Environmental policy and administrative management

4.1. Project activities: The project activities to be executed will focus on the following main categories: 4.1.1. Phase 1 4.1.1.1. Selection of possible candidates to be trained as team leaders for the different teams from the existing MRCA community development database and CBO s. 4.1.1.2. Attendance of a Leadership Programme by these selected members. 4.1.2. Phase 2 4.1.2.1. Recruitment of possible team members. 4.1.2.2. Purchasing of all equipment, tools and material needed for the business ventures. 4.1.2.3. Arranging and conducting all education and training interventions as listed in the Implementation Plan and Time Frame. 4.1.2.4. Structuring of teams according to aptitude and interest. 4.1.3. Phase 3 4.1.3.1. Designing and developing a business strategy based on either a circular employment of the teams where they serve at all possible divisions in turn or a specialised approach where each individual is focussed on only one or two specific functions. This can only be determined once the training has been completed. 4.1.3.2. Finalising the concept marketing plan and aligning the business model(s) with the sustainable utilisation of the natural resources. 4.1.3.3. Developing the different ventures to the point where they will be self sustainable. To enhance these processes the A ROCHA and MRCA has already allocated an amount on their budgets for the FY 2014/5 and 2015/16 as well. 4.2. Locality of the Project: 4.2.1. The Ecology Field Education Centre that will serve as the focal point for these business ventures will be established at the campus of the Mukhajadi Leadership Institute that has been made available to the A ROCHA and MRCA for use as its head office. 4.2.2. By utilising this Ecology Field Education Centre as the hub of these ventures, the exposure of these ventures to the tourists that frequent the Marico region will be optimised and the management of these enterprises will be more effectively facilitated. 4.2.3. The indigenous nursery and permaculture garden will also be located adjacent to the Ecology Field Education Centre on land that has been made available by a local Trust. 4.2.4. The interpretive trail to be developed at Mukhajadi will like wise enhance the exposure of these business activities to the general public as well as the tourists visiting the area. 4.2.5. The environmentally sustainable ecotourism slack packing hiking routes will be developed by the teams along the river on the land of the landowners who had already indicated their willingness during the previous tourism product survey done in the region by UNISA. 4.2.6. These and other landowners will also provide access to their land for the placing of the bee hives provided that they share in the honey for own consumption. 4.2.7. The beading and sewing group, who currently operated down stream in the Koffiekraal and Pella villages, will be expanded to include ladies from the Groot Marico area as well. 4.3. Project Team: 4.3.1. Although all the personnel of the A ROCHA and MRCA Executive Leadership and Management Team will support the implementation of this project according to their specific expertise, the day to day planning, organising, coordination and control will be done by the Force Preparation Team who was transferred from Southern Cross Missions and Transformation Africa TT due to their community development qualifications, skills and more than a decade s experience with the communities along the Marico River. 4.3.2. This team operates according to the normal A ROCHA and MRCA project management procedures and will report directly to the National Director of A ROCHA.

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