COVID-19-RESPONSES FOR FARMERS-RWANDA

Farmers in Kayonza district face significant barriers to accessing COVID-19 information, COVID-19 prevention materials, especially sanitizers and masks and are now affected by lock down and extremely limited movements of people which have left most of them loosing their jobs, scarcity of food and hunger for themselves and their family members as well.This project seek to specifically bring together an array of stakeholders: government officials, local business leaders, community-based organizations (CBOs), financial institutions, educational institutions, farmers cooperatives and youth organizations to establish a forum that supports the entrepreneurial ventures of women and youth in the districts.  This “systems strengthening” approach will create a sustainable business network within the district that will motivate key stakeholders in supporting the economic growth of women and youth.The best practices will be expended elsewhere.

Kayonza districts is located in the Eastern Province of Rwanda, with a population of 394,000—55% female and 45% male—roughly 81.7% of the population of Kayonza district is under the age of 40 and 55% of the population is 19 or younger[1].  Kayonza has the highest poverty rate in the Eastern Province.  Roughly 63.4% of the population lives under the poverty line, with 22.8% identified as “poor”—Kayonza has a high percentage of the population identified as “extremely poor” (40.6%). (2012 population census). Therefore, the district can be highly affected by the pandemic if preventive measures are not taken seriously and on due time.

The project seeks to significantly raise the awareness of Rwandan farmers, supply them with sanitizers, masks and assist them in economic recovery by increasing their income, supporting women and youth-run cooperatives and entrepreneurial ventures in Kayonza District.  Additionally, the project will expand off-farm employment through strengthening the environment for job creation, value addition, cooperative management; access to finance and market information in this challenging time of COVID 19.

Farmers in Kayonza district face significant barriers to accessing COVID-19 information, COVID-19 prevention materials, especially sanitizers, masks, food supplies etc. Jobs creation will address the consequences of  lock down and limited movements. COVID-19 has affected development plans of Kayonza district and the fight and the prevention of the pandemic is a top priority before implementing economic development programs. As stated in the district development plan, Kayonza needs the promotion of off-farm jobs for women and youth as a key priority in their 2013-2018 District Development Strategy (DDS).  For example, Kayonza seeks to create 10,000 off-farm jobs for youth and 30,603 off-farm jobs for women during this period. Additionally, Kayonza district seeks to develop and support 15 women’s cooperatives and to train more than 750 women in how to train others in entrepreneurship through a training of trainers (ToT) model. The project will assist the district in preventing and fighting COVID-19 as an emergency and will be a good remedy to the economic recovery after COVID-19.

This project aligns with the challenge related to Health Security and Pandemics which respond on how the world prepare for, detect and respond to emerging pandemics and health security threats. This project not only will contribute in preventing the spread of COVID-19, but also will respond to the needs of rural farmers as regard to the COVID-19 pandemic's negative effects on their daily lives.

MOUCECORE learned that rural farmers can be most victimized by COVID-19 than urban people if COVID-19 issues are not given priority in rural areas. Rural people do not have sufficient skills to deal with COVID-19. MOUCECORE motto is "Be transformed and transform others". With this in mind, MOUCECORE has established a Community Church Transformation (CCT) approach which consist of bringing together churches leaders and the community to plan together, solve own community problems by own means as a way of owning programs.

Moucecore solution is more social than technological solution.

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Community Church Transformation (CCT) approach which consist of bringing

together churches leaders and the community to plan together, solve own
community problems by own means as a way of owning programs. This approach motivate change of mentality and enhance citizen participation in the program implementation.

4,500 farmers (3,220 women and 1,380 men) will be reached within five years program. 920 farmers (644 women and 276 men) are being served by MOUCECORE. In one year, 1840 farmers (1288 women and 452 men) will be served by the project.

One year goals:

-Raised COVID-19 awareness for 1,840 farmers in Kayonza district;

-Facilitated access to COVID-19 prevention materials for 1,840 farmers in Kayonza district;

-Improved economic recovery of 1,840 farmers after COVID-19 in Kayonza district.

Five years goals:

-Raised COVID-19 awareness for 5,600 farmers in Kayonza district;

-Facilitated access to COVID-19 prevention materials for 5,600 farmers in Kayonza district;

-Improved economic recovery of 5,600 farmers after COVID-19 in Kayonza district.

Financial barriers limit the organization to accomplish its goals in relation to preventing and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

MOUCECORE will continue fundraising to overcome this barrier. MOUCECORE partners will be mobilized and engaged in responding to COVID-19.

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MOUCECORE has a total number of 15 full time staff and 1 contractor. 6 staff will work for the project, namely the Chief Executive Officer, the Accountant, the Program Manager, the Field Officer, the Assistant Accountant and the Driver.

MOUCECORE staff have an experience in five main areas (Programs) of focus, which are; Church and Community Transformation (CCT), Counseling, WASH (Water, Hygiene and Sanitation), Environmental Protection, community mobilization, advocacy, agriculture and livestock programs. Furthermore, MOUCECORE programs are implemented in partnership with different experts and stakeholders who contribute to the success of the programs.

“I assure you; the one who believes in me will also do the works I do. And he will do even greater works than these because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12.

Currently, MOUCECORE is partnering with the following three main organization:

-Blood and water mission: to supply safe water to the most neediest communities in Burera and Nyamagabe districts.

-Tear fund: is supporting in environmental project and child rights prevention and protection. The projects are being implemented in Kayonza and gatsibo districts.

-Us Together: The partnership is new and will focus on capacity building and cultural exchanges.

In order to holistically empower its beneficiaries, MOUCECORE organize them into "Self Help Group (SHG)”. SHG has succeeded against all odds proving that if people come together with one common goal, they can achieve anything they set their minds to. After providing trainings to the beneficiaries, MOUCECORE assist them at having a spiritual, social and economic transformation, starting from nothing up to mentality change and mind set. Taking an example of one SHG: once formed; they start meeting weekly, save a small amount of money and from the savings they start small income generating projects, like buying seeds, starting a small scale farming, cultivating a small plot of land etc. They sell the first harvest and receive small fund. If not entirely satisfied by the progress they are achieving, they decide to think of other bigger income generating activities they could do, finally deciding on other projects. Each member would bring what they could. Assisted by MOUCECORE, some of the SHG has expended their markets for their products. In two and a half years now, full time jobs for members have been created, some have bought more machines or are planning to buy more. They continued saving on a weekly basis and planning for the future. Their stories inspire all those who visit them. They have become an example in their community an example for true transformation. MOUCECORE staff keeps advising and supporting them for a continuous progress of their projects.

MOUCECORE will attain financial stability by continuing submitting projects proposals to different donors as a way of advocating for the neediest communities and selling center's services for social purpose.

We are applying to Solve because we visited Solve website and found that there was some funding opportunities which are available, especially in addressing the issues related to COVID-19. If our solution is selected, around 4,600 rural farmers will be the prime beneficiaries of the grant.

The goals of MOUCECORE partnership are to work together to provide sustainable solutions to the most neediest communities, be accountable, learn lessons and share best practices to be replicated to other communities.

MOUCECORE would like to partner with Solve in finding appropriate solutions to the challenges rural farmers are facing today due to COVID-19