Fishermen as researchers - lessons learned from the AAS Partnership

[Olivia Munoru]

Can fishermen and farmers become researchers? YOU BET!

From 2012 - 2015, in a partnership with CGIAR and the World Fish Centre, the Constellation shared SALT and CLCP with fishing and farming communities across 5 countries: Zambia, Solomon Islands, Phillippines, Bangladesh and Cambodia.

Our joint challenge was to incorporate SALT and CLCP with approach known as "Research in Development".

At the ground level, the initiative was an opportunity for local community facilitators to mobilise their communities to take action on issues relating to their own well-being, and, through the cycle of learning, contribute to ground-breaking research into Aquatic Agricultural Systems.

But what makes it ground-breaking? The fact that this research organisation bravely took the more difficult path of really, really listening to the communities who are the ultimate beneficiaries of this research. The participation of communities moved from traditionally passive to a role in which they are active and influential players in research and development at multiple levels.

With all ground-breaking ventures, there are many lessons learned along the way. Shared here is a paper, jointly authored by The Constellation and the World Fish Centre, which captures some of the main lessons learned during this partnership and process.

If you are considering using SALT and CLCP in a research capacity, or you are interested in its application  in fishing / farming communities, please take the time to read this document and get in contact with the Constellation members and communities who were involved in the process. 

Happy reading!

Olivia

AAS-Constellation%20Joint%20Learning%20Paper_Final%20internal.pdf

[Marie Lamboray]

A page turner report! Thank you Olivia!

A few bookmarks:

The AAS Program and its approach to agricultural research, p.2
Principles that guide Participatory action research design and implementation in Aquatic Agricultural Systems, p.6
Key areas of learning for building a strong partnership, p.10
Role of Reflections After Experience, p.13
Conditions that help facilitators to work more effectively, p.15
Understanding why Visioning is so important, p.22

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Thanks for compiling important lessons which will be very valuable in Constellation's future partnerships. Thanks Olivia!