DRAFT

PIFS DCAfTM-Development of the Consolidated Aid for Trade Matrix

Assessment of needs and project proposals

Concept Document-standard

1.Provisional title

Development of traditional handicraft activitiesand improving the profile of women handicraft producers in the Cook Islands

2. Categories flash codes

2.1. Geo scope: Pacific; Sub-regional/Multi-country; National - Cook Islands

2.2. AfT Cluster:AfT1 AfT 2 AfT 3 AfT 4 2.3. Sub-category: n.a.

2.4.Trade Agreement:EPA PICTA-G PICTA-S MSGTA MTCTA

2.5. Matrices position:EPA….

3. Agency(ies)/Actor(s) concerned

  • Cook Islands National Council of Women Office
  • Local partner Organisations

4.Overall/Framework/Broad aim commitment (EU/EUROPEAID-Global objective or Overall objective)

To contribute to the Cook Islands’s sustainable development and poverty eradication by means of facilitating and promoting international trade and investment

5.Dedicated commitment (EU/EUROPEAID-Specific objective or Project purpose)

Over 50% of Pa Enua women empowered to become significant contributors to household and country wealth by means of the export-oriented development of the traditional handicraft activity in the Cook Islands

6.Nature of specific inputs(means that are of immediate/direct value to beneficiaries; as applicable)

Technical assistance, Advice, Counselling, Secondment (except if part of next entries)

Training preparation and/or delivery, including: training aids, training-the-trainer, blended learning

Supply of goods or equipment (including vehicles, machinery, documentation, image and media)

Running expenses (ordinary and event-related)

7. Location/duration/start-up before/ending before

  • Rarotongaand other locations
  • Estimated duration: 24 months
  • Begin at soonest date

8Expected Results (see Annex for original formulation)

R1-Improved profile of women handicraft producers as important contributors to economic growt

R2-Access to market improved in terms of stability and fair price

R3-Handicraft production expanded throughout the country on a coordinated fashion

R4-Capacity to produce consistently and regularly increased and strengthened

9.Objectively Verifiable Indicators(in accordance with PCM-LogFrameconcepttemplate)

Result / Indicator / Source(s) of verification
R1 / The number of women enrolled inn training activities and assisted in improving their operation pattern / Specific project records ; Media
R2 / The number of organized revolving funds ably managed and operating on each island that supports handicraft production growth / Specific project records
R3 / The number of new orders from the islands for their handicraft products / Specific project records ; Statistics
R4 / The number of organized revolving funds ably managed by the women’s groups themselves and integrating their operation into island governance structure, / Specific project records; 6 monthly progress reports sent to Island Council ; Media

10. (Main) Operational Activities

Result / Act nr / Priority / Activity name
R1 / (see Annex)
R2
R3
R4

11.Target group(s), immediate, intermediate and final Beneficiaries (as applicable) and other Stakeholders (including nature of expectations and mode of dialogue)+Expected Impacts ( +/-)on those

  • Immediate and direct beneficiaries will be the women handicraft producers in each Island
  • Beneficiaries however will also be their immediate families, and the island populations, the Cook Islands handicraft industry, the tourism/visitor market and the Cook Islands resident and abroad in terms of enjoying a constant supply of authentic and quality handicraft

12.Assumptions & Constraints/Synergies/Risks

•Political and institutional stability as well as continuing alignment with trade development principles and trade agreements framework

  • Development of traditional handicraft while also developing capacities and skills of the women producers regarded as a priority issue from a political perspective
  • the Cook Islands National Council of Women Officeranking highly among institutional structures that will be encouraged and supported in the adoption of innovative patterns of performance
  • Leaders and Senior staff of the Cook Islands National Council of Women Officemotivated and

actively cooperative

  • Trainers available for programme design, training resources production and delivery of tuition
  • Technical assistance available for collaborating in the creation or upgrading of methodologies
  • Revolving funds will be managed effectively by each island women’s council
  • Availability of national financial resources to match possible loans or grants from Donors

13. Cost estimation(overall) (US$ 330,000.00) Total (approximate amount):Euro 253,250

(seeAnnex for original estimation of cost breakdown)

14. Prior/exploratory information on contacts/arrangements with Donor(s), if any

Information not available

15. Why this project?

Although the handicraft sector on Rarotonga appears coordinated, this scene doesn’t marry with the wholesalers and retailers wish to have a consistent and regular supply of handicraft. On the demand side the producers of crafts are wary of regular production as cash in hand is their preferred production incentive. In addition the producers are generally motivated to produce at certain times when the need arises to generate additional income for family, village or island occasions.

The delivery of this initiative will require some capacity development to the executive of the Island Women’s Council Organizations throughout the country. The project will partner with the Business Trade and Investment Business Advisor/Trainer and relevant Private Sector entities that are aligned with the handicrafts production sector to provide the relevant training and capacity development in the Island Councils women and to encourage oversight from the Island Council and Administration levels.

Capacity building would require the relevant women executives on the Women’s Island Councils to develop their processes for record keeping and delivery of handicraft to the markets, and accounting of the funds expended.

Coordination and management support for the duration of the project will be important located at the CINCW offices to be able to maintain the obligations to development partners, and supervise the flow of products and information throughout the islands, producers and buyers.

16.External consistency

The EU and other key donors in the Pacific Region have elected economic integration (including opening of markets and stimulating international trade) as a crucial priority under the existing development partnerships. Traditional artisanal activities, properly assisted to achieve quality and quantity upgrades in terms of markets expectations and preferences, may play an important role in the strengthening of the Cook Islands overall offer in the perspective of international trade.

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