Women Economic Empowerment Evaluation 4-8 August 2014 Rosemary Cumanzala

1. Women Economic Empowerment Evaluation 4-8 August 2014 Rosemary Cumanzala

2. Outline of the presentation • Geographical location • Background Information • Binga Women Economic Empowerment projects • Collaborations and networks

3. Geographical location

4. Background Information Zubo was established in 2009; to promote the advancement of women and girl children in the Zambezi Valley. It was established after realisation of inadequate attention given to the issues that affect women and girls. Main focus areas are - • Creation of space – Women’s Forums • Human rights, gender and HIV/AIDs awareness • Capacity building, lobby and advocacy • Commemorations and networking • Women economic empowerment Objective • To enhance women’s economic empowerment through increased access to and conservation of natural resources in the Zambezi Valley

5. Binga Women Economic Empowerment Projects Since 2011 – to date; Zubo through support from UN Women has been implementing the following projects in Binga District • Revolving fund – Siachilaba Fish Market Traders • Production Unit (Kapenta Project) - fish farming of tilapia breams • Rural Women Village Savings and Lending Schemes • Crafts and market linkages • Utilization of other local plants (baobab and marula)

6. Revolving fund – Siachilaba Fish Market Traders (usd1800 – usd5000) • Soft loans to 60 fish traders at Siachilaba Fish market to enhance their business • Capacity building – confidence building, com., business management, record keeping, advocacy skills, • This led to participation of women traders in decision making processes at household levels (due owing financial resources) • Fish traders - paying fees for children, some bought household assets (radios, TV, solar panels etc) purchase food • One woman bought 2 cows and both are in her name and some traders bought goats & chicken • Traders are managing their project as businesses

7. Revolving fund results

8. Revolving fund results • Hut before revolving fund • 2 roomed house after

9. Kapenta project results • Zubo in collaboration with rural women with support from UN Women broke new grounds in 2011 by venturing into male dominated space (1st of its kind) • The kapenta rig was specifically designed for women. • The Production Unit (PU) has made usd62500 since inception and has spent usd59000 • In 2011-12 - average catch of 20bags/month; 2013 average 12 bags/mnth & 2014 average 15 bags per month and kapenta price range from usd150-usd180 per 30kg bags • PU have created employment at project site (employing males) & community (employing maids)

10. Women user friendlyKapenta rig

11. Kapenta results continues • Influence decision making processes in their households due to formal employment • Paying fees for children & meeting family basic needs • PU abide by the country’s legal laws as they use fishing net (8mm) that do not catch small kapenta but allows small and young fish to breed and grow; only mature, big, quality kapenta is caught • Monthly allowance vary from usd90 to usd150 (seasons • The project is now diversifying to fish farming; site pegged and fish ponds digging in progress

12. Kapenta project results

13. Crafts and market fair • Since inception, the project has reached 150 weavers in the Binga District • 10 girls are benefiting from adding value to the craft products and selling on behalf of the weavers • Income has been made at market fairs and women use the money to meet their basic needs including paying school fees

14. Crafts and market fairs • The weavers are making a range of products - ilala handbags, purse, ear rings; • Usd3980 has been made by Zubo and its partners during market fairs (Zimbabwe market fairs, Zim International Trade Fair, UN WTO, Angola Trade Fair, USA Santa fair); and from 22-30 attending Ongwediva Trade Fair in Namibia • Confidence has been built in exhibitors and staff members during hosting of fairs

15. Crafts production & market linkages results

16. Village lending and saving scheme (VL&S) • Pooling of financial resources together & venturing into income generating project started in 2011 and has been on going • 650 women benefited from the project with 61 groups. By end of 2012, usd14653 had been raised. Since 2013, there have been 48 functional groups. • Income generated during VSL has been largely spent on paying fees for the children & buying kitchen utensils and meeting basic needs at household level

17. Village saving and lending results

18. Village saving and lending continues • Eating place

19. Microfinance and GBV • Following a survey done in 2012; a microfinance and gender based violence project was implemented. • Rise in GBV due to resources women owned in some wards. • Created male’s chapters in Binga district to support women’s forums on women’s right issues, economic empowerment • Rural women accessed funds for their economic empowerment projects

20. Economic Empowerment Result

21. Other local plants (baobab and marula) • Rural women have been trained on pre and post harvesting of marula; 150 women have harvested the nuts and ready to crush • Trained 3 groups of women’s forums on baobab projects. Currently working with Manjolo group • Group making usd10/day from sale of muyaaya (maheu in shona). • Money used to pay school fees for the children and some of the mahewu given to needy children in the community

22. Baobab and marula

23. Coordination and collaboration • Through trainings from UN Women, Zubo has continued working with other stakeholders for rural women’s benefits. • These include among others Organic Africa, Kaite, Bio Innovation Zimbabwe, Hilfswerk Austria International, SNV, Kunzwana Women Association, Empretec, Government Ministries and so forth

24. Women development in Binga District • UN Women has nursed Zubo from inception to date • Staff members as well as rural women have been trained by UN Women. • Today we celebrate what we are because of UN Women • One of our staff members, our Monitoring and Evaluation Officer is ‘rubbing shoulders’ with Obama in America because of UN Women. • We thank UN Women and its partners for grooming Zubo and taking it to greater heights

25. Abbigal Muleya Staff members flying Zubo, UN Women flag in America under the Young African Leadership Initiative (2014)

26. Zubo contact Stand 459, Binga District, P O Box 119, Binga Phone No: 015 515/366 Mobile 0773 283 429 Email: zubotrust@gmail.com www.zubo.org Thank you