Resources

In recent years the "development" industry has began to incorporate into its vocabulary notions about the "empowerment of the poor," "participatory democracy," "gender in development" etc. as part of a strategy for poverty alleviation in the developing world. This paper critically examines the notion of participation as the basis of empowerment in the context of a joint CanadianûGhanaian financed rural development project in the Northern Region of Ghana, NORRIP (Northern Region Rural Integrated Programme), including aspects of the IVWP (integrated Village Water Project. The paper argues that because of the inherent goodness of the notion of participation, it has become a substitute for the structural reforms needed for social change. The paper raises questions not just about the terms and mode of participation but further points out that reference to the term "village" or "community" as the basis of participation is simplistic and problematic. The paper also questions the feasibility of the institutional and administrative structures within which such concepts may be realized and makes the case that a focus on local participation and empowerment can provide the state with a legitimate opportunity for shirking its responsibilities by dumping them on local areas, even though those areas lack the resources needed.

This guide outlines an approach for monitoring and evaluating participatory research (PR). It is intended to provide support to people involved in research and development projects using a PR methodology, in particular at the community level dealing with natural resource management issues. The guide is not a blue-print, but addresses issues that are at the heart of making an art of monitoring and evaluating PR. Chapter one gives a general introduction to issues that influence PR, focusing on the nature of knowledge and information, types of participation, influences on the results of PA, social issues in natural resource management, attitudes of researchers, community perceptions of the research, and project characteristics. The guide is then organized around six basic, interrelated questions that need to be answered when doing monitoring and evaluation (M&E). It examines the reasons for M&E of PR; who benefits from M&E; what to monitor and evaluate; who should monitor and evaluate; when to monitor and evaluate; and how to monitor and evaluate. Examples of tools for M&E of PR are given in each of the five preceding chapters, and a list of these tools with page references is presented at the beginning of the guide. The guide also contains a selected bibliography for references to more detailed information on the subject.

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. The first exercise helps participants to identify the degree to which the community organisation has taken over responsibilities from development programmes. The second exercise helps participants identify and prioritise the external threats to their organisationÆs sustainability, and to identify concrete actions that can be taken to overcome those challenges.

This booklet provides guidelines on how to get a participatory extension (PE) process started and on how to operationalise the participatory extension approach (PEA) under ASIP (Agricultural Sector Investment Programme) in Zambia. The guide has been produced to change a previous top-down approach to extension. It gives a background to participatory approaches and analyses the importance of a bottom-up approach to their application. It goes on to describe a step-by-step process to PEA from problem identification to action planning and implementation. It goes through phases from preparations, awareness, reflection and decision, planning, action and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, on to the start of a new oeration cycle. The method uses a variety of diagnostic and analytical PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) tools in a logical sequence and is based on the principles of: attitude and behaviour change of communities and service providers; and willingness to share and to exchange knowledge and resources among actors.

This handbook was made to support the government Strategy for the Support of the Voluntary Sector and for Community Development in Northern Ireland. It is designed for measuring progress in policies, programmes and projects intended to encourage community development (CD). It does so by setting out the main results to be expected from CD work and showing how these can be measured. It is based on, and accompanies the report æMonitoring and Evaluation of CD in Northern IrelandÆ which describes the process in more detail and should be used in conjunction with this handbook. The aim of the approach is that all involved (funders, implementers and consumers) have an equal say in deciding what should be expected and how results could be checked. The first part of the handbook focuses on evaluation in the context of CD, presents ten æbuilding blocksÆ in CD (community learning, justice, organisation and activity, influence, economy, care, environment and nature, safety, well-being and sustainability) and gives a step-by-step description of how to set up an evaluation of CD. The second part is a guide to selecting the information which can be used to measure change in the different CD building blocks, using tables presented at the end of the document. The third part of the handbook gives a general overview of how to collect evidence supporting the measurement process. This is followed by tables describing the building blocks and their measurement. Each of the building blocks has a corresponding table with questions measuring change in people, in the community, in local services and in policies in relation to that specific aspect of CD.

This case study compares the experiences of two different coalitions in Egypt that were established to advocate the elimination of female genital mutilation (FMG). It provides lessons on what makes alliances work and what pulls them apart, as a critical element of effective advocacy. In addition, it offers both hope and practical advice on dealing with the complex and elusive barrier of culture in promoting womenÆs equality and human rights. The study illustrates the building of FMG task forces on local and national levels, coalitions of organisations and individuals active in several fields of development. It focuses specifically at the forming of a local FMG grassroots coalition in Beni Suef, going through problem analysis; stakeholder analysis using power maps and strategic influence grids; preparation of an action plan; determining coalition policies; steps for ensuring an effective coalition; use of external interventions; organisational outcomes; and measures of sustainability. It is concluded that the critical element contributing to the success of coalition building in Beni Suef was that the movement came from the grassroots. The study was an initiative of the Asia FoundationÆs Global Women in Politics Program (GWIP) supported by USAID (United States Agency for International Development). The study compares the coalition work to the case of the Fayoum Ladies Association (FLA) working for the same objective as the coalition, but established by a para-statal body (the Fayoum Governorate Committee on Women). It is found that although had better support form the state it was not as well integrated in the community and its membership was mainly from the civil sector, such as bureaucrats, and its board came from the government and the ruling party. Egypt, advocacy, influence, women, female circumcision, female genital mutilation

This brief guide to mainstreaming HIV/AIDS was produced by Project Empower in partnership with Oxfam HIV/AIDS Programme (South Africa). It describes the features and milestones of rights-based mainstreaming. It reflects the experiences of 23 South African development organisations as well as some international agencies. The content is based on a review and analysis of a mainstreaming gender pilot conducted in South Africa between 1999 and 2001. The briefly describes mainstreaming and looks at differences in understanding of HIV/AIDS mainstreaming. The rights-based approach to HIV/AIDS mainstreaming is explained briefly as a process of change and transformation whereby individuals, committees and institutions are empowered through access to resources and services based on principles of justice, equality and respect for human rights, to enable women, men and children to live full meaningful lives. It looks at the main features of HIV/AIDS mainstreaming and defines eight areas for planning and action. It also gives a practical example of rights based mainstreaming