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Participatory Learning and Action - Issue 44
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IIED, June 2002. 88pp. Price $32.00
Guest Editors: Andy Inglis and Ced Hesse Summary While it is frequently national governments that formulate policy, it is usually local governments that are responsible for implementing it, whether it is delivering essential social services, carrying out civic improvements or coordinating integrated land-use planning activities. This special issue, published October 2002 by IIED, discusses examples of where local government agencies are using PLA to address issues of concern in their constituencies. It addresses:·
These are some of the key issues addressed in this issue of PLA Notes. Also included are training tips from a recent book by Robert Chambers, Participatory Workshops: A sourcebook of 21 sets of ideas and activities, plus general articles on participatory approaches and a comprehensive resources section. Editorial1. Overview: Local Governments - potentially the most important day to day real-world users of innovative participatory approaches Andy Inglis and Ced Hesse Abstract This paper poses the question of why local governments, whose main role is to represent their constituents, have been so slow in the uptake of participatory techniques? Drawing on examples from the other articles in this special edition, the authors provide an excellent introduction to the key issues in both developed and lesser-developed countries. 2. Participatory democracy in Porto Alegre, Brazil Rualdo Menegat Abstract Porto Alegre has the highest standard of living of all Brazil's metropolitan areas. In this paper the author examines the reasons behind this, and in particular the role of participation in creating a 'civil, not state, form of governance' which has handed greater power to the public to determine council policies. 3. Participatory budgeting in Villa el Salvador Michaela Hordijk AbstractThis paper looks at the Villa el Salvador district of Lima, a region with a history of self-management. Under the guidance of a young Mayor, Martin Pumar, participatory techniques are used to assess where communities want money invested, with 1 / 3 of the annual budget allocated to such developments. The successes of this project are documented, along with the vision of the mayor. 4. Participatory inclusive mechanisms to set the civic improvement agenda in Palmerston North, New Zealand Janet Reid AbstractThe author presents a case study from Palmerston North city council in New Zealand, where participatory techniques were used to obtain local peoples views on the city's amenity value, and what future changes and developments they anticipated to further enhance these features. 5. Local government using participatory methods to facilitate stakeholder dialogue and conflict resolution Joanna Humphries AbstractMany university cities across Britain face increasing conflicts between residents and students in parts of town favoured by students for accommodation. This paper assesses the way Newcastle City Council tackled the problem using participation to include all involved parties, and to ensure that certain groups or individuals did not dominate the discussion. 6. Participating or taking control? An experience in rural planning from Mali Mamadou Diakité Abstract Although Rural Councils in Mali control management of natural resources, they depend on local taxes and levies on the use of natural resources to generate income for management - a system that is often abused. This paper assesses an attempt to build capacity of the councils to ensure community involvement, to reduce the risk of corruption and improve long-term sustainability. 7. Participation paysanne aux négociations foncières dans la région de Thiès, Sénégal Serigne Mansour Tall and Alphonse Tine Abstract Original French version of article 8 in this issue 'Farmer participation in land-use negotiations in Thiès Region, Senegal'. 8. Farmer participation in land-use negotiations in Thiès Region, Senegal Serigne Mansour Tall and Alphonse Tine, translated by Jean Lubbock Abstract Faced with increasing conflict between farmers groups and municipal councils as urban sprawl slowly envelops agricultural areas, this paper details the result of a participation process that encouraged dialogue between the two groups. This process not only provided strategies to resolve the crisis, but also highlighted the different ways the groups view land rights. 9. Using participatory consultation to help improve local government performance and services Gary Turner Abstract During a programme to tidy up the Scottish city of Edinburgh, the city council tried to isolate areas that local people felt had a problem with litter and graffiti, and required particular focus. Individuals were approached in public places, and with the use of maps, asked to pinpoint areas they viewed as trouble spots. The author highlights the benefits of this successful operation. 10. Participatory planning by the book: lessons from the region of Mopti, Mali Mamadou Bangaly Abstract In this paper the author assesses the problems of following a set of United Nations guidelines to establish and run a participatory programme. In the project, using local trainers to strengthen capacity of Rural Councils in Mali to help them to access resources, a multitude of problems were encountered when the guidelines were strictly adhered to. 11. Community toilets in Pune and other Indian cities Sundar Burra and Sheela Patel Abstract The provision of public toilets in slum areas of Indian cities is often closely associated with corruption in both the building and the maintenance of latrines, leading to public defecation and associated health problems. This paper details the revolution in sanitation provision when control was handed to community groups and local NGOs. 12. Influencing and enhancing externally driven initiatives: the use of participatory approaches in local government, Poland Wiesa Serwatko Abstract EU funded projects usually have their direction and focus determined by the EU with little input from the communities that the projects are based. This paper reports on a project in Poland, where local commune citizens were consulted independently of an EU project, and how this information was used to help lever the EU programme towards the communities needs. 13. Participatory facilitation inputs into land management by the City of Ottawa Anna V Hercz Abstract Attempting to improve green spaces within Ottawa metropolitan area proved problematical due to limited funds. This was partially solved for publicly owned land by using participatory techniques to garner opinions of local residents on what they valued in their open spaces and what could be improved, therefore ensuring funds were invested into areas that people appreciated.
GENERAL SECTION 14. PRA and its role in reorienting IGFRI's research agenda Nagaratna Biradar and CR Ramesh Abstract The Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI) has been working to improve livestock fodder management for 25 years. However, they felt that they were no longer targeting the needs of farmers, and used Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) to determine future research direction. This paper gives an interesting overview of the research focus before and after the use of PRA. 15. In search of a meaningful participatory training methodology RS Saxena and SK Pradhan Abstract Set within a project of land reclamation in India, this paper discusses the problems of using government and NGO officials to facilitate participation, when they are more accustom to a top-down approach. Using training workshops, participation in project management was introduced to these officials, and the challenges to this are documented. 16. The gains and strength in participation: a case study of the Mbiabet Ikpe rice farm project in Nigeria Chris N Ekong and Ndiyo N Ayara Abstract In this paper the authors describe how participatory techniques were used to strengthen community trust and co-operation, both within and between villages in Nigeria, and how this new confidence helped the communities seize control of traditional farmlands from government and big business. 17. Does PRA make sense in democratic societies? Benedikt Korf Abstract Do Participatory Learning and Action methods, and in particular Participatory Rural Appraisals, work as an effective tool in industrialised countries where functioning democratic institutions are already operating? This is the question posed by the author in this paper as he draw on experiences from development projects in rural Germany. 18. Participation, land acquisition, power analysis Jane Thomas Abstract When deciding the placement of a flood protection barrier in Bangladesh, the local people were consulted to decide on the best route to avoid good agricultural land, and how to compensate those farmers that did lose out. The author notes that although participation may add to the initial cost of a project, it increases long-term sustainability. Tips for Trainers Abstract What sort of documentation do you present at the end of a workshop to participants? Certificates? Photos? Nothing? This is a common problem with workshop organisers, and some possible solutions are suggested here. Copyright © 2005 International Institute for Environment and Development. |
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