This document discusses practical aspects of implementing Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) in Kenya. It describes using a bottom-up approach, starting by engaging stakeholders like community leaders, government officials, and NGOs. Extension agents are then identified and trained within the community to teach other farmers. These farmer-to-farmer demonstrations and training sessions spread awareness of FMNR. Policymakers are also engaged through forums to advocate for and integrate FMNR into management plans. Key factors for success include community education, learning sites on individual farms, secure land tenure, and connecting FMNR to livelihoods. Lessons learned emphasize the importance of building local champions, existing community structures, and capacity building on alternative livelihoods

1. Practical aspects of implementing
FMNR
Beating Famine Conference, Malawi
14th -17th April 2015
Caroline Njiru
World Vision Kenya

2. The approach
 FMNR in Kenya
kicked off in April
2013,with a
project launch at
the community
level where all the
stakeholders in
the community
were invited.
 The initiative
adopted a bottom
up approach.
Bottom up approach
National gov’t,
County gov’t, policy
makers
Grass
root:farmers,Community
opinion leaders , gate
keepers, government
leaders,CBOs/NGOs
Research
Strengthening
community Voice
and Action

3. Meeting with
different
stakeholders.
Community leaders
Gate
keepers/opinion
leaders in the
community
Government officials
Other NGOs/CBOS
in the community,
then participatory
community
sensitisation forums

4. Identification
and training of
extension
agents
Identification of
extension agents(state
and non state) by the
community
Training of the identified
extension agents on
FMNR.
The agents are
‘teachers’ of the concept
in the community and do
farmer to farmer training
including FMNR follow
up and monitoring

5. Farmer to
farmer spread
Awareness sessions
to other farmers by
agents
Agents are catalysts
of change as
farmers believe their
own.

6. Training of
FMNR
Demonstration
sessions on FMNR
and training by both
state and community
agents in the
community

7. ‘Farmers believe their own’

8. Forums with other partners(field
days)

9. Advocacy-Engaging
policy makers
Having policy
makers,e.g
governors ministers
in FMNR forums
Ownership and
acceptance of the
concept as the
advocacy is coming
from the locals.
Integrating of the
concept in county
gov’t management
plans

11. Capacity building on energy and livelihood
options

12. Awareness and training by children
too!

13. Use of Media

14. Posters,booklets….

15. Exchange visits

17. Enabling factors
 Bottom up approach
 Community education and awareness.
 Riding on the early adopters
 Learning sites( individual farms/public sites)
 Defined land and tree tenure, joint management on
communal land(By laws)
 Stopping destructive burning and educate community on
managing wildfires
 Policy intergration,partnerships(government,CBOs,women
groups,youth groups etc),
 Connecting FMNRwith farmers livelihoods.

18. Lessons learnt
 Bottom up approach is key, you have to win the farmers!
 It is important to build a movement of champions(both
community and institutions)
 Motivation of extension agents should be considered
 Use existing community structures
 Acknowledge indigenous knowledge
 It is important to contextualise(connecting with the source
livelihood of the community)
 Tree and land Tenure/ownership, affect uptake, where user
rights or land tenure defined uptake is high
 Capacity building community on alternative livelihood and
energy options are key investments that can enhance success.
 Children and schools are a major catalyst for FMNR spread.
 Law and legislation(Policy),partnerships(government and non
government) key in FMNR spread.

19. “We cannot do everything but
we can do something”