Lake Kivu Pilot Learning Site socio-economic baseline study

The Lake Kivu Learning Site (LKPLS) was established as a pilot site over three countries: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda. The LKPLS has been set to test the following hypotheses (Bekunda, et al., 2005):
(i) Strong producer organizations have increased bargaining power and ability to collectively
market produce and thus increase returns (income) to land and labor.
(ii) Investments to sustain and maintain the natural resource base are more sustainable when they
are linked to market-oriented production or when there are financial incentives for conserving natural resources and biodiversity.
(iii) Increased livelihood options linked to markets including joint management for buffer zone inhabitants will decrease pressure on conservation areas and biodiversity and increase
returns to land and labor.
(iv) Investment in partnership arrangements that integrate research and development expertise
and perspectives will achieve greater impact through scaling out islands of success.
(v) Innovative information organization and sharing systems will enhance uptake of technologies
and improve decision making.
(vi) Strengthened local governance through improved community facilitation improves
ability to influence development policy and advocate for support to local marketing and natural
resource management initiatives.

This study was conducted with the objective of establishing the baseline conditions of the socio-economic characteristics of the selected study sites. The baseline conditions will be used to test the
stated hypotheses. This report is part of a larger study establishing the baseline conditions in the LKPLS.