The Benue State Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project has concluded a hands-on training for its field team ahead of a two-day deployment to selected communities to gather data on marketable Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) and assess their value-chain potential.
The latest phase of the training focused on Key Informant Interviews (KII), KoboCollect digital data collection, data quality, field protocols and team deployment.
The sessions were led by the leader of the Federal College of Land Resources Technology (FECOLART), Kuru, Plateau State, team, Mr. Yuwa Joshua, who guided participants through practical techniques for conducting KIIs, selecting key informants, effective probing and proper documentation.
Participants also received hands-on instruction on the use of KoboCollect, including navigating the digitised FGD and KII tools, data entry, saving and synchronisation, submission and basic troubleshooting.
The training further addressed field team coordination, with emphasis on the roles of facilitators, note-takers, extension agents and supervisors in ensuring effective community engagement and reporting.
The ACReSAL Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) Officer, Stephanie Atume, Esq., led the session on data quality, field protocols and ethics.
She highlighted the need for complete and consistent data, confidentiality, informed participation, gender and social inclusion, appropriate community entry and conflict-sensitive engagement.
The exercise concluded with an integrated field simulation in which participants combined FGD/KII facilitation, note-taking and KoboCollect data capture.
Following a final assessment and review of action points, the field team is set for the two-day practical deployment, where the knowledge and tools acquired will be applied in selected ACReSAL intervention communities.