Rural, Economic & Community Development

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The development of sustainable livelihoods has become the central theme in the quest for the eradication of poverty. The historical emphasis on the efficient utilisation of natural resources has been superseded by a more holistic approach which allows communities, governments, NGOs and support agencies to focus on all livelihood assets and to identify the best entry points to promote change.

Although poverty is not solely economic, most rural people largely depend on renewable natural resources which must be cultivated or conserved through careful agricultural and environmental practices. Controlled production and protection of plant and animal life provide the basis of many rural livelihood systems and are the foundations of the economy of many countries, providing food, export earnings and often the bulk of employment.

Rural development must take account of local needs, national policies, international trade agreements, appropriate technologies, competitive advantage, and the conservation of the environment. The effective implementation of this process requires a vast range of skills, knowledge and experience, and the ability to integrate these within a unified approach.

Rural, Economic and Community Development

ULG has been supporting rural development for over 30 years. We have assisted the Governments of more than 90 countries in the management of their rural economies and worked with every major international funding agency. We keep abreast of the new approaches and practices and link these to our own substantial experience to offer the expertise to address every facet of rural development, backed by project management and support systems which ensure the effective and successful delivery of our services.

Rural Restructuring

Significant changes are taking place in the rural environment. We actively assist the processes of change from shifting or nomadic systems to settled agriculture, from subsistence to commercial economies, from state to private ownership. Our services to the restructuring process include:

  • Policy and institutional development
  • Change management
  • Land reform
  • Farm restructuring
  • Food security
  • Privatisation
  • Off-farm employment

Rural Restructuring


Community Based Management

Community Based Management

The ability of rural communities to fashion their own destinies requires a major shift from a top-down government determination of what is required and its subsequent management of this, to a process which is driven by the community itself. To effect this change, support must be provided to assist communities to understand and articulate their needs and to organise the provision of these. We offer expertise to rural communities in:

  • Facilitation of participatory planning
  • Structuring of community based organisations
  • Support to enterprise planning
  • Community to government dialogue
  • Gender differentiation
  • Community finance and credit systems

Production Agriculture

ULG has worked in virtually every crop and animal production system, with annual and perennial crops, under rain-fed and irrigated conditions, in temperate, semi-arid, arid and tropical climates and at all technology levels. We provide advice on: 

Production Agriculture

 
  • Cultivation techniques
  • Farming systems
  • Land conservation
  • Pest and disease control in plants and animals
  • Mechanisation

The Farm to Market Chain

ULG recognises the importance of a process which starts with the primary producer and ends with the consumer. Having worked at every stage of this chain, we are ideally placed to advise on an integrated approach to the development of the agricultural sector covering:

  • Post harvest handling and storage
  • Primary and secondary processing
  • Farmer group production contracts
  • Transportation
  • Market surveys
  • Packaging and presentation

The Farm to Market Chain


Research, Extension and Training

Significant advances achieved in agricultural output during the last 50 years owe much to national and international programmes of research, and the subsequent transfer of knowledge to the rural community. Modern research programmes are multi-million dollar businesses and need to be sharply focused and managed. Agricultural extension services need to change through the development cycle with increasing community and private sector participation in the process. ULG has designed and managed national and regional research programmes. We are at the forefront in the development of appropriate systems of service delivery and the training programmes which support these. Within the process of research and extension we assist with:

  • Research programme design and management
  • Extension planning and management
  • Information systems
  • Media technology
  • Training of trainers
  • Alternative service delivery including privatisation

Research, Extension and Training


Resource Evaluation and Planning

ULG undertakes surveys and studies of all aspects of the resource base - physical, social and economic.We have developed systems for the integration of these factors into comprehensive development plans. We provide expertise in:

Resource Evaluation and Planning

  • Soil and land use surveys
  • Remote sensing
  • Geographic information systems
  • Forest and resource inventory
  • Socio-economic studies
  • Rapid rural appraisal
  • Regional planning

 
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