Concept Note Prepared for Nova Fisheries, September 2010 Fish Farming: Improving Livelihoods in Cote D Ivoire

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1 Concept Note Prepared for Nova Fisheries, September 2010 Fish Farming: Improving Livelihoods in Cote D Ivoire Geue Makado Bertine had a flourishing fish farm in the department (district) of Danané, Côte d Ivoire. During the civil conflict that erupted in 2003, the rebel military stole all of her fish and sold them, leaving her without the means to continue production. Following the conflict, Bertine was designated as the president of the departmental fish farm cooperative of Danané due to her expertise, strong motivation and leadership,. While searching for the start-up capital to resume fish farming activities, Bertine has been able to impart her knowledge of fish farming to organize and train local entrepreneurs. Background: The IRC has worked in West Africa for nearly two decades. With operations in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Côte d Ivoire, the IRC implements holistic programs in Health, Environmental Health, Education, Child Protection, Youth and Livelihoods, Gender Based Violence Prevention, Rule of Law, Civil Society Development, Community-Driven Reconstruction, Economic Recovery, and Agriculture. The IRC most recently began work in Côte d Ivoire in 2003 as a response to the acute needs of displaced communities. Since the onset of Côte d Ivoire s civil war in 2002, violence has claimed the lives of 3,000 and forced 700,000 additionalpeople to flee their homes. Despite a peace agreement signed in 2007, peace remains tenuous. Geue Makado Bertine at one of the fish farms she built in Danané, Cote D Ivoire The IRC now serves 1.1 million people through project sites in Abidjan, Man, and Yamoussoukro. The IRC targets education and economic recovery as fundamental components of a lasting peace and sustainable future; theefore, IRC programs expand access to education, improve academic quality, and provide livelihood and career development opportunities. Agriculture is a Côte d Ivoire s per capita income has declined by 15% since 1999 key means for food security and livelihood rehabilitation. The IRC works with the Ivorian National Rural Development Agency to provide guidance to youth groups engaged in economic entrepreneurial opportunities in agriculture, animal breeding, small-scale trading, and, currently, fish farming.

2 Fish Farming in Western Côte d Ivoire 2 Fish Farming in Western Côte d Ivoire: Fish Farming initiatives in western Côte d Ivoire were initially funded by the African Development Bank in 1994, and continued until 2002 when operations were arrested due to armed conflict. The IRC is working to resuscitate this industry, by initially focusing on the largest alevin 1 production station in West Africa, conveniently located just 5 km outside of Man, where the IRC currently has its main field office. The station was built with the objective of supplying alevin and feed to 191 fish farms in three key regions: 18 Montagnes, Moyen Cavally, and Bafing. Problem: Although the political and security situation in Côte d Ivoire has improved since the peace agreement in 2007, poverty and malnutrition rates remain high; 23% 2 of people are either experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity. Women and women-led housholds in Western Côte d Ivoire are acutely vulnerable. 70% of rural women are poor 3 and the Ivorian government s Poverty Reduction Strategy also indicates that women-led households are 5% more likely to be poor that those led by men. In addition, many women were widowed during the Civil War, contributing to the higher incidence of single women headed households. Project Proposal: The IRC proposes to address food security, job creation, and women s economic empowerment by revitalizing the fish farmer industry in Western Cote d ivoire. The fish production value chain involves no less than 10 different types of jobs and could have a significant impact on employment, especially for women. 4 In many cases women have inherited their farms from husbands and relatives who died in the conflict, and now require the capital to restart operations. The project will not only target women as fish farm owners but as participants throughout the fish production value chain: as sellers and managers of food processing (smoked fish for example). Increased stability in the region has allowed a cooperative, La Paysanne des Montagnes 5, to partially re-launch the African Development Bank s fish farming initiative at the alevin station. Using their own resources and efforts to restart production, they have succeeded in cleaning out the station and its 96 fishponds, have filled them with fish, and have ensured that the fish are fed, the space is maintained clean, and the guards and cleaners are paid. The cooperative has also begun mobilizing and organizing farmers from most of the 191 fish farms. While the cooperative has made great strides, its seed funding is quickly running out. 1 The term alevin refers to small or young fish. 2 In-depth Evaluation of Food Security in Côte d Ivoire in June 2009, carried out by the World Food Program (WFP) and the Ministry of Agriculture and FAO 3 Standard of Living Survey for Households in 2008 (ENV 2008), carried out by the Ministry of Planning and Development and the Ministry of State. 4 Corn and rice farmers, fish farmers, transporters, local wholesalers, national wholesalers, retailers, processors, inputs supplier, technicians, guards, cooperative workers (accounting officer, secretary etc ) 5 The Mountain Farmers Cooperative

3 Fish Farming in Western Côte d Ivoire 3 This project aims to support La Paysanne des Montagnes and 10 fish farms owned by women by supplying them with essential food, nets and sorting tables to ensure the Using Agriculture as the basis for economic growth in the agriculturebased countries requires a productivity revolution in smallholder farming World Bank, World Development Report 2008: Agriculture for Development continued recovery of this fish farming initiative and its successful impact on the lives of women in the 18 Montagnes region. The economic impact of fish farming on women and their households can be significant: one fish farm with 2 fishponds yields a minimum return of $5,400 per cycle. With an average of 2 cycles per year, average annual revenues can be estimated at $10,800 per farm, which results in close to $6,000 in profit per woman. This is more than seven times the minimum monthly wage under the Ivorian law. 6 The positive impact on food security is also substantial. In a year, 10 fish farms with 2 fishponds each will produce a minimum of 144,000 fish (or between 48 tons and 96 tons depending on the weight of the fish) to be sold in local markets. According to women recently interviewed in the region, very few fish can be found in local markets, and those that can be found are shipped frozen from Abidjan and as a consequence are very expensive. Each fish farm supported under the project will directly provide income to at least 10 families for a total of approximately 600 direct beneficiaries. 7 The project will also indirectly benefit all inhabitants of the villages where the fish farms are located due to the growth of the local economy, as well as all potential consumers of the fish as they will have access to affordable product. The IRC estimates that the number of indirect beneficiaries will be a minimum of 7,500 people. La Paysanne des Montagnes Cooperative Role of the cooperative: The La Paysanne des Montagnes cooperative was established in 2000 and was officially registered in It is a regional cooperative consisting of 7 departmental sub-cooperatives. The farms that it supports are owned by previous internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have returned to their communities and are struggling to reignite their livelihoods. In total, 23 of the 191 fish farms and 2 of the 7 departmental cooperatives are managed by women. The main sources of the cooperative s revenue are membership fees and annual subscriptions. The cooperative s 6 The minimum monthly wage is set at approximately $ Farm = (10 incomes) x (6 people). According to the Standard of Living Survey for Households in 2008 (ENV 2008), carried out by the Ministry of Planning and Development and the Ministry of State, the average size of poor households in rural areas of Côte d Ivoire is composed of 6 persons.

4 Fish Farming in Western Côte d Ivoire 4 main role is to supply the fish farms with fish, food, and the means to ensure that their product reaches local markets. The IRC assessed the cooperative s organizational and financial management and identified it as a strong potential partner. The IRC would like to consider La Paysanne des Montagnes for partnership in future economic recovery actions-- piloting this small project would be an opportunity to better assess its effectiveness and capacity. Statement of Need: The cooperatives have already invested an estimated $28,000 in rehabilitating the station and farms, purchasing fish species, fish feed and other associated costs. A contribution of $27,920 will enable the cooperative and these fish farms to sustain the progress they have made by providing the seed funding to: purchase food for feeding the fish; purchase nets and a sorting table, so they can sort the fish according to their size, ensuring good growth and preventing cannibalism amongst the fish; and establish a reliable supply network to the fish farms. Project duration: The project duration will be one year. This length of time will allow the IRC to observe at least one complete fish production cycle for each of the 10 farms targeted. Estimated budget for essential needed products (food, nets, and sorting table): Product Unit Quantity Unit Price (FCFA) Total Price (FCFA) Total Price (USD) 8 10 fish farms Food Ton ,000 5,500,000 11, fish farms Nets Piece ,000 1,500,000 3, fish farms Sorting table Piece 10 50, ,000 1,000 Subtotal: 10 Fish Farms 7,500,000 15,000 Alevin station Food Ton ,000 5,500,000 11,000 Alevin station Nets Piece 3 150, , Sorting Alevin station table Piece 3 50, , Subtotal: Station 6,100,000 12,200 Administrative costs (10%) 2,720 TOTAL REQUEST 13,600,000 29,920 How You Can Help: For 75 years, the International Rescue Committee has helped survivors of war, conflict and disaster to rebuild their lives. With support from Nova Fisheries, we can revitalize fish farming for some of the most vulnerable communities in Côte d Ivoire. Your 8 USD $ 1= 500 FCFA

5 Fish Farming in Western Côte d Ivoire 5 contribution can increase access to high nutrition foods, create jobs, empower women and change over 7,500 lives. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Contact: Danielle Silber Manager, Corporate & Foundation Relation International Rescue Committee Danielle.Silber@theIRC.org (212)