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Lalibela Agro Plantation Pilot Project

Project document, draft 1.1 – February 2014

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Table of Contents

1. Objectives ...................................................................................................................................... 3

2. Background .................................................................................................................................... 3

3. Experience of the cooperative so far ......................................................................................... 4

4. Project strategy ............................................................................................................................. 4

5. Logical framework matrix ............................................................................................................. 5

6. Prerequisites .................................................................................................................................. 5

7. Special considerations ................................................................................................................. 5

8. Project management .................................................................................................................... 6

9. Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation ....................................................................................... 6

10. Project budget in Birr and in Euro .......................................................................................... 6

11. Timetable ................................................................................................................................... 7

12. List of people involved in developing the project ................................................................. 7

13. Visual documentation ............................................................................................................... 7

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Lalibela Agro Plantation Pilot Project

1. Objectives

Objective: To contribute establishing a pilot model site for tree planting, tree maintenance

and eco-friendly tourism.

Long term objective: To contribute to environmental rehabilitation, community income

generation, and to promote eco-friendly tourism.

2. Background

The biological conditions around Lalibela, the environmental degradation and the very high

poverty rate (the income level of households is considerably below the poverty line) are due

to multifaceted human made problems. Agricultural malpractice, abusive utilization of natural

resources aggravated by shortage of rainfall considerably reduced crop production and is

leading to frequent food insecurity. Elders remember that only in 1935 Lalibela was densely

forested and fertile with surplus production of various grains. 85% of the land used to be

covered by trees. Nowadays there are only remnants and patches of forests mainly around

churches and inaccessible areas. After nationalization of the land people have been and still

are cutting trees and selling woods for different purposes. Many farmers in the area cultivate

sloped and hilly land, causing top soil to wash away during torrential rains. The genetic

diversity of Lalibela domesticated plants and its unique natural flora is increasingly being

eroded because of the long history of disruptive interventions by the community and weak

local management in the face of an expanding population and the increasing needs of

farming land. There is an extremely urgent need to break the vicious circle of land

degradation, low agricultural production, food insecurity and poverty.

Lalibela has an opportunity to counter the poverty and environmental problems by counting

on the tourism sector, which is growing and has become the major sector for job creation and

economic growth. Lalibela is nowadays the main tourism attraction site due to its unique and

rich cultural heritage, the famous rock churches, the rites and traditions followed by priests

and pilgrimage from all over the country. There is a growing number of educated and

committed individuals in the local tourism sector who recognize the importance of eco-

tourism and who are willing to volunteer their work and expertise for the benefit of present

and future generations. In fact there are several local initiatives ongoing to preserve the

cultural heritage of Lalibela and to promote eco-friendly tourism.

One of such local initiatives was the establishment of the Lalibela Abune Yosef eco-tourism

cooperative which has the ultimate goal of integrating tourism with the environment and

rehabilitating the area through planting trees. The approach followed by the cooperative is to

involve the local community, create awareness and understanding by the local population of

the need to preserve cultural heritage and the environment and to create through its activities

income generating and job opportunities. The cooperative was founded by 15 young highly

motivated volunteers involved in the tourism sector and with skills in agriculture, tourism

management and accounting. The cooperative has received legal permission from the

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regional cooperative office, has collected starting capital from its members, has planted

hundreds of indigenous trees such as junipers, olive trees, fig trees and some type of

suitable exotic trees such as gravelly, jacarandas and highland fruit trees. The cooperative

has elaborated a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) and has

identified a number of key issues that need to be addressed to ensure successful and

sustainable operations. There is limitation of finance and capacity especially for watering of

the planted trees and the need to motivate local farmers to be actively involved in the

cooperative’s activities.

The growing tourism in Lalibela is a great opportunity for income generation, but is also a

threat to the fragile environment and the rich but equally fragile cultural heritage in Lalibela.

The cooperative is a tangible effort by local tourism representatives to promote eco-tourism.

This initiative not only promotes community awareness building and community involvement,

but also has the potential of encouraging tourists to provide funds for ecological

conservation.

While independent and having a separate legal and management status from the

cooperative, the project will build upon the tree planting activities of the cooperative, the

acquired positive and negative experience and the far sighted vision of the most active

members involved in the environmental field.

Finally the initiative of this pilot project inspires itself to the Green Belt Movement founded by

Kenyan Professor Wangari Maathai in 1977. The movement has in the meantime also

reached Ethiopia. The Lalibela initiative shares the mission of the movement which is “to

strive for better environmental management, community empowerment and livelihood using

tree-planting as an entry point”. The movement is known internationally, has been highly

successful and may be a convincing reference for tourists.

3. Experience of the cooperative so far

Strong motivation by young and visionary cooperative founder and members

Mix of available expertise in agriculture, law, accounting, economics, tourism

Strong support by local Government

Main problem was installation of the watering system

Lack of incentives for the volunteers in the tourism sector

Lack of understanding and support by local farmers

Poor maintenance of trees

Poor coordination of activities

4. Project strategy

Address the key problems of environmental degradation and poverty building upon

the potential of the tourism sector which is the motor of growth in Lalibela

Establish a pilot project with tangible results benefitting the community and the

environment

The project achievements and approach should serve as a model for replication

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The project will be implemented through cooperation and interaction between

representatives of the eco-tourism sector, the farmers and the local government

The project will work on the premise that success can only be achieved through the

active involvement of the local farmers. They need to be convinced, trained and given

incentives to show them the value of tree planting

The project was conceived and will be implemented by young generation future

oriented and committed professionals in the eco-tourism sector in cooperation with

the farmers’ community, women and girls, schools and churches

The project will start with a pilot phase funded by an international NGO and by

individuals as well as by volunteer work and funding by members of the local tourism

sector

After the pilot phase lasting 2 years, the project will attain self-sustainability through

tourism funding of purchased trees

The trees planted will be from species suitable to the indigenous environment and

producing high value fruits (avocado, mango, papaya, olives)

The project intends to strengthen the image of Lalibela as an eco-friendly town

promoting environmental rehabilitation, community development and eco-tourism

5. Logical framework matrix

Shown as annex 1

6. Prerequisites

Continuous involvement of local volunteers

Clear, recognized project coordination and management

Support by local administration

Support by the community and particularly the farmers

Successful fund raising from NGOs and private local and international sponsors

7. Special considerations

The gender dimension will be awarded particular attention. Girls from the schools and the

female local guides will be involved in project activities, girls from the villages will be involved

in tree planting and maintenance, women of the Labella community will be involved in

garbage collection and compost preparation. To the latter two groups monetary incentives

will be provided during the whole pilot project, and high attention will be provided to

awareness building, teaching and training.

The tourist guides will provide support to the project initially on a voluntary basis. Once the

project will generate income, the guides will be rewarded by being given an incentive in the

range of 30% of the net income.

Parallel and linked activities with this specific project will be flower and honey production.

These will be implemented by the cooperative and are intended as commercial activities.

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8. Project management

Will be lean, action oriented, based on volunteer work and international advice. It will consist

of:

One project coordinator (Daniel Mhrite)

One project manager (Destaw Arage)

One accountant (Tesfaw Derbie)

Technical international support in project management, monitoring, evaluation, international

promotion and fund raising will be provided on request by the local team

9. Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation

The project manager will provide quarterly progress reports to the local Government

and the funding NGO. A final report will be provided upon project completion.

Independent monitoring and evaluation visits will be done by a representative of the

funding NGO at its own costs

10. Project budget in Birr and in Euro

The project budget estimation for the first 2 years is 400.000 Birr (appr. 15.200 EUR)

o 280.000 Birr (appr. 10.700 EUR) in the first year – mainly for building and

material, but also for maintenance, training and monetary incentives

o 120.000 Birr (appr. 4.500 EUR) in the second year – mainly for

maintenance, training and monetary incentives

Starting from the third year, the annual costs for maintenance, training and monetary

incentives should be earned by the project’s benefits and tourist’s contributions

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11. Timetable

03/14 04/14 05/14 06/14 07/14 08/14 09/14 10/14 11/14 12/14 01/15 02/15 03/15 04/15

finish water installation

install a rain water tank

carry out water soil conservation

produce organic compost/fertilizer

build mini-nursery site

design and produce brochures, leaflets and posters

create web-page

build green house for trees

maintain mini nursery site

visit to site promoted by the local tourist guides

Distribution of brochures at hotels and churches

plant, maintain trees and monitor survival rate

organize workshops and festivals for the community

present project to schools

mobilize the local community

training for members, local communities and schools

12. List of people involved in developing the project

Shown as annex 2

13. Visual documentation

Shown as annex 3

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Annex 1 – Logical framework matrix

Output 1: Pilot tree planting site established with a well working watering system for tree

survival

Success indicator: number of trees planted and tree survival rate

Activities Inputs Costs in Birr Timeframe

1. To improve the watering system

finish water installation

install a rain water tank

enable water soil conservation

2. To produce trees

build mini-nursery site

maintain mini nursery site

build green house for trees

organic compost/fertilizer production

3. To plant, maintain trees and

monitor survival rate

4. To design and implement an

accounting system for project costs and income generated from tourists

5. To create awareness and

mobilize the local community

organize workshops and festivals for the community

present project to schools

mobilize the local community, in particular students, girls from the countryside, women for compost collection and preparation

6. To provide training for

members, local communities and schools

water pipe and labor

water tank (material and labor)

water soil conservation labor

volunteers and experts for seed preparation, collection and replication, tools, equipment and labor

guards, local professionals

green house shed, labor

compost collection, pit preparation

labor by volunteers and rural community

monitoring system of trees planted and survival rate

accountant expert

members of the project on volunteer basis

system of incentives

experts

7.000 50.000

10.000

20.000

40.000 *) 20.000 40.000

………. IN KIND by project management

IN KIND

60.000 *)

20.000 *)

02.14-03.14 03.14-05.14

03.14-05.14

03.14-08.14

08.14-07.15 08.14-02.15 03.14-06.14

………..

whole project duration

whole project duration

whole project duration

whole project duration

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Output 2: A system for motivating tourists to “purchase” trees as basis for self-sustainability

established

Success indicator: the monetary contributions by the tourists enable the project to be self-sustainable

after two years of operations

Activities Inputs Costs in Birr Timeframe

Design and production of brochures, leaflets and posters

Distribution at hotels and churches by tourist guides

Creation of web-page

Visit to site promoted by the local tourist guides

International expert for design

Printing in Ethiopia

Tourist programs include site visits

IN KIND

13.000

IN KIND

upon completion of the site whole project duration

*) costs that will occur repeatedly, in the first and second year included in the project, afterwards

earned by project’s benefits (self-sustainable)

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Annex 2 – List of people involved in developing the project

Name (+ function if defined already) operation base age picture

Daniel Mhrite Appointed Project Coordinator

Lalibela, Ethiopia

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Destaw Arage Tourist Guide Appointed Project Manager

Lalibela, Ethiopia

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Tesfaw Derbie Appointed Accountant

Lalibela, Ethiopia

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Fentaye Baynes Chairman of the Kebele 01

Lalibela, Ethiopia

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Beyene Abate Lalibela, Ethiopia

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Sisay Amare Lalibela, Ethiopia

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Wasihun Ayele Lalibela, Ethiopia

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Girma Debash Lalibela, Ethiopia

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Meseret Dessale Lalibela, Ethiopia

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Eshetu Durgie Lalibela, Ethiopia

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Sofonias Hiletewark Lalibela, Ethiopia

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Endayene Kasaye Lalibela, Ethiopia

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Geza Kassa Lalibela, Ethiopia

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Belaynew Mengesha Lalibela, Ethiopia

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Esayas Mersha Lalibela, Ethiopia

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Habtu Tigst Lalibela, Ethiopia

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Briuktawit Wandamagn Lalibela, Ethiopia

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Belay Yirdaw Lalibela, Ethiopia

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Donatella Magliani Former director of UNIDO and IAEA Expert for development cooperation

Vienna, Austria

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Manfred Schwab Project Manager IT-Expert

Vienna, Austria

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Francesco Rocco Photographer

Milano, Italy

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Annex 3 – Visual documentation

View from Labella (Hotel Mountain View) to North-West

View of erosion on the mountains in the South of Labella

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Seedlings planted recently on a certain slope of the mountain South of Labella

New planted tree on this slope – about 4 years old

More trees on this very same slope

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The more inaccessible the area, the more chances have trees to be still there – not cut

Some old trees did survive because they are owned by a church.

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Existing tree nursery, sponsored by the local government. This nursery provided the trees that have

already been planted.

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Teamwork in defining the project scope and planning the steps how to proceed

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Defining tasks and estimating costs for every single task