Agro-Ecology for Sustainable Livelihoods in Lake Nasser Region

1. TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS STRATEGYfor Lake Nasser

2. Importance of agricultural sector to the economy 50% of farmers do not own land 34% of rural population below poverty line Fertile soils in the Nile valley Agricultural yields among the highest globally High proportion of land devoted to export Country Background Towards a sustainable livelihood strategy

3. MALR reform program since 1986 Long-term strategy to reclaim 4.3 million feddans until 2017 Capacity for physical reclamation exists Lack of social and support services to sustain resettlement strategies Country Background Towards a sustainable livelihood strategy

4. The Aswan High Dam enables: Control of Nile water Conversion of Egyptian agriculture from seasonal to perennial irrigation Desert reclamation on a massive scale Area Background • Lake Nasser created as one of the largest fresh water reservoirs in the world Towards a sustainable livelihood strategy

5. Exploitation of the Lake Nasser area slow due to remoteness of location Government plans to settle 1 million farmers in the area by 2017 Use rights for 15,500 feddans distributed to 3,100 new settler families Area Background Towards a sustainable livelihood strategy

6. Problem Analysis • Beneficiaries from various locations • Old habits and traditions in farming such as high use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers • Pollution risks to land, water reserves and fish in Lake Nasser • Current lack of infrastructure discourages people from settling • With future improvements, settlers may increase leading to higher environmental risks Towards a sustainable livelihood strategy

7. THE PROJECT Towards a sustainable livelihood strategy

8. To explore agro-ecology as a sustainable livelihoods strategy for improving the socioeconomic conditions, health, and livelihoods of poor and marginalized settler communities living in fragile ecosystems Project Goal Towards a sustainable livelihood strategy

9. Target Area • New settlements in West of Lake Nasser, comprising the areas of: • Kalabsha • Al Dalil - Shinyara - Khour Abdel-Sayid • Khor Galal • Khor Galal proper - Khor Raml - Warawir • Garf Hussein • Abo Derwah - Abo State – Eliza - Bashayer El-Kheir Towards a sustainable livelihood strategy

10. To identify factors affecting the adoption of agro-ecology and to develop understanding of its potential impact on settler livelihoods and the ecosystem. Objective One Towards a sustainable livelihood strategy

11. To establish and support participatory community-based management of land and water resources based on agro-ecology principles Objective Two Towards a sustainable livelihood strategy

12. To identify with communities environmental threats to human health and initiate actions with stakeholders to mitigate those threats. Objective Three Towards a sustainable livelihood strategy

13. To analyze and encourage opportunities for environmentally friendly livelihood strategies including better access to markets and finance Objective Four Towards a sustainable livelihood strategy

14. To derive lessons learned on the applicability, benefits, and shortcomings of agro-ecology for sustainable livelihoods development through policy dialogue and dissemination as large efforts to move people to virgin desert lands continue. Objective Five Towards a sustainable livelihood strategy

15. ImplementationStrategy Towards a sustainable livelihood strategy

16. Collaborative Community Action (CCA) was selected to enable community members to take charge of the development initiatives that affect their livelihoods. Community members are active participants and not just recipients. Implementation Strategy Towards a sustainable livelihood strategy

17. Executive Steps Towards a sustainable livelihood strategy

18. Exploratory Visits A number of visits were conducted to the area in preparation for the project. Visits included members of IDRC, CDS and HDLDA as facilitators.

19. Stakeholder Analysis The different organizations working the area were identified and areas of common interests and opportunities for cooperation established.

20. Organizational Needs Assessment Through a series of group activities with HDLDA senior staff, the capacity building needs for the organization were reflected upon and identified.

21. PRA Training HDLDA members received a training on PRA techniques and joined with the CDS staff to design and implement the livelihood diagnosis study.

22. Livelihood Diagnosis CDS field workers, HDLDA engineers and community members engaged in PRA activities to analyze the area’s livelihood status.

23. Livelihood Diagnosis The different community groups residing in the area were included in the PRA activities to ensure results were representative.

24. Medical Campaign Coordination with MoHP resulted in the mobilization of the Mobile Clinical Service Unit to cater for the needs of the communities.

25. Livestock Extension Livestock fatalities was one of the major economic set backs that affected the community due to lack of extension services. This is no longer the case.

26. Seedling Nursery To change their old techniques, farmers need readily available alternatives. This was made possible with the support of a leading organic farming supplier.

27. Village Enhancement With private sector support, tree planting campaigns were executed to add green spaces and beauty inside the recently constructed villages.

28. Ali Mokhtar Center for Development Services 4 Ahmed Pasha St., Garden City Cairo, Egypt Tel: +202-795-7558 Fax: +202-794-7278 Email : cds.prog@neareast.org Or : Afarouk.cds@neareast.org For more information contact Towards a sustainable livelihood strategy