Listening First: Setting the Foundation for Collaboration

On a clear winter day in Phuduhudu Village, northern Botswana, local knowledge, research, and institutional experience came together during the first Multi-Actor Platform (MAP) workshop organised by our partners, L'université internationale des sciences et technologies du Botswana (BIUST) et Elephants for Africa (EFA).

The one-day workshop marked an important step in building a locally rooted Living Lab, placing community priorities at the centre of agroforestry and sustainable livelihood discussions.

The workshop was designed as a listening and learning space. Participants were invited to share their experiences with local crops, livestock, and indigenous plant species, as well as their interest in exploring new opportunities linked to biodiversity and livelihoods.

This foundational exchange supports the creation of a strong, community-driven Multi-Actor Platform, ensuring that future activities are co-designed from the ground up and respond to real needs related to land use, income generation, and knowledge exchange.

Bringing Diverse Stakeholders Together

The workshop brought together a broad range of actors, reflecting a commitment to inclusive collaboration across sectors:

  • Government: Representatives from the Department of Animal Production and Health and the Village Extension Team, including the local clinic, school, and police.
  • Civil Society: Xhauxwatubi Development Trust (responsible for community wildlife management), village Chiefs, the Phuduhudu Village Development Committee, and the Farmers Committee.
  • Academia: Researchers and facilitators from BIUST and Elephants for Africa.

The group included strong representation from youth and elderly community members, as well as a balanced participation of women and men. While engagement across sectors was encouraging, the absence of people living with disabilities and representatives from the local business community was noted, highlighting a key area for improvement in future workshops.

A Participatory Format That Encouraged Dialogue

To ensure open exchange, participants were divided into smaller, mixed discussion groups, each facilitated by BIUST or EFA team members. After an initially cautious start, conversations quickly gained momentum.

A bottom-up co-creation approach guided the discussions. Open questions encouraged debate and reflection, and outcomes were recorded only once groups reached consensus. This ensured that the results genuinely reflected shared community perspectives rather than individual viewpoints.

Key Insights from the Community

Several strong themes emerged from the discussions:

  • Moving beyond raw products: Participants expressed interest in improving the processing and marketing of indigenous plants to create more sustainable income opportunities.
  • Small livestock potential: The role of small livestock in strengthening household resilience and diversifying livelihoods was widely discussed.
  • Protecting local knowledge: Community members stressed the importance of safeguarding traditional knowledge, particularly related to medicinal plants. As one participant noted, “We do not want our ancestral knowledge to be taken by outsiders without any benefit returning to our community.”

The discussion of the Nagoya Protocol played a key role in addressing these concerns. By explaining how the protocol protects genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, facilitators helped build trust and openness around knowledge sharing.

From Community Knowledge to Project Action

The insights gathered during the workshop directly contribute to Task 2.1, supporting the development of a comprehensive database of local plants, crops, and animal species. This community-generated knowledge forms a critical evidence base for future co-design activities and sustainable agroforestry planning.

Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead

The workshop confirmed strong community interest in continued engagement. Small, facilitated breakout groups proved especially effective in building confidence and encouraging dialogue.

One of the main challenges identified was the limited involvement of the private sector, which is essential for developing viable business and market pathways. Future MAP workshops will therefore place greater emphasis on engaging local entrepreneurs and businesses to strengthen Quadruple Helix collaboration.

Next Steps

Following the workshop, the project team will analyse the collected inputs and integrate them into the biodiversity database. Community stakeholders, including the Village Development Committee and the Farmers Committee, will play a leading role in mobilising local participation in the next phases of co-design.

 

The Phuduhudu workshop laid important groundwork — sowing the seeds for agroforestry practices shaped by shared knowledge, local priorities, and collective vision.

Workshop Overview