Whose Voice?: Participatory research and policy change

PRA and related participatory approaches have opened up new ways in which policy can be influenced by the realities of those who are poor, weak, marginalized and excluded. With the increasing use of PRA methods and practices by NGOs, governments and multinational agencies, the potential impact for poor people is phenomenal. Whose Voice? demonstrates the far-reaching implications of such approaches for the development sector. The book incorporates the findings of the international workshop on Institutionalization of Participatory Approaches held at the Institute of Development Studies in 1996 and is presented in an easily digestible three part structure: Part 1 explores case studies in which participatory methods and approaches have been used to influence policy, Part 2 concentrates on PPA (Participatory Poverty Analysis), an innovative approach designed to bring local poverty and policy analysis into the policy process, and Part 3 discusses key issues arising during the IDS workshop, and includes chapters by several participants. Containing detailed case studies from around the world and analysis of key development agencies, NGOs and organizations across the sector over the past decade, Whose Voice? will be invaluable to professionals and policy makers, either directly involved or with a special interest in PRA approaches and methods and their impact upon policy and development.

Table of Contents:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABBREVIATIOANNSD ADDRESSES Foreword ROBERT CHAMBERS 1 General Introduction PART 1: Thematic and sectoral studies 2 Introduction 3 Using PRA for Agricultural Policy Analysis in Nepal: the Tarai Research Network Foodgrain Study GERARD GILL The Tarai Research Network (TRN) Why use PRA methods? Summary results Farmers' views on productivity trends Conclusions 4 Coping with Cost Recovery in Zambia: a sectoral policy study DAVID BOOTH Background The experience Some lessons 5 Designing the Future Together: PRA and education policy in The Gambia EILEEN KANE, LAWRENCE BRUCE and MARY OREILLY DE BRUN The problem Challenges Background and sequence of events Findings, learnings, insights What triggered the changes in education policy? Designing the future together 6 Can Policy-focused Research be Participatory? Research on violence and poverty in Jamaica using PRA methods CAROLINE MOSER and JEREMY HOLLAND Context and definitions Who defines the objectives of the study? Is the product more important than the process? Who provides the framework for analysis? What dissemination procedures best ensure that all voices are heard? Conclusion 7 Village Voices Challenging Wetland-management Policies: PRA experiences from Pakistan and India BIKSHAM GUJJA, MICHEL PIMBERT and MEERA SHAH The context New insights experienced by outsiders Policy implications Changes in policy and action Costs and benefits Learning from the process 8 The Use of RRA to Inform Policy: tenure issues in Madagascar and Guinea KAREN SCHOONMAKER FREUDENBERGER Background How RRA was used A key difference: composition of the research teams Reasons to use RRA to inform policy discussions Reasons to include policymakers as members of the RRA research team Problems that arise in using RRA to inform policy dialogues 9 Scottish Forestry Policy 'U-turn': was PRA in Laggan behind it? ANDY INGLIS and SUSAN GUY Overview PRA in Laggan PRA and policy change: a return to Laggan Conclusion: what did we learn? 10 IDS Workshop: reflections on thematic and sectoral studies What influence have thematic and sectoral studies had? How can the thematic approach be improved? PART 2: Participatory poverty assessments 11 Introduction 12 'The One Who Rides The Donkey Does Not Know The Ground Is Hot': CEDEP's involvement in the Ghana PPA TONY DOGBE Rich man, poor man The PPA studies in Ghana South-South skills share and networking Handing over the stick The RRA-PRA spectrum Face-to-face interaction Presenting the findings of PRA-style studies Policy influence Conclusion 13 The Impact of PRA Approaches and Methods on Policy and Practice: the Zambia PPA JOHN MILIMO, ANDREW NORTON and DANIEL OWEN Rationale and objectives The role of the Participatory Assessment Group (PAG) Methodology Policy impact Issues of training and methodology Emerging strengths of the Zambia PPA process Emerging lessons from the Zambia PPA process Conclusion 14 Whose PPA is this? Lessons learned from the Mozambique PPA DANIEL OWEN Introduction Objectives and planning Trade-offs in the PPA process: ownership vs. quality Trade-offs in policy outcomes: rapid information feedback vs. policy-level acceptability 'Whose PPA is this?' 15 Kicking Down Doors and Lighting Fires: the South African PPA HEIDI A'ITWOOD and JULIAN MAY A means to an end Designing the South Africa PPA process From research results to policy recommendations Strengths and weaknesses 16 PPAs: a review of the World Bank's experience CAROLINE ROBB Introduction Community-level issues Country-level issues World Bank issues PPAs and country policy PPAs and World Bank policy Objectives 17 Some Reflections on the PPA Process and Lessons Learned ANDREW NORTON What influence have PPAs had? How can the PPA process be improved? PART 3: Whose voice? Reflections fkom the IDS workshop 18 Introduction 19 How Are Local Voices Heard by Policymakers? IDS WORKSHOP Bridging discourses: participatory intermediary structures and the role of the researcher Merging discourses: bringing policymakers and local people together 20 Getting Policymakers to Move the Bricks Around: advocacy and participatory-irrigation management in India JAMES BLACKBURN Inspiration from the Philippines Working groups Process Documentation Research (PDR) A call for NGOs to learn 21 Challenges in Influencing Public Policy: an NGO perspective ANIL C. SHAH 22 Towards Community-sensitive Policy: influencing the Uganda National Health Plan BEN OSUGA Approaches and methods used Main results Key challenges 23 The Research Process: sustaining quality and maximizing impact IDS WORKSHOP Approaches and methods Training for participatory policy-focused research 24 Analysing Participatory Research for Policy Change ANDREW NORTON From extractive research to participatory development practice Preparing for the research Analysis and reporting in the field Policy analysis with participatory research findings Social analysis using PRA material Notes on poverty analysis using PLAIPRA methods Dangerous assumptions! Opening doors - new actors in policy research 25 Participation, Policy Change and Empowerment IDS WORKSHOP Whose empowerment does what? Empowerment and local-level conflict Participatory process or policy product? Promoting PRA best practice in policy-focused research Afterword ROBERT CHAMBERS Making a difference The future Annexe 1: World Bank PPA methodology Annexe 2: worldbank PPA impact analysis Annexe 3: Key findings and policy recommendations from the South African PPA Notes References and sources Index