Participatory Rural Appraisal in Afghanistan

VetAid is an NGO working in the field of community-based animal health with integrated rural development projects. In response to appeals from a community in the district of Daye Chopan in Zabul Province, Afghanistan to improve the health of their livestock, VetAid facilitated a participatory rural appraisal (PRA) to explore socio-economic aspects of the indigenous knowledge held and agricultural problems perceived by the community. A variety of participatory methods were used, although structured interviews formed the crux of the survey. Diagrams were not found to be useful as it was much more difficult for people to express themselves graphically. The exercise brought to light a severe animal health problem which was affecting the poorest members of the community most severely. The PRA was used as a means of facilitating the organisation of the community so that the animal health problem was addressed in the form of a livestock project. The project used the information gathered in the PRA to design training courses to meet needs, build upon traditional practice and develop commercial supplies of appropriate veterinary equipment and medicines. The project demonstrated that PRA can be used in conflict situations where organisational participation is constrained by the conflict.