IDENTIFICATION OF ARTISANS
Expected Activity
We had to partner with actors from the Ministry of Arts and Culture, the Ministry of Small and Medium sizes, as well as artisanal bodies to compile a list of 500 artisans from the cotton/textile sector who would take part in the project.
Completed Activity
Through on-the-ground work done by ourselves, as well as consultation with partners from artisanal bodies like CCMTB, CAWEECO and ministries (MINPMEESA) over 2 months, we were able to obtain a potential list of artisans eligible to participate in the project. A tentative list containing a total of 520 artisans was shared with GIZ on December 16 2021 with the following demographics:
Littoral: Tailors: 30 (60%) Designers: 17 (34%) Embroiderers and dyers: 3 (6%)
West: Tailors: 11 (22%) Designers: 20 (40%) Weavers: 15 (30%) Embroiderer and dyers: 4 (8%)
Centre : Tailors: 37 (73%) Designers: 4 (8) Accessories, décor: 9 (18%)
Adamawa: Cotton farmer 50 (41.3%), tailors: 41 (41%), embroiderers: 9 (9%).
North: Tailors: 48 (48%) Designers: 19 (19%) Weavers: 15 (15%) Dyers: 3 (3%) Embroidery: 2 (2%) Hosiery: 13 (13%)
Far North: Tailors: 32 (32%) Embroiderers: 38 (38%) Designers: 12 (12%) Décor and accessories: 8 (8%) Weaving: 5 (5%) Dyer: 5 (5%).
The only feedback we got from this list was to remove raw cotton producers. This request was implemented, and a second list, which was approved, was submitted on January 18 2022. Having begun trainings based on the agreed list, we were later told our demographics was not appropriate, though this request wasn’t made in December. Notwithstanding, once this request was made on February 3 2022, Bridge Africa immediately implemented the changes by finding appropriate artisans in the surrounding villages, which is reflected in the final demographics of connected artisans, as can be seen below:
Littoral: Tailors: 30 (60%) Decor: 6 (12%) Embroiderers and dyers: 14 (28%)
West: Tailors: 13 (26%) Designers: 3 (6%) dyers: 2: (4%) Embroiderer and weavers: 32 (64%)
Centre: Tailoring: 36 (36%) Embroidery: 50 (50%) Accessories, décor, designers: 14 (14%)
Adamawa: Tailoring: 21 (21%) Embroidery: 62 (62%) Weavers: 1 (1%) Accessories and décor: 16 (16%)
North: Tailoring: 31 (31%) Embroidery: 57 (57%) Weavers and dyers: 5 (5%) Décor and accessories 7 (7%)
Far North: Tailors: 28 (28%) Embroiderers: 68 (68%) Weavers: 1 (1%) Accessories: 3 (3%)