SPRODETA expands green FCAP to 38 villages
Mbotwa: We saw communities become self-reliant,
The Small Producers Development and Transporters Association (SPRODETA), in partnership with SPARK Microgrants, has expanded its Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP) initiative to 38 additional villages in Mzimba District.
The scaling up of the project follows the success of its pilot phase in Mzimba and Phalombe, where 24 communities were targeted in the two districts.
SPRODETA is taking the initiative to three Traditional Authorities (T/As) of Jalavikuna and Mpherembe, where 12 villages will be targeted in each area, and Mtwalo, where 14 villages will be reached.
The FCAP approach, a flagship model of SPARK Microgrants, empowers communities across Africa by giving them resources to design and drive their development projects.
Speaking during the M’mbelwa District Council Executive Committee briefing, Atusaye Mbotwa, Program Coordinator for Titukulane Tikusamala Chilengedwe Project, said the decision to expand was motivated by the overwhelming success witnessed in the first cohort of communities.
“We saw communities become self-reliant, financially stable, and environmentally conscious. Scaling up means more communities will benefit from improved livelihoods and increased resilience to climate shocks,” Mbotwa said.
For the 38 newly selected villages, Mbotwa said, SPRODETA followed a meticulous selection criterion.
“We prioritized areas based on village size and leadership structures, livelihood status and resilience to climate-related shocks, experience of implementing partners and proximity to villages, and compatibility with SPARK’s mission to improve livelihoods and build resilience,” Mbotwa said.
With funding structured in two rounds, that is an initial MK14,000,000, followed by MK7,000,000, each village will be equipped with the financial capacity to bring their visions to life.
“Each community will undergo a rigorous planning phase before implementation, ensuring sustained collective action. Funds will be disbursed in phases, with each village required to submit a structure request that guarantees financial transparency and accountability,” Mbotwa said.
Initially, SPRODETA piloted the Green FCAP initiative in 12 communities in Mzimba, guiding them through the planning phase and into livestock rearing initiatives that aligned with local needs. Among the pilot villages, eight embraced goat farming, two opted for pig farming, one focused on cattle farming, and on pursued chicken farming.
In addition to enhancing food security and income generation, communities took charge of environmental conservation, collectively planting 30,384 trees, a testament to their commitment to climate action.
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