HIMO works
The use of High Intensity labour for rural infrastructure
MOZ 15 034 11 RERD 2 e MOZ 14 030 11 CB MIREME
Enabel • Belgian Development Agency • Public-law company with social purposes
Rue Haute 147 • 1000 Brussels • T. +32 (0)2 505 37 00 • enabel.be
Table of contents
1 Project identification..........................................................................................................3
1.1 History of the project...........................................................................................................3
2 HIMO..................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Motivation to use HIMO......................................................................................................4
2.2 Planning and coordination...................................................................................................5
2.3 Wages and conditions..........................................................................................................6
2.4 Safety...................................................................................................................................6
2.5 Material and equipment......................................................................................................6
2.6 Execution.............................................................................................................................7
2.7 Monitoring and supervision.................................................................................................9
2.8 Finalisation...........................................................................................................................9
3 Conclusions and lessons learned.......................................................................................10
4 Annexes............................................................................................................................11
4.1.1 Republic of Madagascar: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper ............................................11
4.1.2 The Case of Himo and Its Region, Northern Tanzania.......................................................11
Enabel • Belgian development agency • Public-law company with social purposes
2
Rue Haute 147 • 1000 Brussels • T +32 (0)2 505 37 00 • enabel.be
1 Project identification
Renewable Energy for Rural Development (MOZ 1503411-RERD 2) in its
second phase, has as main objective implementation of mini-grids in rural
communities. Mini-grids with renewables as energy source, hybrid solar
systems and mini-hydro where possible. Local partner FUNAE identified
Nintulo village as one of the centres to be electrified. In Nintulo there is an
irrigation weir and channels, what lead FUNAE to the possibility of a Hydro
potential, to produce energy for the community.
1.1 History of the project
Fundo de Energia (FUNAE) the governmental partner of Enabel for the RERD2
project, identified Nintulo village as community to be electrified in 2011. The
project of Nintulo was taken up in the five-year program of the Mozambican
Government, and implementation of it started in 2014 with feasibility studies,
leading to an EPC contract to build a mini-hydro plant neat the irrigation dam
in Nintulo. The engineering part of the study done resulted in poor energy
outcome at that place.
In 2018 studies started more upstream, where a head of almost 300 meters
was available in the mountains near Nintulo. This led to a feasibility study,
finalized end of 2019 what resulted in a possible good mini-hydro site with
electricity power output up to 11 MW.
Changing environment, with the challenge of refusing, opposing, addition of
infrastructure especially for community purposes has specific challenges, one
of them is management and maintenance. Involving the local communities in
an early stage with HIMO works for the realization of these infrastructures
improves the durability and reduces risk of theft and vandalism, by adding
ownership and involvement of the local community.
2 HIMO
HIMO: Haute Intensité de main d ‘oeuvre, High Labour Intensive (HIMO)
Public Works
Around the world millions of people lack infrastructure (roads, bridges,
electricity, water supply, etc.) to access basic services, like water, electricity,
health, education. Improving infrastructure and maintaining them can improve
living standards and have a direct impact in the quality of people’s lives,
especially when these infrastructures have an influence on productive use.
Productive community infrastructures can also contribute to reducing (rural
and urban) poverty and have the potential for offering better economic and
social benefits.
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Employment-intensive investments link infrastructure development with
employment creation, poverty reduction and local economic and social
development. In using local labour and resources they create much needed
employment and income, reduce costs, save foreign currency, and support
local industry while increasing the capacity of local institutions.
The combination of local participation in planning with the utilization of locally
available skills, appropriate technology, materials and work methods has
proven to be an effective and economically viable approach to infrastructure
works and jobs creation.1
Involvement of the local population and making them part of the
implementation of infrastructure works, increases the ownership, reduces the
theft and vandalism, and is easing the future management and maintenance of
the infrastructures.
In remote rural communities, most of income is generated through sales of
agriculture production, meaning a seasonal and uncertain income. HIMO
temporary employment for infrastructure works, done in low labour-intensive
agricultural season is a welcome income supplement and allows people to buy
items and invest in productive use appliances.
With a good local leadership and guidance, beneficiaries of HIMO works can
use their wages to buy equipment to improve trade, agricultural production,
increase mobility by buying bicycles, motorcycles.
This extra income, other than planned foreseen agricultural income means also
a motivation for the beneficiaries and allow to be more active what improves
local economy, albeit temporary. HIMO works is part of stimulant, boost for
development.
2.1 Motivation to use HIMO
Literature and practical experience in the implementation of RE projects in
Sub-Saharan Africa2 shows that involvement at an early stage of the local
population, beneficiaries of the project is a necessary condition for durability,
sustainability of social infrastructure works like electrification.
Working with a local governmental partner FUNAE, these issues of durability
and sustainability are becoming even more challenged, especially in a post
Marxists political and administrated environment.
In order to tackle barriers and mitigate project implementation risks, we
worked on the following solutions:
Transparency;
ownership;
shared responsibility;
community involvement;
1
https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/employment-intensive-investment/lang--en/index.htm
2
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148117305037
4
Improving transparency by having open talks and meetings with the local
authorities, the local dignitaries and population leaders, teachers, business
owners, community representants, representants of farmers associations and
women associations.
Creating a feeling of ownership and shared responsibility are key elements for
good project implementation. There are more than examples enough of (donor)
governmental driven projects, top down implemented, without involving the
local population, that resulted in failure of the project.
2.2 Planning and coordination
Before any action, the local authorities are
communicated the visits and missions, date of
arrival, time to stay. At each visit, each
intervention, the local leader, “Chefe de posto
administrativo” Sr. Renato MUHUNIA,
(+258860498009) is involved. A mission starts
always with the presentation of the mission team,
explanation of mission objectives and results.
This is always done in the offices of the local
administration.
Had to be done with HIMO:
Cleaning and clearing the access to the low point
at the river Lotiua, with construction of 5 small
bridges
Construction of a measuring weir at Rio Lotiua
Cleaning and clearing of access to and of the
high point of Rio Lotiua (Ponta Suzana)
Modification of the measuring weir in order to be able to measure flows of
>5m3/sec.
These meetings with the local authorities are followed by a shared meeting
with the population, or with a group of workers, where again the objectives
and results are discussed, planning and workforces agreed on, with the size of
the groups and number of working days.
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2.3 Wages and conditions
Delicate issues are the wages and conditions for HIMO works, for that,
consultation of the population was done, to get an idea of their expectations,
and consultation of INSS with a meeting at INSS offices in Quelimane, where
was told and agreed on that no work contracts are needed if workers don’t
work more than 25 days (one month), and that minimum wages as set by the
government would be respected. (minimum wages as in vigour in attachment).
A rotation of work groups was done,
with a maximum of 25 days of work
in mind and distribution of work
amongst the population. This
resulted in 5 groups, totalizing 1400
days of work (man days), with total
pay-out of 591.200, -mzn (€8.380, -)
Consultation with local enterprises in
Gurue and the Provincial direction of
Agencia Nacional d’Estradas (ANE)
was done in order to get their input
on the ongoing practices for day
workers.
A wage of 6.000,-mzn( €85,-) on
monthly bases was agreed on, with
addition of costs of transport, food,
water, shelter the amount agreed on
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comes to 400,-mzn (€5.66) per day, for non-qualified labour, masons, chiefs,
supervisor, gests slightly more.
2.4 Safety
Health and safety measures were taken from the beginning on, reason why
with each group of workers, two people were designated for food and drinking
purposes. Individual protection like gloves, boots, glasses were distributed.
No mechanical equipment was used, although there was the request to buy a
chainsaw, we didn’t bought it, and if it was really necessary, it would have
been operated by a technician (or the instructed driver, as done previously in
Niassa province for the measuring weir of Meponda)
2.5 Material and equipment
Almost all equipment for the HIMO works were bought in Quelimane, in Gurue
and some items like cement in Nintulo. Although the price of Cement in
Nintulo is higher than in other places, (650, -mzn instead of 550, -mzn in
Gurue, 505, -mzn in Quelimane). The difference couldn’t recompense for
transport charges.
A list of equipment bought is in annexe.
The equipment, besides the boots and individual items, is stored at the depot
of the local administration.
2.6 Execution
A first objective was the clearing and cleaning of the access road, building of
wooden bridges, on a distance more than 5 km. This work was evaluated
together with the authorities and population to last 25 days.
A second objective was to build a measuring weir, following our instructions
and plan.
A third and fourth objective, when the feasibility study started, and under
request of the engineering company, the cleaning and clearing of the access
and of the High point on Rio Lotiua (Ponte Susana).
A fifth objective was a modification of the measuring weir, in order to make it
possible to measure also high flows in the rainy season, measurements
>5m3/sec. The initial weir could measure up to 3.5m3/sec. Result outcome of
the feasibility study recommended this modification, and measurement of the
flow during a period of 2 years.
HIMO Nintulo
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total
number number Man payment
description of people of days days (MZN)
Cleaning and clearing the road to the measuring weir
April-May 2019 33 25 825 330 000
construction of the measuring weir
Works of June on the measuring weir 15 10 150 78 000
Cleaning and clearing of Ponte Susana 19 2 38 15 200
August works Ponte Susana 19 10 190 80 000
Cleaning and clearing low point at Rio Lotiua 19 3 57 24 000
Modification of measuring weir 14 5 70 32 000
Modification of measuring weir 14 5 70 32 000
133 60 1400 591 200
8
2.7 Monitoring and supervision
A workforce list was made in a book especially bought for this purpose,
presences were noted on daily bases, the supervisor and Chief of the locality
assumed the supervision. We were on regular bases informed about the
progress and difficulties, by WhatsApp messages and phone calls. We bought a
smartphone for this purpose and handed it over to the chief of the locality.
9
2.8 Finalisation
We tried as possible to do the payments of the HIMO labour as soon as the
tasks were done, if not to pay half of the agreed wage upfront and the rest at
reception of the works.
We notice that the local population can work in hard and difficult conditions,
with basic food and shelter. It shows motivation to accomplish tasks they can
handle easily and willingness of involvement and change of their living
conditions by improved infrastructure.
We notice improved accessibility to Mperucuma site, what is now accessible by
little truck for commercialisation of agrarian products.
From the start on, by early meetings, the population was requested to invest
the gained money on a good way with the payments done for HIMO works.
One of the results of the HIMO works is that some people bought irrigation
pumps, other Bicycles (improvement of mobility to go to local markets), or
music equipment to put in the shops to attract clients or for personal use.
Bicycles 17
Moto (partly payment) 1
Entertainment, music equipment (for
shops) 9
Irrigation pumps 14
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3 Conclusions and lessons learned
Participation of the local authorities, the local population and including HIMO
works in preparation or execution of infrastructure works not only improves
project involvement, ownership and sustainability, it is a conditio sine qua non
for development. Inclusion of people, without distinction of gender, in
discussions, project preparation, presentations, planning, work preparation
and execution of HIMO works, creates ownership, responsibility and
awareness for future infrastructures.
The implementation of HIMO works improves the individual lives of the
participants trough the wages they get, the items they can buy after
completion of the tasks. These wages are a welcome supplement to their
irregular and seasonal income from agriculture, it creates an opportunity to
gain money for a few weeks of work, most welcome in low agrarian activity
season (dry season)
Although the executed HIMO works were not of that amplitude, totalising
1400-man days, it improves productive use, directly by investment in irrigation
pumps, bicycles, but also indirectly by gaining access for vehicles to remote
agrarian area.
By working and sharing information on project level, expectations are raised. It
is important to continue the further execution of the electrification project, by
whatever means, if possible, with other HIMO works.
4 Annexes
Articles and publications:
4.1.1 Republic of Madagascar: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper ...
https://books.google.co.mz › books
4.1.2
4.1.3 The Case of HIMO and Its Region, Northern Tanzania
https://books.google.co.mz › books
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https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/98537/117302/F-
1141199772/RWA-98537.pdf
https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/employment-intensive-investment/lang--en/
index.htm
http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/289871468339050938/Public-
works-as-a-safety-net-design-evidence-and-implementation
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