Bio-diversity

1.1 Project Summary In 2005, Entreprendre au F minin Oc an Indien (EFOI) benefitted from GEF SGP assistance for Use of Vetiver Technologies for Women Empowerment (Ref: MAR/SGP/05/05). This project involved the cultivation of vetiver on 1.8 arpents of land and the setting up of a micro distillery unit. The project has confirmed the technical feasibility of the technology, and has facilitated production of promising vetiver-based craft products. However, land area and distillation capacity were limited, hence constraining the production of vetiver oil, and the availability of additional vetiver roots for craft items. EFOI has requested the assistance of GEF-SGP to up-scale this project in order to develop a financially viable line of eco-friendly biodiversity products that will enhance family income by providing jobs to up to 30 unemployed women. This project will include: Cultivating vetiver plants on some 6.7 arpents and setting up of a distillery of at least 2000 L for production of vetiver oil Capacity building of 30 beneficiaries involved in this project in Craft product development, and life skills Research on application of essential oils in cosmetics, product testing and implementation of proper processes and systems by Centre for Phytotherapy and Research (CEPHYR) This project is in line with the GEF-SGP OP5 Country Program Strategy, which promotes activities that add value to biodiversity resources, i.e. to develop social and biological systems protecting species while harvesting communities capture the added value. It will enhance protection of biodiversity through vetiver cultivation, promote the development of eco-products for and enhance sustainable livelihoods and gender inclusion. It is also in line with Government policy, which is to promote entrepreneurship, gender equity and continuous learning in order to alleviate poverty. The total budget of the project is estimated to be Rs. 1,889,250. A request of Rs. 1,440,000 is being submitted to the GEF SGP. 1.2 Organizational Background and Capacity to implement the project EFOI (Region Maurice) is an association of women entrepreneurs of micro-enterprises set up for the promotion of Women Entrepreneurship in Mauritius. Set up in April 2001 EFOI benefited from the support of UNDP for the organisation of its first workshop on networking in 2002. The membership fee is one hundred rupees monthly and membership is opened to any woman entrepreneur in Mauritius. The seat of the Association is at Mgr Leen Street, Curepipe. This project is in line with the objectives of the association, aiming at the empowerment of its members, and developing sustainable livelihoods at the community level. The constitution of a bureau is as follows: President : Rosy Felix Vice President : Veronique Lesurvenu Secretary : Majo Bass Assistant Secretary : Myrane Amic Treasurer : Nathalie Fevrier Assistant Treasurer : Ghylaine Athion There are four broad industry sectors represented by the 60 members of the Association: Handicraft Manufacturing Agro-industry Service Achievements Visioning exercise for EFOI, conducted with the assistance of the National Productivity and Competitiveness Council (NPCC) Operation of two boutiques for the marketing of products of members (Port Louis and Curepipe) Regular participation in SME fairs organized by the SMEDA at Swami Vivekananda,Pailles Training of its members in the management of their enterprises, with the assistance of Mauritius Employers Federation Training in IT for EFOI members in order to develop IT competencies Initiation of duck rearing project with the support of EU/Decentralised Cooperation Programme at Midlands Initiation of Duck rearing project with the support of National Empowerment Foundation (NEF) at Mahebourg Assistance to prepare CVs of job seekers and unemployed women in job fair organized by the National Empowerment Foundation Assistance for the mentoring of 100 startup women entrepreneurs across the island under the aegis of the National Empowerment Foundation Participation (along with EFOI Rodrigues) in the first Women Empowerment Symposium organised by the National Empowerment Foundation Setting up of a Product development Centre at Mgr Leen Street, Curepipe for capacity building and product development activities Use of Vetiver Technologies for Women Empowerment with the assistance of GEF SGP Development of Carton recycling project with the assistance of Food and Allied Industries Ltd (FAIL) Hosting in Mauritius of the 6th regional meet of EFOI Achievements of Conservation of biodiversity through the development of Vetiver Technologies for Women Empowerment (Phase I) with the assistance of GEF/SGP The achievements of the earlier project are as follows: Plantation of vetiver involving 6 women over a plot of land of 1.8 arpent initiated and land still under vetiver cultivation 2 women trained in basic distillery operations Two small distillery units installed and operationalised First production of hydrolat (final water by-product left over after the steam distillation of roots has been completed) Production of handicraft products (soap, candles, roofing using vetiver leaves) 20 participants involved in training and production of hats using vetiver leaves However the project could not progress further as: The scale of operations (plantation area) was insufficient to generate essential oils There was a lack of possibility for testing of hydrolat at the time of production The lessons learnt were as follows

Mauritius