2012/13

ANNUAL REPORT

© Practical Action Southern Africa, 2013

No use of this publication may be made for resale or other commercial purposes without

prior permission of the copyright holder.

Cover Photo: By Lasten Mika

Cover photo Caption: Installing powerlines in Bondo Malawi

Text and production coordination: Martha Munyoro katsi

Editors: Killron Dembe,Grace Musarurwa,Evelyn Mano,Thembinkosi Nyathi,

Hopewell Zheke, Tendai Tendere, Henry Muchedzi, Gigi Davies-Wing, Clement Kalonga,

Nicholas Dzadza, Patience Samhutsa

CONTENTS

1

CONTENTSMessage from the Regional Director................................................ 3

Energy Access................................................................................. 5

Sustainable Agriculture and Livelihoods.......................................... 11

Water and Sanitation....................................................................... 22

Practical Answers............................................................................ 32

Practical Action Consulting.............................................................. 34

Communications and Events ........................................................... 39

Financial Statements....................................................................... 42

2

About Us

Vision

Mission

Values

A Southern Africa region free of poverty where technology

is used for the benefit of all

To promote sustainable technology in areas of energy,

water and sanitation, sustainable agriculture and

livelihoods and market systems that alleviate poverty.

?Justice

?Democracy

?Empowerment

?Diversity

?Sustainability

3

MESSAGE FROM THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR

people in the region in the next five years.

I am glad to announce that through the Energy

Access Programme, decentralised energy

systems such as micro-hydro and solar power

are now providing modern renewable energy

to marginal ised and isolated rural

communities in Malawi, Mozambique and

Zimbabwe that have seen at least 50,000

material beneficiaries including vital social

institutions such as clinics and schools. A

further 100,000 relational beneficiaries were

achieved through strengthened engagement

in sub-national planning/negotiation

processes of such key government

departments such as Energy Regulatory elcome, readers. It gives me

bodies by Practical Action's key partner great pleasure to share our 2012-

organisations such as Environment Africa in W13 Southern Africa Annual

Ma lawi , FEDESMO in Mozambique, Report, having completed the first year of our

Environment and Energy Concerns of Zambia ambitious 2012 – 2017 strategy that is

(EECZ) and ZERO for Zimbabwe.motivated by “Connectedness, Dynamism,

Pace and Collaboration for the future” as we

I am also delighted to report that through make every effort to fight the prevalent

Sustainable Agriculture and Livelihoods (SAL) poverty in the region through appropriate

Programme, over 20 000 people benefitted technology.

materially and from improved services, while

Through applying technologies complimented over 69 000 relational beneficiaries were

by our participatory approaches, as well as achieved through mainstreaming climate

influencing enabling policy and legislative change and variability mitigation and

reforms, we have managed to improve the adaptation in the national agricultural

lives of the poor. Practical Action Southern extension systems among government

Africa has been leading global initiatives in the d epa r tmen t s , sma l l h o l d e r f a rme r

region including the Sustainable Energy for All organisations and Non-Governmental

(SE4ALL), the Total Energy Access (TEA) Organisations such as Hlekweni, Development

campaigns and the launch of the Poor People Aid from People to People (DAPP) and Hodi in

Energy Outlook (PPEO) Reports, which we Zambia and Zimbabwe. This was mainly

hope will improve the lives of over 6 million achieved through funding from the European

Ernest G. Mupunga (Regional Director)

4

Union, Nuffield Foundation, World Food energy to power agriculture - solar powered

Programme (WFP) and the Food Agriculture irrigation. We also built the capacity of

Organisation (FAO). national agriculture extension agencies to use

climate data to inform farmers of climate

Under the Urban Water, Sanitation and change and how they can adapt to its impacts.

Hygiene Education (WASHE) Programme, our

goal is to increase access to clean safe drinking Through Practical Answers, we continued to

water and better sanitation conditions for the use our knowledge sharing platforms to share

urban poor - specifically slum areas in information, knowledge and respond to

Southern Africa. During the year, we promoted enquiries, especially using digital extension -

new and innovative ways in which local podcasting - to reach farmers in remote areas

authorities, residents, and the private sector with vital crop, livestock and market

could work together to improve urban service information in an engaging way.

delivery. Poor and marginalised urban and

peri-urban residents in Mutare and Epworth In conclusion, I would like to note that while we

participated in urban planning with their local use our expertise in various sectors, our

authorities. In Gwanda and Mwenezi districts greatest strength is in working with

of Zimbabwe, our interventions enabled communities to ensure utilisation of their skills

access to clean water supplies, sustained and knowledge. This is key to the sustainability

community-based management of water of our interventions, as is working with

points, decent ablution facilities and cleaner government departments, NGOs, the

environments. academia and the private sector for cross

pollination of ideas and harnessing of

In our markets work we continued to use the resources (human and financial) for joint

Participatory Market System Development action. I have no doubt that this is one of the

(PMSD) approach to transform markets to best approaches to address poverty in the

work for the poor. We worked in charcoal and context of a changing climate in Southern

cook stove value chains in Mozambique, Africa and we are very grateful to all. I would

horticulture and small livestock in Zimbabwe. like to express our special appreciation to the

We also continued to influence others through funding partners who have given us the

PMSD trainings for other NGOs, government morale, technical and financial support over

officials and some donors in Mozambique, the years.

Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Thank you.

On Climate Change, we improved farmer

adaptive capacities and resilience through

promotion of smart agriculture technologies

such as ecological agriculture (soil and water Ernest G. Mupunga

conservation), and by using clean sources of Regional Director

5

Provision of energy services to isolated rural

Overviewcommunities requires significant upfront

capital investment but government funding and

public budgets are inadequate. Thus current Energy access challenges and the need to

rural electrification rates remain low, as address them within SADC region is well

evidenced by the rural household access rates acknowledged politically through the

which have been constant for 10 years (7% in endorsement by energy ministers of the SADC

Zimbabwe, 3% in Malawi, 5% Mozambique). Energy Access Strategy of 2010 that calls for

There is a need to mobilise supplementary “ensuring that the proportion of people

financial resources by engaging the private without access is halved within 10 years …

sector but certain barriers need to be until there is universal access”.

overcome. Key among these is the lack of a

coherent policy and regulatory framework to

define parameters for private investment in off-

grid solutions e.g. currently in Malawi a single

entity cannot hold licences for generation,

transmission and distribution and licences cost

$10,000 each. Independent power producers in

the region generally pursue on-grid projects

given the certainty of offtake agreements, as

they are not guaranteed of business in rural

areas once the main grid arrives. In addition,

rural electrification funds in SADC are regulated

by statutes that exclude viable renewable off-

grid technologies yet it is widely recognised

that universal access cannot be achieved

through grid extension alone.

ENERGY ACCESS

© P

ractical Action/R

egin

ald

Mapfu

mo

People resorting to cutting trees as source of energy

6

options such as Micro

H y d r o S c h e m e s

(MHS) play a pivotal

role in reducing both

transmission and

distribution costs and

c a n b e s c a l e d

according to needs.

Practical Action has

been providing these

decentralised energy

options.

1 . R e g i o n a l M i c r o - H y d r o Project

Dur ing the year

P r a c t i c a l A c t i o n Rural communities have limited livelihood

Southern Africa completed a five-year activities which makes connection costs

European Union funded Energy Project titled, unaffordable even if they had access to the

“Catalyzing Modern Energy Services Delivery to grid. Even if communities could afford grid

Marginalized Communities in Southern Africa” access, national energy production is far

whose objective was to demonstrate options of below current demand. For example,

access to energy by isolated rural communities generation capacity in Zimbabwe is 1600MW

through applying community - led initiatives for against a peak demand of 2200MW and in

the development, construction, operation and Malawi generation capacity is 200MW against

maintenance of small scale Micro Hydro a peak demand of 250MW.

Schemes in Mulanje and Manica districts of

Malawi and Mozambique respectively, and This severely limits essential economic

Manicaland province of Zimbabwe. activities such as agro processing and light

engineering in the rural areas. Access to

The project rehabilitated five existing schemes modern energy is a recognised enabler that

and established eight new ones in Mozambique, can lift communities out of poverty and

Malawi and Zimbabwe - where steep terrain studies have shown that lack of access to

and perennial streams and rivers present a modern energy services is a major obstacle to

natural potential for the establishment of micro the delivery of socio-economic services such

hydro schemes. The project also sought to as education and health; both prioritized in

reduce the policy, technical and institutional the four countries' poverty reduction

barriers that limit the development and use of strategies.

renewable energy off grid sources to meet the

energy needs of poor, rural communities.Given the energy deficit, decentralized energy

© P

ractical Action/L

aste

n M

ika

Installing distribution lines in Bondo Micro Hydro Scheme in Malawi

7

Achievements

The Regional Micro hydro project installed eight new decentralised micro hydro schemes and

rehabilitated five micro hydro systems with a design capacity between 20kW and 30kW to serve

remote rural communities benefitting over 45 000 people.

© P

ractical Action/M

art

ha M

unyoro

Kats

i©

Pra

ctical Action/M

art

ha M

unyoro

Kats

i

© P

ractical Action/M

art

ha M

unyoro

Kats

i

A family enjoying the fruits of electricity in Chipendeke

8

Key lessons

Operational models

Each of the three countries had different

models for operating the mini-hydro scheme

project. In Zimbabwe the operational model

was community based. The community

operated schemes worked very well in

Chipendeke and Dazi, but social conflicts

posed challenges, in Nyamwanga and

Nyafaru which impacted delivery and

completion dates. In Malawi the community

based model worked well because the

community co-operated well in establishing

a community owned company to operate the

scheme (the Mulanje Energy Generation

Agency, MEGA). In Mozambique, the

individual entrepreneur operated scheme

worked well with generation done by the

individual operator and the distribution

network owned by the community. However,

cases of social conflict are emerging,

especially where the operator lives within the

community or is part of the community

transmission line management committee.

End use and financial viability

There is also need to link income generating

projects to access to the electricity as poor

communities struggle to access the

electricity because of their inability to be able

to do the tubing on their own. A scheme like

Chipendeke linked to gravity irrigation

improves the livelihoods of communities and

enables them to be linked to the electricity.

The key lesson is that micro hydro schemes

are primarily for social service provision

contrary to economic viability or the case for

Lack of access to modern energy services is a major obstacle in the delivery of socio economic services such as education .This particularly affects populations living in rural areas whose isolation makes it

technically and economically unfeasible to extend the national grid.

Mary Tsatsi is a Grade 5 pupil at Chipendeke Primary School in Manicaland Province of Zimbabwe. She lives with her grandparents and six siblings. Mary walks 15 km to and from school. She did not enjoy going to school. Electrification of Chipendeke primary school improved the learning environment and the moral of the staff and students.

"Before we had electricity at our school our classrooms would be so dark especially during winter. We always struggle to read and write because of the darkness. Instead of going to school in such a situation, I would choose to stay home and sleep. Now that we have electricity, I am so motivated to wake up and go to school every day. I am enjoying the learning environment."

In appreciation of the work done by Practical Action, Mary adds: "I have never been in a room with proper lights before I am used to our paraffin lamps and candles, but this is awesome. When I grow up I want to be a teacher."

With Electricity, Rural School Blooms

© P

ractical Action/M

art

ha M

unyoro

Kats

i

9

the use of micro hydro and solar powered private sector investment driven by profit

irrigation schemes in districts of Masvingo and motive. Energy provision for rural

Manicaland.communities is not financially viable without

end use production as evidenced by the

Expected outcomescompleted schemes

Once the scheme is completed, the following

will be achieved:2. Rural Sustainable Energy ?? 80kW micro hydro power plant will be Development (RUSED)

constructed to supply energy to up to 100

homes, two schools and an agri business Practical Action Southern Africa, in

centre.partnership with Oxfam with funding from

?? Micro hydro powered irrigation pumps

European Union is implementing a four year irrigating 20 hectares of land to benefit

project titled, “Rural Sustainable Energy approximately 30 households.

?? Micro hydro powered agri business centre Development (RUSED) in Zimbabwe”. The

established to provide agriculture and project seeks to increase access to modern, forestry related services to up to 100

affordable and sustainable renewable energy households. This includes saw mill, grinding

services to rural smallholder farmers through mills, and light weight welding facilities.

Urban life is coming to the rural areas!' exclaimed

Mudyariwa. 'We are working for the brighter future

of our children,'' he added. Mudyariwa is a 63 -

year old smallholder in, Himalaya, in Mutare district

in Manicaland Province of Zimbabwe. He has five

children and eight grandchildren five of whom live

in Himalaya.

He is one of seven local builders using their skills

The community is providing labour and locally

available material.

"Energy brings development in the community and

has a bearing in all aspects of our lives ranging

from agro-processing, education, microenterprises,

livelihoods and income, "said Mudyariwa.

The community is working together to witness the

completion of their project "The project not only brings electricity but also comes along

with capacity building trainings which enlighten our minds, help us focus on development

and will contribute towards the sustainability of development projects in our ward,"

concludes Mudyariwa.

Story of Hope

© P

ractical Action/C

hie

dza M

azaiw

ana

Mr Mudyariwa

10

3.Sustainable Energy for All 2013. These workshops were aimed at

(SE4ALL) capacitating the civil society organisations on

In the policy influence arena, Practical Action the SE4ALL initiative as well as energy related

Southern Africa is driving the United Nation`s issues. This was after the realization of low

Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) campaign appreciation of energy issues among the civil

in the region. A regional SE4All workshop was society

held in Harare, in October 2012 with

participants from Malawi, Mozambique, Key Lessons

Zambia and Zimbabwe to roll out the

• Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) need campaign and raise awareness among local to be capacitated on the Sustainable

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) so they Energy for All initiative, especially local

could lead and mobilise national level support organisations (very few organisations

for SE4All in their respective countries. Lead understand the initiative)

organisations for the national initiatives are • There is need to increase our participation

Environment Africa (Malawi), FEDESMO in regional and international policy

(Mozambique), Environment and Energy dialogues that are relevant or that feed

Concerns of Zambia (EECZ) and ZERO into the SE4ALL

(Zimbabwe). A follow up to the regional • There is need to engage the private sector

workshop, national SE4All workshops were in the SE4ALL work to enhance funding

held in December 2012 in Zambia, Malawi and opportunities in the sector.

Zimbabwe and in Mozambique in January

© P

ractical Action/C

hie

dza M

azaiw

ana

11

financial, and institutional capacity.

OverviewThe need to strengthen farmer representation,

Within our four core countries of Zimbabwe, improve economic support services, and

Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique an agricultural pol icy is recognised in

estimated 16 million people are food C o m p r e h e n s i v e A f r i c a A g r i c u l t u r e

insecure.This has been corroborated by the Development Programme (CAADP). Practical

Maplecroft Food Security Index and Action has adopted a strategy of

enhancing policy understanding,

networking and advocacy capacities of

Farmer Organisations (FOs) which are

promoting sustainable agriculture as a

key concept for future food and

livelihood security of marginalised,

vulnerable smallholder farming families.

A strong alliance of FOs on sustainable

agriculture will ensure integration of

their priorities in the national agricultural

research and extension strategies now

being driven by the CAADP.

interactive map. which places Zimbabwe,

Zambia and Malawi in the 'extreme risk' 1.Innovative Approaches to category global hotspots of food insecurity.

Food Security (IAFS) for The high impact of climate change and

People Living with HIV/Aids prevalence of 20% HIV/Aids (estimated at an

average over 20%). Climate change is already Practical Action in partnership with

affecting many lives and livelihoods in the Development Aid People to People (DAPP) and

region through gradual, insidious, changes in Hodi in Zambia concluded a 3 year project in

temperature and rainfall patterns combined Zambia under the Innovative Approaches to

with increasing frequency and intensity of Food Security (IAFS) programme funded by the

natural hazards such as floods and droughts. European Union (EU). The project titled,

The poorest communities being hardest hit as “Strengthening the scaling up and impact of

they are more dependent on agriculture and innovative food security approaches for People

fishing- climate-sensitive natural resources Living with HIV and Aids (PLWHA)”, promoted

and ecosystems, such as agriculture and farmer innovative systems indigenous

fishing; they live in areas that have greater knowledge, extension service systems,

exposure to climate hazards and are less able eco log ica l agr i cu l ture , sma l l sca le

to respond because of limited human, intensification and community based

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE & LIVELIHOODS

© P

ractical Action/A

lex N

yakats

apa

Food Fair hosted by people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) Support Groups.

© P

ractical Action/

Ale

x N

yakats

apa

12

approaches. It linked effectively with market agriculture, seed multiplication, agro-forestry

systems and priorities of farmer organizations and fish farming. The trainings diversifyied

for community-based support initiatives for the livelihoods and nutrition options of PLHIV

People Living with HIV and AIDS in Central livestock management and local internal

Zambia's Kapiri-Mposhi and Kabwe districts, savings.

enabling them mobilise and effectively

The Action also encouraged knowledge

sharing among beneficiaries through

various platforms such as look and learn

visits, field days, exchange visits as well as

stakeholder reviews at community, district,

provincial and national levels. Knowledge

products such as project brochures,

nutrition posters, nutrition monitoring

guidelines, nutrition calendars, CBP,

Training of Trainers (ToT) manuals and

newsletters were produced and distributed

to beneficiaries and partners at community,

district and provincial levels.

manage food and livelihood resources to meet

their annual needs. Project achievements

By the end of the action, People Living with HIV

Key to the success of the project was the and AIDS (PLWHA) and their families were

innovative and participatory approaches such able to adopt strategies for food and nutrition

security, households were growing a as Community Based Approaches (CBAs),

combination of legumes, vegetables, cereals Training for Transformation (TfT), Participatory

and fruit trees to ensure diversity at household Extension Approaches (PEAs), Community

level. Households were also able to prepare Based Planning (CBP) and Participatory

and preserve these foods to ensure continued Monitoring and Evaluation (PME). 176

availability throughout the year. This was participants from key stakeholders (mainly

achieved through training and distributing government, community leaders and non-

fingerlings to 89 households, vegetable seed governmental organisations) received training

packs to 40 support groups, small livestock on these approaches which transformedthe

such as goats and local chickens to 513 way they relate among themselves and with

beneficiaries. The seasonal period of food the communities to whom they provide HIV

deficit was reduced by 50 per cent for the 2 000 and AIDS services. The project also conducted

targeted material beneficiaries. Beneficiaries training on improving crop productivity and

in peri-urban areas that had a food deficit diversity for 1,537 HIV/AIDS support group

period of six months prior to the project, now members, covering such subjects as herbs, face a deficit period of three months, whilst banana and crop production, conservation those in rural areas had their deficit reduced

District Facilitator for Kabwe (centre) visiting one of the support group gardening project

© P

ractical Action/A

lex N

yakats

apa

13

from three months and are now food secure Key Lessons all year. ?There is need to institutionalise

nutrition monitoring systems with

support organisations such as the In summary, the following outcomes were

National AIDS Council, Ministry of achieved:Health, Ministry of Community ?Increased awareness and knowledge of Development, Mother and Child Health community- based food security and and Ministry of Agriculture and nutrition options Livestock.that address the needs and priorities of

?Use of the training of trainers approach PLWHA and their familiesto strengthen community- based ?I n c r e a s e d f o o d p r o d u c t i o n , extension for marginalised farmers diversification and preparation by enabled farmers to learn and practice PLWHA and their familiesimproved cultural practices that led to ? PLWHA and their families had increased improved yields of maize, legume crops access to extension services to such as groundnuts, soya beans continuously engage in sustainable

?Community-based M&E involved agricultural practicesdiscussion of the PLWHA household ?Support organisations and government dietary indices stimulated project departments were more responsive and beneficiaries to consciously increase supportive of community-based their dietary indices.approaches to food and nutrition

?Community-based approaches helped security of PLWHA and their familiesto build and re-energise linkages ?Participatory and transparent nutrition between the communities and key monitoring systems were developed stakeholders (e.g. Ministry of and institutionalised from community Agriculture and Livestock, Ministry of level structures to district and provincial Health, Forestry Department and Rural level structures for improved provision District Councils). of social and health services to PLWHA

?Paravets and lead farmers are able to

train others and lead in facilitating

development.

Support Group drawing up an action plan

© P

ractical Action/

Ale

x N

yakats

apa

14

Practical Action completed this European deal with people living with HIV and AIDS

Union (EU) funded Non State Actors project in (PLWHA) to enable them engage with service

the Kabwe, Kapiri-Mposhi and Mkushi Districts providers, decision and policy makers at of the Central Province of Zambia. The project national, provincial and district levels from aimed at strengthening the engagement and

both Government and civil society. Existing institutional development of Civil Society

legal structures have not been able to function Organisations (CSOs) working with people

effectively due to reasons including a lack of living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) to effective

understanding of their roles, inadequate meet of their needs and priorities. Contrary to

resources and a lack of inclusive and demand traditional approaches where interventions

driven planning and implementation aimed at addressing their material needs

processes. such as improving access to medication, food

and psycho-social support, in the process

assuming that the organisational and Project Achievements:institutional structures had enough capacity to ?A Community AIDS Task Force (CATF) - a

provide the necessary support. This action coalition of 15 CSOs - was formed and

was based on the fact that in Zambia (as in this will continue to drive the lobbying

many other countries in Southern Africa) there and advocacy processes and facilitate

are legal structures at all levels from the the coordination of HIV/AIDS actions in

village to the national level yet they need Masansa area.

capacity building to make them functionally ?Strong partnerships for capacity building

effective. and resource leveraging have been

The action focused on strengthening the developed between HIV and AIDS

institutional capacities of organisations that support groups and service providers

who inc lude the Civ i l Society

Organizations (CSOs), government

departments and the private sector.

These relationships address the needs

and priorities of PLHIV for 226 support

group institutions in Kabwe, Kapiri

Mposhi and Mkushi Districts of the

Central Province of Zambia.

?The project presented a sustainable

model for addressing HIV and AIDS

related matters at community level as it

emphasized training of stakeholders

(organisations and individuals), which

2. Strengthening the Inclusion and Influencing Capacity of Civil Society

Organizations (CSOs) working with People Living with HIV and AIDS

(PLHIV) in the Central Province of Zambia

Fyamuchalo Support Group for People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA)

© P

ractical Action/

Ale

x N

yakats

apa

15

Participants filling in the layers to the key hoe grade Completed key Hole Garden at Kabwe Offices©

Pra

ctical Action/A

lex N

yakats

apa

© P

ractical Action/A

lex N

yakats

apa

was essential for the sustainability of

project activities. Furthermore, those

trained were able to train others,

resulting in the exchange and continuity

of knowledge transfer.

?Practical Action, DAPP and HODI

managed to improve the health and well-

being of PLHIV in poor rural communities

in Kabwe, Kapiri-Mposhi and Mkushi

Districts of the Central Province in

Zambia through effective support

provided by institutions working with

people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV)

and through engagement on policy and

legislative processes regarding HIV and

AIDS. For example a policy on Alcohol

and Drug abuse was formulated through

consultative processes with the

community and is currently being

championed by the civil society

organisations in the districts.

Key Lessons

?? Support Groups do help PLHIV to

accept their status,share their views

and thoughts about HIV, and to have a

platform to freely talk about issues

affecting them (emotional support).

?The illiteracy levels are very high in

most communities therefore training

for people in support groups must be

simplified so that all may easily

understand.

?Gender differentials are very evident in

this sector as women do not struggle

with stigma as much as men do as they

accept their status than men who fear

discrimination should they disclose

hence most support groups comprise of

more women than men.

16

Taking action against HIV positive living where issues to do with re lated st igma and healthy foods, hygiene and sanitation, discrimination is essential opportunistic infections and disclosure were for achieving Millennium highly discussed,she said. Development Goal 6: "To halt and begin to reverse Diagnosed with HIV coupled with a strange the spread of HIV and way I contracted it while caring for my HIV AIDS". positive son, I never felt comfortable

discussing HIV and AIDS issues. This did not Acts of discrimination matter where I was whether in the

deny people's rights to information, to community or with my only three surviving services to protect them against HIV children, because it was all the same to me. infection, and to receive appropriate treatment, care and support when HIV- Before being diagnosed, I was the typical positive. Fear of stigmatization and housewife who took care of her husband and discrimination discourages people from children. I am now a vendor. I buy and sell seeking information on HIV and AIDS, vegetables at the local market. My husband coming forward for counseling and testing, contracted Tuberculosis, but due to stigma disclosing their status or accessing AIDS around the community, he could not dis-services. We will not achieve Universal close to anyone and he did not take any Access without reducing stigma and medication. Because of that, he died. discrimination.

I would attend secretly to my clinical People living with HIV in rural communities appointments. In 2011, I was lucky to have of Zambia often face a double burden: a been one of the members selected to be lack of community care and support trained in Positive Living. The training services, and stigmatizing attitudes and helped to break barr iers to my behaviors from family and community openness/disclosure on HIV and AIDS members. To address these challenges, issues. It was a total relief to break the Practical Action Southern Africa and its silence. It seemed like unlocking a door. local partner, Development Aid from People to People (DAPP)with funding from Using the communication skills I had European Commission, worked to improve acquired from the training, and the benefits the nutritional status of 3,000 PLWHIV and of disclosure that we had shared, I thought I their families to improve nutrition and food needed to speak freely. security. "I can only sing and praise the magic of

'training'. I am now a very active home - "We were really living under the fear of based care giver providing hope to fellow discrimination…It had silenced us. community members living with HIV." Because of this we could not take care of ourselves and others, "said Gertrude, Banda. This case study demonstrates that stigma

and discrimination reduction is crucial to Now I am free to talk, when I look back, I more effective HIV prevention, treatment, cannot help to wonder how a single care and support.training managed to change my life. There was no other miracle but training for

“Now I am free to talk”Empowering People Living with HIV in Zambia

17

?3. Post-Harvest Crop Management imp lemented a Pos t-Harves t Crop

crucial to minimise harvest losses Management project in Midlands and

Mashonaland Central provinces of Zimbabwe

Grain post-harvest losses in Zimbabwe are in Kwekwe, Gokwe South, Mazowe and Guruve

estimated at 20-30% during storage alone. Districts respectively. The main objective was

This figure could be as high as 40% with field, to capacitate 3,000 communal household to

transportation, handling and processing losses reduce post production crop losses and handle

included. Many agencies in agriculture and increased production from their fields through

food security have concentrated their efforts imparting of knowledge and skills. Improved

on improving production and productivity storage structures were constructed in a

whilst ignoring post-harvest losses. In most number of identified sites in the two pilot

communal areas, grain production is districts.

characterized by one year of good production The project demonstrated that smallholder

followed by two or three years of deficit. The farmers can reduce losses by up to 100% and

need for good long term post-harvest strategic maintain the quality of grain during storage

storage is imperative. Furthermore, the using the improved technologies, in particular

production of OPV seed is on the increase in using the tin silo and also, though less

the country and for effective seed savings effective, the brick walled granary. Treatment

there is need for good seed storage.of grain in the improved structures using

Practical Action in collaboration with the Food fumigants was much easier and rats/mice

and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), could not enter the improved structures.

Tin silo Constructing a shade for the tin silo

Brick walled granary under construction Completed brick walled granary

© P

ractical Action/P

atience S

am

huts

a©

Pra

ctical Action/P

atience S

am

huts

a

18

Project Achievements 4. Sharing experiences from the

?Increased incomes by smallholder Mainstreaming Climate Change farmers as they were able to handle

Adaptat ion in Z imbabwe's grain for longer periods and sell during

Agricultural Extension System peak period of demand when prices are

Projecthigh. In-stead of selling the crop at

US$200/ton of maize soon after harvest

in May, they were able to sell at US$400 Climate change is an additional constraint on

in December when the commodity was sustainable socio-economic development in

at peak demand. the region. The increasing frequency and

?Use of the tin silo enabled farmers to severity of droughts and floods, the shift in

onset of the rains, and increasing intensity of reduce post-harvest losses and

mid-season dry spells in the last 50 years have maintained quality of grains.

been identified in both the Initial and the ? Treatment of grain in the improved

Second National Communications Report to structures using fumigants reduced

the United Nations Framework Convention on infestation by pests and rodents

?Promotion of improved technologies (tin

silos and granaries) in post-harvest crop

management through capacity building

of local artisans and builders in the

construction of these. This allows for the

skills to be retained locally.

Key Lessons

?Building the capacity of communities to

identify and engage buyers on their own

ensures confidence among the buyers

and result in sustainable markets.

?Construction of granaries and silos at

household level instills ownership than

communal granaries targeting the

whole community.

Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the IPCC Third ?Partnering with the department of

Mechanization and Department of Assessment Report (2001), as a major

Agritexin the implementation of the consequence of climate change. Livelihoods of

project contributed immensely to its the poor, particularly women who are highly

suucessproved to be effective in the dependent on climate-sensitive sectors like

delivery of project activities and agriculture, are impacted by climate change in

ensuring ownership beyond the project various ways.

life cycle.Practical Action Southern Africa responded with

© P

ractical Action/R

egin

ald

Sithole

Women carrying water on their heads from a manual sand abstraction point to the garden.

“Results of climate change”.

the project “Sharing experiences from the and course 2, seventy eight (78)

Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation in provincial, district and ward staff. From

Zimbabwe's Agricultural Extension this, the best trainers were selected to

System”.The objective of the Nuffield - funded roll out training to 224 staff at district

project was to mainstream climate change level (204 with additional funding from

adaptation in agricultural extension systems the United Nations Development

and to enable smallholder farmers to make Programme).

better plans and decisions based on climate

Achievementsand weather information. Key activities

A sample of sites visited showed clear included:

evidence of effective extension at local level - ?? Developing technical materials for

farmers were aware of climate change and its training Agritex staff. (Agritex is the

effects leading to a significant number of government's agricultural extension

farmers adopting conservation agriculture, arm.)

experimenting with alternative livelihoods and ?Training 60 National and Provincial achieving food security through increased

Agritex extension officers on climate productivity. The project demonstrated that

variability and change and its impact on the provision of the training together with

agriculture. climate information has met needs of small-

??Revising training materials and scale farmers and of extension staff with

producing a training manual and field respect to coping with drought and adapting

guide covering the causes of climate to climate change. The original design of

change and variability, its impacts on cascading training through training of trainers

agriculture and small-scale farmers,the also led to some 'dilution' of content and

implications for agricultural extension, quality. Frontline staff need more time to fully

improving coping and adaptation understand climate change issues and this

strategies for smallholder farmers should be considered in future trainings.

facing climate change and variabilityFurther material in local languages is needed

? Training of extension staff - Course 1 for farmers (e.g. pamphlets and simple

trained 61 national and provincial staff manuals).

The project and its approach raised

considerable interest within and outside

Zimbabwe. International Crops

Research Institute for the Semi-Arid

Tropics (ICRISAT) undertook a project

in Matebeleland North Province that

uses the main aspects of this project

and staff trained by it. Oxfam likewise

have just started a relatively small

project in 15 wards in Midlands and 19

© P

ractical Action/H

enry

T M

uchedzi

Participants drawing a seasonal calendar during the Training of

Transformation course at Alvord Training Centre in Masvingo

20

5.“Enhancing food and livelihoods Masvingo provinces that use staff trained by

security of smallholder rural farming this project and have indicated that they are

households in drought-prone areas of likely to use or build on the training materials

Zimbabwe”developed and lessons learnt.

This project was implemented through a

partnership between Practical Action and local Key LessonsNGO Hlekweni Rural Friends Service Centre.

Local district and ward level meteorological The project was funded by DFID and partners

information is required as climate and weather through the management o f GRM

can be very different. Mechanisms for rapidly International under the Protracted Relief

and effectively distributing 10-day forecasts Programme (PRP) II and implemented in three

and Seasonal Forecasts i.e. using SMS / districts (Bulilima, Mangwe & Gwanda) of

texting - possibly with farmers paying for the Matabeleland South over a thirteen months

service - should be developed. Agritex should period from July 2011 to September 2012.

receive training and support in development

and implementation of institutional learning

approaches to enable continual improvement.

Evidence from this body of work suggests that

the development of climate risk management

consciousness among the farming community

can gradually lead to the adoption of more

sustainable farming practices in vulnerable

regions. An important starting point should be

the development of infrastructure for climate

monitoring by local communities in

partnership with the National Weather Service. Promoting improved agronomic practices and

Manual materials/instruments were found to facilitating community led market linkages for

be more suitable as they were less complex crops and livestock directly contributed to the

and relatively inexpensive. Just a few hours of project objective of “strengthening food and

training were sufficient to enable men and nutrition security of 7400 chronically poor

women village farmersto understand climate households in Matabeleland South through

change issues. The project provided a good improved crop & livestock production and

example of community- based adaptation. marketing systems” . Practical Action's proven

Such modest infrastructure coupled with Community Based Approaches such as

improved local level climate forecast systems, Training for Transformation (TfT), Participatory

if scaled up, has potential to contribute Extension Approaches (PEA) and Livelihood

towards climate change adaptation through Centred Disaster Risk Reduction (LCDRR) were

local management of climate risks. key to achieving the desired outcomes.

© P

ractical Action/R

egin

ald

Sithole

Completion of a small livestock auction sales. Goats and cattle auction day.

Achievements Key Lessons

The outcome survey commissioned by GRM Market Linkages

towards the end of the projectnoted that Farmers should be allowed to engage market

though a period of one year is too short to actors on their own with minimal support from

realise impact, there was evidence that the support organisations, for the market to be

project had significantly contributed to sustainable. The project trained ward

household food and livelihood security through marketing committees in business,

increases in available livelihood options such negotiation, livestock grading, costing and

as provision of community based animal pricing skills and then let them engage buyers

health services as a business, small grain on their own. The initiative resulted in opening

seed multipliers, crop (garden and field) of auction sales pens that had been in line for

processing and preservation, garden crop closure by the local authorities.

growing and small livestock sales using

community linked markets. Processing and preservation of crops and

The project demonstrated that it was possible fruits

to build an effective farmer to farmer network Processing and preservation of crops (field and

to provide community based training and garden) and fruits to increase shelf life and

extension service in crop and livestock adding value can provide business

production and marketing including promotion opportunities to rural women in Matabeleland.

of technologies such as Soil and Water The area is abundant with garden produce as

Conservation (SWC). These have potential for well as under-utilised natural resources such

greater multiplier effects on the severely as marula fruits.

resource constrained government agricultural

and veterinary extension services. The survey Women empowerment

indicated that 48% of the farmers adopted Although women constituted the majority in

improved agronomic practices, and there was project initiatives (75% of membership),

a 32% cash contribution from project activities decision making for 60 of the 75 gardens

to household income against a target of 40% rested with men. Future interventions should

from a baseline of 20%. seek toempower women to have leadership

positions so they can drive their own

initiatives.

I n s t i t u t i o n a l i z i n g s t a k e h o l d e r

engagement

There is a recognition that multi stakeholder

engagement allows stakeholders to learn from

each other in open ways that enhances their

ability to collaborate and hold each other

accountable. The main challenge is how to

institutionalize this way of coordinating

development interventions at district level

within an environment where most

government service providers suffer from

severe resource constraints.

21Matilda Khupe explaining plant spacing on her

sorghum plot in Bulilima.

© P

ractical Action/

Regin

ald

Sithole

22

Overview development goal (MDGs) 1. Safe drinking

water and sanitation contribute to economic

Water and sanitation targets are far from being growth and reducing poverty, mainly through

met in sub-Saharan Africa (European Court of better public health,gender equality and food

Auditors 2013). In 2010, 39% of the and nutrition security.

population had no access to an improved Most Southern African countries have legal

source of drinking water and 70% were instruments that provide for the citizens of

without improved sanitation facilities though urban areas in the planning and development

the respective targets were 25% and 36% activities of urban areas. For example, in

which is a threat to meeting the Millennium Zimbabwe, the Regional, Town and Country

Development Goals (MDGs) target by the year Planning Act, Chap. 29:12 is clear on the need

2015. In Southern Africa, over 22 million to involve citizens in planning and

people have no access to clean water and development. Section 15(1) of the Act

sanitation, exposing them to high risks of stipulates that in formulating master and local

diseases, such as diarrhea, cholera and plans for example, before finally determining

dysentery. the contents of the plan, the local planning

According to the National Sanitation and authority shall take steps that will, in its

Hygiene Strategy (2011-2015), Zimbabwe is opinion, ensure that there is adequate

off-track in as far as progress to achieve MDG 7 consultation (with the public) with the matters

is concerned. The Country Status overview, to be proposed to be included in the plan.

2010, further states that the country has five Numerous provisions aim to engageresidents

years to raise improved sanitation coverage in every planning and development decision

from 43% to 71%. The Sanitation and Hygiene and activity.

strategy acknowledges that subsidies for the However, the steps laid out in the legislation

BVIPs have placed a great burden on the state does not adequately promote effective public

to finance in rural areas. It also points out that participation due to the nature and dynamics

whilst researchers and NGOs have developed a of urban areas. It is almost impossible for

number of other sanitation alternatives, the citizens to have meaningful engagement with

government authorities have not yet their local authorities. The urban poor are

approved. close to centres of power, money and basic

In Zambia, only 43% have access to safe water services, but rarely access them. They live in

for dr inking (Zambia 6th Nat ional hazardous and unhealthy environments with

Development Plan, 2010) andnstitutions poor access to clean water, hygienic sanitation,

responsible for rural sanitation development and waste management.

still rely on donor funding. Practical Action Southern Africa's goal is to

The European Court of Auditors notes that increase access to clean drinking water and

improvements in water supply and sanitation better sanitation conditions faced by the urban

are critical elements in meeting the millennium poor majority, specifically slum areas in

WATER AND SANITATION

Southern Africa. It seeks to improve water towards democratisation in the management

governance and justice, access to water, and governance of communal water and

sanitation, and promotion of decent waste sanitation infrastructure in Zimbabwe and

management services. To this end, Practical specifically to strengthen the participation and

Action implemented three projects over the role of rural based Civil Society Organisations

year. (CSOs) in the delivery and governance of

water and sanitation services in Gwanda

? District of Matabeleland South Province.

Governance of Water and Sanitation

Service Delivery in Rural Gwanda District Achievements

In partnership with Moriti oa Sechaba Trust, ?The project incorporated the provincial

Practical Action has been implementing this and district structures through the

three year project, (that ends in September participation and roles played by the

2013)with funding from the European Union Provincial Water and Sanitation

(EU). The project seeks to strengthen the Coordination Committee (PWSCC) and

participation of Civil Society Organizations the District Water and Sanitation

(CSOs) in the delivery and governance of Coordination Committee (DWSCC).

water and sanitation services in Zimbabwe ?The community based approaches that

using Gwanda District of Matabeleland South were applied encouraged participation of

Province as a springboard for national water all social groups. The women pump

governance engagement. The overall minders that were trained are keen to

objective of the project is to contribute participate and are showing great

improvement in their work. Participation

of women in decision making positions

has increased. Involvement of males in

the Participatory Health and Hygiene

(PHHE) training workshops, a commonly

deemed feminine program, has been

observed. Our data base shows that up

to 54% woman and children benefited

from boreholes and 46% of PHHE

participants were men.

?Training for Transformation (TfT) and

Transformational Leadership training

(TLT)-The trainings have been

commended by all levels as empowering

processes that facil itate better

management of community resources.

The trainings have also edified

1 Enhancing Community Participation in

23

© P

ractical Action/T

hem

bin

kosi N

yath

i

Gender mainstreaming in Casting borehole slab

leadership at community level where led to some buy in of the project goal and

most leaders are now enjoying and gradually its uptake and finally

committed to their community. ownership of goal and this ensures

?Through pod casting, a method of sustainability.

information dissemination was widely

received by the community and ?Exchange visits to Zambia offered a

participation of stakeholders in the bundle of benefits, well beyond just

lessons shared creates a platform for acquiring information such as dialogue,

ownership detailed in response to specific queries,

?? Training of Trainers facilitated immensely conversat ions enriched by the

to project uptake by government perspective of distance and difference.

stakeholders. It resuscitated water The visits offered the visitors a chance to

governance structures which were dying look behind the scenes, to get

a natural death at district level and ward acquainted with host people, understand

level their problems and achievements hence

?Involvement of local leaders (councilors creating inspiration to keep working and

and traditional leaders) was a noble idea launch new initiatives related to these

to enable the project to reach the water water governance issues

users as these are well recognized and ?The coordination and synergies with

respected people in society. other projects from other partners

?The project managed to engage facilitated the province to have its own

stakeholders at all project stages which WASH cluster. Community based

Women EmpowermentWard 11 has a very diligent and sharp Pump Minder called Izora

Ncube. She is the only woman Pump Minder in the district and

has influenced other women to train as Village Pump Mechanics.

She has been involved in community mobilization for borehole

repairs and rehabilitation as well as facilitating the training of

Water Point User Committees. This is what she has to say to all

readers: “There is no job too big or too small for me when it

comes to borehole repairs. I have the capacity to do it all and

still continue with other household chores that demand my

attention. I have been walking distances ranging from 1-20

kilometres to repair boreholes because I feel I have been

trained for a purpose in the community. I take it as my duty

because I know that one day I will be rewarded for unselfishly

serving the community. So far I have repaired close to 50

boreholes and even though it's a male dominated job, I am

comfortable with it. Many people wonder how a woman can so easily fit into a world dominated by

males but I am happy to say my fellow women support me because I represent women issues

regarding water access as I go about doing my job.”

24

© P

ractical Action/M

oriti O

A S

echaba

25

approaches (CBP, TLT and TFT) that the viewed as impossible. At District level,

organisation is carrying out with the coordination between poorly resourced

vulnerable groups has spearheaded Government Departments, communities

women's increased participation in and better resourced NGOs through the

governance of programmes. Learning Alliances have managed to

register remarkable project outputs ?To strengthen the participation and role

under di f f iculty socio-economic of rural based Civil Society Organisations

conditions.(CSOs) in the delivery and governance of

?Lack of a proper Monitoring and water and sanitation services in Gwanda

Evaluation system creates challenges for District of Matabeleland South Province,

monitoring and evaluating project 15 ward level water and sanitation

activitiescommittees have had their plans

?Partnerships at all levels are a necessary incorporated in the district plans.

pre-requisite for success thus project

budget must reflect this

Key Lessons ?Involvement of District Water and

?Communication is important at all levels Sanitation Coordination Committee

and means of communication need to be (DWSCC) and other stakeholders is an

provided in the project. Making use of important factor for short term successes

participatory and social marketing and long term sustainability.

communication methods will ensure that

the intended message reaches the target

audience.

?Changes in behaviour practices and

attitude particularly those with

substantial and sustainable impact are

likely to take time and resources. Both

these aspects need to be provided for in a

project

?Water governance issues including policy,

operational and institutional dimensions

need to be mainstreamed at all levels

?Visibility of Implementing Partners can

play an important role in contributing

interest, participation and ownership of

project activities by water users

?Improved coordinat ion between

government and NGOs has worked and

enabled project implementation under

circumstances that could otherwise be Access to safe and clean drinking water crucial

© P

ractical Action/

Moriti o

a S

echaba

(PHHE). The community is being trained to 2. Community Led Approaches

practice posit ive hygiene behaviors Complimenting Sustainable

maintenance of water points on their own in a Service Delivery for WASH Actions

sustainable manner. The project is also in Gwanda and Mwenezi Districts

strengthening provincial and district WATSAN of Zimbabwe

Subcommittees to effectively incorporate the In partnership with Moriti OA Sechaba Trust

community priorities in their development and Development Aid from People to People

plans. Pump mechanics and community latrine (DAPP), Practical Action is implementing an EU

builders are being trained for necessary skills, funded project in Gwanda and Mwenezi

and provided tools and materials for them to Districts of Matebeleland South and Masvingo

use during and after the action to repair pumps Provinces respectively. The project's major

and build latrines respectively. objective is to address the lack of access to

By the end of the project, target communities safe water, adequate sanitation and health and

will have at least 80% coverage of both water hygiene education in Gwanda and Mwenezi

and sanitation facilities through rehabilitation districts. Specifically it has adopted and is

of 1000 water points and drilling of 20 promoting community led approaches as a

boreholes and construction of over 5000 model for complimenting other sustainable

latrines.service delivery models of safe water,

adequate sanitation and application of health

Achievements

Practical Action and partners

continued to advocate for the

adaptation of alternative sanitation

technologies l ike ecological

sanitation (Ecosan) for the rural

areas, adherence to catchment

council regulations in the selection

of catchment counci lors as

prescribed under the Water Act as

well as influencing the planning and

management of water points. The

project targeted the National Action

Committee (NAC) who are the key and hygiene practices in the two districts.

policy and decision makers in WASHE. Pract ica l Act ion and partners are

Adoption of Community based approaches mainstreaming the principles of community

(CBA) which include; Community Led Total participation through community based

Sanitation (CLTS), Participatory Health and management (CBM) of water points;

Hygiene Education (PHHE) and Community community led total sanitation (CLTS) and

Based Planning toolkit advocated for in this participatory health and hygiene education

26

© P

ractical Action/T

hem

bin

kosi N

yath

i

project. .The programme through the CTLS Key lesson

approach has seen an increase in toilet ?The major key lesson in implementing

construction and increasing access to sanitary the project has been around

facilities in the two districts. A total of 13 audio assumptions we made during the

recordings were developed with knowledge project design. During the design, we

stakeholders under the EU Water Facility had proposed to introduce a new

Project in Gwanda district. Knowledge technology, the Ecological Sanitation

products focused on water, sanitation and (Ecosan) toilet and we were going to

hygiene issues. Stakeholders involved in the construct over 1000 units in both

development of the knowledge products were districts.

members of the Gwanda District Water and ?However, government could not

Sani tat ion Coord inat ion Committee approve the technology in favour of the

(DWSCC).A total of 5 688 beneficiaries Upgradable Blair Ventilated Improved

comprising of 2 861 women and 2 814 men Pit (UBVIP), a type of the Blair

were reached to date. Beneficiary participation ventilated improved pit which has

has increased due to the community based always been a technology of choice for

approaches and podcasting technology being Zimbabwe

promoted. 27

© P

ractical Action/T

endai Tendere

Promoting health and hygiene practices in schools (A hand washing tank at Berthel School)

28

Promotion Of Sanitation Through Good Health And Hygiene Education

mobilising communities to progressively work towards stopping open defecation.Through the CLTS approach, the communities are facilitated in a participatory manner to appraise and analyse their sanitation practice and take appropriate corrective measures. This often results in actions to stop open defecation, which is common practice in many communities.Mabhozvo and his four friends formed a group aimed at contributing efforts to construct each other's latrines at their homesteads. Mabhozvo, his wife and five children had been practicing open defecation and to them it was a normal life until they came across the CLTS advocacy on proper waste disposal. He and his family are using a neighbour's latrine while his is under construction. The group is composed of 2 community members, one inter-personal communicator (IPC),trained within the same project, one village head assistant and one community health worker.

The group raised $52.00 to buy four bags of cement and other contributions were in the form of aggregate, sand, bricks and excavation. Currently, the latrine is at roof level. The latrine was planned to be completed by the end of 2013. The other three members have made bricks for their structures. One of the core principles of CLTS is the recognition that the mere provision of latrines does not automatically result in use of the facilities, nor contribute to improved sanitation and hygiene practice.Although progress has been made in rehabilitating water infrastructure in urban areas and cholera has remained under control since 2009, rural populations continue to withstand the worst of the poor water and sanitation in the country.With around 70 percent of Zimbabwe's estimated 13 million people living in the rural areas, improving

romotion of sanitation through good health access to water, sanitation and hygiene there is critical

and hygiene educationas 42 percent practice open defecation.P Earlier sanitation interventions and programmes

Thirty-nine year old Stanford Mabhozvo, from prescribed high standards of latrine models that were Gwanda in Matebeleland South Province is out of reach to the ordinary person in the village and participating in the WASHE programme focusing did not meet the intended objective.on Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS). This is Available evidence shows that most of these latrines a concept used in the Water Facility Project aimed created a culture of dependency, and long-term at raising awareness and addressing people's sustainability of these programmes became mindset on the importance of proper human untenable. Open defecation practice therefore waste disposal. continued unabated with spiral spread of fecal-oral He says: "I learnt about the negative effects of diseases.open defecation, and I did not want to be the one Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) focuses on contributing to the pollution of the environment behaviour change as a more sustainable way to and exposing other people to risks. This made me sanitation improvement. It offers solutions in the to think of constructing my latrine". He was community on the harmful consequences of open among the first people to dig a pit. defecation.The current approach that is being championed This leads them to take concrete steps to construct by the Government of Zimbabwe's Ministry of self-made latrines, without any external assistance. Health and Child Welfare, Practical Action, The initiatives by the communities have resulted in UNICEF and WASHE partners also promotes the greater ownership and sustainability of latrine use participatory approach to health and hygiene practice.education which is an innovative methodology for

© P

ractical Action/T

hem

bin

kosi N

yath

i

29

In response to the continued deterioration of marginalised urban and peri-urban residents

essential urban services provision, weak and by accessing and sustaining basic municipal

under-resourced local authorities with a and infrastructure services. The project aimed

centralised planning and governance system at reaching 302,000 residents of Sakubva

that are inflexible with limited delivery options suburb in Mutare (62 000), and Epworth (240

and the perennial tug of war between local 000), Mutare City Council and Epworth Local

authorities and residents on the rates or Board were the target groups which are

service charges and local authority budgets, constituted under the Urban Councils Act as

Practical Action Southern Africa, in partnership local governments responsible for service

with Civic Forum on Housing (CFH) and Mutare provision. An additional ten (10) Local

Housing Cooperatives District Union (MDU), Authorities (Las) were expected to benefit

both with strong grassroots links, have been indirectly from replication of best practices of

implementing a four-year European Union the two Las. This initiative focused on

funded project in Mutare and Epworth since demonstrating inclusive and replicable

February 2009. The project, which ended this approaches for the delivery of basic urban

year, was called Promoting Examples of services for poor women and men in Mutare

Participatory Local Empowerment in Urban and Epworth for the purpose of enhancing

Planning (PEOPLE UP). The project sought to ownership and income of the people.

improve the living conditions of poor and

3. Promoting Examples of Participatory Local Empowerment in Urban Planning (PEOPLE UP).

© P

ractical Action/M

art

ha M

unyoro

Kats

i

Epworth Ward 3 Brick mouder’s club

Project Achievements included: Lessons learnt

Enhanced participation of poor urban residents ?Community Based Planning (CBP) is a

in the governance of the delivery of basic powerful tool for bringing people

municipal and infrastructure services in their together in pursuit of their local

communities as a vehicle to improving their economic development priorities as it

living conditions. This was achieved through enhanced part ic ipat ion by key

fostering the relevant institutional structures stakeholders including the

both at Local Authority (LA) and community District Authorities and local leaders.

levels for the collation of community views, Their part ic ipat ion immediately

priorities and needs for infrastructure services prompted local communities to accept

delivery. The structures are now embedded in the process into their planning and

the Local Authorities (LAs) systems and at the resource allocation systems as well as

community level, including existing or new increased collaboration and support to

residents associations, cooperatives and small initiatives being facilitated by non-state

- scale enterprises run by the local community actors.

members. The project also managed to foster ?? Look and Learn Visits through an

local level partnerships for enhancement of exposure visit to Kenya was very

alternative community based service delivery educative to the community and local

models as well as promote income generation authority representatives and was a

at community level. The basic training in catalyst in their buy in.

business planning and management skills led ? Stakeholder expectations need to be

to identification of community management properly understood as part of the

enterprises in the areas brick making, project design process and properly

plumbing and waste management. A managed during implementation to

replicable model for sustainable service ensure adequate resources and

delivery was documented and endorsed by partnership arrangements are mobilized

national association of local authorities and as part of the project planning process.

adopted by at least two local authorities by end ?Vulnerable groups such as women,

of project people living with disabilities (PWDs),

HIV and AIDS affected and any other

groups must explicitly be targeted

through their operational structures to

ensure their voices are heard in

community based urban planning and

development processes.

?The future continuation of local economic

d e v e l o p m e n t p r o j e c t s a n d

diversification initiatives should be

pinned on linkages with local authority

and the private sector actors.

? Avenues for promoting peer learning and

mutual support mechanisms by local 30 Discussions between local Authorities and

residents at a workshop

© P

ractical Action/

Tariro

Kadzirange

authorities that are involved in for participatory urban planning given

innovative and participatory urban the prevalence of conflict in urban local

planning and development processes authorities in Zimbabwe. Conflict is a

must be created and supported by major impediment to sustainable Practical Action and its partners using community based urban planning and linkages already developed during the development.operational period of the project. This ?Learning on community-private sector initiative can be based on use of new and local government collaboration need information and communication to be expanded to include national, technologies which could be part of an e- regional and international experiences to governance learning project. inform the future of local government

?Conflict management and peace partnerships in Zimbabwe.building must be integrated in the toolkit

31

Urban upgrading gathers momentum in Mutare

“There are lots of mosquitoes around here," says Emma Chitendera, a resident of Ward Two in

the Sakubva high-density suburb of Mutare. "Sometimes they attack in waves at night. The

next day you're tired from lack of sleep, and then a few days later you go down with a deadly

disease - Malaria fever."

"At times, there are a lot of excreta all over this place during the rains and when the toilets are

dirty. Anybody can tell from far when the latrines are full or when they are very dirty. They smell

badly and nobody wants to use them,'' laments 15-year-old Chipo Mlambo."“The conditions here are not healthy at all due to overcrowding, with many families occupying and sharing single rooms. We utilise a communal toilet and bathing room together with more than 500 other families, but the hygienic conditions are very bad and the toilets and sewer systems are constantly blocked”, added 37-year old Chipo Maphosa.

She shares a single room with another family. “We are two families in this room and nine people live in this room. We simply divide the room with curtains”, Maphosa added.

These are some of the voices from Chimoio Flats in Sakubva, in Mutare, Zimbabwe's fourth largest city. Sakubva is the oldest low-income suburb in Mutare, established in 1925.

The only areas for children to play are breeding grounds for flies, cockroaches and rats; increasing the health risks for many people. There is also a communal water tap near the toilet where they fetch water for household use, but Maphosa said that the water is of good quality and is always available.

However, under the PEOLE UP Project, all this would be improved. The project was implemented through a tripartite partnership involving Practical Action Southern Africa, the Mutare Housing Cooperatives District Union (MDU),working in Sakubva, and the Civic Forum on Housing (CFH),working in Epworth - a peri-urban settlement 12 km south-east of Zimbabwe's capital, Harare. Primarily, the project benefited 302,000 residents - from both Sakubva and Epworth.

Mike Duru is the chairperson of the MDU. He says the project had enhanced the capacity and voices of the local community and their leaders to understand and demand improved service delivery.

Stenard Mapurisa, Director of Housing and Community Services, Mutare City Council, said the local authority was now more accountable to communities as there was a common understanding between the council and residents.

Chitendera told us about her hopes for an improved clean water supply in her high-density suburb: "In the past, the municipality would not dream of coming to this neighbourhood. I believe that with the relationship we have with them we can do a lot to improve our livelihoods. Through community-based planning processes, we have been empowered to approach the city council for related services. The process is now bottom-up instead of top-down.''

Sharing knowledge is the powerful described as marginal, poor and largely

tool to conquer poverty underdeveloped, is a result of a lack of

knowledge.

Practical Answers is the Technical Information

Service of Practical Action. It aims to provide a During the year under review, Practical

resource on small-scale technologies or Answers successfully collaborated with key

intermediate technologies that can be used to knowledge stakeholders such as Agritex,

improve the lives of people living in poverty. It Veterinary Services, Ministry of Health and

allows people to access the wealth of technical Child Welfare, and Matopos Research Institute

information within Practical Action as well as to develop 56 knowledge products in audio and

bringing together the knowledge of others. video formats. These knowledge products

were disseminated by a network of 92

Practical Answers works on the premise that community - based knowledge workers in

knowledge is the most critical development Matabeland South Province.

tool. Without it, communities remain poor. If

people acquire appropriate knowledge in Through the integration of Practical Answers

appropriate language, voice and formats, they into project work, at least 40,000 people

can adopt various livelihood options. Failure to accessed knowledge resources. Most notably,

develop, particularly the rural areas, often Practical Answers worked with Practical Action

PRACTICAL ANSWERS

32

Knowledge content recording in progress

© P

ractical Action/

Them

bin

kosi N

yath

i

Consulting (PAC) to develop a technical guide Reduction Project in Buhera, Makoni and

on Conducting Micro Hydro Pre-feasibility Nyanga districts. One of the key interventions

studies. This was a successful demonstration within the project seeks to improve the

of how Practical Answers can work with delivery of extension support to farmers

programmes to develop tailor made through the use of podcasting.

knowledge products to ensure the processes,

experiences and lessons from projects are The key learning point during the year under

captured, and shared widely with all key review is that collaborative knowledge content

stakeholders. development approach has proved effective in

ensuring the development of authoritative

Creating awareness of Practical Answers knowledge resources. This has been achieved

knowledge through network meetings has through the establishment of communities of

resulted in enquiries to implement digital practice made up of experts mainly focusing

e x t en s i o n ( p od ca s t i n g ) b y o t h e r on crop and livestock production, water and

organisations. GOAL/Zimbabwe, through sanitation and health. This practice is being

technical advice from Practical Answers, has implemented in all projects where Practical

integrated podcasting into their Food Security Answers has been integrated.

and Livelihoods Centred Disaster Risk

33

Communities in Gwanda listening to podcasting messages

© P

ractical Action/

Them

bin

kosi N

yath

i

environmental problems. The project is designed

to enable replication and sustainability around Practical Action Consulting Southern Africa (PAC

communities in Malawi through creation of social SnA) offers high quality and responsive

enterprise companies for to run and manage development consultancy services to various

community energy generation and distribution. clients including Governments, International

Development Agencies, NGOs and private sector

entities in the Southern Africa Region. Our work Achievementsbuilds on the experiences and competencies of Among other things the project installs micro-Practical Action Southern Africa and the wider hydro electricity generation schemes; Practical Action group. We offer tailor made implements an innovative pre-payment solutions to address development challenges in electricity system for local communities; the region which include high levels of poverty; increases access to energy for households for lack of access to energy, limited access to lighting, cooking and access to ICTs; improves affordable and appropriate WASH technologies the viability of enterprises in the community and markets; food and livelihood insecurity. We through improved energy technologies, creating are leaders in sourcing and providing information new jobs, increasing profits, and offering new and issuing guidance in delivering technological products and services to the local people and strategies for effective community and national improves the public services in the community development. including more and better services in the village

health centres, more teachers and night classes

in school and street lighting in the communities Our 2012-13 Projects

at night. During the past year we have delivered projects

in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique and

Mr Tchaka is one of the key beneficiaries from the Malawi in the thematic areas of agriculture,

project. Tchaka's household currently has access energy and markets. Below are of the highlights

to clean energy especially for lighting and for of project delivered:

household enterprise. His average monthly

income has increased from MK31,000 (app US$ 1. Viable Business Models for Enhancing

94) before he got connected to electricity and Energy Access in Malawi through the

started his businesses to MK93,000 (US$ 282). Malawi Energy Access Accelerator He runs a video show and battery charging Projectbusiness. This means he can now afford basic PAC SnA since July 2012 is coordinating needs for his family . implementation of a project on viable business

models for off grid community based micro-

hydro schemes in Malawi. The project is being

funded by the OPEC Fund for International

Development (OFID) and Practical Action. It is

co-funded by USAID, the Scottish Government,

CONLOG and DFID Business Innovation Facility.

The project aims at increasing access to energy

for poor people in rural parts of Malawi and

contributes to the national development goals

including increased incomes and economic

growth, improved health, educational

attainment and gender relations, and mitigating 34

PRACTICAL ACTION CONSULTING SOUTHERN AFRIA (PAC SnA)

Mr Lickson Tchakatisa with two of his children

and a grand-daughter.

© P

ractical Action/

Laste

n M

ika

35

Mr Lickson Tchakatisa’s current Battery charging station

2. Building Resilience through Community Level Participatory Planning (CLPP)

PAC SnA facilitated the Community Level Participatory Planning (CLPP) in 10 Districts in Zimbabwe

where the World Food Programme (WFP) is implementing Cash/Food for Asset (C/FFA)

interventions. The main objective of the C/FFA intervention is to create, protect or rehabilitate

productive assets that improve food security, income security, livelihood opportunities, build

resilience and adaptive capacity for recurrent vulnerable non labour constrained households. This is

in response to the inadequacy of the previous approaches where food relief interventions were

leading to dependency and failing to address the underlying causes of household food insecurity. As

a way of addressing these challenges WFP has come up with the CLPP initiative which is an adoption

and institutionalisation of a

community based planning (CBP)

process.

The CLPP process was first

undertaken in 3 Districts of

Mutare, Hwange and Mt Darwin

as a pilot study between May and

August 2012. A total of 30

participants were trained on how

to facilitate the CLPP process.

Eighteen (18) Community Action

Plans (CAPs) were produced

during this pilot phase. Thus, a

total of six CAPs were produced

from each of the 3 Districts.Ward 27 Munyoro, Mutare District: community participants

undertaking a community profiling exercise.

The second phase of the CLPP process was undertaken from November 2012 to April 2013. PAC SnA

conducted the CLPP process in seven priority food insecure districts of Tsholotsho, Mbire, Darwin,

Chiredzi, Zaka, Chipinge and Mutare. A total of 180 CAPs were produced in the seven districts.

His future plans include constructing a proper

facility for Video Centre, Barber, Phone

Charging, Battery Charging and opening a

computer centre for CD burning. Before the

electricity came to Bondo, people were walking

close to 18 Km to charge their batteries at Mini

Tea Estate or Chitakale Township.

© P

ractical Action/

Gra

ce M

usaru

rwa

© P

ractical Action/

Laste

n M

ika

Achievements needing external support and avoids

At the end of the two CLPP phases conducted communities coming up with shopping lists.

by PAC SnA, a total of 198 CAPS were

produced and two hundred and one (201) ● Use of Local Based Facilitators:If

part ic ipants (WFP sub-of f ice staf f, communities are allowed to determine

Government and Cooperating Partner staff) their destiny with facilitators from their

were trained on how to facilitate CLPP. The own wards, they are able to rticulate their

CAPs will contribute to the District Plan as they own priorities and come up with visions for

are submitted to the Local Authority. The CAPs self-sustainable livelihoods restoration.

have prioritised development initiatives which ● Participation of Marginalized

the community can identify with and can claim Groups: arginalized groups are rarely

fu l l ownership. NGOs, Government given a chance and space to air their views.

Department and other stakeholders who want Giving space to marginalized groups also

to work in the district can pick on any of the limits inclusion and exclusion errors in

food security initiatives they want to support community profiling and beneficiary

from the CAPS. The prioritised initiatives show targeting.

the community's contribution as well as ● Social Harmony: The process also

available local resources. WFP used the CAPS creates social harmony as people of

as resource material in a food security different socio-economic groups meet and

proposal call for Productive Asset Creation in come out with a shared vision for the

May 2013. The aim of the call was to build development of their community. Peace

resilience through creation of productive and social harmony are consistent with

assets. WFP also used the lessons learnt from development. Identification and election of

the CLPP process to feed into the Zimbabwe lcal leaders becomes more democratic and

Community Productive Works Policy merit-based.

Framework currently being developed by ● Cost effectiveness of the training

Government through the Ministry of Labour model Training of Trainers approach used

and Social Services and supported by the in this project is a cost effective mens of

World Bank. achieving impact at scale. A total of 231

participants who have direct contact with

Lessons Learnt the community on a daily basis were

Maximizing local and external resource trained on how to facilitate the CLPP

ut i l isat ion : The process enab led process. The 231 participants assisted in

communities to realise the value of their own the production of 198 CAPs. This is a good

resources and potential in driving their own investent to the communities as they will

development. In all the districts, planners first be ableto conduct the same process on

identified the potential within their areas their own when the Local Authority

before proposing new interventions based on requires submission of new plans. This will

external resources. This participatory analysis also enhance sustainability of the process

and planning enables clearer identification as the knowledge and skills are now at

and quantification of development areas community level.

36

37

usually sing –(uyedza kwazouya kwadzima “This planning process is undoubtedly the

rima). The light has shown and darkness has right direction for us to go as a community as

gone –CLLP has come and hunger and poverty it gives all of us an opportunity to determine

will flee away. We were in darkness of our destiny. It is a welcome relief because it

dependency now we see the light of self-encourages our people to shape their destiny

reliance through planning, visioning and and depart from being perennil recipients of

prioritizing our own development initiatives food assistance. We are also grateful to be

using locally available resources and labour”.given this opportunity to be actively engaged

Mr. Mwandiambakare Dinhira, Councillor, in planning the future of our ward”.

Munyoro Ward 27, Mutare District (June Mr. Innocent Ncube - Councilor Ward 16,

2012) Hwange District (June 2012)

“Iam certain that this CLPP has opened our “As a community we are delighted to move

eyes and brought us as a community to be at a from Cash/Food for Work to Cash/Food for

level where we now have a common Assets. The move will see us not only working

understanding of issues concerning the to receive for food or cash from WFP but at the

development our community. I am happy that same time developing our local assets. Yes,

there is a shift from the Food for Work to Food many of us even the able bodied mightjust

for ssets because it is through asset want to receive food or cash while sitting at

development that our community can progress home but I can assure you this will not

more sustainably. We will guard the assets improve anyone' life –this will only result in

developed through the process with our lives breeding lazy people or encourage people to

because we identified them, we will develop be lazy zvino bereka simbe kana kukuchidzira

them and they will bring food security to usimbe). here is a saying which says o not

ourWard. They are our very own assets”. give people fish but instead teach them how

Mrs. M. Tsoriyo, Ngomasha Ward 12 Councillor, to fish.I would like to sum up my appreciation

Mutare District (June 2012of CLLP by saying the words of a Shona song I

Quotations from stakeholders on CLPP Process

38

upon which they engage with the market. PAC SnA provided capacity building in

Interventions that seek to support small-scale Participatory Market Systems Development

producers to become more effective players in (PMSD) to Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and

the market must therefore focus more Christian Aid stakeholders in Lusaka, Zambia

attention on the processes and institutions, to facilitate development of markets that

competencies and relationships that enable work for the poor. The two organisations have

markets to work better for poor rural been working on livelihood programmes with

producers.communities in Zambia concentrating on

Practical Action developed this approach to pro-improving productivity for poor communities

poor market development 10 years ago and it and less effort has been put on equipping

has featured as a “best practice” in the them on how to engage and link with markets

implementation of value chain development by due to little or no information on market

USAID and is also highly regarded by donors conditions, prices and quality of goods. They

including DFID, SDC and the European are often not organized to speak collectively;

Commission. The approach assists in analyzing they have limited experience of market

how market actors can work together to negotiation and little appreciation of their

unblock constraints to make entire sectors capacity to influence the terms and conditions

more efficient and competitive.

3. Participatory Market System Development (PMSD)

Capacity building in Participatory Market Systems Development

© P

ractical Action/

Gra

ce M

usaru

rwa

Poor People`s Energy Outlook (PPEO) 2013

launched in Malawi and Zimbabwe

COMMUNICATIONS AND EVENTS

In September 2010, the United Nations (UN)

Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon launched the target

of universal energy access by 2030. In a bid to

accelerate knowledge dissemination and influencing

policy and decision makers as well as business

leaders, Practical Action with support from the

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

and GIZ, a German development agency for

international cooperation has been producing a book

annually titled, “Poor people's energy outlook

that clearly outlines and presents the case of energy

poverty from the perspective of poor people.

This report draws principally on research and

contributions of statistical data, project case studies

and human testimonies from around the world. The

2013 edition reports in unprecedented detail the

experiences of energy use and deprivation of people

living in poverty. It advocates increased focus on energy access as a priority for development. It

contributes to a better understanding of the links between access to energy services and economic

development.

The Southern Africa office hosted two launch events for the Poor People`s Energy Outlook

2013 report in Zimbabwe and Malawi during the year under review.. The United Nations

Development Programme (UNDP) generously supported the Zimbabwe launch financially. The well-

attended events attracted participants from UN agencies, government ministries and departments,

civil society organisations, private sector and academic institutions. The launches in both countries

were conducted with support and input from partners who included GiZ, UNDP and the World Bank.

With previous editions of the report having been launched in 2010 and 2011 in Zimbabwe, this third

report in the series focused on energy for community services and illustrates the difference that

improved energy access can make to health, education and public infrastructure, including water

and street lighting.

39

Panelists officially present the PPEO 2013 report

The events in both countries brought together stakeholders around a new energy narrative – one,

which focuses on the energy services that poor people want, need and have an entitlement as part

of their rights.

From the discussions and presentations

made at the launches, it is safe to

conclude that indeed Energy is an

enabler: it can catalyse development

and makes it possible to achieve

broader development goals.

There was consensus that there is need

to adopt clear and consistent

statements that modern energy access

is a priority and that policies and funding

should be directed towards this

objective. To ensure total access to

energy for all, governments in the region need to adopt a specific energy access targets and sustain

these through adequate funding.

© P

ractical Action/M

art

ha M

unyoro

Kats

i©

Pra

ctical Action/M

art

ha M

unyoro

Kats

i

40

Achievements Recognised

Ernest Mupunga receives Director of the year Award

Ernest Mupunga Regional Director

for Southern Africa was awarded a

trophy and a certificate of being the

Director of the year in the NGO sector by

the National Association of Non-

G o v e r n m e n t a l O r g a n i s a t i o n s

(NANGO).This recognition follows the

good work we are doing as an office in

trying to fulfil our vision of, becoming a

Southern Africa free of poverty and

injustice in which technology is used for

the benefit of all”.

Membership certificate from WEC

Practical Action Southern Africa received a membership certificate from World Energy Council

(WEC) on Friday 5 April 2013. WEC is the principal impartial network of leaders and practitioners

promoting an affordable, stable and

environmentally sensitive energy

system for the greatest benefit of all.

Through the network, we can benefit

from:

· Unique networking opportunities

· Opportunities to establish dialogue

and exchange views with like-

minded organisations

· Access WEC`s global studies and

research

Mr Panganayi Sithole (left), the Director of the Zimbabwe Energy Council, handed over the

certificate to Ernest Mupunga, the Regional Director. According to Mr. Sithole, it usually takes three

years for an organisation to get this certificate, but with Practical Action, this process was expedited

due to the good work we are doing in energy.

© P

ractical Action/M

art

ha M

unyoro

Kats

i

© P

ractical Action/M

art

ha M

unyoro

Kats

i

41

42

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFINANCIAL STATEMENTS

43

44

45

46

Practical Action Southern Africa4 Ludlow Road, Newlands

P.O Box 1744Harare

Zimbabwe

T+263 (4) 776631 - 3, 776107F+263 (4) 788157

C+263 (772) 402 896W http://www.practicalaction.org