(4) Engaging Stakeholders in Research:Participatory Appraisal (PRA)

Why PRA

• Engages stakeholders – discussion and feedback

• Allows researcher to listen with open ear, absorbing new issues

• More relaxed and natural

• Can lead to action planning

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PRA as research methodology

• Be clear about intention – do not creat false expectatiion

• Triangulation – confirm observation from different sources and angles

• Comparative analysis – understanding what makes the difference between areas – understanding the ‘driving forces’

• Ranking systems

Steps (1) Introduction

(2) PRA• Trend analysis• Resource mapping• Transect walk• Problem tree analysis• Focus group discussion• Key person interview

Information sharing

(3) Feedback and validation

1. Introduction

• Whom to invite and engage?– Those that matter– Those whose voice is often forgotten– Men and women

• What status to give to the discussion– Be clear about intentions

Resource map

• Prepare village resource map using paper or coloured powder

• Indicate (in different colours)– Roads– Main building– Wells (plus condition)– Water harvesting structures– Local streams

Resource mapping

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Transect walks

• Systematic route through the area– Stop at each water point, structure or gully– Stop at each drinking water/ sanitation facility

• Making observations at all water points• Summarize findings

Transect walkSystematically visiting all water points

Making notes

Trend analysis

• Discuss with group situation now and in the past• Take 3-4 points in time (related to political events) and

discuss:– Population numbers– Livestock numbers– Type of crops– Type and number of wells– Condition of tanks, terraces and other structures– Depth of water table– Quality of water

Trend analysis

Discuss how did things change

Participatory water budgetting

• Prepare a simple water balance for the area, calculating:– Rainfall and recharge co-efficient;– Water consumption:

• Cropped area (main crops) times water consumption• No of domestic users times use/capita• No of animals times use/ capita

Participatory water budgetting

Groundwaterusage

Groundwateravailability

Problem tree analysis

• Jointly identify water related problems• Formulate them clearly• Identify how they are linked – causes and

effects• Identify solution tree by reversing

problems into solutions

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Findings: Problem tree Solution tree

Information sharing – for instance legal and institutional awareness

• Many legal provision and institutional arrangements and support facilities exists

• But usually no one knows - so no one will use

• So explain what to water users what legal instruments or investment opportunities they have

3. Feedback and synthezing

• Compare results from trend analysis, water budget, transect walks and resource maps, interviews with key stakeholders. Focus group

• Identify what should be done:

Discussions of findings – to share and validate

Create exchange between communities

• Create peer effects – bring together representatives of several areas in subbasin

• So that they start to:– Share experiences– Identify common issues– Learn from others (why are others doing different than

we)

Create peer network

Exchange visit or a local fair isa good way of bringing aboutthe exchange of experience and inspire people to do better or at least as good asothers in water management