australia africa community engagement scheme (aaces) and partner baseline development in south...

OccasiOnal PaPer 3

aaces* and Partner baselinedeveloPment in south africa(*australia africa cOmmunity engagement scheme)

1 introduction 4

2 the australia africa community engagement scheme (aaces) 5

3 imPlementation of aaces 6

4 community ParticiPation and ParticiPatory develoPment 7

5 the aaces baseline Process 8

5.1 ReflectionsontheBaselineProcess 8

5.2 LessonsLearned 10 6 the imPlementation Phase 11

6.1 WozaMoya 11 6.1.1 TheOrganisation 11 6.1.2 AACESActivities 11 6.1.3 Reflections 14

6.2 SavetheChildrenKZN 15 6.2.1 TheOrganisation 15 6.2.2 AACESActivities 16 6.2.3 Reflections 18

6.3 FancyStitch 19 6.3.1 TheOrganisation 19 6.3.2 AACESActivities 21 6.3.3 Reflections 22

6.4 TholulwaziUzivikele 23 6.4.1 TheOrganisation 23 6.4.2 AACESActivities 23 6.4.3 Reflections 24 7 overarching learning themes 27

7.1 TheBaselineandToolsUsed 27

7.2 ContextSpecificProcesses 27

7.3 CommunityParticipationandMobilisation 27

7.4 Implementation 29

7.5 LearningaboutWASH 29 8 conclusion 30

references 30

contents

ChildrengathertolearnhowtowashtheirhandsataSavetheChildrenKZNsupportedcrecheinUmzinto,KwaZulu-Natal.

PHOTO©MatthewWillman|Oxfam

list of acronyms

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aaces AustraliaAfricaCommunity

EngagementScheme

adc AidingDramaticChangeinDevelopment

aids AcquiredImmuneDeficiencySyndrome

dfat DepartmentofForeignAffairsandTrade

ecd EarlyChildhoodDevelopment

hiv HumanImmunodeficiencyVirus

mdic MaputalandDevelopment

andInformationCentre

ngo Non-GovernmentalOrganisation

Pra ParticipatoryRuralAppraisal

rra RapidRuralAppraisal

sdt Socio-DramaTopography

tb Tuberculosis

tu TholulwaziUzivikele

Wash Water,SanitationandHygiene

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1 introduction

TheDepartmentofForeignAffairsandTrade(DFAT)AustraliaAfricaCommunityEngagementScheme(AACES),whichwasfundedthroughOxfamAustraliain2011,focusesonwater,sanitationandhygiene(WASH)andpublichealthinZambiaandSouthAfrica.TheoverallgoaloftheprogramistoimprovethehealthandqualityoflifeofthepoorandvulnerableintargetedareasofthetwoSouthernAfricancountries.

Theobjectivesoftheprogramare:

1. Increasedaccessto,andeffectiveuseof,improvedintegratedandsustainable watersuppliesandWASHservices;2. ReducedWASH-relatedinequalitiesingenderandvulnerablegroups;3. StrengthenedcapacityofstakeholderstomanageandimplementWASHprogramson asustainablebasis;4. ImprovedWASHgovernanceandeffectiveness;and5. Thedocumentationandsharingoflearningthatinformspolicy,publicengagement andprogramdevelopmentandgrowth.

ThiscasestudydocumentsthecommunityparticipationandplanningprocessofAACESinSouthAfrica.DuringtheresearchinterviewswereconductedwithfouroffiveOxfampartnersthatareimplementingtheprogram;somemembersoftheirbeneficiarycommunities;stafffromLimaRuralDevelopment–theconsultancythatfacilitatedtheParticipatoryRuralAppraisal(PRA)baselineforAACES–andOxfamstaffmembers.Inaddition,abriefliteraturereviewoncommunityparticipationwasconducted.Theauthoralsoobservedfourcommunityparticipationsessions–onewitheachofthepartners–duringwhichdifferenttechniqueswereusedtofacilitatecommunityconsultations.Thiscasestudycapturesthesediversemethodsandprovidesthereflectionsandvoicesofthepartnersandindividualsfromthecommunitiesinwhichthepartnerswork.

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2 the australia africa community engagement scheme (aaces)

TheAACESprogramdesigniscentredontheuseofarights-basedapproachtoensureaccesstoWASHservicesforpoorandvulnerablepeople.ThisapproachisinlinewiththeUnitedNationsresolutionthatrecognisespeople’srightstoclean,safewaterandsanitation.Thedesignprocessinvolveddrawingexpertisefromconsultationsatdifferentlevels,andexperiencesfromcommunitiesandotherkeystakeholders,includinglessonsfromothercountries,suchasZambia,KenyaandTanzania.Theselearningswereimperativeinthedesignprocess,planningandimplementationatdifferentphases.

InZambiatheimplementationoftheprogrambuiltonOxfam’sexistingexperienceinimplementingWASHprograms.InSouthAfricatheprogramisimplementedthroughexistingOxfampartnersthathadpreviouslybeenworkingincommunitiesonprojectsthatfocusedondifferentaspectsincludingfoodsecurity,HIVandchildsocialprotection.

Fivepartners,whowerenewtoimplementingWASH-relatedactivities,initiallypilotedtheimplementationofAACESinSouthAfrica.

ItisOxfamAustralia’sintentionthattheprocessandexperiencesbecarefullydocumentedforlearningandsharing,particularlyinordertoinformasubsequentrolloutoftheprogramshouldthisbefeasible.

ThiscasestudysupportsthatintentionanddocumentsthecommunityparticipationandplanningofAACESwithfourofthefiveimplementingpartnersinSouthAfrica.

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ThefivepartnersselectedtoimplementAACESoperateinfourdistrictmunicipalitiesintheKwaZulu-NatalprovinceofSouthAfrica.Theyare:

• Woza moya,whichisbasedinSisonkeDistrictandworkswithcommunitiestoaddress HIVprevention,treatmentcareandsupport,andstigmaanddiscrimination;• save the children KZn,whichislocatedineThekwiniMunicipalityandUguDistrict,and supportsearlychildhooddevelopment(ECD)centrestomeetrequirementsforlegal statusandrecognition;• fancy stitchinUmkhanyakudeDistrictsupportsthelivelihoodsofpeopleaffected withHIVandAIDSthroughincomegeneratingcreativeartactivitiesandotherfood securityinitiatives;• tholulwazi uzivikele(TU),whichisbasedinUmkhanyakudeDistrict,andfocusesonfood securityforpeopleaffectedbyTBandHIVandsupportsyouthdevelopmentandECD;• maputaland development and information centre(MDIC)isalsolocatedinUmkhanyakude Districtandfocusesonsocialfacilitation.(ThecasestudyoftheMDICprocesswillbe availablewhenworkonitiscompleted.)

the Process

TheAACESWASHprogramwasdevelopedonthebasisthatactivitieswouldbeintegratedintotheexistingworkoftheSouthAfricanpartners.DuringthedesignandplanningofAACES,theuseofparticipatorymethodologywasemphasisedbyOxfamAustraliatoensurethatplansweredevelopedwiththefullparticipationandconsultationofthetargetcommunitiesinwhichthepartnerorganisationsworked.

Themethodology,whichwasadoptedforgatheringbaselinedatainrelationtoWASHintherelevantcommunities,isknownastheParticipatoryRuralAppraisal(PRA)andisexplainedinmoredetailbelow.Thisprocesswasfacilitatedbyindependentconsultants,LimaRuralDevelopment.

Followingthebaselineprocess,partnersenteredapilotimplementationphase.ThisinvolvedimplementingprojectsfundedbyOxfamAustraliathroughtheAACESfund.Theinitialpilotphasewasforsixmonths.

3 imPlementation of aaces

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4 community ParticiPation and ParticiPatory develoPment

Communityparticipationfallsunderthebroaderthemeofparticipatorydevelopment,whichbecameabuzzwordindevelopmentinthe1970s.Itisbasedontheviewthatpeoplewhoaretargetedfordevelopmenthavesomethingtooffer–intermsoflocalknowledge,experienceandtheirowncapacity–withregardtothedevelopmentandimplementationofprojects.

Therearemanyapproachestoparticipatorydevelopmentandthesehaveevolvedovertheyears.However,thefundamentalprinciplesremainthesame.TheycanbetracedbacktotheworkofPauloFrereandtheliteracyrevolution,wherethefundamentalprinciplesofpeople-centerednessandrecognitionofpeople’sknowledgeandexperiencesbecamemoreentrenchedinconversationsaboutdevelopment.Approachestodevelopmentsawprocessesbecomemorefacilitativeandcollaborative,andtherewasmutualresponsibilityratherthantheimpositionof“outside”expertknowledgeandideas.

Thecentralideaisthatdevelopmentinitiativesshouldnotbeseparatedfromrealitiesatagrassrootslevel(moreinformationisavailableinthearticle“Farmer-back-to-Farmer:AModelforGeneratingAcceptableAgriculturalTechnology”,whichwaspublishedinAgriculturalAdministrationin1982).Communityconsultationorparticipationprovidesanopportunityfortheserealitiestobecaptured.Communityparticipationinvolvesvarioustoolsinaprocessthatenablescommunitiestobeinvolvedininitiativesthatdirectlyorindirectlyaffectthem.

the ParticiPatory rural aPPraisal

ThePRAevolvedfromtheRapidRuralAppraisal(RRA),amethodthatinvolvedresearchersusingparticipatorytoolstoextractdatatoanswerspecificresearchquestions.ThedevelopmentoftheRRAwasbasedonanthropologicalmethodslikeethnography,butitrecognisedthatresearchersdonothavethetimerequiredbyethnographytogatherinformation.Asaresult,theRRA,whichwasarapid,butmoreparticipatorymethodofenquiry,wasdeveloped.ThislaterevolvedtothePRA,whichismoreaction-orientedresearch.ThePRAisregardedasanapproachtodevelopmentthatrecognisesruralpeople’sabilitytoarticulate,analyseandplantheirowndevelopment(asoutlinedinLearningtoShareExperiencesandReflectionsonPRAandCommunityParticipation,whichwaspublishedin1997).

Likemostparticipatoryapproaches,thePRAacknowledgeslocalknowledgeandskillandusestoolsthatstimulatediscussionamongpeopleinacommunity.ThefundamentalthinkinginPRAisthatcommunitiesareabletoclearlyidentifyissuesthataffectthem,and,therefore,candevelopcontext-specificinterventionstoaddressthoseissues.Whencommunities–atermthatisusedlooselytodescribepeoplelivinginthesamegeographicalareaandgovernedbysimilarnormsandvalues–leadaprocess,theyownit,whichincreasesthelikelihoodofsuccessandsustainabilityintheshort,mediumandlongterm.

PRAwasinitiallydevelopedforruralcontexts,buthasbeenusedinmoreurbansettingsandfordifferentpurposesbynon-governmentalorganisations(NGOs),governmentbodies,universitiesandresearchinstitutionsaroundtheworld(formoreinformationseethe1997publicationWhoseRealityCounts?:PuttingtheFirstLast).Essentiallyamethodofsocialenquiryoranactionresearchmethod,accordingtoitsoriginaldesign,theuseofPRAhasbroughtaboutsignificantresults.

FortheAACESprojectinSouthAfrica,thePRAmethodologywaschosenasthebestwaytoequippartnersandcommunitieswiththenecessarytoolsforengagement,aswellastoalignongoingactivitiestotheproposedWASHintervention.

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5 the aaces baseline Process

AfteradoptingPRAasapreferredmethodology,OxfamAustraliacontractedLimaRuralDevelopment,anorganisationthathasexpertiseinworkingwithPRA,tofacilitatethebaselineprocess.FromtheOxfamAustraliaperspectiveitwasdeemednecessaryforspecificWASH-relatedPRAstudiestobeundertakentoaligntheperceivedcommunityneedsandexpectationswiththoseofthepartnersandcommunitiesandwiththeAACESoutcomes.

AspartofthisprocessLimafacilitatedatwo-dayparticipatorysessionwitheachofthefourpartnerscoveredinthiscasestudy,aswellaswithmembersofthecommunitiesinwhichtheywork,tocreateasnapshotoftheWASHissuesaffectingthecommunities.Duetotimelimitations,Limagatheredinitialinformationbycommunicatingtelephonicallywitheachofthepartners.Theconsultantslaterarrangedforfacetofacesessionstobeheldwiththepartnersandcommunities.Limarepresentativesaskedeachpartnertomobiliseatleast40communitymemberstoparticipateinthePRAbaselineprocess.

Giventhetaskathand,timelimitationsanddistancesbetweenpartners,LimastaffmemberschoseappropriatePRAtools,suchasVenndiagrams,communityresourcemapping,focusgroupdiscussionsandtransectwalks,toaddressthechallengesposedbythepartnersandcommunities.Itwasenvisagedthatthroughthesetools,partnersandcommunitieswouldstillbeallowedenoughtimetofullyparticipateandcontributetotheproposedWASHintervention.

Thesessionsconsistedlargelyoffocusgroupdiscussions,duringwhichthespecificPRAtoolswereused,aswellaskeyinformantinterviews.ThepurposeofthesessionswastoestablishthebaselineonthestateofWASH,includingtheWASHresourcesintherelevantareasofoperationandhowtheresourceswerebeingused,managedandprotected.

5.1 reflections on the baseline Process

content of the baseline data

Lima’sreflectiononthebaselinewasthatusefuldatawasobtainedfromthedifferentcommunitiesregardingthestatusofWASHresourcesandservices,includingthebroaderchallengesfacedbymembersofthecommunityregardingWASH.

Partnersfoundtheinformationbeneficialforprovidinganoverallpictureanddatathatwassubsequentlyusedindifferentwaystoinformplanningforfurthercommunityengagements.

Somepartnersusedtheinformationobtainedduringthebaselineprocessasachecklistagainstdatathattheyhadobtainedpreviously,orasareferencewhenlobbyingorengagingwithgovernmentstakeholdersatalaterstage.

ItbecameapparentduringthisprocessthatitwasnecessaryforpartnerstounderstandWASHasbeingconcernedwithmorethanjustinfrastructuredevelopment.Asaresult,theAACESoutcomesfocusedprimarilyonWASH-relatedcommunityengagementprocessesandempowerment,onsupportinggovernmentstructuresandonholdingthosestructuresaccountable,aswellaslearningfromexchangesbetweenvariousroleplayers.

IttooktimeandexposureforallOxfampartnerstounderstandthatwhilstaccesstowaterandsanitationmayrequiresomefacilities,attimesitrequiresgovernmenttorespondaccordingly.Inaddition,thePRAprocess,whichwastimelimitedanddidnotallowforaverydeepanalysisofconnections,wasdesignedtoopenspacefordiscussionsandtoexplorelinkagesbetweenexistingactivitiesandtheproposedWASHintervention,aswellasbetweenissuessuchasgeneralhygiene,healthandWASH.

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ThePRAprocessalsobroughtkeystakeholderstogethertoreflectonchallengesandpossiblesolutionsandgavemembersofthecommunitytheopportunitytoexpressanddiscusstheirrealitywithrelevantauthoritiesandthesupportingpartner.

community involvement

Limaconsultantswereoftheviewthattheconsultativesessionsweregenerallyusefulandgavecommunitiesanopportunitytointeractandreflectontheirownexperiencesaboutthehistoryofwaterandsanitationintherespectiveareas.Somemembersofthecommunity,particularlyyoungpeople,wereabletolearnfromothersaboutthehistoryofWASHinthecommunity.

Thetimetoengagewithpartnersduringthisinitialphasewaslimited.Inretrospect,theLimaPRAconsultationsshouldhavebeendoneearlierinthedesignphase.However,whentheusefulnessofaWASHspecificanddocumentedbaselinewasidentified,otherparticipatoryprocesseswereusedintheleaduptotheactualPRAexercises.Theseincludedtelephonicdiscussionswithpartners.

Water, sanitation and hygiene

Limastaffmembersnotedthatinallthesessionstheyfacilitatedpeoplewerequicktoidentifychallengesrelatingtowaterandsanitation,butnothygiene.Itwasonlythroughprobingandfurtherdiscussionsthatpeopleidentifiedandclearlyarticulatedthehygiene-relatedissuesinthecommunity.

constraints

Limastaffhadoriginallyconceivedconductingathree-dayprocesswitheachofthepartners.However,duetoconstraintseachsessionlastedtwodaysandLimahadtocarefullyselecttoolsthatwouldallowforrapidsocialengagement,whilebroadlycapturingthemainissues.

AlthoughsomeofthetoolsthatLimausedforthisprocessweresimilar,itwasnotedthattheoutcomesvariedwitheachcommunity.Theuseofdifferenttoolsdependedpartlyonthecontextinwhichthepartnerworks.Forexample,SavetheChildrenKZNworksinamoreurbanenvironmentwhichrequiredadifferentapproachtopartnersworkinginaruralarea.Inaddition,Limatriangulatedthevarioustoolsandusedinformationgatheredduringthetransectwalktoobtainamorecomprehensivesituationalanalysis.

Asmentionedpreviously,thereweretimeconstraintsduringthisPRAprocess.Partnersstatedthatabroaderspectrumofissuescouldhavebeencoveredifadditionaltimehadbeenallocatedforthebaselinedatacollectionaspectofthisprogram.PartnerorganisationsalsofoundthattheinsufficienttimetoprepareforthePRAprocessimpactedontheirabilitytofullymobilisecommunitiesandkeystakeholdersaheadofthesessions.

Inaddition,thebaselineprocesswasconductedinNovemberandDecemberandsomepartnersfoundthatcommunitiesandorganisationswerealreadyengagedinendofyearactivitieswhichmadeitdifficulttomobilisecommunitiesaswellasencouragefullparticipationintheexercise.

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5.2 lessons learned

Thecontextinwhicheachpartnerworksisdifferentandthereforeanyinteractionwiththecommunitywouldhavetocaterforthesedifferencesandprocessesneedtobeadjustedaccordingly.Althoughavarietyoftoolswereusedfordifferentpartners,therewasageneralsensefrompartnerorganisationsthatpreliminaryconsultationswiththeirstaffmemberswouldhaveenabledLimatobetteradapttheprocesstospecificallysuiteachpartner’scommunityprofile.Thiswouldallowfortheexplorationofopportunitiesforintegrationwiththeexistingworkofpartnersinthecommunity.Thisaspectisfocusedontheneedforpartnerstobeproperlyengagedtounderstandthetoolssothattheycanpreparecommunitiesaccordingly,insteadofonlybeingnotifiedoftheintentiontousethePRAmethod.Thisinformationmayalsobesharedthroughinformationsharingonparticipatorymethodologies.

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6 the imPlementation Phase

Whilethebaselineprocesswasstillunderway,partnerswererequiredtodevelopplansforpilotWASHprojectsthatwouldlastforsixmonths.Theplanswerelargelyinformedbypartners’priorknowledgeofWASHissuesinthecommunitybecausethebaselineprocess,andreportthereof,wasnotcompleteatthetimetheplansweresourced.Thebaselineinformationwas,however,subsequentlyavailableduringtheimplementationprocess.Asaresult,thepartner’sWASHinterventions,aswellasannualoperationalplans,wereabletobeinformedbytheconsolidatedPRAprocessthatinvolvedallstakeholders.

Thenextsectionofthiscasestudyoutlineseachorganisation,theWASHprojectundertakenbythatpartnerandreflectionsontheprocess.

6.1 WoZa moya

6.1.1 the organisation

WozaMoyahasworkedintheUfafacommunityfor13yearsandhasacloseworkingrelationshipwiththecommunityataverylocallevelthroughcommunityhealthworkerswhoworkwithhouseholdsonissuesrelatingtoHIV.

Thisisregardedasthepartner’smainstrengthbecauseitprovidesWozaMoyawithaneyeintothecommunityonanongoingbasis.ItenablestheorganisationtoreceiveregularinformationabouttheburningissuesofthecommunitythroughthedailyexperiencesofthecommunityworkersandprovidesanopportunityforWozaMoyatoshareinformationwithmembersofthecommunity.

AspartoftheAACESprogramWozaMoyaimplementedacommunityhouseholdsurvey,producedvideosrelatingtoWASHandconductedacommunitydialogue.Thismulti-methodapproachtookintoaccountthatwaterandsanitationwasanewprogramareaandthatWozaMoyastaffhadnotthoughtintentlyabouthowWASHrelatedtotheirotheractivities.

TheyalsoexpressedaneedtodeepentheirunderstandingaboutwhatcommunitymembersthoughtandfeltaroundWASHandhowtheydealtwiththelackofservicesandresources.

6.1.2 aaces activities

community household survey

ToobtainadetailedinformativepictureaboutWASHintheareainwhichWozaMoyaoperates,theorganisationconductedahouseholdsurvey.Datawascollectedfrom275householdsintheUfafaValleybyWozaMoyacareworkers,whounderstoodthestructureandlayoutofthecommunity,aswellastheWozaMoyaprogram,andhadeasyaccessintothecommunity.

Wash videos

UsingfundingfromOxfam,youthreceivedtrainingthatbuiltonandsharpenedpreviouslyobtainedskillsinfilm-makingandobtainedtechnicaltrainingfromamentortwiceamonth.TheAACESprojectprovidedanopportunityfortheyouthtousetheirskillstofurtherdevelopwhattheyhadlearned.Inaddition,WozaMoyarecognisedthatvideosareapowerfultoolthatcanbesharedbroadlyandthatthefilmingofthevideosprovidedanopportunitytobeoutinthecommunity.

LocalcommunitymembersaccesswaterfromthecommunitypumpinruralKwaZulu-Natal.


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Theprogramteaminitiallyoutlinedwhattheywantedtocaptureandthemediateamdevelopedascriptwhichwasdiscussedandagreedupon.Capturingthefootageinvolvedshootingspecificexperiencesofindividualsandgroupsofpeopleinreallifesettings.

Oncethefilmingwascomplete,thefootagewasscreenedfortheteamtogiveinput,providingfeedbackfortheyouthtousewheneditingandfinalisingthevideos.

TheresultwasfivevideosonWASH:oneonthePRAprocess;anotherondisability,waterandsanitation;thethirdonprotectingwatersourcesbyremovinglitter,cleaningupandremovingalienvegetation;anotheronbrokeninfrastructurethatneededrepairsandlackofcapacityandskilltorepairequipment;andthefifthwasoncommunitydialogue.Atthetimeofthisresearchasixthvideodocumentingpeoplewholeavetheirhomesintheearlyhoursofthemorningtogotowatersourcesandtheirdailyexperiencesaroundwaterandsanitation,wasbeingfinalised.

community dialogue

AspartofAACES,WozaMoyadrewonitspreviousexperienceofconductingacommunitydialoguethatfocusedonchildren’srightsandheldasimilareventonWASH,whichwaspartofawaterdaycelebration.Thisdialoguegavecommunitymembersanopportunitytocometogetherandlearnfromoneanotherwiththepurposeofenablingpeopletofindavoiceandtoimprovesolidarityinthecommunity.

Tolaunchtheprocess,theWozaMoyateamheldabrainstormingsessiontoidentifythesectorstoberepresentedatthedialogue.Thesewereidentifiedasthefollowing:thecommunity(includingcommunityleadership),theyouth(includingschools),otherNGOsworkingintheUfafaareaandgovernmentdepartments.Invitationsweresentouttothesestakeholdersusingdifferentmedia,includingfaxandemail,viacareworkers,intheformofnoticesdeliveredtoschools,tothetraditionalleadershipandthroughwordofmouth.

Thepositiveresponsefromthecommunityandstakeholderswasevidentintheturnoutonthedayofthedialogue.TheprocessinvolvedpresentingthefindingsofWozaMoya’shouseholdsurvey,aswellasLima’sbaselinefindings,afterwhichparticipantsweregivenanopportunitytocommentonandaskquestionsaboutthepresentations.Breakawaysessionsgaveparticipants,whoweredividedintostakeholdergroups,theopportunitytodiscusstheirroleinresponsetotheWASHissuespresented.Thisinputwassubsequentlydiscussedinthebroaderforum.WozaMoyaalsoclarifiedtheroleofthepartnerorganisationintheprogram,givenavailablecapacityandresources.

Participantsinvolvedinthedialoguefeltthattheywereinvolvedasownersinaprocess,weredrivingtheoutcomesofinitiativesandwerebeingsupportedtoprotecttheirownresources.Onecommunitymemberstatedthatpeoplefelt“inthesemeetings,thingscangetclarifiedaboutwhythingshavenotworkedbeforeandhowtopreventthesamemistakesinthefuture”.

Theconsensusatthedialoguewasfortheestablishmentofwatercommitteestotakeresponsibilityformanagingwatersources.Furthermore,participantswereoftheviewthatcommitteemembersshouldbetrainedinsometechnicalaspectsofWASHsothattheyarebetterabletomaintaintheresourcesinthecommunity.

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6.1.3 reflections

community dialogue

Thecommunitydialoguewasempoweringinthatitprovidedanopportunityforcommunitymemberstohearandlistentooneanotherinasingleforumwhichenabledthemtoidentifycommonissues.Aspeoplefeltabletoopenupandsharetheirviews,itwasclearthat“peoplearenothappywithservicesdeliveryissues”,accordingtoaWozaMoyastaffmember.

Withitsstructuredformat,thecommunitydialoguewasasuccessfulcommunityengagementtoolbecauseitfocusedthediscussionsothatkeyissueswereaddressed.

ThevalueofthisprocesswasevidentinWozaMoya’sintentiontoholdanothercommunitydialogueonWASHayearaftertheonementionedabove.ItwasanticipatedthatbythetimetheseconddiscussionisheldtheWASHcommitteestructures(seeCommunityParticipationbelow)wouldbeestablishedandabletohandlewhatcameoutoftheseconddialogueprocess.

community ParticiPation

SettingupWASHcommitteeswasapriorityoutcomefromthedialogue,butWozaMoyaacknowledgedthatitwascrucialthatprocesseswerefollowedinthisregardtoensurethecommitteemembersdidnothavepoliticalinterestsandthatthemostvulnerablemembersofthecommunitywerefullyrepresented.Asaresultitisanticipatedthatitwilltakesometimeforthecommitteestobeestablished.

youth ParticiPation

WozaMoyastaffdidnotexpectthelevelofvocalisationaboutWASHissuesbytheyouththatemergedduringthecommunitydialogue.Theorganisationhadanticipatedthatwomen,especiallythosewhoofferhomebasedcaretosickpeople,wouldbethemostoutspokenaboutWASH.However,theyouth,whowerefromalltenareasofUfafa,spokeaboutWASHcommitteesandvoicedtheirangeratthelackofservicesinthecommunity.Asaresultthedialoguecreatedanopportunitytobuildactivismamongyoutharoundafundamentaldevelopmentissue.ThroughthisprocessWozaMoyarealisedtheimportanceofincludingtheyouthinfutureaspectsoftheproject.

sKills and training

TheneedfortechnicaltrainingemergedduringthedialogueaspeoplestatedthattheydidnotknowhowtorepairWASHresourcesanddidnotwanttorelyonoutsidersbecause,inthewordsofoneparticipant,“theynevercome”.

DrawingfromapreviousOxfamlearningeventwhereinformationwassharedaboutwomeninKenyawhoweredoingrepairsthemselves,WozaMoyadecidedtotrainfourcommunityhealthworkersinthefirstyearaspartofapilotinordertolearnhowtheycouldrollouttheprojecttoothercommunitymembers.

Thedevelopmentofthevideosprovidedthemediateamwithanopportunitytodeveloptheirskills,butitwasnotedthattheyneedtofurtherbuildtheircapacitywithregardtoskillssuchasscriptwritingandstorytellingandrelatingtosometechnicalaspects.

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information and aWareness relating to Wash

WozaMoyaidentifiedtheneedtoobtainadditionalinformationregardingWASHintheUfafacommunity.Asaresult,itwasdecidedthatasurveyonWASHwouldbeconductedintheelevenschoolsinthevalley.

ThesenseofincreasedawarenessaroundWASHissueswasevidentintheareainwhichWozaMoyaworkswhenthelocalchoirsangahumoroussongaboutwaterandsanitationatasubsequentYouthDayevent.

revieW and clarification of oWn role

WozaMoyafoundtheoutcomesoftheinitialAACESprogramoverwhelmingasstaffmemberswereunclearastowhatdirectiontheirWASHinitiativesshouldtake.Thereweresomanyrequestsfromthecommunityand,althoughtheytriedtoasserttheirrole,WozaMoyastaffneededtomanagehowtheydealtwiththecommunityresponsewhichwas“waytoomuchtoosoon”,inthewordsoftheWozaMoyadirector.Asaresulttherewasaneedtoreconveneasanorganisationandthinkabouthowtheprogramcouldproceed.

engaging With other staKeholders

AchallengeexpressedbyWozaMoyarelatedtothedifficultiesinengagingwiththelocalmunicipalityaboutwaterandsanitation,whicharebasichumanrightsandfundamentaltopeople’swellbeing,livelihoodsandhealth.WozaMoyaregardedthemunicipalityasvitalpartnersandplannedtocontinuetolookatmorevigorouswaysofengagement,althoughtherehadbeenacompletelackofresponsetopreviousapproaches.

6.2 save the children KZn


SavetheChildrenKZNworkswithcrèchesindifferentareas,buttheorganisation’sfocusforWASHisinUmzintoandWentworth.Thepartner’sroleistosupportthecrèchesandbuildthecapacityofstaffmemberssotheyimproveservicesandareabletomeettheregistrationrequirementsoftheDepartmentofSocialDevelopment.ThisallowsacrèchetoberecognisedasanECDserviceproviderandmakesiteligibleforgrantsfromthegovernment.AsSavetheChildren’sfocusisoncapacitydevelopmentforcommunityserviceentities,ratherthanoncommunitydevelopment,thecommunitywithinwhichthepartnerworksismorediversethanisthecasewithotherpartnersinvolvedinAACES.

SavetheChildren’scommunityhasthreesectors:

• thecrèchecommunity,whichconsistsofteachersandchildren,• thedifferentstakeholdersthatworkwithcrèches,includingNGOs andrelevantgovernmentdepartmentsand• theparentsofthechildrenwhoattendthecrèches.

SavetheChildreninteractsandworksdirectlywiththefirstandsecondgroupsandindirectlywiththeparents,whointurninteractdirectlywiththecommunity.

AspartoftheACCESprogram,SavetheChildrenKZNconductedacommunitysurveyandstakeholderworkshopsandconductedmonitoringvisitsatcrèchesregardingWASH.

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community survey

Aftercompletingthebaseline,SavetheChildrenstartedthisprojectbyadministeringatwo-pagequestionnairetoidentifythestatusquoofWASHresourcesinWentworthandUmzinto.Theorganisationsubsequentlydesignedacomprehensiveseven-pagequestionnairethataimedtoascertaintheleveloffunctioningofWASHresourcesandothermoredetailedhealthrequirementsthatarerequiredbygovernmentatcrèchelevel.

Thequestionnaireswereadministeredbyanindependentresearcher,whoisalsoaqualifiedretirednurse,inWentworthandbySavetheChildreninUmzinto.

BasedonanapproachcalledBasicManagementbyObjectives,whichdrivestheworkoftheorganisation,thepurposeofthesurveywastogetthefacts,buildupadditionalinformationfromthereanddevelopanimplementationplan.

SavetheChildrenfoundthatthesurveyprovidedaccuratequantitativedatathatidentifiedtheneedswithinthecrèchecommunity.Inparticular,theinfrastructureneedsrelatingtoWASHaregreat.Mostcrèches,especiallythoseinUmzinto,areunder-resourcedanddonothaveadequateWASHfacilities.

Duetobudgetconstraints,andnotbeingabletojustifyprovidinginfrastructureforonecrècheratherthanallofthoseinneed,SavetheChildrenfocusedonactingasafacilitatortolinkrelevantstakeholderswithcrèchestoassistinobtainingthenecessaryresources.

staKeholder WorKshoPs

ToensurecommunityparticipationintheAACESprogram,SavetheChildrentargetedstakeholderswithineachoftheabovesectors.Priortothisprogram,thepartnerorganisationalreadyinteractedwithECDcentresthroughlocalareabasedcrècheforumsatwhichissuesaffectingthecrèchesonanongoingbasisarediscussed.SavetheChildrenfacilitatedWASHdiscussionswithtwolocalareaforumsthatrepresentedcrèchesinWentworthandUmzinto.Thisenableddiscussionstostartatagrassrootslevelduringtheprocess,includingduringimplementationwhenWASHwasontheagendaofthemonthlycrècheforummeetingsthatinvolved44crèches.

Toengagewithstakeholders,SavetheChildrenorganisedspecificmeetingsthatinvolvedcrècherepresentatives,governmentandotherrelevantstakeholders.Thestakeholderswereidentifiedasaresultofhavingpreviouslyattendedcrècheforums,orhavingbeenreferredtoSavetheChildrenbyotherstakeholders.ThreestakeholdermeetingswereheldinbothWentworthandUmzinto.

Intargetingfamiliesandthebroadercommunity,SavetheChildrenmadeuseofmediaarticlestodisseminateinformationandcrèchessharedinformationatparentmeetings.

InWentworthgovernmentstakeholdersrespondedpositivelytotheinvitationtoattendSavetheChildren’smeetingsandsubsequentlyshowedtheircommitmenttosupporttheprocess.RepresentativesincludedtherelevantdepartmentsfromeThekwiniMunicipalityandsomeprovincialgovernmentrepresentatives.

TherewasapoorresponsefromgovernmentstakeholderstoattendthemeetingsinUmzinto,butthecrècheswerewellrepresentedatallthestakeholdermeetings.

SavetheChildrenKZNengagingaroundtheAACES WASHProgramwiththecommunityinUmzinto.


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SavetheChildrenpresentedanoverviewoftheWASHprogramatthefirststakeholdermeeting.ThisincludedprovidingastatusquoreportofWASHinthecrèchesinbothareas.DuringadiscussionfacilitatedbySavetheChildren,stakeholdersweregivenanopportunitytosharetheirareasofexpertiseandtheirviewsonhowbesttheycouldsupportWASHinitiatives.

DuringtheWentworthmeetingtherewasanopportunitytodiscussareasofcollaborationandsupportanddifferentstakeholderswereabletoopenlysharetheirviewsabouttheproject.Oneofthestakeholdersraisedquestionsaroundsustainabilityofprojectsandproposedthatthisprojectshouldpaveawayforaprocessinwhich“civilsocietyengageswithgovernmentinaprolongedandsustainableproject”.

6.2.3 reflections

community and staKeholder ParticiPation

ThepositiveresponseinWentworthwasattributedtothegoodrelationshipthathasbuiltovertimebetweenthecrècheforumandtheeThekwiniMunicipalitywhichservicestheWentwortharea.

WhilestakeholderresponsewasveryslowinUmzinto,otherorganisationsworkingintheareareportsimilarexperiences.NGOsreportedthatcouncillorsaresupportive,butnotinfluentialwithinthecommunityanditisdifficulttogetbuyinfromgovernmentstakeholders.

Therewasongoingcommunication,includingphonecalls,faxesandemails,fromSavetheChildrentogetstakeholderstoparticipateintheprocess.Itrequiredmuchpersistencetogetgovernmentrepresentativestosimplyattendthestakeholdermeeting.


SavetheChildren’sfocusfortheAACESprojecthasbeenonfacilitatingthelinkagesbetweenrelevantstakeholdersandthecrèchesandbuildingcapacityofthecrèchestolobbyrelevantstakeholders.

Duringthestakeholdermeetings,variousrepresentativesfromtheeThekwiniMunicipalitysharedinformationondifferentWASH-relatedinitiativesthatthemunicipalitywasundertakingtowhichtheAACESprojectcouldbealigned.TheDepartmentofHealthwasparticularlyexcitedthatSavetheChildrenwaslookingatWASHwithinthecrèchecommunity.Theycommentedthat“ithadbeenignoredforalongtime”,asreportedbyarepresentativeofSavetheChildren.

Itbecameapparentthatotherswouldgetinvolvedoncesomeonestartedaprocess.ThiswasevidentinWentworthwherealocalgovernmentofficeassistedwithcleaningatoneofthecrèchesaspartofNelsonMandeladay.Inaddition,alocalbusinessthathadreadaboutWASHinlocalWentworthpublicationsassistedbyprovidingpaint.ArepresentativefromtheDepartmentofSocialDevelopmentalsostatedatastakeholdermeetingthatthedepartmenthadbeguntorecognisethathomeplaycentresarenotgoingawayandthatthegovernmenthavetofindawaytosupportthem.


TherewasageneralpositiveresponsefromthemembersofthecrècheforuminUmzinto,eventhoughtherewasapoorturnoutbygovernmentstakeholders.Thecommunity

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memberswhoparticipatedintheprocessfeltthatitwasusefulforsharingexperienceandknowledgeandonepersoninterviewedsaidshe“learntalot”fromtheprocess.HygienewasidentifiedduringtheseprocessesasoneofthechallengesrelatingtoWASH.

However,raisingawarenessthroughthisprocesshadapositiveimpactandisregardedashavinginfluencedbehaviourwithcrèchesfocusingincreasinglyonhygieneandcleanlinessandimplementinggoodhygienepracticesthatthestaffhadlearnedthroughtheWASHprocesses.Theseincludedfindingwaystodisposeofdisposablenappies,ratherthansendingsoilednappieshomewiththechildren,aswellasimprovingthecleanlinessofthechildcarefacilities.

AclinicsisterinUmzintoalsoaddedinputintoanassessmenttoolthatcanbeusedtomonitorthehealthandhygienestandardsatthecrèchesandtogivesupport.

However,SavetheChildrenfoundthatWASHisabigandcomplexissueinvolvingmanyaspectsthatarelinkedtooneanother.Theseincludehealth-relatedmatters,nutritionandwater.


Fromanorganisationalpointofview,WASHhadnotbeenaprimaryfocusofSavetheChildreninthepast.Thismeantthattheorganisationhadtore-focusonwhatcouldbedeliveredgiventhecapacityofstaffmembers.Asaresult,theorganisation’sobjectiveinthisregardisaboutchangingattitudesthroughparticipation,whichwillleadtoachangeinbehaviour,whichwilleventuallyresultinachangeinstandardsforcrèchesthatwillallowthemtoapplyforconditionalregistration.

Inaddition,beingunabletoprovideinfrastructure,whichwasthegreatestneedemergingfromthecrèchecommunity,SavetheChildrenrecognisedthatitsrolewasasafacilitatorinlinkingrelevantstakeholderswithcrèches.

Project limitations

TheAACESinitiativeshavebeenlimitedtotwocrècheforumsandtheseforumsareagoodchannelfortheinformationastheyarewellorganisedandeasytomobilise.Othercrècheforumsalsowanttogetinvolved,butareunabletodosoatthepresenttimeduetolimitedresources.Theydo,however,receiveinformationthroughacrècheforumassociation,whichservesasanumbrellastructureforcrècheforums.

TherewasageneralpositiveresponsefromthemembersofthecrècheforumsinUmzinto.However,theresponsefromgovernmentstakeholderswaspoor.Nevertheless,duringtheconsultativemeetingthecrèchecommunityandSavetheChildrenwereabletocommunicatetheirexpectationsandoutlinetheenvisagedprocess.

6.3 fancy stitch


FancyStitchhasworkedwithdifferentcommunitiesintheIngwavumaareaonHIVandfoodsecurityformanyyears.Previousworkinvolvedtheinstallationofwatertanksforwaterharvestingforoneofthecommunitygardensinthearea.FancyStitch’sworkbuildsontheorganisationsownexperienceofworkingwiththecommunity.ThemainfocusoftheworkisfoodsecurityinthecontextofHIVandsoWASHbecomesanimportantcomponentinstrengtheningfoodsecurity,and,morespecifically,vegetablegardenprojects.

CommunitymeetinginIngwavuma,NorthernKwaZulu-NatalaroundtheAACESWASHProgramatFancyStitch.


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community meetings

FancyStitchheldpublicmeetingswiththethreecommunities–Mambuzikazi,KwelelaniandMachobeni–thattheyhadplannedtoworkwithaspartoftheAACESprogram.

About50peopleattendedaninitialmeetingfortheMambuzikaziandKwelelanicommunities.ThetwocommunitiesfallunderoneInduna,who,asiscommonpractice,facilitatedthemeeting.FancyStitchstaffmembers,whowerealreadyawarethatawindpumpintheareawasnotworking,askedmembersofthecommunitytoexplain,fromtheirownexperiences,whatishappeningwithregardtoWASHinthecommunity.Thecommunityexplainedthedifficultiestheywereexperiencinginaccessingwatersincethewindpumphadbrokenandthatthemunicipalityhadnotundertakenanyrepairs.

FancyStitchstaffmembersaskedparticipantstodiscusshowtheywantedtoresolvetheproblemsbeingfacedbythecommunity.Followingthesediscussionsandbrainstorming,thecommunitycameupwithdifferentideas,whichincludedputtingupasteelshedandfixingthewindpump.AfteranexplanationfromFancyStichregardingthecostsoftheproposedoptions,thecommunitymemberswereaskedtothinkaboutwhatactionstheycouldaffordtotakeiftheyworkedtogetherwithFancyStitch.

Thecommunityproposedthatitprovidedthelabourforthewindpumptobefixed–thiswouldrequirethediggingofa2.5kmpipeline–andFancyStitchagreedtoobtainfundingtobuythenecessarymaterial.

Theneedforacommitteetooverseethisworkinthecommunitywasalsodiscussedduringthemeeting.AWASHcommitteewassubsequentlyselectedatasecondcommunitymeeting.Membersofthecommunityincludedayoungwoman,adisabledwoman,threemenandtheInduna.

FancyStitchfollowedthesameprocessinMachobeniand,whilepeoplesaidtheyhadproblemsaccessingwater,theywerenotveryclearabouttheirspecificconstraints,theconditionofthewatersourcesandwhattheywantedtoprioritise.AsaresultFancyStitchfeltthecommunitymembersdidnotunderstandexactlytheextentoftheprobleminMachobeni.Followingtwosimilarmeetingscommunitymembers,includingawomen’sgroup,wereabletobetterarticulatetheirspecificwaterneeds.Theydecidedtheywantedatrenchtobebuiltandthattherewasaspringthatneededtobeprotected.

community mobilisation

InMachobenioneofthegroupsofwomenthatFancyStitchworkswithwantedasteelshelterforharvestingrainwatersoastogrowvegetablesinwinter.TheygottoknowaboutthesuccessofthesteelshelterinEsihlangweni(anothercommunitywhereFancyStitchworkswithawomen’sgroup).TheyaskedFancyStitchtoconveneacommunitymeetingtodiscussthewaterneeds.FancyStitchadvertisedthemeetingthroughputtingpostersupatallpublicareasandinvitedcouncilrepresentatives.Thiswasadvertisedasanopenpublicmeeting.

Holdingcommunitymeetingsisthenormalpracticeinthesecommunitieswhenthereareissuesthataffectthecommunityasawhole.TherehavebeenongoingcommunitymeetingssincethestartoftheWASHactivitiesinallthesecommunities.

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the Way forWard

Futureplansincludeprovidingwaterharvestinginfrastructureandsomesanitationinfrastructure.Therearealsoplansforprotectingwatersourcesandrepairingothers.Inaddition,plansareinplaceforFancyStitchtoprovidesupportandtechnicaltrainingtothecommitteesthatoverseeWASHinthesecommunitiesandincreaseaccesstoWASHservices,includingtheprovisionofmorewatertanks.

6.3.3 reflections

community ParticiPation

ThecommunityrespondedpositivelytotheengagementsbyFancyStitchandsetupcommitteesthatwererunningwellatthetimeofthisresearch.Womenhadleadingrolesinthecommitteesandgenderdynamicswerewellmanaged.Thecommitteearticulatedtheneedsofthecommunityandreachedconsensusonhowresourcesshouldbespent.Thecommitteealsodefinedwhatrolethecommunitywouldplayandmembersfelttheycouldtakedecisionsaboutwhatshouldbeachievedinthecommunity.However,linkedtothis,thecommitteewasalsoawareofitslimitationsandclearabouttheroleofFancyStitchintheproject.

TheengagementbetweenthecommunityandFancyStitchcontinuedthroughouttheproject,togetherwiththeongoingidentificationofcommunityneeds.CommunitycommitteesalsocontinuedtotakeresponsibilitytobeabletomanagetheirownactivitiesandrelylessonFancyStitch.Anexampleofthisisthecommitmentfromthecommunitytodigthetrench.

Theprocessesofbringingpeopletogetherinmeetingsreallystrengthenedcommunityrelations,accordingtoonecommunitymemberwhosaid“ourcommunitywasdisintegratedandthishashelpedinbringingourpeopletogether”.

Participantsreportedthattheywereabletoproposesolutionsatthemeetings.Forexample,mostwomenmentionedthedangerstheyfacewhengoingalonetofetchwaterfromtherivers.Asaresult,communitymembersproposedatthemeetingstomakearrangementsforthewomentogointeams.Themeetingsensuredthat,inthewordsofonecommunitymember,“noonewouldbeleftout”.Adisabledladywholivesalonewasidentifiedtoreceiveasuitabletoiletonherproperty.

Somemembersofthecommunitysawthevalueofpeoplemobilisingthemselvestodosomethingabouttheirownproblemsandthemeetingsinspiredthemtotakeinitiative.Anothercommunitymembercommentedthatputtinginhardworkthemselveswillensurethatpeoplelookaftertheresourcesbecausetheywillalwaysrememberthatitwas“theirsweatandtime”.

FancyStitchacknowledgesthatcommunityparticipationiscrucialasthereismuchvaluableinputthatcanbemissedifcommunitiesarenotconsulted.Atthesametimeitisimportanttonotethatcommunitiesdiffer,somearemorehomogenousthanothersanditisimportanttobeopenaboutaprocess.

Processesofcommunityparticipationrequireprotocoltobeobserved.Initiativescanbehinderediftheseprotocolissuesarenotmanagedproperly.

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Intheimplementationstage,anotheraspectthatwasfoundtobecrucialistheevendisbursementofresourceswithincommunitygroupsinordertominimiseconflict.Forexample,thewatertanksenvisagedforthewomen’sgrouphavetobesharedwiththecommunitytoensurethatother’sbenefitfromtheresources.


Takingtheinitiativeresultedininteractionbetweenthecommunityandthemunicipalityafteranofficialinsistedthatthecommunitywasnotauthorisedtofixthewindpump.Thecommunityhadbeenrequestingforalongtimethatthemunicipalityfixthepumpandhadreceivednoresponse.Afterdiscussionsthemunicipalityadmittedfaultandallowedthecommunitytocontinue.Thisshowsthecommitmentbythecommunityinowningtheprocess.

TheneedforpoliticaldynamicstobestrategicallymanagedatopencommunitymeetingswasexpressedwithregardtotheFancyStitchinitiatives.Thisisbecausepoliticallyinterestedpeoplemayseekopportunitiestodivertthefocusofameeting.


Withregardtodeliveringinfrastructure,FancyStitchemphasisedtheimportanceofbeingopenfromthestartofdiscussionsaboutthewaystheorganisationmightbeabletoassistandtheaspectswithwhichitmightnotbeabletohelp.


TheneedformoredetailedinformationregardingWASHresourcesandpracticesinthecommunitybecameevidentduringtheAACESproject.Informationthatwassharedatopenmeetingswasmostlyofaverygeneralnatureandpeoplewerevagueaboutdetailsattimes.Asaresult,FancyStitchstaffidentifiedaneedtoconductahouseholdsurvey.

6.4 tholulWaZi uZiviKele


TholulwaziUzivikele(TU)workswith48villagesthataredispersedacrossthebroaderManguziarea.Theorganisation’sfocusisbroad,butintegratedaroundHIV,andorphansandvulnerablechildren.TheentirecommunitywithinwhichTUworksisverybigandexperiencesofWASHresourcesandservicesaresimilarinsomeaspects,butdifferentinothers.


forum drama

Followingthebaseline,whichwasconductedinoneofthe48villages,TU’smainfocuswasonraisingcommunityawarenessonWASHissues.Thisinvolvedincorporatingdrama,whichhasbeentheorganisation’smainmethodologyusedinthepast.

TUmadeuseofatechniquecalledsocio-dramatopography(SDT),whichwasdevelopedbyaCanadianorganisationcalledAidingDramaticChangeinDevelopment(ADC).TU’srelationshipwithADCdatesbackto2007whenTU’sstaffmembersweretrainedaspartofaprogramthatfocusedonforumdramaforyouthwiththeobjectiveofeffectingbehaviourchangeinrelationtoHIVandAIDS.

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FortheAACESprogram,ADCworkedwithTUstafftodevelopanewprocess,usingthesamemethodology,toengagewiththecommunity.ThefocuswasontheattitudesofpeopletofacilitateaprocesswherepeoplewouldembracechangewithregardtoWASHissues.Whilethepreviousworkusingthemethodologyfocusedonyouth,thenewinitiativeinvolvedadaptingactivitiesandahighleveloffacilitation.Itprovedtobeamorerobustwaytoachievethelevelofengagementtheywanted,butdidrequireinvestmentinthefacilitationofthemethod.Thenewdesignwasinitiallytestedandassessedbycommunityvolunteersbeforeitwasfacilitatedwiththecommunity.

Toimplementtheinitiative,TUselectedfivevillages,whichwerefairlyrepresentativeofthetypeofcommunitiesinwhichtheorganisationworks,andplannedthree-dayworkshops,withafourthdayforfollowupsubsequenttotheinitialworkshops.Thefivevillageseachexperiencedoneofthefollowingfeatures:aprotectedwetland,anunprotectedwetland,shallowwater,municipalwatersupplyandalowwatersupply.

Thecommunityentrywasfacilitatedbyfirstmeetingwiththelocaltraditionalauthority.TUstaffexplainedthepurposeoftheworkshopandclarifiedthatitwasnotrelatedtotheprovisionofservices.TheIndunatheninvitedthewholecommunitytoameetingatwhich35peoplewererecruitedthroughaninvitationtothosewhowerewillingtoparticipateandwhohadaninterestindiscussingwaterandsanitation-relatedissuesthataffectedtheircommunity.Inalltheworkshopsitwasmostlywomenwhoparticipated.Thiscouldbebecausethewomenweremoreeagertoparticipateasaresultofthemoftencarryingtheburdeninrelationtowaterissues.

Thefirstdayoftheworkshopfocusedonthesocialpresenceofpeople,orwherepeoplefindthemselves,withtheaimofbuildingasenseofinclusion.Itincludedthefacilitationofnon-verbaldialogueexercises,whichconnectedparticipantstoeachother,andfocusedonre-conditioningpeoplethroughtheremovalofsocialbarriers.

Ontheseconddayparticipantsplotteddetailsaboutthelocalareaandexploredissuesrelatingtowaterchallengesusingalargecommunitymap.Thethirddaywasaboutpeopletellingstoriesoftheirownexperiencesingroupsandpresentingtheseindramatotheotherparticipants.Thismethodusesthetheoryofplaytherapy,butinthiscaseforadults.ItessentiallyinvolvedpeopledramatisingtheirexperiencesofaccessingWASHintheircommunitiesthroughactingoutdifferentscenariosfromtheirdailylives.

TwoweekslaterthesamegroupfromTUreturnedtothecommunityforthefourthday,whichgaveparticipantstheopportunitytoreflectonwhattheyhadlearnedanddevelopinternalandexternalsolutions.

6.4.3 reflections

community dialogue

Membersofthecommunitywhoparticipatedintheprocessfeltthattheylearnedalotfromtheseprocesses.Thisincludedlearningabouttheircommunityandbeingabletoidentifywithothersinthecommunitywhentheyrealised,asmentionedbyonecommunitymember,thatthey“arenotalone”inexperiencingdifficultyaccessingwater.

Duringonesession,whichwasobservedforthewritingofthispublication,peoplewereenthusiastic,opentotheprocessandfeltthattheworkshopwasanicewayoflearningandsharingtheirexperiences,particularlyastheyrelatedtheirstrugglesinaccessingwater.

Localwomenwashingtheirclothesinwatercarriedinwaterstoragedrumsfromsourcesinthearea.


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Participantssaidtheywere“learningalot”abouttheircommunity.TheyreflectedontheSDTworkshopasanopportunitytothinkaboutthecommunity’shistorywithregardtowaterandsanitation.Theprocessalsohelpedthemrealisetheimpactofwateraccessissuesandthattheydidnotknowthebroadervillageverywell,withmostpeopleonlyknowingtheareasnexttowheretheylive.

the use of forum drama

Theuseoftheforumtheatremethodinwhichpeoplere-livedtheirdailyexperiencesandstrugglesofwateraccessandlackofsanitationresourceswasregardedasvaluableasitenabledTUtogetfirsthandexperienceandunderstandingofthestruggleswithinthecommunity.

Itwasobservedthatpeoplefoundtheprocessveryenjoyableandafunexperience.Althoughthelevelofilliteracyamongstparticipantswashigh,thisaspectwasnotexposedduringtheworkshopsandTUavoidedtheeffectiveprocessofengagementbeinghinderedasaresult.TheSDTmethodenabledmembersofthecommunitytoparticipatefreelyandsharetheirknowledgeinanon-threateningway.


Withregardtoresearchdata,itwasapparentthatfurtherfocusisneededonthisaspect.Thebaselinewasconductedinjustonevillageandcapturedabroadpicture,withoutthespecificdetailspertinenttoindividualvillages.

Inaddition,usingtheSDTmethodmeantthatpeople’sexperiencesweredocumentedthroughtherecordingofpicturesandmaps,ratherthanresearchdata,whichwouldhavehadotheruses.

Neverthelessitwasevidentthattheprocesscreatedasignificantawarenessonwaterandsanitationissues.

Project limitations

TUfoundthesixmonthtimeframeprovidedbyOxfamAustraliawastooshortfortheimplementationofthisproject.Theprocessofcommunityengagementcanbealengthyonebecauseitstartsfromthepointofnegotiationwithcommunityleadersatthebeginningoftheprocessandshouldconcludewithafollowthroughtoensureimplementation.

Inaddition,theAACESprojectfocusedonprovidingaplatformforpeopletotalkabouttheirownexperiences,toproposesolutionsandidentifywhoshouldtakeresponsibilityforimplementation.Asaresult,TUstaffexpressedtheneedfortheorganisationtorevisitthecommunitytoassesswhetherimplementationofinternalsolutionshadtakenplace.


ItwasevidentduringthisprocessthatthereisalimitationastotheWASHresourcesandservicesTUcandeliveronitsown.Asaresult,TUintendedtoworkcloselywithMDIC(theorganisationthatispartoftheAACESinitiative,butnotincludedinthisreport)onengagingmunicipalstructuresbecauseofthedifficultiesfacedinbuildingtheserelationships.

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Inconclusion,therearefiveoverarchingthemesthatcanbeidentifiedandareexplainedinthissection.

7.1 the baseline and tools used

ConceptualisingtheWASHcomponentsandtheirlinkageswasnoteasyformanyofthestaffmembersinvolvedinthisproject.TheWASHconceptwasviewedasnewbysome,andsomefounditdifficulttoviewWASHasasanitationandhygieneissue,notjustasawaterissue.AninitialWASHawarenessraisingworkshop,facilitatedbyOxfam,highlightedWASHlinkages,butthePRAprocesssoughttoopenthedebatefurther,bringcommonunderstandingtopartnersandstakeholdersandtoalignactivitiesoftheselectedAACESpartners.

TheuseofacombinationofPRAtoolsforthebaselinewascertainlyvaluableinthatitenabledthecommunitiestotelltheirownstoriesandtoreflectontheirownhistoryinrelationtoWASH.Italsobroughttogetherpeoplefromdifferentgenerationswhoweregiventheopportunitytointeractandlearnfromeachother.Forexample,youngerpeoplewereabletolearnmoreaboutthehistoryoftheirareathroughtimelines.GiventheconstraintsregardingconceptualisingWASHinthecontextofpartner’sprograms,priordiscussionsbetweenLimaandeachindividualpartnerwouldhavefacilitatedtheprocessofaligningandfindingsynergiesacrossprograms.ThiscouldhavealsoassistedinLima’sprocesstoadaptaccordingtoeachofthepartners’needs.

7.2 context sPecific Processes

Eachofthepartner’scommunitycontextsisdifferentandthereforeanyinteractionwiththecommunitywouldhavetocaterforthesecontext-specificdifferencesandeachprocesswouldneedtobeadjustedaccordingly.ThereisageneralsensethatpreliminaryconsultationwithpartnersandgettinganagreementontheprocessforeachpartnerwouldhaveenabledLimatoadapttheprocesstoensurethatitwouldsuiteachpartner’scommunityprofile.Thiswouldallowfortheexplorationofopportunitiesforintegrationwithpartnerorganisation’sexistingworkinthecommunity.

7.3 community ParticiPation and mobilisation

Communityparticipationisacontinuousprocessofengagingwiththecommunitiesconcernedandthereisnosinglewaytoengagewiththecommunity.Theuseofdifferentmethodsbythepartnerstoencouragepeoplewithincommunitiestoparticipatebearswitnesstothisfact.CommunityparticipationhasbeenusedtounderstandtheproblemsfacingcommunitiesregardingWASHthroughallowingcommunitiestodefinethese,proposeandplanhowthesecanbeaddressed,formulateresponsesanddiscussrolesofdifferentstakeholdersandkeyroleplayersindeliveringtheresponses.

Thecasestudyhasalsodemonstratedthatthereisnosingleformulaforcommunitymobilisationaseachcommunityisdifferentandsomepartnersaredealingwitha‘varietyofcommunities’operatingatdifferentlevels.

Communityparticipationisnotwithoutchallengesandithasbeendemonstratedinthecasestudyhowthesebecomelessonsforfutureengagementandplanning.

7 overarching learning themes

AFancyStitchstaffmemberexplainsthatwatersecurityisamajorissueinruralcommunities.


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7.4 imPlementation

Theimplementationprocesshas,toagreatextent,beeninformedbywhathascomeoutofthecommunityparticipatoryprocesses.Thisdoesnotmeanthatpartnershavesoughttorespondtoalloftheissuesthatwereraisedbythecommunities.However,theorganisationshavebeenrealisticabouttheircapacitytoimplementandmanagethewiderprogramthatWASHinitiativesbecameduringtheAACESprocess.

PartnersgenerallyhaveasenseofwhattheywouldliketodoregardingWASH.Someofthisisnotspecificallytodowithtechnicalaspectsandinfrastructure,althoughmostcommunitieshavearticulatedthesespecificneeds.However,thereareconstraintsregardingpartner’scapacitytodeliveratthisscale.

Somepartnershavebeenabletoclarifytheirroleasmoreofafacilitativeoneinlinkingthecommunitywithotherrelevantgovernmentstakeholdersintermsofserviceprovisionrelatedtowaterandsanitationissues.However,ithasnotbeenadequatelycapturedhowthisprocesswouldbemonitoredandwhatobjectivesthepartners,whohavechosenthisroute,havesetforthemselves.Thereisroomtoreflectontheissuesthathavenotfeaturedintheproposaldocumentsmovingforward,buthavebeenraisedasapriorityduringthecommunitydiscussions.

7.5 learning about Wash

TheAACESprojectsastheyhavefocusedonWASHhaveprovidedanopportunityforpartnerstolearn,shareandtrynewwaysofprogramming.TheinvolvementofLimaandotherpartners,suchasADC,hasbroughtinexternalexpertiseandthereforenewlearningintotheprogram.Someoftheseopportunitiesforlearninghavebeenmaximisedwhileothershavebeenveryminimal.Thetimefactorplaysaveryimportantroleasitcanlimitwhatcanbeachieved.

IntheinitialstagesofAACESitisevidentthattimeconstraintshavetendedtosomewhatconstraintheprocesstoacertainextent.Therearesometimestrade-offsbetweentimeandqualityofresultsandmostoftheseprocessesaretimeconsumingandthereforesufficienttimeshouldbefactoredinplanningtoallowforevolutionofprocesses.

AnotherareaoflearningrelatestotheintegrationofWASHintoexistingprogramming.Thisaspectneedstobeconsideredinfuture.

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TheAACESWASHprogramhasbeenpositivelyreceivedbyawidevarietyofstakeholders,includingpartnersandthecommunitiestheyserve.Therearevaluablelessonsthatcanassistinthedesignandprogrammingmovingforward.Partnersarebetterawareoftheirowncapabilitiesandwhattheycandeliverinthenextphasesoftheprogram.Somepositiverelationshipshavebeenbuiltanditisimportantforthesetobesustained,othersareyettobebuiltanditwilltakeconsistenteffortbyallpartnerstoseethesecomingintofruition.

chambers, r.1997.WhoseRealityCounts?:PuttingtheFirstLast.Essex,England:LongmansScientificandTechnicalPublishers.NewYork:JohnWiley.

mukherjee, n., Kumar, v., jayaswal, m., jena, b.1997.LearningtoShareExperiencesandReflectionsonPRAandCommunityParticipation.NewDehli:ConceptPublishingCompany.

rhoades, r., and booth, r.1982.“Farmer-back-to-Farmer:AModelforGeneratingAcceptableAgriculturalTechnology”,AgriculturalAdministration11(2):127-137.

8 conclusion

references

Harvestingandstoringwaterinwater

tanksisacommonpracticeinUmzinto.


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title OccasionalPaper3:AACES*andpartnerbaselinedevelopmentinSouthAfrica (*AustraliaAfricaCommunityEngagementScheme)Published May2014

Publisher Oxfamauthor MakhosiWieseeditor CherylGoodenoughPhotos MatthewWillmandesign LUMOdesign&illustration(www.lumo.co.za)coPyright OxfamAustraliagivespermissionforexcerptsofthisbooktobephotocopiedorreproducedprovided thatthesourceisproperlyandclearlyacknowledged.disclaimer Theviewsinthispublicationarethoseoftherespectiveauthorsanddonotnecessarilyrepresentthose ofOxfamAustraliaoranyfundingagency.Theinterviewandreviewprocesswasparticipatoryandconsent aroundcontentandinclusionofpersonalinformationwasgiventoOxfambyinterviewees.contact details OxfamCountryOfficeinSouthAfrica Suite1B,StrathwayBuilding StrathmoreOfficePark 305MusgraveRoad Durban,4001 SouthAfrica Tel:+27(0)312010865 [email protected]

OxfamAustralia 132LeicesterStreet CarltonVIC3053 Australia Tel:+61(0)392899444 [email protected] www.oxfam.org.au

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australia africa community engagement scheme (aaces) and partner baseline development in south...

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