Impact Assessment of Care International’s Mushroom Enterprise on Women in Musanze Claire Hawkins Masters in Development Practice TIDI Research Development Week 11 th November, 2011

Summary of Presentation 1.Background 2.Timeline of research 3.Objectives 4.Methodology 5.Key Findings 6.Implementations 7.Working with an NGO

Master’s in Development Practice  Year 1 Field based research placement in Rwanda for 3 months  Research Topic relevant to organisation working in Rwanda  Working with Care International in North Western district of Musanze

Work Plan and Time Frame

Background Care International, EEEGL and the International Gorilla Conservation Programme are in partnership on a mushroom production enterprise. By involving local communities in this programme they are addressing interrelated problems within the Virunga region of: 1.Poverty 2.Conflict 3.Environment This programme hopes to tackle economic insecurity within the community through the creation of income generation activities that allow farmers to earn income, access sustainable food and increase employment. Care’s Objective’s: 1.Engaging local women 2.Creating a gender equal workplace 3.Equal access to market 4.Empowering women with financial independence

Why Mushrooms?  Rwanda’s Virunga region provides a natural climate for mushroom production.  The demand for mushrooms in the domestic market is high but the annual production is low.  Farmers can produce kilograms of mushrooms in less than 10 days resulting in immediate access to profit.  Immediate financial rewards prove the investment to be profitable and sustainable

Key Issues in Mushroom Enterprise  Gender inequality  Poverty  Unequal access to finance  Lack of available training  Weak support structures within the household and community for women farmers

Objectives Access to Savings and Loans Support available Women’s Empowerment Strengths and Weaknesses Gender Equality

Historical background Baseline data Programme reports Secondary Data Care Programme officers: OVCs, VSLA and Gender Development Mushroom Enterprise team Mushroom Seed Suppliers Mushroom Consultants Elite Interviews H/H survey with Women farmers Primary Data Who?

Respondents of survey: 45

6. As a woman, how has mushroom production impacted your life? “Before, I had no money at home but now I have food to feed my family, money to buy household items and I can get a loan easily” “As a woman, it has only had a positive impact. The money I earn helps resolve problems at home. I can help my children by cooking mushrooms, it improves their health and I don’t need to buy meat and as a widower I have extra money to pay for household items.” “Mushrooms help a lot of people in this area. Children do not ask for meat and money goes to household.”

Implementations  Market : Employed consultant to study market access and organising open days to promote mushroom consumption  Seed tubes : Care are contracting another supplier to create competition  Water : Advocacy with partner organisations  Finance : Assistance to groups that require access to finance  Facilities : training to increase capacity of farmers to build their own drying and laboratories

Thank you! Murakose Cyane!!