Executive Summary

The development of a baseline study, needs assessment and Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) survey in the RICOWAS project intervention areas, in Sierra Leone, with due reference to the project’s Results Framework, Gender Action Plan, and Environment and Social Risk Management Plan is to guide project implementation, and to monitor and evaluate the execution of project activities and their impact in the target communities. In accordance with the RICOWAS project document, this mission covers two activities: Activity 1.2.2.1. Undertake capacity needs assessment and Activity 2.1.2.2. Implement the baseline study on rice production and value-chain characteristics. The aim of carrying out these two activities in parallel is that they adopt similar approaches and involve the same stakeholders, thus optimizing data collection, saving valuable project time, and making the work more efficient.

The objective of the baseline study is to update the status of the project sites and strengthen the consultative process that was already undertaken in the various stages during the development of the project proposal. It will define guidelines and provide recommendations for activities that include unidentified sub projects (USPs) and the methodology to be adopted in Sierra Leone. This baseline will also constitute an opportunity to have a deepest mapping of the project stakeholders, beneficiaries and partners as well as to refine the selection criteria established during the funding proposal design phase (Land use and land ownership:, Vulnerability, Gender). The baseline study will cover all project indicators for which no reliable baseline data exists. This study will be designed and carried out in such a way as to serve as the basis for a mid-term and a final evaluation of the project. The study will also establish the status of key project parameters and inform specific project objectives and subsequent performance monitoring and evaluation by key project stakeholders, the National Executing Entity (SLARI) and beneficiaries.

The objective of the capacity needs assessment (CNA) is to develop a detailed training and capacity building plan to enable key decision-makers to make properly informed decisions about adaption to climate change, capacity development opportunities, and are able to formulate an action plan with a focus on human and institutional capacity to implement SRI/CRRP practices in the different climate zones and rice systems. The behaviour change in relation to adaptation to climate change is to be achieved by behavioural change communication (BCC). The effectiveness of this BCC depends on its alignment with the current knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of the targeted rural communities and population including marginalized groups.

Introduction

Rice which is produced by low-income smallholders across the entire West African region plays a key role in regional food security for rural and urban populations. In recent years, increasing demand stemming from population growth and steady increases in annual per capita consumption (combined at 5.93% per year from 2010-2017; with per capita consumption in 2017 as high as 164 kg in Sierra Leone and 150 kg in Guinea) has outpaced production (4.1% per year for the same time period), leading to ever-increasing rice imports from Asia, accounting for 46% of total rice consumption in 2017.

This places a heavy burden on government budgets and exposes the region to the volatility of world market prices. This became apparent in 2008, when world market prices tripled in less than four months, resulting in riots (e.g. Liberia, Senegal) over a staple food that the majority of the population could not afford anymore.

In response, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) launched a regional Rice Offensive in 2013 intending to achieve rice self-sufficiency by 2025.

The regional Rice Offensive is supported by the National Rice Development Strategies (NRDS), which detail plans to increase rice production on the path to national rice self-sufficiency. It is predicted that between 2017 and 2025 rice consumption in West Africa will continue to increase overall by 32% (from 18.2 million tons to 24.1 million tons of milled rice) based on the population growth in West Africa from 366 million people in 2017 to 450 million in 2025, combined with an estimated increase in per capita consumption from 50 to 54 kilograms during the same time period.

This creates a challenge, but the untapped potential to increase rice production is high in West Africa. Yields have remained low at 2.1 t/ha, the availability of under-utilized land is still relatively extensive and climate-resilient rice production techniques are available but not yet widely disseminated and adopted.

By using the Climate-Resilient Rice Production (CRRP) approach the Rice Offensive can address several critical challenges simultaneously: respond to increasing rice consumption needs, strengthen livelihoods of rice farming communities, allow for diversification of economic activities along the rice value chain, improve the overall national economic well-being, free up hard currency – previously used for rice imports – for other national needs, and contribute to political stability. All in all, this will allow adaption to the imminent climate change threats to this key economic sector, and free human, environmental, and financial capital to tackle other pressing adaptation priorities. West Africa has been identified to be particularly vulnerable to climate change due to the combination of naturally high levels of climate variability, high reliance on rainfed agriculture, and limited economic and institutional capacity to cope with climate change.

It is with a view to contributing to the realization of this initiative that the RICOWAS project was developed, capitalizing on the achievements of the SRI-WAAPP regional project “Improving and scaling up the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in West Africa”.

The project “Scaling-up climate-resilient rice production in West Africa” in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo (RICOWAS PROJECT) is implemented by the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) and financed by the Adaptation Fund (AF).

Project Information

The global objective of the project is to improve climate resilience and increase rice system productivity of smallholder rice farmers across West Africa using a climate-resilient rice production approach.

More specifically the project will:

• Strengthen the resilience and capacity of smallholder rice farmers and other rice stakeholders in the region to use agro-ecological and sustainable land and water management strategies that respond to the climate change threats in their respective localities.
• Assist farmers to implement and scale-up Climate-Resilient Rice Production (CRRP), and to participate in other economic activities of the rice-value chain. 
• Support a communication platform and engage in advocacy to promote efficient exchange of knowledge and expertise among diverse stakeholder groups in West Africa and beyond.
• Facilitate the establishment of a coalition of partners at national and regional levels for the scaling-up of CRRP.

To achieve the above specific objectives, the project has been structured around three (3) main components as follows:

• Component 1: Strengthen human and institutional capacity in climate-resilient rice production (CRRP);
• Component 2: Assist farmers to scale-up Climate-Resilient Rice Production (CRRP); and
• Component 3: Strengthen communication, advocacy and partnerships to scale up CRRP.

Purpose of the study

The purpose of the In-house scientists is to carry out the development of a baseline study, needs assessment and Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) survey in the RICOWAS project intervention areas, with due reference to the project’s Results Framework, Gender Action Plan, and Environment and Social Risk Management Plan.

The results will be used to guide project implementation, and to monitor and evaluate the execution of project activities and their impact in the target communities. In accordance with the RICOWAS project document, this mission covers two activities: Activity 1.2.2.1. Undertake capacity needs assessment and Activity 2.1.2.2. Implement the baseline study on rice production and value-chain characteristics. The aim of carrying out these two activities in parallel is that they adopt similar approaches and involve the same stakeholders, thus optimizing data collection, saving valuable project time, and making the work more efficient.

Baseline study

The Baseline information has already been assembled at a considerable level. During the SRI-WAAPP project, a baseline study was conducted that included SRI, rice production and value-chain characteristics. This was further complemented by the final SRI-WAAPP project reports. All of that data and documentation is available with WAAPP-SL. Moreover, during the RICOWAS project preparation process, important data for baseline information was collected using a comprehensive questionnaire. It addressed the site specificities, SRI status, and community livelihoods inter alia. In the context of this study, the regional executing entity (REE) will hire a consultant who will develop a detailed baseline using data and information from the national baseline established by in-house scientists of SLARI. The baseline provides a good understanding and an update of the project sites’ situation.

It defines guidelines and provides recommendations for activities that include USPs and the methodology to be adopted in the country. This baseline also constitute an opportunity to have a deepest mapping of the project stakeholders, beneficiaries and partners as well as refine the selection criteria established during the funding proposal design phase (Land use and land ownership:, Vulnerability, Gender).

The specific objectives of the baseline study include:

• Measure the baseline value of the expected results of the project with disaggregation such as gender, and recommend for any adjustments to the milestones in the log frame;
• Undertake baseline assessment and determine the baseline values of project indicators;
• Develop a list of relevant indicators and define their baseline situation to facilitate the accurate evaluation of the project’s impacts and results in the intervention zones.
• Establish a mapping detailing the precise intervention zones and locations where the various field activities will be carried out, providing a detailed overview.
• Identify all stakeholders involved in the project, including local governments, public bodies, NGOs, local communities, businesses, and other key players.
• Define guidelines and provide recommendations for activities that include USPs and the methodology to be adopted by all national and regional executing entities

Capacity needs assessment (CNA)

Based on an analysis of information from the desktop review and the qualitative and quantitative surveys, a capacity needs assessment was undertaken and analysed to determine the requirements and challenges of stakeholders in the project and develop a detailed training plan to better inform and provide focus and precision to project execution. The focus was on the key project stakeholders: the extension services, the research, as well as the beneficiary farmers with the objective to develop a detailed training and capacity building plan to enable key decision-makers to make properly informed decisions about adaption to climate change, capacity development opportunities, and are able to formulate an action plan with a focus on human and institutional capacity to implement SRI/CRRP practices in the different climate zones and rice systems.

The overall methodology and approach will address how participation of stakeholders, clients and staff is foreseen, which data collection methods and sources to be used, and the overall sequencing of the process. The Inception Report includes a list of the institutions and individuals that were consulted and also include a list of issues that were evaluated during the CNA.

 Specifically, the capacity needs assessment:

• Described the current status of SRI/CRRP implementation in the project’s zones, encompasses: i) the level of knowledge and familiarity with SRI/CRRP, ii) the yield and impact of SRI, iii) the primary challenges in the rice sector overall and for SRI implementation, iv) the capacity of rice farmers and actual climate-resistant rice production practices, v) agro-saving and access to credit, vi) socio-economic activities related to rice processing and expenditures, vii) access to markets, viii) vulnerability to disasters, responses, and adaptation practices. Special attention was given to gender, youth, and vulnerable and marginalized groups.
• Identified in detail the capacity-building needs, including technical, institutional, and material requirements, to mobilize the necessary resources to achieve the project’s objectives.
• Analyze the current knowledge levels of smallholder rice farmers in the project intervention areas.
• Analyze stakeholders’ behaviors and attitudes towards various project interventions, including social and environmental standards.
• Assess current practices in climate-resilient rice production.
• Identify and map available information and communication channels.
• Map the project’s main stakeholders and beneficiaries, including local agricultural departments, extension services, socio-professional groups, civil society organizations,
• Associations, universities, research structures, and agricultural training centers. The different areas of intervention and implementation of project activities.
• Propose a mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the project, including an analysis of updated risks (clarifying roles and responsibilities, data to be collected, methods for calculating indicators, costs involved, frequency of collection, etc.).

KAP survey

The behaviour change in relation to adaptation to climate change is to be achieved by behavioural change communication (BCC). The effectiveness of this BCC depends on its alignment with the current knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of the targeted rural communities and population including marginalized groups. Understanding the drivers and bottlenecks for the uptake of improved behaviours, mapping the communication channels that communities have access to and investigating the strength and trust people place in these communication channels will further inform these BCC messages.

Previous studies (to be referenced in the Inception Report) give some insights in to the current practice and attitudes that relate to climate change adaptation. However, there is a need to undertake a comprehensive study to quantify knowledge, attitudes and practices throughout the project area. This study will include identifying the drivers and bottlenecks associated with the behaviours, and should also include a mapping and analysis of communication channels.

The specific tasks for the KAP survey include:

• Assess the current knowledge levels of smallholder rice farmers and other actors in the rice sector regarding climate change threats, sustainable agro-ecological land and water management strategies, and climate-resilient rice production approaches.
• Evaluate the attitudes and perceptions of participants towards sustainable agro-ecological practices, including the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method and locally adapted soil and water conservation management approaches.
• Identify the existing practices and challenges faced by participants in implementing climate-resilient rice production methods.
• Determine the training and capacity-building needs of smallholder rice farmers and other actors in the rice sector to effectively adopt and improve climate-resilient rice production approaches.
• Assess the communication platforms and advocacy efforts related to climate-resilient rice production, as well as opportunities for knowledge exchange among stakeholders in West Africa and elsewhere.
• Identify potential partners at the national level for collaboration and support in improving climate-resilient rice production.

Approach and Methodology

The baseline study needs assessment and KAP survey will be carried out and report shared (if not carried out at the same time) with the Regional Executing Entity to ensure overall coordination and compilation of the results of all the studies at national level, in order to produce consolidated reports.

SLARI in-house comprising sixteen (12) scientists will be responsible for carrying out the studies in four (4) provincial zones (3 scientists at each zone) from the ten (10) Districts selected in the country with a lead scientist per zone.

Sample Distribution

Table 1: Number of extension officers and researchers interviewed per region

Sex of Respondents

A total of 20 extension workers and 20 researchers were interviewed. It composed of 16 males and 4 females for the extension workers and 18 males and 2 females for the researchers. Proportionately 80% male and 20% female were extension workers and 90% male and 10% female were researchers. See table 2 the number extension workers and researchers interviewed by sex and region.

Table 2: Number of Respondent Interview by Sex and Region

Age of Respondent

The average age of extension workers from the sample is 31.3 years for the males and 24.1 for the females. The average age for the researchers is a bit higher to that of the extension workers for both sexes. The average age for the male researchers is 34.0 and 35.5 for the female researchers. The results reveal that extension workers and researchers in the surveyed regions are young people (table 3).

Table 3: Average Age of Respondent by Sex and region

Area of Specialization

Areas of specialization for both extension workers and researchers are seen in table 4. All of the extension workers are specializing is dissemination of technologies to farmers. All 20 researchers interviewed are from diverse areas of specialization which is relevant for research activities along the crops value chains (table 4). 

Table 4: Areas of Specialization

Educational Level of Respondents

The level of education for most of the extension workers interviewed (13 out of 20) have first degree and 7 with Higher National Diploma (HND). Researchers are more educated with 13 having a Master degree and 7 owned a PhD. Research is very much critical and therefore, most of the researchers are going for further studies (table 5).

Table 5: Level of Education

A total of 20 extension workers and 20 researchers were interviewed. It composed of 16 males and 4 females for the extension workers and 18 males and 2 females for the researchers for the different SRI/CRRP technologies. Proportionately 30 were familiar with the two varieties, 20, 15, and 19 were familiar with protection of plant, processing equipment and seed multiplication categories respectively, under extension workers and 40 were familiar with the two varieties, 20, 20, and 20 were familiar with protection of plant, processing equipment and seed multiplication categories respectively, under research (table 6).

Table 6:  Name of Technologies

Out of 20 extension workers and 20 researchers were interviewed, proportionately 72% of the extension workers were using the CRRP methodology and 100% of the researchers were practicing the CRRP methodology. See table 7 below.

Table 7: Number of extension and researcher using CRRP Method

A total of 87 of the end user under extension have access to the SRI/CRRP technologies.  Of this number, 67 were producers, 15 were processors, 6 were extensionist, 3 were private sector, and 2 were NGOs. For the research, 120 of the end user have access to the SRI/CRRP technologies.  Of this, 61 were producers, 27 were processors, 16 were extensionist, 9 were private sector, and 7 were NGOs. See table 8 below

Table 8: Access to Extension and End User of Technologies

With the Level of technologies adoption 42 and 27% of the extension workers showed moderate and weak Level of technologies adoption of the SRI/CRRP methodology and 97% of the researchers were practicing on the CRRP methodology. See table 9 below.

Table 9: Level of Technologies Adoption

Needs for Technology Dissemination