This document summarizes the key lessons from the DESIRE project on scientist-NGO collaboration for addressing desertification. It finds that while scientists and NGOs speak different languages and have different motivations, combining scientific knowledge with practical experience can help address challenges like desertification. The DESIRE project showed that communication is important to overcome perceptions and work at different paces. Moving forward, collaboration could be improved by more structured efforts, rewarding impacts beyond publications, and integrating communication into research from the beginning. Partners should recognize each other's contributions and be patient through open communication.

1. LANDCON 1010, Xi’an, China, October 2010
Growing symbiosis in
drylands: sharing
lessons from scientist-
NGO collaboration in
DESIRE
Marie José van der Werff ten Bosch,
Both ENDS, the Netherlands
October 14th
, 2010
LANDCON 1010, Xi’an, China, October 2010

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Outline
1. Why should scientists and NGOs
collaborate?
2. Lessons learned on scientist-NGO
collaboration in DESIRE
3. The way forward:
towards more and
rewarding scientist-NGO
collaboration

3. LANDCON 1010, Xi’an, China, October 2010
Why scientist-NGO collaboration?
“Know-why” coupled with
“know-how” generates
holistic, reliable and pragmatic
knowledge able to
guide policy makers and assist
those people living
with the challenges of
desertification.

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Why scientist-NGO collaboration?
NGOs can help to apply scientific results:
• Benefit for society
• Wider recognition for researchers
• Research becomes more feasible, acceptable and
meaningful (“reality check” of theoretical systems
and models)
NGOs can help to complete the list of factors
influencing research results, such as:
• different interests that determine land use options
• enabling and obstructing rules and regulations

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Why scientist-NGO collaboration?
Researchers can provide NGOs
with high quality in-depth
research based on non-
political facts to provide a
solid foundation for
argumentation (“credibility”).
Political and public opinions
steer funding priorities,
putting SLM jointly on the
political and public agenda will
enhance funding opportunities
for both.

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NGOs can be helpful in finding the open doors and
transmitting the information to government levels
when the right
position
is needed besides good
information.
Why scientist-NGO collaboration?
Approaching the media together.

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Lessons learned in DESIRE
Communication is key as we speak “different languages”
• Perceptions
• Prejudices
• Expectations
Different ways of working: in-depth vs. overall integration
Different pace and time frames:
• involved in long-term policy processes
• needing argumentation right away when opportunity arises
• research and verification needs time
• Impatience to present results to policy makers

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Different focus caused by different motivations (not
only between scientists and NGOs!):
• more knowledge
• a better environment
• Recognition
• helping the poor
• improving your position
Lessons learned in DESIRE

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All the scientific output is sometimes difficult to grasp
for the NGO that has to translate it:
• “Go-between scientists” can point out specific
scientific output they think is worthwhile
“translating” for non-scientific audiences
• Synthesising becomes essential
Lessons learned in DESIRE

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Lessons learned in DESIRE
Cross-fertilisation depends on the will and the
initiatives of individuals, if there is a will there is a way!

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The way forward
More structured efforts are needed to facilitate and
encourage both groups to work more closely
together, such as project and programme designs
that can accommodate both groups.
The scientific system itself should evolve so it sees
more rewards for other kinds of products and
impacts, rather than focusing so narrowly on
scientific publications and theoretical advances.

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Communication activities and budgets should be
integrated in research-development processes
from the beginning, to give NGOs space in
research projects for linking towards other
stakeholders.
NGOs should be involved in
research-development
processes and project designs
from the beginning, or the
other way around.
The way forward

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Work as partners recognising each others’ valuable
and unique contribution
Differences should be celebrated rather than get us
irritated.
The way forward

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Be patient, talk often to avoid misunderstandings and
frustrations, check regularly to see if you are on the
same track still.
The way forward

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Thank you!
Input to this presentation:
Patrice Burger, Maude Gentit – CARI
France
Dr Lindsay Stringer – University of
Leeds, UK
More information:
mjb@bothends.org
www.desire-his.eu