CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2024
| Author | Igoor Vijayakumar, Medhini |
|---|---|
| Title | Harnessing Cross-Sector Collaborations to Mobilise Smallholder Farmers as Agents of Building Resilient Communities: A Study on the Herding 4 Health Programme in the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region, South Africa |
| Summary | Tackling “wicked problems” require collaboration between organisations across sectors. This thesis research aims to (i) understand the impacts of cross-sector collaborations on smallholder communities, (ii) explore how cross-sector collaborations influence climate adaptation strategies in rural communities, and (iii) explore frameworks that could aid and enhance such collaborations. The research was conducted as a qualitative case study of the Herding 4 Health programme implemented in communal farming areas in the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region, South Africa. Findings highlighted the programme's significant impacts on livestock farmers, wider communities, and the environment through mechanisms including holistic rangeland management, market access, setting up community governance structures, and broader impacts like job creation. However, long-term sustainability without external support poses a significant concern. The study emphasized the necessity of multisectoral approaches, leveraging strengths from organisations across different sectors like Non-Governmental Organisations, enterprises, academia, governing bodies, and traditional authorities. The recognition of farmers as key partners in implementation of cross-sector collaborations was crucial for the success of community-based programmes. An analysis was also carried out by using the Donella Meadows’s leverage points framework to identify leverage points of change within cross-sector collaborations in rangeland systems. Recommendations focus on directing funding and efforts towards factors of deep leverage. Creating robust information channels, building an enabling framework of enterprise and support structures, and establishing strong community governance structures are crucial in creating systems change. The highest leverage points are driving organisations towards a common systems goal and designing a holistic management approach that focuses on the livelihoods outcome of communities. These leverage points can be tapped into through herders and facilitators who are the key levers of change in rangeland systems. |
| Supervisor | Anthony, Brandon P. |
| Department | Environment Sciences and Policy MSc |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2024/igoor_medhini.pdf |
Visit the CEU Library.
© 2007-2021, Central European University