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From Joint Experimentation to Laissez-faire: Transdisciplinary Innovation Research for the Institutional Strengthening of a Water Users Association in Khorezm, Uzbekistan
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Purpose: This article assesses a participatory action and innovation research experience, in which project researchers, farmers and staff members of a local water users association (WUA) came together to: (a) jointly test and adapt a social mobilization and institutional strengthening approach according to the local context, and by doing so, to (b) develop a locally embedded approach to the institutional strengthening of WUAs in Uzbekistan.
Design/methodology/approach: The process of interaction and innovation development was one of joint experimentation, which over time and to avoid a disproportionate dependency on external social mobilizers increasingly adopted aspects of a laissez-faire approach, eventually relying fully on members of the local community.
Findings: The findings show that the cooperation style is highly influenced by institutional and structural causes and effects in the specific context of rural Uzbekistan. Participatory approaches to the institutional strengthening of WUAs in Uzbekistan should consequently allow for a high degree of flexibility to adjust key activities and their timeframe.
Practical implications: The research findings are relevant to the lowland irrigated areas of post-Soviet Central Asia where the strengthening of WUAs is still lacking, resulting in limited participation of water users and insufficient operation and maintenance of the slowly eroding infrastructure.
Originality/value: The transdisciplinary innovation and action research experience pays special attention to the change in the style of cooperation, its institutional and structural causes and effects with regard to the ‘localizing’ of the innovation, namely a social mobilization and institutional development (SMID) approach for strengthening water users associations (WUAs) in Uzbekistan.
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... The 'learning selection model' (Douthwaite 2002;Douthwaite and Gummert 2010), for example, identifies several steps in technological innovation processes, inspired by evolutionary science. Several authors have studied innovation journeys and shown that these processes require adaptive management, so as to handle and foster reformism within institutional environments, local contexts, and the mindsets of actors and their relations with one another (Klerkx et al. 2010;Hornidge et al. 2011;Djanibekov et al. 2012;Hermans et al. 2013Hermans et al. , 2016Wigboldus et al. 2016;Cofré-Bravo et al. 2019). These studies provide precious results for analysing and fostering innovation processes. ...
... Earlier research from the social sciences proposed complementary approaches for studying innovation processes (e.g. Klerkx et al. 2010;Djanibekov et al. 2012) on the scale of AIS, food systems or sectors, and from a non-agronomic perspective (e.g. taking into consideration the articulation of institutional, social, and commercial changes). ...
Over the last few years, an increasing number of agricultural R&D actors have sought to discover and get to know farmers’ practices that they consider as innovative, unconventional, or promising. We refer to these approaches, all of which aim to support the design of farming systems, as ‘farmer innovation tracking’. There is still a lack of knowledge, however, about the specificities of the approaches adopted to track innovations and how they contribute to design processes. To explore these questions, we studied 14 initiatives in France led by actors from different R&D networks. We analysed the data collected using agronomy and design science concepts. Three outcomes emerge from this work. (1) We shed light on the common features of innovation tracking. We outline five stages that structure all the approaches: formulating an innovation tracking project, unearthing innovations, learning about them, analysing them, and generating agronomic content. (2) We characterize six contributions of farmer innovation tracking to design processes: giving rise to creative anomalies, shedding light on systemic mechanisms to fuel design processes on other farms, uncovering research questions, stimulating design in orphan fields of innovation, circulating innovation concepts, and connecting farmer-designers with each other. (3) Finally, we highlight three tracking strategies: the targeted tracking of proven practices, the targeted tracking of innovations under development, and the exploratory tracking of proven practices. This article is the first to propose a theorization of the farmer innovation tracking approaches, thus enriching the agronomic foundations supporting farming system design. The purpose of our paper is not to provide a turnkey method, but to highlight concepts, mechanisms, and points of reference for actors who might wish to develop farmer innovation tracking in different contexts in the future. By revealing their contributions to design processes, this article seeks to contribute to the institutionalization of innovation tracking.
... Once developed into 'plausible promises', and as part of the research in phase 3, they screened and ranked innovations using an interdisciplinary approach together with local stakeholders with the intention of testing and adapting the generated knowledge in form of innovations under real-life conditions. This was accompanied by a stepwise capacity development approach by researchers and local stakeholders through a series of training courses and the continuous facilitation of participatory processes in cooperation with local stakeholders (Hornidge et al. 2011a;Ul Hassan et al. 2011;Djanibekov et al. 2012). ...
... The organisational level was addressed by cooperating closely with local, regional and national partner institutions. A "follow the innovation" approach was devised by the project in cooperation with local stakeholders and forms a participatory and transdisciplinary approach to innovation development Ul Hassan and Hornidge 2010;Hornidge et al. 2011a;Ul Hassan et al. 2011;Djanibekov et al. 2012). Three technological and one institutional innovation were tested and adapted to real-life settings in rural Khorezm. ...
This paper defines concepts of capacity and capacity development for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), and particularly the recent contributions made by a German government funded research programme in this area. Based on the theoretical framework of nested domains of capacity development, the multi-level approach, the paper reviews previous work in this field and then summarises four case studies in Ukraine, Jordan/Palestine, Mongolia and Uzbekistan, which each highlight key aspects of these different domains. These activities took place under completely different settings, allowing some generic lessons for conceptual and practical advancements to be derived. The paper notes the need to align IWRM processes and capacity development processes as much as possible. The multi-level approach was found to be an essential framework for the activities. The paper also recognises the need for continuous and long-term approaches in capacity development, particularly in processes for organisational and institutional change where no single set of guidelines or practices will fit every situation. Specific directions for future work are suggested, including a closer link to work on water governance, as well as monitoring and the evaluation of capacity development.
... Examples of this subgroup are the articles by Kato and Ahern (2008) based on a transdisciplinary approach to support natural resource management policies and agricultural extension programs. Djanibekov et al. (2012) found that researchers, farmers, and staff members apply social mobilization and institutional strengthening approaches in the water users association of Uzbekistan. The studies identify the strong influence of institutional factors on the level of cooperation among actors and therefore the success of transdisciplinary processes. ...
... The studies identify the strong influence of institutional factors on the level of cooperation among actors and therefore the success of transdisciplinary processes. As a result, a high degree of flexibility is essential in the planning and timeline of key activities (Djanibekov et al. 2012) and spaces for reflection and interactive learning (Patterson et al. 2013). ...
Bringing together stakeholders with different backgrounds and interests to create new understandings and relationships is essential to advance the sustainable management of urban water. This is a transdisciplinary challenge, with multiple benefits but also obstacles and uncertainties in its applicability. Although transdisciplinary practice is believed to be desirable to enable sustainable urban water management, its role is not clear. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to provide insights into transdisciplinary practice in the urban water sector, highlighting advances and research gaps. This analysis draws upon a scoping process from 1970 until now. It concludes that little research explores transdisciplinary practice in the urban water sector. Future research is necessary into organizational processes, disciplinary dynamics, and strategies applied by water practitioners to bring stakeholders together and achieve transdisciplinary practice in the design and implementation of urban water projects. These future directions of research are relevant to water practitioners dealing with urban water management and could lead to the development of practical guidelines to facilitate transdisciplinary practice.
... Within the context of computing and information technology research, it refers to taking the action of introducing a computing and information technology solution then evaluating and reflecting on its value. Action research has been demonstrated in transdisciplinary research with its participatory and collaborative focus used as a driver for the interaction between many disciplines along with the broad context of taking action on the broad transdisciplinary innovation (Djanibekov et al., 2012). ...
Effective data management is crucial for informed decision-making, particularly in asset and property management, which directly influences organizational efficiency and service delivery. Inventory management serves as a foundational practice for tracking assets, ensuring control over item lifespan, and facilitating sustainable resource allocation. Manual inventory methods, though traditional, often encounter challenges such as redundancy, inefficiency, and error susceptibility. An automated inventory management system addresses these limitations by enabling accurate, real-time data processing and streamlined asset tracking. This system integrates computerized data collection, validation, and localized data storage, allowing for seamless reporting and management of property details. Enhanced by real-time accessibility and reduced data entry redundancy, such systems support the organization's mission, improve decision-making, and simplify inventory tracking across asset lifecycles. Adopting automated systems thus offers significant gains in accuracy, speed, and resource optimization, essential for effective property management and fulfilling public service mandates.
... Within the context of computing and information technology research, it refers to taking the action of introducing a computing and information technology solution then evaluating and reflecting on its value. Action research has been demonstrated in transdisciplinary research with its participatory and collaborative focus used as a driver for the interaction between many disciplines along with the broad context of taking action on the broad transdisciplinary innovation (Djanibekov et al., 2012). ...
... In order to foster transdisciplinary practice in projects delivering multifunctional landscapessuch as our Melbourne and Brisbane case study projectsa degree of flexibility in project timelines is crucial, as is investment in transdisciplinary training and guidelines as part of institutional capacity building (Djanibekov et al., 2012;Edwards et al., 2007). It is necessary that organizational cultures and governance frameworks embrace experimentation and learning. ...
Transdisciplinary practice is considered essential for achieving multifunctional landscapes in cities. But we lack empirical evidence and frameworks that could help us clarify its role and scope. This study seeks to offer empirical evidence by comparing the role of transdisciplinary practice in two projects delivering multifunctional landscapes. What disciplinary dynamics played out in these projects, and what strategies did practitioners use to bring actors together? Using semi-structured interviews, and document analysis, we found different disciplinary dynamics and strategies at play across preparation and transition project phases linked by a window of opportunity. Transdisciplinary practices featured mainly in the preparation project phase, which was characterized by exploring strategies and establishing leaderships and networks that integrate and build knowledge. During this phase, practitioners applied strategies to highlight the relevance of environmental problems, and to get support from different sectors and audiences. Once practitioners found consensus on common targets and obtained support, decision-making processes became less complex, and time became a priority. In the transition phase, improvisation and flexibility were needed to manage problems in different domains. In this phase, transdisciplinary practice ceased to be relevant, and multidisciplinary, monodisciplinary, and interdisciplinary practices dominated, depending on the expertise required to fulfil project objectives and the need for people to work concurrently to meet specific time frames. Here, practitioners applied strategies, but these were carefully chosen for specific audiences to avoid delays.
... When fermers diverge from the rule that cotton as a state crop should be irrigated before the cash crop rice, observations in the case study WCAs have shown that they are very likely to claim in any official conversation that cotton needs to be irrigated first. At the same time as individuals take water management actively into their own hands and pursue their own interests, their statements suggest that "water management is up to the state" (Ul-Hassan & Hornidge 2010;Djanibekov et al. 2012b). ...
Drawing on the intricate pattern of boundary negotiations in Uzbekistan’s water management (Hornidge et al. Natural Resources Forum 35(4); 251–268, 2013) as an example of first-level abstraction in local governance research, this chapter illustrates how such first-level abstractions—grasped and objectified as mid-range concepts—can act as entry points for understanding (in line with Max Weber) local society in the interconnectedness of meaning and being (as stressed by Karl Mannheim). Just like Lego bricks, these first-level abstractions act as building blocks of sense- and meaning-making and, thus, of the ontologies and epistemologies we/society lives in and that guide processes of social differentiation (inherent to any existing form of governance) through the ever continuing processes of boundary-making, -weakening and -renegotiating. To enable Area Studies students to identify first-level abstractions, instead of getting lost in the increasing empirical complexities of a mobile world, it is pertinent to systematically strengthen critical social theory in Area Studies teaching.
... For the Soviet situation, this role of the individual farmer did not exist. But at the same time it is useful to repeat that this does not imply there was no expertise present in the system, that there was no system or that nothing survived of it (Hornidge et al. 2011a;Djanibekov et al. 2012b;Shtaltovna forthcoming). ...
In this paper, we investigate the utility of Knorr-Cetina’s theory of epistemic cultures and knowledge
cultures for the analysis of rural transition in post-socialist countries. We look at the evolution of
agricultural expertise in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Georgia, with a special interest in the reconstruction
of ‘extension’, a concept we also critically investigate by means of Knorr-Cetina’s framework. It is argued
that rural transition in the three countries is marked by patterns of convergence and divergence, and
that each path can be described as a unique and interdependent combination of epistemic cultures and
knowledge culture, leading to unique modes of interpretation, recombination and implementation of
both imported and pre-existing models of extension.
... For the Soviet situation, this role of the individual farmer did not exist. But at the same time it is useful to repeat that this does not imply there was no expertise present in the system, that there was no system or that nothing survived of it (Hornidge et al. 2011a; Djanibekov et al. 2012b; Shtaltovna forthcoming). Bringing back the concept of epistemic cultures, we can say then that the different delineation of roles in the agricultural system has implications for the variety and functioning of epistemic cultures. ...
In this paper, we investigate the utility of Knorr-Cetina’s theory of epistemic cultures and knowledge cultures for the analysis of rural transition in post-socialist countries. We look at the evolution of agricultural expertise in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Georgia, with a special interest in the reconstruction
of ‘extension’, a concept we also critically investigate by means of Knorr-Cetina’s framework. It is argued that rural transition in the three countries is marked by patterns of convergence and divergence, and that each path can be described as a unique and interdependent combination of epistemic cultures and knowledge culture, leading to unique modes of interpretation, recombination and implementation of both imported and pre-existing models of extension.
Keywords: rural development, Central Asia, extension services, knowledge, epistemic cultures.
Article has analyzed the issues by state regulation of the labor market supply and demand for labor resources in the process of formation of the state of equilibrium between the rational and efficient use of human capital. This balance is the essence of a chaotic development, and will be reflected in the labor market.
To understand how learning selection is analogous to natural selection, let us take the example of one of the stages in the early adoption of Mucuna pruriens in Benin (Fig. 2). M. pruriens is a herbaceous legume that forms the basis of an NRM cover crop and green manure technology. Participant A is a female farmer who decides to plant an M. pruriens cover crop in her field after seeing a demonstration in her village by researchers that shows the legume's ability to improve soil fertility. As a result of growing M. pruriens, the farmer has an experience of the crop that she tries to interpret on the basis of the information in her existing mental models of reality. Her observations and understanding lead her to the conclusion that M. pruriens is more immediately useful as a way of suppressing Imperata cylindrica, a grass weed that caused her to abandon some of her land. The following year, she uses M. pruriens to try to reclaim this land by cutting the I. cylindrica at the beginning of the rainy season and broadcasting M. pruriens seed in the hope that it will outgrow and smother the I. cylindrica. By carrying out this experiment, she is generating a novelty as well as beginning another learning cycle, the result of which will be a selection decision on her part as to whether to continue to plant M. pruriens in this way.
The analogy between natural selection and learning selection is not perfect. One important difference is that natural selection is blind, whereas learning selection is not: genetic mutations occur at random, but technology and system change can be directed, e.g., by product champions. The "thinking" nature of learning selection implies that, to understand the processes involved, we have to go beyond simply identifying novelties generated or selection decisions made and delve into the reasons why people behave the way they do. Consequently, a cornerstone of the LS approach is the seemingly obvious relationship articulated by Lewin (1951), who maintains that people's behavior (B) is a function of the interaction of the person (P) with his or her environment (E), or B=f(P,E). This is the theoretical justification for the fourth and fifth steps in the guide (Appendix 1) to managing a learning selection approach that involves working with motivated people and choosing pilot sites where there is a real need. MacKeracher (1994) explains the Lewin model in this way. Behavior can include any outcome of the learning process, including adoption, modification, selection, a change in attitude, and communication to others. P stands for the person (the learner) and can include any characteristic that affects learning, such as existing models of reality. E stands for the environment and can include any factor within the context that might affect learning, including the number and quality of interactions with other people, the nature of the technology being tested, and the physical, cultural, and socioeconomic settings.
After the breakup of the Soviet Union, farm restructuring in Uzbekistan gradually led to the fragmentation of large-scale farms into manifold smaller farms. Yet the existing support infrastructure had been established to serve large-scale producers and did not suit to the smaller farms that comprised multiple scattered plots. As a result, agricultural productivity was disrupted and the stability of national budget revenues from cotton exports was jeopardized. To reverse this trend, the state imposed a land consolidation scheme and re-enlarged the farm sizes. This paper examines the recent state-induced land consolidation process in Uzbekistan, with a focus on the presently experienced constraints for farm innovations and rural development. Khorezm province is used as a case study. Although it was expected that sooner or later farm sizes would be readjusted to fit the design of existing infrastructure, this paper argues that changing the farm sizes in isolation from other reforms will not provide sufficient incentives for creating economically efficient farms. Instead, land consolidation must be supported by a number of additional policies to relax various existing production obstacles, including the extent of the state procurement system, land ownership, water management and auxiliary farm services.
