PRA Roeland Kindt

Outline Introduction Introduction Basic rules for surveys Basic rules for surveys What is PRA What is PRA PRA tools PRA tools Selection of respondents Selection of respondents

Participatory Rural Appraisal focus on local knowledge focus on local knowledge information sharing and analysis (shared learning) information sharing and analysis (shared learning) avoid miscommunication (questionnaires), include marginal groups, qualitative information avoid miscommunication (questionnaires), include marginal groups, qualitative information

Basic rules for surveys Hypothesis Hypothesis Information for hypothesis testing Information for hypothesis testing Systematic sampling and data collection Systematic sampling and data collection Secondary sources, cross-checking Secondary sources, cross-checking Confirmation (statistical analysis) Confirmation (statistical analysis) Generation of new hypotheses Generation of new hypotheses

Participation Mode of partici- pation Type of participationOutsider control Potential for sus- taining local action and owner- ship Co-optedTokenism, manipulation, representatives are chosen, but no real input or power Co-operatingTasks are assigned, with incentives; outsiders decide agenda and direct the process ConsultedLocal opinions asked, outsiders analyze and decide on a course of action CollaboratingLocal people work together with outsiders to determine priorities. Responsibility remains with outsiders for directing the process Co-learningLocal people and outsiders share their knowledge to create new understanding and work together to form action plans, with outsider facilitation Collective action Local people set their own agenda and mobilise to carry it out, in the absence of outside initiators and facilitators

PRA principles Participatory Participatory Systems theory Systems theory Teamwork Teamwork Systematic practice, but flexible Systematic practice, but flexible Indigenous Knowledge Indigenous Knowledge Semi-structured interviews (next page) Semi-structured interviews (next page)

Semi-structured interviews Open-ended, interactive and informal Open-ended, interactive and informal Protocol Protocol Probing Probing Successive iteration Successive iteration Triangulation Triangulation Creative/optimal ignorance Creative/optimal ignorance Attitude Attitude

PRA tools / exercises Facilitate communication and reflection Facilitate communication and reflection easy, fun, participation easy, fun, participation visual visual not technique-led not technique-led combine with SSI approach combine with SSI approach sequence of large groups (participation) to key informants (gaps, sensitive topics) sequence of large groups (participation) to key informants (gaps, sensitive topics)

Diagrams generate ideas generate ideas sensitive topics sensitive topics oral and visual cultures oral and visual cultures memory memory care for visual perception differences care for visual perception differences Image from IIRR Recording and using indigenous knowledge.

Mapping locations locations relationships relationships legend, direction legend, direction historical maps historical maps Image from IIRR Recording and using indigenous knowledge.

Transects uni-dimensional map uni-dimensional map section by section (systematic, much information) section by section (systematic, much information) Image from IIRR Recording and using indigenous knowledge.

Matrices Various characteristics for various items (comparisons) Various characteristics for various items (comparisons) qualitative (preferences) or quantitative (proxies) information qualitative (preferences) or quantitative (proxies) information Image from IIRR Recording and using indigenous knowledge.

Sorting and ranking Direct (matrix, pile) Direct (matrix, pile) Ranking better than sorting for analysis Ranking better than sorting for analysis Pairwise or triadic comparisons: reveal inconsistencies, but longer (only for small numbers of items) Pairwise or triadic comparisons: reveal inconsistencies, but longer (only for small numbers of items) –n! / g! (n-g!) with n: number of items, g: groups of comparison n=5, g=2,3: 10 comparisons needed n=5, g=2,3: 10 comparisons needed n=10, g=2: 45 comparisons needed n=10, g=2: 45 comparisons needed n=10, g=3: 120 comparisons needed n=10, g=3: 120 comparisons needed

Selection of respondents Description of population: (stratified) random selection Description of population: (stratified) random selection Key informants (specialists of specific topics): targeted selection Key informants (specialists of specific topics): targeted selection Image from IIRR Recording and using indigenous knowledge.