Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
OED
March 2007
ParticipatoryApproachesto RuralDevelopment
P=Principal,A=Agent. Source:Wikipedia.
relationshipsamongpolicymakers,projectproviders, andbeneficiaries. Theconventionalproblemsofprojectrelevanceand sustainabilitywerepersistent,prevailingnotonlyin pastprojectsbutalsointhenewgenerationofrural developmentprojectsexamined. Ofthefivecentralelementsofservicedelivery resources,information,decisionmaking,delivery mechanisms,andaccountabilitycontrolof resourceswasthemostcriticalsinceitdetermines powerindecisionmakingandauthoritytohold providersaccountable. Informationflowanddeliverymechanismsseemed tobelessimportantinthecasesstudied. Informationwaspowerfulundercertainconditions, suchaswhenbeneficiarieshadmultiplechoicesof providers. WhereADBsoperationshavebeensuccessful,it wasnottheapplicationofastandardpackageof participatoryapproachesthatmadethemmorerelevant orsustainable. Recommendations Participationisnotagoalbutameanstoanend. Dependingonspecificconditions,alternativeformsof participationcouldbeexploredsuchasthosefocusing onestablishmentandstrengtheningofdirect relationshipsbetweenprovidersandbeneficiariesby makingtheformermoreaccountabletothelatter. Wheredirectapproachesarenotpractical,incentives shouldbedesignedsothattheinterestsofprincipals andagentslieinachievingtheobjectivesof beneficiaries.Thestudyproposedthattheframework formainstreamingparticipatoryprocessesberevisited. Givepurchasingpowertobeneficiariesby distributingavailableprojectbudgetstotargeted beneficiariesintheformofdevelopmentcoupons; beneficiarieswouldusethecouponstopay providersandholdthemaccountable. Promotecompetitionamongprovidersbyallowing beneficiariestochooseprovidersfrommultiple choicesgovernmentagencies,privatecompanies, localcontractors,andnongovernmentorganizations. Makeprovidersresponddownwardlyto beneficiariesbyevaluatingprovidersbasedon
Learning Curves available @ www.adb.org/evaluation/
beneficiaryfeedbackby,forexample,assessing beneficiarysatisfactionpriortopayingcontractors. AlignincentivesforprojectdesignersinADBto workforthebestinterestsofthepublicinsteadby rewardingthequalityofprojectdesign. Alignincentivesforexecutingagenciesandfrontline providersbylinkingbudgetaryallocationstothe realizationofprojectobjectivesinsteadofactivities oroutputs. Contractoutemploymentgenerationorpoverty reductiontoagentsandprovidethemproject assistance(suchasprojectfunds,accesstocredit,or otherinvestmentsthatreleasetheirkeyconstraints) conditionalonthenumberofjobscreated,orthe numberofpoorhouseholdsexitingfrompoverty throughtheeffortsoftheseagents. Provideincentivesforbeneficiariestotreatproject fundsastheirownfundsandmotivatethemto demandleastcostsubprojectdesign,monitor subprojectconstruction,andmaintainthe infrastructureafterconstruction. Feedback ADBManagementsResponseobservedthatthe 1996frameworkdefinesparticipationasaprocess throughwhichstakeholderinfluenceandsharecontrol overdevelopmentinitiatives,andoverthedecisionand resourcesthataffectthemselves.Byequatingits definitiontoastandardpackage,thestudydismissed thesignificanceofparticipationwhenthepackagedid notyieldgreaterprojectrelevanceandsustainability. Nevertheless,Managementsawtheneedtoimprove incentivesthatpromoteprojectqualityandwelcomed theproposaltorevisitthe1996framework.TheChairs SummaryoftheDevelopmentEffectiveness CommitteeDiscussionsaffirmedthecontinuing importanceofparticipatoryapproachestomanaging fordevelopmentresults.Thediscussionsalsobrought outapotentialforconfusionordifferencesin perceptionsofparticipation.Areviewofthe1996 frameworkshouldaimtopromoteunderstandingof theopportunitiesprovidedbyparticipatoryapproaches tooptimizethebenefitsofparticipation. 1 2004.ADB.SpecialEvaluationStudyonEffectivenessof
ParticipatoryApproaches.Manila.Available: http://www.adb.org/Documents/Reports/Evaluation/sst reg200501/seseffectiveness.pdf