Replication and Scaling Up: Where to from Here? - Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - page 426

Chapter 21
Replication and Scaling Up: Where
to from Here?

Victor R. Squires

Synopsis The concepts of “ replication ”, and “ scaling - up ” are being increasingly
promoted as important elements of efforts to combat desertification and arrest
and reverse land degradation by donors, governments, and non-governmental and
community organizations. In this chapter the opportunities, problems and prospects
for scaling - up and replication are discussed.

Key Points

• The proven practices described in this topic include practical, on-the-ground

measures as well as legislative and policy initiatives that have been effective.
Where success has been observed with a demonstrable development dividend
there is a desire to advance that success on a larger scale through scale-up and
replication The more common questions posed by the international development
community are: how can successful ideas be grown and adapted to other regions,
countries and sectors, in order to fast track progress towards development goals,
including arresting and reversing land degradation?

• Communicated effectively, success stories can create a demand driven approach

whereby communities actively seek opportunities to apply proven technologies
and management models in their communities. The examples outlined in this
topic are from a wide range of environments and social and political systems and
should provide encouragement to local communities both within the countries
from which the Case Studies are drawn.

Keywords Transformational goals • Training • Enabling environment • Scale •
Demand-driven • Top-down • Institutional change • Transferability • Grass-
roots • Innovation • Donor • Livelihoods • Strategic partnerships • Lessons
learned