Approaches

Participatory Community Resource Mapping using the Social Tenure Domain Model (STDM) [Kenya]

STDM Project

approaches_3379 - Kenya

Completeness: 92%

1. General information

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

Key resource person(s)

SLM specialist:

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)
Book project: Guidelines to Rangeland Management in Sub-Saharan Africa (Rangeland Management)
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)
Resource Conflict Institute (RECONCILE) - Kenya

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

04/09/2017

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

Yes

2. Description of the SLM Approach

2.1 Short description of the Approach

The Social Tenure Domain Model (STDM) is about people and their relationships with the land. The tool as applied secures tenure through the recognition of tenure diversity and social contexts. STDM recognizes that secure tenure builds confidence among the resource users, and therefore promotes confidence to investment at different levels: small-scale, large-scale, urban and rural investors who all benefits from security of tenure.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

The Rangelands Initiative Africa is a programme of the International Land Coalition (ILC) that is working to make rangelands more tenure-secure. The Resource Conflict Institute (RECONCILE) hosts and coordinates the Africa component, while the International Livestock Research Institutre (ILRI) takes global responsibility. It is recognized that the diverse resources and interests of rangelands concern all stakeholders and learning within these groups is important for strategic interventions and responses.
RECONCILE seeks to demonstrate the application of the Social Tenure Domain Model (STDM) in a rural setting, and in this context it has been able to secure social tenure rights for increased production among smallholder farmers. This land management and tenure security programme sought to address the dynamics around common resources in Bomet. Recognizing that there are multiple claims to common resources, the approach focuses on people as the central nexus in land administration. As such, it incorporates an extensive range of systems and processes to manage land through effective and accurate planning and management.
Land - as a factor in production – always attracts interest from various stakeholders. As such, secure access to land, whether through formal, informal, customary or other means, is necessary for rural households to create clarity and security about their rights and to enjoy sustainable livelihoods. In turn this is central to sustainable development. Securing access by rural poor people to land and water rights is key in the reduction of extreme poverty and hunger, since these are crucial assets for poor rural women, youth and men. Kenya has legal, policy and institutional frameworks and governance systems that presents options and opportunities.
The STDM process involves problem identification, stakeholder analysis, training, community enumeration, and data collection. Data includes socio-economic and spatial information. The process allows for a better understanding and testing of the extent that STDM technology responds to gaps and how best it can be applied to cater for the needs of all stakeholders within rural, agricultural, communal land settings. The application of the technology demands complete data sets that are consolidated through a census of both resources users and resources.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

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

Country:

Kenya

Region/ State/ Province:

Bomet county

Further specification of location:

Kembu sub-county

Comments:

The project implementation was done in three counties two of which the actual approach applied these are Bomet and Kirinya.

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

Indicate year of initiation:

2016

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date when the Approach was initiated:

less than 10 years ago (recently)

Year of termination (if Approach is no longer applied):

2017

Comments:

Even though the project ended with the contract with the UNHABITAT, RECONCILE is still progressing with the approach in other areas

2.7 Type of Approach

  • project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

- Improve production
- Reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
- Conserve ecosystem
- Protect a watershed/ downstream areas

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

social/ cultural/ religious norms and values
  • enabling

The approach is participatory and the communities consent to the process taking leadership as such it is an enabler.

availability/ access to financial resources and services
  • enabling

Based on secure tenure rights, and thus enhanced confidence, the communities increase their investments and as a result increase income.

institutional setting
  • enabling

The approach is engaging and therefore flexible to inclusion of different institutions including government and the private sector.

collaboration/ coordination of actors
  • enabling

Promotes partnership and collaboration

legal framework (land tenure, land and water use rights)
  • enabling

Strengthens such frameworks as participatory resource securing process that reinforces accountability and services delivery. It recognizes multiple tenure and resource rights

policies
  • enabling

The STDM process is compatible with diverse policy frameworks that support the use and management of communal resources.

land governance (decision-making, implementation and enforcement)
  • hindering

In circumstances where land governance is not well defined, the process posses challenges and sometimes expectations and or lack of it undermines the process

3. Participation and roles of stakeholders involved

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

  • local land users/ local communities

Small holder dairy farmers.

Land users and community members were key players in data collection, and were the users of the approach and technology.

  • SLM specialists/ agricultural advisers

GIS specialists, Lawyers, development experts.

Provided skills and expertise.

  • NGO

Technical University of Kenya, Regional Centre for Mapping Resources for Development, Pamoja Trust.

All these institutions had a role in the project based on their previous engagement with UNHABITAT.

If several stakeholders were involved, indicate lead agency:

RECONCILE was the lead

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 The communities internalized the process and as such were very engaging and even self-mobilized themselves for the tasks.
planning interactive Same as above
implementation interactive These were the key people in all the process of resource identification mapping and protection of both communal and private resources, both identified and mapped.
monitoring/ evaluation self-mobilization They still follow and report on the current status.

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

Description:

Using technology to enhance production among farmers need well thought-through approaches -Recognize diverse dynamics -Manage expectations

Author:

Ken Otieno

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

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:
  • all relevant actors, as part of a participatory approach
Specify on what basis decisions were made:
  • research findings

4. Technical support, capacity building, and knowledge management

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:
  • land users
  • field staff/ advisers
Form of training:
  • on-the-job
  • farmer-to-farmer
  • public meetings

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:
  • on land users' fields
  • at permanent centres
Describe/ comments:

The users are beneficiaries of a government programme in the areas where the approach was tested.

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:
  • capacity building/ training
  • equipment

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

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

No

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

No

5. Financing and external material support

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:
  • 10,000-100,000

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)

  • none
 
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. Impact analysis and concluding statements

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

Did the Approach empower local land users, improve stakeholder participation?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Communities and the programme benefited and revamped resource management committees.

Did the Approach enable evidence-based decision-making?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

The county governments greatly recognizes and appreciates the technology and approach to the extent that they will use the information and date in planning and resources allocation.

Did the Approach help land users to implement and maintain SLM Technologies?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Yes, the fact that the programme used local land users as key experts in the actual work has secured local resources.

Did the Approach improve coordination and cost-effective implementation of SLM?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

The partnership between and among government institutions has increased.

Did the Approach mobilize/ improve access to financial resources for SLM implementation?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

The concept of the bigger programme was to support milk bulking and this has been achieved through improved resources use and management which in turn has enhanced milk produce; volume and quality.

Did the Approach improve knowledge and capacities of land users to implement SLM?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

To the extent that the community resource users are directly involved in resource use and management, knowledge and skills are enhanced due to exposure and interactive sessions.

Did the Approach improve knowledge and capacities of other stakeholders?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

The application of skills by local people influenced the thinking.

Partnership and collaborations developed

Did the Approach mitigate conflicts?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

It was not the main objective, however.

Did the Approach empower socially and economically disadvantaged groups?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

They were not targeted directly but benefited from the wider community scope.

Did the Approach improve gender equality and empower women and girls?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Both men and women were equally involved in the process.

Did the Approach encourage young people/ the next generation of land users to engage in SLM?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

The use if GPS was and incentive.

Did the Approach improve issues of land tenure/ user rights that hindered implementation of SLM Technologies?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

The approach does not explicitly engage in issues of tenure but, implementation awareness is created.

Did the Approach lead to improved food security/ improved nutrition?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

This can be acknowledged to some degree but needs verification through a study

Did the Approach improve access to markets?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Was not a direct concern but yes, it did based on more milk production.

Did the Approach lead to improved access to water and sanitation?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Yes clean water.

Did the Approach lead to more sustainable use/ sources of energy?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

By enhanced use of biogas.

Did the Approach improve the capacity of the land users to adapt to climate changes/ extremes and mitigate climate related disasters?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly
Did the Approach lead to employment, income opportunities?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

  • increased production

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:

The approach did not confer any material gains or incentives, but the process was community-centred, thus adopted.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The approach targeted identified problems that were felt by the actors/ implementer and communities in a joint mission.

The approach demonstrated the capability to map livelihood resources of the rangeland users, including those associated with milk production such as milk coolers, water points, cattle dips, food stores, grazing areas, salt licks, crush, animal corridors, forest etc
Collectively, communities were able to understand the management status of communally shared resources and responsible persons.
Establishment of the land tenure system of shared communal resources and issues arising.
Status of private resources within the rangelands.
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The approach uses a participatory approach, hence builds community ownership.
The mix of the approach bridges the gap through skills transfer and capacity building, and in facilitating dialogue on issues affecting the community (through maps, reports). The process though technical, can be simplified, and because users can relate to, and find value in, it contributed to its immense success.
The STDM database accommodates inclusion of social, economic and spatial data that can be maintained, accessed and updated by the communities anytime.
It provided a visual representation of available resources and their distribution, and people can relate to spatial information on the map.
Ownership of the technology by local people is important: they are now leading on data collection, customizing the template, developing reports and innovating on its use.

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 design of the tool was a more urban oriented and took time to be adopted for rural use especially where land is communal and customs are key. Created more awareness.
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
Difficult to set-up the server environment where no internet is available.
Engaging other service providers may be difficult and takes time (Internet service providers need to authorize setting-up an additional server).
Appropriate devices for capturing data may necessitate an additional budget.
The internet component remains a challenge.
Technology is evolving and needs systematic information channels.
The process requires proper funding in order to continue without interruption.

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • field visits, field surveys

900

  • interviews with land users

900

  • interviews with SLM specialists/ experts

2

  • compilation from reports and other existing documentation

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

RECONCILE end of project report and other progress reports are available for sharing

Title/ description:

Food security in Bomet county

URL:

awsc.uonbi.ac.ke/sites/default/files/chss/arts/.../Bomet-final.doc

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