LinKS Project

FAO has found that organisations work at different levels and with various methods to improve rural people's lives and support sustainable agricultural development. Some carry out research, others directly support community-based conservation of genetic and natural resources, while others work to bring about change at the policy level. Many of these organisations are looking for opportunities to: share their experience with others and document what they are doing and learning; document what they have discovered about farmers' knowledge and practices; and learn about new approaches and skills that they can use to facilitate their work with communities. The strategy for LinKS project activities is thus to build on, and add value to, the ongoing work of selected partner organisations.

Communication and advocacy:

Helping organisations to share information and experiences among themselves and with local communities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), government agencies, and policy makers is one of the three main objectives of the project. According to the organisation, investing in communication and materials can be an effective way to stimulate discussion on local knowledge and biodiversity and to raise awareness about these important issues.

The following activities support LinKS' communication and advocacy goals:

• Based on research activities, LinKS supports research institutions and NGOs to develop research reports and case studies. Lessons learned, video films, newsletters, and leaflets are prepared and disseminated to different groups.
• In Phase I, more than 650 researchers, policy makers and development workers participated in workshops and seminars organised by the project to raise awareness and promote debate on the issues. The project also organised several small workshops to explore the issues of farmers' rights, such as their intellectual property rights. LinKS also sponsors workshops, seminars, information campaigns, and public debates on those specific topics.
• The LinKS website provides a space where organisations can publish and share their work with a large audience. An electronic newsletter and a mailing list provide further possibilities for communication and exchange of information.
• Another important element of communication is the organisation of community-to-community visits, in which rural communities, extension workers, and researchers have the possibility to learn from each other and exchange their experiences.

Training and capacity building:

The aim of the training courses is to enhance the participants' understanding of the role of rural men and women's local knowledge and the importance of this knowledge for sustainable management of biodiversity and food security. The courses provide the participants with new skills and tools in gender analysis, participatory methods, and communication techniques which they can hopefully apply in their daily work.

Training courses designed for researchers or extension workers from various NGOs, government institutions, or other organisations explore issues related to local knowledge, biodiversity, gender, and participation - and how they all relate.

Research:

The main purpose of doing research in the LinKS project is to increase the visibility of rural men and women's knowledge. The view that local people's knowledge is inferior to scientific knowledge and irrelevant for a country's development is, according to FAO, now changing. Researchers, policymakers, and development workers are realising that rural men and women nurture knowledge that offers valuable opportunities for biodiversity conservation, increased food security, and sustainable livelihoods for the economically poor. By supporting research activities, LinKS has been able to explain and highlight the important role of local knowledge - especially in the context of biodiversity management and conservation.

Gender, Agriculture, Natural Resource Management.

FAO explains that farmers in developing or less-developed countries have knowledge, practices, and skills that are often highly sustainable and respectful of the natural ecosystems they depend on for their food and livelihoods. However, the organisation contends that is important to understand that, in this context, rural men and women have different knowledge about how to use and manage genetic resources that is based on their different roles and responsibilities in the farming system. It is estimated that up to 90% of the planting material used by economically poor farmers comes from seeds and germplasm that they have produced, selected, and saved themselves. This means that small farmers play a crucial role in the preservation and management of genetic resources and biodiversity.