Despite significant research advancements, bridging the gap between research findings and rural communities remains a major challenge. In many arid regions, rural communities struggle with unpredictable rainfall, prolonged droughts, soil degradation, and limited forage availability. These challenges are exacerbated by bush encroachment, which severely reduces livestock grazing areas and threatens livelihoods.
Over four years ago, the University of Namibia, in collaboration with the African Wild Dog Conservancy, launched the Enhancing Community Adaptation Through Climate-Resilient Agriculture Encroacher Bushes Value Chains Initiative in Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia. Funded by the Mastercard Foundation through the RUFORUM Community Action Research+ (CARP+), this initiative aimed to address the growing threat of bush encroachment by transforming it into an economic and ecological opportunity.
The abundant encroacher bush presents an economic opportunity that, if properly harnessed, could provide significant benefits to the Namibian economy. To capitalise on this potential, the Biomass Hub was established—a specialised centre for bush biomass conversion dedicated to developing innovative bush-based products, including animal feed, biochar, mushrooms, etc., services, and training programmes. The hub aimed at empowering communities to mitigate the challenges posed by bush encroachment through income creation through value chain addition while promoting sustainable land management practices.
To ensure these solutions reach affected communities, the project has partnered with Omeva Consulting to lead a comprehensive communication campaign and develop practical knowledge materials. This includes video documentaries, interviews, social media engagement, manuals, and video guides, as well as the project’s official website for broader outreach. Through this collaboration, Omeva Consulting ensures that the latest research, innovations, and practical solutions are effectively communicated and accessible—not only to those in Namibia but also to communities worldwide facing similar climate challenges.
SDG: #2 (Zero Hunger), #12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), #13 (Climate Action)
Sectors: Development Consulting, Agriculture, Climate-Resilient Farming, Environmental Conservation, Rural Development
Countries: Namibia
Clients: Mastercard Foundation through RUFORUM Community Action Research+ (CARP+)
Duration: August 2019 - July 2023
Project Title: Communication Campaign and Manual Development for African Wild Dog Biomass Hub
Project Partners: University of Namibia, African Wild Dog Conservancy, Okakarara Vocational Training Center, Omeva Consulting
Aims:
This campaign aims to reach targeted communities with information on bush-based value chains, including animal feed, biochar, mushrooms, and other innovative bush-derived products. It seeks to translate scientific advancements into practical knowledge through the creation of visual manuals and other accessible formats.
Additionally, the campaign will explore innovative communication approaches, including:
Main Documentary
A feature-length documentary capturing the project’s journey, showcasing its impact on local communities, and highlighting the voices of researchers, farmers, and students involved.
Video Series
A collection of engaging videos featuring project participants, including farmers, students, and researchers, guiding viewers through different aspects of the initiative—from research and production to practical applications in farming. The series ensures that knowledge is shared in an accessible and relatable way for diverse audiences.
A comprehensive set of manuals, brochures, and a video manual was developed to provide step-by-step guidance on:
These resources aim to translate scientific advancements into practical solutions, supporting farmers and community members in adopting sustainable practices.
Social Engagement Campaign
A targeted social media campaign was launched to extend the project’s reach, featuring collaborations with local influencers and food scientists such as Maria Kapembe. The campaign leveraged storytelling, interactive content, and community engagement to promote awareness and adoption of bush-based solutions.
We implemented a social media campaign on Instagram to promote the reach of the project. Also, we created an easy-to-navigate website that provides information on the African Wild Dog Biomass Hub project. The platform captures information on the project background, value chains created, research, learning resources, and much more.
Rangelands cover 54% of the world's surface, providing essential resources for communities in harsh environments. However, bush encroachment threatens ecosystems, agricultural productivity, and livelihoods, particularly in Namibia, where 45 million hectares are affected. This reduces grass growth, biodiversity, and water retention, impacting food security and rural economies.
Despite these challenges, Namibia can pioneer sustainable solutions by transforming encroacher bush into valuable resources. Through bush value addition—including animal feed, biochar, and mushroom production—communities can boost household economies while promoting sustainable bush thinning.
A key innovation of this initiative is its communication campaign, designed to make scientific research accessible to rural communities in practical and actionable ways. Farmers often lack access to critical findings, limiting their ability to adopt innovative solutions essential for food security, sustainability, and economic resilience. This campaign bridges that gap through videos, manuals, interviews, and digital platforms, ensuring knowledge reaches those who need it most. By equipping communities with relevant information, it empowers them to adopt bush-value chain innovations, fostering climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable rural economies.
At Omeva Consulting, our scientific background and on-the-ground experience in stakeholder engagement and rural work enabled us to approach this campaign with a focus on clarity, resonance, and impact on both technical and non-technical audiences. Moreover, our collaboration with Maria Kapembe and other local influencers and storytellers, incorporating indigenous language, showcased the project’s journey, resulting in video resources that are relatable and inspiring for the community.
The project has successfully concluded, but our commitment to driving community-driven innovation continues. Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter, where we share success stories, practical resources, training opportunities, and project insights.
You can also continue exploring by watching our video series and accessing downloadable resources and training materials.
