Orientation on Rich Picture Technique
June 2008
Basan Shrestha
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Western Terai Landscape Complex Project (WTLCP)[1]
1. Introduction
The orientation on participatory monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to WTLCP field staffs had been the need of the day to develop their knowledge and skills to practice participatory techniques/tools in project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Basan Shrestha had attend the three week long Participatory Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation training in The Netherlands, which was organised by Wageningen International from 4 to 22 February 2008. Basan had developed the action plan during the training. Considering its action points to orient the field staffs, the M&E orientation events were organised at WTLCP Field Offices, Dhangadhi and Bardia (Thakurdwara) in far and mid-western Nepal on 23 May and 4 June 2008 respectively. A total of 10 WTLCP field staff participated in two events of M&E orientation facilitated by Basan Shrestha. The participants included Community Motivators, Social Mobilisers and Program Officer.
The main objective of orientation was to increase knowledge and skills of participants on participatory M&E, particularly rich picture technique and information need identification to monitor and evaluate the results of WTLCP. The orientation focused on 1) situation analysis (stakeholders, bio-physical setting, infrastructure, institutions including organisations, legislation and policies, economy, market opportunities and socio-culture; issues and problems); 2) rich picture technique (meaning, steps to draw a rich picture, importance and writing a story about the rich picture); 3) information need identification (performance/ change area assessment criteria-effectiveness, efficiency, impact, relevance and sustainability).
2. Process
Presentation and group work methods were used to orient the participants on rich picture technique and information need identification. Rich picture is a drawing of a situation that illustrates the main elements and relationships that need to be considered in trying to intervene to create some improvement. It has the potential to illustrate the richness and complexity of a situation, by means of symbols, texts and pictures. Rich pictures can be developed in a participatory manner to assess past, present and future situations. In this regard, the participants of Field Office, Dhangadhi selected the case of Shankarpur VDC-1, 2 and 3 in Kanchanpur; and those from Field Office, Bardia selected the case of Guptipur village, ward number 1, Manau VDC, Bardia and prepared rich pictures of the current situation (2008 AD) and future situation/ aspired future (by 2012 AD, the year WTLCP will come to an end) (see Pictures 1 to 4). Besides, they prepared descriptive notes (written stories) elaborating the contents covered by those rich pictures. Specific observations are presented under sub-topics below:
3. Outcome
3.1 Rich Pictures and Notes
Current Situation (2008 AD) of Shankarpur VDC-1, 2 and 3, Kanchanpur
§ Around three hundred households in ward numbers 1, 2 and 3
§ Around 95 households belong to Rana Tharu ethnic group (Janajati)
§ Ram Laxman Community Forest User Group (proposed and registered) covers the forest area of about 3.5 hectares benefiting 178 households
§ Ramban Community Forest User Group (proposed but not registered) covers the forest area of about five hectares benefiting all three hundred households
§ Siddhababa religious forest (proposed) covers an area of four hectares benefiting all three hundred households
§ Four thousand seedlings planted at the rate of two thousand each in Ram Laxman community forest and Siddhababa religious forest with the support of WTLCP in 2007
§ Sarju 52 variety of paddy is widely cultivated in about 80 hectares of land
§ WTLCP/ LI-BRRD has planned to undertake rice varietal trials in 2008
§ 12 poor households have started river bed farming with WTLCP support in 2008
§ WTLCP has supported to establish VDC level Community Forest Coordination Committee Shankarpur Multipurpose Cooperative Limited and Biodiversity Conservation and Development Committee. 450 households in the VDC have become the member of the cooperative. WTLCP is supporting the community through these organisations. The same cooperative is mobilising the revolving fund supported by WTLCP.
§ Communities are receiving agriculture, livestock and forestry services from government line agencies in coordination with these organisations and community groups.
§ Mainly external resource persons are mobilised in capacity building activities such as training, workshops, orientations and tours.
Future Situation / Aspired Future (by 2012 AD) of Shankapur VDC-1, 2 and 3, Kanchanpur
§ Forest density increased (condition improved) with plantation
§ Number of flora and fauna species increased
§ Flood affected area decreased with plantation and width of river decreased
§ Environmental condition improved and supply of forest products increased
§ Biodiversity and economy friendly rice and wheat varieties developed and released
§ Seed production increased
§ Farming of newly developed varieties increased
§ Production increased
§ Number of varieties cultivated
§ River bed farmers cultivated vegetable, NTFP and cash crops in their or leased lands
§ Community income increased from fish farming in ponds and lakes
§ Income increased from off-farm employment opportunities
§ WTLCP support decreased
§ Local institutional capacity increased
§ Local resource materials and resource persons extensively mobilised
Current Situation (2008 AD) of Guptipur, ManauVDC-1, Bardia
§ 105 households in Guptipur, of them 25, 10 and 70 households belong to Dalit, Magar and other caste/ethnic groups.
§ They are the members of Sagarmatha User Group
§ WTLCP has been supporting since 2007. The supports were for irrigation pump, school toilet support and solar lamp (tuki) for 12 households and goat keeping (1 household). WTCLP support the user group and the community through Asaregaudi User Committee
§ This community has one community forest (Deurali Community Forest)
§ Communities have around 28 hectares (42 Bigaha) of Khet (lowland/ irrigated land) and more than 3 hectares of Bari (upland/ unirrigated land)
§ Rice varieties namely IP 22, Masuli, Sabitri and Makawanapur are widely cultivated
§ In terms of organisational development, currently there are one primary school, one user group, one community forest user group
Future Situation/ Aspired Future (by 2012 AD) of Guptipur, ManauVDC-1, Bardia
§ Plantation undertaken in river bed
§ Flood affected areas decreased
§ Number of flora species increased in community forest
§ Number of wild animals increased
§ Electric fencing installed along Geruwa river bed
§ Human and wildlife conflict decreased
§ Crop damage due to wildlife decreased due to cultivation of Mentha
§ Production increased due to adoption of improved technologies
§ Irrigation facilities improved
§ Irrigated area increased
§ Off-season farming increased
§ Income of community increased
§ Participation of women and men increased
§ Communication facilities improved
§ High school established due to organisational development
§ Medical facilities improved
§ Toilets are extensively constructed and used
§ Coordination among different organisations improved
§ Institutional capacity of organisations improved
3.2 Information Need Identification
Different stakeholders would judge differently if the project is performing well. Thus, it is required to involve stakeholders in identifying performance questions (information needs). Five criteria namely effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, impact and sustainability are important to monitor and evaluate that a project is performing well and to ensure that the desired changes are taking place. In this regard, the participants, based on the rich picture of aspired future (2012 AD), identified the change areas and indicators as given in the table below:
Change area
Indicator
Biodiversity conservation
Number of species increased
Number of wild animals increased
Number community forest increased
Number of private forest increased
Deforestation decreased
Forest area increased
Improved livelihoods
Income increased due to vegetable cultivation, seed production and sale of forest products
Production due to improved farming technology increased
Irrigation facility increased
Seed production (area, quantity and variety) increased
Area of off-season vegetable farming increased
Human and wildlife conflict decreased/ minimised
Human and elephant conflict decreased/ minimised due to electric fencing
Number of human death due to human and wildlife conflict decreased
Number of human casualties due to human and wildlife conflict decreased
Health condition improved
Malnutrition decreased
Institutional development
Coordination between community groups and other organisations increased
Capacity developed due to training, workshop, visit and orientation
Self-dependency increased
Community development
Level of educational institutes increased
Communication improved
Health facilities improved
3.3 Participants' Jugement on M&E Orientation
At the end, the participants evaluated the M&E orientation as follows:
Strengths
Areas to be improved
Content
§ The M&E orientation useful to understand and practice M&E, new concepts such as rich picture and its importance
§ This M&E technique/ tool helps review the status of the program and provides guidelines
§ Rich picture helps facilitate in program implementation effectively based on the information about current situation
§ Rich picture about future situation helps in successful implementation of the program, as it foresees the future
§ It helps reveal the importance of documents and project outcomes
§ Knowledge on M&E will help improve proposal writing and activity implementation
§ Too much information is included in the rich pictures - picture will be clear if limited information could be included
§ Will such types of materials be feasible at the field level?
Process
§ Good presentation and facilitation skill
§ Clarity on subject matter (theoritical and practical)
§ Clarifying technique with clear examples considering time, subject matter and participants' views
§ Use of media to orient
§ Clarity on language
§ Practical
§ Increasing the use of photo/ picture and materials could increase the clarity and practice among the participants
§ Would be effective if all staffs have participated in those events
§ Limit discussion on the same topic
§ Orientation time should be long (Sufficient time should be given for orientation)
§ Pre-planning is required
§ Such events should be conducted from time to time
§ Participants have paid less attention
4. Conclusion
The participants remained active to acquire knowledge and skills on participatory M&E techniques and tools. The orientation assured that rich picture development process could be an effective M&E techniques. However, the application of the learning is an important concern to improve the monitoring and evaluation system. Regular follow-up by the concerned authorities and orientation to field staff is required to encourage the participants to practice the learning so that they can effectively contribute to improving the monitoring system for better achievements of project goal and objectives. Staff orientation is an important process, which requires improving the learning and sharing environment.
[1] Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation has been implementing since January 2006 Western Terai Landscape Complex Project in three districts namely, Kanchanpur, Kailali and Bardia of far and mid-western Nepal, with financial and technical support from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), World Wildlife Fund for Nature Nepal (WWF), Bioversity International, Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) and Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD).
June 2008
Basan Shrestha
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Western Terai Landscape Complex Project (WTLCP)[1]
1. Introduction
The orientation on participatory monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to WTLCP field staffs had been the need of the day to develop their knowledge and skills to practice participatory techniques/tools in project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Basan Shrestha had attend the three week long Participatory Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation training in The Netherlands, which was organised by Wageningen International from 4 to 22 February 2008. Basan had developed the action plan during the training. Considering its action points to orient the field staffs, the M&E orientation events were organised at WTLCP Field Offices, Dhangadhi and Bardia (Thakurdwara) in far and mid-western Nepal on 23 May and 4 June 2008 respectively. A total of 10 WTLCP field staff participated in two events of M&E orientation facilitated by Basan Shrestha. The participants included Community Motivators, Social Mobilisers and Program Officer.
The main objective of orientation was to increase knowledge and skills of participants on participatory M&E, particularly rich picture technique and information need identification to monitor and evaluate the results of WTLCP. The orientation focused on 1) situation analysis (stakeholders, bio-physical setting, infrastructure, institutions including organisations, legislation and policies, economy, market opportunities and socio-culture; issues and problems); 2) rich picture technique (meaning, steps to draw a rich picture, importance and writing a story about the rich picture); 3) information need identification (performance/ change area assessment criteria-effectiveness, efficiency, impact, relevance and sustainability).
2. Process
Presentation and group work methods were used to orient the participants on rich picture technique and information need identification. Rich picture is a drawing of a situation that illustrates the main elements and relationships that need to be considered in trying to intervene to create some improvement. It has the potential to illustrate the richness and complexity of a situation, by means of symbols, texts and pictures. Rich pictures can be developed in a participatory manner to assess past, present and future situations. In this regard, the participants of Field Office, Dhangadhi selected the case of Shankarpur VDC-1, 2 and 3 in Kanchanpur; and those from Field Office, Bardia selected the case of Guptipur village, ward number 1, Manau VDC, Bardia and prepared rich pictures of the current situation (2008 AD) and future situation/ aspired future (by 2012 AD, the year WTLCP will come to an end) (see Pictures 1 to 4). Besides, they prepared descriptive notes (written stories) elaborating the contents covered by those rich pictures. Specific observations are presented under sub-topics below:
3. Outcome
3.1 Rich Pictures and Notes
Current Situation (2008 AD) of Shankarpur VDC-1, 2 and 3, Kanchanpur
§ Around three hundred households in ward numbers 1, 2 and 3
§ Around 95 households belong to Rana Tharu ethnic group (Janajati)
§ Ram Laxman Community Forest User Group (proposed and registered) covers the forest area of about 3.5 hectares benefiting 178 households
§ Ramban Community Forest User Group (proposed but not registered) covers the forest area of about five hectares benefiting all three hundred households
§ Siddhababa religious forest (proposed) covers an area of four hectares benefiting all three hundred households
§ Four thousand seedlings planted at the rate of two thousand each in Ram Laxman community forest and Siddhababa religious forest with the support of WTLCP in 2007
§ Sarju 52 variety of paddy is widely cultivated in about 80 hectares of land
§ WTLCP/ LI-BRRD has planned to undertake rice varietal trials in 2008
§ 12 poor households have started river bed farming with WTLCP support in 2008
§ WTLCP has supported to establish VDC level Community Forest Coordination Committee Shankarpur Multipurpose Cooperative Limited and Biodiversity Conservation and Development Committee. 450 households in the VDC have become the member of the cooperative. WTLCP is supporting the community through these organisations. The same cooperative is mobilising the revolving fund supported by WTLCP.
§ Communities are receiving agriculture, livestock and forestry services from government line agencies in coordination with these organisations and community groups.
§ Mainly external resource persons are mobilised in capacity building activities such as training, workshops, orientations and tours.
Future Situation / Aspired Future (by 2012 AD) of Shankapur VDC-1, 2 and 3, Kanchanpur
§ Forest density increased (condition improved) with plantation
§ Number of flora and fauna species increased
§ Flood affected area decreased with plantation and width of river decreased
§ Environmental condition improved and supply of forest products increased
§ Biodiversity and economy friendly rice and wheat varieties developed and released
§ Seed production increased
§ Farming of newly developed varieties increased
§ Production increased
§ Number of varieties cultivated
§ River bed farmers cultivated vegetable, NTFP and cash crops in their or leased lands
§ Community income increased from fish farming in ponds and lakes
§ Income increased from off-farm employment opportunities
§ WTLCP support decreased
§ Local institutional capacity increased
§ Local resource materials and resource persons extensively mobilised
Current Situation (2008 AD) of Guptipur, ManauVDC-1, Bardia
§ 105 households in Guptipur, of them 25, 10 and 70 households belong to Dalit, Magar and other caste/ethnic groups.
§ They are the members of Sagarmatha User Group
§ WTLCP has been supporting since 2007. The supports were for irrigation pump, school toilet support and solar lamp (tuki) for 12 households and goat keeping (1 household). WTCLP support the user group and the community through Asaregaudi User Committee
§ This community has one community forest (Deurali Community Forest)
§ Communities have around 28 hectares (42 Bigaha) of Khet (lowland/ irrigated land) and more than 3 hectares of Bari (upland/ unirrigated land)
§ Rice varieties namely IP 22, Masuli, Sabitri and Makawanapur are widely cultivated
§ In terms of organisational development, currently there are one primary school, one user group, one community forest user group
Future Situation/ Aspired Future (by 2012 AD) of Guptipur, ManauVDC-1, Bardia
§ Plantation undertaken in river bed
§ Flood affected areas decreased
§ Number of flora species increased in community forest
§ Number of wild animals increased
§ Electric fencing installed along Geruwa river bed
§ Human and wildlife conflict decreased
§ Crop damage due to wildlife decreased due to cultivation of Mentha
§ Production increased due to adoption of improved technologies
§ Irrigation facilities improved
§ Irrigated area increased
§ Off-season farming increased
§ Income of community increased
§ Participation of women and men increased
§ Communication facilities improved
§ High school established due to organisational development
§ Medical facilities improved
§ Toilets are extensively constructed and used
§ Coordination among different organisations improved
§ Institutional capacity of organisations improved
3.2 Information Need Identification
Different stakeholders would judge differently if the project is performing well. Thus, it is required to involve stakeholders in identifying performance questions (information needs). Five criteria namely effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, impact and sustainability are important to monitor and evaluate that a project is performing well and to ensure that the desired changes are taking place. In this regard, the participants, based on the rich picture of aspired future (2012 AD), identified the change areas and indicators as given in the table below:
Change area
Indicator
Biodiversity conservation
Number of species increased
Number of wild animals increased
Number community forest increased
Number of private forest increased
Deforestation decreased
Forest area increased
Improved livelihoods
Income increased due to vegetable cultivation, seed production and sale of forest products
Production due to improved farming technology increased
Irrigation facility increased
Seed production (area, quantity and variety) increased
Area of off-season vegetable farming increased
Human and wildlife conflict decreased/ minimised
Human and elephant conflict decreased/ minimised due to electric fencing
Number of human death due to human and wildlife conflict decreased
Number of human casualties due to human and wildlife conflict decreased
Health condition improved
Malnutrition decreased
Institutional development
Coordination between community groups and other organisations increased
Capacity developed due to training, workshop, visit and orientation
Self-dependency increased
Community development
Level of educational institutes increased
Communication improved
Health facilities improved
3.3 Participants' Jugement on M&E Orientation
At the end, the participants evaluated the M&E orientation as follows:
Strengths
Areas to be improved
Content
§ The M&E orientation useful to understand and practice M&E, new concepts such as rich picture and its importance
§ This M&E technique/ tool helps review the status of the program and provides guidelines
§ Rich picture helps facilitate in program implementation effectively based on the information about current situation
§ Rich picture about future situation helps in successful implementation of the program, as it foresees the future
§ It helps reveal the importance of documents and project outcomes
§ Knowledge on M&E will help improve proposal writing and activity implementation
§ Too much information is included in the rich pictures - picture will be clear if limited information could be included
§ Will such types of materials be feasible at the field level?
Process
§ Good presentation and facilitation skill
§ Clarity on subject matter (theoritical and practical)
§ Clarifying technique with clear examples considering time, subject matter and participants' views
§ Use of media to orient
§ Clarity on language
§ Practical
§ Increasing the use of photo/ picture and materials could increase the clarity and practice among the participants
§ Would be effective if all staffs have participated in those events
§ Limit discussion on the same topic
§ Orientation time should be long (Sufficient time should be given for orientation)
§ Pre-planning is required
§ Such events should be conducted from time to time
§ Participants have paid less attention
4. Conclusion
The participants remained active to acquire knowledge and skills on participatory M&E techniques and tools. The orientation assured that rich picture development process could be an effective M&E techniques. However, the application of the learning is an important concern to improve the monitoring and evaluation system. Regular follow-up by the concerned authorities and orientation to field staff is required to encourage the participants to practice the learning so that they can effectively contribute to improving the monitoring system for better achievements of project goal and objectives. Staff orientation is an important process, which requires improving the learning and sharing environment.
[1] Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation has been implementing since January 2006 Western Terai Landscape Complex Project in three districts namely, Kanchanpur, Kailali and Bardia of far and mid-western Nepal, with financial and technical support from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), World Wildlife Fund for Nature Nepal (WWF), Bioversity International, Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) and Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD).
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