Session 3 Designing the process

Question How to organize a participatory planning process?

Making a work plan: main elements Decide on core team Decide on who will approve/ endorse Planning of discussion and consultation events Decide on information basis that will be used Decide on communication strategy Special confidence/ interest building measures?

Main element: core team Core team: –Decide on its role vis-a-vis stakeholders Facilitating: invite and arrange meetings And/or Articulating: prepare report and newsflashes, etc Or Analytical: making the plan? –Composition One team or more than one team? Who is in it/ full-time; part-time?

Main element: decision making Define status of outcome before the process Decide on who decides before the process Look at/ integrate with existing planning processes, where possible Decision maker should also be the champion of the process or closely associated with it Consider bringing in Finance Depts early in the process Steering Committee – try to activate them in the process

Main element: events Make program of events Scheduling: bottom up process with local events or national level only? Consider: –One to One discussions –Smaller group sessions Status of events: consultative or decision making

Main element: information base What type of information to use? Studies/ statistics/ models? Make sure they are summarized and that they can be understood Special rapid appraisal Viewpoints/ opinions? Make sure they are reasonably representative (polls) or authentic (case studies) What task to give to the stakeholders in collecting and sharing information?

Main element: communication strategy Communication in general –Basic facts and figures –Process and rules of the game Communication on decision/ outcomes: –Internal To stakeholders representatives From stakeholder representatives to the stakeholders they represent –External To political/ public leadership To general public

All depends on budget available..

Example: Egypt National Water Resources Plan

Information Extensive modelling of data on national water resources Events National consultative workshops – general and topic Discussion of measures with concerned stakeholders District level workshop Confidence building: –Complexity of the model – however this was not 100% appreciated Communication: presentation of report

Example: North Bengal (India): preparing district water plan

Events Action planning meetings at 100 plus to identify most important issues and discuss local and supra-local actions Combine the outcomes of the local action planning meetings at subdistrict level – to immediately build ‘political pressure’ by communities sharing concerns District level workshop Confidence building: –Encourage people to take action at their level and link to local government programs –Statistically large number of local planning meetings Communication: newsletter

Example: Jordan

Information: Rapid appraisal by team of professionals Field interviews 50% of well owners Confidence building: –Presentation of water overview –Offer to measure water quality Events Individual farmers asked to suggest practical actions Small groups meetings involving community leaders Workshop with various well-owners and community leaders