Innovation in Research: Ecosystem Approach Context

By

Prof. Joseph Okello-Onen

CONCEPTS-ECOSYSTEM

Implies the presence of a set of different living organisms, interacting with the physical environment. Characterized by complexity, heterogeneity. Example-people, livestock, general environment, mosquitoes, etc

Concepts- Ecosystem Approach to Health

Is an approach to human health that explores the relationships between various components of an ecosystem in order to define and evaluate the priority determinants of human health and sustainability of the ecosystem

Evolution of approach The results of many rural development

project aiming to improve the living standards of the rural population in developing countries have often been disappointingly poor

This was largely because e.g. agricultural innovations propagated to increase agricultural productivity were not adopted by small resource-poor farmers as was expected

The reason for this is not farmers ignorance, but the inappropriateness of the supposed innovations

Evolution of approach Not understanding farmer’s goals and

decision criteria increases the likelihood of addressing the wrong problems or of valuing an innovation incorrectly

Obviously, no one specialist knows as intimately as the farmer all the many different problems and needs of the small farm household

Therefore, no other specialist is better equipped to visualize how to put a technology to work on a farm to meet those needs

Ecosystem Approaches to Human Health

Human health cannot be considered in isolation It depends on the quality of environment in

which people live For people to be healthy, they need healthy

environment Ecosystem Approach to Human Health is

an innovative response to human health problems resulting from transformation or high-risk management of either the environment or human health

Ecosystem Approaches to Human Health

The approach places human beings at the centre (Anthropocentric)

It revolves around seeking the optimal balance for human health and well-being, rather than simply on environmental protection

Its objective is not to preserve the environment as it was before human settlements appeared

Ecosystem Approaches to Human Health

The presence of human beings creates a new dynamic whereby people’s social and economic aspirations need to be considered, particularly since they have the power to control, develop and use their environment in a sustainable way, or to abuse it

The aim is to achieve lasting improvements in human health by maintaining or improving the environment.

Another aspect is the adoption of a research process that is not restricted to scientists, so that the knowledge acquired can be integrated into people’s lives.

The challenge is meeting human needs without modifying or jeopardizing the ecosystem in the long-term – and ideally even improving it

Ecosystem Approaches to Human Health

It is impossible to improve the environment without including the human population, with its inherent social, cultural and economic concerns, in the management of resources

The more we try to stabilize ecosystems, such as irrigation, drainage, fertilizers or pesticides, the more we diminish their ability to regenerate themselves

A sectoral approach is no longer adequate: co-management of human activity and the environment is essential

It requires disciplines to draw together to study the human-environment relationship

Ecosystem Approaches to Human Health

The traditional approach

Community

Economy

Environment

Ecosystem Approaches to Human Health

The Ecosystem Approach

HealthEnvironment

CommunityEconomy

Aims of the session

To create a common understanding of participation and related concepts-within ecosystem approach.

To acquire knowledge and skills of participatory approaches (and tools).

To develop/adopt a design for building participation in the project

Why Participation? A core element of Ecosystem Approach-

creates ownership and sustainability Characteristics of Ecosystem Approach:

Participatory Transdisciplinary Equity - Places people at the center of

development Considers people as an integral part of the

environment rather than in conflict with the environment

Participation-Ecosystem Approach (cont)

Sensitive to needs of different social groups and their aspirations-women, men, pastoral and sedentary farming groups etc

Is knowledge-based-to help deep understanding from different sources, using different approaches (Triangulation)

Concepts-Participation

Genuine participation is about getting people to define their problems, needs and priorities and to act on them-singly or with support.

People’s needs and priorities form the basis for research and intervention

It aims to achieve consensus and cooperation, not only within the community, scientific and decision-making groups, but also among them

Participation-as expressed in

development

Cheap labor concept of participation-idea and strategy external to community but get them to participate thro’ labor contribution

Cost-sharing –emphasis is cost recovery- assumed to build ownership

Contractual-get people organized to manage projects-train etc

Community-decision-making concept

Types of Participation-Research

Contractual-scientist pay for farmer’s resources (land) or services (passive)

Consultative-scientists consult farmers but use results to design intervention strategies (passive)

Collaborative-scientists work with farmers to address a problem accepted by both (active)

Collegiate-scientists support farmers to strengthen informal research (active)

Three Main Types of Participation

Multidisciplinary

Interdisciplinary

Transdisciplinary

Multidisciplinary Teams

Collaboration among many scientific disciplines-crops, livestock, medical, social.

Often with minimal interaction between each other-might be aware other groups are around.

Interdisciplinary team(s)

Deals with a subject at the frontier between two disciplines-such as nutrition (between food and health)

Often a researcher may need training in both disciplines-

Transdisciplinary Teams

Based on continuous collaboration among several disciplines. To some degree, all participate in: Development of protocols-to ensure all

elements of ecosystem are included Conducting fieldwork Interpreting and integrating results Integration of different knowledge

systems

A transdisciplinary research protocol

1. The groups or key players Scientists wanting to work directly

for community well-being A community ready to collaborate

in a development process that uses research as a tool

Decision-makers who are able to devote time, knowledge and expertise to a process of consensus-building

A transdisciplinary research protocol

2. The steps Establish dialogue among the key

players through informal meetings and exchange of letters and Emails

Solicit the financial support required to fund problem definition in a pre-project workshop that brings together key players

A transdisciplinary research protocol

Organize a pre-project workshop to; Define the problem based on the views and knowledge

of each group (focus group, maps, interaction, data) Identify common areas of concern Agree on common objectives Specify the methodological approach of each group or

actor Define roles and responsibilities Establish a schedule for team meetings

Iterate protocols on the basis of the results achieved

Translate research results into concrete action programmes

Ensure the project’s long-term sustainability and monitor progress

Who Participates?

All-stakeholders representing different interests-women, men, resource poor, well-to do, young and old, different livestock systems etc

Recognize diversity and variability of local knowledge-it is differentiated along lines of age, gender, ethnicity, class, livelihoods

Qualitative Data-Tools What data?

What problem-malaria perceived as problem and why

Why it exists?-factors-what associations?

Possible solutions and what is currently being done about it?

• What tools? Select tools which best generate the data you need

Data Collection Tools Spatial Data:

Maps-physical distribution of elements of interest:

households and people in them-sex, age Different livestock systems Malaria prevalence Socio-economic differentiation-poor, well

to do

Tools Spatial data:

Transects: walks through study area-to validate information gathered through maps and to gather additional information: How?

Observation-see things and ask questions

Focus Groups discussions Key Informants

TOOLS

Temporal Data: Time-related Time-lines. Dates of important

events-malaria epidemics, causes and effects. Changes in livestock management practices and notable effect on malaria

Trends (changes) -selected parameters-malaria prevalence, incidence, numbers of animals, livelihoods (years and change)

TOOLS

Social Data Community organization-

institutions and roles Social stratification-wealth ranking,

ethnicity---- Gender analysis

Data Synthesis and Ranking

Sorting out data into key problems, factors and associations as perceived by local people-sorted out with community

List of problems validated by community

Community ranks problems-using own criteria

TOOLS

Household questionnaire-to validate qualitative data-as much as possible investigate problems generated qualitatively (Community Diagnosis)

Compare qualitative and quantitative results –if consistent, fairly sure that the problems are real

Researcher-led Studies

On the basis of knowledge gathered, refine individual study topics and details

Develop questionnaire-questionnaire reviewed by team members-to ensure inclusion of cross cutting themes

Carry out the study

Dissemination of Results

Results from different sources presented and discussed with stakeholders-validated and owned

Community Action Plans

On basis of problems identified, plans developed by communities: What they can do on their own-

and indicate when to do it What they can do with some

assistance What needs full external support

Phase II Proposal

Develop proposal to support Community Action Plans and further research