As part of preparation and obtaining background information a literature study was
conducted, based on this literature study the project plan was developed, see annex B. Project plan. The literature study focused on previous related studies in the Mara Region, the tourism industry present in the region and in Tanzania in general, the government structure present in the Mara region, research methods regarding feasibility studies, national policies and papers, EC Development Guidelines, development strategies and other sector programs.
3.1 Framing the research area
The first step was to frame the research area. The pro-poor study conducted by SNV consisted of several related studies, see reference list, conducted in several different areas in the Mara Region over a total of 6 years (van Klinken, 2013). Due to the size of the Mara Region and the time available it was needed to frame the research area. The following criteria were used to select the research area:
• The research area needed to be a fair representation of the Mara Region;
• The communities in the research area needed to be familiar with IBDI to remove the necessity of building trust before starting fieldwork, saving valuable time;
• Because the proposed solution is a community tourism training college, it was
considered important that the research area was home to communities that have some organizational experience;
• Because the proposed solution of establishing a CTTC requires negotiation with the tourism industry, it was considered an advantage if communities in the research area would have experience in doing so;
• SNV preferred a research area with communities that have a strong political voice, a history of cooperating with development projects and have shown interest in the project idea;
These criteria lead to the selection of the Ikona WMA area in the Serengeti District. The Ikona WMA area is home to local communities with tourism enterprises on their lands and
experience the observed problem of lack of local employment in the tourism sector. IBDI has been working in the Ikona WMA area for the last 5 years, therefore the area meets the second criterion. The existence of the Ikona WMA in the area shows that the communities in the area have some organizational experience and experience with negotiating with the tourism
industry. Other projects have been initiated in the past in the Ikona WMA area, for example the establishment of GHOMACOS in Nata Mbiso. GHOMACOS is a local farmers' cooperative that supplies fresh produce to Singita Grumeti Reserve.
According to Lemoyan (2013) the Ikona WMA area has a strong political voice. The village Makundusi has shown interest in the project idea, village representatives mentioned the establishment of a CTTC as a possible solution to the identified problem during the Forum Meeting in 2011.
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3.2 Stakeholder identification and stakeholder analysis
The second step was to make sure all the relevant stakeholders were identified. This was done by brainstorming on who or what groups affect or are affected by the identified problem of a lack of local employment in the tourism industry in the Mara Region and who or what groups could play an important role in relation to the establishment of a CTTC. The stakeholders were analyzed by creating a stakeholder analysis matrix. The stakeholder analysis matrix was used to identify the role, the capacity and the motivation of the stakeholders as well as possible actions to address the stakeholders interest. This was necessary not just to make sure no vital information was missed by overlooking certain less obvious stakeholders, but also to make sure the social aspects were not neglected. When certain groups or individual stakeholders to a matter are not contacted or consulted, willfully or by accident, they might complicate matters in the future because they feel excluded. Sampling of various stakeholders made sure that comparative analysis was possible and it ensured greater comparison of opinion and responses.
3.3 Structured and open interviews
The third step was developing the structured interviews for each stakeholder, the structured interviews are listed under annex D. Structured interviews. In order to obtain the required information structured and open individual interviews were conducted as well as open group interviews. The choice between conducting structured or open interviews mainly occurred on site based on the response of the interviewee. This was needed because many stakeholders were reluctant to follow through with the interview when confronted with a long list of detailed questions. Based on the information gathered specific questions that needed further exploration were added and/or highlighted. The questions of the interviews were based on the 3 general requirements listed under chapter 2. Problem analysis and were appointed to the relevant stakeholder (group). This ensured the right questions were asked to the right
stakeholders. Another benefit was that it avoided confronting a stakeholder with too many and sometimes irrelevant questions and therefore losing his or her interest. The full list of
questions and relevant stakeholders can be found under annex A. Scope and appropriate stakeholders.
3.4 Data analysis
After gathering the information from the relevant stakeholders it was needed to process and analyze that information by comparing statements, document the analyzed information as results and use it to answer the research questions. By answering the research questions a answer can be given on the feasibility of the establishment of a CTTC in the Mara Region. This case study is partially descriptive and partially relational. Descriptive in the way that it
describes the current situation, the needs and expectations and the limitations encountered and relational in the way that it looks at the effect the encountered facts have on the feasibility of establishing a CTTC.
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3.5 Team
The final preparations of this study and the fieldwork necessary to gather the required information were executed as a team, set up by IBDI director Hassan Juma Ally. The research team consisted, excluding myself, of the following members:
Ayoub Laizer - employee at IBDI - acted as translator and advisor on social structures and customs, as well as partaking in brainstorming sessions and providing input on planning, research content and the execution of fieldwork.
Celeste Alexander - PhD student from Princeton University USA, volunteering at IBDI for personal research - advised on social structures and customs and helped with brainstorming, planning, research content and the execution of fieldwork.
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