A presentation by Laura Cramer, to the CEOs of the member organizations comprising the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation in thinking about how they can effectively bring farmers’ voices into climate change negotiating processes. It emphasises the importance of establishing their credibility and legitimacy and highlighting the saliency of their issues. Farmers’ organizations are well poised to play a knowledge brokering role in science-policy-practice interfaces. Presented on 20th June 2023

1. Farmers engagement in
policy processes and
knowledge brokering
Laura Cramer | 20 June 2023
Presentation to members of the Eastern
Africa Farmers Federation
Concord Hotel, Nairobi

2. K E Y M E S S A G E S
F A R M E R S E N G A G E M E N T I N P O L I C Y P R O C E S S E S A N D K N O W L E D G E B R O K E R I N G | 2 0 J U N E 2 0 2 3
Farmers’ voices
need to be at the
forefront of climate
change and
agriculture
discussions and
negotiations
Farmer
organizations are
best placed to
advocate on behalf
of farmers and add
practical knowledge
to discussions
between science and
policy
EAFF and member
organizations can
become knowledge
brokers to bring
farmers’ realities
into the negotiation
and policy making
processes

3. Farmers’ voices need to be at the forefront of
climate change and agriculture discussions and
negotiations
• Climate action in agriculture will only happen if
interventions make economic and environmental sense
to farmers
• Policies need to consider the realities of different
types of farmers
B R I N G I N G F A R M E R ’ S V O I C E S T O T H E F O R E F R O N T
F a r m e r s e n g a g e m e n t i n p o l i c y p r o c e s s e s a n d k n o w l e d g e b r o k e r i n g | 2 0 J u n e 2 0 2 3

4. “How Africa develops
its agriculture will
determine the future of
food in the world.”
- - A k i n A d e s i n a , P r e s i d e n t , A f r i c a n
D e v e l o p m e n t B a n k
Advocating for farmers
Science-policy interfaces do
not always include farmer
voices
BUT
The practical knowledge of
farmers affects the success
of policies
F A R M E R ’ S O R G A N I Z A T I O N S A S A D V O C A T E S
F A R M E R S E N G A G E M E N T I N P O L I C Y P R O C E S S E S A N D K N O W L E D G E B R O K E R I N G | 2 0 J U N E 2 0 2 3

5. A D D I N G P R A C T I C A L K N O W L E D G E T O S C I E N C E - P O L I C Y I N T E R F A C E
F A R M E R S E N G A G E M E N T I N P O L I C Y P R O C E S S E S A N D K N O W L E D G E B R O K E R I N G | 2 0 J U N E 2 0 2 3
Farmer organizations are best placed to
advocate on behalf of farmers and add
practical knowledge to discussions
between science and policy

6. New terms and concepts abound
Nature-positive solutions
F A R M E R S E N G A G E M E N T I N P O L I C Y P R O C E S S E S A N D K N O W L E D G E B R O K E R I N G | 2 0 J U N E 2 0 2 3
Climate Smart Agriculture
Agroecology Food
systems
Nature-based solutions
Permaculture
Biodynamic farming
Organic farming
Regenerative agriculture

7. “Kwa ground vitu ni different”
N E W T E R M S A N D C O N C E P T S
F A R M E R S E N G A G E M E N T I N P O L I C Y P R O C E S S E S A N D K N O W L E D G E B R O K E R I N G | 2 0 J U N E 2 0 2 3
Source: https://www.worldtree.eco/cover-crops-and-empress-splendor-trees/

8. What does it mean for farmers?
• Clear strategies for action are not always apparent
• Farmer organizations can help ‘ground’ the policy
debates and negotiations in reality
How to accomplish this grounding?
N E W T E R M S A N D C O N C E P T S
F A R M E R S E N G A G E M E N T I N P O L I C Y P R O C E S S E S A N D K N O W L E D G E B R O K E R I N G | 2 0 J U N E 2 0 2 3

9. Knowledge brokering
• Working in the shared collaborative space (not
bridging a gap)
• Interacting with different groups
• Transferring and interpreting knowledge
• Not a neutral role
B E C O M I N G K N O W L E D G E B R O K E R S
F A R M E R S E N G A G E M E N T I N P O L I C Y P R O C E S S E S A N D K N O W L E D G E B R O K E R I N G | 2 0 J U N E 2 0 2 3

10. B E C O M I N G K N O W L E D G E B R O K E R S
F A R M E R S E N G A G E M E N T I N P O L I C Y P R O C E S S E S A N D K N O W L E D G E B R O K E R I N G | 2 0 J U N E 2 0 2 3
Note: Knowledge brokering is not the same as activism

11. Knowledge to action requires three elements
Salience Legitimacy Credibility
B E C O M I N G K N O W L E D G E B R O K E R S
F A R M E R S E N G A G E M E N T I N P O L I C Y P R O C E S S E S A N D K N O W L E D G E B R O K E R I N G | 2 0 J U N E 2 0 2 3
But these differ depending on the audience

12. EAFF and member organizations can become knowledge
brokers to bring farmers’ voices and realities into the
negotiation and policy making processes
• Requires getting involved in the political system and establishing
credibility and legitimacy
• Problems need to be framed clearly so they are salient
B E C O M I N G K N O W L E D G E B R O K E R S
F A R M E R S E N G A G E M E N T I N P O L I C Y P R O C E S S E S A N D K N O W L E D G E B R O K E R I N G | 2 0 J U N E 2 0 2 3

13. Knowledge brokers must use ambiguity strategically to get
farmers involved
• Speaking of “co-benefits”
• Framing response options to a target audience
• Funders interested in mitigation targets vs adaptation
interventions
• Government priorities
• Supporting the African position in international negotiations
• Keeping farmers’ needs on the agenda
B E C O M I N G K N O W L E D G E B R O K E R S
F A R M E R S E N G A G E M E N T I N P O L I C Y P R O C E S S E S A N D K N O W L E D G E B R O K E R I N G | 2 0 J U N E 2 0 2 3

14. Discussion
• What needs to happen to get involved in science-policy
discussions and negotiation spaces?
• What are some good practices you can share?
• What are the challenges to this involvement and how can they be
overcome?
B E C O M I N G K N O W L E D G E B R O K E R S
F A R M E R S E N G A G E M E N T I N P O L I C Y P R O C E S S E S A N D K N O W L E D G E B R O K E R I N G | 2 0 J U N E 2 0 2 3

15. Laura Cramer
International Livestock Research Institute
L.Cramer@cgiar.org
ASANTE SANA
THANK YOU
MERCI BEAUCOUP