Building more resilient pathways to prosperity COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES FROM BURKINA FASO AND ETHIOPIA
About this guide
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) developed a series The Resilience through Enhanced Adaptation, of eight briefs to illustrate how CRS’ food security Action-learning, and Partnership (REAAP) program programs have built absorptive, adaptive and is funded through the USAID Office of U.S. Foreign transformative capacities of agricultural livelihoods Disaster Assistance, Global Climate Change, and to help individuals, communities, and systems Feed the Future initiatives. REAAP is a three-year address the challenges of recurrent shocks and program carried out in East and West Hararghe chronic stresses. The agricultural livelihoods zones of Meta, Fedis, Midhega Tolla, Mieso, Tulo, components of the CRS resilience intervention and Oda Bultum woredas in Oromia region of investment package focuses on livelihood Ethiopia. The program is specifically designed to protection in humanitarian emergencies contexts sustainably increase resilience and reduce long- while promoting economically and environmentally term vulnerability to current and future climate sustainable and diversified livelihood growth. change and climate-related shocks and stresses in CRS achieves this through integrated and vulnerable communities. sequenced approaches which initially save The resilience briefs allow CRS and partner staff livelihoods, progress to strengthen livelihoods, and to identify actual examples and to learn from ultimately build shock-resilient livelihoods, helping success by documenting in real-time what works households and communities to stay the course to strengthen resilience. Select examples of along CRS’ Pathway to Prosperity. absorptive, adaptive and transformative capacities The Families Achieving Sustainable Outcomes from ongoing FASO and REAAP programs are (FASO) United States Agency for International used to illustrate the promising practices and Development (USAID) Title II development program approaches as well as challenges to achieving implements integrated programming in the health transformative change within a three- to five-year districts of Tougouri in Namentenga Province in the period. The briefs also provide an overview of CRS’ Centre Nord Region; Manni in Gnagna Province; and progress in shaping and implementing a vision for Gayeri in Komondjari Province in the East Region in building resilience in new or existing programs. Burkina Faso. FASO is five-year program operating Finally, the briefs can help program staff to in an area with reoccurring weather-related identify potential areas to influence systems and shocks and stressors. While it was not designed structures by locating entry points, including “The to be a resilience-focused program, it nonetheless Family House” approach and keyhole gardens, integrated the relevant factors to successfully which can help national policies and institutions contribute to well-being outcomes. The FASO briefs better integrate disaster risk reduction, climate demonstrate the opportunity for developmental smart agricultural practices and adaptations, and programs to align more with the principles in development approaches. Building Resilience to Recurrent Crisis: USAID Policy and Program Guidance1.
1 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1870/USAIDResiliencePolicyGuidanceDocument.pdf Table of contents
ABOUT THIS GUIDE...... I
BUILDING MORE RESILIENT PATHWAYS TO PROSPERITY IN TOUGOURI, MANNI,
AND GAYERI HEALTH DISTRICTS IN BURKINA FASO...... 1
ENHANCING SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION — ADAPTATIONS FOR RECOVERY IN
A DEGRADED ENVIRONMENT...... 7
RESILIENT PATHWAYS THROUGH WOMEN’S ACCESS TO RESOURCES
AND SERVICES...... 13
A GENDER-TRANSFORMATIVE RESILIENCE-BASED APPROACH TO BUILDING
FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATIONS...... 19
BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES...... 23
ENHANCING SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AT THE LANDSCAPE LEVEL...... 29
FOSTERING MORE EQUITABLE DECISION MAKING...... 33
ADVOCATING FOR NUTRITION CHANGE ...... 38 1 to respond abilities household and community of strengthening form the takes resilience context, outcomes. well-being to contribute to successfully factors relevant the integrated itnonetheless project, focused aresilience- to be designed not was Program Families Achieving Sustainable Outcomes (FASO) (CRS) Burkinabe Services Relief Catholic the While SYNOPSIS Faso Burkina in districts health Gayeri and Tougouri, in Manni, to prosperity pathways more resilient Building sufficiently captures resilience ona globalbasis. and few existing tools orframeworks exist to measure itsimpact.Resilience ishighlycontextual, andnosetofindicators oractivities in theCentre Nord Region; ManniinGnagnaProvince; andGayeri inKomondjari Province intheEast Region. Resilience isanew approach, The FASO Title IIdevelopment program implementsintegrated programming inthehealthdistricts ofTougouri inNamentenga Province 1 Within the FASO Program FASO the Program Within
Tougouri, Manni, and Gayeri. of districts health the in stresses and shocks from recover and with, deal to mitigate, communities and structures and processes that enable households community-level the reinforce FASO interventions decision-making, and resource management. organization, collaboration, toward change, attitudes community strengthening as well as livelihoods, affect that shocks environmental and to climatic Photo by CRS Burkino Faso staff Faso Burkino by CRS Photo
FASO PROGRAM | RESILIENCE BRIEF 1 FASO strategy for building resilience capacity. poor to poor (the build phase), farmers increase Resilience is the capacity to cope with stresses skill building in production systems; savings and shocks,2 including the major stress of climate and loans; and linking production with markets. change. Natural shocks—including cyclical drought Table 1 demonstrates how FASO agricultural and and seasonal floods—contribute to food insecurity livelihood activities align with the CRS Agriculture in the health districts of Tougouri, Manni, and and Livelihood (AL) theory of change building Gayeri. FASO households frequently identified five blocks for P2P farmer segments. specific shocks, including: Scaling financial education and services for • Loss of crops and livestock due to drought vulnerable households to engage in agricultural • Loss of livestock due to illness market systems. Community-based groups such as savings and internal lending communities (SILCs) • Increase in food prices have proven successful in building the social • Increase in cost of inputs and financial capital of recover farmer segment • Vulnerability to droughts, floods, and storms households in FASO areas. Through the SILCs, recover farmer segment households have learned Resilience interventions integrate livelihoods, to come together to pool financial resources, solve disaster risk reduction, and climate change problems, and learn new financial literacy skills, all reduction approaches across recover, build, of which strengthen the social bonding so critical and grow farmer segments of the Pathway to to vulnerable households. Strengthening household Prosperity. CRS’ Pathway to Prosperity (P2P) assets fosters confidence, especially in women, model (based on USAID’s Pathway out of Poverty) and empowers households to undertake riskier but presents households with a course from the more productive and diversified livelihoods (e.g., vulnerable recover stage through build to grow, parboiled rice marketing and poultry production). by delivering layered and sequenced packages of interventions to groups and households according The SILC groups also provide an entry point for to their economic status, systematically helping building awareness and changing the behavior them move from vulnerability to economic of FASO communities with respect to nutrition prosperity and resilience.3 behavior, coping strategies, and women’s empowerment. Fostering community groups Within the FASO project area, the farmer to develop relationships to other communities segment is mostly very poor, and in the recover (e.g., vegetable marketing), organizations (e.g., phase, interventions focus on ensuring that tool committees), and service providers (e.g., households can access, consolidate, and protect agriculture input dealers) can further build key productive assets. As they move from very community resilience by broadening social as well as business ties. DEFINING RESILIENCE Social cohesion and strong inter-household USAID defines resilience as “the ability of bonds within FASO communities foster people, households, communities, countries spontaneous cooperative acts, which ensure and systems to mitigate, adapt to and that struggling households do not drop below a recover from shocks and stresses in a manner normative level during a crisis. Numerous FASO that reduces chronic vulnerability and communities and households reported instances facilitates inclusive growth.” of assisting families to recover after a crisis by Source: USAID’s “Building Resilience to Recurrent Crisis,” providing food, labor, or chickens. (2012) The effective use of livestock production and drought-resistant crop varieties or improved seed
2 Capacity and coping capacity are often used as synonyms for resilience. 3 USAID 2011. Pathways out of Poverty: Applying key principles of the value chain approach to reach the very poor. Discussion paper. Microreport 173.
2 TABLE 1: FASO LINKAGE BETWEEN PATHWAY TO PROSPERITY AND BUILDING BLOCKS OF THE AGRICULTURE AND LIVELIHOOD THEORY OF CHANGE
Building Market Blocks4 Organization Production Finances Access Influence
Pathway to Food/Cash for Disaster risk Food Aid Prosperity— Work asset reduction (support to Farmer building through Food/ vulnerable) Segments Cash for Work Within FASO: NRM activities Emergency Activities5
Pathway to Group Soil and water SILC, Seeds fairs; Landscape Prosperity— organization: management: financial PICS bags; regeneration; Farmer SILC, market zaï, demi- education, agro-dealer support to Segments gardening, tool lune, mulch, marketing and seed government Within FASO: management, compost, basics producer agricultural Recover lowland rice stone bunds, technical extension and Activities producer, and early mature capacity the National parboiled rice varieties, building; and Institute for marketing agroforestry, facilitated Agricultural groups and other linkages with Research land/soil producers (INERA) reclamation.
Pathway to Livestock Diversified Links to IGAs with Climate- Prosperity— and poultry production micro- loans change work Farmer vaccination and systems on finance acquired with with INERA Segments feed support farm: livestock, institutions MFIs and to test more Within FASO: poultry, (MFIs) or SILCs drought- Build Activities value-added warrantage tolerant parboiled varieties for rice, dry- producers season garden marketing crops, and sesame
varieties in providing higher yields and reducing non-arable areas. In FASO communities, livestock downside risks. Since conventional rain-fed become primary assets and means of liquidity for cropping is becoming unsustainable, many FASO poor and vulnerable households. recover farmer households attempt to improve resilience by diversifying their livelihoods through FASO recover farmer households are accessing livestock. FASO recover households, especially and utilizing new or improved crop varieties that women-headed households, find that livestock enable them to increase production and yields. This ownership is a more efficient means of farming in practice, in turn, improves households’ resilience
4 The CRS Pathway to Prosperity (P2P) and Agriculture and Livelihoods (AL)- Signature Program Area (SPA) Theory of Change were developed after the FASO Program began; therefore, this table is meant to illustrate how they can be linked in the future. In addition, the current AL-SPA Theory of Change consists of seven total building blocks, including catalyzing behavioral change and strengthening seed and input systems. 5 The FASO Program has a set of trigger indicators, which help to inform program staff when to expand emergency activities to respond to shocks. The activities provided here are illustrative, since the actual trigger indicators have not yet noted an emergency within the FASO geographical area.
3 to cope with stresses. Within FASO, farmers can diversifying income means producing surplus better cope with erratic rainfalls and participate in food crops or producing higher-value products the market by using: for sale, such as parboiled rice, sesame, onions, and livestock products. As farmers gain access to • Reliable irrigation water systems to improve crop markets and can invest in production systems, they yield increase their ability to recover from shocks. • Improved high-yielding crops, such as sorghum, cowpea, sesame, and rice varieties accessed from FASO community member focus-group the National Institute for Agricultural Research discussions revealed that the ability to generate (INERA) to increase production income during the dry season is one of the most important indicators of resilience, after livestock Focus on capacity-building approaches ownership and land access. Non-farming activities (absorptive, adaptive, and transformative) that (e.g., the marketing of parboiled rice)—which are mutually reinforcing and exist at multiple are both a primary and secondary source of levels. Adaptive capacity refers to access to income—help poor households and vulnerable resources in order to cope with shocks and hazards individuals, especially women, diversify incomes, as well as stresses and long-term changes. Adaptive smooth consumption, and cope with shocks and capacity is higher near local rivers and streams stresses. Off-farm income diversification bolsters and urban areas, which all provide opportunities resilience capacities by helping households fill for irrigation, transport, and marketing. Because gaps in seasonal agricultural incomes and adapt adaptive capacity declines with increasing distance to changing conditions in the rural economy and from major urban areas and waterways, the FASO environment. This diversification is important in households with the lowest relative adaptive communities where, according to FASO project capacity tend to be low-income, rural households documents, one-quarter of rural FASO households located in remote areas. engage in at least one off-farm activity. Table 2 demonstrates how various FASO activities help link Whether the shock takes the form of drought, FASO farmers to markets as well as contribute to floods, or price fluctuations, access to markets resilience capacity. and services affect adaptive capacity. Thus, adaptive capacity tends to be highest near major Build resilience of individuals, households, urban centers where road, health, and market communities, or higher-level systems to deal infrastructure are dense. The FASO Program found with shocks and stresses. The FASO Program that, for recover farmer segments, few markets continues to implement activities, but has already exist in the implementation zone. In fact, some made remarkable progress in impacting food villages are more than 30 kilometers from a major production and revenue generation for more than market center. Inaccessible markets, poor road 80,000 direct beneficiaries (58 percent of whom infrastructure, and insufficient market information are women) in the health districts of Tougouri, increase transportation costs. These factors limit Manni, and Gayeri. The adoption of climate-smart recover farmers’ ability to successfully negotiate technologies (including zaï, adapted seed varieties, fair prices and find adequate markets, especially for and the improvement of lowland and degraded cash crop production. Training and market linkages land) enabled FASO Program adopters to harvest significantly aided FASO farmer adoption of new during years of drought and erratic rainfall, technology and resulted in increased resilience. when other households that did not adopt these technologies experienced failed harvests. However, results from the FASO Program showed that resilience also increased for those who FASO’s direct beneficiaries saw an improvement in had more diversified incomes. In most cases, average yield, from 1.2MT/ha before the program
4 TABLE 2: FASO MARKET SYSTEMS RESILIENCE INTERVENTIONS
Transformative Type of Intervention Absorptive Capacity Adaptive Capacity Capacity
Linking to social Food and input transfer Savings groups to protection to meet immediate smooth consumption needs and build assets and provide capital for households’ agricultural and IGA business activities; parboiled rice equipment transfers to enable women’s participation in rice value chain and upgrading
Facilitating access to Linking rice and Diversifying economic Promoting investment in end-markets vegetable market garden activities to offset risk marketing infrastructure producers to multiple such as irrigation and input suppliers and transportation buyers
Catalyzing changes in Increasing crop and Promoting value-chain Increasing efficiency of market systems livestock productivity; coordination and sorghum, millet, and rice increasing value addition adaptive management chains to rice and vegetables; with private sector storage through PIC (horticulture and input bags; warrantage providers)
Fostering improved Diversifying household Increasing access to Building trust: bonding, relationships and market opportunities financial services, bridging, and linking system norms to increase and smooth including MFIs and social capital between income throughout the warrantage village development, year market gardening, tool, and water user committees
Strengthening value- Engaging vulnerable Disaster risk reduction chain governance populations in action increases market systems to resilience to shocks and increase incomes; decreases the risk to the engaging women market system. in market systems, and strengthening leadership to empower women and increase their participation in household decision making
5 to 3.7MT/ha after the program; this represents an Learning to-date: Building resilience requires estimated total production of 2,347 MT of paddy the integration of multiple components, such as per year.6 FASO has improved livelihoods in the community involvement, access to finance, market targeted communities by emphasizing value chains integration, and asset strategies, as well as long- in the selection of crops, promoting proven climate- term commitment to minimizing exposure and adaptive technologies, and facilitating access to speeding recovery to shocks. credit. Table 3 provides an overview of FASO’s results to-date, and demonstrates the scope and FASO continuously refines its approach and range of agriculture and livelihood intervention methodologies to improve upon prior experiences packages to groups and households according and ensure that its activities generate the desired to their economic status. FASO beneficiaries outcomes. The learning to-date underscores also observed how the establishment of irrigated the importance of treating resilience capacity gardens reduces emigration from the villages for development as a long-term, systemic process work, and demonstrates that villagers will stay in rather than a singular event. the village if work opportunities exist.
TABLE 3: OVERVIEW OF FASO RESULTS IN HEALTH DISTRICTS OF TOUGOURI, MANNI, AND GAYERI • 31% of households reported improved access to agricultural input. • 39% of men and women used intercropping for cowpea. • 18,612 farmers applied new technologies or management practices. • Community members made SILC contributions to a social fund of more than $42,500 to support each other during shocks or stresses. • 16% of beneficiaries accessed SILC during the last cropping season. • 6,551 farmers adopted and used climate-smart technologies: zaï and/or demi-lune (593), stone bunds (506), warrantage (187), and poultry breeding (344). • 6,551 people implemented risk-reducing practices to improve resilience to climate change. • 3,519 ha are under improved technologies or management practices. • 269 ha are under stone bund. • 31 ha are in market gardening. • FASO has supported the establishment of 537 ha of rice. • Average yield improved from 1.2MT/ha before the program to 3.7MT/ha after the program; this represents an estimated total production of 2,347 MT of paddy per year.
Source: FASO Monitoring and Evaluation Indicator Tracking Table data for FY2015.
6 FASO Monitoring and Evaluation Indicator Tracking Table data for FY2015.
Catholic Relief Services 228 W. Lexington Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA For more information, contact [email protected] www.gfdrr.org. 1 by: adaptation to climate-change erratic. more becomes rainfall as risk increased encountering itis and Program, Families Achieving Sustainable Outcomes (FASO) agriculture is dominant throughout the Burkinabe Rain-fed nutrients. ofsoil water, lack and wind, from erosion and loss vegetation intensified has which drought, experienced Faso has Burkina 1970s, the Since SYNOPSIS environment degraded for a in recovery — adaptations Enhancing sustainable production • • • • potential drop inrainfall of–3.4% by 2015 and–7.3% by 2050. Source: GlobalFacility for Disaster Reduction andRecovery (GFDRR), Burkina Faso may experience a0.8 degree Celsius riseinaverage temperature by 2025 anda1.7 degree Celsius riseby 2050, witha low-cost) adaptations Training farmers onreadily implemented, no-cost (or natural-resource management Improving soil managementthrough integrated drought-tolerant varieties ofseed Promoting theuseofearly-maturing and diversification Promoting water-harvesting techniques andcrop 1 The FASO Program contributes contributes FASO Program The strengthening their connections to long-term markets. to long-term connections their strengthening and shocks to system farmers ofrecover capacities adaptive and absorptive the improving on focuses It sustainability. and ofresilience concepts the on centers FASO Program The insecurity. food facing communities and ofhouseholds resilience the strengthen will and production food water, for and vital is soil as such resources, ofnatural management the improving that recognize members FASO community years. even dry in productivity agricultural increasing and improving water infiltration, increasing soil moisture, erosion, and runoff by reducing drought-resilient Water mana gement helps communities become more more become communities helps gement Photo by CRS Burkino Faso staff Faso Burkino by CRS Photo
FASO PROGRAM | RESILIENCE BRIEF 2 Limited availability and access to water. Burkina Faso receives most of its rain between June KEY PRINCIPLES FOR FASO’S and September, and rainfall during this season WATER MANAGEMENT typically provides water for crops and livestock. Millet, sorghum, maize, and rice are the principal • Capture rain where it falls. crops grown for household use and surpluses to • Make water stop and infiltrate soil. be sold in markets. FASO farmers’ agriculture is mainly rain-fed, making it highly dependent upon • Make sure people and livestock do not dis- rainfall amounts and distribution. The FASO area turb any measures put in place to achieve experiences higher rainfall variability, making soil and water conservation. it vulnerable to food insecurity; thus, the FASO Program focuses on promoting improved water availability to farmers. The FASO Program has promoted irrigation Water infrastructure for productivity and schemes in program areas as another intervention resilience interventions. Rain-fed rice areas are to address both productivity and resilience. characterized by lack of water control, flooding, FASO-supported interventions to develop water and droughts. Yields are typically low due to infrastructure construction in marginal lands, adverse climate and poor soils, as well as a lack of including flood plains and bas-fonds (lowlands) suitable modern technologies and improved rice show promise given the high potential of those varieties. The FASO Program promotes a range of systems to increase rice production. Within water infrastructure activities for production and dryland areas, FASO disperses trees within fields resilience outcomes. One activity consists of bund and communities, and takes other agroforestry (embankment) construction around fields to create measures to help with soil reclamation. Micro- dikes that channel and retain water. Water is added catchments or demi-lunes are used to harvest water to bunded fields by the natural flow of water from in dryland areas. Even the smallest rainstorm results streams and rivers, and embanked to retain water in runoff that is collected in the demi-lunes, and for at least part of the year. In some areas, irrigation the water stored in the soil under them is enough supplements natural rainfall during the wet season. to sustain the trees or plants during a dry spell. In Generally, FASO farmers with irrigated land FASO areas, communities and households plant reported using more purchased inputs than farmers trees in the demi-lunes if they can access seedlings. of non-irrigated lands do. Traditional techniques for conserving water and rehabilitating degraded land. The FASO Program’s experience suggests that, wherever possible, OVERVIEW OF FASO SOIL AND community members should adopt no-cost climate- WATER RECLAMATION RESULTS change adaptations. The zaï system is a traditional technique for conserving water and rehabilitating Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has engaged degraded land through the digging of a series of over 6,600 farmers in the rehabilitation man-made pits on unused land. Because the land of more than 3,500 hectares of degraded is typically less permeable to water, the man-made private land through the use of zaï and other holes capture runoff precipitation. Farmers then fill locally acceptable techniques. the zaï pits with organic matter so that moisture can Source: FASO Monitoring and Evaluation Indicator be more easily trapped and stored. Farmers then Tracking Table data for FY2015. plant annual crops such as millet or sorghum in the pits. The zaï pits extend favorable soil conditions and are beneficial during storms, when too much
8 Photo by CRS Burkino Faso staff
water accumulates. The compost and organic Adaptations needed for recovery in a degraded matter in the pits absor.b excess water and store it environment. The FASO resiliency strategy for the planted crops. centers on improving the capacity of vulnerable communities and households to adapt to climate In the FASO Program, the zaï system is often change. The poor, who are especially vulnerable, practiced in combination with contour stone bunds have limited adaptability and few incentives to and the planting of trees. Traditional methods and invest in climate-change mitigation unless such practices for conserving water and rehabilitating investments also enhance current productivity. degraded land include contour stone bunds, This situation is best illustrated by a man who, compost pits, mulching, and re-generation of although not a direct beneficiary of the program, vegetation and zaï pits. When adopting the zaï began to dig zaï in imitation of FASO participants. technology, FASO mainly calculates the cost of He observed, “When I started digging these small implementation according to the farmer’s laborer holes, people called me crazy because it’s crazy to and access to tools. The economic return of the cultivate in the dry season. I dug half a hectare of farmers’ investment is 100 percent, because the zaï, and I harvested twice in this field. Those who land brought under production was previously called me crazy later renamed me the ‘Wise Man’ abandoned or unused. and started following my example.”2
2 RISE Newsletter, Tiabrimnani Nadinga.
9 FASO promotes improved land, water, soil, and Weighing the costs and benefits of adopting crop management practices through organized technologies. The pump technology utilized capacity training, model farmers, and farmer field in lowland rice paddies or at market gardening schools demonstration. The improved techniques sites enabled producers to support large-scale and practices FASO promotes include: irrigation during periods of erratic rainfall or during the dry season. The pump technology • Agroforestry in which Baobab trees and mo- is a labor-saving technology for women who ringa are planted together with sorghum and otherwise would be tasked with collecting water millet crops on farms. The trees enhance soil for farm, household, and production purposes. The fertility, provide shade, and reduce runoff and primary disadvantage of the pump technology, erosion. which limits its scalability, is the lack of training • Stone bunds placed along contours to slow the in pump maintenance and the ongoing need for runoff of water and enhance its absorption capital to pay for equipment and inputs, including • Water-harvesting structures and systems in- spare parts and fuel. Market gardening groups cluding water ditches to collect water from a and lowland rice groups often cited high pump- surface area for irrigation or improved filtration maintenance costs as an economic constraint, • Small-scale irrigation and improved water man- although well-organized groups were able to agement from ground and water sources forecast these costs in their annual budgets and collect fees from members to meet annual • Zaï pits for planting and water conservation operational costs. • Crop residue mulching – leaving crop material on the field after the harvest to improve soil Although producers appreciated soil and water texture, prevent erosion, and encourage water management techniques for the resulting filtration increase in yield, income, and soil- and water- • Livestock manure collection and storage for retention, some beneficiaries – especially women future use on farmers’ fields – struggled to adopt or scale up the techniques. Some producers lacked the capital for needed • Composting by allowing crop residue and ma- equipment (producers needed a donkey, cart, nure to decompose and then adding them back wheelbarrow, shovel, manure, and compost to the soil to improve fertility and texture, and to successfully complete each technique). In allow for improved water filtration addition to the shortage of capital for equipment, • Improved, stress-tolerant grain, legume, and women often found the zaï, mulch, and demi-lune vegetable varieties, bred specifically by the techniques very labor-intensive. In some cases, National Institute for Agricultural Research they had to hire laborers to complete them, which (INERA) to be adapted to climate challenges in added to their capital investment. FASO Program area Recognizing these challenges and constraints, FASO capitalized tool committees with the IN THEIR OWN WORDS necessary equipment, lowering barriers to the During a field visit in July 2016, participants adoption of soil and water technologies that in focus-group discussions and key interviews mitigated desertification and contributed to land frequently mentioned that water access was reclamation. The tool committees appear to be a a fundamental problem, noting the strong sustainable and cost-effective way for vulnerable, relationship between water availability cash-strapped producers to access needed tools. (through either rainfall or irrigation) and land To a lesser extent, FASO promoted forestry productivity. management techniques for forage and shading
10 FASO SOIL AND WATER MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
Crop and soil Increased water Short cycle management Increased Increased Improved soil retention/soil crops adapted to techniques yield revenue fertility moisture climate change
Zaï X X X X
Demi-lune X X X X
Stone bunds X X X X
Compost X X X X
Mulch X X X X
Adapted seeds (drought- tolerant and X X X early-maturing varieties)
Market gardening X X
Pump X X X technology
for animals, as well as crop protection on individual Learning to-date: FASO smallholder farmers are farms. When coupled with managed water access, dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods agroforestry supports soil and water management by and food production. However, their resilience improving soil fertility and reducing soil erosion. The depends on their future ability to protect and table above demonstrates how FASO interventions enrich those resources, and to adapt to the impacts contribute to improved outcomes for producers. of climate change at the farm level. Adaptation approaches such as land reclamation are vital to Scaling up. The FASO Program is critical to USAID’s protecting farmers from drought, flooding, and loss resilience and climate vulnerability work, and can of production and income. be brought into the planning and design of future USAID programming to ensure that it responds to FASO farmers started to recognize positive current climate trends, anticipates likely climate changes in their landscapes after investing in zaï, shocks, and provides workable solutions to food demi-lune, mulching, and inter-cropping, as well as security challenges. Looking ahead, the FASO using adapted, stress-tolerant seed varieties. FASO Program has identified potential areas to influence community members observed that soil and water systems and structures, including: by locating entry management helped reduce soil erosion, increase points, it can help national policies and institutions rainwater infiltration, increase stream flows, raise better integrate disaster risk reduction, climate the water table, raise pond levels, and increase smart agricultural practices and adaptations, and crop yields even in dry years. This realization development approaches. was the tipping point for greater change. Non-
11 CRS Burkina Faso staff program farmers and communities have now Effective capacity-building interventions require started adopting similar production techniques and long-term commitment, especially in FASO areas reclaiming marginal lands. where the initial natural resource base is weak. Programs must sustain support over a long period However, agricultural techniques and technology on to institutionalize new approaches, systems, and their own do not necessarily lead to adoption and practices; ensure sustainable production efforts; productivity increases among smallholder farmers. and prevent the erosion of emerging gains.
Catholic Relief Services 228 W. Lexington Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA For more information, contact [email protected] capital, with a special focus on women, FASO women, on focus aspecial with capital, human in investing By change. transformative for essential is to income access increased women’s households, poor many for resilience path towards is the livelihoods of diversification Since women. for opportunities generating income- more (FASO) created Outcomes Program FamiliesThe Burkinabe Achieving Sustainable SYNOPSIS services and women’s to resources access through pathways Resilient
access to irrigation agriculture and cash. cash. and agriculture to irrigation access their as well as ofincome, control and productivity women’s itincreases addition, In impacts. nutritional change adaptation, household food security, and to climate- –contributes interventions capacity adaptive and absorptive of resilience-focused Market gardening—a gender-sensitive package cont ributes to a key dimension of resilience capacity. capacity. ofresilience to akeyributes dimension Photo by CRS Burkino Faso staff Faso Burkino by CRS Photo
FASO PROGRAM | RESILIENCE BRIEF 3 Resilience and gender. Gender influences the skills, strategies, and mechanisms individuals use OVERVIEW OF WOMEN- to cope with and adapt to disturbances. It is more FOCUSED RESULTS IN FASO difficult for women to adapt to shocks and stresses because of their limited access to and control over • 52% of female participants in FASO pro- productive and financial resources. Thus, women grams increased access to productive eco- often struggle to diversify or utilize improved nomic resources. varieties of crops and small livestock that are better • 61% of targeted beneficiaries reported in- able to withstand drought or pests. Additionally, creased revenue from agricultural activities. women—who typically own small plots of marginal land—often lack access to the technologies that • 3,147 women accessed improved post-har- fit their needs, facilitate adaptive capacity, and vest storage techniques and technologies. reduce workload. Through FASO-supported land reclamation activities, female heads of household • 10,789 women farmers were supported with have gained a source of security and reduced the USAID Title II food assistance to improve vulnerability of their households. the productivity of more than 5,800 ha of degraded land. FASO learned that women’s time burden inhibited them from adopting agricultural and natural- • 637 ha of lowland have been improved and resource management technologies. Recognizing allocated to 3,692 rice producers, 1,146 of this time constraint, FASO intentionally disseminated which are women. less labor-intensive agricultural and natural-resource • Women participating in market garden- management technologies to women and ensured ing earned an average income of $116 per that production and marketing decisions took into beneficiary over a four-month dry season account their workloads and access to tools, land, production cycle. and financial services. In order to ensure adoption of new practices, FASO strengthened women’s access • Women participating in warrantage and to – and control of—land and water. rice parboiling activities earned an average income of $161 and $134, respectively, over a Opportunities for women’s livelihood strategies four-month period coinciding with the “lean and adaptive capacity are linked to women’s season.” assets and levels of access to income and common property resources. Women reported • 771 savings and internal lending communi- working mostly with groups that operate within the ties (SILCs), primarily made up of women community, and relying more on bonding social members, mobilized $488,890 and gener- capital (usually informal connections to family, ated $113,000 in interest. They contributed kin, and friends, but also community members in more than $42,500 to a social fund to sup- general). Women engage in mutual risk-sharing port each other during shocks and stresses. networks at the village level. They depend on Source: FASO Monitoring and Evaluation Indicator everyday forms of collaboration in activities such Tracking Table data for FY2015. as collecting water and fetching fuel wood. In some cases, women help each other with farm work in exchange for labor, cash, or produce. have contributed to the development of financial capital by helping women save money and drive The FASO Program supported the formation of 777 revenue-generating activities, mainly in the dry season. savings and internal lending communities (SILC) The social fund has also contributed to women’s groups. SILCs are helping women in the project areas solidarity groups by supporting the poorest members develop basic skills in financial management. SILCs of the community. Women SILC members reported
14 Photo by CRS Burkino Faso staff
using such funds to pay for school fees, educational Gender-based access to resources and ability to supplies, the school canteen, or farm labor. withstand shocks. Women own or manage most of small ruminant assets. Sheep and goats play an In addition to SILC, women participate in warrantage important resilience function, as they are important schemes. Instead of selling their cereals or household assets with saving and insurance roles. produce at harvest time, women can receive loans They also play a crucial risk-mitigation role in the while leaving part of their production in a locked face of drought, crop failures, and reinvestment in warehouse with keys held by their group and the production following a shock or stress. financial institution. This credit gives smallholders the means to buy essential inputs for the next Sheep and goats’ ability to survive in harsh planting and to hold on to product until the lean environments make them an important part of season, when food stocks start to run low and rural safety-net systems in Tougori, Manni, and prices climb. At that point, farmers can redeem their Gayeri health districts. Sales of animals or their product from the warehouse, sell their crop, repay products supplement household income, and their loan, and generate a profit. By using part of the larger animals transport people and goods. Most credit to finance other income-generating activities, significantly, animals store value generated by many farmers were able to repay their loans even farming, and, to a lesser extent, by other forms of before selling their crop. production and market exchange. For livestock
15 owners, animals constitute an asset base that can be liquidated when difficulties arise. In addition, RESILIENCE: SCALING UP animals provide animal products and represent an EFFORTS asset in the making (in terms of off-spring). Thus, Because of their contribution to health raising livestock is an important livelihood strategy and nutrition goals, marketing gardens for women. Small ruminants and chickens are the play an important role in child nutrition most common animals among the most vulnerable and expanding economic opportunities— households, including all-women and women- especially for women—in the FASO Program. headed households.
As a result of FASO interventions, women can engage more in livestock rearing—an important Households seldom consume their animals (with part of the local economy. In the FASO Program the exception of chickens). Instead, most tend to intervention area, women generated income from reserve high-value animals for sale when scarce cash gardening or sale of poultry, which they reinvested is needed or when “buying-up” for larger animals. in breeding small ruminants. For example, a women Access to larger animals—cattle, donkeys, mules, who participated in the FASO Program reported and horses—may be key for more resilient livelihood that her aggregate successes in poultry and bean strategies within the FASO Program area. Community farming have enabled her to buy two goats, which members observed that the absence of livestock was in turn have produced more kids. She has also raised a strong indicator of food insecurity or vulnerability. 276 chickens, of which she has sold more than 70.1 During a field visit conducted in July 2016, speakers in focus group discussions and key interviews Livestock plays a critical role in recover and build frequently mentioned that households without any farmer households, serving as savings and income animals, especially those without poultry, were sources, and providing manure for soil-improvement considered the poorest of the poor. activities. Access to livestock or poultry has been transformational for women, who can now contribute By establishing dry-season gardening for women cash or products to the household. Women repeatedly to grow vegetables—including onions, tomatoes, mentioned that this ability to contribute improved okra, and peppers—for household consumption their status and increased their decision-making and income generation, FASO leveraged the power within the household and community. productivity of developed lowland areas. Fresh
FASO IMPROVED NUTRITION THROUGH AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS • Targeted the vulnerable and improved equity through participation and access to resources. • Improved the natural resource base • Empowered women • Facilitated diversificationand increased production of nutrient-dense crops (e.g., orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, sesame, and legumes) and small-scale livestock (e.g., goats and poultry) • Improved processing, storage, and preservation to retain nutritional value and food safety; reduce seasonality and post-harvest losses; and make healthy, convenient-to-prepare foods • Expanded market access for vulnerable groups, particularly for marketing nutritious foods (e.g., gar- den vegetables, tomatoes, and peppers)
1 FASO Program FY15 Annual Results Report Success Story, “Asseta and the Golden Egg.”
16 Photo by CRS Burkino Faso staff vegetables are now available in local markets, and the by-products—the husk and bran—can be where they contribute to improved incomes and sold as animal feed. nutrition. In most cases, women share the harvest among themselves. In some of the FASO areas in While some livelihood activities provided a steady Gayeri health district, irrigated market gardens income throughout most of the year, others have allowed community members to access fresh provided income in lump sums. Women appreciated vegetables for the first time during the dry season. both types of income for different reasons. They found it easier to plan for the steadier sources of Women also received training in techniques for income, such as petty trade. These income sources parboiling rice, as well as equipment to help with reassured women that they could pay for regular the scaling up of this income-generating activity. expenses such as school fees and food each month, Rough rice harvested from the field with the husk even though they did not currently possess that and bran layer still attached is sometimes called income. However, these livelihood activities usually paddy rice. Women can add value to paddy rice produced only a small income and did not provide through parboiling. In parboiling, rough rice is enough to meet unexpected expenses such as steamed under intense pressure that pushes medical treatment or equipment repairs. Therefore, nutrients from the bran layer into the kernel, women needed a balance of steady but relatively making it sturdier and less likely to break during small income sources, and lump-sum income milling. The final product can be sold as milled rice, sources (e.g., income from animal sales). Rice
17 harvests seemed to provide both steady incomes However, in order to reduce the long-term risks for and lump-sum income. The stored rice could be sold female-headed households, the FASO Program as needed, in amounts just large enough for the needs more time to facilitate development with households’ needs. major forms of service to support their activities (e.g., veterinary services for livestock and output Learning to-date: Two key drivers of resilience are: markets for cash crops such as onions). In supporting (1) diversification of income sources, and (2) access women’s income diversification strategies, it is to resources and services. FASO facilitated the important to identify the major risks and stresses appropriate linkages needed to help female-headed facing households in their various activities, and vulnerable households manage risks. Through provide the necessary linkages to ensure they can marketing gardens, poultry rearing, and livestock sustain their specialization over the long term. and small ruminant-fattening activities, women have been able to accumulate resources by focusing on one activity to achieve high returns.
Catholic Relief Services 228 W. Lexington Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA For more information, contact [email protected] especially in rural areas—prevent women and and women areas—prevent rural in especially society— Burkinabe in exist that inequities The SYNOPSIS organizations. and farmers, smallholder communities, including structures, and systems in change and development long-term for step crucial a is organizations functional Building vulnerability. to their contributes further management resources power in decision-making and natural and livelihood Unequal areas. these in girls and of women being well- the against heavily knowledge—weigh and skills acquiring from women restrict contexts, certain in norms—which, religious and Cultural development. from benefiting and in participating from girls building functional organizations organizations functional building approach to resilience-based A gender-transformative productive assets. assets. productive other and inputs, agricultural to training, have access women that itensures and organizations, formal in participation women’s as well as villages the in groups women’s etc.). FASO supports repairers, poultry extension agents, pump and moto-pump (PSPs) (e.g., village providers service private and committees, site management gardening market committees, management tool groups, parboiler rice groups, producer rice associations, users’ water municipalities, (VDCs), councils development village of support the through governance oflocal aspects of anumber on focused (FASO) has Program FamiliesBurkinabe Achieving Outcomes Sustainable (CRS) Services Relief Catholic the inception, its Since
Photo by CRS Burkino Faso staff Faso Burkino by CRS Photo
FASO PROGRAM | RESILIENCE BRIEF 4 Promoting good governance and more resilience OVERVIEW OF FASO equitable programming. Components of resilience are not a recipe or a checklist to follow; instead, they are GOVERNANCE RESULTS contextual, requiring the involvement of community members to discuss options and address different • 94% of village development councils (VDCs) types of shocks and stresses. Women rely on internal are coordinating the development and imple- village groups that allow them to tap into a network mentation of community development action of risk-sharing village organizations. These include plans. informal mutual-help groups and formal associations. • 82% of targeted VDCs have developed com- The formal and informal women’s village-level munity development action plans. groups excel in solidarity and local initiative. Women successfully depend on such social relations to cope • 95% of adult education participants are able with, manage, or adapt to stress in their daily lives. to pass a basic literacy exam. Through those networks, some women have gained • 86% of VDCs meet three of the four func- recognition as leaders within their villages. tioning criteria. However, when it comes to community-level • 57% of targeted community structures have decision-making, women’s voices are often left out of at least one woman in a decision-making posi- conversations on resource provision and infrastructure tion. placement. Women observe that their participation • 58% of targeted VDCs have at least one in community groups and local government is woman in a decision-making position. often limited, and, even when they do participate in • 1,037 food-security private enterprises (for meetings, they do not feel free to voice their thoughts profit); producers organizations; water us- and opinions. ers associations; women’s groups; trade and The FASO Program identified components of more business associations; and community-based equitable functional organization programming, organizations (CBO) receive FASO assistance. including: • FASO has influenced the development of • Approaches that empower women and reduce land tenure issues, including the allocation of gaps between males and females 650 hectares of lowland to FASO beneficiaries • Functioning institutions of good governance and for agricultural production. democratic accountability • FASO has trained 666 male and 270 female VDC members in roles and responsibilities The VDC is the legal entity created as part of while providing them with essential manage- decentralization reforms. It represents and governs the smallest demographic level (the village) and reports ment tools. to the community (see text box on page 3). In order • FASO technical support and facilitation in for FASO to institutionalize and sustain nutrition and 100 pilot villages has raised awareness of VDC agricultural outcomes, it must not only work with the roles. VDC, but also provide active support to grow the role • Foutouri, Bartiebougou, Kalitaghin, and and status of women in these committees. Improved Nagbingou VDCs mobilized $14,000 to sup- internal governance creates the organizational port their community development projects. environment necessary to catalyze more effective performance and active pursuit of the committees’ Source: FASO Monitoring and Evaluation Indicator Tracking goals and objectives. Table data for FY2015. FASO educates VDCs and the populations they
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VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS (VDCS) VDCs were established in 2004. Since 2004, the Government of Burkina Faso (GoBF) has Tenure security is critical to enable the scaling up and invested in training VDCs and communities in adoption of these land reclamation techniques. Many their roles and responsibilities. However, this women lack the necessary control over the land they training is often insufficient and impractical, farm and this potentially diminishes their incentive to especially given that most VDCs and mayors invest in productivity-boosting measures. Enhancing are illiterate. Most VDCs do not hold regularly resilience requires a dual focus on both production and scheduled meetings, record meeting women’s rights to revenues and resources. discussions or decisions, maintain transparent processes for managing village finances, or Market gardens highlight an important issue for raise funds. The organizational structure is resource ownership, income, and resilience. Land- comprised of twelve members: a president, owning families often welcome the development of vice-president, secretary, assistant secretary, market gardens on land of little current value; however, treasurer, assistant treasurer, two people once the gardens generate significant revenues, the responsible for women’s issues, two people heads of the land-owning families (usually men) are responsible for rural issues, and two people often tempted to reassert traditional ownership rights responsible for youth issues. and claims on income from those lands. This easily Source: FASO Proposal overlooked issue needs to be adequately addressed before investments are made. For example, the reclaimed lowland plots allow for the production of serve on their roles and responsibilities as citizens sorghum and rice. Within the FASO communities, or as elected and appointed officials. This education growing rice is a sign of privilege; therefore, the process includes information about laws, regulations, rights, of identifying which households benefit from these and methods of advocacy. In addition, FASO reclaimed lowland plots needs to be carefully managed provides training on basic governance skills, such to ensure equity and minimize conflict. as regular meetings, record keeping, information Because the market gardens are invariably cultivated sharing, transparent decision making, and financial on lands that fall under the jurisdiction of local management and accountability. FASO believes that leadership, local leaders must also be involved in and a more active, engaged citizenry strengthens social committed to any equitable decisions. For this reason, cohesion in the community and creates an enabling the FASO Program went through a documented environment that sustains the continued progress negotiation process involving municipalities and of program outcomes. FASO supports VDCs in the traditional authorities to declare these lands implementation of key governance concepts and “community land,” with a minimum of 25 percent of attainment of benchmarks set. For example, it engages plots allocated to women. FASO made this a firm them to equitably oversee distribution of improved precondition before investing in the improvement of lowlands to limit risk of conflict, especially between these marginal lands. FASO found, in practice, that farmers and livestock owners. some municipalities actually exceeded this minimum, Access to land and leadership. Male household heads which allowed more women to benefit from the or community leaders typically allocate the most plots. In addition to this negotiation, FASO facilitated marginal land to their wives or women. FASO made women’s groups to help with social communications its program-supported land reclamation, which is about land tenure and supported them in obtaining labor-intensive, slightly easier through Food for Work collective grants of land. interventions, community labor, or hired labor. The Gender inequality at the household and community introduction of soil and water conservation techniques, levels must be addressed in all organizations seeking to as well as land reclamation, have enabled many improve long-term resilience of vulnerable populations, farmers, including women, to grow crops on land long and organizations must make this priority explicit. since abandoned as unproductive. FASO attempts to maximize women’s economic
21 empowerment, decision making, access to social literacy sessions. In addition, the municipalities’ services, productive resources, and opportunities to involvement in the FASO monitoring committees increase household incomes. helps FASO more easily address practical concerns related to the allocation of land for market gardening FASO’s inclusive and participatory approach and infrastructure for lowland improvement. contributed to the VDCs becoming more geographically diverse, socially diverse, and However, the FASO Program recognizes that representative of the community – with the number there are limits to addressing social and cultural of female VDC members increasing from 15 to 29 norms that inhibit people’s capacities to deal with percent. FASO’ support to seven municipalities for the resilience. Within a five-year program, FASO can renewal of VDC has increased women’s representation only realistically achieve small gains in terms of in leadership positions from 1 percent to 14 percent. In gender equality and women’s empowerment. To addition, many women now note that they feel more build advocacy efforts for gender equality with local empowered to speak because they have access to organizations, including VDCs, communities need income through other FASO-supported activities, such to demonstrate a genuine willingness to work on as poultry raising. Specifically, women feel that they gender in the context of resilience to shocks and can now solve problems. Men also now recognize that climate changes. Through a conscious program of women have greater value in organizations – and, for facilitated affirmative action, FASO can support some women, this means they play a greater role in women in decision-making roles to build leadership decision making. With this newfound respect, women and management competencies, allowing FASO now sit together with men in organizational groups to communities to increase gender equity and women’s discuss and find solutions to problems. empowerment.
Transformative capacity is a long-term investment, Learning to-date: The FASO Program has which means that it may span a period greater than increased women’s willingness and ability to the life of FASO. FASO contributes to community engage in community- and organizational-level transformative capacity through good governance planning processes. Program interventions provide management and village-level transparency. It training and tools to women that encourage supports VDCs and various producer and livelihood their involvement in community organizations groups. Because of this, councils and groups seem and leadership roles. However, the process of better able to mobilize resources to both sustain and transforming systems often encounters resistance. expand community activities. Such interventions To ensure transformation, the FASO Program reinforce community-level structures and processes communities need greater investment and long- that enable communities to mitigate, deal with, and term commitment. While FASO strives to ensure the recover from shocks and stresses. For example, VDCs equitable participation and increased leadership of have started to improve their provision of social women in its activities, there are still few women in services and collective action, such as contributing to leadership positions of organizational groups food collection for school canteens, planting trees in school yards, and mobilizing the community around
Catholic Relief Services 228 W. Lexington Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA For more information, contact [email protected] 1 and to shocks ways adapt to avoid and in invests actively also but to shocks, respond better to communities enables only not programming resilience Successful floods). and (e.g., drought including price-related weather-related and shocks to shocks, vulnerable is (REAAP) Partnership and Action-learning, Adaptation, Enhanced through of Resilience population target The SYNOPSIS Building resilient communities people adapt new practices and technologies that mitigate drought, erratic rainfall, and land degradation, and to better withstand withstand to better and climate change. degradation, land and rainfall, erratic drought, mitigate that technologies and practices new adapt people Handicap International, andCordaid consortium membersare REAAP implementingpartners.REAAP ishelpingnearlyhalfamillion Catholic Relief Services (CRS)/Ethiopia, EthiopianCatholic Church –SocialandDevelopment Coordinating Office ofHarare (ECC-SDCOH), communities ofEast andWest Hararghe zones ofMeta,Fedis, MidhegaTolla, Mieso, Tulo, andOdaBultum resilience andreduce long-term vulnerability to current andfuture climate change, andclimate-related shocksandstresses invulnerable REAAP isathree-year, USAID-funded project specificallydesigned to address resilience. This project aims to sustainably increase REAAP isfundedthrough theUSAID Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, GlobalClimate Change, and FeedtheFuture initiatives.
budgets, and community collective investments. collective community and budgets, indigenous knowledge sharing, contingency collection, information meteorology warning, early community-led include mechanisms These levels. multiple at shocks mitigate to, and respond prevent, to mechanisms improved developed have communities REAAP future, the in West Hararghe and East in vulnerabilities exacerbate likely will stres s es. Because the impacts of climate change change ofclimate impacts the Because es. woredas Photo by CRS Ethiopia staff Ethiopia by CRS Photo inOromia region. 1
REAAP | RESILIENCE BRIEF 1 Interpreting trends and specific context. Building OVERVIEW OF AND USE resilience reduces individuals’ vulnerability to shocks and persistent food insecurity problems, and helps OF EARLY WARNING (EW) them respond to and plan for change. REAAP fosters INFORMATION resilience by building households’ and institutions’ • 30,000 people are using early warning capacity to withstand the likely events associated information for long-term forecasting and with changing weather patterns, and to manage better agriculture activity planning within a range of livelihood activities that improve food the REAAP coverage area. security. Using the Community-Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CM-DRR) model2 developed by • 100 Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Catholic Relief Services (CRS)—an approach that facilitators provide weekly rainfall data assesses threats, identifies risks, and prioritizes via mobile short message service (SMS) actions through a Participatory Disaster Risk devices. Assessment (PDRA)–REAAP has helped communities determine who is most vulnerable to food insecurity • Analysis and forecasts of bi-weekly/ by evaluating: monthly rainfall data have been provided to 100 DRR facilitators. • Sensitivity to food security shocks • Adaptive capacity • 100 sub-districts and communities have • Overall vulnerability to food security shocks gained access to short-and long-term • Humanitarian crisis levels sub-national level economic and weather • Food availability at the household-level forecasting systems. • Nutritional status • 17 rain gauges have been provided to • Exposure to food security shocks each one of the 100 kebeles, to support The REAAP approach is an inclusive community innovations in technology and collective process that involved women, people with natural resource management, as well as disabilities, youth, and other vulnerable households data usage for analysis. in resilience-focused discussions regarding • 100 DRR committees have been created needs and actions. Through a mapping process, as legitimate community leadership and communities identified threats that included decision-making platforms. drought, land shortages, population pressures, deforestation, soil erosion, pests, and diseases. Thus • DRR committees use rainfall data for far, using the CM-DRR model and PDRA tool, REAAP community-led discussions integrated has helped communities in 100 kebeles3 to recognize with their action plans, while community important needs and build pathways to resilience members apply knowledge at the farm level. against future shocks.
As a result of the participatory process, communities better understand the threats they face and how they can mitigate shocks by identifying: (1) their own resources and adaptive capacities, and (2) the horizontal and vertical partnerships that can supplement their early warning (EW) and shock mitigation needs. REAAP also helps communities identify existing strengths and opportunities, such as indigenous knowledge sharing and informal
2 The REAAP Program has used the CRS CM-DRR tool to guide activities in the project, which examines not only household-level vulnerability but also community-level vulnerability: www.crsprogramquality.org. 3 A kebele is the lowest administration unit in Ethiopia.
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REAAP EARLY WARNING (EW) The USAID-funded REAAP co-plans with targeted communities to follow these principles: Agriculture-related livelihoods are important to 1. Ensure regular communication of households in the East and West Haraghe zones. collected EW information both “upward” Agriculture-related data and interventions help (e.g., to donors and departmental decision REAAP communities understand the reasons for makers in the Ethiopian government) establishing and then linking their local EWS to and “downward” (e.g., back to the national EWS for early response, especially against communities and members from which the slow-onset shocks such as drought. data were collected). REAAP helped CM-DRR committees look at the 2. Enhance capacity of local entities (e.g., implications of resilience, early warning, disaster beneficiaries and institutions) to actively risk reduction, and climate-change adaptation participate in the EW program by: interventions in the East and West Hararghe zones. REAAP and the communities observed that the lack a. Strengthening their ability to establish of accessible and useful climate information hampers an evidence base of information that the ability of local communities and government fills an identified knowledge gap and representatives to adapt to the negative effects can be used for self-advocacy in future, of climate change. Furthermore, within the East localized food security issues and West Hararghe zones, substantial bottlenecks b. Increasing the likelihood that entities exist in the flow of forecasts and climate analysis use EW information to inform proactive produced at the national level, and from the central planning, initiatives, and community- (woreda) to local (community) level. REAAP found led actions, in part by encouraging that, at the local level, procedures, information- demand for this information. processing systems, and technical capacity were not sufficient to request, receive, interpret, or analyze climate information for decision-making purposes. social networks, which can be supported and Therefore, REAAP set about strengthening strengthened in resilience programming. After communities’ capacity to: initial mapping, the CM-DRR was given more • Monitor food security conditions. organizational and leadership structure by the formation of a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) • Share monitoring data with sub-national and committee in each REAAP community.4 national food-security monitoring entities. • Advocate for food and cash assistance for Agriculture programming and early warning perceived food security concerns as identified systems (EWS). Because of the severe drought or needed, using evidence collected through this that occurred alongside the 2015–2016 El Niño in local-level monitoring system. the East and West Hararghe zones, the number of individuals in need of food assistance in Ethiopia Early warning data collection is now operational. spiked dramatically. Rural food security in Ethiopia However, REAAP first gave more organizational and depends largely on rain-fed agriculture, and climate functional structure to weekly data collection and change is expected to lead to more erratic rainfall dissemination of EW information by designating a and frequent extreme weather events that adversely DRR facilitator in each REAAP community.5 REAAP impact food security. Large-scale EWS, such as the provided each one of the 100 kebeles with 17 rain Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET), gauges to support data collection and analysis. Mobile are not designed to track and report on conditions short message service (SMS) devices were used to at the community level, leaving communities to relay data-capturing information on rainfall, crops, manage their own EWS in coordination with the pasture conditions, livestock health, and market prices Government of Ethiopia’s national systems. for major crops. The rainfall record graph on page 5
4 Thus far, 100 DRR committees have been formed and conduct themselves under a set of rules that mandate women make up at least 50 percent of the committee’s members. 5 Thus far, 100 DRR facilitators have been identified and trained to relay analyses and forecasts, and to disseminate them both upward and back to communities.
25 Photo by CRS Ethiopia staff
depicts maximum rain fall recorded across REAAP To prepare communities for more acute shocks, woredas during the period of April to May 2016. REAAP provides them with technical assistance so they can consider what changes they will face REAAP communities also use traditional indigenous locally. In addition to training on the CM-DRR knowledge from community members—in some approach and PDRA tool, and the establishment of a cases, elderly citizens—who could accurately local-level EWS, REAAP provides community-based interpret natural signs of weather change (e.g., DRR committees with contingency budgets and wind direction at certain points in the season) to mandates them to identify collective investments to ground truth data analysis. Through DRR committee increase the capacity of the community to withstand meetings and community-wide discussions, identified shocks. For example, one highland meteorological data and indigenous knowledge community identified the need to fund a collective help inform community members about appropriate infrastructure intervention to pipe spring water to household-level actions (e.g., the timing of planting their community, ensuring a reliable, accessible and harvesting) and next steps in response to short- supply of water in times of drought or erratic rainfall. and long-term monitoring trends. REAAP communities commonly identified soil and Practices and strategies communities use to water-management related projects as CM-DRR adapt to or mitigate the impact of climate change action-plan investments. and shocks. In Ethiopia, shocks and stresses are a perennial feature of the climate.6 With climate Communities empowered to influence resilience change, the normal weather shocks that affect agendas and priorities. DRR approaches that build people’s livelihoods will become more severe and resilience must be participatory and community- frequent, with shorter warning times than in the past. driven while also engaging local and sub-national
6 Climate-change assessments predict that Ethiopia will become warmer, with average projected increases of over 3 degrees centigrade by the 2090s. Scientists believe this warming will be associated with heat waves and higher water losses from soil, water sources, and plants. In some areas, this means a real risk of more droughts that constrain crop growth. Therefore, REAAP investments need to reduce and manage risk, build adaptive capacity, and deploy a flexible, proactive response to the drought/shock cycle management.
26 levels of government. The REAAP Program has confidence, and identify options to withstand shocks increased communities’ willingness and ability and stresses, skills that will ultimately help them to engage in kebele-level and community-level improve incomes and food security. Communities participatory planning and monitoring processes – use participatory approaches for developing and particularly through the use of indigenous knowledge implementing community and district development and the inclusion of women, youth, people with plans to ensure that their response meets the needs disabilities, and other vulnerable households. of the local community. Communities also focus on interventions that: REAAP provided training and tools to men, women, youth, and people with disabilities, which stimulated • Have a wider development impact (e.g., small them to engage in community development. The ruminant fattening) communities’ own internal organizations (DRR • Address immediate needs due to drought, but also committees) are defining the terms under which strengthen market systems. REAAP communities operate and adapt to changes. • Increase incomes (e.g., by enabling the sale of REAAP has empowered communities to influence surplus production, which allows for greater asset resilience agendas and priorities for the provision of accumulation, food access, and consumption technical assistance, inputs, and other development smoothing). goods and services that respond to local realities and priorities. • Reduce risk by diversifying livelihood opportunities and livelihood risk profiles (e.g., engaging in off- On the basis of current experience and future farm and non-farm income-generating activities, scenarios, communities can review the range of such as petty trade). available options and select activities tailored • Protect assets, smooth consumption, and improve to local needs and conditions. This approach relationships for men, women, youth, and people helps communities build adaptive capacity, gain with disabilities.
Maximum rainfall recorded across woreda
MAXIMUM RAINFALL FREQUENCY LINEAR (MAX. RF) 80
70 65 60 50 49 47 40
30 30 30
20 18 19 13 11 MAXIMUM RAINFALL AND FREQUENCY RAINFALL MAXIMUM 0 FEDIS MEISSO META MIDHEGA TOLLA ODA BULTUM TULO
27 Photo by CRS Ethiopia staff
Learning to-date: Land degradation, deforestation, There are ample opportunities for scaling up REAAP, and drought are among the most severe challenges as the methods, data collection, simple tools, and for agriculture in East and West Hararghe zones. templates are easy to replicate elsewhere. REAAP REAAP helps establish community-based EWS to communities are very willing to mobilize their strengthen linkages and existing capacities in drought own resources to continue funding DRR priorities. and flood forecasting, and empowers communities Through the participatory process, communities with risk identification tools. As a result, REAAP learn how to restore the landscape by implementing communities better understand the threats they face short- and long-term action plans, and to recognize and how to mitigate shocks by identifying resources opportunities for improving incomes and food and adaptive capacities. REAAP communities also security at the household level. identify partnerships that can help supplement their early warning and shock mitigation needs, and make linkages as needed.
Catholic Relief Services 228 W. Lexington Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA For more information, contact [email protected] community members have observed that water water that have observed members community REAAP reclamation. withsoil to help measures agroforestry other undertakes and communities within trees disperses REAAP areas, highland Within spell. dry a during plants or trees sustain to sufficient is micro-catchment the under soil the in stored water the and micro-catchments, the in collected is that runoff in results rainstorm Even smallest the drought. or rainfall oferratic periods during function Hararghe zones, perform a particularly important West and East in areas highland in water to harvest management interventions. Micro-catchments, used resource soil and water integrated through water channeling are initiatives community-led areas, (REAAP) Partnership and Action-learning, Adaptation, Enhanced through Resilience In SYNOPSIS Level Landscape at the Production Sustainable Enhancing
food production, and income. income. and production, food building, asset through to resilience contributes also insecurity. Farmland- and landscape-level restoration food by reducing communities ofREAAP resilience the water) and strengthens (such soil as production to food vital resources ofnatural management the Improving insecurity. food and poverty, drought, deforestation, lands, over-farmed use, water as population inefficient pressures, land shortages, such problems of community-identified because communities and households to REAAP important Farmland- and landscape-level restoration is drought. Niño El 2015–2016 the including years— even dry in loss crop reduce and table, water the raise flows, stream increase infiltration, rainwater increase erosion, soil reduce helps management
Photo by CRS Ethiopia staff Ethiopia by CRS Photo
REAAP | RESILIENCE BRIEF 2 Improving rain-fed agriculture systems is important However, the table on page 3 demonstrates how to building resilience in East and West Hararghe. REAAP interventions contribute to increased In highland areas, increasing population, decreased yield, increased revenue, improved soil fertility, land size, and increasing climate pressure has increased water retention/soil moisture, and resulted in degraded land and pasture areas for climate change adaption. crop production and the rearing and fattening of livestock. Ethiopia needs improved watershed In REAAP areas, watershed treatments include management, especially in East and West Hararghe, physical structures built by community members, in order to mitigate soil erosion, deforestation, including continuous contour trenches, water reduced soil fertility, and increasing levels of trenches, check dams, and micro check dams to siltation in rivers and streams. If not properly slow down water flow. In addition, tree and grass undertaken, watershed management interventions, plantings hold soil in place and enrich it, while social particularly on hillsides, can lead to the removal fencing prevents overgrazing or harvesting of forest of natural cover, which increases soil erosion and products. Water management helps communities vulnerability to flooding. become more drought-resilient by reducing runoff and erosion, improving water infiltration, increasing soil moisture, and increasing agricultural productivity even in dry years. The improved techniques and OVERVIEW OF WATERSHED practices included: RESULTS IN REAAP • Stone bunds placed along contours to slow water • 31 miles of hillside terracing built, and 27 runoff and enhance absorption hectares (ha) of gully sides rehabilitated • Water harvesting structures and systems, in- • 106 ha of degraded watershed area enclosed cluding water ditches that collect water from a for rehabilitation, 23 ponds maintained, and surface area for irrigation or improved filtration 55 ha closed for pastoralist communities • Small-scale irrigation and improved management • 898 ha of land under spate irrigation using of water from ground, runoff, and water sources runoff water • Crop residue mulching (leaving crop material on • 909 miles of stone and soil bunds built; 324 the field after the harvest to improve soil texture, miles of physical soil water conservation prevent erosion, and encourage water filtration) maintained; and 180 miles of trench excavated • Livestock manure collection and storage for fu- ture use on farmers’ fields • 20 community nursery sites established, with 177,162 trees seedlings raised and planted • Composting by first allowing crop residue and manure to decompose and then adding them back to the soil to improve soil fertility and tex- ture, and allow for improved water filtration Weighing the costs and benefits of adopting REAAP’s engagement of the community in technologies. Best practices for soil and water implementing these plans has contributed to conservation interventions, agroforestry environmental transformation at scale (e.g., 761 interventions, and construction of water miles of stone and soil bunds have been built, 247 conservation or water catchments in Ethiopia miles of physical soil water conservation have been are subject to guidance from the Government of maintained, and 94 miles of trench have been Ethiopia (GoE) Ministry of Agriculture Regulations excavated), reversing degradation and improving on Water Conservation and Water Catchments.
30 REAAP – SOIL AND WATER MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
Crop and soil Increased water Short cycle management Increased Increased Improved soil retention/soil crops adapted to techniques yield revenue fertility moisture climate change
Micro-catchments based Natural Resource X X X X X Management (NRM)
Stone bunds X X X X
Compost X X X X
Mulch X X X X
Adapted/ improved seeds, X X X planting materials, or inputs
Keyhole X X X gardening
Pump X X X technology
biodiversity, crop health, and livestock productivity the community’s behavior surrounding deforestation in West and East Haraghe. REAAP is using a number and watershed management. Participants in focus of community-led initiatives to provide shade to group discussions, held during a field visit in June livestock and annual crops, and to support better 2016, frequently mentioned water management as a soil and water management. Trees provide fuel for fundamental problem, noting the strong relationship energy and some fruit for food. Within watershed between water availability (through either rainfall or areas, community members cut grass and sell it irrigation) and land productivity. Where farmers had as livestock fodder, and set aside areas for small access to watershed management infrastructure, ruminant fattening. those in watershed catchment households recognized and appreciated how these projects Community members began to observe positive helped to recharge water basins, especially during changes in their landscapes after investing in the El Niño drought. community forests, and their observations changed
AVOIDING CONFLICT IN RECLAIMED WATERSHEDS Cattle, sheep, donkey, goats, poultry, and other livestock are integral to rural livelihoods and local cultures in Hararghe’s communities. They provide food, materials, income, and traction power for pulling carts or transporting goods to markets. Properly managed, livestock production can enhance economic well-being. However, improperly managed, it has the potential to increase environmental harm to watersheds. Potential impacts include overgrazing of cleared or converted land (which reduces the density of vegetation and amount of organic matter generated), leading to increased soil erosion from wind and water and decreased soil fertility through loss of nutrients. These impacts can contribute to diminished water quality and availability in highland areas. Due to these factors, one of the watershed management principles promoted in REAAP communities is ensuring people and livestock do not disturb any measures put in place to achieve soil and water conservation. To ensure compliance, communities developed bylaws on how to manage reclaimed watersheds, while youth helped to maintain enclosed areas.
31 Photo by CRS Ethiopia staff
REAAP has helped lay a foundation to transform the costs are significantly outweighed by the broad farmer livelihoods through a sufficient investment benefits observed by community members. of time and resources, allowing for sustainable gains to the natural resource base. Regenerating Linking public works and livelihood activities to degraded land enables more water capture in the watershed activities has helped recharge water basins field, greater increases in the water table, and the in the East and West Haraghe zones, even during return of perennial streams and rivers. These water the El Niño drought. These interventions provided and soil management approaches also result in the effective means to manage shocks and climate- reforestation of hillsides, which reduces flooding and related risks, and improved crop production and the soil erosion, thereby increasing food production. natural resource base. As a result of these soil and water management investments, REAAP community Learning to-date: REAAP communities mobilize members have observed more moisture retained in their own resources to restore the landscape the soil, recharged riverbeds even during dry periods, through the implementation of short- and long-term and less prevalent flood damage due to check dams. community action plans. The cost of building resilience is sometimes difficult to measure, since it is not REAAP communities are aware of the need to work always apparent what negative outcomes have been together toward afforestation to restore precious prevented. However, REAAP community feedback forests and the biodiversity contained within them, and results to-date suggest that, despite the relatively and to mitigate conflict through social fencing and high cost of public works in vulnerable communities, collective action.
Catholic Relief Services 228 W. Lexington Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA For more information, contact [email protected] 5 4 3 2 1 ofcommunity- network effective an that demonstrated (SILC). communities lending internal and savings CRS’ as such intervention with arelated coupled when especially spending, income family crafting dialogue around equitable decisions and regarding agricultural livelihoods by deliberately decisions better make families help can approach TFH through CRS Ethiopia/DFAP messages. found that couples’ relationships by addressing communication to strengthen aimed pilot the approach, TFH Using woredas six in approach (TFH) House Family The by piloting communications couples and community to promote opportunity the explored (DFAP) Program Assistance Food Development Ethiopia (CRS) and Services Relief Catholic SYNOPSIS making decision equitable more Fostering REAAP is being implemented in the vulnerable communities of East and West Hararghe zones, including Meta, which is one of two two of one is which Meta, including zones, Hararghe West and East of communities vulnerable the in implemented being is REAAP and social the building in successful proven have (SILC) communities lending internal and savings as such groups Community-based A A program. II-funded Title (USAID) Development International for Agency States United afive-year was This land degradation, and better withstand climate change. pilot households. segment farmer recover of capital financial woreda kebele woredas 3 from December 2015 through March 2016. 2016. March through 2015 December from is the smallest administrative unit contained within a within contained unit administrative smallest the is is an administrative division managed by a local government in Ethiopia. in government by alocal managed division administrative an is . REAAP helps nearly half a million people adapt new practices and technologies to mitigate drought, erratic rainfall, and and rainfall, erratic drought, to mitigate technologies and practices new adapt people amillion half nearly helps . REAAP kebeles 2 in Kersa and Meta Meta and Kersa in 4 The pilot also also pilot The 1
woreda
household level. the including society, of layers different at stresses and shocks outside against communities strengthen West Hararghe and East in communities (REAAP) Partnership and through Enhanced Adaptation, Action-learning, itto Resilience by linking example, approach—for TFH up scaling By utilization. and training, awareness, TFH community-based to increase policy broad-based more a of benefits the about offices district (GoE) of Ethiopia six- The events. social through members to community messages and approach TFH to disseminate continued couples TFH-trained ended, pilot the Even after approach. to this exposed couples ofnew percentage the increase dramatically could couples TFH based in Ethiopia. in kebele pilot study results informed the Government Government the informed results study pilot 5 —CRS Ethiopia/DFAP can potentially potentially can Ethiopia/DFAP —CRS Photo by CRS Ethiopia staff Ethiopia by CRS Photo
REAAP | RESILIENCE BRIEF 3
OVERVIEW OF THE FAMILY HOUSE PILOT Twenty trained TFH couples provided 4–5 messages (e.g., recognition of gender equality Vulnerability varies across social groups. Within and gender roles, and shared decision making social systems, the relationships, networks, on resource utilization) to SILC, producer, behaviors, and cultural norms between people, and community conversations groups in six households, communities, and groups can impact kebeles in Kersa and Meta woredas during the resilience. To more clearly understand the drivers of pilot period (December 2015–March 2016). vulnerability, CRS Ethiopia/DFAP has attempted to clearly understand the social drivers of vulnerability, Two hundred and twelve couples have been including the inequitable distribution of rights, transmitting messages to their children resources, and power that make certain individuals, and other community members during households, communities, or groups more sensitive community conversations meetings; at SILC to the impacts of shocks and stresses. Women are and Fuel Efficient Stove (FES) producer group disproportionately at risk to shocks (e.g., they often meetings; and at government mass labor have to travel much further from the home to fetch mobilizations representing post-pilot, self- water for the household during periods of drought). replicating, scaling up efforts. In addition, unequal power in decision making and livelihood resource management contributes to their vulnerability. Cultural roles that restrict women from groups have helped build the social and financial acquiring skills and knowledge further increase their capital of vulnerable households in Ethiopia. For vulnerability in certain contexts. CRS Ethiopia/DFAP example, CRS’ SILC model strengthens social capital have leveraged data generated from The Family House and household absorptive capacity by allowing pilot study to inform partners on how to increase participants to draw on savings in times of shock. resilience, especially in vulnerable households, through During the 2015–2016 El Niño drought, SILC group changes in project design, linkages, and long-term members had access to regular savings, loan, and benefits within target communities. social or emergency funds to help them better cope. The SILC group rules require members—primarily Building social capital and human assets increases women in Ethiopia—to save whatever little they resilience of vulnerable households. Community- have (typically, 1–2 birr per month6). Their savings based groups such as producer groups and SILC have proved very useful for capitalizing petty-trade activity or purchasing seeds and food.
Through the SILC groups, households have learned CONTEXT-SPECIFIC to come together to pool financial resources, solve CONSIDERATIONS problems, create forums for discussion, and learn The Faithful House (TFH) is a couples- new skills, all of which strengthen the social bonding strengthening curriculum focused on so critical to vulnerable households. The SILC and improving the quality of the couple producer groups also provide a foundation for relationship. In 2015, TFH was adapted for use building further skills (e.g., agronomic, financial, and with Muslim couples in a modified curriculum business skills). Strengthening household assets entitled Islamic Family House (IFH). For the fosters confidence and empowers households pilot in Ethiopia, the curriculum name was to undertake riskier but more productive and modified to The Family House—a name that diversified livelihoods. The groups also provide an was more appropriate to the local context entry point for awareness building and behavior and avoided mentioning any specific religion change with respect to improved nutrition, coping or faith. This name emphasizes that the house strategies, and women’s empowerment during belongs to the family and focuses on the periods of shock or stress. Community groups togetherness of its members. that develop relationships to other communities, organizations, and service providers can further
6 As of September 2016, 1 U.S. dollar equaled 22 Ethiopian birr.
34 build resilience by broadening social networks as Partnering with GoE on the development and well as business or marketing ties. For example, rollout of the pilot. To increase community co- using skills learned in SILC, group members can also investment and planning in the pilot, CRS Ethiopia/ form seed multiplication producer groups outside DFAP held meetings with implementing partners, the SILC to improve their links to markets. religious leaders, and government representatives from Women’s Affairs and “Yehaimanot Using SILC and producer groups as well as Mechachal”8 offices of both woredas to orient them 7 community conversations (CC) meetings as an entry in TFH approach. Subsequently, CRS Ethiopia/ point, CRS Ethiopia/DFAP piloted TFH approach DFAP selected, in collaboration with government to determine how participation could help couples stakeholders, kebeles for the pilot study. They re-imagine their relationships and identify areas selected a total of 20 couples (40 people) that were where they were most interested in increasing joint members of the CRS Ethiopia/DFAP beneficiary decision-making skills. During the implementation, community, based on their positive couple relations CRS Ethiopia/DFAP found that women and community acceptance.9 The couples shared predominately participated in SILC groups and were similar socioeconomic backgrounds, including the members of the household who saved. One of religion and language, with other DFAP project the study’s findings suggests that TFH approach has beneficiaries. After receiving training, the 20 the potential to motivate men to participate in group couples started transmitting messages to other activities, especially SILC activities. community members at CC groups as well as SILC and producer group meetings, and other social events such as Edir.10 PILOT KEY TASKS • CRS selected 20 role-model couples. Overall, the results demonstrate the areas where community or program planners need to link TFH • CRS conducted workshop on TFH approach to technical interventions that promote specific for the 20 selected couples. desired outcomes, such as increasing saving and credit activities. The post-pilot test indicated that • Twenty trained couples conveyed TFH women’s involvement in decision making increased, messages to 212 community members in which could contribute to improved well-being two Meta and Kersa woredas over a three- outcomes for women and girls in the future. month period. Government stakeholders, including the woreda • SILC and other groups received messages Women’s Affairs Office head, facilitated message 4–5 times during the pilot period. transmission to community members, provided • CRS supervised, followed up on, and doc- technical support to trained couples, and followed umented changes in couples’ perceptions up on their activities. This practice attracted the over the three-month pilot period. attention of neighboring communities, and they began asking for membership in TFH approach • Pilot participants were able to recite main groups. When participants in the training observed points from TFH approach that they re- the benefits of the communication-skills education, ceived from the trained couples, including they initiated discussions about expanding the reach recognition of gender equality and gender of TFH approach with the kebele administration. In roles, and shared decision making on re- some cases, participants decided to teach what they source utilization. learned to the community at large.
7 It is critical to address gender-based violence and child marriage, since both contribute to the vulnerability for young women in Ethiopia and limit their opportunities, including productive livelihood opportunities. Within DFAP communities, the CC method encourages positive changes in the reduction and prevention of gender-based violence, early marriage, and other harmful traditional practices. It also creates awareness and facilitates open discussions about these issues among family members, improves the decision- making role of women in the household, and promotes women’s empowerment. 8 Amharic phrase that refers to religious tolerance. 9 For couple selection, the pilot used standard criteria implemented by other CRS countries. 10 In Ethiopia, an edir is a traditional burial society to which members make monthly contributions and in return receive a payment to help cover funeral expenses.
35
COMMUNITIES LEADING THE WAY TO CHANGE BEHAVIOR Women’s restricted access to income and limited decision-making in regard to While government officials were involved in the household assets critically affects the well- pilot from its inception, and even helped select being of families. TFH work seeks to change couples, they did not have adequate knowledge behavior at the household and community about TFH approach, nor did they have access level, leading to the adoption of improved to the training materials and other guiding practices and more equitable decision documents appropriate to the local context. To making. When coupled with a specific some extent, this lack of guidance has affected technical area, TFH method can bring greater stakeholders’ capacity to provide technical equality into household decision making support to trained couples and other community through direct family counseling. members who received the messages. Sharing the findings and issues raised in this TFH pilot study can encourage a more widespread discussion • Prevention and reduction of gender-based vio- within and across communities, and with kebele, lence, early marriage, and other harmful tradi- woreda, and national policymakers. tional practices. Most harmful traditional practic- Sustainability of engaging couples in TFH es are rooted in religious beliefs. Conveying TFH messaging activities. Sustainability for the new messages to community members can potentially communication skills appears promising, as couples correct harmful beliefs and practices affecting expressed plans to continue improving their community members—mainly women and girls— relationships as well as sharing their knowledge and eventually eradicate them. of TFH approach with others. Trained couples • Improving the decision-making role of women also served as positive role models for other in households. TFH approach promotes constant couples. After the introduction of TFH, men made communication as well as joint decision making statements such as: “Before I sell agricultural by couples, which contributes positively to the products, I talk to my wife about it and do not development of knowledge, self-esteem, self-con- make decisions just by myself.”11 In addition, men fidence, decision-making skills, and status of realized that household management required women. For example, REAAP monitoring data re- the participation of both women and men. This vealed an improvement in female representation realization prompted action—for example, husbands in community-level institutions due to SILC and began to share household responsibilities and sit other disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities. down with their spouses at night to plan for the future.12 Women also demonstrated some instances • Promoting empowerment of women. TFH ap- of greater autonomy after the pilot.13 proach helps change men’s attitudes and behav- iors toward women. Men support their wives and Overall, these are promising changes that can partners in achieving socioeconomic empower- provide the foundation for the greater household ment. For example, it is now common practice for resilience that is needed during periods of shock. women to purchase goats for rearing or fattening The pilot findings also indicate that integrating TFH by using their savings from SILC group activity. approach led to encouraging results in other social, economic, and political areas. Improving men’s active participation in SILC groups. DFAP monitoring data show that women
11 Getenesh Alayou and Dejene Mideksa, “Catholic Relief Services/Ethiopia Development Food Assistance Program: The Family House Pilot Project Evaluation Report,” March 2016, p. 41. A post-test survey that included comments from a male participant from Tola kebele, Kersa woreda, indicating a change in communications with his wife. 12 Getenesh Alayou and Dejene Mideksa, “Catholic Relief Services/Ethiopia Development Food Assistance Program: The Family House Pilot Project Evaluation Report,” March 2016, p. 41. A focus group discussion that included comments from a male participant from Hakebas kebele, Meta woreda, indicating a change in communications with his wife. 13 Pre- and post-test comparison indicates improvement around decisions to participate in DFAP saving and credit activities after the pilot. At pre-test, out of 22 respondents, only 1 wife decided by herself, 5 let partner, make the decision, and 3 decided jointly. Husbands, however, replied as follows: 5 decided by themselves, 6 let partner make the decision, and 2 decided jointly. Post-test results showed that, out of 23 respondents, 47.8% made decisions by themselves and 52.2% made decisions with their partners. Out of these respondents, 8 wives replied they decided by themselves and 3 let partner make the decision. On the other hand, 3 husbands decided by themselves and 9 let partner make the decision, showing that wives developed strong decision-making power in DFAP saving and credit activities after the pilot.
36 make up the majority of participants in SILC groups. as well as reduced gender-based violence. Pilot However, both women and men are encouraged to participants’ households started to observe positive actively participate in SILC group activities. TFH changes in their lives after couple communications approach can potentially motivate more men to altered. This alteration led to the adoption of similar participate in group activities and improve their communications by non-pilot friends and neighbors. culture of saving. The introduction of TFH approach has demonstrated Learning to-date: Before the pilot introduction of the capacity of people, especially men, to develop TFH approach, couples, especially women, reported better communication and joint decision-making minimum joint decision-making communications. skills when they have the training and tools to do so. After the training, couples were assigned to work CRS Ethiopia/DFAP sees excellent opportunities for on improving their relationships and to share TFH scaling up with local community groups. For example, messages with 212 other couples, mainly through by linking TFH approach to REAAP communities in group settings such as SILC. Accordingly, CRS East and West Hararghe, CRS Ethiopia/DFAP has the Ethiopia/DFAP observed two major changes: (1) potential to strengthen communities against outside positive attitude change among couples toward shocks and stresses at different layers of society, their spouses, and (2) improved joint decision including the household level. making, cohesion, and couples communications,
HOW THE FAMILY HOUSEHOLD APPROACH CONTRIBUTES TO RESILIENCE-BUILDING CAPACITY Absorptive capacity at the household level: During a shock, absorptive capacity can be irreversible (e.g., selling of livestock) or reversible (borrowing money). Participation in savings and loan groups, such as SILC, can minimize households’ sensitivity to shocks and stresses while contributing to social and financial capital.
Adaptive capacity at the household level: The ability to proactively modify conditions through new skill development and decision-making practices (e.g., TFH approach) in anticipation of, or as a reaction to, shocks and stresses.
Transformative capacity at the household level: The TFH approach, coupled with SILC, has the potential to strengthen communities against outside shocks and stresses at different layers of society, including the household level. When a family participates in collective sharing, learning, and innovation, the power balance shifts, allowing women greater access to health care, education, livelihoods, and rights, and leading to permanent changes in the role of children.
Catholic Relief Services 228 W. Lexington Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA For more information, contact [email protected] constructing keyhole gardens in Ethiopia prior to REAAP through its USAID Title II Development Food Assistance Program (DFAP). Program Assistance Food Development II Title USAID its through constructing keyhole gardens inEthiopiapriorto REAAP 1 children. By producing year-round, nutrient-dense and ofmothers intake nutritional to the improve behavior change, and food preparation trainings [CRS]), Services Relief ofCatholic gardens keyhole signature (e.g., the gardens homestead vegetable promotes (REAAP) Partnership and learning, Action- Adaptation, Enhanced through Resilience SYNOPSIS for change nutrition Advocating Working withinthePublicSafety NetProgram (PSNP)funding prioritiesandguidance, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) was also
than just a homestead garden. ahomestead just than more much to deliver packaged is which intervention, approach is the integrated agricultural-nutrition garden keyhole REAAP ofthe aspect innovative The drought. as such shocks and risks climate managing by resilient more become can households techniques, foods through home gardening and preservation 1 Photo by CRS Ethiopia staff Ethiopia by CRS Photo
REAAP | RESILIENCE BRIEF 4 Photo by CRS Ethiopia staff
Enhancing sustainable production. The REAAP keyhole garden technique focuses on intensively KEYHOLE GARDEN growing nutrient-dense vegetables in a small A keyhole garden is a two-meter-wide, space, paying close attention to soil improvement, circular, raised garden bed with a keyhole- watering, and weeding. By applying green manure shaped indentation on one side. The and cover crops in the keyhole garden beds, indentation allows gardeners to access the households increase organic matter and nitrogen bed for weeding and adding gray water and availability in the soil. Other soil improvements mulch to a composting basket situated in the include mulch treatments and water channeled center of the garden. Keyhole gardens are from the household, both of which are added relatively easy to construct, and they utilize through a basket in the center of the garden. The locally available materials such as stones, soil, use of household water guarantees a year-round mulch, grass, and tree branches. growing season and provides year-round access to vegetables at the household level, even during the dry season or periods of erratic rainfall. Fencing the garden crop faces less exposure to possible protects the keyhole garden from being distributed disruptions. Vegetables from keyhole gardens can be by goats and chickens. processed into value-added products and preserved using simple drying techniques, making year-round, Keyhole gardens contribute to resilience in a nutrient-dense foods available at the household level. number of ways within adopter households, including recovery from shocks (e.g., El Niño) or Building functional organizations. In order for household stresses. The gardens decrease risk from REAAP to institutionalize and sustain agriculture- dependence on any one staple crop as well as from nutrition outcomes, the program had to work with the crop loss at the farm-level. Vegetables mature more disaster risk reduction (DRR) committee, savings and quickly than staple crops do (a factor that becomes internal lending communities (SILC)2 agents, and DRR important during periods of erratic rainfall) and facilitators within the REAAP communities. At the can be grown throughout the year. Thus, REAAP DRR committee level, improved governance created keyhole garden adopters reduce risk simply because the organizational environment necessary to catalyze
2 Community-based groups such as SILC have contributed to building the social and financial capital of vulnerable households in Ethiopia. CRS’ SILC model strengthens social capital and household absorptive capacity by allowing participants to draw on savings in times of shock. During the current drought, SILC group members continue to have access to regular savings, loan, and social or emergency funds to help them cope.
39 Photo by CRS Ethiopia staff more effective performance, which motivated committee members to more actively pursue the OVERVIEW OF AGRICULTURE- committees’ goals and objectives, including scaling NUTRITION RESULTS IN REAAP up the keyhole-garden integrated agriculture- nutrition intervention. • 2,009 keyhole gardens were built in Oda REAAP achieved a high adoption rate for the keyhole Bultum, Mieso, Tullo, Meta, Midhega Tola, and garden package of interventions (2,045 functional Fedis districts. homestead gardens3) despite the 2015–2016 El • 2,045 homestead gardens functioned during Niño, which contributed to widespread drought the 2015–2016 El Niño drought and or rainy across many areas of East and West Hararghe season in Oda Bultum, Mieso, Tullo, Meta, zones, and caused many households to struggle. Significantly, after the drought, many households Midhega Tola, and Fedis districts. restarted growing vegetables as soon as the rains • Households introduced runoffharvest tech- began, utilizing their own money to purchase seeds, nologies to reserve water for keyhole gar- planting materials, and other inputs. These actions dens in drought-prone areas as a means to demonstrate promising signs of sustainability for the keyhole-garden integrated agriculture- reduce risk and ensure the garden’s survival. nutrition intervention. REAAP also engaged with, and provided active capacity-building support to, woreda4-level development officers (extension agronomy and nutrition training for government agents), so they could encourage vegetable personnel and community health workers, making consumption and increased nutritional intake for them a sustainable, community-based source of mothers and children. technical support for further scaling up of the keyhole garden package of interventions. REAAP’s support for keyhole gardens, specifically as a strategy to improve maternal and child health and Fostering change and adoption through nutrition, involved partnering with the Government demonstrations and modeling. In Ethiopia, the of Ethiopia (GoE). REAAP facilitated and supported populace does not commonly eat fresh vegetables;
3 REAAP communities constructed 50–100 demonstration gardens for agro-economic-nutrition education training, while, within REAAP communities, 2,045 additional homestead gardens were constructed for sustainable production. 4 A woreda is an administrative division, comparable to a district, managed by a local government in Ethiopia.
40 they use vegetables mainly as relishes and not to purchase necessary seeds and inputs for as a significant part of their diets. Thus, in order growing the nutritious foods promoted by REAAP to foster change, REAAP needed to undertake communities. Over the long term, SILCs offer culinary demonstrations. communities one of the best prospects for gaining access to income-generating and technical-support In Ethiopia, shiro is a local stew made with field activities that help them obtain nutrient-dense peas and chickpeas, commonly eaten on a foods. According to one REAAP DRR field agent, daily basis. Although shiro is high in protein, no “[A]lthough REAAP did not distribute vegetable vegetables are included in the dish. Through culinary seeds in 2016, several communities and groups demonstrations, REAAP showed how vegetables requested assistance with purchasing vegetable could be introduced to local dishes such as shiro. seeds in larger marketing towns, many of them Initially, people did not understand how eating with funds generated by their Savings and Internal vegetables helped them or their children. Thus, the Lending Communities groups.” REAAP keyhole-garden package of interventions Strengthening seed and input systems. The focused on nutrition training, including training timely availability of different type of vegetable on cooking practices, preservation methods, food seeds locally is one of the ongoing challenges for preparation, recipes, and the health benefits of sustainable homestead gardening in East and West consuming vegetables. REAAP used community-led Hararghe zones. REAAP has not offered incentives, cooking demonstrations as entry points to discuss such as vegetable seeds, to create keyhole gardens. with parents how to diversify their diet and increase Offering vegetable seeds repeatedly, for free, could micronutrient consumption—especially for children— limit the incentive for households to maintain their using locally available foods including vegetables keyhole gardens when the subsidy ends, and to produced in keyhole gardens. make long-term linkages between households, Since learning about healthy vegetables and how to communities, and seed multiplication or input cook them to retain nutritional value, both mothers suppliers. Therefore, REAAP is invested in linking and fathers have observed changes in the behaviour SILC groups with communities so that households and health of their children. Women have started can assume the responsibility to link or supply preparing vegetables daily for children under five, seeds to the community. and men proudly mention that their children eat REAAP’s Community-Managed Disaster Risk vegetables several times per day and, as a result, Reduction (CM-DRR) strategy activated locally are sick less often. This shift in behaviour took place driven seed supply and linkages. Through not only because of improved knowledge about collective action, it maximized geographic access nutrition, but also because of the increased available to agricultural inputs as well as financial access income that came from linking keyhole-garden to small agricultural equipment and seeds. This households to both SILC groups and seed and input access ensured linkages and the sustainability of systems (allowing households to purchase vegetable the keyhole-garden intervention. DRR committees seeds and maintain future keyhole gardens. REAAP addressed access to vegetable seeds by reaching community members near Dire Dawa have reported out to GoE agencies and making bulk purchases that “within a year of garden promotion, some from major market centers, which offer a selection communities have bought their own seeds in the of agri-dealers and a diverse range of seeds. local market with their own money.” Community members took collective action to Linking SILC to keyhole-garden adopters was an determine seed availability and accessibility innovative approach that helped promote a more through local government offices, markets, diversified diet. Because of increased access to or established seed multiplication plots at the savings and income, people had more money community level. They established local supply
41 chains for vegetable seeds in many communities, on keyhole-garden adoption5 found that REAAP and are in the process of developing more through households were: peer-to-peer visits in many other communities. While keyhole gardens do not require bulk seed packages, • Confident about maintaining keyhole garden community members are learning how to bulk their year-round needs so they can purchase for the entire community, • Believed that maintaining keyhole gardens builds 6 and enable multiple households to use smaller units healthy families and also saves money for plantings. • Noticed that children fed nutrient-dense food were less likely to become malnourished Advocating for behavior change. Despite the drought conditions precipitated by El Niño, the During a field visit conducted in June 2016, REAAP keyhole gardens have become functional participants in focus group discussions and key eighteen months after their establishment. Women interviews frequently mentioned that households have found the technology acceptable—vegetable with keyhole gardens were now making daily meals care is hand-labor intensive, but, with the raised beds, that contained vegetables for their children under a woman can easily manage it, even when carrying a five years of age, even in the dry season. baby on her back. REAAP provided families with skills REAAP organized trainings for woreda development training on how to prepare food for their children. agents and model households to further scale up During times of drought, women and girls have to agronomic practices in communities of East and walk further to access water for home use. However, West Hararghe zones to: the keyhole garden is close to home, so its labor • Increase the sustainability of the keyhole gardens. can be integrated with other daily household tasks • Facilitate linkages with public and private seed and does not require further transportation time to systems. access fields. A CRS-Ethiopia commissioned study • Promote the preparation and consumption of vegetables in the home.
After initial household participation in the keyhole- SCALING UP EFFORTS garden training package, community groups fostered IN ETHIOPIA relationships with communities, organizations, and service providers to scale up further keyhole The keyhole-garden approach involves gardens. They achieved this through joint visits, DRR positive engagement with governments, committee campaigns, and broadening social as well communities, and households to bring about as business ties with technical agronomic support and sustainable change at scale. Recognizing seed input suppliers. its contributions to obtaining nutritional goals, the Government of Ethiopia included By linking nutritionally vulnerable households keyhole gardens as an intervention in their with a variety of vegetable seeds and technical support, REAAP has worked to increase mothers Productive Safety Net Programmer Phase IV: and children’s consumption of diversified, nutrient- Programme Implementation Manual (Ministry dense foods. Households with keyhole gardens of Agriculture, Addis Ababa, December showed higher levels of dietary diversity, despite 2014). CRS Ethiopia was instrumental in the 2015–2016 El Niño, which contributed to influencing policy change in this area by widespread drought across many areas of East and demonstrating the efficiency of the keyhole- West Hararghe zones. garden intervention in its project areas. In the keyhole garden, vegetables are grown in a mix—such as carrot, lettuce, cabbage, onion, Swiss
5 Yohannes Haile and John Steelman, Barrier analysis to promote the sustainable use of keyhole gardens in Ethiopia designing for behavioral change (DBC), CRS Ethiopia, October 2015. 6 Ibid. The CRS Ethiopia study also found that keyhole garden non-participants perceived that selling keyhole garden vegetables was more beneficial than using them for home consumption.
42 chard, and tomatoes—and include a diverse set of A series of linked home and agro-economic activities species. Taken collectively, dietary diversification can creatively raise community members’ and GoE’s at the household level can help communities knowledge levels about more diversified and nutritious buffer against food shortages caused by erratic diets, as well as use of local foods. The keyhole-garden rainfall or drought. Having a homestead garden interventions show promising signs of sustainability, also significantly reduces recovery time from a despite the 2015–2016 El Niño, which contributed to shock – an important fact given that children born widespread drought across many areas of East and during periods of drought are more likely to become West Hararghe zones. Keyhole gardens strengthen chronically malnourished later in childhood than existing resilience strategies by preserving informal, those who were not.7 social, safety-network-based strategies that reduce risk and provide household-level buffers against Learning to-date: An important step in improving the shocks and stresses. Although REAAP cannot assume nutrition status of women and children under five is that nutrition will automatically increase with the use the use of targeted interventions to achieve positive of keyhole garden, ongoing training helps connect the behavior changes at household and community levels. keyhole gardens with the desired outcomes.
REAAP KEYHOLE-GARDEN PACKAGE OF AGRICULTURE-NUTRITION INTERVENTIONS AND RESILIENCE Contributions to absorptive capacity: Absorptive capacity refers to the ability to minimize sensitivity to shocks and stresses. REAAP keyhole-garden households had access to savings and loan groups (SILC); self-insurance if cereal crops failed; and social cohesion/social protection support through shared keyhole-garden labor and crops.
Contributions to adaptive capacity: Adaptive capacity refers to the ability to proactively modify conditions and practices in anticipation of or as a reaction to shocks and stresses. Keyhole-garden model families assisted with trainings on the use of seeds, planting materials, water harvesting techniques (such as the re-use of household water), livelihood diversification, and access to technical training and skill development from Area Development Program Office (ADPO) and woreda-level extension staff.
Contributions to transformative capacity: Transformative capacity refers to the ability to facilitate systemic change and a positive environment in which people are willing and able to invest and innovate while managing risks. Transformative capacity addresses the underlying cultural, institutional, and learning dynamics within a system, enabling communities to absorb and adapt over the long term. Keyhole gardens contribute to organized communities by encouraging knowledge adoption, community action, nutritional behavior practices, the creation of vegetable seed groups, and strengthened links between local government structures and communities.
7 Jennifer Bryce, Nancy Terreri, Cesar G. Victora, Elizabeth Mason, Bernadette Daelmans, et al. Countdown to 2015: tracking intervention coverage for child survival, The Lancet Series, September 18, 2006, Volume 268, No. 9541.
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