Reflections on FORMAT

by Paul Woomer

FORMAT’s Formation. One of the dangers of new developmental principles is being trapped within accompanying jargon rather than propelled to new levels of understanding and accomplishment. I believe that this situation occurs to some extent within the resource management arena. If every new approach is now "participatory", every client a "stakeholder", every output "sustainable" and every impact "community-based" then why are the same data collection procedures still employed, the same mistakes being repeated and, moreover, why is so little significant, tangible progress realized? I believe that we have adopted the jargon of too many new paradigms without adjusting our ways of thinking and doing things accordingly.

Recently, I made an important discovery that dissipated many concerns over the lagging impacts resulting from transient research and development agendas. My discovery was that the countless, near-anonymous workers who succeed in finding reasonable solutions to modest problems are at least as important as the more prominent individuals who perpetuate jargon declaring that the proven methods of those workers are illegitimate without offering them practical alternatives. Useful deeds surpass intellectual claims through substance and their acceptance by others.

Once I began a search for substance, it was easy to find. Clever entrepreneurs were collecting and processing garbage into useful products. Farmers were far ahead of researchers in understanding how to best transfer resources within complex, mixed-enterprise systems. Folk living along the lake shores discovered uses for aquatic weeds while ecologists were searching for clever ways to convince them to remove the weeds for free. Small-scale producers who looked only as far as satisfying local markets through cottage industry were counting their money while resource economists lamented the slow pace toward globalization. Merchants repackaged farm inputs into sizes adjusted to the purchasing power of local smallholders. Substantial improvement was being made on many fronts but these advances were not being popularized in a manner that called them to the attention of those who most needed to learn from their example. Lamech Nyangena declared in his exhibit "Nothing Is Useless", which effectively summarizes why I convened FORMAT in the first place (see next page).

FORMAT’s Format. As one of the forum’s organizers, my first impression following the conclusion of FORMAT was one of great relief. By all early indications, the meeting went as planned with participating farmers, entrepreneurs and grassroots groups being afforded equal opportunities as the representatives from much larger research and development (R&D) organizations. This task is not necessarily easy to accomplish because many of these R&D representatives are not only gifted specialists in their respective fields but also extremely experienced at the craft of attending conferences in order to draw credit and attention to themselves and their organizations. Part of this craft, unfortunately, is sometimes achieved at the expense of less experienced participants who have potentially important contributions to make, but lack the background, confidence and presentation tools necessary to do so.

FORMAT participation was equalized in several ways. The importance of exhibits over formal presentations was emphasized within the programme. Exhibits are inherently more interactive than presentations, offering greater opportunity for one-to-one exchange of experience and ideas. One half of the forum was devoted to exhibits, yet there were many entertaining and informative presentations at FORMAT. Except for a few slightly longer opening addresses, talks were limited to 10 minutes per speaker (with strict time keeping!) regardless of one’s title and affiliation. Of the 32 presentations, five were given by farmers, five by entrepreneurs and seven by representatives from community-based organizations.

Another key to facilitate more equal participation was scheduling one hour of open or panel discussion for every two hours of formal presentation. Time for discussion was conserved despite some participant’s last minute requests to be inserted into the programme (requests denied by the organizers) but still it seemed as though fruitful discussion was often curtailed by lack of time. Finally, equality among participants was established by the manner that the meeting was advertised and application forms disseminated through public news media rather than having the organizers pre-determine membership based on comfortable contacts and affiliations. Many participants remarked how very differently FORMAT was conducted, allowing for a wide range of views and approaches to be shared, and be assured that this strength did not occur through chance alone. FORMAT also taught me that many stakeholders have artistic skills exceeding those realized by unimaginative use of computer software. At the end of the next meeting, I suggest that these artists attempt to auction their work.

REFORMAT. It is the intention of FORMAT’s organizing committee to hold a bigger, better meeting in 2001. I think of this meeting as REFORMAT. This meeting will probably be expanded to three days allowing for more time for panel discussions and invited demonstrations. A session addressing policies surrounding organic resource management, particularly certification of organic produce and implications of the Clean Development Mechanism (carbon sequestration) will likely be included. Exhibitors will be more encouraged to demonstrate new technologies, sell their products and disseminate important literature rather than merely displaying their ideas and wares. Prizes will continue to be awarded for outstanding contributions to organic resource management, but in more categories and through broader-based mechanisms (see More Innovative Awards, page 6). REFORMAT will have much to offer parties interested in innovative research and development, whether based in rural or urban settings.

The belief that FORMAT offers fresh perspectives and opportunities to exchange original ideas, emerging technologies and pioneering products is shared by that meeting’s donor. I am pleased to report that The Rockefeller Foundation has recently awarded FORMAT a "bridging" grant to plan for another event next year. These funds will allow for continuation of secretariat activities including maintaining the email address, format@nbnet.co.ke, establishment of a FORMAT home page on the internet, publication of information bulletins and preparation for the next meeting. The secretariat’s distribution of information materials will be facilitated by compiling and computerizing a mailing list consisting of all applicants to the past meeting. The organizing committee will, of course, be required to make plans and raise funds for REFORMAT although I suspect that my fellow members will be looking at me a bit cautiously after reading this unorthodox essay. If readers have any suggestions for improving FORMAT, please send them to us so that we will be less "swept along" by events this next time around. 

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