Strengthening local organisations gives farmers more say in local policy.
Abstract
This is one of 280 summaries describing key outputs from the projects run by DFID's 10-year Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy (RNRRS) programmes.
Summary for Project title: R7856: Strengthening social capital for improving policies and decision-making in Natural Resources Management (NRM) and R8494: Tracking social capital outcomes and sustainability of local natural resources management (NRM) policies.
Rural livelihoods are improving thanks to stronger social capital and the creation of conditions in which local people can help to start and effect policy change. Despite recent decentralisation, local communities in the highlands of Uganda were still not able to influence policy and the take-up of new natural resources management solutions. To be effective, decentralisation must be supported by strong local institutions or mature social capital. This methodology is used by professionals working with rural communities to improve their livelihoods using participatory approaches. It is currently used by CIAT's Enabling Rural Innovation project in Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, D.R. Congo, Rwanda and Burundi.
The CD has the following information for this output: Description, Validation, Current Situation, Current Promotion, Impacts on Poverty, Environmental Impact. Attached PDF (14 pp.) taken from the CD.
Citation
NRSP17, New technologies, new processes, new policies: tried-and-tested and ready-to-use results from DFID-funded research, Research Into Use Programme, Aylesford, Kent, UK, ISBN 978-0-9552595-6-2, p 115.