Joep van Mierlo, CEO VSF-Belgium Pastoral field schools and proximity learning a climate change perspective EU development Briefing February 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 walls Composition: Groups of 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 context To 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 ObservationAnalysis Discussion Presentation

Principles Every PFS is unique Also “Farmer-led” Unity is Strength Empowerment through collective action = 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 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 Follow us on: