In June 2024, VSO launched its first Cross-Country Learning and Partners Exchange, bringing together VSO project leaders and partners from Nepal and Zimbabwe to exchange best practices in small holder farmer agroecology.
This ground-breaking initiative reinforces VSO's commitment to co-creation, shared learning, and skills development to enhance its agroecology programs worldwide.
The Cross-Country Learning and Partners Exchange involved collaboration between VSO country teams from Nepal and Zimbabwe, along with local partners: the Zimbabwe Smallholder Organic Farmers Federation (ZimSOFF), TSURO Trust, and Nepal’s National Farmers Group Federation (NFGF).
The exchange focused on several critical areas across agroecology
VSO and its partners focused the exchange on agroecology, which they define as a climate-resilient small holder farming approach that uses locally appropriate practices to enhance resilience, local economies, and shorten supply chains. This is because agroecology makes food systems more robust against climate change fueled weather and other shocks that can have a severe impact on small holder farmers dependent on subsistence farming. This approach thus reduces dependency on external aid.
- Agroecological techniques: Sharing innovative farming techniques such as soil fertility management, biofertilizers, biopesticides, seed conservation, and water management.
- Right to food: Discussing strategies for ensuring food security and influencing policies supportive of agroecology.
- Female leadership: Enhancing female leadership and their application in community development, particularly in food systems transformation.
- Twinning partnerships: Building partnerships with local governments and academic institutions to bring technical capacity and better serve communities.
Simba GuzhaThrough this exchange, we aim to understand each country’s program context, appreciate local methods, and inspire staff. Simultaneously, for local partners, it's a chance to build cross-cultural connections with other farmers' groups and share strategies to use back home.”
Regional Project Manager for Southern Africa
Immersive learning activities
Female VSO colleagues and representatives from our partnership with TSURO sing together in Chimanimani, Zimbabwe.
The week-long exchange in Zimbabwe included peer-to-peer learning sessions, field visits to community projects across Zimbabwe, and multifaceted discussions. Participants engaged in reflective dialogue, collaborative problem-solving, and hands-on activities, fostering a comprehensive learning experience.
Participants traveled across Zimbabwe, gaining an immersive cultural experience, visiting VSO partners such as the Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre, the Shashe Agricultural School, and local governments and community seed banks.
Nepal's participation in the exchange emphasized the shared challenges and solutions in agroecology across different climatic and geographical contexts.
The Nepal team shared their experiences in managing diverse agroecological zones, addressing climate change impacts, and promoting sustainable farming practices that could be adopted by VSO’s partners in Zimbabwe. This included best practices for soil and local grain health, water conservation, and the use of organic fertilizers and biochemicals.
Panchakaji ShresthaWe return to Nepal with renewed insights and innovative practices, ready to empower our farmers with the tools for sustainable growth and resilience."
Chair of Nepal's National Farmers Group Federation
Strengthening women’s collectives
A significant aspect of the exchange was exploring female leadership and strengthening women's collectives. Participants discussed strategies for empowering women in agriculture, enhancing their agency, and integrating gender-inclusive practices in community development.
These discussions highlighted the importance of supporting rural women's collectives and facilitating mutual learning among them.
Anita BasnetThrough this exchange, our women farmers have shared and gained invaluable skills, reinforcing that we are all part of a united global community of farmers striving for sustainable and resilient agriculture."
Vice Chair of Nepal's National Farmers Group Federation
The way forward
By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, the first VSO-led Cross-Country Learning Exchange has sown the seeds for future international collaboration in agroecology practices.
As the exchange continues with the Zimbabwe team traveling to Nepal later this year, VSO aims to deepen the partnership and ensure that the lessons learned be integrated into our other global programs.
Agroecology is a grassroots movement empowering and emancipating smallholder farmer. VSO’s Cross-Country Learning and Partners’ Exchange highlights the power of shared efforts in building climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural communities worldwide.
Vladymir RiveraIf you, too, would like to get involved, please get in touch with VSO or our country program office to create profound and lasting change in the communities we serve.”
Thematic Partnership Lead for VSO's Resilient Livelihoods programming
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For over sixty years, we have fought inequality by bringing together people and organisations from a whole range of backgrounds to deliver long-term and sustainable change. Partnerships are central to creating this. For us at VSO, partnerships help us become more innovative in delivering our mission.
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The ACTIVE programme
The Active Citizenship Through Inclusive Volunteering and Empowerment (ACTIVE) programme is a three year grant from the UK government, which aims to create more inclusive, open, resilient, and gender equitable societies through reduced poverty, inequality, and vulnerability amongst communities in Zimbabwe.
Key in its approach is addressing climate changes in the region, which is a huge factor in causing poor livelihoods outcomes. The programme is tackling this through enhancing inclusive and gender sensitive climate adaptation and mitigation work, using climate resilient agriculture. VSO are working with women small holder farmers, youth and their networks in fragile spaces in the region.
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