Respectful engagement and participatory approaches ensure community trust

During Y1|Q2, the project focused on the launch and consolidation of the empirical research phase, combining exploratory work, in-depth field investigations, and preparatory scientific outputs.

An exploratory study was conducted to refine the study sites, validate research tools, and better understand local livestock systems and land-related constraints. This phase included reconnaissance visits, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions with women livestock farmers, which helped contextualise the research questions and adapt the survey instruments to local realities.

Building on this, the in-depth study was initiated, involving structured household surveys and qualitative data collection across selected communes. Data collection covered livestock practices, land access arrangements, adaptation strategies, and socio-economic characteristics.

Dr Seidou says one particularly memorable experience during the fieldwork was the enthusiasm and openness of women livestock farmers during focus group discussions. In several communities, participants went beyond the planned discussion topics to demonstrate feeding practices, traditional animal health remedies, and housing arrangements directly in the field, transforming formal research sessions into rich, interactive learning moments.

Multiple livestock species were documented, including small ruminants, poultry, cattle, pigs, and rabbits, often managed simultaneously within the same household.

In parallel, longitudinal monitoring of selected livestock farms is ongoing, allowing the project to capture seasonal dynamics and management changes over time. At the same time, data cleaning, preliminary analyses, and interpretation have started, and the writing of scientific manuscripts based on the collected data is currently underway.

The main challenges encountered during Y1|Q2 relate to field logistics and respondents' time constraints, particularly during peak agricultural and livestock activities. In some sites, scheduling interviews required additional flexibility. First, language barriers required that all focus group discussions be conducted in the local language (Bariba). This necessitated careful facilitation and additional time to ensure accurate understanding and faithful translation of women's experiences and practices.

Second, gender and social norms influenced participation dynamics. In some cases, women initially showed reluctance to speak openly about constraints related to land access, animal health practices, or income management, especially when discussions touched on sensitive household or community issues. Creating women-only discussion spaces and building trust progressively helped overcome this constraint. In addition, strong cultural norms around hospitality and collective dialogue often extended the duration of focus group discussions beyond the planned timeframe.

While this required flexibility in scheduling, it also enriched the quality of qualitative data collected. Overall, these cultural aspects were addressed through respectful engagement, use of local facilitators, and participatory approaches, ultimately strengthening data quality and community trust. None of the challenges prevented the successful implementation of the research activities.

Dr Alassan Seidou (far right) conducted focus group discussions with women livestock farmers in Benin's drylands, illustrating participatory dialogue on livestock practices, constraints, and priorities related to feeding, animal health, and access to pastoral land.

Key outputs for Y1|Q2 include:

• Completion of the exploratory study and diagnostic phase.

• Availability of qualitative and quantitative datasets from the in-depth surveys;

• Ongoing monitoring database for livestock farms;

• Draft scientific manuscripts in preparation, based on the initial analyses of the collected data;

• Technical and analytical inputs that complement the documents already submitted with this report.

The research activities carried out so far have generated several interesting and illustrative figures:

• More than 200 km travelled across northern Benin to reach urban, peri-urban, and rural livestock communities, often on secondary or unpaved roads.

• Over 240 women livestock farmers were engaged through surveys, focus group discussions, and informal exchanges.

• 5 focus group discussions were conducted, each lasting approximately 2 hours, allowing in-depth and participatory dialogue.

• 6 communes covered, reflecting diverse agro-ecological and land-use contexts.

• Multiple livestock species were documented, including small ruminants, poultry, cattle, pigs, and rabbits, often managed simultaneously within the same household.

• Daily livestock management is observed, with women spending 2–4 hours per day on feeding, watering, cleaning, and animal health activities.

• Seasonal monitoring was initiated, with follow-up visits planned several times per year to capture changes in practices and constraints.

Overall, the project is progressing according to plan, with core research activities well underway and no significant risks to achieving Y1 objectives.

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Dr Alassan Seidou reporting on his progress for the following research project: Improving Decision-Making of Pastoral Land Politics for Women Livestock Farmers in Drylands of Benin (West Africa).

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Edited by Heidi Sonnekus & Leti Kleyn for the FAR-LeaF programme.