Seeking local indicators : participatory stakeholder evaluation of farmer-to-farmer projects

This paper reports on research and training work undertaken over several months between 1995 and 1997 in Mexico. Work was carried out with a farmer-to-farmer programme (CETAMEX) and the integrated conservation and development project of Maderas del Pueblo del Sureste (MPS). The objective was to strengthen local capacity to develop self-evaluation methods to enable community-based planning and monitoring of future phases of programme work, within the area of natural resource management, sustainable agriculture and rural development. At a policy level it aimed to enable translation of the lessons learned to allow constant policy monitoring and adjustment. The research took part in two phases; the first working with farmer extentionists and villagers to develop an methodology appropriate to different stakeholders, and the second sharing the findings with MPS, in relation their work developing a farmer controlled ecological reserve.