Zimbabwe: One Love Poultry project

What started as a small poultry project has developed into a vibrant business that employs 100 refugees (80 women and 20 men) and includes a piggery and an irrigation system that’s improving agricultural conditions within the camp.

Using an integrated approach, the project has developed into a small business that is yielding profits and diversifying diets. The group raised some US$25,000 in 2016 by selling over 2,000 chickens and 100,000 eggs in the One Love grocery shop.

Refugees have been able to add meat and eggs to their diets,benefiting their health status through a more diverse diet.

The co-operative has also been linked to other livelihood interventions such as the Saving and Lending Schemes, allowing them to set up other small businesses.

The refugees involved in the project have received training workshops to further improve their collective success.

“I can now keep my mind busy and forget the things I experienced in Congo that led me to flee to Zimbabwe. The project has allowed us to have a small income and to buy products we did not have access to before. Also the skills I have gained through trainings I will take with me for the rest of my life.”

Simon Mavhindi Longo, resident of Tongogara camp, Zimbabwe

The cash that other refugees receive for food assistance has had a stimulating effect in the local economy and has allowed the One Love co-operative to attract many customers from the refugee community.

Profits made by the co-operative are invested back in the business, allowing it to grow further and become sustainable. The farmers are now buying feed and chickens without external support.