empowerment

For many millions in the developing world, land is central to livelihoods, food security, even identity — the natural result of a direct dependence on agriculture and natural resources. It is not surprising, then, that a recent wave of large-scale land acquisitions in poorer countries has sparked a major debate.

Update: Read the Open Letter of the Peoples of Cusco (PDF) to the FAO Director General, Feb. 10.

On 26 February 2010, Peruvian indigenous organizations, local government bodies and civil society organizations in Cusco, Peru, held a meeting to formulate a strategic response to a FAO ABCD10 starting on 1 March that will push for greater use of genetically modified organisms. A demonstration through the ancient Inca streets followed up this multi-stakeholder gathering. The meeting produced a Declaration which underlines that the FAO agenda does not represent the best approach for tackling agricultural challenges, including those brought by climate change.

Governments’ poor understanding of pastoralism combined with the inability of pastoral groups to influence the decisions that affect their lives and to hold government to account is perpetuating a vicious circle of pastoral poverty and conflict, thereby reinforcing the very preconceptions underpinning inappropriate policy directives for pastoral development in much of Africa.

This programme sets out to map, elicit and integrate knowledge on the dilemmas confronting small-scale producers in global, regional and national markets.

The programme recently got underway with the establishment of a global peer-to-peer learning network, led from Bolivia by IIED international fellow Diego Muñoz.  The first of three sets of regional consultations took place in Peru and Nicaragua in August 2009. IIED, together with partners Hivos (Netherlands) and Mainumby (La Paz) organised two round table discussions, in Lima and Managua, with potential partners from Central and South America. Further regional consultations will take place in Asia and Africa later in the year.

The aim of this action research is to identify and support processes that can help democratise the governance of food systems, land use and the environment. It seeks to find more equitable ways of including citizens in policy making and in the design of technologies and institutions that shape food systems and the environment.