000 04511nam a22003257a 4500
001 68463
003 MX-TxCIM
005 20250120152407.0
008 250116s2024 rh ||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d
040 _aMX-TxCIM
041 _aeng
110 2 _aBioHub TRUST
_937877
245 1 4 _aThe role of culture in transforming individuals, communities, and agrifood systems :
_bthe role of community dialogues of elders
260 _a[Zimbabwe] :
_bCGIAR,
_c2024.
300 _a20 pages
500 _aOpen Access
520 _aThe Community Dialogue of Elders (CDE) was established under the Agroecology Initiative (AEI) in Zimbabwe to facilitate agroecological transformation by integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) with modern agroecological practices. Led by Biohub Trust in collaboration with CIMMYT, the Initiative aims to leverage the wealth of traditional knowledge possessed by elders, spiritual leaders, and local authorities to foster sustainable agricultural practices, promote social equity, and drive behavior change. The dialogues in Mbire and Murehwa districts focused on key themes such as traditional agricultural practices, governance of natural resources, gender inclusion, intergenerational knowledge transfer, human-wildlife conflict management, and integration of modern agroecological techniques. A carefully structured process was followed to establish the CDE, including stakeholder engagement, agenda-setting, and capacity-building efforts. Traditional leaders, spiritual figures, women, youth, and local government authorities were actively involved to ensure inclusivity and legitimacy. The dialogues emphasized the critical role of cultural practices in fostering ecological stewardship and social cohesion, highlighting rituals such as seed sanctification and rain-making as essential mechanisms for sustaining agroecosystems. The communication plan, developed to support these dialogues ensures that information flows effectively across different levels of governance and community structures. It emphasizes structured engagement, feedback loops, and capacity-building to enhance participation, motivation, and long-term behavior change. Traditional communication methods, complemented by modern tools, were used to disseminate information and gather feedback, ensuring cultural sensitivity and inclusiveness. The CDE aligns with the broader aspirations of the Agroecology Living Landscapes (ALLs) approach by promoting co-design and knowledge integration. The CDE fosters Trust and community buy-in by involving key opinion leaders such as elders and spiritual guides, which are critical for successful agroecological transformation. However, challenges remain, particularly in ensuring greater gender equity and addressing structural barriers faced by women and youth. The findings from the Vision to Action (V2A) report (Sibanda et al., 2024) underscore the importance of leveraging local actors and participatory processes to bridge these gaps and create a more inclusive food system. Key lessons from the CDE process highlight the importance of cultural relevance, stakeholder ownership, and intergenerational knowledge transfer in driving sustainable change. Integrating traditional and modern knowledge systems, policy support, and resource allocation presents an opportunity to scale the Initiative across other communities. The CDE offers a model for promoting socially inclusive, culturally grounded agroecological transitions in Zimbabwe by institutionalizing the dialogues and fostering partnerships between local leaders and government authorities.
546 _aText in English
597 _bAgroecology
_cSystems Transformation
_aClimate adaptation & mitigation
_aEnvironmental health & biodiversity
_aGender equality, youth & social inclusion
_dCGIAR Trust Fund
_dSwiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
_dMinistère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères (MEAE)
_uhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/169476
650 7 _aAgroecology
_93995
_2AGROVOC
650 7 _aIndigenous peoples' knowledge
_917988
_2AGROVOC
650 7 _aTraditional farming
_96660
_2AGROVOC
650 7 _aSustainable agriculture
_92327
_2AGROVOC
650 7 _aSocial inclusion
_928724
_2AGROVOC
650 7 _aElderly
_921539
_2AGROVOC
651 7 _2AGROVOC
_94496
_aZimbabwe
700 1 _919177
_aChimonyo, V.G.P.
_8001712688
_gSustainable Agrifood Systems
856 4 _yOpen Access through DSpace
_uhttps://hdl.handle.net/10883/35323
942 _cRE
_n0
_2ddc
999 _c68463
_d68455