{"id":5,"date":"2024-06-05T08:15:17","date_gmt":"2024-06-05T08:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/timeline\/?page_id=5"},"modified":"2025-11-04T05:45:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T05:45:30","slug":"project-1","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/","title":{"rendered":"Project 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style>\n.ctl-vertical-wrapper .ctl-navigation-bar.ctl-nav-position-left {left:unset!important}\n    .first{padding-top:60px;display:inline-block;}\n    .home .col-content p {\n        font-size: 18px!important;\n        line-height: 1.5em;\n        font-family:'Cerebri Sans';\n    }\n    .btn.btn-info{margin-top:20px;font-size:14px;color:#f3f3f3;background: #666;border: none;}\n    .pl10{padding-left:15px;}\n    .pr10{padding-right:10px;}\n    .page-hero::before {\n    \/* min-height:440px; *\/\n    }\n    .page-hero {\n        min-height: 440px;\n    }\n    .partnerslogo{height:80px!important;width:auto!important;text-align:center}\n    .partnerslogo.small1 {height:60px!important;}\n    .pp{text-align:center}\n\n    .page-hero_content h1 {\n        color: #2c2c2c;\n        text-transform: unset;\n        font-weight: normal;\n        letter-spacing: -1px;\n    }\n\n    @media only screen and (max-width: 480px) {\n    ._fixed.darkHeader .logo-text_title {\n            color: #185f36;\n            font-size: 16px;\n        }\n    .page-hero_content h1 {\n        color: #f3f3f3;\n        text-transform: unset;\n        font-weight: normal;\n        letter-spacing: -1px;\n        text-shadow: 1px 1px #999;\n        font-family: 'Cerebri Sans';\n    }\n    }\n\n    @media only screen and (max-width: 1400px) {\n        .logo-text_title {\n            font-size: 14px;\n        }\n    }\n<\/style>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns first ctl-vertical-wrapper ctl-navigation-bar container is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column position-relative is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:75%\">\n<p>What do people in rural agricultural communities really want their lives to look like? What are the drivers that matter to those who farm? Understanding the aspirations of all members of smallholder households \u2013&nbsp;particularly women, youth and marginalized groups \u2013&nbsp;is key to avoiding bias and ensuring the success and sustainability of development initiatives. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This timeline highlights milestones in efforts to better understand the aspirations of&nbsp;rural farming households in Africa.&nbsp;It features unique perspectives, lessons learned and insights drawn from multiple research projects and initiatives through an ongoing long-term cross-disciplinary collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"mailto:K.Mausch@cifor-icraf.org?subject=Aspirations%20timeline\" class=\"btn btn-outline-dark\">Get in in touch if you want to learn more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t<!-- Cool Timeline PRO V5.2 -->\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ctl-wrapper\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"Timeline\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"cool_timeline_1\" class=\"cool-timeline-wrapper ctl-both-sided ctl-vertical-wrapper ctl-default\" data-nav=\"show\" data-line-filling=\"false\" data-nav-pos=\"left\" data-nav-style=\"style-1\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ctl-start\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Timeline Container -->\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ctl-timeline ctl-timeline-container\" data-animation=\"none\" aria-live=\"polite\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Center Line -->\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ctl-inner-line\" role=\"presentation\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Story Year Section --><div data-cls=\"sc-nv-light vertical\" class=\"timeline-year scrollable-section ctl-year ctl-year-container light-year\" data-section-title=\"2026\" id=\"year-2026\"><div class=\"ctl-year-label ctl-year-text\"><span>2026<\/span><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-565\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right\" data-story-index=\"1\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">January 14<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-565\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">To transform food systems, we have to learn from small-scale farmers, not control them<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"To transform food systems, we have to learn from small-scale farmers, not control them\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2026\/01\/54364522294_87fb7bde0a_k.jpg\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2026\/01\/54364522294_87fb7bde0a_k-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"To transform food systems, we have to learn from small-scale farmers, not control them\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2026\/01\/54364522294_87fb7bde0a_k-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2026\/01\/54364522294_87fb7bde0a_k-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2026\/01\/54364522294_87fb7bde0a_k-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2026\/01\/54364522294_87fb7bde0a_k-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2026\/01\/54364522294_87fb7bde0a_k.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><div class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__full_width__kCIGb body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__paragraph__Ts-yF\" data-testid=\"paragraph-0\">Everywhere you look, &#8220;food systems transformation&#8221; is the new buzzword. From U.N. conferences to corporate boardrooms, the <a class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" title=\"https:\/\/www.unfoodsystemshub.org\/media\/docs\/unfoodsystemslibraries\/unfss-4\/unfss4_en_sg_report.pdf?sfvrsn=6058e01b_1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unfoodsystemshub.org\/media\/docs\/unfoodsystemslibraries\/unfss-4\/unfss4_en_sg_report.pdf?sfvrsn=6058e01b_1\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"\" data-testid=\"Link\">term is gaining momentum<\/a>. But behind the headlines, real change remains elusive.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__full_width__kCIGb body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__paragraph__Ts-yF\" data-testid=\"paragraph-1\">At last summer\u2019s U.N. Food Systems Summit Stocktake in Addis Ababa, world leaders gathered to review progress. But for many, the event also exposed deep tensions.<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__full_width__kCIGb body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__paragraph__Ts-yF\" data-testid=\"paragraph-2\">The Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples\u2019 Mechanism (CSIPM) \u2013 a global coalition representing hundreds of grassroots organisations within the U.N. Committee on World Food Security \u2013 withdrew from the process, citing concerns that corporate interests were being prioritised over the rights and realities of local communities.<\/div>\r\n<div data-testid=\"paragraph-2\"><\/div>\r\n<div data-testid=\"paragraph-2\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/sustainability\/land-use-biodiversity\/transform-food-systems-we-have-learn-small-scale-farmers-not-control-them--ecmii-2026-01-14\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">continue reading on Reuters<\/a><\/strong><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Story Year Section --><div data-cls=\"sc-nv-light vertical\" class=\"timeline-year scrollable-section ctl-year ctl-year-container light-year\" data-section-title=\"2025\" id=\"year-2025\"><div class=\"ctl-year-label ctl-year-text\"><span>2025<\/span><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-554\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"2\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">November 3<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-554\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Customizing sustainable agricultural systems \u2013 the role of vulnerabilities, livelihood strategies and aspirations in Rural Zambia<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p><strong>New <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/14735903.2025.2574768\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">publication<\/a> out now<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p>Agroforestry offers a sustainable pathway to strengthen household resilience and improve livelihoods, yet adoption rates remain low and drivers are not fully understood. While most research focuses on economic and biophysical determinants, less is known about psychological drivers including aspirations. This study integrates resilience, livelihood strategies, and aspirations to explore what motivates smallholder farmers in rural Zambia to adopt agroforestry. Using data from 745 smallholder households across three provinces collected in 2022 under <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldagroforestry.org\/project\/piloting-incentive-based-agricultural-portfolios-nutrition-and-resilience-zambia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CIFOR-ICRAF\u2019s\u00a0<i>Piloting incentive-based agricultural portfolios for nutrition and resilience in Zambia (FTP)<\/i> project<\/a>, which promotes fruit tree integration, we identify three household clusters based on resilience levels. Applying the \u2018Livelihood Strategies of the Poor\u2019 framework, we find that low-resilience households, despite facing climate and economic challenges, express stronger ambitions. These households rely heavily on agriculture as their primary livelihood source, highlighting their potential for food security-oriented agroforestry options. High-resilience households, characterized by diversified incomes and higher education, are better equipped to adopt innovative practices. Importantly, resilience is not solely asset-based but strongly associated with economic and agricultural diversification. The findings highlight the need for tailored, context-specific agroforestry interventions to build resilient agricultural systems, emphasizing targeted support for vulnerable households to achieve sustainable livelihoods and long-term poverty reduction. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/14735903.2025.2574768\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read the full paper here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/14735903.2025.2574768\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-555 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/11\/Customizing-sustainable-agricultural-systems-the-role-of-vulnerabilities-livelihood-strategies-and-aspirations-in-Rural-Zambia-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/11\/Customizing-sustainable-agricultural-systems-the-role-of-vulnerabilities-livelihood-strategies-and-aspirations-in-Rural-Zambia-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/11\/Customizing-sustainable-agricultural-systems-the-role-of-vulnerabilities-livelihood-strategies-and-aspirations-in-Rural-Zambia-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/11\/Customizing-sustainable-agricultural-systems-the-role-of-vulnerabilities-livelihood-strategies-and-aspirations-in-Rural-Zambia-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/11\/Customizing-sustainable-agricultural-systems-the-role-of-vulnerabilities-livelihood-strategies-and-aspirations-in-Rural-Zambia-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/11\/Customizing-sustainable-agricultural-systems-the-role-of-vulnerabilities-livelihood-strategies-and-aspirations-in-Rural-Zambia.jpg 1654w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-542\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"3\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">September 19<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-542\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Embracing uncertainty<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s12571-025-01565-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>New Publication <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s12571-025-01565-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Embracing uncertainty: Foundations of a learning system for food systems transformation <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s12571-025-01565-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-543 size-medium alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/07\/Figure-2-new-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/07\/Figure-2-new-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/07\/Figure-2-new-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/07\/Figure-2-new-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/07\/Figure-2-new-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/07\/Figure-2-new.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Despite a broad consensus on the necessity of fundamental change, endeavors to transform food systems appear to have reached an impasse. Greater engagement with the uncertainty of food systems could open up new ways of triggering transformation directed towards achieving more sustainable and inclusive outcomes. As a way of reorienting current food system change efforts to better embrace uncertainty, we propose a framework for a transformative learning system that serves two aims. First, the framework highlights the importance of locally led action, experimentation, and learning, providing a way of focusing on the core capacities and skills needed to act in the face of uncertainty. Second, it outlines the different types of learning functions that need to operate at different scales of food systems to trigger disruptive, coordinated, and more democratic change processes. The operationalization of this framework necessitates shifts in roles and ways of working across the landscape of food system interventions. The discussion will address the who and how of this potential change, as well as its subsequent impact on the operational modalities of individuals, the process of change itself, and the structures and institutions involved in the process. We argue that embracing uncertainty and the focus on learning has the potential to facilitate a more agile and locally relevant change process. This would allow actors to learn from decentrally pursued food systems reforms, leading to the emergence of diverse pathways that complement on-going efforts and potentially\u00a0 accelerate transformation efforts. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s12571-025-01565-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Read the full paper here<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-536\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"4\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">June 24<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-536\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Tailoring tree planting to people\u2019s motivations<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>What do rural farming families aspire to, and why does it matter?<br \/>\nUnderstanding the goals, motivations and aspirations of women, youth and other members of smallholder farming households is essential to designing projects that work for the long term.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/06\/Motivations-for-tree-planting-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-537 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/06\/Motivations-for-tree-planting-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1803\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/06\/Motivations-for-tree-planting-scaled.jpg 1803w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/06\/Motivations-for-tree-planting-211x300.jpg 211w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/06\/Motivations-for-tree-planting-721x1024.jpg 721w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/06\/Motivations-for-tree-planting-768x1091.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/06\/Motivations-for-tree-planting-1082x1536.jpg 1082w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/06\/Motivations-for-tree-planting-1442x2048.jpg 1442w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1803px) 100vw, 1803px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-538\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"5\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">June 24<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-538\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Aspirations as an engagement compass<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>Assessing \u2018meaningful\u2019 job options for marginalized youth<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/00307270251339194\">Full paper: What motivates young people in fragile contexts to participate in agriculture and food security programs?<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/06\/Youth-case-study_aspirations-for-engagement-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-539 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/06\/Youth-case-study_aspirations-for-engagement-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1806\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/06\/Youth-case-study_aspirations-for-engagement-scaled.jpg 1806w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/06\/Youth-case-study_aspirations-for-engagement-212x300.jpg 212w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/06\/Youth-case-study_aspirations-for-engagement-723x1024.jpg 723w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/06\/Youth-case-study_aspirations-for-engagement-768x1088.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/06\/Youth-case-study_aspirations-for-engagement-1084x1536.jpg 1084w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/06\/Youth-case-study_aspirations-for-engagement-1445x2048.jpg 1445w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1806px) 100vw, 1806px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-442\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"6\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">May 8<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-442\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">What motivates young people in fragile contexts to participate in agriculture and food security programs? Insights from aspirations in Northern Benin.<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><h2>Abstract<\/h2>\n<p>Aspirations of young people in northern Benin reflect the dynamic social, economic, and environmental realities. They are influenced by conflict and instability in this fragile context. Thus, we examine how these aspirations motivate participation in agricultural and food security programs. We randomly sampled 309 young men and women to derive qualitative narratives with quantitative survey data across Mat\u00e9ri, Kandi, and Natitingou communes in northern Benin. In that way, we\u00a0 identified three primary aspiration clusters (immediate needs, prevalent in Mat\u00e9ri, where food security is critical; personal ambitions, dominant in Kandi, focusing on upward mobility and entrepreneurship; and social obligations, reflecting family and community responsibilities). These aspirations are shaped by a combination of all these drivers &#8211; basic needs, social pressures, and personal goals \u2013 but show a notable trend toward individual aspirations. Conflict exacerbates challenges and perceived opportunities by fostering self-reliance while undermining trust and collaboration. Respondents perceive NGO programs as externally driven rather than participatory. Future research should explore longitudinal changes in aspirations and the impact of tailored interventions and provide insights for actors seeking to align agricultural and food security programs with community needs in fragile contexts.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/00307270251339194\"><em>Read the full paper<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In collaboration with:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-444 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/04\/images.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"104\" height=\"104\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/04\/images.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/04\/images-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 104px) 100vw, 104px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-445\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"7\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">April 30<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-445\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Aspirations as complementary entry points for rural development<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/publications\/pdf\/chapters\/KMausch_2025_Aspiration-as-complementary-entry.pdf\">Our Chapter<\/a> <\/strong>alongside other studies using different approaches in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/knowledge\/publication\/44518\/\">book<\/a> &#8220;Sensemaker &#8211; Praxis Makes Perfect&#8221; offers insights on the niche SenseMaker occupies and how its combination with other methods provides an even richer picture. New approaches to targeting interventions could emerge and any inhibiting factors identified could be addressed to broaden opportunities and aspirations and support their achievement.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/publications\/pdf\/chapters\/KMausch_2025_Aspiration-as-complementary-entry.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-447\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/04\/Picture1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"448\" height=\"279\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/04\/Picture1.png 1076w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/04\/Picture1-300x187.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/04\/Picture1-1024x638.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/04\/Picture1-768x478.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 448px) 100vw, 448px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-435\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"8\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">March 24<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-435\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Dr. Luzia Dei\u00dfler<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.15488\/18589\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-440 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/03\/Copy-of-Framework-Diss-4-e1742900436888.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"764\" height=\"741\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/03\/Copy-of-Framework-Diss-4-e1742900436888.png 764w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/03\/Copy-of-Framework-Diss-4-e1742900436888-300x291.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 764px) 100vw, 764px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It has been a great pleasure working with Luzia during her PhD and to witness her graduation. Her thesis &#8220;From Aspiration to Action: A Multi-Country Analysis of Agroforestry Adoption and Household Welfare among Smallholder Farmers in Sub-Sahara Africa&#8221; is now available from <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.15488\/18589\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.15488\/18589<\/a>. She looked at extrinsic and intrinsic factors of decision making and applied the aspirations lens to settings in Kenya and Zambia.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.15488\/18589\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-438 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-03-24-at-15.18.25_2b288362-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-03-24-at-15.18.25_2b288362-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-03-24-at-15.18.25_2b288362-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-03-24-at-15.18.25_2b288362-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-03-24-at-15.18.25_2b288362-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-03-24-at-15.18.25_2b288362.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-422\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"9\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">February 7<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-422\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">What do farmers want and what do we want from them?<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/forestsnews.cifor.org\/91093\/what-do-farmers-want-and-what-do-we-want-from-them?fnl=\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/b\/bb\/Diddly_Squat_Farm.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"308\" height=\"173\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It may seem unlikely that a television series could spark meaningful discussions about farming in Europe, but Clarkson\u2019s Farm \u2014 now in its third season \u2014 has proven to be fertile ground for such conservations. Connecting the show with our previous research offers a new perspective on the role of farming in society. It might turn out that everyone ultimately pursues the same goals, which suggests the need for a renewed approach to the sector as a whole.<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;.Read the <a href=\"https:\/\/forestsnews.cifor.org\/91093\/what-do-farmers-want-and-what-do-we-want-from-them?fnl=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Full Blog post on Forests News<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Story Year Section --><div data-cls=\"sc-nv-light vertical\" class=\"timeline-year scrollable-section ctl-year ctl-year-container light-year\" data-section-title=\"2024\" id=\"year-2024\"><div class=\"ctl-year-label ctl-year-text\"><span>2024<\/span><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-360\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"10\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">October 25<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-360\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Trees, people and choices in fragile situations<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p><strong><em>Tree-based solutions can build resilience in fragile regions, but success hinges on trust and understanding community needs.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Read Anja Gassner&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/forestsnews.cifor.org\/89909\/trees-people-and-choices-in-fragile-situations?fnl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">full blog<\/a> based on our panel discussion at the Tropentag 2024.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/forestsnews.cifor.org\/89909\/trees-people-and-choices-in-fragile-situations?fnl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone \" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forestsnews.cifor.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/51663863448_230fd085b3_o-scaled.jpg?resize=566%2C377&amp;ssl=1\" width=\"414\" height=\"276\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-424\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"11\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">June 21<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-424\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Preprint &#8211; Embracing uncertainty: Foundations of a learning system for food systems transformation<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>Despite a broad consensus on the necessity of fundamental change, endeavors to transform food systems appear to have reached an impasse. Greater engagement with the uncertainty of food systems could open up new ways of triggering transformation directed towards achieving more sustainable and inclusive outcomes. As a way of reorienting current food system change efforts to better embrace uncertainty, we propose a framework for a transformative learning system that serves two aims. First, the framework highlights the importance of locally led action, experimentation, and learning,\u00a0 providing a way of focusing on the core capacities and skills needed to act in the face of uncertainty. Second, it outlines the different types of learning functions that need to operate at different scales of food systems to trigger disruptive, coordinated, and more democratic change processes. The operationalization of this framework necessitates shifts in roles and ways of working across the landscape of food system interventions. The discussion will address the who and how of this potential change, as well as its subsequent impact on the operational modalities of individuals, the process of change itself, and the structures and institutions involved in the process. We argue that embracing uncertainty and the focus on learning has the potential to facilitate a more agile and locally relevant change process. This would allow actors to learn from decentrally pursued food systems reforms, leading to the emergence of diverse pathways that complement on-going efforts and potentially\u00a0 accelerate transformation efforts.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.31223\/X5KX34\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-425\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/02\/Figure-2-new-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/02\/Figure-2-new-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/02\/Figure-2-new-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/02\/Figure-2-new-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/02\/Figure-2-new-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/02\/Figure-2-new.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Read the full <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.31223\/X5KX34\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Preprint<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.31223\/X5KX34\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embracing uncertainty: Foundations of a learning system for food systems transformation<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Authors: Kai Mausch, Andy Hall, Caroline Hambloch, Costanza Conti, Michael Hauser, Salina Abraham, Philippa Hammond, Enayat A. Moallemi<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-4\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"12\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">March 20<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-4\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Aspirations, ambitions and the adoption of diverse fruit trees &#8211; a case study of the livelihood effects in Kenya<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><h5>Abstract\/Summary<\/h5>\n<p>Current food production systems all over the world face numerous challenges. Particularly smallholder farming in sub-Saharan Africa is in substantial need of sustainable solutions. Yet, the adoption of already existing sustainable agricultural practices such as agroforestry often remains low. This paper aims to deepen the understanding of smallholders\u2019 decision-making processes for agroforestry adoption. Using the example of a CIFOR-ICRAF agroforestry project (Fruit Tree Portfolios), we examine the associated influences of ambition and livelihood aspirations on adoption and assess the impact of agroforestry on household well-being. We conduct several statistical analyses, including a logistic regression on the influence of ambitions and aspirations on adoption, and a linear regression with endogenous treatment effects and propensity score matching to assess the impact of adoption on well-being. The analyses are based on a primary data set collected from rural Kenyan households that participated in the project in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>We confirm the inverted U-shaped relationship between ambition and the willingness to take proactive steps, in this case the adoption of agroforestry, and emphasize its relevance for decision-making processes. In addition, livelihood aspirations towards off- or on-farm activities promoted the likelihood of adoption. Due to the versatility of integrating fruit trees into farms, they can serve both market- and food security-oriented purposes and thus supporting livelihoods in multiple ways. This is confirmed by the positive results of adoption on household well-being in terms of food security and household income. In summary, the inclusion of cognitive factors such as ambition and livelihood aspirations can help explain the adoption decisions of smallholder households and support inclusive and customized project designs. In the long term, these findings could have the potential to ensure that development interventions are adopted more successfully.<\/p>\n<h5>Authors<\/h5>\n<p>Luzia Deissler, Kai Mausch, Ulrike Grote, Alice Karanja, Stepha McMullin<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.tfp.2024.100544\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View Publication<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone \" src=\"https:\/\/ars.els-cdn.com\/content\/image\/X26667193.jpg\" width=\"320\" height=\"426\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Story Year Section --><div data-cls=\"sc-nv-light vertical\" class=\"timeline-year scrollable-section ctl-year ctl-year-container light-year\" data-section-title=\"2023\" id=\"year-2023\"><div class=\"ctl-year-label ctl-year-text\"><span>2023<\/span><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-19\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"13\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">June 26<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-19\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">A complex web of interactions: Personality traits and aspirations in the context of smallholder agriculture<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>Some recent research began to shift the focus of development efforts away from income and yield to more diverse concepts that consider people\u2019s intrinsic drivers and values, such as aspirations and personality traits. We aim to contribute to the literature by exploring the connections between intrinsic drivers. Hence, we analyze if and how the formation of aspirations relates to personality traits against the background of different socio-economic household characteristics. This research will help us provide practical insights for the successful design of development projects specifically tailored to the unique needs and aspirations of individuals and households. Our analyses are based on a primary data set of 272 smallholder farming households in rural and peri-urban Kenya. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) results show a significant positive correlation of personality traits with aspirations (openness; extraversion; conscientiousness), indicating that personality structures indeed correlate with the formation of aspirations in a rural, agricultural context. Furthermore, we show that household and respondent characteristics are associated with differences in education, income, and social aspirations. Considering intrinsic factors for the prediction of human behavior has the potential to increase the efficiency of agricultural development projects and policies. We conclude that a contextualized understanding of aspirations can provide useful insights for development practice aiming to support smallholder farmers\u2019 livelihoods.<\/p>\n<p>Authors<br \/>\nLuzia Deissler, Kai Mausch, Alice Karanja, Stepha McMullin, Ulrike Grote<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.36253\/bae-13475\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View Publication<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/oaj.fupress.net\/public\/journals\/10\/cover_issue_836_en_US.jpg\" width=\"314\" height=\"404\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Story Year Section --><div data-cls=\"sc-nv-light vertical\" class=\"timeline-year scrollable-section ctl-year ctl-year-container light-year\" data-section-title=\"2022\" id=\"year-2022\"><div class=\"ctl-year-label ctl-year-text\"><span>2022<\/span><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-34\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"14\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">September 15<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-34\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Luzia presented at Tropentag<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><h5><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com\/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTE-lygNPvS-3JtA6O7CdKHYrF_Qgdn91_YAg&amp;s\" width=\"382\" height=\"382\" \/><\/h5>\n<p>Tropentag 2022 \u2013 International conference on \u201eCan agroecological farming feed the world? Farmers&#8217; and academia&#8217;s views\u201c<\/p>\n<p>The annual conference on research in tropical and subtropical agriculture, natural resource management and rural development (14.09.-16.09.2022) this year took place at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague.<\/p>\n<p>The conference is jointly organized by several universities and institutions and took place as a hybrid conference in Prague. Main objectives of the conference included resource management, environment, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, food, nutrition and related sciences in the context of rural development, sustainable resource use and poverty alleviation. Luzia Dei\u00dfler from the IUW presented her current research results on \u201cThe role of aspirations and personality traits for smallholder farmers\u2019 decision to adopt agroforestry &#8211; Evidence from Kenya\u201d.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/apps.worldagroforestry.org\/projects1\/timeline-admin\/timeupload\/16656630700Deissler_Tropentag_336.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Download<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Story Year Section --><div data-cls=\"sc-nv-light vertical\" class=\"timeline-year scrollable-section ctl-year ctl-year-container light-year\" data-section-title=\"2021\" id=\"year-2021\"><div class=\"ctl-year-label ctl-year-text\"><span>2021<\/span><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-35\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right\" data-story-index=\"15\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">August 25<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-35\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Roundtable discussion &#8211; recording<\/div><div class=\"full-width ctl_youtube_thumbnail glightbox-video\" data-video-id=\"682NteURDxA\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ctl-video-btn\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" height=\"1em\" viewBox=\"0 0 576 512\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M549.655 124.083c-6.281-23.65-24.787-42.276-48.284-48.597C458.781 64 288 64 288 64S117.22 64 74.629 75.486c-23.497 6.322-42.003 24.947-48.284 48.597-11.412 42.867-11.412 132.305-11.412 132.305s0 89.438 11.412 132.305c6.281 23.65 24.787 41.5 48.284 47.821C117.22 448 288 448 288 448s170.78 0 213.371-11.486c23.497-6.321 42.003-24.171 48.284-47.821 11.412-42.867 11.412-132.305 11.412-132.305s0-89.438-11.412-132.305zm-317.51 213.508V175.185l142.739 81.205-142.739 81.201z\"\/>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/svg><\/div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/682NteURDxA\/hqdefault.jpg\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>For those that didn&#8217;t manage to join the Roundtable discussion, here the link to the recording<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-36\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left\" data-story-index=\"16\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">July 9<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-36\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">EVENT: RURAL ASPIRATIONS<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"EVENT: RURAL ASPIRATIONS\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1625806063Aspirations_SI.png\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1625806063Aspirations_SI-1024x604.png\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"EVENT: RURAL ASPIRATIONS\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1625806063Aspirations_SI-1024x604.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1625806063Aspirations_SI-300x177.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1625806063Aspirations_SI-768x453.png 768w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1625806063Aspirations_SI.png 1196w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>Building on the results and the breadth of the contributions within the Special Issue speakers will highlight research directions and gaps, then proceed to start a discussion on what development stakeholders can learn for their daily activities and project design.<\/p>\n<p>Speakers will outline the difference that emerges within common approaches to looking at aspirations which we would argue are different concepts \u2013 i.e., aspirations and ambitions. The theoretical differentiation will be followed by a brief outline of various approaches on measuring those and lead into a group discussion on the implications of the differences for future research strategies. The second part of the roundtable will then focus on practical implications of the Special Issue for development planning and design. Speakers will outline the bottom-up view on aspirations as well as the top-down view in order to kick-start a group discussion on what we can learn from the different view and how these could be harmonized.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/event\/rural-aspirations\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-38\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"17\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">July 8<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-38\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Resolving tensions between global development goals and local aspirations<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone \" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/406517\/original\/file-20210615-3654-1swehwf.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=926&amp;fit=clip\" width=\"341\" height=\"227\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Sustainable Development Goals \u2013- a set of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sdgs.un.org\/goals\">17 globally agreed-upon targets<\/a>\u00a0for the year 2030 -\u2013 are clearly listed and appear to be easy to subscribe to. However, development planning and the implementation of development projects are never straightforward.<\/p>\n<p>Trade-offs between the 17 goals have to be considered. The pursuit of one goal may negatively affect the achievement of another. For instance, raising farmer incomes may lead to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.gfs.2020.100439\">unaffordable food<\/a>\u00a0for the urban poor. How should development actors decide on priorities and how should they handle such trade-offs?<\/p>\n<p>As the goals are so broad and multi-faceted, many development agencies focus on specific niches \u2013 such as wildlife conservation \u2013 that they feel passionate about or think they can contribute most to. Politicians need to prioritise available funds and often choose high visibility, prestige mega-projects such as highways, railway lines or airports.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/resolving-tensions-between-global-development-goals-and-local-aspirations-162455\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-39\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left\" data-story-index=\"18\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">July 8<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-39\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">SPECIAL ISSUE<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media small\"><a data-glightbox=\"SPECIAL ISSUE\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1625722360EJDR-Geneva-Institute-removed-209x300-1.jpg\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"209\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1625722360EJDR-Geneva-Institute-removed-209x300-1.jpg\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"SPECIAL ISSUE\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>Rural aspirations \u2013 livelihood decisions and rural development trajectories<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/journal\/41287\/volumes-and-issues\/33-4\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-42\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right\" data-story-index=\"19\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">June 11<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-42\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Stories of change: Analyzing aspirations of rural women and men<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"Stories of change: Analyzing aspirations of rural women and men\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1624191525blog_dyads.png\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"875\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1624191525blog_dyads-1024x875.png\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"Stories of change: Analyzing aspirations of rural women and men\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1624191525blog_dyads-1024x875.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1624191525blog_dyads-300x256.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1624191525blog_dyads-768x656.png 768w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1624191525blog_dyads.png 1250w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>Looking into the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0030727018766940\">aspirations of rural people<\/a>\u00a0provides insights into how they\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.journals.uchicago.edu\/doi\/abs\/10.1086\/693686\">earn<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldbank.org\/content\/dam\/Worldbank\/Feature%20Story\/Africa\/afr-tanguy-bernard.pdf\">invest<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ifpri.org\/publication\/aspirations-and-womens-empowerment-evidence-kyrgyzstan-0\">make decisions within the household<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/S000305541700017X\">hold government accountable<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/09614524.2018.1446909\">make technology choices<\/a>, and engage in other\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jebo.2017.04.003\">future-oriented behaviors<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While aspirations-based theories in economics have largely focused on people\u2019s \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/gsdrc.org\/document-library\/the-capacity-to-aspire-culture-and-the-terms-of-recognition\/\">capacity to aspire\u2019<\/a>, or rather their level of ambition relative to those around them, we use the term \u2018aspiration\u2019 to refer to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0030727018766940\">what people aspire to do<\/a>, with specific attention to the livelihood activities with which they wish to engage. Gender and age play an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ifpri.org\/cdmref\/p15738coll2\/id\/133033\/filename\/133242.pdf\">important role in aspiration formation<\/a>. While\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jrurstud.2020.01.020\">aspirations of young people<\/a>\u00a0in agriculture have been studied, desires and ambitions of rural women have largely been overlooked. Yet, the topic is becoming even more important as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/00324728.2010.510200\">many men migrate<\/a>\u00a0in search of more lucrative employment opportunities outside their rural homes, and many women assume the role of primary farmer.<\/p>\n<p>One region where this is happening at scale is the eastern drylands of Kenya. In\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1057\/s41287-021-00362-8\">our recent study<\/a>\u00a0there, we interviewed 88 women and 50 men of all ages to understand where they see their future opportunities and what role farming plays in their aspired future.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/pim.cgiar.org\/2021\/06\/11\/stories-of-change-analyzing-aspirations-of-rural-women-and-men\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-44\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left\" data-story-index=\"20\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">June 1<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-44\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Rural aspirations &#8211; reflections for development planning, design, and localized effects<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"Rural aspirations &#8211; reflections for development planning, design, and localized effects\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/3-1.jpg\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"153\" height=\"233\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/3-1.jpg\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"Rural aspirations &#8211; reflections for development planning, design, and localized effects\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><h5>Abstract\/Summary<\/h5>\n<p>In this editorial introduction to the\u00a0<em>Special Issue<\/em>\u00a0<em>\u201cRural aspirations in Africa \u2013 Livelihood decisions and rural development trajectorie<\/em><em>s\u201d<\/em>\u00a0we outline current views on aspirations and their relevance for development research, projects, and approaches. Using several examples from Africa, we outline how the combination of the different theoretical perspectives, case studies and regional backgrounds provides deeper insights about the role of aspirations in shaping rural areas. The distinct entry points of the \u2018bottom up\u2019 local aspirations for future lives, the \u2018top down\u2019 aspirations as visions for change and the process of negotiating between these provide novel insights into directions for development action as well as for future research in the field of aspirations in the development arena.<\/p>\n<h5>Authors<\/h5>\n<p>Kai Mausch, Dave Harris, Javier Revilla Diez<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1057\/s41287-021-00407-y\" rel=\"noopener\">View Publication<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-46\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right\" data-story-index=\"21\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">April 15<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-46\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Not all about farming: understanding aspirations can challenge assumptions about rural development.<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"Not all about farming: understanding aspirations can challenge assumptions about rural development.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/2-1.jpg\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"153\" height=\"232\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/2-1.jpg\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"Not all about farming: understanding aspirations can challenge assumptions about rural development.\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><h5>Abstract\/Summary<\/h5>\n<p>Another\u00a0<strong>Special Issue contribution<\/strong>\u00a0online:<\/p>\n<p>Rural development is a political topic in which debate has been more focussed on externally identified needs than on demands or aspirations of the rural population and polarised between the attractions of urban income earning opportunities and the importance of rural farming communities for national food provision. The heterogeneity of local aspirations and their implications for development have barely been considered. We explore the aspirations of residents of three contrasting regions in Kenya that vary in their agricultural and off-farm potential. We argue that opportunities are a major framing influence on aspirations but there is important, and routinely overlooked, diversity within the communities which could inform future options for effective development. We outline how development initiatives could be redesigned to align more closely with aspirations. However, aspirations are a complex concept and, while our approach offered novel insights, these would be enriched when combined with household survey data.<\/p>\n<h5>Authors<\/h5>\n<p>Kai Mausch, Dave Harris, Luke Dilley, Mary Crossland, Tim Pagella, Jules Yim, Emma Jones<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1057\/s41287-021-00398-w\" rel=\"noopener\">View Publication<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-48\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"22\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">April 2<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-48\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Luzia&#8217;s PhD<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>As part of my doctoral research, I am investigating the determinants and challenges of agroforestry technology adoption in sub-Saharan Africa. More specifically, the geographical focus is on Kenya and Zambia. The study focuses on smallholder households in rural Kenya and Zambia participating in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldagroforestry.org\/project\/piloting-incentive-based-agricultural-portfolios-nutrition-and-resilience-zambia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fruit Tree Portfolio Project<\/a>. In line with the project&#8217;s objectives, I analyze factors, particularly intrinsic aspects, that determine the uptake of agroforestry. In addition to general socioeconomic characteristics, I explicitly emphasize the role of livelihood aspirations in this process. In the Kenyan context, we examined the complex interactions between personality traits, aspirations, and agroforestry adoption and found significant positive correlations among these factors.<\/p>\n<p>Given that aspirations appear to play an important role in the adoption of agroforestry, we suggest that they are particularly relevant to development projects. In addition, based on these results, we aim to identify patterns of livelihood strategies, including current cropping systems, on- or off-farm focus, and aspirations of smallholder households in rural Zambia. These patterns could provide a useful approach for designing targeted interventions. By understanding the goals and strategies of farming households, agricultural projects could adapt their approach to design interventions that are more attuned to the household level.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-49\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"23\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">April 1<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-49\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Gendered aspirations &#8211; Brief<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p><strong>About this Brief<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This brief presents a study on the changing opportunity spaces\u00a0of men and women in the drylands of eastern Kenya (<a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1057\/s41287-021-00362-8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Crossland\u00a0et al., 2021<\/a>). It sheds light on the dynamics of rural aspirations\u00a0in relation to both gender and age within the themes of\u00a0outmigration and feminisation of agriculture. Using a novel\u00a0methodology combining short narratives with semi-structured\u00a0interviews and focus group discussions, this research contributes\u00a0to a more nuanced understanding of aspirations and the wider\u00a0socio-cultural context within which they are embedded and\u00a0makes several recommendations for progressing aspirations\u00a0research. The purpose of the research is to provide a better\u00a0understanding of people\u2019s current situations, desired trajectories\u00a0and the influences that shape these aspirations, so that\u00a0researchers and development actors might better tailor their\u00a0support options to meet the needs of different user groups by\u00a0matching technologies to their strategies and demands.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/apps.worldagroforestry.org\/projects1\/timeline-admin\/timeupload\/16176957380ICRAF_Gender_aspirations_brief.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">Download<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-50\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left\" data-story-index=\"24\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">March 2<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-50\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Aspiration for Zambia&#8217;s food tree crop portfolios<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"Aspiration for Zambia&#8217;s food tree crop portfolios\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/166566151936243110936_aa62a98c49_o-scaled.jpg\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"781\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/166566151936243110936_aa62a98c49_o-1024x781.jpg\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"Aspiration for Zambia&#8217;s food tree crop portfolios\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/166566151936243110936_aa62a98c49_o-1024x781.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/166566151936243110936_aa62a98c49_o-300x229.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/166566151936243110936_aa62a98c49_o-768x586.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/166566151936243110936_aa62a98c49_o-1536x1172.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/166566151936243110936_aa62a98c49_o-2048x1562.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>Since early 2021 the aspirations framework has been used under a project that aims to to ensure smallholder families have year-round access to nutritious foods while simultaneously diversifying income generating opportunities. Here we are using an aspirational assessment tool to enable the project to improve the matching of the portfolios to farmers\u2019 needs and future visions. Assessing the connection of aspirations to adoption among participants of a previous portfolio project allows us to take aspirations more directly into account when designing and supporting the adoption of the portfolios in a new context. One of the guiding research questions here is: How can different portfolios of food trees and crops be tailored to suit different smallholder farming systems and farmers\u2019 aspirations?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-52\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right\" data-story-index=\"25\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">February 15<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-52\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">What&#8217;s the Story on Agriculture? Using Narratives to Understand Farming Households&#8217; Aspirations in Meru, Kenya<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"What&#8217;s the Story on Agriculture? Using Narratives to Understand Farming Households&#8217; Aspirations in Meru, Kenya\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/2-2.jpg\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"153\" height=\"232\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/2-2.jpg\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"What&#8217;s the Story on Agriculture? Using Narratives to Understand Farming Households&#8217; Aspirations in Meru, Kenya\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><h5>Abstract\/Summary<\/h5>\n<p>Another\u00a0<strong>Special Issue contribution<\/strong>\u00a0online:<\/p>\n<p>In the limited research on farming aspirations, little attention has been paid to the narratives which frame and shape them, and the ways in which the aspirations of\u00a0those who farm intersect with the goals of extension services. Drawing on multimethod\u00a0research conducted in Meru county, Kenya, we demonstrate how aspirations\u00a0are not only situated within a consideration of personal circumstances, but are\u00a0shaped in crucial ways by networks of relations and by the perceived possibilities\u00a0aforded by material and cultural resources. We further highlight the accounts of\u00a0state extension agents that link a lack of engagement with the desires and needs of\u00a0those who farm to the failure of agricultural development initiatives. We argue that\u00a0an engagement with aspirations opens up a route to understanding the obstacles and\u00a0potentialities that matter to those who farm and, as such, might enable more responsive\u00a0development initiatives centred on the perceptions and desires of those who\u00a0farm.<\/p>\n<h5>Authors<\/h5>\n<p>Luke Dilley, Kai Mausch, Mary Crossland, Dave Harris<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1057\/s41287-021-00361-9\" rel=\"noopener\">View Publication<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-54\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left\" data-story-index=\"26\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">February 15<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-54\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Women&#8217;s Changing Opportunities and Aspirations Amid Male Outmigration: Insights from Makueni County, Kenya<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"Women&#8217;s Changing Opportunities and Aspirations Amid Male Outmigration: Insights from Makueni County, Kenya\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1-1.jpg\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"153\" height=\"234\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1-1.jpg\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"Women&#8217;s Changing Opportunities and Aspirations Amid Male Outmigration: Insights from Makueni County, Kenya\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><h5>Abstract\/Summary<\/h5>\n<p>Another\u00a0<strong>Special Issue contribution<\/strong>\u00a0online:<\/p>\n<p>In Makueni County, Kenya, an area experiencing intensifying migration lows, we\u00a0investigate the aspired futures of rural men and women using a novel methodology\u00a0combining a narrative-based survey tool, focus group discussions and semistructured\u00a0interviews. Our indings indicate that, in the absence of men and presence\u00a0of norms restricting women\u2019s movement out of rural life, women are becoming\u00a0increasingly engaged in farm management. Women\u2019s aspirational narratives focused\u00a0on commercialising farm activities, likely relecting their changing agricultural\u00a0opportunity space and new realities as farm managers. We highlight that only considering\u00a0aspirations at the household level overlooks difering individual contributions,\u00a0agency over various household income streams and individuals\u2019 changing\u00a0roles throughout life. Based on our indings, we make recommendations for further\u00a0aspirations research including explicit consideration of intrahousehold heterogeneity\u00a0and how individual strategies and aspirations interrelate and are negotiated at the\u00a0household level to build an overall livelihood strategy.<\/p>\n<h5>Authors<\/h5>\n<p>Mary Crossland, Ana Maria Paez Valencia, Tim Pagella, Kai Mausch, Dave Harris, Luke Dilley, Leigh Winowiecki<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1057\/s41287-021-00362-8\" rel=\"noopener\">View Publication<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-56\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right\" data-story-index=\"27\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">January 24<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-56\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">How young Kenyans feel about farming goes against conventional wisdom<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"How young Kenyans feel about farming goes against conventional wisdom\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/file-20210121-21-11jv6cy.jpg\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/file-20210121-21-11jv6cy-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"How young Kenyans feel about farming goes against conventional wisdom\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/file-20210121-21-11jv6cy-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/file-20210121-21-11jv6cy-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/file-20210121-21-11jv6cy-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/file-20210121-21-11jv6cy-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/file-20210121-21-11jv6cy.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>Every year,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/what-young-zambians-have-to-say-about-making-farming-more-attractive-115395\">12 million young people<\/a>\u00a0enter the labour market across the African continent.<\/p>\n<p>Economists and policy makers differ about how they should be absorbed into the labour market. Some experts believe that only\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ageconsearch.umn.edu\/record\/110129\">agriculture can create enough jobs<\/a>. Others argue for a focus on the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0954349X17301194?via%3Dihub\">agricultural sector and industrialisation especially with increasing urbanisation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Choosing which policy avenue to follow requires a good understanding of the aspirations of young people.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/how-young-kenyans-feel-about-farming-challenges-conventional-wisdom-153726\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-58\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left\" data-story-index=\"28\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">January 12<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-58\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Who wants to farm? Answers depend on how you ask: a case study on youth aspirations in Kenya.<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"Who wants to farm? Answers depend on how you ask: a case study on youth aspirations in Kenya.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1-2.jpg\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"153\" height=\"234\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1-2.jpg\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"Who wants to farm? Answers depend on how you ask: a case study on youth aspirations in Kenya.\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><h5>Abstract\/Summary<\/h5>\n<p>While there is a consensus that rural poverty has to be reduced, there are two opposing views on the role that agriculture can play in this regard: a \u201cfarm-based\u201d and an \u201coff-farm led\u201d development paradigm where the respective other sector is merely a complementary income source during a transition period. The latter paradigm is supported by studies finding that rural youth in sub-Saharan-Africa, are not particularly interested in agriculture. However, policy discourse on youth in agriculture often situates their aspirations as either full-time farming or non-farming, thus either supporting or opposing one or the other of the two paradigms, while neglecting the shades of grey between these two extremes. Using a mixed methods approach &#8211; a household survey and a narrative-based tool called SenseMaker &#8211; to collect data from both adults and youth in 261 households in rural Kenya, this study suggests that this categorical understanding needs to be revisited to inform rural development strategies based on the actual aspirations of rural youth.<\/p>\n<h5>Authors<\/h5>\n<p>Katie LaRue, Thomas Daum, Dave Harris, Kai Mausch<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1057\/s41287-020-00352-2\" rel=\"noopener\">View Publication<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Story Year Section --><div data-cls=\"sc-nv-light vertical\" class=\"timeline-year scrollable-section ctl-year ctl-year-container light-year\" data-section-title=\"2020\" id=\"year-2020\"><div class=\"ctl-year-label ctl-year-text\"><span>2020<\/span><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-60\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right\" data-story-index=\"29\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">December 23<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-60\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">New perspectives on technology adoption in agriculture<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"New perspectives on technology adoption in agriculture\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1609912097oag-cover-social.jpg\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"314\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1609912097oag-cover-social.jpg\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"New perspectives on technology adoption in agriculture\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1609912097oag-cover-social.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1609912097oag-cover-social-300x157.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>Virtual Special Issue \/ Special Collection in Outlook on Agriculture<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/topic\/collections-oag\/oag-1-technology_adoption_in-agriculture\/oaga\">https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/topic\/collections-oag\/oag-1-technology_adoption_in-agriculture\/oaga<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/topic\/collections-oag\/oag-1-technology_adoption_in-agriculture\/oaga\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-62\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left\" data-story-index=\"30\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">October 14<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-62\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Luzia &#8211; Introduction<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"Luzia &#8211; Introduction\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1665658986thumbnail_image003.jpg\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"731\" height=\"910\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1665658986thumbnail_image003.jpg\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"Luzia &#8211; Introduction\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1665658986thumbnail_image003.jpg 731w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1665658986thumbnail_image003-241x300.jpg 241w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 731px) 100vw, 731px\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><h4>Biography<\/h4>\n<p>I am Luzia Dei\u00dfler, a PhD student at the Leibniz University Hannover and a research fellow with World Agroforestry since 2021. My PhD research is supported by the research scholarship by ATSAF, ACINAR (Academy for International Agricultural Research) which aims to connect new university researchers with CGIAR centers. I started my academic path with a BSc in Biology and adjusted my rather nature scientific focus by taking the master\u2019s program of International Horticultural Economics. This change of perspective allowed me to start research in the field of developmental economics. I was introduced to Kai by my university supervisor Prof. Ulrike Grote and started my studies on intrinsic drivers and determinants of agroforestry adoption in Kenya and Zambia. From a nature scientist perspective, I value clear observations, but when considering human behavior, it is essential to also consider intrinsic aspects that might not be apparent at first sight. Hence, human decision making cannot be limited to a few observable economic factors. Therefore, understanding and quantifying people&#8217;s aspirations holds significant potential for explaining decision making with respect to numerous livelihood choices. Understanding the human behavior may be key to addressing current challenges.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iuw.uni-hannover.de\/de\/institut\/team\/homepages\/ldeissler\/\" rel=\"noopener\">University Hannover<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-64\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right\" data-story-index=\"31\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">August 18<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-64\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Special Issue &#8211; coming soon<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"Special Issue &#8211; coming soon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1601451527file-20200609-21214-ibm9pt.jpeg\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"926\" height=\"695\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1601451527file-20200609-21214-ibm9pt.jpeg\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"Special Issue &#8211; coming soon\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1601451527file-20200609-21214-ibm9pt.jpeg 926w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1601451527file-20200609-21214-ibm9pt-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1601451527file-20200609-21214-ibm9pt-768x576.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted everything everywhere causing delays, changes of plans and cancelation of plans. Adjustments had to be made for the special issue too. Despite this, 10 contributions have since been submitted and are under review. While we are waiting for the first papers to come online,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/covid-19-recovery-is-a-chance-to-improve-the-african-food-system-139134\">a few thoughts on the pandemic and the opportunities to realign development efforts<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-66\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left\" data-story-index=\"32\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">March 23<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-66\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Why measuring youths&#8217; aspirations is key to sustainable and inclusive rural development<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"Why measuring youths&#8217; aspirations is key to sustainable and inclusive rural development\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1589810545all_ages.jpg\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1589810545all_ages-1024x1024.jpg\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"Why measuring youths&#8217; aspirations is key to sustainable and inclusive rural development\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1589810545all_ages-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1589810545all_ages-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1589810545all_ages-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1589810545all_ages-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1589810545all_ages-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1589810545all_ages-2048x2048.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p><strong><em>Especially for young people, diverse portfolios for rural populations should be the core part of a well-thought out rural investment strategy, say researchers.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.knbs.or.ke\/?p=5621\">first results of the Kenyan census conducted in 2019<\/a>\u00a0reveal a gradual demographic transition towards smaller families coupled with a growing urban population.<\/p>\n<p>Still, even for this dynamic African nation that recently rose to \u2018middle-income\u2019 status, its future inclusive prosperity and ability to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sustainabledevelopment.un.org\/memberstates\/kenya\">reach the Sustainable Development Goals<\/a>\u00a0will depend on how the rural population, most of whom are farmers with a few acres each of rain-fed land, fare in the decade to come.<\/p>\n<p>Rural households are the most vulnerable to the climate crisis because their livelihoods depend on erratic rainfall. Across sub-Saharan Africa, rural areas have higher rates of poverty, illiteracy and child mortality as well as less access to basic services, such as electricity and safe sanitation. The widening gulf between rural and urban zones is fuelling large-scale migration of rural youth to burgeoning African cities.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"http:\/\/www.worldagroforestry.org\/blog\/2020\/03\/23\/why-measuring-youths-aspirations-key-sustainable-and-inclusive-rural-development\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-68\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right\" data-story-index=\"33\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">March 9<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-68\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Not just farmers: understanding rural aspirations is key to Kenya&#8217;s future<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"Not just farmers: understanding rural aspirations is key to Kenya&#8217;s future\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1583909074closer_look_joseph_and_his_donkey_sm.jpg\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1583909074closer_look_joseph_and_his_donkey_sm-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"Not just farmers: understanding rural aspirations is key to Kenya&#8217;s future\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1583909074closer_look_joseph_and_his_donkey_sm-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1583909074closer_look_joseph_and_his_donkey_sm-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1583909074closer_look_joseph_and_his_donkey_sm-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1583909074closer_look_joseph_and_his_donkey_sm.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p><strong>Understanding<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>rural<\/strong>\u00a0household\u00a0<strong>aspirations<\/strong>\u00a0and taking them seriously in development planning could offer great potential in shaping the\u00a0<strong>future<\/strong>\u00a0of\u00a0<strong>rural<\/strong>\u00a0spaces. &#8211; A\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/not-just-farmers-understanding-rural-aspirations-is-key-to-kenyas-future-129909\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">short recap\u00a0<\/a>of what we have been working on in the past.<\/p>\n<p>More updates to follow soon<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-70\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left\" data-story-index=\"34\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">March 2<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-70\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Special Issue on aspiration<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"Special Issue on aspiration\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/15846149664.jpg\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"306\" height=\"442\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/15846149664.jpg\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"Special Issue on aspiration\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/15846149664.jpg 306w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/15846149664-208x300.jpg 208w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 306px) 100vw, 306px\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>The\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/palgrave.com\/gp\/journal\/41287\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">European Journal of Development Research<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/palgrave.com\/gp\/journal\/41287\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a0<\/a>just accepted our proposal for a Special Issue on rural aspirations entitled &#8216;<strong>Rural aspirations in Africa \u2013 Livelihood decisions and rural development trajectories&#8217;<\/strong>. Teaming up with the DFG funded research group &#8216;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.crc228.de\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Future Rural Africa<\/a>&#8216; we will\u00a0provide a wide-ranging overview of research into the aspirations of rural people. Kai Mausch and Dave Harris will serve as guest editors alongside Javier Revilla Diez to coordinate the submissions from about 50 contributing authors across 15 manuscripts.\u00a0The special issue will represent the coming together of a set of papers that are cross-methodological and cross-disciplinary in approach and examine rural aspirations across a range of subject areas including land use change and social-ecological transformations; migration; value chains; gender; and youth.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Story Year Section --><div data-cls=\"sc-nv-light vertical\" class=\"timeline-year scrollable-section ctl-year ctl-year-container light-year\" data-section-title=\"2019\" id=\"year-2019\"><div class=\"ctl-year-label ctl-year-text\"><span>2019<\/span><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-72\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"35\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">November 28<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-72\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Rethinking poverty eradication and food security through agriculture in Africa<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><h4><strong>MEDIA RELEASE:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Nairobi, Kenya, 28 November 2019<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 Agriculture in Africa is expected to meet the dual objectives of providing food and helping people to escape poverty but, in practice, this is rarely possible on the small farms that cover the vast majority of the continent\u2019s agricultural landscapes. It\u2019s time for policymakers, agricultural researchers and practitioners to recognize the need to separate food security and poverty eradication, argue a team from World Agroforestry (ICRAF), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Bangor University and Oxford Martin School.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/cgiar\/rethinking-poverty-eradication-and-food-security-through-agriculture-in-africa?e=7a6d2a637e\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-73\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"36\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">November 21<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-73\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Poverty eradication and food security through agriculture in Africa: Rethinking objectives and entry points<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><h5>Abstract\/Summary<\/h5>\n<p>Agriculture in Africa is expected to meet the dual objectives of providing food and helping people to escape poverty. African agriculture is dominated by smallholdings and donors generally target their agricultural support at the smallholder sector. The expectation is that if the gap between actual and potential yields can be closed, smallholders will grow sufficient crops to feed their families, with a surplus to sell, thus meeting food security needs and bringing in an income to move them out of poverty. In practice, this is often not possible. While technologies already exist that can raise smallholder farmers\u2019 yields 3 or 4 times, even under rainfed conditions, the small size of land available to them limits how much can be grown and the per capita income from agriculture is insufficient to allow people to move above the current World Bank-defined poverty line of US$1.90 per day. We link this finding with farmer typologies to further explain that there are large differences between individual farming households themselves in terms of their investment incentives and capability to benefit from field-level technologies that are aimed at increasing farm productivity. We argue for more differentiated policies for agricultural development in Africa and suggest that policymakers should be much more aware of the heterogeneity of farms and target interventions accordingly. It is important to understand where and for whom agriculture will have the main purpose of ensuring food and nutritional security and where and for whom there is the potential for significant increases in incomes and a contribution to wider economic growth. Let us recognize the distinctiveness of these targets and underlying target groups and work towards solutions that address the underlying needs.<\/p>\n<h5>Authors<\/h5>\n<p>A Gassner, D Harris, K Mausch, A Terheggen, C Lopes, RF Finlayson, P Dobie<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177%2F0030727019888513\" rel=\"noopener\">View Publication<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-74\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"37\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">September 5<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-74\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Sharing aspiration and sensemaker insights with UNEP<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><h5>Abstract\/Summary<\/h5>\n<p>UN Environment Programme and Cognitive Edge jointly hosted a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sway.office.com\/BtaJl87P5G6gh7Q0?ref=email\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">panel discussion\u00a0<\/a>on \u201c<em>Behavioral Insights for environmental impact\u201d<\/em>\u00a0at its headquarters in Nairobi on 5 September 2019.<\/p>\n<p>The panel discussed how innovative methods and behavioral science can be used to deliver positive environmental impact by exploring new and innovative solutions and methods that can improve our role as agents of change in addressing the critical environmental challenges of our time.<\/p>\n<p>In that context, the panel explored the following key issues:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>What are the barriers to environmental change not meeting globally set goals and challenges?<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>How can we better use social, economic and environmental data in a complimentary way to drive our behaviors towards sustainable solutions?<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Is there an opportunity to embed behavioral changes into our business models at all levels?<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p>View the World Agroforestry contribution on Slideshare: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slideshare.net\/agroforestry\/understanding-farmer-behavior-and-options-to-improve-outcomes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Understanding farmer behavior and options to improve outcomes<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>von\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slideshare.net\/agroforestry\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">World Agroforestry (ICRAF)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Or download it from the link below.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/apps.worldagroforestry.org\/projects1\/timeline-admin\/timeupload\/1584691786Mausch_WorldAgroforestry_at_UNEP.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">Download<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-75\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left\" data-story-index=\"38\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">May 23<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-75\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Stories shared<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"Stories shared\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1558589723Word_Art.jpeg\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"707\" height=\"707\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1558589723Word_Art.jpeg\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"Stories shared\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1558589723Word_Art.jpeg 707w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1558589723Word_Art-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1558589723Word_Art-150x150.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 707px) 100vw, 707px\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>Gathering stories from more than 600 households is easy, analysing the content takes much longer. Here is a word cloud preview of what stories have been shared.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Story Year Section --><div data-cls=\"sc-nv-light vertical\" class=\"timeline-year scrollable-section ctl-year ctl-year-container light-year\" data-section-title=\"2018\" id=\"year-2018\"><div class=\"ctl-year-label ctl-year-text\"><span>2018<\/span><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-77\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right\" data-story-index=\"39\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">November 3<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-77\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Youth Aspirations in Kenya<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"Youth Aspirations in Kenya\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544520158katie2.jpg\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"448\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544520158katie2-448x1024.jpg\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"Youth Aspirations in Kenya\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544520158katie2-448x1024.jpg 448w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544520158katie2-131x300.jpg 131w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544520158katie2-768x1757.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544520158katie2.jpg 814w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 448px) 100vw, 448px\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><h5>Introduction<\/h5>\n<p>My name is Katie LaRue and I am currently pursuing a Master Degree at Hohenheim University in Stuttgart, Germany. My studies revolve around environmental protection and agricultural food production, which seeks to answer the pressing problem of feeding a growing population sustainably. In culmination of my program, I wanted to see first hand the backbone of the world\u2019s agriculture industry. So when I stumbled upon a flyer advertising a thesis opportunity in Kenya that would address the aspirations of rural farmers, I knew this was my chance. After a few months of tedious preparation, I arrived at the World Agroforestry Centre in Nairobi, Kenya and am well on my way to witnessing the<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-79\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left\" data-story-index=\"40\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">September 17<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-79\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Sensemaker field work<\/div><div class=\"ctp-media-slider\"><!-- Story Slider Container -->\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"story-79\" class=\"ctp-story-slider story-swiper-79\" data-swiper-autoplay=\"\" data-swiper-speed=\"5000\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"story-swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Slides --><div class=\"story-slide swiper-slide\"><a class=\"ctl_glightbox_gallery\" data-gallery=\"ctl_glightbox_gallery[g_gallery-79]\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/15433945180Photo_from_Kai3.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"story-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/15433945180Photo_from_Kai3-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"no-lazyload skip-lazy\"><\/a><\/div><div class=\"story-slide swiper-slide\"><a class=\"ctl_glightbox_gallery\" data-gallery=\"ctl_glightbox_gallery[g_gallery-79]\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/15445279159Photo_from_Kai_11.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"story-image\" 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Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-111\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right\" data-story-index=\"41\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">September 10<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-111\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Katie LaRue<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"Katie LaRue\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1542903614katie.png\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"540\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1542903614katie.png\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"Katie LaRue\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1542903614katie.png 540w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1542903614katie-169x300.png 169w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><h4>Biography<\/h4>\n<p><strong>Master Student, Hohenheim University<\/strong><br \/>\nKatie LaRue is a master&#8217;s student at Hohenheim University and a research fellow with the World Agroforestry Center, Nairobi. Her research delves into rural livelihood strategies and the puzzling questions surrounding the slow adoption rates of agricultural technologies amongst these households.\u00a0 Her current work explores the connection between household aspirations and adoption rates in different agro-ecological zones within Kenya. Katie has a BSc in International Relations from Grand Valley State University and worked as an English teacher in Moscow, Russia for two years before pursuing her current degree in Environmental Protection and Agricultural Food Production. She was introduced to Kai Mausch and Dave Harris\u2019 aspirations research through her supervisors Regina Birner and Thomas Daum and were eager to join the team to support her master thesis project.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-113\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left\" data-story-index=\"42\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">September 3<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-113\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">The enumerator training<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"The enumerator training\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/154452641420180925_085233-scaled.jpg\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"498\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/154452641420180925_085233-1024x498.jpg\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"The enumerator training\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/154452641420180925_085233-1024x498.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/154452641420180925_085233-300x146.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/154452641420180925_085233-768x373.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/154452641420180925_085233-1536x747.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/154452641420180925_085233-2048x996.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>The enumerator training phase of the project, led by Jules Yim and Emma Jones, kicked off with a 3-day event at the World Agroforestry Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.<\/p>\n<p>Quote: Kai: \u201cI have run many enumerator training sessions and the enumerators had been part of several surveys as well. However, they really engaged during the training as they were fascinated by the different approach and really got excited about the stories they would be collecting.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Jules: \u201cAfter months of hard work reviewing and editing the instrument, we were ready to take it from a \u2018lab\u2019 environment into the real world. This can only be done in collaboration with our enumerators, whom we consider to be our partners in the field.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>After Emma set up the devices and the SenseMaker\u00ae app, Jules spent the morning presenting the concept of narrative research and gave a basic introduction to complex systems. This led to an overview of potential pitfalls and limitations in the field, and was followed by many intelligent questions from the enumerators about the approach and foreseen complications in the field. For example, \u2018How do we interview \u201cthe spouse\u201d in a setting where people have multiple wives?\u2019; \u2018What if the respondents don\u2019t talk about agriculture at all?\u2019. Kai then outlined the objectives of the Aspirations project and the important part the enumerators would play in it \u2013 they are not merely scribes or interviewers, but local facilitators and translators.<\/p>\n<p>In the afternoon, the enumerators were instructed to immerse themselves in the training by becoming part of it. Each of them had to tell a story about their own aspiration. Following that, after having been briefed about the logistical intricacies of SenseMaker\u00ae interviewing, the enumerators were divided into groups of three and asked to interview each other in a simulation of the field work.<\/p>\n<p>Enumerators were then sent into the \u2018field\u2019 \u2013 in this case the UN Avenue outside the ICRAF campus in Gigiri \u2013 to gather a minimum of two stories each from random people on the street. The exercise took about an hour and they returned both with stories and feedback about the process, which they reflected upon. Suggestions for edits to the instrument were also considered and implemented after consultation with the wider team.<\/p>\n<p>On the final morning of the workshop, the decision was made to release the enumerators early as they had absorbed the training faster than expected, and could start to gather stories in their home areas.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Attendees<\/strong>: Kai Mausch, Dave Harris, Jules Yim, Emma Jones (Cynefin Centre), Mary Crossland, Katie LaRue<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-115\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right\" data-story-index=\"43\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">August 6<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-115\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Turkana scoping<\/div><div class=\"ctp-media-slider\"><!-- Story Slider Container -->\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"story-115\" class=\"ctp-story-slider story-swiper-115\" data-swiper-autoplay=\"\" data-swiper-speed=\"5000\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"story-swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Slides --><div class=\"story-slide swiper-slide\"><a class=\"ctl_glightbox_gallery\" data-gallery=\"ctl_glightbox_gallery[g_gallery-115]\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544600625220180821_102056-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"story-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544600625220180821_102056-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"no-lazyload skip-lazy\"><\/a><\/div><div class=\"story-slide swiper-slide\"><a class=\"ctl_glightbox_gallery\" data-gallery=\"ctl_glightbox_gallery[g_gallery-115]\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544600711220180821_102056-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"story-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544600711220180821_102056-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"no-lazyload skip-lazy\"><\/a><\/div><div class=\"story-slide swiper-slide\"><a class=\"ctl_glightbox_gallery\" data-gallery=\"ctl_glightbox_gallery[g_gallery-115]\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544596967120180821_100547-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"story-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544596967120180821_100547-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"no-lazyload skip-lazy\"><\/a><\/div><div 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Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-126\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Survey design workshop<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"Survey design workshop\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544519281Screenshot_20181211-114934_SenseMaker_Collector.jpg\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"485\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544519281Screenshot_20181211-114934_SenseMaker_Collector-485x1024.jpg\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"Survey design workshop\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544519281Screenshot_20181211-114934_SenseMaker_Collector-485x1024.jpg 485w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544519281Screenshot_20181211-114934_SenseMaker_Collector-142x300.jpg 142w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544519281Screenshot_20181211-114934_SenseMaker_Collector-768x1621.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544519281Screenshot_20181211-114934_SenseMaker_Collector-728x1536.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544519281Screenshot_20181211-114934_SenseMaker_Collector.jpg 810w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 485px) 100vw, 485px\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>The design phase of the survey instrument (link to the survey tool) for this project, led by Jules Yim and Emma Jones, kicked off with a 2-day workshop at Bangor University, UK. Ellie Snowden, a researcher at Cynefin Centre, provided remote support via video conference.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Kai: \u201cI was fascinated by their approach in designing the survey instrument. It appeared chaotic, yet was very structured. It was very interesting to witness how everything came together in the end.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The session opened with an introduction to complexity science, narrative research and their relevance to human systems, in this particular case, aspirations. The team affirmed the objectives of the project and the themes that emerged from them. The literature review, based on previous publications and additional searches conducted prior to the workshop, was presented and then mapped to the themes and objectives.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Triads<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The team properly commenced designing the survey tool. Each of the themes were redrafted as \u2018modulators\u2019, in complexity jargon, forces that modulate a complex adaptive system, within which we are in agreement that aspirations sit. Each modulator was then broken down into its individual components until a modulator landscape for the entire project was completed, and each modulator\u2019s components reassembled into triads.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Jules: \u201cAfter weeks of discussion, we were pleased to host the ICRAF and ICRISAT team at Bangor University. They proved that they were more than up to the intellectual and practical challenges that lay ahead.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Dyads<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>All assumptions and hypotheses were spelt out across the team and from related literature with regards to aspirations; several were chosen to be tested in this project. Dyads are formed by making an assumption, e.g., that parents from rural households discourage their children from becoming farmers.<\/p>\n<p>In the story shared, parents\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Encourage their children to become farmers &lt;&#8211;&gt; discourage their children from becoming farmers<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stones<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Stones are normally designed for monitoring and evaluation. In their simplest form they consist of an XY axis, with \u2018Stones\u2019 labelled using items such as different stakeholder perspectives (\u2018How I saw it\u2019, \u2018How I think my father saw it\u2019, etc.) or programme components (\u2018Water sanitation tablets\u2019, \u2018Plumbing\u2019, \u2018Sewage\u2019, etc.) for the respondent to drag and drop onto the canvas.<\/p>\n<p>In this project, a decision was made to design Stones to evaluate different perspectives in a household towards farming, and the risk-return mindset towards the various income streams a household may pursue, such as crops, livestock, employment, business opportunities, etc.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Prompting Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We kicked off by designing prompting questions, which can be any combination of text, photo or video. A decision was made to use text and after some deliberations we settled on \u2013 \u2018Imagine your life 10 years from now; tell a story about how you got to that point from this present day.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><strong>Analysis Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In the SenseMaker\u00ae environment, \u2018analysis categories\u2019 are typically configured as multiple-choice questions. Two types exist \u2013 1) relating to the respondent, such as demographic ones around age, gender, household size, household income, geographical location, and 2) relating to the story shared by the respondent, such as emotional tone, frequency of occurrence, or to whom the respondent would tell the story. These categories allow the analysts\/researchers to filter and slice the data during analysis, or create customized Boolean queries to compare and contrast patterns of distribution.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Review and Finalization<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The input of this process was scribed into a document template by Ellie Snowden, and reviewed by the team within two weeks. The instrument was then configured into a SenseMaker\u00ae website. (link to site)<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Attendees:<\/strong>\u00a0Kai Mausch, Dave Harris, Jules Yim, Emma Jones, Ellie Snowden (Cynefin Centre), Mary Crossland (second day), Tim Pagella (Bangor University)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-128\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"45\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">July 10<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-128\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Marys story: Rural aspirations through a gender lens<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>I was first introduced to Dave Harris and Kai Mausch by my PhD supervisor at Bangor University, Tim Pagella. As a PhD student, my research explores how agricultural interventions to restore degraded lands can and cannot influence the livelihood trajectories of rural households. That is, the way that livelihoods change over time \u2013 and the extent to which innovations can reduce poverty and improve food security. Considering the increasing recognition that people\u2019s aspirations influence their investment decisions, both in and out of farming, it was clear to Tim and me that understanding rural aspirations had important implications for the development, uptake and success of land restoration approaches. The types of restoration options a household may be willing to invest in will likely differ with their aspirations for the future. Compared to those who aspire to continue farming for the foreseeable future, households with aspirations to diversify away from agriculture may be less likely to invest in the often labour-intensive process of land restoration.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>Tim: \u201cI was involved in the initial thinking (with Dave and Kai) about the value of using the SenseMaker approach to understand smallholder aspirations in a development context. Mary\u2019s preliminary work for her PhD had highlighted clear synergies between the direction her research was taking and what the SenseMaker team was researching, particularly in terms of gender, so it seemed a very natural fit. This type of research is inherently interdisciplinary, something which Mary is comfortable working with, and I felt her skill set complemented those of the broader team very well.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The differentiated aspirations of men and women are also likely to have repercussions for land restoration, particularly in the context of male out-migration. In the drylands of eastern Kenya, a high proportion of men seek off-farm employment to diversify their incomes. This out-migration of predominantly able-bodied men is causing a redistribution of responsibilities within the household, with women left behind to manage both home and farm. A key aspect of my work therefore centres on gender dynamics and their interaction with restoration, and aims to answer questions such as: how do men and women differ in their aspirations and capacity to act upon them? How might changing gender roles and aspirations influence future livelihood portfolios and the adoption of land restoration practices?\u00a0 Curious to see how SenseMaker could help illuminate the complexities of rural aspirations and changing role of agriculture in men and women&#8217;s lives, I joined the team in July 2018.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-129\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left\" data-story-index=\"46\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">July 9<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-129\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Mary Crossland<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"Mary Crossland\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1542903967marie.png\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"493\" height=\"579\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1542903967marie.png\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"Mary Crossland\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1542903967marie.png 493w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1542903967marie-255x300.png 255w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 493px) 100vw, 493px\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><h4 class=\"bold\">Biography<\/h4>\n<p><strong>PhD student, Bangor University<\/strong><br \/>\nMary Crossland is a PhD student at Bangor University and a research fellow with the World Agroforestry Centre, Nairobi. Her research explores how agricultural interventions to restore degraded lands can and cannot influence the livelihood trajectories of rural households in the drylands of Kenya and Ethiopia, and the degree to which they can contribute to reducing poverty, improved food security and advancing gender equality. Mary has a BSc in Environmental Science from the University of Southampton (2010-2013) and worked as an agroforestry researcher at the Organic Research Centre (2015-2016) before pursuing a MSc in Agroforestry at Bangor University in 2016. Introduced to Dave Harris and Kai Mausch by her PhD supervisor Tim Pagella, she joined the team in July 2018 curious to see how using SenseMaker could help explore the changing role of agriculture in the lives of rural men and women.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bangor.ac.uk\/natural-sciences\/research\/environment-natural-resources-and-geography\/students\/mary-crossland.php.en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bangor University<\/a>&nbsp; <a class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?view_op=list_works&amp;hl=en&amp;user=K2NoQp0AAAAJ&amp;gmla=AJsN-F6Hau4CZRZ0jDkQx9AXLX9JrcKu_w5rF1Qm28QZqpM8DtqUX9SLt1wMGpqHyEHDyckue3Q8aZxPfFbfxX5f8uWOjZA7xy-rghylh8JK3N6IWGLyml8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Scholar<\/a>&nbsp;<a class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Mary_Crossland\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Research Gate<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-131\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"47\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">July 6<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-131\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Who are those people we call farmers?<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>Blog previously published by Simone Verkaart, Junior Professional Officer Technology Transfer, ICRISAT-Nairobi<\/p>\n<h3><strong><em>Agricultural interventions should match household aspirations<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Based on interviews with 624 rural households from Embu and Kitui in eastern Kenya, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/09614524.2018.1446909\">a recent publication <\/a>found that although 65% households hoped increase their farm incomes, while only 6% aspired their children to become farmers. Closely linked to a <a href=\"http:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/0030727018766940\">recently published theoretical paper<\/a> on the importance of aspirations, this publication focuses on household aspirations to understand its linkage with the potential for technology adoption.<\/p>\n<p>When technologies are developed and released, it is assumed that all rural households would want to increase their farm productivity, but the lived reality is complex. The choice of technologies depends on a household\u2019s potential to invest and also on its long-term aspirations.<\/p>\n<p>Rural households are diverse and it is essential to carefully differentiate them. The distinction must include the income status and aspirations of households. Calling all households engaged in some form of farm activity as \u2018farmers\u2019 and assuming they have no other interests may create a mismatch between demand and technology development.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Rural household diversity and aspirations <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Considering non-farm aspirations in the rural context is clearly important. They may influence household perceptions of the relative value of agricultural innovations and hence their choice to adopt or not.<\/p>\n<p>Only 6% of the households interviewed, hoped for a future in farming for their children. This is in contrast to their personal aspirations and investment plans, which mostly involve expansion or intensification of farming. Though all poor households are probably looking for quick wins, this may mean that even wealthier households might not have the long- aspirations needed for investments in practices with delayed benefits such as soil fertility management.<\/p>\n<p>There are also implications for changes in land use patterns currently characterized by high levels of land fragmentation and densely populated areas.<\/p>\n<p>If households increasingly step out of farming, would this reverse the trend and enable consolidation of land for the next generation, e.g., through people selling \/ renting out their land? Or is the cultural attachment to land too strong and will agricultural areas become increasingly fragmented into smaller plots, unable to produce excess food for sale to feed a burgeoning population?<\/p>\n<p>If the cultural attachment and safety net considerations dominate, then would more comprehensive governmental safety net programs overcome this and enable land consolidation towards households aspiring to farm?<\/p>\n<h3>How can research consider the future of smallholder farmers?<\/h3>\n<p>Finally, what are the implications for agricultural research, global development goals and food security of the nation and its poorest members with limited alternatives?<\/p>\n<p>The traditional approach of looking at agriculture as an engine for growth is not enough. It is time for agricultural research to better understand complex rural livelihoods to improve the targeting of interventions towards the most appropriate households and support their needs more effectively.<\/p>\n<p>The authors hope that the agricultural research for development sector will more actively consider the implications of rural household diversity, especially their aspirations for research and interventions.<\/p>\n<p>They recommend listen better to those people we call \u2018farmers\u2019 in order to offer solutions that meet their aspirations and realities.<\/p>\n<p>Findings from this research have been published by Development in Practice, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/09614524.2018.1446909\">Who are those people we call farmers? Rural Kenyan aspirations and realities<\/a>\u2019<\/p>\n<p>The research was funded by the CGIAR Research Programs &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/drylandsystems.cgiar.org\/\">Dryland Systems<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/pim.cgiar.org\/\">Policies, Institutions and Markets<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.icrisat.org\/\">ICRISAT<\/a> and the Netherlands Junior Professional Officer Programme.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-132\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left\" data-story-index=\"48\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">June 4<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-132\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Adding an MSc student to the team<\/div><!-- Story Media --><div class=\"ctl-media full\"><a data-glightbox=\"Adding an MSc student to the team\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1575960309University-of-Hohenheim-logo.jpg\" class=\"ctl_glightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1575960309University-of-Hohenheim-logo-1024x1024.jpg\" class=\"story-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"Adding an MSc student to the team\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1575960309University-of-Hohenheim-logo-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1575960309University-of-Hohenheim-logo-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1575960309University-of-Hohenheim-logo-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1575960309University-of-Hohenheim-logo-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1575960309University-of-Hohenheim-logo-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1575960309University-of-Hohenheim-logo.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>After an initial chat with Prof. Regina Birner from the University of Hohenheim, we agreed to look for an MSc student to work on the aspirations project and started advertising the opportunity.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-134\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon odd ctl-story-right ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"49\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">May 16<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-134\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Researchers recommend factoring in aspirations of rural households<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><p>Blog previously published by ICRISAT<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Agricultural research must listen to farmers<\/em><\/strong><strong><em> and their<\/em><\/strong><strong><em> aspirations<\/em><\/strong><strong><em> while designing effective technology solutions<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.fao.org\/family-farming\/detail\/en\/c\/308278\/\">Over 70% of sub-Saharan Africa\u2019s one billion people is under the age of 30<\/a>. While most rural households engage in agriculture, more and more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/youthenvoy\/2016\/04\/why-are-rural-youth-leaving-farming\/\">young people have chosen to migrate to cities and away from farming<\/a>. This trend has significant implications for research and investment efforts underway to transform sub-Saharan Africa\u2019s agriculture.<\/p>\n<p>The situation, however, is far more complex than the trend suggests. At a micro-level, not all rural households engaged in farming would like to continue farming if they had a choice and not all farming households that engage in non-farm activities plan to permanently exit agriculture. Farming is a complementary activity in a diverse set of income streams. Some see farming as a source of income to add to their non-farm activities, others might use non-farm activities to earn money to invest into their farm.<\/p>\n<p>In this context, where most rural households engage in agriculture and yet many are looking to move away from farming, the important question is how and for which group can researchers design and target agricultural interventions in a way that they are also adopted.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a href=\"http:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/0030727018766940\">latest publication<\/a>, Dr. Kai Mausch, the lead author and Senior Scientist at ICRISAT, suggests that household\u2019s aspirations play an important role in their choice of technology. Understanding these is as important as considering the agro-ecological context and market potential of new technologies.<\/p>\n<p>The theoretical paper on households\u2019 aspirations, proposes a novel research method of distributed ethnography linked with behavioral science to test the influence of household aspirations on technology choice at a larger scale.<\/p>\n<p>Understanding household aspirations enables the design of interventions that are better suited to the needs of rural households aiming to achieve their long-term goals. This might prevent useful technologies from being under-adopted. More importantly, it might prevent the design of \u2018useless\u2019 technologies in the first place or incompatible technologies from being pushed onto households.<\/p>\n<p>Kai stresses on moving beyond the traditional economic and biophysical analysis to incorporate ethnographic research combined with behavioral science to look at the complexity of household aspirations while designing and promoting context specific technologies for agricultural adoption.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople\u2019s choice of a specific technology and decisions at large are less predictable through traditional methods than expected. At times of uncertainty, people might not process all available information. Rather they fall back on what is familiar to them or the \u2018rules of thumb\u2019. Behavioral nuances and inherent biases must be understood and factored into our targeting strategy,\u201d says Kai.<\/p>\n<p>The study differentiates ambitions, as future welfare levels, from aspirations which gravitate around happiness, interests, skills or social status. Households might have medium-term goals to help bring them closer to the larger goal\/s they aspire to achieve.<\/p>\n<p>For example, households aspiring to exit farming or concentrating on off-farm activities are far less likely to adopt technologies that have medium and long term outcomes, such as soil quality enhancement technologies. The effects of such technologies will only pay off after their aspired exit from farming. Households that view agriculture as a generator of capital for investment elsewhere would value technologies that require medium levels of inputs. These households might be willing to tolerate higher levels of risk and go for expensive seed of high-value crops.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, households that see their future in farming are more likely to adopt interventions with long term pay-off periods.<\/p>\n<p>The publication titled \u2018Households\u2019 aspirations for rural development through agriculture\u2019 is online with Outlook on Agriculture. The research was undertaken in close collaboration with the <a href=\"http:\/\/cynefin.bangor.ac.uk\/\">Cynefin Centre, Bangor University<\/a> and funded by the <a href=\"http:\/\/pim.cgiar.org\/\">CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets<\/a> (PIM).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Timeline Content --><div id=\"ctl-story-135\" class=\"ctl-story ctl-story-dot-icon even ctl-story-left ctl-no-media\" data-story-index=\"50\" role=\"article\"><!-- Story Date --><div class=\"ctl-labels\"><div class=\"ctl-label-big story-date\">April 23<\/div><\/div><!-- Story IconDot --><div class=\"ctl-icondot\"><\/div> <!-- Story Arrow --><div class=\"ctl-arrow\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Story Content --><div class=\"ctl-content\"><!-- Story Title --> <div class=\"ctl-title story-135\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">Who are those people we call farmers? Rural Kenyan aspirations and realities<\/div><!-- Story Description --><div class=\"ctl-description\"><h5>Abstract\/Summary<\/h5>\n<p>Rural Kenyan households have different aspirations and income portfolio strategies, including agricultural intensification and income diversification. This article reports on a study that interviewed 624 households to explore rural aspirations and derive lessons for agricultural technology development and transfer. Though few households specialised in farming, many households self-identified as farmers and aspired to increase their agricultural income. Despite the prevalence of agricultural aspirations, few aspired for their children to have a future in farming. Combining aspirations with potential to invest, the article provides suggestions for targeting agricultural interventions. We need to start listening better to those people we call \u201cfarmers\u201d to develop and offer innovations that meet their realities.<\/p>\n<p>KEYWORDS: Environment (built and natural) \u2013 Agriculture, Food security, Labour and livelihoods \u2013 Poverty reduction, Technology, Sub-Saharan Africa<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/09614524.2018.1446909\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/09614524.2018.1446909<\/a><\/p>\n<h5>Authors<\/h5>\n<p>Simone Verkaart, Kai Mausch, Dave Harris<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"btn btn-info\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/09614524.2018.1446909\" rel=\"noopener\">View Publication<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ctl-end\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ctl_load_more_pagination\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<button data-max-num-pages=\"2\" \r\n\t\t\t\tdata-page=\"1\"\r\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"ctl_load_more\" role=\"button\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"clt_loading_state\" 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#ctl-story-77.ctl-story{--ctw-second-story-color :#00b1e1;--ctw-first-story-color:#00b1e1;}.ctl-wrapper #ctl-story-79.ctl-story{--ctw-second-story-color :#00b1e1;--ctw-first-story-color:#00b1e1;}.ctl-wrapper #ctl-story-111.ctl-story{--ctw-second-story-color :#91c854;--ctw-first-story-color:#91c854;}.ctl-wrapper #ctl-story-113.ctl-story{--ctw-second-story-color :#00b1e1;--ctw-first-story-color:#00b1e1;}.ctl-wrapper #ctl-story-115.ctl-story{--ctw-second-story-color :#00b1e1;--ctw-first-story-color:#00b1e1;}.ctl-wrapper #ctl-story-126.ctl-story{--ctw-second-story-color :#00b1e1;--ctw-first-story-color:#00b1e1;}.ctl-wrapper #ctl-story-128.ctl-story{--ctw-second-story-color :#00b1e1;--ctw-first-story-color:#00b1e1;}.ctl-wrapper #ctl-story-129.ctl-story{--ctw-second-story-color :#91c854;--ctw-first-story-color:#91c854;}.ctl-wrapper #ctl-story-131.ctl-story{--ctw-second-story-color :#ed5466;--ctw-first-story-color:#ed5466;}.ctl-wrapper #ctl-story-132.ctl-story{--ctw-second-story-color :#00b1e1;--ctw-first-story-color:#00b1e1;}.ctl-wrapper #ctl-story-134.ctl-story{--ctw-second-story-color :#ed5466;--ctw-first-story-color:#ed5466;}.ctl-wrapper #ctl-story-135.ctl-story{--ctw-second-story-color :#63d3e9;--ctw-first-story-color:#63d3e9;}\/* Specific Story Style End *\/\t\t\t\t\t<\/style>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Donors<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide opacity-25 border border-top border-secondary\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><a href=\"http:\/\/gldc.cgiar.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544259280GLDC-Logo_Transparent-Background-1024x343.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:auto;height:60px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/gldc.cgiar.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Parts of this work was undertaken as part of, and funded by the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals (GLDC) and supported by CGIAR Fund Donors.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide opacity-25 border border-top border-secondary\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pim.cgiar.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544516553image001.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:auto;height:60px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pim.cgiar.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Early parts of this project have been supported by the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide opacity-25 border border-top border-secondary\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.atsaf.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1665658535atsaf_logo_300x205-300x205-1-e1580126143917.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:auto;height:60px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.atsaf.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">atsaf via ACINAR (Academy for International Agricultural Research)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide opacity-25 border border-top border-secondary\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmz.de\/de\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1665733696DEgov-BMZ-Logo_en.svg_-1024x582.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:auto;height:60px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmz.de\/de\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide opacity-25 border border-top border-secondary\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Project Team<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide opacity-25 border border-top border-secondary\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Dr Kai Mausch<\/strong><br><small>Senior Economist (CIFOR-ICRAF)<\/small><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Dr Michael Hauser<\/strong><br><small>Senior Associate (CIFOR-ICRAF)<\/small><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Dr Dave Harris<\/strong><br><small>Senior Associate (CIFOR-ICRAF)<\/small><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Jules Yim<\/strong><br><small>Cynefin Centre<\/small><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Emma Jones, MSc<\/strong><br><small>Cynefin Centre<\/small><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Dr Tim Pagella<\/strong><br><small>Lecturer in Forestry (Bangor University)<\/small><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Dr Mary Crossland<\/strong><br><small>Associate Scientist, CIFOR-ICRAF<\/small><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Katie LaRue<\/strong><br>former <small>Masters Student, University of Hohenheim and ICRAF<\/small><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Dr Luke Dilley<\/strong><br><small>Akita International University (Japan), Research Associate (ICRAF)<\/small><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Dr Luzia Deissler<\/strong><br>former <small>PhD candidate, University of Hannover and CIFOR-ICRAF<\/small><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide opacity-25 border border-top border-secondary\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Project<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide opacity-25 border border-top border-secondary\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><em><i class=\"bi bi-calendar\"><\/i>&nbsp;Start Date: Jan, 2014<\/em><br><br><em>&nbsp;Project Status: <button class=\"btn btn-success\" type=\"button\">Ongoing<\/button><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide opacity-25 border border-top border-secondary\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Institutions Involved<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide opacity-25 border border-top border-secondary\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized text-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/cifor-icraf-logo.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:auto;height:60px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide opacity-25 border border-top border-secondary\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized text-center\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.icrisat.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544091696icrisat-logo-2016.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:auto;height:60px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide opacity-25 border border-top border-secondary\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized text-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bangor.ac.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544091727Bangor_Logo_A1.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:auto;height:60px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide opacity-25 border border-top border-secondary\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized text-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cognitive-edge.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1544159135CE_Main.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:auto;height:60px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide opacity-25 border border-top border-secondary\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized text-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/490c.uni-hohenheim.de\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1575960309University-of-Hohenheim-logo-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:auto;height:60px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide opacity-25 border border-top border-secondary\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized text-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.aiu.ac.jp\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/1617345758AIU_Logo.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:auto;height:60px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide opacity-25 border border-top border-secondary\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized text-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iuw.uni-hannover.de\/de\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/06\/16656584962560px-Leibniz-Universitt_Hannover.svg.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:auto;height:60px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide opacity-25 border border-top border-secondary\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized text-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/boku.ac.at\/en\/agri\/entf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2025\/05\/image-2.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:auto;height:60px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide opacity-25 border border-top border-secondary\" \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"284\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/11\/1544259796Copy_of_20180821_121013_cropped-scaled-1-1024x284.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-366\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/11\/1544259796Copy_of_20180821_121013_cropped-scaled-1-1024x284.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/11\/1544259796Copy_of_20180821_121013_cropped-scaled-1-300x83.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/11\/1544259796Copy_of_20180821_121013_cropped-scaled-1-768x213.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/11\/1544259796Copy_of_20180821_121013_cropped-scaled-1-1536x425.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/11\/1544259796Copy_of_20180821_121013_cropped-scaled-1-2048x567.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What do people in rural agricultural communities really want their lives to look like? What are the drivers that matter to those who farm? Understanding the aspirations of all members of smallholder households \u2013&nbsp;particularly women, youth and marginalized groups \u2013&nbsp;is key to avoiding bias and ensuring the success and sustainability of development initiatives. &nbsp; This [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/template-page-canvas.php","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-5","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":560,"href":"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5\/revisions\/560"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cifor-icraf.org\/understanding-aspirations-timeline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}