World Neighbors

This issue of World Neighbours in Action focuses on gender and household decision making. Some of the key lessons learnt in working to address gender issues are highlighted. The first is that it is more effective to approach gender issues from a needs-based approach rather than from a power-based approach. Handling gender issues from a needs-based approach, in which both women and men take an active role in identifying a clear need for changed gender roles, leads to more sensitive and sustainable change.

This issue of World Neighbours in Action focuses on helping communities plan for the future. In particular, it describes Community Participatory Planning (CPP). This is a planning process facilitated by community leaders and animators, in which the major social interest groups participate in creating a community development programme aimed at solving their priority problems. The article discusses the aims of CPP, who it should be undertaken by, and when and where the CPP is done.

Sustainable development requires strengthening the capacity of community groups and organisations. This issue of World Neighbours in Action focuses on assessing and strengthening the sustainability of community development organisations. It describes a series of tools and methods designed to help members of such organisations assess and strengthen their ability to be effective, responsive and sustainable. The guided self-assessment process helps organisations identify at what development state they are at currently, and what actions they can take to evolve.

Sustainable development requires strengthening the capacity of community groups and organizations. This leaflet focuses on this process and provides descriptions of several participatory tools developed to help members of community organizations assess and strengthen their ability to be effective, responsive and sustainable. The guided self-assessment process helps organisations identify at what development stage they are currently and what actions they can take to evolve. Two main exercises are included describing the process step-by-step.

This report from the Lessons From the Field series presents the findings of a three-year research project by World Neighbours and the Ecuadorian family planning organization CEMOPLAF (Centre for Medical Guidance and Family Planning), comparing the impact of single-focus vs. integrated programming on community health, family planning acceptance, and community perception of service providers.

Este informe, del serie Lecciones del Campo, presenta los mÚtodos y los resultados de un esfuerzo de investigaci¾n-acci¾n realizado para medir y comparar el impacto del huracßn y tormenta tropical Mitch en parcelas agrÝcolas manejadas ecol¾gicamente con aquellas manejadas tradicionalmente (en Guatemala, Nicaragua, y Honduras). El proyecto cont¾ con la colaboraci¾n de 2000 campesinos, promotores y organizaciones locales como socios en el proceso de investigaci¾n, desde el principio hasta el fin.

Newsletter informing about World Neighbors' preliminary phase in the implementation of a community based natural resource management programme in Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.

Newsletter informing about World Neighbors project in Mali involving report of the methods used and insights on methodology and behaviour and attitudes.