“The Farmers are taking care of this”: Food Sovereignty in Haiti & Uganda

Event details

Abstract

This seminar explores the impact of participatory learning and action approaches on the development and implementation of the Konbit Vanyan Kapab Farmer-to-Farmer Agroecology for Food Sovereignty Initiative (“FAFSI”). (A konbit is a traditional cooperative work group in Haiti. Konbit Vanyan Kapab is a local Kreyol saying which means “strong Konbits can”).

After an introduction to the origin, structure, and Indigenous and ancestral based agroecology practices of FAFSI, the audience will gain understanding of key participatory strategies used by the initiative. The seminar takes then looks at how these strategies have enabled farmers in Haiti and Uganda to lead agroecology innovation that is increasing access to healthy traditional foods, while also restoring biodiversity and building resilience to climate impacts and collective capacity for responding to crisis.

Biography

Michael Neumann is the Executive Director of Partners in Progress, a U.S.-based non-profit working in Haiti and Uganda. He has over twenty years of experience managing community-driven development projects in fields of agriculture, sustainable building, and environment, mostly in Indigenous and rural communities in the U.S. and internationally.

This includes coordinating participatory development initiatives in agroecology, ecosystem restoration, organizational capacity building, home and school earth block construction, traditional foods product development, and water resources. Michael holds a J.D. from Mitchell Hamline Law School and M.Ed. in Agriculture from University of Minnesota.

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