Development Ratings

Supporting self-reliance: Tools supply and skills training means artisans are able to make a range of products to support themselves and their families. Beneficiaries are encouraged to re-invest in their businesses. When donated tools eventually come to the end of their useful lives, the trained and supplied blacksmiths can make new tools. These are of good quality and are locally made, reducing travel and purchase costs. This is particularly relevant for agricultural tools. New productive employment opportunities also reduce dependence on subsistence agriculture.

Spreading entrepreneurship: The skills and enterprise training helps artisans to make the best use of their tools to develop income-generating businesses. Some, like the blacksmiths’ group example, go on to train others through apprenticeships. This promotes the spread of practical and business skills. 80%/year increases in income have been achieved, but more modest increases are more common.

Empowering women: At least 45% of trainees are women. In addition to receiving agricultural tools, they may receive sewing machines and starter material kits. Women can improve their economic capacity, independence and support of dependants after tool use, marketing and business training.

Allowing regeneration and recovery: Lack of tools and skills can lead to cyclical deterioration of opportunities as well as of physical infrastructure. Both of these can be addressed through TFSR’s approach. In-country tool production and refurbishment centres, such as that recently established in Uganda, further encourage self-sufficiency.

Focus on the poorest: The percentage of people living on less than $2 a day is over 83% in Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The figure for Sierra Leone 75% and for Malawi 63%.

Increasing educational opportunities: Surplus income is being used to educate children in the families of around 50% of workshop training participants in Uganda.

Social support for volunteers: An incidental effect is the impact on UK volunteers, many of whom are elderly, male or learning disabled. The regional groups provide them with a social network.