Developing Social Capital: Engaging the Poorest Communities

Pierre FerrariPresident and CEO

Engaging Poor Communities

• What do these communities say they lack?

• What are their needs• Listening to the community and

small-holder farmers is key to supporting and providing services

What Role do NGOs Play?

• What can NGOs do to support communities?

• NGO perspective– What has worked?– What hasn’t worked?

Heifer’s Relationship to these Communities• How has Heifer responded to the

needs of the communities?• Heifer’s approaches

– EADD Hub model– How do these approaches help build

social capital for the communities?

 

Theory of ChangeHeifer International believes that the world’s most vulnerable smallholder farmers, including women, can produce adequate food and surplus to feed their families, communities and the world, if their capacity is enhanced in combination with the right inputs.

Factors contributing to poverty and hunger:Marginalization, gender discrimination, lack of access to resources and services, lack of diversified livelihood opportunities, vulnerability, low income, and environmental degradation 

      1. Year round availability and access to food2. Surplus food to markets3. Increased consumption of diverse and nutritious food4. Improved hygiene and water/ sanitation practices

      1. Functioning Self Help Groups/farmer organizations;2. Functioning Cooperatives/ social enterprises3. Active national networks/ alliances/ social movements

      1. Agro-ecological farming practices

      1. Diversified sources of income 2. Increase in productive assets3. Scaled up IG activities4. Access to market and appropriate financial services

Goal: Increased global food security

 

Increase in income and

assets

Food security and

nutrition

Improved Environment

Increased Social Capital

      1. Leadership roles2. Access to and control over income and assets3. Participation in decision making at household and community level 

Women ‘s Empowerment

1. Context specific training and input supports  (animals, seeds, plants etc);2. Linkage to markets and value chain;3. Imparting knowledge and skills

1. Appropriate package of physical inputs2. Establishment of homestead gardens;3. Training for increased knowledge of nutrition of locally available food  

1. Organize, create, and strengthen groups, coops, alliances, social movements2. Values enhancement through cornerstones 3. Social mobilization

1. Promotion of agro-ecological farming practices

 1. Women’s group formation2. Prioritize women’s membership in selection criteria3. Focus on livestock species and other inputs appropriate for women’s needs4. Design projects with gender lens with specific focus on the socio-economic benefit for women

Interventions:

Outcomes:

Preconditions:

Farming families

Community-based dairy & livestock 

services

Hub-based feed

 enterprise

Bulk milk buyers & consumers

Village GroupsDMG / DIG / DFG

Dairy HubCP or TM

Unique ApproachCommunity-based  

Dairy Hub Business Framework

Otherhub-based enterprises

Community-based banking  & credit 

services

TESTING

FARMERS

FIELD DAYS

VILLAGE BANKS

OTHER RELATED MEs

CHILLING HUB

How the Hub Works – Virtuous Cycle of Buyers & Sellers

Food Security & Social Capital

• Importance that women-centered programs have in improving the community

• Examples of community engagement and women empowerment within the projects Heifer works.

In Nepal, SEW Cooperatives are determined to put "social" back into social enterprises. They are comprised of small-scale farmer families, each represented by a woman, and provide a voice for their community’s needs and build rapport with local governments and other resource providers.  

Social Entrepreneurs Women’s (SEW) Cooperative in Nepal

Sudhamiya Paswan, 33Livestock for Poverty Alleviation in Terai Region – NEPAL (22-0531-17)

• Received a buffalo• Morning milk sold to dairy, evening

milk for family• Curd made from excess milk and

sold• Sold manure• With additional income, purchased

goat and installed irrigation for her land

Sudhamiya deposited part of her income into the group’s savings for the pass-on fund. When the required amount is saved, a buffalo is passed on to another woman in need. Recipients are given 36 months to collect adequate funds for the pass on.

Sudhamiya was able to make her pass-on within 10 months of receiving her buffalo.

Dolores DelgadoAllin Kausay- Good Living: Agroecology and Local Andean Markets (ARPAC) PERU (23-1740-02)

After constructing a shed, Dolores and her husband are building an addition with an improved stove prepare and serve guinea pigs. Dolores says “When your home known for guinea pigs… your neighbors will do the same.”

The community is able to then share in the profits and development.

• Most terrain is barren and brown, they have been able to grow vegetables and fodder

• Uses organic fertilizer on farm• Received guinea pigs• Money saved because they grow the

guinea pigs food• Has received training on animal care

Guinea pigs have been a source of nutrition

Thank you.