1. Ensuring Meaningful Participation
Edward Spang, Tufts University
GEF-IWCAM Demonstration Project Communications Workshop
May 2008 – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

2. Challenge of Sustainability
No universal solutions for sustainability
Interventions must be adapted to local context:
Physical/Ecological
Socioeconomic
Political
Cultural
Effective participation emancipates this information from local communities

3. Participation: Means or End?
End: A Goal Itself
Enhanced Democracy
Community Acceptance
Means to an End: A Way to Achieve a Goal
Improved Project Design
Creating a Shared Vision
Learning for Sustainability
So…should be BOTH, but often only treated as an END

4. Participation: Classification
Manipulative
False representation, participants have no power
Passive
Participants are told what has already been decided
By Consultation
Participants are consulted but have no role in decision-making
For Material Incentives
People contribute resources (labor) in exchange for material incentives (food, cash)
Functional
Participation as a means to achieve predetermined project goals
Interactive
People participate in joint-analysis and action plans, participation a fundamental right
Self-Mobilization
People take initiatives independently of external institutions
Pretty, J. N. (1995). "Participatory Learning for Sustainable Agriculture." World Development 23(8):

5. Improved Project Design
Experiential Data
Numerical Data
Written Data
Importance of
Participation
Adapted from Jay Forrester (2008) Guest Lecture, Systems Dynamics Course, Sloan School of Management, 5/8/2008.

6. Creating a Shared Vision
“Reality”

7. Creating a Shared Vision
Perception of the Ecologist

8. Creating a Shared Vision
Perception of the Cattle Specialist

9. Creating a Shared Vision
Perception of the Sociologist

10. Creating a Shared Vision
Perception of the Agronomist

11. Creating a Shared Vision
“Reality”

12. Creating a Shared Vision
Colearning: Alignment of Mental Models
Everyone gets a better understanding of the water system through mutual communication
People can collaborate more effectively with a clear, common goal
Learning can also be applied beyond the boundaries of the project focus area - Behavior Change!
Water conservation at home/work
Sharing of information with broader community
“Multiplier effect”

13. How to Encourage Learning?
Summative Evaluation
Why: Judgment of Worth
When: Subsequent to Project Completion
Process: How did agencies and citizens interact?
Outcome: What environmental outcome resulted?
Formative Evaluation
Why: Planning and Mid-course Correction
When: Before and During Project
Process: How are agencies and citizens interacting?
Outcome: Are we making progress? Why? Why not?
Chess, Caron (2000) 'Evaluating Environmental Public Participation: Methodological Questions', Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 43:6, 769 — 784

14. How to Encourage Learning?
Experiential Learning
Tyler, Stephen, ed. (2006) Communities, Livelihoods, and Natural Resources: Action Research and Policy Change in Asia (Warwickshire; Intermediate Technology Publications)

15. Tools for Evaluation
Review of Criteria for Ensuring Meaningful Participation
Web Resources
Wageningen University:
International Development Research Centre: DO_TOPIC.html
Questions/Comments?
Thank you very much!!