313
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
B. R. Singh et al. (eds.), Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource
Sustainability in Africa, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37537-9_19
Of ‘White Elephant’ in Fisheries:
A Conflict Resolution Model Around
the Usage of Climate-Smart Fish
Postharvest Technologies in Lake Malawi
Fundi Wandisunga Kayamba-Phiri, Moses M. Limuwa,
and Trond Storebakken
Abstract This study develops and analyses a conflict resolution model surrounding the rejection of a climate-smart fisheries technologies project in Chipala village,
Nkhotakota district, Malawi. Solar tent driers and improved smoking kilns were
introduced by the SEED Fish project in Chipala and Vinthenga villages. However,
the technologies are not in use in Chipala due to conflicts among the different stakeholders involved. Qualitative approaches were used to collect and analyse data from
different stakeholders within the district’s decentralised structures. The targeted
participants were involved in the planning and implementation of the SEED Fish
project. The community scorecard (CSC) is an accountability tool used between
service providers and service users and was adapted as a conflict resolution model
to facilitate discussions on the roles that different stakeholders played in the run –
up to the failure of the project. The resolution, in form of an action plan between the
two parties, was made to discuss how the conflicts could have been avoided by
jointly designing an ideal project plan that would ensure adoption and sustainable
use of the technologies. This study concludes that there was need to incorporate
social-cultural and social-political factors in planning and implementation, for it is
the failure to incorporate these factors that led to and perpetuated existing conflicts
in the study area. The recognition and involvement of fish processors was appreciated by the community and implementers as central for the success of such innovations and avoiding conflicts. Involving and reinforcing of decentralised structures
not only reduces the risk of conflict but also contributes to the success of comanagement of natural resources. This study contributes to the theoretical
understanding of how to resolve conflicts while contributing towards good governance and sustainable development processes.
F. W. Kayamba-Phiri
Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Landscape and Society, Department of
International Enviroment and Development Studies (Noragric), Ås, Norway
M. M. Limuwa (*) · T. Storebakken
Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Department of Animal and
Aquacultural Sciences, Ås, Norway
e-mail: mlimuwa@luanar.ac.mw
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
B. R. Singh et al. (eds.), Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource
Sustainability in Africa, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37537-9_19
Of ‘White Elephant’ in Fisheries:
A Conflict Resolution Model Around
the Usage of Climate-Smart Fish
Postharvest Technologies in Lake Malawi
Fundi Wandisunga Kayamba-Phiri, Moses M. Limuwa,
and Trond Storebakken
Abstract This study develops and analyses a conflict resolution model surrounding the rejection of a climate-smart fisheries technologies project in Chipala village,
Nkhotakota district, Malawi. Solar tent driers and improved smoking kilns were
introduced by the SEED Fish project in Chipala and Vinthenga villages. However,
the technologies are not in use in Chipala due to conflicts among the different stakeholders involved. Qualitative approaches were used to collect and analyse data from
different stakeholders within the district’s decentralised structures. The targeted
participants were involved in the planning and implementation of the SEED Fish
project. The community scorecard (CSC) is an accountability tool used between
service providers and service users and was adapted as a conflict resolution model
to facilitate discussions on the roles that different stakeholders played in the run –
up to the failure of the project. The resolution, in form of an action plan between the
two parties, was made to discuss how the conflicts could have been avoided by
jointly designing an ideal project plan that would ensure adoption and sustainable
use of the technologies. This study concludes that there was need to incorporate
social-cultural and social-political factors in planning and implementation, for it is
the failure to incorporate these factors that led to and perpetuated existing conflicts
in the study area. The recognition and involvement of fish processors was appreciated by the community and implementers as central for the success of such innovations and avoiding conflicts. Involving and reinforcing of decentralised structures
not only reduces the risk of conflict but also contributes to the success of comanagement of natural resources. This study contributes to the theoretical
understanding of how to resolve conflicts while contributing towards good governance and sustainable development processes.
F. W. Kayamba-Phiri
Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Landscape and Society, Department of
International Enviroment and Development Studies (Noragric), Ås, Norway
M. M. Limuwa (*) · T. Storebakken
Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Department of Animal and
Aquacultural Sciences, Ås, Norway
e-mail: mlimuwa@luanar.ac.mw