Implementation Plan

The implementation of this project will follow a carefully sequenced twelve-month timeline from project
start date, divided into four phases each lasting three months, with specific milestones, tasks,
responsibilities, and resources clearly assigned to ensure successful execution. Phase One covers months
one to three, focusing on community mobilization, group formation, site selection, and procurement of
basic materials. The start date is month one, day one, with an initial community meeting led by me as
project lead together with Group Village Headman Wendewende to explain the project, secure written
consent, and form five farmer groups of twenty to thirty people each. The milestone for month one is
the signing of group constitutions and election of group leaders. During month two, a local surveyor
from Mulanje town will be hired to identify and mark five dam sites, prioritizing locations with clay-rich
soil close to existing garden areas. Me and the group leaders will supervise the surveyor. The milestone
for month two is the completion of site maps and approval of all five dam locations by Group Village
Headman Wendewende. During month three, initial procurement will take place, with me traveling to
Mulanje town to purchase lining materials including heavy-duty plastic sheeting, empty cement bags for
reinforcement, and basic digging tools such as shovels and pickaxes from hardware shops in Mulanje
town. The budget allocated for Phase One is 1,500 dollars, covering surveyor fees, tool purchases, and
transport to Mulanje town. The milestone for month three is all materials delivered to the village and
stored securely at the headman's house.

Phase Two covers months four to six, focusing on dam construction and solar pump installation. During
month four, digging of the five dams will begin, with each farmer group responsible for digging their
assigned dam using local labor paid from grant funds at a rate of 2,000 Malawi Kwacha per person per
day. Me and the group leaders will supervise daily attendance and work quality. Each dam will measure
approximately fifteen meters long, ten meters wide, and two and a half meters deep, designed to hold
water through November. The milestone for month four is completion of digging for at least three dams.
During month five, lining of all five dams will be completed using the plastic sheeting purchased from
Mulanje town, with clay packed on top to protect the plastic. Me and a local technician will inspect each
dam for leaks. During month six, five solar-powered pumps will be installed, one at each dam. The
pumps will be purchased from a solar equipment supplier in Mulanje town or Blantyre city, which is
approximately two hours from Wendewende by minibus. The supplier will deliver and install the pumps,
and during the same month, ten youth, two per farmer group, will receive three days of hands-on
training in pump operation, basic repair, and maintenance. The budget for Phase Two is 7,500 dollars,
covering labor costs of 4,000 dollars for digging, 3,500 dollars for pumps including installation and
training, and 500 dollars for plastic sheeting and lining materials. The milestone for month six is all five
dams holding water and all five pumps operational.

Phase Three covers months seven to nine, focusing on construction of the village shop, purchase of
initial stock from Mulanje town, and farmer training on good agricultural practices. During month seven,
a small permanent shop will be constructed at a central location in Wendewende agreed upon by all
farmer groups. Local builders will be hired, and materials including bricks, cement, iron sheets, and
timber will be purchased from hardware shops in Mulanje town and transported by hired truck. Me and
a committee of three youth and two elders will oversee construction. The milestone for month seven is
the shop structure completed with lockable doors and shelves. During month eight, me together with
the youth shop manager will travel to Mulanje town to purchase initial stock of pesticides, fungicides,
herbicides, and basic fertilizers from established agricultural input suppliers such as Smallholder Farmers
Fertilizer Revolving Fund or private agri-dealers in Mulanje town. Stock will include commonly needed
products for vegetable production including mancozeb for fungal diseases, dimethoate for pests, and
compound fertilizers such as NPK 23:21:0+4S. The budget for Phase Two is 2,000 dollars, covering shop
materials and initial stock. The milestone for month eight is the shop fully stocked and open for business
twice per week. During month nine, a five-day training program will be delivered by a local agricultural
extension officer from Mulanje District Council, covering row planting, composting, integrated pest
management, safe handling of chemicals, and irrigation scheduling using solar pumps. All one hundred
fifty farming families will attend, with sessions held at the shop site. Me and the extension officer will
track attendance and test knowledge before and after training. The budget for training is 500 dollars,
covering the extension officer's transport allowance from Mulanje town, training materials, and
refreshments. The milestone for month nine is at least one hundred thirty families completing the full
training and passing a simple competency test.

Phase Four covers months ten to twelve, focusing on first dry season planting, harvesting, monitoring,
and final reporting. During month ten, farmers will plant their first dry season crops using water from
the dams and solar pumps. Each family will plant a minimum of 0.1 hectare of high-value vegetables
including tomatoes, onions, and leafy greens such as rape or mustard. Me and the group leaders will
visit each garden weekly to record planting dates, water usage, and any pest or disease problems. The
milestone for month ten is all one hundred fifty families have planted and are irrigating. During month
eleven, the first harvests will begin. Me and the youth technicians will record the quantity of each crop
harvested, the amount consumed at home, and the amount sold at local markets or to the shop.
Farmers will begin contributing five percent of their sales to the community agriculture fund as planned
for sustainability. The milestone for month eleven is at least one hundred families reporting harvests
sufficient to feed themselves for two months. During month twelve, final monitoring and reporting will
take place. Me will collect data from all five farmer groups on total food produced, income earned,
school fees paid, and months without hunger. A final report will be prepared including photographs of
the dams, pumps, shop, and harvests. A closing community meeting will be held with Group Village
Headman Wendewende to hand over full management of the dams, pumps, and shop to the five farmer
groups and the shop committee. The budget for Phase Four is 500 dollars, covering transport for
monitoring visits to Mulanje town, communication costs, and report printing. The milestone for month
twelve is submission of the final report to the donor and a signed handover document from the
community.

Regarding allocation of resources, personnel includes me as project lead responsible for overall
coordination, financial management, reporting, and liaison with Mulanje District Council. Group Village
Headman Wendewende is responsible for community mobilization, conflict resolution, and oversight of
group constitutions. Five group leaders, one per farmer group, are responsible for daily supervision of
dam digging, pump operation, and record keeping. Ten youth technicians are responsible for pump
maintenance and shop operations after training. One agricultural extension officer from Mulanje District
Council provides technical training on good agricultural practices. Equipment resources include five
solar-powered pumps each with panels, controllers, and pipes; digging tools including shovels, pickaxes,
and wheelbarrows; and shop equipment including shelves, a weighing scale, and lockable storage
containers. Facilities include the five dam sites, the village shop building, and a central meeting area at
the headman's house. The budget of 11,000 dollars is allocated as follows: 4,000 dollars for dam digging
and lining materials, 3,500 dollars for solar pumps and installation, 2,000 dollars for shop construction
and initial stock, 500 dollars for training, 500 dollars for monitoring and reporting, and 500 dollars for
contingency. These resources will support successful execution because they address the three root
causes of hunger in Wendewende: lack of water solved by dams, lack of labor-saving technology solved
by solar pumps, and lack of input access solved by the village shop. The timeline is realistic based on
similar small-scale irrigation projects in Mulanje District, and the responsibilities are clearly assigned to
ensure accountability at every stage.