Implementing Agency:
Department For International Development (PAND)

Managing Institute:
Agency for Co-operation and Research in Development (ACORD)

Contractor:
Agency for Co-operation and Research Development (ACORD)

Project Code: 063-680-061	Start Date: 01/04/1997	End Date: 31/03/2000
Commitment: £265,575	Status: Current	Type of Funding: Bilateral - JFS

Project Background:
Between June and October 1994 over 750,000 Rwandans poured into Kagera Region in North West Tanzania. Most settled in one area of Ngara District at Benaco; the majority of the rest settled in two areas of Karagwe District at Chabalisa and Kagenyi. The population of those two areas of Karagwe District increased in the space of a few short months from around 56,000 to 216,000 (April 1995). This represented an increase of almost 300% causing an unprecedented pressure on the local resource base and increasing people's exposure to the HIV virus substantially. The latter is due primarily to two factors: (1) the fact that the Rwandese population has a high sero-prevalence and (2) the disruption and change in lifestyles caused by the arrival of huge numbers of people from outside. This has lead to changes in behaviour and increasing social mingling.

The impact of this inflow of refugees into such a sedate and isolated area of Tanzania is immense. Before the arrival of the refugees, socio-economic development was stable, albeit at a low subsistence level. Food shortages are now occurring and health is deteriorating through increased communicable diseases and malnutrition in children. The local environment is being degraded: resources are being stripped at an ever-increasing rate to supply this population; reeds and grasses are used for household construction, bedding, etc; poles are cut by the NGOs to construct makeshift offices; fuel is collected from every available source - trees, bushes, grasses, anything that burns. Furthermore, there is a fear of insecurity in the villages around the transit camps. These factors all impact on the pattern of household labour and cause household members, especially women, to spend increasing amounts of time in meeting their basic needs (collecting fuelwood, water, etc.) and decreasing amounts of time in engaging in income generating activities. The underlying rationale of the programmes, therefore, is to address those factors which most affect labour and time constraints at the household level as identified by the community. In doing this, the aim is not simply to ameliorate the impact of the refugee influx into the area but also to revitailise the development process to ensure that the anticipated long-term gains pre-influx are realised as far as possible.

Project Objectives:
To support local people to cope with the impact of refugees.

To improve local communities' access to fuel/energy.

To carry out environmental protection.

To reduce the rate of increase of HIV infection in the refugee influx areas.

To increase agricultural productivity to improve food security and maintain nutritional status in the area.

To explore methods of rehabilitating livestock levels and increase access to animal products in the area.

To explore how to increase and diversify access t water for agriculture, livestock and household use.

Intended Outputs:
Number of people using alternative energy/stoves, number of successful nurseries/groups setting up nurseries, number of men involved in collection of household fuel.

Number of nurses, peers, Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA), Traditional Healers (TH), counsellors trained and working, number of condom outlets established, number of video shows and seminars, number of eductional materials distributed.

Improved post harvest storage, increase in staple crop yields, more access to inputs and markets.

Improved livestock heath and production; number of women's groups with small stock; increased animal by-product sales.

Number of effective water committees; number of protected water sources; number of effective rain water harvesting practices.