Participatory Research Techniques Research Articles

The Project Book: A Toolkit for Stakeholder Management in International Development Projects

This article presents a methodology of management of International Development Projects designed for offshoring agents that, on a traditional project management basis (phases and processes), adds an open documentary system (Project Book) and the application of participatory action research techniques. The Project Book enhances transparency and therefore confidence and engagement. Participatory action research techniques support intercultural management of the projects’ stakeholders. The methodology has been tested in three cases of «health», «production», and «education sectors», executed in Colombia. The quality and success of the project after the application is characterized by an 80 % acceptance of the agents.

Participatory Approaches in the Context of Research Into Workplace Health Promotion to Improve Physical Activity Levels and Reduce Sedentary Behavior Among Office-Based Workers: Scoping Review.

Participatory research (PR) involves engaging in cocreation with end users and relevant stakeholders throughout the research process, aiming to distribute power equitably between the end users and research team. Engagement and adherence in previous workplace health promotion (WHP) studies have been shown to be lacking. By implementing a PR approach, the insights of end users and stakeholders are sought in the co-design of feasible and acceptable intervention strategies, thereby increasing the relevance of the research. This scoping review aims to explore, identify, and map PR techniques and their impact when used in office-based WHP interventions designed to improve physical activity (PA) or reduce sedentary behavior (SB). The reporting of this scoping review followed the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews). A systematic literature search of 5 electronic databases-Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and OpenGrey-was conducted, searching from January 1, 1995, to February 8, 2023. In total, 2 independent reviewers first screened the retrieved articles by title and abstract, and then assessed the full texts based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The search strategy and eligibility criteria were developed and guided by an a priori population (office-based working adults), intervention (a PA WHP intervention that took a PR approach), comparison (no comparison required), and outcome (PA or SB) framework. Data were charted and discussed via a narrative synthesis, and a thematic analysis was conducted. The included studies were evaluated regarding the degree of end user engagement throughout the research process and power shared by the researchers, using Arnstein's ladder of citizen participation. The search retrieved 376 records, of which 8 (2.1%) met the inclusion criteria. Four key strategies were identified: (1) end user focus groups, (2) management involvement, (3) researcher facilitators, and (4) workplace champions. The degree of engagement and power shared was relatively low, with 25% (2/8) of the studies determined to be nonparticipation studies, 25% (2/8) determined to be tokenistic, and 50% (4/8) determined to provide citizen power. This review provides a foundation of evidence on the current practices when taking a PR approach, highlighting that previous office-based PA WHP studies have been largely tokenistic or nonparticipative, and identified that the end user is only engaged with in the conception and implementation of the WHP studies. However, a positive improvement in PA and reduction in SB were observed in the included studies, which were largely attributed to implementing a PR approach and including the end user in the design of the WHP intervention. Future studies should aim to collaborate with workplaces, building capacity and empowering the workforce by providing citizen control and letting the end users "own" the research for a sustainable WHP intervention. RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054402.

Sueños, miedos, alegrías, tristezas (SMAT): técnica investigativa-participativa con niñas, niños y adolescentes

(analítico)La participación de la población infantil en la investigación implica un cambio epistémico con claras implicaciones metodológicas. En este texto presentamos una herramienta novedosa para investigar con niñas, niños y adolescentes: el SMAT (sueños, miedos, alegrías y tristezas). Es una versión del análisis de debilidades, amenazas, fortalezas y oportunidades adaptada a la realidad vivencial y discursiva infantil que ha mostrado su viabilidad en la investigación con infancias, incluso durante el contexto pandémico. El texto aclara la lógica metodológica de la herramienta, aporta claves para su uso y presenta ejemplos de resultados obtenidos en diferentes contextos (originándose en la investigación participativa, pero mostrando también su utilidad en diseños convencionales de investigación) que muestransu versatilidad y pertinencia para el estudio del discurso de la población infantil. Palabras clave: Infancia; metodología; participación. Tesauro Europeo de la Educación.

Enhancing the Role of the Special Branch of Aisyiyah (PCIA) Malaysia in Providing Education and Financial Literacy Services for Indonesian Migrant Worker Families

The purpose of this qualitative study is to investigate how Indonesian migrant worker families might benefit from improved financial literacy and educational services provided by the Special Branch Leadership of Aisyiyah (PCIA) Malaysia. Using a phenomenological research methodology, the study explores participants' lived experiences and perspectives about PCIA Malaysia's role. In order to address social concerns, the research equalizes engagement between practitioners and service partners by implementing the Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) technique. A group from Muhammadiyah University in Makassar carried out the study, which also included semi-structured interviewing, thematic analysis, case study design with purposive or snowball sampling, and the definition of important research topics. Results from Kuala Lumpur's community involvement initiatives highlight issues like poor financial literacy and restricted access to education. Financial issues arise as a result of implementation challenges, even though members are knowledgeable about financial planning. Financial literacy programs, more PCIA leader involvement, and educational awareness campaigns are suggested remedies. The report emphasizes the critical role that PCIA plays in resolving the various issues that Indonesian migrant worker families confront, with a focus on areas such as community involvement, financial literacy, education access, and training programs. A focused approach, proactive community involvement, and continual assessment are necessary for success in order to provide long-lasting beneficial results.

Empowering communities through citizen science and participatory action research: implementation of a schistosomiasis communication campaign in Uganda

Schistosomiasis is a water-related disease strongly linked with high-risk water and sanitation practices perpetuating disease transmission. In Uganda, despite health education and sensitisation efforts through communication campaigns by the Ministry of Health to reduce schistosomiasis prevalence, common risky practices still pose a challenge, especially among endemic communities. Here, we steered away from the conventional top-down approach to communication campaigns and explored alternative methods. We employed citizen science (CS) and other participatory action research (PAR) techniques as a bottom-up approach to co-design and implement a communication campaign among communities of western Uganda, to achieve a more tangible outcome of behaviour change for preventing schistosomiasis. We collected qualitative data using data party, world café, prioritisation and ranking, focus group discussion, and key informant interviews from 378 purposively selected individuals and analysed it using a thematic analysis model. Community volunteers, community radios and local leaders were the most preferred channels for passing schistosomiasis information identified by participants. Lack of access to safe water and healthcare services, open defecation, and inadequate knowledge of schistosomiasis are some of the most pressing problems prioritised. Door-to-door visits by citizen scientists (CSs), community meetings, drama, and tournaments were the channels proposed by CSs and community groups during the co-design workshops. Over 1000 households and about 9000 community members were directly reached using the channels. Endemic communities prefer receiving schistosomiasis information using local channels instead of conventional ones. Combining citizen science with other PAR approaches empowers communities to interpret research findings in their contexts and take charge of the interventions. As such, clear and simple message coverage and a high audience turn-up can be achieved. A follow-up study is needed to evaluate the process and impact of the communication intervention on the citizen scientists and the community’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding preventive measures.

The AquaGranda digital community memory activating awareness about climate risk

This study aims to explore how vulnerable communities, scientists, and artists can collaborate to construct digital community memories to excavate opinion spaces related to socio-natural events, creating a shared and inclusive ground for mutual understanding and collective action. The proposed approach combines web archeology and digital artivism to construct community memories that can be used for social activation in relation to climate change. The research draws on participatory and community-based research techniques, citizen-science approaches, and digital methods to collect dispersed community-memory fragments and create an expressive space for the diverse perspectives and needs of the affected populations. It emphasises the importance of inclusivity and non-polarizing approaches for reconstructing and interpreting narrative streams that propagate in the physical and virtual world, and for representing, through digital art, extreme events and their societal impact. To illustrate the proposed approach, the AquaGranda project is here presented as a case study of community memory related to an extreme event: the high tides that occurred in Venice in November 2019.

Evaluation of smallholder farmers’ use of indigenous knowledge in Ethiopian avocado (Persea americana Mill.) production and fruit preference criteria

BackgroundAvocado is a versatile fruit that has been farmed for its flavor, nutritional worth, and socioeconomic benefit in Ethiopia and other parts of the world. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate smallholder farmers’ indigenous knowledge of avocado production, harvesting, repinning, preference, management, and utilization in southern Ethiopia.MethodsData were collected from 295 avocado farmers using participatory research evaluation instruments and techniques. The descriptive statistics and the chi-square test were used to analyze the data.ResultsThe results of this study demonstrated that smallholder farmers, who vary in age, education, and ethnicity, have a wealth of indigenous knowledge in the areas of production, fruit preference, postharvest handling, and avocado use. Based on their long-term experience in cultivating this crop, farmers determined the best avocado races using different fruit quality traits such as size, color, and appearance. The findings revealed that the three most preferred qualities that can influence consumers’ impressions while buying or consuming avocados were fruit size, skin color, and flesh taste. The findings also demonstrated a significant positive association between farmers’ age and the amount of seedlings they produced (Spearman’s rho, rs = 0.604, p < 0.01). Furthermore, our results showed that younger farmers with higher education grow improved avocado varieties but have less experience with seedlings production, indicating a decline in indigenous knowledge about growing seedlings, particularly among young and more educated people in the study areas.ConclusionFindings indicated a need for creating awareness for avocado farmers about modern agronomic practices through a participatory technique to expand avocado seedling farming for future use. The results from this study call for geneticists or researchers to conduct further research on the genes associated with the most essential qualities (e.g., fruit size, skin color, taste, etc.) chosen by avocado farmers or consumers to recommend them for future breeding purposes.

Understanding gender and sexuality: The hidden curriculum in English schools

AbstractSchools continue to produce regimes of gender and sexuality, including overt and covert curricula based on assumed essentialist differences between girls and boys, reinforced and regulated through uniform, sport and peer pressure. The recent focus on the experiences of trans and non‐binary children in schools makes visible the ways in which all children are subject to heteronormatively gendered regulatory and disciplinary techniques in everyday school life. This article discusses the findings from a pilot study drawing on participatory action research techniques with 42 young people in six workshops in north‐east England. Recruitment methods were required to be flexible given the context within which the study was conducted, which was with Covid‐19 mitigations in place. This meant that we were not able to be fully inclusive of young people from local youth groups as they were either not meeting or only meeting online. We thus had to mainly recruit from university student societies and student residences from which we organised three workshops; sports organisations from which we organised one workshop, and a local youth group with which we ran one workshop. The final workshop was conducted with young people who had attended one of the previous five workshops, to enable feedback on our analysis. All participants were over 16 years of age. The majority of participants were women (25) with 16 men, including one transman, and one non‐binary person. Most identified as white (31) with the rest identifying as Black, East Asian and British ‘Other’ (11). The focus of the workshops was to explore with young people their memories about where and how they first encountered being ‘gendered’ and/or having a sexuality. The data has been collected, recorded and transcribed within strict ethical guidelines. The workshop data has been analysed using a grounded theory approach, where we developed the theoretical models from the data. This article focuses on those key moments when their behaviours, presentation and/or ideas were subject to facilitators and/or regulators of their gender and/or sexuality. We draw out the contradictions inherent in, on the one hand, the essentialist rationales for difference and inequalities between genders and sexualities in schools and, on the other hand, the apparent need to enforce these ‘natural’ differences and inequalities. Participatory creative approaches were adopted in each workshop to promote conversations and drawings about who regulated/facilitated their gender and/or sexuality and how they did so. Each workshop cumulatively informed the next, leading to a sixth synthesising workshop that collectively analysed young people's reflections. Drawing on the conceptual frameworks of epistemic injustice (M. Fricker, Epistemic Injustice: Power and the Ethics of Knowing, Oxford University Press, 2007) and ‘space for action’ we conclude that young people want and need brave active spaces to discuss and ‘do’ gender and sexuality, and to resist essentialism and social control. Schools can be both places where control is created and entrenched and where it can also be resisted. Our research suggests that better whole school responses to dismantle regimes of gender and sexuality can be created by and for young people.

Conducting Photovoice With Binational Cancer Survivors to Identify Health Behavior Change Intervention Preferences

Abstract: Background: Culturally adapted behavior interventions are needed to support lifestyle behavior change for survivors of cancer. Objectives: To identify programming preferences of Mexicanorigin female survivors of breast cancer living on the U.S./Mexico border. Methods: We conducted a nine-week photovoice project with survivors of breast cancer in Nogales, Sonora/Arizona exploring viewpoints on food and dietary habits, wellness activities, and preferences for healthy lifestyle intervention programming. Photovoice, a participatory qualitative research technique, provided participants with research skills to document and share their lived experience through photographs. Weekly sessions began with photograph presentations and concluded with group discussion of common themes. Data were analyzed following a thematic content analysis using session notes and written narratives compiled during discussion sessions. Results: Survivors ( n = 6) worked collaboratively with facilitators to identify themes related to diet and physical activity behavior. Connection between food and culture and the importance of enjoying meals with others was emphasized. Primary activity interests included leisure-time recreation that relieved anxiety related to their cancer diagnosis rather than regimented exercise routines. Participants noted the importance of giving and receiving social support and emphasized altruism to support positive mood and self-efficacy during survivorship. Networking and knowledge sharing were considered valuable. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of collaborative research such as photovoice to gain insights for adaptation of evidence-based lifestyle interventions for Mexican-origin survivors of cancer. Key adaptation considerations include culturally relevant dietary preferences and patterns, physical activities with a strong mind-body component, and opportunities for social engagement and experience sharing.

Exploring climate change impacts on rural livelihoods and adaptation strategies: Reflections from marginalized communities in India

Climate change and variability affect virtually everyone and every region of the world but the effects are nowhere more prominent than among rural marginalized communities that rely heavily on agriculture and fishing for a living and they face numerous livelihood challenges including risk posed by variability of climate. Using phenomenological research methods, interviews with key-informants, focus group discussions (FGD), household survey with standardised questionnaires and case study approach, the present study analyzes the perceptions of climate change and its impacts on livelihoods and well-being of rural marginalized communities in rural Dakshin Dinajpur district of the state of West Bengal, India and coping mechanisms adopted by these communities were also examined using participatory social research techniques. The research is primarily based on primary data which have been collected at household level using multistage purposive sampling methods and total sample size is 154. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were employed for data analysis. The results were discussed in the context of the sustainable livelihoods approach and findings depicts that there is a decreasing trend in the availability of water for domestic purposes, crop failure and low agricultural production, reduction in human health, poor livestock health and a range of other problems due to climate change which subsequently impacted on their livelihood. Indigenous and local knowledge were widely used in dealing with the effects of climate change, while modern technologies were underutilized among marginalized communities. Farmers and fisherman's used multiple adaptation strategies to combat climate change effects such as modifications in farm management, migration, selling labour to neighbourhoods, measures related to financial resources and risk reduction, borrowing funds from local money lender as well as family and neighbours, credit programmes and assistance from NGOs and reducing household food consumption. Large-scale education, training programmes, development interventions and policies targeted at enhancing resource endowment are needed. The findings from this study can help policymakers and other stack holders about ongoing adaptation measures as well as the needs of households, bring out the gap between farm households and policymakers and also to develop suitable policies and effective adaptation strategies to enhance the livelihoods within this context of local marginalized communities context.

STRENGTHENING EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER SERVICES IN CREATIVITY TO MAKE INSPIRATIONAL EDUCATIONAL TOOLS

Improving the quality of PAUD teacher services is essential in developing creativity and inspiring educational aids. The Participatory Action Research (PAR) technique is used to improve PAUD teacher services by encouraging creativity and producing educational teaching aids that are inspiring through Community Service (PKM). PKM begins with a collaborative planning phase with PAUD teachers and other relevant stakeholders. The PKM team engages teachers in workshops and meetings to identify needs and actively participates in training sessions, hands-on activities, and reflection sessions during implementation. They are encouraged to try new techniques, discuss their experiences, and work together to overcome problems and obstacles that arise along the way. The Joint Community Service team provides ongoing support and direction, fostering a collaborative and empowered atmosphere where instructors can leverage their creativity and build engaging instructional resources. The impact of the Joint Community Service was evaluated using a variety of data collection approaches, including surveys, observations, interviews, and recordings of the instructor's creative practices and the resulting pedagogical materials. These findings indicate that the self-confidence, knowledge, and abilities of PAUD teachers significantly increase in designing and making educational teaching aids that are inspiring. This study generates a sense of ownership, empowerment, and continued professional growth by integrating PAUD teachers as active participants and research partners. It also makes it easier for participating teachers and the more prominent early childhood education community to disseminate and share best practices. These findings can help educators, researchers, and policymakers create and implement collaborative, context-appropriate interventions to enhance teacher creativity in early childhood education. Keywords: Early Childhood Teacher, Creativity, Inspirative Educational Tools

Environmental Conservation in non-Hazardous and Toxic Waste Management Program at Company Unit of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Region Sumbagut

This study aims to introduce the initiatives undertaken by various divisions within PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Region Sumbagut in effectively managing non-B3 waste with a focus on environmental preservation. Qualitative methods and participatory action research techniques were employed to achieve this objective. The findings of this research demonstrate that non-hazardous solid waste is mitigated through digitization and repurposing. Digitization is applied to paper waste to prevent accumulation, while repurposing involves converting organic, plastic, and rubber waste into reusable objects. Both waste management models prioritize environmental conservation and lead to cost savings. The efficient utilization of non-B3 solid waste serves as an exemplary approach to minimizing waste impacts throughout various activities, underscoring a strong commitment to environmental preservation.

Exploring the Challenges Faced by the Urban Squatter Dwellers in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malaysia has experienced rapid urbanization, leading to congestion and a shortage of adequate housing. For those who cannot afford housing due to the high prices of houses, such as marginalized and low-income groups, squatting becomes an alternative for viable housing solutions. Many have moved into urban squatter zones in search of alternate housing. Drawing on Malaysia as a case study, this study explores the challenges urban squatter dwellers face and how it affects their well-being. This study used Participatory Action Research (PAR) and Delphi Techniques to conduct in-depth interviews with fourteen key informants in Kuala Lumpur. It analyzed the results using the thematic analysis method. Findings revealed that they faced challenges associated with social issues, housing quality, housing environment, and finances. These challenges have affected their safety, comfort, social relationships, and health. It is suggested that the government should adequately design inclusive policies and programs to resolve this predicament and enhance these dwellers’ quality of life. Since studies on urban squatters in Malaysia are scarce, this study provides insight into the country’s urban poverty problem. Furthermore, the findings can be applied to other developing countries with characteristics like Malaysia.

The quest for leadership qualities in cooperative societies: An exploratory analysis

Successful leadership is imperative for a cooperative to flourish. However, there is limited literature concerning leadership qualities in the context of cooperatives, most particularly in cooperatives in the global south. This study applied the participatory Delphi research technique to identify effective leadership qualities in the context of community-based cooperative societies in rural Nepal. A survey of 1255 leaders and team members from 210 cooperatives was undertaken and the qualities of leadership were obtained by using explorative factor analysis. The results identified four dimensions of effective leadership: Role Model, Empowering the Team, Performance-based Rewards, and Skills of the Sector. These four dimensions, unified in the 'REPS' Model of leadership, are presented as a contextualized model of cooperative leadership that can serve to inform both further research and cooperative development practice.

Subjective school wellbeing of refugee and local children: Voices from having, loving, and being dimensions

ABSTRACT The influx of refugees has drastically changed the ethnic composition of early childhood education system in Turkey, especially in provinces where refugees are resettled. Given this change, how refugee and local children are functioning with their wellbeing at school remains an underexplored yet an important area of research. This single case study conducted at multiple sites aimed to examine subjective school wellbeing among Syrian refugee and Turkish local children in public primary schools. Situated within school wellbeing model and ecological systems theory, the study investigated both groups of children’s contextually bounded realities and experiences in their shared school environments. Utilizing child-centred visual elicitation methods and participatory research techniques with 10 children at two schools, the study foregrounded children's subjective voices with respect to indicators of wellbeing at school. Children conceptualized their school wellbeing in having, loving, and being dimensions, along with a variety of subjective indicators associated with each dimension. School wellbeing was not exclusively related to conditions and relations at school level. Rather, home- and neighbourhood-level indicators in proximal environments, as well as policies and societal regulations in distal environments, converged to influence their wellbeing at school. Relevant implications for policy and practice are discussed.

Scaling agroecology for food system transformation in metropolitan areas: Agroecological characterization and role of knowledge in community-supported agriculture farms connected to a food hub in Berlin, Germany

ABSTRACT We investigated an already existing agri-food network connecting ten regional community-supported agriculture farms with a food hub in the city of Berlin. The overall aim of the study was to conduct an agroecological characterization of the farms by using the Agroecology Criteria Tool and focusing on the role of knowledge (co-)creation and sharing. We conducted walking interviews with ten farmers and applied participatory research techniques. We found that, first, the farmers either have already transformed the farm into an advanced agroecological model (level 3) or are transitioning from organic to agroecological (level 2–3). Second, the interactions between the farms and regional agri-food system actors foster the reconnection between eaters and regional growers (level 4). The actors of this transformation belong, thus, to grassroots self-organized and solidarity-based initiatives, which have built an agroecology-based regional agri-food network. And third, the diversity of activities and formats identified for engaging a broad range of stakeholders provides resources for redefining power relationships and co-creating knowledge. However, there are important barriers that must be addressed to scale this network, such as the lack of structures, platforms and collaborations fostering the knowledge (co-)creation and sharing, access to affordable and secure land, and the lack of governmental support.

Multi-stakeholder perceptions of drought utilizing a conceptual framework for drought

ABSTRACT Drought is a phenomenon that leads to complex issues that affect vulnerable communities across the globe. Small-scale farmers and rural communities are considered the most vulnerable to the impacts of drought, due to their high reliance on agriculture and the numerous socio-economic conditions that sustain their vulnerability. Understanding the perceptions of those that are the most vulnerable to drought as well as the relevant stakeholders that are involved in drought management is important to gain a holistic understanding of the impacts of droughts and how they affect individuals from various socio-economic backgrounds. The objective of this research study was to assess the perceptions of droughts from a Multi-stakeholder perspective. This was achieved by assessing a range of stakeholder perceptions utilizing a conceptual framework for drought perception which is built on the elements that shape perceptions of drought which are, experience, memory, definitions and expectations. The study utilized a qualitative research approach incorporating focus group discussions, interviews and participatory research techniques. The results of the research study revealed that drought is a relative concept and is experienced differently by individuals from different socio-economic backgrounds. This also influenced the way respondents adapted to the impacts of droughts.

Development and application of environmental education program for in-service geography teachers using community mapping and photovoice

This study designed an environmental education program for in-service geography teachers using community mapping and photovoice methodology and applied it to in-service geography teachers to derive results. In addition, the study explored the possibilities and implications of these two participatory research techniques as pedagogical tools for geographical and environmental education. In-service geography teachers confirmed that community mapping activities combined with the photovoice methodology can support the development of the geographical skills and spatial thinking about the environment of students. Moreover, they recognized that the program is a useful pedagogical tool for connecting learners with geographical communities to actively explore various geographical and environmental issues in the region, connecting them inside and outside the classroom and reaching an in-depth understanding of geographical and environmental issues through the production of knowledge that expresses their perspectives and experiences. Furthermore, the program, which combines community mapping and photovoice, can be an effective pedagogical tool for fostering community competence and active citizenship in that participants actively participate in the community to create better community change.

Efforts to end a stalemate in landslide insurance availability through inclusive policymaking: A case study in Sitka, Alaska

Stalemates frequently obstruct disaster risk management related initiatives, including related to risk financing. They can arise from misaligned stakeholder objectives and a cognitive effort to avoid decision-making under uncertainty. Participatory action research techniques can be useful for overcoming stalemates but have not been examined in the context of disaster risk management. To fill this gap, we explored how participatory techniques could overcome one disaster risk financing related stalemate: the case of landslide insurance in a highly landslide-prone location, Sitka, Alaska. Landslide insurance in Sitka is a classic stalemate, as diverse stakeholders see the value of offering a landslide insurance policy, but their respective concerns and information gaps stymie their ability to feel confident in decision-making making landslide insurance generally unavailable. Utilizing a series of inclusive interviews and workshops as our participatory techniques, respondents describe how the workshop engendered confidence in the prospect of landslide insurance, specifically by brokering new relationships and serving as a catalyst for new public-private partnerships while effectively reframing the landslide risk financing conundrum. However, they also note that a new market for landslide insurance requires sufficient state or Federal funding support, improved probabilistic landslide models, and sustained consumer demand. This suggests that participatory techniques can play an enabling role in overcoming stalemates, but only if certain conditions are in place. These findings may have relevance to policymakers facing stalemate-related obstacles in disaster risk management.

Rice farmers’ perceptions and response to climate variability, and determinants of adaptation strategies in the Republic of Benin

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to evaluate rice farmers’ perceptions on the manifestations of the climate change and identify efficient strategies and determinants of adoption of these strategies in the Republic of Benin.Design/methodology/approachSurveys were conducted using participatory research appraisal tools and techniques, such as direct observation, individual interviews and field visits through a questionnaire for data collection. A total of 418 rice farmers across 39 villages located in the three climatic zones of the Republic of Benin were interviewed. Farmers’ perceptions, temperature from 1952 to 2018 and rainfall from 1960 to 2018 data obtained from meteorological stations were analysed using descriptive and inferences statistics.FindingsAll the surveyed farmers were aware of climate change and perceived diverse manifestations including the delay in rainfall regarded as the most important risk. They perceived that deforestation, no respect for the laws of nature and desacralization of morals, no respect for cultures and the traditional rainmakers are the main causes of climate change. The disruption of agricultural calendar and the reduction in rice yield were perceived as the main impacts of climate change in rice production. They used various approaches to adapt and mitigate climate change effects. The adoption of adaptation strategies was influenced either negatively or positively by the household size, land size, education level, membership to rice farmer’s association, training in rice production, access to extension services, use of improved varieties and the location in climatic zones.Research limitations/implicationsFor each climatic zone of the Republic of Benin, weather data were collected in only one meteorological station.Practical implicationsThe study showed that it is important to educate rice farmers on the scientific causes of climate change for better resilience. There is an urgent need to train rice farmers in irrigation and water management techniques to cope with climate variability. To promote irrigation, the authors suggest the establishment of a subsidy and credit mechanism by the government. Factors that influenced adoption of efficient adaptation strategies to climate events must be taken into account for future adaptation policies in the Republic of Benin.Originality/valueThis study provided an overview of the perceptions and adaptations of rice farmers along the climatic gradient in the Republic of Benin. Therefore, the knowledge of the determining factors of the adaptation strategies used by rice farmers could be used in the setting up of effective climate change resilience policies in Benin.