Participatory approach
(Rwanda)
Ubufatanye bwinzego zose
Description
This approach is a contribution of different stakeholders and land users in the identification and resolution of a particular crop land problems, which implicate at the end different stage of intervention by all stakeholders to resolve the problem.
Aims / objectives: The main goal of the approach is to plan and implement land management activities with villagers in such a way that sustainability is ensured. The specific objectives of the project are to:
(1) increase the capacity of the villagers to design, implement and self-evaluate Soil and water management activities.(2) improve crop production by limiting the effect of dry season during the critical stage of crop growth at the beginning of dry season.
Methods: This approach is integral to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry(MINAGRI) through a long-term project, which was initiated in 2005 and has been financed mainly by the government, with two different part of intervention of farmers which can be a voluntary participation and contributions of the local population or based on food for work.
Stages of implementation: Project extension work is carried out by facilitators from MINAGRI and consists of awareness raising and demonstration.
Problem identification and planning of activities takes place in village meetings. The local land users are supported by MINAGRI personnel who also provide technical and other facilities assistance during the implementation of Soil and Water Conservation measures
Location
Location: Kayonza, East, Rwanda
Geo-reference of selected sites
Initiation date: 2005
Year of termination: n.a.
Type of Approach
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traditional/ indigenous
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recent local initiative/ innovative
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project/ programme based
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local government, diferents stakeholders and land user.
Farmers and stakeholders exploring together how to overcome from a given land degradation problem. (Kagabo Desire (RAB))
Farmers and stakeholders exploring together how to overcome from a given land degradation problem. (Kagabo Desire and Ngenzi Guy (RAB))
Approach aims and enabling environment
Main aims / objectives of the approach
The Approach focused mainly on SLM with other activities (Reduce sedimentation and irrigation)
Design, test and disseminate alternative technologies adapted to local conditions - strengthen local knowledge of soil and water management measures.
The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: The lack of appropriate ways to develop sustainable technologies to remedy loss of runoff water and poor crop growth in the context of low-input agriculture on gentle undulating land in water scarce areas with an absence of soil conservation measures.
Conditions enabling the implementation of the Technology/ ies applied under the Approach
Conditions hindering the implementation of the Technology/ ies applied under the Approach
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Availability/ access to financial resources and services: Water harvesting is considered expensive due to material (mainly laying plastic sheet) and labour cost.
Treatment through the SLM Approach: Identification of a low-cost water harvesting measure, which can be implemented during the off-season. Cost-benefit analysis.
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Knowledge about SLM, access to technical support: Difficulty in tilling the land when water harvesting structures are in place.
Treatment through the SLM Approach: Integrating new technologies and local knowledge of farmers about the market, into growing more profitable crops (cash crops).
Participation and roles of stakeholders involved
Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles
What stakeholders / implementing bodies were involved in the Approach? |
Specify stakeholders |
Describe roles of stakeholders |
local land users/ local communities |
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Decision making |
community-based organizations |
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SLM specialists/ agricultural advisers |
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local government |
|
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national government (planners, decision-makers) |
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international organization |
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Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach
none
passive
external support
interactive
self-mobilization
Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology
Decisions were taken by
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land users alone (self-initiative)
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mainly land users, supported by SLM specialists
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all relevant actors, as part of a participatory approach
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mainly SLM specialists, following consultation with land users
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SLM specialists alone
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politicians/ leaders
Decisions were made based on
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evaluation of well-documented SLM knowledge (evidence-based decision-making)
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research findings
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personal experience and opinions (undocumented)
Technical support, capacity building, and knowledge management
The following activities or services have been part of the approach
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Capacity building/ training
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Advisory service
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Institution strengthening (organizational development)
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Monitoring and evaluation
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Research
Capacity building/ training
Training was provided to the following stakeholders
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land users
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field staff/ advisers
Form of training
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on-the-job
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farmer-to-farmer
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demonstration areas
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public meetings
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courses
Advisory service
Advisory service was provided
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on land users' fields
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at permanent centres
Advisory service is quite adequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; Land users are 100% willing to upscale the technology but they are financially not strong enough and unstable.
Monitoring and evaluation
bio-physical aspects were ad hoc monitored by government through observations
bio-physical aspects were regular monitored by government through measurements
technical aspects were ad hoc monitored by government through observations
technical aspects were regular monitored by government through measurements
socio-cultural aspects were ad hoc monitored by government and land users through observations
no. of land users involved aspects were regular monitored by government and land users through measurements
management of Approach aspects were regular monitored by government through observations
There were no changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation
There were few changes in the Technology as a result of monitoring and evaluation: Land users are trying to organise themselves to implement the technology although it is expensive.
Research
Research treated the following topics
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sociology
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economics / marketing
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ecology
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technology
Research was carried out on-farm
Financing and external material support
Annual budget in USD for the SLM component
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< 2,000
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2,000-10,000
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10,000-100,000
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100,000-1,000,000
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> 1,000,000
Precise annual budget: n.a.
Approach costs were met by the following donors: government: 40.0%; international non-government: 40.0%; local government (district, county, municipality, village etc): 15.0%; local community / land user(s): 5.0%
The following services or incentives have been provided to land users
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Financial/ material support provided to land users
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Subsidies for specific inputs
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Credit
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Other incentives or instruments
Financial/ material support provided to land users
Care international provided funds (food for work) and the local government provided some equipments (plastic sheets) research staffs and means and training.
partly financed
fully financed
plastic sheets, ciment and fencing wires
Labour by land users was
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voluntary
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food-for-work
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paid in cash
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rewarded with other material support
Impact analysis and concluding statements
Impacts of the Approach
No
Yes, little
Yes, moderately
Yes, greatly
Did the Approach help land users to implement and maintain SLM Technologies?
Did other land users / projects adopt the Approach?
Other land users around the technology adapted the technology in their land after being convinced by its importance.
Main motivation of land users to implement SLM
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increased production
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increased profit(ability), improved cost-benefit-ratio
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reduced land degradation
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reduced risk of disasters
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reduced workload
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payments/ subsidies
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rules and regulations (fines)/ enforcement
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prestige, social pressure/ social cohesion
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affiliation to movement/ project/ group/ networks
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environmental consciousness
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customs and beliefs, morals
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enhanced SLM knowledge and skills
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aesthetic improvement
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conflict mitigation
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well-being and livelihoods improvement
Sustainability of Approach activities
Can the land users sustain what hat been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?
It has create good interaction between land users and other stakeholders.
Conclusions and lessons learnt
Strengths: land user's view
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Building of local knowledge (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: strengthen sensitization by the government)
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Engagement of researchers with local innovators and thus interaction between scientific and indigenous knowledge (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: This approach can only be sustained if it is mainstreamed into national research and extension services.)
Strengths: compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
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Capacity building of both land users and researchers (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: strengthen the interaction between SLM specialist and land uses by the government)
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks: land user's viewhow to overcome
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks: compiler’s or other key resource person’s viewhow to overcome
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Appropriate facilitating skills required
Mainstreaming facilitation skills.
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Time demanding
Less time needed after the first steps of implementation
References
Date of documentation: Feb. 9, 2013
Last update: Aug. 2, 2017
Resource persons
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Desire Kagabo (desirekagabo@yahoo.com) - SLM specialist
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Guy Ngenzi (ngeguy@yahoo.fr) - SLM specialist
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Iwona Piechowiak (iwona.piechowiak@yahoo.co.uk) - SLM specialist
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MULIGIRWAEmmanuel Muligirwa - None
Full description in the WOCAT database
Documentation was faciliated by
Institution
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) - Italy
- Rwanda Agriculture Board (Rwanda Agriculture Board) - Rwanda
Project
- The Transboundary Agro-ecosystem Management Project for the Kagera River Basin (GEF-FAO / Kagera TAMP )
Links to relevant information which is available online