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

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

Book project: where people and their land are safer - A Compendium of Good Practices in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) (where people and their land are safer)

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

Swiss Red Cross (Swiss Red Cross) - Switzerland

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

14/03/2017

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

Yes

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

2.1 Short description of the Approach

The approach of the Terra Preta home gardens at household level, with demonstration gardens created with members of grass-roots community organizations (GCO), facilitates the extension of the Terra Preta technology among the vulnerable population in the rural zones of the municipality of Léogâne, Haiti.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

One of the key problems of the Haitian rural population is related to the intensive use of the soil, and its degradation due to the strong demographic pressure on the mountainous zones. This intensifies the effects of natural hazards, especially those linked to hydrological and meteorological events. The severe degradation decreases the agricultural production. Because agriculture is the major source of income of the rural population of the community of Léogâne, chronic malnutrition is one of the important health problems. The Swiss Red Cross promotes the Terra Preta at household level to address several factors of vulnerability. Terra Preta is an innovative technology to create and fertilise soils through the recovery of organic waste. The approach followed for the dissemination of the technology functions as follows:

As a first step, the active and interested members of grass-roots community organizations (GCO) receive theoretical training (one day) which covers the following aspects: definition and origin of the Terra Preta technology, introduction to the different structures created (garden beds and garden surfaces), the materials used, the implementation procedures, practical experience in Haiti and the advantages of the technology.

Next, a first home garden is implemented with the cooperative of trained farmers. Together with the members of the grass-roots community organization, who show interest after this first cycle of training, private gardens are implemented at the household level. The establishment of the first structure (which is a mound and/or a surface) for a family is realised by the project team, showing the necessary steps to the beneficiary, who contributes with labor. After some time, the second structure is established in a similar way. For the establishment of the third structure, the beneficiary coordinates the work, and the team provides support or corrections if necessary. Generally a farmer is ready to do the replication himself from the fourth structure onwards.

These exemplary home gardens of the members of the grass-roots community organization serve as demonstration plots for other families in the community. If a family shows interest to implement a Terra Preta home garden, the project team provides the technical support as described.

Seed production: the first seedlings are donated by the project to the families. The families are then trained in the production of seed and the creation of nurseries for replanting vegetables. In this way, the project aims to contribute to the food self-sufficiency of the families.

Gender: generally the men are in charge of the establishment of the home gardens in Haiti. It is recommended to involve women in the maintenance of the gardens. The experience shows that women are often more engaged then men, and it is more probable that the vegetables produced are used to feed the family instead of being sold.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

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

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The creation and fertilisation of soils, through the recovery of organic waste and residues, contribute to the resilience of families, an increase of food self-sufficiency and a reduction of malnutrition.

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
planning	passive
implementation	interactive
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive

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:

• SLM specialists alone

Explain:

The innovative Terra Preta technology was introduced in a pilot to see whether it could meet the needs of the beneficiaries.

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• evaluation of well-documented SLM knowledge (evidence-based decision-making)

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users

Form of training:

• on-the-job
• demonstration areas

Subjects covered:

Definition and origin of Terra Preta, the different structures, the materials used, the procedures for the establishment, the practical experiences in Haiti, the advantages of the technology.

Comments:

Theoretical and practical training.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

Describe/ comments:

The technical staff of the Swiss/Haitian Red Cross provides continuous technical assistance to the beneficiaries (Grass-roots Community Organization and individual households).

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, a little

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

• local

Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

The role of the grass-roots community organizations (GCO) is to motivate the community for development.

Specify type of support:

• capacity building/ training

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

Monitoring and evaluation are an integral part of the projects of the Swiss/Haitian Red Cross.

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

No

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Specify topics:

• ecology

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

Collaboration with students from local universities (theses).

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 10,000-100,000

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

Includes inputs like seed and seedlings as well as training. Main source of funding: the Swiss Red Cross.

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

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

No

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• agricultural

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

• voluntary

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

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:

A number of beneficiaries is already able to replicate the technology in an autonomous way. During the continuation of the project, the Swiss/Haitian Red Cross aims to augment the number of households capable of replicating the technology.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
There is a high confidence in the technical staff, because of its continuous presence in the field.
The approach strengthens the capacity of the households to become self-sufficient and to improve the food security.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The approach promotes the extension of the technology.
The demonstration plots serve as a driver of motivation for certain beneficiaries.

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

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
The availability of materials for the implementation of the Terra Preta gardens is not always guaranteed, and the collection (of wood) takes time.	Awareness raising and motivation by the technical staff. The planning of activities must be done jointly by the technical staff and the beneficiaries.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The availability of vegetable seeds is not always guaranteed in the local market.	The beneficiaries learn how to produce their own seeds from their vegetables.
Recurrent droughts can hamper the development of the gardens.	In the dry zones, the gardens are preferably implemented close to a water source. In the established gardens, mulching can be done.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information