Description
The Whole Village Project (WVP) is a collaboration between the University of
Minnesota and a Tanzanian NGO, Savannas Forever (SFTZ). The WVP has worked
with USAID, SNV, faith-based and government hospitals, NGOs, and district/village
governments to develop a quantitative interdisciplinary baseline in 56 villages across
Tanzania. Integrated household data on food security, nutrition, wildlife conflicts,
livestock health, HIV/AIDS, agriculture and socioeconomics are presented to village
stakeholders to support evidence-based village planning.
Purpose
We consider the “whole village” to be the unit of successful poverty alleviation, taking
advantage of synergies between health, agriculture, energy, water, conservation and
civil society projects and innovations. WVP research findings provide a platform to
convene villagers, donors, NGOs, hospitals and other institutions to better understand
linkages between different aspects of village life. Survey findings are used to design
targeted communication trainings in which multiple partners participate in grass roots
planning and training sessions. These discussions allow rural communities to prioritize
and improve existing development programs or begin new ones. Return visits will
enable quantitative measurement of the impacts of development projects at the
household/village level.
Scope Tanzania. Future work will include Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.
Primary Funders
USAID, SNV, Partners for Development, Canadian FoodGrains Bank, African Wildlife
Foundation, Friedkin Conservation Fund, Univ. of Minnesota
Participants & Key Collaborators
Tanzanian National Institute for Medical Research, Tanzanian Wildlife Research
Institute, district and community HIV/AIDS officers and hospitals in 13 districts,
including Arusha Lutheran Medical Center mobile clinic staff, village leaders and
councils in 56 villages.
Definition of One Health
The effects of climate change, wildlife conflicts, pastoralism and local ecology on
livestock health and human well-being (childhood diseases, family nutrition and
economic development).
Monitoring & Evaluation Strategy
We collect interdisciplinary evidence that can be used to design, implement, monitor
and evaluate development projects. We conduct rigorous data quality assessments and
field team productivity measures.
Sources of Information
Contact Susan James
+255-783-514380 (TZ)
Craig Packer
+255-754-828258 (TZ)
612-275-3686 (US)
