Nick Renshaw Participation and Development II

ODA Participation Training II The participation of project beneficiaries is a key dimension to modern development work. ODA aims to access our projects by using a range of participatory methods 1.History and Rationale 2.Methodologies 3.Criticisms of PRA/PLA 4.Application to ODA projects

1. History and Rationale Definitions A wide spectrum, from the contribution of labour by project beneficiaries to organised efforts by groups and movements to increase access and control over resources and regulative institutions (Stiefel and Wolfe, 1994) Popular participation may be defined as a process by which people take an active and influential hand in shaping the decisions which affect their lives (OECD, 1995)

1. History and Rationale History Participatory Learning Approaches (PLA) emerged as a reaction to the perceived weaknesses of top down blue print approaches to development Post-modern approach to development. Questioning the Eurocentric, positivist and dis-empowering approaches to development There was the development agency, which conceived, designed, funded, managed, implemented and evaluated the project from somewhere outside its boundaries; and there were the project beneficiaries – undifferentiated, passive recipients of goods and services provided through project channels.

1. History and Rationale …continued Failure of trickle down theory due to lack of incorporation of local peoples needs, priorities and skills in development planning. Rapid Rural Appraisal (1970’s) – outsiders used for outsider purposed. Participatory Rural Appraisal (Robert chambers, 1983) used by insiders for outsider purposes. Participatory learning techniques (mid 1990’s emphasising local analysis and local action. The ‘benign virus’ of participation should transfom local social power into political power – spreads through development agencies (Chambers, 1997)

1. History and Rationale Typologies Participation as a means or participation as an ends. 1.Nominal Participation (for legitimising outside decisions or to include) 2.Instrumental Participation (for efficiency/cost saving) 3.Representative Participation (for voice inclusion, accountability, sustainability) 4.Transformative Participation (for empowerment)

1. History and Rationale Strategies of participation Community empowerment strategies Participation throughout the project cycle Making services more participatory CSO & NGO contributions to participation Increasing participation in the market place Making policies more participations – Participatory Poverty Assessments (PPAs) Participation as a human right

1. History and Rationale Benefits Greater efficiency and effectiveness Greater empowerment and equity Increased local ownership and sustainability More downwards accountability These benefits are more assumed than demonstrated. There are few studies on the impact of participation due to lack of disaggregated and comparative data.

2. Methodologies Objectives To extract information (outside learning) Local analysis, planning and evaluation For community development A more participatory project/policy process

2. Methodologies Principles Use your best judgement at all times Triangulate methods, sources and people Critical awareness and self awareness Respect for local knowledge and experience Role reversals where “we” establish a rapport, facilitate methods, ‘hand over the stick’ watch and listen and learn and “they” share, analyse, plan, act and evaluate

2. Methodologies Direct/participant observation Semi-structured dialogue Maps and models Ranking and scoring methods Venn diagrams

3. Criticisms False Assumptions Homogenous communities Common interests and interests Adequate and correct local knowledge Automatic inclusion (desire/ability to participate) Automatic empowerment Participatory methods alone are sufficient

3. Criticisms External Critiques Not a sufficient framework to understand power relations between the external agent and the community and within the community Mechanical application by development agencies Problems with the associated bureaucracy – rhetoric and not practice An aura of moral superiority.

4. Application to ODA 1.Understanding the community. Wealth ranking, social difference, their priorities and their relationship with external institutions 2.Reporting back to PSD and ODA to improve our operations. 3.Understanding the project. -Is it suitable to meet the need/opportunity? -Is there a more pressing need/opportunity that needs to be met? -How have previous project impacted upon the community? -Do they need our support?

4. Application to ODA Participant Observation At meetings, try to see who is in charge and who yields power. Is this on the basis of gender/caste/wealth? Who is not participating in the project? Why might this be? How do members of the NGO/community relate to each other? What does this show about power relationships Is there any conflict in the community? What are the daily activities of your host family/other households in the community

Application to ODA Semi-structured Dialogue Most important way to collect information from certain members of the community See list of requirements for ODA/PSD follow up Use you best judgement and don’t be overly direct

Application to ODA Maps and Models Maps based on wealth, caste, social activity, agriculture, or peoples movements through the village Ranking Wealth ranking in the village. How important are the various project that were proposed for ODA investment? How important is local health or health care in the city. How important are primary education, secondary or informal education? By how much have previous projects impacted upon their lives or expected to impact?