Resources

Reports on consultations with communities surrounding the Tower Colliery in which participatory approaches were used to examine their concerns and priorities for land usage on the site.

This book brings together papers presented in 1995 at a workshop organised by Duryog Nivaran, a South Asian network promoting participatory approaches in situations of natural disasters and internal conflicts. Many of the papers reflect on the limitations and challenges of applying participatory approaches in emergency situations.

The first part of the book provides a general discussion of participatory extension in the form of step-by-step guidelines that follow the stages of the ôextension cycleö: situation analysis, planning, implementation, as well as monitoring and evaluation. The book then considers in greater detail the application of participatory extension as part of ZambiaÆs ôNational Extension Action Planö. It examines the Siavonga Agricultural Development Project (SADP) which aims at developing and introducing appropriate agro-silvi-pastoral farming systems. Adopting a more participatory approach is viewed as a pre-condition to strengthening the extension system and reaching overall project objectives. Participatory elements can be integrated by way of transferring responsibilities and decision-making to lower levels, through self-monitoring, and by ensuring that marginalized groups are represented. In participatory M&E, all levels (extension agents and beneficiaries) are involved in defining what should be monitored and evaluated, by whom, when, and in which way. However, the authors point out that people have differing skills, knowledge and qualifications, and therefore propose a system which would take into account the interests and responsibilities of the involved participants and define the degree of participation at the various levels of M&E. For the Siavonga Project, the emphasis of PM&E is on self-monitoring, whereby extension agents and farmers elaborate together a system for recording and analysing information that is useful for both groups. It is argued that while there is a minimum of pre-conditions that facilitate participatory extension- notably the political commitment to local decision-making and democracy, flexibility within the extension system, and living conditions that allow farmers to fulfil their basic needs in terms of physical reproduction- these very conditions may actually be enhanced by actually practising participatory approaches. Annexes are provided at the end which include research questions and topics, interview guidelines, the training workshop, and manuals for using methods of participatory extension. While PRA is not explicitly discussed, an elaboration of the various participatory methods used (including mapping, transect walks, seasonal calendars, ranking, group discussions) is provided.

The first part of the book provides a general discussion of participatory extension in the form of step-by-step guidelines that follow the stages of the ôextension cycleö: situation analysis, planning, implementation, as well as monitoring and evaluation. The book then considers in greater detail the application of participatory extension as part of ZambiaÆs ôNational Extension Action Planö. It examines the Siavonga Agricultural Development Project (SADP) which aims at developing and introducing appropriate agro-silvi-pastoral farming systems. Adopting a more participatory approach is viewed as a pre-condition to strengthening the extension system and reaching overall project objectives. Participatory elements can be integrated by way of transferring responsibilities and decision-making to lower levels, through self-monitoring, and by ensuring that marginalized groups are represented. In participatory M&E, all levels (extension agents and beneficiaries) are involved in defining what should be monitored and evaluated, by whom, when, and in which way. However, the authors point out that people have differing skills, knowledge and qualifications, and therefore propose a system which would take into account the interests and responsibilities of the involved participants and define the degree of participation at the various levels of M&E. For the Siavonga Project, the emphasis of PM&E is on self-monitoring, whereby extension agents and farmers elaborate together a system for recording and analysing information that is useful for both groups. It is argued that while there is a minimum of pre-conditions that facilitate participatory extension- notably the political commitment to local decision-making and democracy, flexibility within the extension system, and living conditions that allow farmers to fulfil their basic needs in terms of physical reproduction- these very conditions may actually be enhanced by actually practising participatory approaches. Annexes are provided at the end which include research questions and topics, interview guidelines, the training workshop, and manuals for using methods of participatory extension. While PRA is not explicitly discussed, an elaboration of the various participatory methods used (including mapping, transect walks, seasonal calendars, ranking, group discussions) is provided.

Comprehensive overview of participatory approaches to monitoring, focusing on community monitoring of environmental changes and natural resource management interventions. The Working Paper draws on an extensive review of published literature and interviews with practitioners with experience in participatory monitoring. Ten case studies are presented and comparatively analysed and discussed. The paper begins by providing a general overview of conventional monitoring and then discusses the basis of participatory monitoring approaches, especially their impacts and benefits, how participation is achieved, and how indicators are perceived and developed. Trade-offs in meeting diverse, often conflicting needs and objectives, particularly between the need for scientific rigour on the one hand, and enhanced participation in participatory monitoring process on the other. The last section of the paper presents and compares three different categories of approaches to participatory monitoring which have been successful at achieving community involvement. These approaches are methodologies that are developed from the use of PRA, those that use oral testimony, and those that adapt scientific approaches to ecological assessment. Finally, current gaps in our understanding of participatory environmental monitoring are identified. The review finds that further documentation is required of the negotiations that occur within and between stakeholder groups, particularly in terms of identifying and establishing different priorities and objectives. It further suggests that few approaches to monitoring involve all stakeholders in the complete monitoring process, which takes longer to establish and implement. The review highlights that the monitoring process must provide real and meaningful benefits for all stakeholders, especially for local people whose long term participation is central to the monitoring process.