Rural development and agriculture play a key role in contributing to sustainable food security and poverty reduction in times of increasing natural disasters due to climate change, land grabbing, the spread of new and existing pandemics, increased conflicts and migration, and the inequality of the international trade system.

Rural Development

The quality of life, in particular for the poorest people in developing countries, continues to depend to a large extent on the degree to which agriculture is able to support an ecologically and socially sound sustainable development for men and women. Since 1997 FAKT offers services to strengthen partner organizations in developing countries in sustainable agriculture and food security. Our consultancies on agricultural and related rural development issues are process-oriented and guided by the principles of participation and gender justice.

Since 1997 FAKT offers services to strengthen partner organizations in developing countries in sustainable agriculture and food security. Our consultancies on agricultural and related rural development issues are process-oriented and guided by the principles of participation and gender justice.


FAKT specializes in the following fields of rural development:


Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture

Achieving food security for a rising number of people worldwide while preserving and promoting healthy ecosystems needs a fundamental change in our societies and a transformation of our global food system. Agroecology as a concept developed out of social movements has been gaining more attention within the scientific community and the international discussion for supporting food and nutrition security for small-scale farmers under changing climate.

Agroecological approaches aim for self-sustaining, regional food systems that are working with and enhancing the ecological functions of the surrounding ecosystems by e.g., agroforestry systems, agricultural techniques like crop rotation and diversification, sustainable soil management and integrating agriculture and livestock keeping. They build on traditional and indigenous knowledge and focus on fostering local and regional circular economies. Agroecology also supports a systemic change by addressing socio-cultural conditions. This includes increasing the participation of local communities in decision making processes, participatory learning and research and changing consumption patterns and diets.

FAKT has a long history of working with agroecological principles, particularly in the context of climate change. We provide consulting services in the following areas:

  • Mainstreaming of climate change adaptation based on agroecological approaches as part of climate risk management
  • Process-oriented coaching for small-scale farmers and NGOs to improve their agricultural practices, strengthen local value chains and increase participation of farmers in decision making processes.
  • Facilitation of multi-stakeholder processes and dialogues in rural areas.
  • Capacity development and (online) trainings on agroecology and sustainable agriculture.
  • Monitoring and evaluation with a specific focus on promoting agroecology among small-scale farmers.

The present social and economic policies, both at national and international levels, endanger local food security and livelihoods of many of the approximately 1.4 billion low income and resource poor male and female farmers.

A management strategy based on sustainable agriculture principles ensures the optimal use of natural resources and the minimization of risk. Farming and livelihood aspects are combined in a way to allow, at the same time, social integration and additional income generation opportunities for families and communities. Today, in spite of climate change and unfavourable policy frameworks, sustainable agriculture is an appropriate approach for the development of viable production systems which provide for the livelihood of men and women and for local food security.

FAKT specializes in different aspects of sustainable agriculture. Agroecological approaches focus on creating sustainable local economies and the role that local communities play in food security. Securing access to land and fostering sustainable land management are a key precondition for ensuring food security for small-scale farmers, indigenous communities and pastoralists. Supporting a climate resilient agriculture is key to adapting farmers to the future challenges which climate change and biodiversity loss brings that also create mitigation co-benefits.

FAKT has 30 years of experience in the field of sustainable agriculture. In this field of work, our services include:

  • Support to strategic planning and project development of agricultural projects
  • Technical advice on sustainable agricultural techniques and other livelihood strategies (e.g., bee keeping)
  • Promoting and accompanying participatory research and learning, e.g., via Climate Field Schools and cooperation with universities
  • Development of (digital) monitoring systems for agricultural projects and programmes
  • Evaluations and impact studies
  • Studies and publications

Water and Sanitation

Water is more than a natural resource; it is a driving force of growth combining various ecological, economic and social aspects of development. The international water community is exposing water challenges quite well highlighting the emerging scarcity, the nexus to food security and energy production as well as the growing pressure caused by climate change and its implications.

Facing high complexity and big market players, FAKT has taken the decision to position itself within the WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) concept, seeing water, sanitation and hygiene as a holistic approach. We provide innovative solutions merging traditional knowledge with modern technology and management approaches for decentralised systems. Doing so, FAKT is combing its core methodological expertise with specific and long-term water skills. In consequence, we provide the following advisory services in this action field:

  • Capacity Development (CD) in challenging formats (face to face -, blended – and e-learning, webinars, workshops, study visits, …)
  • Monitoring and (impact) evaluation of water projects (M&E)
  • Design and development of sustainable decentralised water projects (Decentral)
  • Identification and development of innovative water solutions (water systems, technologies and training) (Innovative)
  • Energy audits for water and waste water systems (Audit)
  • Awareness raising and advocacy campaigns on priority water issues (A&A)

Cross-sectoral analyses and participative capacity development is FAKT’s strength. We highlight dialogue and networking in all our undertakings.

 

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