application of pra tools in village development planning and commune development planning ( vdp và cdp)

Capacity building project for central region poverty reduction projects ( CACERP) Application of PRA tools in village development planning and Commune development planning ( VDP & CDP) (Training manual for district and commune staff) model_sard_annex3_en.doc 2 Foreword The Capacity building for central region poverty reduction project (CACEP) is an ADB/dfid/MPI financed project located in the provinces of Kon Tum, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Binh and Quang Tri. In each province two pilot districts are involved and in each pilot district one commune is selected. The goal of TA is to facilitate the creation of the condition for improved decentralized poverty reduction initiatives in Vietnam. The objectives are to (II) improve local service delivery performance in selected pilot areas and (II) develop a set of key policy and practice changes aimed at enhanced poverty -focused service delivery modalities. The main indicators of success will be adoption by the Government of an agreed set of key policy and practice changes, creation of a management structure able to deliver these changes. The TA has two components: (I) design, test and implement decentralized service delivery arrangement and outcomes in 8 pilot communes with resulting models for wider replication; and (II) develop an active policy and practice network, leading to the development of key principles that will serve as basis for Government to improve decentralized service delivery for poverty reduction in Vietnam. The successful trials and demonstrations in Technical Support Project frame will be applied wide in Credit Project - ‘Central Region Livelihood Improvement Project (CRLIP). The demonstrations will be improved step by step in 3 years cycle of Project and the experiences from implementation process should be applied in CRLIP and in activities for enhancement on capacity of authorities. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) is a process that TA was applying after research and learning experiences from other projects carrying out in these areas. The PRA process was discussed and agreed by Central Project Management Unit. In order to have participation of community in this process, the Training courses were organized in all of 8 pilot communes. The method of training is mainly learning by doing the practical exercise . The trainees of each training course are Province representatives , District staff, commune staff and informants at village level. Training material used in the course includes 2 kinds: (i) Detailed PRA material including all PRA tools and (ii) Basic material including simplified PRA tools. The contents presented below have been used as a referen document for both trainers and trainees during the courses in 8 pilot communes. After courses have finished, it had been improved for wider use of other courses in next phase of the project model_sard_annex3_en.doc 3 Table of content Foreword 2 Chapter I - Analysis methods, rural appraisal 5 1. Traditional Method 5 2. Changed by another methods 5 3. Method “Rapid Rural Appraisal” (RRA) 5 4. Method “Participatory Rural Appraisal” (PRA) 6 5. Principles and application of PRA 6 6. What are the main characters of PRA 7 Chapter II – Techniques of PRA tools use 9 Tool 1: Time line 9 Tool 2: Village mapping 10 Tool 3: Transect walks and Transect map 11 Tool 4: Season calendar 13 Tool 5 : Time line diagram 14 Tool 6: Priority ranking 15 Tool 7: Venn diagram 16 Tool 8: Wealth ranking 17 Tool 9: Household economic semi-structure interview 21 Chapter III- Village development plan 22 1. Appraisal , making plan on agriculture 22 2. Appraise , make plan on forest trees and fruit . 23 3. Appraise, make plan on rural infrastructure 24 4. Appraise , make plan on off-farm activities 26 5. Appraise , make plan on water supply and sanitation, environment 27 6. Appraise , make plan on rural credit 28 7. Gender issues 30 8. Appraise, make plan on communication activities 31 9. Appraise, make plan on education and health 32 10. Analysis , consolidation of PRA results and appraised information of each aspect. .33 Chapter IV - Consolidation of commune development plan (CDP) 36 1. What is commune development plan base on farmer needs 36 2. Objective of commune development planning : 36 3. Process of commune development planning 36 Chapter V - Several necessary skills in application of PRA tools in making village development plan 40 5.1 Skills needed to carry out PRA tools 40 5.2 . Some skills needed for planning 42 model_sard_annex3_en.doc 4 Abbreviations ADB: Asian Development Bank CACERP: The Capacity Building for Central Region Poverty Reduction Project CDP: Commune Development Plan CRLIP Central Region Livelihood Improvement Project DFID: Department for International Development RRA: Rapid Rural Appraisal PRA: Participatory Rural Appraisal VDP: Village Development Plan MPI : Ministry of Planning and Investment model_sard_annex3_en.doc 5 Chapter I - Analysis methods, rural appraisal 1. Traditional Method Recently, most analysis concentrates on the rural situation in developing country that have the following bearing common following characteristics + Time is long, it take some years + The steps of work are stable and regular. + Scope is limited that concentrating on single problem and there is little relation to fact. + Level of diversity is poor, although there are a lot of officers in many different fields taking part in assessment. + The result of assessment are likely to be good + The main guidance from level to level is to work directly with state enterprise and some organizations, and indirectly with households + The participatory role of peasant in project area is rare + High cost that wastes time and human resources + The methods consist of economic analysis, inventory land and crop in detail, testing in the field , interview by using a list of prepared social economic questions. Because this technique has no characters that can be changed , so it is not sensitive to local conditions, that lacks of flexibility and consolidation, and so is not suitable to be recommended. 2. Changed by another methods The defects in common analysis methods showed in years 1970. Up to now, the trying on development work is raise productivity of crops, making much of uniform environment, enrichment resources and checkable. After that they take care of poor farmers problems and difficult economic conditions. Hence there is a need to learns the working systems of farmer and developappropriate technology for various agricultural systems. Method “ Research of farming system ” was set up from those understandings. The general target of method is to describe cultivation, livestock, awareness, and extension activities. These developed by many forms, research plans and extension activities. Many different forms including rural research centers of Consultant Group International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and national institutes develop it. General of that office is repeating. At the beginning the method “ Research of farming system ” used many old ways to survey farmers and experimenting in the fields. But RFS also was encourage to have new techniques are faster and more exact 3. Method “Rapid Rural Appraisal” (RRA) The term “ Rural Rapid Appraisal” in agricultural field can be described by any new method that using researcher group in many fields to work together with farmers and community leader in order to develop quickly and systematically. The following activities can be used by RRA method 1) To evaluate the demands of rural development and other common development of community model_sard_annex3_en.doc 6 2) To determine the priority tasks for developing work 3) To assess capacity of implementation (by social aspect and technical aspect) 4) To find out priority characters in developing activities 5) To implement development activities. 6) To monitor development activities RRA operated in 1970, with FSR movements. Among the persons to contribute to the first of creation were Robert Chambers, Peter Hildebrand, Robert Rhoades and Michael Collinson. They were the first persons to apply RRA to have a workshop in development research institute of Sussex University in England dated Oct. 1978 and Dec. 1979. At that time documents and the press were popularised the term PRA and introduced it to readers widely. In mid 1980s there were many experiences to find out by applying in many regions in the world. There was an international workshop in Sep. 1985 in Khon Kaen Thailand to test application of PRA and to perfect PRA term. 4. Method “Participatory Rural Appraisal” (PRA) The advantages of PRA when compare to traditional methods are participation of community is higher, time is short and low cost. Collection of data by pilot survey, in some cases may need less investigation but data analysis consumes much time. Collected data must be coded in the computer and analyzed by separate steps in research communes. When collection of data is completed it is difficult and high cost is needed to collect missing data , because it need to back to the field. The cost for information is always high. Participatory Rural Appraisal is specially suitable for community development because it allows participation of community and research groups in all research activities and data analysis . The data collected by PRA supports group and community participants for their tasks as well as information collected by hard works of participants for research, will be ensured that collected information are correct and useful. The analysis at the field ensures collected information are reliable and it can be adjusted before leaving village . 5. Principles and application of PRA 5.1. What is PRA? PRA is a process of flexible learning of each to others between community people and outsiders. It is a ‘Group” of approach and tools create local people to have opportunity for exchange and analysis of life awareness and their condition to planning of development and action . This process is to support community people to be able: : - To determine main their needs - Giving priority to above needs - To help them to have necessary actions, based on taking maximum advantage of their existing resources 5.2 Objectives of PRA PRA assist participants to be able to - Understand methods and be able to could plan and implement local development activities - Get aware more about community capacity - Use participatory methods in real activities (by independent group) To support community people to make VDP, based on taking maximum advantage of existing local resources model_sard_annex3_en.doc 7 5.3. Principles - Observation - Semi-structured interview - Group discussion by subject - Assign tasks to farmers to do - Cross checking - Suitable information reliability - Living with community PRA is a continuous process which using the tools, Its result is total dependent on behaviours method or attitude of implementman. 6. What are the main characters of PRA 6.1. Triangle This is a method used to crosscheck the reliability of information which are different and collected from different resources. It is presented by: - Group component - Information resources - Use of tools for information collection a. Group component - Professional skills from different places are needed, that make different point of views, and all of these will add each to other into perfect result - Access to different topics by using new way of observation deeply. - Women must be included in the group - The group must have community people to exchange skills and awareness each to others b. Different Information resources - The group members have different backgrounds so that information collected by them is more diversified. Carry out combination of appropriate technology In order to help you to use a package of PRA techniques quickly and correctly , We would show a package of PRA tools. These tools have to be used harmoniously in the PRA process. model_sard_annex3_en.doc 8 6.2. Flexibility character of PRA The research plans and methods are not fixed, they could be modified to to fit real condition 6.3. Community character - It is useful for analysis of collected information - To evaluate the community difficulties correctly and to create the main elements for VDP, CDP process - Members of PRA group should consist of rich, medium, poor households and , female and male 6.4, Quantitative character Request ourselves always: • What information is needed • What information must be collected • Who will analyze and use these information , What the objective is • What level of accuracy of these information, 6.5. Analyze in the field - The selected information will be analyzed immediately - The collection and analysis of information are done continuously and interactivety (collect information - Analyze at the field - collect information - Analyze at the field) - If it necessary the analysis focus, could take place open through out the implementation process - During PRA process, analysis focus can be expanded if necessary . chart Bag of PRA tools map Ven- n Season calendar Wealth ranking Group discusion Village history Semi - structure inerviewiew model_sard_annex3_en.doc 9 Chapter II – Techniques of PRA tools use Tool 1: Time line 1.1. Objective: • To be acquainted, increase good acquaintance between PRA staff and villagers • Help villagers to remember historical events in the village, through that villagers can review village development process correctly and encourage the solidarity and support of each villager to others in coming time. 1.2. Methodology : • Select a village informant group consist of 5-7 villagers ( Elders who have been living in the village for long time and understanding village history, should be selected) • A comfortable place for group discussion is selected to do the tool • PRA staff facilitate villagers to discuss amongs themselves the time when historical take place in the village. The collected information is noted on Ao size paper to help villagers easily to discuss or add other necessary information. • During discussion process, PRA staff could make open questions to help villagers remember and adding events of village. • Selected information is written on A4 paper. Example: a completed time line. Years Events affect life and production of villagers 1973 There are two households reside at village 1974 Local Government does settlement for minority ethnic group in the village 1980 Slash and burn is a major production of villagers, productive risk appears cause villagers are hungry. 1993 Epidemic disease of animal appear; livestock husbandry are facing many difficulties 1999 Local Government does not allow to harvest natural forest, villagers are supported budget for forest management and protection. 2002 The village is supported small scale irrigation system and electric power. model_sard_annex3_en.doc 10 Tool 2: Village mapping 2.1. Objectives : • Assess, analysize general village situation to expose difficulties, solutions for each field related poverty reduction in the village • Village map will be used for making VDP and village meeting discussion . 2.2. Methodology • Form a group consist of 5 to 7 villagers including female and male • Select of a high site from where it is convenient to review the village, the select place should be good for traffic, attracting villagers' participation. • Villagers discuss and draw up their village map on ground . They could use color chalk, small leaves, branches of tree, to present the terrain characters, land use, roads, on village map. During mapping process, PRA staff help villagers to discuss with appropriate questions. • After map is completed , the villagers make a copy of the map on lage size paper (Ao) • Remark sites of each households on the map , result of wealth ranking is used to mark households categoried . Each type of household is remarked by one color on village map Note : Village map need to be included: Information concerning: Roads, rivers/streams. Rice, corn, fields, canal; forest, grazing-land; of village For example: A village map drew up by villagers [...]... responsibilities and to integrate its activities • Raise community commitment to contribute to implement plan 3 Process of commune development planning • Carry out PRA tools to collect baseline information, identify problems/obstacle and farmers' needs as well current basic indicators for planning • Making village development plan of all villages of the commune • Analyse, consolidate all VDPs into commune development. .. group of villagers consist of 5- 7 villagers who have long experiences on rural infrastructure in the village, the group do appraisal of current constructions • Collect information and data of exiting constructions and complete the following table and indicate constructions' place on the map Table 10: Situation of infrastructure Name Pri constructions o of Year of buildin -g Finan Capacity (technical... ranking 8.1 Objectives: • • To help villagers to do wealth ranking in the village by themselves determining and discussing methods to improve livelihood of the poor in village To support monitoring and evaluation on effectiveness and impact of project/program in next years 8.2 Methodology: • To establish a group of 5 to 7 villagers including the poor and woman • PRA staff support farmers to determine... 9 3 Village 11 12 6 Village 10 11 5 Village 9 10 4 Village 8 9 3 Village 7 8 2 Village 12 X X On the table, Village 8 is the best wealthy, Village 11 is the poorest in commune PRA - VDP 15 Tool 7: Venn diagram 7.1 Objectives: • To assist villagers in discussing different importance level of organisations and its impacts to villagers' life • Through implementation of the tool both PRA staff and villagers... understand communication activity in the village, communication village staff should be included • Interview: PRA staff assist villagers in raising existing communication, each type of communication should be clarified its channel, message, source, audience Discuss linkage between villagers and information sources and how can villagers receive information from information sources (by what channel), appraise... activity in the village or months of the year • Use square paper to take note information discussed Copying all of discussed information in A4 size paper For example: Crop and season calendar of Ha village, Thanh Hoa¸ commune, Tuyen Hoa district Quang Binh province Temperature Rainfall 1 2 3 4 Spring rice 6 7 8 9 10 Harve sting Tending Planting Disease 5 Stem disease, yellow leaf Winter tending harvesting... consolidation of PRA results and appraised information of each aspect a PRA result Each implemented PRA tool has its specific results, these results presented by maps, diagrams, matrix and tables containing discussion results of villagers and minutes recorded by PRA staff during PRA process Results above mentioned are recorded on A 4 size papers and have been presented at village meeting, after that... is requested to be converted into A 4 size paper These are real PRA results that recorded by PRA staff b Analysis, consolidation of PRA results This is an important step to analyse and consolidate PRA results gained into summarised PRA and VDP that is used for village meeting with participation of all villagers This work including: + Consolidate potential, problem, current indicators + Solutions to solve... base on farmer needs and from village development plans Proposed activities mention in CDP are given priority and submitted to donors, Government project/programs for getting supports and integration of implementation Contribution of villagers is committed in CDP 2 Objective of commune development planning : • Synthesize urgent needs of farmers • Create base to policy makers, development organizations,... a villager group consist 5 to 7 villagers including men and women and villagers who have long experiences on production in the village • Finding a good site for people to participate in discusion • Villager group discusses about crop season in village PRA staff encourage, promote farmers to discuss • Villagers can use local available materials ( Stick, leaf, chalk ) to draw up season calendar on land . building project for central region poverty reduction projects ( CACERP) Application of PRA tools in village development planning and Commune development planning (. Unit. In order to have participation of community in this process, the Training courses were organized in all of 8 pilot communes. The method of training is mainly learning by doing the practical. The trainees of each training course are Province representatives , District staff, commune staff and informants at village level. Training material used in the course includes 2 kinds: (i) Detailed