Next, farmers plant their crops in the Deep Beds. Deep Bed Farming encourages farmers to move away from the monocropping that is practiced across much of Malawi. In monocropping, a single crop, in this case maize, is planted exclusively year after year on the same plots of land. Monocropping weakens the structure of the soil and depletes it of nutrients and leads to the growth of weeds and pests that are difficult to manage. To move away from monocropping, Deep Bed Farming diversifies crops through the application of intercropping and crop rotation.
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Intercropping means that additional crops are planted alongside the staple crop of maize in the same season. These crops provide a natural ground cover that conserves soil moisture and also protects the land from the impact of large raindrops, which contributes to soil erosion. Crop rotation refers to changing the crops that are grown on a plot of land over the course of multiple seasons. In Deep Bed Farming, typical choices for intercropping include low-growing crops like pumpkins and ground nuts. For crop rotation, farmers will often rotate between legumes (e.g., beans) and cereals (e.g., maize).

Both intercropping and crop rotation regenerate the land, including undoing some of the damage caused by monocropping. Diversified crops restore depleted soil nutrients, increase soil fertility, improve soil structure and prevent erosion, and provide natural pest management. Together with the use of mulch and compost, this step enables farmers to transition away from the use of synthetic fertilisers.

Next is the creation of the Deep Beds. These beds are designed to minimise water runoff, to maximise water retention, and to prevent a new compacted layer of soil from developing. With the soil hardpan broken, Deep Beds and the crops grown on them regenerate the land to allow roots, water, and air to penetrate into the soil indefinitely.

To prepare for the creation of Deep Beds, farmers make careful measurements to plan and then form marker ridges in harmony with the natural terrain. Each ridge has a ditch running alongside it, created with soil excavated when the ridges were formed. Ditches become holding reservoirs for rainwater and allow the water to slowly enter into the soil, helping to improve local water tables through a process called groundwater recharge. If the farmland is on a slope, the ditch is constructed uphill of the ridge so that it can serve as a dam for water after heavy rains. The ridge is then stabilised by planting vetiver. This non-invasive grass establishes deep root networks that contribute to sturdy soil structures, which also helps to mitigate erosion.

Now the farmers begin building the Deep Beds between the marker ridges! Deep Beds are designed to be larger than ridges used in conventional farming in Malawi. Each bed measures one metre wide, enough for two rows of maize or three rows of smaller crops. This wider bed enables a more agricultural land to be used for growing by creating a higher bed-to-ratio. Once created, the Deep Beds are never trodden on again, preventing re-compaction and the formation of a new hardpan.

Deep Bed Farming begins with the crucial step of using a pickaxe to break up the compacted soil or hardpan. Breaking the hardpan in and of itself delivers powerful benefits by allowing roots, water, and air to penetrate deeply into the soil. These benefits produce immediate effects towards curbing soil erosion, or even stopping it altogether, thereby allowing rich healthy soils to start developing. Crops with deeper roots tend to be stronger. They can also successfully deal with long periods of dry weather and drought, which have become increasingly common because of climate change. Now able to penetrate the soil further, the deeper roots can also store much larger quantities of water for longer periods of time. Greater water storage enables roots to nourish crops far into the dry season.
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This first step provides prompt, tangible benefits that are key to establishing credibility and raising enthusiasm for Tiyeni’s methods among farmers. The credibility and enthusiasm also build the momentum to interest farmers in additional aspects of Deep Bed Farming.

This building block captures the iterative research, prototyping, and testing process behind the design and performance optimization of Sparsa's compostable menstrual pads. The goal was to systematically address key challenges such as absorbency, retention, and hygiene using accessible, compostable materials and context-appropriate methods. 
 
During initial trials, the embossing of the word 'Sparsa' into the pad design caused production issues, as the added pressure led to small holes at the site of embossing. This aesthetic feature was removed in future die versions to preserve structural integrity. Material testing revealed that the non-woven cotton selected for the top layer was hydrophobic, preventing fluid from entering the absorbent core. Though soft and natural, it was unsuitable. It was replaced by viscose, a hydrophilic and compostable fiber. However, viscose caused another issue—it spread liquid too effectively toward the wings, where no absorbent material was present, leading to leakage. 
 
To address these problems, internal lab tests were developed and applied. The team created over twenty prototypes, varying in top layers, glue types, layer arrangements, and inclusion of guar gum. Some of these, like guar gum, improved total retention but introduced a gel-like texture that reduced comfort and slowed absorption. Tests showed that glue can either support or hinder fluid transfer depending on how and where it's applied—too much glue acted as a barrier and even left residues. Effective glue bonding improved layer connectivity but required careful quantity control. 
 
One critical hygiene failure revealed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. Investigation found that gloves were not mandatory in the fiber factory, especially after cooking. Human skin was the primary contamination source. The team responded by revising hygiene protocols, making gloves mandatory post-cooking in both pad and fiber factories. This step eliminated the bacterial presence in follow-up tests. 
 
To better understand bacterial presence and reduction strategies, five process variations were developed—each changing the sequence of cooking, beating, and chlorine treatment. These were labeled Sample A to E and tested for bacterial load. The results provided insight into how specific steps and moisture conditions influence microbial contamination. 
 
Leakage from the wings was another key challenge, especially with viscose layers that spread liquid outward. Since wings lacked absorbent material, the team created different prototypes to control this spread. Solutions included modifying top layers, stretching or perforating materials, using starch or wood glue in targeted zones, and bonding absorbent materials more tightly. Some prototypes featured layered configurations with transfer paper. Tests confirmed that fluid distribution and retention improved only when materials were positioned effectively—paper layers under the core performed poorly, while those bonded near the surface aided absorption. 
 
Through every iteration, the team learned to question assumptions, test every new configuration, and document repeatable results. Design improvements were not driven by one-time outcomes but by data-backed testing, careful material selection, and practical lessons from production. 
 

Este bloque se centra en el fortalecimiento de la gobernanza comunitaria en el Área de Vida Guajukaka, liderada por las comunidades guaraníes de Alto Isoso. A través de procesos participativos, los capitanes y sus equipos técnicos implementan una gestión territorial que vincula saberes tradicionales con herramientas modernas. Mediante talleres y actividades de mapeo, las comunidades profundizan su conocimiento del territorio, identificando áreas críticas para la biodiversidad y priorizando acciones de conservación. en este esfuerzo territorial se elabora el Plan de Inicio de Gestión (PIG) del Área de Vida Guajukaka, donde se identifican las acciones prioritarias para cinco años en el territorio. A nivel de la Autonomía Indogena Charagua Iyambae, se promulga su Ley de Áreas Protegidas.

El GAIOC está considerando asumir una parte del incentivo a los guardianes comunitarios. En la actualidad la Fundación Natura Bolivia, asume el presupuesto estimado para 10 guardianes mensual para remuneración, operatividad y logística de los guardianes del monte es de 18.300 bs, aproximadamente 2.500 USD al cambio actual de Bolivia.

To strengthen the capacity of local patrollers in the Fierenana forest, a targeted training program was implemented to support grassroots communities with practical tools and knowledge for biodiversity monitoring. This initiative focused on lemur conservation and involved both theoretical and field-based instruction. Patrollers were trained in responsible forest navigation, emphasizing the importance of silence, attentiveness to visual and auditory cues, and appropriate behavior to minimize disturbance to wildlife.

A key component of the training was the introduction of four standardized data collection sheets. These tools guided patrollers in documenting transect routes, recording sightings of target species, identifying threats, and noting microhabitat conditions. The transect sheet helped define patrol routes, which followed existing forest trails and were marked every 25 meters with blue flags to aid in spatial referencing. Transects ranged from 1,000 to 4,500 meters and were selected to maximize forest coverage while avoiding deforested areas. To prevent overlap in observations, adjacent transects were spaced at least 250 meters apart.

During patrols, patrollers walked at a steady pace of 1 km/h, recording all visible lemurs along the transect. Observations included species identification, group size, age categories, and, when possible, sex. For each group, the patroller estimated distances to aid in future density calculations. Only visual sightings were counted to avoid duplication from vocalizations. In parallel, patrollers documented threats such as traps, logging, fires, and slash-and-burn agriculture, attempting to quantify their extent in terms of number, volume, or area. Any threats observed were flagged with red markers and dated to avoid repeated reporting in future surveys.

Patrollers also learned to use GPS devices to locate transect starting points and to ensure consistent data collection. Surveys were ideally conducted at the same time each day, starting no later than 7:30 AM, to maintain comparability. Observations of non-target species and off-transect sightings were also recorded to provide a broader ecological context. Each of the nine local community-based organizations (COBAs) was responsible for monitoring two to three transects per month, fostering local ownership and continuity in conservation efforts.

This building block demonstrates how structured training, simple tools, and community engagement can be effectively combined to support conservation goals. It offers a replicable model for other forest ecosystems and species monitoring programs.

To strengthen the capacity of local patrollers in the Fierenana forest, a targeted training program was implemented to support grassroots communities with practical tools and knowledge for biodiversity monitoring. This initiative focused on lemur conservation and involved both theoretical and field-based instruction. Patrollers were trained in responsible forest navigation, emphasizing the importance of silence, attentiveness to visual and auditory cues, and appropriate behavior to minimize disturbance to wildlife.

A key component of the training was the introduction of four standardized data collection sheets. These tools guided patrollers in documenting transect routes, recording sightings of target species, identifying threats, and noting microhabitat conditions. The transect sheet helped define patrol routes, which followed existing forest trails and were marked every 25 meters with blue flags to aid in spatial referencing. Transects ranged from 1,000 to 4,500 meters and were selected to maximize forest coverage while avoiding deforested areas. To prevent overlap in observations, adjacent transects were spaced at least 250 meters apart.

During patrols, patrollers walked at a steady pace of 1 km/h, recording all visible lemurs along the transect. Observations included species identification, group size, age categories, and, when possible, sex. For each group, the patroller estimated distances to aid in future density calculations. Only visual sightings were counted to avoid duplication from vocalizations. In parallel, patrollers documented threats such as traps, logging, fires, and slash-and-burn agriculture, attempting to quantify their extent in terms of number, volume, or area. Any threats observed were flagged with red markers and dated to avoid repeated reporting in future surveys.

Patrollers also learned to use GPS devices to locate transect starting points and to ensure consistent data collection. Surveys were ideally conducted at the same time each day, starting no later than 7:30 AM, to maintain comparability. Observations of non-target species and off-transect sightings were also recorded to provide a broader ecological context. Each of the nine local community-based organizations (COBAs) was responsible for monitoring two to three transects per month, fostering local ownership and continuity in conservation efforts.

This building block demonstrates how structured training, simple tools, and community engagement can be effectively combined to support conservation goals. It offers a replicable model for other forest ecosystems and species monitoring programs.

Agroecology is a holistic approach, often described as a practice, a science and a social movement. Agroecology is the base for all interventions suggested in this solution.

As the initiated mindset change requires a fundamental, global behavioural change, an essential part of the efforts are directed to advocacy and awareness building activities such as information spreading through media houses, social media channels and conducting field visits with stakeholders from government, policy makers, educational entities, NGOs, donors and the private sector. 

Malawi has a population of around 22 million (worldometer 2025), of which almost 18 million are smallhoder farmers. If the initiated grassroot movement can be strengthened, Malawi could act as a leader in the global agroecological movement.

A structured monitoring and reporting framework was established to track the progress of each restoration method and assess outcomes. This framework involved regular data collection and reporting by trained community members, who were assigned specific tasks to ensure that the project’s ecological and social goals were being met. By monitoring the effectiveness of each intervention (e.g., soil erosion control, vegetation growth), the project could adapt techniques as needed and document best practices for future expansion.

Les chargées du suivi définis dans le cadre de la CL suivent le respect des règles, les mesures techniques prévues et l’évolution de la ressource.  Les résultats de visites de terrain sont présentés au moment des assemblées réguliers des signataires et lors des rencontres de la structure de gestion de la CL. 

Les résultats servent en tant que « outil d’aide à la décision » pour les actions ou futures ou modifications à entreprendre.

Pour obtenir des données valables et actuelles, et afin de faciliter leur propre monitoring des mesures de restauration, il est important que les communes veillent à la tenue des assemblées.  Il est conseillé qu’ils accompagnent le suivi propre des chargées de suivi de la CL. 

Outils : réunions du comité de suivi, assemblées générales, (photos, tableaux de suivi), enquêtes usagers