Paper short abstract:

This study explores synergies in multi-stakeholder collaboration and leadership in skills development programmes in rural communities. It also looks into approaches to skills training along with contextual factors which impact access and participation to training programmes.

Paper long abstract:

One of the top priorities of the 2030 Agenda involves agricultural initiatives and rural development as powerful tools to end poverty and hunger. A strategic response to this challenge is increasing the involvement of the youth and tracking the empowerment of women through skills development programmes. This study explores how multi-stakeholder collaboration and leadership create synergies in promoting sustainable farming system and livelihood practices. This is part of an ongoing project which involves two cases from rural communities in the Philippines - the out-of-school youth and women-led orgainisations in marginilised communities. It combines Participatory Action Research (PAR) methodology and the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA) operating within Freirean principles which entail the development of critical consciousness of structures of power and the realisation of their own power, through praxis, to take a collective action to address present challenges. The structure of this project reflects a multi-sectoral collaboration among government agencies, NGOs, research institutions and women-led organisations. The study considers not only approaches to skills training in rural communities but also contextual factors which impact access and participation to training programmes. Thus, it addresses issues such as challenges and opportunities in co-facilitating and co-producing knowledge in rural communities, practices that build on existing literacies of participants, and distribution of power across sectors to achieve social transformation in rural communities.