Andre and Arjun will be visiting Malawi January 2009. The objectives and details of the trip are listed below.

Things to follow up from Discussion today

  • Find out and arrange meetings with organisations in Malawi that are working on converting seedcake into fertiliser  Andre
  • Look into technologies/equipment/organisations in India - for converting jatropha waste (seedcake) into fertiliser and biogas
  • Email Albert to meet in Kusungu - this is the best place to learn about the microventures programme and understand all the business models Greg
  • Email Wesley for Andre to meet in Blantyre during first week Andre
  • David will email Philippe from Raising Malawi, Angela Mojo and the couple from the Clinton Foundation 
  • Reach out to BERL and arrange meeting Arjun
  • Reach out to government organisations & Angela Mojo Andre
  • Reach out to ICRISAT Greg
  • Get a camera and video camera - need to have some media footage for Legatum center Arjun
  • Buy gifts to give everyone there

Itinerary (draft)

  • Cities to visit - Lilongwe, Kusungu, Blantyre
  • Villages  to visit - Nikhota kota + around Kusungu where MLF recommends + where BERL recommends

Mon 19 Jan (Lilongwe at night)

  • Andre arrives at noon. 
  • Pick up rental car from airport (choose car type e.g. manual/automatic??)
  • Pick up SIM card from airport (go to Zain counter)
  • Go to Lilongwe hotel 

Tues 20 Jan (Lilongwe)

  • Stay in Lilongwe - meet Angela Mojo

21 Jan (Lilongwe)

  • Visit one of the MLF's loan groups around Lilongwe

22 Jan (Blantyre)

  • Go to Blantyre and meet Wesley

Fri 23 Jan (Blantyre)

  • Meet with any other organisations in Blantyre

24 Jan (Lilongwe)

  • Return to Lilongwe

Sun 25 Jan (Lilongwe)

  • Arjun arrives at noon in Lilongwe
  • Check in to Hueglins hotel at 1 p.m.
  • Meet with Angela Mojo at 3 p.m.
  • Meet with Angela Mojo and Wesley in the evening
  • (Follow up with any government contacts)
  • Meet with Clinton Foundation couple - need to email

Mon 26 Jan (Kasungu)

  • 8.00 a.m. meet with BERL & Wesley
  • Meet USAID - organize
  • Drive to Kasungu - leave at 1 p.m.
  • Check into Kasungu Inn at 4 p.m.

27 Jan (Kasungu)

  • Meet Albert/James at MLF HQ in Kusungu and understand Microventure model + discuss biofuel business models (get in touch with them)
  • Meet local loan groups and loan officers

Wed 28 Jan (Kasungu)

  • Drive to Mzuzu or Nkhota Khota with a loan officer to visit the loan groups

Thurs 29 Jan (Lilongwe)

  • Meet with MLF group again in the morning
  • Leave for Lilongwe at 1 p.m. 
  • Check into Hueglins hotel at 4 p.m.

Fri 30 Jan (Lilongwe)

  • Visit loan group/village near Lilongwe 
  •  

31 Jan

  • Check out of Hueglins hotel
  • Return rental car at the airport
  • Leave Lilongwe (flight at 1 p.m.) back to Boston

Tips

  • GETS VERY DARK AT NIGHT SO GIVE YOURSELF PLENTY OF TIME TO GET BACK from the villages - leave early in the morning and get back by 7 p.m.
  • WANT TO AVOID PUBLIC TRANSPORT - rent a car at the airport
  • MLF will provide a translator to us
  • get a sim card at airport
  • Get cipro (antibiotic)
  • Flashlight (in case of a power cut)
  • Camera
  • Get insecticide spray with DEET
  • clothing - khaki pants, boots, cap - it will be rainy season so likely to be wet and muddy 
  • HIV rampant
  • Buy gifts for people there
  • Convert money

Logistics

  • Andre will arrive in Lilongwe the night of the 17th while Arjun will be there the night of the 24th. Both will leave on the 31st of Jan.
  • That means Andre will be there for 14 days and Arjun will be there for 7 days.
  • Lodging info - once we give David an itinerary - MLF in Malawi will make the necessary bookings at hotels
  • Which village(s) to visit? - MLF will organise - they will all be day trips
  • Transportation
  • Both have received the required shots (yellow fever?, hep A?) for the trip
  • Both have received the medication for Malaria?

Finance

  • The flights have been purchased with personal money so far
  • Initial money from PSC ($1,000) has not been received?
  • Additional $600 from PSC will be reimbursed after trip
  • Money from Legatum ($2,000) can be retrieved through reimbursement basis
  • Minus air fare, there will be $873 dollars left for other spending for both Andre and Arjun ($569 for Andre and $304 for Arjun)
  • Additional money may be available from MLF?
  • Both will keep track of their spending and get the appropriate receipts when available so it can be presented back to the two organizations

Objectives

  • Build contacts with BERL
  • Build contacts w/in the government
  • Elucidate logistics of a jatropha --> final product supply chain (from village to marketable product)
  • Get a better idea of where in the supply chain we would like to get involved

Activities and Results in Malawi

  • Visit a loan group in a village (observe and document the capabilities of the group and the individual)
  • Visit a MicroVenture group (observe and document how business is conducted in the group, strength and weaknesses)
  • Visit BERL facilities (after David's update)
  • Talk with government officials if possible

Other things to do

  • Buy gifts for people there





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