FIDAfrique - IFADAfrica

Forest Resource Management Project Performance Assessment- Zambia

Foly AKOUSSAN — 2012-11-30T15:58:28Z

The objective of the project performance assessment (PPA) of the Forest Resource Management Project (FRMP) in Zambia was to assess the overall results of the project and generate findings and recommendations for the implementation of ongoing operations in the country and the design of future operations. This assessment builds upon the previous project completion report validation and adds findings from a mission to Zambia conducted in November 2011.

- Zambia

Project Performance Assessment of the Burundi PRDMR

Foly AKOUSSAN — 2012-11-08T12:25:25Z

The relevance of PRDMR is deemed satisfactory in relation to Burundi's economic and social indicators at the time, IFAD's strategy for economic recovery, and the needs of vulnerable poor people living in rural areas. But the programme was designed to address a complex set of root causes of poverty and insecurity, and although each of the programme components was relevant to the needs of beneficiaries, the interventions as a whole made the programme complex and difficult to manage.

- Burundi

Training of Monitoring and Evaluation staff of IFAD Projects in Gambia, 17-21/09/2012

Foly AKOUSSAN — 2012-09-27T13:52:10Z

The training workshop targeted key M&E and project implementation staff of IFAD projects in the Gambia, Focal Points providing support for project imp lementation and staff of the Central Projects Coordination Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture. The overall goal of training was to develop and strengthen capacities for effective and efficient monitoring and evaluation of IFAD projects within the context of the Country Programme Approach (CPA).

The specific objective was to enable participants acquire and re-enforce knowledge in:
results and Impact Management Systems (RIMS);
operationalization of project monitoring and evaluation systems;
participatory Monitoring and evaluation;
M&E data collection, management and analysis;
reporting and communication in M&E; and
ensuring M&E sustainability.

Adult learning and exchange modules combined a series of plenary and group sessions to ensure effective participation in the training sessions. These sessions supported the presentation and examination of key issues including: the strategic role of M&E in project implementation, the RIMS framework, environmental and social performance monitoring and evaluation, participatory M&E, management of the logframe matrix and M&E indicators, operationalization of M&E systems, elaboration and management of the M&E plan matrix, monitoring of the AWPB to support project management, the RIMS framework for evaluating outcomes and assessing impact, RIMS reporting, communication, and sustainability of M&E systems.

The training concluded with a joint reflection by key M&E staff of the three projects on the principal M&E challenges and strategic options for addressing key constraints.

Read the report (with participants list and training agenda)

REP and the Methodist Church Ghana establish a Rural Technology Facility at Offinso in the Ashanit Region

Nanabanyin Brown-Addo — 2012-08-06T10:49:15Z

Six Hundred (600) Rural MSEs Supported to Register Businesses With The Registrar General's Department At The District Level.

Nanabanyin Brown-Addo — 2012-08-04T16:13:54Z

A total number of six hundred (600) rural Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) have been supported by the Rural Enterprises Project (REP) to register their businesses with the Registrar General's Department of the country. The registration exercise is part of the business support services being provided by the Project, under its Initiative for Rural Enterprises Growth and Employment creation (IREGE), to facilitate the growth of MSEs in rural areas of Ghana .

Currently business registration in Ghana can only be accessed in Accra and selected regional capitals. This means business owners from the rural parts of the country have to travel long distances to the city centres to registrar their businesses. This has been a de-motivating factor for business registration in the rural areas. The Project is therefore facilitating the process of bringing the services of Registrar General's Department (RGD) to the door-step of the rural MSEs. Staff of the RGD travelled to the selected districts at the instance of the REP to undertake the registration exercise.

The registration exercise is expected to give formal recognition to the registered businesses, which in turn would boost the chances of the entrepreneurs to access various business support services including financial assistance from the financial institutions and the district assemblies.

The registered MSEs were selected from 20 participating districts of the Project nationwide, through the Business Advisory Centres (BACs). The districts are; Bole, East Gonja, West Gonja, Sissala East, Atebubu, Sene, Wenchi, Asunafo North, Amansie East, Asante Akim South, Mpohor Wassa East, Aowin Suaman and Amenfi West Districts. The others are Asuogyaman, Asikuma Odoben Brakwa, Krachi west, North Tongu, Kwahu North, Twifo Hemang Lower-Denkyira, and Mfantseman districts.

The registration exercise was preceded by public education and sensitisation of MSEs in the twenty (20) districts. The sensitisation highlighted the importance and advantages of registering business as required by law.

The initial commitment, interest and enthusiasm displayed by clients in the selected districts, has given the indication that business owners in the rural communities are ready to fulfil regulatory requirements to enable them operate competitive businesses. The Project would therefore continue to assist the (RGD) to extend the business registration exercise to the remaining participating districts.

REP organizes training of trainers' workshop in numeracy and basic book- keeping

Nanabanyin Brown-Addo — 2012-08-04T16:01:50Z

The Rural Enterprises Project (REP) in collaboration with the Ghana Reflect Practitioners' Network (Pamoja Ghana) has organized a 14-days Initial Facilitators' Training of Trainers' workshop for 44 group facilitators. The training was aimed at imparting basic literacy and numeracy skills to enhance the functional skills in record keeping, costing and simple business planning to enable REP clients to manage their small businesses more profitably.

Participants filling the cash books with their individual business activities

The training took place in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region in March 2010. Participants came from 13 districts of Ghana namely: East Gonja and Central Gonja in the Northern Region; Garu Tempane in the Upper East Region; Sisala West in the Upper West region; and South Tongu in the Volta Region. The others are Asikuma Odoben Brakwa, Mfantseman and Abura Aasebu Kwamankese in the Central Region; Jomoro in the Westerrn Region; Asutifi and Asunafo North in the Brong Ahafo Region; Asante Akim South and Asante Akim North in the Ashanti region.

Madam Millicent Akoto interacting with the participants before the start of the workshop

Facilitators for the workshop were drawn from Pamoja Ghana. The objectives of the workshop were:
To train participants in basic literacy and numeracy skills necessary for recording daily activities
To introduce Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) to participants
To discuss with participants what is expected of them as group leaders.

The topics treated at the workshop include: Who a facilitator is, duties of a facilitator, attitudes of a facilitator and qualities of a good facilitator; Group Management (Circle Management); Participatory Learning Appraisal and Booking keeping with demonstration on how to record Income and Expenditure. The rest are Identification and Pronunciation of Vowels; Book Keeping and Savings; Facilitation of Literacy and Numeracy; Income and Expenditure Accounting with Symbols, Profit and Loss; Marketing and 4Ps (Product, Place, price and promotion); Costing and Action Plans.

Technical Training and Technology promotion Officer of REP Paul Amoako Agyei delivering an address at the Opening Ceremony

The workshop officially opened by the Technical Training and Technology Promotion Officer of the REP, Paul Amoaku Adjei, who represented the Project Coordinator. He encouraged the participants to co-operate with the resource persons/facilitators from Pamoja as well as make the best of the opportunity given them so that the objectives of the training would be achieved. Also present at the opening ceremony was the National coordinator of Pamoja Ghana Mrs. Millicent Akoto. She thanked the participants for accepting the invitation to come and be trained so they could also go back and train their group members. The workshop was closed by the Business Development and Marketing Officer of REP, Madam Elizabeth Nguah.

The participants are expected to go back to their various groups to training

A group picture of resource persons and participants of the Pamoja-REP TOT Workshop

them with the knowledge acquired at the Trainer of trainers' workshop in numeracy and basic book- keeping. A 3 month monitoring, handholding and back stopping exercise is to be done as a follow up to this TOT session to ensure effective and efficient implementation of facilitation work.

REP to train 621 MSE operators nationwide in literacy and numeracy

Nanabanyin Brown-Addo — 2012-08-04T15:57:25Z

About 621 MSE operators from twenty-two districts across the nation are to begin training in literacy and numeracy this month. This follows a 14-days Initial Facilitators' Training of Trainers' workshop organized for 44 group facilitators in March this year by REP in collaboration with the Ghana Reflect Practitioners' Network (Pamoja Ghana) in Kumasi.

The Literacy and Numeracy training programme is aimed at building the technical, entrepreneurial and managerial skills of rural MSEs to make them competitive. This is being done through the impartation of functional skills in record keeping, costing and simple business planning to enable REP clients to manage their small businesses more profitably.

The training programme was piloted in 2006 for 12 months in five districts namely Amansie East and Asante Akim North districts in the Ashanti Region; Kassana Nankana District in the Upper East Region; West Mamprusi in the North Region; and Dormaa in the Brong Ahafo Region. A total of 111 MSE operators graduated from the pilot training which was organized in collaboration with the Non-Formal Education Division of the Ghana Education Service.

Training logistics for all 22 groups have been procured by the Project and distributed to the Business Advisory Centres (BACs) of the participating districts for onward distribution to the groups. The training programmes would be organized by the BACs and facilitated by the group facilitators trained by Pamoja Ghana in March. Pamoja Ghana would provide a hand holding backstopping to the facilitators during the training period. The training for each group would span a period of three months with two hours of training each day, thrice in a week.

The beneficiary MSE operators belong to twenty-two (22) local business association from 13 districts across the country. The districts and groups are below

Rural Enterprises Project commissions its eleventh Rural Technology Facility at Assin Adubiase in the Assin South District

Nanabanyin Brown-Addo — 2012-08-04T15:55:02Z

The Rural Enterprises Project (REP) has commissioned its eleventh Rural Technology Facility at Adubiase in the Assin South District of the Central Region. The cost of the facility is about GH¢180,000 and is financed by the African Development Bank with support from the District Assembly. The Rural Technology Facilities are the operating units of the Technology Promotion and Support to Apprentices Training (TPSAT) component of the Rural Enterprises Project. The Assin Adubiase RTFs will support the transfer of appropriate technologies to farmers, agro-processors, metal based artisans as well as micro and small entrepreneurs in the Assin South District and three other adjoining districts namely Abura Asebu Kwamankese, Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira and Asikuma Odoben Brakwa Districts. It will also offer apprenticeship training to unemployed youth in viable artisanal trades. Due to its proximity to Assin Fosu in the Assin North Municipality, the local garages association in the municipality are also expected to be benefit from the Adubiase Rural Technology Facility.

Minister for Trade and Industry Hon. Hannah Tetteh commissioned the RTF. Also in attendance were the Central Regional Minister Hon. Ama Benyewaa Doe, Municipal Chief Executive for Assin North Hon. Alexandra Antwi Boasiako, District Chief Executive for Assin South Madam Hon. Sabina Appia-Kubi, Member of Parliament for Assin South and a former Minister of State for Lands and Forestry Prof. Dominic Fobih, Executive Director of the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) Alhaji Lukeman Rahman and Project Officials. The ceremony was also attended by traditional rulers, the clergy, assembly members and heads of departments in the district.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Hanna Tetteh re-affirmed government's commitment to build a vibrant rural economy to help address unemployment, poverty and rural-urban migration in Ghana. She cited the continuation of the Rural Enterprise Project (REP) as an attestation to the government's commitment. Ms. Tetteh said the REP had since its inception in 2003, trained over 170,000 people in various community based trades, majority of whom are women. She added that the banks involved in the project had so far disbursed about GH¢1,500,000 credit to micro and small scale enterprises while as at March this year, graduate apprentices in 45 districts have received start-up kits.

Ms. Tetteh called on the youth to avail themselves to the opportunity being offered them to acquire skills to better their lot and help eradicate poverty, which she said was endemic in the rural areas. Central Regional Minister, Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe, was full of praise for the Project and pledge the commitment of the Regional Coordinating Council to join forces with REP to fight rural poverty.

Project Coordinator of the Rural Enterprises Project Kwasi Attah-Antwi underscored the contributions of its partners, the Assin South District Assembly and GRATIS Foundation in setting up the Rural Technology Facility.

Preceding the commissioning ceremony was a Knowledge Fair mounted to showcase various stages of Project interventions and a mini clients' exhibition which saw Project clients from adjourning districts exhibiting some of their products. The RTFs in Asamankese and Bekwai as well as the GRATIS Foundation, Cape Coast were there to exhibit some of the agro-processing equipment they have manufactured.

The ten RTFs already commissioned are located at Bibiani in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai District and Asankragua in the Wassa Amenfi West District, both in Western Region; Bekwai in Amansie East Municipality and Konongo-Odumase in the Asante Akim North Municipality of the Ashanti Region. The others are located in Donkokrom in the Kwahu North District and Asamankese in West Akim municipality of the Eastern Region; Salaga in East Gonja District of the Northern Region; Navrongo in Kassena Nankana West District of Upper East Region, Nadowli in Nadowli District of Upper East Region and Kete Krachi in Krachi West Districts of the Volta Region. The 12th RTF located at Garu in the Garu Tempane District of the Upper East Region is yet to be commissioned but is fully operational.

For more on the commisioning of the Assin Adubiase RTF, see :

REP Commissions Three Rural Technology Facilities In The Ashanti And Western Regions

Nanabanyin Brown-Addo — 2012-08-04T15:52:39Z

The Rural Enterprises Project (REP) has commissioned three Rural Technology Facilities (RTF) at Konongo-Odumase in the Asante Akim North Municipality of the Ashanti Region; Asankragua in the Wassa Amenfi West District and Bibiani in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai District, both in Western Region. The commissioning of the three RTFs brings the number of RTFs commissioned by REP to ten out of the twelve already constructed. The cost of each facility is GH¢180,000 and is financed by the African Development Bank with support from the District Assembly. The RTFs will support the transfer of appropriate technology to farmers, agro-processors, metal based artisans as well as micro and small entrepreneurs in the three towns and their adjoining districts. They will also offer apprenticeship training to unemployed youth in viable artisanal trades.

The commissioning ceremony in Konongo was witnessed by many dignitaries including the Ashanti Regional Minister Hon. Kofi Opoku Manu, Former Deputy Trade and Industry Minister and currently Minister of State at the Presidency Hon. John Gyetuah, Municipal Chief Executive of the Asante Akyem North Thomas Osei-Bonsu and District Chief Executive of Asante Akim South De-graft Forkuo as well as traditional rulers of both Odumase and Konongo. Addressing the gathering, the Project Coordinator Kwasi Attah-Antwi announced that the project is also providing basic tools and equipment to graduate apprentices to enable them to establish their own businesses. He explained that more than 3,500 graduate apprentices have so far been supported with similar startup kits nationwide since 2005.

The Former Deputy Trade and Industry Minister John Gyetuah, re-affirmed government's commitment to support the establishment of relatively large scale district industrial projects to accelerate industrial growth and create more jobs especially for the rural people. He urged the 11-member Management Board of the RTF to be proactive and help provide strategic direction to grow local industries and create jobs. The successful operation of the RTF, he explained would depend on the attitude, interest and commitment of micro and small-scale enterprises (MSEs) located in its catchment area in seeking improved technologies such as those to be provided by the RTF for their operations.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Kofi Opoku Manu urged the traditional rulers and the Assemblies in the participating districts to explore all possible avenues to support the facility to become a sustainable asset that would drive the industrialization agenda of the beneficiary districts. He swore in a ten-member Management Board of the facility and urged them to carry out their work with dedication and commitment to provide proper direction for the progress of the RTF. The chief of Odumase, Nana Kofi Antwi, appealed to land owners to release lands for development projects.

Tools and equipment for business start-up including those for dressmaking, hairdressing, carpentry, welding and fabrication, barbering and motor vehicle mechanics were presented to 30 graduate apprentices free of charge during the ceremony. The other two RTFs were also commissioned by Hon. John Gyetuah and was attended by the Acting Chief Director of Ministry of Trade and Industry Mr. Kofi Larbi. The Bibiani event was historical as it brought together all three paramount chiefs in the districts; Odeneho Gyapong Ababio II of Sefwi Bekwai, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II of Anhwiaso, and Okogyeman Kwaku Gyamprah III of Chirano; a situation which has not occurred in many years. >> more pictures

232 MSEs attend REP's 2009 Annual Clients' Exhibition And Trade Show At Asamankese

Nanabanyin Brown-Addo — 2012-08-04T15:50:06Z

A total of 232 operators of rural micro- and- small enterprises from 74 districts across the country attended the 2009 Clients' Exhibition and Trade Show organized by the Rural Enterprises Project (REP) at Asamankese in the West Akim Municipality of the Eastern Region.

The one-week event organized from Friday 4th to Friday 11th December 2009 attracted a total sales of over GH¢ 52,312 by the various exhibitors as compared to the GH¢ 26,220 raised by the 191 clients who attended the 2008 event.

The Annual Client Exhibition and Trade Show is in support of the Project's objective of promoting a competitive rural micro- and small-scale enterprises sector in the participating districts. It aims at providing a platform for MSEs in participating districts to market their products and services, seek new business opportunities by way of new market outlets (especially outside their home districts), new technologies, new input supply sources, ideas on new products and product quality improvement and packaging.

The range of products exhibited and sold at this year's event included agro-processed products (Cashew, Prekese, Spices, Cassava products, etc), non-agric forest products (Guinea Fowl, Grasscutter, Snails, Mushroom, Rabbit etc), traditional crafts (carvings, plastics, beads, etc), clothes and textiles (Batik Tie & Dye, Kente, Smocks, Garments, Leather, etc). The Rural Technology Facilities which constitute the technology wing of the Project also showcased various innovative products such as agro-processing equipment (cassava graters, groundnut crackers, palm oil processing) during the trade show. A special Knowledge Fair was held alongside the event to showcase documentaries and photo exhibitions about project implementation . Fliers were also distributed to patrons of the event on how to start their own businesses in selected trades like gari production, batik tie and dye, grasscutter rearing, soap making and bee keeping.

The 2009 Clients' Exhibition and Trade Show was opened by a Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry and now Minister of State at the Presidency, John Gyetuah, Director of Western and Central Africa Division of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Mohamed Béavogui, West Akim Municipal Chief Executive Samuel Fleischer-Kwabi, and Project Coordinator of REP Kwasi Attah-Antwi. Among other dignitaries who attended the opening ceremony which jointly held with the 2009 West Akim Municipal Best Farmer Award are Deputy Eastern Regional Minister Baba Jamal, Country Programme Manager of IFAD Mohammed Manssouri, Country Programme Manager of Western and Central Division of IFAD Ulac Demirag, Executive Director of NBSSI, Luckman Abdul-Rahim and Omanhene of Asamankese traditional area, Osabarima Kwaku Amoah III. The event was also witnessed by over hundred delegates to the IFAD Regional Project Implementation Workshop organized in Accra from the 1st to 4th December 2009.

The event was closed by the Eastern Regional Minister Samuel Ofosu Ampofo on the 10th December 2009. Also present at the closing ceremony were Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for West Akim Seth Okyere, DCE for Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar Samuel Fleischer-Kwabi, DCE for Kwaebibirem George Agyemang Duah and DCE for New Abirem Adomako Asiamah. Others are Director for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Johnson Adasi, Project Coordinator of REP Kwasi Attah-Antwi and Omanhene of Asamankese traditional area, Osabarima Kwaku Amoah III.

Addressing the Closing Ceremony Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo entreated the exhibitors to put the new ideas and practices learnt from the exhibition and asked the district and municipal assemblies to release funds to support rural enterprises to enable them to grow. He applaud REP for the creation of over 110,000 jobs since 2003. Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo urged the youth of the country to learn trade and skills that can enable them create employment for themselves. The Minister of Trade and Industry, Hanna Tetteh, in a speech read for her by the Director for Small and Medium Enterprise, Johnson Adasi, recognized the role being played by REP to reduce poverty in the rural areas through increased self employment.

The REP Coordinator, Kwasi Attah-Antwi announced that over 3,700 youth nationwide have been provided with graduate apprentices start-up kits for them to establish their businesses. He added that the Project plans to assist about six thousand (6000) youth in traditional apprenticeship training to set up their own businesses after graduation. Thirty graduate apprentices from the district received various equipment to establish carpentry, welding, auto mechanic, electrical, dressmaking and hair dressing businesses.

The 2009 Client exhibition and Trade Show is the 9th of such events organized by REP since 2001, attracting a total attendance of over 1132 project clients (with majority being females). The previous events were organized at Techiman, Offinso, Agona, Berekum, Konongo-Odumase, Duayaw Nkawnta, Atwima Nwabiagya and Mankessim. The Project has also assisted its clients to participate in other exhibitions including Pre-Easter Grand Sales in Kumasi in 2002 and the 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th and 15th Ghana International Trade Fair in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010 respectively.