Resources

Outlines the ideas and concepts of PAME, its benefits and applicability to community forestry programmes, including discussions on the definition of community forestry. The second section is divided into participatory assesment, baselines, monitoring and evaluation, describing methods, purposes and benefits for each. The use of participatory, predominantly visual, techniques, their efficiency and openness to the community is discussed, along with presentation within the community through photos, diagrams, theatre, charts - presentation to groups, by groups. Finally the tools themselves are illustrated, recognising that within each situation, there will be different applications. Twenty-three tools are described, with mention of their purpose, benefits, uses and the precautions that must be taken in their use.

This short report provides some useful comments on a two week training course on the use of PRA for PM&E conducted by the Development Support Programme Khartoum, part of the Community Development Services in Cairo. It took place over two weeks in Kordofan and involved fieldwork in villages, with varying involvement in SOS Sahel's Natural Forest Management Project, near to El Obeid. Among the problems that emerged from this course, were; 1. the difficulties in encouraging a "suitable PRA attitude" amongst course participants in their approach to the villagers; 2. A lack of confidence amongst the participants; 3. Problems with the use of symbols during the fieldwork. Although participants were slow to grasp the usefulness of PRA for PM&E, three "tools" were found to be most useful for evaluation, namely; Impact diagrams, Impact matrices and Evaluation Matrices. The later was developed from the Innovation Matrix in the SCF/IIED manual; PRA for community development (1991), and its purpose was to generate discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of forestry activities.

This handbook discusses the basic definitions and principles of M&E, including where, why and how evaluation is carried out, and a detailed examination of what qualities are possessed by both good and bad indicators. There is an in-depth discussion of the functions of community based M&E and a list of 'ten steps' is provided to guide in developing and supporting a community based M&E system. Each steps is examined and illustrated with reference to a project in in India. There is also a list of do's and dontÆs in supporting a community based M&E system and a discussion of links that can exist between the M&E systems of an agency such as an NGO and that of a community based organisation. The paper concludes with a discussion of how M&E fits into the project cycle and the importance of fostering the right attitudes towards M&E practice is emphasised.

This workbook describes 'systematization' as a method of instituting a continuous process of participatory relection and evaluation. It elaborates on the concept of systematization as well as the methodological procedures to follow in planning. The final section includes a number of tools that may be used for conducting the process. The tools emphasize the use of written exercises, worksheets and tables and raise insturctive questions and issues.

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.

Basic training materials diagramming methods by which annual PRAs are carried out by participating communities to review activities and make new plans. The information generated includes items of utility to a range of stakeholders from farmers to government and donor resource providers.