Harnessing community conversations for gender-responsive engagement in livestock management in Ethiopia: a...

Participatory approaches are increasingly employed to design context-specific interventions that are more inclusive, responsive, and effective. The Community Conversation (CC) approach has been tailored to Ethiopia's livestock management context. As part of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research Program on Livestock (CRP Livestock), gender-responsive CC materials on livestock management have been developed and implemented across various rural communities to raise awareness and derive community-led actions. This paper explores how CCs were harnessed through improvisation and provides insights for practitioners to strategically adapt the approach in diverse contexts to foster gender-responsive community engagement.

Between 2018 and 2019, CCs were conducted at five communities to address different livestock management issues. We selected and trained local facilitators in the CC methodology and documentation process. They used structured facilitation guides and documentation tools to lead conversations. After each session, we held reflection meetings with facilitators to review the process, interpret the discussions, and gain contextual insights. The results were captured in field reports and later analyzed thematically to provide evidence for the approach's community engagement value.

Findings suggested that CCs hold potential for facilitating collaborative analysis and dialog among rural communities and local service providers regarding gender norms and different livestock management aspects. Gender-inclusive discussions allowed women and men to participate in livestock management decisions. The approach demonstrated adaptability across various contexts and thematic areas. A key strength was its emphasis on collaborative learning and community-driven actions, which helped promote sustained engagement and strengthened partnerships.

The CC approach has shown potential to foster collaboration among rural communities and service providers, enabling them to jointly analyze livestock management challenges and implement locally tailored solutions. Its application in participatory research, training, intervention planning, and partnership building demonstrates its potential to foster collective dialog and action across diverse contexts. Integrating gender perspectives into this approach enhances inclusivity, ensuring that both women and men contribute to decision-making.