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Sample Proposal on Mobilization for Sustainable House Hold Incomes Activities

This sample Proposal on ‘Mobilization for Sustainable House Hold Incomes Activities’ is specifically made for non governmental organization to improve the standard of living of the rural poor small-scale farming community by ensuring and enhancing food security, good incomes and ecological stability through sustainable land use practices. The activities of the proposal include training of farmers in sustainable agriculture techniques and methods, Supporting of farmers with inputs of improved breeds of crops and animals for further breeding and multiplication and delivery of regular extension and advisory services to the farmers. The training in Sustainable Agriculture which is the major critical activity of this programme will introduce farmers to low-cost Organic Farming approaches that will facilitate improved farm production and incomes. Farmers will be introduced to Soil Feeding Techniques, Soil and Water Conservation Measures, Tillage Practice, Agro- forestry, Ecological Pest Control and Crop Disease Management, Water Harvesting and Modern Rearing of Animals at household level. The training will also tackle the management of key local crops like bananas, coffee, vegetables and fruits. This will equally be done on the side of animals pigs, goats and poultry. The proposed Mobilization for sustainable house hold income activities program and good community health will be implemented where the farming practices among the predominantly peasantry community are very poor.

GENERAL BACKGROUND

ABC Organization has been involved in the implementation of community development programmes since early YYYY when it initiated a pro-poor focused Sustainable Agriculture Programme and community health initiative. A total of over 15,000 rural poor small-scale farming households with about 20,000 people have been supported. These households now enjoy multiple benefits of embracing improved health conditions, ecological farming like improved security backed by healthy foods, improved incomes and overall improvements in the general standards of living.

Since 2014 ABC Organization adopted an integrated community development approach that emphasizes holistic development. Under this approach the promotion and mobilization for Sustainable house hold income activities program and good community health is one integral part of rural livelihood improvement. The other parts are improving access to clean and safer water to rural communities, SACCO and improving access to basic health services using the Community Based Health Care (CBHC) approach. The four pillars (Agriculture, Water and Sanitation, SACCO and Health) of the Integrated Development Approach being promoted by ABC Organization guarantees all round development that re-inforces each other. This approach has led to the realization of rural transformation in many rural poor communities of mainly XXXX district where it has been successfully implemented with local funds and support from Infectious XXX Institute, Civil Society Organization and local government. The plan for ABC Organization is to expand this approach to many rural poor communities in XXX District and beyond so that they can overcome food insecurity, hunger, poverty, health and be able to attain good living standards.

Mobilization for sustainable house hold income activities program and good community health will complete the entire cycle of the planned Integrated Community Development Programme for XXXX District. The mobilization for Sustainable house hold income activities program and good community health will however be implemented as a programme in its own right administratively (for purposes of reporting and accountability to the relevant authorities).

The proposed target area of XXXX District is predominantly rural and poor. The initiation of ABC Organization at the development scene of XXXX District was a timely undertaking. The communities of XXXX District had for long requested ABC Organization to extend her services to the whole District area but this has never been possible because of the lack of resources and the fear to over-stretch the capacity of the organization. ABC Organization has got some local funds with qualified, experienced and dedicated staff that can run a programme of any magnitude. It is only the other resources that are lacking that this proposal is seeking to rise.

The xxxx Institute, local government and Civil Society Organization have been unique partners that supported the staff capacity development effort of ABC Organization. Through the Capacity Building of the staff and Board Members have had opportunities to learn from their peers within Uganda and the East Africa Sub-region. It is through this learning and sharing that ABC Organization has become a respected development player in the Agriculture, SACCO, Water and Health sectors in XXXX District.

EXPERIENCE & CAPACITY OF LOCAL IMPLEMENTING PARTNER

ABC Organization is a reputable pro-poor community development organization based and operational in XXXX District in mid-western Uganda. ABC Organization has wide experience in implementing integrated community development programmes in XXXX District where it has successfully executed a number of programmes in Health, Water, Agriculture, Education and the Environment. ABC Organization has been very active in the integrated community development sphere since yyyy when it started implementing Integrated Community Development Programmes in xxxxx Sub County. Since this time the Integrated Community Development Programme for XXXX District locally funded is a vivid example of our engagement in integrated and participatory community development initiatives.

The work of ABC Organization currently benefits well over 520,000 rural poor people in XXXX District. This work, mainly in Agriculture, Water, Health, SACCO, Environment and the school health sectors is funded by local resources got from ABC Organization projects. ABC Organization support clearly reflects the confidence we have in the work in areas of community development.

There is a team of 20 staff at ABC Organization who are well trained, experienced and dedicated to promoting community development programmes. Together with the well over 1,500 Village Extension Agents trained by ABC Organization, our field staff have been the engine behind the great success registered by the organization over the years.

The wide use and belief in participatory development approaches makes ABC Organization a key partner of the community in its development efforts. ABC Organization too, considers the community as a very essential partner in the rural transformation efforts. This synergy will be carried into the proposed project and to all other projects of ABC Organization as has always been the case.

Globally, ABC Organization enjoys a very warm relationship with a number of local supporters.

Through the various programmes of ABC Organization briefly mentioned in this section, the beneficiary population has been able to reap many significant benefits. There has been improved food security and incomes among the lower segments of our communities, there has been reduction in incidences of common diseases, there is environmental regeneration and above all the hitherto poor now live better and dignified lives. Empowerment levels mostly among women have drastically improved and their place in society is finally being re-established. There are many other achievements in many forms and this is what will continue to drive ABC Organization to remain committed to the rural development programmes and approaches as outlined in this proposal.

PREVIOUS & ON-GOING PARTNERSHIP

ABC Organization has been in partnership with XXXX Institute, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATION, District and sub county production teams. To date about 15,000 rural poor farming households have been directly supported with knowledge and skills in animal rearing fish farming new agricultural skills and getting involved in SACCO. Many of these households enjoy improved food security, better incomes and elevated social status.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

PROBLEM STATEMENT

The proposed Mobilization for sustainable house hold income activities program and good community health will be implemented in an area where the farming practices among the predominantly peasantry community are very poor. This has continued to cause problems of food insecurity, poverty, poor health and environmental degradation. The major cause of this precarious situation is limited modern and appropriate farming knowledge and inadequate environmental awareness and concern. The problem of environmental degradation is further exacerbated by increased pressure on trees for firewood and charcoal in both urban and rural areas because of the rapid increase in population.

The Government extension services machinery in XXXX District is very weak and highly un-reliable and this leaves the farmers and rural communities with no alternative but rather to continue with the traditional farming methods which are quite inefficient and destructive to the environment. This situation was very evident during the recent field assessment carried out in the area as farmers confessed they take a long time to see an Extension Worker! Some communities confessed that they have never seen an Extension Agent in the last five years.

The high poverty (low incomes) situation make it difficult to most households to access appropriate farm inputs and paid services from private providers who are very few and expensive. For about 5 years now ABC Organization has been intervening on the above problems with outstanding results. This intervention was, however, limited to only XXXX Sub county till to date.

GOAL OF THE PROJECT

The overall goal of this proposed project is to “Improve the standard of living of the rural poor small-scale farming community of XXXX District by ensuring and enhancing food security, good incomes and ecological stability through Sustainable Land use Practices”.

TARGET AREA AND GROUP OF THE PROJECT

The project target areas of XXXX County in sub counties of XXXXX, XXXXX, XXXX, and XXXXX, XXXX, XXXX and XXXX town council in XXXX District in mid-western Uganda.   The target villages will be selected through a joint consultation effort of Programme staff, Community Representatives and Local Leaders. A total of 25 villages are targeted each year.

The programme will use a group approach in implementing this three year intervention. Farmers targeted to benefit from the programme activities will be mobilized to form groups of their choice. The programe targets to work with three (3) groups per village and thus a total of 180 groups in three (3) years. Each group is planned to have between 15 – 20 members with only one member per household. In total about 4,440 farmers from 2,360 rural poor households will be directly reached by the programme. Indirectly a total of 35,000 people from these families will also be reached by the programme in three (3) years. Women mainly widows, single mothers and those affected by HIV/AIDS will be deliberately targeted.

PLANNED PROJECT ACTIVITIES

There are a number of project activities planned for the three (3) year period under t he following broad areas:

    • Training of farmers in Sustainable Agriculture Techniques and Methods
    • Supporting of farmers with inputs of improved breeds of crops (seeds and planting materials) and animals for further breeding and multiplication.
    • Delivery of regular extension and advisory services to the farmers.
    • Promotion of low-cost households’ level technology for water harvesting, value addition, etc.
    • Regular follow-up/progamme monitoring

In the framework of the above activities the following specific activities are planned for the three (3) year programme period:

    • Community mobilization and sensitization on Sustainable Agriculture of 60 villages and formation of 180 farmer groups with 3,240 members
    • Conducting sixty (60) training workshops for 3,240 farmers in 180 farmer groups in Sustainable Agriculture Techniques, Tree Planting (Agro-forestry) an Wood Energy Conservation
    • Training of 180 Link Farmers/Community Resource Persons (CRPs) in Extension and Leadership Skills to serve as Village Extension Agents
    • Procurement of Agro-forestry and Vegetable Seeds for establishing Community Nursery Beds.
    • Procurement and supporting farmers with selected breeds of bananas which are resistant to diseases for further breeding and multiplication.
    • Procurement and distribution of improved breeds of pigs, poultry and goats for breeding and multiplication by the farmers.
    • Introduction of appropriate technology that is farmer friendly and cost-efficient in micro-irrigation and solar drying.
    • Training in Value Addition – Wine Making, Jam Production and Fruit Packing
    • Provision of regular extension services i.e. visiting every trained farm family at least once a month.
    • Conducting exposure/study tours for farmers so as to enable them share experience with other successful Sustainable Agriculture farmers in other programmes and to established Ecological Agriculture.

In order to effectively and efficiently implement the above activities, the programme will be run by three (3) staff experienced in Sustainable Agriculture Techniques and one of them will serve as Programme Co-ordinator. The programme will equip the new staff with 2 motorcycles for fieldwork. In total two (2) new motorcycles will be procured under this programme.

The training in Sustainable Agriculture which is the major critical activity of this programme will introduce farmers to low-cost Organic Farming approaches that will facilitate improved farm production and incomes. Farmers will be introduced to Soil Feeding Techniques, Soil and Water Conservation Measures, Tillage Practice, Agro- forestry, Ecological Pest Control and Crop Disease Management, Water Harvesting and Modern Rearing of Animals at household level. The training will also tackle the management of key local crops like bananas, coffee, vegetables and fruits. This will equally be done on the side of animals pigs, goats and poultry.

On Soil Feeding, farmers will be introduced to Compost Making and Application and also the Preparation of Liquid Manures and Plant Teas. The planting of multi-purpose trees which feed the soil with plant nutrients like Nitrogen among other things will also be emphasized. Farm planning will be another area farmers will be trained in.

The training will also cover Soil and Water Conservation measures like Mulching, Use of Contour Bunds, Contouring, technology and many others. Tillage practices like double digging will be introduced and encouraged throughout the trainings. The trainings will be dominated by practicals.

Expected Results of the Mobilization for sustainable house hold income activities program and good community health.

The implementation of proposed programme among the rural poor farming communities of XXXXX West County is expected to benefit the farmers through the following ways:

    • Improved household incomes
    • Increased household food security
    • Diversified agriculture production
    • Improved farming knowledge
    • Improved access to extension services
    • Improved social and human capital through formation of Village Development Committees and farmer groups and training of Community Resource Persons (CRPs) in a variety of skills.
    • Introduction of high yielding crop varieties and animal breeds
    • Increased environmental awareness and concern
    • Adoption of Sustainable Land use Practices
    • Prosperous and healthy communities
    • Increased awareness and use of rural appropriate technology in micro-irrigation and drying.

Indirectly many people and institutions will also benefit. The introduction of high yielding crops and animal breeds will be locally multiplied to benefit many more households. The Government will also benefit from improved taxable income of the rural farmers which will greatly improve her capability to deliver social services and improvement of infrastructure like roads.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT & ORGANIZATION

The overall responsibility for ensuring efficient and effective implementation of this project rests with the Executive Director of ABC Organization as head and Chief Accounting Officer of the organization. There will, however, be a Programme Co-ordinator who will be responsible for the day-to-day management and co-ordination of the programme. There will also be two (2) Field Extension Staff who will be responsible for delivery of field extension services, advisory services and regular follow-ups. The Programme Co-ordinator will, besides the administration function, perform the duties of the Field Extension Worker. The Programme Co-ordinator will be answerable to the Executive Director who has the principal mandate of reporting to the donor and the Board. The key duties of the Programme Co-ordinator shall be:

    • Ensuring efficient and effective co-ordination and implementation of programme activities according to approved workplan and budget and established policies of ABC Organization and donor guidelines.
    • Field co-ordination and follow-up/supervision of field extension worker.
    • Ensuring timely preparation of monthly and six monthly workplans and progress reports.
    • Programme Administrator and spokesperson
    • Net-working with Government and other development agencies
    • Coaching and inducting new staff of the programme
    • Motivating communities and local leaders to actively participate in programme activities.
    • Participating in the training of farmers and Link Farmers in various techniques
    • Delivery of extension and advisory services to farmers in a particular designated area.

The main duties of the Field Extension Workers shall mainly be:

    • Training of farmers in Sustainable Agriculture Techniques and Methods
    • Provision of Extension and advisory services to farmers
    • Farmer follow-up either in groups or at individual homes
    • Conducting farmer level demonstrations and training
    • Net-working with Village Development Committees and Link Farmers
    • Ensuring efficient planning and co-ordination of the activities of Village Development Committees

The Executive Director of ABC Organization will be responsible for reporting to the donor.

PROJECT FOLLOW-UP SYSTEM

Monitoring and Evaluation of Programme Activities

The programme activities will be regularly monitored on a monthly basis. The logical framework will be used as a basis for monitoring. The indicators used in the logical framework will be the very ones used in the monthly preparation of workplans and will have to be reported on in the monthly progress reports. The programme management will also make regular visits to the communities to physically check on progress.

The beneficiaries will also actively participate in programme monitoring. Besides quarterly participatory monitoring sessions which will take place in the areas of operation, the programme will institute a community follow-up monitoring system more especially in the distribution of inputs.

Along the field reports which will be prepared by the Extension Staff, there will be also acknowledgement of receipts of inputs duly signed by the community leaders. This will make the staff more accountable to the communities which will have wider benefits in terms of impact and programme sustainability.

The programme will hold internal evaluations annually. The approach for evaluation will be participatory and beneficiary oriented.

PROGRAMME ACCOUNTING SYSTEM

The management of ABC Organization will maintain a specific bank account for this programme which will be accessed by double signature. Access of the bank account will be based on a well-elaborated system that includes approval of planned expenses based on a clear work plan and duly filled requisition vouchers. The Programme Extension Staff shall prepare work plans every month which they shall use to obtain funding on approval. Every staff will be required to account in full for all the funds advanced for activities before accessing more advances. Accounting for funds shall include submitting original receipts or proof of expenditure. A separate book-keeping shall be maintained for this programme as is the case with other programmes. This programme will be audited annually.   This is the system which ABC Organization uses for all her programmes since it started.

STRATEGY TO ASSURE PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY

There are a number of measures which are envisaged to ensure the sustainability of this programme and they are:

    • The programme will as much as possible use participatory approaches. The high involvement of beneficiaries in programme activities will ensure “ownership” by the community which will guarantee continuity.
    • The programme will promote low-cost approaches and use of local materials. As the communities will continue realizing immense benefits from these kinds of applications they will be motivated to continue applying them thus assuring continuity.
    • A lot of capacity building activities more especially in terms of training have been planned. The acquisition of “knowledge” and techniques that work will change the way of doing things in the communities and most likely for the better. As this will become the “usual way” of doing things the impact of the programme will be sustained.
    • The programme also plans to use community agents to train as Link Farmers/Community Resource Persons. This will help in building local human capital and expertise which will be able to continue programme activities beyond its funding life. This approach has proved a great success in the other activities of Emesco Development Foundation.
    • There is a lot of “multiplier effect” that will arise in the programme. The programme inputs to the community like improved pigs, goats and banana suckers will operate as a revolving loan in kind. For every piglet received a farmer will pay back one from the off springs and for every sucker received a farmer will pay back two (2) suckers for distribution to other community members. This will assure programme continuity.
    • Farmer groups that will be formed will be encouraged to engage in Savings and Credit activities. The mobilization of own savings will allow group members to sustainably access good capital for expanding their farming enterprises.