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Supporting farmers’ organizations in agroecology: the case of the Muti Idwin/NTSIO project in DR Congo

felling of trees in the DRC

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  • The Muti Idwin[1] Ntsio project

The Muti Idwin[1 ] Ntsio project is a project initiated by the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), with funding from the European Union. It is being implemented in the west of the country, 200 km from downtown Kinshasa, in the Mwe and Mongata neighborhoods of Maluku Commune.

The project was initiated to install 260 farmers on a total area of 5,500 ha. It aims to help urban and rural populations by increasing the supply of food and wood energy products in the capital. To this end, four associations have been set up to manage the site, as well as to group, transport and market the products in order to ensure the sustainability of the project’s activities. It should be noted that this project is located in an area of grassy savannah, which is now transformed into forest.

Each farmer is entitled to a house, 15 ha of acacia and eucalyptus plantations, 1.4 ha of orchard and 0.6 ha of palm grove. Farmers are grouped in a camp of 4 households. They are also entitled to one water tower per association with a standpipe, which they pay for in a “prepaid” format, and two elementary school for the education of their children. Each association has an office, a meeting room, a warehouse and a honey house for the exploitation of honey.

Household camp

The project provided them with tractors to plow the land. They start by planting food crops (cassava, maize, cowpeas, etc.) before planting trees. The agricultural products provide them with food and income after the sale. They put hives under the trees for beekeeping. Now that the trees have reached the age of 7 years, they start to exploit them to make embers.

With the support of Inades-Formation Congo, they developed a regulation for the exploitation of ember. Criteria are defined for the exploitation, including: to have a forest that has reached the age of 7 years; to be in order of contributions, and/or to sign an act of commitment to pay its debts from the first exploitation; to exploit 1 ha in the high season and ½ ha in the low season; to introduce a request and to have the authorization.

Ember furnace assembly

This afforestation allowed the farmers of the surrounding villages to have edible caterpillars, which disappeared decades ago. And also to improve the rainfall of the environment.

In order to enable these associations to be well organized and capable of managing the resources made available to them, the Hans Seidel Foundation has requested the technical support of Inades-Formation Congo in terms of structuring for a period of 3 years, from 2019 to 2021, extended to June 2022.

Office and meeting space
  • Mission of Inades-Formation Congo

Inades-Formation Congo’s mission was to help associations improve their maturity (ability to organize their associations), their governance (ability to manage their associations), their autonomy (ability to mobilize their financial resources) and their type of support (ability to provide services to their members).

  • Initial situation of the Associations before the support of the Inades

Before starting its intervention in the framework of this project, Inades conducted an organizational and institutional assessment of these associations to determine their institutional capacities and propose a strengthening plan.

At the end of this evaluation, the starting situation of these associations was as follows:

  • The basic texts (statutes and IR) were not well known by most members and elected officials in all associations;
  • Confusion between the member’s commitment act signed with the project and the basic texts of the association (statutes and IR);
  • The associations did not work on the basis of strategic documents (Policy and Action Plan, action plan, business plan, campaign plan)
  • Confusion between budget and action plan
  • Absence of a manual of rules and procedures for administrative, financial and accounting management.
  • Some management tools were not well maintained and others were not up to date;
  • Absence of certain supporting documents;
  • Absence of control reports and the control focused only on the cash register;
  • Absence of activity and financial reports;
  • Weak organization of marketing. (the sale of products individually)

    • Summary of support provided

During three (3) years and three (3) months of accompaniment, several supports were brought to the associations. We can cite:

  • Support on the development, implementation and evaluation of strategic plans and management documents (orientation and action plan, business plan on different productions, action plan/campaign plan, management rules and procedures manual);
  • Local support for the correct use of management tools, the preparation and conduct of statutory meetings, the organization of agricultural campaigns;
  • Training sessions on control, self-promotion, conflict management, organization and functioning of an association, organization of group sales…);
  • Data sheets produced in local languages and booklets were distributed to associations;
  • Workshops on the mobilization of resources, the modalities of collecting contributions and the involvement of traditional chiefs in the proper functioning of the associations);
  • Follow-ups of the National Directorate of field activities;
  • Evaluation meetings of the activities by the project and Inades teams.
Water tower for camps
  • Current situation of the associations

All of the support provided to the associations has resulted in the following changes and outcomes:

  • Association members have acquired skills:
  • In the administrative and financial organization of the offices: elaboration of the minutes of the statutory meetings, correct use of the management tools, better filing of the documents and management tools, elaboration and use of the manual of the rules and procedures of management,
  • In the planning of activities: work is done on the basis of action plans, business plans for their income-generating activities (cassava, honey, chikwangue), the campaign plan (the latter was carried out by the FHS partner); concerted management on their family farm (farm)
  • Mobilization of financial resources: members apart from cassava cultivation which allowed them to sell and have income, they introduced beekeeping, which gives more honey and is well sold on the local market. And soon they begin the exploitation of the trees in the manufacture of the ember.
  • Conflict management: In the past, there were several conflicts in the different camps of the members. But with the training received in this area, conflicts have significantly decreased
  • The members of the accompanied associations have become experts for other associations in the surrounding villages, who detect operating errors and give advice.
  • The basic texts are known by the elected officials and members, which can be seen in the following:
    • The renewal of the mandates of the elected representatives in the respect of the basic texts;
    • The holding and excellent conduct of statutory meetings in accordance with the frequency and basic texts; the citation or reference to the articles of the texts in the introductory words of the presidents to the GA.
  • The roles and importance of the Association are well known today:
    • The satisfaction of the members regarding the services they benefit from thanks to the association (water, ploughing, farms, beehives for the production of honey, support to the marketing and the grouped sale of honey and chikwangues…);
    • The regularization of debts by some members to allow associations to have the means to meet their commitments;
    • The spirit of getting together for the protection of the domain (progress in the associative spirit);
    • Awareness of the need to protect the common good and avoid absenteeism on the farms;
  • Commitment of members (M/F) to apply for leadership positions in their associations;
  • More or less assured support for water supply and storage;
  • Organization of the grouped sale of chikwangues and honey in all associations;

    • Lessons Learned

The following lessons were learned from the support provided to the associations in the framework of the agroforestry project:

  • The best choice of members in the creation of associations with clear criteria that take into account the availability of people called to engage in agroforestry is a major asset for achieving results;
  • The development and implementation of basic texts with the involvement of beneficiaries promotes ownership and adherence;
  • The quality of the leadership and the respect of the commitments made, but also the multiplication of the sources of financing of the members constitutes a sufficient guarantee for the viability and the sustainability of the actions of the project via the associations.

[1] Muti Idwin: tree to give shade; in fact this project would mean protecting the environment with trees.

Norbert KINVULA, DBN IFCongo

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ABCD2 project

Projet ABCD-Un élève un arbre COP28

1. Project title

Supporting the scaling-up of community experiences and citizen monitoring of public policies in response to climate change in sub-Saharan Africa (ABCD 2 project)

2. Summary

The project to scale up community experiences and dynamics of citizen monitoring of public policies in the face of climate change in sub-Saharan Africa is the continuation of an initial project to capitalize on these experiences.

In fact, in 2022, with funding from the Basque Agency for Development Cooperation (ABCD), Inades-Formation carried out the project “Study-capitalization of best practices in the face of the challenges of climate change and local governance in sub-Saharan Africa “This project capitalized on 50 experiences, including 31 on adaptation to climate change and 19 on governance, in 11 sub-Saharan African countries.

Based on the results of this pilot project, we have been able to identify and capitalize on some of the living realities of community efforts to combat the problems posed by climate change in Africa. They have been developed by a variety of players, including public services specializing in environmental and climate change management, civil society organizations and farmers’ organizations.

This second phase of the project, which will run for 30 months (2022-2024), aims to (i) scale up these good experiences developed by communities in African countries, in terms of adaptation, mitigation and resilience to climate change and of (ii) support the dynamics of citizen monitoring of the associated policy and regulatory frameworks.

3. General objective

Contribute to the fight against global warming, through the large-scale promotion of local experiences and concerted policy measures relating to adaptation, mitigation and resilience mechanisms for vulnerable populations, especially rural populations in sub-Saharan Africa.

4. Specific objectives

  • Scale up the good experiences developed by communities in African countries, in terms of adaptation, mitigation and resilience in the face of climate change.
  • Support the dynamics of citizen monitoring of related policy and regulatory frameworks

5. Completion period: June 2022 to November 2024

6. Project area

The project is being carried out in 11 countries: Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, DR Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania and Togo.

7. Financial partner

Basque Agency for Cooperation and Development (ABCD)

9. Implementation partners

17 local development organizations with projects that will replicate the good experiences capitalized on in phase 1 of the project. They were selected on the basis of the evaluation criteria of effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, sustainability and gender equity, following a call for projects launched by Inades-Formation.

List of organizations and their projects

Country

Organization

Project title

1

Burkina Faso

WMU-CDN

Strengthening women’s resilience to climate change by promoting agroecological practices. Case study of the agroecological farm run by the women of the Union des Groupements Féminins Ce Dwane Nyee (UGF/CDN), Sanguie province, Centre West region, Burkina Faso.

2

Burkina Faso

Inades-Formation Burkina

Strengthening eco-citizenship through environmental education for pupils in the commune of Arbollé in the northern region of Burkina Faso

3

Burundi

Inades-Formation Burundi

Promoting environmental education in schools to tackle climate change

4

Cameroon

FAP NGO CAMEROON

Promotion of Community Initiatives to Protect Common Interest Resources in Cameroon

5

Côte d’Ivoire

CDD-CI

One pupil, one tree to combat coastal erosion and the disappearance of mangroves

6

DR Congo

UWAKI North Kivu

Projet d’appui à la valorisation des semences paysannes dans les unions de Luofu, Kipese et Lubero en territoire de Lubero au Nord-Kivu / RDC. Inspired by the experience of the Union des groupements Naam de Koumbri in Burkina Faso

7

DR Congo

ACOSYF

Grassroots environmental education to tackle climate change in the Kaziba chiefdom in DR Congo

8

Kenya

Inades-Formation Kenya

The scaling up of experiences developed by communities and the dynamics of school-based re-afforestation initiatives to address climate change in Kenya

9

Rwanda

RECOR Rwanda

Affordable solar pumps for small-scale irrigation, a revolutionary technology to help farmers increase their resilience capacity to climate change issues in Rwanda

10

Rwanda

Inades-Formation Rwanda

Replication of the practice of grafting fruit trees to increase the resilience of farmers in the Bugesera district to climate change.

11

Senegal

7A MAA REWEE

Project to promote agro-biodiversity conservation through capacity building and documentation of local seed varieties in Senegal

12

Tanzania

Inades-Formation Tanzania

Promotion of community seed banks for the conservation of agro-biodiversity through capacity building and documentation of local seed varieties in Kondoa and Chemba Districts of Dodoma Region, Tanzania”.

13

Chad

Inades-Formation Chad

Promotion of seed banks, Scaling up the Seeds Savers Network /Kenya experience

14

Chad

ATASANPE Chad

Expand the “One student, one tree” project developed by ACOSYF RD Congo

15

Togo

APAD International Togo

The governance of protected areas: The case of the Agou mountainsides in Togo

16

Togo

Inades-Formation Togo

Continuous and competitive integrated family farming systems for farmer resilience to climate change in Tchamba 2 commune

17

Togo

JVE Togo

Governance of local seed systems among women’s cooperatives in the Assimé classified forest for climate resilience

ACF-AO project

WhatsApp Image 2023-08-24 at 15.13.12

1. Project title

Feminist Climate Action Project – West Africa ACF-AO

2. Summary

The “Feminist Climate Action in West Africa” project is being implemented in Côte d’Ivoire to contribute effectively to the resilience and fight against the effects of climate change by ecologically sensitive coastal and island communities, with a particular focus on rural women and young people.

It will build the capacity of communities, particularly women and young people, to implement strategies to protect biodiversity and ecosystems, notably through the adoption of agroecological practices, energy diversification and advocacy. It will strengthen the participation of rural women and young people in local governance of biodiversity and climate action.

Funded by Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada, the ACF AO project is taking place in Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Togo.

It is managed in Côte d’Ivoire by SUCO and Inades-Formation – Secrétariat Général.

3. Background

Climate change threatens to push nearly a million more Ivorians into extreme poverty, increase the risk of water stress, with more and more regions expected to see more than 10% of their population in water shortage, and increase the resurgence of air- and water-related diseases among susceptible populations (Nationally Determined Contributions, CDN-COTE D’IVOIRE, March 2022). According to the World Bank, by 2050, Côte d’Ivoire will face an average temperature rise of two degrees Celsius, greater rainfall variability and a 30 cm rise in sea level along the coast (World Bank, 2018a).

Climate change affects all development sectors. However, differences between men and women in their relationship with their environment, differences in the composition of economic sectors and unequal access to resources and decision-making will amplify the impacts of climate change on certain categories of the population, including women.

The “Feminist Climate Action in West Africa” project is a response to this reality.

4. General objective

Strengthening climate change adaptation by rural and indigenous women and young people in ecologically sensitive coastal and island regions of Côte d’Ivoire.

5. Specific objectives

  • Increase the influence of rural and indigenous women and young people in climate policy advocacy and in the governance of high-biodiversity ecosystems vulnerable to climate change.
  • Increase the adoption of nature-based solutions such as agroecology, ecosystem and biodiversity protection and restoration, for climate change adaptation, by rural and indigenous women and young people.
  • Strengthen the climate resilience of rural and indigenous women and young people through economic empowerment and energy diversification.

6. Completion date: 2023 - 2026

7. Target audience / beneficiaries: Young people 41% & Rural and indigenous women 59%.

8. Project area

Adiaké, Grand-Bassam, Jacqueville and Grand-Lahou.

9. Project actions

Diagnose the obstacles and facilitating factors for the active participation of target groups in biodiversity and climate management decision-making bodies;

Participatory diagnoses carried out by local authorities on the climatic vulnerability of ecosystems and identification of gender-sensitive adaptation measures and strategies;

Training for rural and indigenous women and young people to strengthen and maintain their participation in decision-making bodies;

Training of beneficiaries on climate and biodiversity conservation policies;

Participating communities receive training in business development, inclusive value chains, cooperative management, and direct marketing.

Village awareness-raising and training workshops on biodiversity-friendly and gender-sensitive mitigation and adaptation measures carried out in participating communities.

Ecosystem management and development plans designed and implemented in participating communities.

Technical and financial support to participating communities for the implementation of climate-resilient agroecological practices (micro-breeding, agroforestry, market gardening, beekeeping and oyster farming); to strengthen access to productive water, agricultural inputs and equipment; for the installation of tree nurseries and reforestation of coastal ecosystems.

Solar and eco-energy equipment for food production, processing and preservation, and training in equipment use and maintenance.

Women and youth networking and advocacy

Support and strengthening of savings and credit systems provided to women’s groups.

10. Technical and financial partners

Project funded by Affaire Mondiale Canada and implemented by INTERPARES, SUCO and their partners, including Inades-Formation – Secrétariat Général pour la Cote d’Ivoire.

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