Resources

In 1984, MYRADA and the Government of Karnataka, with backing from the Swiss Development Co-operation, started working together in Gulbarga on a project focusing on watershed management. This booklet discusses invaluable practical lessons learnt so far in the PIDOW project about supporting people to better manage their natural resources. The first part discusses general lessons: critical indicators of success (sustainability and equity), people's priorities, the role of people's institutions, and why focus on people's participation in watershed management. The next three sections discuss strategies used in the intervention. They are applicable to projects in which Government and NGO are co-intervenors and operational partners; parts can certainly be adopted by an NGO-only project. The three sections deal with the entry phase, planning phase and implementation phase. The emphasis throughout is on the role of the NGO. The booklet ends with a case study of a situation which differs from the Gulbarga experience and the consequences of such differences in the process which takes place.

The North Western Dry Zone Participatory Development Project in Sri Lanka attempts to introduce a participatory approach in all stages of programme planning and implementation. This booklet on user's guidelines on PRA techniques has been developed using the recent experience of PRA conducted in the project area. Brief guidelines are given on how to use the following techniques: mapping and modelling, seasonal analysis, wealth ranking, venn diagrams, matrix scoring and ranking, transects, change and trend diagrams, and semi-structured interviews. Participatory village resource management planning is also briefly discussed.

This resource kit for trainers has been prepared to help develop facilitators for watershed programes enabling farmers to own and implement their own watershed management plans. Key aspects covered include, facilitating farmers to analyse their current situations, visualise a better future and the steps needed to get there and develop simple yet meaningful indicators to evaluate and monitor their progress along the way.