Co-creating a Mopane caterpillars processing plant with women beneficiaries.
Women beneficiaries in an AfDB supported project recently actively participated in the design of the infrastructure and production line layout of the processing plant that will ensure improved hygiene and more efficient production of their harvested Mopane worms.
(Harare, ILO News) “We are an empowered people and building a legacy for our children and their children” said Eunice Maranda chairperson of Rovhona Raita Women Cooperation during a recently held co-creation workshop in Masvingo.
In line with the objective of the AfDB funded “Youth and Women Economic Empowerment Project” (E4WAY) to establish profit making “Anchor Processing Enterprises” in targeted districts with the view to spur production and to catalyze value addition in the target localities, ILO used a co-creation approach to develop structural and production line and work flow designs for the Mopane Caterpillar processing plant. Co-creation is an approach that brings together diverse ideas, in order to jointly produce a mutually valued outcome.
Participants at the co-creation workshop included officials from the ILO, Government (Ministries of Gender, Public Works, Industry and Trade and Youth), Beitbridge Council, Forestry Commission, Environmental Management Agency and Rovhona Raita executive members. Under the guidance of Graham Cochrane, an architect and Naison Masiyashe, an entrepreneur with a Mopane Caterpillar processing company, participants jointly co-designed draft structural and production line drawings, together with a draft work flow chart.
During discussions it was interesting to note that consensus to design, “an optimal, low cost, energy efficient and low maintenance building and production plant” was readily reached and was unanimous. Concern for the environment was re-emphasized when an Officer from Environmental Management Agency proposed to re-use the nutrient rich water from the factory to water a tree nursery. It was jointly agreed that the Mopane Caterpillar processing plant should produce two products: Mopane Caterpillars for relish and Mopane Caterpillar powder to bolster nutrition for growing children.
In demonstrating their understanding of the production process, the women of Rovhona Raita presented draft production lines and work flow charts in their local language, Venda.
True to its essence, the co-creation workshop enhanced stakeholder ownership as echoed by Mr Sitole, the Forestry Commission Officer for Beitbridge, “Our ideas have been incorporated in these designs and most importantly I have learned beyond my expectations.”
The Government also gave a thumbs up to the ILO for adopting a participatory approach to developing the designs.
In line with the objective of the AfDB funded “Youth and Women Economic Empowerment Project” (E4WAY) to establish profit making “Anchor Processing Enterprises” in targeted districts with the view to spur production and to catalyze value addition in the target localities, ILO used a co-creation approach to develop structural and production line and work flow designs for the Mopane Caterpillar processing plant. Co-creation is an approach that brings together diverse ideas, in order to jointly produce a mutually valued outcome.
Participants at the co-creation workshop included officials from the ILO, Government (Ministries of Gender, Public Works, Industry and Trade and Youth), Beitbridge Council, Forestry Commission, Environmental Management Agency and Rovhona Raita executive members. Under the guidance of Graham Cochrane, an architect and Naison Masiyashe, an entrepreneur with a Mopane Caterpillar processing company, participants jointly co-designed draft structural and production line drawings, together with a draft work flow chart.
During discussions it was interesting to note that consensus to design, “an optimal, low cost, energy efficient and low maintenance building and production plant” was readily reached and was unanimous. Concern for the environment was re-emphasized when an Officer from Environmental Management Agency proposed to re-use the nutrient rich water from the factory to water a tree nursery. It was jointly agreed that the Mopane Caterpillar processing plant should produce two products: Mopane Caterpillars for relish and Mopane Caterpillar powder to bolster nutrition for growing children.
In demonstrating their understanding of the production process, the women of Rovhona Raita presented draft production lines and work flow charts in their local language, Venda.
True to its essence, the co-creation workshop enhanced stakeholder ownership as echoed by Mr Sitole, the Forestry Commission Officer for Beitbridge, “Our ideas have been incorporated in these designs and most importantly I have learned beyond my expectations.”
The Government also gave a thumbs up to the ILO for adopting a participatory approach to developing the designs.