ustainable Poverty Reduction among Coastal Communities through the creation of viable Agro-Industry Alternatives End of Project Report

Submitted to Heinrich Boll Foundation

Background This is an end of project report in respect of our project Sustainable poverty reduction among coastal communities through creation of viable agro-industry alternatives. The report covers the project period between April 2003 to March 2004 and it highlights the key signposts of the projects development. A critical analysis of the results achieved by the project thus far is presented against the background of Kenyas political development and status. The aim here is to relate the programs goals with the political, economic, socio-cultural and environmental frameworks that affect it. The report also highlights the major challenges faced during implementation and the measures taken to mitigate against these challenges. Finally the report suggests a way forward on issues of sustainability and scaling up of the project.

About Ujamaa Center Ujamaa Center is a non-governmental organisation, not-for-profit, registered in Kenya. Founded in 2001, the Center is an experiment in volunteerism and the construction of alternative systems to the dominant mainstream ideologies. The Center seeks people who are most marginalized and are disturbed by the character of mainstream processes that eludes the comprehension of most people. The Centers main goal is to support basic community efforts in order to build a self-sustaining alternative sector in Kenya and to raise the competence of community institutions and their representatives.This project with HBF has been part of the Centers efforts to experiment with development that seeks to respond to the call of sustainability if the state of poverty in the coast is to change. The project looked out for the poor who directly depend on the natural capital for their survival to drive the process by putting to use their creative capabilities in the solutions that are developed. The Sustainable Poverty Reduction Project on which we report here is the Centers pioneer project in its broad programme on building social capital. This fits very well with the Centers other programme on Capacity Building for Community Control of Natural Livelihood Resources in the Coast Region whose aim is to spearhead vibrant village advocacy around natural resources in Kwale and Kilifi Districts that would effect the greatest change in the lives of communities and their organisations in the region. Both of these projects are founded on the Centers strategic aim of causing the realisation of relationships, which capitalise on the use of alternative systems and spirituality in order to build social capital. The Centers secretariat is based in Nyali in Mombasa and was until January 2004 staffed by only the Project Coordinator with support from volunteers. Today the Center has a staff of 4 in the office and 30 Community Mobilisers in the field. The Center is part of a fledgling human rights sector in the Coast of Kenya that has taken the view that there will be development only if communities secure and assert their rights, change power relations and secure ownership and title to land and other natural resources.

THE PROJECT Project Rationale The coastal region is one of Kenyas most important centre of trade, but one dominated by foreigners (including those from upcountry Kenya). Indigenous coastal peoples have in the past and are still today characterized as being lazy and unproductive, incapable of making the most of the resources around them. This has its basis in the political-administrative system imposed on the coastal region at various times in the last two centuries, which reinforced the dominance of outsiders. For reasons that absentee landlords own most of the land agricultural activities are in most cases only temporary making substantial areas in the Coast pass as idle. Added to the fact that the region is semi-arid local people do not have control over most of their resources. The coral reefs, lowland and forests, coconut, cashew nut, mangrove forests, fishery, beach etc are either spectacularly underutilized or brazenly extracted to the benefit of private outsiders. This background underlies the poverty reduction projects effort to develop the productive potential of the poor first by improving their access to resources and to markets and enabling them to access training in practice oriented vocational activities. The poor need entrepreneurial capacity so that they have a steady flow of incomes for their basic needs. The government of Kenya, which subscribes to the Millennium Development Goals, is also committed to ensuring that the PRSP postulations are met in partnership with the communities, the private sector and the civil society. The project was thus conceived as an effort in supporting sustainable poverty reduction at the community level. The underlying principles were that; a) Although the poor and marginalized are often considered nave and inexperienced, provided with space, right advice and support, they have the will power and ability to achieve concrete results, and that if society, in particular local communities, seized the opportunity to appropriately use energy and drive of local population at the grassroots level, greater progress toward sustainable development and poverty reduction could be achieved at a lesser cost; b) Sustainable poverty reduction cannot happen unless the needs of the least advantaged members of society are met, especially women and youth; c) Strong and socially sustainable institutions founded on the principles of collective action are a pre-requisite for poverty reduction; d) A common property framework, as opposed to open access is necessary as it recognizes poor people as stakeholders and provides an institutional framework for resource management; e) Support is needed for ecologically based technology that require less inputs of fossil fuels and manufactured capital by taking advantage of the self-organizing properties of ecosystems and assets of the poor, such as their labour and knowledge of their environment, and for the development of institutions for collective action;

f) International organizations have an important role to play by establishing a base of common knowledge as a catalyst for social action, enhancing communications between groups, and strengthening community based social organizations; Read or download the whole document from library

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Africa Community Development Environment Human Rights Kenya procorps

Location: Nyali Setting: Urban/Rural Established: 2001 Staff: 4

Subject Areas
Human Rights: Legal Issues, Equality, Environmental Law, Community Action Community Development: Community Empowerment, Capacity Building, Building Social Capital, Social Responsibility, Community Planning Environment: Resource Management, Conservation, Environmental Health, Environmental Education, Biodiversity

Organization Objectives
Ujamaa is a dynamic community center devoted to mobilizing Kenyan citizens to regain ownership of local natural resources. It also works to challenge the current development paradigm that has historically marginalized the coastal region. Its goals are to:

Support community efforts to build a self-sustaining alternative sector in Kenyas Coast Region Raise the competence of community institutions and their representatives at all levels of the Coast region Develop informational support service in order to spread knowledge and catalyze change Produce publications on human rights issues, consumerism and alternative practices Establish a permanent structure in Kenya which will devote its efforts to the development and growth of alternative systems, spirituality and building social and community capital

Defend and extend the rights of communities and their organizations in the Coast region

Program Information

1. Advocacy Ujamaa works on several campaigns to raise awareness on issues of local governance within communities along the coast. Their campaigns address basic human rights, trade relations, and quality of leadership within municipal councils. Four of their current campaigns are: Its Time Land Advocacy: The coast has been historically divided among competing landowners and interests. This campaign helps communities along the coast to realize their property rights and challenge the status quo of absentee landlords and corruption of ownership documents. Trade and Environment Campaign: This campaign aims to defend the rights of farmers and landowners in the marketplace and provide support in negotiating prices and locating suitable markets. It also lobbies for environmental justice and works to expose the current unregulated environmental degradation and depletion of natural resources caused by industries in local communities. Anti-Globalization Movement: This campaign supports the formation of social forums in response to poor leadership, lack of access to information at the grassroots level and to raise awareness of how globalization affects local communities. Opportunities Provide support for ongoing campaigns Research current Kenyan foreign policy and organize forums to encourage debate and dialogue on key international issues Conduct quantitative and qualitative research on the efforts of Ujamaa and on linkages with local forms of government Work to develop Ujamaas local support network by attending local village meetings, making connections with the academic sector and participating in governmental forums Assist with information dissemination within the community Create written materials on campaign topics for distribution and education Requirements Interest in working closely with rural, poor communities Ability to handle long hours in arid, rural communities with poor infrastructures and limited resources Possess an open mind, be flexible and feel comfortable working in predominantly Muslim communities that may not be used to interacting with foreigners Background in political science, economics, environmental policy or related topics Desire to learn and speak Swahili 2. Social Enterprises

Ujamaa works at the grassroots level to support community organizations, develop community assets and target community businesses involved in natural resource use. The Natural Resource Control/Rights Project provides an example of how Ujamaa integrates advocacy with issues of natural resource use. Launched in September 2003 with support

from the Big Lottery Fund, the projects core purpose is to build individual, organizational and institutional capacity to enable poor people in rural communities of Kwale and Kilifi Districts to more effectively utilize and sustain local natural resources. Examples of such projects include beekeeping, horticulture, nurseries, cashew processing and alternative energy production.

Opportunities Conduct studies of product development in rural communities where they have started sustainable natural resource businesses Assist rural community groups in the direct development of products to a stage where they can compete at the market level Conduct research on the effect of international trade on these local communities and compose a report Research alternative energy production methods and create programmatic recommendations

Requirements Interest in working closely with rural, poor communities Ability to handle long hours in arid, rural communities with poor infrastructures and limited resources Possess an open mind, be flexible and feel comfortable working in predominantly Muslim communities that may not be used to interacting with foreigners Background in subjects such as political science, economics, environmental policy or related topics Desire to learn and speak Swahili

Program Supervisor (All Programs)

Phyllis Muema is the Projects Coordinator at Ujamaa. Note: Responsibilities offered to each participant will be proportionate to their level of experience. Participants who are new to development work may predominantly support and assist current project agendas, while those with much applicable experience may be able to assume greater responsibility. Research projects are strongly encouraged by this organization to support each programs objectives because minimal resources are currently allocated for research.

Working Conditions
Ujamaas office is located in Nyali, a wealthier residential area that is a ten minute matatu ride north of Mombasa town. The center is equipped with computers, printers, and the internet. Although work is done all over the Coast Province, the majority of project work is done in more rural Kilifi and Kwale Districts, both of which are about 40 minutes from Mombasa. Depending on nature of work, up to 60% of time may be spent out in the field.

Organizational Background
The Ujamaa Center was founded as an experiment in spirituality and volunteerism, and in constructing alternative systems to mainstream ideologies. The genesis

of Ujamaa Center lay in a need and opportunity in Kenya that required organized response as the ballast of cooperation. The center is involved with a variety of political, social and economic activities to sensitize the region to alternative methods of development. Their work is primarily in two areas: supporting and initiating advocacy efforts on issues of local governance, and supporting the development of social enterprises in relation to natural resource use. It is a not for profit, non-governmental organization.
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Too often community development is seen purely to be about programs, five-year plans, sets of activities, which can be quantified and reported; school buildings, boreholes, food for relief etc. Village level workers therefore often find themselves under pressure to achieve certain sets of goals within given time periods which forces them to employ less democratic methods

Demo during World Social Forum in Nairobi

to speed up programs. Ujamaa takes a different approach. For us community development is a crusade, a cause to which one must be deeply committed. Community development is not neutral it carries an emotional charge. It is dedicated to progress as a philosophy not science. We view progress with reference to certain values and goals within a given political and social system. Community development is thus a movement institutionalized through organizational structure and accepted procedure. Participation is active and driven by the community almost spontaneously. In the Coast of Kenya many agree that it is timeto take on this understanding.

History of our Involvement

The Coast of Kenya has a history, social structure and economic character that differs strikingly from the rest of Kenya. It is a region that is founded on regional, racial and religious divisions that have made it vulnerable to manipulation from the rest of Kenya the very reason why the state has generally failed to address key development issues in the region. Political patronage and unequal distribution of natural resources is the main cause of economic stagnation in the region, unemployment and hunger. People have no access to the sea and its rich bed, land, natural crop, parks, sanctuaries and forests.

Our Approach
Our approach is to make the voices from the micro sphere reach the macro policy-making world. This will be done through mobilizing and organizing opinion against an economic framework that is antithetical to the interests of the poor. The Center has launched a capacity building programme that aims to build awareness and strengthen local village leadership around the common cause of a new resource exploitation framework. This process should spur the emergence of networks led by committed local men and women that can articulate the aspirations of the deprived and the dispossessed and offer a united voice to the fragmented struggle for livelihood rights, land redistribution, access to forestland and implementation of social legislation at state level in order to effect long term change. Collective action for us is central to challenging irresponsible and selfish capital.

The Foundations of our Work

We believe that if we raise the socio-political consciousness of individuals and the grassroots communities through training, skill enhancement, accompaniment and solidarity, we enhance the individuals and communities commitment to transcend psychological oppression/dependency and support their resolve to take proactive action to transform their lives, communities and governance systems. when we support entrepreneurship and mobilization of local resources, we restore individual and community pride and dignity thus enhancing the capacity for homegrown solutions to problems and challenges. when we model a lifestyle and organizational culture that encourages critical attitude, spirituality, respect for religious affiliations/backgrounds and ideological orientation, gender equality, and commitment to reflection and social action, we enhance the transformation of ourselves, constituency communities, partner organizations, funding partners and above all, the global unequal relationships, into more just and egalitarian relationships.

when we constantly critique the dominant structures and systems and tax our imagination to evolve alternative structures and systems we connect to, and mobilize a critical mass to believe that an alternative world is possible and locally act towards a world where just and egalitarian relationships and systems are envisaged. when we root our work with the culture and political reality of the people then genuine political and social transformation can take place particularly when indigenous resources and youth creativity are tapped to respond to context specific problems and challenges including localized global conflicts.

Our projects/programs

(i) Agro-industry alternatives for poverty reduction project that has given the communities of Tsunza, Tiwi and Bayamose beehives and commercial farm forestry ideas for their incomes.

(ii) Natural Resource Control/Rights Project that provides skills and capacity to communities of Kwale and Kilifi Districts to improve their terms of trade, protect their natural resources and access state funds devolved to them for development.

(iii) Briquette Project that has enabled the community of Bayamose utilize their agricultural waste and forestry residues to fuel briquettes in order to conserve coastal forests and woodlands.

(iv) Social Capital and Influence program that has seen us commission studies to find out appropriate forms of cooperation activity, new centers of civic energy, development systems that are properly rooted are strong and lasting. The centers resource center and Kimulimuli our quarterly publication adds to this effort. Further our efforts in the building of a social forum space in Kenya and the coast is aimed at confronting the neo-liberal paradigm which this centurys biggest challenge. The grant making and philanthropy program aims to point to new sources of funds for community initiatives and lead to local funding both for grant making and longer-term endowment building. The idea that large-scale corporate sector can give financial support and investment to social projects has succeeded elsewhere. (v) Coast is secure campaign a project that seeks to champion the cause of peace and security and focus on community policing and public awareness and debates around issues of terrorism.

Governance Structure
Ujamaa is governed by a Board of Directors that articulates the policy principles, sets direction and institutional and program focus. The Board is also responsible for ensuring generative learning from the institution. The Board has put in place a strong secretariat manned by five staff and a further 32 employees who work in the field as community mobilisers and volunteers. The Center continues to develop its institutional capacity; long-term community building (training, organising, advocacy and lobbying); and work organisation. Allavida, UNDP and HBF have supported some of these projects.

if we raise the socio-political consciousness of individuals and the grassroots communities through training, skill enhancement, accompaniment and solidarity, we enhance the individuals and communities commitment to transcend psychological oppression/dependency and support their resolve to take proactive action to transform their lives, communities and governance systems. when we support entrepreneurship and mobilization of local resources, we restore individual and community pride and dignity thus

enhancing the capacity for homegrown solutions to problems and challenges. when we model a lifestyle and organizational culture that encourages critical attitude, spirituality, respect for religious affiliations/backgrounds and ideological orientation, gender equality, and commitment to reflection and social action, we enhance the transformation of ourselves, constituency communities, partner organizations, funding partners and above all, the global unequal relationships, into more just and egalitarian relationships.when we constantly critique the dominant structures and systems and tax our imagination to evolve alternative structures and systems we connect to, and mobilize a critical mass to believe that an alternative world is possible and locally act towards a world where just and egalitarian relationships and systems are envisaged. when we root our work with the culture and political reality of the people then genuine political and social transformation can take place particularly when indigenous resources and youth creativity are tapped to respond to context specific problems and challenges including localized global conflicts.