WOMEN IN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INC 2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT
CONTENTS President’s Message
3
Positive Connections
14
Words from Executive Director
5
Vital Voice & Communications
15
2011-2012 in Numbers Organics Virgin Coconut Oil
6-7 9 10-11
Financial Literacy
12
Finemats & Handicrafts
13
Climate Change & Disaster Risk Management
16
Regional Outreach
17
Statement of Finance
18
Statement of Activities
19
3
President’s Message
Malo le Soifua ma le lagi mama, Triumph through adversity. That was the 2011-2012 year for Women in Business Development. Through the commitment of the organisation’s farming families, its local staff and overseas donors, especially Oxfam NZ, Women in Business were able to build on the successes of the past two decades, despite tight financial constraints. The organisation continues to see families transformed by being able to master their own A vision of independent economic destinies.
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2011-2012 BOARD PRESIDENT Ruta Sinclair
BOARD MEMBERS Alo Kolone Vaai Edwin Tamasese Peseta Margaret Malua Sheree Stehlin
Last year, the organic programme family centred businesses that saw unprecedented growth with have realised their cultural and the number of organically certified farms increasing from 350 to 651, economic potential. and the inclusion of three villages in the programme. This brought the total land area to 31,000 hectares that were organically certified. Our virgin coconut oil production continued to bring in income into village families, and we also saw the number of families earning an income from organics increase by almost a third. Another highlight is the growth in financial literacy and savings, which were almost five times more than the total loaned in the Women in Business Development’s microfinance programme last year. Regionally, the organisation extended its outreach to organisations across the Pacific.
I must also acknowledge our executive director, Adimaimalaga Tafuna’i, who received a coveted global Vital Voices Award for Economic Empowerment. Adi was one of seven women from around the world honoured for their contribution. The pathway that Women in Business Development navigates is untrodden but always there is a vision of independent family centred businesses that have realised their cultural and economic potential. Tofa soifua,
Ruta Sinclair Women in Business Development Inc President
Our Vision That vulnerable families in Samoa are able to contribute fully to their own development, the development of their community and country through income generation, job creation and participation in the village economy.
Our Mission To provide and empower these families with knowledge and skills, opportunities, access to finance and markets.
Our Values & Beliefs That a Samoan model of development must take into account Samoan values, tradition and culture. That a sustainable change occurs slowly and requires a long-term commitment. That the most vulnerable people in Samoa need to develop sources of income to increase self-reliance and independence. That Samoa development requires networking with communities, government and other organisations in Samoa, throughout the Pacific and internationally.
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From the Executive Director Scale. When I think about all the projects Women in Business Development are involved in and what their common need is, the answer is the need to scale up so that they become more efficient, more economic, more sustainable.
All our projects now provide a regular source of income for families and as more families become involved, the challenge is how to support them so they can become independent and become fully commercial. Bringing vulnerable people into commerce, which is totally new to their way of life and way of thinking, needs commitment and resources. The challenges of supplying a market and learning how to The answer is the need manage money are new and need to be addressed. The to scale up so that they become processes all need to work together if we are serimore efficient, more economic, ous about creating real sustainable livelihoods.
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more sustainable. One major issue arising is the inability of the producers to keep up with supply. The organisation has markets waiting but needs more resources to be able to supply these markets and to be seen by the markets as credible. Internally, the organisation is also looking towards the horizon of sustainability. The virgin coconut oil project has all its costs built into the programme and I am pleased to say that programme is supporting itself. However, we still need to put energy and resource into bringing in new families into the programme to meet the market demand. As we do this, we will face additional pressures such as storage facilities, staffing and transport. Our projects continue to make lasting impacts on the lives of families involved. While we only report earnings of families who have earned regularly for at least nine months, the majority of our families earn money sporadically. However, what they earn makes a huge impact on their lives. Without Women in Business’ intervention, many families would not earn money and would be totally dependent on remittances. Our projects teach them to be self-reliant and show them that they can earn an income where they live. The paradigm change needs to be made in their thinking — this is Women in Business Development’s greatest challenge because we work with generations of families who have thought that to earn cash, they need to send their people away.
Adimaimalaga Tafuna’I Executive Director
Our Goals 1. To provide capacity building and support for income-generating activities/programmes. 2. To identify and gain access to markets for products made by vulnerable groups. 3. To establish Women in Business Development Inc as a financially secured organisation with the resources to carry out its mission. 4. To work with likeminded organisations within the Pacific and internationally to develop a common framework for fair trade and organics that enables joint marketing and support in times of natural disasters. 5. To promote awareness of disaster preparedness and food security among WIBDI clients. 6. To develop national strategic alliances with the Ministries and Agencies (Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Development Bank of Samoa).
2011-2012 in Numbers
728
11
183
certified organic farmers, up from 350
Pacific regional partners
families grew disaster resistant crops
$100,448 in savings $22,112 in loans 876 microfinance members
170
496
families received Fair Trade training
farmers in food security project
$132,595 earnings
1 global award for economic empowerment
for farmers
$500,000 estimated total earnings for farming families
Sowing healthy futures
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Don’t you ever use the chemicals on your soil. It does not help build the health of the land and the people. There is so much you can do naturally.”
Every Friday, the Women in Business Development office is a bustling fruit and vegetable market as organic farmers bring in their baskets of produce that have been pre-ordered earlier in the week. It’s a good place to be as the delicious smell of oranges, basil and spring onions mingle in the air. Ana Epati is one of those farmers who make the weekly trip from the outer villages. Through the organic baskets programme, Ana receives regular income that complements her husband, Epati Pofitu’s earnings as they strive to provide for their seven children. “Since I started on the organic basket programme, I now have a place to make money easily. I just bring in the fruits, veges and herbs that they ask me and I know I will be earning money from them,” says Ana who comes from Faleasiu. Ana says the organic field workers also taught her how to compost and use the compost on her soil instead of chemicals. She has seen such positive results that she has become a real advocate for organic farming. “Don’t you ever use the chemicals on your soil. It does not help build the health of the land and the people. There is so much you can do naturally,” says Ana. “Also I have learned so much about the soil and health of my vegetables and fruit and how that helps the health of the plants and of the people eating these fruits and vegetables.” Another aspect of her farming that has changed is the diverse range of crops Ana has in her plantation. “At first I did not know about beans or basil and now they are my favourite to grow.”
2011-2012 Organic Results The organic project has grown considerably with the number of organically certified farms double with 350 (2009-2010) to 728 farms. Staff rallied to cope with the additional workload to certify and monitor extra farmers with great results. In
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all there were 2130 organic site visits conducted. In addition to individual farmers, three villages in Savai’i were also organically certified, bringing the total land area organically certified to 31,000 hectares in Samoa.
Organic Earnings Nonu, $1,603.71 Fetau, $5,657.19
Vanilla, $614.35 Coffee, $133.00
Fruit and Vegetables, $19,000.12 Misiluki bananas, $12,090.80 Virgin coconut oil, $93,496.41
Organic Agricultural Earnings 2011-2012 Income earned on organic projects was $132,595.50. Two thirds of this total can be attributed to virgin coconut oil sales. (Please see pages 10-11 for a full virgin coconut oil report.) The earnings from fruit and vegetable sales, which only accounts for sales made via Women in Business Development, does not include farmers’ earnings from their own markets. The organisation estimates that the annual earnings from farmers selling in their own local outlets may be as much as $500,000.
During the year, the organisation continued to run an organic baskets service. It also catered the Australian High Commission’s Fun Run activities, which used fruits from our organic farmers. Coffee sales were still low due to trading partner C1Espresso in Christchurch having to refurbish new premises after the earthquakes forced them to move. A positive outcome for the year was 170 families now earn a regular income from organics, 50 more than last financial year.
Organic export quantities The last financial year saw a major bounce back for nonu exports for Nonu Samoa Enterprises Ltd, which is a sub-licensee of Women in Business. Eleven tonnes of virgin coconut oil were also exported to The Body Shop UK, via Earth
Oil, and Hawai’i. Modest amounts of fetau oil, coffee and vanilla were exported. Dried misiluki bananas were exported under Fair Trade to All Good Organics in New Zealand.
Virgin coconut oil results for 2011-2012 2011-2012 was a challenging year with a reduced number of farmers pressing virgin coconut oil but there were also many positive outcomes. One farmer processer was de-certified – resulting in a three-year re-entry timeline – and two processors leaving the programme, with one of these farmers returning late in the financial year. To help streamline the production of virgin coconut oil, a production manager
was employed. We saw a great improvement in the latter part of the year and are sure to see an on-going benefit in increased production and export as a result of this work. To supplement exports, the organisation has also started building a virgin coconut oil press at the twoacre Nu’u production site. The press will also be used for research and development. This press will be fully operational in August 2012.
A sustainable formula The virgin coconut oil project has been costed out so that each element of the process is accounted for. For each kilogram of virgin coconut oil, each cost factor is given a value—this includes vehicle, testing, packing, export project
management, fuel, storage and depreciation. With all of these factors built in, Women in Business Development is able to give the farmers a maximum price without creating a loss to the organisation.
Empowering families
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Now when the Luagalau family rings their relations overseas, they don’t ask them for money to pay weekly bills, they just have a good old catch-up.
National University of Samoa, something they are very proud of. “Now we do not have to ring family overseas for money,” says Selesa. “But if we had just sat around, we would have had no weekly income.
Since becoming one of Women in Business Development’s organic virgin coconut oil processors, the Luagalau family have found a new way to earn an income from home, work alongside each other, send a daughter to university and become healthier in the process.
Luagalau says at first learning to press coconut oil was physically tiring but now their bodies are used to the work. One of the bonuses for Luagalau is he has lost 10 kilograms in the process. “You have to move to earn a living. Nobody earns a living if they don’t move.”
The Luagalau family live in the village of Sagone in Savaii. It’s a village with a proud history of not using chemicals on their land. In 2010 the entire village was organically certified with the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia.
The family was set up a coconut drier, two grating machines, scales and a metal coconut oil press. The process has virtually no waste because the coconut shells and husks can be used to fuel the You have to move to drier and the lefto- earn a living. Nobody ver pressed coco- earns a living if they don’t nut gratings are move.” fed to the pigs.
In 2011, Luagalau Lautafi Kelemete, wife Selesa and their two sons, Molieli and Eli, learned how to hand-press virgin coconut oil. Their home-based business has become so successful they call it the “bank”. “We thank God,” says Luagalau. “We are very pleased with the business because it has helped us fulfill our obligations to the village, family and the church.”
Last year their farm was organically certified by the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia. The family provides oil weekly to Women in Business Development, which in turn exports the oil to international cosmetic retailer The Body Shop, under its Community Trade programme.
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Selesa says the business has helped pay for their youngest daughter to attend the
The Body Shop UK In April 2011, The Body Shop launched a new range of products and advised virgin coconut oil was an ingredient in 30 of their products.
cific Islands as a serious Community Trade partner. The Body Shop further agreed to begin accepting virgin coconut oil from the Tongan National Youth Congress farmers as soon as organic The Body Shop has proved a solid trading partner certification was obtained by their farmers. This and good friend to Women in Business Developcertification should happen in 2013. ment. On a recent visit to The Body Shop Headquarters in the UK, we received a commitment from The Body Shop officials to consider the Pa-
Fair Trade The advantages of Fair Trade are seen as: stable prices, a Fair Trade premium, partnership and the empowerment of farmers and workers. Currently, virgin coconut oil is the only product being sold with the fair trade label – Body Shop Community Trade program. The Fair Trade premium earned =$11,826. In 2011-2012, a total of 170 farmers received Fair Trade training, which is
working towards gaining fair trade certification through the Fair Trade Labelling Organisation (FLO). A Women in Business Development application was submitted to FLO earlier and a number of issues needed to be addressed so that the FLO criteria can be satisfied. WIBDI has addressed these issues and will be applying for certification when funding is available.
Creating blessings
Financial literacy
Ivivi Tele calls the family savings a blessing. For the past six year Ivivi and his family have been organic farmers with Women in Business Development. “I tell you now, before we can’t save any money because we always rely on remittance. But now we have a family savings account at the office from our crops sales, which it was never happened before.” Ivivi says the family, who live in the village of Faleasiu, has also learned to save money by simply not spending it.
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We now know the importance of budgeting our finance according to what we receive.”
“Before, we always buy vegetables from other farmers for our family food, but that is another side I, as a
farmer, really appreciate. “We started working very hard in our land growing different vegetables, which is a big change in our family environment. All my family work together in our farm to cultivate the soil.” He adds that the family has learned to budget their income “because we now know the importance of budgeting our finance according to what we receive.”
Microfinance Results 2011-2012 Financial literacy training for all families earning a regular income continues to be the main thrust of the microfinance project. For the 2011-2012 period, the total amount of savings was almost five times the amount that was loaned, showing that families understand the value of planning ahead. The total amount of savings for the year was $100,448. Total amount loaned was $22,112.00. The total number of active microfinance members was 876. However, staff found it difficult to provide quality financial literacy training with their current commitments. Ideally, two new staff members are required for this process to continue and make a lasting impact.
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Honouring tradition Apiseka Falefa is 36 years old and resides with her young family in the village Tufatafoe, on the island of Savai’i in Samoa. She is regarded as one of Samoa’s best weavers. Apiseka says: “Some people say weaving a fine mat is too hard but I keep working at it. They just give up too easily. It is a treasure of Samoa.” Since learning the art of Ie Sae weaving in 1997 through a Women in Business Development Inc workshop to revitalize the dying art, she has woven 12 Ie Sae.
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Some people say weaving a fine mat is too hard but I keep working at it... It is a treasure of Samoa.
Recently, one of Apiseka’s fine mats was bought by the Senri Foundation in Japan, where it will go on display at the National Museum of Ethnology in Osaka. In national annual competitions that started in 2004, Apiseka has won the top prize five times. In 2003 she was awarded a brand new fridge as Women in Business’ top weaver. The process of bathing her mat was filmed by NZ’s TV3 in Nov,
2011-2012 Fine Mats and Handicraft result The fine mat project enables women to earn a regular income where they live and supports the cultural tradition of the fine mat. The number of weavers being sponsored on the program remains at nine, with 20 others weaving lesser quality fine mats. The nine sponsored weavers are the sole income earner for their families, impacting as many as 120 people. A total of 71 weavers were trained during this financial year, an increase of 19 from the last financial year, with 492 site visits made to fine mat weavers.
We continue to support handicraft artisans with marketing of their products overseas and quality assurance training. All artisans supported by the organisation also have their own local markets, so income recorded is not reflective of total earnings. For this financial year, Women in Business records show a total of $9,577 was paid to local artisans for handicrafts exported overseas. Field staff made 133 site visits to 11 handicraft producers and facilitated 19 sales.
Positive Connector What I love about Women in Business Develop- hotels alike. As the Le Cordon Bleu Ambassador ment is they understand what it’s going to take Chef for New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, to bring the whole of Samoa into an era of ecothis was confirmed when Le Cordon Bleu Paris nomic, cultural and physical prosperity. And wrote to me saying how greatly they enjoyed the when I say whole, I mean from “beautiful coconut oil from To me, the organisa- ‘Women in Business Development’ families in the remotest nooks of Savaii to the business own- tion’s focus on organic in Samoa. ers in bustling Apia. “These are the ingredients of haute agriculture will lead to I had pleasure of working with innovation throughout the cuisine and I applaud the women the organisation for the book of the South Pacific who are createntire food industry in ing such fine food.” Me’a Kai: The Food And Flavours Of The South Pacific , which won Samoa, in restaurants and Right now there is a powerful Best Cookbook in the World hotels alike. craving around the world to con2010 at the Gourmand nect with the sources where food World Cookbook Awards, and then more recomes from through urban farmers markets — cently on developing the follow-up book Mea’ai and when you look at Samoa it is one amazing, Samoa: Recipes from the heart of Polynesia. pure and authentic farmers market!
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To me, the organisation’s focus on organic agriRobert Oliver culture will lead to innovation throughout the Author/Chef/Development Entrepreneur entire food industry in Samoa, in restaurants and
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A Vital Voice
This photo was taken by photographer Micky Wiswedel when the Vital Voices team visited Samoa in April 2012. Photo: Micky Wiswedel/Courtesy of Vital Voices The Global Leadership Awards by Vital Voices Global Partnership recognises “unsung heroines” championing human rights, economic development, and democracy. Established in 1997 by then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in partnership with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, the Vital Voices initiative is intended to elevate the status of women through mentoring, training, and building networks.
ecutive director Adimaimalaga Tafuna’i was recognized for economic empowerment. Adi is the first Pacific woman to receive a Vital Voices award. The award was presented in Washington D.C. and put Adi in touch with many influential people from around the world. It also brought Women in Business Development to the attention of a global audience.
In June 2012, Women in Business Development ex-
Communications & Marketing To celebrate the organisation’s 21 years in operation, a publication was produced to highlight Women in Business Development’s work in Samoa and the region. The organisation’s website was also relaunched with new content added. To complement the new website, complementary social media sites were added such as Twitter and Facebook, which has been positive in showing the organisations daily work to a supportive local and international audience. To do this work, a part-time media consultant was hired. With the executive director receiving an international award, the consultant was also able to assist with the extra media attention. In the future, we will be exploring the potential of online and traditional media as we try to attract more markets and sponsors, and build our network of support.
Climate Change & Disaster Risk Management Women in Business Development believes all families should be aware of the issues surrounding climate change, how it affects them and the country as a whole. Member families are encouraged to grow crops that will not be affected by cyclones as well as having backyard gardens that supply nutritional food. We also encourage them to grow surplus produce that can be sold for cash at the weekly organic basket sales, produce markets, and roadside stalls. In 2011-2012, 496 families were part of the food security programme and learning how to save seeds, with 183 families growing disasterresistant crops.
To generate enough seed stock, the organisation is working with the Samoa Trust Estates Corporation where 6,000 acres of land have been organically certified, in preparation to develop planting materials for coffee and cocoa. These materials will be distributed to smallholder farmers. A number of farmers are also being supported to prepare planting materials that they either sell to other organic farmers or exchange for other crops.
Our nursery has seedlings gathered from farmers as well as seeds bought with donor funds to help grow planting materials to assist with disaster mitigation and recovery.
Women in Business Development is working across the Pacific to assist groups develop agro-economies.
Regional outreach Women in Business Development has continued to build relationships across the Pacific. Many of these encounters have been initiated by nongovernmental organisations as well as central government agencies in these countries. The regional outreach, especially in terms of sharing markets, is seen as a climate change and disaster risk management measure to ensure that if Samoa is affected by a natural disaster, partner organisations will be able to pick up and maintain its export markets. In 2011-2012, the organisation was honoured to work with Department of Agriculture, Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia; the Kiribati Organic Farmers Association; the Vanuatu Farm Support Association, which represents other organic groups in Vanuatu; Cuku Village Trust and Sigatoka Young Farmers Group, Fiji; Kastum Gaden and Solomon Islands Women in Business group; and Tonga National Youth Congress. Work is ongoing with additional support from the Canada Fund, in Kiribati, Fiji, Vanuatu, Chuuk and Tonga, with Tonga developing into a market sharing. The organisation also assisted the Solomon Island Women in Business group funded by the Ausaid Pacific Leadership Program.
Women in Business Development staff conducting virgin coconut oil training in Tonga with the Tonga National Youth Congress.
Statement of Finance DONATIONS RECEIVED
2011
2012
Oxfam New Zealand
$713,945
$1,054,680
*NZAID
$675,960
$7,646
Tautai Pacific Arts Trust
$105,152
$0
Government of Samoa
$40,000
$40,000
Canada Fund
$33,814
$24,289
Tindall Foundation
$28,433
$0
Commonwealth Foundation
$24,186
$0
US Embassy (Challenge Samoa)
$19,467
$17,255
Private Sector Support Fund
$17,488
$0
US Embassy
$8,589
$0
Rotary Club of Samoa
$4,000
$0
Fiji Embassy (Challenge Samoa)
$3,921
$5,258
TOTAL
$1,674,955
$1,149,128
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Statement of Activities 2011-2012 Expenditure
Provide training to 745 farmers/artisans to maintain organic certification/compliance and to enhance financial skills.
Support Women in Business Development and producers to meet the growing demand of local and foreign markets
Provide institutional support to Women in Business Development with a focus on organizational sustainability.
1. INCOME a. Brought forward:
$103,966.23
b. Funds received:
$1,019,681.67
Total funds (a+b):
$1,123,647.90
2. EXPENDITURE: Description
Budget
Actual
Variance
Outcome 1: Provide training to 745 farmers/artisans to maintain organic certification/compliance and to enhance financial skills.
$467,776.58
$335,696.42
$132,080.16
Outcome 2: Support Women in Business Development $74,044.00 and producers to meet the growing demand of local and foreign markets
$57,977.73
$16,066.27
Outcome 3: Provide institutional support to Women in Business Development with a focus on organizational sustainability.
$171,518.00
$153,313.74
$18,204.26
Direct Project Support Costs:
$560,713.54
$515,341.24
$45,372.30
Total Expenditure
$1,274,052.12
$1,062,329.13
$211,722.99
Balance (1-2)
$61,321.55
*Balance to be carried forward to next reporting period
Loss on exchange 13,966.56 ONZ partner workshop meeting costs held by ONZ 3,088.00 LOV year 1 funding not received to date 133,346.88 Total of items above 150,401.44 Total difference budget vs funds received 150,404.22 Slight variance 2.78
Total budget was $1,274,052.12; however funds received was $1,123,647.90 leaving a difference of $150,404.22 relating to the following;
For believing in us Fa’afetai lava. Thank you For supporting us with finance Fa’afetai lava. Thank you For buying our farmers’ products Fa’afetai lava. Thank you For sponsoring our weavers Fa’afetai lava. Thank you For your prayers and thoughts Fa’afetai, fa’afetai, fa’afetai lava Thank you, thank you, thank you
Our Vision
Our Mission
That vulnerable families in Samoa are able to contribute Women in Business Development Inc fully to their own development, 2nd Floor, Nia Mall, the development of their com- Fugalei PO Box 6591, Apia munity and country through Samoa income generation, job crea+685 21959 tion and Ph: participation in the www.womeninbusiness.ws village economy. www.facebook.com/wibdi www.twitter.com/wibdi_samoa
To provide and empower these families with knowledge and skills, opportunities, access to finance and markets.