Loewenstern Fellowship in International Service or Civic Research

Transcription

1 Loewenstern Fellowship in International Service or Civic Research I. Research Project Description Template 1. Description of the Community Partner Name: Association Rwandaise pour le Développement Endogène (ARDE/KUBAHO) (Rwandese Endogenous Development Association) The NGO has been created by former-students of Rwanda universities and higher learning institutions. The idea came in 2002 and was later materialized in 2007 where first activities on the ground were initiated which lead to the working authorization issued by Kicukiro District/Kigali in The NGO was allowed to officially widen is action in the whole country since 2011 by the Ministry of Local Governance and was published in the Official Gazette in August 2012 as a National NGO. The mission set by members is Promoting and stimulating Sustainable social economic development while it leads to the Vision of Self-reliant communities with improved livelihoods. Our NGO struggles to stand as a model NGO in Rwanda and Great Lakes Region for unequalled service delivery for social transformation and sustainable development. The NGO set up its our working principles enshrined in the word QUICK as Quality delivery, Uniqueness in our interventions, Innovation, Consultation, and Knowledge management. Our NGO action is basically located in rural but also in semi-urban areas.the NGO covers/is present in 26/30 districts of the country. ARDE/KUBAHO engages in Four complementary Strategic directions as follow: 1. Environmental Management: Agroforestry, soil conservation and protected areas management 2. Water Management: WASH sector and Integrated Water Resources Management/IWRM 3. Livelihoods: supporting rural cooperatives and groupings in entrepreneurship and self-help projects 4. Capacity Building and Institutional development: for Knowledge management ARDE/KUBAHO is Development Volunteers NGO. We have 4 permanent staff and 10 volunteers multidisciplinary team made of founding members who regularly provide services to beneficiaries in above sectors. The NGO believes in and provides the knowhow to the local stakeholders for them to value the potentials of their environment for their own development Endogenous Development). 1

2 From 2007 to date, our key achievements are: 1-Started our activities on ground in 2007, the NGO managed to assist to the spontaneous formation of 33 cooperatives in 5provinces of Rwanda without any external support rather to voluntary work of founder members. These coops of vulnerable communities are conducting livelihoods activities to lift themselves out of poverty. 2-The NGO managed to purchase its land and build a community botanical training center for demonstration of best practices in Agro forestry and agriculture. So far 250,000 quality Fruit and agroforestry trees have been produced and distributed to different communities. The center continues and is 100% self sponsored by founder members initiatives. 3-The NGO contributed to the access to clean water for 5,000 people made of vulnerable communities and historically marginalized groups in Rwanda 4- The NGO contributed to the management of protected area of Cyohoha south lake in Bugesera, the aridest part of the country. 5- ARDE/KUBAHO built the capacity of 20 cooperatives of farmers in soil conservation practices in Kamonyi District handing with Medicus Mundi, the Spanish organization. 6-Instuttutional Capacity: ARDE/KUBAHO is member of a number Civil Society Networks namely Nile Basin Discourse Forum/NBDF Rwanda as National Board Member, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene/WASH NET Rwanda as Deputy Legal Representative, Rwanda Water Partnership and Global Water Partnership (RWP&GWP) as member, among others. ARDE/KUBAHO works with different ministries and Government institutions. It is National Sector Working group member of WATSAN (MININFRA), Environment (Ministry of Natural Resource Management) and Cooperative (Ministry of Commerce and Industry). ARDE/KUBAHO works with main International NGOs and partners (Medicus Mundi/Spanish, Embassy of JAPAN in Rwanda, Partners in Conservation/PIC USA with Nancy Uslan, Mediators beyond Boarders/MBB) among others. 2. Social issues ARDE/KUBAHO works with pro-poor communities in rural and semi-urban areas of Rwanda. Apart from the general poverty context of Rwanda (more than half live below poverty line), the pro-poor communities live in deplorable situation characterized limited access to basic needs (Health service, education, food security etc). The vulnerable groups are made of indigenous people (Batwa communities) minority in Rwanda but also perishing communities due to many factors. The other groups are widows and orphans of Genocide shelters in Semi urban are of Kigali. In the country side, the beneficiaries are made of widows and vulnerable households selected by ARDE/KUBAHO members in 2007 onwards. The factors leading to poverty are limited lands for agriculture, big size of households and limited (5-7 members), climate change, limited alternatives s of life other than subsistence agriculture, high illiteracy, ignorance, history (Genocide of Tutsis of 1994) among others. The ARDE/KUBAHO concern/assignment is to work with these communities to scale up their living conditions, using local potentials and combined development approaches. The main problems to resolve are: Food security at household level by 2

3 promoting proper agriculture practices, access to clean water and sanitation to fight against hygienic diseases. In its limited means, ARDE/KUBAHO also supports in livelihoods by promoting Income generating activities aiming at financial empowerment of beneficiaries. 3. Impact of project on the community (Community engagement) The project will have great impact in double sense to the communities-beneficiary but also to the partner organization. Our approach is to technically facilitate beneficiaries and let the groups to express themselves to obtain appropriate solutions to their identified problems. Hence, the role of communities is crucial since they are the fist players of their change. ARDE/KUBAHO expects from the project to build capacity and improve knowledge management leading to finding appropriate solutions to the problems. The benefits of the project go to many partners/players as follow: *To ARDE/KUBAHO: The research findings will help ARDE/KUBAHO to better understand and analyze the poverty context of the beneficiaries in order to find way of appropriate solutions. ARDE/KUBAHO team of researchers will be reinforced by the RICE University team in views, best experience sharing and alternative approaches that align well with the consultation and knowledge management promoted by ARDE/KUBAHO. It is expected also that Researchers/volunteers will contribute to ongoing program of ARDE/KUBAHO with a voluntary service. *To the Rice University Team: the researchers from Rice university will face/be exposed to a new challenging context (Rwanda) which will let them learn but also contribute to finding solution. The Researchers will gain from ARDE/KUBAHO team, the local development experience and success stories in the past achievements that would be duplicated elsewhere in the world. *To the communities: The beneficiaries will gain additional support of Rice University researchers and the findings/ results of this cooperation (ARDE/KUBAHO- RICE UNIVERSITY) will allow ARDE/KUBAHO to revisit and improve its strategy in favor of beneficiaries. 4. Research project description: The partner organization seeks to learn from the Rice University how to diversify the development approaches, compare and innovate where possible to speed up the social economic conditions of the beneficiaries. ARDE/KUBAHO will use research in improving the existing strategies in favor of its beneficiaries. It is expected that the research will inform the strategic planning, the approaches to use and institutional development for better service delivery for more impact in the future. ARDE/KUBAHO needs innovations and challenges of the outsiders to improve its strategy to achieve its desires for unequal development service delivery in Rwanda and sub-region. 3

4 5. Research Methodology ARDE/KUBAHO believes in participatory approaches for sustainable development. To be successful, the research will combine different approaches to obtain good results. 1-Desk review: The student will do a desk review: where they will read documents and consult with ARDE/KUBAHO Team. After desk review, the student/researchers will design the data collection and working framework informing on scope of work, beneficiaries and areas to be visited and informants to meet (Policy makers and other partners of ARDE/KUBAHO). NB: The student will share and agree with ARDE/KUBAHO the program deliverables of the stay in the organization. 2- Field work: The student/researchers will go to field to meet beneficiaries and see the works and activities on the ground. PRA using focus group will be used in order to collect views and data from the communities. Both field visits and direct observations to help the interns to understand the real felt problems, its dynamics and also allow engagement of the communities in their problems solving Apart from community based interviews, Interns will be connected to key informants in ARDE/KUBAHO Networks made of policy makers (different levels) and non state actors (NGOs, CSOs and Private sector) to better understand and collect relevant information needed. 3-Interaction with other partners: The Researchers will also be put in contact with ARDE/KUBAHO partners like sister- NGOs, Ministries, University Colleges, Rotary international clubs to engage in useful discussions aiming at better self learning and contribution to problem solving. 4- Feedback and reporting: Researchers will participate in ARDE/KUBAHO weekly staff meeting to share the weekly findings and plan for the next week. At the end of the mission, the researchers each intern/volunteer prepares report and summary presentation of the findings/achievements to the ARDE/KUBAHO Team (Staff and Board of Directors) for it to own the findings for way forward. 6. Student profile ARDE/KUBAHO wishes to work with self-learners and volunteer-interns who wish to share experience on Rwandan development experience and contribute to ARDE/Kubaho Programs. The following table shows ARDE/Kubaho concerns and expectations from the project and needed academic profiles for students. 4

5 No Research area & concern Academic profile Needed support and research outputs 1. Fund Development/Donor Development (Service): How to increase resources/funding for beneficiaries and ARDE/KUBAHO for its initiatives? (Proposals writing and Resource mobilization) Economics, sociology, development studies, engineering, etc Writing sound grant proposals, mobilize funds from donors of our areas of intervention 2. Communication/Marketing (Service): How to improve knowledge management, social media, marketing, and share best practices? (Communication skills for marketing and visibility) ICT (IT), Marketing, journalism/communication, graphic design, To improve the design of our website, write success stories for publication on our website and social media, knowledge management strategy, training ARDE/KUBAHO team in social media II. Program Fee Structure for Service Placements ARDE/KUBAHO will arrange safe accommodation for interns, in country Transportation, meals and drinks, coffee break at the office as well as communication (Internet). ARDE/KUBAHO is an accredited NGO by the Government of Rwanda and has experience and good reputation in managing public funds. It has 4 functional accounts in different Banks; 2 in USD for any transfer from outside. ARDE/KUBAHO has also 2Accounts in local currency (Rwandan Francs) for various operations. The money shall be directly sent to our Account or via a USA pass-through organization if the University cannot do that itself! ARDE/KUBAHO wishes a fruitful stay of 6 months for the 3 researchers; to learn, share with us but also significantly contribute to ARDE/KUBAHO programs. Done at Kigali, 14/08/2015 Jean Pierre HAKIZIMANA Deputy Legal Representative and National Executive Director 5