We Effect Green Enterprise Business Dev

The Green EBDP's overall objectives were largely achieved during the four-year implementation period. The project exceeded total reach by about 73% reaching 116 895 direct beneficiaries against a target of 67 500. The target reach was exceeded because the programme responded to the needs of targeted communities faced with the challenges of droughts and unstable economic environment. Sustainable livelihood improvements were promoted through diversified sources of income as entrepreneurs were encouraged to run both off and on-farm enterprises. The enterprises enabled entrepreneurs to recover and cope with stresses and shocks in the environment. There were, however, a few planned actions that were not fully accomplished. The main reasons for the partial achievement of some planned activities were the volatile business environment under which enterprises were operating under as well as the lockdown measures meant to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results per objective are summarised below: Outcome 1: Productive and decent work for rural women, men and youth through on and off-farm green enterprise development The project objective on improving sustainable livelihoods and food security for rural women, men and young people in both rural and urban setting was to a greater extent achieved. erprises were operating under as well as the lockdown measures meant to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The programme reached a total 136 517 beneficiaries broken down as 82 247 adult females; 27 114 adult males; 7 281 male youth; and 19 875 female youth in green entreprises including agriculture, renewable energy, rural housing and habitat, general trading and general service. The majority of project participants were under the agricultural sector (77.2%) while 18.3% were classified under general trading business and very few under renewable energy (0.4%), rural housing and habitat (0.4%) and general service (3.8%). The bias towards agricultural entreprises was mainly attributed to geographical targeting of rural areas and targeting vulnerable women and unemployed youths in urban and peri-urban areas where there was potential to conduct backyard activities. Outcome 2: Farm entrepreneurs applying environmentally sustainable climate smart techniques and practices. Under the outcome 2 main objective, the programme reached more than 100% of the targeted farmers in conservation farming, agroforestry, forestry, domestic water harvesting, fodder production small grains and organic farming but there was low uptake in forestry and fodder production. Under this outcome the program developed, produced, translated and distributed study circle materials on small grains production and marketing for smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe, domestic water harvesting for smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe, conservation farming, agroforestry options for smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe and forestry and fruit tree production for smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe to enhance knowledge and skills on sustainable agricultural practices and climate smart technologies. The proportion of households applying sustainable agricultural practices and climate smart technologies was recorded at 76%. The highest prevalence was recorded in Zaka (92%), Mutare (88%) and Chimanimani (84%) districts. The outcome targets that were only partially achieved were mainly attributed to the COVID-19 lockdown measures and gathering restrictions which affected group activities and the 2018/19 and 2019/20 droughts which affected tree planting. Outcome 3: We Effect Partner Organizations (POs) effectively representing rural entrepreneurs, providing demand-driven services and applying a Rights Based Approach. The outcome objective was to strengthen the capacity of We Effect Partner Organisations (POs) to effectively represent rural entrepreneurs, provide demand-driven services and apply a Rights Based Approach (RBA). This assessment was based on that a membership data base was set by the POs and membership has been steadily increasing on yearly basis indicating increased confidence in the POs responsiveness to the issues raised by the rights holders. We Effect also conducted physical and online training of trainers of PO staff during the lockdown so that POs could in turn train entrepreneurs in targeted districts. Institutional capacity strengthening was also done in governance, financial management and human resources. We Effect also facilitated Organisational Self-Assessment (OSA) for POs to score their performance according to eight variables to identify gaps and weaknesses, such as gaps in policies to standardise decision making, limited funding, high dependence on donor funding and limited information dissemination to members. POs developed and implemented work plans to address the weaknesses. During the reporting period, the POs had OSA scores within the Good category. The POs did not achieve the set target score but they however, all had improvements during the programme. Within this outcome the right holders rated services provided by POs annually. During the programme implementation period, their service satisfaction score improved from Very weak to Good for JPV and ZWB, and from Weak to Good for SHDF. The improvement showed that members were satisfied with the value adding services offered by the POs.

Outcome 1: Productive and decent work for rural women and youth through on and off farm green enterprise development. Outcome 2: Farm entrepreneurs applying environmentally sustainable climate smart techniques and practices. Outcome 3: We Effect POs effectively representing rural entrepreneurs, providing demand-driven services and applying a Rights Based Approach.