SLIDE 1 Influence of Microcredit-funded Businesses
- n Human Welfare and Bushmeat Consumption
Among Communities in Serengeti, Tanzania
Asanterabi Lowassa1,2, Sam Maghimbi1 , Loiruki Naiman3, Andrea Wallace3, and Anke Fischer4 1University of Dar es Salaam, 2Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute,
3Frankfurt Zoological Society, 4James Hutton Institute
SLIDE 2
Bushmeat hunting in western Serengeti
Hunting seen as poverty-driven activity Efforts to link conservation and development goals Community-based conservation initiatives; Wildlife Management Areas – support of social services Communal benefits often perceived negatively In 2009, FZS and Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) initiated a microcredit scheme - Community Conservation Bank (COCOBA)
SLIDE 3
Launched in 1983: Grameen Bank in Bangladesh – Prof. Yunus earned Nobel Prize in 2006 Aim: To help poor households in accessing capital to improve their income generation initiatives Recently implemented around Serengeti National Park Assumption: will improve livelihoods and therefore reduce pressure on wildlife The microcredit concept
SLIDE 4
Formation of COCOBA groups
SLIDE 5 COCOBAs – how they work
1,000 – 3,000 TSh per week
COCOBA
SLIDE 6 To complement a widespread economic perspective with social perspective To investigate the impact of microcredits
To investigate the impact of microcredit- funded businesses on perceived wellbeing of a household Study objectives
SLIDE 7 Site: Western side of Serengeti National Park (outside Park) Qualitative and quantitative methods
- 8 FGDs (Checklists) with loan
takers and trainers in 4 villages
- Questionnaire: Quasi-experiment,
comparing households from the same villages who had (n=63) and those that had not (n=58) participated in the microcredit scheme
Methods
Key variables included were: 1. Amounts of protein consumed: dietary recall exercise 2. Self-reported wellbeing 3. Use of the loan
SLIDE 8
1.Protein consumption in households with and without microcredits Microcredit takers
Bushmeat Mean: 1.17 meals per week Non-bushmeat meals (beef, chicken, fish, goat) Mean: 2.80 meals per week
Non-credit takers
Bushmeat Mean: 2.36 meals per week Non-bushmeat meals (beef, chicken, fish, goat) Mean: 1.87 meals per week
Results
p<0.05 not significant
SLIDE 9 COCOBA and bushmeat consumption – implications Difference in number of bushmeat meals was significant. Microcredit users consumed bushmeat less frequently. Potential explanation:
- Microcredits supported the purchase or
raising of other (more expensive) proteins such as beef, chicken, goat, sheep, fish
Results
SLIDE 10 2.Credit spending
50% of borrowers used all credit to establish business 45% of all borrowers used credit for meeting household needs (medical costs, school fees) – non-intended
Results
20 40 60 Credit Percentage
SLIDE 11
The nature of microcredit-funded businesses
More people engage in business activities
Results
SLIDE 12
Bushmeat trade reduced
Results
The nature of microcredit-funded businesses
SLIDE 13
Most businesses are grain & livestock
Results
The nature of microcredit-funded businesses
SLIDE 14
Limited capital available & short repayment periods
Results
The nature of microcredit-funded businesses
SLIDE 15
Social structures and business success Gender roles played an important role
‒ Women constrained in their business choice ‒ Significant difference in the frequency of travelling for business (p<0.05)
Most women confine business to their home village
‒ This was due to gendered tasks assigned to women
Results
SLIDE 16
- Microcredits appear to support business
alternatives to hunting and selling of bushmeat
- Many businesses funded through credits
were based on price speculations (grain trade)
- Credits used for social purposes improved
household welfare-supported school fees, medical care or housing, but complicated loan repayment Summary
SLIDE 17
Microcredit scheme can support households to consume other, non-bushmeat protein and thus potentially reduce bushmeat consumption Opportunities for long-term businesses need to be improved People seem to have many credit needs other then business creation hence social loans need to be improved To support conservation, a strategy is needed to upscale microcredit schemes to other villages adjacent to protected areas
Conclusions
SLIDE 18 Supervisors
- Prof. Maghimbi – University of Dar es Salaam
- Dr. Anke Fischer – James Hutton Institute
EU and the CREATE Project – for funding this study Frankfurt Zoological Society – for field assistance
- Dr. G Wallace and Dr. A Wallace – data management
- Dr. S Nindi, Dr. S Mduma and Dr. D Rentsch for their
support and advice THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING
Acknowledgements
