Nakuru County, Kenya From the 19th to the 24th of September, the serene environment of Nakuru County hosted the REFOOTURE II General Assembly for six continuous days at St. Mary’s Pastoral Center. The assembly brought together a vibrant pool of participants, comprising the REFOOTURE project management team from Wageningen University and project members from Ethiopia and Uganda. It was organized and hosted by the Nakuru Living Lab, one of the key partners in the REFOOTURE project.
This General Assembly provided the opportunity to present, discuss, and reflect upon the REFOOTURE initiative in a great way, with strategic ideas for the future. With a focus on sustainable and regenerative food systems, inclusive discussions and collaboration were made in order to increase the impact and reach of the project across Africa.
Event Highlights:
- Collaborate to Regenerate Process. During the session, members participated in several discussions and workshops in order to enhance collaboration among REFOOTURE partners. It also focused on the participatory approach to adopting regenerative agriculture practices, emphases being laid on co-creation and involvement at the local community level. This will lead to the regeneration of degraded landscapes, the improvement of soil health, and food systems in a sustainable manner.
2. MEL had a far-reaching exploration into the current monitoring and evaluation practices within the project. The session was about methodologies that would be applied in terms of monitoring outcomes, impact assessment, and lessons integration into activities to be rolled out in the future. The participants took time to reflect on the progress they have made so far, the successes they have hailed, and where they need to improve. This is another collaborative way in which the REFOOTURE initiative keeps evolving and effective.
3. Reflections
The meeting afforded the participants an opportunity for reflection of the journey covered so far as the project approaches the next phase. Members contributed by sharing personal experiences, challenges, and successes which promoted a spirit of unity and common purpose. The reflective session emphasized the learning from the past and using such knowledge to set up future strategies.
4. Workplan and Future Plans
One of the major focuses of the meeting was the elaboration of plans for the future with regard to the REFOOTURE project. The main discussions were refinements of the work plan for 2024 and onward, focusing on scaling up regenerative practices, increasing community engagement, and introducing innovative technologies and methodologies. Moreover, the participants discussed how to take partnership reinforcement even further and develop the project in new regions.
The Nakuru Living Lab provided an ideal environment for the assembly, giving them not just a venue but space that nurtured collaboration and innovation. The General Assembly emphasized the strength derived from partnerships in effecting positive change, while underscoring the importance of community involvement in attaining viable food systems that are resilient.