BACKGROUND 3D Revolving Fund Initiative (3D-RFI) is one entity based in northern Uganda in the district of Gulu, an area that

had experienced war for over 20 years that sent people to the IDP camps and others outside their districts for safety and protection, as a result high rate of unemployment and poverty upshot in the community within the region. 3D Revolving Fund Initiative comprises of youth who were once rebel captives, drug addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes, and other groups of child mothers, orphans and the one living with HIV/AIDS and they are found in their different suburbs within Laroo division, Gulu municipality. 3D-RFIs development programs build, increase and expand core community assets enduring resources such as labor and skills, health and a sustainable environment needed to pursue productive lives. As such, 3D-RFI creates development programs that attack the root causes of sufferingthe environmental, political, social and economic factors that can make certain communities vulnerable to crises or trap them in endemic poverty. The goal is to identify local solutions to poverty that can be replicated and scaled up to reach an ever increasing number of people. Rather than tackling each symptom of poverty one by one, 3D-RFI instead looks holistically at innovative approaches to foster sustainable livelihoods and communities based on asset building. This project has been partially formed based on the personal encountered of the current chairperson of the organization Mrs. Gladyss Komakech with some section of these young women in the Sub-ward of Awere, Gulu municipality. Her experience with the groups tells communities and the world at large that these women are really facing too much in their daily lives and is high time they are seriously look upon by every individuals, local leaders, stakeholders, and government. She said, a combination of continuing high food prices and the civil war has seriously impacted negatively on the household food security (Weakening the purchasing power of the affected people, mainly for those that normally rely on market purchases, deteriorating terms of trade for waged labourers and increasing household food expenditures at cost of reducing expenditures on other essential needs, hence compromising health, nutrition and livelihoods in the medium and long term) and the

humanitarian situation (with structural vulnerability exacerbated by these high food prices and war) in the country. Being one of the suburb dwellers most of her life, she is highly respected for her drive in bringing all these women together so that they fight this scourge (poverty) as a unitary body. Most notably, is their active participation in the tree and fruit nursery site established by 3D-RFI to generate more funds for its members; 3D-RFI wants to be part of the struggle to see a better tomorrow for our generations to come as many policies are designed by the world to avert the threatening effects of climatic change. The issues of desertification, such as its adverse social, economic-environmental impacts and the steps to combat desertification have been receiving serious attention of the world community. However northern Uganda has continues to experience severe population pressure on its finite land resources, which has resulted in continued deforestation and degradation of the countrys remaining forest resources. The rampant increase in demand for fuel wood, timber and other forest products which has been fuel by the acute level of poverty and high level of illiteracy need to be averted and 3D-RFI has been working on that for the last one year. Statistic in the country According to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) the annual consumption of wood is estimated at 33 million tones, much of it being used as household fuel and timber. The environment watchdog says only 10 percent of Ugandas population has access to electricity leaving 90 percent of people mainly in rural areas depending on wood for fuel. Dr. Aryamanya Mugisha, Nemas executive director warns that the countrys environment is in danger and much of its forests will be no more by 2050 if nothing is done. Taking environment for granted will in future have serious implications since natural resources are declining at a high rate. General statistics in the country shows that human activity is the main cause of deforestation, largely exacerbated by a high population growth rate of 3.2 percent per annum.

The 2008 state of Uganda environment report indicates that forests have been one of Ugandas key natural resources contributing 2 percent of the GDP. Forests are currently facing serious threats with at least 1.2 million hectares of forest cover lost between 1990 and 2005. The report shows that the countrys forest cover was at 5 million hectares in 1990 but by 2005, it had reduced to 3.5 million hectares. The National Forest Authoritys spokesman, Mr. Moses Watasa explains that deforestation has been growing at an average rate of 13.7 percent over the last 5 years. Within the scope of its regular activities, 3D-RFI plans to bring in as many food insecure women as possible from different villages within the district through their long term plan of mass reforestation. PROJECT ANALYSIS For the last one year 3D-RFI has successfully been working on their project of tree and fruit nursery to generate income for its members which is being used as a revolving fund among them. Over the year, the members has also acquired significant experience in implementing forestation and natural forest management intervention form Tree Talk Uganda, a project manages by Straight Talk Foundation Uganda. With this funding, 20 experience women from the group will have 2 hectares each ploughed, one for tree and shrub species, and the other one for fruit and nut. With this project well established, 3D-RFI will be able to attract more funding to expand its size and scope, where few hectares (ha) of natural degraded forest in our community shall be brought into production under a long term management program. The importance of the project
I.

This project will act as a pilot project to motivate other women to join the team as we struggle to restore our degraded land and increase the economic base of many members in the community. Uganda Forestry Authority has too been giving a huge financial support to Uganda private grower to motivate them to plan more trees in some of their free or wasted land.

II.

Farming is the main source of income in this district, so most people rely on green vegetables and others such as egg plant, okra, tomatoes, onion, carrots, Irish potatoes etc.; fruit like avocado, jack fruit, passion fruit, mangoes, orange, lemon which can easily be intercropped with each others has a huge demand in the region. Therefore, through this project the agricultural development of these products will boost the pride of the district in such production and can be sold to local markets and to the growing number of university students who are mainly non-residence.

III.

Finally, this project seeks to help strengthen and expand the limited existing national mechanisms such as NAADS,PRDP,PLAP, NUSAF etc. (government programs in Uganda to combat poverty) to assist and provide solutions for extremely vulnerable persons of concerns, often identified among the masses in the northern districts.

BENEFICIARIES The direct beneficiaries are the 20 women who are directly involves in the project setting, while the indirect beneficiaries are the members of the household of the 20 women. Local market users, university students, and government since revenues will be realized from the project and restoration of the degraded land within the communities in the district. GOAL Create the right economic environment and provide support to private sector farmers willing to develop a commercial agro-forestry as a tool to fight the vicious sting of poverty. GENERAL OBJECTIVE The general objective of this project is to increase the family income of most deprived individuals in the district through utilization of resources available to them and the one sourced to restore a degraded land in the communities around us.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:I.

To create a sustainable income generating activities that will support marginalized individuals in becoming economically independent.

II.

Enhancing conservation of forests in selected protected areas, thereby increasing overall wood production, and managing of forest resources sustainability through local community participation, institutional capacity building, and policy reform.

III.

To curtail the process of wide scale deforestation and watershed degradation through the development, dissemination and promotion of traditional and new approaches which are economically viable, environmentally sound and socially acceptable.

IV.

Waste land around our communities brought into production by mass tree planting using local group.

Output 1: Group Support and Development Group support and development output is intended to provide local communities with adequate support and development needs so that they can reduce their reliance upon the over usage of natural resources, particularly trees and their products. These are keys to coexist with and support natural resources and achieve appropriate livelihood. Assistances are required to help villagers to survive, satisfy their basic needs and to enable them to attain an adequate level of self-sufficiency and social reconstruction. The project plans to set up Self-Help Group within the group members where the activities aim at building capacity of the members, representatives and relevant authorities in various skills in which they could lead to better and effective project management, work plan, resources management, natural composed fertilizer and group facilitation after the project phase-out. In order to meet the continuation, multiplication of crops cultivation, the project identifies to have at least one hectare for the fruits plantation for each group members. Activities: 1.1 Formation of 3 Self-Help Groups within the members 1.2 Conduct 3 group meetings and 3 trainings on self-help group concept

1.3 On going monitoring/facilitating groups' work 1.4 Establishment and operation of revolving funds and link it to development assistance requirements for self-help 1.5 Institute concept, operating procedures of saving for the groups. 1.6 Increase the production from the nursery to assist the group members 1.7 Training on group planning skills, resources mobility and management, small scale credit scheme training, loan/saving management and compose fertilizer 1.8 Promote collective marketing of local crop products (community market)

Output 2: Environmental Awareness and Education Public environmental awareness and education activities are required to facilitate effective conservation measures. These activities should breed an understanding of the natural values as an asset to local villagers and the broader community. Also the benefits of the protected areas will be reserved for the community, commune, district, region, and for the Ugandan society as a whole. A series of awareness raising activities targeted at community level is required to facilitate the development of their support for the protection of the forest. Core activities are: Activities: 2.1 Design environmental awareness and education program and materials(Tree talk Uganda) 2.2 Conduct 3 workshop at district and commune level on the values community forestry (Tree Talk Uganda) 2.3 Execute 4 trainings for target community to present details of the broad range of protection and reforestation and its benefits. 2.4 At least all group members receive environmental awareness training 2.5 1 study tours for Community Forestry representatives to existing similar association 2.6 Conduct 1 group discussions on environmental issue (different topic each time) once every month throughout the project life at commune level. Output 3: Community Forestry formation As more member join the association, the Community Forestry will be set up one within each respective targeted village where the specific sizes of forests are to be specified during the project mapping and demarcation for the protection at

each community for long term use. It is definitely true that this project must have substantial support to the community so that the proper natural resource management, utilization and protection are implemented to reach the project's objectives, but for the new members that will be joining the association shall only do so on condition that, they are able to clear their own land while the association offer them fruit and tree seedlings and some morale support.

The reforestation capacity and recommendation of species will be identified following the baseline biological surveys and with advice from the Uganda National Forestry Authority. More nurseries are to be established within the target villages to provide a focus for the development of the reforestation program. Fruit trees will be provided to other target beneficiaries so that they can plant them close to their house. Tree species for constructions will be requested from the Forest Authority to provide to the association members to replant in the area where needed. Support for key management and the establishment of a complementary planning process is prerequisite to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of any management intervention. This component therefore seeks to facilitate this by linkage to all government partners and the implementing NGO and its stakeholders through a joint project execution and the establishment of clear common understanding, roles and responsibility of each institution. Activities:
III.1.

Conduct meeting with authorities and the related government department to ascertained communities land that will not interfere with government planning. 3.2. Develop relevant regulations and restrictions. 3.3 Group formation and community leader selection 3.4. Capacity building on group leaders and members 3.5. Assign role and responsibility of community leader and members 3.6. Nursery establishment and production of fruit tree seedlings 3.7. Development of core nursery management and training capabilities 3.8. Propagation of fruit trees and other trees of agricultural importance. 3.9. Propagation of forest trees and other plants of ecological

significance. 3.10. Proceeding the requisition for land tenure certification 3.12. Fire control and prevention 3.13. Managing wood harvesting, the current/future use of forest areas including tree species type, density, height. 3.14. Confiscates of illegal materials when logging is found in the protected areas 3.15. Arrests offenders and court processing (community forestry). 3.16. Review progress achieving the objectives of the community forestry project to identify issues and constraints on the long term success of the project, and to make recommendation on future actions or activities needed to overcome these constraints. N.B. anything to do with training will be done by Straight Talk Uganda at zero cost with their project of Tree Talk in northern Uganda. OUTPUT/IMPACT OF THE PROJECT Anticipated Results and Benefits of the Project The project is expected to assist the government in attaining its policy of bringing back of the countrys land under tree cover by some years to come. Tree and shrub species, fruit and nut trees planted as green belts and windbreaks not only stabilize water shads, prevent degradation of physical resources and environment, but also confer many direct benefits to the communities and individuals. The income in various fruits product will also give empowerment to women in term of providing a share for the household needs. It will also bring revenues to the district. Through this project also, households income will increase and latter will have better access to other services such as health, education and other social welfare.

Measuring the impacts of the project activities

1. The project provide local communities with adequate support and development needs so that they can reduce their reliance upon the over usage of the few natural resources left in the region, particularly trees and their products through sensitization and strengthening the on going revolving fund of the association. 2. Most of the degraded lands within the community of atiabar are brought back to its production form through this project which is aiming at mass a forestation in few years to come. 3. Some community members outside the parish of Ataibar picked interest in being part of the association project as a result of its impact in the parish, thereby expanding the scope beyond Atiaber. 4. The current members of the association (58) are uplifted from living under 1 US dollar per day to a realistic standard of living through commercialization of the fruits and other forest products. 5. The project enhanced forest law enforcement and governance and strengthening communities capacities to use their forests for poverty alleviation. 6. The project was able to leave about 5 self help groups within the group members where the activities aim at building capacity of the members, representatives and relevant authorities in various skills in which they could lead to better and effective project management, work plan, resource management, natural composed fertilizer and group facilitation after the project phase-out. Time frame (Schedule) The program will respond to significant community needs, unforeseen learning opportunities, and changes that need to be made to improve the program and meet the needs of the diverse needs of the targeted population based on evaluative data. The following timeline serves as an overview of activities, services, and milestones to be provided during the one year program period. The association project of tree and fruit nursery is ongoing and will be the source of supply for the members.

Project Time line Activity from 1st July 2011-30th July 2012
Activity Time frame Responsible team member

Ploughing of 40 hectares for the 20 July association members Making the fields ready for planting 2011

&

August Association executive

August September 2011

& The 20 women and their household members The trained members with the helps of the 20 women

Planting

September 2011

Field visit

October 2012

2011- Executive members

Execute training

July 2012

2011-May Tree talk & National Forest Authority 2011-April Micro finance partners, private grower,

Training small

on

group credit

planning scheme

skills, July training,

resources mobility and management, 2012 scale loan/saving management Formation of 3 self-help group Oct-Dec2011

Executive members Executive members

Ongoing monitoring/facilitation of the Through out group Weeding and bush fire control

Sept 2011- sept The 2012 members

association

The organizational structure

However, a young association, 3D-RFI was founded by vibrant community youths of Laroo division, and therefore has deep roots in the community and extensive

associations contacts. The association has members who have extensive experience and high visibility in tree planning and management since it has been a core activity of the association for the last one year. This grant will offer us the opportunity to forge strong and purposeful working alliances with many of the individuals who have huge experiences in forestry and organizations we have met while pursuing healthier community options. With no doubt, the association will execute perfectly what is expected of them by the donor, following the trained teams on board. The association is solely run by the executive board which comprises of the chairperson, vice chairperson, treasurer, general secretary, vice secretary, and 2 ordinary members. The executive run every affairs of the organization as stipulated in the constitution of the group. Their work is to ensure that what is happening in the association is done according to the block interest of the entire members. Some of the roles plays by the executive committee:

Implementation of the resolution passed by the general assembly Discuss the development programme and implement activities designed to pursue the objective of the association. Organize and prepare project proposal for discussion by the general assembly members. Keep in trust all funds and properties of the association Prepare strategic plan for the association Fund raising for the association activities Submit the budget for approval by the general assembly Co-opt, appoint or contract knowledgeable, skilled trustworthy people with operational skills to its meetings if needs arises. To carry out any relevant business in relation to the work of the association.

Members of the executive committee are elected every three years during the general assembly and can be re-elected for more than two consecutive term limit depending on the decision of the general assembly based on performance during their tenure in office. Monitoring & Evaluation The executive committee shall appoint on rotation three members to carry out the work of monitoring & evaluation. The appointees will closely monitor the activities of the project to ensure proper reporting, adherence to project implementation plan and movement towards the achievement of project objectives. The members will continuously assess the project risk and take remedial actions as needed. Monitoring by the members will be an important aspect of the on going coaching and advisory services. The appointees will review projects quarterly reports and will submit comments and observations to the management of the association as part of the on going performance assessment.

Available resources
The community has a huge shank of land for the project. The association members are willing to provide labour force as far as planting and management is concerns. The executive committee together with the members will be responsible getting markets locally and international for the products of these trees and fruits.

Needed resources
a. Personnel Not required now since group members are willing to volunteer in any other activities of the 3D-RFI. We also have one group member who is studying a course in forestry- she is willing to assist in any necessary services that required her expertise. b. Facilities

The group has some vehicle and they will only require fuel to facilitate the project activities. This vehicle will be used for delivering seedlings to the field during planting and other things from town to the different villages of the project. c. Equipment/Supplies The group dearly needs one computer for report writing, the rest of the thing such as, duplicating papers, sticky notes, pencils/pens, photocopying, telephone calls, camera, postage, and others will be provided by the group through membership fees.

Budget
Name of Project Costs Category A Description Ploughing of the 40 hectares 1ha= Ushs.65000($29) B C D Scholastic materials 1 second hand computer Fuel 15ltr/ day*48days 15*3300*48 E F Seed supply(we have the cash now at hand) Total budget for the project Ushs.6,000,000 Ushs.12,376,00 0 $2609 $5380 Ushs.500,000 Ushs.900,000 Ushs.2,376,000 $217 $391 $1033 in Local Currency Ushs.2,600,000 In $ $1130

We are requesting for Ushs.3, 500,000 ($1522) from Open Meadows, we have already acquire money for the seeds; scholastic materials shall be bought using membership fees. Uganda national forestry authority is able to provide us with fuel. Sustainability plans for the project

If this project is well established, we are sure of getting funds from other donors to expand the size and the scope. Sawlog Production Grant Scheme in Uganda (SPGS) provide UGshs.600, 000($261) per ha, on condition that you are able to establish more than 15 hectares of plantation without their support. Therefore, we shall send our application after getting through with this project. This project is indeed an essential in developing our women and shall act as a platform for more funding.