Guiding principles
Holistic view on sustainability
ETC EcoCulture has a holistic view on sustainability. We strongly feel that sustainability of development efforts can be achieved only if people at all levels take ownership. We put great emphasis on the role of farmers and end-users in agricultural research and development. Their knowledge and innovation capacities are an important starting point for seeking food security and local livelihood development.
Participatory Development
Collaboration between research and development agents, on the one hand, and farmers and their communities, on the other, in the form of Participatory Innovation Development (PID) combines creatively the local knowledge and that of outsiders. Particular attention in such processes is given to the diversity of interests at the local level (social, economic, cultural including gender) in order to ensure that those who need support most will actually benefit.
Partnerships
Taking ownership is equally important at the institutional level. EcoCulture seeks to work in partnership with research, development and educational organisations to strengthen their capacities and facilitate institutional development. Training and coaching or mentoring are key components in our collaborative programmes.
Stakeholder consultation
As development efforts often bring together a variety of organisations or individuals with different ("diverging" means that they continue to go further apart) – if not conflicting – interests, EcoCulture gives particular attention to stakeholder consultation and participatory planning. Effective facilitation of such consultation processes is an important contribution of EcoCulture to realising development aims.