6.1 Participatory monitoring and evaluation
6.2 Participatory appraisal and planning in other watersheds
The Community Action Plans were being implemented in 1996 and partly in 1997. The activities described in the CAPs need to be monitored and evaluated. Participatory evaluation and re-planning has already taken place in several sites during October-December 1996. It appeared that some of the tools used during the original PRA, most notable the Resource Maps, were essential in conducting a meaningful participatory monitoring and evaluation exercise, while the Seasonality Diagram was essential in detailed and realistic planning of activities implementation. It is therefore recommended to carry out the initial PRA in such a way that specific tools can be earmarked for later use in such monitoring, evaluation and re-planning.
The 1995/96 Bhusunde Khola watershed wide PRA exercise was successful though also very strainful. Such participatory planning methods will be replicated in the Maudi Khola watershed, albeit somewhat amended. Proposed amendments include:
1. A stronger focus from the first PRA on actual user groups, this will make the CAP stronger and more realistic, and will also avoid undue dominance by one or two influential personalities in each target community. There could still be a role for community or even ward level committees, if they function as a forum in which actual user groups are represented.
2. To try and limit the number of PRAs and resulting CAPs so that the actual workload that is likely to result (i.e. number of irrigation schemes, etc.), can actually be handled by the project/DSCO in terms of staff requirements and implementation budget.
3. To develop and include particular PRA tools targeted at an assessment of local water resources, utilization, problems and opportunities.
4. To have a longer time interval between the actual PRA and the Participatory Planning exercises. This would be less strainfull on villager time, would permit better analysis of PRA data, and provides communities and user groups more time to reflect upon their actual problems and what kind of activities should be prioritized for inclusion in the CAPs. During this time attention can be focussed on the strengthening of user groups.
5. Participatory feasability studies of proposed activities should be conducted before making the final CAPs and writing up in a community forum WHO SHOULD DO WHAT. Once this "who should do what" is part of the plan the concerned party has made a commitment to accomplish it.
