The Second International Conference on Gross National Happiness RETHINKING DEVELOPMENT Local Pathways to Global Wellbeing St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada June 20 to June 24, 2005
June 21 pm	Workshop Report 2102 Sustainable Rural Development Presenters: Farouk Jiwa, Honey Care Africa, Kenya Ali Mokhtar, IDRC Lake Nasser Project, Egypt David Bruce, Rural and Small Town Programme, Mount Allison University, Canada Rapporteur: Kathleen Ives
Farouk Jiwa	Honey Care Africa Innovative Practice or Strategy: Mr. Jiwa presented the idea that the private sector has a significant role to play in development in general, and specifically with regards to the sustainable development in rural communities. Using Honey Care Africa (HCA) as an example, Mr. Jiwa spoke about the tripartite business model that HCA has used to implement sustainable beekeeping projects in rural Kenya. This model includes the private sector, donor organizations and communities. Honey Care Africa targets small-scale subsistence farmers in rural Kenya who have typically been ignored by government officials who have been more interested in larger cash crops such as coffee and tea. HCA also introduced new beekeeping technology to Kenya; by promoting the Langstroth hive, HCA was ensuring that they had a marketable product and that women and youth were able to participate in beekeeping. HCA was founded to prove that the private sector does indeed have a role to play in development. HCA uses the following indicators to guide their business practices: Economics – the company as well as the community must profit from the project Environment – the project must be environmentally sustainable and ensure the environmental sustainability of the community Social – the company must generate considerable social value This model asks first “what does the market want?” then “how can we produce it?” keeping in mind the triple bottom line values. Mainstream Practice: This practice is an alternative to government and donor organization driven development. Traditionally, development projects have asked communities what they can produce first and tried to find a market for the product later. This has proven unsuccessful. Alternative Vision: Rural farmers with little land will be able to turn their products into cash. Success Factors: Guaranteed market for farmers Market research Fair prices paid to farmers upon collection of product (in this case, honey) Farmers are not required to pay loan if they do not harvest or if there is a drought Field officers that work directly with farmers to address their needs Micro-credit scheme allows farmers to access beehives and encourages ownership of the project Environmental assessment on sustainability Village demonstrations on beekeeping technology Key Challenges: Lack of assistance from government Changing attitudes — this can be a multi-fold problem. In the case of HCA, communities were used to being given things from donor organizations. HCA had to convince individuals that their investment in beekeeping would be worthwhile (e.g. purchasing the hive). HCA also had to convince some farmers to change their beekeeping techniques. Recruiting women and youth Overcoming Challenges: Where government assistance was lacking, the private sector stepped in (e.g. When government hired district beekeeping officers were not fulfilling their duties, HCA put field officers in place) Appropriate training sessions on new technologies Perseverance Recognizing the importance of community buy-in
Ali Mokhtar	IDRC Lake Nasser Project Towards a Sustainable Livelihoods Strategy for Lake Nasser PowerPoint (14MB) Innovative Practice or Strategy: The goal of the Lake Nasser Project in Egypt is to explore agro-ecology as a sustainable livelihood. All agricultural projects must make ecological sense. The Lake Nasser project is intended to improve the conditions of the poor residing in a fragile ecological area. The project aims to achieve their goal through the following objectives: Identify factors affecting adoption of agro-ecology to develop understanding of its potential impact on livelihoods and the ecosystem Establish and support participatory community based management of land and water resources based on agro-ecology principles Identify with the community environmental threats to human health and initiate actions with stakeholders to mitigate threats Analyse and encourage opportunities for environmental friendly livelihood strategies including better access to markets Derive lessons on the applicability, benefits, shortcomings, etc of agro-ecology for policy makers Mainstream Practice: The Alternative Vision presented by the speaker (i.e. this innovative practice contributes to this vision) Farmers in Egypt have migrated to the Lake Nasser region, bringing with them various cultures, traditions, technologies and farming methods. The vision is to build a new community, with a unified vision for resettlement. Success Factors: CCA — Collaborative Community Action — community collaborates with stakeholders to achieve initiatives. There is an interactive dialogue with those that can bring change. The success of the project comes primarily from the process of having people work together. Even if it is as simple as planting a tree, the process the community must go through to carry that out encourages community unity. Key Challenges: Fragility of the land Lack of government support Overcoming Challenges: Exploratory visits of the region Stakeholder Analysis Organizational need assessment PRA training Livelihood diagnosis (areas of concern to livelihood) o e.g. conversion to fishing when agriculture is not as labour intensive Medical campaign Seedling nursery Village enhancement
David Bruce	Rural and Small Town Programme, Mount Allison University Innovative Practice or Strategy: Voluntary agencies are being called upon to provide services where the public and private sectors are falling short. Mainstream Practice: Private and public sector provide services. Key Challenges: Default mindset that the voluntary sector can fill gaps where the public/private sector pulls out Asking the voluntary sector to act like the private sector without building their capacity to do so. (e.g. Repopulation of rural communities — government encourages immigrants to settle in rural communities to address the decline in rural populations but does not give voluntary sector capacity to develop resettlement associations Lessons Learned: Need to examine the importance of relationships where communities are successful in community initiatives
	Discussion
Q.	With reference to the first presentation: Just because the market wants something and we can do it, does not necessarily mean we should. How do we include the environmental and other issues into our decision?
A.	When we ask can we produce it, we should ask does it make social, environmental, economic sense? It always comes back to the Triple Bottom Line
Q.	What about cooperatives?
Ali	Coops in Egypt have experienced many ups and downs. The government uses them as an extension of itself. The process of restructuring the coops has not been successful. May be in the plan for Lake Nasser in the future but first there needs to be community and for neighbours to talk.
Farouk	Coops in Kenya have a history of being corrupt. HCA is trying to work with individual farmers. There are beekeeping associations and HCA supports beekeepers working together but coops are not always successful and HCA would rather work with individuals — individual efforts, individual benefits. HCA does work with community based organizations.
Comment	There is an incredible amount of volunteer time associated with coops
Comment	Cooperative movement also includes sharing between people e.g. farmers sharing equipment. It is a cooperative of getting prepared to go to market
Farouk	Some beekeepers share equipment. They own individual hives but share beekeeping equipment.
Ali	Formalizing coops is sometimes where things go wrong.
Q.	With reference to Lake Nasser resettlement, how did the project get the people to come together to discuss, build community?
Ali	When dealing with different groups, they have to develop the agenda. It can be as simple as the process of planting a tree. Where? How? Who takes care of it? The process of deciding this is important because they have to come to some common ground
Q.	Is it important to have a school or community centre?
Ali	It's as important as the people think it is — what they really want versus what you are offering needs to be considered.
	Summary: For sustainable rural development need to reduce dependency on government grants Private sector plays an important role Importance of building and maintaining relationships between stakeholders (e.g. between community and private sector, between voluntary organizations and community, etc.) Triple Bottom Line — Social, Environmental, Economic Need for common ground in a diverse community
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	Plenary Summary of this Workshop by Keith Cossey
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