PML Long-term Projects
The PML department is currently implementing long-term projects in
Afghanistan, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Peru, Tanzania, Tajikistan and Zambia .
Afghanistan 
Through the Garden Gate: Integrating Women into MarketsThis project employs innovative training and marketing models (while building on community networks) to strengthen commercial linkages for women's crops and increase income. MEDA facilitates market linkages to suitable supplies, financial services and buyers, and provide training in production, marketing and management. The women are learning that their products are in demand in urban centers and are overcoming obstacles and increasing their contributions to household income and well being by serving that market demand. The women farmers are reaping increased production, processing their surplus yields and selling their products, and this gains them greater respect and status in their households and communities. The project currently has over 1,500 women farmer participants and by year 4, will work with some 2,250 women in Parwan province thereby impacting 10,000 or more family and community members.
Through the Garden Gate was a finalist at the 16th Annual Canadian Awards for International Cooperation in the Centre for Intercultural Learning Award for Gender Equity Achievement, 2008.
It was recognized for its contribution to poverty reduction and sustainable development through the use of the market development approach. By improving market access and enhancing support services such as, agricultural extension, credit, input supplies, storing, processing and packaging, this program empowers poor women farmers to grow nutritious food for their families, contribute to their household’s income and enable them to gain the respect of their spouse and communities.
It's a green thumbs up for Afghan food gardens - The Waterloo Region Record, June 28, 2008
Afghan garden program helps women grow hope - The Epoch Times, June 26, 2008
Bolivia
Progress Through Poultry: Integrated Agricultural Diversification in Comarapa MEDA's work in Bolivia is assisting indigenous women in remote communities to develop enterprise opportunities which also have a positive impact on very poor household nutrition levels. Working in collaboration with local partner Entrepreneurial Agribusiness Development (DAE), the project is oriented towards the development of small-scale poultry rearing enterprises - an economic activity with strong market prospects and which contributes to improving household nutrition levels. Facilitating small-scale fruit and vegetable processing businesses and improving in the productivity of staple maize and bean crops are also major components of the project.
Nicaragua
Sesame Production and Marketing Program (PRODUMER, Phase 2) MEDA's PRODUMER project concentrates on providing sesame producers with technical assistance in production, processing and marketing. The project strengthens the linkages between exporters and farmer groups. PRODUMER has helped to raise the prices paid to farmers by promoting competition among exporters to break up local monopolies. The technical assistance provided by the project to farmers has also helped significantly raise productivity and incomes over the years. PRODUMER recognizes that each link has an important role to play in the sesame value chain, and that by working together they can solve common problems and become more competitive. For this reason, the project has worked hard to bring together the different actors of the supply chain (seed producers, farmers, exporters, relevant government bodies and NGO's) to discuss current issues affecting the sesame industry and develop strategies for the industry as a whole. To this end, PRODUMER has worked diligently with a number of relevant bodies to significantly and sustainably improve the quality of certified seed available to farmers. The project is also working closely with exporters and implementing initiatives to improve the image of Nicaraguan sesame in the international marketplace in order to increase demand. With the heightened vibrancy of the marketplace, farmers receive new opportunities and the promise of future prosperity.
Pakistan
Pathways & Pursestrings: Market Access for Women Producers
Based on the success and lessons learned in the
Behind the Veil project , this 4-year $7,000,000 (CND) project, recently funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), will scale up and replicate this sales agent model to other areas and value chains across Pakistan. In addition to integrating sequestered women into new value chains, it will also build the capacity of local indigenous Pakistani NGOs to deliver state-of-the-art value chain development programs. With the Entrepreneurship & Community Development Institute (ECDI) as the lead training partner, MEDA will also work with a number of other local partners to provide 12,000 to 16,000 homebound and isolated women with sustainable market linkages, support services and skills to enable access to growing markets with products. This partnership with local Pakistani NGO’s will provide the foundation to develop the capacity of indigenous civil society organizations and private actors to implement market driven value chain development projects and activities. With preliminary research, planning and start-up underway, the project expects to work in the embroidered garments, glass bangles, seedlings and milk collection subsectors. The geographic reach will extend to the provinces of Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and North Western Frontier. Increasing income and economic empowerment for women producers and sales agents participating in the project and a number of public and private organizations actively facilitating value chain development are the key expected program benefits.
Women need linkages 'to utilize their true potential'
The International News - Pakistan
July 9, 2008
Peru
Administration of Peru’s National Mangrove Sanctuary in Tumbes
Tumbes is home to Peru’s only mangrove reserve; an environment which
harbours unique and rare birds, fish, crustaceans and mammals. Although
the area contains a vibrant commercial prawn and crab industry, the
sanctuary is increasingly threatened by deforestation, logging, lack of
a garbage management system and contamination of the waterways on which
local people depend for their livelihoods. This groundbreaking project
– funded by the World Bank and the Government of Peru until 2012 – is
establishing MEDA as a pioneer in integrating economic development into
environmental conservation. Over the five years of implementation MEDA
is developing environmentally-sustainable industries such as ecotourism
which will subsequently fund the management and environmental
protection of the Sanctuary while impacting at least 1,000 local
entrepreneurs. These economic impacts will be facilitated as the
project addresses the primary environmental challenges through
protection and reforestation of the mangrove and dry forest, reduction
in the level of water contamination, and rebuilding important marine
species.
MEDA project preserves Peru's mangroves - Mennonite Brethren Herald,
August 2008 (search for "MEDA Mangroves")
Power of Participation
The aim of MEDA's 'Power of Participation' project is to address pollution and deforestation levels in two micro river basins in the San Martin region of the Peruvian Amazon through an infrastructure-led approach to economic development. Funded by Toyota Motor Corporation, the project combines the diffusion of environment conservation and integrated river basin management practices with the development of appropriate economic activities. To encourage sustainable environmental practices, broad-based groups of community members will be trained in responsible environmental management, coordination with existing government structures, and environmentally-friendly methods of harnessing local resources for economic development. A participatory approach is incorporating key public and private stakeholders into community structures and decision-making bodies. This institutional development is then anchored on the construction of two micro hydroelectric plants that - through community-managed hydroelectricity - improves basic conditions for settlers and demonstrates a model for the sustainable use of natural resources.
Sustainable Value Chains in Protect Natural Areas of Peru
Partnering with leading socially responsible enterprises, MEDA is directly improving the competitiveness of small enterprises in five environmentally-sensitive areas in Peru. The coffee, prawn, Brazil nut and wool value chains have all been selected given their strong market potential. In each value chain, MEDA is working with government representatives and lead firms to help microenterprises access higher value markets. Capacity building, improved quality control and business management upgrading are among the tools which will support these enterprises. The InterAmerican Development Bank is supporting MEDA to manage this project for 3 years, until 2010.
Tajikistan
"Farms to Markets" in Northern TajikistanThe fresh fruit and vegetable
sub-sectors in Tajikistan afford an opportunity for small farmers to achieve enhanced
livelihoods. Strong demand for these products has been identified in
some regional markets, but to be competitive producers must upgrade their quality. The project provides technical
assistance in production, provides credit to small and micro-processors
to update processing technology, and provides credit for agricultural
production through a partner institution, the Association of Business
Women (ABW).
View Video: Farms to Market
Tanzania
Commercial Supply Chain Acceleration - Using Vouchers to Reach Scale on Distribution of Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets (ITNs) Commercial Supply Chain Acceleration - Using Vouchers to Reach Scale on Distribution of Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets (ITNs)
Over three million ITNs distributed using vouchers - and still counting! Malaria continues to be one of the most dreaded diseases in Tanzania but sleeping under a net treated with insecticide greatly reduces the risk of contracting the disease. In some places, organizations distribute mosquito nets free of charge every few years.
This works, as long as the net stays intact and no new children are born. Because the nets are free, local stores don't stock them, so they cannot be replaced.
This project works to create a marketplace for mosquito nets where the voucher covers most of the retail cost of an ITN, but the voucher recipient also pays a small amount and therefore values it more. A demand is created for ITNs, so store owners have reason to stock them. Already over 6,600 retail shops in Tanzania sell ITNs to both voucher customers and non-voucher customers alike.
The two groups most at risk from malaria are pregnant women and infant children. Pregnant women receive vouchers at one of 4,500 local health clinics during their regular prenatal check-up and infant children receive a voucher during their regular childhood immunization. Vouchers for pregnant women are supported with funding from the Tanzania Ministry of Health and the Global Fund while vouchers for infants are supported with funding from USAID.
So far the impact of this project is significant. Research suggests that six lives are being spared for every 1,000 nets sold. In addition to the lives that are saved, ITNs prevent serious illness that would devastate families - wages would be lost and costly treatment would be needed. View Video on YouTube:
Hati Punguzo: Insecticide-Treated Mosquito Nets for Tanzania
ZambiaProsperity through Innovation: Accelerating water technology supply chains
The goal of the 'Prosperity through innovation' project is to accelerate supply and demand for appropriate and affordable water technology products without dependency while strengthening local businesses to ensure their long term viability and sustainable reach to underserved rural populations in Zambia. To influence demand, the project uses a discount voucher as a market stimulant. To strengthen the supply-side, the project employs various strategies to help suppliers understand and serve the needs for water technologies for small scale farmers. These strategies include a series of marketing training sessions to suppliers and retailers that help build their capacity and knowledge on effective marketing and sales strategies. The project has also facilitated practical demonstration of new marketing strategies such as technology agri-fairs and direct technology demonstrations for small scale farmers.
The first vouchers were launched on February 14, 2008, and so far there has been a steady upward trend in redemptions and technology adoption. Positive market development pointers so far include increased sales of technologies by participating suppliers and retailers with substantial sales after five months, evidence of supplier-farmer interactions, suppliers’ willingness to invest in effective marketing and sales strategies, and suppliers’ investments in restocking and manufacturing of quality, appropriate and affordable technologies.
