Siwa's regeneration is a model of eco-friendly development, write Hanifa Sadek and Heba Abdella In Egypt's Western Desert, located about 70 kilometres east of the Libyan border, lies the fertile oasis of Siwa, the largest in Egypt. Siwa possesses a unique natural environment with exceptional geo-morphological features and some 230 natural freshwater springs fed by the Nubian aquifer. The people of Siwa, the area having been inhabited in isolation from as early as 10,000 BC, have their own traditions, culture and social norms. The Siwa Sustainable Development Initiative aims to direct private investment in commercial ventures towards sustainable development by promoting economic development that respects Siwa's rich natural assets and revitalises its unique cultural heritage. Environmental Quality International (EQI), a private consulting firm established in 1981, has been the principal investor and catalyst for action. The firm has partnered with the local community and local authorities to derive benefit from local knowledge of the environment and cultural heritage. EQI has also collaborated with various partners, including the Matrouh governorate, the Ford Foundation, the UN Centre for Human Settlements (UNHCS) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), to improve solid waste management practices, rehabilitate Siwa's marketplace and selected historic sites, build Siwa's first bank, and reopen and restore Siwa's cultural centre and public library. In partnership with the Siwan community and with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), EQI has recently extended its activities under the Siwa initiative in four new areas: eco-tourism, Siwan artisanship, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy. The centrepiece of the initiative is Adrère Amellal Oasis, which offers travellers a return-to-nature experience in a unique ecological and cultural setting. The eco-lodge has revived centuries-old building techniques that were being replaced by modern but inappropriate technologies that were eroding the natural and cultural assets of the oasis. Dilapidated Siwan houses have been restored and extended, using kershef -- a mixture of rock salt and mud -- to build the walls. This method keeps indoor temperatures moderate and ensures that the structures blend in with the environment. The premises are free of electricity and telephones. Doors and windows are strategically positioned to capture the desert breeze, eliminating the need for air conditioning. Oil lamps and candles are used for lighting, braziers for heating. Furnishing draws on natural materials, traditional design, and local skills. Ceilings are made of palm beams, while doors, windows and fixtures are made of olive wood from annual tree trimmings. Wastewater is first settled in sedimentation tanks, allowing the supernatant to flow through perforated pipes into a sealed wetland where indigenous papyrus plants are grown to complete the biodegradation and waste reduction process. On the other side of Lake Siwa lies the village of Siwa with its 13th century enclave of Shali. Its once inhabited kershef houses, built side-by-side along steep, narrow and winding dirt roads, were damaged by unusually heavy rainfalls, leading the population to abandon Shali. In the surrounding area of this historic enclave, Shali Lodge was created using the same construction materials and techniques as in Adrère Amellal. The second lodge in town, called Albabenshal, is an 11-room heritage hotel, located on the periphery of Shali Fortress. The rooms were constructed out of once inhabited kershef houses that had been destroyed by unusually heavy rains. Albabenshal was created through a process of restoring and restructuring these dilapidated and abandoned homes. The lodge aims to revitalise this important area in Siwa and encourage the continued restoration of the remaining abandoned homes surrounding the Shali Fortress. In August 2001, EQI launched a cottage industry in collaboration with a number of Siwan female entrepreneurs aimed at revitalising Siwa's traditional handicrafts and promoting a culture of artisanship among women in the oasis. An initial grant from the British Embassy went towards upgrading the embroidery skills of 50 Siwan women to ensure workmanship of the highest standard. Within a year, the number of women participating in the project had reached 300. The embroiderers are currently applying their skills to two exclusive production lines -- Siwa Creations and Ermanno Scervino -- that have linked Siwa to mature markets prepared to pay for native creativity and quality craftsmanship. Agriculture in Siwa is mostly chemical free, which offers an excellent opportunity to grow organic products targeting international markets. Through the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative, these assets will be leveraged by branding Siwa a unique organic environment. The initiative, co-financed by the IFC, will install the needed capacity and provide finance to farmers through input advances that offer farmers a fair value for their products. In addition, an olive harvest centre has been built in Siwa to meet international marketing standards. The initiative will also increase the animal wealth of the oasis by supplying cattle through a micro-finance scheme. Building on the increase in cattle population, biogas digesters will be introduced as a renewable source of energy. The biogas will be used for cooking and lighting. The digester will also produce high-quality organic compost. Currently, farmers import low-grade manure from Marsa Matrouh, 300 kilometres away, at high cost. Adrère Amellal and Shali Lodge have benefited around 600 Siwan families through permanent jobs as well as the creation of income-generating opportunities in areas such as the supply of raw materials, production of furniture and handicrafts, transport of goods, and tour operations. The expansion of Shali Lodge and the creation of Albabenshal in partnership with the IFC are providing permanent employment for an additional 22 community members. It is estimated that more than 45 Siwans will be employed in the construction, earning income while acquiring the skills and techniques of traditional construction. The renewed interest in traditional architecture created by the initiative has opened job opportunities for a new generation of traditional master builders and craftsmen created by the project. In addition, the Siwan Artisanship Initiative contracted and trained over 300 women, providing them with opportunity to earn additional income and improve their skills in traditional handicrafts. As for the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative, it is expected to benefit over 200 farmers and 50 off-farm workers, as well as add value to Siwan agricultural produce by promoting the adoption of organic farming and farm management systems that are compatible with international certifications. The Siwa Initiative is a private sector led initiative, underwritten by private investment rather than the traditional development framework. It demonstrates that a socially responsible and environmentally sound business approach can be financially rewarding. The initiative is an integrated development plan that addresses economic, cultural and environmental challenges. It has revived the traditional Siwan architectural style as well as traditional embroidery skills, both of which were becoming extinct, and created awareness among the local community and authorities of the economic value of preserving Siwan cultural heritage, thereby ensuring sustainability.
