This paper looks at differences between conventional anti-desertification projects and participatory, collaborative projects and also ways in which governments, aid agencies and private donors can support collaborative and participatory approaches. It is based on case Studies from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya and Zimbabwe.
The research suggests three main conclusions:
- local communities harbor the will and commitment to prevent loss of their lands and livelihoods to the progressive effects of desertification
- rural communities in Africa may be resistant to Western-style modernization, outside technology, market incentives and increased integration with the national global economies unless they are integrated with or reinforce indigenous society and the local economy
- environmental protection goals can be successfully achieved when external agencies and governments integrate their anti-desertification efforts into existing cultural systems, economic systems, and local organizational structures.
The paper was prepared for the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Convention to Combat Desertification at the United Nations.