Farmers and Herders Learning how to make Briquettes with Animal and Crop waste 2
GIZ PEACECORE
Integrated Approaches to Peacebuilding Through Joint Livelihoods
Farmers and herders in Ancha Community making hay and silage with their harvested congo grass
GIZ PEACECORE
The PEACECORE project uses sustainable, climate conscious livelihood support as a tool to restore traditional, and create new, trade and exchange opportunities for farmers and herders in 6 Local Government Areas of Plateau State, Nigeria. The aim is to replace negative conflict behaviors with mutually beneficial economic relations, while mediation and dialogue also supported through the first building block. Participants from communities affected by conflict have been brought together and trained across various organic agricultural and dairy value chain opportunities, cooperative formation and operation, and conflict resolution. Through such efforts we have been able to bring together conflicting livelihood groups of farmers and herders to establish trade agreements and form cooperatives around value chains including organic fertilizer supply, supply of cow dung and crop waste for briquette production, fodder and forage production, dairy and tofu production etc.
- The selection of value chains that are beneficial to both parties such as fodder production, organic fertilizer.
- Strong reputation of GIZ in implementation of agricultural and development programmes meant participants were willing to trust the process.
- Willingness of conflicting partners to find solutions to the conflict.
- Availability of resources for the project and initiatives such as technical skills and equipment, financing etc meant that participants could create tangible structures and operations.
- Trust building is essential as well as involving participants across all stages of project interventions.
- Adding value to existing business and products is a useful first step to engagement.
- New ideas and processes are welcome as long as the benefits can be perceived.
- Using connectors (things that both parties need in common) is essential.