Outline of the Project

Project Name

The Project for Community Vitalization and Afforestation in Middle Shire

Country

Malawi

Date R/D signed

August 14, 2007

Term of Cooperation

November 01, 2007 - November 01, 2012

Implementing Organization

Department of Forestry, Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Environment

Background

The Middle Shire area is adjacent to Blantyre, the largest commercial city in the country, thus has provided the city with firewood and charcoal as most common sources of domestic energy. As the local population has exploited forest resources, customary land has been deteriorated to a great extent. It resulted in soil erosion and a huge amount of silt deposited in the dams along Shire River, thus narrowed the capacity of power generation and urban water supply for the area.

To find a solution to this exigent problem, “the Pilot Study on Community Vitalization and Afforestation in Middle Shire” (hereinafter referred to as “the Pilot Study”), supported by JICA, was conducted from the year 2002 to 2005. The Pilot Study had verified the effectiveness of a pilot model of coupling afforestation activities and income generating activities for the sustainable forest resource management.

The Government of the Republic of Malawi (hereinafter referred to as “GoM”) requested further cooperation to the Government of Japan (hereinafter referred to as “GoJ”) to extend the pilot model to neighboring villages in the Middle Shire area. On March 2nd, 2007, both governments agreed to start “the Project for Community Vitalization and Afforestation in Middle Shire

Goal and Purpose

Overall Goal : Villagers in the target villages practice sustainable forest management through the improvement of livelihoods

Project Purpose : Productive activities including tree growing and soil erosion control are implemented with consideration of forest conservation and rehabilitation in the target villages

Outputs

1. The target villagers acquire knowledge and skills regarding productive activities including tree growing and soil erosion control.
2. Capacity of the target villagers is enhanced to access necessary resources for productive activities including tree growing and soil erosion control.
3. Capacity of the counterparts is enhanced in supporting productive activities including tree growing and soil erosion control.

Project Activities

Input Summary by Japanese Side

1. Personnel
   • Chief advisor
   • Project coordinator
   • Forest resource management
   • Rural development
   • Other experts in specific fields
2. Provision of Machinery and Equipment
   • Vehicle(s)
   • Motorbikes(s)
   • Office equipment
   • Training equipment
   • Other necessary equipment
3. Training of Malawian personnel
4. Necessary project activity cost

Input Summary by Malawian Side

1. Personnel
   • Project Director
   • Project Manager
   • Field Management Officers (Data collection and Monitoring (1), Training (1) and Resource coordination (1))
   • Supporting staff (Administrator (1), Accountant (1), Storekeeper (1), Messengers (2), and Drivers (3))
   • Appropriate number of Extension staff from FD, DADO and DCDO
2. Land, Building and Facilities
   • Safe project office space with furniture
   • Safe parking space for the project vehicles
   • Safe space to store project equipment
   • Exclusive telephone line and supply of commodities such as electricity and water
   • Other facilities mutually agreed upon as necessary
3. Secured budget
   • Necessary budget for the smooth implementation of the project