General

Africa is currently facing severe food insecurity, with low agricultural productivity being one of the root causes. Factors such as limited access to quality inputs, inadequate extension services, lack of finance, and post-harvest handling issues contribute to low agricultural productivity. Food insecurity is exacerbated by economic, political and demographic shocks, including the war in Ukraine, which has caused rising food and energy prices and lower yields in 2022. Climate change further intensifies food insecurity, with extreme weather events such as droughts and floods impacting crop and livestock production and access to markets. Conflict and insecurity are also major drivers of acute food security issues, leading to population displacement and disrupted livelihoods, depriving people of income sources. Action is needed to relieve acute food insecurity, whilst at the same time structurally transforming food systems. Farmers’ Organisations and its member farmers play a critical role in obtaining this, as they contribute not only to food production, but also to sustained economic growth and climate change mitigation. The Acting Now for Food Security and Resilient Food Systems programme, with funding from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (specifically IGG), builds upon its existing strategic partnership with DDE by reinforcing and expanding its efforts on food security, contributing to a more measurable impact on SGD 2 (Zero Hunger). It contributes to improved food and nutrition security (FNS) at the individual farmer level and fosters systemic change in the food system through a total of 82 Farmer Organisations in Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda. As per Agriterra’s core business, Acting Now will work with and through Farmers’ Organisations and cooperatives to build resilient food systems and to make a sustainable change in the lives of smallholder farmers and their communities. Key Activities Acting Now aims to boost productivity, improving incomes and sustainable land management practices through the following key activities: - Trainings and peer-to-peer activities on FNS related topics, such as Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Regenerative Agriculture, productivity increase at specific value chains and production of compost and bio-inputs. - Establishment of demo plots to promote and train farmers on new or improved farming practices and technologies. - Offering sustainable services through a tailored approach per country that ensures access to seeds, fertilisers, planting material, agri-inputs and extension services. - Strengthening extension services by co-financing the salary of extension officers and agronomists at the FO through Agriterra’s Jobs Jobs Jobs approach - Co-financing investments and innovations to boost agricultural productivity and food security.

Objectives

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Target Groups

Farmer Organisations and its member farmers

General

Lao PDR is a water rich country, benefitting from the water resources of the Mekong River, tributaries and many smaller water bodies that contribute greatly to national economic development and the livelihoods of local communities. While water demand remains low in terms of per-capita public consumption, in recent years, water resources have gained greater prominence due to the increasing role of hydropower and irrigation in economic development. Largescale construction of dams on the Mekong River and tributaries is expected to impact the hydrological profile and biodiversity of these systems and exacerbate the impact of projected climate change trends related to the flow regimes and by altering processes of erosion and sediment deposition. The total annual water flow in Lao PDR is estimated at 270 billion meters – equivalent to 35% of the average annual flow of the entire Mekong River Basin. Although classified as a low risk (89) on the global Climate Risk Index Lao PDR remains vulnerable primarily to hydrometeorological hazards. Seasonal flooding is common within the eight river basins across the country. Most vulnerable areas are the low-lying flood plains along the Mekong River and its major tributaries in the northern, central and southern regions. The majority of the population resides in rural areas with 72% (in 2015) of the working population employed in the agriculture sector. Poverty is concentrated in remote and rural areas, particularly those inhabited by ethnic communities. Predicted change in climate include increased rain fall of 10-30% andincreased frequency and intensity of extreme weather (floods and droughts). The Mekong and Sekong river basins are prone to regularflooding, exacerbated by deforestation and land degradation due toagricultural practices. Lao PDR has transitioned from a primarily disaster response approach to a risk management approach with the establishment of the National Disaster Prevention and Control Committee (NDPCC) and the National Disaster Management Committee (NDMC) with the National Disaster Management Office acting as the Secretariat. A Department of Disaster Management and Climate Change under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) wasalso established by decree in 2013. DRM structures at sub-national levels include Provincial Disaster Prevention and Control Committees (PDPCCs) district equivalents (DDPCCs) and at the village level, Village Disaster Prevention Units (VDPU). VDPUs act as the interface between communities and the government system and include representatives of community-based organizations (CBOs), traditional leaders and other community actors. Oxfam has extensive experience in working with these structures including for participatory vulnerability assessments and planning and linking these to the formal DRM structures. Key challenges include resourcing to the DRM structures, coordination between agencies and the need to integrate DRM approaches into development planning given the socio-economic needs in remote areas. Community-participatory DRM approaches are priorities to bridge the gap between formal and informal structures and in recognition of the challenges of service delivery in remote communities. Gender: Despite a policy environment that promotes genderequality (Law on Development and Protection of Women 2004 and Law on Preventing and Combatting Violence against Women and Children 2014) and an overall decrease in the inequality gap between women and men; women are still less likely to attain secondary education compared to men, are less likely to be literate compared to men and due to early marriage are more likely to drop out of school. During disasters women, particularly those from ethnic minorities, are disproportionately impacted partly because theyare more likely to operate in the informal economy, have less access to social protection systems and experience increased exposure to gender-based violence. Traditional beliefs and social norms limit the role women play outside the home and this also extends to DRM structures and practices where the perspectives of women and the role they can play may not be realised unless specific steps are taken. Riverine community vulnerability: Across the country communities in rural areas reliant on agricultural, fisheries and forest resource have heightened vulnerability to recurring hydro-meteorological disasters such as floods, drought, storms, land erosion, earthquakes and pandemics due to the increasing impact of climate change. Vulnerability is not evenwith women, ethnic minorities and remote communities considered more vulnerable. The increasing unpredictability of rain fall and flood patterns that irrigate fields, replenish fisheries and nurture forest and wetlands challenge traditional systems and practices require other forms of information and support to adapt livelihoods reliant on these resources and reduce the impact of extreme weather events. This requires strengthening ofcommunity capacity to understand and assess these changes and impact atthelocal level including the differential impact on women and other social groups; and to collectively plan inclusive strategies to adapt current livelihood practices and strategies while at the same time continuing their day-to-day smart livelihood activities. Local authority capacity: At the local level where policy meets implementation, there are key gaps particularly related to the interface between communities and formal DRM committees at the commune/local authority levels. The integration of investment in DRM and CCA into cyclical local development planning is a key gap despite existing policies that promote community-based approaches. This is largely due to competing priorities at this level and the need for meaningful participatory approachesto be effective that are often beyond the skill set, experience, and time availability/priorities of officials at this level. The integration of community perspectives and analysis into local development planning is also hindered by traditional top-down governmental approaches reflecting power differentials related to resources, roles and social hierarchy including gendered attitudes, norms, and behaviours. Access to data/information: Laos has invested in data gathering and dissemination systems for DRM using a range of hydro-meteorological data sources including rain and river gauges, remote sensing, and weather forecasting technology such as radar and satellite imagery. Delivery systems include pilot warning announcement via mobile messages, installationofloudspeakers at districts and villages, construction of flood protection barrier and warning systems, and various data sharing platforms targeting local DRM committees and riverine communities directly. Understanding what data is available, collected by whom and the social-political factors determining availability, accessibility, useability, and timeliness of data (includinggender, ethnicity, location etc) is of key importance as is incorporation of local and traditional knowledge and experience to inform how the data is used. The Strengthening Climate Resilience (SCR) project seeks to strengthen the resilience of communities living along the Mekong River and tributaries to impacts of climate change. This project builds upon Oxfam and partners’ existing work. SCR will work with riverine communities representing some of the most vulnerable in Luang Prabang and Champasak provinces. Specific communities are also selected based on Oxfam’s understanding of needs, and on existing relationships with projectpartners under the ongoing Inclusion Project Phase II (IP2).

General

This project falls under Oxfam Novib's Strategic Partnership with the Dutch government and more specifically the Theory of Change for Right to Food, aiming to achieve impact for women, men and children living in poverty to realize their right to food. This project sits within a wider program that contains more projects that Oxfam Novib is engaged in. These initiatives firstly include the wider GROW campaign of Oxfam, which consists of work in some 30 countries as well as joint regional and global advocacy and campaigning,through the involvement of many Oxfam affiliates, Oxfam country teams, partners and allies. Secondly, they include activities thatare implemented in the context of broader alliances with contribution of multiple partners. This is a continuation of phase 1 of the project that took place 2016-2018. The GROW overarching goal for the period 2019-2020 is that by 2020, more governments, multilateral institutions and companies are implementing policies that promote sustainable food production and consumption, are supporting those most vulnerable to climate change, and are realising communities# rights to land. To this end 3 focus areas of work have been formulated 1) by 2020, more government funding for small scale food production and a greater proportion of private investment in agriculture is focused on helping, not harming, small scale food producers 2) by 2020, communities that are vulnerable to climate changehave greater access to adaption finance and other forms of support, and emissions from key sources are cut and 3) by 2020, women and communities in atleast 10 countries protect and realise their rights to land. This project focuses on four areas that are derivedfrom the overarching GROW objectives. Firstly, we will focus oninvestment in small-scale agriculture and adaptation to climate change. We will influence donors (including the Dutch national government) on ODA expenditure on agriculture and how to invest this money in (female) smallholder farmers to increase the resilience of livelihoods in the context of climate change and achieving food security. Second we will focus on the global food system by influencing and engaging the private sector for equitable, accountable and transparent agricultural value chains which among others includes work on Behind the Brands and IMVO (ICSR) covenants. Thirdly, we will focus on raising awareness and advancing the land rights of indigenous peoples and local communities through Land Rights Now, the Global Call to Action on Indigenousand community land rights, a worldwide alliance initiative of more than 400organizations and communities that aims at doubling the area of land formally recognized as owned or designated for indigenous peoples and local communities by 2020, which includesa strong focus on women#s land rights. Moreover, we will influence international financial institutions and Dutch stakeholders to improve their land policies and we will contribute towards the implementation and monitoring of the Voluntary Guidelines onthe Responsible Governance of Land, Fisheries and Forests, and the 2030 Agenda, including through supporting national level advocacy and promoting the participation of women and community representatives in international processes. Finally, acrossall our thematic work we will aim to raise public awareness, and creating public pressure where appropriate together with our partners and allies. Women#s rights are central to the long term outcomes we want to achieve, and prominent in our analysis on landrights, investments in agriculture and climate change. Women are the main group of beneficiaries we are aiming to lift out of poverty as a result of the GROW campaign. Emphasis is given in proper gender analysis; research, data and story gathering that capture the voice of women; campaign and communication material that profiles women#s voice; supporting the participation of women in international fora. To achieve our outcomes we will use different strategies, ranging from monitoring, advocacy, dialogues,campaigning and publicengagement, knowledge generation and sharing, networking, and movement building. We work with and support partners and allies at country (non-Dutch) level, through Oxfam country teams. This includes Nigeria, Uganda, Mozambique, Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam active in the GROW campaign and having a project in the Strategic Partnership under the Theory of Change Right to Food.