| The project required the conformation of a coordination team (IPES and ETC) and several local teams to be in charge of the action-oriented research activities.
The activities implemented within the framework of the project were the following:
Start up activities
A call to participate was launched in January 2005 and resulted in the identification of several urban farmers organizations. Based on preset criteria, eight organizations were selected ( 5 in Latin America and 3 in Europe ) and an equal number of local teams were formed, all of whom received a Methodological Note containing project guidelines and pointers on how to develop the local project activities (case study, local agenda, participatory monitoring, participatory tools, etc). - Read more
In March 2005 all local team coordinators participated in a Methodological Training Workshop in Uruguay where all cases were discussed and a common methodology was agreed. Moreover, participants were trained in the use of participatory tools with a gender approach that could come in handy during their local research work.
In April 2005 local teams designed their local methodologies and work plans and recruited at least one member of each producers' organization for the research team in order to encourage participation from his/her peers.
Participatory elaboration of Case Studies
At the start of the project local teams applied Outcome Journals to monitor and evaluate behavioral changes in participants. Between April and August 2005 local teams collected primary and secondary information for the formulation of the case studies and used participatory methods for validating them and identifying possible local topics for local agendas related to action-oriented research.- Read more
Local teams performed a literature review, and conducted interviews and surveys with several stakeholders, especially members of the organizations. Participatory workshops, focus groups, stakeholder maps and SWOT analysis were some of the participatory tools used during the project. Draft case studies were written with the information collected from those instruments. Information was processed and local teams prepared preliminary Case Study drafts and discussion documents for the construction of the local agendas.
Validating the diagnostic studies and elaborating Action-Research Local Agendas
Local workshops were held to discuss, validate and analyze draft documents in a participatory way. Likewise, local agendas were validated and contents were enriched with input from the farmers. In addition, local teams discussed and worked with producers on the contents of the Local Agendas that were finalized after the Farmers Exchange held in the Netherlands in September 2005. After the workshops and reviews from the coordinating team, local teams finalized the Case Studies and Local Agendas . These documents are available in the On-line documents section of this web site. - Read more
Moreover, Cooperative inter-actors agreements were signed for the implementation of the activities identified in the Local Agendas. Those actions are oriented to strengthen producers' organizations and respond to their main issues of interest.
Inter-regional exchange
A representative from each organization participated in a five-day Inter-regional Exchange in The Netherlands in September 2005. During the event, participants learned about the experiences, organization, alliances, relationships and lobbying strategies of two (peri) urban farmers organizations participating in the project: BBV and Duinboeren . - Read more
Field trips, discussions and interviews were part of the exchange. Footage from the event was used for a video report to be shown at the World Urban Forum 2006 and other related events.
Comparative analysis and formulation of an Inter-regional action-oriented research Agenda
Based on the case studies and local action-research agendas, the IPES-ETC Coordination produced an analytical document. This document provides a comparative analysis of the cases and an Inter-regional Action-Research agenda for strengthening the (peri) urban farmers organizations. The documents were discussed in a closed e-conference with project participants and their recommendations, comments, inputs and ideas were collected to finalize both documents. - Read more
The Inter-regional Action-Research Agenda highlights themes that require more (deeper) research, specifies roles for different stakeholders, support the formulation of pilot projects, among others.
Monitoring and Follow up
IPES-ETC Coordination team monitored the elaboration of case studies, the formulation of the agendas and other activities implemented by the local teams. Afterwards, they went on technical missions to each city to participate in the Validation and Participatory Planning Workshops and follow up the processes. - Read more
Local teams applied Outcome Journals for monitoring and evaluating behavioral changes within the farmers' organizations. This tool was applied at the beginning (baseline) and the end of the local processes.
Dissemination of the project results
The main dissemination tool is a project website in both Spanish and English. The site will be used to disseminate results and promote exchange of information with other organizations that work with urban and peri-urban farmers. In addition, a number of articles are being written based on the case studies and the project in the RUAF Urban Agriculture Magazine . - Read more
A Video-DVD was co-produced with FAO about the farmers' organizations that will be disseminated in the World Urban Forum (Vancouver 2006) and other events related to urban agriculture. All the documents are available on this website but also on a CD aimed at local authorities, other farmers' organizations, and institutions working with them.
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