The PIIP Innovation Approach for
Reinforcing Agroforestry Research at
the University of Niamey in Niger
Aissetou Drame Yaye, Ibrahim Amoukou
and Claude Adandedjan
Local Participation through
Research/Development
• The Project for Rural Development of Maradi
(PDRM) was one of the projects that promoted
Research/Development in Niger from 1980 - 1990
• The main objective of the project was to increase
agricultural production through improvement of seed
availability and soil fertility replenishment
• The Research/Development approach used did not
allow for a comprehensive scientific knowledge of
the physical and human environment, and of the
constraints faced and strategies developed by local
populations
The Promotion of Farmers’ Initiatives
and Innovations (PIIP)
• In 1998 -2002, the PDRAA contracted the Abdou
Moumouni University of Niamey (AUM) and the
National Agricultural Research Institute (INRAN) as
scientific partners to conduct research on testing the
validity of some farmers’ local practices on soil
fertility and adaptation to climate change.
The Inter-University Project (PIC) for
Farmers’ Initiatives and Innovations
• The results obtained attracted the interest of
three
Belgium
Universities:
Catholic
University of Louvain, the University of Liege
and the Agriculture University of Gembloux.
• The PIC project was developed and
Partnership agreement signed in 2002 between
the UCL/Belgium and the UAM/Niger under
financial support of the Belgium cooperation.
The PIIP Approach to Promote Farmers’
Initiatives and Innovations in Niger
The main objective of the PIC
project was to define and put
in place in Niger and Belgium
new training methods more
adapted to the field.
It consisted in developing
new approach and methods
for joint research and
ways of incorporating
findings into new pedagogical
approaches
The PIIP Approach to Promote Farmers’
Initiatives and Innovations in Niger
The project was built
around Agroforestry
practices developed and
used by farmers to reduce
vulnerability
It involved farmers’ full
participation at all stages of
research activities:
identification, planning,
execution, monitoring and
evaluation
The Seven Principles of the PIIP
Approach
1. The village centrality
2. Consideration and participation of all social categories
3. Research activities as a process for technical, social
and organizational experiences
4. Horizontality in the partnership: no”big”, no “small”
5. All actors engaged with all research activities
6. Research activities should generate concrete outputs
and enhance learning for all actors
7. Flexibility in planning and execution
The nine stages of the PIIP Approach
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Building good knowledge of the approach
Auto-diagnostic of all social categories
Joint elaboration of village action plan
Partnership development through signing of
multipartite agreements
Execution and monitoring of activities
Individual and village level evaluation of outputs and
methodologies
Between villages seminar to share and evaluate
activities
Concerted capitalization : valorization
New Auto diagnostic/planning of activities
PIIP Approach to Assist Farmers’ Initiatives and
Innovations in Niger
The new pedagogical approach was tested
through two University programmes :
– The Master On “Environmental Protection and
Improvement of Agricultural Sahelian Systems”,
Abdou Moumouni University, Niamey, Niger
– The Master on ‘Development/Environment and
Society”, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium
2002 – 2007: Total of 28 students (1PhD student from
Niger registered at UCL + 6 MSC students from
UCL, UL, UG + 8 MSC students from UAM and 11
BSC students from UAM ) conducted their these
research work at Aguie
PIIP Approach to Assist Farmers’ Initiatives and
Innovations in Niger
• Research subject areas included:
– Natural resources Management
– Improvement of agricultural production
– Improvement of animal production
– Socio-organizational development
– Capacity building for local actors
Impacts from the Approach
• Local populations acquired strong negotiation
skills, developed capacities for individual and
collective debates and reflections, and established
direct relationships with technical partners
• Empowerment of Women, Youth and Poor people
with job creation
• Inter-Village coalitions and organizations build
around common interests such as Rural Wood
markets, Apiculture and use of grazing areas.
Impacts from the Approach
• Universities lecturers and students discovered
new ways of partnering with local populations
• Relationships and synergy between Universities
and research institutes improved
• Scientists became aware of the need for
agricultural research approaches less focused on
scientific rigor but taking into account local actors
and the impact on their livelihood.
• Lots of publications generated
• Textbook on the methodology entitled” Changing
research into an instrument for change”
Impact from the Approach
• Radical change in mindset from development
partners:
– respect for local actors’ knowledge and skills,
– recognition of the comparative advantages of
involving Universities and research institutes in
development projects
– Clear evolution from top down vision to a
concerted approach favoring collective decision
taking.
Main Impact from the Approach
• Funding obtained from IFAD to consolidate
the approach through the execution of two of
the recommendations under PPILDA Project:
• Valorization of local innovations
• Reinforcement of rural social structures
This new PPILDA project aims at building
local populations’ capacity for negotiation
and organization so as to allow them be true
engine for development at the end of the
project
Conclusion
• The Aguie experience showed that:
1. Rural development requires building new
relationships with local populations
2. Agricultural research should be at the service
of farmers and oriented towards the
satisfaction of their needs.
3. Agricultural research cannot deal only with
technical aspects, without considering the
other social, cultural and organizational
dimensions.
Conclusion
• This experience of partnership between a
development project, the local populations and
the Universities was unique in Niger.
• It created a synergy in the reflection and
enhanced the knowledge and skills of all actors
to deal with preoccupations that were different
but complementary
THANK YOU / MERCI