TIST - Project Components

Local residents form small groups, brought together by common interests, a common faith, community outreach or charity work. They receive training on small group organization. The group is then eligible to develop a group covenant and to join the TIST program. All groups receive additional training on agricultural best practices and tree planting. More on Small group development,

TIST Seedlings

Agriculture

Crops that are frequently planted are maize, millet and groundnuts, as well as trees. Training on agricultural best practices is also available to participants in TIST, including via technical assistance provided by representatives of Dow AgroSciences. The program strongly encourages participants to share their own experiences and best practices so that this is a continual learning process which helps efficiency, productivity and increased yields for everyone involved.

Conservation farming techniques are an integral part of the TIST training program, along with organizational development techniques and business management principles. More on Conservation farming.

Agroforestry

Small groups work together to plant trees. After planting seeds for trees, TIST participants monitor the germination of these trees prior to planting them in the ground. Through the sharing of best practices, TIST participants have learned that this germination step is critical in getting the trees to successfully take root. Experience has taught that seeds planted directly into the soil do not have as high a survival rate. More on Agroforestry.

Small Group Payments

Income from Greenhouse Gas Sales is passed on to farmers and can help them to buy better seed, become more financially secure, and plant and maintain trees. More on Payments to Groups.

Monitoring & Measurement

TIST participants and employees use different types of technology to accurately measure growth and location of each tree. As the TIST program works with Clean Air Action Corporation to sell emissions credits to companies all over the world, these measurement and monitor activities are key.

In conjunction with CAAC, TIST staff members coordinate the program and monitor results of the participants. Quantifiers travel to various locations to record group results. They confirm location and growth information on trees and record the small groups’ successes. The Quantifiers are outfitted with Palm Pilots and Global Satellite Positioning (GPS) equipment in order to accurately record information on the trees that have been planted. This information is communicated by the Internet to CAAC’s offices where it is verified for reporting purposes. More on Monitoring/measurement.

TIST Auditors

TIST employees who had no prior computer skills are training to take over all data management. In the evening, these same computer facilities are used to train young people in the community. Participants also have the chance to gain valuable business skills through the administrative and record keeping aspects of the project. Employees of TIST and participants in the program are also developing practical communication skills. For example, the TIST newsletter, the Habari Moto Moto, is now produced by a young man who had never touched a computer until 18 months ago. More on TIST management.

Program Model - From small group development to health and economic benefits

Success of the total program depends upon the success of the component parts of TIST. While mutually interdependent,these separate components include:

TIST management undergirds these project components by providing detailed accounting of the finances and actions taken, pursuing strategic teaming arrangements, and planning for the extension and replication of the model with additional funding. Additional projects such as computer training are also important contributions to the local community.