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This paper presents the observations of participation on Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR), based on 20 programmes implemented in Zimbabwe. It arises out of a perceived lack of analysis of the community-based processes of participation that are active across the country. The main obstacles to CBR are seen as: poor knowledge of CBR; the cultural orientation regarding disability which do not encourage a positive outlook towards people with disabilities; unrealistic expectations of communities; poverty within communities which meant little time to participate in community development programmes; health workersÆ attitudes, that is, finding themselves in a position of authority; excessive centralisation of the health departmentsÆ organisation. Broadly speaking, arguments for participation are grouped under the following headings: efficiency, effectiveness, self-reliance, coverage, sustainability.
This report investigates the effectiveness of NGOÆs strategies and methods to influence land policy reform. It is based on a study of seven NGOs promoting land reform and land rights in Mozambique and Kenya. A number of key questions were explored: do NGOs influence policy or are structural, institutional and political constraints too great? should NGOs maximise their own advocacy roles or focus on building the advocacy capacity of less powerful groups? can NGOs engage with government without compromising their independence? do donors facilitate or constrain the work of NGOs?| A framework was used for assessment based on four main areas of impact: strengthened civil society organisations, consultative government procedures and practice, pro-poor changes in policy, and direct benefits to and improvements in living conditions of poor groups. There are two main implications arising from the study. Firstly, building the capacity of community groups to take informed action is important in itself and for long-term and sustainable pro-poor policy influence. Secondly, many aspects of laws and policies are actually made during implementation; monitoring this process is therefore a key role for NGOs.
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 participation. After a brief introduction, the reader is introduced to the concept of civics (ôthe close examination of how a society is organised in terms of developmentö). The book goes on to examine the ideas of participation based on discussions with CPP participants, and ideas from African history and from international experiences. This is followed by an exercise on publicising the meaning of participation. Achievements and common problems in relation to participation, and strategies for strengthening participation are also discussed. The book also contains supplements with a village civic drama and trainerÆs guide for a civic workshop on participation
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
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 participation. After a brief introduction looking at power in the life of a citizen, the book goes on to examine the ideas of power based on discussions with CPP participants, from African history and from international experiences. This is followed by an exercise on publicising the meaning of power. Achievements and common problems in relation to power, and strategies for strengthening power are also discussed. The book also contains supplements with a village civic drama and trainerÆs guide for a civic workshop on power.
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In the last few years, there has been growing talk amongst development actors and agencies about a rights-based approach to development. Yet what exactly this consists of remains unclear. For some, its grounding in human rights legislation makes such an approach distinctive, lending it the promise of re-politicising areas of development work that have become domesticated as they have been mainstreamed by powerful institutions like the World Bank. Others complain that like other fashions it has become the latest designer item to be seen to be wearing and has been used to dress up the same old development.|
This paper seeks to unravel some of the tangled threads of contemporary rights talk. Where is today's rights-based discourse coming from? Why rights and why now? What are the differences between versions and emphases articulated by different international development actors? What are their shortcomings, and what do these imply for the practice and politics of development? Reflecting on these questions, we explore some of the implications of the range of different ways of relating human rights to development. We argue that ultimately, however it is operationalised, a rights-based approach would mean little if it has no potential to achieve a positive transformation of power relations among the various development actors. Thus, however any agency articulates its vision for a rights-based approach, it must be interrogated for the extent to which it enables those whose lives are affected the most to articulate their priorities and claim genuine accountability from development agencies, and also the extent to which the agencies become critically self-aware and address inherent power inequalities in their interaction with those people.
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This paper goes beyond conceptual debates to explore country level practice around emergent rightsbased approaches to development, and their relationship with more established practices of participatory development. Drawing from the perspectives of a cross-section of Kenyan civil society groups, the paper examines the extent to which these approaches overlap, and evaluates the prospects for an integrated and sustained approach to civil societyÆs questioning of institutional arrangements that foster unequal relations.|Current trends suggest a gradual closing of the chasm between the practice of participatory community development and the practice of rights advocacy: community development NGOs are taking more seriously the notion of peopleÆs rights and entitlements as the starting point for their work, and the need for greater engagement with macro-level political institutions to build accountability; rights advocacy NGOs are responding to demands for active and meaningful participation of marginalised groups in shaping a rights advocacy agenda that is genuinely rooted in communities; and community-based networks are looking inward to ensure internal legitimacy, inclusiveness and non-discrimination. These trends hold promise for an integrated and sustained approach that is potentially more effective in Kenya's new political climate characterised by stronger demands for accountability at different levels. The paper concludes with suggestions on how these emerging trends can be strengthened.
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This publication reports on development, outcomes and experiences of the Mexican Regional Sustainable Development Programme (PRODERS) developed and implemented by the Mexican ministry of environment, natural resources and fisheries between 1996 and 2000. This programme was designed as the anchor point for MexicoÆs sustainable development policy, and was founded on the principles of participation, decentralisation and integrated development. Participatory policy analysis was used to understand the successes and shortcomings of institutionalising participatory approaches in government and civil society organisations working at the local, regional and national level. While PRODERS failed to live up to expectations, the experience raises some interesting lessons that implementing a national public policy of sustainable development and participation: implementation at the regional level helps create visions and alliances, as well as spaces for regional debate and planning; strategies for coordinating different departments and ministries for integrated and inter-sectoral institutional activities are essential; efforts must be made to change the attitudes and behaviour of those responsible within public and social sector institutions; the personal experiences and background of the team involved in policy-making, institutional change or organisational learning are critical: field-based, participatory practical experience is indispensable; and the different scales of decision-making and management must be linked and anchored at the regional level; and community transformation needs to be linked with an institution at the regional level for decision-making and management, set within a framework of national coordination.
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As more and more development and human rights organisations critically assess their impact and strategies, there is growing convergence in the questions they raise about how to be most effective in addressing structural, systemic causes of poverty and exclusion and thus, make a positive difference in the lives of poor and marginalised people. This paper explores the growing trend of rights-based approaches (RBA) to development, drawing from interviews with a range of primarily US-based international human rights and development organisations as well as from insights through the authors' years of experience working with development and rights groups in the global south. While the theory of RBA has been broadly embraced as key to getting at the root causes of poverty, many organisations are struggling to make sense of the significance of RBA in practice. We begin to unravel some key concerns with a brief discussion on critical considerations for groups as they advance rights-based work. Next, we focus on clarifying meanings, offering our own definitions of what seem to be critical components of RBA, namely participation, rights, and power. Next we summarise some of the current thinking and practice among international human rights and development organisations that are deepening their work in RBA. This includes some of the key tensions, challenges and opportunities they are encountering. Finally, in building on forgotten experiences and innovations we look at a handful of practical experiences from the past that offer valuable insights and lessons as groups seek to maximise the full practical potential of RBA.|Authors' summary
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As part of the 50th issue of PLA Notes, this article provides an introductory overview of both critical reflections as well as future directions of participatory learning and action. The articles compiled in the 50th edition speak from personal analyses and experiences. This article describes the process and products of a writeshop, held at IDS, where the participants came up with a timeline of participatory development based on their experiences. The main themes identified then formed the basis for the articles in this special issue of PLA Notes, including literacy, adult education and empowerment; participatory communications; sexual and reproductive health and well-being; gender and development; children's participation; agriculture, livestock and fisheries; people-centred approaches for natural resource management; urban participatory development; participation and well-being; monitoring and evaluation; advocacy, citizenship and rights; participatory processes in the North; governance and democracy; and critical reflections from practice. Several crosscutting themes also emerged, such as the evolution or participatory discourse; sharing learning and best practice between the South and the North; recognizing the political significance of participation, democratization and issues of power; scaling-up and institutionalizing participatory approaches; the continuing importance of critical reflection and participatory monitoring and evaluation; and the links between working at the local, national and international levels. After identifying these themes, the article goes on to briefly introduce and summarise each of the articles in this special issue. The article concludes with a hope that readers of PLA Notes continue to send in critical reflections and examples of innovations and best practices.
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The article, as part of the special 50th issue of PLA Notes, provides a general reflection on participatory development from a gender perspective and looks to future challenges. The article begins by laying out the case for a focus on gender issues, and then discusses the tensions between gender perspectives and participation. Some of these tensions include the myth of community; space, time and opportunity for participation (these can often be limited or determined by gender roles within a community); gender and policy processes; womenÆs participation and the role of the facilitator or change agent. Some of the achievements in using participatory methods in a gender responsive way include sexual and reproductive health (such as the Stepping Stones program), literacy and adult learning (such as Reflect), and linking the local to the national (such as the Self Employed Women's Association in India). The author also identifies some of the challenges for participatory development if it is to be equitable: it fundamentally has to deal with gender-based oppression. Some of the key points addressed include the impact of liberalization and privatization on women's participation in the public sphere and the linkages and disconnects between individual values and institutional change. Overall, the author highlights, from a personal perspective, some achievements and lessons and discusses the common challenges ahead in the current global context, for advocates of both participatory development and gender equality.
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As part of the special 50th issue of PLA Notes, this article reaffirms the fundamental value of participatory work in supporting people to gain the confidence and capacity to change their realities. The authors explore these issues through the perspective of sexual and reproductive well-being and rights, looking at lessons learnt and exploring ways in which practitioners are addressing the new challenges thrown up in changing environments. The key issues addressed in the article are participatory HIV prevention and case work in a time of crisis; sexuality, poverty and development; participation, sexuality and gender; and whose agenda counts in participatory planning. The authors conclude by looking at new directions and possibilities for sexual health and well-being, focusing on the potential of a rights-based approach to think about the importance of enabling everyone to enjoy the right to make their own sexual and reproductive choices, the right to safe and satisfying sexual relationships and the right to choose when and whether to have children. The challenge ahead appears to be how to use participatory methodologies to bring about the transformations in practice that can really begin to enable women and men to realize their sexual and reproductive rights. Recognising that participatory approaches need to be used sensitively and used well, such approaches can be a powerful weapon in the struggle for rights.
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In this article, as part of the 50th issue of PLA Notes, the authors look at the distinct but interconnected areas of participation and transformation. They explore how these processes can be brought together to shift the deeply embedded forces of power and social exclusion. The authors also explore how the language and practices of rights and advocacy can contribute to the effort, and how practitioners can best engage with rights-based approaches to development. The article provides a summary of some key insights that have emerged from the collective efforts of many people and organizations. Some of the key lessons emerging include the importance of understanding power, exclusion and social change; the need to think through strategy and vision before methods and tools; the value of drawing from diverse traditions; integrating work on human rights and development needs; working with multiple actors and building knowledge and awareness; accountability; and the need for time and patience to rights and advocacy work to affect meaningful change. In conclusion, the authors identify several challenges ahead, such as misuse or non-reflective use of participatory methods; dimensions of power and professional dominance; the need to strengthen community-based organisations while also looking beyond the local to the public sector; issues of donor dependency; and finally, dimensions of individual learning and change.