Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute’s (ALLPI) Team of Experts comprised of Mr. Nicholas Mudungwe (Programs Coordinator and Team leader) and Harrison Mungai (Leather Value Chain and Tannery Expert) made a field mission to Eswatini from 8th –19th April 2019 both days inclusive.
The main objective of the mission was to conduct training in Cluster Design, Business Plan development and Implementation to MSMEs of Eswatini and conducting a feasibility study on possibility of establishing a Tannery in Eswatini . The training was conducted from 8th -12th April 2019 while the feasibility study was done from 15th – 18th April 2019.
The following were the topics covered during the training:-
- ALLPI activities and overview of the Eswatini intervention,
- Situational Analysis of the Artisans (SMEs)
- Participatory SWOT Analysis,
- Possible interventions,
- Opportunities for Cluster/joint action.
- Cluster Development Initiative Framework,
- Group formation – based on artisans with common interests,
- Group discussions and presentation,
- Cluster Designing – Group discussion and presentation,
- Business Planning & Record Keeping – Group discussions and presentation,
- Designing a Cluster Business Plan - Group work and presentation,
- Implementation Review:
- Monitoring and Evaluation,
- Change Management,
- Learning
- Plenary Discussions
The training was conducted at Cooperative Development College (CODEC) of Ezulwini. The number of participants were 28 comprising of 19 (68 %) males and 9 (32%) females. They were drawn from various institutions which included: Ministries of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Agriculture, Defence and membership from Leather and Leather Products of Eswatini, Gwamile Vocational and Commercial Training Institute of Matsapha (VOCTIM), Eswatini College of Technology (ECOT) and Handcraft sector.
During the feasibility study, the following institutions were visited and interviewed for the purpose of collecting data which will assist ALLPI to develop a feasibility study report of establishing a Tannery in Eswatini.
The institutions visited included:
- Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade,
- Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Veterinary),
- Ministry of Finance (Department of Public Procurement),
- Eswatini Investment Promotional Authority,
- Swaziland Meat Industries,
- Swaziland Leather and Leather Products Association and
- Local Municipal Council Abattoirs among others.
All institutions visited supported the idea of establishing the Tannery in Eswatini as it will create employment, generate revenue to the Government and improve the livelihood of people of Eswatini.
During the official opening, the two activities (Training and Feasibility study) were graced by the Director of MSME Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade in the Kingdom of Eswatini Mr. Muleki Sakhile Dlamini while Mr. Mudungwe gave a gave a key address on behave of the Executive Director of ALLPI.
The graduation ceremony was attended by Mr. Siboniso Nkambule the Principal Secretary (P.S), Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade who issued the certificates to the graduating participants. The P.S was accompanied by the Director of MSMEs in the Ministry while Mr. Mudungwe (ALLPI Programs Coordinator) represented the Executive Director of ALLPI.
At the end of the two activities, the ALLPI Experts held a debriefing session with the Director of MSMEs in his office on 18th April 2019.