It is the last Sunday of my assignment in Zimbabwe so it is time to record the events of the last 2+ weeks. My Delta flight from Atlanta to Joburg was 2 hours delayed so I missed my connection to Harare Zimbabwe. Delta paid for the Proteus Hotel and meals in the airport but I could not have my checked luggage so same clothes the next day on my flight to Harare. I arrived safely but my checked bag did not. Off to the Bronte Hotel in Harare where I have stayed before. Lovely property with beautiful plantings and Shona stone statues. Back and forth to the airport and the bag arrived! On Sunday I met Linda Nielsen of the Zimbabwe National Association of Dairy Farmers. NADF is supported by many NGOs including Land O’ Lakes. She gave me great background on the milk collection association that I would be working with the following week. Lunch with Tim Bergstrom, Country Director for CNFA and another US Aid consultant. On an early bus to Bulawayo and 6 hours later arrived. I am staying at the Cresta Churchill this assignment. It is 15 minutes out of the downtown so very quiet. Charming old English style including a fireplace in the bar! My first week assignment was financial and organizational training for the Umzingwane Milk Collection Association. Held outside – a roofed concrete pad with over 50 participants! Wonderfully interactive! The Secretary of the Association, named Talent, acted as my interpreter and he was excellent. Although most people speak English in Zimbabwe, the rural areas are more comfortable with local language. Breaks in class were bread sandwiches with butter and jam, hot tea and coffee, and juice. Friday May 25th was Africa Day which celebrates the date in 1963 when 30 of the 32 independent African countries met to form OAU (Organization of African Unity). Only 5 countries have a public holiday - Ghana, Mali, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. I spent a quiet weekend of work on the computer. The second week was moderating a conference of agro dealer Provincial chairmen and others in Gweru. Agro dealers are retailers who sell all types of products in a village store as well as seeds, fertilizer, chemicals and tools. They form into District Associations as well as Provincial Associations and are working to become a national group. It was a very lively and spirited discussion on all three days! Part of my job was to keep the group pointed toward the completion of its self directed goals!! I have also been working with Tim and Taswell Chivere, who was my main contact on the first trip, to refine the next three modules in the Agrodealer Business Management Training. The additional topics are Cash Flow Analysis, Business Plan Development, and Sourcing and Obtaining Credit. Packing today for my Tuesday 7am bus back to Harare. Tomorrow is a full work day in Bulawayo! Flights begin on Thursday. Home on June 8th. I voted by mail before I left and I encourage all Californians to vote and make your voice heard.

Angola #9

I am finishing my assignment in Huambo and will be home on May 1st. As you may recall, this assignment is a continuation of two previous assignments which began in December, continued in January, and will conclude with this trip. CNFA’s (Citizens Network for Foreign Affairs) Farmer to Farmer program has a strategic alliance with CODESPA, a Spanish NGO with an emphasis also on agriculture as well as micro finance to underserved segments of an economy. CODESPA requested a volunteer with a banking and financial analysis background so I was asked to be the first CNFA volunteer to work with them. I spent the first part of this trip in Madrid with the CODESPA headquarters staff. A very energetic group of young people with project management skills. Some have been out to the “field” as CODESPA has activities in many countries. I gave a 2-hour seminar on analyzing projects in Angola and Cooperative Financial Management 101. It was cold and rainy in Madrid and I left at 1:00am for Luanda. This is my 9th trip to Angola with 6 of those trips based in Huambo so I have a comfort with the part of town that houses my hotel, CODESPA and CNFA. I walk (20 minutes) to ShopRite which is a “supermarket” and can navigate with some confidence to other areas. Huambo has not changed dramatically in the 2+ years that I have come here; yes, there are some new government buildings but the sidewalks are still torn up and there is a basic lack of electricity, water and sewer for most of the town. Offices and hotels like SIstec have massive generators and buy water which is stored in large blue tanks. I have asked why there is not a system of above or below ground cisterns for collection of rain water but it is unknown here. CODESPA is now working on a second “storage” project – Micro-Silos for dried beans and grain. These are 1,000kg and will be bought by a family. As these are individual, there are less operating costs (guards, management, etc) and appear to be economical. Alberto and I presented the financials to 3 of the 5 Communal Banks (Cooperative-based). The most telling comment: “If a farmer makes payments for 75% of the cost during 9 months, and then decides not to pay any more, what happens? Answer: The Micro-Silo will be repossessed. Next question: “How soon will the farmer receive the money he has already paid back?” Ah my. Working with CODESPA has had another interesting aspect. Alberto is a Spaniard and is very connected into the Expatriate community in Huambo: this includes Portuguese, Cubans, French, Italians, etc. I have enjoyed meeting this diverse group who are currently working in the Huambo region. So all is well in my Angolan world. The country continues to change. Traffic is still a nightmare in Luanda (the capital) but the people are still eager to learn and adapt so the future of their children is better. I am hoping to come back for my 10th trip!

Spring ahead!

Tanzania does not go to Daylight Savings Time so I will only be 10 hours ahead of California on Sunday March 11th!

It has been a full 10 days in Tanzania. After traveling on Delta from San Diego to Atlanta to Johannesburg, I spent the night in City Lodge at JNB. Had wonderful prawns and calamari for dinner. Left on South African Airways for Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania.

Drove 2 days from Dar to reach Mbeya, the third largest city (Arusha is the second). Along the way, saw elephants, giraffes, zebras, and many “horned” animals (dik dik and gazelles). We also saw a leopard by the side of the road; it went into the bush quickly but it was a real treat.

After 9 hours of driving, spent the first night of travel in Iringa, a small town. Hotel was ok BUT a church across the street began VERY loud services at 5am! The second day of driving was shorter and we arrived in Mbeya.

Hotel Beaco has nice rooms and good restaurant facilities but it is located in a truck depot/cement warehouse industrial area. I am fortunately in the back so it is very quiet.

I am conducting training in two associations – one that is very new and only women. It is located in a very small village up the mountain. There is a Peace Corps volunteer, Jessica who has been working with this group for over 1 ½ years. The other association has more than 60 members who are both farmers and retailers.

Met with all of the Peace Corps volunteers in the region as they were together celebrating a birthday and a departure. Encouraged all of them to consider CNFA Farmer to Farmer programs in their future.

Weather has been wet which is great for the farmers but not as conducive for my walking. Have a wonderful week ahead.

Young people everywhere

A wonderful experience yesterday during a walk. The Scouts (boys and girls) were having a display in the park. All in shorts with shirts and merit badges. Several spoke excellent English. All wanted a picture with the three CNFA volunteers: Chuck from Asheville NC, an expert in edible landscaping and compost; Christine from Michigan who is working on a business plan at a Cooperative, and me. Many photos later we continued our walk. The future of any country is the young people.

Greetings on January 29

I am finishing my assignment in Huambo and will be home on February 1st.

This assignment is a continuation of an assignment which began in December so I will comment on the entire 5+ weeks. CNFA’s (Citizens Network for Foreign Affairs) Farmer to Farmer program has a strategic alliance with CODESPA, a Spanish NGO with an emphasis also on agriculture as well as micro finance to underserved segments of an economy. CODESPA requested a volunteer with a banking and financial analysis background so I was asked to be the first CNFA volunteer to work with them.
What a delight! Gavin Braschi, Irish/Italian, is the Country Director and Alberto Santos, from the Basque region of Spain, is the Program Manager. CODESPA is working with ADRA, a 20+ year Angolan NGO in a variety of programs in Huambo region.
What has transpired: created the financial analysis for a Cooperative seed potato storage building as well as a household-level maize (corn) storage bin; worked with the ADRA microfinance officer; consulted with a Cooperative-level communal bank; trained over 40 ADRA and cooperative Board members in financial management. A variety of interesting activities!

My December trip to Huambo was the LAST time that I stayed at Hotel Nova Estrela which was my home here for the past 2 years. It has gone downhill quickly with hot water only 1 out of 3 days; lack of electricity as the owners would not run the generator; and the final straw was the maid using my personal wash cloth (from home) to clean the shower floor. Fortunately, Gavin and Alberto had used another hotel close by – Sistec. It is wonderful with hot water, electricity, a breakfast, and access to a fitness center. I have walked on the treadmill every morning for 20 minutes (note to Bob of BB&J)

So all is well in my Angolan world. The country continues to change. Traffic is still a nightmare in Luanda (the capital) but the people are still eager to learn and adapt so the future of their children is better.

Doha on Monday morning October 3rd

I was delayed one day after missing my connection in Washington DC due to airplane issues on the SFO-IAD flight. United was great - provided a lovely hotel room and meal. The Qatar Airways flight to Doha was full but I fortunately had an empty middle seat at the bulkhead so slept well.

The Kempinski hotel is excellent. I have a 1 bedroom suite with full kitchen. The best part again is the washer/dryer in the kitchen.

The class is again at Doha Golf Course. 15 bankers from CBQ (Commercial Bank Qatar). Many are Private Bankers so the business banking concepts and financials are brand new. Lunch is provided.

Doha is very hot now but getting cooler as the year end approaches.

Huambo

I am preparing to go back to the USA on Monday after a very short trip to Angola. My Delta flights were wonderful as I was upgraded on the LONG flight from Atlanta to Joburg. Thank you Delta! I stayed in Joburg overnight, fly into Luanda, and made the connection to a domestic flight to Benguela. One night there at Nancy's Guest House. Drove with Nancy and friends to Huambo where I have been for the last 10 days. Out to the Cooperatives and working with the CNFA Project Managers. It has been a great assignment.

Hope that all of you had a great 4th of July.