Resources

In this literature review, the author, in describing the origins of participatory approaches and methods, discusses their application in animal health services and research in developing countries. The focus is on dryland areas of Africa particularly pastoral and agropastoral areas of the Greater Horn of Africa. The author reports that most experiences with veterinary uses of participatory approaches and methods remains with community based animal health projects and have proved to be more effective in comparison to more conventional approaches to service delivery. He also contends that while participatory methods are being used increasingly by epidemiologists, in general, there is a continued reliance on conventional survey tools such as questionnaires. He is of the view that as veterinary epidemiology has a history of borrowing from other disciplines it may be helpful to consider participatory methods including quantitative and qualitative perspectives and enhance the understanding of animal health and well being.

This paper provides an overview of the implementation, impact and problems of the Active Research and Planning Participative Method (MARP). Ce papier dÚcrit l'implÚmentation, l'impact et les problÞmes de la MÚthode Active de Recherche et de planification Participative (MARP).

This manual presents methods by which the poor and the poorest can be identified so that they can be reached by the services of microfinance institutions - and so that the non-poor can be excluded from them. Whilst poverty targeting has long been regarded as difficult and costly, the authors argue that these methods, developed through field experience, are practical and cost-effective. The CASHPOR (Credit and Savings for the Hard-Core Poor) Network has developed a House Index that is adapted to the house styles of all countries in Asia where the Network programmes are operating. The Small Enterprise Foundation (SEF) has taken the methodology of Participatory Wealth Ranking and developed it to become an effective and cost effective means of identifying the poor. The manual gives practical details of these two methods for use by microfinance practitioners and others.

This collection of lessons from the field brings together the experiences of ActionAid's newly adopted approach to annual reviews: participatory reviews and reflections. These processes allow communities to challenge the organisation over the way money is raised and spent, the ability to demand greater openness and flexibility, and the possibility of raising rights issues. Review and reflection is a key part of ActionAid's 'accountability, learning and planning' system (ALPS), which makes accountability to the poor and marginalised central. The key principles of ALPS are explored through case studies presented of on-going projects in India and Africa, and include: " Strengthening ActionAid's main accountability to the people they target and work with; " Strengthening commitment to gender equity; " Making information relevant and useful to the people who use produce it, receive it, and who need to make decisions; " The information provider must receive feedback; " Making the best use of staff time by cutting down on the amount of written information needed; " Relating financial expenditure to programme quality; " Promoting critical learning that enables the organisation to learn from their successes and failures.

This is a set of locally adaptable resources for communities working with orphans and vulnerable children in Africa. They are based on the experience of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, its partners and other organisations. The briefing notes for working with children are organised into an overview and five sections: Education; Health and nutrition; Psychosocial support; Social inclusion; and Economic strengthening. Each briefing note provides issues and principles for guiding strategy, while drawing on best practice from programme experience. Each can be used alongside a Participatory Adaptation Guide, which will help organisations and community members, including children, to adapt these principles and strategies to their own local situation. These briefing notes have been developed through a highly participatory process, guided by an international advisory board (in collaboration with participants from Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali, Mozambique, Angola etc.). These briefing notes are divided into four sections: Introduction, with an overview that explains why programmes need to strengthen the skills and resources of families and communities to cope with the impacts of HIV/AIDS; Issues, with an outline of the impact of HIV/AIDS on children; Principles, with guidelines for programmes aimed at strengthening the coping capacity of vulnerable children, families and communities; and Strategies, with possible ways of taking action to strengthen support for orphans and vulnerable children. The full text document can be found on http://www.aidsalliance.org/building_blocks.htm or http://www.eldis.org/ and is available in English, French and Portuguese children, Africa, HIV, AIDS, training manual, orphans, health, sexual health, child care, coping strategies

The objectives of this study produced for DFID (Department for International Development, UK) East Africa is to identify CSOs (Civil Society Organisations) in Uganda that are active in policy dialogue and advocacy; identify the extent of civil society involvement in policy formulation, implementation and monitoring; and assist CSOs in drawing key lessons from their engagement in policy advocacy in order to strengthen engagement in the future. Interviews were held with 125 people in Kampala, Pallisa and Gulu in Uganda with a focus on: election monitoring; processes around the Plan for the Modernisation of Agriculture (PMA); and policy processes around health issues. Feedback workshops were held in Pallisa and Kampala. Overall, the study found that CSO engagement with government in policy processes has been increasing and that the shift by donors to sector-wide approaches (SWAPs) and budget support, and the resulting sub-contracting by government of CSOs, is fundamentally affecting the role of CSOs. The article goes on to assess the role of civil society in policy processes examining CSO roles and influence, tensions and synergies in the multiple roles of CSOs, and constraints experienced and the responses from civil society. The article is concluded with specific recommendations relating to each of the above topics, The central outcome of the study comes with a recommendation that all actors- CSOs, government and donors- should adopt a more integrated view on policy processes, analysing the interplay between different roles at different stages, and then working towards ensuring the appropriate space, recognition and mechanisms for CSOs to play different roles effectively.

This document is the first part of a series of four parts. The objective of the series is to help readers understand the basic civic concepts around which society is organised. It and forms part pf the wider process of civic education organised by the church/NGO civic education network, the Community Publishing Process (CPP), which is an innovative democratic process involving thousands of Zimbabwe citizens. Through the process, the learners develop their confidence, creativity and skills by participating in the design of their own learning materials. The series is written in an easily accessible language using pictures and illustrations to explain concepts, and providing exercises and questions for discussion. It is based on participatory, problem-posing methods where readers are encouraged to analyse problems and search for their own solutions. This part of the series focuses on development. After a brief introduction looking at development in the life of a citizen, the book goes on to examine the concept of development based on ideas from CPP participants, and African history and from international experiences. This is followed by an exercise on publicising the meaning of development. Achievements and common problems in relation to development, and strategies for strengthening development are also discussed. The book also contains supplements with a village civic drama and trainerÆs guide for a civic workshop on development