Forest Peoples Project

The lands and resources of forest peoples around the world are threatened by logging, mining, oil, gas, hydropower and the expansion of agriculture, as well as wildlife conservation projects. Millions of indigenous and tribal peoples are affected by these activities but their voices are seldom heard by the policy makers and enterprises that decide the fate of the forests.

The Forest Peoples Project was set up in 1999 to improve social, economic and environmental conditions for indigenous and tribal forest peoples worldwide. One of their projects in Rwanda is in need of volunteers. The Dancing Pots Project aims to increase the incomes of Twa communities in Rwanda. The Twa are a very poor and marginalised ethnic group.

Dancing Pots works with Twa and non-Twa artisans to commercialise their traditional crafts of pottery and dance. Activities have include training and support to strengthen the organisational, technical and business capacity of potters and dancers and to increase their access to markets, including through Dancing Pots’ wholesale-retail outlet and information centre in the Rwandan capital, Kigali. The project is based on Fair Trade principles and has an advocacy (and human rights-orientated) component. Dancing Pots is a member of IFAT, the International Fair Trade Federation.

In the past, Dancing Pots has worked with 15 potters groups, including three non-Twa groups and two dance troupes (about 292 people in all). The artisans are represented in project planning and decision-making via a Potters Association, whose President is a member of the project’s management committee. More recently, Dancing Pots has focused activities on eight groups (including three non-Twa groups) with a greater capacity to meet market demands without the need for intensive support and training, with a view to increasing international commerce and subsequent revenue.

Since the project started in November 2001, potters incomes from Dancing Pots have approximately doubled every year, reaching an average of £335 per group in 2004. Dancing Pots won a bronze medal at the 2003 National Expo for its work in customer relations, stand display and the promotion of local products, and has received numerous accolades for its promotion of Twa traditional knowledge and culture. The project regularly participates in national trade fairs and exhibitions; took part in a regional exhibition in Kenya and fulfilled its first export order to the UK in 2004. Tourist visits to the Dancing Pots pottery centre and Twa potter and dance communities continue throughout the year and good links have been established with national and international tour operators and Rwanda’s national tourism office.

The project was conceived by CAURWA, Rwanda ’s largest Twa NGO, who requested FPP’s support to help set up the project and provide ongoing advice. The vision is that Dancing Pots will eventually become a Twa-managed and -owned business enterprise.

The Forest Peoples Project requires the following volunteers:
• A management consultant to review the structure and functioning of the business aspects of the project and advise on improvements and changes needed in order to:
a) Enable Twa people to fully exploit the commercial potential of their craft
b) Put the business on a sustainable, self-financing footing.
Code: FPP01

• A project manager to provide ongoing business development support for Dancing Pots activities: at community level to strengthen producer groups’ technical and business capacity, and at national/international level to increase market access for Twa producers.
Code: FPP02

Requirements:
Candidates should have experience in (small-scale) commercial artisan enterprise development, preferably in an African context, and Fair Trade. Candidates should be able to communicate orally and in writing in English and French, and be sympathetic to the specific situation of indigenous peoples.

Application process:
Please email us with an up-to-date CV (resume) and a cover letter. We will pass this on to the Forest Peoples Project. Short-listed candidates might be required to attend an interview.

Other information:
• The volunteer will be responsible for obtaining all the necessary vaccinations, travel documents and insurance.
• The volunteer will be responsible for covering the cost of air travel to Kigal, in country transfers, accommodation and food.
• As Ikando does not yet have a presence in Rwanda we do not provide in-country service and as a result we do not charge for this placement. We merely aim to put volunteers in touch with this organisation.
• Ikando's Terms and Conditions do not apply for this placement, nor do we take any responsibility for any eventualities which might occur.

For more information please visit the Forest Peoples Project website