7. planning and implementing projects

Rural DevelopmentLesson 7: Planning and implementing

rural development projects

P.B. Dharmasena0777 - 613234, 0717 - [email protected] , [email protected]://independent.academia.edu/PunchiBandageDharmasenahttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Punchi_Bandage_Dharmasena/contributions http://www.slideshare.net/DharmasenaPb

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Planning Development Projects

• Participatory approach with rural people (thinking, planning and working together)

• Understanding the available resources• Sensitivity on system fragility • Problem and outcome with desires of people• Compatibility with supporting services and

rural development societies• Target globally work locally• Cultural sensitivity• Flexibility• Political environment• Sharing responsibility

What we need for planning ?

• Information available (data, maps, views, past efforts

• Data collection (informal and formal)• Group of interested parties• Knowledge and understanding• Time• Main Problem and specific problems• Limitations

Participation is compulsory

Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)

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There is a general impression that getting data is a complicated process such as formal survey, questionnaire, analysis etc. Although there is truth in this statement, data can also be collected from simple methods such as talking to the people, walking through the community, observation etc. There are many ways of gathering data. This lesson is included to make the point that informal methods are as good as sometime better than formal methods

Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)Focus Group Discussion (FGD)A focus group discussion (FGD)

is a group discussion of 6-12 persons guided by a facilitator, during which group members talk freely and spontaneously about a certain topic. The purpose of an FGD is to obtain in-depth information on concepts, perceptions, and ideas of the group. It aims to be more than a question-answer interaction.

Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)Focus Group Discussion (FGD)FGD techniques can be used to:

1. Develop relevant research hypotheses by exploring in greater depth the problem to be investigated and its possible causes.

2. Formulate appropriate questions for more structured, larger scale surveys.

3. Supplement information on community knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviour already available but incomplete or unclear.

4. FGDs are not used to test hypotheses or to produce research findings that can be generalized.

Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)

Focus Group Discussion (FGD)Functions of the facilitator:

1. Introduce the session2. Encourage discussion3. Encourage involvement4. Listen carefully and move the discussion from topic to

topic. Subtly (properly) control the time allocated to various topics so as to maintain interest.

5. Take time at the end of the meeting to summarize, check for agreement and thank the participants.

In general, the facilitator should not act as an expert on the topic. His or her being there is to stimulate and support discussion.

PRA

Social MappingSocial mapping is one of the most

commonly conducted mapping exercises in participatory methodologies. In this exercise, a group of people who are familiar with the area and who could understand the mapping objective and, are willing to participate is selected from the community.

PRASocial MappingA trained facilitator directs them to draw

a sketch of the particular village marking the general features such as houses, existing infrastructures, available resources etc.

Also, the map should include other important aspects, which are already determined in a check-list prepared according to the objective.

In this way, a social map can be used for special analysis of a wide range of topics and identification of key elements important to different groups of people.

Historical Profile• Historical profile is also a participatory technique that has been used

widely at present. • The purpose of using this tool is to create the basis for discussing the

negative impacts on the people lived in a particular situation over a period of time.

• In order to facilitate the exercise, a structured format is prepared including sub topics such as years of the drought or flood or any other disaster records, magnitudes of damages, No. of days the event prevailed, No. of persons / families affected, damage to physical assets, problems / constraints experienced, actions taken to overcome the problems, supporting persons or organizations intervened and the assistance received.

• The resource persons represent the community in this exercise may mostly be older people who could recall their minds on past disaster events.

Seasonal Calendar • Main purpose of using this tool is to identify

the pattern of the fluctuations of significant factors such as rainfall, wind, drought, cold, income, expenditure, births, deaths, diseases, etc. that happened / took place in a periodic manner through discussions carried out on a monthly basis for a period of one year.

• In this exercise the community participants are allowed to undergo a brainstorming session to visualize trends and changes occurred with the past disaster events on their lives and environment.

• One of the outcomes of this work is to disclose how they could experience various constraints such as less income, diseases, food shortage, lack of drinking water etc. during high risk times and effect of such factors on the lives of the people.

Wealth Ranking • Wealth ranking is a PRA method that

determines the economic attributes of households in a village.

• It shows information on the relative wealth and well being of households in a village.

• It helps in determining the social and economic status of households in a village.

• The information generated by the wealth ranking exercise helps in identifying the poor households in the village.

• Ranking is done by villagers themselves. • It serves as baseline and as an opportunity

to identify indicators for planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of village development activities (including selection of village organizing strategy).

PRA

Venn Diagram • Venn diagram is a participatory tool that is

commonly used to assess relationships among various actors / stakeholders who hold a task / responsibility / stake in order to address / attend a given issue or a situation.

• It is of twofold; first is a comparative assessment among identified set of stakeholders & institutions in terms of their importance in addressing a given situation or issue. Second is also a comparative assessment about the quality of service delivery of the same stakeholders or institutions.

Venn Diagram • Once the stakeholders & institutions are identified,

the discussion takes place to rank these according to the value / importance of the services delivered in relation to the situation or issue needing attention.

• Once the ranking is complete, the second stage of the discussion on closeness / satisfaction begins. Each of the stakeholder / institution will be assessed in terms of satisfaction of the service they deliver and the closest ones will be kept very close.

Problem Tree Analysis

Problem Tree Analysis• Problem tree analysis is

central to many forms of project planning and is well developed among development agencies. Problem tree analysis (also called Situational analysis or just Problem analysis) helps to find solutions by mapping out the anatomy of cause and effect around an issue in a similar way to a Mind map, but with more structure.

Problem Tree AnalysisAdvantages:• The problem can be broken down into manageable and definable

chunks. This enables a clearer prioritisation of factors and helps focus objectives;

• There is more understanding of the problem and its often interconnected and even contradictory causes. This is often the first step in finding win-win solutions;

• It identifies the constituent issues and arguments, and can help establish who and what the political actors and processes are at each stage;

• It can help establish whether further information, evidence or resources are needed to make a strong case, or build a convincing solution;

• Present issues - rather than apparent, future or past issues - are dealt with and identified;

• The process of analysis often helps build a shared sense of understanding, purpose and action.

Problem Tree AnalysisProblem tree analysis is best carried out in a small focus

group of about six to eight people using flip chart paper or an overhead transparency.

It is important that factors can be added as the conversation progresses. The first step is to discuss and agree the problem or issue to be analyzed.

Do not worry if it seems like a broad topic because the problem tree will help break it down. The problem or issue is written in the centre of the flip chart and becomes the 'trunk' of the tree. This becomes the 'focal problem'.

The wording does not need to be exact as the roots and branches will further define it, but it should describe an actual issue that everyone feels passionately about.

Problem Tree Analysis• Next, the group identify the causes of the focal

problem - these become the roots - and then identify the consequences, which become the branches. These causes and consequences can be created on post-it notes or cards, perhaps individually or in pairs, so that they can be arranged in a cause-and-effect logic.

• The heart of the exercise is the discussion, debate and dialogue that is generated as factors are arranged and re-arranged, often forming sub-dividing roots and branches (like a Mind map). Take time to allow people to explain their feelings and reasoning, and record related ideas and points that come up on separate flip chart paper under titles such as solutions, concerns and decisions.

SWOT Analysis • SWOT analysis is a tool that is commonly used to assess

options available to overcome identified impacts/ effects prior to determining an action / solution for these. The term ‘SWOT’ stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats respectively.

• Strengths & weaknesses are the internal assessment, where the reflection would focus on ‘what are the strengths within us that we can use to overcome / address a certain issue’ and ‘what are the weaknesses lie within us that hinder overcoming / addressing a certain issue’. Likewise Opportunities & Threats are the external assessment, where the reflection would focus on ‘what are the opportunities that are there in our environment, that we can use to overcome / address a certain weakness lie within us’ and ‘what are the threats that are there in our environment that are beyond our control’.

SWOT Analysis • Ultimately, this analysis allows a

self-reflection on the possibility of acting on / overcoming a certain issue, thus enables finding feasible solutions for implementation.

• In this study, SWOT analysis is used to reflect on the current situation prior to determination of action for implementation, to reduce the effect of negative impacts on lives of people.

Family

Institutional Framework

Community

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Institutional Framework In

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Strengths and

weaknesses

Threats and Opportunities

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Family

Economic

Institutional

Live

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Institutional FrameworkPolitics

Services

Interventions

Physical

Opportunities

Disaster

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Bundala Model on Drought Risk Reduction• Strengths

– There are 16 small tanks in the Bundala cascade. – There are agricultural lands. The community has the knowledge and

expertise on farming under the harsh climate conditions.– The village is close to sea and the bay, so that people can easily earn

from fishing.– The village is close to a wetland of national as well as international

importance.– People have the unity to face together at any disaster situation.– There is a saltern. People are working in the saltern on permanent and

temporary basis.– People are engaged in various income generation activities such as

handicraft industry, growing medicinal plants, making flower pots etc.– The area is attractive to tourists.– Labour force in the village is an strength for them.Lesson-8

Bundala Model on Drought Risk Reduction• Weaknesses– Village economy is poor. People cannot practice both agriculture

and livestock successfully due to droughts. Their home gardens are also not much productive. Many lands are abandoned due to salinity.

– Village is lacking adequate machinery for agriculture. They have to higher tractors from out side. This difficulty leads to delay the cultivation and increase the cost of cultivation.

– Community leaders irrespective of their roots work together in development activities. This situation is sometimes disturbed due to conflicts occurred among them.

– There is no carrier guidance program for the community.– Young generation is facing lot of economic problems, which

frequently lead to delay marriage or cause family problems.– Irrigation system is under the reconstruction stage.Lesson-8

Bundala Model on Drought Risk Reduction• Opportunities– Activities of various societies - There are several organizations

such as Farmer Organization, Women Organization, Care Sri Lanka, Bundala Heritage Conservation Organization, Funeral Society etc. Community potential is exploited through these societies for community development. Development programs can be implemented through these societies. These societies are used to build up social relationship among families.

– Tourist industry - Tourists come to watch Bundala bird sanctuary and they travel across this village. Thus, villagers have the opportunity to develop the village as a tourism destination. They can start industries related to tourism.

– Small irrigation tanks - There are 16 small tanks. These tanks can be well fed from the feeder canal after rehabilitation.

Lesson-8

Bundala Model on Drought Risk Reduction• Threats

– Wild animal’s problem - Cultivated lands and houses are damaged by Wild animals. Animals cross the roads during night. Damage is severe during dry period due to scarcity of food and water for animals.

– There is no market for selling produce and medicinal plants.– They are discouraged in medicinal plant cultivation due to drought and as no

market to sell.– Fishery is dominated by outsiders– Drinking water is saline.– Working in the saltern is limited to a few months in the year. – Difficult to obtain Palmyra leaves for handicraft works from others’ lands. They

spend additional time and money to collect leaves from other areas. – The village land area is limited due to the sanctuary.– Service of the Government Officers is not satisfactory.– Salt mixed dust damaged electricity supply wires causing frequent power failures.– There is an environmental issue emerged from invasive plants like pathok and

katuandaraLesson-8

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Disaster Management

Cycle

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Type of measure/ strategy

Activity Effective phase

Economic Save money in banks to utilize during recovery time

preparedness

Register in insurance schemes preparednessPromote coconut cultivation by providing finance, planting materials, manure, crop management guidance etc.

mitigation

Provide public donation during rising tides period (warakan)

recovery

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Social People should be educated to avoid blocking the water flow for catching prawns such as madu gaseema

mitigation

Educate people to alert on animal behaviours, which are said to be early warning signals.

preparedness

Provide proper carrier guidance for uneducated young generation (train for self employment)

mitigation

Provide the access to pipe borne water to the entire community

mitigation

Provide sufficient health facility by establishing a health centre for Kahawa – Uduwaragaoda area

preparedness

Lesson-8



Livelihoods Provide training to the community on construction of buildings (carpentry, masonry etc.) to repair their houses by themselves after a disaster event.

preparedness

Provide credit facility schemes from banks or other organizations.

recovery

Promote coir industry and establish a marketing mechanism

mitigation

Initiate fresh water fishery programs to promote inland fish industry

mitigation

Lesson-8



Institutional Draw adequate attention to operation and maintenance of the Rangalla Anicut, so that excess flow would be properly regulated.

mitigation

Protect the coral reef in order to reduce the severity of the tidal waves.

mitigation

Establish a well trained disaster management committee.

preparedness

Form a volunteer group to act at any emergency occasion

preparedness

Provide deeds to assure the ownership for the land.

mitigation

Establish effective early warning systems preparedness

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Physical Remove debris in all canals and streams mitigationConstruct stone bunds or gabion structures to divert flow along the Lanka Ela canal at the Akurala bridge to get rid of flooding the land nearby

mitigation

Construct a community hall near Jayanthi temple or at Weeragoda temple as a resilience center to use at any emergency. The place should have water and sanitary facilities.

preparedness

Construct stone bunds across the shore line at an angle to reduce the velocity of tidal waves

mitigation

Construct a building complex with houses, assembling hall, toilets, bathrooms, kitchen etc. in a safer location (at least 400 m away from the beach)

preparedness

Arrange to distribute hazard bags, where they could keep medicine, certificates, and valuable good

preparedness

Construct a bridge across Mahawela using available materials in order to create escaping routes from the disaster.

preparedness

Repair all damaged roads recoveryWiden Lanka Ela bridge and construct two more small bridges across the Lanka Ela canal

preparedness

Prepare coconut trees with ladder cuts (hara gaseema) preparedness

Lesson-8



Environmental Establish plant barriers along the shoreline using species such as wetakeya, muudilla etc.

mitigation

Construct toilets on raised platforms to avoid spreading diseases during the flood and tsunami periods

mitigation

Provide effective drainage for rapid disposal of excess water by removing debris in all canals and streams including Lanka Ela

mitigation

Impose restriction to use of plastic materials

mitigation

Lesson-8

Economic

Social

Institutional

Environmental

Physical

Build up capacity of the community based organizations

Make Palmyra fence in zigzag form around the village to protect from wild elephantsObtain technical advices to reduce salt condition of the soilRemove invasive plants of the area plant suitable tree speciesEstablish wind belts to reduce wind velocity and dust problemRehabilitate feeder canal to feed tanks

Develop a community water supply scheme with a water filtering plant to obtain salt free water

Repair drainage canal of Baminiyawa tank and construct an irish culvert

Planning and Implementation of Bundala Model

Develop community grass lands and cattle sheds

Prepare bathing places in the Panu tank

Increase livelihood programs and encourage people for self employment

Livelihoods

PRAImpact Diagram • The participatory tools/ exercises

discussed above are used to generate a situational analysis, which is then used as a base to discuss impacts/ effects of the issue on people’s lives. ‘Impact diagram’ is the tool that was used for this purpose.

• Impact diagram is used to identify the psychological and physical damages as well as other losses of the affected people due to a disaster in selected locations of the five districts. Further, the diagram could reveal the negative effects socially and culturally faced by the people due to the disaster.

Case Studies A case study means a review of past event, which needs special attention or

differs from standard way/ system. It is an in-depth discussion on a particular event with the people who experienced it.

In case of disasters topics of major concern are how they identify the warning signals of the disaster, how they could respond to or face the disaster, and what changes occurred with respect to social, economic and environmental situations etc.

Most important part of the exercise is to identify desirable and undesirable features they had in the past and ways and means to improve the situation, so that the community could respond the disaster with minimum effect to them from the disaster.

However, there is a need to consider the changes occurred with time and discuss how they could adjust to the present time.

The group selected for the discussion should be the people who really were affected by the disaster. In the discussion the most familiar questions are begun with what?, how ?, when ?, where?, who? and why?.

PRA

Case Studies - steps • Preparation of a semi-structured format.• Introduce the objective of the discussion correctly.• Encourage more detailed descriptions than short

answers• Review of social status before the disaster– Land area, population, houses etc.– Agricultural and economic status– Public facilities (transport, health, education etc.)

• Reasons for occurrence of disasters– Environmental factors– Human activities

Lesson-8

PRA

Case Studies - steps• Pre-disaster signals– Days/ hours before the disaster occurs– Just before the disaster

• Preparedness for the disaster– Storing food, water etc.– Collection of medicines– Attention to pre-disaster warning signals (natural/ media)– Preparation of temporary huts, required implements etc.

• Response to the disaster– Protection from and been organized for the disaster situation– Taking affected people to a safe place– Seeking assistance from Government and other organization

Lesson-8

PRACase Studies - Steps • Situation after disaster• Rehabilitation activities• Relief aids/ support services• Recovery of the losses.• Damages due to disaster• Social (families, houses, life and properties)• Economic (agricultural and economic losses)• Damage to public properties (canals, bridges etc.)• Duration for restoration• Time spent• Amount of restoration• Amount not being restored• Suggestion to reduce the effect of disaster

7. planning and implementing projects

Education