Project Title
"African Grassroots Innovations for Livelihood and Environment—AGILE"

Project Goal
African grassroots innovations in technology, natural resource management, policy reform and livelihood promoted and scaled up through adaptation of Australian and Philippine experiences in Landcare to the eastern African region.

Project Purpose
Approaches for collective action and grassroots innovation for livelihoods and natural resource management tested in selected sites in eastern Africa.

Project Background/Rationale
Environmental degradation, lack of appropriate extension approaches to address environmental problems, limited investment in poor upland communities, and few mechanisms for cooperation on land management are a few of the challenges that impinge on rural transformation in Africa. While some African countries are adopting a decentralized approach to extension and farmer-to-farmer extension approaches are being employed by some development institutions, these approaches still fall short in addressing the complex challenges of environmental degradation and sustainable NRM.

AGILE seeks to integrate Landcare experiences from Australia and the Philippines into the eastern African setting, drawing on knowledge of African institutions, technologies and enabling policies. AGILE seeks to link natural resource management to improved incomes through increased agricultural productivity and market access. Whether Landcare can provide inspiration to community land management efforts in Africa, and be structured to build on African initiatives and innovations, are key questions guiding this research. Key strategies employed by the project include: a) case studies from the eastern African setting to distill key elements to successful farmer innovations to integrate livelihood with conservation objectives; b) institutional collaboration and support to farmer organizations through District Landcare Chapters to foster local innovations through strategic interventions (technological, policy and capacity building); and c) integration of district-based approaches to national-level Landcare Chapters to catalyze Landcare "movements" at higher levels.

Project Nature
Non CGS project

Participating Countries and Institutions
Uganda: Action Aid, Africa 2000 Network, AMA (CBO), CARE, Civil Society Organization, local government, NEMA, Northern Rwenzori Conservation Organization, Uganda Farmers' Association, UWA, World Food Program
Ethiopia: LVIA (Italian NGO)

Source of Funding
Italian Government