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

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 maxim

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)

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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

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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

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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

+ 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

+ 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

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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

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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:

- 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

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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

Group discusion Village

history

Semi - structure inerviewiew

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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

• 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

• Form a group, at least consist of 5 to 7 villagers including men and women

• Village map, chart are used to discuss and identify transect direction ; chart, map, compass, view and measure equipments, pen, papers are need to be prepared PRA staff explain clearly the objectives of this transect walks and suggest farmers to assist the group

to transect walk and discuss on the way

• Walking is need to be done from low area to high area, at the convenient area of village, the group can stop to discuss PRA staff draw up topography and characters of each area

in the village to help farmers in group discussion PRA staff could ask farmers more

• Drawing transect map on big size paper or on land floor by chalk or local material

• The map can be copied on A4 papers

Example: Transect map of Luong nang village, Hoa son commune, Tuyen Hoa¸ district, Quang Binh province

No people manage, bare land with brush and invaluable tree;

Difficulties Large area, located far

resident area, it

caused protection of

forest is difficult Forest

has not been allocated

to individual

households yet

Bad soil, lack of cultivation techniques Lack of valuable species and land use plan Lack of high yield

varieties, intensive techniques

Far from house, lack of labor

Productivity is increased Home garden is used effectively Yield is increased Land to be covered by

forest tree species with high economic value

PRA - VDP 13

Tool 4: Season calendar

4.1 Objectives:

• To help villagers understanding all of frequent activities of the village in a year

• Season calendar is a basis for village development planning and giving tasks to villagers

4.1 Methodology :

• Establish 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 floor, each material shows each 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

Plantin

g

tending harvesting

yellow leaf Maize

ng Collection

of forest

products

Rainfall

100 %

These diagrams show the quantitative changes by time

These diagrams could show many type of changes by time such as:

− Crop production

− Area of crop cultivation

− Number of animal heads

− Population and household numbers

Guide villagers to do the following issues

− square or normal paper are prepared

− Exchange with village informant about your thinking

− Let them have some time to think, remember and make comparison

− Try to encourage them to collect the data changed of specific field within a last 10 years

− To combine 2 or more of variable data in one diagram

− To combine the new reviewed information and base information

− The villages draw themselves the diagram changed by time on land floor or on board, big size papers

For example: Diagrama of land use

PRA - VDP 15

Tool 6: Priority ranking

6.1 Objectives:

• Giving priority to development activities

• Evaluation of farmers' interests

6.2 Methodology

There are several types of priority ranking:

- Ranking base on priority set

- Double ranking

pripority ranking by using matrix

- Wealth ranking methods of Ranking for priority; Double ranking; Direction matrix ranking are similar: Priority ranking allows PRA to determine major farmer needs or priority set by villagers quickly, it also make comparison of villager ideas more easily Normally, a ranking priority can be done by apply the following steps:

• Select some issues that need to be given priority For example: crops, rice varieties, firewood, fruit trees, or difficulties effected to community development etc

• Select some villagers who have proven experiences on village situation to collaborate with PRA team

• Suggest the villagers show their point of views to give priority to selected issues and how

to give priorities The villagers decide what categories can be used for ranking or giving score to ask each villager, the questions should be " what do you think more" Continue to ask other villagers for the same issues

• To synthesize all discussed results on a table for making comparison

See example:

Matrix ranking means that each criteria is given score, the villagers can use stones, maize seeds, rice seeds to show score that they want to give This way allows illiterates to be able for ranking Double ranking: There are 2 types or 2 issues compared each to other and rank by priority

Double ranking of the wealth classification for villages in a commune

7.2.Methodology :

• Form a group consist of 5 to 7 villagers in cluding men and women, elder is promoted

• PRA staff guide villagers to list organisations which have activities related to villagers life, the villagers show their point of views , to determine responsibility, importance levels as well as impact of those organizations to village

• Suggest villagers to use color paper cards and comparison method to determine the important levels of each organization Biggest circle card shows the community and it is put at the center Bigger circles show important organizations and smaller circle show less important organizations Distance from center to circles show impact levels of organizations

to village ( a circle far from center show impact of that organization to village is weak and opposite) After work is finished Venn diagram need to be copied on A4 paper

Example: An organization diagram (Vene) made by villagers

ers

Villag-Village Managem- ent Board

Farmers associate -on

135 progr am

Agriculture Bank

Commun

e people committe

Heath care Extension

• To establish a group of 5 to 7 villagers including the poor and woman

• PRA staff support farmers to determine criteria for wealth ranking, each household category ( rich, medium, poor ) has own criteria Base on village condition, the villagers can categorize households into 3-4 groups, categorized ones should be called household category 1, category 2, category 3 It is should not call rich household group or poor household group A table on paper Ao size is prepared as table 1, the criteria are indicated based on house, family property, food/person, animal

Table 1: Household indicators

• Prepare small paper cards with different colors, the number of cards is equal to the number

of households in the village, the name of each householder is noted in each card

• Villagers discuss to categorize households base on criteria identified, households will be categorized according to categories mentioned in above table

• Villagers put cards with name of households at type of category they want

• At the end of the process, checking the agreement of participants, whether they agree or

not

• Prepare a similar table (as table 2) on AO paper and the result of discussion of all of participants After that, the result is noted on A4 size paper

Table 2: Household wealth ranking

Ord Category I Category II Category III Category IV

PRA - VDP 18

Table 3: Difficult issures of the poor

1 to 10

• PRA staff assist villagers in discussion to put forward activities for solution of difficult issues

of the poor Each activity could be showed includes advantage, difficulties, and quantity, especially the responsibility of village in these tasks The end, PRA group discusses about

priority ranking for activities The results of discussion are noted in table 4

Table 4: The activities for solution of difficulties for poor households

Quantity Responsibility Prio

rity Activity

ntage

Adva- ulty

Diffic-Soluti -on

Objec -tive Unit 2004 2005 2006

Plac

e

Estima

te budget village outside

PRA - VDP 19

Example: Wealth ranking result made by villagers; Tu Ma Rong village, Tu Ma Rong commune, Dak To district, Kon Tum province:

Criteria for wealth ranking formulated by villagers:

- One month surplus food/year

- Have average 3 cattle

-There are 1 motorcycle or TV

set

- Have stable house (roof cover

by tile; timber wall)

- Children are sent to school

- Have no motorcycle, Ti vi set

- House (leaf roofing, bamboo wall)

- Children are not sent to school

Wealth ranking result made by villagers

PRA - VDP 20

Social village mapping

After wealth ranking made, the group draws up their social village map:

¾ Base on natural village map that have been made by tool 1, draw up village map ( boundary of the village, main roads, compound area ) on A0 paper size

¾ Mark households sites on the map by using different color; for example: Households categorized 1, mark red color, households categorized 2, mark yellow color

¾ Final discuss households sites marked on the map, and evaluate where household category 1 located and where category 4 located give ideas to help the poor and indicate which area in the village need to be supported

Example: A social village map made by PRA group

PRA - VDP 21

Tool 9: Household economic semi-structured interview

9.1 Objectives :

• To evaluate, analyse current livelihood of households,

• this is a basis to be used for follow-up evaluation activities

9.2 Methodology :

• To form a discussion group consist of at least 4 persons

• The result of wealth ranking is used as a basis to select households for interview Several households represented each type of household category , will be selected for interview

• Discuss household economic status Suggest households to analyze itself according to model table prepared

Note: Before household economic analysis, PRA staff need to and explain clearly objective of

Table 5: Example for household economical analysis

Head householder name : No of people :

Household category : No of labor :

Village : commune : district :

Income Spend Income resorces