ACDI/VOCA’s Post

In rural #Tajikistan, more women are joining fruit orchard pruning and grafting groups in light of the growing migration of men to other countries. Learn how the Market Driven Rural Development Activity, funded by USAID and implemented by ACDI/VOCA, is tackling the constraints they face, like outdated tools and lack of training, to provide better services and subsequently increase the sector’s productivity: https://bit.ly/3OfB8TW

Everyone wants more evidence in policy formulation but there is not enough work on whose evidence counts, whose evidence should count, and the processes through which evidence finds its way into policy. This is despite these issues always being raised in the #JustTransitions literature. Asked to develop a #NationalUrbanPolicy (NUP) in Tanzania back in 2017 when (NUPs were in vogue) I knew (thanks to my African Centre for Cities colleagues) that I did not know enough to avoid adding to the scrapyard of well-intended but ultimately un-impactful urbanisation policies in Africa. The result was the Tanzanian Urbanisation Laboratory #TULab and the work and insights of a group of committed in-country urbanists. From the TULab emerged a national narrative on urbanisation that is richer in quantitative and qualitative data, more aware of opportunities (as well as risks) and better aligned to #climateresilienturbandevelopment. The TULab uncovered new data points on #urbanfinance #informalsanitation, #industrialization #youthinnovation and #politicaleconomy and (partially) institutionalised these data through a process of deliberation. I am grateful to On Think Tanks, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and Jessica Espey for the chance to reflect and write up https://lnkd.in/dR3wkyyK this experience with researchers from Benin, South Sudan and South Africa, and to revisit how we curate evidence in the process of policy formulation https://lnkd.in/dR3wkyyK Reshian W. Kanyatila Nathalie Jean-Baptiste Fortunata Songora Makene Mussa Martine Tatu Mtwangi-Limbumba Wilfred Lameck Hellena Tausi kida Nick Godfrey Sarah Colenbrander Brent Cloete Frejus Thoto ..and many others.

📈 The World Bank's 2023 annual report highlights that Cambodia has enjoyed an impressive average annual economic growth rate of 7%, leading to a 5.4% yearly increase in per capita income over the past decade. This growth, fueled by export activities to international markets, has been a significant source of job creation for Cambodians. Furthermore, the report emphasizes the pivotal role of rural agriculture in reducing poverty and enhancing the livelihoods of 60% of the population, in stark contrast to the 4% improvement in urban areas. Read More : https://lnkd.in/gMvd9JzZ #DailyKnowAgri I #CPSA I #GrowAsia I #Cambodia I #Economy

📃 🌾 The World Bank's 2023 annual report highlights that Cambodia has enjoyed an impressive average annual economic growth rate of 7%, leading to a 5.4% yearly increase in per capita income over the past decade. This growth, fueled by export activities to international markets, has been a significant source of job creation for Cambodians. Furthermore, the report emphasizes the pivotal role of rural agriculture in reducing poverty and enhancing the livelihoods of 60% of the population, in stark contrast to the 4% improvement in urban areas. Read More : https://lnkd.in/gMvd9JzZ #DailyKnowAgri I #CPSA I #GrowAsia I #Cambodia I #Economy

If you want to stay up-to-date with us, follow our Page. 🌿 Empowering Communities for Sustainable Development 🌿 At Rural Focus Zambia (RUFOZ), we are dedicated to improving the quality of life in rural communities through sustainable development initiatives. Our mission is to empower local populations to enhance their livelihoods, promote environmental sustainability, and foster community resilience. What We Do: Agricultural Support: We provide training and resources to farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices, improve crop yields, and promote food security. Youth Engagement: Our programs actively involve youth in various projects, encouraging leadership and innovation to address community challenges. Health and Well-being: We advocate for health education and access to essential services, ensuring that communities are informed and equipped to make healthier choices. Environmental Conservation: We work to protect natural resources through initiatives aimed at conservation, reforestation, and sustainable land management. Community Development: Through collaboration with local stakeholders, we implement projects that address the unique needs of each community, from infrastructure improvements to vocational training. Join Us in Making a Difference! RUFOZ believes that every community has the potential to thrive with the right support and resources. We invite you to follow our journey, engage with our projects, and consider how you can contribute to our mission of fostering sustainable development in Zambia. Together, we can create a brighter future for rural communities! 🌍💚 #RuralFocusZambia #SustainableDevelopment #CommunityEmpowerment #Agriculture #Health #EnvironmentalConservation #YouthEngagement #Zambia

Adaptive management is easier said than done in a context of conflict, but our frontline teams of Max and Plan Ethiopia pulled it off by an extensive exercise of repurposing project activities. Also the Dutch Embassy in Ethiopa displayed commendable flexibility and support throughout this whole process. Donor’s support is crucial in providing the enabling environment for adaptive programming. It is all about striking the right balance between taking risks and delivering the promised results. If a donor demands minimal risks, that precludes experimentation and innovation and so undermines optimal results. Also trust is an essential ingredient of adaptive management, but we have slipped into a low trust high compliance culture that is hard to shift. We need to rely more on trusting programme staff and partners to do ‘adaptive delivery’ - feeling their way and changing direction on a regular basis in responsive to the changing environment and signals they are receiving. But then the question is how we allow donors to still monitor the effectiveness of the adjustments suggested, without being forced to report on monthly basis…Together with the amazing team of EKN Ethiopia we are working on the right answers. We already learned a lot and are still learning! Tesfahun Alemayehu Belew Hans Angenent Kokeb Berhanu Gizachew Mulu Fitsum Teshome Wondimu Erik Slingerland

The state's capacity to achieve Tanzania's vision for 2025, i.e., "Realizing Competitiveness and Industrialisation for Human Development," necessitates an all-hands-on-board approach. Hey there, here’s a surefire checklist for leapfrogging Tanzania: ✔️Independence of the judiciary ✔️Transparency ✔️Accountability  ✔️Fair governance ✔️ Adoption of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) An actionable commitment to good governance will strengthen the nation's foundation and lead to a future where Tanzanian people enjoy improved living standards. Let’s all play our part in this journey of driving monumental socio-economic leaps, igniting a new era of prosperity! 🚀🌍 #AzakiNaJamii #DevelopmentAsPeople

Living in Papua New Guinea presents numerous challenges, particularly due to the significant disparities between urban and rural areas. The rural regions are further segmented into remote and very remote areas, highlighting the vast differences in living conditions. Unfortunately, government decisions often disadvantage the already marginalized populations, while a select few focus on amassing wealth and power. This reality is disheartening, but it is crucial to shed light on these issues and work towards finding equitable solutions for all communities. #PapuaNewGuinea #inclusivedevelopment #unityindiversity

In a second new VOICES from TANZANIA* 🇹🇿 report, Land Rights Research and Resources Institute HakiArdhi looked into the awareness and involvement of small-scale producers in #land acquisition processes for the #EACOP #oil #pipeline, this time in the coastal #Tanga region of #Tanzania. As was the case in the VOICES f TANZANIA study in Manyara region (https://lnkd.in/eAG33Hnj ), also here significant gaps were found in the local awareness and understanding of EACOP and land acquisition processes. This has limited local participation in and ownership of those processes, and has created a great deal of confusion among affected persons regarding #compensation and #relocation. EACOP's #grievance handling mechanism was found to be too difficult to access, or insufficiently reactive, for many who tried to get clarity directly from the investor team. Overall, questions were raised about the adequacy and sustainability of compensations offered, and pastoralists (#Maasai) felt dissatisfied as items of traditional-cultural value were insufficiently considered in compensation schemes. In conclusion, the study found that there was insufficient engagement and consultation of small-scale producers in affected villages in Tanga. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/ecsEXSq9 * case studies by Tanzanian civil society, supported by IPIS - International Peace Information Service