3.1 PARTICIPATORY DESIGN

WHY PARTICIPATORY DESIGN? To understand and agree priorities and make the best design for the system accordingly To tap into long-time farmers knowledge on floods, slope of the land, sedimentation, etc.. Because it is (and will remain) the farmers system after all

Participatory Design: Two Stages Agree on the priorities – what are the main issues and priorities in the area, how should the system be improved Agree on the specific designs – what structures, where and what design

Set up farmers representative group, like a Farmers Design Committee STEPS Discuss specific issues and problems and set and rank priorities AGREE ON PRIORITIES Walk through survey Evalution of priorities and common agreement on design concept Design meeting – agree on scope of works Agree on cost sharing Detailed designs AGREE ON DESIGN Work agreement and initiation of the physical works

STEP 1 SET UP A REPRESENTATIVE GROUP

Participatory design is the negotiation with a representative and mandated group, such as a Farmers Design Committee Discussion on the design should not be a loose discussion with ‘the farmers’

Local Steering Committee, Sheeb (Eritrea): All project decisions – including design and timing – discussed and agreed between project staff and traditionally elected farmer leaders Project Director Traditional Farmer Leaders Project Staff

STEP 2 SYSTEMATICALLY DISCUSS PROBLEMS AND PRIORITIES

It is important to understand and come to terms with farmers priorities: Farmers may have a different risk assessment than engineers: If the river changes course they may be able to ‘catch’ it They may be keen to capture all flood water and be willing to except some erosion In many cases scour sluices are closed so as not to loose any water even if it causes sedimentation of canal bed or river

It is important to understand and come to terms with farmers priorities: Farmers may have a different appreciation of the value of sediment then engineers for instance They may want to exclude only the very coarse sediment or sediment from certain parts of the catchment, but otherwise appreciate its fertilizing value Childrens drawing showing great concern that sedimentation pond in modernized system in Wadi Laba is intercepting all nutrients

STEP 3 JOINT WALK THROUGH SURVEYS TO ASSESS FIELD SITUATION

JOINT WALK THROUGH SURVEYS Systematically walk the entire system JOINT WALK THROUGH SURVEYS

JOINT WALK THROUGH SURVEYS Discussion and explanation Pinpoint what needs to be done Engineer taking notes JOINT WALK THROUGH SURVEYS

STEP 4 COMMON AGREEMENT ON PRIORITIES AND SCOPE OF WORK

USE PAPER, DRAWINGS, MODELS INVOLVE FARMERS DESIGN GROUP OR ANY AUTHORIZED GROUP

STEP 5 DESIGN MEETINGS

Understanding and consensus required of the larger group

Agreement should come after - not before discussion

Proposed design: Gated Flood Channel Intake Example

Final construction: Ungated Intake No gate provided Because farmers do not want the Irrigation Agency (TDA) to control their intake

STEP 6 AGREEMENT ON COST SHARING

WHY COST SHARING? PARTNERSHIP PRINCIPLE TO AVOID ‘WISH LISTS’ AND INSTEAD HAVE REALISTIC SCOPE OF WORKS REQUIRES FARMERS TO BE INTERNALLY ORGANIZED

DIFFERENT TYPES OF COST SHARING IN CASH MONEY BY PROVIDING LAND BY PROVIDING LABOUR BY DOING PART OF THE WORK

Agreement on cost sharing

Agreement on cost sharing

STEP 7 AND 8 AGREEMENT ON DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION

MAKE SURE FARMERS CONTRIBUTION ORGANIZED THROUGH FARMERS GIVE FARMERS COMMITTEE ROLE IN ASSESSING EVEN SUPERVISING OVERALL WORKS

FINAL POINT…

ALTERNATIVE TO PARTICIPATORY DESIGN IS FARMERS MAKING THEIR OWN DECISIONS AND DESIGNS FARMERS ARE QUITE CAPABLE OF SUBSTANTIAL CIVIL WORKS THIS DROP STRUCTURE IN WADI ZABID FOR EXAMPLE HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED BY FARMERS THEMSELVES