This paper is based on the findings of an action-research process in which many people have been involved with a variety of roles. The project would have not been possible without the support of Laura de Clementi, FAO representative in Guatemala and Doyle Baker, FAO AGSF Service Chief, who facilitated financing from FAO/DFID’s LSP Programme (Sub-programme Livelihoods Diversification and Enterprise Development). Baltasar Moscoso, SPFS Director in Guatemala, and Mario Chamalé, Monitoring and Evaluation officer, provided guidance on the program structure and process, and assisted in organizing field work and workshops. SPFS team members who participated shared their understanding of "systematization" and "good practices", providing the researcher with a number of useful suggestions on research methods and content.
SPFS specialists Milton Solís (extension), Aura López (grassroots organization), Justa de Monney (equity and gender) and Erwin Barrios (enterprise development), and Adolfo Vásquez and Claudia Díaz (SPFS managers in Jocotán), and the other members of Jocotán SPFS staff actively participated in action-research activities, making available their technical expertise and sharing their human vivencias.
The author especially thanks Emanuele Fabi, a student of the post-graduate course in anthropology of the University of Rome, for his support in processing and interpreting ethnographic information, and Dounia Darhnaj, a post-graduate agronomy student from the University of Montpellier for her assistance in collecting quantitative data. Their assistance was essential for gathering all the information summarized here given the short space of time. The author also thanks Alvaro Ortega and José Luís Vivero from the FAO Representation in Guatemala (for making available the systematization document drafts and for providing comments on program systematization practice) and Mynor Estrada, the FAO Programme Officer in Guatemala, for his encouraging input on the preliminary research findings.
Last but not least, the contribution of ASEJO members must be acknowledged. Without their experience and insights the action-research process would not have been as deep, interesting, and fun as it was. A particular thanks must be given to Don Neftalí, Don Policarpo, Don Belisario, Don Claudio, Don Isabel and Don Eswin for sharing some sensitive aspects of their household economy and welcoming researchers in their homes and plots. It is hoped that this paper will contribute to motivating FAO-SPFS and other development agencies to renew and strenghten the support that ASEJO deserves.
Earlier drafts of this paper have been reviewed and commented on by Laura De Clementi (FAOREP Guatemala), José Luís Vivero (FAO Guatemala), Fintan Scanlan (FAO), Juan Fajardo (FAO, AGSP), Ian Cherret (FAORLC), Dervla Cleary (FAO-AGSF), Gouantoueu Guei (FAO-AGPS), Ladé Dada(AGFS) and Siobhan Kelly (FAO-AGFS).
