Time and again, it is concluded that the quality of the implementation of particular steps in the participatory development process depends on the skills of staff and facilitators. In this report, staff and facilitator skills were mentioned in particular in relation to the planning of training activities during CAP formulation. Other aspects that need further attention in the preparation and training of staff and facilitators include: (i) The better use of data on time availability in farming systems in activity planning; (ii) Improvement in the procedures and skills concerned with participatory feasibility analysis; (iii) More clear definitions of proposed activities in CAPs to reduces variations and vagueness; and (iv) Systematic attention to the planning of training activities.
One of the main requirements of a participatory development program is flexibility. This is often interpreted as flexibility towards the communities. However, it has become more and more evident that such flexibility also needs to be extended to the staff. Clearly some individuals have more technical skills and talents, while others would seem better in training, or participatory planning and negotiation techniques. Though attempts may be made to assign strict working areas (e.g. Area Facilitators), in reality the program benefits from a flexible interpretation of such divisions, emphasizing team work and mutual assistance between different staff members with different technical backgrounds and "participatory" skills.
Similarly, where conditions are set to communities and user groups, more stringent conditions could also be set to the staff, notable the Area Facilitators (mid-level technicians), in particular to secure their presence in the field when required, and to have better cooperation in maintaining monitoring and evaluation records.
