Action Research Projects are the major area of activity in the Livelihood Development programme at INBAR. Bamboo and rattan offer tremendous income generating potential for rural peoples due to the diversity of products they can be used to produce, the number of intermediate processing stages they pass through from raw material to finished product, and to their particular characteristics as crops.

These projects aim to trial and validate bamboo and rattan technologies for poverty alleviation. The intention is to produce small scale models of their successful use that can then be scaled-up or replicated to effect larger-scale development as the need arises.

What does an Action Research Project do?

Tests technologies for poverty alleviation.
Quantifies the benefits of the technologies to the target peoples.
Understands the effects of non-technology factors on successful uptake and implementation.
Understands "enabling environment" conditions necessary for sustainable technology implementation.
Raises awareness amongst all stakeholders.
Encourages policy dialogues and other governmental initiatives to support the sector.
Puts in place the supportive infrastructures (physical, knowledge, information) for sustainability.
Documents the process and the outputs (Technology Validation).

How do we run Action Research Projects?

We work with:

Local and international NGOs, community groups, businesses, entrepreneurs, governmental organisations.

We draw on:

1. A global network of bamboo and rattan experts and development practitioners.
Local, national and international experts in a broad range of fields.
2. INBARs information and skills resources.

Where are INBARs Action Research Projects?

Presently INBAR has Action Research Projects in China, Ecuador, Ghana, India and Tanzania. INBAR funding for most projects comes from the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and we have been able to access co-funding from a range of donors, including governments, in each of the projects. Further details of the projects are available on the project pages.