Your search found 12 records
1 Douthwaite, B.; Hoffecker, E. 2017. Towards a complexity-aware theory of change for participatory research programs working within agricultural innovation systems. Agricultural Systems, 155:88-102. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2017.04.002]
Agricultural research ; Participatory research ; Research programmes ; Agricultural innovation systems ; International organizations ; CGIAR ; Aquatic environment ; Agricultural systems ; Fisheries ; Stakeholders ; Scientists ; Farmers ; Evaluation ; Empowerment ; Case studies ; Plant fibres ; Abaca ; Models / Zambia / Philippines
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048508)
(0.83 MB)
Agricultural innovation systems (AIS) are increasingly recognized as complex adaptive systems in which interventions cannot be expected to create predictable, linear impacts. Nevertheless, the logic models and theory of change (ToC) used by standard-setting international agricultural research agencies and donors assume that agricultural research will create impact through a predictable linear adoption pathway which largely ignores the complexity dynamics of AIS, and which misses important alternate pathways through which agricultural research can improve system performance and generate sustainable development impact. Despite a growing body of literature calling for more dynamic, flexible and “complexity-aware” approaches to monitoring and evaluation, few concrete examples exist of ToC that takes complexity dynamics within AIS into account, or provide guidance on how such theories could be developed. This paper addresses this gap by presenting an example of how an empirically-grounded, complexity-aware ToC can be developed and what such a model might look like in the context of a particular type of program intervention. Two detailed case studies are presented from an agricultural research program which was explicitly seeking to work in a “complexity-aware” way within aquatic agricultural systems in Zambia and the Philippines. Through an analysis of the outcomes of these interventions, the pathways through which they began to produce impacts, and the causal factors at play, we derive a “complexity-aware” ToC to model how the cases worked. This middle-range model, as well as an overarching model that we derive from it, offer an alternate narrative of how development change can be produced in agricultural systems, one which aligns with insights from complexity science and which, we argue, more closely represents the ways in which many research for development interventions work in practice. The nested ToC offers a starting point for asking a different set of evaluation and research questions which may be more relevant to participatory research efforts working from within a complexity-aware, agricultural innovation systems perspective.
2 Reinhardt, J.; Liersch, S.; Abdeladhim, M. A.; Diallo, M.; Dickens, Chris; Fournet, S.; Hattermann, F. F.; Kabaseke, C.; Muhumuza, M.; Mul, Marloes L.; Pilz, T.; Otto, I. M.; Walz, A. 2018. Systematic evaluation of scenario assessments supporting sustainable integrated natural resources management: evidence from four case studies in Africa. Ecology and Society, 23(1):1-34. [doi: https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-09728-230105]
Natural resources management ; Participatory research ; Sustainability ; Assessment ; Stakeholders ; Watersheds ; River basins ; Political aspects ; Case studies / South Africa / Tunisia / Uganda / Mali / Oum Zessar Watershed / Rwenzori Region / Inner Niger Delta / Upper Thukela Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048530)
https://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol23/iss1/art5/ES-2017-9728.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048530.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048530.pdf
(2.43 MB)
Scenarios have become a key tool for supporting sustainability research on regional and global change. In this study we evaluate four regional scenario assessments: first, to explore a number of research challenges related to sustainability science and, second, to contribute to sustainability research in the specific case studies. The four case studies used commonly applied scenario approaches that are (i) a story and simulation approach with stakeholder participation in the Oum Zessar watershed, Tunisia, (ii) a participatory scenario exploration in the Rwenzori region, Uganda, (iii) a model-based prepolicy study in the Inner Niger Delta, Mali, and (iv) a model coupling-based scenario analysis in upper Thukela basin, South Africa. The scenario assessments are evaluated against a set of known challenges in sustainability science, with each challenge represented by two indicators, complemented by a survey carried out on the perception of the scenario assessments within the case study regions. The results show that all types of scenario assessments address many sustainability challenges, but that the more complex ones based on story and simulation and model coupling are the most comprehensive. The study highlights the need to investigate abrupt system changes as well as governmental and political factors as important sources of uncertainty. For an in-depth analysis of these issues, the use of qualitative approaches and an active engagement of local stakeholders are suggested. Studying ecological thresholds for the regional scale is recommended to support research on regional sustainability. The evaluation of the scenario processes and outcomes by local researchers indicates the most transparent scenario assessments as the most useful. Focused, straightforward, yet iterative scenario assessments can be very relevant by contributing information to selected sustainability problems.
3 Graef, F.; Uckert, G. 2018. Gender determines scientists’ sustainability assessments of food-securing upgrading strategies. Land Use Policy, 79:84-93. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2018.07.044]
Gender ; Food security ; Scientists ; Impact assessment ; Strategies ; Participatory research ; Food systems ; Rural areas ; Environmental sustainability ; Economic aspects ; Social aspects ; Natural resources management ; Crop production ; Soil water ; Income generation ; Markets / Tanzania / Morogoro / Dodoma
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049038)
(0.63 MB)
Perception of the social, ecological and economic aspects of food security differs depending on the gender of the evaluating expert. Understanding these differences is key to developing upgrading strategies (UPS) that can help stabilise and enhance food security. This is highly relevant for research on food value chains (FVCs) in sub-Saharan Africa, where subsistence farmers are highly exposed to food insecurity. Prior to their implementation, however, the potential social, ecological and economic impacts of UPS in the target areas should be carefully assessed.
This article reports on gender-based differences in perception and evaluates these differences using ex-ante impact assessments on the social, ecological, and economic aspects of food security and 13 UPS in the Tanzanian FVC that were carried out by agricultural scientists. The work is embedded in a larger multi-disciplinary research project. We find that impact assessments differed based on the gender of experts to various extents and depended on the types of criteria assessed. Female scientists were more careful during assessment, limiting themselves more strictly to the UPS and to criteria they were most knowledgeable in. Additionally, female respondents perceived the impacts of UPS on the economic and social sustainability of food security to be lower compared to their male colleagues. We therefore conclude that perceptions of female and male agricultural experts in strategy selection and implementation should be differentiated based on their gender. This may help reduce gender-specific challenges faced by African farmers.
This article reports on gender-based differences in perception and evaluates these differences using ex-ante impact assessments on the social, ecological, and economic aspects of food security and 13 UPS in the Tanzanian FVC that were carried out by agricultural scientists. The work is embedded in a larger multi-disciplinary research project. We find that impact assessments differed based on the gender of experts to various extents and depended on the types of criteria assessed. Female scientists were more careful during assessment, limiting themselves more strictly to the UPS and to criteria they were most knowledgeable in. Additionally, female respondents perceived the impacts of UPS on the economic and social sustainability of food security to be lower compared to their male colleagues. We therefore conclude that perceptions of female and male agricultural experts in strategy selection and implementation should be differentiated based on their gender. This may help reduce gender-specific challenges faced by African farmers.
4 Kerr, R. B.; Kangmennaang, J.; Dakishoni, L.; Nyantakyi-Frimpong, H.; Lupafya, E.; Shumba, L.; Msachi, R.; Boateng, G. O.; Snapp, S. S.; Chitaya, A.; Maona, E.; Gondwe, T.; Nkhonjera, P.; Luginaah, I. 2019. Participatory agroecological research on climate change adaptation improves smallholder farmer household food security and dietary diversity in Malawi. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 279:109-201. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2019.04.004]
Climate change adaptation ; Agroecology ; Participatory research ; Household food security ; Smallholders ; Farmers ; Nutrition ; Dietary factors ; Agrobiodiversity ; Agricultural practices ; Strategies ; Gender ; Socioeconomic environment ; Villages / Malawi
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049399)
(2.04 MB)
This study examines whether agroecological farming practices, when employed by highly vulnerable households in sub-Saharan Africa, can improve food security and dietary diversity. The research involved a four-year study with 425 smallholder households, selected purposively based on high levels of food insecurity and/or positive HIV status. The households carried out agroecological experiments of their own choosing over a four-year period. Baseline (n = 306) and follow-up (n = 352) surveys were conducted in 2011 and 2013 respectively to assess changes in farming practices, food security, crop diversity and dietary diversity. Longitudinal mixed effects models were used with 203 matched households to estimate determinants of change in food security and dietary diversity at the population level. Qualitative interviews and focus groups were also conducted to provide depth to the survey findings. The findings show that participatory agroecology experimentation increased intercropping, legume diversification and the addition of compost, manure and crop residue amendments to the soil. Intercropping was associated with food security and the use of organic soil amendments was associated with gains in dietary diversity in bivariate analysis. Household food security and dietary diversity increased significantly over a 2-year period. Importantly, multivariate models showed that spousal discussion about farming was strongly associated with increased household food security and dietary diversity. Households who discussed farming with their spouse were 2.4 times more likely to be food secure and have diverse diets. Addition of compost or manure to the soil significantly influenced dietary diversity. These findings indicate that poor, vulnerable farmers can use agroecological methods to effectively improve food and nutritional security in sub-Saharan Africa. The study also highlights how linking agroecology to participatory research approaches that promote farmer experimentation and gender equity also lead to greater health and well-being. The study sheds light on how agroecological approaches can rapidly improve food security and dietary diversity, even under conditions of acute social, health or ecological stress. It draws attention to issues of equity and farmer-led approaches in addressing food security and nutrition.
5 Leder, S.; Shrestha, Gitta; Das, D. 2019. Transformative engagements with gender relations in agriculture and water governance. New Angle: Nepal Journal of Social Science and Public Policy, 5(1):128-158. (Special issue: Water Security and Inclusive Water Governance in the Himalayas)
Gender relations ; Agriculture ; Water governance ; Participatory approaches ; Participatory research ; Gender training ; Community involvement ; Women farmers ; Labour ; Water resources ; Water management ; Villages ; Social aspects / Nepal / India / Eastern Tarai / Bihar / West Bengal
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049737)
http://www.nepalpolicynet.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/7_Leder-et-al-2019.pdf#page=4
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H049737.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H049737.pdf
(4.15 MB) (4.15 MB)
Despite frequent calls for transformative approaches for engaging in agrarian change and water governance, we observe little change in everyday development and research praxis. Empirical studies on transformative engagements with gender relations among smallscale or tenant farmers and water user groups are particularly rare. We explore transformative engagements through an approach based on critical pedagogy (Freire, 1996) and transformative practice (Leder, 2018). We examine opportunities to promote empathy and critical consciousness on gender norms, roles and relations in agriculture and resource management. We developed and piloted an innovative “Participatory Gender Training for Community Groups” as part of two internationally funded water security projects. The training consists of three activities and three discussions to reflect on gender roles in families, communities and agriculture, to discuss the gendered division of labour and changing gender relations over time and space, and to create empathy and resolve conflicts through a bargaining role play with switched genders. The approach was implemented in twelve villages across four districts in Nepal and India (Bihar, West Bengal). Our results show how the training methods can provide an open space to discuss local gender roles within households, agriculture and natural resource management. Discussing own gender norms promotes critical consciousness that gender norms are socially constructed and change with age, class, caste and material and structural constraints such as limited access to water and land. The activities stimulated enthusiasm and inspiration to reflect on possible change towards more equal labor division and empathy towards those with weaker bargaining power. Facilitators have the most important role in transformative engagements and need to be trained to reinterpret training principles in local contexts, and to apply facilitation skills to focus on transforming rather than reproducing gender norms. We argue that the gender training methods can initiate transformative practice with the gender-water-agriculture nexus by raising critical consciousness of farmers, community mobilisers, and project staff on possibilities of social change “in situ”.
6 Fragaszy, S. R.; Jedd, T.; Wall, N.; Knutson, C.; Belhaj Fraj, M.; Bergaoui, K.; Svoboda, M.; Hayes, M.; McDonnell, Rachael. 2020. Drought monitoring in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region: participatory engagement to inform early warning systems. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS), 101(7):E1148-E1173. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-18-0084.1]
Drought ; Environmental monitoring ; Early warning systems ; Participatory approaches ; Participatory research ; Stakeholders ; Private sector ; Government agencies ; Farmers ; Water scarcity ; Indicators ; Hydrological factors ; Remote sensing ; Agriculture ; Socioeconomic impact ; Information exchange / Middle East / North Africa / Morocco / Tunisia / Lebanon / Jordan
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049576)
https://journals.ametsoc.org/bams/article-pdf/101/7/E1148/4986216/bamsd180084.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H049576.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H049576.pdf
(2.80 MB) (2.80 MB)
When drought hits water-scarce regions, there are significant repercussions for food and water security, as well as serious issues for the stability of broader social and environmental systems. To mitigate these effects, environmental monitoring and early warning systems aimed at detecting the onset of drought conditions can facilitate timely and effective responses from government and private sector stakeholders. This study uses multistage, participatory research methods across more than 135 interviews, focus groups, and workshops to assess extant climatic, agricultural, hydrological, and drought monitoring systems; key cross-sector drought impacts; and drought monitoring needs in four countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region: Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, and Jordan. This extensive study of user needs for drought monitoring across the MENA region is informing and shaping the ongoing development of drought early warning systems, a composite drought indicator (CDI), and wider drought management systems in each country. Overarching themes of drought monitoring needs include technical definitions of drought for policy purposes; information-sharing regimes and data-sharing platforms; ground-truthing of remotely sensed and modeled data; improved data quality in observation networks; and two-way engagement with farmers, organizations, and end-users of drought monitoring products. This research establishes a basis for informing enhanced drought monitoring and management in the countries, and the broad stakeholder engagement can help foster the emergence of effective environmental monitoring coalitions.
7 Molden, O. C.; Khanal, A.; Pradhan, N. 2020. The pain of water: a household perspective of water insecurity and inequity in the Kathmandu Valley. Water Policy, 22(S1):130-145. [doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2018.116]
Water insecurity ; Households ; Water security ; Water management ; Water supply ; Infrastructure ; Water access ; Urban areas ; Participatory research ; Social networks ; Policies / Nepal / Himalayan Region / Kathmandu Valley
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049972)
https://iwaponline.com/wp/article-pdf/22/S1/130/651606/022000130.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H049972.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H049972.pdf
(0.22 MB) (228 KB)
This paper draws on participatory research with 47 household water managers over the dry, pre-monsoon, and monsoon season, alongside expert knowledge of water management in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. Doing so, it presents the perspectives of water managers to highlight three dimensions of water security that existing approaches often overlook. First, experiences of water security vary greatly between households over the year, even within a relatively small geographic area. Second, social connections and landownership play an important role in mediating these experiences. Third, coping with poor water supply places a burden on certain household members. This paper argues that addressing water inequities and insecurities demands research, development and policy responses to look beyond the main pipe network and engage with the variety of ways in which households secure water.
8 Bantider, A.; Haileslassie, Amare; Alamirew, T.; Zeleke, G. 2021. Soil and water conservation and sustainable development. In Filho, W. L.; Azul, A. M.; Brandli, L.; Salvia, A. L.; Wall, T. (Eds.). Clean water and sanitation. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. 13p. (Online first). (Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70061-8_138-1]
Soil conservation ; Water conservation ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Soil management ; Water management ; Sustainable land management ; Soil erosion ; Land degradation ; Watersheds ; Indigenous peoples' knowledge ; Participatory research ; Technology ; Policies
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050434)
(0.39 MB)
9 Stoler, J.; Guzman, D. B.; Adams, E. A. 2023. Measuring transformative WASH: a new paradigm for evaluating water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions. WIREs WATER, e1674. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1674]
Water, sanitation and hygiene ; Gender ; Mental health ; Monitoring and evaluation ; Participatory research ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Goal 6 Clean water and sanitation ; Indicators ; Microbiological analysis ; Water quality ; Households ; Water insecurity ; Water security
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051945)
https://wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/wat2.1674
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051945.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051945.pdf
(2.17 MB) (2.17 MB)
Progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6, clean water and sanitation for all, is behind schedule and faces substantial financial challenges. Rigorous water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions have underperformed, casting doubt on their efficacy and potentially undermining confidence in WASH funding and investments. But these interventions have leaned on a narrow set of WASH indicators—linear growth and diarrhea—that reflect a 20th-century prioritization of microbiological water quality as the most important measurement of WASH intervention success. Even when water is microbiologically safe, hundreds of millions of people face harassment, assault, injury, poisoning, anxiety, exhaustion, depression, social exclusion, discrimination, subjugation, hunger, debt, or work, school, or family care absenteeism when retrieving or consuming household water. Measures of WASH intervention success should incorporate these impacts to reinforce the WASH value proposition. We present a way forward for implementing a monitoring and evaluation paradigm shift that can help achieve transformative WASH.
10 Rossing, W. A. H.; Dogliotti, S.; Martin, G. 2023. Sustainability transitions in the making in agroecosystems: changes in research scope and methods. Agricultural Systems, 210:103719. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103719]
Sustainability ; Agroecosystems ; Transformation ; Research ; Farming systems ; Food systems ; Livestock ; Crop management ; Participatory research ; Farmers ; Indicators
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H052059)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X23001245/pdfft?md5=fda66eb212a49a11f7a41ba5d9a42fe9&pid=1-s2.0-S0308521X23001245-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052059.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052059.pdf
(0.40 MB) (412 KB)
CONTEXT: The urgency of redesigning the way food is produced and consumed has implications for the systems perspective of agronomy. An increasingly important strain of research addresses the ‘how-to’ question associated with the transformation of ‘maldesigned’ agricultural systems and produces ‘transformative knowledge’ as part of transitions in-the-making. Such knowledge production goes beyond ‘transformation knowledge’ resulting from the more classical analytical agronomic approaches and stances. Contributing to transitions in-the-making thus calls for systems agronomists to question their profession's why, what, and how.
OBJECTIVE: This special issue brings together contributions by systems agronomists collaborating with other scientists and societal actors revealing the less visible stream of fine-grained work to support transitions in-the-making in agroecosystems.
METHODS: In this introductory paper, changes in research scope and methods emerging from the contributions are highlighted to reinforce the engaged systems agronomist's roles in contributing to food system transitions.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS : Three results stand out: 1) Contributing to transitions in-the-making necessitates going beyond analysis-oriented research stances to address the ‘how’ of transformative knowledge, and move beyond the more time-efficient dominant ‘what’ and ‘why’ questions; 2) Meta-methods are emerging about how to adapt and embed existing agronomic knowledge products within change processes. Reflection on the overarching transformation dynamics and on how to articulate knowledge products and change process will constitute an important extension of the systems agronomist's methods; 3) The efficacy of scientific transformative knowledge development may be enhanced if the notion of design is used more strictly in relation to engagement in societal change.
SIGNIFICANCE: The need to respond to the how-to questions associated with the transformation of the way food is produced and consumed requires systems agronomists to reflect on their stance in the research process, the way they design their research inclusively, and the way they shape their methods. This Special Issue provides promising examples of the (re-) emerging strain of engaged systems agronomists.
OBJECTIVE: This special issue brings together contributions by systems agronomists collaborating with other scientists and societal actors revealing the less visible stream of fine-grained work to support transitions in-the-making in agroecosystems.
METHODS: In this introductory paper, changes in research scope and methods emerging from the contributions are highlighted to reinforce the engaged systems agronomist's roles in contributing to food system transitions.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS : Three results stand out: 1) Contributing to transitions in-the-making necessitates going beyond analysis-oriented research stances to address the ‘how’ of transformative knowledge, and move beyond the more time-efficient dominant ‘what’ and ‘why’ questions; 2) Meta-methods are emerging about how to adapt and embed existing agronomic knowledge products within change processes. Reflection on the overarching transformation dynamics and on how to articulate knowledge products and change process will constitute an important extension of the systems agronomist's methods; 3) The efficacy of scientific transformative knowledge development may be enhanced if the notion of design is used more strictly in relation to engagement in societal change.
SIGNIFICANCE: The need to respond to the how-to questions associated with the transformation of the way food is produced and consumed requires systems agronomists to reflect on their stance in the research process, the way they design their research inclusively, and the way they shape their methods. This Special Issue provides promising examples of the (re-) emerging strain of engaged systems agronomists.
11 Belhaj Fraj, Makram; Al-Karablieh, E.; Al-Sarayah, I.; Al-Ghazaoui, K.; Ghanim, A.; Ruckstuhl, Sandra; McDonnell, Rachael. 2022. Synthesis of the rapid drought impact assessment in Tafilah, Jordan. Project report prepared by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) for the Bureau for the Middle East of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Washington, DC, USA: USAID; Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 43p. [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2023.204]
Drought ; Impact assessment ; Precipitation ; Agricultural production ; Participatory research ; Stakeholders ; Local government ; Non-governmental organizations ; Finance ; Socioeconomic aspects ; Climate change ; Water resources ; Farmers ; Labour ; Livestock / Middle East / North Africa / Jordan / Tafilah
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H052343)
(2.78 MB)
12 Birhanu, Birhanu Zemadim; Desta, G.; Cofie, Olufunke; Tilahun, Seifu Admassu; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe. 2024. Restoring degraded landscapes and sustaining livelihoods: sustainability assessment (cum-review) of integrated landscape management in Sub-Saharan Africa. Frontiers in Climate, 6:1338259. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2024.1338259]
Landscape conservation ; Land degradation ; Sustainable intensification ; Sustainability ; Livelihoods ; Indicators ; Participatory research ; Climate change / Africa South of Sahara / Ethiopia / Mali
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H052590)
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fclim.2024.1338259/pdf?isPublishedV2=False
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052590.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052590.pdf
(5.98 MB) (5.98 MB)
Introduction: Land degradation is a significant environmental challenge across sub-Saharan Africa. In recent decades, efforts have been undertaken, with varying successes, to rehabilitate degraded rural landscapes. However, there needs to be more evidence on the outcomes regarding enhanced productivity, environmental management, and socio-economic benefits.
Methods: This study uses a case study approach, using contrasting sites from Ethiopia and Mali to appraise restoration innovations implemented through various programs. Two distinct sites were chosen from each of the study cases, and an extensive literature search was conducted to document the evidence, focusing on the sustainability gains derived from integrated landscape management (ILM). For this, the sustainable intensification assessment framework (SIAF) was used, encompassing five domains, namely productivity, economic, environmental, social, and human condition, and featuring scales from plot to landscape, all facilitated by simplified yet robust indicators such as yield, soil loss, net income, land access, and food availability.
Results: Results highlighted a higher productivity gain (35% to 55%) and an improved socio-economic benefit (>20%). The ILM in the Ethiopian highlands enabled a significant improvement in wheat and barley yield (p < 0.01). Introducing new crop varieties integrated with the in-situ and ex-situ practices enabled diversifying crops across the landscape and significantly reduced runoff and soil loss (p < 0.05). By increasing the cultivable land by 44%, household income was increased by selling potatoes and agroforestry products. In Mali, ILM practices reduced soil loss to 4.97t/ha from 12.1t/ha. In addition to the improvements in the yield of sorghum and maize (33% and 63%, respectively), rehabilitating the once marginal and abandoned landscape in Mali enabled landless and female-headed households to work together, improving the social cohesion among the groups. The introduction of irrigation facilities enabled widowed women to increase household vegetable consumption by 55% and increase their income by 24%.
Discussion: The study showed positive evidence from ILM practices in the two contrasting landscapes. However, there is a need to address challenges related to the absence of timely data monitoring and documentation of successful practices. For this, the generation of evidence-based data and the use of advanced geo-spatial tools such as Remote Sensing and GPS-installed drones are recommended.
Methods: This study uses a case study approach, using contrasting sites from Ethiopia and Mali to appraise restoration innovations implemented through various programs. Two distinct sites were chosen from each of the study cases, and an extensive literature search was conducted to document the evidence, focusing on the sustainability gains derived from integrated landscape management (ILM). For this, the sustainable intensification assessment framework (SIAF) was used, encompassing five domains, namely productivity, economic, environmental, social, and human condition, and featuring scales from plot to landscape, all facilitated by simplified yet robust indicators such as yield, soil loss, net income, land access, and food availability.
Results: Results highlighted a higher productivity gain (35% to 55%) and an improved socio-economic benefit (>20%). The ILM in the Ethiopian highlands enabled a significant improvement in wheat and barley yield (p < 0.01). Introducing new crop varieties integrated with the in-situ and ex-situ practices enabled diversifying crops across the landscape and significantly reduced runoff and soil loss (p < 0.05). By increasing the cultivable land by 44%, household income was increased by selling potatoes and agroforestry products. In Mali, ILM practices reduced soil loss to 4.97t/ha from 12.1t/ha. In addition to the improvements in the yield of sorghum and maize (33% and 63%, respectively), rehabilitating the once marginal and abandoned landscape in Mali enabled landless and female-headed households to work together, improving the social cohesion among the groups. The introduction of irrigation facilities enabled widowed women to increase household vegetable consumption by 55% and increase their income by 24%.
Discussion: The study showed positive evidence from ILM practices in the two contrasting landscapes. However, there is a need to address challenges related to the absence of timely data monitoring and documentation of successful practices. For this, the generation of evidence-based data and the use of advanced geo-spatial tools such as Remote Sensing and GPS-installed drones are recommended.
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