ABSTRACT
This study investigates the development and deployment of Village Community Facilitators (VCFs) – trained local youth serving as community-based professionals in natural resource management (NRM). The initial introduction of VCFs came from the World Bank funded Community-led Landscape Management Project. The primary objective is to examine the impact of equipping young individuals with field-level responsibilities that support the achievement of project goals while fostering community participation.
Using a descriptive approach supported by grounded theory, the research explores how training programmes designed for VCFs translate into practical outcomes on the ground. These youth professionals are engaged in a range of technical and participatory activities, including GIS-based natural resource mapping, seed ball training in over 400 schools for promoting low-cost afforestation, spring mapping for water conservation, and the preparation of Forest Management Plans (FMPs). The study draws from field observations, interviews with stakeholders, and documentation of training and implementation processes.
Findings indicate that it is both possible and effective to train rural youth for these specialised roles. This model provides a form of unconventional employment that bridges skill development and community service. VCFs not only improve the efficiency and responsiveness of NRM interventions but also provide valuable livelihood opportunities, enhancing their socio-economic standing.
The research highlights a mutually beneficial arrangement: the implementing agencies benefit from the local knowledge, trust, and commitment of VCFs, while the youth gain hands-on experience, skills, and dignified employment. This model has demonstrated potential for scalability and sustainability, particularly in remote or ecologically fragile regions where conventional staffing is challenging, and the reach of the government bodies is almost absent.
Overall, building a cadre of community professionals emerges as a promising strategy to advance participatory NRM. It creates pathways for youth engagement, fosters local ownership, and enhances the effectiveness of grassroots environmental initiatives.
