PROJECT PROPOSAL
To Fairhandeln
SUPPORT TOWARDS
THE EMPOWERMENT .
OF RURAL WOMEN
IN
THE DIOCESE OF MONZE.
==============================================
Prepared and Submitted
By
Solomon Phiri
Promoter for Development. October 2015.
1. Introduction
The diocesan Development department of Monze Diocese has continued since 1965 to
work towards promoting interventions intended to uplift the marginalised and the less
privileged of the society. Its approach is towards Sustainable Economic and Social
Empowerment of the target participants / beneficiaries. The department does this through
various interventions dependant on the beneficiary developmental needs. These may
include education support at varying levels, community sensitization on issues that have
implications on their livelihood, promotion of appropriate technology which enhances
lives of the rural marginalised and embarking on advocacy / lobbying interventions
intended for disfranchising oppressive structures, policies and laws.
This proposal is one of those efforts aimed at empowering rural women in the Diocese
through training in tailoring, entrepreneurship, home management and Savings and Credit
for creation of opportunity towards individual investment.
It must be noted here that the development department does not have its own financial
sources. Its work is dependent on the good will of those who share in the vision of the
Monze Diocese Development Department and the aspirations of the beneficiary
participants. Hence this proposal.
2. Project Description
2.1. Origin
During the early years of its establishment, the Diocesan Development department
had as its focus women skills training resulting in the institutionalising of Home craft
centres. This intervention was in line with the Zambian Government policy for
women empowerment. In the mid-1990s the Zambian Government policy changed
and was no longer in support of such centres for women empowerment but rather
opted for creation of women’s clubs which are really not a replacement of the done
away with home craft centres but a strategy that was perceived as being more
effective than having home craft centres.
The recent statistics reveal that women empowerment is still a subject that requires serious
attention. Southern Province of Zambia (almost the whole of the Diocese of Monze) with an
estimated population of 2.5 million has 68 percent (2010) of these people living on less than
US$2 per day. This alarming poverty and inequality situation stands in sharp contrast to
Zambia’s strong economic growth record over the past decade. The poverty mapping reports
rural poverty at 73% and note that Monze Diocese is mostly rural in nature. It has been
noticed that mostly affected are youths and women. Out of the total population, more than
one-quarter (27%) of households are headed b y women.
The recent economic gymnastics where the inflation rate has risen from 7.8% in
September 2014 to 8.2% in June 2015 and the Zambian Kwacha has devaluated by
60% between 2014 September and August 2015 certainly must have an even more
serious negative impact on the lives of people in the rural Southern (Diocese of
Monze) Zambia.
Having reflected and deliberated on this situation, Monze Diocese Development
department has decided to embark on women empowerment intervention as stated
above with the conviction that empowering a woman is synonymous with
empowering a family.
2.2. Project Location and Current Activities
The intervention will draw women from 5 Parishes of the Diocese namely Lusitu,
Maamba, Nakambala, Chirundu, and Siavonga. These are located mainly along the
Zambezi valley which is an area of the Diocese highly poverty stricken. Monze
Diocese has been working with communities in livelihood interventions among
communities in the sated areas. Over the past five years it is clear that unless women
are economically empowered in these Parishes, poverty will continue to rise.
2.3. Project main objective
To contribute towards the Sustainable Economic and Social Empowerment of Women
in Monze Diocese Zambia.
In trying to address the poverty issue MDDD has decided to carry out a pilot project
for women economic empowerment commencing with a multifaceted training
covering skills training and knowledge transfer in the areas of tailoring,
entrepreneurship, home management and community banking. As a pilot project will
start with 25 women representing 5 women groups. These shall be representatives and
trainers of the said groups. MDDD through the capacity development section will
take close monitoring of the events to happen in women groups after the training.
2.4. Specific objectives
To have trained 25 women in tailoring, entrepreneurship, Community banking, and
Home management by end of November 2015.
2.5. Indicators towards the realisation of the specific objective
2.5.1. A 3 weeks training for women conducted.
2.5.2. 5 women identified as Community Animators (CAs) to foster women activities
arising from the training.
2.5.3. 5 women CAs equipped with Bicycles to enhance their mobility within the
targeted women groups.
2.6. Activities to be undertaken
2.6.1. To conduct a three weeks training for women empowerment.
The 21 days indoor training will attract 5 women from each of the targeted
women groups. Each of the targeted women groups comprise 20 members.
Therefore the ones to be trained are expected to pass on the knowledge to their
members. It must be noted that that this is a pilot action which calls for very close
monitoring and evaluation to enable MDDD decide on this intervention’s
continuation.
2.6.2. Identify during training 5 CAs to follow through on the activities of the
training.
As already stated above close monitoring of the follow up actions to the training
is one sure way of success in the project. During the training some women who
will work as community development animators will have to be identified and
supported with relevant schedules for monitoring. Such women should be those
that will have exhibited the ability to grasp the concept very quickly and be able
to share with others even during the training.
2.6.3. To Purchase and hand over 5 bicycles to the identified CAs.
Fairhandeln and Monze Diocese have a ZAM Bike project. This could be coupled
with the women empowerment project and some (5) of the bicycles to be
purchased will be given to the identified CAs. The CAs will only be able to do
their work successfully if they are mobile. MDDD has supported previous CAs
with bicycles and this proved useful in community based monitoring. Based on
this experience this component has been included in this proposal.
The training will be held within the Diocesan Development department compounds.
Therefore apart from tailoring which will require skilled youth projects trainers, the rest
of the training will be conducted by Diocesan development staff who are already salaried.
Therefore the training costs will be reduced in comparison to if all trainers were to be out
sourced.
2.7. Budgetary Requirements Women empowerment.
Unit cost Total Total Cost Total Euro
Details Units
in ZMW Units in ZMW equivalent
Participants Transport each 240.00 25.00 6,000.00 461.54
To conduct a
three weeks Participants accommodation each 75.00 25.00 1,875.00 144.23
2.6.1. training for Tuition for 25 participants day 1,250.00 21.00 26,250.00 2,019.23
women Food day 1,300.00 26.00 33,800.00 2,600.00
empowerment.
Participants stationary each 40.00 25.00 1,000.00 76.92
Identify during
2.6.2 Costs covered within 2.6.1 each - 5.00 - -
training 5 CAs
Enquiry costs Unit 80 1 80.00 6.15
To Purchase and
hand over 5 Bicycles cost estimates each 800.00 5 4,000.00 307.69
2.6.3.
bicycles to the Transport Km 3 30 90.00 6.92
identified CAs. personnel each 50 3 150.00 11.54
2.64 Monitoring Costs per visit each 1330 5 6,650.00 511.54
Total project costs 79,895.00 6,145.77
Budgetary requirements contd.
Total Total
Unit cost Total
Financing Plan Details Units Cost in Euro
in ZMW Units
ZMW equivalent
Local contribution Participants Transport each 240.00 25 6,000.00 461.54
Monitoring Visit 1,330.00 5 6,650.00 511.54
Food day 1,300.00 21 15,245.00 1,172.69
Total Local contribution 27,895.00 2,145.77
Requested from Fairhandeln - external funding 52,000.00 4,000.00
Estimated Total Project Cost 79,895.00 6,145.77
The projects requirements are as shown above in Zambian Kwacha with a Euro
equivalent of 6, 145.77. Local contribution is Euro equivalent 2,145.77
Requested of Fairhandeln in Euro equivalent is 4,000 .
3. MANAGEMENT OF THE PROJECT
This is a pilot project under the Diocesan Development department therefore a
responsibility of the Diocesan development office. The Diocesan Development
department Capacity Development Officer (CDO) a Sr. Edna Himoonde, will be directly
responsible for the execution of the project. She will be assisted in this work the Diocesan
Animal Husbandry Specialist (AHS) who is also specialised in Training for
Transformation a training approach mainly used by the department in community
development.
Due to the diversity of the intervention, other members of the team skilled in savings and
credit will be engaged in training of the women during the three weeks period.
Women empowerment is also a priority within the Community Development department
of the Government of Zambia. Therefore the Diocesan Development department will take
deliberate steps to network with the said government department especially in monitoring
and evaluating the actions at community level.
4. Reporting
The Promoter for Development who is the head of the Diocesan Development department
will continue to oversee the works in this activity and therefore will also take full
responsibility for the entire project including reporting to Diocesan central administration
as well as Fairhandeln.
