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Sector-Wide Approach
Our Sector-wide Approach
KHSA’s sector-wide approach is all about building strong connections among a wide range of key stakeholders, both within and across the project countries. We aim to create opportunities for everyone involved to share important, needs-based information on organic and agroecological agriculture. This approach is rooted in the networks and insights of our Country Implementing Partners (CIPs), who have identified the most influential stakeholders with the greatest potential to amplify our efforts. The selection of these stakeholders is also guided by regional baseline studies conducted in the project countries. Read these reports here. [will provide links]
Some key stakeholder groups are described below.
Media Stakeholders
We think the media plays a crucial role in shaping how people and governments view food and farming systems. To support them in this, KHSA did some research to find out where they needed more information and then provided training and resources to fill those gaps. The media pointed out a few key areas where they needed help:
- Understanding the basics of organic and agroecological farming, including how these practices improve soil health, biodiversity, climate change adaptation, and resilience.
- Breaking down complex farming and climate change jargon for their audiences.
- Finding reliable information sources on organic and agroecological agriculture in their country.
- Understanding the connections between industrial agriculture, climate change, the Sustainable Development Goals, and national policymaking.
To address these needs, KIAE developed a range of helpful resources: a Training Curriculum, a Food and Farming System Jargon Dictionary, various graphics illustrating connections, and a story source map. We also created a fun and informative Media Food Jam experience across all four countries, where journalists went on curated organic farm tours and enjoyed a collaborative lunch, gaining both knowledge and stories. Additionally, we supported PELUM Zambia’s ASACC Media Awards, which celebrated outstanding reporting on food and farming systems. In July 2023, we kicked off a regional media programme with a short series of training sessions focused on climate change for the media we’ve worked with.
Policymakers & Technocrats
Policymakers have a tough job juggling the needs of many different groups while managing tight budgets and resources, all while being accountable for meeting national and international development goals. In Zambia, we conducted needs assessments with policymakers to figure out what’s holding back their support for organic and agroecological farming. We found that they need more evidence showing the social, economic, and environmental benefits of these approaches, as well as a clearer understanding of how organic and agroecological systems work
- PELUM Zambia undertook training sessions with policymakers and technocrats and developed the first Multi-Ministerial Policy Briefing Pack to support them in understanding the linkages between agriculture, water, health, rural development, energy and climate change, with an emphasis on gender aspects.
- In Namibia, NOA established a technical working group comprising sectoral stakeholders and government representatives to pave the way for more supportive policymaking.
- In Malawi, both KIAE and SFHC included local government officers and extension officers in their KHSA programmes to upskill them in these approaches.
Academia & Research Institutions
It’s really important that our agricultural education systems adapt to give students the skills they need for sustainable farming and to help others with it too. In Namibia, NOA teamed up with the Namibian University of Science and Technology to update their agricultural curriculum and provide students with useful knowledge and resources. They created a set of factsheets on organic livestock production, added a chapter about it to their Organic Production Manual, and put together a hybrid public engagement series with top experts in organic and agroecological farming.
Lead Farmer Organisations
Lead farmer organisations exist to serve the needs of their members, acting to represent their interests and to build their capacity. Through KHSA, PELUM Zambia worked with its network of lead farmers organisations to reach hundreds of farmers with training on organic and agroecological farming and to activate useful resources. These included a set of posters on sustainable farming practices, translated into three local languages.
