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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
27
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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