1. Social learning, action research and dynamic project monitoring and evaluation

Finding solutions to sustainability problems requires the involvement of local stakeholders in the research process. Moreover, when we aim to foster change in agricultural production systems and chains, learning is required by all actors involved including researchers, extensionists, policy makers and farmers. In this context, monitoring and evaluation is increasingly seen as crucial to the success of rural research and development projects because it supports the real time feedback and learning required to successfully implement projects in complex and unpredictable environments.

In this workshop we are interested in the theoretical framework, methods and experiences on actual processes of change, and also in methods, tools and experiences on multi-stakeholder rural development projects. How to build shared visions about the future, how to formalize actors expectations about change and the ways to achieve it, and how to evaluate progress, re-define goals and re-adjust methods and relationships among participants accordingly. Discussing different perspectives and experiences on participatory innovation processes, facilitation of rural development and extension approaches is the focus of this workshop.

TOP

2. Quantitative systems models to diagnose and re-design farming systems

Alternative developmental tracks are possible where socio-economic improvements are combined with improved natural resource use. Many of these alternatives share socio-economic and agro-ecological diversification of livelihoods as an important direction for improved income and resource use. Economic diversification concerns choice of markets, product transformation, distribution channels and off-farm sources of income. Agro-ecological diversification refers to the balance between crop and livestock production, the types of crops and animals, and the technologies with which they are produced. Decisions on diversification by rural stakeholders interact with the available human and physical resources of the farm family and with the socio-economic and political environment. Together, these components, their interactions and the feedbacks between them constitute a complex system where various rural actors intervene with their own objectives and priorities. Systems thinking provides the means to structure these components and their interactions and assess consequences of changes in systems management. It enables the assessment of alternative options and the understanding of trade-offs between objectives. The latter is important to reveal conflicts between alternatives and to provide directions for promising alternative development tracks. This workshop focuses on development and application of agro-ecological and bio-economic models to assess and design innovative agricultural production systems, enhance learning and aid decision making.

TOP

3. Methods and indicators for assessment of sustainability of agricultural systems and natural resources management

Design and implementation of more sustainable natural resource management systems is the current objective of many research institutions, development agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders. But, how to assess whether a system is sustainable? How do we know whether the alternatives designed will increase the sustainability of the system? How to evaluate or assess the sustainability of natural resource management systems? This workshop focuses on theoretical frameworks and applications of methods and indicators to assess the sustainability of current and alternative agricultural systems.

TOP

4. Global and regional drivers of livelihood development: Policy making and evaluation.

The sustainability and development of smallholder or family farmers in Latin America is threatened by the combined impact of several global challenges, including the global financial crises of 2008–09, increasing demand for bio-fuel production, and climate change. Increasing competition for land and water resources by large scale agricultural enterprises in pursuit of profit opportunities offered by high prices of cereals or soybean caused a revaluation of natural resources in some countries.

Agriculture is a sector in which policy plays a significant role, and smallholder farmers are particularly sensitive to the institutional context and degree of protection given by government policies which influence their access to knowledge, services, markets and production resources, consequently determining under which context farmers have to operate. This workshop focuses on studies into both the evaluation of impact of trends in global and regional drivers, and macro-economic and agricultural policies on rural livelihoods, and the design or building of appropriate policies and institutional tools to promote sustainability of rural livelihoods.