producers, trackers, collectors, importers.

Jekafo Gelekan: Rural Information System for Farmers in the Sikasso Region — by Web editor — last modified 2008-03-17 10:51

The Regional Committee for Coordination of Rural People (CRCR) in Sikasso has initiated the project Jèkafo Guèlèkan, meaning “let’s speak together under the palaver tree”. The projects focuses on linking the Local Committees for Coordination of Farmers’ Organisations (CLCOPs) to local sections of farmers’ organisations of CRCR in the Sikasso area. The aim is to set up a communication system for agricultural producers affiliated to CRCR - which comprises 215 local organisations (of which 115 are women’s organisations) - and other stakeholders in the development of the Sikasso region. By using ICT, rural dwellers – both producers and processors – can learn about opportunities for improving their economic situation and to help them take advantage of such opportunities.

Market Information Service Facility and Training — by Web editor — last modified 2008-01-18 15:03

Through its market information service facility and training activities, Market Access Promotion Network (Mapronet) supports its affiliated small and medium sized cooperatives. The network will develop a web-based market information system that provides regular overviews of relevant market information needed by producer groups, buyers, traders and other relevant stakeholders to support their sustainable livelihoods. During the pilot phase, this system will be implemented with three organisations: two facilitating network members of Mapronet: Altranet (Volta region) and Trade Aid Integrated (Tamale) together with the Mapronet headquater in Tamale.

Integrating ICT for Quality Assurance and Marketing - Zambia — by Web editor — last modified 2008-07-03 16:54

The project of the Organic Producers and Processors Association of Zambia (OPPAZ), supported by IICD and HIVOS, aims to increase organic production for local and export markets by promoting the use of organic agricultural production methods that are environmentally sustainable. Access to organic markets for small-scale farmers requires proper organic production standards and certification, and in order to achieve these standards, it is necessary that they establish and implement an Internal Control System (ICS).</p><p>This monitoring, traceability and documentation system assists the farmer groups in generating the necessary data needed to maintain quality standards and crop quantities. Furthermore, the management of an ICS reduces the overhead costs involved in certification, which are otherwise too high for most small-scale farmers. The system will be tested at three pilot sites (Chongwe, Mongu and Mpongwe). The collected data on production methods and international quality standards for organic produce will be published on the internet for international partners who would like to buy their produce. The system has therefore a double function as internal control system and as marketing tool.

ICT Policy for the Agriculture sector — by Web editor — last modified 2007-11-12 12:52

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has been tasked with the development of a strategy and relevant programmes the sector for implementing the relevant provisions of the Ghana ICT for Accelerated Development (ICT4D Policy). Towards achieving this, and through on-going discussion with the Ministry of Communications, a technical sub-committee has been installed. The work of the sub-committee is guided by the Terms of Reference as given by the Ministry of Communications.

Strengthening the Agricultural Information Flow and Dissemination System of the National Agricultural Information Services - Zambia — by Web editor — last modified 2008-02-26 16:30

The National Agricultural Information Services (NAIS) is responsible for transferring knowledge from researchers to extension officers who work with farmers to ensure the development of a healthy agriculture sector. Information flows have become slow and ineffective, and the use of ICTs can significantly improve this, especially in terms of the level of efficiency in gathering, processing and disseminating knowledge. This project involves managing the information flow between Lusaka and Kasama. Currently, there is one extension worker to approximately 1000 farmers, and most information is collected in person from sources and then stored as hard copy. Sometimes it is delivered in a format or language inaccessible to local farmers. Overall, this project aims to improve information flow within NAIS; strengthen linkages between agricultural research, extension, farmers and other stakeholders; increase the capacity of NAIS to collect, process, package, store and disseminate agricultural information and increase capacity of NAIS to publish in more accurate and appropriate formats.

Consolidation of actions promoting water hygiene and sanitation in Passoré province through the use of NICT tools — by admin — last modified 2007-03-08 12:40

This project, scheduled to last one year, will engage in a variety of activities aimed at increased provision of training and information to promote water hygiene and sanitation through the use of NICT. The project will cover 20 villages. The beneficiaries will be agricultural producers, pupils and civil servants. During this phase, the project will take an approach that is much more focused on the active involvement of beneficiaries in the transfer process. Special emphasis will be given to the visibility of the experiences to be published.

ICT for shea butter producers — by admin — last modified 2008-02-04 14:39

The aim of the project is to promote shea butter while at the same time increasing the turnover of the Zantiébougou Women Shea Butter Producers Cooperative (COPROKAZAN) through the use of NICT. To achieve this goal, the project calls for the installation of lighting and computers, training of women in the use of standard software and office automation tools, installation of e-mail, creation of a website, and advertising on radio and television.

Eastern Corridor Agro-Market Information Centre (ECAMIC) — by admin — last modified 2008-06-03 09:44

The ECAMIC project focuses on supporting farmers in the Eastern Corridor through forming cooperative farmer groups. The Social Enterprise Foundation of West Africa (SEND) promotes the cultivation of soy beans in the northeast of Ghana through the ECAMIC project in order to contribute to improving the livelihood of more than 2000 farming families in the Eastern Corridor of Northern Ghana. The potential market for soya beans and their high nutritional value offer potential to enhance income of farmers as well as improve food security.

Rural women's information network in Zabré — by admin — last modified 2007-11-05 16:06

This empowerment project aims to provide information and access to communication to members of the women's association Pag La Yiri (11.000 members) in the information-poor area of Zabré, through the installation of an Internet connection and the setup of a small community radio station. The radio station will also benefit other local organisations and the local population in general.

TV Koodo — by admin — last modified 2007-02-02 12:16

Early 2005, the Institut Africain de Bio-Economie Rurale (IABER), with financial support from IICD, initiated a project to provide information on agricultural markets through a television programme entitled TV Koodo, which is linked to the IABER website (www.iaber.bf). This project provides viewers of Burkina Faso’s national television channel with monthly information on market prices for livestock and grain, in addition to discussing various topics with guests invited to participate in the broadcasts.

ICT Integration Multimedia & Recording (CYPRO) - Zambia — by admin — last modified 2008-02-26 16:47

There are many young people living in the Chawama region who are unemployed and wish to improve their livelihoods by exploring the possibilities of making a living through music. The ICT Integration, Multimedia & Recording (CYPRO) project has been built on this goal, designed specifically to support the artistic talent of the local youths, by offering them the opportunity to develop recording and production skills. They will learn to create CD Roms with their music, and from there, further assistance will be offered to help market their music. Another component of the project is information provision. Through the information resource centre / internet café, staff of the Chawama Youth Project - the project owner - assists in searching information and offers courses in using and benefitting from the Internet.

Small Initiative Fund (SIF) 2 - Zambia — by admin — last modified 2008-03-03 10:25

The Small Initiative Fund (SIF) 2 enables grass-root organisations in poor communities to understand and work with ICT in small projects. Most of these projects use ICT such as computers, email, internet, and digital photo cameras to create the information products. Capturing local knowledge and expertise, as well as exchanging it and networking with relevant actors, the initiative would enhance and extend their existing activities.

Development of an Effective Information Flow System - Zambia — by admin — last modified 2008-02-26 10:08

Supported by IICD and PSO, this pilot project, focusing on the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) research stations in the rural towns Misamfu, Northern Province and Mount Makulu, near Lusaka, aims to improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers by enhancing information flows between researchers, extension providers and farmers through the use of ICTs. In order to improve the information flow and the availability of information services, as well as the sustainability of material, it is necessary to address the issues of access, content and ICT skills. This project empowers farmers to make better informed decisions that will increase the quality and amount of their produce.