Germany Key sheets | Uganda extension manual | Indonesia Participatory ag technologies | Integrated pest management | Kenya Dryland manual | Public awareness manual | Nepal Ag communication  

DFID/DGIS key sheets on sustainable livelihoods

Germany/UK/Netherlands: administrative editor, ODI, 3 months, 2001-2

The British Department for International Development and the Dutch Directorate General for International Cooperation publish a set of information sheets aimed at development policy makers. Each sheet covers a single topic, such as "Corruption" or "Freshwater fisheries". I am coordinating the production of these sheets: managing comments and inputs from specialists scattered throughout the world via internet-based email discussion groups. I also edit and produce the final camera-ready copy.

• Non-farm income in rural areas
• Sector wide approaches
• Decentralization and rural livelihoods
• Agricultural biotechnology
• Marine fisheries
• Environmental assessment
• Rural-urban linkages
• Sovereignty, independence and global governance
• Poverty analysis and social exclusion
• Public-private partnerships
• Capacity building in developing countries
• Soil fertility and integrated nutrient management
• The fight against corruption (completed May 2001)
• Food security
• Accountability, democracy and local governance
• Freshwater fisheries

The sheets prepared so far, as well as previous sheets, can be downloaded from the ODI website, www.odi.org.uk/keysheets/index.

ULAMP extension manual

Germany: editor, RELMA, 20 days, 2001

This is an extension manual for a Ugandan development organization and the Swedish Regional Land Management Unit (RELMA). The editing involved major restructuring of the manuscript, rewriting to simplify the language, and production of camera-ready materials.

Participatory Development of Agricultural Technologies Project

Indonesia: training and communication specialist, Euroconsult, 18 months, 1999-2003

The PAATP project aims to strengthen a group of province-level agricultural research and technology development institutions in Indonesia. These 'Assessment Institutes for Agricultural Technology' are organized under the Ministry of Agriculture's Agency for Agricultural Research and Development (AARD). 

I am supporting an in-house team of research specialists within AARD to plan, prepare and conduct training courses for the staff of the AIATs. Courses will cover research (and especially participatory research) methods in agricultural development, agro-ecological zone and agribusiness approaches, and specific skills required by individual institutes and staff. The staff of the AIATs come from both research and extension backgrounds; a particular challenge is to meld them into coherent teams that serve the needs of farmers in their areas.

A major problem in the AIATs, and indeed throughout the Indonesian agricultural research and extension system, is the limited access to information. I am helping develop CD-ROMs and websites to help overcome this, and am training staff to use them to access information. 

My role includes: 

• planning training approaches
• assisting in the development of curricula
• planning and developing training materials
• developing CD-ROMs of training, research and extension materials
• developing advocacy materials and approaches
• fostering participatory, innovative modes of training
• giving training in development communication approaches
• promoting the use of email and the Internet in AARD. 

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Integrated Pest Management for Smallholder Estate Crops Project

Indonesia: development support communication specialist, Euroconsult, 6 months, 1998-2000

The IPMSEC project is introducing integrated pest management approaches to Indonesian smallholders who grow five types of 'estate' crops: cacao, coffee, cotton, black pepper, and tea. The project uses the 'farmer-field-school' methodology developed for integrated pest management in rice. This involves regular sessions in which farmers study the crops, pests and diseases on their own land, identify spiders and beneficial insects that prey on pests, and learn how to promote the beneficials in order to control the pests.

I helped the project management plan communication approaches, developed information materials, including an illustrated guide on pests and beneficials of cotton, and trained staff in computer and communication skills. I helped produce an illustrated guide to cotton pests and beneficial insects, and developed the prject website, and produced a CD-ROM containing key project information, information manuals, photographs of crops and insects, and maps.

More information (in Indonesian) at the project website: http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/7010. 

Dryland agriculture manual for E and S Africa

Kenya: workshop chief editor, IIRR, 3 weeks, 2001

This participatory workshop involving 30 specialists from all over eastern and southern Africa resulted in an illustrated extension manual on dryland agriculture production and management techniques. My role was to manage the workshop, coordinate a team of editors, artists and production staff, and edit much of the text. 

Public awareness in agricultural research and development organizations in Africa

Kenya: workshop chief editor, IIRR/CTA, 3 weeks, 2000

This bilingual (English and French) workshop involved some 25 specialists in communication and public relations from throughout Africa. It resulted in a manual on public awareness techniques that research organizations and NGOs can use to raise awareness and support for their work. I managed the workshop, coordinated production, and edited a large part of the text. 

Agricultural Research and Extension Project

Nepal: development communication specialist, Masdar International, 3 months, 1999-2001

I assisted the Nepal Agricultural Research Council and the Ministry of Agriculture's Agriculture Information and Communication Centre (formerly the Agriculture Communication Division) to strengthen their research-communication and media-production activities. Together with the national development communication consultant, Upendra Phuyal, I advised on suitable approaches, training and equipment requirements, provide on-the-job training for NARC and AICC staff, and introduced new approaches such as participatory workshops to produce publications, radio drama, and internet and email services. 

• Report 1 (Mundy/Phuyal, Sept 1999). Major problems and issues in agricultural communications, and suggested solutions. Recommendations for equipment, skills and linkages for AICC, regional communication units, and NARC’s Communication Publication and Documentation Division (CPDD).
• Report 2 (Phuyal, October 1999). Communication skills needs for ACD, regional communication units and CPDD, and potential courses to strengthen staff skills.
• Report 3 (Phuyal, February 2000). Summary of recommendations from reports 1 and 2.
• Report 4 (Phuyal, March 2000). AICC strategies and needs.
• Report 5 (Phuyal, March 2000). CPDD strategies and needs.
• Report 6 (Mundy/Phuyal, September 2000). AICC impact evaluation, workshop to produce extension materials, strategy planning for AICC, radio drama series, and internet applications. 
• Report 8 (Mundy, April 2001). AICC impact study, strategic planning, radio/TV drama series, information technology, CPDD communication strategy.
• Extension booklets and brochures produced through a participatory workshop in September 2000