Pastoral field schools and proximity learning
a climate change perspective
EU development Briefing
February 22nd 2012
Joep van Mierlo,
CEO VSF-Belgium
Veterinaries Sans Frontières
Vision
Earth, People and Animal
are 3 inseperatable elements of a chain where
the animal is a significant factor
for sustainable development.
“HEALTHY LIVESTOCK,
HEALTHY PEOPLE”
Evolution
Farmer Field Schools (1989)
• South East Asia
• Rice production: successful
• Expansion
- Geographical: Asia, Africa, ME and Latin America
- Thematical: other types of agricultural production +
socio-ecological conditions
2001: dairy FFS in Kenya
Pastoral Field Schools (PFS)
2006: ILRI + VSF-Belgium : Pastoral Field
School (supported by FAO and ECHO)
Reaction to droughts
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•
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Climate Change
Decline in food production
Change of migratory patterns
Resource-based conflicts
Pastoral Field School (PFS)
School without walls
Composition:
• Groups of 30-40
pastoralists
• PFS facilitator
“Developing people”
Pastoral Field School (PFS)
Observation and experimentation
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•
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Hands-on training
Through different seasons
Comparative experiments
Accessible media
Capacity building
• Participatory learning approaches
• Merge “traditional” knowledge with external information
• Proper livelihood system analysis
Pastoral Field School (PFS)
Why?
To become more resilient and less vulnerable
• E.g. with regards to Climate Variability: learn and
develop new ways to adapt and solve problems
To empower pastoralists to remain the experts
in their own context
To assist pastoralists and their communities to
appreciate their own traditional institutions
Principles
Facilitation, not teaching
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•
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•
Farmer = expert
Learner-led study
Skilled Facilitator
Learn how to learn
The field is the
classroom
Principles
Learning through practical
exercices
•
•
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Visuals and experiments
Learning by doing
Learning from mistakes
Challenges instead of
constraints
Agro-Ecosystem analysis
• Systematic training process
Agro-Ecosystem analysis
Observation
Discussion
Analysis
Presentation
Principles
Every PFS is unique
• Also “Farmer-led”
Unity is Strength
• Empowerment through
collective action
• 1+1=3
PFS pillars
Group Organization:
Confidence, organizational
management, etc.
Through:
•Structured learning
•Group dynamics
•Host team
Technical Exposure and Demo:
“Basket of options”,
Exposure to ideas and options
Through:
•Special topic sessions
•Experiential exercices
•Exchange visits
•Sharing of knowledge
Discovery based learning:
Development of “Critical Decision
Making Capacity” through
adaptation and testing of
technological options to adress
identified problems. (Field trials,
Participatory technology
Evaluation, etc.)
Results
Poultry keeping
Hygiene:
• Personal
• Food preparation
Dissemination of information (Livestock
diseases, droughts, etc.)
“Culture of Learning”
Impact
General improvement in members’ livelihoods
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•
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Housing
Increased incomes
Food security
Health
Social-economical empowerment
Adoption and adaptation of improved practices
• Against environmental degradation
• Against climate change (droughts, etc.)
Challenges
Participation to the entire cycle
Support of self-facilitated PFS groups
Legalization/registration of community based
groups.
Strengthening role of PFS in emergency
responses
Involvement of government departments
Budget for replication
Thank you
www.vsf-belgium.org
Follow us on:
j.vanmierlo@vsf-belgium.org