Work Packages

WP1.1 Biophysical Data

Collecting soil and hydrology measurements, wildlife impacts on crops, and carbon leakage measurements in and around existing exclosures (54 locations) and across the associated watersheds (96 locations). Also conducting soil measurements of carbon stocks, Fourier Transform Infrared spectra to determine carbon quality, characterisation of erosion susceptibility, soil water storage and retention will assess benefits to the ecosystem and soil fertility.

Experiments set up to monitor runoff, sediment concertation and suspended sediment yield at the outlet of exclosures and watershed level (6 in total).

WP1.2 Baseline Socio-Economic Data

Collecting information on individuals, household characteristics and economic activities in intervention districts (treatment) and control districts. Using a randomized design and collecting baseline data across 3 randomly selected treatment and control districts. Data collected will include attitudes and preferences prior to interventions using discrete choice methods. Primary outcome measures will focus on food security, e.g. HFIAS, and individual valuations of attributes capturing preferences on how exclosures are managed within the community. The interventions designs are being co-produced with stakeholders, accounting for potential spatial effects and lessons from other trials involving allocation of livestock.

WP2.1 Review of equity frameworks

This work package will review and evaluate existing equity frameworks, how these have been operationalised in the context of conservation, and their strengths and weaknesses. In addition, we will collect data from stakeholders and communities to explore how equity issues have arisen in the recent past in the context of exclosures in the study areas and ask; which aspects of equity are seen as important and by whom? Based on a synthesis of this review and analysis of primary data, a framework will be adapted for application in the study areas, and suitable indicators or characteristics will be identified to help evaluate project interventions. This framework will be used to guide further data collection to explore how equity issues unfold through the various stages of the RALENTIR interventions.

WP2.2 Spatial System level modelling

The project team developed a systems model under previous GCRF funding to characterise the useof resources in households of SSA and the impact of different management practices on livelihoods. This model, the “Operational Research Assessment Tool for Organic Resources in Africa”(ORATOR-Africa), accounts for the impact of the use of farm resources on food production, combined with a holistic assessment of changes in soil organic matter, crop production, animal production, water use, fuel availability, and livelihoods. ORATOR has now been translated into Python, and the model is currently being adapted to provide better understanding of spatial interactions and help the design of land degradation measures. It will also provide long term evaluations of exclosure experiments (WP1.1) and gullytreatment (WP3.1), which are otherwise not possible within a 3 year project.

The spatial model will provide risk-based estimates on a spatial grid of sediment deposition due to runoff from exclosures, crop damage associated with animal movement from exclosures, and crop residue removal associated with movement of animals to water. These values will be used to modify the simulations within the farm based model, by increasing changing rates of erosion/sedimentation, and changing potential crop reducing yields and reducing the proportion return of crop residues returned to the soil. The risks of sedimentation will be determined using simple models of water runoff and erosion verified with WP1.1 erosion plot results. The risks of yield loss and reduced crop residue incorporation will be determined by spatial estimates of animal movement. The models selected will use simple topographical and distance descriptors and will be developed and evaluated using measurements of sediment deposition, crop damage and crop residue removal at different topographies and distances with respect to the exclosure and routes to water (WP1.1). The impact of different interventions in exclosures will be simulated for a set of farm typologies, positioned in each of the different cells of the grid. Results will then be scaled out to other districts by defining outputs for each farm typology in cells characterised according to distance from exclosure, slope and distance from water routes. This will allow spatial predictions to be made in other districts according to a simple characterisation of the cell where a farm is located. The predictions made for farms in different districts will then be evaluated against measurements (from WP1.1, 1.2). The model will also be used for a cost benefit analysis of gains and losses within the local area associated with existing management of common resources and to simulate long-term physical effects on local land degradation of the interventions.

WP2.3 Developing Interventions

Drawing on WP1 and WP2.1, with simulation results from WP2.2, equity frameworks will be used to frame the choices of the intervention design. The designs to be implemented will be co-developed with the Bureau of Agriculture, the District Agricultural Offices, and other stakeholders. These designs will also be informed by multi-stakeholder forums to ensure a wide range of different needs and interests are included. This will frame the details of the final experimental design, eligibility for training, and the process of random allocation of individuals into interventions. An associated preanalysis plan will be developed for the impact evaluation component and the trial registered at AEA RCT Registry.

WP3.1 Direct mechanisms to increase local benefits of exclosures

Two separate interventions will provide training and develop new activities in exclosures identified as having potential for improving livelihoods for poor and marginal populations, for 1) bee keeping and 2) livestock fattening . The bee keeping intervention will train, and distribute 120 beehives to groups of 8-10 people, with hives placed in exclosures. The livestock intervention will train and distribute 4 livestock to groups of 5 people, with access to exclosure grasses using cut and carry.

WP3.2 Physical rehabilitation measures experiments

The third intervention will undertake experiments within a watershed to demonstrate up to 150 local farmers how low-cost gully treatment can reclaim gullies and reduce soil erosion, a technique identified as having potential to address gully formation and to change in farmers' attitudes in terms of their capacity to address the problem . For each gully head treatment, we will select similar gullies within a watershed; implement treatment on the selected gullies and use the remaining as control. Associated with each experiment, measurements will capture the direct physical impacts, including changes in soil loss, gully expansion (upward movement), and gully bank stabilization. In addition, direct economic costs and benefits will be identified.

WP4.1 Communication, Processes and Experiences of Interventions

In dialogue with the equity framework devised in WP 2.1, we will explore how equity plays out in the process of RALENTIR interventions. We will consider in depth the interactions between different types of equity, and how different views and definitions of equity may complicate the straightforward application of equity principles, indicators and/or assessments. Through observation of intervention practices, interviews, workshops and participation in meetings, we will examine how the different measures are presented and talked about, who is advocating them and how, how they are implemented and by whom, and how the different actors interpret and react to these processes. This will allow us not only to reflect on beneficiaries' experience of equity in the interventions, but also to extend existing thinking about equity by exploring the challenges of designing interventions that achieve multi-dimensional equity.

WP4.2 Attitudes & Behaviour Impacts

Endline data collection will occur 12 months after the interventions. This will measure direct impacts and the wider impacts across the communities. The update will follow the randomized design (1.2), to estimates the impact of the interventions on participants' economic outcomes, on wider behaviour, attitudes to conservation measures, and preferences for governance of common resources.

WP4.3 Improving Design

Drawing on other WPs and with stakeholders in individual meetings and workshops, the results will be synthesized, key messages and recommendations for adaption of planning frameworks developed and dissemination and outreach activities undertaken.

WP5.1 Practitioner Training

To improve future impact evaluations of land degradation measures, local practitioners will be provided training on methods to gather standard biophysical (soil, vegetation, etc) information. This will involve training workshops supported by field activities.