1 Diguettes in the Sahel A pragmatic look at the potential of participatory innovation for development Alessandro Meschinelli With the collaboration of Philippe Baret, Loic Monseur and Quentin Vandersteen Université de Louvain in connection with Projet Neer-Tamba alessandro.meschinelli@uclouvain.be
2 Collaboration IFAD - Université de Louvain (Belgium) Aim Partnerships Education Impact Knowledge Development Tools Research Projects Papers Funding Societal impact
3 Collaboration IFAD - Université de Louvain PIC-CUD 2003 PPILDA Partnerships Education 2009 Projects Methodology 2015 Research
4 Context – Combat desertification in the Sahel • The challenge magnitude
Context – Soil and Water Conservation Technologies 5 (water harvesting and soil fertility management) Xavi Fernández de Castro/IPS Zaï Demi-lunes IFAD Stone bunds IFAD
SHIFTING FROM THE « YIELDS INCREASE » MYTH TO THE CONCEPT OF TECHNOLOGY « ADOPTABILITY » • Conventional Agricultural research main paradigm (the « miserabilistic » view of N/S ties) focus and methods • Results on the ground (beyond Green Revolution) • More of the same (top-down diffusionist approaches) • Alternative approaches: co-research and co-innovation. Questioning the very « agricultural innovation system » - components, relationships, attributes/role of components • The real impact: self-esteem and self-confidence of farmers • Focussing on local circumstances and livelihood conditions • Presenting a research carried out in Burkina Faso and originally commissioned by IFAD in 2015.
Research purpose : enhancing project effectiveness and sustainability by relying on « local innovations/co- innovation » as alternative to transfer of technology mode • Concentrating on stone bunds (diguettes/cordons pierreux): erosion control structures built with rocks or stones in series of two or three. They are constructed in line along the natural contour of the land after 10-15 cm of the soil have been removed from the line where they have to be built. They are built to a height of 20/30 cm from the ground and spaced 20 to 50 meters apart depending on the inclination of the terrain (reason why this technology was chosen) . Research process: • - hypothesis (limits of ToT and potential alternatives) • - desk study (documents, 2015) • - field surveys (2016, 2017) • - article writing (first draft 2016, available E and F) • - feed back to project (workhops 2016) • - capacity development (Agrinovia, 2016-2017)
MODEL OF CHANGE CONSIDERED: design Project Farmers ’ limitations technology practices Identification & evaluation Adaptation of project interventions in support to local innovations
IFAD projects in Burkina Faso concerned = 100.000 ha of 9 stone bunds ! (to be scaled-up from 2015 by IFAD-financed project Neer Tamba = 114 million USD, 8 years, 3 regions)
10 Research methods - A diversity of sources Reports MSc theses IFAD, GIZ, Oxfam ISDR Scientific papers Interviews Interviews in Burkina Impacts & methods (1 + 1 month field surveys)
11 Research methods – The IPAAD grid to assess adoptability Access to knowledge on the innovation Information Advantages, relevant answer to issues Profitabilité Acceptabilité Change of habits, disruption Accessibilité Access to means, equal share of benefits Durabilité Sustainability, long term persistence
Technical description of the diguette (variations during 12 implementation recorded against a core conceptual model) Project model Diversity of implementations Diversity of achievements Diversity of impacts
Steps for the implementation of « project model » diguettes Choice of site Delineation of level curves Sous-solage Stone collection Buiding the diguette Transport of stones
Project inputs • Financial incentives • Technical expertise • Food for work • Transport • Equipment • Group training/facilitation • ….
15 The « project model» diguette analyzed • Exercice 1: apply the IPAAD grid to the technology designed by the project (groups) • Discuss findings
Applying the IPAAD grid to documentation available. Main 16 research findings (2015): Access to knowledge on innovation Information Good information, well understood innovation Advantage, relevant answer to issues Profitabilité Focus on yield, variability of costs Acceptabilité Change of habits, disruption, Adaptation of an existing technique High dependency to project funding Accessibilité Access to means, equal share of benefits Land,stones,work Project funding no discrimination Durabilité Sustainability, long term persistence A project-dependent process ?
RESEARCH ON THE GROUND (9 villages): FINDINGS • 36 innovations/adaptations by farmers of the original, project- based stone bund concept (Master Thesis L.M. 2016) • They are based on an array of motivations, dealing with variations in topography, farmers ’ priorities, limitations in stone and labour availability, land tenure circumstances, producers ’ technical creativity and capacities • They fall in 6 main categories: design of the diguettes; arrangement of stones; vegetalisation; complementary technologies; plot management (Master Thesis Q.V. 2017) • After evaluation and caracterisation according to IPAAD criteria (improved), 9 typologies of stone bunds have been selected for dissemination, with project supports • The production of « fiches technique » or technical notes: different modalities of their individual or grouped diffusion (peer to peer, top- down…) to ensure their effective use
• Illustration of farmers ’ adaptations/innovations
Burning « andropogon «
23 Recording diversity in implementation Project model Diversity in implementation Diversity of achievements Diversity of impacts
24 Rationale for the diversity in implementation Project model Availability of Diversity of stones, transport, implementations food for work Perfect bunds, light bunds, Diversity of achievements adapted bunds Diversity of impacts
25 No integration of farmers ’ innovations in project design Technical proposition Impacts Implementation
26 Integration of farmers ’ innovations in project design Technical proposal Farmers ’ knowledge Impacts and practices Impacts Organisational innovations Technical adaptations Adapted bunds Décalage entre la diguette Ideal stone bunds réalisée et la diguette-type
27 Integration of farmers ’ innovations in project design Integration in new approach/projects Technical proposal Farmer’s knowledge Impacts and practices Impacts Organisational innovations Technical adaptations Adapted bunds Model bunds
From « project model » to local adaptations
30 Comparing approaches: diguettes adaptations by farmers • Exercice 2: are we in the context of an innovation ? Please describe its main features based on what you define as « innovation ». (Groups)
Implications for re-designing Neer Tamba implementation DISPOSITIF POUR LA MISE EN ŒUVRE DES CORDONS PIERREUX AVANT/APRES RECHERCHE • Identification des sites pilote de réalisation des ouvrages/critères • Exemple : avant guidé par des considérations bio-physiques ou sociales/après guidé par la valorisation des initiatives et dynamiques en cours • Phase de sensibilisation et d’organisation • Exemple : avant comité de gestion impulsé par le projet/après rassemblement des innovateurs/trices • Standard techniques • Exemple : avant optimum technique déterminé par les ingénieurs/après adaptation des modèles de cordons pierreux aux initiatives et dynamiques en cours • Mobilisation et organisation des communautés • Exemple : avant protocole impulsé par les mesures d’incitation prévues et les attentes du projet/après intégration de nouvelles formules selon les innovations socio- organisationnelles locales et les objectifs des populations
Implications for re-designing Neer Tamba implementation DISPOSITIF POUR LA MISE EN ŒUVRE DES CORDONS PIERREUX AVANT/APRES RECHERCHE(suite) • Fourniture de matériel, nourriture, transport • Exemple : avant stock prédéterminé de fourniture/après fournitures à la carte sur la base d’un fonds géré par les communautés • Apport expertise technique • Exemple : avant expertise externe/après mix expertise externe et paysanne • Réalisation des diguettes • Exemple : avant formation en technique d’identification et de matérialisation des courbes de niveau, collecte des moellons, transfert des moellons sur les sites, alignement des moellons/après nouvelles formations basées sur les innovations paysannes • Supervision et contrôle • Exemple : avant supervision du projet/après suivi-évaluation paysan en lien avec le projet
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