What is your name? Friedrich Alpers
What is the email you used to register at AIU? friedrichalpers@startmail.com
Describe the project. Funding proposal for phase I, regarding a wealth inequality project in northern Namibia. "Improved landscape management towards sustainable woodland entrepreneurship – Kavango West region – Sivara Village woman earning fair and secured income as community frontrunners and champion biodiversity conservation practitioners of natural resources as managers and owners". Objectives: 1. Action and facilitate participatory knowledge exchange workshops / training with first link value chain partners on sustainable woodland management over two rainy seasons. Core activities: a. develop and apply a dual system, traditional environmental knowledge and other b. establish and equip rural training centres and promote volunteering c. expanding skills in indigenous plant cultivation, eco-agriculture, first link value chain partners 2. Ensuring rural woman participate in management processes and benefit from high value natural products Core activities: a. increase capacity and skill in addressing wealth inequality b. promote nutrition and well-being in sustainable food security c. advocate the acknowledgement of the close interface that exists between national prosperity and human health on the one hand and environmental health on the other 3. Wider market access with new product development on fair business principles, maintaining top quality products and securing new trade deals – adding value Core activities: a. increased access to markets resulting from look to learn exchange trip b. top quality products and diversify c. build sustainable revenue through a variety of income streams
Is it a current project or was it completed? when was it completed? This an ongoing project, now turning into a program started in 2019 and this is phase I. It is therefore a current project, with phase I completed in 2020 and leading into phase II and phase III.
How was the project planned? Started by having participatory and inclusive local problem identification meetings, local community solution description followed by project objective design and strategic approach. Meetings with rural village heads and traditional authority, followed by open village and community workshops and discussions. Planning and project framework and implementation plan was developed from the above meeting outcomes.
What about the project would you do differently next time? Break the objectives into more tangible components and workable elements based on regional needs, financially achievable targets, and place specific emphasis.
Who benefited from the project and how? The beneficiaries are the resident women, who are the project partners and fellow managers and beneficiaries of their own natural resources. These resources are to be turned into high value and top-quality indigenous plant oils, which are organically / fair certified to secure niche international markets. Strengthening the weakest link in the value chain – by supporting the rural women and resource managers in capacity, institutional governance, ecological landscape management and social cohesion.Did you work with others in the Project? How did you develop teamwork? Yes, we worked with rural partners and community leaders. A core team of 5 women from Sivara Village were the local implementation facilitators. Jojoba for Namibia Trust strategic and technical management team included Oliver Rust and myself.
Describe another project would you like to do, but have not done yet? Phase II and phase III of above initiative. AND. The actual design, strategic development, and implementation of the TEKOA (Traditional Environmental Knowledge Outreach Academy) initiative. AND. Khaudum Conservancy conceptual design, program development and management towards implementation.