LiA Showcase: Experiencing Zambia

My LiA experience involved me spending 6 weeks in Kasama, Zambia. By investigating the reasons why farmers were not cooperating, I created an handout to facilitate the formation and success of CPGs. Here is my research results and final reflections. If interested, feel free to contact me!
LiA Showcase: Experiencing Zambia
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About me

My name is Lorenzo Donatelli and I am an incoming 3rd year student at UCL reading Philosophy, Politics and Economics with Social Data Analysis. My G-LIA took place in Kasama, Zambia in collaboration with World Vision and Columbia University. During the 6 weeks, I investigated the reasons why the Twikatane community is not forming Commercial Producer Groups (CPGs). In light of the results, I created an handout for trainers to ensure the forming and success of CPGs.

My research results

In 2019, the Transforming Household Resilience in Vulnerable Environments (THRIVE) programme was implemented by World Vision Kasama in Twikatane, Zambia to facilitate the creation and success of Commercial Producer Groups (CPGs). However, even though additional objectives were met, the whole process did not generate any form of CPG. The research therefore aimed at investigating, through an awareness test and a Likert scale questionnaire on 104 respondents, the main factors that prevent the Twikatane community from establishing Commercial Producer Groups. I concluded that lack of awareness, need for capacity building on an individual and group level and lack of infrastructure are the most relevant reasons why producers do not cooperate. On the other hand, fear for future consequences, social structure, individual rights, lack of time and meaningless impact do not play an important role in explaining CPGs non-establishment.

Policy recommendations

In light of these results, I created an handout for trainers to ensure the forming and success of CPGs. The handout focuses on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers by tackling 7 main CPGs phases:

  1. Requirements: Pre-required policies to ensure CPGs success;
  2. Awareness: CPGs introductory knowledge and relevance for livelihoods;
  3. Forming: Group member’s enrolment mechanism;
  4. Storming: Action Plan and Strategy design;
  5. Norming: CPGs regulation;
  6. Developing: Members Capacity building;
  7. Performing: CPGs ranking and further steps.

What I learned

Role of religion within NGOs (in Zambia)

In Zambia, religion plays a key role in facilitating the development of the communities. Indeed, as Christianity is the dominant religious influence in the country, World Vision ensures that their policies present direct references to the bible and the core christian values. By doing so, WV is able to create mutual trust with the communities and effectively educate most of their members. Therefore, regardless of each individual belief, christianity presents an instrumental role that cannot be neglected.

Economic development is not my mission

My interest for both European policy making and development economics represent one of the reasons why I chose to work for WV Zambia. Thanks to this experience, I came to the realisation that development economics is more a side interest than a passion and I have therefore decided to focus more on the European policy making sphere. I am therefore grateful for this opportunity as, without it, I would still be doubtful about my career future.

Culture & externalities

NGOs are external entities that affect community cultures and traditions by introducing various policies. Therefore, policy makers need to ensure that the policy they design and introduce do not disrupt the community culture. To minimise this disruption, locals must take the lead in the assessment of the possible effects and the implementation of the policies. Indeed, as a non-local, I came to the realisation that cultural awareness is a key trait of policy makers that cannot be acquired in a short-medium period of time.

Next steps

I am currently working with Dr. Shannon Marquez (Columbia University) to see if my report and handout could be published. If you are interested in the topic, you have any doubt or suggestion, please feel free to contact me!

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