Updated: November 2008

Andes Country Programme

PROLINNOVA Andes is a regional initiative started by Vecinos Mundiales, IIRR and AGRECOL (Bolivia) in 2004. It seeks to build partnership in the Andean region (Ecuador, Bolivia and Perú) in order to join efforts and share experiences in such similar geographical, environmental, social, historical and economical conditions.

PROLINNOVA Andes main objective is to value, promote and strengthen local knowledge and initiatives related to ecological agriculture. This we call “people science” because peasant/indigenous knowledge and practices are developed not by chance, but following strategic steps using local resources according to the local context. In order to achieve this objective we propose a four-pillar strategy: 1) Farmer’s experimentation, 2) Documentation and dissemination, 3) Capacity building and knowledge exchange, and 4)Policy advocacy and institutionalization.

Farmer’s experimentation, seeks to identify farmer’s innovation and to promote it through farmer-led joint experimentation and the establishment of local funds to support this. The idea is to let farmers “take over the stick” in an experimentation phase,while integrating local and scientific knowledge.

Documentation and dissemination, include: Farmer’s documentation of their innovations, reflection leading to improve the practice, share local innovations in order to inspire other farmers and influencing in policy making
           
Capacity building and knowledge exchange seeks to develop skills to promote innovation development trough PID (Participatory innovation development) and other participatory methodologies which focus on “people's science”; influence in changing roles (from “extensionists” to “facilitators”) and promoting knowledge and experience exchange (at local, national, regional and international level).

Policy advocacy and institutionalization is designed to influence on policy making and research. It seeks to make farmers’s knowledge, initiatives and innovations as part of government's, educational institutions' and researchs' approaches and policies. In order to do that, we need first to build and strengthen partnership at national and regional (Andean) level.

The programme is presently implementing activities in: a) Peru, under coordination of the RAAA and the ANPE (National Association of Agroecological Producers): b) Bolivia, with the support of AGRECOL Andes, World Neighbors Bolivia, PROSUKO (Prorama de Suka Kollus), AOPEB (Ecological Producers Association of Organizations) and PROINPA Foundation (Research on and Promotion of Andean Products), among others: and c) Ecuador, within the "Colectivo de Agroecologia" group that brings together several grassroots organizations and local NGOS, in addition to World Neighbors Ecuador.

In 2007, an international seminar on local innovation and its role on agricultural research and development took place in Peru, bringing togeher partners from throughout the region. In June 2008, a workshop was organize by the Bolivian partners on Tiahuanaco. From there, it was concluded that interested partners will constitute an informal network, exchange experience and foster learning, while focusing on organazing key joint activities.


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