The TEEB AgriFood project recently held a successful two-day workshop aimed at co-designing questionnaires for the forthcoming TEEB AgriFood Household Survey. The workshop represented a key step in ensuring that local perspectives and experiences are integrated into the survey design process, thereby enhancing the project’s participatory and inclusive approach.
The session brought together citizen scientists—community representatives central to the project’s bottom-up methodology. Their active involvement provided valuable, on-the-ground insights crucial for tailoring the survey to reflect community realities. By contributing directly to the design process, participants also fostered a sense of ownership essential for effective community engagement and the broader dissemination of the TEEB AgriFood message.
The workshop further benefited from the expertise of a team member from Shujaaz, who facilitated an engaging session on designing tools with the end user in mind. This guidance proved instrumental in ensuring that the survey instruments are user-friendly, context-appropriate, and responsive to the needs of diverse target groups.
As a result of the co-design process, two comprehensive questionnaires were developed—one specifically targeting youth and the other older-generation farmers. These tools will play a pivotal role in gathering robust data to inform the project’s evidence base and support the development of more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable agri-food systems.
Looking ahead, the insights and tools developed during this workshop will guide the TEEB AgriFood Household Survey rollout across participating communities. The project team remains committed to ensuring that the survey process not only generates meaningful data but also strengthens local capacity and fosters collaboration among farmers, researchers, and policymakers working toward a more sustainable agricultural future.
Article by Juliet Hinga