CHANGING LIVES
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The area, although mostly untouched by human interference, is surrounded by villages and small human settlements struggling to carve a living out of a land which can be as harsh as it is beautiful. The creation and establishment of Pembi offers neighboring tribes alternatives to poaching and daily wars against animal encroachment on crops.
With this development comes schools, commercial farming initiatives, medical facilities and better, controlled use of game as resource. With the balance restored, Pembi is cherished by neighbouring communities as the invaluable bringer of life and opportunity.
PEMBI EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
The construction phase of the conservancy alone will require labour employment of hundreds of Mozambican workers, while the operating of the reserve will maintain employment of nearly as many locals. Engagement of services by the private lodges will further create employment opportunities within the local communities.
A development center will serve to teach the community various skills needed to fill jobs within the wide scope of the Pembi project, as well as business skills to run their own SME businesses. This will include development support, catering, hospitality, game scouts, construction, crafts, and technical skills.
The informal economy of the area will see tremendous growth as a result of increased wage incomes of local families through direct employment. The increase in local consumption levels and spending will in turn stimulate many new businesses.
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
Local farmers selected within the community will receive practical training in farming methods best suited to the area to improve local food security crops (maize and beans). The Pembi Agri Project will also introduce and promote cash crops with good domestic and export markets, such as groundnuts, white maize, soybean, sesame, pigeon pea and various chili varieties. Besides generating income, these crops are selected for their potential to improve soil fertility and easy cultivation within a conservation agriculture regime.
Storage infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses will be placed in various districts in the area, while distribution and agri-processing will be introduced to add value to the various crops and linking them to local and export markets, translating into fair prices paid to the farmers.
THE PEMBI SOCIAL TRUST & OTHER INITIATIVES
A re-investment model will be established to create returns on CSI funding and will continually build on the project capacity, efficiencies, and growing profitability. This fund will be targeted at the development of small-scale farmers and other SME business linked to Pembi Wildlife Conservancy and the Pembi Agri Project. Once the conservancy is fully operational, it will establish the Pembi Social Trust which will raise funding by additional social investments over the next 10 years.
Other initiatives include improved access to clean, potable water sources, and education around the value of agriculture, food security and nutrition, which will also involve aiding existing schools in need of rehabilitation and establishing school vegetable garden programmes.
INVEST IN NATURE
Leave a legacy by becoming part of the most significant private conservation effort in the last 100 years.