Local | PANORAMA

Training on Community Engagement and Behavior Change

Interactive training sessions

Rare

A series of workshops train teams from local government units and other supporting organizations on how to utilize behavioral insights to inspire action. They learn how to use qualitative and quantitative research to generate insights, participatory approaches to get people towards shared goals, and tactics that help move the group through different phases of change, from building collective demand, to coordinating the shift, then strengthening norms. They practice designing and implementing their own activities, develop materials and assess their progress.

Willingness of the local government unit • Availability of funding for materials and activities • Well-coordinated local government unit • Efficient and motivated staff

The training needs to be practical and within the conceptual reach of the intended beneficiaries, implementers, communities and local governments units. Academic concepts need to be communicated in a simple and understandable manner to be appreciated. Practical examples and bright spots are important. Guidance on next steps helps ensure long-term sustainability of efforts. Encouraging creativity and inventiveness will allow the communities to accomplish the objectives with minimal cost and effort. Cross-visits and inter-community sharing of experiences have greater impact than lectures.

Inception phase

Local

Southeast Asia

Community Engagement and Behavior Adoption in the Fish Forever program

Rocky

Sanchez Tirona

Training on Community Engagement and Behavior Change

Tools and Resources

Local Site Implementing Teams

Southeast Asia

Community Engagement and Behavior Adoption in the Fish Forever program

Rocky

Sanchez Tirona

Training on Community Engagement and Behavior Change

Tools and Resources

Local Site Implementing Teams

Promotion of Best Management Practices

Members of the Farmer Interest Groups are trained how to implement the Best Management Practices by the extension center. The training is partly theoretical and partly practical, and farmers involved in the development phase open their farm to Farmer Interest Group members so they gather first-hand experience. The extension center promotes Best Management Practices by disseminating information further through the extension officer’s daily advisory service. At the same time experiences and lessons learnt are fed back to the extension center to improve the Best Management Practices.

Best Management Practices ready for dissemination
Existing Farmer Interest Groups to receive and disseminate the information

Involving farmers who had already implemented the Best Management Practices and including practical experiences at farms increased the participation and information uptake on the trainees` side. The Best Management Practices were not written up by an external expert, but are based on experiences and trials at local farms. This increased the acceptance and willingness of farmers to implement the recommendations.

Documentation and dissemination of results

Local

Farmer Interest Groups

Aquaculture Farmer

Lisa Steurer/ GIZ

Farmer Intereste Group meeting

GIZ

Neighboring farmers meet regularly to share information and best practices on diversified aquaculture production. They buy seedlings as a group to be more cost-efficient, and grant loans to the farmer most in need. The loan is given on a yearly basis with a fixed interest rate and financed by the group’s membership fee.

Farmers who are willing to participate
Staff time for facilitation

Establishing the first group took extensive time due to farmers’ reluctance to trust facilitated group formation. Presenting proven benefits of Interest Groups and providing incentives for trainings (building block 3) convinced farmers to join. Members of the first Farmer Interest Groups served as example and facilitated the formation of additional groups. Involving farmers who operate mangrove aquaculture ponds outside the buffer zone proved successful for disseminating success stories. This convinced a number of farmers to join Farmer Interest Groups and plant mangroves in their pond, thereby increasing the overall forest cover and pond resilience.

Inception phase

Local

Development of Best Management Practices

Crab from species-mix aquaculture. Copyright GIZ.

Best Management Practices are optimized and adapted at trial farms. Copyright GIZ.

Information on current farm practices are gathered in cooperation with relevant institutions, in particular the province`s aquaculture research station and the private sector. Shortcomings of current techniques as well as areas for improvement are identified. At trial farms, these are addressed through the optimization and adaptation of Best Management Practices. These practices promote income diversification and improved aquaculture farm management through optimized species composition, stock density, water management, nursing and mangrove conservation.

The Best Management Practices are regularly adapted to address arising issues and new challenges as well as respond to market requirements.

Existing Silvo-Aquaculture farms and expertise
Farmers willing to adapt farm management and contribute lessons learned
Aquaculture research station with extensive technical and local knowledge

Involvement of the nearby Aquaculture Research Station proved to be of great advantage due to their experience and technical knowledge. Farmers from the community were involved in model trials, which then led to greater interest by other farmers to become involved. At least one year of trials is necessary to develop successful Best Management Practices which are then tested and thereafter regularly updated. .

Inception phase

Local

Fire management

A fire management plan is developed and put into practice, including investment planning and establishing the appropriate equipment and infrastructure for fire prevention and to control burning. Moreover, park staff capacity is developed through training in sustainable fire management, law enforcement, monitoring and evaluation.

• An evidence based solution • The necessary funding to implement the building block • Engagement of the local community • Preferably a co-management agreement

The partnership between the governmental authority in charge of implementation and the project was strong due to the political will from all levels. As a result, the national government funded the infrastructure while the project complemented the success of this building block with the necessary training for capacity building of park staff, and livelihood development of people. The co-management approach was crucial for the success of fire management for this peat forest and thus conservation of the National Park’s unique ecosystem.

Implementation

Local

Water management

Efficient water management schemes for the appropriate flooding of different soils in peat swamp forests are designed and implemented, using existing canals and constructing new gates if required. Fire prevention infrastructure is made available, and Park staff are trained in management, technical, law enforcement, monitoring and evaluation issues. As part of co-management, support is provided to local farmers to cultivate endemic fish which live in peat swamp forests.

• An evidence-based solution • The necessary funding to implement the building block • Engagement of the local community • A co-management agreement

This building block was developed and implemented in close partnership with the national government. The political will from all levels encouraged the national government to provide funds for the infrastructure. The project collaborators provided complementary support for training and livelihood development, with a focus on the importance of maintaining the park as the source for clean water and fish fingerlings. This support enhanced the relationship between park staff and the local community.

Implementation

Local

Assessing the effect of the water level to peatland at U Minh Thuong National P…

Multi-stakeholder workshop

Participants representing diverse interests meet to discuss three issues: biodiversity in the National Park, water management and fire prevention, and co-management for natural resources. The group decides on actions to be taken and agrees on an appropriate timetable for action. Group members include representatives from ministries, universities, science and planning institutes, province governments’ staff, national parks, protected areas, and local communities.

• Agreement on the problem • Strong political will at all levels • Engagement of the local community • Support for technical and methodological knowledge • Support to establish and sustain co-management

Not only was the problem recognized and prioritized, but also stakeholders at all levels showed strong commitment to working together for saving this significant cultural site, its biodiversity and ecosystem. The support provided by the project to start and follow through with a co-management process proved to be a winning input that brought together all stakeholders with different backgrounds to jointly identify the problem. This process helped all stakeholders reach an agreement to undertake the appropriate steps towards conservation and sustainable development of the National Park. It also allowed, at the same time, accommodation of farmer’s interests to raise an endangered, endemic fish species that contributes to food security and income.

Planning phase

Local