Cu newsletter 2013 2

CONCERN UNIVERSAL NEWSLETTER THE GAMBIA & SENEGAL AUGUST 2013

Women trained on food processing in Sifoe village, West Coast Region.

Editorial!

Dear Readers, Welcome to yet another edition of the CU Newsletter 2013. In this edition, four projects are been highlighted with regard to the various activities that they focus on, success stories, and their recommendations. This newsletter is produced by four interns from the University of The Gambia.

CONCERN UNIVERSAL, 55 KAIRABA AVENUE, P.O.BOX 2164, SERREKUNDA, THE GAMBIA. TEL (00220) 4396071

Interns Mariama S. Jatta, UTG, B.A in Development Studies.

Abdoulie Jabang, UTG, B.A in Development Studies.

Maisey Bojang, UTG, B.A in Development Studies.

Omar N. Cham, UTG, B.A in Development Studies.

We hope you will find these bulletins interesting to read!

planning in their farming systems. The project has achieved sustainability through the transfer of ownership in all its areas of intervention. This is done through the provision of resources to the beneficiaries and giving them the opportunity to lead their own development.

To consolidate these achievements, more sensitization programmes need to be in place so as to enable women and men to be partners in development. There need to be time consciousness as to when the beneficiaries will be free to attend whatever program is been scheduled.

What about the Pro-MARK Project?

The “Promotion of Marketing “Kafos’’ for the Farming as a Business- A Road Map to Political and Economic Empowerment of CommercialAgriculture Women in West Coast Region of the Gambia,” dubbed Pro-MARK, works in partnership with Concern Universal, Local Governments, Farmers Federations, Marketing “Kafos’’ and St. Joseph’s Family Farm. The project has helped to transform and uplift the Economic and Political status of about 3000 women in communities like Foni kansala, Foni Berefet and Foni Jarol respectively.

Accessing markets and the requisite finance are The project has also helped a great deal on among the major challenges that farmers in most strengthening the capacities of communities developing countries continue to grapple with, of like Sifoe and Bwiam through participatory which the Gambia is not an exception. A greater approaches. The women in Sifoe, Kalagi and number of Gambian farmers are to a large extent Wasadung were supported in getting quality subsistent in their production. The new project seeds for the purpose of agricultural dubbed “Farming as a Business” will among other production. things seek to respond to these challenges in a Moreover, the Gender Action Team (GAT) and more integrated and sustainable manner. The Local Government Authorities (LGA) have project will be implemented in the West Coast worked closely in trying to enhance women Region, North Bank Region and Central River representation and empowerment in west Region. A total of 1,600 farmers are expected to be coast region. The GAT also embarked on transformed in to medium scale producers at the gender advocacy in 8 districts in the west coast end of the project. region, with the participation of local However, without adequate extension services, the authorities in helping women to have access to project may be subjected to challenges. Therefore, agricultural lands, which have created a Business Development Service Unit (BDS) will awareness and increase women participation be created, so as to provide adequate and relevant in development platforms. extension services to the targeted beneficiaries.

In addition, new “Lumos”-local markets were Furthermore, BDS facilitators will be posted to established in communities like kan-Mamuda various regions where they will be holding and Nyentempo, and these have led to trade consultative forums with farmers so as to identify within the people of the community. Pro-Mark problems hindering productions and recommend have benefited the Women in Sifoe and better solutions for higher yields; encourage Mandinaba through horticultural training, project beneficiaries to open up accounts with which had enable them to apply production Reliance Financial Services; help framers to secure

CONCERN UNIVERSAL, 55 KAIRABA AVENUE, P.O.BOX 2164, SERREKUNDA, THE GAMBIA. TEL (00220) 4396071

loans and facilitate contracts agreements between farmers and potential traders. A BDS Team leader hall be appointed who will be in charge of the strategic direction of the BDS team; guide the team towards becoming a vibrant BDS entity; and develop appropriate operational tools and support facilitators in business plan development. The BDS will have to work independently and offer a sustainable service.

Rebuilding and Sustaining Forest Based Livelihoods and Encouraging Community Dialogue and Reconciliation in the Cassamance.

A Recap of the Project...

Environmental degradation and persistent conflicts have taken centre stage among the major challenges face by developing countries in recent times, particularly in the Cassamance.

Concern Universal is working in partnership with ASAPID (Association aux initiatives du paix et developement) to enhance environmental conservation and promote peace building in the Cassamance. The project is an extension of the former pilot project, funded by the U.S state Department.

The beneficiary communities include Mahmouda, Madina, Klobori and Koudioube for 2012, and six others have been included in 2013 and they are Dombondi, Katack, Kataba, Koulandiang, Banjikaka and Kabadio. The project aims at promoting environmental sustainability, forest based livelihoods and contributing to peace building in these communities. It will further help these communities to discover the potentials of their forest. The expected results of the project will include the following: The forest shall be protected from bush fires, deforestation as well as the wild life species.

The edible forest products will be preserved and protected to enable the beneficiaries market them in ways that could improve their earning capacities. Provision of sources of income for the women through the forest products will also be enhanced in all its areas of intervention. Marketing “Kafos” have been

Koudioube Community Forest formed in the six newly targeted communities in which women are trained on Agro-forestry and business planning. This is done to enable them market edible forest products and the money gained is been used to regenerate the forest.

In order to build on the existing achievements, more forest should be develop to promote environmental sustainability and communities need to strengthen their relationship to consolidate the already achieved peace.

LEAP Gaining Momentum in LRR

Rice cultivation during the dry season through LEAP in Changali village, LRR. Concern universal has been coordinating the implementation of a three year project dubbed “Livelihood Empowerment Agricultural Programme” (LEAP) in the Upper River Region of the country.

The project is funded by the UK’s “Big Lottery Fund” and with additional support from other Trust Fund and Businesses. The aim of the project is to strengthen the livelihoods of the people in the region through the creation of employment opportunities and greater food self sufficiency.

An estimated 7,350 women and youth farmers are currently benefiting from the project and are been trained on various agricultural related ventures.

The project also seeks to assist subsistence farmers to establish viable enterprise especially in the areas of horticultural production, rice cultivation and livestock management skills. It will also assist

CONCERN UNIVERSAL, 55 KAIRABA AVENUE, P.O.BOX 2164, SERREKUNDA, THE GAMBIA. TEL (00220) 4396071

subsistence farmers to establish viable enterprises especially in the areas of horticultural gardening, rice cultivation and livestock management skills. The project has achieved major milestones and among them are :  Improved access to saving and credit especially to the women  Increase formation of producer groups(mostly women) and market for agricultural produce  Development of capacities in agricultural production skills especially in the areas of horticultural production.  Improvements in individual and households income with greater food security  Improved access to saving and credit especially to the Women.

like Sifoe Basic Cycle and Kitty Upper Basic School, among others and they have started up their own soil- less micro- gardening initiatives.

Are You Interested in Micro -Gardening?

If you are interested in being successfully involved in the micro-gardening technology, please contact Mr. Cherno Jallow or Musa Jallow technicians and service providers trained by Concern Universal on: Tel: 7655501/7293762/6293762 Email:cjallow13@yahoo.com-or contact cu at CU at 220 4396071; Acknowledgement: The staffs and management of Concern Universal in the Gambia want to extend their sincere and heartfelt gratitude to all the donors who have offered their support in funding the highlighted projects in this newsletter.

GAMHORT-Enhancing MicroGardening Project Activities in the Gambia Gambia Horticultural project focuses on horticultural training for women and school children in the Gambia, as well as helping vulnerable groups like the HIV infected persons, disables and the unemployed youths to engage in micro-gardening activities. It Works in collaboration with other CU rural livelihood partners such as WASDA and NATC. Since the inception of the project; it has contributed immensely to the production of vegetable gardening in the Gambia.

An estimated 150 women initiatives, in places like Bakau and Banjul have benefited from the project. There are about 10 beneficiary schools

Sifoe Basic Cycle on Soil-less Microgardening

CONCERN UNIVERSAL, 55 KAIRABA AVENUE, P.O.BOX 2164, SERREKUNDA, THE GAMBIA. TEL (00220) 4396071