Launching a project like RULESSWASTE is not about starting with action — it is about starting with structure.
Before engaging in fieldwork or collecting data, it is essential to ensure that the project is properly aligned, coordinated and prepared to operate effectively in complex rural environments.
This first phase has focused precisely on that: building the foundations that will support the work to come.
Establishing the project framework
The initial months of RULESSWASTE have been dedicated to setting up the internal structures that allow the project to function as a coordinated system.
This includes governance mechanisms, communication protocols and monitoring tools that ensure all partners are aligned and that progress can be tracked in a structured way.
While this work often remains invisible, it is critical to ensure that future activities are consistent, efficient and scalable.
Defining where to act
In parallel, the project has focused on identifying the territories where interventions will take place. These territories provide the basis for understanding how food waste manifests in diverse rural contexts.
Preparing for the diagnostic phase
At this stage, activities remain at a preparatory level.
Stakeholder mapping has been initiated, and initial engagement with local actors is being developed to support the upcoming fieldwork phase.
Rather than rushing into data collection, the project is ensuring that the right conditions are in place to generate meaningful and reliable insights.
Because in complex systems, what happens before action often determines the quality of what comes after.
