‘08Chairperson’s Report 1

Director’s Report 3

Agrarian Reform For Food Sovereignty 7

Agro-ecological Farming 1 2

Research and Information 22

Advocacy and Lobbying 29

Campaign in Action 34

Abridged Audited Financial Reports 37

Funding Partners 39

table of contents

SURPLUSP E O P L EPROJECT

A N N U A L R E P O R T

“Why is the struggle with the municipality such a difficult struggle?Who are they and who got them there?

Who gives them such power?We need a political education session on this matter!”

- Woman from Namaqualand

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chairperson’s report

The fruits of democracy and development for therural poor and the landless are as elusive as theproverbial hen’s teeth. Fifteen years into ourdemocracy have brought about little meaningfulchange or improvement in the lot of farm dwellers,users of commonage land, emerging farmers, andthe beneficiaries of land restitution and landredistribution. With the advent of the fourth democraticParliament, and with the emphasis on, among others,rural development there is an expectation that thedreams and aspirations of the rural poor and landlesswill finally find expression and fulfilment. .

SPP has just completed its first year of a three-yearcycle and it will be important to consider the gainsit had made, but also to recognise and identify thoseareas where it could improve and strengthen its abilityto make inroads into the challenges that confront itand the sector. One such challenge, and recognisedas such at its 2008 strategic planning session, is themeaningful and effective engagement withmunicipalities as one of the main governmental actorsdealing with land access, land use and planning. Asthe country readies itself for a concerted push towardssustainable service delivery under the recently electedgovernment, the central role of municipalities isbecoming evident. The extension of basic services

to hitherto under-serviced areas, such as farmingland or the deep rural areas, is due to receive addedimpetus. Engaging with municipalities and puttingthe needs of the SPP constituency squarely on thetable during planning processes and communityconsultation engagements will be key to unlockinggovernmental recognition and resources. Similarly,SPP is strategically placed to put innovativeapproaches to rural development and povertyalleviation onto the agenda.

Whilst engaging with governmental actors in acooperative and supportive manner, SPP has alwaysand must continue to build a strong agrarian socialmovement through its collaboration between urbanand rural class forces, progressive academics andcivil society formations.

SPP has shown its resilience through its ability todevise and implement effective programmes throughthe generation of solid partnerships with a numberof funding organisations. For this, the managementteam deserves a pat on the back as it continues tobe the partner of choice.The extended influence of the organisation willcontinue to belie its small and dedicated team ablyled by its director.

The board of SPP wishes to acknowledge the networkof organisations that support and compliment SPPin its work. These relations are very important andSPP will work tirelessly to sustain them in order tomake a difference in the lives of the rural poor. .

Johann Mettler[Vice-chairperson]

The protesters were mainly small-scale farmersand included old and young peoplewith the majority being women.

Créche children came pouring out andone of the protesters were shouting at them

“Ons baklei vir julle regte”.(We are fighting for your rights)

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director’s report

It is a pleasure to present our 2008 annual report.We hope that you will appreciate the content andvisuals as we showcase the achievements and realitiesof the amazing women and men we support. Theircourage and determination, given a context that isextremely challenging, is a great source of inspiration.Great appreciation goes to the staff of SPP for thecommitment and hard work ensuring that we meetour goals as an organisation. The contributions fromand collaborations with our strategic partners is acritical component in working towards the emanci-pation of poor rural men and women.

Right to Agrarian Reform forFood Sovereignty CampaignThe launch of the Right to Agrarian Reform for FoodSovereignty Campaign by small scale farmers, landlessand farm workers / dwellers at the start of 2008,against the failures of the neo liberal agrarian reformframework in South Africa, gave new impetus to theradicalisation of rural struggles. The campaign givesprominence to the issues of agro-ecology and foodsovereignty amongst a broad base of the rural poorparticularly in the Western, Northern and SouthernCape. The inauguration of the Right to AgrarianReform for Food Sovereignty Campaign comes afteryears of consistent support, popular education and

grassroots self-organisation.

Political Context and Policy EnvironmentThe spilt within the ruling party in South Africa changedthe political landscape dramatically and opened upnew spaces for mobilisation and engagement for therural and urban masses. These new political spacesopening up came against the background of adeepening global economic and food crisis, risingretrenchments and growing poverty and inequality.

Given these changing global and national contextsit was an opportune time for SPP as an organisationto rethink and plan its next strategic cycle (2008-2011). .

Since our new democracy less than 5% of agriculturalland has been delivered to the rural poor and landless.The Land and Agrarian Reform Programme (LARP)introduced by the DLA in 2007 was another attemptto address the failures of land reform. Its main objectivehowever is to increase black entrepreneurs inagribusiness grounded in the willing buyer, willingseller principle. As a policy instrument LARP fails toaddress the food insecurity of millions, the ongoingfood crisis and landlessness. Moreover it seeks toimplement land and agrarian reform within the failed

neo liberal framework without restructuring agriculture.Millions of farm workers and farm dwellers continueto be evicted and displaced with no long term solutionsavailable. Government’s Integrated Rural DevelopmentStrategy fails to consider food sovereignty and landaccess as critical components of such a strategy. TheLocal Economic Development mandate and strategyof local governments are limited as it does not viewand prioritise local agricultural production and rurallivelihood strategies as critical elements for buildingthe rural economy. The latter is viewed as unfundedmandates and outside the purview of local government.

The skewed land ownership patterns is a key issuethat the Campaign mobilized against and commu-nicated to government through various actions andmemorandums.

A large number of the farmers we support haveaccess to commonage land. Although it providesopportunities to small farmers and farm workers toproduce food for the household and complimenthousehold income through agricultural production(aimed at local markets), redistribution of land shouldbe a national priority. Recent research commissionedby SPP reaffirmed that land and water distributionremains unequal across race, class and gender.

Advocating for Food SovereigntyIn February 2008 we hosted a three-day agroecological workshop that brought together 85 small-scale farmers, farm workers, academics and activists.The process raised awareness and debates on criticalissues such as Agro-fuels, Climate Change, the NewGreen Revolution and threat of GMO’s and exploredAgro-ecology as an alternative practice to the dominantapproach and policies of the Department of Agriculturethat have a bias towards the chemical industrial model.Farmers from Kwa-Zulu Natal shared their negativeexperiences and struggles with seed companies likeMonsanto who seem to influence the policies ofAgriculture.

Women, reflected through our grassroots experiences,remain a marginalised sector of the agrarian reformterrain and as we look ahead we are planning for aconference in 2009 that will bring together womenfarmers, farm workers and activists to collectivelyengage with these challenges to craft solutionsfor an alternate countryside and women’s liberation.

In 2009 we will also pilot agro-ecological learningsites, which the overall aim is to stimulate a movementof agro-ecology driven by small-scale farmers. .

Partnerships and AlliancesOur approach over the past few years has been toactively advocate for food sovereignty, which placeslocal and household food production for local marketsat the centre. This we do through collaboration withvarious strategic partnerships such as Biowatch,Fairshare, Southern Cape Land Committee, ILRIG,

and Khanya College. Collaboration with organisationssuch as TCOE, Women on Farms, Sikhula Sonke andother land and rural development partners has beenmostly in terms of support of local actions and lobbyingactivities. These relationships could be strengthenedin the future through the agro-ecological learningsites process which potentially provide opportunityfor sharing and learning.

India Brazil South Africa (IBSA) Civil Society Projectis a South - South civil society collaboration to share,exchange and build on experiences from the threecountries to promote agro-ecological developmentand foster food sovereignty in the three countries.In early 2008 the partners in the project (SPP, Biowatch- South Africa; Chetna - India; AS-PTA - Brazil) metto establish the parameters for the project and thekey issues which the project should address.Despite many obstacles that a project of this naturehas, we were able to get it off the ground. .

Preliminary desktop studies were done, amongstothers, an overview of the South African government’sIBSA programme, a perspective on GMO’s in SouthAfrica and the effect of GMO’s on climate change.The development of a seed bank data base and areview of seed legislation in South Africa, a nationalworkshop on People’s Alternatives to IndustrialAgriculture and GMO’s and building national coalitionsare planned for 2009. We are excited about the oppor-tunities that the project presents to both organisationsand small-scale farmers.

Organisational development and learningAs we shaped a vision for an alternative and vibrantcountryside during our strategic planning process,we had to critically engage with the multiplechallenges and complexities linked to agrarian trans-formation. Key shifts in our strategic orientation anddirection into the future will be active support tosocial movements and consolidation and deepeningof our approach to agro-ecology. This poses manynew challenges for the organization in terms of itsstaff capacity, resources and implementationmodalities.

The launch of our new SPP logo has been a symbolicprocess of introducing a new phase for the organi-sation. It is in line with the re-visioning, re-orientationand a renewed pledge to contribute to agrariantransformation.

Our brand new website has been launched and allnew publications bears witness to this renewal andre-visioning. In line with this process was a re-connection to and strengthening of good practicescharacteristic of SPP over the last twenty-three years.This includes documentation, people-centred mobil-isation, planning and implementation. The reflections

and feedback from farmers as part of our annualreviews at the end of 2008 informed the strategiesand priorities for 2009.

We would like to dedicate this annual report to anex-colleague and friend, Anne Stagler. Hamba KahleAnne. We said good bye to Nonzame Mashologu,Ronald Newman, Elsbeth Engelbrecht, NoziphoKamana and Michael Oerson and welcomed RonaldWesso and Virginia Brookes to the SPP team. A fewinternal recruitments were done - Margie Cloetejoined the Namaqualand team, Pedro Kotze the WestCoast team and Tennille Rode the Administrationteam. Ronald van Schalkwyk and Rochelle Cloetewill join the Hantam Karoo team early 2009. .

Sustainability of the organisation is not only aboutsecuring the material resources to fulfil our purposebut also to ensure that our staff remains focused onthe goals of the organisation. We have always pridedourselves in good governance practices, sound andtransparent financial accountability and empoweringmanagement. We are appreciative of the Board forthe ethical and accountable manner in which theygovern the organisation. Their commitment to thevalues and purpose of the organisation is laudable.

As we approach another national election in 2009,civil society and campaigns such as the Right toAgrarian reform for Food Sovereignty Campaign, hasa significant role to play in mobilising the rural poorto ensure agrarian transformation.

The struggle continues.

Herschelle Milford (ms)

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agrarian reform forfood sovereigntyAgrarian reform is quintessential to address the problem oflandlessness, rural underdevelopment and poverty. Pro-pooragrarian reform is a pre-condition to ensure people’s and foodsovereignty, which is being undermined by the neo-liberalsocio- economic system, (the right of people to produce theirown food, determine agricultural policies and access healthyfood). This is also the basis for a radical transformation of ruralrelations. Small-scale farmers, farm dwellers and workers, therural poor are an important social force to bring about thistransformation. Agrarian reform for food sovereignty is a basichuman right of the rural and urban masses, which forms thebasis for transforming the rural economy and broader societalchange. The small-scale farmers and landless in this regardhave launched The Right to Agrarian Reform for Food SovereigntyCampaign.

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LAND REDISTRIBUTION- A DISTANT DREAM?COMMONAGE- AN INTERIM SOLUTION

Since 1996 SPP assisted municipalities and small-scale farmers to acquire commonage land and havebeen able to facilitate the transfer of more than450 000 ha of commonage land in the NorthernCape. In 2008 however we critically asked the questionwhether this is redistributive land reform andtransformation and explored our alternatives to changethe skewed and racially based land ownershippatterns. The West Coast and Hantam Karoo bearwitness to years of struggles for land with somepiece meal gains of a few hectares of commonagefor a few farmers’ groups.

Landless farm workers and small-scale farmers fromthe West Coast (some currently on commonage)submitted LRAD applications to the Department ofLand Affairs. Of the 104 applications only six wereapproved with the bulk of the budget earmarked forfarm worker share equity schemes, of which manyhave failed in the past, amounting to millions of rands.This is a key issue that will be addressed through

the Campaign in 2009. Several farmers in all theregions face the same challenge to acquire land dueto the high land prices and the unavailability of land,including land owned by the state.

Access to land for the Masakhane and ClanwilliamEmerging Farmers Associations (EFA) in the WestCoast municipal area for example was possible onlybecause of consistent pressure, lobbying and protestaction from the Cederberg Emerging Farmers Forum(municipal forum of small-scale farmers) against thelocal municipality. Masakhane livestock farmers weresubsequently allocated 12, 5 ha of commonage land.Their livestock had to move to the newly allocatedland and basic infrastructure such as fencing, watercontainers and shading or shelter for the livestockwas required. The municipality provided the fencingmaterial and labour incentives to build kraals for thelivestock. For Masakhane, acquiring commonage landis however only a temporary measure, as the projectrequires much larger farmland to enable sustainablefarming. The farmers have a large number of livestockand the 12,5 ha of commonage land is too small forgrazing given carrying capacity requirements. .

The Clanwilliam farmers similarly were allocated2, 5 ha of land that the group intend using for

vegetable production.

In the Hantam Karoo region the identification ofavailable farms and the acquisition of land by SPPand farmers are becoming more difficult. Despitepublic announcements by Agri-South Africa that theirmembers want to participate in land and agrarianreform by availing land, the experience for localfarmers is different. Consolidation of farms (fewerbut larger farms) is becoming the trend as commercialfarmers venture into game farming. The message inthe region is clear - more land is needed. In thisregard the Hantam Karoo programme continues toassist emerging farmers to acquire land. Marketrelated prices hamper these opportunities despitethe increased Land Redistribution for AgriculturalDevelopment (LRAD) grant mechanism. Often thevalue of land is contested due to the difference inselling price between valuators and farmers. .

The opportunities for women to gain access to landis even more of an illusion as they also need tocontend with their male counterparts who requirelarge tracts of land as livestock farmers. SPP will in2009 critically review policies and legislation and theimpact thereof on particularly women farmers. .

While land reform is ailing, commonage stand as anexample where the SPP has worked to ensure thatmunicipalities indeed make commonages availablepursuant to the constitutional injunction that “thestate must take reasonable legislative and othermeasures, within its available resources, to fosterconditions which enable citizens to gain access toland on an equitable basis.”

In a host of rural towns the support of the SPP andits partners have resulted in residents of “locations”gaining access to land that they were denied, becauseof the colour of their skin.

Our work was turned upside down when the LandClaims Commission brokered a deal in which theLoeriesfontein Municipal Commonage of 20 000hectares is to be transferred in private ownership toa Communal Property Association (CPA). .The deal went against the grain for various reasons:

• The land had already been set aside by the municipality for poor previously disadvantaged residents to access;

• The land will in future be owned and managed by the members of the CPA and their direct descendants. The members are not required to live

in Loeriesfontein - this means that residents and the municipality will not have any right to access.

• The Municipality and its residents will not receive any compensation for the loss of its land. .

The 240 members of the CPA were offered and somehave been paid a total of R12 million over and abovethe donation of the land.

The deal received considerable press coverage.

Subsequently concern has been raised due to thefact that not all the claimant families were paid outand no proper plan of managing the CPA is in place.The process is at a stage where a steering committeewill be elected to guide the process until the CPA isestablished. SPP and the Legal Resources Centre(LRC) are of the opinion that we should challengethis situation and redress it. We remain deeplyconcerned about the manner in which the claim washandled.

COMMUNITIES PATIENTL Y AWAITINGTRANSFORMATION- A FURTHER UPDATE ON TRANCRAA

The tenure reform process in Namaqualand (in terms

of the Transformation of Certain Rural Areas Act(TRANCRAA) has made substantial progress inparticular with regards to the demands of theNamaqualand communities in terms of the recommen-dations to the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairsin September 2003. The Department of Land Affairswants to transfer the land (on their terms), but thecommunities clearly voiced their minimum conditionsand the process that should be followed. Thisdemonstration of people’s power is sending a clearmessage to government regarding the demands forland reform in general, and tenure reform in particular.The tenure reform process has progressed to a point,if implemented in the way that the people suggest,where it can become a model for broader compre-hensive tenure reform in this country (both in termsof process and content). Residents expressed theirclear dissatisfaction with the slow progress of thisprocess, “Transformation process is taking toolong. It is already seven years and the process hasnot been completed”(Female resident from Lekkersing in the Richtersveld).

The primary objective of this tenure reform processis that the land that is held in Trust by the Ministerof Agriculture and Land Affairs in the six Act 9(Coloured Rural Areas) in Namaqualand is transferredto a municipality or a CPA in line with the

Transformation of Certain Rural Areas Act, Act 94of 1998. After we facilitated and completed the tenurereform process in 2003, reports with recommendationswere submitted to the Department of Land Affairs.During 2008 a number of meetings were held withthe communities in Springbok where the DLAreported on the progress with the process. At allthese meetings the communities strongly articulatedtheir concerns regarding the delayed process andoutstanding issues. Communities demanded at allthese meetings that the DLA implement the mainrecommendation of the reports, i.e. that the stateprovides resources to ensure both tenure securityand the sustainable utilisation of the land that is tobe transferred.

The tenure reform process in terms of TRANCRAAforms part of the broader Agrarian Reform for FoodSovereignty Campaign and has been a centraldemand of the campaign.

“Transformation process was a good idea.Councillors, Municipality, government havecaused enough problems and do not resolve theseproblems: we die on our own land. We do not wantpolitics / politicians to make business on ourland - we can do it ourselves.”(35 year male, Pella).

In the meantime, while the TRANCRAA processcontinues at its own pace, developers, since 2007,tried to get access to more than 75 % of the trustland of Pella (one of the TRANCRAA communities)for the establishment of a film studio in the town.The community vehemently opposed a recommend-ation (from both provincial and local government)that the greater portion of the trust land be sold/leased to this film company. They established a forumthat is working closely with SPP and the LRC toensure that their rights are protected and that thecorrect procedures are followed in terms of theTRANCRAA process.

Ongoing pressure through the Campaign and supportorganisations like SPP is required to bring abouttransformation.

LAND FOR FOODOR LAND FOR CONSERVATION?WHO DECIDES?

An (in principle) agreement between De Beers andthe government was concluded in 1996, which statesthat if land owned by the company becomes availablefor alienation, they would first offer it to the state forland reform purposes. However in November 2008a 99-year lease agreement between De Beers andthe Namaqua National Park was concluded involving

35 000 ha of the company owned land. TheNamaqualand team intervened with a meeting withDe Beers where the issue of the lease and the landneeds of adjacent communities of Hondeklip Bayand Soebatsfontein were raised. The outcome of themeeting was a willingness on their side to considerthe request from communities for land, in particularlythe leasing of available land in the short term.The competing interest of conservation versus landreform was once again highlighted through thisexperience.The Namaqua National Park wasfurthermore challenged with regard to the utilizationof its land in neighbouring communities. TheCampaign Memorandum submitted to the variousProvincial Land Reform Offices identifies thesecompeting interests of conservation and land reformas a key issue for action and resolution. .

Through the struggles of the rural poor andimplementation by SPP a “new” way of understandingand analysis of the agrarian question is emerging.

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ACCESS TO WATERAND WATER RIGHTS- OPPORTUNITIES AND LIMITATIONS

The Integrated Water Resource Managementmechanism of Department of Water Affairs andForestry provides much needed financial supportto farmers on infrastructure and inputs. Most ofthe projects funded by IWRM are supported bySPP. This process required closer workingrelations with various partners and stakeholders.In this regard SPP and Goedgedacht AgriculturalCentre entered into a Memorandum ofUnderstanding with each other and respectivecommunities to ensure smooth implementationof this process. Monthly and quarterly projectmanagement meetings, which include represen-tatives from farmers associations, monitorimplementation and identify bottlenecks andareas for intervention. The key challenge emergingfrom this process is the often different perspec-tives and approaches of the role players, differentanalysis of the problem and thus differentstrategies to address the problem. A related issueis the transformation in the water sectorparticularly the redistribution and control of waterresources.

The last phase of this process will be concludedin 2009 and the critical challenge is to integratethe learnings and developments into a broaderpolicy framework where different governmentdepartments and role-players could providesupport. SPP will conduct research that willinvolve the development of a methodology for

base-line studies and monitoring and evaluationof community driven IWRM projects in threewater management areas. The base-line studiesand monitoring and evaluation process will followa rights-based approach and will be linked to theSouth African Constitution and Bill of Rights andSouth Africa’s obligations with respect tointernational conventions and agreements. Theobjective of the action research will be a documentthat can inform Government with respect to anappropriate enabling environment to ensure thesustainability of community driven IWRM projects,and similar projects that may fall under theauspices of other government departments.

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agro-ecological farming- alternative to the dominant model

Agro-ecology is the basis for an alternative sustainable agriculturalapproach that incorporates the economic, environmental and socialdimensions. This approach is rooted within the broader forms ofsocial, political and economic forms of resistance. Traditional andlocal knowledge of farmers are central to implement sustainableagriculture. The chemical industrial model of agriculture, which isexport driven and actively uses agro-chemicals, promotes the useof genetically modified organisms and agro-fuels that impactnegatively on the health, environment and land-based livelihood ofsmall-scale farmers and farm workers. This corporate profit drivenmodel of agriculture further entrenches the neo-liberal onslaught.Agro-ecological farming is a direct alternative to the dominantcorporate model of agriculture. SPP actively promotes and supportthis approach as an alternative.

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AGRO-ECOLOGICAL FARMING- ALTERNATIVE TO THE DOMINANT MODELThe 3-day conference / workshop with the themeAgro-Ecological Farming - Alternative to the DominantModel, provided a platform for 85 participants fromthe Western, Northern, Southern Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal provinces (41 women and 44 men), todiscuss ways to resist the dominant model and fosterinteraction between farmers, farm workers, activistsand intellectuals. The aim was to also raise awarenesson the ecological impact of chemical industrialagriculture, promote and discuss alternatives to thedominant model and to critically analyze agro-ecological farming as an alternative. Representativeswere from diverse sectors - from social movementslike the Landless People’s Movement, Sikhula Sonke,UNAC in Mozambique and Via Campesina, to supportorganisations and partners like Bio Watch, ChurchLand Programme, GARC, Women of Farms,Mawubuye Land Rights Forum, TCOE, UCT Schoolof Public Health, LRC, SafeAge, BiodynamicAgricultural Society of South Africa, ILRIG and Waron Want. The keynote address was delivered by ViaCampesina Africa Director Diamantino Nomphassofocusing on Agro-Ecology and Food Sovereignty.

The workshop generated debates on how to resistthe chemical industrial model, methods and practicesof agro-ecology, and how to shape policy. Farmersshared their experience on organic farming, theirstruggles with seed companies like Monsanto in theMakhatini District of Kwa Zulu Natal, while academicsprovided inputs on their research and experiences.The following themes were addressed during theworkshop namely Food Sovereignty and AgroEcology; Climate Change, The New Green Revolution,Agro-fuels, The Impact of Pesticides on the Healthof Small-scale Farmers; Farmers’ Local Experiencesof Organic Farming; Economic Forms of Resistanceand The Threat of GMO’s; Organic Crop and LivestockProduction; Trade, Markets and Resistance;Campaigns, Struggles and Movement Building. Theconference was concluded with a press conferenceby members of the Right to Agrarian Reform forFood Sovereignty Campaign where they outlinedtheir plan of action.

“The heat damages our harvest - summer isn’tsummer and winter isn’t winter anymore. Butwe are in tune with nature so we adapt ourfarming activities accordingly”- comment from a woman farmer from Hantam Karoo.

LOCAL COMMUNITIES IMPLEMENTINGLEARNINGS ON SEED CONSER VATION

Awareness around seed conservation has increasedsubstantially since the agro-ecological workshopwhere the issue of pesticides and genetically modifiedorganisms (GMO’s) amongst other issues werediscussed. There has been a visible departure fromthe use of pesticides and an increased awarenessof Genetically Modified seeds. Since the workshopseveral farmers has made the transition fromconventional farming methods to agro-ecologicalmethods of farming.

Discussions around the establishment of locallymanaged and controlled seed banks started in 2007when we provided farmers with seeds (due to thelimited support from the state). In order to changethis practice that could easily lead to dependency,we provided training in seed conservation, inpartnership with Biowatch. Currently the Nababeephousehold producers are actively saving their ownseed and have established a seed bank. All householdfood producers are collecting and labeling seed forfuture exchanges to new producers. By using openpollinated seeds plants can reproduce through natural

means and tend to adapt to local conditions overtime. As a first step in a longer-term process wetherefore provided thirteen groups (approximately200 farmers) with open pollinated seeds (previousyear hybrid seeds were provided). It is envisaged tomove to fully agro-ecological production with openpollinated seeds. The potential of this initiative isgreat as it provides a model and opportunity for othersmall-scale farmers and producers across the variousregions.

AGRO-ECOLOGICAL PRODUCTIONIMPROVING LIVES AND ADDRESSING POVERTY

Quantifying the level of change in living conditionsof farmers (as often required by donors) is fairlydifficult and sometimes problematic. The qualitativeviews from farmers are more appropriate indicatorsof change and impact as the following commentsfrom women producers reflect:

“Vegetables are expensive and we save lots ofmoney by growing our own vegetables”- Woman producer from Rooifontein.

“The vegetables we grow are healthier, becausewe do not use pesticides and make use of agro-ecological means to control pests. Now we are sure

that we eat healthier food”- Women Household Producer, Garies.

“We rather buy our vegetables from and at theCarolusberg vegetable project - it’s cheaper andhealthier. They do not use pesticides on thevegetables and we know where the vegetables comefrom” - Resident who buys from the Women’sFarmers Group in Carolusberg.

In 2008 we assisted approximately 200 householdproducers in producing sufficient vegetables toprovide in their household need. This translates intoapproximately 1200 individuals that benefited directlyfrom production within the producing households.Furthermore, it is conservatively estimated that afurther 1000 individuals (200 households) benefitedthrough sharing and direct sales of fresh pesticidefree produce.

There has been a significant increase in the numberof youth who participate in agricultural activities.Although this is a positive development we still battlein some areas to get youth involved. These qualitativeaccounts show that vegetable production using agro-ecological means is evident amongst the poorindirectly addressing food insecurity and poverty,

even on a small scale. With the support from thestate, sufficient land and continued sharing amongstproducers we might begin to address rural povertyin a systematic and sustainable way.

TARAQUA FARMERS DEMONSTRATINGRESISTANCE TO THE EXPORT LED ANDINDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL MODELOF AGRICULTURE

Our last two annual reports reflected on both thechallenges and the good practices evident in thethen Petersfield Farmers Association. Since thenthey have renamed to Taraqua Farmers Association.The struggles they face are complex bothinstitutionally and also because of limited stakeholdersupport. Despite resources from the Integrated WaterResource Management process of DWAF, access toimplements and an unsupportive local municipalityimpede the possibilities of this initiative. They remaincommitted and pioneers for agro-ecology as wasevident in the Global Day of Action event. Farmersfrom the rich export citrus town of Citrusdal joinedthe world on 26 January 2008 on the Global Day ofAction to support the call to “Act locally to challengeglobally”.

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Farmers from Petersfield (now Taraqua Farmers)heeded the call by organising an awareness day inthe town. They highlighted the need for an alternativeto the dominant chemical model of agriculture byselling ecologically produced vegetables and honey.The women took the spontaneous initiative andmarched to the town demonstrating andcommunicating their resistance through hand printedt-shirts, banners and handing out of 1100 pamphlets.

The citrus town where commercial farmerspredominantly use the conventional model ofagriculture, was made aware of the alternatives tocapitalism; alternate forms of production; thediscrimination against women in agriculture and theneed to cooperate, work and fight together againsthunger and poverty. Women from Taraqua clearlyarticulated the theme that “Another World is Possible”.A member of the Landless People’s Movement andmember of Taraqua could therefore ably representfarmers at the La Via Campesina conference inDurban. This group has planted a range of vegetablecrops and have already sold produce to the localmarket. One of the strengths of the farmers is theirpreference and outspokenness on agro-ecologicalproduction that does not harm the environment i.e.soil, water and the health of consumers. .

PORTER VILLE FARMERSDISPLAYING ELEMENTSOF SUSTAINABLE FARMINGSimilarly we can track the progress made by thePorterville Farmers Association. They continue to beone of the projects with an effective and functionalorganizational structure. They have also shown asignificant move towards project ownership and lessdependency on SPP.

SPP’s involvement during this term has mainly beenaround support in utilizing the funds received fromthe Department of Social Services. This enabled theconstruction of the propagation system and buildingof ablution facilities for the convenience of the womenwho will be responsible for the nursery. Theyimplement the financial training received from SPPand do their own financial administration andpreparations for audits. The farmers proactivelyapproached the Department of Correctional Servicesfor support already in 2006 and during this periodthey came on board to assist with the setting up ofthe irrigation system for the nursery. This again is asign of maturity and responsibility and it representswhat SPP strives to achieve with all the projects wesupport and work with.

A conflict arose after the farmers association wasdivided due to the dismissal of some of its membersbased on the process as outlined in their constitution.Various stakeholders have been involved since.Despite the matter still pending it had no impact onthe activities and the morale of the farmers.Their nursery is close to completion and would bemanaged by the women to grow vegetable seedlingsand a variety of other natural plants. Natural Botanicalsprovided a two-day training programme to both theTaraqua and Porterville women on seedlingpropagation. We provided basic propagationequipment and germplasm for start-up purposes.The mentorship will be ongoing.

The group expanded with four more camps for theirlivestock and also purchased a utility vehicle fromthe profit from their initial wheat harvest in 2007. Themuch-needed utility vehicle is used for their farmingoperations. The Porterville Farmers Association hassince received the mayoral award for their contributionto community development as they provide the localshelter with vegetables from the farm.

They will be one of the agro-ecology learning sitesin 2009.

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LA MATZICARE WOMEN FARMERSINTEGRATING TREES FORSUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT

Since their conversion to environmentally friendlyand ecological practices in 2007 these womenfarmers continue to use the opportunities to growtheir farming initiative. They have good cooperationamongst each other and this further strengthenstheir organisation. Their eagerness for continuedlearning and sharing is encouraging. Like manysmall-scale farmers they too have hopes for landthey can own. The land they currently till, waspreviously a dumping site for municipal waste.

Funding from IWRM assisted them to improvetheir agricultural production. One of the challenges

facing this group of farmers is to upgrade thecurrent water infrastructure. Most of the womenare actively involved in the farming activities. Furthersupport around techniques to improve soilproperties and to manage soil fertility is required.Integrating trees for this purpose was thereforean obvious next step. .The women proudly hosted farmers from the regionduring National Arbor week in September 2008.It was the appropriate time to promote theintegration of trees within the agricultural landscapeand to use the opportunity to once again highlightFood Sovereignty. Ten olive trees were plantedsymbolically but the longer-term plan of the women is to establish an olive tree avenue that could be

used for shade but also generate income throughvalue adding activities.

SPP and GARC work in partnership by providingan integrated support to the women’s group bycombining the various strengths and capacities ofthe organisations. The women were able to planta variety of seasonal vegetable crops and celebratea successful harvest. They mostly sold to the localmarket (local shops and community). As is normalpractice of many rural farmers we work with, theytoo donated some of the produce to vulnerablegroups, i.e. the sick and elderly.

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SPP STRATEGIES ANDINTERVENTIONS- MAKING A DIFFERENCE?

AGRICUL TURAL PLANNING TRAININGFOR COMMUNITIES/ GROUPS

SPP staff attended a two-day follow-up AgriPlan-It training course (training-the-trainer) facilitatedby the South African Institute for Entrepreneurship(SAIE). The AgriPlan-It course is designed in theform of a game. It incorporates farmers’ ownknowledge and information into the training. Thetraining was facilitated by SPP in all the regions.In total 142 farmers received training (Namaqualand56 farmers; West Coast 44 farmers and HantamKaroo 42 farmers). 99 women and 19 youthparticipated. The methodology of this process

centres on peer learning where farmers orproducers supply the information to be used in thetraining. The information becomes the planningtoolkit which the farmers then apply to a farmsimulation exercise before they plan their ownfarming activities on their own land. Observationsduring the training sessions were that most of thefarmers or producers could easily supply theinformation based on their own practices andindigenous knowledge. Even though participantsinitially found it difficult to calculate the output andinput information, feedback from delegates at thetraining session suggested that this course hasbeen very useful (and the methods simple) in orderto apply it in their farming activities. Not all of theparticipants were literate but facilitators adaptedthe material to be able to address the specificcontexts and realities.

SHARING LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICESTHROUGH ORGANIC VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONTRAINING

A number of training sessions focused onpermaculture principles were conducted using SPP’sdraft organic vegetable production manual, whichwere distributed amongst members as a referenceguide. The training included practical demonstrationsand emphasised the importance of sustainableagricultural practices other then the chemical industrialmodel in agriculture. The local knowledge andexperience of farmers who were already applyingpermaculture techniques added value to the trainingand to the content of the draft manual. .

The Carolusberg Women’s land was used asdemonstration site for a training session becausethey already applied the permaculture principles withgood results. They converted from conventionalpractices to agro-ecological practices. It is hopedthat they will apply all the permaculture principles intheir next production cycle, because currently mono-cropping is still visible. This on-site training exposedthem to intercropping principles further enhancedby the trainer from Biowatch during a horizontalexchange visit.

The focus of the horizontal exchange, training andlearning process was on agro-ecological productionsystems as an alternative farming system whichincluded permaculture, water conservation (in semi-arid areas), seed banks (the practical establishmentand running of seed banks) and demonstrations onearthworm farming and use.

HORIZONTAL LEARNINGAS A LEARNING PRACTICE

In the West Coast a learning excursion for a groupof 12 women from various projects was organisedand facilitated. They visited a few nurseries and homegardens around Cape Town. The purpose of theexercise was to expose rural women to nurserymanagement practices as some of them are in theprocess of establishing seedling and medicinal herbnurseries. Four projects participated in this learning,being Porterville, Vukani Makhosikazi, Taraqua, andLa Matzicare. Three members from each of theseprojects represented their organisation. .

A pre-exposure preparation process was done withthe women in order to guide the programme. Abriefing session on the day provided more insightand discussion on the horizontal learning exchange.Participants were required to observe, interact, engage,

enquire and collect as much information as theycould for purposes of learning and implementationback at their own projects. Natural Botanicalssupported this process. The selection of nurserieswas on the basis of distance between each other inorder to optimally use the time allocated for the day.The participants engaged with each other, criticallyasked questions and made informed conclusions.These included observing different value-addingmechanisms that different nurseries used indeveloping their products, pricing and display andpresentation of succulent plants in order to attractthe market or the buyer. Each participant was issuedwith a pencil, a calculator, and a notebook in orderto do the exercise. The facilitator was available togive guidance and to clarify questions throughoutthe day. Participants took charge of their own learning. At the end of the day, an evaluation process wasconducted where participants shared their own viewsand experiences of the day. They expressed that thelearning had been fruitful, as they had gained a muchclearer understanding of how the nurseries operateand the amount of work that goes with it. This helpedthem to think more about what would be expectedfrom them with regards to dedication anddetermination in order to make a success of theirown nurseries they are planning to establish.

36 Livestock farmers (28 Men and 8 women) fromHantam Karoo and Namaqualand participated in anexchange visit to farms where Bio-dynamic and organicfarming practices could be observed. This exchangefits within our objectives to promote and support agro-ecological practices as an alternative to the dominantfarming model.

The expectations from the farmers centered onquestions of conversion period from the conventionalmethod; how it should be approached and the financialimplications with regards to this practice. Of keeninterest were also the potential benefits and risksinvolved. The issue of quality and quantity, organiccertification and how to treat animal diseases werediscussed. Some were curious to hear whether themaintenance cost were really as low as generallypromoted and whether organic livestock ensures betteraccess to markets. Markets and marketing in generalare real challenges for emerging farmers. The statisticson livestock mortality and the mass index of lambsfor organic practices versus conventional practiceswere also some of the questions that they hoped theexchange should facilitate and address. .

At the farm Camphill Village farmers were introducedto organic cattle, pig and chicken farming. An overview

of the background of the farm was given with photosto show how bare and infertile the farm was when itwas bought. The farm manager explained the principlesof soil improvements, grazing camp managementsystems, how they decided on what breed of cattleand pigs to farm with and how to use what is availableto them to their advantage. What was striking forfarmers was that they used a negative practice of thepast and turned it into something positive to the benefitof their organic practices.

They also visited a woman bio-dynamic farmer whoshared many of her experiences and ideas with thegroups which they could apply in their own farmingactivities. The participants reflected on the exchangesand highlighted the importance of water and waterconservation techniques. The optimal productive useof land was evident in both experiences throughdiversification and multi-purpose approach (growingherbs and vegetables as an example). They have foundthe specific information around the selection ofappropriate breeds / varieties that is indigenous tothe area or region and the value of growing guavaswhere pig farming takes place, very interesting andinsightful. The participants also felt good that as muchas they learnt the host farmers were equally able tolearn from them and their experiences!

EXPLORING COOPERATIVE PRODUCTIONSYSTEMS: EXPERIENCES OF HOUSEHOLDFOOD PRODUCTION

The closing and scaling down of the mines in theNamaqualand region forced many workers to explorealternatives to provide food for their families. Sinceno productive land was available for residents of themining town Nababeep, they opted for homeproduction. Since January 2006 the membership ofthe Home Producers increased substantially.Partnerships with the Nababeep Advice andDevelopment Centre and Namaqua Development(NAMKO) were formed to address the growing foodinsecurity due to the closing of the mines and theconsequential job losses.

NAMKO is a local NGO working on social andeconomic issues in the region and spearheads asavings project with women and women ex-offenders.SPP facilitates and provides the technical andagricultural support and training. NAMKO in turn willshare their savings methodology and experiences withfood producers we support. Furthermore they haveshown a keen interest to support the Food SovereigntyCampaign together with like-minded organisations inthe Keimoes-Upington region.

A number of people from another nearby settlementexpressed an interest in household food production.SPP clarified its approach and the importance oflocal organisation. The expectation from the groupwas mainly around support with inputs such as seeds,equipment and training. A memorandum ofunderstanding was signed with the group (5 womenand 5 men) who would like to produce vegetablesfor household use. Some of the project member’shousehold food gardens are in production and theywill harvest early 2009. The issue of seed conservationand the establishment of a seed bank will also bepursued with the group.

The Soebatsfontein community has no land forsustainable farming purposes. A working group wasestablished to coordinate the process for theacquisition of land, water and other infrastructurerequirements for agricultural production inSoebatsfontein. Some households expressed interestin household food production and a needs assessmentreport from the group indicated the need for trainingregarding vegetable production.

In Goodhouse farmers continue to implement thehousehold food production systems and in Steinkopfthe project members will be involved in a group

garden. After several meetings and discussions withthe Rooifontein community they expressed an interestin exploring the idea of household food production.To date 22 middle-aged people have shown interestin household food production and have registeredas members of the household production group.The group garden (that was started in 2006/7) didnot progress well and people lost interest due to thedistance from the village to the garden, as mostlyelderly people were involved in the project. A newcommittee has been elected and a MOU was signedbetween SPP and the group. Twenty- one householdswill benefit from this initiative. Water for bothhousehold and other purposes is however a seriousproblem. Funding was initially received from theNamaqualand Diamond Fund Trust (NDFT) for thepurchase of a pump for the irrigation of the groupgarden. Further discussions and strategizing will berequired around this matter.

Three meetings were held at Kamassies to discussthe establishment of household food production.People indicated that they were interested and SPP’sapproach was explained to the group. SPP assistedthe group with equipment, tools and open-pollinatedseed. At the last meeting, new members joined thediscussions and the group informed SPP that they

are not sure whether to establish a group garden orthe individual household food gardens. The reasonfor this uncertainty is the pricing of the municipalwater that households need to use for productivepurposes. Most of the members cannot afford thetariffs of the Municipality. It also became clear thatthere is confusion about the existing communitygarden, which needs to be clarified. A survey will bedone with the broader community of Kamassies toascertain household food production needs. .

Similarly, there is a keen interest from women in theHantam Karoo and West Coast regions to establishfood gardens to address poverty and food insecurity.

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SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODSTHROUGH DIVERSIFICATION

Bitline CC is a Rooibos producing farm in HantamKaroo that is affiliated to the Heiveld Cooperative.The group was established in 2002 and since thenwe supported them to diversify their farming activities.They opted for a multiple livelihoods approach andnow also engage in livestock farming and sand stonemining. The sandstone on their farm is a very uniquetype and there is a big demand for it. The cost oftransportation of their sandstone is extremely highand this causes a negative impact on the profit oftheir business. We brokered the support of Zenzelewho assisted them in exploring additional marketsfor their sandstone. The next phase is theestablishment of a guest house to optimize theopportunities that tourism provide for the region. Oneof the family members has been appointed as directorof an Agri BEE project supported by the Departmentsof Land Affairs and Agriculture, that involves morethan 120 historically disadvantaged Rooibos teaproducers. The benefits to resource poor farmersshould be closely monitored and assessed as largecommercial farmers form part of this multi-millionRooibos processing plant.

STRENGTHENING ACCOUNTABILITYAT LOCAL LEVEL

The Budget Advocacy and Monitoring Resources(BAMR) Project in partnership with Fairshare enhancedthe knowledge and experiences of farmers and farmworkers to participate in the municipal processes and

to hold the elected representatives accountable tothe communities. The training focused on Governanceand Democracy; Understanding Municipal Financesand Budgeting Processes; Municipal Finance,Budgeting and Budget Monitoring, amongst others.The training has contributed to the enhancedunderstanding of participants because they couldrelate experiences that require action and interventionsfrom their side e.g. Provision of Free Basic Services(participants requested help to identify whether themunicipality provides these services).

Particular concern was raised with regards to theIndigent Subsidy and the implementation bymunicipalities. Accessing information is a keychallenge so the Open Democracy Advice Centre(ODAC) was approached to facilitate a one-daytraining workshop to empower participants on theuse of the Promotion of Access to Information Actto access the information held by the state. One ofthe objectives of the partnership is to offer supportand mentoring to participants as they participate inthe municipal processes.

The training was put into action when issues of thefarmers were raised with the officials of variousmunicipalities. They realised the need to intensifytheir participation in the different processes especiallythe municipal budget for the 2008/09 financial year.A programme was developed around area meetingsacross the municipal area in order to prepare asubmission on the municipality’s communicationstrategy. This kick started a broader process to improveand strengthen lobbying activities on local levels.

research and informationResearch supports our agrarian reform implementation and thedevelopment of alternatives. This includes research that would assistin and complement popular education and information needs ofcommunities. The research would contribute towards rural povertyreduction and the development of an alternative agrarian reformframework.

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RESEARCHOur research programme is part of a broader RuralPoverty, Agrarian Reform and Agrarian SocialMovements research project. The research agendais a culmination of discussions by the SPP researchreference team, needs expressed by small-scalefarmers and the rural poor within SPP’s area ofoperation.

EXPLORING RURAL LIVELIHOODS ON THEWEST COAST DISTRICT MUNICIPAL AREA

The purpose of the research was to enhance ourunderstanding of rural livelihoods of the rural poorby answering two important questions:

Who are the rural poor in the West Coast and whatare their livelihood strategies?What kind of land based productive assets (land,livestock etc) do they have and how they get accessto these and use them?

The research was done in collaboration with twoeconomists from the University of the Western Capeand a team of field workers predominantly from theWest Coast. Fieldworkers were trained to administerthe survey instrument. The research highlighted

important findings such as the lack of productiveassets as the precursor to underlying deep poverty.The study also further highlighted that for the majorityof households agriculture is the main base of theirlivelihoods. Moreover land reform contribution toimprove the livelihood strategies of rural householdshas been limited or non-existent.

AN ASSESSMENT OF WATER USERSASSOCIATION IN THE OLIFANTS DOORNWATER MANAGEMENT AREA

The research has been completed and the researchdocument published. The abridged version of thereport has been translated into Afrikaans for greateraccessibility to farmers. 100 copies of the report wereprinted and a further 160 copied for wider distribution.The report would be officially launched through themedia early 2009. Workshops will also be held withsmall-scale farmers and farm dwellers to determinehow the findings of the report would be implemented.

A review of the National Water Act was also conductedas part of the broader research, particularly to examineto what extent the Act constrains the redistributionof water resources to the rural poor. The main findingsof the review has to be discussed with small scale

farmers and rural poor to develop it into a submissionto parliament.

WOMEN’S ACCESS TO PRODUCTIVE RESOURCES

Preliminary case studies were conducted during theyear that would form the basis for the research in2009. A Women’s Conference planned for the firstquarter of 2009 will provide further information toinform the research brief and process. It is importantfor SPP to understand women’s access to productiveresources (land, water and agriculture). A clear gaphas been that a gendered analysis of the abovementioned issues have not consistently andsystematically been recorded within SPP. .

MARKET RESEARCH ON THE ORGANIC ANDFYNBOS INDUSTRY - WITH AN EMPHASIS ONHOW TO FACILITATE ENTRY

This research report was edited, finalized and 50documents printed for distribution. Feedback on thekey findings was presented to representatives of thethree regions in March 2008 at the agro-ecologyworkshop. The key purpose of the research was tofacilitate entry of small-scale farmers and farmdwellers into the organic, fynbos/natural productsindustry. This has to be carefully managed so that it

does not further entrench the export model ofagriculture. The research is currently used as a toolto assist farmers to enter the organic and naturalproduct industry.

RURAL POVERTY INCOMMERCIAL FARMING DISTRICTS

The study formed the basis of some of our populareducation sessions and a presentation was made atthe agro-ecological workshop challenging emergingfarmers’ perspective of commercial farming. Thestudy highlights the core objective of commercialfarming to be the profit motive. It further hightlightsthat profit is maximized on the exploitation of farmworkers and a reduction in wage levels. The study iscurrently being updated with more recent data.

SUBMISSIONS

A submission was made to the Minister of Agricultureand Land Affairs and the Minister of Provincial andLocal Government in the form of a memorandum ofdemands of the Right to Agrarian Reform for FoodSovereignty Campaign.

The submission to the National Assembly PortfolioCommittee on Water Affairs and Forestry on the

National Water Act no 36 of 1998 drew extensivelyon the research findings of the Water ResearchReport. The submission highlighted the following:that water reform is an essential component ofagrarian reform for food sovereignty; that thedistribution of water in South Africa remains unequalacross class, race and gender and that watermanagement institutions in its current form entrenchesgender, racial and class inequality.

SPP also assisted the Cederberg Emerging FarmersForum and a member of the Right to Agrarian Reformfor Food Sovereignty Campaign to make a submissionto parliament. The farmers and SPP were requestedby the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee tomake further recommendations on how the NationalWater Act should be changed to benefit poor farmers.

POLICY DEVELOPMENT- ENSURING CONSUL TATIVEPRO-POOR POLICIES AND PROCESSES

The Karoo Hoogland municipality like manymunicipalities where we work requested SPP toassist them in the drafting of their commonage policywith the participation of the EFA’s in the region. Thefirst draft was done and distributed for comments to

the municipality. In August a workshop was heldwith 12 representatives of the Regional EmergingFarmers Association (REFA) to comment on the firstdraft document. Pressure from SPP and farmersresulted in an agreement that the commonage policyhad to be an agenda point on the council meetingto be held in November 2008. The commonagecommittee requested the council representative onthe commonage committee to ensure that the councilexpedite the responses on the commonage documentso that the process could be completed expediently.

SPP assisted both the Hantam and Hooglandmunicipalities in the Hantam Karoo with thedevelopment of their commonage policies. The policydemands for each region to establish a commonagecommittee. The commonage committee togetherwith the land users should draft the Land UseManagement Plan that should form part of theIntegrated Development Planning process and budgetsystem. At present there is huge reluctance from themunicipalities to implement their commonage policy.The Campaign task team has identified this lack ofsupport and cooperation as a critical issue for furtheraction for 2009.

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INFORMATION ANDMATERIALS DEVELOPMENT

During the period under review variousmaterials and information were distributed tofarmers and SPP staff within the themes ofagrarian reform, food sovereignty and agroecology.

The booklet on the Health Effects of Pesticideswas finalized and produced in English, Afrikaansand Zulu. The booklet was distributed nationallyto 280 small-scale farmers, farm dwellers andpartner organizations. Reprints requested since.

A booklet on Agrarian Reform for FoodSovereignty Campaign was produced andhanded out to members at a joint session ofthe campaign in Bitterfontein. The booklet wasfurther developed and distributed at theSouthern African Social Forum. The aim of thebooklet is to document the activities of theCampaign, and includes press statements /releases, pamphlets, newspaper articles andpictures collected throughout the year. 390information booklets, updating members ofthe campaign and other social movements,have been distributed nationally.

An Organic Crop and Livestock Manual wasproduced to provide small-scale farmers andhome growers with the tools to produce usingagro-ecological practices. The manual hasbeen translated into Afrikaans and will be

distributed to farmers and home gardengrowers in 2009. It forms the basis and firststep in developing a collective knowledge baseand practice of agro-ecological production asan alternative to the dominant model. .

A booklet titled Water for Farming - Who GetsIt? Who Decides? was developed based onthe Water User Associations research report.The booklet is written in popular form and isa critical review of the research report. Thisbooklet has also been translated into Afrikaansfor distribution to communities. 100 bookletswere printed for distribution and further 190copied version circulated to a range of role-players and interest groups.

SPP POPULAR EDUCATION PROGRAMME

During 2008 we were able to reach 242participants through our popular educationsessions. A total of six sessions were heldwith an even spread of women and men,although in the Hantam Karoo the proportionof men is higher to women attending thesessions.

The key objectives of the popular educationprogramme is to promote the emancipation ofthe oppressed, to be a catalyst for social actionand to expose the rural poor to alternativeways of thinking about issues affecting society.Moreover the long-term aim is to build articulate,confident and principled activists.

Popular education is an essential part of movementbuilding. In this regard SPP prefers to organiseregional political education sessions throughout theyear with at least two sessions over two days withineach of the three regions where we work. This isfurther supplemented with two one-day joint sessionsand popular education focusing particular on therural youth.

These sessions and spaces formed a critical extensionand link to discuss and inform participants on issuesof the Campaign. The composition of participants isa challenge in terms of language, particularly in theWest Coast where participants also speak Xhosa.This should be carefully managed and means shouldbe found to overcome this particular challenge.Popular education continues to be of high priorityfor SPP as only a few organisations devote time andresources to it in rural areas. The West Coast sessionscovered the themes Trade Liberalization andAgriculture (42 people - 18 men and 24 women) andResisting neo-liberalism in agriculture (35 people -16 men and 19 women). A popular education sessionfor farm workers / dwellers is planned for 2009. .In the Hantam Karoo region Trade Liberalization wascombined with the theme of local government

facilitated by Fairshare. 41 participants (30 men and11 women) from three municipal areas participatedin the session over two days in September 2008.Reading materials were developed and distributedat each of the political education sessions. Theparticipants found the sessions useful measured bythe positive responses we received. .

Two popular education sessions were held inNamaqualand. One was aimed at youth and the othera cross section of participants. 51 youth (17men and34 women) from Namaqualand, West Coast andHantam Karoo region joined to discuss the themeRevolutionary Youth Movements and to explorestrategies to integrate youth more broadly in thestruggle for agrarian reform and food sovereignty.The other session held in July brought together 28participants from across the district and engagedwith the theme Resisting neo-liberalism in agriculture.

The role of youth continues to be marginal in thesestruggles, thus a key focus was on building a coregroup of activists for broader rural struggles. A keyoutcome of these activities was that youth wereincorporated into the Campaign task team that isresponsible for the coordination of the Campaignactivities. During the joint youth session in

Namaqualand the youth distributed 1000 pamphletsin the different communities of Namaqualand,informing them about the issues of the Campaign.A follow up training was facilitated with 45 youth (12men and 33 women) from the different regions tobuild their Media skills and gain a better understandingof media.

Some feedback from participants:

“There were many intelligent questions aboutland reform.”

“It was good that we spoke about agrarian reformand food, but it was also good that we spoke aboutunemployment, alcohol abuse and teenagepregnancies.”

“I did not expect the workshop to be about stufflike this. It really opened my mind.”

“The materials and presentation were very good.”

“These workshops give us a different view andhelp us to make a difference as small scalefarmers.”

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PUBLIC FORUMS

Public forums are spaces for communities to dialogueon issues of transformation in society.

Public forums were held in the different regions asan extension of the popular education and also tostimulate debate within these communities on agrarianreform and food sovereignty. The first public forumwas held in Calvinia and focused on ParticipatoryLocal Government and Service Delivery and 51 peopleattended. The keynote speaker was from Fairshare.The second public forum was held in Namaqualand(49 people) and focused on the split in the ANC andits impact on service delivery. A debate between theANC Youth League and SPP staff member sparkedlively discussions on how the problem of rural under-development and poverty could be addressed.Lolo Nyala, a member of the Right to Agrarian Reformfor Food Sovereignty and an active farmer fromLukhanya Agricultural Project in Elands Bay was aspeaker at the ILRIG public forum, which focusedon the Global Food Crisis.

BUILDING ALLIANCES,PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKS

During the period under review SPP staff, rural youth

and members of the campaign participated in differentpopular education schools and social forums. Thesespaces provided further avenues for both staff andrural activists to engage with activists from othersocial movements and campaigns.

The meeting of the annual Southern African SocialForum (SASF) took place in Swaziland. Two SPPstaff and three members of the Campaign Task Teamparticipated in the social forum. The SASF is a regionalplatform for social movements and an open spacefor civil society to critically engage with issuesaffecting development in the region. The SouthernAfrican Social Forum is organised along the samelines as the World Social Forum. The theme for 2008SASF was “People’s Solidarity against Poverty andOppression”.

Members of the Campaign participated in theworkshops, seminars and demonstrations organisedat the SASF, particularly the workshop around FoodSecurity and Land. This resulted in networking withother social movements, campaigns and activistswithin the region. The Right to Agrarian Reform forFood Sovereignty Campaign also gained a higherprofile amongst activists and social movements withinthe Southern African region.

Task team members from the Right to AgrarianReform for Food Sovereignty Campaign participatedin the national meeting of the Landless People’sMovement (LPM) in Durban. The meeting was heldover a period of five days. A key objective of themeeting was to discuss how the LPM could be rebuiltand strengthened within the different provinces.While certain sections of the Campaign, particularlywithin the West Coast are aligned to the LPM, theobjective of the task team was to engage the LPMon the Campaign, which is also a member of La ViaCampesina.

The Campaign took a resolution to maintain workingrelations with the LPM and that members of theCampaign should decide whether they want to jointhe LPM or not. SPP also gave a brief input at thenational meeting of the LPM.

The SCLC Summer School is an annual event aimedat rural movements and activists. The theme for thisyear was “Alternatives to Privatisation”. SPP assistedwith the design of the school. As part of our aim ofbuilding rural youth activists, five youth from thevarious regions attended the school. This providedspace to interact with other youth activists from theSouthern Cape and Eastern Cape.

The Khanya College Winter School is an annual eventfor activists in social movements and other massorganisations. The school is a space for activists tocritically reflect on organising and mobilising and todevelop theoretical understanding of presentdevelopments. A general motto of the school is“Mobilize and Organise for Social Change”, while thebroad theme for 2008 was “Education for Liberation:Organising under conditions of Neo Liberalism”. Thewinter school also focused on topics such asunderstanding and theorising organising, the practiceof organising: context, tools and methods and thetheory and practice of organising in the currentcontext. Two staff members attended the winterschool.

Five youth activists were elected at the Youth PopularEducation Session in Namaqualand and attendedthe AIDC Women’s School in Cape Town. .

IDASA initiated a process of bringing togetherorganisations and individuals involved in populareducation to share experiences and perspectives.SPP participated in the Western Cape workshop“Imagine a Collective Future”. This forum hopes torevitalize popular education as tool to resist neo-liberal globalization.

Jubilee South Africa held its 10-year anniversaryconference and invited both SPP and the Right toAgrarian Reform for Food Sovereignty Campaign.The anniversary focused on “The Present PoliticalSituation and Social Movements”. In this regard threemembers of the campaign and one staff from SPPattended the conference. A key issue for discussionwas the 2009 elections and the positioning of socialmovements.

NEWSLETTERS

Our newsletters have become not only a mechanismto share information but continue to be an avenueto deepen the understanding of the rural poor anddevelop alternative ways of analysing their currentrealities. The newsletters covered the themes of thepopular education sessions namely Rural Resistanceand alternatives to the neo-liberal agricultural model;Rural Social Movements and Trade Liberalization.Three editions were circulated to 1700 small-scalefarmers, partner organisations and other movements.

EXPLORING COMMUNITY RADIOAS A FORM OF ORGANIZING

A media organization based in the Western Cape,but with a rural interest (Media and Health Centre

(MHC) approached SPP to participate in a radioprogramme to raise awareness on sustainabledevelopment, climate change and conservation.Through this process the Hantam Karoo team wereable to share our views, perspectives and experiencearound alternative practices, forms of production andland-based alternatives. The potential of radio needsto be further explored in 2009 as it is a powerful toolfor mass mobilization, organizing and education.

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advocacy and lobbyingThe core principle of the Advocacy and Lobbying programme is tocontribute towards the development of an alternative pro poor agrarianpolicy framework and support the awareness raising of the landlessmen and women. The programme was developed as a result of theagrarian struggles of landless formations, social movements and ourinteraction with these formations.

The focus of the programme is on:Building social organisation through providing information to advanceagrarian reform and broader societal transformation.Supporting the campaigns and struggles of the landless, small-scalefarmers and farm dwellers and facilitating exchanges with national andinternational rural and urban social movements like the MST of Brazil.

Support and initiate direct advocacy and lobbying processes such ascampaigns, protest marches, submissions and press statements.

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THE RIGHT TO AGRARIAN REFORM FOR FOODSOVEREIGNTY CAMPAIGNThe Right to Agrarian reform for Food SovereigntyCampaign was launched in February 2008. 52 (34men and 18 women) small-scale farmers and farmworkers representatives from Namaqualand, HantamKaroo and the West Coast developed a programmeof action to address the problem of landlessness,the exploitation of labour by white commercial farmersand the chemical-industrial model of agriculture. Itis the view of these small-scale producers that thestate and corporate interests are undermining theirhuman right to food sovereignty. A task team wasestablished to coordinate the activities of theCampaign. It is a non-hierarchical structure wheredecision-making is participatory and democratic.There is no chairperson, although at each meetinga new chairperson and a minute taker is appointedto chair the meetings and take minutes. The taskteam is used as a space to plan actions and implementthe Campaign activities as agreed by the jointsessions. A total of seven (7) two-day task teamsessions were held to discuss key issues of theCampaign. The task team consists of 13 members (7women and 6 men). SPP is also represented on thetask team as a source of information. The keychallenge is to become fully fledged members of the

Campaign without taking leadership.

The agenda, content and actions of the campaignare decided by the task team and feedback andconsultations take place in the respective regions.In March and April 2008 workshops were held inNamaqualand, the Hantam Karoo and West Coastto popularise the campaign objectives and to developregional agendas (actions) that would complimentthe activities of the broader Campaign. Key actionsof the Campaign included the agro-ecologicalworkshop as a direct resistance against the dominantchemical-industrial agricultural model; local protestactions to municipalities, protest march to parliamentand a sit-in and land occupation. The Arbor Dayactivities were also used as a space to promote FoodSovereignty and articulate resistance to the chemical-industrial model.The main objective of the Campaign is to raise landand agrarian issues within the context of FoodSovereignty. The Campaign has been able to put theissues of Agrarian Reform and Food Sovereigntycentre stage in rural areas. This in response to theslow pace of land reform, neo-liberal agrarian reformframework, rural displacement and dispossession,homelessness, landlessness, poverty and theenvironmental destruction of the chemical-industrial

model of agriculture. A key objective of the Campaignto raise awareness amongst the rural landless, workingclass and poor about issues of agrarian reform andfood sovereignty, submit key demands to the stateand put agrarian reform within the public domain andsystematically build the Campaign through directaction.

CLASS AND GENDER COMPOSITION OF THECAMPAIGN

The campaign brings together the landless, poorsmall-scale farmers, farm workers and dwellers,homeless, medium size small-scale farmers. Theseinclude communities and farmers from Namaqualand,Hantam Karoo in the Northern Cape, poor farmers,farm workers/dwellers, and state land communities,rural activists, informal settlements communities fromthe West Coast, Central Karoo and Southern Capeof the Western Cape. This provide for a solidfoundation for interaction, as these communitiestraditionally have not united in struggle for socialchange. Leadership of the Campaign is composedof the working class, poor farmers, landless and asmall section of the middle class. A key challengewill be to strengthen the participation and role ofwomen in the Campaign.

ACTIONS OF THE CAMPAIGNDURING 2008MARCH TO PARLIAMENT

On 9 May 2008 approximately 800 people (630 menand women directly supported by SPP) marched toParliament to hand over a memorandum to theMinisters of Provincial Affairs and Local Governmentand Agriculture and Land Affairs. The memorandumelaborated on the plight of the farmers which includeland redistribution, an end to privatisation, extensionservices and housing.A number of other organisations including theSouthern Cape Land Committee, Mawubuye LandRights Forum and Sikhula Sonke participated in themarch. A memorandum was handed to represen-tatives from the different Ministries, as the Ministerscould not attend to receive the memorandums.

CLANWILLIAM MARCH

About 100 farmers and community supporters joineda march in support of farmers from the Cederbergmunicipal area in the West Coast and presented amemorandum to the mayor. The memorandumfocused on demands like access to land and water,

extension support and integrated and consistentsupport with agriculture. The 30 delegates fromNamaqualand and Hantam shared their experiencewith regard to land reform in their respective areasand demanded the municipalities to be moreresponsive to the land needs of the small-scalefarmers in the Cederberg Municipality and the WestCoast District. The result of this meeting was aprocess of bringing stakeholders together to addressthe issues of farmers in the municipal area. A gainfor the Campaign!

SIT-IN AT DLA OFFICES

71 people (40 males and 31 women) from NorthernCape, Western and Southern Cape and members ofThe Right to Agrarian Reform for Food SovereigntyCampaign had a sit-in at the Western Cape ProvincialLand Reform offices. This action was a follow up tothe memorandum of demands submitted at theprotest march to parliament in May as no responsewas received from the Department by then. One ofthe campaigners was Maria Petersen who explainedthat she is one of a group of 10 disabled peoplerunning the Helpmekaar (help each other) farmoutside of Calvinia in the Northern Cape.“We are proud to be part of this action. We want to

help others get land so they can make a living likewe do. We are far from Cape Town and Kimberley,but to be here is a must-do for us. We are fightingfor dignity and equal rights.”

JOINT MEETING TO FOSTERRURAL AND URBAN UNITY

In September 51 representatives (29 men and 22women) from the Northern and Western Cape metwith the task team in Bitterfontein to review theCampaign, plan the next steps of the Campaign andhear the experiences of urban based movementssuch as the Union Social Movement Sikhula Sonke,Delft residents Campaign and ISIS of Grassy Park.Experiences on strategy and tactics of the urbanlandless were shared with members of the Campaign.

ARBOR DA Y USED TOPROMOTE FOOD SOVEREIGNTY

The activities for Arbor Day were done in the contextof the Campaign. The activities highlighted the needfor an alternative model of agriculture that promotesFood Sovereignty. In the Hantam Karoo the Churchesplanted fruit trees in the church grounds;Namaqualand had a joint session with farmers fromthe region in a rural town Concordia, planting fruittrees while demonstrating agro-ecological practices

and discussing seed conservation. The West Coastcelebrated with the symbolic planting of olive treesand exploring options to diversify their income.

OCCUPATION OF LAND IN LUTZVILLE

In October 2008 the West Coast town of Vredendalbecame the target of the Campaign. A public spacein front of a large food store became the space ofthe Campaign for three hours. Speeches werepresented and calls made to resist any form ofoppression and to unite to make agrarian reform andfood sovereignty a reality. Farm workers of the areaapproached members of the Campaign and requestedmore action to address their plight on farms. Speakerafter speaker called for the scrapping of the neoliberal policies. After this action 22 representatives(13 men and 9 women) from Namaqualand, WestCoast and Hantam Karoo moved to Lutzville to occupycommonage land which was lying fallow despite along process of negotiating with the municipality bythe Lutzville small-scale farmers to use the land. Ashort ceremony was held to bless the land with thesewords “Through Unity and Direct Action we canimplement land redistribution ourselves”. Thefarmers’ struggle for land continues.

PIKETBERG MARCH TO SHOW RESISTANCEAGAINST FARM EVICTIONS

On 20 November 2008 about 120 members of theCampaign and community supporters marchedthrough the streets of Piketberg to the municipalityto hand over a memorandum of demands to theDepartment of Justice, Land Affairs and the localmunicipality. Instead of the Municipal Manager ajunior official was nominated to receive thememorandum.

The protesters refused to hand over the memorandumand the women decided to occupy the municipaloffices while a delegation was dispatched to searchthe municipal offices to see if the municipal managerwas not hiding.

A clear message was conveyed that Michael Morobiand his family like other farm workers should notend up on the streets. The representatives of thestate also received the memorandum of the Campaign.After the protest action a planning session was heldwhere a decision was taken that the protest actionmust continue until the court case of the farm workerMichael Morobi was settled.

FIGHTING FARM EVICTIONSA key aspect of our work is around resisting farmevictions and supporting farm workers throughcampaigns and information around labour and tenurerights. A key demand in the Food SovereigntyCampaign is a moratorium on and an end to evictions.Several approaches are utilised to ensure that relevantdepartments and policy makers hear the call. SPPutilises a range of strategies and actions to respondto the continued evictions and human rights abusesof farm workers - we use the court; we supportprotest actions, we engage in various multi-sectoralforums; we support the building of farm forums andwe provide information and training. A key aspect ofour interventions is to ensure that farm workers gainaccess to land for both housing and food production.In 2008 we directly worked with 84 farm workersfrom four farms. We plan to have a more integratedsupport to farm workers in 2009. Their participationin the Campaign is also of critical importance.We have assisted the residents of Rooihoogteacquiring land for housing. The delays from the localmunicipality however impacted on the process ofgetting ownership.

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Three farm worker groups were assisted withLRAD applications of which decisions are stillpending. We directly support the CederbergFarm workers / dwellers forum throughinformation, training on their rights andresponsibilities and lobbying for resources fromthe state. Building relationships withstakeholders becomes a critical part of thisprocess in order to ensure support to farmworkers / dwellers.

A legal mechanism has been put in place bythe DLA aimed at providing legal support tofarm workers. A national workshop organisedby Foundation for Human Rights provided spacefor the DLA to give feedback on the processof legal representation for farm workers /dwellers in courts. The LPM members raisedtheir concerns around the lack of benefits forfarm workers / dwellers. Our main argument isthat farm workers / dwellers remain insecuredespite legal representation and that a processshould be initiated to replace the Extension ofSecurity of Tenure Act (ESTA). .

EXPORT DRIVEN MODEL OF AGRICULTUREIMPACTS ON THE MOST VULNERABLE

The farm Groenvlei is located in the Citrusdalarea. Eviction notices were served to four familieson the farm and filed at the magistrate court inClanwilliam. The farm owner and his lawyersucceeded with an eviction application to theHigh Court. The eviction was legally executed

but no alternative accommodation was providedto evictees. The DLA official approached SPPto attend a meeting with the farmer, his lawyer,an advocate on this case and the representativesfrom the Cederberg Municipality. The followingoptions emerged from this discussion:

The farmer continues with the application forthe court order and should the application besuccessful, evict the families from and demolishthe houses; The farmer would provide theoccupants with money and materials foralternative accommodation; The occupantsapply to work on the farm and build new housesthemselves utilising the benefits like all otheremployees; Only those who qualified as long-term occupiers continue staying on the farm.

The farm owner clearly expressed that he needsto adjust to conditions prescribed by the exportmarket otherwise he would not be able to sellhis oranges. The farmer is not prepared to buildnew houses for people who do not work forhim. He mentioned that the salary that hisworkers earn is above the minimum wage leveland that he is prepared to pay the occupantsthe same should they be willing to work for him.

Where does it leave farm workers? What arethe alternatives? These are critical questionsthat require a total review of both ESTA andthe dominant agricultural model.

campaign in actionThe rights of small- scale farmers and farm workers /dwellers are increasingly being violated and underminedby the market led economic policy framework in SouthAfrica. Pro-poor agrarian reform and food sovereigntyis critical to address the problem of rural poverty,landlessness, displacement and transformation of therural economy. The building and support of ruralmovements of the poor is important to bring aboutagrarian transformation. The farm dweller campaign isintegrally linked to the broader Right to Agrarian Reformfor Food Sovereignty Campaign.

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POLITICAL EDUCATION:THE WAY OF THE RIGHT TOAGRARIAN REFORM FORFOOD SOVEREIGNTY CAMPAIGN

Marches has become the alpha and the omega ofmass mobilization around specific issues all over theworld. In South Africa, this phenomenon is also playingitself out to a platitude. It was very therefore refreshingto see how the Right to Agrarian Reform for FoodSovereignty Campaign approached this whole matterwith their march in the rural community of Piketberg.The campaign was marching against the eviction ofMichael Morobi, a farm worker and his family fromthe Pomona farm, owned by Rob Duncan. Under theExtension of Security of Tenure Act (ESTA) RobDuncan petitioned the Piketberg Magistrate court togrant him an eviction order. This was the secondappearance of Michael Morobi - the first having beenon November 20, 2008.

As early as 07h30 about 150 protesters from as farafield as Namaqualand, the Hantam Karoo and theWest Coast region congregated at the entrance tothe farm where they were waiting to escort Michael

and his wife to court. Various minibus taxis, cars andbakkies drove in a cavalcade where they collectedhim and dropped him off at the court. The scenicdrive to and from the farm in Bo-Piketberg, concealedthe vicious act of farm evictions that has been takingplace with impunity across South Africa. To date, 2million farm workers have been evicted from the onlyplaces they knew as home since the inception of theESTA legislation.

As soon as the cavalcade dropped Michael and hiswife Susan at the court, they proceeded to the locallibrary where Andries Titus, a development facilitatorfrom the Surplus People Project (SPP) explained theplan of action for the day. In the meantime, the localpolice pulled up to keep an eye on proceedings. Fora small rural town like Piketberg, I was amazed tosee that five police vehicles were on full alert toescort the protesters. The media also arrived withcameras flashing and frantic note taking. .

The protesters were mainly small-scale farmers.These included old and young people with the majoritybeing women. And they were the most vocal. By thetime the march started, the group has grown to about150 people with their flag of the Right to Agrarian

Reform for Food Sovereignty, volunteers from politicalparties and the small scale farmers in a buoyantmood. Slogans like “No land, no vote”, “Ons wil niehoor nie” (we don’t want to listen) and “Away withESTA” reverberated through the streets. .

Pamphlets urging residents to join the march andthe campaign were distributed as the protestersmarched through the streets of this otherwise tranquilcommunity. Scenes reminiscent of the 1980’s wereplayed out as protesters showed off their toy-toyingskills with aplomb. In the meantime the policecordoned off the streets and the march seemed tobe the only activity. Residents poured out of theirhouses to look at the procession. Some workerswere toy toying outside their offices in support ofthe protest. Créche children came pouring out andone of the protesters were shouting at them “Onsbaklei vir julle regte” (We are fighting for your rights).An entourage of documentary filmmakers joined inand this caused the protesters to even exhibit capoeiratoy toying.

The procession reached the courts and slogans of“Away with ESTA”, “Viva Michael Morobi” and “Phantsievictions” echoed. More and more cameras joined

the action. Jan Adams, a voluntary worker for thecampaign addressed the protesters over theloudspeaker. He is coming from Springbok inNamaqualand and he urged people to steadfastlysupport the Campaign. Orderlies at the court evenjoined in temporarily with the protesters - showingoff their toy-toying skills.

By this time, the protesters moved to the BergrivierMunicipality where they demanded a response fromthe authorities to the memorandum they handed inon November 20, 2008. Speaker after speakerrecounted the inhumane conditions they are livingunder on farms. Previously evicted farm dwellers,small-scale farmers and land activists told heart-wrenching stories about the tot-system, the wagesthey are earning and called for a moratorium onevictions.

These speakers were cheered by the crowd, whichhas grown exponentially by the time. The officialswere given a chance to respond and their carefullyselected words indicated that they have been workingfrantically behind the scenes to find a solution to theproblem. Of course they did not want to antagonisethis crowd further. Finally Michael Morobi and his

lawyer arrived to great applause. The lawyers reportedthat the case was postponed to 29 January 2009.

And then an interesting thing happened. AndriesTitus told the crowd that the court are awaiting theagreement that would take place between the Rightto Agrarian Reform for Food Sovereignty CampaignTask Team, the Municipality, Land affairs, theDepartment of Justice and Michael Morobi’s legalrepresentative. That meeting would take placeimmediately after the march and feedback will begiven at the library later on. The marchers thenproceeded back to the library for a reflective andplanning session.

To me, this was the essential difference betweenmarches I have attended in the past and this one.Back at the library, democracy in action took place.Ronald Wesso, an SPP staff member, through afacilitated session, elicited responses from themarchers on how they experienced the action andwhat the follow-up could be. In workshop format,two different scenario’s were entertained and theresponses coming from the small groups, wereinsightful - to say the least. Just as the workshopneared its conclusion, the Task Team representatives

arrived with an empowering message.

They have managed to agree to three possibleoutcomes to the evictions with the relevant authorities.One: The case could be settled out of court. Two:The Municipality could buy land from a private personwhere about 60 evicted and those facing evictionscould be resettled with their families on land wherethey could continue their activities of small-scalefarming. Three: Michael Morobi would be offered ahouse in town. This message was greeted with athundering applause. The court just needed to ratifyany of the three at the next appearance on 29 January2009.

This small victory just once again showed that peopleshould not just be spectators when and wheredecisions about their livelihoods are made. Throughtheir own independent organizations, they cansuccessfully lobby government for reforms in theirfavour. I left the meeting with a renewed sense ofbelief in the human race.

Victor Altensteadt is an independent media develop-ment practitioner who works with social movementsand developmental organisations. 36

Broederlijk Delen

Belgium Embassy

CCFD (Comité Catholique contrela Faim et pour le Développement)

CIDA (Canadian InternationalDevelopment Agency)

CSIC (Consejo Superior DeInvestigaciones Cientificas)

De Beers Fund

Department of Social Developmentand Poverty Alleviation

EED (Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst)

Embassy of Finland

Ford Foundation

Integrated Water Resource Management - IWRM

NDA (National Development Agency)

Sustainable Restitution Support-SA

UCC (United Church of Canada)

funding partners

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