1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Ethiopia (MoA) - Ethiopia

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Ja

1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies

2.1 Short description of the Approach

An approach used by field staff to implement conservation activities, involving farmers in all stages of planning, implementation and evaluation.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Aims / objectives: The Local Level Participatory Planning Approach (LLPPA) starts with the selection of communities based on needs and problem assessment. Then development committees are formed, consisting of one or two technical staff and seven to eight farmers. They are elected by the community through a general assembly of land users.

Stages of implementation: The development committees plan and coordinate development activities. They first conduct a survey of the biophysical and socio-economic conditions of the area. Then problems are identified and prioritised with the community members through participatory rural appraisal (PRA). Land use analysis, followed by the definition of objectives, identification of development options and selection of appropriate SWC interventions, is carried out on a consultative basis. Targets for achievements are established, and resources and inputs are determined. Finally the development committee prepares a work plan. The plan for SWC activities is then submitted to the community leaders, and the approval of the plan is made by the general assembly of land users, in consultation with the technical field staff. The development committee is given the responsibility for organising implementation. The beneficiaries actively participate in this implementation, in maintenance and in utilisation of the assets created, by contributing their labour and resources. Whenever required technical field staff give technical advice during implementation of development activities - area closure for rehabilitation in this case. Participatory monitoring and evaluation of activities is another important element of the approach.

Role of stakeholders: The main purpose of LLPPA is to enhance farmers’ involvement in all steps of the development process, from the initial stages of planning, to implementation of the activities, and in the evaluation of the achievements. A good relationship between land users and field workers, and acceptance as well as support of the development activities by the land users are fundamental prerequisites for fruitful implementation and maintenance of SWC measures.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

- encourage the involvement of the beneficiary population and the technical personnel in the whole development process (ie initial planning, implementation, monitoring/evaluation) so that sustainable development, leading to improved living conditions is attained, - reduce land degradation (gully formation and landslides, sediment flow into downstream water harvesting and storage tanks) and enhance natural regeneration and fertility of soils in order to increase the productivity of degraded areas: provide livestock feed, fuel and construction wood, and higher crop yields

The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: Difficulties in attaining sustainable development through area closures for rehabilitation are due to: - lacking sense of ownership: land users feel that development attained in enclosures belongs to the government, - lack of awareness about land degradation problems, and the values of conservation measures, - reluctance to maintain activities and protect assets created, - shortage of livestock feed, fuelwood and construction material, - increasing land degradation problems (on- and off-site) due to improper land use and poor farming practices, - food insecurity and poverty

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	interactive	self-motivation: few farmers take the initiative
planning	interactive	initiated by technical staff, motivated by the development committee: identify problems, prioritise them and seek solutions
implementation	interactive	community is responsible for implementation, some incentives are given for motivation: farmers are organised into working teams
monitoring/ evaluation	passive	initiated by extension agents, annual evaluation during community meeting
Research	none	none

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• mainly land users, supported by SLM specialists

Explain:

Made by the community/land users in consultation with SWC specialists/extension workers.

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by mainly by land users supported by SLM specialists. Made by the community members based on the plan of action prepared by the development committee (comprising farmers and technical staff).

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Ja

Form of training:

• courses

Subjects covered:

Extension workers and Wereda district SWC specialists are given regular training on LLPPA and area closure management. Community leaders and the development committee are trained every year on the various techniques of soil conservation. Two to three day awareness creation seminars are held for the community in general. The awareness creation programme played a significant role.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Ja

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

Describe/ comments:

Key elements: training, demonstration of the technology, provision of the necessary inputs for application

Advisory service is quite adequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; The extension service has been adequate, due to support by MoA and donor agencies such as the World Food Programme.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, greatly

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local

Specify type of support:

• financial

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Ja

Comments:

bio-physical aspects were regular monitored through measurements; indicators: chane in slope, sediment trapped in ditch, soil depth, ground cover, amount of biomass, rate of regeneration of trees and shrubs, productivity of livestock, spring water discharge, soil loss, runoff

technical aspects were regular monitored through measurements; indicators: quality of structural measures, survival rate of planted trees

socio-cultural aspects were regular monitored through measurements; indicators: community participation in planning and implementation, trends in the participation of poor and rich farmers, womens' participation and decision making between men and women

economic / production aspects were regular monitored through measurements; indicators: amount of grass produced, household income from enclosures, availability and production of wood for fuel, increas in soil fertility

area treated aspects were regular monitored through measurements; indicators: area treated by structural and vegetative measures

no. of land users involved aspects were regular monitored through measurements; indicators: land users participating in planning, implementation and decision making

management of Approach aspects were regular monitored through measurements; indicators: number of land users participating in the implementation, land users participating in maintenance activities, type of activities undertaken on voluntary basis

There were few changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation: As a result of monitoring and evaluation improvements in quality of micro-basins and/or trenches, for example, led to better attaining the standards of technology design initially proposed.

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Ja

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

Very little work is done with regard to research in area closure and LLPPA.

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Approach costs were met by the following donors: government (national): 10.0%; international non-government ((World Food Programme, WFP)): 40.0%; local community / land user(s) (-): 50.0%

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Ja

If yes, specify type(s) of support, conditions, and provider(s):

There is considerable support to local institutions: they get more money through selling trees and grass from enclosures, which in turn strengthens the institutions financially and socially. The development committee continues to exist after the project phases out. The same committee could take up other development issues.

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• agricultural

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• food-for-work

Comments:

Because of poor farmers and the labour intensive activities, they are given 3 kg grain/person day, voluntary labour contribution by the community for activities such as planting, weeding and other management activities is more than 50%.

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

Nee

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

If yes, describe how:

Land users can continue without support - and are actually doing so where the support for area closure has already stopped.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Involvement of land users in decision making (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: More work on empowerment/land use rights.)
Encourages working in a team (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Further strengthen team organisation.)
Application of appropriate land use practices contributing to sustainable development (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Further improvement of productivity by encouraging land users to make maximum use of development achievements.)
Rapid benefits obtained: provision of livestock fodder (through cut-andcarry), fuel wood and construction material (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Expand use of improved planting materials.)

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Dependence on incentives	Improve the methods of using incentives: incentives should be understood as a means for promoting participation rather than as a payment.
Low sense of ownership	Distribute the enclosures to individual land users.
The involvement of rich members of the community in the development committee is low	Development committee needs to be represented by different target groups.
Site guards are given incentives by the project	The community will have to assume this responsibility in future.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Escobedo et al (1990) The minimum planning procedures for soil and water conservation in Ethiopia. Assistance to Soil

Available from where? Costs?

FAO

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Voli C et al (1999) The Local Level Participatory Planning Approach for the soil and water conservation