socio-economic research on manda wilderness, lago district, niassa ...

1. Introduction
1.1 ASL Programme
The African Safari Lodge (ASL) Programme seeks to enhance the positive <strong>economic</strong> impact of the
lodge industry in southern Africa. Lodges can be a significant source of job creation and local
<strong>economic</strong> growth and can link conservation and nature-based tourism to uplift rural livelihoods.
There are various barriers, however, that hinder the capacity of lodges to contribute to sustainable
development. The ASL Programme is designed to overcome these constraints, optimise the
contribution that lodges make to rural development and the positive impacts of individual and clusters of
lodges, locally, nationally and regionally.
The ASL Programme is managed by the ASL Foundation (a not-for-profit development organisation) in
South Africa. The Programme began in South Africa and has expanded to Namibia and Mozambique.
TechnoServe Inc. has been subcontracted to act as the management agency for ASL in Mozambique
and the Programme is overseen by a Steering Committee comprised of local stakeholders in Maputo.
A feasibility study in 2005 identified 3 lodges where private investors have had a positive impact on
rural communities. These lodges were willing to be ASL pilots and are receiving support to ensure good
practice and become a catalyst for change in the wider tourism industry. It is anticipated that by
establishing workable models of community-private partnerships that can be replicated in other parts of
the country a significant positive impact on poor communities in remote rural areas can be achieved.
The pilot lodges are:
1. Mchenga Nkwichi Lodge, Manda Wilderness,
in Niassa Province.
2. Guludo Base Camp, Bespoke Experience, in
Quirimbas National Park, Cabo Delgado
Province.
3. Ibo Island Safaris in Cabo Delgado Province.
The other pilot project is Covane Community
Lodge (4) in Gaza Province, established with
support of a Swiss NGO, Helvetas. The
community is seeking to partner with a private
investor.
1.2 Purpose of Work
The objectives of the ASL <strong>socio</strong>-<strong>economic</strong>
<strong>research</strong> which focused on the 3 private ASL
lodges were to:
• Create a baseline against which ASL can
measure its future impact.
• Add to the lodges' understanding of
communities.
• Assess the impact of lodges so far on local
communities.
• Assess current relationships between the
lodges and surrounding communities and
provide actionable recommendations for the
lodge and ASL Programme in Mozambique.
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Figure 1 ASL Pilot Lodges in Mozambique
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