“Ek is aan die Brand, is jy?” – I am on fire, are you?

Adapted from a blog by Anna Cowen courtesy of FLOW Africa with contributions from Alicia Okeyo.

On 30 May 2015 the Bergrivier Brand Network (BBN) and the FLOW Programme launched the Brand (Bergrivier Rand) in Piketberg, in the Western Cape. It was a rainy day, with squalls moving through between patches of intermittent sun. Miraculously, the rain cleared for the important parts – a march through the town with trompoppies (drum majorettes) accompanied by a brigade (marching band), and then the launch ceremony and speeches. The rain had been long awaited by the local community. We’d been told the day before by the Municipal Manager – Hanlie Linde,  that the wheat farmers had not yet been able to sow their crops as the ground was not moist enough – the summer past had been the driest in eighty years. All climate change predictions for this region point to a drying out, with less rain yet more intense and destructive storms, so in all likelihood, this will be the new normal.

The FLOW programme aims to build adaptive capacity in the face of climate change, resource depletion, financial shocks and growing inequality. FLOW's Principal Investigator, Dr Gina Ziervogel recently said, at presentation at the Our Common Future under Climate Change: Insights from UCT attendees conference, that FLOW's objective is to increase adaptive and generative capacity in local communities. The introduction of a community currency is a key part of the programme's strategy,which focusses both on building individual and community adaptive capacity. The currency, known as the Brand, can only be spent in the Bergrivier region, and is backed by the goods and services of members of the Bergrivier Brand Network (BBN). In so doing, it increases communities’ capacity to withstand shocks by keeping local economic exchange alive and vibrant, even when people have very little national currency. It also encourages the development of local businesses that are either service based (like artisans and childcare), or that trade in locally made or farmed produce. The Brand was launched with 70 signed up small businesses, from Piketberg and the neighbouring Moravian mission settlement, Goedverwacht. The goal is to enroll more than 400 small businesses across the whole region, including the towns of Porterville and Velddrif, and the smaller settlements of Wittewater, Aurora, Eendekuil, Redelinghuys and Dwarskersbos, as well as to enrol the larger businesses in the region – like Spar, Shoprite and PPC. Conversations have also begun with the Bergrivier Municipality around how they might begin find a way to accept Brand for a portion of services they provide.

The launch ceremony was MC’d with great aplomb by Ian Schaffers, the local FLOW co-ordinator, Brand network member and local farmer and entrepreneur. FLOW Ambassador, Brand Network member and Piketberg resident Lorita Majerrie opened proceedings with an inspiring and fiery prayer and the first Brand notes were set free into circulation with Councillor Johan Botha cutting a red ribbon and opening the safe which contained the newly printed notes. Each member of the BBN launch committee then came up on stage and received their B500 and then peeled off B200 and put this into a “community pot”. The “community pot” is a vital part of the Brand programme as the network members then decide on community projects that local youth can do where they are paid in Brand. The first example of this took place the preceding Thursday and Friday where a group of twenty school children cleaned the grounds in preparation for the event, and each child was remunerated in Brand, which they then spent at the market stalls belonging to the Brand network members on the launch day. The FLOW programme is now exploring ways in which the BrandMarkdag (Brand Market Day) could become a monthly event.

The notes were designed by FLOW team member Daniel Goodman, in consultation with the BBN launch committee and network members. There are 4 notes, each with unique and linking features.  The Piketberg Mountain features on all the notes, and each denomination has a different theme – water, energy, food and community. The imagery, colours and theme slogans were co-designed in a series of community meetings. There are a range of security features including special paper, a varnished water mark (an aerial view of the Berg River), embossing of key theme imagery, holographic foiling of the Brand symbol and unique serial numbers.

Each small business, that is member of the network, is advertised in the Brand Gids (Directory) and this will shortly include a map. The directory and map will then be updated on a regular basis. The FLOW Ambassadors have also been making short 2-minute advertorial movies of the BBN members that members can share with each other via WhatsApp to assist with marketing of their goods and services. The FLOW programme has been implemented in two South African locales simultaneously, Kokstad, KwaZuluNatal and Piketberg, Western Cape.

So far, Ziervogel added that FLOW has yielded great lessons learnt for climate change research. The transdisciplinarity of research requires significant investment in time, trust and engagement to meet local community needs. Perhaps with innovative funding approaches and new partnerships, other projects like FLOW can begin to emerge and be supported. 

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely those of the author in their private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of the ACDI, or any other entity affiliated with the ACDI.