final report producer and processor organisations sub ... ppo gender... · integration, section 3...

Final Report

Producer and Processor Organisations Sub-Activity

Gender and Social Integration Plan

30th September 2010

Commissioned by the Millennium Challenge Account Namibia With funding from the Millennium Challenge Corporation

Producer & Processor Organisation Sub-Activity – Gender & Social Integration Plan Final Report 30 September 2010 Page ii

Gender and Social Integration Plan

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name: Indigenous Natural Products Producer and Processor Organisations sub-Activity

Project ID: MCAN/COM/RFP/3C01001-A

Project Sponsor: Commissioned by the Millennium Challenge Account Namibia with funding from the Millennium Challenge Corporation

Team Leader: Dr Robert Ridgway

Social and Gender Expert: Saskia den Adel

Report Submission Date: 30th September 2010

Producer & Processor Organisation Sub-Activity – Gender & Social Integration Plan Final Report 30 September 2010 Page iii

Table of Contents

List of Acronyms …………………………………………………………………………………....................……. v

Executive Summary ........................................................................................................vi

1. Background………………………………………………………………………….............….......……… 1

2. Gender and vulnerable groups defined …………………………….............…..……………... 2

3. Social and gender Issues in INP Commercialisation in Namibia …......................…. 3

3.1 Commiphora resin harvesting in the Kunene Region ..………………........….….. 3

3.2 Mopane seed harvesting in the Kunene Region ..……………….............….……… 4

3.3 Ximenia seed production in the Ohangwena Region ……...............…..…………5

3.4 Marula kernel production in the North central regions …….........….…….…... 6

3.5 Devil’s Claw....................................................................................................7

3.5.1 Omaheke region …....................................……….….................…..….… 7

3.5.2 Otjozondupa region……………….........................................………...….. 8

3.5.3 Caprivi region……………..................................………………...........……... 9

3.5.4 Kavango region ……………....................………………………............…….… 10

3.6 Common Social and Gender Issues in INP commercialization…………..…....… 10

4. Strategies for Gender and Social Integration …………..................................……..... 13

4.1 Strategy 1; Institutionalizing Gender and Social Integration........….…..………14

4.2 Strategy 2; Analysis of gender and vulnerable groups………….….......……..….. 14

4.3 Strategy 3; Increasing access and benefits ……….....................…………...…..… 15

4.4 Strategy 4; Increasing participation and decision making ………………….....…. 18

4.5 Strategy 5; Protecting the well-being of children ……..…….............….…….…. 21

4.6 Strategy 6; Training of trainers and service providers ..……………....……..……. 22

4.7 Strategy 7; S&G input in material development ………...…...........…………...... 23

4.8 Strategy 8; Monitoring and Evaluation ………………………..........…......……..…… 24

Producer & Processor Organisation Sub-Activity – Gender & Social Integration Plan Final Report 30 September 2010 Page iv

4.9 Concluding remarks and summary table on strategies for Gender and Social Integration.................................................................................................... 25

5. References .......................................................................................................... 37

Annex 1 Terms of Reference Social and Gender Expert

Annex 2 Gender Action Learning System (GALS)

Annex 3 The Namibian Constitution and Labour Act with regard to employment of children

Producer & Processor Organisation Sub-Activity – Gender & Social Integration Plan Final Report 30 September 2010 Page v

List of acronyms

CF Community Forest

CMC Conservancy Management Committee

CRIAA SA-DC Centre for Research Information and Action in Africa - Southern Africa Development and Consulting

DANIDA Danish International Development Agency

EWC Eudafano Women Cooperative

EWMM Eudafano Women Marula Manufacturing

GALS Gender Action Learning System

GSIP Gender and Social Integration Plan

HIV/AIDS Human Immune deficiency Virus / Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

INP Indigenous Natural Products

IRDNC Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation

KAP Katutura Artisans Project

M&E Monitoring and Evaluation

MCA-N Millennium Challenge Account Namibia

MCC Millennium Challenge Corporation

NDP3 Third National Development Plan

NNF Namibia Nature Foundation

NRI Natural Resources Institute

OshCT Oshiwana Community Trust

PPIG Primary Production Improvement Grant

PPO Producer and Processor Organisation

S&G Social and Gender

SGE Social and Gender Expert

SHDC Sustainably Harvested Devil’s Claw

TTP Tulongeni Twahangana Producers

Producer & Processor Organisation Sub-Activity – Gender & Social Integration Plan Final Report 30 September 2010 Page vi

Executive Summary

This Gender and Social Integration Plan was prepared by the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) of the University of Greenwich (UoG) Team implementing the Indigenous Natural Products (INP) Producer and Processor Organisations (PPO) sub-activity for the Millennium Challenge Account Namibia (MCA-N) under contract MCAN/COM/RFP/3C01001-A. In the INP PPO sub-Activity, hereafter referred to as the project, training and technical capacity building for Producer and Processor Organisations (PPOs) is undertaken by three regional Service Providers, CRIAA SA-DC, NNF and IRDNC.

Terms of Reference

The terms of reference for the project require the development and implementation of a Social and Gender Integration Plan to ensure gender and social integration at all project stages and in all project activities. The terms of reference for the Social and Gender Expert (SGE)(annex 1) were revised in the technical proposal to make them more appropriate for the purpose. They are explained in the inception report, and consist of:

1. Development of a Gender and Social Integration Plan (GSIP)

2. Implementation of the Gender and Social Integration Plan (including training, monitoring and mentoring of trainers, desk-top and field research, regular consultations with implementing partners and stakeholders, and collection of social and gender data).

3. Review and provision of input with regard to gender and social integration in preparation of work plans, grant manual, reports, and all training and extension materials (this will be part of the implementation of the GSIP).

Objective

The main objective of the development and implementation of the Gender and Social Integration Plan is to empower and encourage the participation of women and vulnerable groups in INP commercialisation and to increase their benefits and income derived from INPs. The GSIP provides recommendations for the incorporation of gender and social considerations in the overall project, from the planning and implementation to monitoring and evaluation of the project.

Diversity

In developing the strategies for gender and social integration in the MCA-N INP PPO project, the existing diversity in resources, regions, socio-cultural practices and commercial opportunities was taken into consideration. In addition to general observations with regard to INP harvesting, production, and marketing in Namibia, specific gender and social issues were reviewed with regard to all the areas, resources and PPOs that are eligible for support in the first year of the project. These include:

• Commiphora resin harvesting in the Kunene region

Producer & Processor Organisation Sub-Activity – Gender & Social Integration Plan Final Report 30 September 2010 Page vii

• Mopane seed harvesting in the Kunene region

• Ximenia seed production in the Ohangwena region

• Marula kernel production in the north central regions

• Devil’s Claw production in the Omaheke , Otjozondjupa, Caprivi, and Kavango regions

Strategies for Gender and Social Integration

Supporting producer organisations as the main intervention of the project can be seen as a strategy for gender and social integration by itself; it is designed to benefit women and disadvantaged groups by strengthening the capacity, negotiation skills and bargaining power of producers organised in groups. “Elite capture” of benefits, or unintended negative impacts on women are more likely to be a risk in more diversified value chains, and as a result of interventions that focus on improvement of infrastructure, markets, or cultivation practices, rather than on strengthening primary producer groups.

However, some constraints are recognized, and eight (partly overlapping) “strategic categories” for gender and social integration have been identified within the MCA-N PPO project;

1. Institutionalizing Gender and Social Integration

2. Analysis of gender and vulnerable groups

3. Increasing access and benefits

4. Increasing participation and decision making

5. Protecting the well-being of children

6. Training of trainers and service providers

7. Social and Gender (S&G) input in material development

8. Monitoring and Evaluation

The SGIP will remain as a work in progress, and is to be regularly reviewed and adapted, depending on experiences of trainers and service providers in the field, additional field research conducted by the Social and Gender Expert (SGE), and new commercial opportunities.

Producer & Processor Organisation Sub-Activity – Gender & Social Integration Plan Final Report 30 September 2010 Page 1

1. Background

This Gender and Social Integration Plan (GSIP) forms part of the Producer and Processor Organisations (PPO) sub-activity under the Indigenous Natural Products (INP) project (contract MCAN/COM/RFP/3C01001-A), which forms a component of the support given to the agriculture sector by the Millennium Challenge Account Namibia (MCA-N). MCA-N is funded through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a United States Government corporation, whose mission is to reduce poverty by supporting sustainable, transformative economic growth in developing countries which create and maintain sound policy environments.

The overall objective of the MCA-N INP PPO sub-activity is to sustainably increase the number and income of households involved in the INP sector by broadening the number of products, increasing the volume, improving the quality and adding value. The project will run from July 2010 till August 2014, with the implementation period starting in January 2011. The lead organization implementing the MCA-N INP PPO sub-activity is the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) of the University of Greenwich (UoG), local partner organizations sub-contracted are IRDNC, CRIAA SA-DC, and NNF.

The majority of the producers and processors of Indigenous Natural Products in Namibia are women, and many are from vulnerable groups. Any expansion and improvement of the value chain should benefit women and vulnerable groups, and not result in “elite capture” of benefits, or marginalization of current beneficiaries. Because the MCA-N INP activity in general, and the PPO training and capacity building component in particular will significantly involve women, a Gender and Social Integration Plan is needed to ensure the integration of gender and the needs of particularly vulnerable groups in implementation.

This MCA-N INP PPO GSIP is informed by the MCA-N Gender and Social Integration Strategy, which in turn is based on the MCC gender strategy, the revised Namibian Government Gender Policy, the National Poverty Reduction Strategy, and the third National Development Plan for Namibia (NDP3). It is furthermore the result of a desk-top study of the available project reports, the PPO diagnostic reports that were prepared by the project partners as part of the MCA-N INP PPO implementation phase, and consultations with implementation partners and stakeholders in Windhoek. Valuable lessons were also learned from a research document called “Gender and Value Chain Development”, published by DANIDA in 2010. The GSIP will remain a work in progress, being regularly reviewed and adapted depending on experiences of trainers and service providers in the field, emerging M&E data, additional field research conducted by the Social and Gender Expert (SGE), and new INP market developments.

Section 2 of this GSIP defines and elaborates on the concepts of gender and social integration, section 3 describes the social and gender issues per INP and area targeted for support and section 4 explains the different strategies that will be employed by the MCA INP PPO sub-activity to ensure gender and social integration.


2. Gender and vulnerable groups defined

The term gender refers to a set of roles, qualities, responsibilities and behaviours expected from or considered appropriate for men and women within a society or ethnic group. Gender roles are socially determined, vary widely within and between cultures, and tend to evolve over time.

Although the term gender applies to both male and female roles and experiences, and the definition of gender insists that the situation of men and women must be analyzed in relationship to each other, and not in isolation, in development frameworks it is often used to acknowledge that women in general have more limited access to opportunities and are less involved in decision making processes, and therefore different strategies should be used to assist the participation and benefits for women.

Defining what constitute vulnerable groups is not an easy task. The MCA-N document gender and social integration strategy defines vulnerable groups as those who cannot defend their own interests and who may be inadvertently excluded from project activities, or for whom benefits may be inaccessible as a result of severe poverty, low levels of education, social isolation, or other factors. In the agriculture sector, of which the INP component forms part, vulnerable groups are said to include:

• Indigenous minorities. In Namibia, the San (traditionally hunter-gatherers) and the Ovahimba (pastoralists) are considered indigenous minorities

• Those receiving drought relief

• People living with disabilities

• The severely poor, which is not further defined, but could be those people that have very limited or no sources of income

We would also include two types of vulnerable groups that are only mentioned within the tourism sector:

• Female-headed households

• Households headed by an elderly person whose primary source of income is a pension

And although not mentioned as a vulnerable group in the MCA-N Gender and Social Integration Strategy people living with HIV/AIDS should also be added as a vulnerable group.


3. Social and Gender issues in INP commercialization in Namibia

The INP industry in Namibia is characterized by diversity in resources, regions, socio-cultural practices, gender relations and commercial opportunities. Recommendations for gender and social integration should therefore be on a case by case basis, taking into consideration these existing differences. This section describes some of the different social and gender considerations for the various regions and resources. This initial social and gender assessment was done based on interviews with stakeholders in Windhoek, as well as the review of the PPO diagnostic profiles and project reports.

The MCA-N INP PPO sub-activity agreed to target the following eight INP sub-species:

1. Commiphora

2. Mopane

3. Ximenia

4. Marula

5. Devil’s Claw

6. Kalahari Melon

7. Hoodia

8. !Nara.

Currently the markets for the first five species are justifying the efforts to support the PPO’s working with these products. Markets for Kalahari Melon Seed, Hoodia, and !Nara are too insecure at this stage to be included into the project, and no initial social and gender assessment was therefore conducted.

3.1 Commiphora resin harvesting in the Kunene Region

Commiphora wildii resin is currently commercially harvested in 5 conservancies in the Kunene region1

1 Orupembe, Sanitatas, Okondjambo, Puros, and Marienfluss conservancies

, which are inhabited by the Ovahimba indigenous minority group. Traditionally the resin is harvested by women. When the opportunity to harvest Commiphora for commercial purposes first emerged, the IRDNC discussed with the communities in the targeted conservancies whether this should remain a women’s activity, or if men could be included as well. In all conservancies it was decided that Commiphora resin harvesting should be open to any conservancy member, regardless of gender. The women in some conservancies however insisted that separate buckets should be used for resin harvested by men and women, so that they would not be blamed or disadvantaged for bad quality resin harvested by men.


In practice about half of the registered harvesters are male, but during the first few weeks of commercial harvesting the quantities harvested by experienced women harvesters were generally higher than that of the inexperienced male harvesters. This is both because women are more experienced in harvesting Commiphora, and because they apply more effort into this activity. Currently, this situation has changed in some areas where young men dedicate much effort to harvesting activities. Traditionally, only small quantities were harvested for own use. With the commercial demand the people have to walk longer distances from the places where they live, and often go camping in these areas during the harvesting season. Some women have mentioned they feel more comfortable camping while men are around, especially in the conservancies where lions and elephants roam.

Every harvester registers separately, and gets paid individually for their Commiphora harvested. And although the management boards of all conservancies tend to be predominantly male, it was said that with regard to Commiphora harvesting, decisions are made mostly by the women.. At the start of each harvest season, a meeting is held with all the harvesters and the rules and processes are reviewed. Women are usually quite outspoken at these meetings. In each conservancy, the women have a female spokesperson. In Puros and Orupembe, the conservancy has a female community activator for women’s activities, and Orupembe and Marienfluss have Community Forestry committees consisting of women. Sanitatas and Okondjombo have female staff members who do the buying points and act as spokespersons. So women have a female spokesperson, of different descriptions, in each conservancy.

Harvesters don’t pay a registration or membership fee, but a percentage of the Commiphora sold is kept by the conservancies to cover transport and other logistical costs.

All Commiphora has been sold through IRDNC. The organisation has recently set up a processing facility in Opuwo, where Commiphora essential oil will be extracted.

3.2 Mopane seed harvesting in the Kunene Region

Colophospermum mopane seed harvesting is a very recent activity that has been started by IRDNC in four Conservancies in the Kunene region2

Harvester organization, and purchase and packing of the material are currently arranged and subsidized by IRDNC. All adult conservancy residents can at no cost register to harvest mopane seeds. Registered harvesters mostly concern young mothers and elderly people. About half of the few hundred harvesters

, also inhabited by the Ovahimba indigenous minority group. Traditionally mopane seeds are not used, so there are no defined gender roles around this resource.

3

2 Sesfontein, Otjiu-west, Ananeb, and Orupupa Conservancies

is female. No particular gender or social issues were reported.

3 83 and 70 harvesters were registered in Sesfontein and Ananeb conservancy respectively in 2009, the number of registered harvesters in the other two conservancies is unknown,


The leadership in the conservancies is organized in CMCs. In the constitution of all conservancies it is stated that the CMCs have to have female representation, but as with the other conservancies, few women currently serve on the CMCs in the four Conservancies were mopane is harvested. If commercial organized harvesting of mopane is to take place, one will have to assure that committees dealing with this opportunity have a fair representation of vocal female harvesters.

All mopane has been sold through IRDNC. The organisation has recently set up a processing facility in Opuwo, where mopane essential oil will be extracted.

3.3 Ximenia seed production in the Ohangwena Region

The largest commercial qualities of Ximenia americana seed have been produced by the Tulongeni Twahangana Project (TTP) in the Ohangwena region. Ximenia americana only has a limited traditional use, and is mostly found in the communal areas of the region, not on peoples’ farms. The communities living in the area all have access to the resource. People collect the fruits, dry them, and then cut open the shell to extract the seed.

TTP membership is open to men and women alike, but currently TTP has 526 registered producers, of which only 12 are men. This is mostly because trees and tree products are traditionally the domain of women4

Decisions are made by the members through the elected management committees at the branch level, and the elected management board which consists of one representative from all 10 branches. All branch management committee and board members are female, except for the elected chairperson of the TTP board. The male chair being elected seems to be the result of his initial efforts with regard to organization and logistics when a commercial demand was first anticipated, not because of gender roles. The chairman has furthermore not been observed to dominate the board or the organization in any way.

. Another reason may be that women have more limited options to earn cash income to support their household needs. Individuals register and pay a membership fee of N$30 per year. This is not seen as a restraint for severely poor people, since membership can be paid after payment for the production has been received.

All Ximenia seeds supplied by TTP thus far have been sold through CRIAA SA-DC. The seeds are processed into crude Ximenia oil at the Katutura Artisans Project, and sold as a cosmetic ingredient to export markets. TTP is keen on opening its own Ximenia oil processing facility, and men are likely to get more interested in the resource when this happens. Introducing appropriate technology to ease the decortications of the seeds may have a similar effect.

Ximenia seeds are also produced for the Oshiwana Community Trust5

4 This is also seen with other tree resources in the North-central regions; the Eudafano Womens Cooperative working on the commercialization of marula, is 100% owned and controlled by women

(OshCT, formerly Oontanga Oil Producers or OOP). The Trust owns a factory, which processes crude ximenia oil and a finished hair product. Not much is known about the communities supplying the

5 Oshiwana Community Trust (OshCT) has recently changed its name from Oontanga Oil Producers (OOP), they are included in the project PPO list


seeds, except for that they are not very well organized, and receive a much lower price for the products than TTP. The communities are based in the Ohangwena and Oshikoto regions, and represented by 2 female trustees who have for many years acted as leaders for the producers. All producers supplying to OshCT are women.

3.4 Marula kernel production in the North central regions

Commercial scale production of marula (Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra) kernels has for the past 11 years been in the hands of the Eudafano Women Cooperative (EWC). EWC currently has 22 associations in the Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati and Oshikoto regions6

Unlike most other INPs that are harvested and processed commercially in Namibia, marula occurs mostly on peoples’ farms in these regions, and therefore in principle not freely available to anyone that makes an effort. However, marula has always known a tradition of sharing. Neighbours invite each other to process marula wine under the trees, and one is allowed to take the nuts of the processed fruits home. These nuts can later be used to decorticate marula kernels and sell them to EWC. The tradition of sharing has not seen a change with the increased commercial opportunities around marula, although there is a possibility that changes may take place if whole fruits would be commercialized on a large scale, as this may limit the need for assistance from neighbours. If primary processing is eliminated as a step to commercialization, there is furthermore the risk of men wanting a piece of the cake.

. EWC marula kernels are exclusively harvested and processed by women, who traditionally have ownership over this resource.

EWC membership is open to all women aged 18 or above in the associations’ areas, but in practice, mostly elderly women are members. This is partly because the practice of kernel decortication is traditionally done by older women. It may also be that younger women have limited interests in traditional activities, or as not as skilled in the practice of decortication. In addition, many of the households in the North central regions consist of elderly people and their grandchildren, as many younger people migrate to towns.

EWC members pay a membership fee of N$20 per year. Like with TTP, this is also not seen as a constraint for severely poor people since membership fees can be paid after payments for the kernels have been received. EWC membership has been declining in recent years, and many of the associations mentioned the low price for the kernels as one of the reasons for this, but this is more likely to be the case for those women members that have other income opportunities, not for the severely poor. The severely poor are likely to still be involved in the labour intensive activity of decorticating marula kernels even if the benefits would further decrease, since they have limited or no other opportunities to earn a cash income needed to pay for school fees and medical costs.

6 The current membership of EWC is unknown. The cooperative claims to have 5445 members, but this includes people who have once registered, but have not paid their membership fee or sold marula kernels through EWC in years. We are still in the process of establishing the correct 2009 figures, but they are likely in the range of 2000 – 2500. We will monitor membership numbers throughout the project period in our data collection plan,


Decisions are made by the members through the elected management committees at the association and branch levels, and the cooperative has got a board which consists of representatives from 9 associations. The chairladies tend to be women that are well respected in their communities, they are often better than average educated and relatively well off. In some cases it is found that these women take ownership of the association, and share little no information or assets with the members.

Problems with women losing part of the ownership over their marula resource may only arise when new forms of technology are introduced. Interest and participation of men was observed when the associations were donated marula fruit presses in 2001. None of the marula fruit presses are currently still operational.

EWC sells its marula kernels to EWMM, a factory owned by the cooperative. EWMM processes the kernels into crude marula oil that is mostly sold to cosmetic ingredient export markets. Recently higher grade marula food oil has been launched on the National market. EWC/EWMM are keen to produce final products.

3.5 Devil’s Claw production

3.5.1 Omaheke region

Sliced and dried Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) has been produced in the Omaheke Region through the Sustainably Harvested Devil’s Claw (SHDC) projects on 4 resettlement farms. Devil’s Claw is found both in and outside of the farms, and all residents have access to the resource. In only one of the SHDC projects the resource is far from the inhabited area, and people tend to stay out and camp in groups when harvesting Devil’s Claw.

Both men and women participate in the harvesting and primary processing of Devil’s Claw7

Many different ethnic groups reside in the resettlement farms, including indigenous minorities. In Vergenoeg both San

. In two of the four SHDC projects however, the rule exists that only 1 member per household can register, which tends to be a man when it concerns a male-headed household. This means that even though the harvesting and processing work is shared within the household, only one household member gets paid directly by the buyer. This can lead to poor income distribution within the household, in some cases leading to potential conflict..

8 (50%) and Damara (50%) harvest Devils Claw, in Gemsbokfontein the harvesters are predominantly Damara (90%) with a few San9 people (10%), in Tjaka Ben Hur the Devil’s Claw harvesters include four different ethnic groups (Tswana 65%, San10 15%, Damara 15%, Owambo 5%), and in Donkerbos Sonneblom the harvesters are exclusively San11

7 Around 100 harvesters in 2009. Potential number of harvesters however is much larger. Clear written purchase agreements would increase the number of harvesters

people. No ethnic problems or exclusions were mentioned

8 Nharo (60%) and Ju’/hoasi (40%) 9 Nharo 10 Nharo 11 Ju’/hoasi


but could exist. San people generally are more interested in harvesting Devil’s Claw as a source of cash income. Damara people generally have more diversified livelihood options and do not necessarily depend on Devil’s Claw harvesting

Most gender documents on the San indicate that women tend to be more empowered than women of other ethnic groups. However, trainers and service providers working in the area noted that Damara and Tswana women seemed more empowered than the San women, and found more often as registered harvesters. Having less San women registered as harvesters does not necessarily mean that San women are excluded from participation by their men or as a result of gender roles. It is very possible that they are more interested in earning a cash income through other, possibly more lucrative ways, like producing jewellery and crafts. This will need further research. If it appears that San women are excluded from participation, strategies should be developed to empower them and increase their participation. In the San inhabited Donkerbos Sonneblom, where harvesters often go out camping in order to get access to the resource, all registered harvesters are men, though it was said that especially the slicing and drying of the Devil’s Claw is often done by women.

Only one of the four SHDC projects has an elected committee in place, consisting of 7 men and one woman. This woman had been a coordinator of the group since 2005. In other cases decisions are made either by the coordinator12

No written purchase agreements with local exporter, although they have been selling sliced and dried pieces of Devil’s Claw to the same exporter for years.

appointed by the group, or a more overall resettlement development committee. The coordinators make sure registration is taking place, and organize group harvesting permits. The system is working, but has seen a decline of interest in participation in meetings.

3.5.2 Otjozondupa region

In the Otjozondjupa Region, Devil’s Claw is harvested in 7 Conservancies, two of which are “San Conservancies”, and five “Herero Conservancies”.

In the San Conservancies; Nyae Nyae13 and N#a Jaqna14, all harvesters have access to the resource. The harvesters are more or less organized in village groups, supported by coordinators and the Conservancy Management Committees (CMC)15

Both men and women can register as harvesters, and about half of the registered harvesters

. The CMCs are in charge of decision making with regard to Devil’s Claw. They organize group harvesting permits and sign a purchase agreement with a local exporter. How much harvesting and selling of Devil’s Claw is happening outside of these organized channels is unknown.

16

12 Coordinators are women in Vergenoeg and Ben Hur, and men in Donkerbos and Gemsbokfontein

are women, but as in the Omaheke region, it is found that the work is often

13 Inhabited by Ju’/haosi 14 Predominantly inhabited by !Kung 15 In 2007 consisting of 8 men and 4 women in N#a jaqna conservancy, and 16 men and 5 women in Nyae Nyae conservancy 16 2009 figures: 287 registered harvesters in Nyae Nyae, and 420 registered harvesters in N#a Jaqna


shared between household members, while the income may not necessarily be equally distributed

In Ondjou, African Wilddog, Okamatapati, Ozonahi, and Otjotuuo, the Conservancies predominantly inhabited by Herero people the situation is different. Although illegal (no title deeds but agreed with the traditional authorities), large parts of the communal land are increasingly fenced off by wealthy cattle farmers, which restricts access to the resource for the poor rural communities. Currently an estimated 35% of the land in these Conservancies is fenced off, and it mostly concerns prime areas.

The Devil’s Claw harvesters in these conservancies are not organized, and in practice only the rich farmers, business men, senior councillors and other influential men in the Conservancies get a harvesting permit, since the less advantaged people cannot afford the transport to MET offices and the cost of the permit. All permit holders are Herero men, acting as middle men. A general practice seems to be that permit holders look for mostly young Owambo, Kavango and San men, who are desperate for work, and send them into the field for a couple of months, providing them with transport, food and water. It is not clear how much the harvesters are paid, or how much profit the permit holders make. All harvesters “employed” are men, either farm workers, conservancy residents, or young men from nearby towns. If the project is going to work in these areas, a more detailed analysis will be needed with regard to these middle men and their employment practices.

Setting up PPO’s, organizing harvesters and increasing their access to the resource in these conservancies is a challenging task, since it will face strong resistance from the current permit holders / middle men, some of which are members of the Conservancy Management Committees or Traditional Authorities. It will require intensive sensitization and negotiations to assure their commitment to these changes. During the PPO diagnostics and selection it was decided to initially work with three of the five Conservancies. These three Conservancies -Ozonahi, Otjituuo, and Ondjou- have showed some commitment and potential for change. In the other two Conservancies –African Wilddog and Okamatapati- the problems with management are currently too severe, and it was regarded as impossible to positively work with them at this stage.

3.5.3 Caprivi region

Devil’s Claw in this region is currently mostly harvested in the Bwabwata National Park and some Conservancies and Community Forests in West Caprivi. In East Caprivi, Devil’s Claw is available in some of the Conservancies and Community Forests, but organized commercialization of the resource has only taken place in Kwando Conservancy.

The Caprivi region in general is characterized by a strong male traditional leadership. In meetings where both men and women are present, women are not likely to be able to contribute much. The main service provider in the region (IRDNC) therefore often requests women meetings. That said, in Kwandu Conservancy 75% of the registered Devil’s Claw harvesters are women.


The Bwabwata National Park has been reserved for San (Kwe) people, but increasingly Mbukushu people are settling in the area as well. Some form of organization exists, but especially the San areas are characterized by a lack of strong leadership, which should be further analysed. There has however been ongoing support from service organizations in these areas, which has helped the Devil’s Claw trade taking off in recent years. Both men and women can register as harvesters, and all harvesters have to sell and receive their money individually. How much work is shared within the households and how the income is shared amongst family members is unknown, but there is a fairly equal amount of male and female harvesters registered17

The PPOs in Caprivi have purchase agreements with a local exporter, to whom they sell sliced and dried pieces of Devil’s Claw.

. Purchase events with the contracted buyer are monitored by their main service organization (IRDNC). An unknown amount of Devil’s Claw is sold outside of the organized commercial channels, but this situation has improved considerably with training and capacity building.

3.5.4 Kavango region

The Muduva Nyangana, George Mukoya, Joseph Mbambangandu, and Shamungwa Conservancies in the Kavango Region have with the assistance of NNF and CRIAA SA-DC to some extent been involved in the organised harvesting, production and marketing of Devil’s Claw.

Although the conservancies seem relatively well organized, the registered harvesters are few18

No specific social or gender issues were mentioned, but it would be good to investigate why the participation and interest in Devil’s Claw production in these conservancies is so limited, which can assist in developing strategies for increased participation and benefits for women and vulnerable groups in particular.

, and the harvested quantities and related income are low (between N$12 and N$50 on average per harvester in 2009). In all four conservancies slightly more women than men are registered and involved in the harvesting of Devil’s Claw. How much harvesting and selling of Devil’s Claw occurs out of the organized channels is unknown.

The conservancies have purchase agreements with a local exporter, to whom they sell sliced and dried pieces of Devil’s Claw.

3.6 Common Social and Gender Issues in INP commercialization

Despite the differences as described above, in general it can be said that INP harvesting and production are attractive to vulnerable groups, especially the severely poor and female-headed households. Currently harvesting and processing of INPs is undertaken mostly by

17 Bwabwata park has around 5200 residents, of which 526 were registered as harvesters in 2009, but only 361 registered harvesters actually sold Devil’s Claw that year 18 10 DC harvesters out of 750 conservancy members in Shamungwa conservancy, 33 DC harvesters among 2500 conservancy members in Muduva Nyangana conservancy, and 44 DC harvesters in George Mukoya conservancy consisting of 1533 members. Source; PPO diagnostic report


poor or marginalized communities and mostly by the women in those communities. Reasons for this are:

• INP harvesting and primary production generally require no or very limited start-up or working capital

• In most cases the natural resources are accessible to all

• INP harvesting and primary production can be combined with other work and household tasks

• In many cases, INP harvesting and processing are traditionally the domain of women

• The activities generally require intensive labour, and therefore are not always attractive to households that are relatively better off.

• The earnings from harvesting and processing INPs can be regarded as marginal to those that have other sources of income, but provide women and vulnerable groups with a diversification of livelihoods and the opportunity to earn small amounts of cash income. The income can be used for essential payments such as school fees, medical fees and food during certain times of the year.

On the downside, people with certain disabilities may be excluded from the INP income opportunities, because of the intensive labour that INP harvesting and primary processing often requires. People with disabilities may not be able to walk long distances, or practice the hard work that may accompany the activities.

With a large percentage of poor rural people participating, INP commercialization is having a positive impact on livelihoods and food security, as it enables poor rural people to access cash income needed to pay for basic needs such as education, medical aid, and extra food in times of need19

In principle INP harvesting and production could be in competition with food production, thereby on another level decreasing food security, especially in areas where households are depending on subsistence farming. In the North-central regions where this was investigated with regard to marula, this was not the case. Women would decorticate marula kernels either in the small hours of the day, after the work on the field was done, or in the agricultural low season. In regions where livestock farming is a main part of livelihoods, people spend more time tending to their animals in the drier seasons. Where time spent on INP harvesting and production is in competition with other forms of food production, this should be taken into consideration, but in the initial assessment this was not found to be the case.

. Of the 5 resources that are currently being traded, only marula is a source of food and vitamins, and in several studies it was found that people chose to only sell their surplus of marula kernels, and keep enough for home consumption.

19 More details on this can be found in studies that have been done on the issue like; Use of marula products for domestic and commercial purposes by households in North-central Namibia (den Adel, S, 2002)


Use of the income earned from the sales of marula kernels was studied, and it was found that the cash earned by women remained in their hands and was mostly used for important household needs like food, schooling, and medical costs, thereby directly contributing to the improvement of livelihoods and food security. The cash from the sale of commiphora was found to be mostly used for food (between 21% and 49% amongst the different conservancies), and savings (23%-46%); cash kept to be available for emergencies such as accessing healthcare (K. Nott, 2009). This data was not segregated by gender. The assumption is that women in general are more responsible when it comes to spending money, and are more likely to use it to pay for the direct needs of the household, while men are more likely to spend it on alcohol and other individual “needs”. No systematic survey has been carried out in Namibia to substantiate that assumption, although it was mentioned that on Devil’s Claw purchase events, alcohol is often being sold.

Although not systematically described, children are known to assist (grand) parents in the harvesting and processing of Indigenous Natural Products. They are however not allowed to register as members or harvesters of INPs, which means they do not directly benefit from this activity. A Gender and Social Integration Strategy should look into protecting children from intensive or hazardous INP work and interference with school work, while allowing minimum assistance from children as part of their household chores, and assuring their benefit from the household income.

Finally, at least with some of the INPs, there seems to be a tendency of younger generations (18-45 years) not participating in INP harvesting and production. Many of the EWC associations complained about the absence of younger women in their association, and were eager to make it more attractive to them, both for the younger women to earn an additional income, and for them to be trained to assist with the organization of activities within the association Also the Mopane was said to be harvested mostly by elderly people, and younger mothers, with the middle generation not participating. It may be interesting to find out why the younger and middle generations are not willing to participate, and if there are ways to make the opportunity more conducive to them.


4. Strategies for Gender & Social Integration The main objective of the Social and Gender Integration Plan (SGIP) is to empower and encourage the participation of women and vulnerable groups in INP commercialization, and increase their benefits and income derived from INPs.

Supporting producer organizations as the main intervention of the project can be seen as a strategy for gender and social integration by itself; it is designed to benefit women and disadvantaged groups by strengthening the capacity, negotiation skills and bargaining power of producers organized in groups. “Elite capture” of benefits, or unintended negative impacts on women are more likely to be a risk in more diversified value chains, and as a result of interventions that focus on improvement of infrastructure, markets, or cultivation practices, rather than on strengthening groups of primary producers.

“Bringing the value chain to the village” -setting up producer groups and organizing procurement at village level- is a recognized and effective strategy for solving major gender-based constraints like lack of mobility, and limited access to markets, information, and linkages. The strategy reduces the dependency of otherwise isolated women and marginalized communities on middle men and local traders by offering opportunities for more favourable market engagement. It furthermore can provide new roles for women as leaders, managers, administrators, intermediaries or peer trainers.

However, some constraints are recognized, and therefore gender and social considerations will be an integral part of all project activities, from the planning and implementation to the monitoring and evaluation.

This section describes the eight (partly overlapping) “strategic categories” for gender and social integration that have been identified within the MCA-N PPO INP sub-activity;

1. Institutionalizing Gender and Social Integration

2. Analysis of gender and vulnerable groups





7. S&G input in material development



4.1 Strategy 1: Institutionalizing Gender and Social Integration

In order to ensure that gender and social integration is rooted in the service providers, and forms an integral part of all MCA-N INP PPO project design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, the following strategies are adopted by the project team;

Employment of a qualified and experienced (part-time) Social and Gender Expert (SGE), to develop and update the SGIP, and monitor its implementation

Allocation of resources for gender and social integration (time of SGE, financial resources for fieldwork, research and training)

Gender balanced employment of trainers and service providers

Training of all trainers and service providers on gender and social integration (more on this in strategy 6)

Embedding of the gender and social integration approach in all project material (more on this in strategy 7) and monitoring and evaluation (strategy 8)

Output indicators Strategy 1:

- Employment of a (part-time) Social and Gender Expert, resources allocated for the SGE to conduct her work

- SGIP developed, regularly reviewed and updated, and implemented

- At least 50% of all trainers and service providers employed female

- All project staff consistently trained on gender and social integration

4.2 Strategy 2: Analysis of gender and vulnerable groups

Although for the purpose of defining strategies for this GSIP a general socio-economic and gender assessment has been conducted based on PPO diagnostic reports, project reports, and interviews with service providers, there are many gaps in the information, and additional research is to be done. Data to be gathered includes;

• Participation of women and vulnerable groups in harvesting, post-harvest processing, marketing, and other INP activities

• The role of women and vulnerable groups in decision making processes on both household and producer group level

• Access of women and vulnerable groups to land, resources, technology, and income

• Benefits for women and vulnerable groups and sharing and use of income at the household level

• The participation of children in INP harvesting and processing, ensuring compliance with the Namibian Labour Act


• Daily activities of the targeted beneficiaries, including division of rights, responsibilities and labour inputs between men, women and children (Daily task analysis)

• Patterns of traditional subsistence use of natural products where they relate to food security issues

Strategies include:

The SGE to conduct field research into those areas and aspects which are not clear from the literature and the consultations with stakeholders in Windhoek. At this stage the priority field research will focus on Devil’s Claw harvesting in the different areas, since from the initial assessment it appears that these areas are most problematic with regard to gender and social integration, and essential information needed to deal with these issues is partly lacking.

The SGE to conduct field research in cases where social and gender issues are identified by trainers and service providers

PPO’s dealing with INPs that have an emerging commercial potential will also be considered a priority for social and gender analysis, depending on market developments. The PPO diagnostic tool will initially identify the main social and gender issues regarding the new resource or PPO. The SGE to have regular consultations with implementing partners and stakeholders on gender and social issues encountered. Trainers and service providers will also be asked to collect information and enquire about certain issues during support activities and training events.

The SGE will assess emerging commercial INP opportunities for possible positive and negative social and gender impacts of harvesting and trade of the resource, and develop measures to avoid or mitigate any adverse impacts and maximize gender and social benefits before intervention commences.

Output indicator of strategy 2:

- Have sufficient data on gender and social issues available on which to base, develop, and adapt strategies for social and gender integration, and monitor and evaluate their efficiency.

4.3 Strategy 3: Increasing access and benefits

Within the MCA-N INP PPO sub-activity, various forms of access are of importance, in particular:

• Access to land and INP resources

• Access to technology and credit

• Access to marketing channels and information


In our initial gender and social assessment, access to land and INP resources only appeared to be a problem in some conservancies in the Otjozondupa region, where large areas of the prime land are fenced off by resourceful farmers. Our strategy in dealing with this issue, increasing access for women and vulnerable groups consists of:

Extensive sensitization and negotiations with the land owners, conservancy management committees, and traditional authorities to assure their commitment towards increasing the access of (potential) primary producers of this resource.

Setting up PPOs, organising the (potential) primary producers in strong groups, making them vocal and present in conservancy management committees. Women and vulnerable groups should fully participate in this process. Several training modules will be needed to assist towards this goal.

Ensuring through training and awareness creation that the improved situation will be sustained, i.e. making sure that primary producers of Devil’s Claw properly fill the holes after harvesting, so that the cattle of the farmers will not get hurt, giving the cattle farmers a reason to retract their good intentions.

Access to credit does not refer so much to individual producers, since primary production of INPs generally does not require much investment, but is of importance to producer groups, who may need storage facilities, scales, or technology. Technology is often desired to increase production and/or assist in meeting quality and other market requirements. Technology can be introduced at household level, producer group level, or the level of processing facilities. It is often found that when technology is introduced, men take ownership of the resource. In order to make sure that technology will be used by and benefit women and vulnerable groups, the following strategies will be adopted:

The Primary Producer Improvement Grant (PPIG) manual and screening tool will include gender and social considerations. Before PPIGs are rewarded, it is assessed whether it can be assured that women and vulnerable groups will have access to and benefit from the technology. The manual and screening tool will acknowledge gender specific restraints, which make it harder for women and vulnerable groups to access credit and technology. The technology to be introduced should also be user friendly and based on the needs and priorities of women and vulnerable groups

Preparing additional training for women and vulnerable groups on the use of the technology, making sure they will feel comfortable using it and take on ownership

Access to marketing channels and information is important for all primary producers of INP, and apart from finding new and conducive markets, one obvious strategy to increase access to marketing channels and information is by organizing producers in groups, and build their capacity, thereby decreasing their dependency on middlemen. For women in particular it is also important to become a recognized member of the producer group, not just be part of the household labour, but not receiving information and being involved in the marketing of the INP. Strategies for increasing access to marketing channels for women and vulnerable groups include;


Encourage those PPO’s who are having a 1 member per household rule to withdraw the rule and open their membership or registration to all adults involved in harvesting and production of INPs

Gender awareness training in all areas where households work together on the harvesting and processing of INPs, but not all household members have equal access to markets. A more participatory system like the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) may be used to deal with household level gender issues. More on this in the section on benefits.

Ensure maximum involvement20

Benefits refer both to cash income earned from harvesting, processing, and selling INPs, and non-monetary benefits, like improved cooperation and leadership capacity, which may lead to increased access to additional opportunities. For a fair distribution of income from INP activities amongst all producers, including women and vulnerable groups, the following strategies will be adapted:

of women and vulnerable groups in all training, in particular with regard to organisational capacity building, and business and marketing skills.

Providing practical advice and guidance to revision of certain practices, i.e. encourage PPO’s who are having a 1 member per household rule to withdraw that rule, so that all can directly benefit from and harvesting and production of INPs

Training in conducting and monitoring of purchase events, making sure that benefits are fairly distributed based on the amount of INP harvested and/or produced

Gender awareness training in all areas where households work together on the harvesting and processing of INPs, but not all household members receive a fair share of the benefits. Instead of a traditional training, we are likely to choose the Gender Action Learning System (GALS), a more participatory community led process that was developed by OxfamNovib. More on this method can be found in annex 2.

Assist in negotiating with processors and/or buyers; ensuring fair pricing and timely payments from processors/buyers

Capacity building of PPO’s, thereby improving their bargaining power, their financial management and accountability, eliminating the need of middle men, and reducing the risk of elite capture of benefits

Ensure maximum involvement and participation of women and vulnerable groups in all training activities (See strategy 4)

Where focus on cultivation of INPs is an option, the Social and Gender Expert will assess if there is a risk of elite capture of benefits. The activity will only be pursued if

20 Maximum involvement of women in training activities can be assured both by community mobilisation and by making the time schedule, contents, and place of training activities both conducive and relevant for women. More on this under strategy 4; Participation and decision making


women and vulnerable groups will not lose out on their current benefits as a result of such an activity, but will indeed participate and benefit from it. Additional strategies and measures may have to be developed and put in place towards this goal.

Output indicators strategy 3:

- Good working relation and contracts with communal land “owners” ensuring sufficient access to land and INP resources for women and vulnerable groups in areas where this has previously been a problem

- Social and gender considerations included in the PPIG manual and screening tool

- 1 member per household rule abolished

- Representative number of women trained in organizational capacity building, business and marketing skills, new technologies, conduction of purchase events, and all other training provided

- Increased capacity of PPO’s, need for middle men eliminated, bargaining power, financial management, and conduction of purchase events improved

- Fair pricing and timely payments negotiated with buyers and monitored by service organisations

- Gender awareness training or GALS workshops conducted in all areas where sharing of income based on efforts between household members is perceived as a problem

- Risk assessment of potential cultivation activities conducted, and strategies for gender and social integration put in place where needed

4.4 Strategy 4: Increasing participation and decision making

Some INP producer groups in Namibia are women-only groups, while others both have male and female members or registered harvesters. The advantages of groups consisting of women only are that women may be better able to voice their needs and opinions, develop better leadership skills and confidence, and participation may be more socially acceptable. The success of a women’s producer group may influence the attitude of men in their community; there may either be an increase of respect towards the women, or feelings of resentment, which may lead to acts of sabotage. In mixed gender producer groups, social and cultural norms may limit effective participation, especially in male dominated societies. Challenges for women may include meeting the membership criteria, trust, and ensuring that their needs are met. Mixed gender groups may however have access to resources, networks and information that are not accessible for groups consisting of women only. Furthermore, working with existing groups or networks is generally more successful than creating them from scratch, and in working with mixed gender groups we will focus on increasing the participation and the terms of inclusion for women, not only as producers, but also as leaders and decision makers.


Participation of women and vulnerable groups in the MCA-N INP PPO sub-activity can be divided into three groups;

• Participation in harvesting, processing, and selling of INPs

• Participation in decision making processes with regard to INP use and marketing.

• Participation in MCA-N INP PPO training and support activities

Women and marginal groups generally participate in the harvesting, processing and selling of INPs for a variety of reasons which are described in section 3. It was however mentioned that at least with some INPs, the younger generation do not always participate, which in some cases affects the organization, management, and sustainability of the PPO. A vulnerable group that needs special attention with regard to participation in INP activities concerns people living with HIV/AIDS, although it is not known to what extent stigmatization and/or health problems are restricting people living with HIV/AIDS from participation of INP activities. Strategies to increase participation of (younger) women and vulnerable groups include:

Assess through interviews or focus group discussions the factors that hamper the participation of young women in INP activities, and try to find ways to motivate them where desired.

Establish active cooperation with organisations offering HIV/AIDS sensitization training in the rural areas.

Encourage those PPO’s who are having a 1 member per household rule to withdraw the rule and open their membership or registration to all adults. Women may only want to participate in the harvesting and production of INPs if they are able to benefit as an individual.

State in the service contracts that by signing the contract the PPO commits to ensure equal access, participation, and benefits for women and vulnerable groups.

Increased participation of women in INP production does not necessarily entail that they improve their benefits and terms of participation. It was found that women are not always fairly represented in decision making processes. Management committees often do have female representation, but women tend to be in the minority, and are not always very vocal in expressing their needs and priorities, especially in more male-dominated traditional societies. Our strategies to improve this situation include:

Providing communication workshops for women, improving public speaking skills. This has already been developed and tested by IRDNC, and proven very successful. The workshops should be conducted by female trainers.

Providing gender awareness training to management committees, making them understand that it is important that a fair share of women is represented in the


committees, especially when directly dealing with INPs (i.e. sub-committees of CMCs), in order to address women’s’ needs and priorities.

Maximizing the participation of women in all MCA-N INP PPO training and support activities (see next item), in order to make sure that women are skilled and confident enough to take on leadership positions.

Stressing the importance of female representation in management committees during all support and training activities

Although it is acknowledged that availability of time is a constraint for many women in rural areas, particularly during certain times of the year, and spending too much time on training may indeed come at the expense of other activities that are essential to their livelihoods, participation of women and vulnerable groups in all MCA-N INP PPO training and support activities is important and will be maximized by:

Consultation with women and vulnerable groups before training and support activities take place; making sure that the place of the training or support activities, as well as the time of the year, month, week, and day are convenient for women and vulnerable groups. Women should be allowed to bring small children with them

The Social and Gender expert will screen and provide input in all training materials, making sure that the contents of the training and support activities are relating to women and vulnerable groups and relevant and appropriate to them, whilst the issues are dealt with as efficiently as possible, limiting the time spent on training.

Employment of female trainers and service providers, this has proven successful in facilitating increased participation of women in training activities.

A peer training system may be used in some instances where women who have attended a training convey their skills and knowledge to other women, at a time and place that is convenient for them. This may be especially appropriate where training involves practical skills

Mobilisation of women and vulnerable groups to attend training and support activities. Radio announcements can be used to announce the activities and to motivate women and vulnerable groups to join.


- Increased number of women and vulnerable groups registered as harvesters or members of PPOs, relative to the number of (non-vulnerable) men

- 1 member per household rule abolished

- Factors hampering the participation of younger women investigated and strategies to motivate their participation defined where desired

- HIV/AIDS sensitization training by other organisations facilitated


- Public speaking skills of women improved as a result of the communication workshops for women conducted

- A fairer representation of women in management committees regulating INP harvesting, production, and marketing

- All training materials gender sensitive and relevant to women and vulnerable groups

- Employment and availability of female trainers

- All training and support events conducive to women and vulnerable groups

- Representative number of women and vulnerable groups attended training and support events

4.5 Strategy 5: Protecting the well-being of children

It is a common practice that children living in the rural areas assist with household, farm, and agricultural activities. This may be a stronger trend in those households that are headed by elderly people living with their grandchildren, due to the limited availability of adult labour. Activities that children assist with may include the harvesting and/or primary processing of INPs.

It may not be possible or desirable to completely abolish the practice of children assisting their parents or grandparents with household and agricultural tasks. Without the extra food and or/cash produced with their assistance, the household may not be able to feed the children or pay for their school fees and medical costs. Furthermore, it is regarded as important for children to learn and experience certain agricultural and traditional practices, which is an essential part of their informal education. Article 15(2) of the Namibian Constitution states Children are entitled to be protected from economic exploitation and shall not be employed in or required to perform work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with their education. More information on the Labour Act and the Namibian Constitution with regard to employment of children can be found in annex 3. In order to protect the well-being of the children and comply with the Namibian laws, we should make sure that:

• Children should be able to go to school and do their homework. Assistance with INP activities should be for limited amounts of time, outside of school hours, preferably only in the weekends or during the school holidays. There should be time restrictions, depending on the age of the children and in accordance with the law on child labour in Namibia.

• As per Namibian Law, children should not be involved in INP activities that are potentially hazardous

• Children are benefitting from improved household income (i.e. INP income used to pay school costs)


Strategies to ensure the protection of the well-being of children with regard to INP activities include:

Provision of technical support for the development of a Code of Conduct and mitigation plan with regard to assistance of children, in those areas where problems are perceived. All members/harvesters should be informed on this Code of Conduct, ensuring that everyone agrees and follows the rules. Best way to reach all members/harvesters may be to train management committee members, so that they can discuss the topic during members meetings or on purchase/intake days. In cases where members/harvesters sign contracts or membership/harvesting agreements in order to participate in the INP activity, the Code of Conduct should be added as an annex to the agreement

Where possible introduce techniques or technologies to eliminate potential hazards of INP harvesting and primary processing

Output indicator strategy 5:

- Code of Conduct and mitigation strategy developed and implemented in areas where it is common for children to assist with the harvesting and/or primary processing of INPs

- Well-being of children protected, no cases of INP activities restricting children from attending school and doing their homework found.

4.6 Strategy 6: Training of trainers and service providers

Since the MCA-N INP PPO trainers and service providers are in direct contact with the PPOs, it is an essential part of the Gender and Social Integration Strategy that they are to be made fully aware of gender and social issues, understand their impacts, know how to increase the access, participation, and benefits for women and vulnerable groups, and know how to prevent or mitigate possible adverse effects. Strategies used to make sure that trainers and services providers within the program will attain the skills and knowledge needed to facilitate gender and social integration are:

Providing trainers and service providers with intensive training on gender issues, social integration, participatory community consultation, and practical ways to include women and vulnerable groups in support and training activities, as well as INP harvesting, production, marketing and decision making processes

At least 50% of trainers employed and trained are female

Training of trainers to provide gender specific training workshops to PPOs, i.e. communication workshops for women, improving public speaking skills, gender awareness training, and facilitation of Gender Action Learning Systems (GALS)

Mentoring of trainers and service providers. The SGE will visit the trainers in the field, monitor their implementation of the SGIP, and assist with practical advice


where necessary. The SGE will also be available for advice and assistance telephonically


- Trainers and service providers trained on social and gender integration and able to implement the SGIP

- Gender specific workshops and training activities developed and monitored by the SGE successfully conducted by the trainers

4.7 Strategy 7: S&G input in material development

In order to make sure that gender and social considerations are part of all project phases and components, the Social and gender Expert will screen and provide input in all project documents, materials, and activities. These include:

The service contracts will include a commitment from PPOs towards increasing the access, benefits, and participation of women and vulnerable groups

The PPO diagnostic tool will include assessments of access, participation, and benefits for women and vulnerable groups

The primary Producer Improvement Grant (PPIG) guidelines and screening tool will include means for assessing potential benefits and adverse effect for women and vulnerable groups

The SGE will be serving on the committee to evaluate and make recommendations for PPIGs

All training and extension material will be screened by the SGE and adapted if needed

The SGE will provide input in the preparation of all work plans, ensuring that social and gender issues are addressed and taken into consideration

The SGE will provide input in the data collection plan, making sure that data relevant to gender and social integration will be collected

The SGE will provide input in the preparation of all reports

Outcome indicator strategy 7:

- Social and gender considerations integrated in all project phases and components, and visible in all project documents


4.8 Strategy 8: Monitoring and Evaluation

The following strategies will be put in place to monitor and evaluate progress on gender and social integration;

Gender and social integration data will be an integral part of the data collection plan to be developed in the inception phase. Basic quantitative information with regard to female participation in training and support activities, and increase in female participation in INP activities and decision making, will be systematically recorded on all forms to be used (training events, harvester registration, etc). Analysis will not only focus on the number of women participating, but also on the movement in their positions, and the change in proportion of female participation. Where information of previous years is available, collected gender data will be compared to the figures of 2009. The SGE will report on gender and social integration data in the quarterly progress reports.

A simple community-based INP record system that will function as a qualitative self-monitoring tool for PPOs will also include data on social and gender integration, which will be analysed by the SGE.

The SGE will have regular consultations with implementing partners and stakeholders on the progress of identified gender and social issues to be addressed

The SGE will conduct field visits monitoring trainers and service providers on the progress of the implementation of the SGIP, and provide assistance with challenges encountered.

The SGE may develop additional surveys administered by trainers and service providers if and when deemed useful.

The SGE will have telephonic contact with all trainers and service provider at least once every month, to discuss and monitor progress and challenges with regard to gender and social integration.

The SGE will regularly review and adapt the GSIP, based on experiences by trainers and service providers, field research, M&E data collected, and developments in market situations.

Outcome indicators strategy 8:

- Gender and social indicators established and monitored

- Rich sources of M&E data on gender and social integration available, visible in progress reports and used to revise and improve GSI strategies


4.9 Concluding remarks and summary table on strategies for Gender and Social Integration

The recommendations and strategies for gender and social integration as described above are based on the initial findings from the PPO diagnostic reports, the experiences of the Team, and the consultations with implementation partners and stakeholders in Windhoek. It is imperative that the SGIP will remain a work in progress, and is to be regularly reviewed and adapted, depending on experiences of trainers and service providers in the field, additional field research conducted by the Social and Gender Expert (SGE), and new commercial opportunities.

Furthermore, as described in the previous section, the SGIP will have to take into consideration the diversity of resources, regions, socio-cultural practices, and commercial opportunities, and create custom made strategic packages for gender and social integration on a case by case basis. The summary table on the following pages shows an indicative framework for the Gender and Social Plan.


Strategy Recommended action Target area /

species Responsibility Time frame Output indicators

1. Institutionalising Gender and Social integration

Employment of a qualified and experienced (part-time) Social and Gender Expert (SGE), to develop and update the SGIP, and monitor its implementation

All Team Throughout the project period

SGE employed

Development and Implementation SGIP All SGE + team Development SGIP inception phase, implementation throughout project period

SGIP developed, updated, and implemented

Allocation of resources for gender and social integration (time of SGE, financial resources for fieldwork, research and training)

All Team Proposal stage. Resources available throughout project period

Resources available for implementation and monitoring of SGIP

Gender balanced employment of trainers and service providers

All Team Implementation phase

At least 50% of trainers and service providers employed female

Training of all trainers and service providers on gender and social integration (strategy 6)

All SGE Implementation phase

Trainers able to implement SGIP

Embedding of the gender and social integration approach in all project material ( strategy 7) and monitoring and evaluation (strategy 8)

All SGE + team Throughout the project period

S&G input in all project material and M&E data collection plan




2. Analysis of Gender and vulnerable groups

The SGE to conduct field research into those areas and aspects which are not clear from the literature and the consultations with stakeholders in Windhoek

Focus on Devil’s Claw and new commercial opportunities

SGE Implementation phase

Sufficient data available to adapt strategies for gender and social integration

The SGE to have regular consultations with implementing partners and stakeholders on gender and social issues encountered.

All SGE Throughout project period

Bi-monthly consultations with all implementing partners held

Trainers and service providers will also be asked to collect information and enquire about certain issues during support activities and training events.

All Trainers and service providers + SGE

Implementation phase

Relevant data collected and reported on

The SGE to screen emerging commercial INP opportunities, assessing possible positive and negative social and gender impacts of harvesting and trade of the resource

New resources SGE When new opportunities emerge

S&G impact assessment of emerging commercial INP opportunities


Extensive sensitization and negotiations with the land owners, conservancy management committees, and traditional authorities

Devil’s Claw in Otjozondjupa conservancies

Trainers and service providers with assistance of SGE

Year 1 of the implementation phase

Leadership commitment towards increased access of (potential) primary producers of Devil’s Claw

Setting up PPOs, organising the (potential) primary producers in strong groups,. Women and vulnerable groups should fully participate in this process.


Trainers and service providers

Year 2-4 of implementation phase

Organisation capacity building training conducted. Participation of women and vulnerable groups in training


Strategy

Increasing access and benefits continued

Recommended action Target area /


Ensuring through training and awareness creation that the improved situation will be sustained (i.e. making sure that primary producers of Devil’s Claw properly fill the holes after harvesting)


Trainers and service providers with assistance of SGE

Year 2-4 implementation phase

Training and awareness building conducted

Before PPIGs are rewarded, it is assessed whether it can be assured that women and vulnerable groups will have access to and benefit from the technology.

All SGE Throughout project period

The Primary Producer Improvement Grant (PPIG) manual and screening tool will include gender and social considerations.

Additional training for women and vulnerable groups on the use of PPIG technology introduced

All Trainers, guided by SGE

Throughout project period

Training to women and vulnerable groups on PPIG technology conducted

Encourage those PPO’s who are having a 1 member per household rule to withdraw the rule and open their membership or registration to all adults

Devils Claw in Omaheke

Trainers and service providers, with guidance of SGE

Year 1 of implementation period

1 member per household rule abolished

Ensure maximum involvement of women and vulnerable groups in all training activities. (see strategy 4)

All Trainers, with guidance of SGE

Throughout project period

At least 50% of people attending training are women

Develop gender awareness training and assess suitability of GALS

All SGE Year 1 of implementation period

Gender awareness training and/or GALS modules ready for ToT


Strategy

Increasing access and benefits continued

Recommended action Target area / species

Responsibility Time frame Output indicators

Conducting gender awareness training and/or Gender Action Learning Workshops (GALS).

Devil’s Claw, (+Commiphora, Mopane, possibly new resources)

Trainers, with guidance of SGE

Year 1 + 2 of implementation period

Gender awareness training and/or GALS conducted in areas where not all household members have equal access to markets, or receive a fair share of the income earned

Training in conducting and monitoring of purchase events, making sure that benefits are fairly distributed based on the amount of INP harvested and/or produced

All Trainers and service providers

Year 1 + 2 of implementation phase

Purchase events monitored

Assist in negotiating with processors and/or buyers; ensuring fair pricing and timely payments from processors/buyers

All Service providers Throughout implementation period

Payments done in time and pricing negotiated

Capacity building of PPO’s, thereby improving their bargaining power, their financial management and accountability (eliminating the need for middle men)


Throughout implementation period

Training conducted, Increased bargaining, financial, and management capacity of PPO’s

Risk assessment of cultivation projects. Additional strategies and measures may have to be developed and put in place to ensure participation and benefit of women and vulnerable groups.

Where cultivation of INPs is an option

SGE When needed Risks for women and vulnerable groups assessed. Additional strategies developed and implemented if needed





Assess through interviews or focus group discussions the factors that hamper the participation of young women in INP activities, and try to find ways to motivate them where desired.

Marula, Ximenia, others if perceived as a problem by service providers

trainers and service providers with assistance of SGE

Year 1 + 2 of implementation phase

Reasons for lack of participation of young women assessed, motivating strategies identified and implemented

Establish active cooperation with organisations offering HIV/AIDS sensitization training in the rural areas.

All Service providers, SGE


Cooperation with HIV/AIDS service organisations established. HIV/AIDS sensitization training to PPO’s conducted

Encourage those PPO’s who are having a 1 member per household rule to withdraw the rule and open their membership or registration to all adults.

Devil’s Claw in Omaheke

Service providers, trainers

Year 1 of implementation period

1 member per household rule abolished, participation open to all

State in the service contracts that by signing the contract the PPO commits to ensure equal access, participation, and benefits for women and vulnerable groups.

All Team, SGE Inception phase (development of standard service contracts)

Commitment of PPO ensuring equal access, participation and benefits standard in service contracts to be signed by the PPO’s

Providing communication workshops for women, improving public speaking skills. (existing material developed by IRDNC),

Devils Claw, Commiphora, Mopane, possibly others

Female trainers, workshop material adapted by SGE


Communication workshops successfully conducted


Strategy

Increasing participation and decision making continued



Providing gender awareness training to management committees

Devil’s Claw, Commiphora, Mopane

Trainers, SGE to develop material


Gender awareness training developed and conducted to management committees

Stressing the importance of female representation in management committees during all support and training activities

Devil’s Claw, commiphora, mopane



Increased representation of women in management committees

Consultation with women and vulnerable groups before training and support activities take place; making sure that the time and place of the activities are convenient for them. women and vulnerable groups. Women should be allowed to bring small children with them


Throughout the implementation period

Consultations held; Training and support activities conducted at a time and place convenient for women and vulnerable groups.

Screen and provide input in all training materials, making sure that the contents of the training and support activities are relevant, appropriate, and efficient for women and vulnerable groups

All SGE Throughout the project period

Training materials suitable to the needs and interests of women and vulnerable groups

Employment of female trainers and service providers.

All Team Throughout the project period

At least 50% of trainers and service providers employed female

Use of a peer training system, where women who have attended training convey their skills and knowledge to other women, at a time and place that is convenient for them.

Where appropriate (practical skills)


Throughout the implementation phase

Training done through peer training system where appropriate


Strategy

Increasing participation and decision making continued



Mobilisation of women and vulnerable groups to attend training and support activities. (Radio announcements and other)


Throughout the implementation phase

Radio announcements and other methods used to mobilise and motivate women and vulnerable groups


Development and implementation of a Code of Conduct and mitigation plan with regard to assistance of children with INP harvesting and processing. Training of management committee members to inform all members/harvesters

Marula / ximenia and other areas where problems are perceived

service providers with assistance of SGE

Year 1 and 2 of implementation phase

Code of conduct and mitigation plan for PPO’s developed, PPO members informed

Where possible introduce techniques or technologies to eliminate potential hazards of INP harvesting and primary processing

Marula / ximenia, and possibly others

Service providers When suitable techniques are available

Technologies improving the safety of INP processing developed and introduced where possible


Training of trainers and service providers on gender issues, social integration, participatory community consultation, and practical ways to include women and vulnerable groups in support and training activities, as well as INP harvesting, production, marketing and decision making processes

All SGE Annually, starting within the first 2 months of the implementation phase

Sufficient awareness and practical skills of trainers and service providers on gender and social integration issues

Employment of sufficient female trainers All Team Throughout the project period

At least 50% of trainers employed and trained are female


Strategy

Training of trainers and service providers continued



Training of trainers to provide gender specific training workshops to PPOs, (communication workshops for women, gender awareness training and/or facilitation of GALS

All SGE Throughout the implementation phase

Trainers trained to provide gender specific training workshops

Mentoring of trainers and service providers. The SGE will visit the trainers in the field, monitor their implementation of the SGIP, and assist with practical advice where necessary. The SGE will also be available for advice and assistance telephonically


Ability of trainers and service providers to implement the GSIP improved through regular mentoring and monitoring by SGE

7. S&G input in material development

The service contracts will include a commitment from PPOs towards increasing the access, benefits, and participation of women and vulnerable groups

All SGE, team Service contract template developed during inception phase

Service contract with commitment towards social and gender inclusion signed by all PPO’s participating

The PPO diagnostic tool will include assessments of access, participation, and benefits for women and vulnerable groups

All SGE, team Inception phase Social and gender integration assessed before PPO’s are selected

The primary Producer Improvement Grant (PPIG) guidelines and screening tool will include means for assessing potential benefits and adverse effect for women and vulnerable groups

All SGE, team Inception phase Potential benefits and adverse effects on women and vulnerable groups assessed before PPIGs are granted


Strategy

S&G input in material development continued



The SGE will be serving on the committee to evaluate and make recommendations for PPIGs


Potential benefits and adverse effects on women and vulnerable groups assessed before PPIGs are granted

All training and extension material will be screened by the SGE and adapted if needed

All SGE Throughout the implementation phase, with focus on year 1

Training and extension material suitable for women and vulnerable groups

The SGE will provide input in the preparation of all work plans, ensuring that social and gender issues are addressed and taken into consideration


Implementation of SGIP considered in all work plans

The SGE will provide input in the data collection plan, making sure that data relevant to gender and social integration will be collected

All SGE, team Inception phase Data relevant to gender and social integration collected throughout the implementation phase

The SGE will provide input in the preparation of all reports

All SGE, team Throughout the implementation phase

Social and gender considerations, and progress on the implementation of the SGIP visible in all reports


Strategy Recommended action Target area / species



Collection of basic quantitative information with regard to female participation in training and support activities, and increase in female participation in INP activities and decision making will be systematically recorded on all forms to be used (training events, harvester registration, etc).

All

SGE, trainers and service providers

Throughout the implementation phase, data collected from trainers and analysed by SGE quarterly

Availability of data on gender and social integration. Data reported on in the quarterly progress reports.

Regular consultations with implementing partners and stakeholders on the progress of identified gender and social issues to be addressed


Implementation of SGIP monitored. Progress reported on in quarterly progress reports

The SGE will conduct field visits monitoring trainers and service providers on the progress of the implementation of the SGIP, and provide assistance with challenges encountered.

All SGE Throughout the implementation period


The SGE may develop additional surveys administered by trainers and service providers if and when deemed useful.

Where needed SGE When needed Additional social and gender data available, reported on in quarterly progress reports

Telephonic contact with all trainers and service providers, to discuss and monitor progress and challenges with regard to gender and social integration.

All SGE Monthly, throughout the implementation phase



Strategy

Monitoring and Evaluation continued



The SGE will regularly review and adapt the GSIP, based on experiences by trainers and service providers, field research, M&E data collected, and developments in market situations.

All SGE At least annually, throughout the implementation phase

SGIP reviewed and adapted at least once a year


5. References

Project reports

Den Adel, S (2002) – Use of marula products for domestic and commercial purposes by households in North-central Namibia (DFID/FRP Winners and Losers in Forest Product Commercialisation, Project No. ZF0140/R7795)

DANIDA (2010) – Gender and Value Chain Development.

Millennium Challenge Account Namibia (2010) – MCA-N Gender and Social Integration Strategy.

Natural Resources Institute (2010) – Inception Report Producer and Processor Organisation Sub-Activity.

Natural Resources Institute (2010) – PPO diagnostic report part 1 & 2.

Nott, K (2009) – Report on second commercial harvest of commiphora wildii resin in Marienfluss, Sanitatas, Okondjombo, Puros and Orupembe conservancies. IRDNC project report

Websites

Global Development Research Centre (GDRC) - http://www.gdrc.org

Ministry of Women Affairs (New Zealand) - http://www.mwa.nz

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) - women in Development (WID) - http://www.usaid.gov

World Health Organisation (WHO) – http://www.who.int

http://www.gdrc.org/�

http://www.mwa.nz/�

http://www.usaid.gov/�

http://www.who.int/�


Annex 1

Terms of Reference Social and Gender Expert

According to the original ToRs, the Social and Gender Expert would work closely with the Organizational Development Specialist on the following tasks and responsibilities:

• Oversight and co-ordination of field teams

• The development and programming of field visits

• Socio-economic and gender assessment with special consideration for vulnerable groups

• Being in charge of the organizational processes for community consultation and participation with specific emphasis on gender integration

In the proposal to MCA-N we however suggested that the first two tasks should be the responsibility of the training managers. The Terms of Reference for the Gender and Social Expert were subsequently defined as follows:

1. Development of a Gender and Social Integration Plan (GSIP) that will empower and encourage the participation of women and vulnerable groups in INP commercialisation, increase their benefits and income derived from INPs, and provide recommendations for incorporation of gender and social considerations in the overall activity. The GSIP is to be developed within the first 3 months of the inception phase, but should remain a work in progress, being regularly reviewed and adapted, depending on experiences of trainers and service providers in the field and additional field research conducted by the Social and Gender Expert (SGE). Its recommendations should take into consideration the diversity in resources, regions, socio-cultural practices, and commercial opportunities.

2. Implementation of the Gender and Social Integration Plan. Although the specific implementation tasks of the Social & Gender Expert can only be defined after the finalization of the GSIP, and should remain flexible throughout the project period, these are likely to include:

- Training of trainers and service providers on gender issues, social integration, participatory community consultation, and practical ways to include women and vulnerable groups in production and decision making processes

- Monitoring and mentoring trainers and service providers in practically dealing with above issues in the field

- Field research into those areas and aspects which are not clear from the literature and the consultations with stakeholders in Windhoek


- Additional surveys developed and analyzed by the SGE and administered by trainers and service providers if and when necessary

- Regular consultations with implementing partners and stakeholders on gender and social considerations

- Providing practical advice and guidance to revision of certain practices, i.e. the payment to Devil’s Claw harvesters

- Monthly collection of social/gender data from implementing partners, and providing input to progress reports

3. Review and provision of input with regard to gender and social integration in preparation of work plans, grant manual, reports, and all training and extension materials.


Annex 2

Gender Action Learning System

Origin and aim of the GALS

The GALS methodology originated in work on a generic methodology, Participatory Action Learning System (PALS) which was first developed and piloted by Linda Mayoux with Kabarole Research and Resource Centre (KRRC) in Uganda, starting in October 2002. PALS aims to empower people (particularly the very poor, as individuals and communities) to collect, analyse and use information to improve and gain more control over their lives. It is a continually evolving methodology based on diagram tools and participatory processes, some of which are new and some of which are based on well-established participatory methods.

PALS Process

The PALS training, research and assessment processes themselves are designed to develop rights awareness, participatory and communication skills. All PALS processes are guided by principles of Empowering Enquiry. This:

• starts by clarifying the vision people have,

• celebrates what they have already achieved,

• identifies challenges to further progress and

• identifies clear concrete strategies for moving further along the road to their vision.

This sequence underlies the use of all diagrams, their sequencing and use of more conventional methods like surveys and interviews to ensure that all participants benefit from giving their valuable time.

PALS Diagrams

At all levels PALS is based on the use of a number of very basic diagram types which analyse different types of logical relationship. These include, but are not confined to:

• Road Journeys: to analyse progress over time.

• Trees: to analyse inputs and outputs

• Diamonds: to develop and rank goals and criteria

• Circles: to look at interrelations between institutions and processes

• Calendars: to look at seasonality

• Maps: to look at geographical spread

http://www.lindaswebs.org.uk/Page3_Orglearning/PALS/PALS_Docs/PALS_%20RoadJourneys_Draft2005.doc�

http://www.lindaswebs.org.uk/Page3_Orglearning/PALS/PALS_Docs/PALS_Trees_Draft2005.doc�

http://www.lindaswebs.org.uk/Page3_Orglearning/PALS/PALS_Docs/PALS_Diamonds_2005Draft.doc�

http://www.lindaswebs.org.uk/Page3_Orglearning/PALS/PALS_Docs/PALS_Circles_2005Draft.doc�


Particular attention is paid to ensuring that individuals who are not used to drawing and expressing themselves are given every opportunity to gain confidence and skills to do their own recording and analysis. All diagrams can be used to collect reliable quantitative as well as qualitative information and can be cumulatively developed and revisited over time.

Experiences with GALS

GALS is working on the same principles as PALS, but focuses on gender issues. Based on inclusive and participatory principles and simple mapping and diagram tools, this can be used for:

• Individual life and livelihood planning: women and men, including those who cannot read and write, keep individual diaries to develop their own visions for change in gender relations and improved livelihoods, to plan how they can move towards these goals, and gain more control over their lives.

• Institutional awareness-raising and changing power relationships: communicating these aspirations and strategies, and using the same tools at institutional level for staff reflection and learning, increases respect for the views and interests of poor women and men, challenges established attitudes and behaviours and gives poor women a voice in institutional decision-making.

• Collective action and gender advocacy for change: the individual visions and strategies are shared to develop collective strategies, bringing women and men together, linked into participatory decision-making in governments and development agencies to better target and focus resources for empowerment and wealth creation.

The use of GALS proved successful in Uganda where it led to men changing their behaviour not only with regard to value chains, but also in relation to issues such as alcoholism, domestic violence and sharing of household work. The system needs a minimum of external facilitation beyond initially establishing the methodology and seems suitable, especially for the Devil’s Claw harvesting areas. More research on its practicalities will be done before its implementation.

Main sources:

Website for Linda Mayoux: http://www.lindaswebs.org.uk

WEMAN Global website: http://www.wemanglobal.org

http://www.lindaswebs.org.uk/�

http://www.wemanglobal.org/�


Annex 3

The Namibian Constitution and Labour Act with regard to employment of children

The Namibian Constitution states that no one, child or adult, may work as a slave or be forced to work. The Namibian Constitution also states that children must be protected from exploitation. Children under the age of 14 may not be employed, and children between the ages of 14 and 16 may not do work that:

- Is dangerous

- Is unhealthy

- will stop them from attending school or doing their homework

- will affect their physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development

The Labour Act of 2007 follows the provisions in the Constitution and gives more detail on working hours and place of work:

- Children below the age of 14 may not be employed

- Children between the age of 14 and 18 may be employed, but they may not work between the hours of 20h00 and 7h00

Children may not work (this list may be changed by the Government):

- On a construction or demolition site

- In a place where work is done underground or in a mine

- In a place where goods are manufactured

- At a power plant

- In a place where machinery is put together or taken apart

final report producer and processor organisations sub ... ppo gender... · integration, section 3...

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