ACCOUNTABILITY AND LEARNING Throughout the project cycle

Hanoi, Nov 2017

Prepared by: Nguyen Quoc Phong

Accountability to beneficiaries is a central part of the “A” in MEAL.

Active community participation throughout the project cycle is at the core of accountability to beneficiaries.

What is accountability?

Accountability

Who do we need to be accountable to?• Direct beneficiaries, • Other community members who may not

directly benefit• Community leaders• Other implementing partners• Donors

What happens if we aren’t accountable?• Programming does not meet needs• Substandard quality• Abuse and exploitation of beneficiaries• Corruption & fraud• Falling short of community expectations• Damaging our reputation & relationships

Participation Mapping Exercise

Exercise: Participation Ladder

Step 1 (5 mins)

1. Match the definitions to the terms

2. Organise the terms from least to most participation

Type of Participation

Definition

Information Primary stakeholders are informed about what is going to happen or has already happened.

Consultation Stakeholders provide answers to questions posed. Decision-making power in the hands of implementing agency who are under no obligation to incorporate stakeholders’ input.

Collaboration Primary stakeholders participate in the discussion and analysis of predetermined objectives set by the project, and are involved in the decision-making process about how to achieve them.

Empowerment Primary stakeholders are capable and willing to initiate the process and take part in the analysis. This leads to joint decision making about what should be achieved and how. Ownership and control

Type of Participation

Strengths of this approach

Weaknesses of this approach

Project examples

Information

Consultation

Collaboration

Empowerment

Participation Mapping Exercise

Discuss in your group (20 mins): What are some of the strengths of this type of participation, what are the weaknesses?• Think about what challenges in implementation may be.• Think about what benefits it might bring to the projects

sustainability.• Come up with as many examples from your projects as you

can for each type of participation.

Primary Stakeholder

Design

Implement

Monitor

Evaluate

Map your examples to the project cycle, and add any more methods of stakeholder engagement you can think of.

Participation Mapping Exercise

Effective participation might require different types of participation occurring at the same time

1. Community need information to understand what services should be provided and by whom

2. Beneficiaries might need new skills, training and knowledge to be able to effectively participate

3. There may need to be incentives to participate

4. There may need to be mechanism to participate

5. There needs to be responsiveness to community feedback by relevant agencies to ensure accountability works in practice

Complaint and Feedback Mechanisms

What mechanisms do you use?

• Suggestion/complaint boxes

• Beneficiary reference groups

• Information Centres

• Hotlines

• Community Help Desk

• Text messaging

• Feedback email accounts

• Any others?

Considerations

Access: physical distance, safety, language, literacy, phone networks

Resources: staff, $ for physical infrastructure/materials

Culture: how are they comfortable complaining? Other?

Complaint and Feedback Mechanisms

MEALearning

What are your best learning experiences?

What made them work?

What are your worst learning experiences?

What made them unsuccessful?

Learning Cycle

Source: Rowe, D. (2013). Audience State of Mind. T+D Magazine, 58-62.

2. STUDY•This stage supports taking onboard new concepts and information. Calmness and focus are key.

4. REFLECTION•This stage considers where

and how new skills and knowledge fit into the real world of work. Discussion and planning are key.

3. ACTIVITY•This stage turns theory into practice, and even skill. Action and interaction are key.

1. CURIOSITY•This stage supports the human desire to learn. Impact and emotional reactions are key.

Different Ways to Learn

Auditory Visual Kinesthetic

LecturesDiscussionsQuestion-and-answer Sounds, Music, SongsCoaching

conversationsMetaphorsPanel discussionsGroup projects

Diagrams, charts and graphs

ColorfulReading, handoutsWallboards/postersMind-mappingFilms/videosMapsDemonstrationsSlides and photos

Practice on the jobPaper-and-pencil testsGroup projectsRole playingPhysical

demonstrationsHands-on activitiesBuilding thingsWriting on flipcharts

or Wallboards

Edgar Dale’s Learning Pyramid

1900 - 1985

These teaching methods are passive and don’t require learner participation.

These teaching methods encourage greater participation, and promote greater learning.

5% Lecture

10% Reading

20% Audio-Visual

30% Demonstration

50% Group Discussion

75% Practice

90% Teaching Others

Image credit: http://e-ducation.datapeak.net/pedagogues/8.jpg

1913 - 1999

Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning

As you go up the ladder, complexity increases,

and learning needs change.

Evaluation

Synthesis

Analysis

Application

Comprehension

Knowledge

Image Credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ru/1/1f/Bloom_Benjamin.jpg