Relevance of participatory approaches in planning for development project

In order to respond to the president call to save the mothers from diseases and death, we as the organization dealing with we decided to take a measure to intervene to such a problem through a project. After reviewing some literatures about the situation of the targeted population over there we found the situation too dangerous due the reason the people are very much conservative to their cultural beliefs. We also went to the community to observe the situation and find that the problem was much worse. From there is where the intervention process came to its beginning. We went to the local government authority to inform on our intention and were them who helped us to introduce our mission to the community. We used brochures; public announcement, and radio, to make people come to the meeting. Meeting was conducted in the.. and comprised different stakeholders pregnant and breast feeding mothers, traditional birth attendants, male partners, health service providers, and other community members. We used the local government leaders to build the rapport both between our organization and the community and among the individuals involved. This trust will serve as a foundation for future community development and community action to the coming project. In our intervention process to the problem of Poor Provision of Maternal Health Services to the people of Ngorongoro, where we came up with the project of capacity building to solve the problem of Maternal and Infant Mortality, we make sure that everyone who has a stake in the intervention has a voice, either in person or by representation. We as organization staff, members of the target population, community officials, interested citizens, and people from involved agencies, schools, and other institutions all were invited to the table. Everyone's participation were welcomed and respected, and the process was not dominated by any individual or group, or by a single point of view.In order to assure that the low-income or minority individuals and groups feel that their voice is heard we were always asked for their opinions in every angle which needs their concern. We acknowledge their voices by giving them enough respect for another's opinion to argue with it. All too often, low-income or minority members of a planning team or governing board are treated with reverse condescension, as if anything they say must be true and profound. We assured that not only by allowing everyone was being heard, but also everyone thrashing out ideas and goals, and wrestling with new concepts. That was done by making sure that; those with less education and "status" often were given extra support, both to learn the process and to believe that their opinions and ideas are important and worth stating. All of this takes time, but we know it will reward us great during the implementation of the project.We provided them with the feelings of ownership, and build a strong base for the intervention in the community by making them integral to the planning of a community intervention, we asked them question like what must be done by them in order to .(objectives of the project) we did so to guarantee that the intervention will be theirs. They have a stake in it not only as its beneficiaries or staff or sponsors, but as its originators. They'll do what they can to see their work succeed.

In our meeting we make sure that the targeted population was there or they had their representatives. This ensures that the intervention will have more credibility in all segments of the community because it was planned by a group representing all segments of the community. This is because when people know that others with the same point of view and experience as theirs were instrumental in making the intervention happen, they'll assume that their interests were attended to.

We managed to avoid pitfalls caused by ignorance of the realities of the community or the target population. For example, male partners were the part of the planning process for an intervention in a community. Theyll know that lunch meetings during Ramadan, the Islamic month of daytime fasting, are not likely to work. Long-time community members will know what has failed in the past, and why, and can keep the group from repeating past mistakes.

We included different stakeholders in order to assure the effectiveness. Even the knowledge of lay people was included. It was the local people who identified their needs according to the problem they face. They are the ones who drew the resource mapping which allow us to identify the potentials they have. Also we worked together to assure that all assets and needs are identified and addressed, and that unintended consequences are minimized.

We respected everyone's intelligence, values everyone's ideas and experience, and affords everyone a measure of control. By empowering the community, and particularly the target population, rather than just superimposing our own ideas on a social structure that already exists, our organization gave substance to its ideals. In the final analysis, some level of participatory approach is almost always the most ethical way to plan a community intervention.Link between participatory research and participatory planningWe as facilitators of local change, the development planner will have to shed much of the planning jargon and simplify our planning techniques so that these are widely understood. In view of the training needs of the three million newly elected local decision-makers and the limited local expertise, there is an urgent need for training material on the introduction of simple local planning methodologies and techniques that can be used at the village level, with minimal need for external assistance.

How to initiate participatory planning(i) From that meeting local needs were identified which was the need to solve the problem of maternal and infant mortality. The best way to find what people need and what they see as possible solutions to their problems was to ask them directly. This also creates awareness and willingness among the people to take part in any action that will follow.(ii) Basic data werecollected, after local contacts were established, the next step was to collect, with the peoples help, basic data about the community, characteristics of the area, resources situation, socio-economic status and other relevant facts. The baseline data were also collected for the purpose measuring changes were brought about by the project at a later stage. We used participatory rural appraisal (PRA) as a tool for data collection and analysis.

(iii) Working groups were formed for the purpose of analyzing and compare data, draw inferences and identify priority areas for intervention. This were aimed at greater clarity and strengthening of participation of local people, by giving greater local planning responsibility and establishment of good working relationship between technical planning experts and the local people. Importance is to be given to detailed specification of the roles of participant individuals, groups and committees in carrying out the tasks.(iv) Objectives were formulated, This were the first step in participatory local planning, together with local people we defined precisely what specific objectives are to be achieved, which should be stated in concrete terms, e.g. increasing i) incomes of identified households, ii) production of certain crops and iii) literacy among locally elected women officials.

(v) Deciding the strategyWe assessed and mobilizing needed resources and choosing the planning methods. It is important to specify: a) resources that are locally available and those needed from outside. (people with skills, funds, raw material inputs, etc.); b) if resources are available when needed; and c) who should be approached, who will approach and with whose help to secure these.(vi) Feasibility was ensured

Together with working groups we had to consider whether the objectives were realistic. We ensured that; i) assumptions and stipulations regarding the availability of resources, managerial competence and technical expertise are realistic; ii) proposed activities are economically viable; and iii) local market can absorb the expected outputs. Potential project beneficiaries were identified and check how the benefits would flow to them.(vii)Preparing the work planAll activities for implementation of the project; names of the persons responsible for each activity; starting and completion time for each activity; and the means to carry out the activities were stated, Also we defined the outputs expected from each activity to measure performance during implementation or on completion of the project, for effective monitoring and evaluation.

Participatory process of project planning