Impact Assessment of
Care International’s
Mushroom Enterprise
on Women in Musanze
Claire Hawkins
Masters in Development Practice
TIDI Research Development Week
11th 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
Activity/Week:
Survey:1st
Draft
Survey: 2nd
Draft
Survey: Final
M ethodology:
logistics &
approved
Sampling
selection
Pre-test survey
Field visits
H/H Survey
Start
H/H Survey
End
Focus Groups
Data
preparation
Trainings
Kigali Visits
Presentation
of findings to
Care staff and
partners
Presentation
of findings to
respondent’s
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Work Plan
and Time
Frame
8
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x(Thursday)
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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.
2.
3.
Poverty
Conflict
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
Gender
Equality
Support
available
Access to
Savings
and Loans
Objectives
Women’s
Empowerment
Strengths
and
Weaknesses
Who?
•Historical background
•Baseline data
•Programme reports
Secondary
Data
•Care Programme
officers: OVCs, VSLA and
Gender Development
•Mushroom Enterprise
team
•Mushroom Seed Suppliers
•Mushroom Consultants
•H/H survey with Women
farmers
Elite
Interviews
Primary
Data
Respondents of survey: 45
6. As a woman, how has
mushroom production
impacted your life?
“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.”
“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”
“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
Murakose
Cyane!!
Thank you!