09mv-5325 - Strengthening Middle level Networks of MVIWATA
Agriterra has been supporting MVIWATA since 2004 through the project entitled “Strengthening national and middle level networks”. The project is reviewed annually to meet the changing development needs of small-scale farmers in Tanzania. Agriterra and MVIWATA collaboration over the past five years have brought major achievements as follows, to mention a few: - Strengthened capacity of the national level to manage the organization, financial management, reach to the members, governance, gender aspects of the network, and cross cutting issues mainly HIV/AIDS. - Development of capacities of the middle level networks, which is crucial in reaching the members in their local networks and the links with local policy makers and other actors. - Capacity building of staff through training and staff development - Improved lobbying and advocacy capacity of farmers through activities related to network development, training, annual workshops, publications and radio programmes. - Development of economic empowerment programmes, agricultural marketing and promotion of community based rural tourism in Lushoto district. As a result, - MVIWATA is highly recognized by the government, development partners and other stakeholders of small-scale farmers’ development - There is increased number of farmers’ promoters who train other farmers in local networks; this important for sustainability of the institution. - Mainstreamed HIV/AIDS and gender equality in MVIWATA. MVIWATA’s philosophy is characterized by a rural development sustained by strong farmer groups, local initiatives and forums. MVIWATA is not a hierarchical organization but a national network of various levels from the individual farmer-to-farmer groups, and from local networks to middle networks and National network. The mission is to strengthen farmers’ groups, local and middle networks to form a sound and strong national farmers’ organ to ensure effective representation of their interests, to facilitate learning and training, to enhance communication and advocacy strategies to defend and promote their interests. The vision is to become a strong farmers’ organization that will guarantee small scale farmers’ participation and representation in socio-economic and policy decision making process at various levels through learning, initiating, implementing and monitoring their own socio and economic development. For smallholder farmers to address their vast challenges, it is imperative that they have strong organisation at all levels. However, despite some initiatives, majority of farmers are still unorganised and their capacity to address economic and social challenges is still limited. MVIWATA offers the opportunity for smallholder farmers to come together and address their challenges. In addition, it is experienced that the development of farmers’ networks is a process, and therefore cannot be accomplished in a short term. Likewise, capacity development needs of farmers are increased annually with emerging challenges such as new market forces, food crisis, emergence of new technologies, new policies and new global dimensions such as climate change. This means there is a need for continued capacity building support for emerging farmers’ networks especially at the middle and grass root levels. MVIWATA by it own cannot able to meet these needs. It must collaborate with other development partners, Agriterra in particular.