Developing a Seasonal Calendar. Session Guide Five of the Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture Training Resource Package

Transcription

1 Develping a Seasnal Calendar Sessin Guide Five f the Nutritin-Sensitive Agriculture Training Resurce Package February 2018

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3 Develping a Seasnal Calendar Sessin Guide Five f the Nutritin-Sensitive Agriculture Training Resurce Package

4 ABOUT SPRING The Strengthening Partnerships, Results, and Innvatins in Nutritin Glbally (SPRING) prject is a sevenyear USAID-funded cperative agreement t strengthen glbal and cuntry effrts t scale up highimpact nutritin practices and plicies and imprve maternal and child nutritin utcmes. The prject is managed by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., with partners Helen Keller Internatinal, The Manff Grup, Save the Children, and the Internatinal Fd Plicy Research Institute. RECOMMENDED CITATION SPRING Develping a Seasnal Calendar: Sessin Guide Five f the Nutritin-Sensitive Agriculture Training Resurce Package. Arlingtn, VA: Strengthening Partnerships, Results, and Innvatins in Nutritin Glbally (SPRING) prject. DISCLAIMER This reprt is made pssible by the generus supprt f the American peple thrugh the United States Agency fr Internatinal Develpment (USAID) and Feed the Future, the U.S. Gvernment s glbal hunger and fd security initiative, under the terms f the Cperative Agreement AID-OAA-A (SPRING), managed by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI). The cntents are the respnsibility f JSI and the authrs, and d nt necessarily reflect the views f USAID r the U.S. Gvernment. SPRING JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc Frt Myer Drive, 16th Flr Arlingtn, VA USA Phne: Fax: inf@spring-nutritin.rg Internet: COVER PHOTO: Lettuce Harvesting in Intibuca. USAID-ACCESO/Fintrac Inc.

5 Cntents Preparing t Present This Sessin... 1 Purpse... 1 Objectives... 1 Estimated Duratin... 1 Materials... 1 Cre Cntent... 2 Exercise: Examining the Effect f Agricultural Activities n Nutritin in the Lcal Cntext... 2 Additinal Resurces... 9 Develping a Seasnal Calendar: Sessin Guide Five v

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7 Preparing t Present This Sessin Purpse This is Sessin Five f seven that are included in the Nutritin-Sensitive Agriculture Training Resurce Package. Building a seasnal calendar helps participants explre and understand hw seasnal changes in agriculture and livelihd tasks, cash flw, labr requirements, as well as the health envirnment, affect farmers access t fd, health, and care. This exercise-based sessin is a gd starting pint fr participants t explre several cncepts arund agriculture, incme, labr, and nutritin related t the pathways. Befre starting the sessin, the facilitatr shuld have an idea f hw seasnal changes impact agriculture and nutritin in the cntext. This knwledge will allw the facilitatr t guide participants thrugh the exercise and discussin. Objectives By the end f this sessin, participants shuld be able t 1. describe the agricultural cntext and hw it varies thrughut the year in areas where their activity functins 2. articulate hw agricultural cnstraints (grwing seasn, hlidays, seasnal illnesses, changes in weather) affect the wellbeing f cmmunities 3. identify pprtunities t make agricultural activities mre nutritin-sensitive. Estimated Duratin 1 t 1.5 hurs Materials There are n slides t accmpany this sessin. Masking tape r ther methd fr fixing flipchart pages t the wall Develping a Seasnal Calendar: Sessin Guide Five 1

8 Cre Cntent Facilitatr Nte: This Seasnal Calendar sessin can be adapted t illustrate several cncepts related t nutritin and agriculture. Befre starting the exercise, take sme time t fcus n yur specific purpse and adapt the intrductin and discussin t fit yur cntext and relevant aspects f this cntext yu wuld like fr participants t explre. Fr example, yu may want t refine the seasnal calendar t emphasize specific aspects f the envirnment in which yu are wrking. Yu culd chse these aspects f the envirnment based n what mst affects cmmunity members access t fd, health, and care. If relevant, yu culd als chse these aspects f the envirnment based n yur expected activities. As yu create the template seasnal calendar, yu can determine hw deeply yu wuld like participants t explre seasnal activities within a given cntext. Over the years, SPRING has created varius versins f the seasnal calendar t emphasize seasnal trends, such as agricultural prductin tasks, cash flws, and illnesses. Smetimes SPRING has included all tpics, and ther times we have nly included ne r tw tpics. While planning this sessin, it is imprtant t determine which aspects f the cntext are mst imprtant t explre. Furthermre, while planning, think thrugh the prcess t remve sme f the discussin questins, create questins with a narrwer scpe, r refcus parts f the exercise, depending n what yu wuld like participants t take away. This exercise can be adapted fr nn-literate participants by using icns, rather than wrds, t represent different seasnal elements. Exercise: Examining the Effect f Agricultural Activities n Nutritin in the Lcal Cntext Abut this Exercise Gal: t increase understanding f the cntext in which we wrk by analyzing the current lcal grwing seasns and agricultural activities. Duratin: minutes Materials: Nne Preparatin: Determine hw many seasnal calendars yur training grup will need t use during this exercise. It is best if each grup (ne fr each seasnal calendar) has fur t five participants. Yu will need t have sufficient materials fr each grup. Determine whether yu wuld like t fcus yur seasnal calendars n agricultural activities assciated with specific crps. If yu wuld like t fcus n agricultural activities fr specific crps, use Optin A in this exercise. If yu wuld nly like t fcus n verall labr, use Optin B in this exercise. If chsing Optin A, yu must determine the crps/animals n which yu wuld like t fcus. When thinking thrugh which crps/animals, select a range f key crps grwn and livestck raised in the target area. Selecting a mix f staple fd crps and several nutrient-rich crps and livestck is best. Chse the crps/animals mst ppularly grwn/raised in yur target agreclgical zne(s). Fr example, in Guinea, we selected rice, maize, cassava, cwpea, sweet ptat (including leaves), and vegetables (tmat, pepper, and kra). The selectin f crps can als be dne tgether with participants, depending n the time yu have available. It is pssible t 2 Nutritin-Sensitive Agriculture Training Resurce Package

9 cnduct this exercise while examining multiple agr-eclgical znes. If yu decide t examine multiple agr-eclgical znes, ensure that yu create a seasnal calendar fr each zne. Build yur calendar(s) n the wall (see samples belw) X-axis (hrizntal): Write mnths f the year, with ne blank rw under it. Y-axis (vertical): Inserting lines alng with the categries shwn in the diagram belw, write the fllwing categries: Optin A: Seasns, Hlidays, Crp/Animal 1, Crp/Animal 2, Crp/Animal 3, Crp/Animal 4, Fd sufficiency, Labr (wmen), Labr (men), Cash flw, Health, Envirnmental shcks. Optin B: Seasns, Hlidays, Fd sufficiency, Labr (wmen), Labr (men), Cash flw, Health, Envirnmental shcks. Facilitatr Nte: As a facilitatr, yu may need t build mre than ne seasnal calendar, depending n yur audience and its size as well as the fcus f yur training. These directins include tw ptins: Optin A: Small grups each create their wn seasnal calendar, representing different agreclgical znes and specific crps. Fr example, SPRING wrked with lcal partners in Guinea t create a seasnal calendar representing each zne where the partner wrks. We created ne fr Kindia, ne fr Mamu, and ne fr Faranah, as weather patterns, activities, hlidays, fd prduced, and fd cnsumed varied reginally. Optin B: Small grups each create a seasnal calendar which fcuses n general trends, like availability f specific fd types, demand fr labr, and times f the year when mney is typically made r spent. Optin A may be preferable fr a prject wrking acrss multiple agr-eclgical znes, while Optin B may be preferable fr a prject wrking in a single, unifrm agr-eclgical zne. Develping a Seasnal Calendar: Sessin Guide Five 3

10 Sample seasnal calendars Optin A Optin B 4 Nutritin-Sensitive Agriculture Training Resurce Package

11 Exercise Instructins Thrughut this wrkshp, we have discussed imprving agricultural practices that can help t slve sme f the nutritinal challenges faced by cmmunities. We live in envirnments that change, s these challenges are nt the same thrughut the year. Intrduce the template Optin A As yu lk at the seasnal calendar n the wall, yu will see the mnths listed acrss the tp. On the side, we have created rws, s that yu may list several crps/livestck. We have als made rws fr seasns (dry, rainy, etc.), hlidays, prductin f crps/animals, fd sufficiency, wmen s labr, men s labr, cash flw, health, and envirnmental shcks. Yu will explre each f these rws and cmplete the seasnal calendar during yur grup wrk. Optin B As yu lk at the seasnal calendar n the wall, yu will see the mnths listed acrss the tp. On the side, we have listed general seasnal trends, including rws fr seasns (dry, rainy, etc.), hlidays, fd sufficiency, wmen s labr, men s labr, cash flw, health, and envirnmental shcks. Yu will explre each f these rws and cmplete the seasnal calendar during yur grup wrk. Divide participants int grups f fur t five. In each grup, there shuld be at least ne persn wh is familiar with agriculture in the area. Optin A Assign each grup an agr-eclgical zne t wrk with and explain the tw t fur f the predminant crps and/r livestck that are prduced in that zne. Optin B Assign each grup t fill ut the seasnal calendar. Ask participants t start by discussing and agreeing n what seasns they use lcally (e.g., dry seasn, rainy seasn, and/r cld seasn). Then, within yur grups, discuss each rw and list the activities that take place during each mnth f the year. Optin A nly Begin by discussing key agricultural activities fr each crp and/r livestck. The grups shuld discuss when each f these activities takes place and then draw/write them n the calendar n the wall. Fr example: land preparatin during the mnths f May and June; planting in July; weeding in August; harvesting in September; drying/transfrmatin/strage in September, Octber, and Nvember; and selling in Octber, Nvember, December, and January. Cntinue the discussin by mapping ut which mnth(s) f the tasks listed in each rw takes place. If yu use ne f the example calendars prvided, discuss: Seasns (wet, dry, etc.) Hlidays/Festivals/Celebratins Optin A nly Reflect the tasks cmpleted during each mnth f the year fr the assciated crp/livestck Fd sufficiency Are there times when fd is very scarce? Wmen s labr Reflect bth agricultural and nn-agricultural tasks, if pssible Men s labr Reflect bth agricultural and nn-agricultural tasks, if pssible Cash flw/incme flw Which mnths is cash flw psitive (i.e. earnings exceed expenses)? Which mnths is cash flw negative? Health What are the mst cmmn illnesses that affect families living in the target area by mnth (e.g., malaria, respiratry infectins, diarrhea)? Envirnmental shcks Are there shcks that happen during the year such as flds, drught, heavy rains, heavy winds, etc.? When are they? This is yur agricultural calendar. It may take minutes t prepare depending n the number Develping a Seasnal Calendar: Sessin Guide Five 5

12 f peple wrking tgether. Larger grups can be separated int sub-grups that split the varius rws amng them. Discussin: Examining the Seasnal Calendar Distribute ne page f flipchart paper t each grup. In yur grups, yu will have 20 minutes t wrk. Discuss the fllwing questins: Hw is cmmunity members ability t access fd, health, and care impacted by each rw n the seasnal chart? What are the tp three challenges and tp three pprtunities, per seasn, related t accessing fd, health, and care? After yur grup has finished discussing, recrd yur findings n the flipchart. Invite each grup t present their findings in plenary. Optin A: In the large grup, share the mst critical seasnal challenges and pprtunities affecting farmers access t fd, health, and care acrss the different znes. This presents an pprtunity t cmpare unique aspects f each zne. As each grup presents, encurage discussin and inquiry thrughut each presentatin. Sharing the ratinale behind each grup s selectins is an pprtunity t learn. Optin B: In the large grup, discuss each grup s ratinale behind the three challenges and pprtunities that they identified. As each grup presents, discuss varius ways that the envirnment and seasns affect cmmunity members access t fd, health, and care. As a facilitatr, ensure that the ratinale behind each grup s wrk is strng and cherent. Discuss: Nw that we have identified seasnal challenges and pprtunities affecting families access t fd, health, and care: Hw can ur prject activities reduce challenges and build n pprtunities t imprve access t fd, health, and care? [Take several respnses.] Facilitatr Nte: During this exercise, yu may need t help participants fcus n the categries listed n the left side f their calendars. Review the terms belw and guide participants as needed. As guidance: Seasns: This is simply hw peple divide the year. Fr example, there may be tw rainy seasns, a cld dry seasn, and a ht dry seasn. It is imprtant that the full grup agree n when these seasns begin and end. Because seasns have been shifting, this tpic ften requires sme discussin t reach cnsensus. Hlidays/Celebratins: What are the key hlidays and celebratins and when d they ccur? Once these are included n the calendar, the discussin culd center arund hw these hlidays affect demands n time, labr, incme/expenditure, and fd. Fr example, hlidays may limit time available t make mney (incme) r prvide care (health). Fd sufficiency: This line shuld shw when fd stcks tend t be lw r high fr the majrity f families. It is als useful t nte the surces f fds mst available during lean mnths, when fr example, wild fds might be mre cmmnly fund in husehlds r diets may be surced thrugh market purchases due t depleted husehld stres. Fd sufficiency determines decisins made arund fd purchases. With lw fd sufficiency, families have 6 Nutritin-Sensitive Agriculture Training Resurce Package

13 few chices f hw much fd t eat and what kind f fds t eat. Labr rles: Labr rles included n the calendar may als reflect times f the year when many families have ne r mre members migrating t wrk in cities r ther cuntries. Labr directly impacts wmen s health, which is especially significant t pregnant wmen and wmen exclusively breastfeeding, and thrugh them, children under tw years f age. Limited labr limits prductin as well as incme. On the ther hand, the time that is dedicated t labr ptentially takes away time frm health and care. Cash flw: Incme and expense flws can be reflected by mnth using ne r mre + symbls t reflect mnths in which ttal incme exceeds ttal expenditures and ne r mre - symbls t reflect mnths in which expenditures exceed incme. Incme and expense flws determine a family s ability t access resurces, affecting the amunts, quality, and diversity f fd available t it, as well as their access t health services, and WASH supplies. Discussin abut incme and expenses might pint t strategies such as prmtin f savings amng wmen and men r prmtin f husehld r cmmunity strage technlgies/ systems that wuld result in increased incme in mnths that are currently in the negative. Health: Health determines family members ability t wrk prductively, which impacts the family s incme and their fd prductin. Discussin related t the cmpleted calendar may identify when cash flw might be lw while illness is high and cnsequently, ptential health expenses cannt be met. They may als identify when illness burden is high and fd stres and incme are lw, putting even mre stress n resurce-pr families. Being able t identify these times f year may infrm the need t develp prgram strategies that help mitigate greater illness and fd insecurity r may pint t the need fr linkages t ther prgrams, such as scial safety nets. Envirnmental shcks: In additin t health shcks, envirnmental shcks may affect bth shrtand lng-term fd access, as well verall incme, which may als have cnsequences fr health. The fllwing images shw tw examples f a cmpleted seasnal calendar. There are many ways t make a seasnal calendar, including shwing a seasnal calendar n a PwerPint slide. It is imprtant t make a seasnal calendar in a frmat that is mst easily understd by the participants, allws them t mdify the calendar s that they can take wnership f it, and facilitates their interactin with the calendar as they cmplete the grup wrk. Example f Variatin f Optin A Develping a Seasnal Calendar: Sessin Guide Five 7

14 Example f Variatin f Optin B Lessn Learned: This seasnal calendar exercise prvides insight int the lcal cntext fr bth the facilitatr and the participants. A cmpleted seasnal calendar can be referenced by the facilitatr thrughut ther wrkshp sessins. The seasnal calendar can als be useful t participants as they think thrugh their agriculture activities. The timing f agricultural activities is imprtant when planning behavir change interventins, grup meetings, and prject mnitring activities. Fr example, understanding times f the year when farmers earn incme, r have high expenses, can help with the timing f prgram activities. Thinking thrugh seasnal hlidays, illness utbreaks, harsh weather, and ther big events helps participants see the types f challenges and cmpeting pririties that farming husehlds face thrughut the year. 8 Nutritin-Sensitive Agriculture Training Resurce Package

15 Additinal Resurces The fllwing resurces prvide further infrmatin n seasnal calendars: SPRING Accelerating Behavir Change in Nutritin-Sensitive Agriculture. SPRING Online Training. CARE Frmative Research: A guide t supprt the cllectin and analysis f qualitative data fr integrated maternal and child nutritin prgram planning. Atlanta, GA: CARE. Develping a Seasnal Calendar: Sessin Guide Five 9

16 SPRING JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc Frt Myer Drive, 16th Flr Arlingtn, VA USA Tel: Fax: Web: