The effectiveness of agency-driven and community-driven recovery approaches is a discoursive material that appeals to many disaster management practitioners, scholars, international donors or governments. Meanwhile, the community has never been part of this discourse as beneficiaries to obtain its perspective on both approaches. Loli Dondo village, which received agency-driven and community-driven livelihood recovery after the 2018 Central Sulawesi Tsunami, was purposively selected as the site of investigation. This study aims to explore how both the approaches were perceived by the community. A qualitative research method involving focus group interviews (FGI), interviews and participatory rural appraisal (PRA) was used to explore and capture community narratives and collective storytelling to produce a visual analysis of the community's problem-solving strategy and management. Based on the results, the community-driven recovery approach fulfilled the community standards and provided more impact than its counterpart. Several essential viewpoints were underlined for all approaches as follows: (1) the agency's transparency to the community about financial conditions, (2) communication and active community involvement and (3) preciseness of the aid to community needs. These elements are expected to improve the implementation of such recovery programmes, thereby increasing quality and accessibility. The insightful community storylines, experiences and reflection support in building a better practice of livelihood recovery approaches for beneficiaries and also contribute widely to their implementation according to the community's perspective. CONTRIBUTION: These findings highlight the key elements of recovery implementation based on community perspectives to achieve impact of livelihood recovery

The study intended to identify the problems of the farmers and prioritise them for extension intervention. The study was facilitated by the political head of the department within a hundred days of the resumption of duty. Meetings were facilitated through district offices of both the department and municipalities. The identification of farmers' problems focused mainly on production, financial and infrastructural projects. Data was collected through a participatory rural appraisal approach. Farmers were allowed to express problems affecting them in a meeting setup. The extension officers (E.O) captured problems expressed by farmers and classify them according to the questionnaire template developed. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to capture and analyse data. The data was presented to extension officers and management of DARD. The major findings of the study revealed that :(1) Water supply, (2) Availability of land, (3) Livestock theft, (4) production inputs, (5) Machinery, and (6) fencing were major problems of the farmers. The recommendation of the study was that: (a) Problems be resolved according to their importance and (b) preference for implementation of extension intervention programmes to be a bottom-up than a top-down approach.

RESUMO O processo sócio-histórico do Brasil é atravessado pelo racismo e pela questão agrária, visto que ambos fazem parte de uma mesma dimensão estrutural. Desse modo, a compreensão do racismo é elementar para apreender o processo de determinação social das desigualdades raciais em saúde. Esta pesquisa-ação teve como objetivo geral analisar a interferência do racismo no processo saúde-doença-cuidado de famílias negras do campo e, mais especificamente, descrever as atividades de intervenção do grupo de crianças. Foram utilizados dados primários: diários de campo e outros documentos elaborados pela Equipe de Residentes; e dados secundários: sistematização das ferramentas do Diagnóstico Rural Participativo na territorialização. Essa ação compartilhada entre profissionais residentes em saúde da família e moradores/as de um assentamento, localizado em Caruaru (PE), foi desenvolvida a partir da educação popular em saúde com foco na promoção à saúde e teve o enfrentamento ao racismo como eixo transversal. Nesse sentido, a equipe de Saúde da Família se mostrou instrumento potente de promoção de Territórios Saudáveis e Sustentáveis a partir do enfrentamento do racismo em suas questões não biocentradas, com o uso de baixa tecnologia, transdisciplinarmente, fortalecendo as identidades negras e construindo saúde conforme preconizado nas políticas de saúde e nos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável.

ABSTRACT The socio-historical process in Brazil is crossed by racism and the agrarian issues, as both are part of the same structural dimension. Thus, the understanding of racism is essential to apprehend the social determination process of racial inequalities in health. This action research had as general objective to analyze the interference of racism in the health-disease-care process of rural black families and, more specifically, to describe the children’s group intervention activities. Primary data were used: field diaries and other documents prepared by the Resident Team; and secondary data: the Participatory Rural Appraisal as a tool of systematization in territorialization. This shared action between professionals residents in Family Health Care and settlement dwellers, located in Caruaru (PE), was developed from the popular health education focusing on health promotion and facing racism as a transversal axis. In this sense, the Family Health team is a powerful tool for promoting Healthy and Sustainable Territories by confronting racism in its non-biocentered issues, with the use of low technology, transdisciplinary, strengthening black identities and building health as recommended in health policies and the Sustainable Development Goals.

RESUMO O processo sócio-histórico do Brasil é atravessado pelo racismo e pela questão agrária, visto que ambos fazem parte de uma mesma dimensão estrutural. Desse modo, a compreensão do racismo é elementar para apreender o processo de determinação social das desigualdades raciais em saúde. Esta pesquisa-ação teve como objetivo geral analisar a interferência do racismo no processo saúde-doença-cuidado de famílias negras do campo e, mais especificamente, descrever as atividades de intervenção do grupo de crianças. Foram utilizados dados primários: diários de campo e outros documentos elaborados pela Equipe de Residentes; e dados secundários: sistematização das ferramentas do Diagnóstico Rural Participativo na territorialização. Essa ação compartilhada entre profissionais residentes em saúde da família e moradores/as de um assentamento, localizado em Caruaru (PE), foi desenvolvida a partir da educação popular em saúde com foco na promoção à saúde e teve o enfrentamento ao racismo como eixo transversal. Nesse sentido, a equipe de Saúde da Família se mostrou instrumento potente de promoção de Territórios Saudáveis e Sustentáveis a partir do enfrentamento do racismo em suas questões não biocentradas, com o uso de baixa tecnologia, transdisciplinarmente, fortalecendo as identidades negras e construindo saúde conforme preconizado nas políticas de saúde e nos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável.

ABSTRACT The socio-historical process in Brazil is crossed by racism and the agrarian issues, as both are part of the same structural dimension. Thus, the understanding of racism is essential to apprehend the social determination process of racial inequalities in health. This action research had as general objective to analyze the interference of racism in the health-disease-care process of rural black families and, more specifically, to describe the children’s group intervention activities. Primary data were used: field diaries and other documents prepared by the Resident Team; and secondary data: the Participatory Rural Appraisal as a tool of systematization in territorialization. This shared action between professionals residents in Family Health Care and settlement dwellers, located in Caruaru (PE), was developed from the popular health education focusing on health promotion and facing racism as a transversal axis. In this sense, the Family Health team is a powerful tool for promoting Healthy and Sustainable Territories by confronting racism in its non-biocentered issues, with the use of low technology, transdisciplinary, strengthening black identities and building health as recommended in health policies and the Sustainable Development Goals.

In recent years, there has been a paradigm shift in research from 'top-down' directives to 'bottom-up' planning. Thus, there has been a change from imposing strategies to a participatory approach by indigenous people. This study uses the participatory approach to flood disaster management in Thohoyandou and its environs. The aim of this study is twofold: first, to understand the perception of communities towards floods hazards; and second, to probe how communities respond to flood hazards and how this knowledge can be used in the planning and management of future disasters. In order to achieve these objectives, participatory rural appraisal (PRA), interviews and observation were used as data collection techniques. The study found that there was consensus among the participants that flooding is a natural process, but human activities enhance the risks of flooding. Human activities that were found to be the causes of flood included clearance of vegetation, cultivation in steep slope areas, the effect of relief, urbanisation, poor designs and maintenance of drainage system and settlement in inadequate areas. The study found that local communities did not cope when there was flooding. However, they suggested strategies that should be used to cope with future flood hazards.

The ever-increasing interest in mining of sand in shallow waters of many rural rivers on the one hand and the growing concern for the environment on the other underscore the need to develop better management policies that govern sand extraction. Although literature pointing to increased environmental consciousness by some mining operations exists, the link between environmental concerns and sand mining has however remained a controversial matter and an under-researched area in South Africa. Consequently, decisions relating to what actions should or should not be taken to limit environmental concerns associated with sand mining operations in South Africa are not known. This analysis sought to explore regulatory and policy implications of sand mining operations along a sample of sites of Njelele River in South Africa. Data were gathered through observation, household questionnaire survey and a series of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) exercises conducted with selected community members and sand miners. We used a combination of K-means clustering and Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) to determine the major environmental attributes explaining the state of affairs in sand mining. Regulatory and policy implications were developed using a combination of Gap analysis; Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis; and the development of a Threats, Opportunities, Weaknesses and Strengths (TOWS) matrix strategy. Our analysis identified a series of morphological, ecological, socio-ecological, governance and physical factors that were major areas of concern in three distinct clusters of sand mining sites. We concluded by discussing a number of regulatory and policy implications of sand mining at three scales, namely strategic, institutional and operational scales.

Abstract The presence of agricultural production in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre (MRPA) is small but quite significant. This importance has prompted the search for ways of consolidating such activity, especially family farming. With the aim of evaluating soil characteristics and relating them to the perceptions and appraisal of the local farmers, two settlements in the MRPA were visited, where areas of housing and family production were chosen for this study. Resources, such as semi-structured interviews, hiking and the selection of tracts of farmland for soil sampling and monitoring were used. The results showed that the soils have some limitations on use, such as the sandy texture, low natural fertility and, in some areas, restricted drainage. Local settlers can distinguish between these characteristics, and to do this, a comparison with the soils of their places of origin was important. The people displayed greater familiarity with field-based approaches, showing these to be the most productive forms of dialogue with technicians and researchers. Similarities were noted between several observations made by the public and the criteria and technical and scientific attributes used in surveys and in evaluating land suitability, showing a correspondence between these different forms of learning, and making it feasible to plan sustainable production systems on a participatory basis. (MRPA significant activity farming farmers visited study Resources semistructured semi structured interviews use texture drainage important fieldbased field based approaches researchers suitability learning basis

Resumo A atividade de produção agrícola tem presença pequena, mas de importância expressiva na região Metropolitana de Porto Alegre (RMPA). Esta importância tem motivado a busca por formas de consolidação desta atividade, principalmente a agricultura familiar. Com o objetivo de avaliar as características dos solos, relacionando-os as percepções e avaliações dos agricultores locais, dois assentamentos da RMPA foram visitados, e lotes de moradia e produção familiar escolhidos para este trabalho. Foram utilizados recursos de entrevista semiestruturada, caminhamento e escolha de algumas glebas para amostragem e observação dos solos. Os resultados mostraram que estes solos têm limitações ao uso, como textura arenosa, baixa fertilidade natural e drenagem restrita em algumas áreas. Os assentados conseguem distinguir estas características, e para isto foi importante a comparação com os solos de suas localidades de origem. Este público demonstrou maior familiaridade com abordagens no campo, evidenciando serem estas as formas mais produtivas de diálogo com técnicos e pesquisadores. Foi percebida a identidade entre várias observações do público, e critérios e atributos técnico-científicos utilizados em levantamentos e avalição de aptidão de uso das terras, mostrando a aproximação entre estas diferentes formas de saber, e viabilizando trabalhos no sentido de planejamento de sistemas de produção sustentáveis, de forma participativa pequena RMPA. . (RMPA) relacionandoos relacionando locais visitados trabalho semiestruturada arenosa áreas origem campo pesquisadores técnicocientíficos técnico científicos terras saber sustentáveis (RMPA

Abstract: This study focuses on an agroecosystem of San Miguel river subbasin in the state of Sonora. The objective is to identify its productive subsystems and problems related to water management. The characterization of the agroecosystem which produces fodder for the livestock subsystem and its hierarchical problems are presented as preliminary results supported by the Management Systems Assessment Framework Incorporating Sustainability Indicators and Participatory Rural Appraisal methods. Likewise, conflicts arising from the confluence of two types of local water management institutions are identified: one deriving from traditional self-management and the other imposed by the government.

Resumen: Se estudia un agroecosistema de la subcuenca del río San Miguel en el estado de Sonora con el objetivo de identificar sus subsistemas productivos y la problemática relacionada con el manejo de agua. Se presentan, como resultados preliminares, la caracterización del agroecosistema que produce forrajes para el subsistema pecuario y la jerarquización de problemas, con apoyo del Marco de Evaluación de Sistemas de Manejo Incorporando Indicadores de Sustentabilidad y métodos de Evaluación Rural Participativa. Asimismo, se identifican conflictos derivados de la confluencia de dos tipos de instituciones de manejo de agua locales: una tradicional autogestiva y otra impuesta por el gobierno.

Abstract: The aim was to propose a development planning model validated in field conducive to the proper use of natural resources. Related to the methodology, a program of ecological land relying on geographic information systems, participatory workshops, field observations and semi-structured interviews was formulated. We found these results: The local development model proposed part of the foundations of sustainable development, participatory rural appraisal and territorial planning and seeking compatibility between the management of natural resources, productive activities, sociocultural characteristics, technical recommendations and the perceived needs of the population. The main limiting factors in this work are the little time to complete and required to monitor and assess the processes of self-management and the availability of economic resources to finance it. Thus, we can conclude that the contribution of this work, as a tool for planning and local development, seen as pillar for the construction of the proposed participation of stakeholders in the public, private and social sector, so that their visions combine the perspective of sustainable management natural resources in the same effort to decide local affairs.

Resumen: El objetivo fue proponer un modelo de planeación de desarrollo validado en campo que propicie el uso adecuado de los recursos naturales. En cuanto a la metodología, se formuló un programa de ordenamiento ecológico del territorio apoyándose en los sistemas de información geográfica, talleres participativos, recorridos de campo y entrevistas semiestructuradas. El resultado de este trabajo es que el modelo de desarrollo local propuesto parte de los fundamentos del desarrollo sustentable, la evaluación rural participativa y la planificación territorial y busca la compatibilidad entre el manejo de los recursos naturales, las actividades productivas, las características socioculturales, las recomendaciones técnicas y las necesidades sentidas de la población. Las principales limitantes en este tipo de trabajo son el poco tiempo para su realización y el requerido para el acompañamiento y evaluación de los procesos de autogestión así como la disponibilidad de los recursos económicos para financiarla. Nuestra conclusión es que la aportación de este trabajo, como instrumento de planeación y desarrollo local, contempla como pilar para la construcción de las propuestas la participación de actores del sector público, privado y social, de tal forma que se conjuguen sus visiones bajo la óptica del manejo sostenible de los recursos naturales en un mismo esfuerzo paa decidir el quehacer local.

Abstract: In the Guadalupe Cuautepec community, deforestation, overgrazing and unsustainable agricultural practices, have caused soil erosion and hence the siltation of the lagoon located in the town. In order to generate basic information to create protective strategies to this water body, an ecological zoning was developed from the diagnosis of this community resources': water, soil and vegetation. From the technical point of view a socioeconomic and biophysical characterization was performed; the latter included geomorphological, hydrologic, geological, soil, vegetation, erosion, potential land use, land use conflicts and ground instability. On the other hand, a participatory rural appraisal was conducted, in which the most relevant problems related to natural resources and the community actions needed for the sustainable management of such resources were identified. Top priority targets were set to achieve sustainable management of natural resources, among which are: soil conservation works, controlled logging activities and reforestation of non-vegetated areas. It was estimated that 77.8% of the Cuautepec territory presents high and very high risk of erosion, with indices above than 50 t/ha/ year. It was determined that the most eroded lands in need of restoration cover 609.34 ha, and that the priority area to reforest is 439.52 ha.

Resumen: En la comunidad de Guadalupe Cuautepec, la deforestación, el sobrepastoreo y las prácticas agrícolas insostenibles, han provocado la erosión del suelo y en consecuencia el azolvamiento de la laguna ubicada en la localidad. Con el fin generar información básica para la creación de estrategias de protección de este cuerpo de agua, se elaboró un ordenamiento ecológico territorial a partir del diagnóstico de los recursos agua, suelo y vegetación, de la comunidad. Desde el punto de vista técnico se realizó una caracterización socioeconómica y biofísica; esta última incluyó aspectos sobre: geomorfología, hidrología, geología, edafología, vegetación, erosión, uso potencial del suelo, conflictos de uso e inestabilidad de suelos. Por otro lado, se llevó a cabo un diagnóstico rural participativo, en el que se identificaron los problemas más relevantes relacionados con los recursos naturales y las acciones que la comunidad realizará para el manejo sustentable de los mismos. Se establecieron objetivos de alta prioridad para lograr el manejo sustentable de los recursos naturales, entre los que están: realizar obras para la conservación de suelos, controlar el aprovechamiento forestal y reforestar zonas sin vegetación. Se estimó que 77.8% del territorio de Cuautepec, presenta alto y muy alto riesgo de erosión, con índices superiores a 50 t/ha/año. Se determinó que los terrenos más erosionados con necesidades de restauración abarcan 609.34 ha y que la superficie prioritaria a reforestar es de 439.52 ha.

The JOLISAA project analysed a number of multi-stakeholder innovation cases in smallholder agriculture in Benin, Kenya and South Africa through a Collaborative Case Assessment process. The overriding assumption was that a comparative analysis of wide ranging innovation experiences may provide useful insights into the way that innovation processes are triggered and unfold in smallholder agricultural systems. One of the cases investigated in South Africa was from Limpopo Province. This was a project-based innovation processes, initiated to redress how agricultural and social development in rural communities should be addressed through the adoption of the Participatory Extension Approach (PEA). The approach focused on the reorientation of mindsets in Limpopo Department of Agricultural, which were still founded on the teaching of linear transfer of technology models, and where farmers were approached with a believe that extension have all the answers to farmer problems. Participatory Rural Appraisal methodologies were used to interview smallholder farmers and key informants. It was revealed that this was a case of an innovation bundle where the main innovation was an institutional innovation, with the introduction of PEA through the GTZ/BASED program. The aim was to broaden agricultural service and extension delivery to smallholder farmers in the Vhembe district. In the unpacking of the soil fertility management innovation it was revealed that the innovation consists of a number of innovations, which include technical and organisation innovations. The GTZ/BASED program trained some 700 extensionists in the PEA methodology, capacitating them to facilitate technical innovations amongst smallholders in one of four technical areas. A total of 397 villages were eventually served. The extensionists specialising in soil fertility management teamed up with a local university to redress a severe decline in soil fertility in two smallholder irrigation schemes, Rammbuda and Mphaila. Together with farmers they experimented with innovative ways like green manuring with forage legumes. These technical innovation processes created capacity amongst smallholders that triggered spontaneous farmer-initiated experimentation and innovation processes to improve smallholder farming systems and livelihoods. The key challenge identified was that decisive institutional ownership is required to sustain an enabling environment allowing innovation processes to continue beyond the project phase. The key lesson was that project initiated innovations could trigger farmer innovations and that developmental change strategies should explore such opportunities.

ABSTRACT Land redistribution was legislated in 1994; it was designed to resolve historical imbalances in land ownership in South Africa. Between 2002 and 2006, a longitudinal observational study was conducted with 15 purposively selected small-scale dairy farmers in a land redistribution project in Central North West Province. Four farmers left the project over the period. For the purposes of this study, a small-scale dairy farm was defined as a farm that produces less than 500 L of milk a day, irrespective of the number of cows or size of the farm. The study was conducted in three phases. In the first phase, situational analysis using participatory rural appraisal (PRA) and observation was used to outline the extent of the constraints and design appropriate interventions. Feeds that were used were tested and evaluated. In the second phase, three different feeding systems were designed from the data obtained from PRA. These were: (1) A semi-intensive farm-based ration using available crops, pastures and crop residues with minimal rations purchased. (2) An intensive, zero-grazing dairy system using a total mixed ration. (3) A traditional, extensive or dual-purpose system, where the calf drank from the cow until weaning and milking was done only once a day. In the third phase, adoption was monitored. By July 2006, all remaining farmers had changed to commercially formulated rations or licks and the body condition score of the cows had improved. It was concluded that veterinary extension based on PRA and a holistic systems approach was a good option for such complex problems. Mentoring by commercial dairy farmers, veterinary and extension services appeared to be viable. Further research should be done to optimise the traditional model of dairy farming, as this was relatively profitable, had a lower risk and was less labour intensive.

The data collection approach called Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) was used in five villages: Killi Tor Shore; Medadzai; Ghunda; Kala Ragha, and Killi Shaban. Up to five groups were sampled in each village, comprising a total of 17 villages within the Zarghoon Juniper ecosystem. This area is rich both historically and culturally for using medicinal plants, mostly by women (60%). In this study, 26 species of medicinal plants fit in 20 genera and 13 families. They are used by aboriginal people via the indigenous knowledge they have for the treatment of many diseases. About 60, 35, and 5% of the medicines are prepared to be used orally, topically and boiled to inhale, respectively. Percentage distribution of plant parts used with purpose is 57, 26, 10 and 7% for leaves, seeds, flowers and roots, respectively. It is important to preserve the indigenous knowledge that people have for using vegetation as medicines for a sustainable utilization of the renewable natural resources. The PRA tools used consisted of social maps, transit walks, structured and semi-structured interviews, and pie diagrams. The socio-economic conditions revealed around 20000 people living in 400 households distributed in 17 villages, and livelihood depended on the forest. The community lacks basic amenities of life. The major sources of income (90%) are agriculture and livestock raising, and only 10% comes from trade, services and labor. The current high anthropogenic pressure on the ecosystem can be reduced by regulation, service implementations and financial assistance. This should contribute to sustainable resource utilization in the unique juniper ecosystem of Zarghoon.

El enfoque de recolección de datos llamado Valuación Rural con Participantes (PRA) se utilizó en cinco villas: Killi Tor Shore; Medadzai; Ghunda; Kala Ragha y Killi Shaban. En cada villa se muestrearon hasta cinco grupos, comprendiendo un total de 17 villas en el ecosistema de junípero de Zarghoon. Esta área es rica tanto histórica como culturalmente por el uso de plantas medicinales, principalmente por mujeres (60%). En este estudio, 26 especies de plantas medicinales pertenecieron a 20 géneros y 13 familias. Estas son utilizadas por aborígenes a través del conocimiento indígena que ellos tienen para el tratamiento de varias enfermedades. Cerca de 60, 35 y 5% de las medicinas son preparadas para su uso oral, como tópico y hervidas para inhalar, respectivamente. La distribución porcentual de las partes vegetales usadas con este propósito es de 57, 26, 10 y 7% para hojas, semillas, flores y raíces, respectivamente. Es importante mantener el conocimiento indígena que tiene la gente para usar la vegetación como medicinas para una utilización sustentable de los recursos naturales renovables. Las herramientas utilizadas en el programa PARA incluyeron el uso de mapas sociales, sendas efectuadas por caminatas, entrevistas estructuradas y semi-estructuradas, y diagramas circulares. Las condiciones socio-económicas revelaron cerca de 20000 personas habitando 400 viviendas distribuidas en 17 villas, y su subsistencia dependió del bosque. A la comunidad le faltan cosas básicas para vivir. Las fuentes principales de ingreso económico (90%) son la agricultura y la cría de ganado, y solo un 10% proviene de intercambios, servicios y trabajo. La alta presión antrópica actual sobre el ecosistema puede ser reducida por regulaciones, implementación de servicios y asistencia financiera. Esto debería contribuir a una utilización sustentable de los recursos en el único ecosistema de junípero de Zarghoon.

OBJETIVO: realizar atividade de ensino e extensão com alunos de graduação para construção de diagnóstico participativo sobre as condições de vida, ambiente e trabalho em núcleo populacional rural, visando subsidiar ações de promoção da saúde pela equipe de agentes comunitários da Estratégia Saúde da Família. MÉTODOS: trabalho realizado no Núcleo Rural do Lamarão, no Distrito Federal, de outubro/2010 a janeiro/2011. Alunos, conjuntamente com agentes comunitários de saúde, por meio de entrevistas, visitas e oficinas, aplicaram instrumentos de Estimativa Participativa Rápida e de construção de mapa de vulnerabilidade socioambiental e de contextos de promoção da saúde ambiental. RESULTADOS: identificaram-se como promotores da vida na comunidade: diversidade de produção de alimentos, liberdade e segurança, união e organização da comunidade, geração de empregos e natureza. Foram considerados ameaçadores à vida: cultura alimentar, uso inadequado de agrotóxicos, uso incorreto de equipamentos de proteção individual, pulverização aérea, falta de lazer, falta de transporte, uso de drogas lícitas e ilícitas. CONCLUSÃO: a partir do diagnóstico, será construído um projeto de intervenção participativo que incorporará características de ensino, pesquisa e extensão na relação Saúde, Trabalho, Ambiente e Nutrição.

OBJECTIVE: To involve undergraduate students in an extension activity aimed at conducting a participatory diagnosis on life, environment, and work conditions in a rural settlement, with the purpose of raising goals for future health promotion actions performed by community health agents of the Family Health Strategy. METHODS: The study was held between October 2010 and January 2011 in the rural community of Lamarão, located in the Federal District in Brazil. By means of interviews, visits, and workshops, students and community health agents used Participatory Rapid Appraisal instruments as well as tools for mapping socio-environmental vulnerability and health promotion related issues. RESULTS: The following were identified as life promotion factors in the community: food production diversity, freedom and safety, unity and community organization, job generation, and nature. Considered as threatening to life were: food culture, improper use of pesticides, inadequate use of personal protective equipment, aerial spraying, lack of leisure, lack of transportation, use of licit and illicit drugs. CONCLUSION: A participatory intervention project will be developed, which will incorporate teaching, research and extension activities regarding Health, Work, Environment, and Nutrition.

The starting point of any project is a need and a need is much more concrete and more definable: otherwise a project can never be well planned For a project to be successful, the needs of the beneficiaries has to be clearly analysed and understood for appropriate planning to take place (Swanepoel & de Beer 2006: 172). The main objective of this study is to determine the influence that the beneficiaries needs had on the project success or failure as perceived by both the beneficiaries (project participants) and the serving extension officers. The study revealed that 20.8% of the project participants and 30.2% of the extension officers indicated that the farmer's needs were only mostly met. Secondly, significantly more project participants (26.4%) than extension officers (13.6%) indicated that the choice of project content was based on calculated impact. A total of 56% extension officers and only 20% project participants indicated "other content of choice" as their most important option. The majority (52.4%) of both respondent categories indicated that the training received was very relevant. Project participants indicated a need for 25.25 mean days of training while extension officers indicated a need for 26.71 mean days of training. The majority (52.4%) of both respondent categories indicated that the training was very much relevant and at least 48% of both respondent categories indicated that the need assessment was done on continuous bases. A negative aspect is that 31% of all the respondents indicated that needs assessment was only done once a year while 12% indicated that there was no assessment done. The majority ofproject participants (73%) reported that they were consulted before the project started and only 7.1% reported that they were not consulted, while 38.3 % of both respondent categories indicated that the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) method was used to assess their needs. The findings clearly indicate a significant association between farmer's needs and project failure or success.