CGIAR Research Program Aquatic Agricultural Systems in Solomon Islands

1. CGIAR Research Program Aquatic Agricultural Systems in Solomon Islands Penang: January 2013

2. Presentation Structure • Malaita Hub Strategic Framework (Design document) and Must Wins • Main activities and developments 2013 • Emerging Outcomes • Lessons Learned • Case study of bilateral alignment

3. 7 community-driven, stakeholder-agreed, research initiatives and ways of working Strategic Framework for Malaita Hub 3. Climate change 2. Sustainable farming for nutrition + income 4. Marine resource management Ways of working Community engagement Participatory action research Gender integrated Knowledge sharing & learning Partnerships Capacity building Program operations Governance Management Communications 5. Mangrove management 1. Connecting people and markets 6. Cross-scale governance and scaling 7. Transformative learning and change

4. 2013 Must Wins 1. Our work in the Malaita and Western Hubs is progressing as planned and the Hub teams feel gratified and pleased with their success. Our work in the Central and Western Hubs is progressing as planned and the Hub teams feel gratified and pleased with their success. M&E system is set up and we have maximised our opportunity to learn from this work. Bilateral alignment with AAS Program means that staff, communities and our partners are fully engaged; promising results are generating excitement.

5. MW: Our work in the Malaita and Western Hubs is progressing as planned and the Hub teams feel gratified and pleased with their success. Main Developments • Hub managers x 2? • Hiring and capacity building in communications • Steering committee • Ethics document; engagement and use of information • Scoping, diagnosis and design reports published • Revised scoping for Western Province scaling approach

6. Development challenge validated through stakeholder workshop Gizo Western Province Scoping 2013

7. Ways of working in Western Province: people oriented; empowering women youth and children; traditional lifestyle and customary ownership recognized • Sustainable and responsible development • Environmentally friendly and economically viable • Consider land use and tenure, affordability • Conservation balanced with sustainable livelihoods • Improved infrastructure • Incl. waste management • Improved market access for villagers Establish MOU, agency agreement between provincial govtetc to deliver services • Economic boost, cash economy, positive impacts on livelihoods • Improved market access • Livelihoods, tourism, fisheries, aquaculture etc. • Small scale and subsistence livelihoods Improved dialogue between NGOs, donors, government; an information and reporting system

8. MW: Our work in the Malaita and Western Hubs is progressing as planned and the Hub teams feel gratified and pleased with their success. • Emerging outcomes • MPPD will be strengthened through a governance research initiative with partners • Western Province government using AAS scoping to help them operationalise their Province development plan Main Developments • Hub managers x 2 • Hiring and capacity building in communications • Steering committee • Ethics document; engagement and use of information • Scoping, diagnosis and design reports published • Revised scoping for Western Province scaling approach

9. MW: Our work in the Malaita and Western Hubs is progressing as planned and the Hub teams feel gratified and pleased with their success. Main Developments • Capacity development for RinD • Appointed gender research analyst (UK training); knowledge and action researchers • Solomon Islands team building gender session • Developing processes for gendered information collection and use as part of the PAR cycle • PAR workshop

10. Participatory Action Research • In 2013 held a workshop to define for ourselves and partners what this meant in theory and practice • Conducted field work to test and establish processes for the observing and critical reflection phases in communities and to identify where and how we need to account for gender • Developed community research agreement templates

11. MW: Our work in the Malaita and Western Hubs is progressing as planned and the Hub teams feel gratified and pleased with their success. Main Developments • Capacity development for RinD • Appointed gender research analyst (UK training); knowledge and action researchers • Solomon Islands team building gender session • Developing processes for gendered information collection and use as part of the PAR cycle • PAR workshop • Community visioning and action planning [3 community clusters representing > 400 HHs]

12. Ward name: Foueda Ward #: 12 Cluster name: Fumato’o Villages: (4) (Fumato, Kwaila’abu, Gelaulu, Orukalia ) Ward name: Matakwalao (for Kwai)/ Takwa (for Suafa) Ward #: 9/ 10 Cluster name: Kwai/ Suafa Villages (17): (Kwai, Kolofi, Talinate, Faufanea, Karina, Gwango, Lolu, Ngorigifau, Bibisu, Adaitolo, Kakalu, Kakaru, Hilly, FakaIsl, Sulufoloa, Aenatefeniu, Binoli) Ward name: Takwa Ward #: 10 Cluster name: Alea Village:s ( 9): (Niu Kwaloai, Alea, Takwa Centre, Samaria, Oteramo, Kafoere, Funa’afou, Niuleni, Lafumasi) Kwai Priority Actions: Sustainable harvesting and managed fisheries Practice organic farming and restore soil fertility Improve income generating activities and marketing Fumato’o Priority Actions: Marine resource management Improve soil management Water supply and sanitation A clinic in the village Alea Priority Actions: Restored soil fertility, increased production and food security Healthy environment and good sanitation Marine resource management (focusing on mangroves) Community cooperation and partnerships with stakeholders

13. MW: Our work in the Malaita and Western Hubs is progressing as planned and the Hub teams feel gratified and pleased with their success. • Emerging outcomes • Recognition by partners of our GTA approach and requests for training and opportunities to be involved (TNC) • Use of products for outreach (MFMR/ MSSIF) Main Developments • Capacity development for RinD • Appointed gender research analyst (UK training); knowledge and action researchers • Solomon Islands team building gender session • Developing processes for gendered information collection and use as part of the PAR cycle • PAR workshop • Community visioning and action planning [3 community clusters representing > 400 HHs] • Partnerships • Draft MOU’s MAL, KGA • MOA Malaita Province Fisheries • Contracting ‘local resource people’ as consultants

14. MW: Our work in the Malaita and Western Hubs is progressing as planned and the Hub teams feel gratified and pleased with their success. Main Developments • Quick wins on 3 initiatives • Marine resource and mangrove management • Information provision CBRM manual, women in fisheries DVD, community fliers AQ, management planning, mangrove replanting training

15. Marine resource and mangrove management initiative Story of sharing knowledge Saving mangroves in Malaita, Solomon Islands [by Vincent Obimae, AAS communications officer-Solomon Islands] “I see, after 10 years there shall be few mangroves in most Malaita lagoons if communities continue to cut and harvest mangroves at the current rate. The way forward is replanting mangroves trees. For people living in the lagoons like LangaLanga and Lau, losing mangroves is the same as losing your livelihood,” says Dominic Odu, a farmer from LangaLanga. Dominic Odu and fellow farmer, Benjamin Waleilia are fighting to rescue mangroves in Malaita, Solomon Islands. They have already replanted several hectares of mangroves in their own community and are now sharing their knowledge with other farmers across the province.

16. MW: Our work in the Malaita and Western Hubs is progressing as planned and the Hub teams feel gratified and pleased with their success. Main Developments • Quick wins on 3 initiatives • Marine resource and mangrove management • Information provision CBRM manual, women in fisheries DVD, community fliers AQ, management planning, mangrove replanting training • Sustainable farming and nutrition • Demonstration sites • Engaging local providers

17. Organic farming “Sustainable farming initiative” Photo: Mr Patrick Taloboe Nov 2013

18. MW: Our work in the Malaita and Western Hubs is progressing as planned and the Hub teams feel gratified and pleased with their success. Emerging outcomes • Communities sharing knowledge • Proud of progres (pictures and stories from Kwai) • New committees; gardening practices reef management; mangroves replanted • Implementation team increasingly gaining a shared understanding of AAS approach and documenting learning Main Developments • Quick wins on 3 initiatives • Marine resource and mangrove management • Information provision CBRM manual, women in fisheries DVD, community fliers AQ, management planning, mangrove replanting training • Sustainable farming and nutrition • Demonstration sites • Engaging local providers • Planning for Cross scale governance and scaling • Governance working group

19. MW: Our work in the Malaita and Western Hubs is progressing as planned and the Hub teams feel gratified and pleased with their success. Lessons learned • Moving from AR to PAR • Development communications has a way to go • Governance research initiative (MPPD) engaging World Vision • Community visioning well received community agreements now need to be in place (propose 6 months max in future) • Some of the usual community engagement issues; communications and elite capture haven’t magically gone away by using CLCP • Two hubs with full implementation beyond our capabilities but scaling approach may be ideally suited • We need more partners implementing and engaged in PAR

20. 2013 Must Wins Our work in the Malaita and Western Hubs is progressing as planned and the Hub teams feel gratified and pleased with their success. M&E system is set up and we have maximised our opportunity to learn from this work. Bilateral alignment with AAS Program means that staff, communities and our partners are fully engaged; promising results are generating excitement.

21. MW : M&E system is set up and we have maximised our opportunity to learn from this work. Main developments • Team have met milestones based on Must Wins • Completed AAR’s in communities • M and E working group • Methodology development for baseline nutrition surveys • Developed methodology for MSC stories • Updated trip report templates to be records for M&E for learning • 1st annual Hub AAR; M and E for learning

22. MW : M&E system is set up and we have maximised our opportunity to learn from this work. Emerging outcomes • AAR’s now standard for workshops, major field trips • Staff are open to being reflective • Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Co-ordination has attended all planning and AARs and has requested all copies of reports for use as reference in the revision of the National Development Plan (2014)

23. MW : M&E system is set up and we have maximised our opportunity to learn from this work. Lessons learned • Don’t overburden the communities with AARs • Story telling needs to be rationalised to minimise burden and to be sure it has a point • M&E for learning not an easy concept • Information management systems need strengthening • Capacity building required; in terms of understanding the M&E system and team member roles including comms

24. 2013 Must Wins Our work in the Malaita and Western Hubs is progressing as planned and the Hub teams feel gratified and pleased with their success. M&E system is set up and we have maximised our opportunity to learn from this work. 3. Bilateral alignment with AAS Program means that staff, communities and our partners are fully engaged; promising results are generating excitement.

25. MW : Bilateral alignment with AAS Program means that staff, communities and our partners are fully engaged; we are showing promising results that are generating considerable excitement. Main developments • Successfully achieving most milestones in the 8 bilaterals as well as rollout • Publications, conference presentations, communications materials being used for trainings and community planning • Have enabled us to implement immediately with communities • Bilateral alignment with AAS is attracting interest of donors • Keeps us closely connected to national structures particularly NCC, CC

26. MW : Bilateral alignment with AAS Program means that staff, communities and our partners are fully engaged; we are showing promising results that are generating considerable excitement.

27. A Case Study: The relationship of two ACIAR bilateral projects to the AAS Program in Solomon Islands and the Pacific1. Governance of small scale fisheries in Solomon Islands 2. Improving Community-based Fisheries Management (CBFM) in Pacific countries Compiled by Dr Philippa Cohen and the AAS team

28. How we work….

29. Where we work….

30. Our ACIAR objectives…. Impact assessment

31. What we are trying to achieve…. 1. Increased and more equitableincome from agricultural and natural resource management 2. Improved dietquality 3. Improved productivity andsustainability 4. Increased control of assets, inputs, decision-making and benefits by women and other marginalized groups 5.Increased capacity to innovate to seize new opportunities to improve livelihoods and increase income 6.Increased capacity to adapt to environmental and economic variability

32. ACIAR CBRM connections to AAS…. • Community-based resource management → Increased productivity and sustainability → Increased capacity to adapt → Increased role in decision-making

33. Pathway 1 - direct engagements CBRM established in; • Clusters of communities in Western Province since 2009 Establishment of CBRM has involved; Consultation with resource owners and community Understanding resource status and issues Conducting awareness raising activities Formation of resource management committees Arriving at agreed-to management arrangements Community implementation & adaptation

34. Pathway 1 - direct engagements Evidence of productivity and sustainability outcomes from community-based on co-management is lacking globally Interdisciplinary studies; - Semi-structured interviews - Focus group discussions - 1000+ fish catch surveys

35. Effort through opening period Reef manager & fisher “…less left at the end of the month. After two weeks fish were harder to shoot - not close up and lots like when it was first opened. Trochus, after two weeks were harder to find…and stromb shells after two weeks, we noticed they declined” Fisher woman “Fish were not reduced, but stromb shells were reduced. So the tribe’s women think it [the opening] is too long and should be shorter - like one week”

36. Pathway 1 - direct engagements • Management plans have a range of rules • Rules-in-use differ from rules-on-paper • Periodically-harvested areas = most commonly employed rule • Areas are opened more regularly than management plans suggest

37. Pathway 1 - direct engagements Moving forward… • More effort to reinforce breadth of CBRM measures required • Continue to engage + research on adapting& improving management • Continue to examine fisheries impacts and outcomes → Participatory Action Research • M&E working group → design& implement impact assessment (sustainability + +) → consolidate M&E across the Pacific programme → benefit from AAS capacity and insights

38. Pathway 1 - direct engagements • Governance… • Benefitting from/contributing to improved and broadened community engagement approaches via AAS • AAS provides enhanced capacity and support to research governance • → Long-term commitment to people and place • → ‘Governance Working Group’ • → Gender Transformative Approach - capacity & support to • research gendered aspects of CBRM Solomon Star 2013

39. Pathway 2 – National & Hub level enabling environment Learning & Networking • Spread and scaling-up • AAS/CBRM symposium → Engagement → Management implementation and outcomes → Fisheries, productivity and sustainability outcomes → Scaling-up Lessons up to the implementation of management Lessons learned II - implementing, adapting, sustaining management

40. Pathway 2 – National & Hub level enabling environment “Fostering an enabling environment” • Influenced by & influencing legislation, policies and partnerships that impact community development (includes MFMR & MECDM) • Provincial level - “Stakeholder Consultation Workshop” • In Malaita “MPPD” (1) acts as a steering committee • (2) subject of Participatory Action Research • Increased breadth; fisheries systems → aquatic agricultural systems • Shift in who our stakeholders are; • Community stakeholders similar • Partner-base has broadened • Other CBRM support agencies still important partners

41. Pathway 3 – Regional and International “Models of success in small-scale fisheries” “Working Group on periodically-harvested areas” • AAS cross-hub learning and capacity • Pacific regional review and meta-analysis • Open access and high impact journal publications • Strengthening capacity e.g. through engagements with SPC, LMMA • International partnerships, working groups, conferences

42. MW: Bilateral alignment with AAS Program means that staff, communities and our partners are fully engaged; we are showing promising results that are generating considerable excitement. Lessons learned • Bilaterals have by and large been well aligned • Scientific papers published; policy briefs, open access reports, and community information sheets published from bi-laterals • Programmatic approach is giving us a much more coherent story to tell to donors and adds value • Donors need to hear that story • PAR will mean new ways of writing proposals • We need more and different partners to write the right proposals