PROJECT ASSESSMENTS - Science for Agriculture and Rural Development in Low-income Countries - page 162

Work with the client

The fact that the project worked together from the start with the client (the national
extension services) has to proven rewarding and very effective. It was also not easy.
Extension workers and scientists have different priorities, different daily experiences,
different goals and different languages. It takes commitment, energy, and perseverance
to set common goals and, above all, to keep on working together over a relatively
long period of time.
Especially the simple fact that daily practice and procedures of the extension
workers were changing drastically over the project period cause problems and asked
for flexibility of the group, in order to answer today's rather than last year's questions.

The lesson learned: work with the client (i.e., local resource manager and national
extension services) from the very beginning, that means from designing the project
to delivering the results. Work on a strategic implementation plan as part of the
project.
Partnership DLO and Wageningen University

In this project, Alterra was overall coordinator of the project and especially respon-
sible for the tangibility and applicability of the results. The Wageningen University
was responsible for the scientific quality of the work and the education of PhD
students. This resulted in a good balance between science and applicability. The
project was locally managed by the PhD candidates (both experienced researchers)
which guaranteed continuous presence, focus and dedication by the local partners.
Multi-disciplinary methodology and participatory approach

The tools developed in this project could only be developed in a multi-disciplinary
team and in a participatory way. Farmers and extension were consulted continuously
and they were setting the agenda. Questions were both of a technical and a socio-
economic nature.

G) Unfinished business and future challenges
Planning and implementation at a catchment level

Because water flows from high to low, erosion has to be studied and combated at a
catchment scale. Treating fields separately and independently can easily be a waste
of resources, because of run-off damage form up-stream untreated fields. Also, and
maybe even more important, farmers who live and farm downstream of treated
fields may benefit from this more than the farmers that own the treated fields.
Therefore a truly catchment level approach for soil and water conservation planning
and implementation is required. This approach should:

• Identify hotspots, were activities should start and concentrate (can be done with

EROAHI tools);