About Capacity Builidng

Projects The CVCB has commissioned four core projects and a number of supporting projects. Click here for a summary of all projects.

Core projects (commissioned research)
The Cooperative Venture has four “key result areas”, for which it has commissioned research projects.

What works and why
Fostering involvement
Optimising institutional arrangements
Support for rural educators

What works and why (also called the National Extension/Education Evaluation core project)
is evaluating the following:

extension and education programs being implemented around Australia, looking at best practice as a means of sharing and learning
how new guidelines, principles and tools will generate effective information and learning.

It has reviewed an extensive range of extension/education projects across agriculture and other fields. In reviewing the literature a context map of the influences and trends that are shaping the extension/education structures, funding and approaches across Australia has been prepared.

The project has developed a set of five models which describe how projects are delivered. For each model a set of criteria has been developed which characterise successful delivery. A database of projects has been constructed which allows searching by project, model type or by industry. Users can interrogate the database to provide information to assist in designing and evaluating projects.

Research leader: Coutts J&R Pty Ltd.

Extension project database. A database of extension projects implemented around Australia. This database is a great resource for developing a project or if you are looking for ways to evaluate extension projects. You can search the database by project name, model or industry.

For more information or if you know of a project that could be included in the review contact:

Jeff Coutts, email couttsjr@bigpond.net.au
Kate Roberts, email kroberts@robertsevaluation.com.au
Finnoula Frost, email frosts@iinet.net.au

Fostering Involvement is studying factors that inhibit farmer participation in learning activities so we can develop new processes to encourage participation, extension and learning. As starting point to the research a literature review was completed.

The project report provides a summary of the theoretical basis for participation in learning activities with an emphasis on formal organised activities. Four key factors influencing participation have been identified:

Relationships between the learner and the learning ‘environment’.
Social and structural factors inhibiting participation.
The learning and educational experience of the farmer.
Situational, institutional and dispositional barriers to participation.

Based on these factors nine strategies have been described to foster involvement in learning.

Research leader: Research Policy Management Pty Ltd

For more information contact: John McKenzie, email mckenzj@ix.net.au

Final report Fostering involvement: how to improve participation inlearning
Summary report Fostering involvement: how to improve participation in learning

Institutional Arrangements (click here for final report) has developed a definition of capacity building based on a wide range of literature on the subject. The definition describes capacity building as a process by which communities use their human and social capital and their access to financial, physical and natural capital to improve a problematic situation, and also improve the amount of capital in the process.

A comprehensive review of trends in the operating environment for rural Australia is provided. A set of five propositions regarding capacity building are described and recommendations for future research made. A preliminary set of seven criteria has been developed to guide the design, conduct, monitoring and evaluation of capacity building initiatives.

Research leader: Rural Enablers
Final report
Summary report

For more information contact: Robert Macadam, email r.macadam@uws.edu.au

Mapping of Rural Service Providers has found that the greatest inhibitor encountered by service providers in their professional development is the organisational and external environment. Within the scope of what service providers do there is a high level of job satisfaction, and they believe they have enough skills to carry out the tasks required, but there is considerable frustration at the constancy of organisational change and a lack of leadership in managing that change.

A demographic picture of service providers is provided and the required skills for service providers are described. Training needs are outlined and recommendations made to deal with the issues raised in the report.

Research leader: Kate Roberts Research and Evaluation

Final report
Summary report

For more information contact:Kroberts@robertsevaluation.com.au

Support projects

Twenty-one support projects have been funded.

Participative evaluation of learning and impacts from “farmer-driven RDE”

Aim. By working with influential, proactive farmer groups, the Birchip Cropping Group (www.bcg.org.au) in southern Australia and Conservation Farmers Inc (www.cfi.org.au) in northern Australia, to enhance the design, implementation and evaluation of “farmer-driven RDE” in Australia through:

forming recommended actions to improve processes, learnings and impacts through review of past, current and planned RDE activities of collaborating farmer groups
actively involving researchers with farmer and adviser members of collaborating groups in designing, implementing and evaluating RDE case studies which have adopted recommendations referred to above.

The project began in 2003 and is due to be completed in November 2005.

Research leader: Dr Peter Carberry, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Toowoomba

For more information contact: Peter Carberry, email peter.carberry@csiro.au

Targeting 'pragmatist' farmers in transfer of simulation-based decision support

Aims

To demonstrate how to effectively implement powerful computer-mediated decision support for risk management in dryland farming among enough of the farming community to enable a viable commercial agribusiness service.
Use an existing network of consultants and farmers in which the FARMSCAPE approach to decision support is being implemented in the Northern Cropping Region by intervening to create reference groups of satisfied adopters among the 'pragmatist' category of farmers who are crucial to the diffusion process required for viable market volume.
To provide new knowledge about "market segments" in the farming community crucial to avoiding marketing failures in adoption of "discontinous" technologies.

The research began in 2002 and is due to be completed in November 2005.

Research leader: Dr Lisa Brennan, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Brisbane

For more information contact: Lisa Brennan, email lisa.brennan@csiro.au

Improving delivery mechanisms for sustainable land management in the small farm sector

Aims
The long-term outcome of this project will be improved sustainable land management on small rural properties through greater landholder participation in natural resource management extension programs. This will be achieved as a result of improved understanding of the needs of the small farm sector and identifying best practices in extension and training.

Project deliverables:

A new model for innovative education and knowledge exchange programs for small property owners.
Improved delivery mechanisms, network and training resources to increase participation of small property owners in natural resource extension programs.
New strategies to engage small land managers and enhance the professional development of rural service providers.
Improved understanding of the drivers of change in the small farm sector for land stewardship.

The research began in 2002 and is due to be completed in August 2005.

Research leader: Carol Hollier, Department of Primary Industries, Rutherglen

For more information contact: Carol Hollier, email carole.hollier@dpi.vic.gov.au

Reconceptualising extension to deliver triple bottom line outcomes

Proposed outcomes include:

a diagnostic framework developed from literature analysis and experiential data that can inform extension practice within production landscapes
a WWW page report of findings tied to the RIRDC initiative, including a (secondary data) case study application of the framework
rural industries more aware of and able to design programs to deliver appropriate triple bottom line outcomes.

Research leader: Dr Ruth Beilin,ute of Land and Food Resources, University of Melbourne

For more information contact: Ruth Beilin, email rbeilin@unimelb.edu.au

Creating inspiration - how visual and performing arts shape environmental behaviour

This is part of a larger project, funded by Land & Water Australia, which is investigating how the arts are used in shaping perceptions towards the environment in Australia with a view of providing policy and procedural recommendations for extension and environmental education programs.

Aims of this part of the research are:

Review overseas experience to investigate how the arts are used in shaping perceptions and behaviour towards the environment internationally.
Use a series of events that incorporate the arts and environmental repair to evaluate the role of the arts in changing people behaviour towards the environment.
Develop a multi-media kit and training package for extension agents, community based organisations and R&D practitioners that helps them incorporate the arts into their extension.

The research began in January 2002 and is due to be completed in January 2005.

Research leader: Dr Nick Reid, University of New England, Armidale

For more information contact: Nick Reid, email nreid@metz.une.edu.au

A responsive training market: the role of brokers
After mapping existing agricultural training/learning brokerage, the outcomes for primary producers of these arrangements were investigated and features of and inhibitors to effective brokering identified. From this, models of effective brokerage arrangements that apply to learning activities for various sectors, groups and issues in agriculture, as well as case studies and a manual, were developed.

To read the training manual go to http://rirdc.gov.au/capacitybuilding/trainingbrokers/index.htm

Research leader: Researcher Sue Kilpatrick rural Development Services Pty Ltd, Hobart

For more information: Sue Kilpatrick, email sue.kilpatrick@utas.edu.au

Nesting community-based NRM for regional accountability and grassroots cooperation

Aims
A set of design principles for nested community-based NRM will be identified and described in a variety of media, including a manual, discussion papers, a final project report, and journal and other scientific papers. As well, recommendations on how government and community-based NRM processes might be better integrated will be made, and practical guidelines for regional/catchment organisations about how they might bolster their capacities to accept greater accountability, including through more effective local monitoring, sanctioning and enforcement will be developed. A final aim of the project is to make recommendations on how organisational innovations in community-based NRM might be communicated better within the policy community to secure successful adoption.

This project is due to be completed July 2007.

Research leader: Graham Marshall, University of New England, Armidale

For more information: Graham Marshall, email gmarshal@metz.une.edu.au

An evaluation of the demand for a national accreditation scheme for professionals in the natural resources, agriculture and related sectors

Aim
This project was based on the premise that there is a significant demand for a national accreditation scheme from professional advisers and consultants to the agricultural, natural resource management and related sectors. Its aim was to identify whether this was the case and, if so, where this demand came from. According to the research, the demand came from:

Specific industries working closely with advisers/consultants to ensure they remain at the forefront of innovation and best management practices
Professionals wanting to maximise the quality of advice, continuous improvement and relevance of their profession
Commercial companies wanting to provide evidence of the marketable competencies and credibility of their commercial agronomists/advisers
The desire for various groups of professionals to gain recognition for the roles they play – eg Landcare coordinators and facilitators and rural financial counsellors
A desire, across the board, for targeted professional development programs that maintains currency of competencies based on industry/sector standards
A growing requirement for auditable evidence of compliance supplied by certified auditors of industry and NRM activities
A demand for training organisations to deliver industry-relevant programs.

This project was completed in November 2003.

Research leader: Australian Institute of Agricultural Science

Research on agricultural extension, learning and change

Aim. This project examined relevant research and development into agricultural extension, learning and change, mainly through a review of publicly available literature published since 1997 on the topics of agricultural extension, facilitation of change processes and farmer learning. Its aim was to report on what research has been conducted in four key areas: institutional change and organisational structures supporting learning and change; professional development of farm advisers, including their structural arrangement and careers; facilitation of enhanced learning/change processes on farm; and better understanding of the barriers to participation in learning opportunities. For each of these areas the topics of relevant research, and the major findings, are reported, and gaps and weaknesses in the research are identified. Final report available at

The project was completed in 2003. To download a copy of the report got to http://www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/HCC/03-032.pdf

Research leader: David Heinjus, Rural Directions, South Australia

For more information contact: David Heinjus, email DHeinjus@ruraldirections.com

Setting the baseline for participation

Aim. The aim of this project was to review recently published work on farmer participation rates in capacity building activities in rural Australia, and from this determine baseline participation rates using categories such as industry, type of capacity building activity region, and demographic measures. This information is compared with these participation rates in other industries and other countries and used to determine the implications of the analysis for capacity building in rural Australia and recommend actions that the CVCB and its members might take to improve participation.

This project was completed in 2005.

Research leader: Heather Aslin , BRS, Canberra

For more information contact: Heather Aslin, email heather.aslin@brs.gov.au

Funding of capacity building and the implications for institutional arrangements

Aim.This project reviews recently published work on the funding of capacity building activities in rural Australia, to determine providers, recipients, areas of focus, trends and outcomes. From this, an inventory of organisations which fund capacity building activities in rural Australia, including capacity-building aims, type/s of capacity building activity, and achievements/results/outcomes delivered and obtained have been prepared. A regional case study provides insight into institutional arrangements that are considered to be effective and efficient in delivering capacity building. Finally, the project explores the constraints and opportunities created by the funding patterns for capacity building in terms of current and potential institutional arrangements.

The project was completed in 2006.

Research leader: Kate Roberts, Roberts Research and Evaluation Pty Ltd, Melbourne

For more information contact: Kate Roberts, email kroberts@robertsevaluation.com.au

Farm succession planning conference

The CVCB sponsored this conference, held in Dubbo in March 2006. It aim was to provide a forum for understanding current ‘best practice” to do with farm succession planning. The conference identified barriers to successful succession planning.

For information about the conference, conference proceedings, and summaries of workshop sessions go to website - http://www.rirdc.gov.au/capacitybuilding/manypaths/home.html

Project leader: Mark Gardner, Dubbo

For more information contact: Mark Gardner, email mark.g@ozemail.com.au

Human capacity indicators

Aim. This project looks at what questions to ask to assess change in human capacity (in the ‘higher skills’ for example critical thinking, planning, community cooperation, ability to negotiate) to maximise the opportunities for sustainability and profitability.

The project was completed in 2006.

Research leader: Jeff Coutts, Toowoomba

For more information contact: Jeff Coutts, email couttsjr@bigpond.net.au

Aligning VET and extension

Aim. The aim of this project is to better align extension (industry training) with the VET sector(including TAFE).

The project was completed in 2006.

Research leader: Jeff Coutts, Toowoomba

For more information contact: Jeff Coutts, email couttsjr@bigpond.net.au

Exploring the consultant/mentor model

The aim of this project was to explore ways to highlight and enhance the use of consultants by landholders and (commercially) provide training for consultants (professional development) in people and mentoring skills.

The project was completed in 2006.

Research leader: Jeff Coutts, Toowoomba

For more information contact: Jeff Coutts, email couttsjr@bigpond.net.au

Aligning extension and the VET sector

Aim. This project had a number of aims to do with aligning extension and the VET sector. The nature and extent of existing links and partnerships between industry training and the VET sector to do with management-level training were identified, including the competencies and whole qualifications delivered (Australian Quality Recognition Framework Level 4 and above). This project looked at the nature of the various target markets and marketing approaches of VET providers and industry trainers. It also briefly reviewed existing research on the advantages and disadvantages of training that matches the VET competencies and whole qualifications for industry and providers as well as existing research on promoters and inhibitors of training that matches VET competencies and whole qualifications for industry providers extension and VET).

The project is due for completion in late 2006.

Project leader: Sue Kilpatrick, University of Tasmania

For more information contact:Sue Kilpatrick, email sue.kilpatrick@utas.edu.au

Maximising the connection between R&D providers and agribusiness

This project is using three case studies as a way of researching and answering three key research questions:

What agribusiness information needs can RD&E providers supply?

How can the information be best supplied and accessed?

How can an RD&E advisory, priority setting and feedback model be established to satisfy the needs of farmers, agribusiness and RD&E providers, and can this be widely implemented?

This project is due for completion in 2007.

Research leader: Gordon Stone, Gordon Stones and Associates, Toowoomba

For more information contact: Gordon Stone, email Gordon@stoneco.com.au

The roles for capacity building in regional NRM

This project is examining how catchment management organisations can better identify issues and areas where capacity building is the most appropriate and effective response for NRM outcomes, focussing on the example of salinity.

This projected is to be completed in 2007.

Research leader: David Pannell, of Western Australia, Perth

For more information go to website http://www.cyllene.uwa.edu.au/~pannell/sif3.htm

Leading the way: evaluation of existing leadership programs and assessment of the relationship between these and the attraction of women to leadership positions in rural industries.

The aim of this project was to identify, evaluate and provide detailed information on rural women’s current participation in leadership programs and how much they attribute leadership programs to gaining their current leadership position. In particular, it: listed participation rates of women in leadership development programs; assessed the link between leadership programs and achieving leadership positions; determined characteristics of effective leadership programs that contribute to increased involvement by women in rural industries; and commented on factors outside of leadership development programs that could help increase women's involvement.

The project was begun and completed in 2006

Research leader: Jo Eady, RuralScope Pty Ltd.

For more information contact:o Eady, email jo@ruralscope.com

Synthesising policy implications

Aim. The key aim of this project is to take the work of the CVCB and, through a consultative process, validate key issues, and synthesise a set of potential key messages for national policy makers in agriculture and natural resource management. Researchers will work with policy makers to explore the implications of these messages in terms of policy maker roles and responsibilities. The project also aims to develop strategies for implementing changes to policy as identified in this project.

This project is to be completed in April 2007.

A summary of the key themes from CVCB research completed to date has been released. Click here to download a copy of the report.

On the Fast Track
This project is designed to build the skills of people involved in capacity building activities.

It takes an action research approach where participants from CVCB member organisations and their partners will work with mentors and learn from the experiences of each other to apply capacity building principles to their own programs. Integral to this is using the principles developed in CVCB research projects.

Aims
To strengthen current and future capacity building activities of CVCB member organisations and their partners through applying current capacity building knowledge (from CVCB research and current frameworks "in-use") to current capacity building issues being faced by members.
To test and refine CVCB research findings in the key result areas of “What works and why?” and “Fostering participation?” among CVCB member organisations.

Outputs
Three key outputs are intended:

A profile and review of current capacity building issues and initiatives amongst the participating CVCB member organisations.
A workbook to support a workshop and action planning process amongst member organisation managers and practitioners based on CVCB research and participating CVCB member project profiles/learning’s in capacity building.
Sixty key project managers and practitioners from CVCB member organisations with action plans to effectively choose (invest), design, support and evaluate capacity building programs that results in increased capacity.

For more information contact Dr Ruth Nettle, email ranettle@unimelb.edu.au or go to project BLOG, www.onthefastrack.blogspot.com

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