PROPOSAL FOR A COOPERATIVE GRAIN STORAGE PROJECT RWANDPREPARED AND PRESENTED BY THE COOPERATIVE LEAGUE OF THE USA IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF RWANDA

THE PROJECT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN COOPERATION WITH THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS & COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT WITH ADDITIONAL GRANT-FUNDING PROVIDED THRU THE UN CAPITAL DEVEL FUND (UNCDF). THE USAID GRANT WILL FINANCE THE SERVICES OF A PROJ MANAGER FOR 24 PERSON-MOS AS WELL AS SUPPORT TRNG & PROCUREMENT OF COMMODITIES. THE UNCDF GRANT WILL FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEVEN STORAGE CENTERS & RELATED FACILITIES. IN ADDITION,AN OPERATING FUND WILL BE ESTABLISHED FOR THE NEW CENTERS. THE PARTICIPATING CO-OP"S & STORAGE SITES WILL BE SELECTED BY THE CLUSA PROJ MANAGER IN COOPERATION WITH THE MINISTRY. TRNG MATERIALS & SHORT COURSES WILL BE DEVELOPED FOR LEADERS,MANAGERS,AND OPERATING PERSONNEL OF THE CO-OP"S & STORAGE CENTERS. THE TRNG WILL FOCUS ON ACCTG,REPORTING SYSTEMS,AND CONTROL OF OPERATIONS. LATER,THE PROJ MANAGER WILL DIRECT EFFORTS TOWARD INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LOCAL BOARDS OF DIRECTORS AND IMPROVING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE BOARD MEMBERS & VARIOUS CO-OP"S. FOUR TO SIX MINISTRY STAFF MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE IN-DEPTH INSTRUCTION IN MGMT,ACCTG,CO-OP OPERATIONS,AND MEMBER ROLES. SOME MINISTRY & CO-OP PERSONNEL MAY RECEIVE SHORT-TERM MGMT TRNG AT THE PAN-AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF DEVELPMNT IN CAMEROON & AT OTHER INSTITUTES OUTSIDE RWANDA. THE MAJOR EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED UPON IN-COUNTRY TRNG IN MGMT,ACCTG,REPORTING,AND THE TECHNOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF GRAIN STORAGE,FUMGATN,AND HANDLING. THE CLUSA PROJ MANAGER WILL DESIGN THE ACCTG, RECORDKEEPING, AND REPORTING SYSTEMS FOR EACH PARTICIPATING CO-OP. CLUSA WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR GATHERING PHYSICAL & FINANCIAL DATA ON MARKETING & STORAGE OF BEANS & GRAIN,MEMBERSHIP PARTICPATION,VOLUME OF COMMODITIES HANDLED,STORAGE LOSSES, PRICINGDATA,GERMINATION PERCENTAGES OF SEED STOCK,AND OTHER DATA NECESSARY FOR EVALUATION OF THE COOPERATIVES & THEIR MGMT. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE 4400 FAMILIES WHO WILL UTILIZE THE STORAGE CENTERS. ANOTHER 13,500 FAMILIES WILL BENEFIT THROUGH INCREASED LOCAL FOOD SPPLY & MORE STABLE PRICES.