Capitalising on Local Knowledge - Community knowledge exchange
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Overview
case studies
Over the
past 4 years, a number of community-to-community (C2C) knowledge exchange
processes have taken place in Eastern and Southern Africa. These experiences
have made an invaluable contribution to the development of the methodology
reflected in this guide. Here is a brief summary of the knowledge exchange
experiences from which much of the material in this guide has been drawn:
| Focus of knowledge exchange |
Country |
Overview process | Longer term impacts |
|
Sustainable use of natural resources; Enterprise development |
South
Africa Suid Bokkeveld Community Environmental Monitoring Group |
Visioning for development Develop exchange visit concept and proposal Establish facilitation team Preparatory workshops Matchmaking 2 Knowledge exchange visits (5 and 2 days each) Report back and planning w/s Follow-up and on-going processes |
Improved agricultural
production Local exporting business established and profitable Community tourism business established Community-based NRM committee established Participation of community in networks, national processes, broader debates Collaboration with host community (trade & research) |
|
Self-help in the alleviation of suffering from HIV/AIDS; Use of indigenous resources to improve quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS. |
Tanzania
People living with HIV/AIDS, care givers & traditional healers in Tanga, Kilimanjaro and Arusha Tanga Aids Working Group |
Concept development Contacting potential partner groups & initiating dialogue Field visit (2 weeks) Three community exchange seminars, in which participants exchanged ideas on plants and their uses, and techniques for preparing plant-based medicines Planning workshop Monitoring of patients and record keeping |
People are better informed about HIV/AIDS and treatment of opportunistic diseases Collaboration between doctors and traditional healers at Tanga regional hospital in counselling and treating HIV/AIDS patients People living with HIV/AIDS are able to care for their families more effectively, enjoy better quality of life, and live up to five years longer |
| Sustainable Agriculture; Natural resource management; Community based health care. | Uganda
Various Uganda Coucil for Science and Technology & partner organisations |
Consulting and planning workshop Participatory visioning exercise undertaken Matching of communities seeking knowledge with others wishing to share their knowledge Preparatory meetings 4 knowledge exchanges held Community workshops held to feed back information to wider community | Recent exchange processes (from April 2003) |
|
Sustainable management of communal wetlands Capacity development Alternative livelihood development |
South
Africa Mbongolwane Community Farmer Support Group |
Existing but young community-based program on NRM Knowledge exchange proposal drawn up with community/ service providers Facilitation team formed Preparatory workshops, learning objectives finalised Knowledge exchange to Lake Chilwa, Malawi (6 days travel, 2 days visit) Feedback workshop Follow-up and research activities initiated | Recent exchange processes (from April 2003) |
|
Traditional knowledge on sustainable agricultural production Leadership and conflict management |
Zambia
Kundalum-wanshya, Chibobo, Nambo, Chilipamushi Green Living Movement |
Concept and proposal development Formation of facilitation team with NGO and govt . Preparatory workshops Selection of participants Two knowledge exchange visits (5 and 4 days) Training included in each visit Follow-up interactions | Recent exchange processes (from April 2003) |
| Sustainable natural resource management; Enhanced livelihoods | Zambia
Shantumbu and Petauke Zambia Alliance of Women |
Concept and proposal development Preparatory meetings in community, consultative meetings with govt. Facilitation team formed with partners 5 day workshop held in host village, including practical demonstrations Follow-up visits to both communities, provision of seed and advice | Recent exchange processes (from April 2003) |
| Increased capacity of farmers for sustainable NRM Enhance and share indigenous knowledge. Enhanced livelihood skills | Tanzania
Kondoa Hedaru, Singida and Sumbawanga Kinondoni Welfare Development Association (KIWEDA) |
Development of exchange visit concept, drafting of proposal Formation of facilitation team 40 farmers attend 3 day residential knowledge exchange workshop Training provided in sustainable NRM Follow-up visits to farmers | Recent exchange processes (from April 2003) |
| Sustainable use of natural resource Skills development (energy efficient stoves) Enterprise development | Zambia
Chibombo and Mutendere Zambia Energy and Environmental Organisation |
Development of exchange visit concept, drafting of proposal 3 preparatory meetings and one consultative workshop held 4 day exchange visit: residential workshop with training inputs and experiential learning Follow up meetings and feedback workshop | Recent exchange processes (from April 2003) |
A
Case study:
Capacity building and information sharing among rural communities
in natural resource management (open
as rtf document)
B Case study:
Rooibos
tea and community based tourism knowledge exchange
(open as rtf document)
C
Case study:
Communities
of practice of traditional healers, care givers and people living with
HIV/AIDS in Tanzania (open as rtf
document)
D Case study:
Mbongolwana
knowledge exchange with Lake Chilwa communities, Malawi (open
as rtf document)
Visiting an agroforestry nursery during the exchange (Green Living Movement, Zambia)
Rooibos tea is an important local resource in the area (Suid Bokkeveld, South Africa)
Some members of the Heiveld Co-operative (Suid Bokkeveld, South Africa)
Participants of the exchange visit South Africa - Malawi, Bongalwana Community, South Africa
