Community Forestry

I am excited about what we have learned in community forestry over the years, and proud to have been part of the discoveries. It feels like we are understanding the complex processes involved in joint resource management. It feels like we are understanding the responsibilities of development programmes to support and strengthen community initiatives, rights, responsibilities, and assured access to resources.

We are more aware of our role in training those involved through a process that assists them to consider all the components and issues, and deal with them in their own unique manner.

Resource management plans and agreements are now presenting with a rich variation, which attests to local input, and bodes well for long-term sustainability.
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Participatory Design, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation

Designing with the potential stakeholders not only identifies and works out some of the issues, but provides ownership of the design. I use participatory methods and coaching skills to work through the conventional (but adapted) logical framework.

In Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation systems, I have found that what works most effectively is a complimentary blend of participatory and conventional systems. An M&E contract generally means 3-4 visits to the country. These visits can focus on jointly reviewing the vision or goals, identifying and collecting baseline data, participatory planning, designing and servicing the monitoring system, and preparing for mid-term and final evaluations. Contracts often involve workshops with programmer staff and local committees, and in many cases a reference manual.

I am familiar with conventional development management information systems, the logical framework and results-based monitoring and can readily adapt them to work for analysis by local people and programme staff.
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Workshops

My strength in facilitating interactive workshops is to design workshops which provide participants with opportunities to share and analyze their own situation. What I might contribute (if necessary and appropriate) are new ideas and technologies for them to discuss. These kind of workshops generally take 3 weeks: one for design, one for the workshop, and one for the reporting.

I sometimes attend international workshops as a participant, representing the thoughts of a particular agency. Papers for publication are often part of these contracts.
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Education/Research/Writing

I have researched and written manuals on participatory monitoring and evaluation, participatory methods and tools, community forestry, and participatory planning. I have done focus pieces on women in forestry, criteria and indicators for wood certification, and the uses of GIS. I have written articles on development theory.
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Participatory Methodologies

Often, I am contracted to look after the "participation" on a programme. This means ensuring that there are opportunities for participation, that the policy environment is conducive and that all local people/forest users define and plan their own participation.

To accomplish this, I never use a "set of tools". Instead, I help people identify their task and they then use their own indigenous communication and negotiation patterns. These can be enhanced, but not replaced, by appropriate participatory tools.
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