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Joep van Mierlo, CEO VSF-Belgium
Pastoral field schools and proximity learning
a climate change perspective
EU development BriefingFebruary 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 wallsComposition:• Groups of 30-40
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 contextTo 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
Observation
Analysis
Discussion Presentation
Principles
Every PFS is unique• Also “Farmer-led”
Unity is Strength• Empowerment
through collective action
• 1 + 1 = 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 optionsThrough:•Special topic sessions•Experiential exercices•Exchange visits•Sharing of knowledge
Discovery based learning:Development of “Critical DecisionMaking Capacity” through adaptation and testing of technological options to adress identified problems. (Field trials, Participatory technology Evaluation, etc.)
Results
Poultry keepingHygiene:• 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 empowermentAdoption and adaptation of improved
practices• Against environmental degradation• Against climate change (droughts, etc.)
Challenges
Participation to the entire cycleSupport of self-facilitated PFS groupsLegalization/registration of community
based groups.Strengthening role of PFS in emergency
responsesInvolvement of government
departmentsBudget for replication
