Joep van Mierlo, CEO VSF-Belgium Pastoral field schools and proximity learning a climate change perspective EU development Briefing February 22nd 2012.

Joep van Mierlo, CEO VSF-Belgium

Pastoral field schools and proximity learning

a climate change perspective

EU development BriefingFebruary 22nd 2012

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• Climate Change• Decline in food production• Change of migratory patterns• Resource-based conflicts

Pastoral Field School (PFS)

School without wallsComposition:• Groups of 30-40

pastoralists• PFS facilitator

“Developing people”

Pastoral Field School (PFS)

Observation and experimentation• 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 contextTo assist pastoralists and their

communities to appreciate their own traditional institutions

Principles

Facilitation, not teaching• Farmer = expert• Learner-led study• Skilled Facilitator• Learn how to learn

The field is the classroom

Learning through practical exercices• Visuals and experiments• Learning by doing• Learning from mistakes• Challenges instead of

constraints

Agro-Ecosystem analysis• Systematic training

process

Principles

Agro-Ecosystem analysis

Observation

Analysis

Discussion 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 optionsThrough:•Special topic sessions•Experiential exercices•Exchange visits•Sharing of knowledge

Discovery based learning:Development of “Critical DecisionMaking Capacity” through adaptation and testing of technological options to adress identified problems. (Field trials, Participatory technology Evaluation, etc.)

Results

Poultry keepingHygiene:• Personal • Food preparation

Dissemination of information (Livestock diseases, droughts, etc.)“Culture of Learning”

Impact

General improvement in members’ livelihoods• Housing• Increased incomes• Food security• Health

Social-economical empowermentAdoption and adaptation of improved

practices• Against environmental degradation• Against climate change (droughts, etc.)

Challenges

Participation to the entire cycleSupport of self-facilitated PFS groupsLegalization/registration of community

based groups.Strengthening role of PFS in emergency

responsesInvolvement of government

departmentsBudget for replication

Thank you

[email protected]

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