Implementation | PANORAMA

Addressing Socio-Economic Needs Through Livelihood Alter-natives

Lead farmer, Owen Gomani in his banana orchard as part of livelihood boost

FAO

Potato in storage waiting for price hikes, The potato was grown at the rehabilitated Chiyata Irrigation to enable multiple cropping in a season

FAO

This building block aligns Farmer Field School (FFS) activities with the economic needs of local communities by introducing sustainable livelihood options. By teaching agroforestry, diversified crops and other commercial enterprises, FFS help farmers improve soil health, increase crop yields and find alternatives to unsustainable practices such as charcoal production. This approach provides economic incentives to adopt sustainable practices, demonstrating that FLR can improve both environmental and economic well-being.

Financial and logistical support from project partners enables the initial implementation of agroforestry and income-generating activities. Training on alternative livelihoods through FFS demonstrates the economic value of sustainable practices, making them more attractive to farmers.

Aligning FLR activities with local economic needs is essential for long-term success. When farmers see improved yields and increased incomes, they are more likely to adopt sustainable practices. Ensuring that restoration efforts contribute to immediate livelihood improvements motivates community members to actively participate in FLR.

Implementation

Subnational

National

Integrating Traditional Knowledge and Sustainable Practices

FFS combines traditional land management practices with sustainable FLR techniques, allowing communities to build on their existing knowledge. This integration respects cultural practices and promotes acceptance, facilitating the transition to sustainable land management. This step is also essential when communities make comparisons between what they are learning and their own knowledge/skills/practices.

A key component of FFS success is the integration of traditional knowledge, achieved through open dialogue with local elders and knowledge holders. Facilitators and project leaders are encouraged to understand and respect existing land use practices, which helps to integrate these practices with modern sustainable techniques. This culturally sensitive approach facilitates the acceptance of new methods, while increasing their effectiveness by building on familiar practices. Support from project partners ensures that traditional methods are respected and combined with ecological restoration techniques, increasing both community buy-in and practical relevance.

Combining traditional and modern practices makes FLR more relevant to local contexts. When restoration techniques resonate with familiar practices, communities are more likely to engage in and adopt FLR activities because these methods feel accessible and practical. When local knowledge forms the basis of the restoration approach, communities feel that they are partners rather than passive recipients of aid. This sense of ownership is essential for the long-term management of restored areas, as communities feel personally responsible for maintaining and protecting these landscapes. Traditional knowledge also often includes time-tested methods that are well suited to the local environment, such as specific planting cycles or water conservation practices adapted to seasonal weather patterns.

Implementation

Subnational

National

Conducting Demonstration Days and Hands-On Learning

Plot layout demonstration to enhance learning for FFS members

FAO

Hands-on experience for FFS members on nursery establishment

FAO

FFS members in a practical on making a seed bed

FAO

FFS members showcasing different tree species promoted for FLR at a district commem-oration event

FAO

FFS emphasizes hands-on training through demonstration days where participants practice sustainable techniques like soil conservation, agroforestry, and erosion control. These field-based sessions allow farmers to learn by doing, improving retention and adoption of new practices.

The success of demonstration days relies on providing accessible plots and necessary materials (such as seeds, tools, and equipment) that allow farmers to engage directly with FLR techniques. External support from partners helps ensure that FFS are equipped with resources to run effective, hands-on sessions. Additionally, experienced facilitators guide these practical sessions, ensuring that participants understand the application and benefits of each technique, from soil conservation to agroforestry. This approach increases confidence among participants and reinforces learning by allowing them to see and feel the results of their efforts in real-time

Hands-on learning is more impactful than theory alone. Demonstration days help farmers see immediate results, which increases confidence in applying the techniques on their own land.

Implementation

Local

Selecting and Training of Lead Farmers

Lead farmer training in Farmer Field Schools

FAO

FFS members trained in grafting of fruit seedlings

FAO

Choosing lead farmers who act as champions for FFS is a critical step. Lead farmers are selected based on community recommendations and receive additional training to guide FFS sessions. They serve as role models, facilitate peer learning, and ensure that new techniques are correctly implemented. Lead farmers help maintain motivation and act as local points of contact for any issues that arise.

Selecting lead farmers from within the community is crucial, as these individuals are respected and trusted by their peers. Training for lead farmers is supported by technical expertise from project partners (e.g., FAO, IUCN), who provide knowledge on sustainable practices and techniques. These lead farmers act as both role models and facilitators, bridging the gap between formal training and community-level implementation. Their position as local champions allows them to encourage participation, maintain motivation, and ensure that sustainable practices are being correctly followed by FFS participants.

Empowering respected individuals as lead farmers boosts local credibility of FFS and ensures that skills and knowledge are effectively transferred.

Implementation

Local

Continuous monitoring arrangements

A robust monitoring mechanism of the process needs to be put in place. Technical staff need to ensure that they engage with communities to explore whether there are challenges and how they can address them. During these monitoring events, communities also share their experiences.
This is part of the continuous learning cycle to improve where necessary. New techniques are also shared during these monitoring events.

The monitoring team consists of various experts (forestry, agriculture, community development, fisheries, water development, M&E), FAO, IUCN. The core team is from the government, as they have permanent representation in the district. This ensures sustainability of knowledge and resilience of systems in the area. It is important to support communities with simple work plans.

There is a need for resilient communities that can withstand the challenges of recovery. However, if their capacities are strengthened, they will be able to monitor their own activities.

Implementation

Monitoring

Local

Supporting the communities with livelihood options to enable them to meet their day to day needs

Community members supported with goats for income generation to meet household needs

FAO

Installed beehives for local honey production

FAO

This building block aims at sustaining communities with day-to-day survival options. As communities engage in restoration work, they need to engage in compensatory and beneficial economic activities as individuals or groups. The communities identified livelihoods of their choice. In this project, the communities chose goat and chicken rearing, mushroom growing and bee-keeping. So far, the project has supported them with chicken and goat rearing and bee-keeping. The benefits from these livelihoods are used to meet household needs such as agricultural inputs, clothing and school fees for children.

Proper community assessment of livelihood options and the availability of funding from the project enabled the provision of livelihood options and the ability to train communities in the production of different options.

Incorporating economic activities into FLR interventions has increased the enthusiasm of communities to engage in restoration work. Initially, some members dropped out of the groups to meet their daily needs through the destructive means when they felt the project would not directly benefit them. After the introduction of the livelihood opportunities, more members rejoined the groups.

Implementation

Local

Allowing communities to factor in their indigenous techniques.

One of the groups in Kasale community is managing Nkhongo Yazizira part of the reserve and makes notices around the area

FAO

Part of the regenerated Nkhongo Yazizira portion of the reserve

FAO

In order to achieve sustainability, the communities were allowed to factor in their traditional knowledge and skills on how to concretize the new working modalities. The communities added another set of working groups from various villages. The working groups were shared a portion of the reserve to manage. This made the work of the overall committee easy as it turned into a monitoring committee. The groups make their own plans (work plans) for various activities such as patrolling, making of firebreaks etc.

The achievement of building block 3 was largely due to the willingness of the involved communities to execute various roles assigned to and chosen by them.

When communities are given the opportunities to weigh in their knowledge and skills, the success can be guaranteed. Professional knowledge should be blended with indigenous knowledge to attain maximum benefits.

Inception phase

Implementation

Local

Training of committees

The committees are trained on general management of the reserve. Some topics include facilitation of natural regeneration, simple silvicultural operations, firebreak maintenance. Apart from these technical topics, group dynamics and conflict management are also taught. These topics help to ensure all the committee members, and the general communities work towards achieving one agenda despite diversities in opinions.

Key staff from government departments at the District Council had an agreement with FAO on implementation of activities. The staff are well trained and experienced.

Providing resources to professional staff as working partners makes implementation of activities easy.

Implementation

Subnational

Revamping forestry block committees and communities surrounding the reserve

The first step is to convene all the forest block committees, local leaders and rural communities in general. These meetings focus on addressing issues that have negatively affected the communities as a result of the deforested reserve. This is followed by the establishment of new committees to oversee the new management plans.

Although not selected in committees, local leaders are vested with the role of patron for any community committee. The leaders therefore own the initiative and become key in achieving the results. Conflicts end at them.

Proper selection of committees and engagement of local leaders provide conducive environments for all the communities to own and participate in the activities.

Inception phase

Implementation

Local

Invasive species management

Invasive species management plan was prepared and implemented to deal with invasive birds as well as invasive plant species on the Island. Important invasive bird species on Farasan include Common myna Acridotheres tristis and House Crow Corvus splendens. Invasive plants found on Farasan Island include Mesquite Prosopis juliflora and Jerusalem thorn Parkinsonia aculeata. Mitigation efforts are planned to be scaled up after the evidence of initial success.

Implementation

National