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 The
Siwa Environmental Amelioration Project (SEAP) has been implemented
during the period May 1998 - May 2001, and it has subsequently
extended, closing formally on October 2003. The objective of the
project was to contribute to the economic development and
environmental amelioration of Siwa by supporting community
activities aimed at the sustainable development and at the
conservation of natural resources. The working methodology has been
based on participatory approach, seeking the full involvement of the
local community, while respecting the Siwan tradition and culture,
including the traditional power, and the administrative formal
authorities in place. The project has substantially achieved its
objectives. However, to ensure further sustainability to the results
achieved and to widening its benefit to the area, a second phase has
been financed.
The
architecture of SEAP-Phase II, implemented under the umbrella of the
Egyptian Italian Environmental Cooperation Program-Phase II/
EIECP,
is based on four components reflecting the proposed widening of the
project’s scope. These components are: Development of
Sustainable Agriculture; Strengthening the Siwa Community
Development Environment Conservation
(SCDEC / Siwa Association); Strengthening the Protected Area;
and Solid Waste Management.
The
project is pursuing the following general objective: "to contribute
to the conservation and sustainable use of natural and cultural
resources in the Siwa region".
The
followings are the specific development objectives of the
four Project components:
-
Sustainable agriculture
– To
improve the present productivity and to selectsuitable cropping
patterns, enabling the diversification of the agricultural
production while enhancing water use efficiency, thus to make better
use of natural resources and to increase the household income,
including creation of job opportunities for new graduates.
-
Strengthening the SCDEC / Siwan
Association - To contribute to the
improvement of living standards conditions in Siwa Oasis by
promoting local structures and mechanisms through which low-income
Siwans, including women, can ameliorate their economic situation in
a socio-economic and environmental sustainable way.
-
Strengthening the
Siwa
Protected Area
– To
firmly establish a well managed Protected Area, contributing to the
development of the region as a leading tourism site, while
strengthening the mandate and institutional capacity of EEAA in the
Governorate.
-
Solid
Waste Management Task
– To develop and implement a SWM scheme in Siwa oasis
(which includes the town of Siwa and the surrounding villages),
based on the need of the Siwan community and in line with
EEAA
policies.
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The
expected outputs/results are the followings:
 Development
of sustainable agriculture
Based
on the sub-component’s six specific objectives, nine key outputs
have been tentatively identified, each arising from a series of
targeted activities.
Output
1.
The production technologies introduced in respect to soil, water and
crop management have been refined through the cropping, monitoring
and follow-up of 188 plots (equivalent to 202 fed.) completed within
the 3 years Project period, and 22 plots (22 fed) planned for the
extension period, for a total of 210 plots covering 224 fed. With
the establishment of a new area of 32 fed. put under adaptive
research Modules, the total area cropped and monitored results of
256 fed..
Output 2.
Organic farming technology has been developed and at the end of the
conversion period the harvests have been certified as organic over
an area of 10 fed. Less known crops have been tested and monitored
over an area of 20 fed. for their introduction in the cropping
patterns.
Output
3.
The changes of soil properties across the years have been monitored
through 600 soil samples. The water
management
has been monitored through installation of about 230 piezometrs, 50
V-Notch and measurements taken from the micro irrigation system.
Landscape changes have been monitored through
photo-documentation.
 Output
4.
The crop production has been evaluated in term of suitability of the
crops in the prevailing conditions in term of some growth
parameters. The development of crops in different modules
(individual and intercropped) has been monitored. The cropping
patterns in term of rotation/soil fertility/pest, diseases and weeds
control have been assessed.
Output
5.
The economics of various cropping patterns have been assessed
through financial analysis of inputs/outputs ratio, taking into
account marketing opportunities and prices throughout the year.
These analyses have been compared with the traditional farming
system. The socio-economic impact of the new cropping
patterns/farming systems on family income and the changes likely
taking place on family labour force and livelihood, market labour
force, etc. has been assessed.
Output
6.
Income generating initiatives linked
to sustainable agriculture have been developed: a
Livestock Demonstration Farm for sheep and goat has been
established, which also provides balanced rations and other services
to local market; 100 sheep/goats and 40 buffalo/cows have been
distributed to participating farmers, partly women; a nursery and 10
poles have been established for fish
farming. The existing
animals from the first phase will be followed-up and monitored.
Output
7. Women
beneficiaries have been trained and provided with 10 spinning wheels
to introduce the utilization of the wool by processing it into yarns
and then into carpets. Equipment to better utilize the milk produced
from buffalo, cows and goats for processing to products such as yogurt, cheese, and butter for household consumption and possibly
for marketing has been distributed to 10 trained women.
Output
8. The
level of knowledge of local community members and Project staff,
young generations and women has been enhanced through training done
in the field, homes and demonstration farms giving high respect to
local traditions and customary habits. The training has covered
various Project activities. The
participatory approach adopted has facilitated the effectiveness of
the advices and recommendations given to beneficiaries and the
transfer of his findings and problems to the specialists.
Output
9.
Collaborative
agreements with specialized Institutions/Organizations have been
signed and implemented. The specific scientific support has been
provided to the Project, while the Institutions have been benefited
from the fieldwork implemented with the participating community.
Thus the findings are based on solid basis, more reliable and
reflecting the prevailing conditions of the Siwa region. Siwan
community has been provided with a well-equipped Laboratory, able to
respond in time and reliably to all the needed information required
for an effective sustainable management of natural resources.
 Strengthening
the SCDEC/Siwan Association
Based
on the sub-component’s five specific objectives, five key outputs
have been tentatively identified, each arising from a series of
targeted activities.
Output
1.
SCDEC effectively manages and monitors the local credit scheme that
supports socio-economic and environmental sustainable development
initiatives.
Output 2.
Establishment of a well-functioning and self-sustaining
micro-crediting mechanism managed by SCDEC
Output 3. The Window service has been
established, delivering technical information, technical booklets
and preparing feasibility studies.
There is also broad awareness within the community about the
existence and the opportunities offered by the micro-crediting
mechanism and the window for technical assistance.
Output
4.
Agro-industrial
processing units (on its own or in partnership with the private
sector) are established. Marketing
and sales opportunities for the Siwan community are enhanced in a
coordinated manner.
Output
5. More
social equity and empowerment of Siwan women and
marginalized groups are pursued through their access to
micro-crediting scheme. Women and marginalized groups become
important actors, within Siwan association framework structure, of
initiatives promoted by NGOs in cultural heritage preservation,
handicraft production and ecotourism.
Strengthening Siwa - Protected Area
Output
1.
Institutional capacity for field conservation enabled through legal,
human resources and infrastructure development
Output
2.
Collaborative management of the protected area is operational based
on the adaptive,
equitable and sustainable use of biodiversity resources
Output
3.
Monitoring and evaluation of biodiversity resources, their utilization
and management has been tested, and a system is operational
Output
4.
Information Education Communication (IEC) efforts are building local
and national constituencies for biodiversity conservation
Output
5.
Ecotourism is managed to demonstrate innovative,
environmentally-compatible, economic activities meeting sustainable
livelihood needs
Output
6.
An overall biodiversity strategy and action plan for the Siwa region
is developed and biodiversity conservation is firmly inscribed on
the local development agenda
Output
7. The
management capacity of the Environmental Management Unit of the
Matrouh Governorate is enhanced
 Solid
Waste Management
In
order to achieve the objectives of the Project Task, the following
outputs/results will be produced:
Output A-1:
An updated solid waste related database that will include
general attributes of the Siwa Oasis and the solid waste specific
attributes. It will also include a map of Siwa showing available
routes and their traffic capacity, population concentration and
growth trends, and the location of commercial and industrial
activities.
Output B-1: An executive,
ready-for-implementation plan for the establishment of a
comprehensive and sustainable SWM scheme for the entire Siwa
Oasis.
Output B-2: An improved and implemented SWM
scheme. Depending on the outcome of B-1, this new scheme will
improve the existing collection system and making it more
comprehensive. Collection systems might include household and
commercial waste containers, collection vehicles and equipment
upgrade, and the organization and equipping of collection workers,
(such as the provision of protective clothing). The scheme might
also include the addition of temporary waste storage and transfer
points, equipment for waste transfer, and the procedures for
operating and maintaining these facilities and equipment.
Furthermore, the SWM scheme will improve the operation of the
existing dumpsite located 10 km north of the town of Siwa
(on Marsa Matrouh road).
Output C-1:
A framework for an Operations Unit (OU), which will assume
the responsibility of planning, managing and monitoring the
execution of the SWM scheme. On the basis of this framework, the
following will be set: job descriptions, training needs assessments,
and work force development plans.
Output C-2: Operating the OU after being
supported with qualified staff and workers.
Output D-1: A set of documents and reports as a
part of a mechanism that will assure the sustainability and
functionality of the Siwa SWM Project. These documents will also
emphasize the continuous updating of the data related to solid waste
and the continuous measurement of the outputs of the Project
task.
Output D-2: Bi-annual
follow-up reports addressing the outputs of the task implementation
and monitoring the sustainability of the operations.
Moreover,
two Italian NGOs (Ricerca & Cooperazione and
COSPE) will
integrate, in autonomous administrative structured organization, the
activities undertaken by SEAP in the fields of cultural heritage,
hand-crafts and ecotourism, aiming respectively to rehabilitate
the local constructions, to revive the local traditions and to
promote sustainable tourism, stimulating the overall development of
income generating activities. A close coordination and collaboration
with the NGOs will thus help the Project to enhance its level of
effectiveness in addressing social development.
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