The Bilim Alliance is well established and is already sharing agroecology knowledge (through regular in-person and online meetings); the Alliance is therefore strong enough to make appropriate use of new funding.

Some statistics

Summary statistics of Bilim participating organizations and historical information on Bilim educational work:

• Number of member organizations :  19. 
• 2 Bilim Forums:    
  • 2023, Bursa (Turkey):  about 50 participants from 19 organisations.
  • 2022, Sakaria (Turkey) : 10 organisations from 8 countries , 36 participants.
• Monthly/trimestral online meetings – at least 15 meetings in 2 years.
• National workshops and seminars in 2 years: 14.
• New agroecology schools in Central Asia: 6. 
• Total number of people reached in 2023-2024: approx. 2000 (72% women) in 2 years.

Agroecology schools and workshops

• 2024: 3 in-person workshops so far in Bosnia and Herzegovina / Serbia, Albania / Kosovo, and Kazakhstan.
• 2023 - 2024: 18 online thematic workshops on agroecology schools and agroecology practices with participation of external speakers (Tuesday dialogues & Farmers' Seeds).
• 2023: 6 Agroecology schools Funded through Bilim in Central Asia including  1 in Kazakhstan, 1 in Uzbekistan, 4 in Kyrgyzstan. 
• 2023: 11 national seminars in-person in different countries.
• 2022 – 2024: Online meetings - at least 8 (trimestral in 2023 and 2022)  and 6 in 2024.

An agroecological school was organized in the Akmola region by Zher-Ana NGO in collaboration with Olzhas cooperative on drip irrigation for 30 local farmers. During the entire season from February to the end of September, both theoretical and practical trainings were conducted. In May-June, practical sessions were held with the installation of drip irrigation systems on the plots of farmers. 

One training on agroecology practices (soil-protective and resource-saving) organized by Agrarian women of Uzbekistan, for 20 women, in collaboration with the local Andijan Institute of Agriculture and Agricultural Technologies, closely connecting the academic sector with women-farmers. University scientists were thus able to learn more about the problems of farmers and the practices they use. Visit of the Institute / Visit of a greenhouses.

4 field farmers agroecology schools on “peasant seed production” with Dyikan Muras women seed savers in 4 regions of Kyrgyzstan: Jalalabad, Chui, Issyk-Kul and Batken “The training program was developed in collaboration with members of the seed bank network and agronomists and is updated every year with topics added upon request”.

The high number of ongoing agroecology initiatives indicates a fertile ground for the development of new promising actions to be enabled with more funding.

Bilim organizations and their agroecology schools are already women-led and / or women driven and new funding will strengthen the organizations' work to empower rural women.

Women leadership:

• Percentages of Bilim organization led by women: 80%
• Percentage of Bilim organization driven to women: 90%.
• Quotes on the women membership in ADI, related to seed work: "The 99% of our network are women. Why women? Because in our country mostly women are in agriculture and traditionally they were in charge of growing seeds and keepings seeds".

The first agroecology school in Kazakhstan is led by women. Gulmaira Baymakova, farmer and head of the agroecology school says:

“I always encourage people not to be afraid, and to start with small steps. These small farmers can become successful also through participation in agroecology schools with like-minded people who have similar experiences. I want our farmers to become agroecological entrepreneurs and earn fair money. That is why we're creating our regional network! We should develop our region and that is what we focus on. But at the same time, we need international connections! Networking and sharing experiences with other countries are also important. I am very grateful to Schola Campesina and ADI Kyrgyzstan for their support and experience. During our international meetings many people from Bilim inspired me with their experiences in their organizations in other parts of the world. I think this international cooperation helps our agroecological school to develop faster”. 

The connections among agroecology organizations that are enabled thanks to Bilim are raising possibilities for policy work.

"Through Bilim, we connected with many people who, in one way or another, helped us elaborate this complex document referring to different international instruments (e.g., UNDROP, ITPGRFA, UNDRIP) where we argue for the legal recognition of farmer seed systems as a realization of the Right to Food, which is a Constitutional right in the Republic of Moldova." (Anya Benoliel Coutinho, Gradina Moldovei, Moldova, in informal discussion in the frame of this case development).