93077 AGRICULTURE GLOBAL PRACTICE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PAPER SUPPORTING WOMEN’S AGRO-ENTERPRISES IN AFRICA WITH ICT A FEASIBILITY STUDY IN ZAMBIA AND KENYA WORLD BANK GROUP REPORT NUMBER 93077-AFR FEBRUARY 2015 AGRICULTURE GLOBAL PRACTICE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PAPER SUPPORTING WOMEN’S AGRO-ENTERPRISES IN AFRICA WITH ICT A Feasibility Study in Zambia and Kenya © 2015 World Bank Group 1818 H Street NW Washington, DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000 Internet: www.worldbank.org Email: feedback@worldbank.org All rights reserved This volume is a product of the staff of the World Bank Group. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this volume do not necessarily reflect the views of the Executive Directors of World Bank Group or the governments they represent. The World Bank Group does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. 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CONTENTS Acronyms and Abbreviations vii Acknowledgments ix Executive Summary xi Chapter One: Introduction 1 Background 1 Purpose of the Feasibility Study 2 Chapter Two: Gender and ICT in Agriculture in Zambia and Kenya 3 Gender in Agriculture in Zambia and Kenya 3 The IDSP and KAPAP Contexts 5 Gender Policies in Zambia and Kenya 5 ICT Policies in Zambia and Kenya 6 Chapter Three: The Zambia and Kenya Projects, Target Groups, and Value Chains 9 The Irrigation Development and Support Project (Zambia) 9 Kenya Agricultural Productivity and Agribusiness Project 13 Chapter Four: Inventory of ICT Tools in Agriculture in Kenya and Zambia 19 Expanding ICT Infrastructure and Initiatives 19 Mobile Telephony 19 Internet Services 21 ICT Tools: Inventory and Evaluation 21 Main Findings from the ICT Inventories in Kenya and Zambia 25 Challenges in Rural Communities’ Use of ICTs 27 Chapter Five: Pilot Design and Implementation in Zambia 29 Overview 29 Pilot Concept 29 The Proposed Approach for Implementing the Pilot 31 Chapter Six: Pilot Design and Implementation in Kenya 33 Overview 33 Pilot Concept 33 The Proposed Approach for Implementing the Pilot 35 Monitoring and Evaluation 35 Chapter Seven: Conclusions 37 Chapter Eight: Lessons Learned 39 Different Contexts, Different Concepts 39 Mainstreaming Gender and Taking an Equity Approach 40 Reaching the Poor and Disadvantaged 40 Taking the Analysis Beyond Differences between Male and Female Farmers 41 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT iii Creating an Enabling Environment 41 Designing Tools Relevant for Women’s Enterprises: Elements and Steps 42 References 45 Bibliography 47 Appendix A: Initial Data Collection Tool 51 Appendix B: Criteria for Site and Value Chain Selection, Kenya 55 Appendix C: Zambia Workshop Discussion and Results 59 Appendix D: Zambia Pilot Concept Proposal 65 Appendix E: Kenya Pilot Concept Proposal 73 Appendix F: Discussion of the Enablers/Strategies 81 BOXES Box S.1: A Step-by-Step Guide to Introducing ICT-Based Solutions with a Gender Focus in Agricultural Projects xvi Box 1.1: Strategies and Enablers to Overcome Challenges in the Use of ICT in Agriculture, Especially in Relation to Gender 2 Box 3.1: Views from Participants at a Meeting in Lusitu Area, Southern Province, Zambia (February 2013) 12 Box 3.2: Views from Participants at a Meeting in Mwomboshi Area, Chibombo District, Zambia (February 2013) 12 Box 3.3: Views from Particpants at a Meeting in Musakashi Area, Mufulira District, Zambia (February 2013) 13 Box 3.4: Views from Kwale (July 2013) 17 Box 3.5: Views from Makueni (July 2013) 17 Box 3.6: Views from Particpants at a Meeting in Gucha County, Kisii (July 2013) 17 Box 4.1: Examples of Management Information Systems for Cooperatives and Farmer Organizations 24 Box 4.2: ZNFU 4455 Provides Farmers with Purchase Prices and Contact Details for Commercial Buyers 26 Box 4.3: Lima Links—A Mobile Phone-Based Service Linking Vegetable Producers and Traders in Four Markets in Zambia 26 Box 5.1: Readiness Criteria for Selecting Women’s Groups to Pilot the Use of ICT Tools 31 Box 8.1: Equity and Actions to Promote Equity 40 Box E.1: Elements Requested in Service Provider’s Workplan/Implementation Plan 75 FIGURES Figure 3.1: Map of Zambia with IDSP Group 1 Sites 11 Figure 3.2: Value Chains with Female Participation of over 50 Percent 15 Figure 3.3:Total Membership in Value Chains with over 50 Percent Female Members 15 Figure 3.4: Map of Kenya with KAPAP Sites 16 Figure 8.1: Differentiate Extension/Information Provision 40 Figure C.1: Overall Context for Proposed Pilot 59 iv Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT TABLES Table S.1: Features of the Farming Communities and Value Chains in Selected IDSP and KAPAP Sites, Zambia and Kenya xii Table 3.1: Value Chains in KAPAP, Number of CIGs, and Their Membership 14 Table 4.1: Mobile Subscriber and Phone Penetration in Kenya, 2003–12 20 Table 4.2: Growth in Mobile Phone Subscribers, Zambia, 2003–12 20 Table 4.3: Mobile Signal Coverage (Percent) by Province, Zambia 20 Table 4.4: Internet Services in Kenya, 2005–12 21 Table 4.5: Number of Data Subscribers, Zambia, 2010–12 21 Table 4.6: Inventory of Major ICT Tools and Projects, Kenya 22 Table 4.7: Inventory of Major ICT Tools and Projects, Zambia 24 Table C.1: Group I—Design and Implementation: Results, Conclusions, and Recommendations 60 Table C.2: Group II—Implementation and Projects: Results, Conclusions, and Recommendations 61 Table C.3: Group III—Financing and Sustainability: Results, Conclusions, and Recommendations 62 Table D.1: Agricultural and Business Activities of Women and Women’s Groups at the Three Study Sites, Zambia 66 Table D.2: Observations Related to ICT Use at the Three Study Sites, Zambia 66 Table D.3: Organizations and Companies Expressing Willingness to Participate in the Pilot in the Lusitu Area 69 Table D.4: Risks and Assumptions Related to Piloting ICT with Women’s Groups, Zambia 71 Table D.5: Budget for Hardware and Communication Costs, ICT Pilot with Women’s Groups, Zambia 71 Table E.1: Summary of Costs for the Hardware, Software, and Activities 76 Table E.2: Hardware Costs 76 Table E.3: Software Costs 76 Table E.4: Costs of Additional Software Modules and Installation 77 Table E.5: Cost of Group Sensitization Workshop 77 Table E.6: Cost of Software Training 77 Table E.7: Costs of Developing and Producing Training Materials 77 Table E.8: Costs of Software and User Support 78 Table E.9: Costs of Evaluation 78 Table E.10: Costs of Financial Support to Groups Running the ICT Platform 78 Table E.11: Estimated Time Frame 79 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT v ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS Acronym Definition Acronym Definition ACF Agricultural Consultative Forum K Sh Kenya shillings BNPP World Bank–Netherlands Partnership Program MAL Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock CBA Cost Benefit Analysis (Zambia) CCK Communication Commission of Kenya (now MIS Management Information System the Communications Authority of Kenya) NAIS National Agricultural Information Service CIG Common Interest Groups (Zambia) CWG Common Working Groups NGO Nongovernmental organization EDGE Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution SAPP Smallholder Agri-Business Promotion FAO Food and Agriculture Organization Program GIDD Gender in Development Division SMS Short Message System GPRS General Packet Radio Service TTL Task Team Leader ICT Information and Communication Technology UPS Uninterrupted power supply ICT-WE Pilot Project Zambia and Kenya USAID United States Agency for International iDE International Development Enterprises Development IDSP Irrigation Development and Support Project USSD Unstructured Supplementary Service Data IFAD International Fund for Agricultural VSAT Very Small Aperture Terminal Development ZANACO Zambia National Commercial Bank ISP Internet Service Provider Bank ISR Implementation Status and Results Reports ZICTA Zambia Information and Communication KAPAP Kenya Agricultural Production and Technology Agency Agribusiness Project ZNFU Zambia National Farmers Union Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This study, “Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT,” was con- ducted from August 2012 to April 2014 in Zambia and Kenya. Funding from the World Bank–Netherlands Partnership Program (BNPP), which focuses on strengthen- ing the World Bank’s development and institutional effectiveness by financing activities to develop knowledge and increase capacity in low-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, is gratefully acknowledged. This report was developed and managed by Eija Pehu (Task Team Leader [TTL], GFADR) and Pirkko Poutiainen (co-TTL) from the Agriculture Global Practice (formerly Agriculture and Environmental Services Department) who provided continuous guidance throughout the project. It was written by an external consult- ant team comprised of Sandra Gilissen, Eric Sommeling, Bwalya Penza-Chona, and Lucy Kirui of IMANI Development Consultants, and Pirkko Poutiainen, Terhi Havimo, and Marialena Vyzaki of the World Bank. Indira Ekanayake (Senior Agriculture Economist, GFADR) and Andrew Mwihia Karanja (Senior Agriculture Economist, GFADR) provided valuable comments during all stages of implementa- tion. The support and contributions of Brenda Boney Achieng of IMANI Develop- ment Consultants are gratefully acknowledged, as is the editing of the report by Kelly Cassaday and management of the production of the report by Jim Cantrell (Communication Analyst, ECRGP). This project was administered by the Africa Region, and the support of Markus Goldstein (Practice Leader, AFRCE) and Katherine Manchester (Consultant, AFRCE) is gratefully acknowledged. This study aimed to understand whether and how information and communica- tion technology (ICT) could be used to support agro-enterprises run and managed by women in Kenya and Zambia. The research was conducted in close conjunction with two World Bank-supported agricultural projects, the Irrigation Development and Support Project (IDSP), implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) in Zambia, and the Kenya Agricultural Productivity and Agribusiness Project (KAPAP), implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries. The team also acknowledges the guidance and comments received from the peer reviewers of this work: Aparajita Goyal (Economist, GFADR), Victoria Stanley (Sen- ior Rural Development Specialist, GSURR), and Christine Heumesser (Agriculture Economist, GFADR). The case studies would not have been possible without the collaboration of IDSP and KAPAP participants in Zambia and Kenya who were interviewed during the surveys, Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT ix including district and county administrators, extension communities and producer groups in the targeted areas. officers, ICT developers, service providers, community The team would like to express their gratitude to the leaders, representatives of nongovernmental organiza- IDSP and KAPAP staff, who showed great commitment tions (NGOs), private sector staff, and members of the and dedicated considerable time to this assignment. x Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A new generation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) is finding a small foothold among poor, small-scale farmers in developing countries. Even so, many barriers still prevent poor rural people from accessing, using, and benefiting from new ICT tools and platforms, and those barriers are arguably higher for rural women. The relationship between gender and agriculture has been studied intensively over the years, and many agricultural interventions now include gender as a cross- cutting issue or “mainstream” gender throughout their operations. Studies of the rela- tionship between gender and the use of ICTs in agriculture have started to appear only quite recently, however. The Africa Region of the World Bank views ICTs as potentially transformative tech- nology for rural development and seeks to incorporate the use of ICTs throughout its portfolio of projects. The present study was designed to examine the feasibility of integrating ICTs into two large investment programs: the Irrigation Development and Support Project (IDSP) in Zambia and the Kenya Agricultural Productivity and Agribusiness Project (KAPAP). The specific goal was to examine how ICT-based inter- ventions might be designed to strengthen women’s participation in commodity value chains under the two projects. IDSP, implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in Zambia, was officially launched in November 2012. During the field research for this study, IDSP was conducting its own feasibility studies, discussing the land consolidation and reset- tlement process for developing the irrigation schemes, establishing public-private partnerships related to the schemes, and creating Participatory Site Committees. In contrast, KAPAP, coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, was in its second phase (2010–14) of operation, scheduled to end in December 2014. IDSP operates at three sites: Mwomboshi (Chibombo District, Central Province); Lusitu (Chirundu District, Lusaka Province); and Musakashi (Mufulira District, Cop- perbelt Province). KAPAP operates in 20 counties, where it supports 4,216 Common Interest Groups (CIGs) in 36 commodity value chains, with the goal of aggregating those groups into larger farmer cooperatives or societies. This study focuses on three of those counties: Makueni, Kwale, and Gucha/Kisii. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT xi developed in Zambia, and no ICT tools in these coun- METHODOLOGY tries have been developed specifically for women farm- To collect information about the projects, target groups, ers. Very few of the ICT tools for small-scale farming gender issues, information needs, and the current status are commercial products. Most have been created of ICTs in agriculture in both countries, the study team with funding from development projects and donors, reviewed the literature on gender and ICTs in agriculture so their sustainability is a major issue; with very few and met with IDSP and KAPAP staff, ICT practitioners, exceptions, the use of most of these tools ceases at the service providers, district government officials, NGOs, end of a project. and World Bank staff. The team inventoried and analyzed the ICT platforms and tools available in both countries. Demand for extension information continues to be high, The team also gathered information through field surveys especially among women, whose access to agricultural among farmers and entrepreneurs in Zambia (Lusitu, information has so far been limited. Agricultural exten- Musakashi, Mwomboshi) and Kenya (Makueni, Kwale, sion officers are keen to receive training on how to use and Gucha/Kisii), and held focus group discussions with ICTs in their work and are eager to adopt them to reach women and men farmers at those project sites. more farmers more cost-effectively. FINDINGS FROM THE FINDINGS FROM THE LITERATURE, INVENTORIES, PROJECT SITES AND SURVEYS Given the IDSP’s focus on irrigated agriculture, the sur- In both countries, data on the quality and impact of veys concentrated on the vegetable production value chain using ICT tools in agriculture are quite scarce. A major in Zambia. In Kenya, the surveys in Makueni, Kwale, and finding from the literature review and ICT inven- Gucha/Kisii examined the value chain for indigenous tory is that numerous ICTs have been developed for poultry, in which women’s participation is high. Table S.1 small-scale farmers in Kenya, but very few have been summarizes the findings. TABLE S.1. FEATURES OF THE FARMING COMMUNITIES AND VALUE CHAINS IN SELECTED IDSP AND KAPAP SITES, ZAMBIA AND KENYA (Continued ) IDSP, Zambia KAPAP, Kenya • The majority of farmers (male and female) in the three IDSP • All groups KAPAP works with are mixed groups, with groups sites are subsistence farmers, heavily involved with maize in the poultry value chain having a relatively large number of production. Some vegetables are also produced in all sites on female members. a small scale. • Livestock (cattle and small livestock) is relatively important • In the poultry value chain in the three counties, the majority in Lusitu, in comparison to the Mwomboshi and Musakashi of farmers (male and female) are small-scale producers who sites. do not sell on a large scale. • There are very few women entrepreneurs in the three IDSP • Farmers generally sell indigenous poultry and acquire their sites, and they mainly sell produce locally when there is production inputs individually, but some well-organized surplus production. groups sell birds and acquire inputs collectively. • There are very few organized groups (women, men, or mixed) in Lusitu, while the number is higher in Mwomboshi. Musakashi has the highest number. • The majority of the groups are not very active or organized; • Groups are supported by private service providers, contracted often they are formed to access (government) subsidy and paid by the farmer groups with funds provided by programs. KAPAP. xii Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT TABLE S.1. FEATURES OF THE FARMING COMMUNITIES AND VALUE CHAINS IN SELECTED IDSP AND KAPAP SITES, ZAMBIA AND KENYA (Continued ) IDSP, Zambia KAPAP, Kenya • Electricity provision through the national grid is virtually absent • Electricity is available in the counties and is accessed by in the three sites, and very few farmers have electricity through (some) Common Interest Groups (CIGs) but infrequently other means (solar). by individual farmers. • One of the main challenges for traders is poor road network • The main challenges for the poultry value chain are lack of access in all sites, especially during the rainy season. to affordable feed, markets, and credit and inconsistent prices. • The literacy level is low in all sites, with higher illiteracy levels • The literacy level in general is higher than in Zambia, also among among women. women, although more men than women can read and write. • The mobile phone network is good in all three sites. • The mobile telephone network is good in the three selected counties. • Fewer women than men own a phone. • An average of 70 percent of group members own a mobile phone, and women have their own phones. Source: Authors. Note: Surveys conducted in Lusitu, Musakashi, Mwomboshi (Zambia) and Makueni, Kwale, and Gucha/Kisii (Kenya). IDSP: Irrigation Development and Support Project; KAPA: Kenya Agricultural Productivity and Agribusiness Project. processors. Compared to a regular mobile phone, a tablet THE INTERVENTION CONCEPT can store, manage, share, and display large amounts of IN ZAMBIA information. A number of context-specific factors deter- The key need identified in Zambia was for female farm- mined the selection of tablet devices as the ICT tool of ers to obtain technical information to improve agricul- choice: tural production and processing. Women farmers and » Information needs. Women farmers are entrepreneurs also need to develop stronger links with mainly involved in maize production in the service providers—not only providers of extension advice IDSP sites, but they are starting to enter vegeta- but providers of advice on managing farmer groups ble production. Given that vegetable production and developing robust business models. Communication is likely to increase when the irrigation schemes between technical experts and farmers needs to be inter- start to operate, women farmers will benefit active, to include a range of service providers (not exten- from information provided now on vegetable sion alone), and include IDSP staff. An intervention using crop management practices, prices, and poten- ICTs to address these issues would focus on facilitating the tially profitable interactions with other actors in creation of a network of information exchange among stakeholders, the value chain. in which groups of women farmers and entrepreneurs are the central » Literacy level. Certain features make tablets easy source of demand for the information being shared. to use for people who have limited literacy, includ- ing navigation with icons and buttons to access After assessing alternative technologies (smartphones and voice and video information. Moreover, informa- tablets, for example) in light of context-specific factors tion can be shared and stored more accessibly in (discussed in the next paragraph), the team concluded tablets than, for example, in a smartphone or a that tablet devices were the best alternative for lead computer in a district center. female farmers to liaise with the IDSP site liaison officers, » Mobile phone ownership. Women in all three extension officers, and other service providers. The lead sites rarely use mobile phones; when they do, it is farmer would be a woman within the group with suffi- not for business. The startup costs are lower for cient literacy to use the tablet as a communication tool basic mobile phones than for tablets, but future to reach a network of technical and price information phone use could be more costly, based on the cur- providers and output market actors such as traders and rent cost of text messaging in the project areas. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT xiii » Internet connectivity. Even though the groups and processes for managing their organizations, production, sales, will need to pay to connect to the internet via their finance, and communication. One tool that could meet that tablets, the cost could be supported by the project need—especially for the larger, more cohesive groups that at first and then gradually paid for by the groups already engage in commercial poultry production and as they earn additional income from vegetable have formed Limited Liability Companies—is the Poul- production. Connectivity costs are relative low, at try Producer Group Management Software developed for approximately US$21 per month. TechnoServe Kenya. » Access to electricity. Access to electricity will be assured for each household in the IDSP area by the The software is an adaption of the successful EasyMa end of the project, but electrification will be gradual. software used in the dairy value chain, where it facilitated In the meantime, farmer groups without electric- the management of Producer Business Group Hubs (com- ity will be provided with solar panels and chargers, panies) that aggregate milk and support small-scale dairy which could also be used to charge other devices farmers. Implemented in 23 dairy plants, the software was and generate revenue to offset the groups’ costs. instrumental in introducing efficient, effective financial » Use and maintenance. Women’s groups and management of transactions; it increased women’s access other recipients of devices will be trained to use to information, nurtured management capacity in busi- and maintain them, and the group leaders and des- nesses led by women, and provided gender-disaggregated ignated group members will have clearly defined data on business transactions for decision making as well responsibilities for use and maintenance. In close as monitoring and evaluation. collaboration with Sofreco—the designated com- TechnoServe is attempting to replicate this success with munity participation and capacity building pro- farmers in the poultry value chain. Poultry producers are vider for IDSP—lead women farmers will learn to generally poorer than dairy producers, however, and they use the tablets. Content for the agricultural exten- are not yet as organized, so it remains to be seen whether sion training modules will be developed by the Min- the software will be successful and what additional adap- istry of Agriculture and Livestock (Zambia) and the tation and capacity building might be needed. Agriculture Research Centres, while the content of the agribusiness training modules will be developed A similar tool, CoopWorks, is a financial and member by the IDSP staff working on agribusiness. management information system for farmer associations and agricultural cooperatives. The goal of CoopWorks’ A pilot implementation phase of 18 months was designed developers is to provide a standard software package for to set up and test the efficacy of using tablets to provide affordably automating all activities of agricultural coop- technical and business information to women’s groups. eratives. The software includes modules for managing The pilot would be monitored based on a two-pronged membership, inventory, payroll, shares, cash and banking approach: (i) monitoring and evaluating actual use of the transactions, and debtors and creditors. Because Coop- tablets and the communication network (uptake of the Works digitizes all information relevant to the coopera- tool) and (ii) monitoring and evaluating the actual results tives’ operations, it helps to improve accountability and and outcomes achieved by using the tablets and commu- efficiency, provide information for sound and timely deci- nication network (gauging whether uptake of the tool had sion making, reduce operational costs, and ultimately positive results). increase production. The tool, initially developed for and tested on the dairy and coffee value chains, is now used by THE INTERVENTION CONCEPT more than 40 cooperative societies in Kenya to manage daily operations. Uptake is on the rise, as the tool is being IN KENYA adapted for the maize value chain. The key need identified in Kenya was for an ICT inter- vention to focus on supporting individual poultry farmers and A pilot implementation phase of 18 months would their organizations to develop and implement efficient systems provide hardware (computers, modems, printers, and xiv Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT Uninterrupted Power Supply [UPS], for example) and value chains with high levels of participation by software for managing the poultry production operations women. of three selected CIGs in Makueni County. Members of » Identify the needs of the target group and the CIGs will be trained on the uses, advantages, and dis- subgroups. Establish to what extent ICTs can advantages of the poultry management system. More spe- actually address those needs. cific training would be provided to a data entry clerk and » Conduct a value chain analysis and/or selected members of each CIG to ensure that the system is describe use case scenarios. Use case sce- efficiently operated and maintained. An implementation narios provide a critical look at potential ICT plan has been developed, including the use of the poultry solutions, because they identify factors that could software and close monitoring by the software developers undermine a technology’s effectiveness in the par- and service providers in the county. ticular context for which it is being designed. » Select or develop the ICT platform/tool. LESSONS LEARNED The review of existing tools and platforms is a difficult exercise that requires highly detailed The desk review, field surveys, and focus group discus- analysis—a literature review or internet search is sions with stakeholders demonstrate that the choice of never sufficient. ICT tool depends strongly on the context in which it will be used. Numerous factors influence individuals’ ability » Consult and involve the target group(s) in to gain access to ICTs and use them effectively in agri- designing the ICT tool(s) or platform(s). culture, including connectivity, local capacity, produc- A practical approach for verifying the suitability tion constraints, value addition and marketing, and the of a candidate ICT is to involve target group intensity of interaction among stakeholders. Although in designing the tool. The developers will also the groups participating in this feasibility study differ gain an indication of the training and promo- in their specific circumstances, the research offers some tion that prospective users will need and the dif- general lessons, key elements, and steps for practitio- ferences between men’s and women’s access to ners to consider in designing and implementing ICTs the tools. that respond to the specific needs of female farmers and » Develop a business model for developing, entrepreneurs. promoting, and running the ICT platform/ tool. A financial plan is required to develop an First and foremost, men and women differ in their access ICT tool or platform, and a longer-term financial to, use of, and need for ICT tools, and it is important to strategy is needed to support its continued use. understand this gender difference when choosing and Users should eventually be able to cover the entire designing ICT systems and tools. At the same time, the cost of the service, once it has enabled them to cre- primary consideration in enabling poor and disadvan- ate new sources of revenue. taged groups to benefit from using ICTs is whether the » Develop a plan that ensures the continuity technology is sustainably accessible to them. Before a and sustainability of the tool/platform. technology can be designed or promoted for any group, ICT tools can be sustained only when they are eco- its probable accessibility must be assessed. The choice of nomically viable and are used by the target group an effective, cost-efficient option will also depend on the to address their business needs. The tools should prevailing policy, regulatory, and business environment. be supported by a profitable organization, such as a private enterprise that has embedded the tools A number of key elements and steps should be considered within its activities. Such enterprises usually have in developing and implementing ICT tools that are use- the capacity and resources to provide reliable and ful and easily accessible to women (and other groups) in current information and training, have an interest agriculture: in updating and further developing the tool, and » Define the target group and subgroups. manifest a long-term commitment to managing For this study, it was essential to identify the the tool. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT xv BOX S.1. A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO INTRODUCING ICT-BASED SOLUTIONS WITH A GENDER FOCUS IN AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS 1. Document the characteristics of men and women • Access to electricity. farmers/members of producer organizations • Cost of calls. through a gender analysis: • Number of users/subscribers to mobile data. • Farmer group’s level of organization. • Maintenance. • Farmer group’s level of activity (regular meetings and 6. Check the national policies and regulations on: other involvement). • Gender. • Type of economic activities. • Agricultural development. • Literacy level. • Access to information. • Mobile phone ownership. • Information and communication technologies. • Different areas of the value chain in which the group is • Business environment. engaged. • Provision of extension services. 7. Develop a business model for developing, pro- moting, and running the ICT platform, which 2. Conduct a needs assessment to identify informa- may include: tion needs and constraints, such as: • Hardware. • Extension information. • Software. • Group management information (organizational and • Group training and sensitization. financial management system, productivity and finan- • Sensitization of extension workers to respond to women’s cial management data). needs. • Business model training. • Development of training materials. • Interactive communication channel for farmers and ser- • Software and user support. vice providers. • Evaluation. 3. Select or develop the ICT platform/tool: • Financing: Public support and self-financing. • Conduct a review of ICT tools/platforms available. 8. Develop a plan that ensures the continuity and • Involve target groups in the selection/design of the ICT sustainability of the tool/platform: tool. • Ensure tool/platform is supported by an organization 4. Identify which provider can provide appropriate (private enterprise) that is committed to managing the content to meet the needs of women farmers: tool over the long-term. • Ministry of Agriculture. • Ensure the organization can provide reliable and current • National Agricultural Research Institute. information. • Private sector. • Ensure the organization can provide training/capacity- building. 5. Explore the ICT infrastructure in the selected project sites: Source: Authors. • Mobile phone coverage. • Internet connectivity. xvi Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND Access to information has always been a key necessity for men and women farmers, regardless of whether they are involved in subsistence farming or large-scale agri- cultural enterprises. The traditional tools for receiving information on agricultural production, markets, and research results—demonstrations, farmer field days, pam- phlets, hand-outs, radio, and television—have been joined by a new, constantly shifting array of information and communication technologies (ICTs) created by the booming mobile, wireless, and internet industries. These digital tools, particularly mobile (smart) phones, tablets, and computers, make information more accessible, but the tools them- selves are not accessible to all. In agriculture, a digital divide persists between small- scale farmers in the developing world and their counterparts in the developed world; a similar divide remains between men and women farmers in developing countries. Although ICTs have found a foothold even on the farms of poor smallholders, many challenges limit their use, and much of their potential is unrealized—especially among poor rural women, for reasons that will become clear in this report. Numerous studies have identified and documented how access to and control of agri- cultural productive assets, including access to information and social capital, can vary in relation to gender. To address men’s and women’s uneven access to assets, most rural development projects use “gender mainstreaming” or support “gender as a cross- cutting theme.” Yet studies of the relationships between gender and the use of ICTs in agriculture, and strategies for addressing such issues within projects, have started to appear only fairly recently. The ICT in Agriculture E-Sourcebook: Connecting Smallholders to Knowledge, Networks and Institutions (World Bank 2011) describes key challenges and ena- blers that practitioners should consider when seeking to use ICT in agriculture, with a specific focus on the gender implications (box 1.1).1 1 See Module 4 of the E-Sourcebook: “Extending the Benefits: Gender-equitable, ICT-enabled Agricultural Development.” Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 1 BOX 1.1. STRATEGIES AND ENABLERS TO of services to African women farmers and agro- OVERCOME CHALLENGES IN THE USE entrepreneurs and their organizations by introducing ICTs adapted to their particular needs and contexts. OF ICT IN AGRICULTURE, ESPECIALLY The context for this study was six sites from two World IN RELATION TO GENDER Bank–supported agricultural projects: the Irrigation 1. Conduct gender analysis to identify opportunities on Development and Support Project (IDSP), implemented how ICTs can enhance current practices. by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in Zambia, 2. Develop appropriate content to meet the needs of and the Kenya Agricultural Productivity and Agribusi- women and men farmers. ness Project (KAPAP), coordinated by the Ministry of 3. Consider using a range of ICTs. Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries. Information from 4. Use ICTs to complement existing information channels. 5. Develop direct relationships with men and women farmers. these sites would be useful not only for the feasibility 6. Identify employment opportunities for women with study, but would more closely inform the Bank’s lending agriculture related ICT service providers. programs and identify opportunities for leveraging and 7. Design two-way ICT programs to collect and dissemi- scaling up promising approaches. nate information. 8. Develop gender-equitable national or regional policy. The study was carried out between August 2012 and Source: World Bank (2011a:73). April 2014 in close collaboration with staff of the projects and implementing ministries at headquarters and in the field. Activities included a literature review, an inventory of ICT platforms and tools in agriculture, visits to the PURPOSE OF THE field sites, other meetings with stakeholders, the design of FEASIBILITY STUDY ICT pilots for Zambia and Kenya, and final review and The feasibility study described here was undertaken dissemination workshops in both countries to present the to explore opportunities to improve the provision findings. 2 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT CHAPTER TWO GENDER AND ICT IN AGRICULTURE IN ZAMBIA AND KENYA GENDER IN AGRICULTURE IN ZAMBIA AND KENYA Zambian and Kenyan women—like their counterparts elsewhere in Africa and the world—contribute significantly to the economy, especially through agriculture and the informal business sector. Zambia’s estimated population of 14.5 million people is largely rural (61 percent live in rural areas), fairly young, and evenly divided along gender lines (49 percent male and 51 percent female).2 Because men migrate in significant num- bers to urban areas in search of work and better pay, women constitute an estimated 65 percent of the rural population. Women also provide the bulk of labor in informal agriculture. A recent study finds that women provide up to 85 percent of the labor for small-scale agricultural production and almost all labor for post-harvest activities (Farnworth, Akamandisa, and Hichaambwa 2011). Kenya, with an estimated population of 45 million (FAO 2011), has made an effort to produce gender-disaggregated data; recent statistics show that women make up 75 percent of the labor force in small-scale agriculture and own up to 40 percent of all small-scale farms in Kenya (World Bank 2007). Women have an especially strong role in producing tea, coffee, various fruits and vegetables, cereals, and poultry. As in most developing countries, in Zambia and Kenya it is women who produce most of the food and dominate the ranks of the poor (FAO 2011). Despite recent efforts to document women’s critical role in agriculture, their participation is not often fully rec- ognized or visible. Food crop production, where women’s participation is high, tends to be less visible than alternative agricultural pursuits because it requires less capital and labor. Even then, women tend to be regarded as “assistants on the farm” rather than 2 World Bank data. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 3 farmers or economic agents in their own right. Such per- decisions. Field visits undertaken for this study docu- ceptions, along with cultural and social norms, make it dif- ment that women work continuously from one season ficult for women to graduate from subsistence farming to to the next in the fields, as they are largely responsi- more commercial agricultural enterprises, which is unfor- ble for preparing land, sowing, weeding and otherwise tunate, because evidence has shown that women can be tending to the crop, and eventually harvesting (and successful entrepreneurs running successful businesses. It is often processing) it. also unfortunate because economies where women partici- pate more in the labor force and receive higher earnings Women’s and men’s different roles can promote unequal tend to have less poverty and faster growth. In other words, access to and control over productive resources, which women’s economic empowerment also benefits men, chil- affects how women use their time and allocate their labor dren, and society as a whole (FAO 2011). in Zambia and Kenya. For instance, the 2004 Strate- gic Gender Assessment for Zambia (World Bank 2004) Conventional economic analyses and policies still system- reports that women and men are active in the market atically marginalize and undervalue women's contribution, economy, but the benefits of that activity are controlled while men's contribution remains the overriding (often the by men, despite the fact that women provide the bulk of sole) focus of attention from government (FAO 2011). For labor for industries such as smallholder agriculture. Zam- example, women in Africa receive less than 10 percent of bian women often work 12–13 hours each day compared small farm credit and 1 percent of credit extended in the to men, who work 7 hours. Women’s time poverty is com- agricultural sector (FAO 2011). These observations hold pounded by the fact that they are the primary caregivers true for Kenya and Zambia, where women have far fewer for their own children as well as for the sick, orphaned, resources and control over those resources compared to and elderly. The same holds true for women in agriculture men. For example, in Kenya a much higher percentage of in Kenya (Tegemeo Institute 2011). men (81 percent) compared to women (19 percent) own land individually. Men’s overall landholdings tend to be at Decision-making power at the household level varies least four times larger than women’s, and men farm larger in the two countries. In Zambia, 24 percent of house- parcels than women (Tegemeo Institute 2011). holds are headed by women (that is, headed by widows, divorced women, or older women looking after orphaned Women and men in both countries play different roles children; World Bank 2013); the remainder are headed in the wider economy and the household. Women tend by men. Men in all three IDSP sites (Lusitu, Mwomboshi, to dominate agriculture and informal micro-enterprises, and Musakashi) recognize that women work hard and while men dominate the formal and business sectors. take care of the household, yet women’s decision-making Examining the gendered division of labor or of roles and power is still limited. In Kenya, decision-making power responsibilities is critical for understanding the potential at the household level varies by source of income. Men effects of an ICT intervention on the target group and the mainly take decisions regarding the use of revenues from community at large. A clear understanding of how an ICT livestock sales and industrial crops. Women generally intervention may affect the gendered division of labor is have purview over decisions related to the use of revenues also essential to mitigate any challenges that arise for from food crops, particularly millet, sorghum, and beans. women and their families as a result of the intervention. Interestingly, men and women both determine how to use revenues from tea, coffee, and Irish potato production Women’s work generally occurs alongside their domes- (Tegemeo Institute 2011). In most communities in Kenya, tic responsibilities and childcare—which tend to make indigenous poultry farming has traditionally been wom- women’s work less visible and less valued than men’s en’s domain; they manage the operation to provide food work. Especially in rural areas, women perform most for the household and to earn cash for domestic needs, domestic chores such as collecting firewood and water. such as food, clothing, and children’s books and school Men are expected to provide for their families, to be in fees. Although poultry groups supported by KAPAP have charge of the household, and to make the household’s a higher percentage of women members, more men have 4 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT become involved as the income from the poultry opera- and who had completed secondary and tertiary educa- tions has increased. tion (Tegemeo Institute 2011). At the same time, how- ever, men’s mean income is more than three times higher THE IDSP AND KAPAP than women’s. A higher percentage of men than women engage in off-farm activities, and they earn twice as much CONTEXTS as women in those activities. More men than women have IDSP and KAPAP are implemented nationwide, in areas a savings account, and while both men and women suc- with diverse ethnic, cultural, and religious differences or cessfully apply for credit, men’s credit volumes are higher practices. In Zambia, the IDSP site of Musakashi is a than women’s (Tegemeo Institute 2011). peri-urban area governed by political structures, whereas Lusitu and Mwomboshi are governed by traditional lead- Women farmers participating in KAPAP and IDSP belong ers such as chiefs, who are the community leaders and to groups or organizations that concentrate on a particu- set the tone for all formal relationships—business, mari- lar value chain.5 In Zambia, such groups consist mainly of tal (including polygamous marriages), parental—and gardening “clubs,” with the exception of Lusitu, where a other associations. Traditional leaders also play a major large proportion of women belong to groups involved in role in issues such as land allocation and are instrumen- raising small livestock (goats and chickens). The groups tal to all work with development partners. For example, are not well organized and meet on an ad hoc basis. The in Zambia’s Southern Province, the Matantala Program groups in Kenya tend to be more organized and to have (Jul-Larsen, Munachonga, and Chileche 2009) has worked a distinct purpose and structure based on the value chain closely with three chiefdoms to build schools, encourage in which the farmers participate. As discussed, Kenya education for children and adults, develop health cen- women participate in a diverse range of value chains. ters, and share information on health issues, including KAPAP and IDSP have not created separate groups for HIV and AIDS. In Kenya, unlike Zambia, the farming women and men; even groups with a majority of women household operates more as an individual entity, and no members include some men. cultural practices have been documented to dictate farm operations. Local leaders are usually involved in mobiliz- GENDER POLICIES IN ing communities, however, including the Common Inter- est Groups (CIGs) formed under KAPAP.3 ZAMBIA AND KENYA Both Kenya and Zambia ratified the Convention on In Zambia, men in rural areas tend to have more informal the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against exposure to business and usually have received more edu- Women, and both countries have national gender policies. cation than women. Studies in Mwomboshi and Lusitu Neither has developed gender policies specifically related prior to the start of IDSP indicate that women are rarely to agriculture or ICT, however. Gender is a cross-cutting involved in off-farm income-generating activities. Women issue, and the mandate of the Ministry of Gender6 in both in Musakashi pursued some income-generating activities Kenya7 and Zambia is to move gender mainstreaming for- but still earned less from those activities than men.4 In ward in line ministries. Kenya, the baseline survey for KAPAP shows that a higher proportion of women (26 percent) compared to men Zambia’s National Gender Policy (2000) recognizes the (14 percent) lack any formal education, but the gender need for equal and full participation of women and men gap was not substantial among those who had completed at all levels (Republic of Zambia, Gender in Develop- primary school (58 percent of men versus 54 percent ment Division 2000), yet challenges to fulfilling this of women); nor did a gap appear to be developing for women and men whose primary occupation was farming 5 See KAPAP and IDSP documents in bibliography. 6 The Ministry of Gender and Child Development in Zambia. 7 In the new structure, the youth, gender, devolution, planning, and national 3 KAPAP gender specialist, personal communication. cohesion and integration initiatives have all been assembled under the Office of 4 Feasibility studies of the three IDSP sites, 2010. the President (May 19, 2014). Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 5 mandate include the lack of gender-disaggregated data Kenya’s Vision 2030 puts forward the economic empow- as well as weak institutional mechanisms for implement- erment of women as a key component of the Vision. ing and monitoring gender policies. Other key documents The Ministry of Gender facilitates implementation of outline Zambia’s gender-sensitive priorities and poverty- the National Gender Policy and is mandated, among reduction interventions, including the Sixth National other tasks, to promote gender mainstreaming in national Development Plan (2011–15) (which contains strategies development processes and to “engender” the national for mainstreaming gender in sectors such as agriculture budget (in other words, to incorporate funding for gen- and land, mining, and infrastructure; Republic of Zam- der mainstreaming in the budget); review the implemen- bia 2011), the National Gender Policy’s Strategic Plan tation of gender-responsive policies and programs; and of Action (2004–08), and Zambia’s Poverty Reduction promote the generation of sex-disaggregated data to Strategy Paper. A final but major consideration is that the guide interventions (Government of Kenya, Ministry of national Constitution contains contradictions that act as Gender, Children, and Social Development 2011). Kenya barriers to gender equality (World Bank 2004). The Con- is developing a gender policy for the agricultural sector, stitution protects women against discrimination but per- spearheaded by the Agricultural Sector Coordination mits customary law to be applied in matters of personal Unit. KAPAP has provided data to support development law, such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance. Thus of the policy, which has been drafted and presented to in the domain of personal law, the Constitution creates stakeholders. power dynamics that potentially favor men and translate into gender-based inequalities.8 ICT POLICIES IN ZAMBIA The Ministry of Gender and Child Development intro- AND KENYA duced the Women’s Empowerment Fund in 2010. The Both governments recognize the importance of ICT for fund was designed to increase women’s human capital by development and are reviewing their outdated (2006) working through registered women’s clubs or cooperative ICT policies. Although Zambia has no specific agricul- societies. The resources provided by the ministry have tural sector policy regarding ICT, the Zambia ICT Policy financed, among other activities, training to enhance has the goal of making the agricultural sector more pro- women’s entrepreneurship by ensuring that they have ductive and competitive by applying ICT in planning, the right knowledge and skills to run their businesses. implementation, monitoring, and information delivery So far, training has been conducted in Central, Eastern, (Republic of Zambia, Ministry of Communications and Lusaka, Northern, and Southern Provinces. Some wom- Transport 2006). The policy also supports the use of ICT en’s groups have acquired equipment such as hammer tools to mainstream women’s issues in all economic activi- mills, treadle pumps, drip irrigation systems, and sewing ties through the implementation of ICT projects and machines to build their human capital and enhance their programs (Republic of Zambia, Ministry of Communica- productivity (Republic of Zambia, Ministry of Gender tions and Transport 2006). and Child Development 2014). The Zambia Information and Communication Technol- In Kenya, the national Constitution explicitly commits to ogy Authority (ZICTA) is the national ICT regulator; mainstream gender at all levels of decision making, and ZICTA issues licenses and sets minimum and maximum prices for voice communication. ZICTA is implementing its policy to promote and develop the use of ICTs in rural 8 See Zambia’s most recent Strategic Gender Assessment (World Bank 2004). The Constitution of Zambia acknowledges the customary and statutory legal and underserved areas by constructing telecommunica- systems as primary, and Article 91 provides for two parallel court systems: the tions towers there. traditional courts and the judicature. The gender issue is that the choice of system can depend on the prevailing gender relations of power in cases of Within the context and framework of its Vision 2030 personal relationships. Whereas Article 11 of the Constitution guarantees pro- tection against gender discrimination, Article 23(4) (c) and (d) cancels out the and Medium-Term Plan (2008–12), the Government of guarantee. Kenya recognizes the importance of ICT for economic 6 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT development. Kenya’s ICT policy presents the vision of activity in the economy.” This pillar includes the ICT pol- “a prosperous ICT-driven Kenyan society,” and its stated icy in agriculture, which has been identified as a crucial mission is “to improve the livelihoods of Kenyans by sector over the plan period. The government intends to ensuring the availability of accessible, efficient, reliable identify programs to increase the use of ICTs for manage- and affordable ICT services” (Government of Kenya, ment and development in agriculture. The use of ICTs, Ministry of Information and Communication 2006). A especially of e-agriculture applications that provide rel- major government initiative is to improve ICT infrastruc- evant data to farmers, will constitute a major initiative ture, bridge the digital divide, and reduce the cost of com- to empower farmers with decision-making opportuni- munications. A strategic framework pillar for realizing ties that improve agricultural productivity, incomes, and Vision 2030 is “ICT as a catalyst for economic and social national food security. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 7 CHAPTER THREE THE ZAMBIA AND KENYA PROJECTS, TARGET GROUPS, AND VALUE CHAINS THE IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT PROJECT (ZAMBIA) The IDSP was launched in a national workshop in November 2012, with the par- ticipation of community representatives, local government officials, traditional chiefs, commercial farmers, and staff of the World Bank, IDSP team, and Ministry of Agri- culture and Livestock. The Department of Agriculture in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock implements the project, which seeks to “increase yields per hectare and value of diverse products marketed by smallholders benefiting from investments in irrigation in selected sites served by the Project” (World Bank 2011). The IDSP has four components. The first component provides services to support irrigated agriculture, especially training for smallholders and other beneficiaries to operate medium- to large-scale irrigation schemes on a sustainable commercial basis through partnership agreements between the government, communities, and private sector. The second component delivers public irrigation infrastructure, and the third supports private and cooperative investment in productive equipment and assets in and around irrigation schemes, including investment to stimulate the establishment of small enterprises. The fourth component is dedicated to managing and coordinating the IDSP. The project seeks to ensure that these investments have positive impacts for women and men. It is expected to directly benefit approximately 70,000 individuals, consisting of households with direct access to irrigated land, households with members employed on irrigated land, and households that will not be involved in farming but will estab- lish micro-enterprises. The indirect beneficiaries of IDSP include supply and value chain stakeholders, who are expected to benefit from increased supplies of agricultural commodities and better business opportunities generated by the irrigation schemes and supporting infrastructure. Consumers, particularly in urban areas, are also indi- rect beneficiaries; they are expected to benefit from improved supplies of agricultural Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 9 products. Gender inclusiveness is emphasized in mobiliz- during the rainy season. A few households use solar ing communities to participate in the project and in con- power, but virtually no electricity is available from the ducting the capacity-building activities.9 national grid. This study of the feasibility of using ICTs to improve With respect to ICTs, the mobile phone network has good women’s agro-enterprises (referred to as the ICT-WE coverage in the project areas. Mobile phone use is increas- project) focuses on IDSP’s Group 1 project sites (figure ing steadily there but has not reached all households. 3.1). The Lusitu site (Sitinkwe area) is located in Chirundu Women’s ownership of mobile phones is low, although District of Southern Province10 near the Zambezi River. more women own phones in Mwomboshi than in Lusitu Musakashi is in Mufulira District, Copperbelt Province, or Musakashi. Some women have access to their hus- near the border with the Republic of Congo, and Mwom- bands’ or sons’ phones. Men or women rarely use text boshi is located in the new Chibombo District in Central messaging because many individuals are illiterate, and Province. Surveys and other field work undertaken in these many do not know how to operate a phone. areas for the IDSP and this study have included technical, hydrological, geological, and socio-cultural studies. The The limited population that knows how to use mobile results reveal important similarities and differences in the phones and send text messages encounters other chal- project areas, especially with respect to women’s agricul- lenges. For example, the Zambia National Farmers Union tural activities, entrepreneurship and use of ICTs, which (ZNFU) has an ICT platform that provides information on will be reviewed in the sections that follow. a set of commodities to farmers via text messages (SMS). The service has countrywide coverage and is available in the project areas. Yet concluding a sale through this plat- FEATURES COMMON TO ALL form is a three-step process, which may entail high phone THREE PROJECT SITES charges, and farmers still have to travel long distances to Similarities among the three project sites were identified sell their produce. The quality of the information pro- based on the initial literature review, subsequent field vis- vided might also be an issue, as prices quoted by buyers its, and meetings with farmer groups and district govern- are not always the same as those received by farmers in ment officials conducted for this feasibility study.11 Across the end. Likewise, farmers using the National Agricultural the three sites, farmers are involved in vegetable and Information Service (NAIS) (operated by the Ministry of maize production, but very few women engage in more Agriculture and Livestock) to request and receive advice entrepreneurial activities such as commercial maize pro- via SMS pay 90 ngwee (US$0.18) for each message, which duction, fish farming, or pottery production. As discussed, is very high. the “women’s” groups include men, who participate to “help the women in the group.” FEATURES UNIQUE TO EACH IDSP SITE Several constraints make it difficult for individuals in Communication channels and the level of community the project sites to access information. Illiteracy is a organization vary across the three sites. Community significant constraint; literacy levels are low in general organization is weak in Lusitu, but a number of wom- but especially low among women. The road network en’s groups are active in Mwomboshi. Several women’s in all three project sites is very bad, which deters trad- groups operate in Musakashi, either in the form of clubs ers (and presumably providers of services such as agri- or multipurpose cooperatives established mainly to obtain cultural advice) from coming to these areas, especially government-supplied inputs such as maize seed and fertil- izer. None of these groups are linked to the IDSP. 9 Drawn from the World Bank Project Appraisal Document for IDSP (World Bank 2011b) and the Terms of Reference for the BNPP Grant. Lusitu. Virtually all farmers (95 percent) in Lusitu 10 Following the 2001 elections, new province and district boundaries placed (Sitinkwe area) are subsistence farmers; only 5 percent Chirundu in Lusaka Province. 11 Drawn from the Interim Report (Imani Consultants 2013a) and Notes on are “emerging farmers” operating more than 4 hectares. Field Visits (Imani Consultants 2013b) for this study. Women engage in very few activities of greater economic 10 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT FIGURE 3.1. MAP OF ZAMBIA WITH IDSP GROUP 1 SITES Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT Source: World Bank (2011b:100). 11 value than subsistence farming; small-scale vegetable pro- called LIMA-scheme to produce sorghum for Zambia duction and small livestock (goat) production are the two Breweries with loans provided by the bank. A small live- most significant examples. stock project under the Smallholder Agri-business Promo- tion Program (SAPP) promotes the rearing and marketing Of the three project sites, Lusitu is also the least devel- of small livestock, and consequently has a strong focus on oped in terms of farmers’ capacity to obtain information women. through ICTs. Television, radio, and mobile phones are the main information technologies in place, but farmers’ Mwomboshi. The population in the Mwomboshi area access to all three is limited. Information on markets and is involved mainly in small-scale farming, with an empha- prices is virtually nonexistent but also of relatively minor sis on producing maize and vegetables for household con- interest for small-scale farmers, given the low productivity sumption or local sales. The irrigated areas developed of agriculture in Lusitu (box 3.1). The ZNFU text messag- under the IDSP will include some of the large-scale com- ing service is not known to farmers. mercial farmers in this area.12 Farmers tend to rely mostly on radio for information on A number of private companies, organizations, and gov- agricultural practices and prices, although they also use ernment institutions are involved in agricultural activi- television and mobile phones (box 3.2). Television and ties in the area, including Zambia Breweries, ZNFU, the Greenbelt fertilizer company, Zambia National Com- BOX 3.2. VIEWS FROM PARTICIPANTS AT mercial Bank (ZANACO Bank), and Zamseed, which are A MEETING IN MWOMBOSHI AREA, all working together under a ZNFU-coordinated project CHIBOMBO DISTRICT, ZAMBIA (FEBRUARY 2013) BOX 3.1. VIEWS FROM PARTICIPANTS AT A MEETING IN LUSITU AREA, SOUTHERN PROVINCE, ZAMBIA (FEBRUARY 2013) Female participant: “Communication by phone to make arrangements with buyers is difficult: Some people who buy don’t have a phone. Others who are good buyers and have phones are Female participant: “Some wives can use the phone of their the truck drivers but very husbands, but other husbands don’t allow that; they say the wife will often they are not around. do things behind closed doors.” Other people who want to buy have no phone.” Female participant: “Men do things behind closed doors, but because they are men they do it, but they don’t want the wife to use it.” Male participant: “All farmers are involved in selling some of Male participant: “We are not so much interested in informa- the produce from farming, but we don’t see it as a business.” tion on prices, because the amount we produce is so small that we are not really interested in obtaining price information.” Photo: Vegetable market in Chibombo District, 2013. Older female participant: “Is it not possible to assemble Photo credit: Authors. once in a while the people in a classroom to teach them how to read and write?” Photo: Women and children at Lusitu site, 2013. 12 IDSP will develop irrigation sites consisting of different types (tiers) of irri- Photo credit: Authors. gated plots that vary by size and technology. Small-scale subsistence farmers are tier 1, and large-scale commercial farmers are tier 3. 12 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT mobile devices are used more in Mwomboshi than in BOX 3.3. VIEWS FROM PARTICIPANTS AT Lusitu but less than in Musakashi. A MEETING IN MUSAKASHI AREA, MUFULIRA DISTRICT, ZAMBIA A number of private companies and organizations are active in Chibombo District.13 It is not clear if any are (FEBRUARY 2013) active in the IDSP. Lima Links, a mobile phone–based service being developed by International Development Enterprises (iDE) Zambia, will focus on providing infor- mation on vegetable prices and will include Mwomboshi as one of its target areas. Musakashi. Most Musakashi farmers are of a relatively advanced age. They include former civil servants who are well educated, graduates of the nearby agricultural college, and individuals who previously worked on neighboring farms. Farmers produce for their own consumption or sell in Female participant: “Not many people can read and write, but small quantities (vegetables and maize, for example). Most even if people have not gone to school, they can use the mobile phone farmers do not consider their farms to be businesses. Some for talking.” farmers regard themselves as “weekend” farmers, because their primary home is located where they used to work. Female participant: “We can use literate people to send and read messages on the phone, even if we cannot read and write ourselves.” Of the three sites examined here, Musakashi is the most Male participant: “There is a lot of internet information for advanced in terms of farmers’ access to ICTs. Most farm- farmers, to learn new methods, get information on weather, rainfall.” ers have access to a radio, television, or mobile phone (box Photo: Testing the “road” during field surveys, 2013. 3.3). The Lima Links ICT platform will soon be intro- duced in this area as well. Photo credit: Authors. The mining industry and a few other private compa- nies are present in the area. Mines in Mufulira District might provide a possible future market for farmers under Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries and now the IDSP. The Zambia Agriculture Research Institute is in its second phase, seeks to transform the interest groups located near the project site and is actively involved in the into more federated, legally recognized farmer coopera- IDSP. tives and improve farmers’ access to markets. A major component of the project seeks to empower farmers and a wider range of extension service providers to increase KENYA AGRICULTURAL smallholders’ agricultural productivity; the ultimate goal PRODUCTIVITY AND is to transform subsistence farming into commercial agri- AGRIBUSINESS PROJECT culture. Another major component of KAPAP focuses on The predecessor of KAPAP, the Kenya Agricultural agribusiness and market development. As noted in the Productivity Project (2004–08), formed Common Work- Project Appraisal Document for KAPAP (World Bank ing Groups (CWGs) and Common Interest Groups 2009), by working through selected commodity value (CIGs) to increase agricultural productivity for selected chains, the project assists stakeholders to plan, design, and commodities. KAPAP, implemented since 2010 by the establish sustainable agribusinesses. KAPAP is being implemented in 20 counties that rep- Information on private companies and organizations provided by District 13 resent Kenya’s various geographical and ecological Agriculture Coordinator Office. regions. The project works with 4,216 CIGs, each of Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 13 which encompasses four CWGs. All the groups include emphasizes gender-disaggregated monitoring and eval- male and female farmers and are formed around a cer- uation. A gender-disaggregated baseline survey was tain commodity (value chain). There are 36 value chains conducted when the project’s second phase began. The in total, with the number of CIGs per value chain rang- value chains that have a relatively high membership of ing from 4 (the smallest—rice, beans, avocadoes) to 568 women and cut across the various regions of Kenya are (dairy cows) and 753 (the largest—local poultry).14 Under local poultry, bananas, dairy cows, potatoes, and sheep/ KAPAP, the CWGs and CIGs hire private providers of goats; local poultry CIGs are present in 10 regions and agricultural services (including extension advice) to sup- have the highest proportion of women among their port the groups’ efforts to move toward more productive, membership (table 3.1, figure 3.2, and figure 3.3). To commercial agricultural activities within their respective ensure that women and men benefit equally from the value chains. The groups all started as producer groups project, training is provided at all levels.15 under the Kenya Agricultural Productivity Project, but some have progressed to joint marketing and processing GENERAL FINDINGS FROM activities. THE KAPAP SITES Because KAPAP was at a more advanced stage of imple- KAPAP integrates gender concerns in project plan- mentation than IDSP, with more numerous and orga- ning, implementation, and participation and strongly nized producer groups, several criteria were developed to TABLE 3.1. VALUE CHAINS IN KAPAP, NUMBER OF CIGs, AND THEIR MEMBERSHIP No. No. No. No. Value Chain CIGs Members % M % F Value Chain CIGs Members % M % F Rice 4 88 58 42 African birds-eye chili 63 792 46 54 Beans 4 175 55 45 Cassava 66 1,610 47 53 Avocado 4 141 48 52 Peas 69 1,879 61 39 Sunflower 6 89 58 42 Maize 69 3,799 65 35 Grain amaranth 8 94 33 67 Rabbit meat 76 1,688 49 51 Sweet potatoes 8 202 46 54 Sorghum 89 2,245 54 46 Beef 11 475 67 33 Tomatoes 116 2,801 72 28 Farm forestry 11 73 88 12 Local vegetables 122 2,770 49 51 Gums and resins 15 417 71 29 Sheep/goat meat 127 4,925 64 36 Bulb onions 16 1,172 95 5 Groundnuts 131 2,984 45 55 Black beans 16 307 38 62 Dairy goat 136 2,010 40 60 Aloe sap 20 829 24 76 Potatoes 194 5,872 51 49 Camel meat 26 715 37 53 Mango 222 5,382 71 29 Pawpaw (papaya) 29 607 67 33 Fish 314 4,850 75 25 Dairy camel 36 990 20 80 Banana 384 7,922 56 44 Passion fruit 36 521 66 34 Honey 385 6,740 78 22 Citrus 41 1,631 73 27 Dairy cow 568 18,033 61 39 Soybeans 41 952 47 53 Local poultry 753 21,145 45 55 Source: KAPAP, April 2013. Note: CIG = Common Interest Group; M = male; F = female. 14 Information received from KAPAP, April 2013. The major value chains sup- As discussed, KAPAP also supports the development of a gender policy for the 15 ported through KAPAP are cereals, meat, poultry, dairy, natural resources, veg- agricultural sector, which will help to create and sustain a national capacity for etables, and fruits. mainstreaming gender concerns in agriculture. 14 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT FIGURE 3.2. VALUE CHAINS WITH FEMALE intervention. Each location has multiple poultry farmer PARTICIPATION OF OVER groups; the turnover time to generate income from poul- try is relatively short; farmers’ interest and participation 50 PERCENT Local poultry in the value chain is high; the service providers’ interest Avocado Grain and participation in the farmer groups is high; and the Dairy goat amaranth farmers are open to new ideas and innovations. All three Groundnuts Sweet potatoes locations are relatively close to Nairobi: Makueni is about Local 190 kilometers (approximately 3.5 hours by road), Kwale vegetables Black beans is about 500 kilometers (about 6 hours) and Gucha/Kisii Rabbit meat Aloe sap is about 320 kilometers (about 8 hours) from Nairobi Cassava (figure 3.4). Camel meat Af. birds eye chilli Dairy camel The literature review, field visits, and meetings with farmer Soya beans groups, service providers, and district government officials Source: List of CIGs provided by KAPAP. produced similar findings for the three sites.16 Member- ship in the poultry producer groups is mixed, sometimes consisting of nearly equal numbers of men and women. Similar challenges faced by farmers in all three counties FIGURE 3.3. TOTAL MEMBERSHIP include inconsistent prices, problems obtaining affordable IN VALUE CHAINS WITH OVER inputs (especially feed), and problems with access to mar- 50 PERCENT FEMALE MEMBERS kets and credit. Mobile phone ownership is quite high in 25000 20000 the three areas (about 70 percent of farmers own mobile phones, but in some groups 90–100 percent own phones). Members 15000 10000 Widespread use of certain ICT tools was observed across the three project sites. All mobile phone owners use the 5000 0 mobile money transfer service, M-PESA, indicating the high level of financial literacy among these farmers. Sw am ado Bl ota h k es e s el p t ird b l ey ns as li a G tab t un les Lo iry ts l p at y e ry a eg ea C chil Al ean ltr t am sa Lo Rab sav Af So cam D dnu t p an ai me ca go ac to s ea ou lv tm c ee ar ra Avo b e About 90 percent of M-PESA users knew how to make o e ca bi . b ya a ro in D C deposits and withdrawals from their accounts. Illiteracy G Value chain is higher among women than men; 50–70 percent of the Source: List of CIGs provided by KAPAP. group members are able to read SMS. determine which value chain and project sites would serve FINDINGS FROM INDIVIDUAL SITES as the basis of an ICT intervention: The following paragraphs review specific findings from 1. Does the value chain have relatively high percent- each site with respect to the value chains, the providers of age of women participants? training and other support services for KAPAP farmers, 2. Does it have a fairly short turnover period to gen- the business models adopted by individual farmers and erate income (unlike tree crops)? groups, and access to inputs. 3. Is there an interesting, viable platform that re- sponds to women's needs in this value chain? Kwale. The local poultry value chain encompasses 24 4. Are women already involved in different levels of locations and 86 CIGs. ProActive Consultant is contracted the groups? Is this culturally accepted? to provide training and support to farmers. Producers sell birds mainly on an individual basis, to neighbors or Based on those questions, the local poultry produc- tion value chain in three counties (Makueni, Kwale, 16 From Interim Report (Imani Consultants 2013a) and Notes on Field Visits and Gucha/Kisii) was selected for designing the ICT (Imani Consultants 2013b). Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 15 FIGURE 3.4. MAP OF KENYA WITH KAPAP SITES Source: World Bank (2009:129). 16 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT BOX 3.4. VIEWS FROM KWALE (JULY 2013) BOX 3.6. VIEWS FROM PARTICIPANTS AT Participant at stakeholder meeting, Kwale County, A MEETING IN GUCHA COUNTY, June 2013: “The main challenge is that there are no information KISII (JULY 2013) systems that allow farmers and farmer organizations to analyze the price trends in the market. The prices of birds are pegged on market demand dynamics. This fluctuates, based on the market demands and volumes of birds in the market. High volumes result in lower prices and vice versa.” BOX 3.5. VIEWS FROM MAKUENI (JULY 2013) Female participant at meeting, Nguluni Group, Male and female participants: Income generated June 2013: “The key challenge is access to financial resources to through poultry activities is spent on school fees. buy feed. Chickens range freely now, but this exposes them to diseases Men: Use the income to invest—for example, to rent a form neighbors’ birds.” farm, buy shop stock, buy cattle. Meeting with 2 CIGs, Makueni, September 2013: Women: Use the income to buy household items. “All farmers sell their birds both as a group and individually. The sale should ideally be based on the age of the birds, but the farmers usually Female participant on access to credit: “We operate a sell when the need for money arises.” ‘Merry-Go-Round.’ This is an informal savings and loans system of ‘group-lending.’ Through this, I could access a loan to buy chicks and now I have 18 birds.” Photo: Group meeting during field survey, 2013. to intermediaries who visit the area, although the more established groups sell collectively at set market days. Pro- Photo credit: Authors. ducers also purchase inputs on an individual basis, but they purchase vaccines collectively. Information on price trends is challenging to obtain (box 3.4). birds when they need cash rather than at the ideal time in the production cycle (box 3.5). Makueni. This site has 9 poultry value chain divisions, encompassing 24 locations where poultry groups are pres- Kisii (Gucha). The poultry value chain is imple- ent. The poultry value chain has 2,116 members (1,969 mented in 24 locations, each with four zones; each zone female and 947 male). CIGs are formed in each divi- has four CIGs. Motion Agro Consultancy provides vari- sion, and three representatives from each division form ous types of support to poultry farmer groups, such as the Makueni Poultry Value Chain Board. Members of a training and demonstrations. The main challenge for group can be highly dispersed, making communication the service provider is farmers’ inconsistent attendance and collective action difficult. The Business Initiative Sur- at the sequenced training sessions. Individual producers vival for Eradication of Poverty is contracted to facilitate generally sell birds to neighbors or at the market. A few capacity building for the poultry value chain. Note that CIGs with more mature business models sell collectively many groups are still buying and selling on an individual to the market and to a few regular customers. Men and rather than a collective basis. Access to credit remains a women invest and spend earning from poultry produc- problem; cash-constrained producers generally must sell tion differently (box 3.6). Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 17 CHAPTER FOUR INVENTORY OF ICT TOOLS IN AGRICULTURE IN KENYA AND ZAMBIA EXPANDING ICT INFRASTRUCTURE AND INITIATIVES Investments in ICT infrastructure in the last 10 years in Zambia and Kenya dramati- cally increased the availability and use of ICTs, especially mobile phones. Both coun- tries now have nationwide mobile phone networks. For example, by 2012, 86 percent of Kenya’s population had mobile coverage, while only 35 had access via land lines; figures for Zambia are similar. The subscriber base in both countries is above 65 per- cent and growing fast.17 Expanding mobile phone networks, the growing number of mobile phone users, and wider access to the internet have lent impetus to new services provided through ICTs. In Kenya especially, ICT initiatives are booming. The M-PESA mobile banking plat- form is transforming access to banking and banking transactions to such an extent that other countries are seeking to replicate the business model.18 The success of Kenya’s ICT sector has led companies such as IBM to set up dedicated software development and research centers for the African market. MOBILE TELEPHONY Mobile phones are changing the ways that Kenyans and Zambians communicate, do business, handle payments and banking transactions, and even travel. The impact on peoples’ daily lives is felt among the rural as well as the urban population. Mobile phones obviate the need for costly travel to relate information; money can be trans- ferred at little cost; banking services are available in remote areas for the first time. In agriculture, new ICT products (especially in Kenya) are providing extension services, 17 Information from service providers aggregated by ZICTA and the Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK). 18 In May 2012, M-PESA has over 15 million customers in Kenya (it is also used in other countries). Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 19 TABLE 4.1. MOBILE SUBSCRIBER AND PHONE PENETRATION IN KENYA, 2003–12 Year 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Mid 2012 No. 1,590,785 2,546,157 5,263,675 7,340,317 11,440,077 11,986,007 17,359,041 19,885,258 25,279,768 29,703,439 subscribers Mobile 4.95 7.77 15.74 21.62 33.65 35.25 45 51 64.2 75.4 penetration Source: Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK) database, 2012. Note: Providers do not collect gender-disaggregated data on mobile phone and internet ownership and use in Zambia or Kenya. market information, and business management tools to TABLE 4.2. GROWTH IN MOBILE PHONE small-scale farmers.19 SUBSCRIBERS, ZAMBIA, 2003–12 No. MOBILE PHONE SERVICES IN KENYA Subscribers Growth Over the last 10 years, Kenya’s mobile phone sector in No. per 100 Rate Kenya has grown by more than 60 percent each year. By Year Subscribers Inhabitants (%) April 2012, almost 30 million individuals had subscribed 2003 204,150 1.895 46.6 to mobile phone services for a penetration of about 75 2004 413,120 3.725 102.4 percent (table 4.1). The increase in mobile penetration can 2005 949,558 8.299 129.8 be attributed to a number of factors. Telecommunications 2006 1,663,051 14.369 75.1 infrastructure has expanded, and mobile phones them- 2007 2,639,026 22.539 58.7 selves have become cheaper. The value of calling cards 2008 3,539,003 26.955 21.5 has fallen from the lowest scratch card value of K Sh 250 2009 4,406,682 32.28 17.67 in 2003 to K Sh 50 in 2008, making calling cards much 2010 5,446,991 40.14 24 more affordable.20 The cost of calls has fallen as well. The 2011 8,164,553 62.55 47 average cost of a call to the same network declined from 2012 8,900,000 – – (October) K Sh 20.18 in 2004 to K Sh 1.0 in 2012; the average cost of a call to another mobile network fell from K Sh Source: ZICTA (2012). 32.38 to K Sh 3.0 over the same period. Mobile operators now offer a certain number of free minutes for calls within TABLE 4.3. MOBILE SIGNAL COVERAGE (%) their networks. BY PROVINCE, ZAMBIA Provider MOBILE PHONE SERVICES IN ZAMBIA Province Airtel MTN In 2005 fewer than 10 percent of Zambia’s population Lusaka 45 7.2 subscribed to a mobile phone service; the number more Central 45 3.75 than doubled between 2009 and 2012 to reach 8,900,000 Copperbelt 56 8.93 in October 2012 (about 68 percent of the population) Southern 42 4.10 (table 4.2). (Note that it is difficult to estimate the exact Western 21 2.23 North western 27 2.02 19 Kenya’s IT industry is probably more vibrant because of a number of syner- Eastern 43 2.81 gistic factors: the size of the country, the investments made in infrastructure, the Northern 40 3.04 success of M-PESA, levels of education, and public investments in developing Luapula 55 2.48 IT systems for farmers. 20 The exchange rate was approximately US$1 : K Sh 86 in April 2014. Source: ZICTA (2012). 20 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT TABLE 4.4. INTERNET SERVICES IN KENYA, 2005–12 Subscriptions 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total internet subscriptions – – – 1,713,852 1,997,832 2,667,916 4,258,287 7,738,882 Terrestrial mobile/data – – – 1,524,948 1,981,048 2,651,651 4,189,720 7,655,576 subscriptions Terrestrial/wireless data 7,321 8,808 25,374 30,000 8,435 6,050 29,979 21,709 subscriptions Estimated internet users 1,054,920 1,423,546 1,712,191 3,409,896 3,995,664 6,385,502 12,538,030 14,032,366 Source: CCK (2012). number of people who own a mobile phone, as large num- TABLE 4.5. NUMBER OF DATA SUBSCRIBERS, bers of people have more than one SIM card.) About 99.6 ZAMBIA, 2010–12 percent of customers across all networks are estimated 2010 2011 2012 (Oct.) to use pre-paid billing. As in Kenya, in Zambia mobile phone use continues to grow as the telecommunications Airtel 9,881 12,123 network expands (including international fiber optic con- MTN 14,288 13,556 nections to the internet), 3G networks are introduced, the Total 24,169 28,992 76,800 cost of mobile phones and calls declines, and more smart- Source: ZICTA (2012). phones are in use. INTERNET SERVICES IN ZAMBIA Table 4.3 shows the coverage of the two main mobile Internet access via mobile phone has grown with the intro- phone operators, Airtel and MTN. The mobile phone duction of 3G networks by all mobile phone operators. network is available in all districts, yet often service is The latest figures (table 4.5) show a large increase in the available only in the district center and might not extend number of subscribers, defined as users of either an inter- to rural areas. net dongle (USB modem) or BlackBerry. The number of phones used to access the internet stands at 2,600,000. INTERNET SERVICES In the last few years, the number of internet subscrib- ICT TOOLS: INVENTORY ers increased significantly in both countries, mainly because of data services provided through enhanced AND EVALUATION general packet radio service and 3G mobile phone net- While the uptake of mobile phones is similar in both coun- works. The growing number of internet users may also tries, the number of ICT tools available for agriculture is be attributed to innovative offerings such as connectiv- not. As discussed, in Kenya the government, NGOs, and ity to social networking sites and the use of free text private sector have started to provide services specifically message services, which are especially popular among for the rural farming population. In Zambia, the number young people. Neither country has information on how of similar initiatives is much smaller. To identify potential often users access the internet, what type of phones they ICT tools that could support smallholders within the con- use, or numbers of female and male users. text of IDSP and KAPAP, the study team inventoried and evaluated tools available in both countries. INTERNET SERVICES IN KENYA ICT TOOLS FOR AGRICULTURE More than 90 percent of all internet access in Kenya IN KENYA comes through mobile phone networks. Mobile data/ The ICT tools, platforms, and services available in Kenya internet subscriptions increased by 82.7 percent in 2012 with the potential to be used by small-scale farmers to reach 7.7 million (table 4.4). and agribusinesses are listed in table 4.6. The list is not Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 21 TABLE 4.6. INVENTORY OF MAJOR ICT TOOLS AND PROJECTS, KENYA Tool Name Service/Function Status Quality Coverage Knowledge dissemination/extension services Kencall Farmer Farmer helpline and call center, user mobile voice Active–low TBD National Helpline solution, extension advisory services, shared platform iCow Mobile extension service for dairy cows, SMS and Active High National voice registration system, SMS info alerts Market prices and market linkages KACE Market information through market centers, SMS, Active TBD Depends on the and radio services mFarm Online platform for market information and linkages; Active TBD National registration and information alerts via internet, SMS, or mobile application SokoShambani SMS SMS-based twitter solution creating closed user Active–low TBD Various regions; see groups between farmers and traders for various website crop value chains LINKS Livestock Information Network Knowledge System Active–low TBD Various regions; see provides market information through SMS and online; website market analysis via the internet Management information software for producer organizations CoopWorks Software for managing dairy farmer cooperatives Active High National Easyma Information management software for dairy farmer Active High National cooperatives SYSCO Information management software for coffee producer Active TBD National cooperatives Virtual City Agrimgr Information management software for dairy and tea Active TBD National farmer cooperatives Drumnet Software management application, SMS alerts for Active–low TBD 5 provinces in producer organizations Kenya Purchase transactions for agricultural products/services Kilimo Salama An e-Insurance, mobile micro-payment, SMS-based, Active High 5 regions in Kenya proprietary software solution, shared platform, subsidized costs to farmer Mobile network money transfer services M-PESA Safaricom’s mobile money transfer service Active High National Airtel Money Airtel’s mobile money transfer service Active High National Orange Money Orange’s Telkom mobile money transfer service Active High National YuCash Yu network mobile money transfer service Active High National Mobile network—mobile banking services Orange Money Money transfer and banking services between Orange Active High National mobile network and Equity Bank MShuari Savings and micro-loan product on Safaricom for Active High National M-PESA users Banks—mobile banking services Equity Bank Equity Bank’s mobile banking service Active High National Cooperative Bank Cooperative Bank’s mobile banking service Active High National Family Bank Family Bank’s mobile banking service Active High National 22 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT TABLE 4.6. INVENTORY OF MAJOR ICT TOOLS AND PROJECTS, KENYA (Continued ) Tool Name Service/Function Status Quality Coverage Solar lighting solutions D.Light Solar lanterns Active High National Mkopa SMS-operated solar lantern Active High Planned to be national Credit management software FrontlineSMS Credit Online software to manage loan allocation and Active TBD National remittance via M-PESA Craft Silicon Financial management software for savings and credit Active High National cooperatives SMS communication FrontlineSMS Online SMS communication application Active High Various partnerships in different parts of the country Source: Study team. Note: TBD = to be determined. exhaustive but gives an overview of the best-known tools vices to farmers, including poor smallholders, is to develop and applications. a commercially sustainable business model that has suf- ficient farmer subscribers and agricultural partners. The The inventory identified several market information and inventory also identified a few services that deliver insur- market linkage services. Some farmers appear to have ance (via mobile phone) against drought and excessive benefited from market information platforms,21 but there rain to wheat and maize farmers. is limited documentation that better access to price infor- mation enables farmers to increase their profits. Market Commercial management information systems (MISs) price solutions that rely on mobile phone platforms face for cooperative societies are used by many cooperatives challenges stemming from the relationship between con- with a large member base (such as coffee, dairy, and tea tent, size of the user base, and commercial viability. Farm- cooperatives; see box 4.1 for examples). Data on the MIS ers will be more likely to use mobile-based services if they software indicate that it increases cooperatives’ ability to supply information that is unavailable elsewhere (radio, audit internal processes and increases their efficiency and TV, newspapers), but often farm-gate prices for specific profitability. At the same time, MIS software solutions face commodities are not available for any kind of media out- two significant challenges to widespread use. First, these let to disseminate. A critical mass of traders must also be applications currently require a substantial investment in willing to share prices on a public platform and adhere to hardware (computers, servers) along with the software; a those prices. Commercial sustainability is affected when second challenge, especially for smaller cooperatives, is similar data are provided by other media outlets and that technical personnel with the skills to manage and run through person-to-person interactions (for example, a sin- the systems are in short supply and can command high gle subscriber can give or sell the information to many salaries. others who do not subscribe). ICT TOOLS FOR AGRICULTURE Only a limited number of ICT solutions provide farm IN ZAMBIA advisory services, and little data is available on their The study looked at ICT tools, platforms, and services impact. The primary challenge in providing advisory ser- available in Zambia that had some potential use for small- scale farmers and agribusinesses. The list of ICT tools, 21 Based on anecdotal information, largely from World Bank (2011a). platforms, and services is not exhaustive but provides Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 23 BOX 4.1. EXAMPLES OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR COOPERATIVES AND FARMER ORGANIZATIONS In 2008, TechnoServe Kenya—a nongovernmental organi- cooperatives. Virtual Agrimgr is being used on a wide scale zation (NGO)—supported Amtech Ltd. to develop manage- with the Kenya Tea Development Authority to network pro- ment information software for dairy farmer organizations. To duction information for more than 500,000 farmers and by date, the Easyma software is used by more than 23 coopera- the Brookside Dairy Processing company to manage its net- tives in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. work of milk suppliers. Also in 2008, the Solidaridad project contracted with Deloitte CoopWorks is the first truly open-source management Consulting Ltd. to develop an appropriate MIS for eight information system in Kenya. This license-free system, which selected coffee cooperative societies. By the end of 2010, the enables cooperatives of any kind to automate their daily oper- SYSCO-OP software was used in six coffee cooperatives ations, is available for downloading free of charge from the within the Solidaridad project. The system automates coffee internet. CoopWorks Dairy was extremely successful among bean collection up to the level of milling at local coffee coop- dairy cooperatives and led to the development of CoopWorks eratives. Records from the project’s development partners Coffee, which has been rolled out to coffee cooperatives. indicate that the system has increased efficiency and trans- More than 40 cooperative societies in Kenya use CoopWorks parency at the coffee cooperatives. to manage their daily operations, and uptake of the software continues to rise. The software development company Virtual City Ltd. has promoted Virtual Agrimgr, another MIS for producer Source: Study team. TABLE 4.7. INVENTORY OF MAJOR ICT TOOLS AND PROJECTS, ZAMBIA Tool Name Service/Function Status Quality Coverage Mobile banking and payment XAPIT Mobile banking platform of ZANACO Bank: Account Active High National balance, payments, money transfer, ATM, internet banking Airtel and MTN Banking through the mobile phone operators Airtel and Active High National Money MTN: Account balance, payments, money transfer Agriculture ZNFU 4455 SMS-based market information service of the Zambia Active High National National Farmers Union (ZNFU), offering market prices for 16 nonperishable commodities from more than 200 companies NAIS National Agricultural Information Service (NAIS) of the Active Varies National Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock offers general (Radio agricultural information via daily radio programs (each day reaches of the week one program is broadcast in one of the seven the largest local languages); also offers service in which farmers send audience) questions that are answered by SMS; provides a computer with internet connection in one of the district offices E-transport Web-based transport information service of ZNFU brings users Active Medium National needing transport services together with transport companies (needs more and promotion) regional Lima Links Mobile phone–based or Unstructured Supplementary Service Being Not known Along the Data (USSD) market information service with vegetable developed line of wholesale prices in four main markets; supports submission rail of prices by traders and messages between traders and farmers 24 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT TABLE 4.7. INVENTORY OF MAJOR ICT TOOLS AND PROJECTS, ZAMBIA (Continued ) Tool Name Service/Function Status Quality Coverage E-extension USSD extension information service of ZNFU provides market Active Not known National information and general agricultural information (price information, events information, production information) and serves as a communication tool and trading platform Weather RANET Climate information service of the Zambia Meteorological Active Varies National Department: weather reports available on the website; also promotes solar/windup radios and community radio Education I-school Education platform that provides interactive lessons based on Active High National the Zambian national curriculum on a tablet; designed for students to go through the lessons individually Connectivity LinkNet Infrastructure in Macha mission station to access the internet Active Not known Macha through a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) link and mission computers Africonnect Internet access infrastructure in and around the rural district Active Not known Namwala of Namwala: Internet cafe, training of local staff, internet service to major government institutions, local schools, and district hospital Source: Study team. an overview of the best-known tools and applications the world of ICT. It has no direct relevance for improv- (table 4.7). No tools identified during the inventory were ing women’s farms or other businesses, although presum- designed specifically for women in agriculture. ably mastery of the subject matter would add to girls’ and women’s business skills. The inventory reveals that only a few tools are deliver- ing information relevant to Zambia’s agricultural sector. MAIN FINDINGS FROM THE ZNFU’s market information service has been running for six years and delivers market information using text ICT INVENTORIES IN KENYA messaging, although the information is limited to non- AND ZAMBIA perishable crops and products (box 4.2). NAIS and the Several findings emerge from the ICT inventories. Per- meteorological department use more traditional com- haps most important from the perspective of this study munication technologies, of which radio has the largest is that none of the tools were developed specifically to audience. Two services under development appear to be address the needs of women in agriculture. Tools for potentially useful and cost-effective for delivering informa- small-scale farmers have been developed, implemented, tion for small-scale farmers and traders. The E-extension and piloted in both countries, although comparatively service from ZNFU aims to provide general extension fewer tools have been developed in Zambia. information. Lima Links by iDE aims to provide market information for vegetable growers, filling an important Published data for assessing the ICT tools implemented niche left unoccupied by other services (box 4.3). in these countries are extremely scarce. Very little infor- mation exists on these technologies with respect to their The I-school project has developed an interactive learn- quality, evaluations and impact of their performance, ing platform of high quality that exposes young people to and lessons learned from using them. Information on the Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 25 BOX 4.2. ZNFU 4455 PROVIDES FARMERS WITH PURCHASE PRICES AND CONTACT DETAILS FOR COMMERCIAL BUYERS ZNFU’s market information system is based on a text mes- A survey to understand farmers’ use of the system and atti- saging “pull” model—in other words, users receive informa- tudes toward the service found that: 40 percent said they could tion upon request—and thus is based on users’ needs. The negotiate better prices; 50 percent claimed to have increased system has three groups of users: farmers, small-scale trad- incomes; 21 percent now bulk their products before they sell; ers, and large-scale traders. The service provides information 52 percent now sell to different buyers; 23 percent say they on purchase prices offered by more than 200 companies in have built new trading relationships; and more than 30 per- Zambia for a set of 16 commodities and products, along with cent report increased confidence to grow cash crops or rear the companies’ contact information. The service is simple. animals. Small-scale traders use the system to find markets The user texts the first four letters of the commodity to the for the commodities they trade, find prices at which they can number 4455 in the Airtel network and receives a list of pur- sell their products, and learn which commodities provide the chase prices (the highest is displayed first) from the companies highest margins. Large-scale traders use the system for pro- currently purchasing that commodity. To receive the contact curing produce and discovering prices offered by their com- details of a company, the user sends the name of the company petitors. to 4455. More than 15 percent of text messages are estimated to lead directly to sales of produce. Source: ZNFU presentation, final workshop for this study, Zambia, April 2014. BOX 4.3. LIMA LINKS—A MOBILE PHONE–BASED SERVICE LINKING VEGETABLE PRODUCERS AND TRADERS IN FOUR MARKETS IN ZAMBIA About 15,000 Zambian farmers are working with iDE to • Traders are responsible for paying the individuals who improve their vegetable production. As part of that effort, iDE off-load the goods when they arrive at the market, is developing a USSD platform for market and price informa- because they have more expertise in negotiating those tion that can run on any mobile phone. The platform, which prices. links farmers with traders, enables them to view current prices submitted by traders and to send and receive messages on offers Despite the good faith of many participants, feedback from and requests for produce. Although Lima Links is still under traders and farmers highlights challenges that can arise in development, some initial observations indicate the potential the buying and selling process. Traders claim that farmers effectiveness of the approach taken by the developers: do not always respond to their requests to deliver goods when they need them but deliver the goods to other mar- • Traders are now willing to share prices on the service, kets. Farmers claim that traders send requests for deliver- because sharing that information helps them to nego- ies indicating a shortage in the market and therefore high tiate prices with farmers, who are now able to see the prices, but when farmers deliver the produce, prices are prices on offer. low. • Traders and farmers renegotiated the fee structure for charging traders to sell produce. Under the new arrange- ment, the fee is 10 percent of the value of the sale rather Source: iDE presentation at the final workshop for this study, Zambia, April than a randomly determined fee. 2014. funding models used to develop and run the tools or on target small-scale farming. Most tools for this segment of their potential sustainability is equally difficult to unearth. the population are funded through projects and donors. Even tools that have a business model still rely (directly or The financial tools developed for the mass market have indirectly) on donor funding, and they are not expected to enjoyed wide commercial success and use, but no informa- run after a project ends. For that reason, sustainability of tion is available on the extent to which small-scale farmers ICT tools is a major issue. The commercially viable tools use them. Very few commercial ICT products appear to for financial services are an exception, along with ICT 26 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT tools run by strong organizations that have integrated the phones or computers with a dongle, and many have low tools into their activities, are committed to their success- or no literacy (or ICT literacy). Nonusers may lack any ful use, and have the (financial) capacity to run the tools understanding of the benefits of the internet, especially in the absence of external funding. ZNFU 4455 exempli- if little content has been developed to meet local informa- fies these qualities. One promising set of ICT tools is the tion needs. Internet service providers (ISPs) can provide MIS software developed for cooperatives focusing on dif- broadband internet to rural communities, but like their ferent commodities in Kenya. They reach a large farmer counterparts in the mobile phone business, ISP compa- base and seem commercially viable and successful. Their nies are not willing to invest in rural areas because of the applicability or adaptability for smaller producer groups small customer base, preferring to set up their networks should be verified. No such tool for larger farmer groups in the larger provincial towns. Aside from the constraints or cooperatives is marketed in Zambia. already mentioned, additional issues related to introduc- ing broadband internet connectivity in rural areas and CHALLENGES IN RURAL small provincial towns include the following: » Equipment (VSAT, servers, routers, and so on) is COMMUNITIES’ USE OF ICTs costly to acquire and subject to damage from inter- The use of ICTs in rural areas, especially increased mobile mittent power outages. phone connectivity and lower phone prices, has almost » Networks are expensive to maintain and oper- certainly had an enormous impact on the rural economy ate (bandwidth, backhaul, and transmission), and and communities in developing countries. Yet challenges it can be a challenge to find capable local staff to remain. Mobile phones must be charged, and electricity operate the services. is often unavailable in rural areas. The cost of using the » Because companies pay the same rates and taxes phones is relatively high, and mobile network coverage in rural and urban areas, they are less interested in can be poor in rural areas, especially if they are remote. investing in rural areas. » Demand from the government and government Rural internet users face their own set of challenges. employees, which could have created a critical Where there is voice calling coverage there is also GPRS mass, is lacking, as there is no e-government. service, which supports 3G services and internet connec- tivity, but service can be poor and intermittent. Mobile phone operators are reluctant to introduce 3G networks in With these considerations in mind, the next chapter rural areas without incentives, however, because the pool identifies which ICTs could be piloted in Zambia and of customers who can pay for the service is insufficient. Kenya with the specific goal of improving women’s agro- In any event, few users have access to internet-enabled enterprises and entrepreneurship. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 27 CHAPTER FIVE PILOT DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION IN ZAMBIA OVERVIEW The concept for the pilot was based on an understanding of the context and the fea- tures required in an easily scalable ICT solution that meets the range of information and networking needs involved in linking stakeholders—particularly women farm- ers and entrepreneurs—to vegetable value chains. Farmers in the three sites mainly require information on irrigated crop production and marketing, but the inventory found no readily available ICT initiatives or tools capable of providing such informa- tion. Two platforms could potentially be adapted for IDSP farmers, however. Lima Links operates with vegetable farmers in two of the three pilot sites, Musakashi and Mwomboshi, and ZNFU 4455 provides market and price information nationwide for 16 commodities—although not vegetables—and is mainly used by farmers on a sea- sonal basis when they sell their crops. PILOT CONCEPT Demand for extension information is high, especially among women, whose access to information has always been limited. As IDSP introduces new irrigation schemes, farmers will require more information on irrigated agriculture and opportunities for related agro-enterprises in the project sites. For that reason, the concept for the pilot is to facilitate the creation of a network of information exchange among stakeholders, in which groups of women farmers and entrepreneurs are the central source of demand for the information being shared. The network will be developed by linking female farmers with one or more providers of extension information for selected irrigated agriculture value chains of interest to women. In this case, information from the IDSP indicates that the vegetable value chain involves numerous female farmers and has the most potential for growth, so the pilot will focus on that value chain. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 29 COMPONENTS OF THE PILOT project area, this feature will be developed gradually as The pilot will have three components: providing exten- familiarity with the tools and the stakeholders grows. sion information, providing group management informa- tion and business training, and providing an interactive communication channel. Priority will be given to the first THE CANDIDATE ICT TOOLS two elements. FOR THE PILOT The first option considered for the pilot was to distrib- Providing extension information. Site liaison offi- ute mobile phones to women farmers or women’s cers and agricultural extension officers can use ICT tools groups. The rationale was that most women have access to reach farmers in the most remote locations. Even to phones only through their husbands, other male family though extension officers have been provided with motor- members, or friends and neighbors, but if women own bikes, with ICT they can provide information in an even phones they can use them to improve their businesses more timely way without having to travel to the farm. through calling, text messaging, and other applications. Farmers who previously had little or no contact with There are no indications, however, that the distribution of extension officers will now be able to receive crop man- phones by itself will improve the businesses of women in agement information. The current ratio of extension offi- the three sites (particularly in Lusitu, where the develop- cers to farmers is approximately 1:1,000. If ICT enables ment of enterprises led by women is very low). A phone an extension officer to send information to selected lead would not necessarily help a woman to sell her vegetables farmers or groups instead of having to deliver that infor- to her customers, because presently such interactions hap- mation in person, the extension officer is more likely to pen at the farm gate with traders. At current prices, the meet the needs of all of the clients in the area. Extension cost of one call to a customer could potentially equal the will reach even more individuals if a Training of Trainers entire value of the sale to that customer. Finally, as noted, model is applied. Another expectation is that enhanced none of the available ICT platforms or applications can access to information will improve the professional skills provide more comprehensive information and networking and confidence of extension officers in remote areas, who to support women’s vegetable enterprises. generally have very limited opportunities to update their knowledge. A second option was to provide women’s groups with tablets and an internet connection. A number Providing group management information and of context-specific factors indicated that tablets were the business model training. As groups in the project sites appropriate ICT tool to pilot at the three project sites: are fairly new or lack a strong organizational structure, it » Information needs. Women farmers at the proj- is important for them to learn about group management ect sites are involved mainly in maize production and business models, as well as long-term business plan- in the three project sites, but they also participate ning. A functioning, economically viable business model in the vegetable value chain on a small scale. Given is a prerequisite for a group to receive and use market the anticipated increase in vegetable production information to link successfully to markets. on irrigated land under IDSP, it is important that women obtain technical information on vegetable Providing an interactive communication chan- production and on quality issues pertinent for mar- nel. In addition to receiving information from extension keting their produce. officers, farmers should be able to request information » Literacy level. Low literacy levels can be over- from them as and when needed and send information to come by using certain features of tablets, such as back to them as need (for example, information on pest icons, voice recordings, and videos, and informa- outbreaks). For that reason, the ICT tool should enable tion can be shared and stored easily in tablets. interactive communication among farmers, service pro- » Mobile phone ownership. Women in the three viders, and IDSP staff. In practice, given the limited sites generally do not use mobile phones; if they do number of extension officers and service providers in the use them, they do not use them for business. While 30 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT the use of basic phones would reduce the pilot’s areas have unreliable internet connections, an advantage startup cost, future use could be quite expensive, of tablets is their “offline capacity”—in other words, most based on the present cost of text messaging. of the time mobile devices can display, collect, and store » Internet connectivity. Even though the groups data and information, and once an internet or telecom- will need to pay for internet connection, the proj- munications network becomes available, the tablet will ect could support that cost at first; gradually, the connect to send or receive new information. Even though groups could use the income generated from tablets are relatively expensive,22 prices are falling rapidly, increased vegetable production to pay for the con- and their potential as a platform for group communica- nection. The costs of connecting to the internet are tion seems strong. relative low (approximately US$21 per month). » Access to electricity. All project sites will have THE PROPOSED APPROACH access to electricity by the time the IDSP is com- plete, but not at the start. Groups will be provided FOR IMPLEMENTING with solar panels and chargers, which can also THE PILOT be used to charge other devices such as mobile The pilot will target five producer groups with a major- phones and generate revenue to cover the groups’ ity of female members23 selected from each of the three costs. IDSP sites. The implementation will be completed in » Tablet use and maintenance. Tablets will be phases, starting with sites and groups that are ready to cared for by each group under clearly defined practice irrigated agriculture. Other sites will join in as responsibilities for the leader and designated they establish their settlements, facilities, and activities. the group members. A training package will be Groups will be selected in a participatory way with the designed for women’s groups as well as other recip- communities involved, based on a number of criteria that ients of devices, covering the use and maintenance should help to ensure that the groups are able to use the of tablets and solar chargers. Lead women farmers tool (box 5.1). will be trained to use tablets in close collaboration with Sofreco, which is the community participation and capacity building service provider for IDSP. BOX 5.1. READINESS CRITERIA FOR The content of the agricultural extension training SELECTING WOMEN’S GROUPS TO PILOT will be developed by the Ministry of Agriculture THE USE OF ICT TOOLS and Livestock and the Agriculture Research Cen- tres, while the content of the agribusiness training • The resettlement process should be underway. will be developed by the IDSP staff working on • At least some women in the group must be literate. agribusiness. • The group should be active and meet on a regular basis. • Group members must devise an arrangement to com- pensate the person(s) handling the device(s) for their time The extension information on irrigated vegetable produc- and maintenance efforts. tion supplied through the tablets could consist of record- • The women in the group must be involved in a vegeta- ings (voice with text, pictures, and/or video) uploaded ble value chain that at least partly includes commercial through a temporary internet connection, interactive activity or involves private sector actors (for example, processors) in the area. videos (which require an intermittent internet connec- tion), or audio conference calls (which require an inter- Source: Study team. net connection for their duration). Similarly, management and business model information and training could be obtained through the tablets. Aside from audio calls and 22 Tablets in Zambia cost around US$600 in 2013, whereas smartphones (gener- video, the tablets can facilitate communication by e-mail ally BlackBerry) started at US$150 for the simplest models. (which requires an internet connection for receiving and 23 As the field surveys indicated, the reality is that all women’s groups count at sending but not writing or reading). Given that certain least a few men among their members. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 31 PROVIDING HARDWARE the effectiveness of the extension officers. Lead farmers The budget for the pilot will include the provision of with reading and writing abilities will be chosen as the hardware. Devices (tablets) and solar chargers will be pro- trainers responsible for disseminating information more vided to the selected groups in each project site. Tablets widely among the farmers. will also be provided to the IDSP site committees at each of the three sites, to the block or camp extension officers LINKING WOMEN FARMERS from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, and to AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR the IDSP site liaison officers. The ICT devices and training are the means to improve networking and access to relevant information among women farmers and entrepreneurs. For the improved net- PROVIDING TRAINING working and access to information to pay off, however, the Recipients of the devices will be trained to use and key is to identify a pool of buyers and processors for the maintain the tablets and solar chargers. Sofreco will be vegetables and to link the women’s groups to them. For heavily involved in the design and delivery of training that purpose, the pilot will develop a roster of potential to farmers. Sofreco will also provide training to exten- private companies and other relevant stakeholders, and sion officers in terms of responding to women farmers’ also build their awareness of the women’s groups as sup- information needs. As noted, the Ministry of Agricul- pliers to the private sector. ture and Livestock and the Agriculture Research Centres will develop content for training in agricultural exten- sion, whereas IDSP staff specializing in agribusiness will MONITORING AND EVALUATION develop the agribusiness training content. The imple- The pilot will be monitored based on a two-pronged menter will also regularly follow up with the service approach. It will monitor and evaluate actual use of the providers. The use of devices will be monitored by the tablets and the communication network (uptake of the implementer as well as by the relevant staff of the IDSP tool). It will also monitor and evaluate the actual results and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. The Training and outcomes achieved by using the tablets and commu- of Trainers methodology will be used at the three sites to nication network (gauging whether uptake of the tool had reach out to as many farmers as possible and enhance positive social and economic results). 32 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT CHAPTER SIX PILOT DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION IN KENYA OVERVIEW As in Zambia, the pilot will introduce ICT tools and platforms to women (and youth) in the KAPAP sites to understand whether their use can enhance women’s agro- enterprises. Although no suitable tools and platforms are already in use, the needs of the target communities are better articulated, and the organization and business models of their farmer groups are more advanced, than those of their counterparts in Zambia. The concept for the pilot was developed based on an understanding of the needs and capacities of the target communities and the features they require in an easily scalable ICT solution, as indicated by the ICT inventory, research with the farmers’ groups, interviews with the KAPAP teams working at the project sites, and the potential for the pilot to link with KAPAP’s objectives for the development of the poultry industry. PILOT CONCEPT The feasibility study revealed that a tool enhancing the organization and business model of groups in the poultry value chain would best respond to the needs and capac- ities within the target communities. Information from KAPAP indicates that poultry value chains are popular in the KAPAP areas, have high participation of female farm- ers, and have a short turnover time. In addition, the poultry groups operate on solid basis with profitable business models. For that reason, the concept for the pilot is to use ICT tools for supporting individual poultry farmers and their organizations to develop and implement efficient systems and processes for managing their organizations, production, sales, finance, and com- munication.24 COMPONENTS OF THE PILOT The pilot has three main components: deploying an ICT tool to support farmer orga- nizations in running organizational and financial management systems; deploying an 24 Appendix E: Pilot Concept Kenya Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 33 ICT tool enabling individual farmers to access productiv- » Electronically captures sales of chickens by regis- ity and financial management data; and enhancing com- tered farmers. munication among the stakeholders in the value chain. » Tracks product rejects. » Electronically generates a supplier receipt for each Deploying an ICT tool to support farmers’ orga- farmer. nizations in running organizational and financial » Electronically captures the purchase of chickens by management systems. A basic record-keeping ICT registered buyers/traders. tool will enable farmers’ organizations to capture, store, » Electronically provides financial account state- disseminate, manage, and monitor data on productiv- ments for registered suppliers. ity. The same tool will make it possible to keep financial » Assigns a credit facility to registered suppliers. records for individual farmers and for the organization as » Generates suppliers’ payrolls and transfers/credits a business unit. the various payment accounts registered by the farmers. Deploying an ICT tool enabling individual farm- » Generates various account reports for all business ers to access productivity and financial manage- transactions of the poultry producer groups. ment data. The tool will enable individual farmers to » Through an SMS module, provides an affordable track their poultry production and their sales through information messaging platform between farmers their producer organization. At the same time, capacity- and all other stakeholders in the poultry producer building activities will enable farmers to understand the groups. profitability of their business venture, including basic con- » Consolidates data from all poultry producer groups cepts such as profit/loss, savings, and financial literacy. to give a complete overview of all purchases of chickens from farmers and poultry producer Enhancing communication among the stakehold- groups at any time. ers in the value chain, including communication between the management committees of farm- ers’ groups, the KAPAP County Unit, the service CoopWorks. CoopWorks is a financial and member providers, and individual farmers belonging management information system for farmers’ associations to groups. ICT tools will be used to provide efficient, and agriculture cooperatives that was developed for the cost-saving solutions for communicating information on dairy value chain and later adapted for the coffee value farmer events, disease outbreaks, market demands, and chain. More than 40 cooperative societies in Kenya use prices. CoopWorks in their daily operations, and its use contin- ues to expand. The tool is currently being adapted for the maize value chain and could potentially be adapted for THE CANDIDATE ICT TOOLS this pilot with the poultry value chain. The tool, which FOR THE PILOT automates all of a cooperative’s activities at an afford- Poultry Producer Group Management Software. able cost, has modules for managing members, inven- The Poultry Producer Group Management Software, tory, payroll, shares, cash and bank accounts, and debtors developed for TechnoServe Kenya but not yet piloted, and creditors, among others. By tracking all of the infor- could respond to the requirements described previously. mation vital to a cooperative’s operations, the software This software package enables poultry producer groups to improves accountability and efficiency, reduces operating collect data on their business, create reports, and do the costs, increases productivity, and promotes fast, timely, accounting for their business activities. The software has and informed decision making. By placing cooperatives the following functionalities: on an increasingly sound operational footing, the software » Electronically captures farmer membership data can increase farmers’ confidence in agriculture as a busi- records at various levels, such as data for a farmer ness and contribute to the reduction of poverty in rural as a member, a shareholder, and a supplier. areas. 34 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT THE PROPOSED APPROACH TRAINING An implementation phase of 18 months is foreseen, dur- FOR IMPLEMENTING ing which the CIGs will be trained to use the poultry THE PILOT software, closely monitored by the software developers, The pilot will initially target three CIGs in Makueni KAPAP, and service providers in the county. Aside from County, with the possibility of scaling up to include more covering the management and running of the software, CIGs and more counties in the areas where KAPAP is the training will enable CIG members to understand implemented. Makueni was chosen as the initial target the information generated by the system, including the site because it is close to Nairobi and has a large number financial implications of the business for the groups of active poultry CIGs. Because the site selected for the and for their individual members. As mentioned, spe- pilot is near the capital, it may offer certain advantages cific training will be provided to a data entry clerk and to producers, such as better infrastructure and access to selected members from each CIG to run and maintain markets; on the other hand, the larger number of poul- the system. try CIGs in the pilot area, and their large membership, may increase competition among poultry producers and lower the prices they receive. These factors will have to MONITORING AND be closely followed and taken into consideration when EVALUATION the impact of the pilot and possibilities for scaling up and Because poultry production cycles are relatively short, the scaling out are evaluated. poultry producer groups and individual farmers will be The CIGs selected to participate in the pilot will be done able to gain experience in using the poultry management jointly with KAPAP and service providers in the area, software and attain tangible results in their enterprises based on the following criteria: Women’s participation over the course of the pilot. The results will be evaluated in the mixed groups is relatively high; all group members in close collaboration with the service provider. Because participate actively in the poultry value chain; a few mem- the service provider (Technoserve) is supporting efforts by bers are computer literate and available to be trained as other poultry groups to pilot the same software in paral- data clerks (including women); the group has a central lel with the pilot effort described here, results from both place that can serve as an office, where a computer could pilots could be compared for greater insight into the fac- be installed; and the group has access to electricity. tors that contribute to success. The poultry software will be implemented in four phases, PROVIDING HARDWARE which form the basis of the workplan for the pilot: a plan- AND SOFTWARE ning and preparation phase; initial implementation and The pilot project will provide hardware (computers, training; ongoing support and monitoring; and an evalua- modems, printers, and UPS) and software (for poultry tion phase. Appendix E presents the detailed workplan for management) to the three selected CIGs. implementing the Kenya pilot. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 35 CHAPTER SEVEN CONCLUSIONS Information is vital for improving agricultural productivity and generating better incomes, yet women often find it challenging to obtain such information. Although is it commonly acknowledged that the extensive use of ICTs in agriculture has improved the dissemination of information and communication in developing countries, not everyone has access to ICTs and their benefits. For reasons discussed previously, including illiteracy, poverty, and unequal decision-making power in the household, women in the agricultural sector (farmers and entrepreneurs) are often at a particular disadvantage when it comes to accessing and learning to use these powerful technologies. The literature review undertaken for this feasibility study, along with the many field visits and consultations with government officials, development partners, private sec- tor, and NGOs, have all provided helpful information for identifying and understand- ing the main challenges involved in designing and implementing projects using ICTs for rural women’s economic empowerment. In brief, no ICT tools have been devel- oped exclusively for women farmers in either Zambia or Kenya, and no data are avail- able on the impact of existing ICT tools used by rural women. Few commercial ICT products target small-scale farming. Kenya has a larger number of ICT tools available for small-scale farmers compared to Zambia, where the number is extremely low, but most of these tools have been funded by donors, and their viability is uncertain when donor support comes to an end. At the same time, women farmers and entrepreneurs in Zambia and Kenya emphatically indicate that they need reliable, timely access to technical and market information. They fully recognize the advantages of joining and interacting with other stakeholders in the value chain, because participation will ena- ble them to obtain knowledge of current requirements on quality and product safety, gain bargaining power with buyers, and build a relationship with the private sector as a reliable supplier. Concepts for two pilots of ICTs among women farmers in Zambia and Kenya were proposed. In Zambia, where very little entrepreneurship is seen among rural women at present, but where the development of irrigation under IDSP offers consider- able potential for women to expand into more commercial (and profitable) vegetable Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 37 production and marketing, the pilot aims to use ICTs to Even though ICTs alone cannot alleviate gender inequali- enable female farmers’ access to extension information ties in agriculture, they can act as a vehicle of social trans- and link them to service providers as well as business formation by lifting some of the constraints faced by rural model trainers. In Kenya, where KAPAP is already work- women, including a lack of information, skills, and con- ing with poultry producer groups (which have large num- tacts to move their agro-enterprises forward. The informa- bers of women members), the pilot aims to use ICTs to tion developed through this feasibility study provides food support individual poultry farmers and poultry producer for thought with respect to the next steps in implementing organizations to develop and implement more efficient the pilots, the implications of the findings for IDSP and systems and processes to manage their organizations, pro- KAPAP, and the design of similar ICT interventions for duction, sales, finance, and communication. women in the future. 38 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT CHAPTER EIGHT LESSONS LEARNED DIFFERENT CONTEXTS, DIFFERENT CONCEPTS This study developed two concepts for pilot efforts to learn whether ICT tools can enable women farmers and entrepreneurs to move from producing almost entirely for subsistence to producing for a wider commercial market. The research and the iterative process of designing the pilots confirm that there is no single blue- print for designing a pilot to achieve this goal. Context matters. The concepts for the pilots differ in significant ways because of contextual differences in Zambia and Kenya, especially differences in the availability of tested and successful ICT tools, in the target populations in the project areas (women in particular, but not excluding men), and in the needs of women (and men) in relation to specific value chains. Different categories of female (and male) farmers will differ in their access to and use of ICT tools, owing to a range of factors. These differences matter. Two specific myths that reduce the potential for ICT applications and other interventions to contribute to gender-equitable agricultural development are worth emphasizing here.25 First, small- holder farmers are often considered an undifferentiated group of beneficiaries, with the same needs and same opportunities—but they are not. Second, men and women are assumed to have the same ability to access, use, and control ICTs—in other words, ICTs are assumed to be gender neutral—but they are not. The remainder of this chapter summarizes the specific lessons learned in developing the pilots. For additional guidance in overcoming the challenges related to gender and ICTs in agriculture, see the ICT in Agriculture e-Sourcebook (World Bank 2011a). See World Bank (2011a:73), Module 4 (“Extending the Benefits: Gender-equitable, ICT-enabled Agricultural Devel- 25 opment,” section on key challenges and enablers). Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 39 executed26 and that “the project gives equal treatment to MAINSTREAMING GENDER all inhabitants of the catchment areas.” At workshops AND TAKING AN EQUITY held in both countries for this study, participants main- APPROACH tained that women and men have the same needs when Both IDSP and KAPAP aim to mainstream gender and accessing information. apply what they call an equity approach (see box 8.1 for a The projects aim to “be fair, just, and un-biased” in their definition of equity and figure 8.1 for an illustration). For approach. The pilot designs described here acknowledge KAPAP, implementing an equity approach means, among that smallholder farmers are a differentiated group—in other things, that the project collects as much gender- Zambia, for example, poorer subsistence farmers differ disaggregated data as possible and that “services should from emerging farmers, and in Kenya as well as Zam- be provided to all farmers; men, women, youth, disabled, bia, female smallholders differ from male smallhold- marginalized and no preference is given to one gender.” ers. Because access to and control over resources varies For IDSP, it means that various gender studies have been by gender, gender is an important part of the “equity approach.” This recognition guides projects and other BOX 8.1. EQUITY AND ACTIONS TO practitioners in developing approaches that may differ- PROMOTE EQUITY entiate the way, for instance, information is presented or activities are chosen to be promoted. One option might Equity is defined as the quality of being fair, unbiased, and just. In other words, equity involves ensuring that every- be to form groups specifically for women, especially at the one has access to the resources, opportunities, power, and initial test/pilot phase. When projects work with specially responsibility they need to reach their full, healthy potential established women’s groups, however, male farmers, hus- as well as making changes so that unfair differences may be bands, sons, and leaders should be aware of the groups’ understood and addressed. purpose and kept abreast of developments. Where neces- Source: “Rising to the Challenge,” Sex and Gender Based Analysis sary or applicable—as in Kenya, where all groups sup- e-Learning Resource (www.sgba-resource.ca). ported by KAPAP are mixed—working in mixed groups might be a better option, taking into account the different opportunities and challenges women and men face, even FIGURE 8.1. DIFFERENTIATE EXTENSION/ if they are members of the same group. INFORMATION PROVISION REACHING THE POOR AND DISADVANTAGED Many interventions involving the use of ICTs with rural (female) farmers are based on the notion that these farm- ers are already part of a value chain, producing for a (local) market and obtaining an income from their agricul- tural activities. For individuals who are mainly subsistence farmers, who sell produce locally to neighbors or traders only when they have a surplus or need cash (for an emer- gency or to cover significant household expenses such as school fees), the advantages of using ICTs to market their production are not part of their reality. 26 Including “Gender and Social Mainstreaming Training” (financed by the World Bank–managed Trust Fund for Environmental and Social Development) Source: Authors. and “Women Land Rights” (financed by the Nordic Trust Fund). 40 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT In general, to acquire, use, and take advantage of com- in a project target group or in communities within a tar- mercial ICTs, a farmer either needs some capital, a regu- get area. Yet for the purposes of the ICT pilots outlined lar income, or access to a project or program that funds here, and for other ICT interventions in general, it is not or partially subsidizes the initial acquisition and use of the enough to differentiate between men and women. The tools and software. Even then, after the support has ended, feasibility analysis for the pilots found enormous differ- the running cost might be too expensive for (female) farm- ences within the group of women—sometimes greater ers, if their farm activities have not yet been transformed differences than those between men and women—with into successful (small) businesses. There is a risk that the regard to their needs, issues related to small-scale enter- introduction and use of ICTs might therefore maintain or prises, and access to information. Differences were espe- increase the gap between the poorer (often female) farm- cially pronounced in polygamous households in project ers and those who are already better off. sites in Kenya and Zambia. In other cases, women (and men) cannot get involved in many or all small-scale In designing ICTs and putting them to work, choices business activities, ranging from producing field crops have to be made. These choices will be made after con- and vegetables to rearing (small) livestock and trading. sidering sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and policy. A Enterprises also operate on different levels, from (semi) choice guided by the cost-effectiveness and sustainabil- subsistence farming with occasional sales of surplus to ity of a particular tool or platform might prevent poorer a substantial business with a provincial or national pres- and more disadvantaged groups from benefiting from it ence. The major challenge is still to identify the varied directly. However, it is largely the kind of information information needs among this diverse range of female disseminated, the means of disseminating it, and the and male farmers and to provide enough content that information provider that determines whether more dis- reflects those needs. The identification of information advantaged people have access to and can benefit from needs and development of content should not be based the information provided. For example, market informa- on gender alone but on additional relevant informa- tion provided for a fee through a text messaging service tion from the target group, such as age, type and level to a personal smartphone is an example of an ICT that of enterprise, household situation (polygamous, female- is clearly beyond the reach of the poorest, whereas par- headed, number of school-age children, and other vari- ticipatory extension videos shown by government workers ables) and “what type of business, which value chain, and have successfully reached and benefitted poor women in what operational level” farmers are involved in. India.27 In addition to adopting the right technology and the right information, changes in policy—for example, subsidies or reduced tariffs—can also make ICTs more CREATING AN ENABLING accessible to the disadvantaged. ENVIRONMENT The stakeholder analysis confirms that the equity TAKING THE ANALYSIS approach is the most preferred, feasible, and appropri- BEYOND DIFFERENCES ate for the selected pilot sites. The ICT inventories and field surveys in Zambia and Kenya show that apart from BETWEEN MALE AND gender, poverty and poverty-related issues in many areas FEMALE FARMERS determine the level and type of access to and use of ICTs The challenge, as noted, is that farmers are often con- for both men and women. For that reason, it is essential sidered an undifferentiated group of beneficiaries. Gen- to promote an enabling environment for the rural poor der analyses have been promoted as a means to acquire (male and female) to use ICTs, through policies at the specific information on access to and control over assets, national level and within projects and programs. One specific needs, and challenges among women and men suggestion from the workshop in Zambia was for ZICTA to develop a differentiated tariff structure for beneficia- Digital Green Participatory extension videos for women in India at: http:// 27 ries in rural areas and for service providers’ and develop- www.digitalgreen.org/. ers’ payments. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 41 However, the use of ICTs and the creation of an enabling IDENTIFY THE NEEDS OF THE TARGET policy environment are not the sole answers to improv- GROUP AND SUBGROUPS ing the access to and exchange of information. Apart It is important to establish to what extent ICTs can actu- from policies regarding the obvious infrastructure linked ally address the needs of the target group and subgroups. to ICTs—such as (subsidized) provision of electricity and For that purpose, the information on groups needs to be infrastructure for mobile and internet networks—policies gender-disaggregated, examine the differences within the related to other infrastructure and institutions are indis- groups of female and male farmers, and consider the dif- pensable as well, including the rural road network, input ferent levels of economic activity, and the different areas supply and output markets, service providers, education of the value chain, in which farmers are involved. and adult literacy, and credit and saving facilities. The need for specific enabling national policies and strategies that cut across ministries, sectors, and agencies should be CONDUCT A VALUE CHAIN emphasized. ANALYSIS AND/OR DESCRIBE USE CASE SCENARIOS A good understanding of the value chain identified for DESIGNING TOOLS RELEVANT the project is important for determining if and how ICTs FOR WOMEN’S ENTERPRISES: can assist the enterprises involved. Use case scenarios are ELEMENTS AND STEPS a valuable tool for taking a critical look at potential ICT In summary, to develop and implement ICT tools that are solutions, because they can (and should) be used to identify useful to women and which they can easily access, a num- factors that could undermine the effectiveness of the tool. ber of key elements and steps should be considered. The For example, farmers provided with average retail prices iterative process described next continues throughout the for commodities will find it hard to attain those prices out- design and implementation phases, with special adapta- side urban areas and feel cheated when they realize they tions to take women’s needs into account. The process is cannot get those prices; that outcome has the potential to based on an approach discussed in the ICT in Agriculture undermine the trust built between buyers and sellers. e-Sourcebook (World Bank 2011a) and on findings from this feasibility study. SELECT OR DEVELOP THE ICT PLATFORM/TOOL DEFINE THE TARGET GROUP This part of the development process is crucial, as it AND SUBGROUPS involves identifying and/or developing the ICT tools or It is important to be able to define different types of platforms that the target groups will use to meet the busi- groups and subgroups based on a range of variables such ness needs identified previously. Ideally, the starting point as the kinds of economic activities people pursue, where is an extensive review of the literature or other informa- they are located, the level at which they operate, and most tion available on existing tools or platforms, undertaken of all in this instance, the different information needs before selecting and adapting a technology or developing required for those activities to succeed and the constraints a new one. In practice, however, little authoritative infor- that individuals face in accessing ICTs. It also helps to mation may be available. ICT tools are often launched identify the value chains with high levels of participation when they are first implemented, and their effectiveness by women, as well as the women’s specific information is rarely examined after a few years have passed. Service needs and constraints. This information will enable those providers are not inclined to provide detailed (business) involved in designing and implementing a project to dif- information on commercial tools and platforms. The ferentiate the groups by size, determine if certain groups review of existing tools or platforms is a time-consuming, have overlapping needs or constraints, and identify the difficult exercise that requires a very detailed analysis of best means of engaging with those groups (for example, the tools—a literature study or internet search alone is how best to involve them in training). never sufficient. 42 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT CONSULT AND INVOLVE THE TARGET the service, once it has enabled them to create new GROUP(S) IN DESIGNING THE ICT sources of revenue. If users face difficulties in paying TOOL(S) OR PLATFORM(S) for the service when a project is being implemented, it A practical approach for verifying whether a candidate is unlikely that the tool will be used after the project has ICT is suitable and can be used by the target group (or been completed. groups) is to involve them in taking the candidate tool from a concept to a clear design. Initial assumptions can DEVELOP A PLAN THAT ENSURES THE be verified at this stage. The developers will also gain an CONTINUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF indication of the training and promotion that prospective THE TOOL/PLATFORM users will need and the differences between men’s and The sustainability and continuity of ICT tools is a major women’s access to the tools. Detailed training and promo- challenge for developers. Tools developed within a project tion plans can be developed that specifically target men often stop being used once the project has been completed. and women. ICT tools can be sustained only when they are economi- cally viable and are used by the target group to address DEVELOP A BUSINESS MODEL FOR their business needs. The tools should be supported by a DEVELOPING, PROMOTING, AND profitable organization, such as a private enterprise that RUNNING THE ICT PLATFORM has embedded the tools within its activities. Such enter- A financial plan is required to develop the ICT tool prises usually have the capacity and resources to pro- or platform, and a longer-term financial strategy is vide reliable and current information and training, have needed to cover the costs of promoting and running it, an interest in updating and further developing the tool, as well as training users to operate and maintain it—all and manifest a long-term commitment for managing the of which are often substantially higher than the devel- tool. In many countries, similar ICT tools are often run opment costs alone. It is important to verify whether by farmers’ unions or other member-based organizations, the users are able and willing to pay and how. Users which have a mandate to provide information to mem- should eventually be able to cover the entire cost of bers, among other activities. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 43 REFERENCES FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). 2011. The State of Food and Agriculture 2010–11. Women in Agriculture: Closing the Gender Gap for Develop- ment. Rome: FAO. Farnworth, C., V. Akamandisa, and M. Hichaambwa. 2011. “Zambia Feed the Future: Gender Assessment.” Pandia Consulting. http://www.pandiawarleggan.com/ pdf/Gender%20and%20Value%20Chain%20Study%20for%20USAID%20 Zambia%202011.pdf. Gender Policy. Nairobi. 2011. http://www1.uneca.org/Portals/ngm/Documents/Gender Policy.pdf, July. Imani Consultants. 2012d. “Support for Women Agro Enterprises in Zambia (and Kenya) Using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a Tool.” Inception Report, November. Jul-Larsen, E., M. Munachonga, and P. Chileche. 2009. “Review of Matantala Rural Integrated Enterprise and the Community Development with Traditional Leaders Programme.” NORAD Collected Reviews 7/2009. Norwegian Agency for Develop- ment Cooperation (Norad), Oslo. http://www.norad.no/en/tools-and-publica- tions/publications/norad-collected-reviews/publication?key=136901. NIRAS Finland and Republic of Zambia. 2011. “Capacity Building for Women Pro- ducer Organizations in Mali and Zambia.” Training Workshop Report. Republic of Kenya, Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Development. 2011. Republic of Kenya, Ministry of Information and Communication. 2006. National Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy. Nairobi. Republic of Zambia. 2011. Sixth National Development Plan. Lusaka. http://siteresources. worldbank.org/INTZAMBIA/Resources/SNDP_Final_Draft__20_01_2011 .pdf. Republic of Zambia, Gender in Development Division, Office of the President, Cabi- net Office. 2000. National Gender Policy. Lusaka. Republic of Zambia, Ministry of Communications and Transport. 2006. National Information and Communication Technology Policy. Lusaka. April. Republic of Zambia, Ministry of Gender and Child Development. 2014. “The Role of the Ministry of Gender and Child Development on Women’s Economic Empowerment Programmes.” Presentation for a World Bank Workshop, Wash- ington, DC. May. Tegemeo Institute, Egerton University. 2011. KAPAP Gender Disaggregated Baseline Survey Report, Njoro. World Bank. 2004. “Zambia: Strategic Country Gender Assessment.” Washington, DC: World Bank. ———. 2007. “Gender and Economic Growth in Kenya: Unleashing the Power of Women.” Washington, DC: World Bank. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 45 ———. 2009. Republic of Kenya, Kenya Agricultural Productivity and Agribusiness Project. Project Appraisal Document. Washington, DC: World Bank. http://documents.worldbank. org/curated/en/2009/05/10602540/kenya-agricultural-productivity-agribusi- ness-project. ———. 2011a. ICT in Agriculture: Connecting Smallholders to Knowledge, Networks and Institu- tions. An e-Sourcebook. Washington, DC: World Bank. http://www.ictinagricul ture.org/content/ict-agriculture-sourcebook. ———. 2011b. Republic of Zambia, Irrigation Development and Support Project. Project Appraisal Document. Washington, DC: World Bank. http://www.worldbank.org /projects/P102459/irrigation-development-and-support-project?lang=en. ———. 2013. The Little Data Book on Gender 2013. Washington, DC: World Bank. doi: 10.1596/978-0-8213-9820-3. 46 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT BIBLIOGRAPHY FINTECS Consultants. 2010. Socio-Economic Baseline Survey Report, Lusitu Project Site—Siavonga. ———. 2010. Socio-Economic Baseline Survey Report, Musakashi Project Site—Mufulira. ———. 2010. Socio-Economic Baseline Survey Report, Mwomboshi Project Site—Chibombo. Gage, D. 2011. “Revitalizing Zambia’s Agricultural Marketing Information Centre (AMIC).” Policy Synthesis Food Security Research Project Zambia, USAID/ Enabling Agricultural Trade (EAT) and Michigan State University. East Lansing: Michigan State University. No. 44, July. http://fsg.afre.msu.edu/zambia/ps_44 .pdf. Groots Kenya. “Accelerating Rural Women’s Access to Agricultural Markets and Trade.” http://www.grootskenya.org/?page_id=7026. Imani Consultants. 2012a. Gender in Agriculture Literature Review—ICT-WE Pilot Project. November. ———. 2012b. ICT in Agriculture Inventory for Kenya—ICT-WE Pilot Project. November. ———. 2012c. ICT in Agriculture Inventory for Zambia—ICT-WE Pilot Project. ICT Inventory, November. ———. 2012e. Support for Women Agro Enterprises in Zambia (and Kenya) Using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a Tool. Technical Pro- posal. August. ———. 2013a. Support for Women Agro Enterprises in Zambia (and Kenya) Using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a Tool. Interim Report— Draft Concepts. August. ———. 2013b. Support for Women Agro Enterprises in Zambia (and Kenya) Using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a Tool. Notes on Field Visits. ———. 2014. Support for Women Agro Enterprises in Zambia (and Kenya) Using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a Tool. Workshop Reports for Zambia and Kenya. April. Irrigation Development and Support Project (IDSP). 2012. Inception Report IDSP— Community Participation and Capacity Building Provider, Sofreco. December. Jones, L. 2012. “Discussion Paper for an M4P WEE Framework: How Can the Mak- ing Markets Work for the Poor Framework Work for Poor Women and for Poor Men?” Conceptual Paper for a Multi-Stage Process. Springfield Centre for Busi- ness in Development, Durham, U.K. Kapembwa, J., and M. Simfukwe. 2007. Gender Equity and Gender Monitoring in the Agricultural Consultative Forum (ACF): Final Report. Lusaka, ACF. Kenya Draft Gender Agriculture Policy Note. Undated. NIRAS Finland. 2011. Detailed Report of Findings and Observations, IDSP Capacity Building. April. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 47 Republic of Zambia. 2006. Fifth National Development Plan, 2006–2010. Lusaka. ———. 2011. Sixth National Development Plan 2011–2015: “Sustained Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction.” Lusaka. http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTZAMBIA/ Resources/SNDP_Final_Draft__20_01_2011.pdf. Republic of Zambia, Gender in Development Division (GIDD). 2005. Baseline Survey on Women’s Access to Agricultural Land in Zambia. Lusaka. Republic of Zambia, Irrigation and Land Husbandry and Lands Department. Undated. IDSP Land Inventory Report 2011–2012. Republic of Zambia, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. 2010. Environmental and Social Management Framework, Irrigation Development and Support Program, Final Report. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2010/06/12721080/zambia- irrigation-development-support-program-project-environmental-assessment- environmental-social-management-framework. World Bank. 2012. “Filling the Data Gap on Gender in Rural Kenya.” Agriculture and Rural Development Notes 64. June. Washington, DC: World Bank. ———. 2012. Implementation Status and Results Reports (ISRs) for the Irrigation Development and Support Project. Washington, DC: World Bank. http://www.worldbank.org/ projects/P102459/irrigation-development-and-support-project?lang=en. ———. 2012. “Integrating Women Producers and their Organizations into Agricul- tural Investment Programs in Zambia and Mali.” Agriculture and Rural Develop- ment Internal Paper. Washington, DC: World Bank. World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). 2008. Gender in Agriculture Sourcebook. Washing- ton, DC: World Bank. World Bank–Netherlands Partnership Program (BNPP). 2012. Inception/Fact Find- ing Mission for Linking Female Farmers to Agricultural and Small Business Opportunities in Zambia. Report by Pirkko Poutiainen, Senior Gender Specialist (ARD) and John Mackedon, Consultant (ARD). Washington, DC: World Bank. REFERENCE PUBLICATIONS FOR ICT SECTOR STUDY, KENYA Communications Authority of Kenya (formerly Communication Commission of Kenya, CCK), Annual Report for the Financial Year 2008–2009. Nairobi. http:// www.ca.go.ke/index.php/annual-reports. Communications Authority of Kenya (formerly Communication Commission of Kenya, CCK), Sector Statistics Reports: 2008; Q4, 2008–09; Q3, 2009–10; Q4, 2012. Nairobi. http://www.ca.go.ke/index.php/statistics. “Is Agency Banking Catching Up with Mobile Money?” Ratio Magazine, October 23, 2012. http://www.ratio-magazine.com/201210234170/Kenya/Kenya-Is- Agency-Banking-Catching-up-With-Mobile-Money.html. Republic of Kenya. 2007. Vision 2030. Nairobi. Republic of Kenya, Kenya ICT Board. Various documents: Bandwidth capacity sup- port status (pdf), Business Growth in Kenya (pdf); The Digital Divide (presenta- tion); eGovernment (pdf), ICT Board Master Plan 2009—Final Draft (pdf), Local 48 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT Government shared services Grant 2010 (pdf), Pasha Digital Village (pdf), Nai- robi. Note that these documents are no longer available since the Board has become ICTA, Kenya’s ICT Authority. SEWA Business Services. “Sysco-op.” http://www.sewa.co.ke/products-and-services/ syscoop/. World Bank. 2012. “Mobile Phone Usage at the Kenyan Base of the Pyramid.” Draft. Washington, DC: World Bank. http://www.infodev.org/infodev-files/final_ kenya_bop_study_web_jan_02_2013_0.pdf. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 49 APPENDIX A INITIAL DATA COLLECTION TOOL Guidelines for rapid data collection WE-ICT IDSP project Group discussions Interview/meeting number: Date of Meeting Venue Name of Facilitator(s) GPS Coordinates AGENDA: » Presentation of the pilot project » Goal of the focus group discussions » Ground rules » Introductions » Questions and Answers » Wrap-up 1) Information on the participants/group participating in the data collection MEETING: TYPE OF GROUP OR MEETING WITH INDIVIDUAL Group (what kind)* Name (if applicable) In existence since (i.a.) Number of members M>15: M<15: F>15: F<15: Provenance (village?) Objective * For example, IDSP committee, women’s group, cooperative, mixed group of community members, and so on. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 51 Individual » If you are farming, do you own the land Name you farm? If not, who owns the land? Function 4) Daily Activity Clock » What does an average day look like? » How much time is devoted to productive activities (paid labor, employment, income generation)? » How much time is devoted to reproduc- II) Specific data collection tive activities (unpaid labor for the house- 1) Organizational structure (gender) hold, childcare, cleaning, washing clothes, » Are they organized in groups, committees collecting water, firewood, caring for the (specific women, youth)? Is NGO, church, or sick)? government support provided in the area? » How much time is devoted to community » Where based: Which village or irrigation activities (ceremonies, marriages, funerals, site? community)? » What do they do, activities (where)? » How much time is devoted to leisure (free » Active/inactive? time)? » Interaction with others, whom, what? » How much time is devoted to sleep? » Details (especially women/youth groups): 5) Communication, network Phone numbers, contact person, e-mail » Means of communication: In/between vil- address? lages, people, with “outside”? 2) Educational facilities/situation (gender) » Possession of mobile phones, who, type? » Where do children go to school: Name, » Use of mobile phones: Who, what, how, type, distance, route, mode of transport. costs, how paid? » Educational level of adults (male/female), » If not possession: Access to phone? How, youth, children (also in terms of school when, limited or not, costs, how paid? attendance). » Access to network: Which, where, reliabil- » Literacy level, understanding, reading, ity, access to talk time (where, how)? writing in the local language or English. » Using which language when using phone? » Languages spoken. » Radio (communication): Who owns, or 3) Livelihood activities (gender) has access, when, how, what type of com- » Agriculture: What, where, how, size, pur- munication and information, costs, and pose, inputs, market, income, constraints, so on? support? » Computer: What, who owns, access, net- » Livestock: What, where, purpose, how work, costs, and so on? many, market, income, constraints, support? 6) Electricity » Other, examples: Employment, charcoal, » Availability of electricity: Who, where, beekeeping, fishing, mushroom collection, what? arts and crafts, self-employed, trading? » What is used for lights, radios, cooking, » Small and medium enterprises specific to telephone—electricity, alternative sources women/youth: Where, what, how, con- of electricity? straints? » Average costs? » How long have you been farming/running » Access to electricity or alternative sources: business/and so on? Who, where, what, costs? 52 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 7) Transportation (gender) » Ownership of means. » Important areas (for example market, town » Decision-making on use of means not or hospital and distance). owned (for example, phone of husband). » Transport network (roads, paths), condition. 9) Challenges » Transportation means (from where or » What challenges or constraints do you face whom, used for what). as a farmer/entrepreneur? » Costs if applicable. » What challenges do women farmers/entre- » Constraints. preneurs face? 8) Specific women/youth (girls) » What challenges do male farmers/entre- » Expectation of the IDSP project. preneurs face? » Current and future economic activities. » Challenges of rural communities? » Needs and constraints. » Challenges of female- and child-headed » Access to support, means. households? Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 53 APPENDIX B CRITERIA FOR SITE AND VALUE CHAIN SELECTION, KENYA SELECTION OF VALUE CHAIN AND PROJECT SITES IDENTIFY 2–3 BROAD-BASED VALUE CHAIN CATEGORIES The existing value chains were categorized into broad agriculture produce sectors based on a list provided by KAPAP: fruit trees (mango, pawpaw, passion fruit, and so on); livestock (dairy milk, livestock meat—cattle, poultry); horticulture (tomatoes, onion bulbs, and so on); legumes; cereals (maize, wheat, and so on); and commercial crops (such as aloe vera). LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF GROUPS AND MEMBERS IN THE VALUE CHAINS Higher number of groups and higher number of members will be an advantage when scaling up the intervention, and if a pilot is scaled up, it will be more attractive for service providers to serve a larger client base. As an example, the value chains with over 100 farmer groups and over 5,000 members are: tree fruits (mango, bananas); potatoes; local poultry; and dairy cows. However, other criteria (listed below) are also important in the pilot phase: » The pilot has to test the hypotheses that the use of ICT tools will help women develop their businesses and advance along the value chain. » An important part of the pilot is to track capacity development and constantly monitor what happens: Is there uptake of the tool/platform? Does its use have benefits? Do these benefits translate into better businesses, better livelihoods, or some other advantage? » The bigger the numbers for the pilot, the more difficult it is to train and build capacity, and the more difficult it is to monitor (and evaluate) the results. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 55 » A (short/limited) baseline assessment of the cur- The approach in Kenya would therefore be to look at how rent (individual) situation has to be carried out to to link the value chains (groups) to an existing platform make it possible to monitor and evaluate progress. or support them by providing existing applications: Again, the bigger the group, the more difficult and » For which of the value chain categories do platforms time-consuming it will be to do a proper baseline. or apps exist that have proven to be successful? » Smaller groups and smaller numbers will be more » If for some of the value chains nothing exists yet, manageable. The evaluation will need to assess and they should not be considered at the moment. discuss whether the intervention can be scaled out/ » If a platform or app is not specific for a value chain up. but is useful for a group regardless of the value » Choose groups with a high(er) female membership. chain, it has to be specified. It must be borne in mind, however, that although Kenya EARNINGS has a larger number of ICT platforms, the number of KAPAP advised the study team that it would be more viable platforms in terms of impact might be limited. worthwhile to work in value chains where women are Besides, it is important to link a possible ICT solution to already earning additional income. KAPAP’s experience felt needs/problems of the target groups. is that value chains that are breaking even or operating at a loss have systemic challenges that may mask the impact of implementing ICT solutions, unless the ICT tool or SELECTING A LOCATION platform was designed to address the specific systemic Locations (counties) for the pilot must be close together and challenges. Value chains with positive earnings include: have farmer groups participating in the chosen value chains. tree fruits (mangoes, pawpaws); poultry; legumes (ground- These locations will have high participation in agriculture nuts); aloe products; apiculture (but low female participa- and productive areas relatively near to each other (relatively, tion); and fish (but low earnings). as they are close to Nairobi, but traveling between Embu and Nakuru, for example, can take half a day). Because the pilot study will be conducted for only a limited period, and LEVEL OF FARMER PARTICIPATION IN to facilitate monitoring, choosing locations that are closer VALUE CHAIN to each other and to Nairobi is justified, but it should be It is worth considering value chains that have a high understood that this choice might have an impact on the level of (individual) farmer participation along the value outcomes of the pilot. Locations closer to Nairobi have the chain, at the producing, processing, and marketing stage. advantage of being closer to markets, customers, and bet- It is also important to consider value chains that gener- ter infrastructure (roads, electricity, networks, and so on), ate returns rapidly and operate all year as opposed to a and they receive better support from the public and private short season during the year. For instance, poultry farmers sector. One can assume, all in all, that the conditions for produce birds all year and a production cycle is relatively agro-enterprises to develop are better. The effects of these short, whereas in fruit production (for example) it takes advantages will definitely influence the possibilities for scal- several years for trees to start producing, and most trees ing up/out and have to be taken into consideration. yield only for a short period each year. VALUE CHAIN AND PLATFORMS AND TOOLS AVAILABLE The producer groups in Kenya are much bigger and much LOCATION SELECTED more organized and commercially advanced than groups In summary, the main questions and issues to consider in in Zambia. The groups are also mixed. Kenya already selecting locations and value chains are: has more platforms or applications that might be useful » For which value chains do we have proven effective for farmers (groups). The use and uptake of communica- platforms or apps? tion tools such as mobile phones, tablets, and computers is » Which value chains have specific women's groups, much higher in Kenya as well. higher involvement of women (and youth), but are 56 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT not too big and cumbersome to train, monitor, and Finally, women may already be involved at different levels evaluate? in this value chain. » In which situation can we hope to see results in the (short) testing period? The counties proposed by KAPAP for further study were Makueni, Kwale, and Gucha. The criteria used With locations, bear in mind what and how to evaluate in identifying these sites were: Each location has multi- and possibilities for extrapolating scaling up/out. ple poultry farmer groups; the groups have high financial turnover from poultry; the level of interest and partici- The value chain chosen in consultation with KAPAP pation of farmers in the value chain in these locations is is the poultry production value chain, for the follow- high; the level of interest and participation of service pro- ing reasons. It has a large number of groups (not essential viders for the farmer groups in these locations is high, and for the pilot but for scaling up and out). A relatively high they are open to new ideas and innovations. percentage of women participate in this value chain. The value chain has a rapid financial turnover appropriate to Makueni is relatively close to Nairobi (a drive of approxi- the short pilot period. The groups are not too far away, mately two hours). Kwale and Gucha are between six which facilitates training and monitoring. It is possible to and eight hours from Nairobi by road (in opposite direc- find groups that are mainly made up of women (and per- tions from Nairobi). Data gathered on field trips to differ- haps youth). An interesting, viable ICT platform is avail- ent counties provided insight into the potential logistical able to respond to the needs of women in this value chain. implications for the pilot. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 57 APPENDIX C ZAMBIA WORKSHOP DISCUSSION AND RESULTS Workshop participants divided into three groups, which held discussions on three topics: design and implementation, implementation and projects, and financial sus- tainability. Results of the discussions, conclusions, and recommendations are listed in tables C.1, C.2, and C.3. During the discussion, participants were asked to keep two basic questions in mind, as well as the overall context (figure C.1) as a guiding prin- ciple. The two questions were: Can ICT tools be used to empower women or enhance the economic empowerment of women in agriculture? How can they be used, how should they be developed, and what approach should or could be taken? FIGURE C.1. OVERALL CONTEXT FOR PROPOSED PILOT Women (youth) Economic Agriculture enhancement Project ICT Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 59 TABLE C.1. GROUP I—DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION: RESULTS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS Group I: Design and Implementation Discussion statement “To enable women to benefit from ICT tools or a specific ICT tool, the tool has to be designed with women as the target beneficiaries of these tools in mind, and not as a generic tool for everyone.” » Consider these issues during the discussion • Target group men/women. • Size of the target groups. • Value chain(s) in agriculture or part of value chains. • Capacity (knowledge, financial, literacy, and so on). • Accessibility. • Needs and problems of women, men. • Use and administration/running of the platform. • Sustainability. Conclusions and • The tool should be generic but encourage female usage, add specific women’s group recommendations interests, which will depend on the value chains included in the platform (content). • Men and women are looking for the same information. • Project should target equal usage by men and women of the tool/platform. • A strategy should be developed to encourage women’s use of the tool, which could include adding interests specific to women, for example specific crops, value chains, and so on. Key question “What are the key steps required for the design and implementation of an ICT tool/platform, and what are the critical/key elements that need to be included/ considered?” » Consider these elements during the discussion • Sustainability. • Target group (information needs, capacity, and so on). • Capacity of the organization. • Selection of platform/tools: Off the shelf/new or own development. • Development time and delays. • Promotional and training requirements. • Administration. • Continuity. • Running costs. • Development costs. • Quality of the data (useful actionable data). Conclusions and Steps required for the development of the implementation of an ICT tool/platform: recommendations • Identify needs of farmer groups. • Define target group and subgroups. • Do a value chain analysis and/or describe use case scenarios. • Develop concept design. • Consult the target group on the concept design(s). • Select the platform tool; do an extensive (literature) review of existing tools/platforms before developing a new platform or selecting/adapting an existing tool/platform. • Develop financial plan for the development, promotion, and running of the platform. • Develop a plan that ensures the continuity and sustainability of the tool/platform. • Organization should be able to sustain the platform in the long run by incorporating other organizations, users, and so on. The process described above is an iterative process and will continue throughout the design phase and even during the implementation phase. 60 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT TABLE C.2. GROUP II—IMPLEMENTATION AND PROJECTS: RESULTS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS Group II: Implementation and Projects Discussion statement “An ICT project for the enhancement of women (gender) should not be appended to an existing project but should be fully integrated in the design of the project.” » Consider these issues during the discussion • Target group men/women. • Needs and problems of women, men. • Timing of the activities. • Duration of the activities. • Value chain(s) in agriculture or part of value chains. • Project staff involvement, training, capacity. • Implementation and management of the ICT tools. • Use and administration/running of the platform. • Sustainability. Conclusions and • An ICT project for the enhancement of women should be fully integrated in the design recommendations of the project. • Setting up an ICT tool takes time and should therefore be customized (integrated). • All key stakeholders should participate fully in the planning, design, and implementation. • It would be important to target households (not just women;, sensitize men). Key questions 1. Does the IDSP see a need for the design and use of ICT tools in the project (with a gender perspective)? If yes, why and for what? If not, why not? 2. Can the ICT tool designed for the pilot be implemented in the IDSP program, and if so, how? If not, why not? » Consider these issues during the discussion • Who should be the users of the platform (one site, all sites, women’s groups, youth, and so on)? • Value chain(s) in agriculture or part of value chains. • At what stage of the IDSP program should it be implemented? • Who should be running it? IDSP, MAL, external organization, others? • Current pilot design developed while no irrigation system was in place; need for re-design? • Sustainability. Conclusions and 1. IDSP should explore further the options for linking up with existing platforms such as recommendations the iDE (vegetables) and ZNFU. 2. The concept for the pilot has not been tested, so it is difficult to say if it could/should be implemented. • The tablet as a tool is challenging in terms of sustainability (costs, maintenance). • Consider purchasing solar panel with it (was already part of the concept). • It would be better for farmers to use a smartphone instead of a tablet, as it would be cheaper to use and is portable. Points discussed: • ICT intervention, just as any other component, should be embedded in the design of a project to guarantee that the costs (development and running), human resources, and knowledge needed are considered and included. • If an ICT project would be appended, that project should come with the full resources to design and implement it. It cannot be expected that staff from the original project will take on extra tasks to implement and run it. They will be overloaded and might not have the required skills and knowledge. • Training is needed at all levels to be incorporated in the design. • It is good to introduce concepts right from the start, prepare for implementation (even if it will not be implemented right from the start), but developing tools or linking up takes a lot of time and finance; training (also literacy) can be provided before. • Look at dynamics at the household level, identify needs and gaps for women, but don’t exclude the men. Men will eventually accept women’s participation and pull out. Men should be sensitized and have to get on board. Involve youth as well. • IDSP has gender as cross-cutting issue, not activities only women. However, it is possible that the majority of participants could be women. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 61 TABLE C.3. GROUP III—FINANCING AND SUSTAINABILITY: RESULTS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS Group III: Financing and Sustainability Discussion statement “ICT tools/platform development and implementation are unsustainable by definition for the intended target group (women in the rural project areas) and will always have to be financially supported.” » Consider these issues during the discussion • Women’s ownership of or access to assets (land, finance, equipment, knowledge). • Reality in the rural areas: Women more involved in subsistence farming; what should be the target group, (part) value chain. • Volume/size of the target group. • Cost-benefit analysis. • ICT is like a “start-up”; needs support for a long time before it becomes profitable in any case. • Support for the poor and women in relation to profitability. • Sustainability. Conclusions and • Women’s ownership and access to assets important. recommendations • Without market development, ICTs will not work. • Target group in subsistence farming doesn’t seem to need ICT at the moment. • But ICT can be used to provide information on nutrition, crop diversification, value chain productivity. • Extremely large target group—dilute focus. • Small client group—not profitable. • Cost-benefit analysis: Great asymmetry between costs and benefits—great cost for providers, large benefit for consumers. Key question “What role should or can be played by the World Bank, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, ZICTA, and other stakeholders to make sure that these tools move from project stage to sustainable enterprises?” » Consider these issues during the discussion • High prices for access to internet/phone network. • Charges by ZICTA. • Target group in the rural areas. • Sharing of information platforms. • Long-term funding requirements. • Stumbling blocks. • Enabling environment. • National, regional, and sector policies. • Business models. Conclusions and • What’s the policy? Full of hope but with very little substance. recommendations • Policy needs reform. • Cost regulation—importance of tariff structure to benefit rural users in agriculture. • Poor network coverage in areas where client groups are situated. • No business model; need one to demonstrate profitability and productivity. • No ICT without productivity; business model needs to target productivity. • ZICTA could help to reduce costs by categorizing clients in terms of charges, have different tariff according to the target group. • Stakeholders need to engage with policy makers—increase their awareness of ICT and its importance in enhancing agricultural productivity, link it to the bigger picture of food security and eradication of extreme poverty. • There should also be cross ministerial/policy maker dialogue (MAL, ZICTA, Ministry of Information, and so on). 62 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT TABLE C.3. GROUP III—FINANCING AND SUSTAINABILITY: RESULTS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS (Continued ) Group III: Financing and Sustainability Points discussed: Why is women’s ownership of or access to assets important? • In order to improve livelihood—for example, by getting finance/loan—assets become very important. • Access is unequal to that of men. • Inequitable access should be redressed by special intervention. • Can we change access or provide another opportunity for women? • Reach a woman, reach a whole family. For instance, according to the World Bank’s Gender in Agriculture sourcebook, if women farmers in Zambia had the same access to capital as men, agricultural productivity would increase by 15 percent. • IDSP concentrating on land issue: – Women have access but are not decision makers on use and produce of land. – There is a causal relationship with women’s rights to productive assets and provision of information. – Information is essential. – So under IDSP each wife in marriage (including polygamous marriages) should be allocated an irrigation plot in her own name and receive relevant information on how to make the land productive, on marketing, and so on. Involvement in subsistence farming • What information should be provided? – Nutrition. – Crop diversification and diversification of diet. – Access to water. – Weather information. – Extension model—selection of crops, production, and so on. – Information on sustainability. – Different categories of subsistence farmers, information will depend on which category—for example, those moving from subsistence to emergent/commercial farming will want more information on: 0 Marketing and productivity rather than nutrition and diet alone. 0 Increasing yields. 0 Efficient use of available resources. It is important to provide opportunities for farmers to advance along the value chain. ICT is important, but different information will be required depending on the category of the subsistence farmer. Volume/size of target groups • Discussion/focus groups of 25–30 • If more people accept the messages, groups will grow and can be split/segmented further. • The ICT platform can be segmented to smaller groups according to what information is provided. • The target group size has to be chosen carefully—it can’t be too small because it won’t be sustainable, and it can’t be too large because the information will be diluted. Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) • CBA is worthwhile, but how can it be done when there is no business model? • It is possible to do a monitoring exercise at the end of the pilot. • Existing platforms (for example, ZNFU) already doing CBA: – Costs are very high for the service provider, pay ZICTA, mobile network provider, and so on. – Great benefits for target group, affordable and worthwhile for end user. • There has to be a very large market (target group) for service provider to make any profit. • There is disequilibria in costs between service provider and end user. • What can be done to reduce costs? – ZICTA, government policy formulation. There is no real business model; if there was, the business community would already be involved in a major way. (Continued ) Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 63 TABLE C.3. GROUP III—FINANCING AND SUSTAINABILITY: RESULTS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS (Continued ) Group III: Financing and Sustainability Is ICT like a start up? • ICT intervention cannot happen alone. – Needs complementary infrastructure to work: good transport network; delivery services; markets; marketing services; agents; wholesalers. Agents: Are they good or bad for women entrepreneurs? • Help in dealing with buyer intimidation. • Help with storage for goods. • Help with transportation of goods. • Women may have to travel long distances with heavy loads to get to markets; agents can help with this. • Facilitate bulk buying. • Most agents work on commission, so they will get highest price possible to maximize commission and income/profit for clients. • However, some “agents” take advantage of women; they buy cheaply from them and sell at much higher prices, causing losses to producers. 64 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT APPENDIX D ZAMBIA PILOT CONCEPT PROPOSAL An inventory of the use of ICTs in Zambia focused on the availability of ICT tools that can or have the potential to be used by small-scale agricultural enterprises. The inventory revealed that although uptake of ICTs has been very strong, especially uptake of mobile phones, the number of tools available for the agricultural sector is very limited. The main findings are: » None of the inventoried ICT tools were developed specifically for women, and none addressed women’s specific needs. » Very few tools (developed, implemented, and piloted) targeted small-scale farm- ers in Zambia. » A number of competing mobile banking platforms operate in Zambia but none has taken off on a large scale. » ZNFU’s market information service has been running for six years and delivers relevant market information using SMS text messaging, but its use is limited to nonperishable crops/products. » NAIS and the meteorological department deliver information using various tra- ditional methods of communication of which radio has the largest audience. » Two services in development have the potential to be used by small-scale farmers and traders. Their design seems promising for the cost-effective delivery of rele- vant information to farmers. However these two services are still in development: – ZNFU E-extension services, providing general extension information. – Lima Links, a market information service for vegetable growers. » The I-school project is an interactive learning platform of high quality, which exposes youths to the world of ICT but has no direct relevance for improving women businesses. WOMEN’S ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES AT THE PROJECT SITES To develop ICT tools capable of enhancing women’s agro-enterprises in Lusitu, Mwomboshi, and Musakashi, the team first needed to collect information on the women in these areas: how they are organized, what their economic activities are, Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 65 the limiting factors in their economic development, and Table D.2 presents some additional observations related what they envision as their options to improve their eco- to ICT use at the three sites. nomic and business activities. The main findings are listed in table D.1. TABLE D.1. AGRICULTURAL AND BUSINESS ACTIVITIES OF WOMEN AND WOMEN’S GROUPS AT THE THREE STUDY SITES, ZAMBIA Lusitu Mwomboshi Musakashi • The main livelihood is farming; 95 • Small-scale farming, mainly maize • Population are “retirees,” graduates percent of the people are subsistence production and vegetables. from a nearby agricultural college, and farmers. • Farm is not seen as a business. ex-farm workers. • Food shortages are a yearly occurrence. Households produce for own • 50 percent of the farmers are over 50; • Rape, tomatoes, and cabbages are sold consumption or for selling vegetables in only 12 percent younger than 30. by the women in the local markets; local markets to meet basic needs. • Farm is not seen as a business. in general, the women get very little • A few women’s groups are involved in Households produce for own income from this trade. income-generating activities: producing consumption or for selling vegetables in • Okra is sold to traders from the Soweto mats, knitting baby clothes and jerseys, local markets to meet basic needs. market in Lusaka, but not by women. fish farming, and goat keeping. • Women are not really involved in • Women own and sell small livestock: • It needs to be verified how active and “business” activities related to farming chickens, ducks, goats, and sheep. successful the groups are as businesses. or livestock. They do produce and • Livestock (goats, sheep, and cattle) are • A number of large-scale farmers are in sometimes sell vegetables in the area or seen as wealth; the sale of an animal the area and are part of IDSP. in neighboring markets. is considered a loss and is done when • Some women buy vegetables and sell there is an acute need for money. them to meet (immediate) household • Small livestock are sold at the roadside needs. or to traders who come to the area. • Some women are part of the Musakashi Dairy Cooperative, which produces and processes milk. TABLE D.2. OBSERVATIONS RELATED TO ICT USE AT THE THREE STUDY SITES, ZAMBIA Lusitu Mwomboshi Musakashi • The literacy level, in particular among • Electricity provision is low; only one • At least half of the farmers own a women, is very low. person interviewed has electricity. phone or have access to one. • The use of phones, although growing, • Ownership of phones is higher for men • A large number of people cannot read has not yet reached all households. than women, and more widespread or write, but some are well educated • Information on markets and prices than the other sites. and have used computers. is virtually nonexistent but also of • Some (male) farmers use phones to • There is hardly any electricity in relatively minor interest for the small- get prices on inputs or market prices; the area. Only four farmers have an scale farmers because of the low women mainly use the phone to electricity connection. volumes produced. communicate with relatives. • The road network is very bad; it is • Electricity is only available at the clinic, • Radio is the most widely used medium difficult to bring produce to markets or except for some solar power in a few for information on agricultural practices to come to the area. households. and prices; farmer listening groups exist • The road network is very bad, in the area. especially during the rainy season. • Reasons for not owning a phone are costs and not knowing how to use a phone. • Text messaging is hardly used; men and women don’t know how to text or cannot read or write. 66 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT » The cost of one call to a customer would be equiva- OPTIONS FOR THE lent to the entire value of the sale to that customer. INTRODUCTION OF ICT TOOLS » No ICT platforms or applications available for The idea of the ICT pilot is to introduce women (and mobile phones could contribute to the businesses youth) in the three IDSP sites to existing ICT tools (or of the women (in Lusitu). link them with existing ICT platforms) with the aim of improving their businesses. The analysis of available ICT There is also the risk that introducing phones to women tools found that none can provide relevant information for who have very little income might further deplete their the businesses of women or women’s groups. Two alterna- income. Phone ownership leads to extra expenses, like talk tive approaches were examined: time and money for charging the phone battery. A recent 1. Distributing mobile phones to women or women’s study in Kenya finds that low-income groups often spend groups. money on talk time they cannot afford; to buy talk time, 2. Introducing ICT tools that will link the women to they skip meals or walk rather than take public transport. companies and organizations active in the area. The introduction of irrigated crop production through the IDSP will definitely increase the volumes produced For the development of the pilot, it is vital to recognize and thus the volumes available to be marketed, and par- that the three sites are different. As an approach to devel- ticipants will be linked to marketing support, but that situ- opment, the pilot will be “one size DOES NOT fit all,” ation is still a few years away. because technical and socioeconomic/cultural differences clearly prevail across the sites. The Lusitu site is the most challenging and more sensitive setting for various reasons. OPTION 2: INTRODUCE ICT TOOLS For that reason, the design of the pilot takes Lusitu as the LINKING WOMEN TO ORGANIZATIONS/ COMPANIES IN THE AREA starting point. The ICT option chosen for Lusitu will be Option number two is to link the target group(s) to com- adapted to the specific context of the other two sites. panies, organizations, and institutions that are active in their respective areas or to companies and traders operat- OPTION 1: DISTRIBUTE MOBILE PHONES ing within the value chains where the women are involved. TO WOMEN OR WOMEN’S GROUPS These links would be made by providing the women’s The first option that was considered was the distribu- groups with tablets or smartphones that are able to con- tion of mobile phones to women or women’s groups, as nect to the internet. suggested during discussions with the World Bank. The rationale for distributing phones to women is that most A solution whereby women’s groups use e-mail on tablets women do not own phones and only have access to them or smartphones to communicate with information provid- through their husbands, other family members, or friends ers would enable all members of the group to access the and neighbors. If women own phones, they can use them information. The use of email has the additional advan- to improve their businesses through calling, text messag- tage that much more relevant information can be sent ing, or using applications. However, there are no indica- than can be communicated through a phone call—for tions that the distribution of phones by itself would help example, booklets on production methods from the Min- to improve women’s businesses in the three sites, particu- istry of Agriculture. larly in Lusitu, where women’s enterprises are the least developed. The distribution of phones is not a priority The assumption is that the use of tablets/smartphones to option for the following reasons: send and receive e-mail will help the women (and oth- » A phone does not necessarily help women to reach ers) to obtain information on prices, receive requests from customers for their vegetable trade. They do not traders visiting the area to buy produce, obtain informa- have specific customers but rather sell to passersby; tion on markets, and access other relevant information it would therefore be difficult to determine who to from private companies, other organizations, and public phone. agencies active in the area. All of that information would Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 67 subsequently contribute to improving women’s business » Although prices of tablets are still high, they are skills and incomes. falling, so tablets are considered a potentially affordable platform for communication in the agri- Another assumption is that organizations, institutions, cultural sector. and private companies active in the area are willing and » Tablets can be charged with a solar charger that able to provide relevant information to the groups. In the can also be used to charge mobile phones. Lusitu area, such organizations, institutions, and compa- nies were identified and approached to see if they were able to participate. INTERVENTION The pilot entails the provision of a tablet to each of the five (maximum) selected women’s groups in each of the three PILOT DESIGN sites. Tablets will also be provided to the IDSP commit- The second option, “Introducing ICT tools that will link tees which are being established in each of the three sites, the women to companies, organizations, and institutions the block or camp extension officers from the Ministry of active in the area,” was selected for further development as Agriculture and Livestock, and the IDSP liaison officer. a pilot project. This option entails facilitating the creation of a network of information providers and others who seek The project will purchase the tablets with an inbuilt SIM- information—in other words, a network of information card enabling them to connect to the internet, purchase exchange, in which women’s groups are a central part. the solar chargers, and pay the costs of communication to eliminate the risk that the initial cost will deter women from The pilot will target all three sites and select five existing using them. The contribution toward the communication women’s groups at each site. Groups will be selected in a cost will gradually be reduced to zero toward the end of the participatory way with the communities, based on a num- pilot. The communication cost of the tablet will eventually ber of minimum criteria to guarantee that the groups will have to be paid for by the women’s groups themselves. be able to use the tool: » At least some of the women in the group should It is estimated that the amount of bandwidth needed for be literate. e-mail and basic internet browsing will not exceed 500MB » The group should be active and meet on a regular per group per month. This means that the groups will basis. spend about US$21 (K 105) per month for their internet » At the very least, the women should be involved connection. Awareness of the costs involved and of the in a value chain that is partly commercial or for cost-efficient use of the tablet will be an important part which private sector actors are present in the area of the training provided to the women’s groups. (examples for Lusitu include the value chains for vegetables, goats, and sorghum) At the three sites, people pay at least K 1.50 to charge their » The value chain should preferably be “active” the phones. Using the solar chargers to support a phone-charg- whole year round and not seasonal (for piloting ing business could enable the groups to generate revenue purposes mainly). and pay for the internet connection costs of their tablets. » Of the women’s groups identified, a maximum of five per site will be selected for the pilot. The women’s groups will be trained to use the tablets, although it is recognized that the distribution of tab- The groups will use tablets with an email application. lets and training will not enable the women to enhance Tablets were selected over smartphones because: their businesses. For that reason, a key element of the » Tablets enable the women to send, receive, and pilot is to involve private companies and organizations store e-mails. that provide services and information. In each of the » Tablets have a bigger screen than phones, which sites an initial inventory of relevant service provid- makes it easier to read and type a message (espe- ers, companies, and organizations was carried out. cially true for the older generation). To gauge whether local companies and organizations 68 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT would be willing to participate—on which the entire Consultations with companies, organizations, pilot depends—the companies and organizations and institutions. The team will extend and intensify identified in the Lusitu area were approached and contacts with companies, organizations, and other infor- introduced to the concept. The organization and com- mation providers active in the three sites to establish what panies willing to participate in the pilot for Lusitu site concrete activities they are engaged in, their communica- are listed in table D.3. tion needs with the farmers, the types of information they can provide, and their willingness to be actively involved in the pilot. More specifically, the team will: PILOT IMPLEMENTATION » Collect detailed information on their activities in The pilot will consist of the following phases: preparation, the areas. training, implementation, and evaluation. » Find out the people and groups with whom they work and their gender policies/strategies, if any. PREPARATION PHASE » Find out how they communicate with the individu- In the preparation phase, further consultations will be als and groups. held with the companies and organizations involved in » Find out what information they need from the indi- the pilot, and with the communities and women’s groups, viduals and groups and how they collect it. to develop a communication structure and strategy and a » Find out what type of information the people and training program. At the same time, the monitoring and groups in the area need from the companies and evaluation tools will be developed, and tablets and solar organizations, and verify if the companies and chargers will be procured. organizations are able to provide this information. TABLE D.3. ORGANIZATIONS AND COMPANIES EXPRESSING WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PILOT IN THE LUSITU AREA Organization or Company Activities Information Provided LIMA Scheme A ZNFU-coordinated scheme whereby • Announcements of field days, training, farmer groups receive inputs and and other information loans to pay for the inputs. In Lusitu • Answering questions on growing the scheme focuses on sorghum, for sorghum. which the Zambian breweries provide a • Link with extension officers responsible readily available market. for extension work. SAPP A small livestock project under SAPP, • Market prices and linkages to traders whereby a private company is setting who are willing to buy small livestock. up a trading post for small livestock. Extension staff, MAL Lusitu has a block extension officer, a • Ministry extension staff are key camp extension officer is located in the players in providing information to Sitinkwe area, and veterinary officers farmers regarding inputs provided by are based in Chirundu. government, vaccination of animals, and linking farmers to traders and markets. NAIS NAIS provides agricultural information via • Information on crop production methods, radio, TV, internet, and print media. livestock rearing, and disease control. ZNFU 4455 This SMS-based market information • Market price information. platform provides market prices for 16 commodities from 200 companies. The information is also available on the internet. Note: ZNFU: Zambian National Farmers Union; MAL: Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock; NAIS: National Agricultural Information Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock; SAPP: Smallholder Agri-business Promotion Program. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 69 » Find out how the introduction of e-mail commu- the technology and contextualizing the use of the tech- nication with the people and groups in the sites nology. can improve communication for their companies/ organizations. Use of the technology. A detailed training program will be developed to instruct the women’s groups in the Consultations with the communities and wom- basis use of the tablet. The trained groups will always en’s groups. Each of the three sites has a number of have at least one person who is literate and will include women’s and other groups (cooperatives, clubs, and so youths, who tend to adopt new ICTs quickly.29 forth). It is not yet clear how active these groups are or what their specific objectives and activities are. This stage Contextualizing the use of the technology. The will verify and establish which women’s groups exist in the women’s groups will be trained to use the tablet as an area, where they are located, how often they meet, what effective information and communication tool through their objectives and activities are, their information needs, a very practical approach based on the women’s real and the literacy levels of the groups. Based on this infor- information needs. For the training, the participating mation, the groups will be selected. organizations and companies are invited to explain what information they can provide, explain what informa- Analysis and development of the communication tion they need from the women’s groups, and how to structure and information network. With the infor- communicate with them. Another important part of the mation collected from the women’s groups, companies, training will be to teach the women to use the technol- and organizations, the team will develop a communica- ogy cost-effectively and discuss the possibility of generat- tion structure to make sure that the tools provided will ing income to pay for some of the communication costs cater for their needs. To address the risk that the users of of the tablets by using the solar chargers to establish a the platform will not get the information they seek, that phone charging business. they will be overloaded with irrelevant information, or that they will receive information in a language or for- IMPLEMENTATION PHASE mat they do not understand, the information needs of the During the implementation phase (eight to nine months), women are matched with the information that can be pro- the women’s groups and others provided with tablets vided by the various information and service providers. will be expected to use them for effective communica- tion. During this phase, the groups will be provided with Procurement and purchase of hardware. The tab- support, and their use of the tablets will be monitored. lets and solar chargers for the women’s groups, the IDSP Regular follow-up and contacts with service providers and committees, and liaison officers (Camp or Block Exten- other actors in the pilot will take place during the imple- sion Officers) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Live- mentation phase. Monitoring will also be executed by the stock will be bought. relevant department of the IDSP and Ministry of Agri- culture and Livestock. TRAINING PHASE The main objective of the training is for the women, by MONITORING AND the end of the training period, to be able to use the tablets as an effective communication tool for collecting relevant EVALUATION information for their businesses and for effective com- A specific monitoring tool will be developed during the munication to improve their businesses.28 To achieve that preparation phase. The monitoring and evaluation will objective, the training will have two components: use of follow a two-pronged approach: 28 Even though the women’s groups are not really economic enterprises/ 29 A similar approach was used in Cambodia by the ICT technical team mem- businesses, the groups are involved in activities in which (small) financial trans- ber, with very good results. actions are made. 70 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT TABLE D.4. RISKS AND ASSUMPTIONS RELATED TO PILOTING ICT WITH WOMEN’S GROUPS, ZAMBIA Risks Description Mitigation Use of the The groups need to be able to use the • Groups are selected with members who can read and technology technology. write. • Youths are included, as they are often quick to take up ICTs. • Extensive training will be provided. Relevant information The users need to find relevant • The system is designed to enable users to connect to information in the system. different information providers. • The group will be trained to use the system and learn how and where to get the appropriate information. Sustainability The groups need to pay for internet • The running costs are relatively low. access, which is about US$0.21 per • The groups can use the solar chargers to generate month. income by charging mobile phones. TABLE D.5. BUDGET FOR HARDWARE AND COMMUNICATION COSTS, ICT PILOT WITH WOMEN’S GROUPS, ZAMBIA Item Quantity Unit price (K) Total (K) Total (US$) Tablets and solar 10 per site, total 30 44.820 134.460 25.612 chargers tablets Subsidy on tablet use, 500 MB per month, first 105 6.300 1.200 decreasing (not 4 months per group, included MAL staff) 5 groups per site 250 MB per month next 70 2.100 400 2 months, 5 groups per site Total 142.860 27.212 Note: Budget excludes cost of training and support activities. Exchange rate: US$1 = K 5.25. » Monitoring and evaluation of the actual usage and communication network (uptake of the tool). RISKS AND ASSUMPTIONS » Monitoring and evaluation of the actual results Some risks related to the implementation of the pilot will achieved through the use of tablets and commu- have to be mitigated to the extent possible. Table D.4 nication network (in other words, determining identifies the main risks and assumptions anticipated to whether the uptake provides positive results). be involved in the pilot. Regular monitoring will also enable the team to pro- vide additional support to the users and address issues BUDGET as they arise. This aspect of the pilot will be important, The budget presented for the pilot intervention in the because it is very likely that issues will come up that three IDSP sites (table D.5) includes the hardware that could compromise use of the platform. The monitoring needs to be purchased and the communication costs for and evaluation will also look at how the pilot’s target- the groups. Excluded from the budget are the costs for ing of women through women’s groups and of (female) training and support activities. youth has affected cultural and household relations. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 71 APPENDIX E KENYA PILOT CONCEPT PROPOSAL This workplan is a detailed guide for KAPAP to implement the poultry ICT tool that TechnoServe developed for its poultry farmer groups. The workplan briefly describes the poultry ICT tool and a detailed plan for implementing the tool; presents a detailed budget for implementing the tool, training the groups, and providing support for the groups; and develops a timetable for implementing the tool. THE ICT TOOL The poultry business ICT tool is a software package that enables groups engaged in commercial poultry production to collect business data, create reports, and do the accounting to manage their business activities. The poultry software has the following functionality: » Electronically captures data on the farmers in the group and presents it at vari- ous levels (an individual farmer as a group member, a shareholder, and a sup- plier, for example). » Electronically captures sales of chickens by registered farmers. » Tracks product rejects. » Electronically generates supplier receipts for each farmer. » Electronically captures the purchase of chickens by registered buyers/traders. » Electronically provides financial account statements for registered suppliers. » Assigns a credit facility to registered suppliers. » Generates the supplier payroll and transfers/credits the various payment accounts registered by the farmer. » Generates various account reports for all business transactions of the poultry producer groups. » Provides an affordable information messaging platform through an SMS mod- ule between the farmers and all stakeholders around the poultry producer groups. » Consolidates data from all poultry producer groups to give a complete overview of all purchases of chickens from farmers and poultry producer groups at any time. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 73 Engage with the service provider. The second step in WORKPLAN the planning and preparation phase is to engage with the PHASE 1: PLANNING AND software company that developed the poultry software. The PREPARATION PHASE company will be responsible for the implementation and support of the tool. A meeting needs to be set up to discuss: Time frame: Estimated to be 2 weeks » Presentation of the software tool by the software Task: Set up an agreement with TechnoServe, company. evaluate the software tool, request a » The readiness of the tool and the required time to detailed implementation plan and budget implement. from the software developers, develop the contract for the software developers. » The readiness and time required to include the two additional software modules, the on-farm data The aim of the planning and preparation phase is for module, and the SMS messaging module. KAPAP to gain a full understanding of the functionality of » Request a workplan/implementation plan with the the tool, the time requirements, the steps required for the elements listed in box E.1. implementation, and all the costs involved. The result of this The outcomes/deliverables of this phase are: phase should be an agreement/contract with the software 1. Agreement signed with the ICT tool and platform development company for the implementation of the tool. provider. 2. Areas identified and agreed upon where KAPAP Choice of service provider and collaborative and the provider can collaborate. agreement. The first step in the planning and prepa- 3. Poultry software presentation by the software ration phase is that KAPAP will engage with candidate company to provide a good understanding of the service providers who are engaged in developing relevant functionality and the status of the tool. ICT tools and platforms. Two options currently being 4. Receive detailed workplan, training plan, support developed are the Poultry Producer Group Management plan, and budget from the software company. Software developed for TechnoServe Kenya (an adapta- tion of EasyMa) and CoopWorks, originally developed for the dairy value chain but now also use in the coffee and PHASE 2: PILOTING (soon) maize value chains. The status of the ICT tool and Time frame: 6 months the farmer groups must be assessed: » What is the status of the tool and when will they Task: Implement the solution, train the user, address and resolve any issues with the implement? tool. » What are the requirements for the groups to run the platform, staff, infrastructure, running costs? » Have they decided if the groups will use the tool so The piloting of the tool will be done in the three selected it can connect to a server on the internet? sites and will be based upon the agreed workplan/imple- » Who will pay for the costs of running the tool? mentation plan provided by the software company. » Who will pay the administrator of the tool? The deliverables from the software company are: » How will the training be conducted, and are train- 1. Introduction/sensitization of the groups. ing modules already developed? 2. Installation of the hardware and software. » How will the groups be supported financially and 3. Training of the users of the software. technically in running the tools? 4. Implementation and training report. » What agreement is there with the software devel- opers for the next phase? Required inputs from KAPAP: » How and in which areas can KAPAP and the ser- 1. Organization of meetings and training venues for vice provider collaborate in the implementation of the sensitization workshop and the two software the tool? training sessions. 74 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT BOX E.1. ELEMENTS REQUESTED IN SERVICE PROVIDER’S WORKPLAN/IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 1. Implementation plan, which should include: c. Call out/filed visits support. a. List of all staff members involved in the pilot with their d. Remote or help line support. details, roles and responsibilities. e. Response time to software issues, bugs, requests for support. b. Technical specifications of the tool. f. The roles and responsibilities of the software company c. Required software and hardware. and KAPAP. d. Details of all the steps required for the pilot, installation, 4. Detailed budget (based on the budget in this docu- training, support, and evaluation. ment), which should include: e. How women farmers are targeted in the use of the tool. a. Cost overview. f. Detailed time plan for all the activities. b. Detailed costing for hardware, software, training, support, g. Roles and responsibilities of the software company and running costs, support of the groups and evaluation. KAPAP. 5. Evaluation plan, which should include: 2. Training plan, which should include: a. Objectives, which should include the following key ques- a. Objectives. tions: b. Development of the training modules. • Does the tool enhance the business of the women c. Time plan. farmers and the groups? If so, how? d. Sensitization/training of the groups, which should • What are the recommendations to scale up the pilot include the costs of the tool and the contributions and introduce the tool to other groups? required by the groups. • What are the costs for new groups to acquire the e. Training the users of the software, for each group, 3 tool? group members, including women. • What are the costs for KAPAP to scale up the tool? f. Training of KAPAP staff and service providers. • Are the users able to effectively use the tool? g. Follow-up training for the two additional software modules. • Do the groups have the capacity to run the tool? h. The roles and responsibilities of the software company • Do the groups have the capacity to pay for the run- and KAPAP. ning costs? 3. User and technical support plan, which should include: • What is the support required for the groups to run a. Support for the installation of the software and software the tool? upgrades. b. Methodology. b. Follow-up training support. c. Workplan. 2. Organization of lunch/refreshment for the par- During the period of the pilot (six months), the software ticipants during training. company will provide technical and user support accord- 3. Selection of three group members from each ing to the detailed support plan. The deliverables from the group to administer the software; the selection of software company in this phase are: the group members should be done in collabora- 1. Technical support. tion with the groups. 2. User support. 4. Office space with electricity and a clerk where the system can be set up. 5. KAPAP staff and service provider staff available dur- PHASE 3: EVALUATION ing the training so they are also informed/trained. The software company will do an evaluation of the pilot based on the evaluation plan. ONGOING SUPPORT AND MONITORING DURING PHASE 2 Deliverables: 1. A baseline study. Time frame: Continuous support for 6 months 2. An evaluation report. Task: Continued support to the users and troubleshooting. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 75 Required input from KAPAP: frequent power cuts; the drawback is that laptops have a 1. Execute the baseline study (approximately 5 days). higher risk of being stolen or personalized. 2. Monitoring and evaluation staff need to allocate about 10 days for monitoring and evaluation. Software costs include the poultry software for the three sites, Microsoft Windows and Office, and the software licenses for BUDGET the database. The costs also include installing and setting up the software and hardware on the computers. A detailed SUMMARY OF COSTS breakdown of the software costs appears in table E.3. The budget in this report was the outcome of discus- sions with software development companies. The costs Additional software modules are needed to make the software are summarized in table E.1; the costs are for the all the more functional, based on the needs of the poultry pro- hardware, software, software upgrades, installation, ongo- ducer groups. The two additional modules will allow the ing support, and financial support to the groups to run the groups to track on-farm production data (to improve plan- tool for a period of 6 months. A breakdown of all the costs ning) and to send SMS messages to individual farmers in is found in the sections that follow. the group. These modules are not included in the current version of the software; they still need to be developed and BREAKDOWN OF COSTS implemented by the software company. A detailed break- Hardware and software. The hardware, software, down of the additional software costs is found in table E.4. and installation costs are the components of the cost of implementing the ICT solution in the three sites. The TABLE E.2. HARDWARE COSTS software company will be responsible for the purchase of Unit Costs Total Cost the hardware, software, and the installation. Item Quantity (US$) (US$) Computer 3 765 2,295 Hardware costs are listed in table E.2, which contains a Modem 3 25 75 breakdown of the hardware required, including a modem Small receipts 3 180 540 for the users to connect to the internet. For the groups, printer a desktop computer was selected with a UPS as power Standard printer 3 250 750 backup. This solution has limitations in areas with fre- Backup UPS 3 95 285 quent power cuts, however. An alternative is to use a lap- Total: 3,945 top, which uses less power and can operate when there are TABLE E.3. SOFTWARE COSTS TABLE E.1. SUMMARY OF COSTS FOR THE Unit Costs Total Cost HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, AND Item Quantity (US$) (US$) ACTIVITIES Poultry software 1 4,500 4,500 Summary of All Costs Cost (US$) for 3 sites including 1. Hardware costs 3,945 set up and 2. Software costs 6,540 installation 3. Software additional modules cost 1,650 Microsoft 3 200 600 4. Group sensitization workshop 3,870 Windows 7 5. Software training 1,925 Microsoft Office 3 247 741 6. Development of training materials 950 Server User 3 28 84 7. Software and user support 14,550 License 2012 8. Evaluation 2,700 SQL Server User 3 205 615 9. Financial support running costs groups 3,840 License 2012 Total: 39,970 Total: 6,540 76 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT TABLE E.4. COSTS OF ADDITIONAL TABLE E.5. COST OF GROUP SOFTWARE MODULES AND SENSITIZATION WORKSHOP INSTALLATION Training of 12 CWGs (3 CIGs with 4 CWGs Quantity Unit Costs Total Cost each; 2 CWGs will be trained together for 1 day) Item (days) (US$) (US$) Quantity Unit Costs Total Cost On farm 5 150 750 Item (days) (US$) (US$) production Fees ICT junior 6 300 1,800 data module ICT staff SMS alert 5 150 750 Fees ICT senior 6 150 900 module ICT staff Installation on 4 1 150 150 Car rental 6 80 480 computers Fuel 6 65 390 Total: 1,650 Driver 6 50 300 Total: 3,870 Training. The software company will be responsible for developing a training program and conducting the train- TABLE E.6. COST OF SOFTWARE TRAINING ing. The training program includes the training/sensitiza- Training of 12 people, 1 person per CWG; tion of the groups, training the users of the software, a initial 2 days of training for the software; an follow-up training for the use of the additional software additional day of training will be provided on modules, and the development of the training materials. the additional two modules Quantity Unit Costs Total Cost The group sensitization workshop will be the first activity of the Item (days) (US$) (US$) training program and will focus on the group members. Fees ICT junior 3 300 900 The group members will be informed about the software ICT staff platform, its uses, the responsibilities of those involved, Fees ICT senior 3 150 450 and other topics. The content of the training will be ICT staff developed by the software company in collaboration with Car rental 3 80 240 KAPAP. Table E.5 presents a detailed breakdown of the Fuel 3 65 185 costs of the group sensitization workshop. Driver 3 50 150 Total: 1,925 Software training will be provided for the users/operators of the software in two sessions. The first training session (for a TABLE E.7. COSTS OF DEVELOPING period of two days) will train one person from each CWG AND PRODUCING TRAINING to use the software. The second training session will pro- MATERIALS vide instruction in how to use the two additional modules. Training modules will be developed for the The second session will be offered as soon as the modules group sensitization workshop and the training are developed and implemented. The cost of software of the workshop training is broken down by component in table E.6. Unit Costs Total Cost Item Quantity (US$) (US$) Training modules and materials. The software company will be responsible for developing the training modules and Training modules 5 days 150 750 development the training materials. The associated costs are shown in Printing costs 1 200 200 table E.7. training materials Software and user support. The software company Total: 950 will provide technical and user support to the groups Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 77 TABLE E.8. COSTS OF SOFTWARE AND USER SUPPORT Item Quantity Unit Costs (US$) Total Cost (US$) Fees for support management/coordinator 6 months 300 1,800 Remote support/help line 6 months 400 2,400 Planned field visits/on the job training (12 visits) 12 days 150 1,800 Call out support/field visit (3 visits times 6 months) 18 days 150 2,700 Car rental 30 days 80 2,400 Fuel 30 days 65 1,950 Driver 30 days 50 1,500 Total: 14,550 through planned field visits, which will function as a TABLE E.9. COSTS OF EVALUATION follow-up to the training to ensure that the groups are able The software company will conduct an evaluation to use the software platform effectively. Additional sup- of the use and impact of the poultry ICT tool as port will be provided to the users by the software company described in the evaluation plan remotely over the phone (remote support/help line). In Unit Costs Total Cost cases where the issue cannot be resolved over the phone, Item Quantity (US$) (US$) the software company will make a call out support/field Fees for senior 9 days 300 2,700 visit. ICT consultant Total: 2,700 As seen in table E.8, a total of 12 planned field visits will be done by the software team. An additional 18 call out/ field visits have been budgeted. For the remote support/ help line and the support coordinator, a flat fee will be Financial support to groups for operating the ICT charged each month. platform. The pilot will support the cost to the groups of running the ICT platform over the six-month pilot Evaluation. Evaluation of the piloting of the poultry period. The costs include sending SMS messages through tool will be done according to the evaluation plan. Nine the platform (10 SMS per farmer per month), monthly days are allocated for the evaluation. The final deliverable costs for the SMS short code, internet access, and a host- will be the evaluation report. The costs of the evaluation ing fee that enables the platform to link to a central server. are presented in table E.9. See table E.10. TABLE E.10. COSTS OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO GROUPS RUNNING THE ICT PLATFORM The groups will be provided with financial support for running the platform for 6 months Item Quantity Unit Costs (US$) Total Cost (US$) Costs sending 10 SMS messages per farmer per month; 10 SMS * 25,200 0.06 1,512 140 farmers * 3 CIGs * 6 months = 25200 SMS messages Hosting costs for the server which collects the data from the 18 40 720 groups, 3 groups for 6 months SMS short code 6 months 118 708 Internet access for 3 groups for 6 months 18 50 900 Total: 3,840 78 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT ESTIMATED TIME FRAME TABLE E.11. ESTIMATED TIME FRAME Week ACTIVITIES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 // 31 32 33 Preparation phase for KAPAP, meetings with TechnoServe and software developers Develop detailed work-plan by software developers and signing contract Mobilize staff and groups for the training Purchase hardware and software and installation Training/sensitization of the groups Software training Baseline study The groups start to use the software Support provided by the software company Baseline study Evaluation Note: KAPAP =; software development company =; groups =. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 79 APPENDIX F DISCUSSION OF THE ENABLERS/ STRATEGIES ENABLER 1: CONDUCT A GENDER ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY OPPORTU- NITIES FOR ICTs TO ENHANCE CURRENT PRACTICES • To capture what information and services men and women need and how they are cur- rently meeting those needs. • To assess what ICTs are already in use and the type of access men and women have to them. The initial reviews and surveys for the project found that very little gender-disaggregated data is available; the majority of background documents for IDSP provide general information on the socio-economic and cultural situation in the project sites, without presenting specific data on women and men, let alone on youth (boys and girls). A study/training program financed by the World Bank Trust Fund for Environmental and Social Development on gender and social mainstreaming in the IDSP (NIRAS 2011) provided very useful information on gender and social issues but was not a baseline with gender-disaggregated data. KAPAP collects information through its monitoring program, which includes gender-disaggregated data, such as data on the performance of various value chains (mixed interest groups) with a high percentage of women participants. However, in Kenya as in Zambia, for the purpose of the ICT- WE project more specific gender-disaggregated baseline information was needed, in particular related to the following; » What are women (including youth/girls) in the different sites involved in, on- farm and off-farm? Do they have any income-generating activities (on- and off- farm)? » Marketing activities or any other businesses, bottlenecks, challenges, needs. » Future plans and possibilities. » Information and communication needs (on what, when, how, from whom). Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 81 » Information and communication exchange for example, in the level of access to resources and information, decision women (how do they get information, how do making and control). they give information, on what, to whom, how, and so on). » Access to and control over ICT-related assets: ENABLER 2: DEVELOP APPROPRIATE CON- radio, TV, telephone (type), computer, other. TENT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF WOMEN AND » Literacy level, which languages. MEN FARMERS » Control over their own time (for example, to listen • Women and men farmers do not always share the same to radio, to go to market, and so on). information needs. » Access to finance (how to pay for telephone use, • For ICT applications to improve the productivity of electricity, talk time); willingness and ability to pay women and men farmers, it is necessary to ensure that appropriate content is developed for them. for services. » Possibilities for buying/selling ICT-related things: phones, SIM cards, talk time, chargers, The inventories of ICT platforms and tools in both Kenya batteries. and Zambia revealed that in general: » Electricity infrastructure or the lack thereof, com- » There are only a few tools that are able to deliver munications network (telephone, internet), other relevant (access to) information for the (small-scale) sources of power available (solar) (Imani 2012d). agricultural sector (Zambia). » Of the many tools developed that are linked to the Only limited gender analyses were carried out for both agricultural sector, only a few have proven success- Zambia and Kenya for the ICT-WE pilot. The field visits, ful, and for many other tools no impact analysis is focus group discussions, and stakeholder meetings pro- done or available (Kenya). vided broad information on the issues listed above and » There are no tools that are developed specifically the overall situation of men and women in the project for female users or from a gender perspective. areas. With this information, the team was able to elabo- rate initial ideas for the pilot concepts in both countries, The participants at the final workshop in Zambia dis- which were to be discussed and elaborated further with cussed, among other things, the statement: “To enable the target groups. Specific baseline surveys were to be car- women to benefit from ICT tools or a specific ICT tool, ried out with the selected groups at the start of the pilot the tool has to be designed with women as the target ben- implementation phase, to be able to evaluate the main eficiaries of these tools in mind, and not as a generic tool question of the pilot. The baseline surveys did not take for everyone.” The outcome of the discussion was that place, however, as the pilot was terminated before going the approach should be to develop generic tools, but that into the implementation phase. the use of the tools by women should be promoted and encouraged through the content that is offered, which Observation: A gender analysis of a project target group or could include content that is linked to specific value chains communities within a target area will provide general information that have higher female participation. It was stated that on differences between men and women regarding assets, information the development and implementation of “specific tools needs, access and control, and so on. Yet for the purpose of the ICT for women” would not be sustainable as the user base, pilot project and other ICT interventions in general, the differen- especially in the rural areas, would be too small, which tiation between men and women is not enough. Within the group would prevent the development and implementation of of women and men there are enormous differences, sometimes more such tools from being economically viable and interesting than between men and women, with regard to the questions raised for private ICT providers. above and to access and needs. This is especially true for the ICT- WE project, where (for instance) polygamy was reported in the sites The concepts developed for both Zambia and Kenya did in both Kenya and Zambia. These differences have implications (for use generic tools that were available. The tool to be used 82 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT in Zambia (tablets as a communication tool) would allow is that in the groups there will always be someone women to exchange exactly the information that is rele- who can read and write, as confirmed by other vant to them. The creation of an initial network of service ICT practitioners during the final workshop in providers, traders, private sector players, and other stake- Zambia. holders matched the interests and needs of the specific » Difficulties using mobile (smart) phone for women’s groups. The poultry management software in messages. Apart from literacy levels, the util- Kenya allows for the generation and exchange of informa- ity of smartphones was limited by their small tion relevant for women and men members of the local screens, which women found difficult to read. poultry CIGs, and it provides the opportunity for individ- Tablets have a larger screen and are therefore ual (female) farmers to know “how their business is doing.” easier to read. » Dissemination and transmission of infor- Observation: The challenge, as noted before, is that women are mation via word of mouth. Information often not a uniform group, and neither are men; they are either not involved gets distorted or highly condensed when transmit- in any business activities at all or in a large variety of business ted verbally. Information sent to tablets can be activities, ranging from field crop and vegetable production to rear- stored and accessed whenever the groups or indi- ing (small) livestock and trading. The enterprises also operate on viduals need it. different levels, from (semi) subsistence farming involving occasional » Electricity provision in the area. Tablets sales of produce to substantial businesses with provincial or national would be used with special solar power chargers, outreach. To identify the information needs and to provide sufficient which would enable the women’s groups to have (and sufficiently interesting) content to this diverse range of female an additional income-generating activity (charging and male farmers remains the major challenge. Content should not be mobile phones for a fee). based on gender as such but on “what type of business, which value » Numerous information providers and chain, and what operational level” farmers are involved in. seekers. The tablets have an internet func- tion and a phone function, which makes them very versatile to use. When groups become more ENABLER 3: CONSIDER USING A RANGE OF ICTs advanced in their use of the tablets, they can • Practitioners should recognize the infrastructure con- access existing platforms such as the ZNFU and straints as well as gender-based constraints that can limit iDE platforms and liaise directly with the NAIS the effectiveness of technologies. from the Ministry of Agriculture and other • Programs need to identify which ICTs are most appro- stakeholders. priate for overcoming specific constraints and avoid the temptation to design programs around ICTs. For Kenya, where the majority of farmers have mobile phones and where, for instance, mobile banking has The concepts developed for Zambia and Kenya were already penetrated farther into rural areas, a software pro- based on what was available in the market and what gram was chosen for local poultry producers, the majority responded to the needs of women (and men) in the spe- of whom are women. The software provides information cific area and value chain. In both countries a combina- to the individual members of poultry groups on “their tion of tools and functionalities was chosen. farm as a business,” as well as management information for the poultry group as a whole. The platform/software For Zambia, a tablet was chosen as a communication chosen can be used on a desktop or laptop computer and tool to be used in groups, to facilitate the groups’ commu- combines a record-keeping function with information nication with other stakeholders. Known constraints that exchange via SMS (mobile phones), hard copies of indi- were considered included: vidual farm reports (if so desired by farmers) via printed » Female literacy levels are relatively low. statements, and a savings and banking service via mobile The tablets are to be used in a group; the reality banking. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 83 Observation: The combination of a range of ICTs, or use of a of interested stakeholders, be they information seekers or versatile tool/platform (a strategy proposed in the pilot concepts) is in providers. itself no guarantee that women will have improved access to informa- tion. The success of the pilot in Zambia would initially depend very Similarly in Kenya, where the CIGs are in a more much on the nature and actions of the network created around the advanced stage of group and business development, the women’s groups and the content this network of stakeholders would chosen platform allows the information to be exchanged provide (enabler 2). When the groups would be more advanced in the between the groups and individual farmers (SMS alerts, use of the tool, a more directed search for content would enable the money exchange, information on prices and input and women to access and exchange relevant information, assuming that output markets) and the possibility for farmers to have an other platforms exist that “provide what they are looking for.” insight into the performance of the group’s business and their own individual business through electronic or printed The tool in Kenya combines the use of electronic record keeping with statements, for example. Furthermore, the requirement to information exchange by mobile phone and paper statements. For have an office space for the computer and data people cre- those farmers that have no access to mobile phones or who cannot ates a central meeting place for the groups, where infor- read and write, the use of the tool should complement other informa- mal and formal exchange can take place. tion channels (enabler 4). Observation: The notion that the use of ICTs is not the only answer to solving the problems of access to and exchange of informa- ENABLER 4: USE ICTs TO COMPLEMENT tion, in particular for women farmers, is important, and even more so EXISTING INFORMATION CHANNELS when taking into consideration the differences within the group of • Women farmers especially rely on the exchange of infor- female and male farmers, as observed (enabler 1). mation through word of mouth. • ICT can support and enhance these information chan- nels by providing access to expertise and more up-to- ENABLER 5: DEVELOP DIRECT RELATION- date information. SHIPS WITH MEN AND WOMEN FARMERS • Most recent ICT innovations will fail to bring women into agricultural programs if leaders and practitioners Women’s information channels are very often their neigh- are not intentional about engaging women directly. bors or the members of a group to which they belong, • Buyers, extension agents, input suppliers, and other ser- be it a church, a production club, or an informal savings vice providers must reward the appropriate individuals group, for instance. When developing the pilot concepts for their participation in the value chain. for Zambia and Kenya, the approach was to work with existing groups, to facilitate the exchange of information. Working with groups has the additional advantage that The ICT-WE pilot project was proposed as an addi- most, if not all, groups have some women who know how tion to existing agricultural projects, to be executed by to read and write. Groups usually have an organizational a consultant, during a limited time and with the spe- structure that includes leadership roles such as chairper- cific objective to test whether the use of ICT tools could son, treasurer, and secretary. Requirements for these roles, enhance women’s businesses. When the project was ini- in women’s groups as well, more often than not include a tiated, KAPAP was already in its second phase, while certain literacy level. IDSP was officially launched a few months after the pilot started. This set-up did not permit strong relationships to The advantage of using a tablet for sharing information, be developed with the men and women, local leadership, as proposed in Zambia, is that information can be stored and other stakeholders in the target areas, and not even and retrieved whenever it is needed, without the risk that it with the staff of the projects. The fact that the timing of will be distorted or partly lost, which often happens when the pilot did not coincide with developments in the main it is transmitted by word of mouth. Tablets also provide project contributed to the decision that the pilots could an opportunity to share information with a larger number not be implemented in either country. The workshop in 84 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT Zambia discussed the advantages and disadvantages of In Kenya, the poultry groups have organized a central an ICT project that is added to an existing project. Par- place where the computer/laptop would be based and ticipants concluded that to develop and use ICT in the which would serve as an office and collection center for project context, the technology should be integrated in birds from group members; the design of the project, and the necessary resources and » This central office could also serve as an informa- time should be allocated. This approach would allow for tion and communication center/hub where others the development of direct relationships, provide a better can access information. understanding of the needs of different target groups, » The groups will have to employ a data clerk, who and improve the timing and use of a variety of ICT tools will be paid by the members for the service; oppor- related to the project context. tunities exist for female members to be a data clerk or be part of a team of data clerks. Observation: The integration of the use of ICT tools in the design of projects does not mean that by the start of the project the Observation: The strategy of identifying employment opportu- exact tools or platforms and the way that they will be used will nities for women with ICT service providers related to agriculture or already be identified. It does, however, allow for the development or as information intermediaries will apply only to a small and defined identification of tools that respond to particular needs in the project, group. The opportunities to use ICT tools for additional income- and it provides the opportunity to consider the sustainability of par- generating activities might be more widespread, however, and attain- ticular tools/platforms right from the start. able for a larger and more diverse group of female farmers. ENABLER 6: IDENTIFY EMPLOYMENT OPPOR- ENABLER 7: DESIGN TWO-WAY ICT PRO- TUNITIES FOR WOMEN WITH AGRICULTURE- GRAMS TO COLLECT AND DISSEMINATE RELATED ICT SERVICE PROVIDERS INFORMATION • To date, little research has examined the potential for • The transmission of information through ICTs must creating new ICT-related employment opportunities for consider not only “pushing out” but also “pulling in” men and women in agriculture. information. • Two areas suggested provide opportunities for women: • In gathering data on farmers, it is critical to ensure that (i) women employed as call center consultants delivering the data are sex-disaggregated, to improve the under- agricultural information to farmers and (ii) rural women standing of the gender-based constraints and opportuni- recruited and trained at the village level to act as infor- ties in agriculture. mation intermediaries for other farmers. The concept in Zambia was specifically designed with The ICT-WE project was designed as a pilot, linked to “two-way communication” in mind. The tool would pro- two existing agricultural projects. It was not the intention vide the women’s groups with a means to receive infor- to look into possibilities for women to find formal employ- mation and communication from service providers, the ment in providing services related to ICT. That said, the private sector (buyers, input providers, and others), IDSP, concepts that were developed considered the opportunities and all others interested in communicating with the for women and their groups to use the proposed solutions groups, initially through e-mail. The groups would also to generate additional income. The proposed solution for be able to send information on their products, availabil- the groups in Zambia included the options that: ity, prices, and the group’s development through e-mails, » The tablets could be used for providing informa- reports, and alerts to interested parties. When the groups tion exchange possibilities to others, creating an would be more developed and more conversant with the “information center/hub.” use of tablets, use of the internet would open up a whole » The solar power chargers could be used for charg- range of possibilities for communication and information ing mobile phones of others against a fee. exchange. Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT 85 The Kenya concept equally provides possibilities for two- the intended target group (women in the rural way communication by combining the use of poultry project areas) and will always have to be financially software on the computer/laptop with services linked to supported. mobile phone communication. KAPAP and service pro- » What role can or should be played by the Minis- viders, traders, and others can communicate directly with try of Agriculture, ZICTA (Zambia), World Bank, the groups, while the groups can provide up-to-date infor- and other stakeholders to make sure that these mation to the same stakeholders, be it regular reports for tools move from the project stage to sustainable KAPAP monitoring (with gender-disaggregated data) or enterprises? stock and price information for buyers, or information on the prevalence of diseases for researchers, for example. The various surveys as well as presentations and dis- cussions with stakeholders in the workshop corrobo- Observation: While it is critical to ensure that the data collected rated the view that it is impractical and unsustainable are disaggregated by gender, it should be stressed that additional rel- to develop ICT tools specifically for female farmers and evant information on age, type and level of enterprise, household situ- entrepreneurs. The critical mass needed for an economi- ation (such as polygamous or female-headed households, numbers of cally viable tool or platform would be difficult to reach, school-age children), and characteristics within the group of female and it is even doubtful that such a specific tool is needed. and male farmers is collected. As stated, the differences in needs, Moreover, the ICT inventories and field surveys in Zam- access, and control can sometimes be larger within the female and bia and Kenya confirmed that in many areas it is poverty male farmers groups than between them. and poverty-related issues that determine the level and type of access to and use of ICTs among women as well ENABLER 8: DEVELOP GENDER-EQUITABLE as men. NATIONAL OR REGIONAL ICT POLICY • ICTs can only have a positive impact on women’s lives The role that is often played by international and if infrastructure reaches them and appropriate policies national donors and projects is that of funders and sub- and programs are in place to address poverty and gender sidy providers for the development, implementation, and issues in accessing and using ICTs. long-term running of tools and platforms. An equally important role, however, which is part of the above strat- egy and validated by the Zambia workshop, should be to The ICT-WE project had to work within the current pol- engage with national policy makers—to increase aware- icy context in the two countries. Both countries have a ness of the importance of ICT in enhancing agricultural national gender policy in place, and both are developing productivity, and to advocate the necessity of including gender policies for the agricultural sector. National ICT policies that facilitate improved access to ICTs for rural policies exist in both countries, but as they date to 2006, men and women. they are being revised. During the workshop in Zambia, the problems and bot- Observation: Apart from policies regarding the obvious infra- tlenecks for rural (poor) farmers, and particularly female structure linked to ICTs, such as (subsidized) provision of electricity farmers, to access and use ICTs were discussed, along with and mobile and internet networks, other infrastructure and institu- the role that could be played by national governments, tions are indispensable, such as rural roads, input supply and output international and national (donor) institutions, and ICT markets, service providers, education and adult literacy, and credit agencies to facilitate sustainability. The discussion was and saving facilities. The need for specific national policies and strat- based on the following statements/questions: egies that cut across ministries, sectors, and agencies that will enhance » The development and implementation of ICT the access to and profitable use of ICTs by female and male rural tools/platforms is unsustainable by definition for farmers and entrepreneurs should be emphasized. 86 Supporting Women’s Agro-Enterprises in Africa with ICT A G R I C U LT U R E G L O B A L P R A C T I C E T E C H N I C A L A S S I S TA N C E P A P E R W O R L D B A N K G R O U P R E P O R T N U M B E R 93077-AFR 1818 H Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20433 USA Telephone: 202-473-1000 Internet: www.worldbank.org/agriculture