The BCPA’s vision of Poverty Alleviation, Job Creation, Income Generation and Economic Upliftment, can best be achieved through taking advantage of the Barokologadi land’s proximity to the established Madikwe Game Reserve, as well as the opportunity to partner with conservation agencies and private sector, to create tourism products which can attract much needed jobs, small business development and income for the advancement of the poor Barokologadi community.

Extension of the protected area through creating a more attractive game and nature viewing area adjacent to both Madikwe and Molatedi Dam as well as covering the additional portion of the Dwarsberg mountains. In addition to this, the establishment of lodges which will cater for both the local and international markets.

1. Protection of wildlife species: In addition to the existing species on the land which include Impala, Kudu, Blou Wildebeest, Reedbuck, Zebra and Waterbuck, we already imported Rhino and Giraffe onto the area.
2. Creation of lodge accommodation and wildlife watching for guests wanting to enjoy wildlife experience.
3. Extension of the protected area in the region. Over 6000 hectares of conservation area is to be added to the 65 000 ha Madikwe Game Reserve.
4. Instilling conservation awareness among neighbouring communities.

The project is meant to extend the conservation area and further improve the conservation awareness within the Barokologadi community, which occupies 4 villages, as well as over 10 surrounding villages.

It is also meant to create over 200 permanent and 240 temporary job opportunities from within Barokologadi and the surrounding communities.

The project would also boost the local economic empowerment as some of the services required would be rendered by the local small business entities.

Other expected spin-offs include training for the local community members, corporate social investment programmes and poverty alleviation programmes.

Scarcity of trained people among communities:

Our community is faced with having to source labour for participating in the project, which is trained for specific job opportunities. This unfortunately requires more investment in accelerated empowerment programmes within the communities and such programmes need funding and other resources.

Funding:

In addition to training, funding is also required to boost small business development in the locality. 

Marketing of available products:

While our vicinity to Madikwe will have a positive impact on our access to the markets, the project would still need some vigorous promotion to the broader market given the high competition in the industry.

*Please provide Full Financial Projections in the Business Plan*

Since the start of the project over 60 temporary work opportunities were created.  We also have over 20 people who are permanently employed currently. Of these, about 12 are members of the Barokologadi community.

The partnership between BCPA and ERP has also resulted in the following benefits within the communities:

1. For the past 3 years, BCPA in conjunction with ERP, has been conducting an “End User Computing” learnership program which involved learners (youth of up to 28 years of age) from the 4 Barokologadi villages and other 2 neighbouring villages. Each of the learners has been earning a monthly stipend of R3500 for the 12 months of each program. So far 80 learners have graduated from the program, while 50 learners are currently enrolled.
2. To further boost the quality of education for our youth, about 43 Maths and Science learners at our high school were supplied with smart phones programmed with study material for Mathematics and Science syllabi.
3. ERP and its partners have also so far donated over 350 bicycles to learners in the Barokologadi and surrounding villages for easier and timeous access to their respective schools.
4. As a poverty relief measure, over 2000 food parcels were also donated to needy households during the Covid lockdown period.

While the actual project operation is still at its initial stage, the partnership has managed to establish and sponsor a bee keeping and honey production cooperative comprising 13 youth members from the Barokologadi villages. The main purpose of the bee project includes the future protection of big trees from being damaged by elephants and rhinos, as well as honey production for income generation by the cooperative.

The cooperative has recently extracted over 50 kilos of honey and started supplying it to resellers and preparing packaged honey for store shelves.

• Grant
• Reimbursable grant

Yes

As indicated, the project will expand the current protected area by over 6000 hectares and hence positively impact on conservation. It will also improve conservation and environment protection awareness among the Barokologadi and other surrounding communities.

The project’s job creation, poverty alleviation, income generation and economic upliftment imperative will positively to the livelihood of local communities. The envisaged creation of over 180 permanent job opportunities, the empowerment of SMME’s through involvement in supporting services, and the engagement in poverty relief programs, are some of the interventions to improve these livelihoods.

The project can definitely continue to thrive post investment given the income generation activities and the partnerships attached to it. It encompasses the establishment of up to 110 beds lodges linked with traversing rights for game-viewing experience as well as boosting of small business activity through the supporting services like cleaning services, maintenance, food supply, laundry services, tour guides, construction, etc.

The success of similar models in many other areas in the country and the structuring of the model around partnerships between communities, private sector and government entities like North West Parks and Tourism Board, will indeed make the model viable.

1. Business Plan (including current financials, employees, business history) and projected cashflows
2. Company Registration documents