PARTCIPATORY LEARNING FOR ACTION (PLA)

CCIH CONFERENCE MAY 27-29, 2006 WORKSHOP Sri Chander WORLD VISION ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

• HOW PLA IS UNIQUE COMPARED TO OTHER BASELINE TOOLS

• PLA REQUIRES A PARADIGM SHIFT

• EFFECTIVE USES OF PLA

• ‘HOW-TOs’ OF BASIC PLA EXERCISES

• ‘HOW-TOs’ OF 10-SEED METHOD EXERCISES

• CONCLUSIONS

“DO QUALITATIVE

BEFORE QUANTITATIVE

BASELINES”

WHY ?

1.PLA—1 of most powerful tools

1.APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY (AI)

2.FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS (FGDs)

3.IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS (IDIs)

4.OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES

QUALITATIVE METHODOLOGIES:

TYPES OF DIFFERENT QUALITATIVE APPROACHES

• PLA=an effective, low-cost, empowering, participatory method of gathering qualitative & semi-structured info (beliefs, behaviors)

• Can discuss controversial/sensitive topics in a non-threatening way• Heterogeneous—in age, gender, income,

religion, ethnicity, social class, etc

• Flexible: people come and go--anything goes• No pre-set, leading questions• Who? What? Where? When? Where? How?• What else? What else? What else?....

TYPES OF DIFFERENT QUALITATIVE APPROACHES

2. FGDs:– Homogeneous – pre-set questions– focused

-- pre-assembled group -- time-limited

TYPES OF DIFFERENT QUALITATIVE APPROACHES

3. AI • best practices/positive deviance• “what has worked best ?”• “promising practices”• success-oriented

4. IDI • focus on key people, information

• An envisioning, planning process

Asks:• What do we do well ? (current strengths)• What do we need to do better ?(future vision)• What is causing the gap ? (problem analysis)• How can we bridge the gap ? (strategy/action

plan)

Focus on best practices, affirms strengths, builds on them to move to improve practices to create the desired future.

APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY (AI)

PARTICIPATORY LEARNING FOR ACTION (PLA)

• Needs a radical paradigm shift= a reversal of attitude, to learning from the community, of where they are at

• Involves understanding the community from its world view in all its diverse complexity the restraints and limitations and the adverse environment which cumulatively

result in POVERTY• Frequent triangulation needed to cross-verify

info

PARTICIPATORY LEARNING FOR ACTION (PLA)

• Involves use of a sequence of exercises to understand the community and its survival strategy

• Start only:

--after rapport established with

community

--after clearly explaining to community

that we ‘outsiders’ are there to learn

from them

PARTICIPATORY LEARNING FOR ACTION (PLA)

Is effective because it seeks to understand the SURVIVAL STRATEGY of the community, appraise it and show ways to enhance the capability of that effort to ensure sustainability

PARTICIPATORY LEARNING FOR ACTION (PLA)

• Sequence of PLA exercisesanalyses write a 1-2 page story of the community feedback it to them for validation/ triangulation

• Assist them to do a Capability/ Vulne-rability (C/V) Analysis of themselves

• Facilitate them to develop a Community Development Resource Plan (CDRP)

USES OF PARTICIPATORY LEARNING FOR ACTION (PLA)

• A COMMUNITY MIRROR: BLIND SPOTS • IDENTIFY KNOWLEDGE-PRACTICE

GAPS• ASSESS COMMUNITY CAPABILITIES/

VULNERABILITIES/POTENTIAL• DESIGN MESSAGES, IMAGES &

MATERIALS FOR BCC & TRAINING• FACILITATE CLIENT APPRAISAL OF

SERVICE QUALITY • DEVELOP MICRO-LEVEL RESOURCE/

SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLANS

PLA TEAM MEMBERS

• FACILITATOR

• RECODER

• ‘FILTER”

SOME COMMON PLA EXERCISES (1)

• TIME LINE• TREND ANALYSIS• SEASONALITY DIAGRAMS• WEALTH (OR WELL-BEING) RANKING• CAUSAL DIAGRAMS• MATRIX RANKING• CHAPPATI DIAGRAM• PROFILE OF WOMEN’ WORK DAY• TRANSECTS

SOME COMMON PLA EXERCISES (2)

• CONFLICT ANALYSIS

• BODY MAPPING OF A WOMAN

• LIVELIHOOD ANALYSIS

• PATTERNS OF LAND USE

INTEGRATED OUTPUTS OF PLA EXERCISES

• ONE-PAGE STORY

• VILLAGE/COMMUNITY RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PLAN

TIME LINEGOOD ICE-BREAKER AS 1ST EX

AIM: HISTORICAL REVIEW—MAJOR

EVENTS AND THEIR IMPACT;

THEIR SURVIVAL STRATEGY TO ADAPT

TO CHANGE

METHOD: ASK OLDER FOLKS HOW

VILLAGE GOT ITS NAME; OTHERS

JOIN IN; ASK ABT MAJOR EVENTS;

APPROX WHEN?

OUTPUT: CHART: APPROX YR (1 SIDE)+

EVENTS ON OTHER SIDE

TREND ANALYSISAIM: UNDERSTAND HOW AGRICUL-

T URE, FORESTS, HEALTH, SEXUAL

PATTERNS, WORSHIP, EDUCATION,

etc, HAVE CHANGED OVER YRS

METHOD: ASK THEM TO DRAW

CHANGES IN PATTERNS FROM TIME

THEY WERE YOUNG UNTIL NOW

OUTPUT: RECALLABLE TRENDS INDI-

CATE CHANGES IN ATTITUDES/

ACTIONS

SEASONALITY DIAGRAM`AIM: UNDERSTAND HOW SEASONS (r/f)

DETERMINE VILLAGE ACTIVITIES LIKE AGRIC, EMPLOYMENT, MIGRATION DISEASES, LOAN REQUIREMENTS, FESTIVALS, etc

METHOD: ASK TO IDENTIFY NAMES OF MONTHS, USING 12 STONES. USE SEEDS & ASK TO SHOW MONTH OF R/F, AGRIC, WORKLOAD, DISEASE INCIDENCE, FESTIVAL SEASON, SEASONS OF INCOME, LOAN NEEDS

OUTPUT: IDENTIFY CRISIS PERIODS NEED-ING OUTSIDE HELP; SEASONAL MIGRATION WHEN TO START NEW PROG/MODIFY CURR PROG-epI CALENDAR-DIARHHEA/MALARIA

WEALTH (OR WELL-BEING) RANKINGAIM: TO LOCATE POOREST OF POOR , USING

COMMUNITY’S ANALYTICAL POWERS TO COMPARE PRODUCTIVE PERSONS WITH LESS LAND WITH PERSONS W/ MORE LAND BUT LESS PRODUCTIVE

METHOD: • WRITE HH HEADS’ NAMES: PAPER SLIPS • PROFILE TYPES OF WEALTH

GROUPS∞FOOD INTAKE, AGRIC, SOWING CAPACITY, FMILY SIZE, PROPERTY, USE OF VEHICLE/LUXURY ITEMS

• CLASSIFY PAPER SLIPS∞WEALTH GRPS • CAN FURTHER CLASSIFY IN SERIAL ORDEROUTPUT: • IDENTIFY POOREST OF POOR WHO NEED

HELP 1ST FOR CHILD SPONSORSHIP/ MED

CAUSAL DIAGRAMS

AIM: UNDERSTAND:• HOW THINGS LINK WITH EACH OTHER & WHAT THEY

LEAD TO• CHANGES NEEDED TO REVERSE PROCESSMETHOD:• IDENTIFY MOST IMPT PROBLEM: put in center• LIST CAUSES/TRACE BACKWARDS W/ ARROWS• FIND WHAT HAPPENED?• RESULT: MAZE OF CIRCLES & ARROWSOUTPUT:• USE TO DISCUSS HOW TO OVERCOME PROBLEMEg HIV/prostitution/’hidden’ diseases/malnutrition & service quality/abortions/barriers to FP/Bs, night blindness in children and pregnant women, TB in children

MATRIX RANKING OR SCORINGAIM:

• UNDERSTAND RATIONALE OF

VARIOUS CHOICES OF COMMUNITY

• IDENTIFY REASONS FOR CHOICE OF CROPS, ENTERPRISE, HEALTH-SEEKING, BORROWING INTEREST RATES, EXPENDITURE PATTERNS,etc

METHOD: USE TEN-SEED METHOD TO SCORE CHOICES

OUTPUT: PIE CHART/RANK LIST OF CHOICES

CHAPPATI (VENN) DIAGRAMAIM: UNDERSTAND• WHICH INSTITUTIONS/GRPS ARE IMPT TO COMMUNITY• LEVEL & FREQUENCY OF INTERACTIONS METHOD: • LIST IMPT PERSONS/INSTITUTIONS-- INT/EXT• PREPARE COLORED PAPER CIRCLES OF DIFF SIZES—

LARGER=MORE IMPT• PLACE DOT IN CENTER OF FLOOR/WHITE PAPER• PLACE CIRCLES∞IMPT/FREQ OF INTERACTIONS• MORE IMPT/FREQ= PLACE IN CENTER • STICK TO WHITE PAPER AFTER CROSS-CHECK• DSICUSS CORELATION OF CIRCLESOUTPUT: CHAPPATI DIAGRAM OF POWER RELATIONSHIPS& DISCUSS WHICH/HOW INSITUTIONS TO STRENGTHEN

PROFILE OF A WOMAN’S DAYAIM: UNDERSTAND WORKLOAD OF WOMEN

& DRUDGERY THEY FACE. METHOD: MAINLY WITH WOMEN; MAN CANBE HINDRANCE. START WITH WAKE TIME TO SLEEP TIME. USE DIFFERENT OBJECTSTO REPRESENT DIFFERENT ACTIVITIESOUTPUT: CHART OF WOMAN’S WORK DAY.WOMEN-SENSITIVE PLANS FOR SUITABLETIME/DAY/PLACE FOR MEETING, TRAINING,STARTING OF PROG(eg—reaching SWs in Mumbai)

TRANSECTSAIM: QUICK ANALYTICAL STOCK OF COMMRESOURCES, PROBLEMS FACED, & POTEN-TIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERVENTION METHOD: • DRAW RESOURCE MAP—MARK PATH THRU’

MOST RESOURCES EN ROUTE=TRANSECT• WALK ALONG ROUTE—OBSERVE & ASK SOIL &

LAND TYPE, CROP CULTIVATION IN DIFF SEASONS, TREES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, FISH, PROBLEMS, OPPORTUNITIES

OUTPUT: DETAILED INVENMTORY OF RESOURCES MATCHED WITH SPECIFIC PROBLEMS AND POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT

CONFLICT ANALYSISAIM: • UNDERSTAND LOCAL CAUSES OF CONFLICT &

MEANS OF RESOLVING THEM• BE SENSITIVE TO POWER STRUCTURESMETHOD: (BEST 2ND OR 3RD DAY OF EXs)• LIST ALL CAUSES OF CONFLICT• IMAGINE ALL CONFLICTS EQUAL TO 1 Rp• MARK OUT CHUNKS TO REPRESENT # OF paise

TO INDICATE PART PLAYED BY EACH CAUSEOUTPUT: • PIE DIAGRAM• DISCUSS HOW TO RESOLVE CONFLICT

BODY MAPPING OF A WOMAN

AIM: HELP WOMEN UNDERSTAND BODY PARTS & FUNCTIONS

METHOD: PREFERABLY WITH MARRIED

WOMEN ONLY• ASK TO DRAW OUT PICTURE OF WOMAN• LABEL BODY PARTS• DISCUSS FUNCTION OF EACH PARTS

OUTPUT: PICTURE WITH BODY PARTS

KEY FUNCTIONS AND KEY PROBLEMS

DISCUSSED; LOCAL TREATMENT OF HIDDEN

WOMEN’S DISEASES DISCUSSED

LIVELIHOOD ANALYSISAIM: UNDERSTAND COMMUNITYOPTIONS TO EARN A LIVING

METHOD: USE TEN-SEED METHODTO SCORE CHOICES (SIMILAR TOMATRIX RANKING EXERCISE)

OUTPUT:PIE CHART/RANK LIST OFCHOICES

PATTERNS OF LAND USEAIM: UNDERSTAND HOW COMMUNITY

HAS MADE USE OF ITS LAND

RESOURCES

METHOD:USE TEN-SEED METHOD

TO SCORE CHOICES (SIMILAR TO

MATRIX RANKING EXERCISE)

OUTPUT:PIE CHART/RANK LIST OF

CHOICES

TEN-SEED TECHNIQUES FOR HIV PROG:

• ESTIMATING MULTI-PARTNER SEX IN THE COMMUNITY

• KAP/RISK PERCEPTION--HIV/AIDS/STI --IN COMMUNITY --IN SEX WORKERS --IN SEX WORKERSS’ CLIENTS• ESTIMATING ALCOHOLISM, esp OF SW

CLIENTS & HUSBANDS • CONDOM USE/ACCESS/PREFERENCE• SEX WORKER PATRONAGE—FREQ, COST &

REASONS• HH FOOD SECURITY & HIV VULNERABILITY

TEN SEED METHOD FOR CS/RH PROGRAMS

• ASSESS WOMEN’S DEMAND FOR BIRTH SPACING/FAMILY PLANNING

• AS PRACTICE OF USING ABORTION AS A FERTLITY CONTROL METHOD

• K & A OF LEADERS TOWARDS ABSTINENCE & OCs for BS/FP

• ASSESS P OF COLOSTRUM FEEDING, EBF, WEANING FOODS FROM 7TH MTH

• COVERAGE WITH IMMUNIZATION AND VITAMIN A IN KIDS

ONE PAGE STORY—TYING IT ALL UPAIM: EXEC SUMMARY OF BACKGRD, PROBLEMS, SURVIVAL STRATEGY & POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES

METHOD:• 1ST:ALL GRPS MAKE PRESENTATIONS• ALL MAKE OWN OBSERVTNS/ NOTES• GRPs PREPARE OWN 1-PG STORY

CRITERIA: ONE PAGE, 3 PARAGRAPHS ONLY• HISTORY/PAST CRISES/KEY EVENTS• LIST MAJOR CAPABILITIES/VULNERABILITIES (C/V)• COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS TO OVERCOME VULNERABILITY

PROCESS:• EACH GROUP READS 1-PAGE STORY• SELECT BEST & MOST CONCISE 1 PAGE STORY• READ PARA 1+ 2 TO COMMUNITY—ASK TO ADD, CORRECT OR

MODIFY

OUTPUT: SUMMARY FINDINGS BASED ON ALL EXERCISES CONDUCTED

COMMUNITY RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PLAN

PROCESS:• COMPLETE ALL BASIC PLA EXs• MEET COMMUNITY AT CENTRAL LOC• DISCUSS FINAL PLA FINDINGS• ASK COMMUNTIES TO IDENITFY CAPABILITIES/VULNERABILITIES

(C/V analyses)• ENCOURAGE DEV PROG PLANNING: --PREPARE ROUGH POA LIST --SORT SEQ: No cost/no tech Low cist/local tech Medium cost/medium tech high cost/high tech --ENSURE ,OST ACTIVITIES BENEFIT POOREST OF PRROR AND

MOST OF COMMUNITY --FILTER OUT ‘LOUD MOUTH’ VOICES• RE-DISCUSS SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES IN THEPOA• COMMIUNITY CHOOSES PERSONS RESPONSIBLE • COMMUNITY SELECXTS REVIEW TEAM TO TRACK PROGRESS• MARK/ASSIGN PLANS THAT NEED OUTSIDE HELP• ASSIST COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP COSTS/BUDGET

TIME HAS PROVEN(And if we are honest we

would also admit)That

The community members are

THE BEST MANAGERS OF SCARCE RESOURCES

EXTERNAL EFFORTS JUST COMPLEMENT & ENHANCE

THESE EFFORTS

PARTICIPATORY LEARNING FOR ACTION (PLA)

Is effective because it seeks to understand the SURVIVAL STRATEGY of the community, appraise it and show ways to enhance the capability of that effort to ensure sustainability