5) Description of initiative: The main focus of this initiative is to start innovative, global barter trade that will assist the rural and tribal poor achieve well-being and self-sufficiency ---and thereby lower support for terrorists/ narcoterrorists/ insurgents. In the poor rural and tribal areas of Kenya, our pilot model for barter trade, NPI is undertaking the following to perfect a system for worldwide replication: 1) Development and manufacturing of the self-help products urgently needed by impoverished rural/ tribal villagers; 2) Inventory of the trade items or resources these villagers might use for barter trade to acquire self-help items needed; 3) Establishment of barter centers, and transportation access, in remote areas where trading will occur; 4) Perfection of satellite-type, two-way, text-messaging pagers --powered by hand-crank generators-- to provide constant, inexpensive, and reliable communications; and 5) Development of potential cash buyers who would probably purchase trade items/ resources received from rural/ tribal villagers. In a typical trade, villagers might harvest surplus Neem seed to trade for NPI's solar-powered ovens and refrigerators. NPI would make the trade, and deliver Neem seeds to the W.R. Grace Company for cash. Grace would use these seeds to make an organic insecticide, and NPI would use cash to pay for self-help products ---and "grow" the barter trade program. As indicated above, the primary beneficiaries and target groups are the world's rural/tribal poor starting with those in Kenya. The global population benefits from increased economic activity, and reduction of conflicts typically supported by target populations.

6) Description of innovation: Existing programs typically have ignored the poorest of the poor in remote rural and tribal areas. NPI's program is unique because innovative products, to help meet urgent needs and achieve self-sufficiency, are delivered directly to those rural/ tribal populations having the greatest need or needs. The rural and tribal poor finance the entire program by providing trade goods that may be easily sold for cash (and profit).

7) Delivery model: Subject barter trade requires the following: 1) A barter trade center in each country; 2) Barter trading posts in all the rural/tribal areas (for that country); 3) STOL (short take-off & landing airstrips) at remote barter trading posts; 4) STOL aircraft to transport goods to and from trading posts; 5)Satellite-type pagers (as herein described) to facilitate trading communications; 6) Development and manufacture of specific self-help items needed by impoverished villagers (the target groups);and 7) Perfection of contracts with buyers who will pay cash for trade items/ resources received in trade.

8) Key operational partnerships: In each country served, a barter trade corporation must be created and staffed ---and all the various barter components created. In Kenya, where the first model is being perfected, NPI's partner is a new barter corporation known as Quick Lift2 (QL2). It is QL2 that is providing all the parts of the delivery model as listed in paragraph 7, above.

9) Financial model: Rural/ tribal beneficiaries can directly access NPI's herein stated services via the local trading post created by one of NPI's partners. Since the target population is nearly two billion people, NPI must reach that population one village, one area, and one country at a time. Finances needed to accomplish this task will come from the profits of global barter trade.

          • Costs as percentage of income: 41%

          • Financing: NPI financed initial development from royalty income. The model, in Kenya, is being financed by an E.U. foundation. As noted above, the entire concept is profit oriented --- and sustainability will come from profits.

10) Effectiveness

          • Project outcomes: Not less than 80 poor villagers benefit daily from NPI's initial self-help technologies/products developed. Many more of the target population, in Kenya, will benefit when NPI's barter model is fully operational.

          • Number of clients in past year: Over the last year, an estimated 29,200 people have benefited from the early stages of NPI's subject program.

11) Scaling up strategy

          • Stage of the initiative: Start Up stage.

          • Expansion plan: Over the next 3 years, the plan is to perfect NPI's subject model, in Kenya, and start similar efforts in 5 other African nations.

12) Origin of the initiative: NPI's barter trade concept was created by David A. Nuttle, NPI's founder and President, after his four decades of work helping the rural and tribal poor of Third World nations in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. The idea grew from the reality that these populations would somehow need to participate in the global economy to escape their extreme poverty.

Contact Information:
David  Nuttle
President
Needful Provision, Inc. (NPI)
(NGO)
P.O. Box 1595, Tahlequah, OK 74465
United States
Tel: 1-918-868-5710
Fax: 1-918-868-5709
Email: npiinc2000@aol.com
Website: http://www.needfulprovision.org