This presentation by the Local Economic Development Through Pro-Poor Gorilla Tourism project team provides a summary of the key activities and results of the project. Different parts of the presentation were given by different team members including Dilys Roe (principal researcher at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)); Peter Nizette (Responsible Tourism Partnership); Medard Twinamatsiko (Institute for Tropical Forest Conservation and Mbarara University); Kakuru Phares (Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Trust); and Alice Mbahayi (International Gorilla Conservation Programme). The presentation was made at the project wrap-up workshop held on 3 April 2019 at the Protea Hotel, Kampala. The meeting was opened by British High Commissioner Peter West, and closed by the CEO of the Uganda Tourism Board, Lilly Ajarova. The meeting also included personal testimonies from a number of individual enterprises involved in the project – Ride For A Woman, Change a Life Bwindi and Bwindi Specialist Guides – and from their expert trainers: Johnnie Kamugisha from Uganda Safari Guides Association, and Sanaa Gateja from Kwetu Africa. The meeting was attended by a wide range of tour operators, lodge managers, community organisations, NGOs and researchers. As well as drawing the project to an end, it provided the audience with an opportunity to purchase some of its products – Bwindi baskets and Bwindi honey – and to find out about new Bwindi walking trails. More details: https://www.iied.org/local-economic-development-through-gorilla-tourism

1. 1
Local economic development
through tourism at Bwindi
End of project workshop
3 April 2019
Funded by:
UK Darwin Initiative
Implemented by:
IIED
Responsible Tourism
Partnership
IGCP
ITFC/MUST
BMCT
Golden Bees
Kwetu Afrika
Lets Go Travel

2. 2
Author name
Date
Dilys Roe, IIED
Peter Nizette, Responsible Tourism
Partnership
Introduction

3. 3
Origins in 2012 research
project
• Conservation
“unfair”
• Costs outweigh
benefits
• Little revenue and
few jobs from
tourism
• Tourists come to
see gorillas only

4. 4
Key questions
1. Does the current non-gorilla tourism offer at Bwindi
satisfy tourists and tourism businesses?
2. Can skills of poor people living close to Bwindi forest
be developed to improve existing products and
services and/or to develop new ones?
3. Will improved products and services result in increased
sales to tourists, tour operators and lodges?
4. Will increased sales of local tourism services and
products affect household incomes and, if so, what
difference will this make to local livelihoods?
5. Will increased income from tourism improve local
attitudes towards national park conservation?

5. 5

6. 6

7. Local economic development through
tourism at Bwindi
The project aimed at stimulating a process of change in quality of goods and
services that:
• Adds value to the typical 2-night gorilla tracking package
• Creates new and relevant product such that 1 extra night becomes a
viable option for tour operators,
• Increases local & retained revenue from tourism expenditures, and
• Creates linkages between communities in the supply side to lodges and
tour operators – on the tourist delivery side.
Thereby;
• Creating positive economic impact & livelihood change,
• Contributing to poverty alleviation,
• Improving local peoples’ attitudes to conservation, and
• Reducing threats to the forest biodiversity where gorillas are the icon
species.

8. The POWER of the TOURISM ECONOMY …
…its value chains and linkages
• To make better places for people to live
• To make better places for people to visit
Investing in value chains and market linkages = as important
as ‘other’ more tangible investments!
Also requires ongoing ‘maintenance’ and resourcing – for
sustainability of impact

9. The POWER of the TOURISM ECONOMY …
…its value chains and linkages
 Investing in people and their livelihoods =
positive economic IMPACT!
 They deliver the goods and services
 Enhance the visitor experience
 Generate positive word-of-mouth
 = more business – for them too!

10. Many small changes + market linkages = big
differences – to livelihoods and experiences
• ACHIEVED in 18 MONTHS – MARKET READY PRODUCT – invested (only) ±20% of budget
• Three new weave designs & techniques for baskets – unique to
Uganda
• More than 30 lady weavers trained through 6 x 1 week ‘Train-the-
trainer’ residential and follow up. Orders for 50. Payment in solar.
• Product differentiating label – leveraging higher prices and
margins – for weavers and handicrafts entrepreneurs
• Apiculture training – ex-poachers - honey shop – sales to lodges –
Bwindi Honey
• New tourist product – walking trails – a ‘people’, culture and
landscape compliment to gorilla tourism – Batwa authenticity
• Advanced guides trained
• Agronomist ex-poachers training – market gardens business
• More than 300 families – 1,800 people – positive impact

13. Beyond gorillas: local economic
development through tourism at Bwindi
Impenetrable National Park
Overall project socio-economic
impact results
Medard Twinamatsiko, Peter Nizette, Julia Baker, Henry Mutabaazi, Anna Behm Masozera
and Dilys Roe

14. Characteristics of household survey
participants
Key characteristics Before project HH survey After project HH survey
Total number of respondents 496 455
Type Project beneficiaries n/a 321
Others within their community n/a 134
Gender Women 57% 58%
Men 43% 42%
Ethnicity Batwa 18% 10%
Other ethnic groups 82% 90%
Location* Rubuguri 29% 27%
Mukono 24% 23%
Nteko 22% 20%

15. Products uptake - lodges and tourists
• Numbers of tourists visiting, and
purchasing from, the enterprises
we worked with increased (by a
factor of 10 in some cases and at least
tripled in all cases)
• Most lodges started to buy local
produce from the market
gardening initiatives and honey
shop - signing of contracts, recording
transactions etc
• New and improved products
have started reaching regional
and international markets
eg Design Africa-South Africa

16. A case of lodge-enterprise linkage
“There is a new lodge in Ruhija called Agandi
Uganda Eco- Lodges. They gave us an order to make
laundry baskets, bin baskets and also serving
baskets using the same design. It's an order of over
50 baskets. The ladies are very excited and they
have already started weaving. I have already given
them part of the payment so they are not out of
pocket for the materials. They will be paid more than
double for these baskets than the other, lower
quality old design, ones. I think he would have paid
more if the ones in my shop had the labels on them. I
have sub-contracted the laundry baskets to
Kyarisiima and her ladies on the Rushaga/Rubuguri
side because I wanted to meet the October deadline
for the orders.”

17. A case of product uptake by lodges
“This project brought some linkage between
us and the lodge managers. They can now
approach us whether we have local products
to sell or not. They have been buying majorly-
vegetables and honey. They normally give us
orders in advance and we supply them. On
some days however, you may find we do not
have enough products to supply them. This is
a challenge to the continued engagement
because they sometimes think we are
unreliable” (A poacher-turned market
Gardener, Bwindi Southern Sector)

18. Products uptake by tour operators
Explore:
Myself and a couple of others in the
group chose to spend an afternoon
learning to weave with the lovely women
at the Ride 4 a Woman charity in Bwindi.
I would highly recommend this. It was a
very relaxing afternoon spent chatting
to, and learning about the locals.”

19. Products uptake by tour operators
Matooke Tours:
“I think the guided trails are fantastic and it seems that
you managed to solve all challenges which we as tour
operators face when introducing new products to our
itineraries. We are in contact with Paul and have already
made a few bookings with him for the coming months.
Although the deadline for our programs for 2019 had
actually already passed, I did manage to still include one
of the walks in one of our group trip itineraries for next
year (for one of our biggest partners in Germany).
Hopefully, we will be able to send 6 or 7 groups to
experience the guided walk in Rubuguri.”

20. Reasons for increased products uptake
Among the handicrafts enterprises
and others, leaders think that
products uptake was facilitated by;
– Producing quality, standard and new
fashion products and services-raffia,
Raza, Rushashara baskets, Bwindi honey
– Introduction of a marketing label - the
Forest Friendly label
– Collaboration of entrepreneurs across the
sectors

21. People’s perception of the impact on
their income
• There was a major positive change in the
perception of income increase
• Most (64%) of the people involved in the
project believed that their income had
increased over the course of the project.
• For those that thought their income had not
changed or declined, this was usually due to
factors beyond the projects control

22. Actual impact
• From enterprise data, there is a slight
increase in income before the intervention
and after
• The most noticeable increase in income
earnings were during the ‘low seasons’
and towards project end

23. Actual changes in sales for enterprises
• Overall, the
sales
increased for
most months
• Notable
increase of
sales in ‘low
seasons’
0
500000
1000000
1500000
2000000
2500000
Percentagesalesdistribution
Months per year
Comparison of sales for for ride for
a woman in 2017 and 2018
Sales(2017)
Sales(2018)
Beginning of
training

24. Actual changes in income for enterprises
• Increased sales
increased
income to
enterprises
• Individual
members
income also
increased-mean
income per
month
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
Percentageincomedistribution
Months per year
Income comparison for Ride 4 a woman for
2017 and 2018
Income(2017)
Income(2018)
Beginning of
training

25. What those involved said on income…
“the income has increased than before because
some years back we would weave one basket but
now I weave many and they get market” (One
woman under the Rubuguri-Nteko women
weavers)
“Our income has increased. We now have
increased sales as a result of increased number
of tourists visiting us. We become happy
whenever we see many people coming to see our
products. For us we know that by their coming,
money has come to our pocket” (One woman at
the Ride for a Woman commented).

26. Changes in attitudes towards the
conservation of BINP
• Everyone involved in the project
described their relationship with
the national park as positive after
the project compared to before
(79% compared to 60%)
• Fewer individuals described their
relationship with the national park
as negative, after the project
compared to before (8%
compared to 17%).
• Furthermore, 65% of respondents
thought their relationship with the
national park was better after the
project compared to 56% before
the project
3
14
24
43
17
2 6
14
64
15
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Percentageofrespondents
Before
After

27. Comparisons of attitude changes between those
involved in the project and those not involved
• More individuals that had been directly
involved in the project described their
relationship with the park as either positive
or very positive compared to others within
their communities who had not been
involved
• Overall this positive trend was experienced
more strongly by women than by men

28. Reflection of those who
participated, on ability to lead a
good life
• After the project, 96% of those involved in the
project believed that tourism positively influenced
their ability to lead a good life compared to 68%
before.
• The main reason given was a recognition that the
park attracts tourists and tourists buy products
and services-hence increased income.
“before the project I knew nothing but I can now weave baskets and earn income”
and “the project was good because for the income from the project I used it to buy a
goat and food for the family.

29. Let us take this as a
beginning of a process
to improve the tourism
industry beyond gorillas!
CONTACT
Dr. Medard Twinamatsiko, PhD
Department of Environment and Livelihood Support Systems
Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Mbarara University of Science and Technology
email: twinamatsikomedard@yahoo.com
skype: medard.twinamatsiko
Phone: +256 751 892 953/+256 772 892 953

30. Promoting Gorilla
FriendlyTM tourism and
products in and around
Bwindi
Alice Mbayahi
IGCP
April 3, 2019

31. Purpose of Introducing gorilla
tourism
1. Strategy to fund conservation work
2. Way to engage local community to
participate and benefit from conservation
3. As a business to demonstrate an
alternative non extractive land use

32. The flip side of gorilla tourism
• Significant risks to the gorilla populations
can arise if gorilla tourism is not cautiously
approached and properly managed.

33. Identifying best practices

34. PUMAP
CHEETAHCH
BOBCATBC
SNOW LEOPARDSL
RED PANDARP
HIMALAYAN YAKHY
HIMALAYAN MUSK DEERHMD
COTTON TOP TAMARINCTT
LEMURL
BLACK BEARBB
ELEPHANTE
GIANT IBISGI
RHINOCEROSR
LEOPARDL
COYOTEC
ANDEAN BEARAB
EAGLEE
LIONL
WOLFW
GUANACOG
ANDEAN CATAC
GRIZZLY BEARGBPAUJIL DE PICO AZULPPA
RHEAR
P
CH
SL
RP
HY
HMD
CTT
SL
SL
L
BB
E
GI
R
L
C
AB
E
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W
G
AC
GB
PPA
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BC
P
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MONITOR LIZARDML
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36. Standard:
“A standard is a document that provides
requirements, specifications, guidelines or
characteristics that can be used consistently to
ensure that materials, products, processes and
services are fit for their purpose.” – ISO
Sustainability Standard:
“A standard that addresses the social,
environmental or economic practices of a defined
entity or combination of these.” - ISEAL

37. Stakeholder Consultations:
• 2+ years of consultations
• 2 range country Round Tables (Uganda/Rwanda)
• Meetings in DRC / Virunga
• Introduction within Regional Technical Committee for Tourism (GVTC)
• Feasibility Report produced
• Draft Standards for review
Guided by the principles of:
• Affordability
• Equity
• Sustainability
• Creating competitive advantage
• Harmonization
• Professionalism
Certified Gorilla Friendly™: Ownership & Recognition
Private Standard
ISEAL Alliance (ecolabel
best practice) & ISO
Compliant
Voluntary Application
3rd Party
(Independent)
Auditor

38. Standards for:
• Parks & rangers
• Hotels & lodges
• Tour operators
• Travel agents
• Park Edge Community
Products
Standards supported by:
• Policy & guidelines
• Definitions
• Certification manual
• Audit form
Certified Gorilla Friendly™: Applicability

39. Certified Gorilla Friendly™ Park Edge Community Products
Critical, Required, and Recommended
standards in the following general areas:
• Agreement
• Wildlife conservation
• Livestock
• Resources and waste
• Local Economy & working conditions
• Cultural protection.
Additional product-specific standards were
developed for:
Honey and beekeeping products,
handicrafts and jewellery, cultural
performance and experiences, nature
experiences and bird watching, and crops.

40. Through this partnership
• Engagement with UNBS to harmonize and also
endorse the use of GF standards in Uganda.
• Translation of GF standards for park edge
products into illustrated manual and in two
popular local languages around Bwindi –
Rufumbira and Rukiga – and dissemination of
the same.
• Pilot audit of the selected CBOs – to
systematically assess the extent to which
groups/products comply with standards.

41. Standards outputs
Word document Illustrated manual(s)

42. Summary audit findings
• Overall: almost all the groups have made good
progress towards achieving/living up to the
standards described in the Certified Gorilla
FriendlyTM Park Edge Products standards
manual.
• The simplicity (graphics) of the GF manual has
been of significant help to the understanding of
the concepts of the standards by the members
of the groups.

43. Cont..
• The knowledge acquired from the training has
significantly contributed to an improvement in
the quality of the products and their
understanding and appreciation of the need to
protect the park and its flora and fauna.
• The members have gained skills from the
training which skills have economically
empowered them to earn more income, hence
improved livelihoods and changed their quality
of life.

44. Cont..
Average appreciation of the use of the
gorilla friendly ecolabel and a generally
positive anticipation of it.

45. BMCT/ IIED LOCAL ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENTTHROUGH 'PRO-POOR'
GORILLATOURISM IN UGANDA
Presentation made on 3rd April 2019
during final IIED workshop
By
Kakuru Phares Kosia
Programmes Manager
Thursday, April 25, 2019

46. BMCT Program Components
Conservation
Awareness
Increased
Community
Conservation and
Funding for
BMCT
Programs and

47. What Next …….Sustainability
Replication and scale up
Ownership
Continuous provision of
benefits
Thursday, April 25, 2019

48. Replication and scale up
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) whose
overall objective was to increase opportunities for local
community products in the tourism sector around Bwindi
Mgahinga Conservation Area (BMCA)
•Enhance quality and consistent supply of competitive local
products such as crafts;
•Define and facilitate market linkages and relationships with
the private sector in the area for the various products;
•Facilitate increased tourist expenditure on local products
towards community economic benefit and;
•Promote community led conservation of Bwindi Mgahinga
Conservation Area (BMCA).
Thursday, April 25, 2019

49. Scale-up cont….
A concept has been approved for funding by Greater
VirungaTransboundary Collaboration (GVTC) with the
main objective to Enhance local communities capacity in
tourism business-MgahingaGorilla National Park
•Cultural tourism especially among the Batwa
•Development of a community trail around Mgahinga
•Training local communities as tour guides
•Creation of market linkages for tourist products
Thursday, April 25, 2019

50. Scale-up cont….
•In partnership with Bees for Development and the
University of Reading, United Kingdom we are developing a
proposal on Promotion of Bee Keeping for Enhanced
Livelihoods among Batwa and other Marginalized and
Vulnerable Groups around Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation
Area -Proposal Development
Supporting development of a community based system of
production and supply of inputs
Supporting the landless or near land less individuals to
establish communal /group apiary sites
Provision of training on improved methods of beekeeping
Establishing centre rural based honey collection centres.
Thursday, April 25, 2019

51. Continuous provision of benefits
Item description Achieved Comment
Baskets (International) 68 baskets We supplied 68 baskets to Design
Africa- South Africa and weavers
earned $700
Baskets- Rushashara
(locally)
66 Rushashara baskets Weavers sold 56 sets and earned
4,392,800=
Baskets- Hinga-Raza
(locally)
72 Hinga-Raza baskets Members sold 62 Hinga-raza baskets
earning 4,736,000=
Crafts-Carvers 80 pieces Carvers sold 80 pieces of art earning
1,198,000=
Jewelry-Beads 87 beads Jewelers sold 87 beads earning
870,000=
Table mats 55 pieces 55 pieces sold earning 550,000=
Thursday, April 25, 2019

52. Benefits cont….
•Design Africa- South Africa has made another
order and weavers will earn around $1300
•Signing contracts between vegetable growers and
lodge owners
Thursday, April 25, 2019

53. Gaps and Way forward
Marketing of products
Construction of selling points around BMCA
identify local and national partners partners for
distribution and sales
Developing marketing communications support
material, especially e-commerce and social media
orientations.
Diversification of tourist products
•Developing a highly focused Training Programme of raffia
baskets, bamboo tableware, clay beads and lava stone
products.
•Rolling out the learning and training programmes
around Bwindi and Mgahinga especially among the
Batwa
Thursday, April 25, 2019

54. Thank You

55. Reflections and next steps
• Traditional donor funding goes to research and studies – NOT
‘product’ & not livelihoods – time bound
• Tour operators fund local initiatives (CSR) but few get into
CSV & market linkages
• Work to be done for sustainability - investment needed
• Advanced weaving skills training and tools
• Advanced training for new jewellery
• Design and construction of bamboo PoS display
• Skills development for Batwa ex-poachers to grow new and
‘niche’ fresh produce & honey – forest conservation
• Lodge managers education to buy more ‘local’
• Ground operators marketing - to programme new trails for
2019/20 season and as optional extras
• Role out the learning & invest in sustainable livelihoods =
enhanced visitor experiences