The SARD Initiative Newsletter. Issue 2. Contents This issue is organized in five sections:

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1 The SARD Initiative Newsletter Issue 2 Welcome to the second issue of the SARD Initiative Newsletter! The second issue of our newsletter focuses on recently held events the Livestock Workshop organised by the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD) Initiative stakeholders in Kenya and the Side Event and the Partnership Fair organised by the SARD Initiative during the International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD) in Brazil. There is also an update on the Sustainable Development Facility with summaries of SARD good practices and an article addressing the links between the topical Avian flu and agricultural workers, links that, as the article states, are largely ignored in media coverage and national and international responses to the virus. The newsletter also has a section on other SARD events and opportunities. The SARD Initiative newsletter provides updates and information on activities implemented by the Initiative and its progress and achievements in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The newsletter is addressed to different stakeholders implementing SARD and is devoted to stimulating dialogue among them, facilitating innovative approaches, exchange of lessons learned and good practices, as well as information and knowledge sharing. It is distributed by and circulated among civil society organizations, government representatives, project managers and other stakeholders working on SARD. Please feel free to forward it to other interested parties. This newsletter can also be downloaded from the SARD Initiative website Contents This issue is organized in five sections: The Livestock Workshop provides information on the 4 day workshop held in Kenya in March The SARD Initiative at the International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development: the Side Event and the Partnership Fair Avian Influenza (H5N1) and the Food Chain an article linking the virus with workers rights, working conditions, food safety and public health The Sustainable Development Facility has information on the activities of this Italy-funded pilot project and the projects it supports The SARD Initiative provides background information and a brief history of the SARD Initiative as an introduction for new readers. There is also a section on other SARD Initiative events and SARD training With the contributions of civil society

2 Livestock for Sustainable Livelihoods and Landscapes: Stakeholders gather to take stock of livestock good practices During four days in Namanga, Kenya and against a backdrop of yet another drought, stakeholders made real a promise to build on what is working and identify ways forward for pastoralist and other livestock keepers. The role of livestock keepers in sustainable agriculture and rural development was identified as a priority subject area within the SARD Initiative. Launched as a global effort at the 2005 International Farming Systems Association Global Learning Opportunity (IFSA GLO), the Global Livestock Working Group identified a mandate that includes connecting the many and diverse actors working on livestock and wildlife-based issues; sharing those SARD good practices to address issues affecting livestock keepers; and advocating fair livestock development opportunities among the poor through educational efforts and policy influence. Maasai and Samburu women s groups associated with the Indigenous Information Network and MYWO provided important insights to the deliberations. Picture by J.Lanier Under the leadership of the focal point of the Kenya Business and Industry Major Group and other SARD Initiative partners, the event, held in March 2006, brought together 50 participants and resource persons from the Samburu and Maasai communities, Government, Community Based Organizations, Kenya Civil Society Organizations, Business and Industry, the Research Community, International NGOs, and the FAO and was funded by the government of Norway and civil society organizations. This was a first for me, I have spoken about our programme to governments or civil society organizations or communities, but never have I had the opportunity to have all of them together. It makes it very meaningful in terms of sharing our messages. Workshop participant. Grass and Grazers are One Maasi Leader notes the lack of ground cover even after the rains have started. Picture by J.Lanier The objectives of the March workshop were to take stock of current good practices what is working - for livestock and wildlife related livelihoods as well as to identify existing training materials and curriculum priorities for capacity building at community level, and consider policy implications and mechanism(s) to increase opportunities for scaling up.... From the presentations, both scientific and indigenous, it was clear that the circumstances for SARD to be realized by our pastoralists are changing faster than before; the competition for resources is greatly increasing while local adoption is not enough to keep pace with today s challenges. Our mission is to fill knowledge gaps and build capacity - giving local voices the opportunity to share and adopt good practices. Leader of the Kenya Livestock Working Group. Opening remarks by the Permanent Secretary of the Kenya Ministry for Livestock and Fisheries Development set the stage for honest dialogue and information sharing in Kiswahili, English and Ma among the diverse participants in the workshop. What are the successful good practices? Good practices were shared within the context of natural resources management (livestock/wildlife interface, grazing management, managing land to manage water and alleviate drought); animal health and well being (community animal health

3 workers, humane animal care, avian flu); processing and marketing (sustainability in slaughterhouses, livestock trade, humane transport and slaughter); livelihoods and community development (social mobilization, dairy goat production, alternative income generation); livestock and wildlife policy (government initiatives, local constitutions and rights, local to global SARD efforts, constraints to scaling up good practices); and information sharing, local learning, and capacity building (linked local learning, livestock and agropastoral farmer field schools, Livestock Information Network Knowledge System (LINKS). The local counsellor with colleagues from African Worldlife Foundation (AWF) led the field trip to a group ranch near Amboseli Park. Picture by J.Lanier The participants proposed priority action areas and partnerships to address issues of local and national importance to enhance livestock based resources. Capacity building related to community social capital mobilization; trade, processing and marketing; and natural resource management were among the priority areas for which proposals are now being developed. The good practices that were presented during the workshop are being put into a Good Practice data base through the SARD Initiative Resource Facility. More information on this workshop can be obtained from Mr. Michael Kibue, SARD Livestock Self-Help Development Association; Business and Industry Focal Point, Kenya: sardlivestock06@yahoo.com The SARD Initiative at the International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD) From ICARRD to CSD: Lessons in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, was jointly hosted by the SARD Initiative and the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) the secretariat for the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), and facilitated by Eve Crowley (FAO) and Anne Rogers (DESA) during the International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD) in Porto Alegre, Brazil from 7 to 10 March This group session allowed representatives from governments, civil society organizations, social movements, small farmer organizations and Major Group constituents to identify successes, trends, lessons, challenges, unfulfilled expectations and emerging priorities reported at ICARRD that need to be taken into account in the 10-year report on SARD to CSD in 2008/2009 when progress related to agriculture, rural development and food security will be assessed. Participants considered that water, water rights, and the links between water and land values are important dimensions of SARD and of agrarian reform that merit greater attention. Indigenous peoples emphasized the importance of territorial integrity and collective rights of Indigenous Peoples to land, biodiversity and natural resources, as well as cultural indicators of sustainable agriculture, rural development and food systems. Capacity building was another key theme, including the importance of developing an educational curriculum for agro-ecological approaches and the need to strengthen rural institutions in order for agrarian reform to be effective and sustainable. Significant trends in land degradation, biofuel and energy yielding cash crops, trade, privatisation, and the growth and concentration of agro-industries, such as factory farms, were highlighted. One challenge mentioned was how to support participatory development and SARD in the context of armed conflict.

4 Throughout, participants emphasized that the roles of public institutions and civil society are complementary and that action by both are essential for SARD. The partnership fair The partnership fair provided a briefing and update to approximately 8 participants from the Government of Austria, Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC), International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Escola Superior de Agricultura (ESALQ),Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and NRM (WOCAN), Kenya National Foundation for Agricultural Producers (KENFAP), and International Foundation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) about the SARD Initiative, its evolution, themes, innovative dimensions, countries of implementation, recent accomplishments, future plans, partners, and opportunities for involvement. Opportunities for linking existing projects to share lessons learned and successful case studies to be scaled up were explored. Sharing expertise, experiences, services, knowledge and other resources on SARD with community, regional, and national initiatives were discussed as well as the provision of expertise in inter-community and inter-stakeholder learning exchanges and targeted training activities on a demand basis. The event also provided an opportunity to explore financial resources to support community participation and innovation and mechanisms to enable community practices to influence policy. Participants discussed possibilities for partnership in the Initiative, considering it to be an important means for the promotion and exchange of successful experiences related to agrarian reform and rural development in followup to ICARRD. Avian Influenza (H5N1) and the Food Chain: the link between workers rights, working conditions, food safety and public health As avian influenza (H5N1) spreads across the globe, public concern about the safety of poultry products has resulted in a sharp drop in sales that has seriously affected the employment security of workers in the poultry industry. At the same time, there is growing public alarm at the prospect of the H5N1 virus mutating into a new strain capable of human-to-human transmission. While food safety and virus mutation have drawn extensive media attention, an important issue linking both aspects of public health has been missed. This link is the crucial position of agricultural and food workers in the poultry industry who are on the front line of the battle against avian influenza. Poultry workers have the potential to identify infected flocks, ensure that outbreaks are contained and determine whether food safety standards are being implemented. This would help restore confidence and public trust in food safety, both as a means of protecting the public interest and protecting jobs. Another aspect of this link between poultry workers and public health concerns the fact that due to their intensive daily exposure to the risk of avian influenza they are one of the most likely vectors for a mutated H5N1 virus capable of human-to-human transmission. This means that the capacity of governments to protect the public is contingent on the linkage which binds public health to the working conditions and rights of agricultural and food workers. The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) has therefore called on the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Food and Agriculture

5 Organization (FAO) to recognize the specific occupational hazards faced by agricultural workers and to incorporate appropriate measures into their guidelines and action plans. These measures must give workers and their unions the right to monitor and report possible outbreaks; the right to health and safety equipment; the right to challenge employers about risks and report violations; the right to remove themselves from danger without fear of penalty; and most important of all, the right of workers to organize and negotiate changes in the workplace, without which, none of the other rights can be realized. This is the fundamental message that agricultural and food workers unions must convey to the public and impress upon governments and international agencies. Contributor: Omara Amuko, SARD Initiative Focal Point for Workers/Trade Unions. For more information see the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) website: The Sustainable Development Facility The Facility for Sustainable Development and Policy Implementation Assistance (GCP/INT/938/ ITA), or the Sustainable Development Facility, is an Italy-funded FAO pilot project aimed at supporting the sustainability and impacts of FAO projects in the process of implementing Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development (SARD). Below are some good practices identified in the framework of this project. 1. A participatory approach for selecting farmers groups This good practice is taken from a project (GTFS/RAS/198/ITA) aimed at increasing rice production in the Fiji islands. The project envisaged the provision of new technologies, which, in a context characterised by the presence of conflicts, differential access to natural and technological resources and a plurality of local social groups was problematic. Possible risks identified at the outset of the project included: a possible exacerbation of the conflicts between land owners and land users and between the different social groups; an introduction of technologies that were not appropriate to the local conditions; early and uncontrolled use of untested technologies and a disruption of local cropping traditions. Taking into account the particular social, political and cultural context, farmer groups were selected on the basis of their vulnerability to the identified risks. This assessment was done using participatory activities with local farmers and semi-structured interviews with individuals and groups. These participatory exercises and consultation processes were then integrated into the entire project cycle resulting in a flexible project that not only took into account the realities, perceptions, capabilities and knowledge of local stakeholders but enabled them to influence the decision-making processes of the project. 2. Organizational and project design measures to promote sustainability This good practice explores measures taken to ensure the sustainability of the National Agricultural Policy Centre (NAPC) in Syria in order to continue carrying out research for policy making after project closure. Possible risk factors which could endanger the functioning of the centre and measures to address these factors were identified during project design and implemented before the end of the project (GCP/SYR/006/ITA). These measures focused on capacity building of the NAPC staff, support facilities for staff and a monitoring system to continuously measure the degree technical and institutional autonomy achieved by the centre. As they were recognised as having a key role in the sustainability of the centre, significant attention was devoted to NAPC staff and the creation of a supportive working environment for collective and individual learning. This practice is considered good as there was a clear recognition that sustainability is to be built into the project design not tagged on as an afterthought.

6 The SARD Initiative The Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Initiative is a multi-stakeholder umbrella framework designed to support the transition to people-centred sustainable agriculture and rural development and to strengthen participation in programme and policy development. The Initiative helps to achieve SARD by supporting pilot efforts and building the capacity of rural communities, disadvantaged groups and other stakeholders to improve access to resources (e.g. genetic, technological, land, water, markets and information), to promote good practices for SARD, and to foster fairer conditions of employment in agriculture. This initiative contributes to the implementation of Chapter 14 of Agenda 21 and to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and offers all stakeholders an opportunity to participate in rural development to promote more equal benefit-sharing, reduce poverty, enhance livelihoods, and promote sustainable development. Since the launch of the SARD Initiative in Johannesburg by Major Groups and FAO in 2002, numerous new organizations such as policy advocacy and grassroots community groups at local and national level have expressed interest in implementation of SARD (Agenda 21) and participation in the SARD Initiative. Agenda 21 recognized the roles and responsibilities of nine major groups of civil society, which are Indigenous Peoples, Farmers, Workers and Trade Unions, Business and Industry, Local Authorities, Scientific and Technological Community, Children and Youth, Women, NGOs. Participation in the SARD Initiative is open to all interested governments, Civil Society Organizations and Intergovernmental Organizations agreeing to the spirit of the Initiative and willing to contribute to it. For more information, see our website at Other recent events SARD Initiative Business Meeting 10 th May An audio and video conference was held with the Major Groups of civil society to propose ways to enhance the participation of civil society in the Initiative, to discuss national implementation experiences and to prepare to report to the Commission of Sustainable Development in A summary will be provided in the next issue. Good Practices: from identification to scaling up Workshop (17 th May 2006) The SARD Initiative, the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the Centre of Landscape and Land Use Research (ZALF) organized a good practices workshop at FAO headquarters, Rome to discuss scaling up methods for efficient replication of good practices for SARD. A summary will be provided in the next issue. Tell us about your good practice! The Initiative would like to hear from anyone who has a SARD good practice. If your good practice meets the criteria, it will be put into a Good Practice database through the SARD Initiative Resource Facility. For more information see the website (Focus Areas, Good Practices) Submit good practices to SARD- Initiative@fao.org) Training on SARD A number of training courses related to SARD are available and can be accessed at the following sites: Postgraduate Courses in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD) Distance Learning Programme, Imperial College, London, UK ( Formation professionnelle aux processus d innovation en milieu, ICRA International Centre for Development Oriented Research in Agriculture, Agropolis International, Montpellier, France ( Professional training on Rural Innovation Processes, International Centre for Development Oriented Research in Agriculture, Wageningen, Netherlands ( Participatory Crop Improvement, Centre for Arid Zone Studies, University of Wales, UK ( Participation in Extension: Farmer-led Approaches, Education and Training programme, International Institute of Rural Reconstruction ( The SARD Initiative would like to hear from any organization which has conducted training on SARD in order to collect experiences and identify opportunities and knowledge gaps. Contact SARD- Initiative@fao.org