Bolivia’s diverse landscapes, from fertile valleys to the dry Chaco, are home to farming communities navigating complex challenges: climate variability, soil degradation, and the need for sustainable livelihoods. To support these communities, farmer field schools (FFS) are being tested as a practical and participatory approach that equips farmers with knowledge and critical thinking to adapt to ever-changing conditions.

In December 2025, Fundación EkoRural, an Ecuador-based NGO that pioneered FFS in Latin America and the Caribbean, together with the FAO Global FFS Platform, worked closely with local teams to reinforce the quality and consistency of FFS implementation. The mission focused on strengthening the capacities of local practitioners from NGOs, technical institutes, and universities who will become future facilitators of FFS. This effort is part of a broader regional strategy to re-establish the core principles of the methodology, following recent assessments that revealed gaps in facilitation and monitoring.

Three projects, one shared goal

The initiative centered on three major projects:

• RECEM Valles, supporting resilience and climate adaptation in valley communities
• GEF Guadalquivir, promoting sustainable land management and biodiversity in Tarija
• GEF Chaco, restoring agroecosystems and strengthening climate resilience for indigenous Guaraní communities

Each project represents a unique context, but all share the same vision: empowering farmers to lead adaptive solutions through participatory learning.

From principles to practice

Over ten days, workshops and field visits combined theory with hands-on experience. Facilitators and farmers learned to co-design curricula, apply agroecosystem analysis, and test tools for farmer-led experimentation. Sessions emphasized the non-negotiable principles of FFS: quality facilitation, participatory methods, and adaptive learning, while integrating themes such as climate change, soil health and agroforestry.

Part of the mission took place in indigenous Guaraní territory, where adapting FFS to local traditions and cultural practices was essential. Activities focused on experimenting with techniques to improve livelihoods, including pasture management, soil health, and agroforestry systems.

The mission provided valuable lessons on how participatory tools can transform learning. Through sociodramas, facilitators explored their roles and responsibilities in a dynamic, interactive way, helping them internalize the importance of neutrality and active listening. Ballot tests were used to gauge participants’ understanding of FFS principles and identify areas needing reinforcement. Group exercises and discovery-based activities demonstrated that farmers learn best when they observe, analyze, and decide collectively. These methods not only strengthened technical knowledge but also built confidence among facilitators to apply participatory approaches effectively in the field.

Results and next steps

The mission strengthened technical capacities, improved facilitation skills, and sparked an emerging community of practice that is already sharing experiences through digital platforms. However, critical needs remain: deeper mentoring for facilitators, structured experimentation, and robust monitoring systems.

By reinforcing the foundations of FFS in Bolivia, FAO and EkoRural are helping create farming systems that can adapt, innovate, and thrive in the face of uncertainty.