CARE Cornell Collaboration

Transcription

1 CARE Cornell Collaboration Where Research Meets Practice CARE and Cornell University have partnered together to understand and address one of the world s most intractable problems: developing sustainable and just local food systems in the context of climate change for the millions of people who live in rural poverty and face food and nutrition insecurity. Through the CARE-Cornell collaboration, the two organizations work together to identify critical points where interventions will do the most good and develop evidence-based solutions that can be applied at scale to achieve transformational impact. Our mission is to foster and integrate cutting-edge research and practices on food and nutrition security that can advance innovative solutions to real-world problems and catalyze real, long-term change at scale. In three years, the CARE-Cornell collaboration has connected numerous researchers and practitioners across the two organizations, combining Cornell s rigorous research with CARE s global programming and advocacy. Our joint research has provided evidencebased inputs and informed new approaches for CARE programming. Perhaps just as importantly, both organizations have a better understanding of how research and practice fit together, challenging each to apply the research to development practice. Impact for Innovation Fund (IIF) The Impact through Innovation Fund program was launched in September Since then, five projects have been funded that blend CARE s programmatic expertise with Cornell s cutting-edge research. These research projects form the core of the CARE-Cornell collaboration, providing opportunities for CARE development professionals and Cornell researchers to work together to design, implement, and evaluate new technologies and practices. The collaboration has helped shape development policy, developed tools to improve sustainable and equitable development programming, and built research and development capacity at both CARE and Cornell. Alternative Fertilizers Using Indigenous Value Chains in Ethiopia - In sub-saharan Africa, crop growth is often limited by a lack of effective and affordable fertilizers, denying the poorest smallholder farmers access to critical inputs. CARE Ethiopia s GRAD program, Cornell University, and a local research partner, Jimma CARE Cornell Collaboration: Overview 1

2 University, partnered together to investigate the production of alternative fertilizers to enhance soil fertility, increase productivity, and improve the food security and income of smallholder farmers. Using surveys as well as field and laboratory trials, the Ethiopia IIF project team developed bio-fertilizers from local waste products charred livestock bone and tested their effectiveness and acceptability among farmers. These local fertilizers are as effective as and less expensive than imported fertilizers and enable more sustainable farming. Small-scale farmers have expressed interest in the alternative fertilizers, and the team is continuing to explore the viability of the fertilizer in the marketplace. Começando Saudável (Starting Off Healthy): A Pilot proportion of child malnutrition, is caused by children s chronic exposure to bacterial pathogens in their environment from human and animal feces. The One Health for Babies and Livestock project brought together nutrition experts, livestock experts, designers, and community members from Cornell University, CARE USA, and CARE Zambia to develop a solution for environmental enteropathy that works for both children and their families. The team worked with the community to identify strategies to reduce infants and children s contact with livestock manure in home and play environments while not compromising the needs of smallholder farmers to practice animal husbandry or children s needs for exploratory play. The result is a combination of educational modules and Study on the Effects of Performance-Based Incentives in Inhambane Province, Mozambique - This pilot study tested how providing performance-based financial incentives to health care workers on the front line could improve delivery of services to prevent the motherto-child transmission of HIV/AIDS. The research results showed increased cooperation among staff within and between health centers to coordinate maternal and child health care, specifically for referring pregnant women for health care and transporting them to a delivery ward. The project also increased health worker ownership of facility processes, and health workers by and large opted to reinvest a portion of the financial incentive into the health center to address ongoing challenges that hinder better service delivery. One Health for Babies and Livestock: Defining and Testing Solutions to Prevent Fecal Exposure and Environmental Enteropathy in Lundazi Area, Eastern Province, Zambia - Almost one-third of babies in sub- Saharan Africa are stunted or anemic as a result of malnutrition. Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), an invisible intestinal disease that underlies a significant community-built play yards to drastically reduce infant fecal exposure. The Role of Andean Indigenous Crops in Climate Adaptation and Food Security in Central Peru - Climate change poses a significant threat to agriculture, economic livelihoods, and food security in the Mantaro Valley and the Shullcas River sub-basin of central Peru, where households depend on rainfall and glacial meltwater as a source of irrigation and drinking water. This research examined the role of Andean indigenous crops in improving food security and adaptation to climate change among poor rural households. Through an integrated household production, consumption, and nutrition survey, this research evaluated linked indicators and outcomes of climate vulnerability, food consumption, dietary diversity, food security, nutritional status, and gender roles. Research findings are expected to improve understanding of the multidimensional role of unique local agro-biodiversity and inform programming in climate adaptation and poverty alleviation. 2 CARE Cornell Collaboration: Overview

3 Research findings are expected to improve understanding of the multidimensional role of unique local agro-biodiversity and inform programming in climate adaptation and poverty alleviation. innovative methods for measuring women s time allocation This project follows from the One Health for Babies and Livestock study in Zambia. To ensure that the design of programs properly targets women and improves their workload investments in improved nutrition, effective and objective measures of women s workload are needed. A combination of focus group interviews, cognitive interview techniques, and direct observations are being applied, targeting about 200 mothers and fathers of infants and young children from six villages in Zambia. The study will help researchers to determine how the implementation of play yards influences women s workloads and inform the design of optimal activities to reduce workload and stress, so that women have more time to invest in best nutrition practices and leisure. Programmatic Research The CARE-Cornell collaboration is now also starting to support research within some of CARE s multi-year projects and programs. These studies will enable program managers to understand key issues to improve impact and outreach, and the lessons learned from these studies will be utilized in Cornell courses. Research on Farmer Field Schools and Sustainable Agriculture in Mozambique CARE and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) jointly implemented a food security and conservation program in Nampula Province of northern Mozambique through the CARE-WWF Alliance. CARE leads the implementation of Farmer Field Schools (FFS), working with groups of farmers to undertake practical experiments involving sustainable agriculture. In contrast to traditional topdown extension that tries to convince farmers to adopt new practices or technologies, the FFS approach helps farmers to become more confident in setting up and running practical experiments, analyzing the outcomes, weighing the options, and then deciding what is in their best interest. From June to August of 2014, Cornell faculty and student researchers, along with members of the CARE-WWF Alliance, collaborated to explore farmers experiences of FFS in Angoche and Moma municipalities in Nampula Province. The study explored the dynamics that shape farmers participation decisions in FFS and other farmers groups. This research informed other project and policy interventions to ensure the widest possible participation among farmers who are interested and to build the capacity of additional farmers to lead similar efforts within their communities. Case Studies, Communications, and Course Material Cornell and CARE are producing a range of communications and learning materials for use in Cornell courses, designed to enhance student competence on critical global food and nutrition security issues by integrating real-life work into the curriculum. Cornell professors and students can also use this opportunity to provide recommendations to CARE program managers. Online Case Study on the CARE WWF Alliance in Mozambique Based on the field research in Mozambique, Cornell is finalizing an online written and video case study on the CARE-WWF Alliance in Mozambique. This resource will teach students about real-life programming that addresses the interface of development and conservation. The materials are intended for use by three Cornell courses to be offered in future semesters, but the materials will also be made available for free to other educators through the site Center (N@C) Capacity Building Initiative CARE s N@C program develops, documents, and disseminates information on improved approaches to nutritional outcomes for mothers and children. N@C is being implemented in four countries: Benin, Ethiopia, Zambia, and Bangladesh. To build the capacity of CARE staff and local partners to make better nutrition choices for themselves and their families, thereby serving as examples in their communities, CARE collaborated with Cornell to create three short animated videos on personal nutrition, family nutrition, and infant and young child feeding. CARE and Cornell developed learning objectives and the content and worked with an CARE Cornell Collaboration: Overview 3

4 animation company to create the videos, which are now being used in the Program. Climate Change Innovations Fund: A Strategic Investment Plan As part of the Sustainable Global Enterprise Immersion program at Cornell University s Johnson School of Management, a team of graduate students worked with CARE to develop a business case and marketing plan for the CARE Climate Change Innovations Fund (CCIF). The CCIF is a pooled fund, through which CARE USA makes strategic investments that promote innovation and greater capacity in CARE to tackle climate change. The students examined three specific issues while developing the business case: a) previously identified options for the future of the fund, b) who would be interested in contributing to the core capital or partnering to leverage the core capital, and c) where a fund like the CCIF sits in the broader marketplace, with particular attention to the actions of other INGOs in the climate change funding space. The students presented their final work at Cornell in May Their business plan recommended followup steps for CARE to update its response to the climate crisis. Use of CARE Practitioner Manuals by Cornell Students Through the collaboration, CARE and Cornell will continue to develop learning materials that can be used by Cornell professors for their coursework. CARE has shared its practitioner manuals on core methodologies used in CARE programs including the Farmer Field and Business School model, Village Savings and Loans manuals, the Social Analysis and Action handbook, and the Water Smart Agriculture Sourcebook. These methodologies can be used by Cornell faculty as a useful teaching strategy, not only as stories about development in practice but also as unique data collection tools that guide policy and practice when seeking solutions to emerging problems. Areas of Future Programming From Pilot to Proof approaches as well as academics understanding of applied research. Future activities could include proof of concept, field testing of promising tools and approaches, and conducting business development requirements (e.g., market analysis, business plans, feasibility studies, and so on). Taking pilot research to the proof-of-concept stage will trigger market linkages and develop valuechains for promising products. Demonstration trials can also accelerate the adoption of promising practices by community members, which would require a larger investment to scale up the research. Research Intern Program To harness the creative energy of Cornell graduate students and provide research power to aid CARE, we are creating opportunities to connect students with CARE practitioners and country offices through a new Summer 2016 internship program, as well as student statistical work with CARE data sets. We are also seeking opportunities for CARE to engage with American and international Cornell students, including mid-career professionals from Africa, Asia, and Latin America on study leave who will return to influential positions in government, civil society, and the private sector and can both influence the collaboration and be in a position to take action based on lessons when they return home. Research-Based Learning In-depth qualitative and quantitative fieldwork is required to diffuse innovative techniques and encourage the adoption and uptake of new approaches, technology, and innovation by community members. CARE plans to integrate Cornell into longer-term research and involvement in countries where CARE works. Through the collaboration, CARE and Cornell can identify opportunities for research into issues such as women s empowerment and resilience. By taking a longer-term view of development, we can increase our understanding of the barriers and opportunities faced by communities where we work. CARE and Cornell are seeking joint funding so that Cornell faculty and students can be actively involved in CARE s programs and, together, identify, explore, and test innovative solutions using problem-oriented research. Over the past three years, CARE and Cornell have collaborated on some challenging and important issues that can shape practitioners understanding of promising 4 CARE Cornell Collaboration: Overview

5 CONTACT CARE-CORNELL COLLABORATION Vidhya Sriram Senior Partnership Advisor 151 Ellis St. NE Atlanta, GA USA T) E) Nina Chaopricha Program and Collaboration Coordinator 200 Rice Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY USA T) E) The CARE-Cornell Collaboration fosters and integrates cutting-edge research and practices on food and nutrition security that can advance innovative solutions to real-world problems and catalyze real, long-term change at scale. CARE Cornell Collaboration: Overview 5