Empowerment for Food Security

The promotion of rural development has always been a main focus of "Brot für die Welt" ("Bread for the World"). A whole range of measures have been designed and implemented to improve the economic and social situation of poor people in rural areas, and to strengthen their negotiating power. The 9 case studies which have been compiled as part of the impact documentation portray a range of approaches in the fields of agriculture and food security, access to land and water, credit or energy, as well the promotion of rural business and employment. This work also includes the improvement of health-care and educational institutions, measures to combat HIV and Aids, the promotion of peaceful conflict solutions and of political participation.

From "green revolution" to sustainable agriculture
In the early years of development cooperation, many people hoped that the fruits of economic progress would benefit also the poor and that a technically modernised agriculture would defeat hunger. "Brot für die Welt" and its partner organisations, however, discovered soon that the application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides is destroying soil fertility, and that especially small scale farmers are increasingly running into debt. Since the late 1980ies, "Brot für die Welt" is therefore promoting sustainable agriculture and the protection of natural resources. Partner organisations are not only supported in food production but also in income generation through processing and local marketing of their produce. In specific trainings, they learn how to represent their interests on political level.

Dialogue promoting development
"Brot für die Welt" built on its close partner contacts for field testing new development concepts and then considered experiences of partner organisations in strategy development. Successful agricultural methodologies have been disseminated, e.g. as part of the "farmer-to-farmer" consultancy programme in Latin America. The strongest effects have been observed in projects where technical capacity building was combined with personal empowerment and the strengthening of organisational structures (see chart).