Project 

Newton Vegetable Organic Farmers Association. 

Introduction:

The name Newton organically comes from English. Sierra Leone got the name from Great Britain, a former colonial master. Newton is a village in Sierra Leone it’s located at the outskirts of Freetown. After 12 years of rebellion war Sierra Leone has the possibilities of restructuring it agricultural sector. Lot of infrastructure was destroyed and poverty spread like wide fire in all corners of the country. There are people capable to work in the agricultural fields but lack the capacity to work adequately and professionally.

From time in memorial Newton is famous for its small scale agricultural activities in Sierra Leone. In this rural area is our association NVOFA in operation.

NVOFA has a developmental strategy and prospect for the inhabitant our association is introducing a small scale agricultural activities incoherence with the construction of a technical school, water wells for a good healthy environment.

The mother association in the Netherlands will approximately support 200 farmers for the planting of biological groundnuts, rice, onions and other vegetables within the municipalities of Newton and beyond.

With the full support and contribution of donors and international organizations Sierra Leone will be expected to be the bread basket of its entire regions and even beyond.

Focus in food production

The foundation will introduce and teach new methods of farming to its participating members. The techniques and method will be practically used in the production of biologically groundnuts, onions, rice and other vegetables. The project will be an example and serve as a model to change and elevate agricultural activities in Newton and its surrounding.

Focus on regulations made by higher authorities within the agricultural sector

Poor policies have a negative impact in agricultural sector. To reduce the weakness and failure of the farmers our association will lobby through international organizations and will organise symposium, debate to plead and advocate for a righteous agricultural policies. A call from the President Ernest Koroma for Sierra Leonean to go back to the soil is a good positive policy for agricultural investors.

Human resources Management:

A transfer of knowledge from the agricultural universities in the Netherlands and the research centres for agriculture in Sierra Leone to work as a team in of agricultural development.

Loan and Micro Credit Scheme

Skill full members within the association will be granted loans in the future to start their own enterprise or company.

The foundation NVOFA is working primarily with volunteers. Within the association there are active volunteers that came originally from Sierra Leone residing in the Netherlands, together with their Dutch counterpart they are willing to address and promote the food security in Sierra Leone.

NVOFA : Term Of Reference.

Name:  NVOFA (Development Policy and Lobbying Group)

Purpose

To work together on cross political priorities in Sustainable development in liaison with other networks.

Membership

Membership is open to any organisation that was a member of the Make Poverty History coalition and others, as approved by the Group at a meeting or by e-mail consultation.

Mandate.

The Association primary mandate is to act as a forum in which members share information, planning and coordinated lobbying in the areas of international sustainable development and global governance.

To accomplish this mandate, the Group may:

-Gather information

-Disseminate information

-Recommend joint advocacy work and organize meetings when appropriate

Nothing within this mandate restricts the freedom of any member organisation from conducting its own advocacy.

Functioning as a Group

The Group will base its work on the institutional knowledge of each participating organisation.

The Group will principally work in open meetings and in a consensual way decide the issues to be dealt with and will follow through on initiatives agreed by members. Activities may be undertaken directly by the Group or some individual members. When the work is delegated to a member, this member will report to other members.

If the Group decides to meet with government or other officials, such meetings will be open to members to attend these meetings, but the emphasis will be on manageable number and best delivering the meetings objectives.

The association Group will liaise with other networks that work on relevant areas.

The Association will normally meet at face-to-face meetings, roughly on a monthly basis. It may also meet by teleconference when warranted (e.g. to prepare a meeting with an official).

At other times communication will be done by e- mail

BOND

The Group has agreed that BOND will support and co-ordinate the work of the Association.

BOND will have responsibility for:

-Acting as an information clearing- house within the bounds of its resources

-Setting the agenda, convening and chairing meetings, in consensus with members.

  Minute- taking will be done by the secretary or volunteer

-Keeping membership list up –date.

-Coordinating the completion of any work agreed by the Group.

-Facilitating communication between members 

An internal review of the work of the Group will be conducted at the end of the first year of its existence.

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