GALS is creating safe spaces for smallholder farmers to envision a common future in Malawi
The CGIAR Initiative on Diversification in East and Southern Africa (Ukama Ustawi), through its work package on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), recently hosted a five-day closeout-stakeholder workshop on Gender Action Learning Systems (GALS) in the Ziyande community in Nkhotakota district, Malawi. The event brought together around 4,000 households in collaboration with Ukama Ustawi’s (UU) work package on Diversifying and Sustainably Intensifying Maize-Based Farming Systems, MERAMO Consulting, and Total LandCare Malawi.
Since its commencement in June, the program has brought together many stakeholders, including traditional authorities, agricultural extension officers, community development authorities, cooperative leaders, agricultural district leads, and smallholder farmers from 10 communities across the Balaka and Nkhotakota in Malawi. The aim was to provide communities involved with UU a community-led empowerment methodology that uses principles of inclusion to improve income, food security, technology adoption, and conservation agriculture (CA) practices. It also aimed to help participants analyze their current situation through a gender lens and develop gender-equitable practical visions.
Under the current climate scenario, farmers in Balaka and Nkhotakota districts have found it challenging to manage climate risks and other stressors. But those who manage to navigate these risks and increase yields often face high risks of isolation. The GALS approach was aimed at mitigating these and other unintended consequences for the 4,000 households currently practicing CA. This they achieved by using simple techniques like drawing pictures, sketches, poems and songs, non-literate households could effectively participate in the GALS implementation. Their ability to identify and illustrate their desired future has been instrumental in boosting their motivation for CA.
How to achieve this via the GALS process
Focusing on four main aspects of the GALS approach, households and communities explored ways to build a socially inclusive environment while also engaging men and boys in the process.
Key highlights identified from the GALS workshops:
The workshops on the GALS approach are transforming how smallholder farmers in Malawi envision and work towards a common future for conservation agriculture. They aim to promote gender equality and foster more inclusive agricultural practices and sustainable livelihoods while also providing suggestions for scalable solutions, as outlined below:
The GALS implementation in Malawi continues to empower households in developing actionable plans and milestones for achieving their desired futures. It focuses on finding realistic solutions to challenges with minimal or no external support and facilitates discussions around decision-making, ownership, and control over household assets. The goal is to scale GALS beyond these current 4,000 households in the near future, with Ukama Ustawi providing ongoing support to these communities. This training sets the scene for many GALS implementations to come under the UU work package on GESI. Look out for the GALS workshops that are to take place in Zimbabwe as UU kicks off gender assessments this August.
Featured image: Participants at the five-day closeout-stakeholder workshop on Gender Action Learning Systems (GALS) in Ziyande community, Nkhotakota district, Malawi. Credit: Ukama Ustawi Initiative
Authors
- Thato Mabele, Event Intern, Ukama Ustawi Initiative, International Water Management Institute (IWMI) – South Africa
- Ojongetakah Enokenwa Baa, Postdoctoral Fellow, Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI), International Water Management Institute (IWMI) – South Africa
This blog has been prepared as an output of the CGIAR Initiative on Diversification in East and Southern Africa and has not been independently peer-reviewed. Responsibility for editing, proofreading, layout, opinions expressed, and any possible errors lies with the authors and not the institutions involved.
