Participatory Evaluation Process Research Articles

Challenges and Opportunities for Participatory Evaluation of Local Public Health Efforts to Address Structural Racism and Advance Health Equity

This report describes the process of conducting a participatory evaluation of a local public health department and community partners’ joint efforts to address structural racism and advance health equity in Chicago, Illinois. The participatory evaluation is guided by a multi-partner advisory group composed of academic researchers and research assistants at a local public university; leadership and frontline staff at the local public health department; and individuals employed through local community-based organizations. This report details three key action points in the participatory evaluation process, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that arise while evaluating health equity interventions aimed at institutional and structural change. Insights gleaned from this process can inform ongoing and future participatory evaluation efforts and contribute to the establishment of best practices for partnering across institutions to reshape systems and power relationships to advance health equity.

223 Enhancing the Impact of a Community Feedback Session Service Through Ongoing Evaluation

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: UNC-Chapel Hill’s CTSA implemented a community feedback session (CFS) service to help researchers gather actionable, authentic, and constructive feedback on their projects from community experts. Simultaneously, we conducted an ongoing, participatory evaluation process to improve the experience for researchers and community members. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Informed by the Community Engagement Studio model (Yoosten, 2015), a CFS is a 2-hour consultative session that includes facilitated discussion with community experts around topics or questions posed by a research team. UNC-Chapel Hill’s CTSA staff conducted 7 CFSs during the pilot phase of the service and collected evaluation surveys from researchers and community experts. We held a data party – a participatory evaluation method – to analyze and interpret survey data. Resulting recommendations were used to improve CFS materials and processes. We conducted 11 CFSs after the pilot phase, then analyzed survey data again to gauge improvement and make further adjustments to the service. We also surveyed researchers three months after their last CFS to assess the impact of community experts’ feedback on their studies. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Since January 2022, 108 community experts have participated in 18 CFSs spanning 9 research projects. Data party interpretations of pilot evaluation data yielded several changes in service delivery; since those changes were instituted, all researchers have highly rated the service, unanimously recommending it to colleagues. Researchers praised well-structured sessions and productive engagement, citing direct benefits to their work and significant impact on recruitment processes 3 months post CFS. Community experts also echoed satisfaction, with 100% finding CFSs worthwhile and 95% desiring to participate again, emphasizing the sessions' supportive atmosphere. A community expert reported that the sessions 'made me feel seen and allowed for a greater understanding of what I have been dealing with.' DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The CFS model allows research teams to elicit rapid and meaningful community input, which is key to improving research relevance and impact. Ongoing participatory evaluation of the service ensures continuous improvement, yielding more meaningful interactions and studies that reflect the perspectives of people affected by the research.

Study protocol for the development, trial, and evaluation of a strategy for the implementation of qualification-oriented work organization in nursing homes

BackgroundStaffing ratios in nursing homes vary among the federal states of Germany, but there are no rational grounds for these variations. In a previous study, a new instrument for the standardized calculation of staffing requirements in nursing homes was developed (Algorithm1.0). The development was based on a new empirical data collection method that derives actual and target values for the time and number of care interventions provided. Algorithm1.0 found an increased requirement of 36% of staff in German nursing homes. Based on these results, the German legislature has commissioned a model program to trial and evaluate a complex intervention comprising increased staffing combined with strategies for organizational development.MethodsThe mixed-methods study consists of (i) developing a concept for restructuring the work organization, (ii) the application of this concept combined with increased staffing in 10 nursing homes (complex intervention), and the further development of the concept using a participatory and iterative formal evaluation process. The intervention consists of (a) quantitative measures of increased staffing based on a calculation using Algorithm1.0 and (b) qualitative measures regarding organizational development. The intervention will be conducted over one year. The effects of the intervention on job satisfaction and quality of care will be evaluated in (iii) a comprehensive prospective, controlled summative evaluation. The results will be compared with ten matched nursing homes as a control group. Finally, (iv) prototypical concepts for qualification-oriented work organization, a strategy for the national rollout, and the further development of Algorithm1.0 into Algorithm 2.0 will be derived.DiscussionIn Germany, there is an ongoing dynamic legislation process regarding further developing the long-term care sector. The study, which is the subject of the study protocol presented here, generates an evidence-based strategy for the staffing requirements for nursing homes.Ethics and dissemination.This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the German Association of Nursing Science (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Pflegewissenschaft) on 02.08.2023 (amended on 20.09.2023). Research findings are disseminated through presentations at national and international conferences and publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals.Trial registration number: German Clinical Trails Register DRKS00031773 (Date of registration 09.11.2023).

Abstract P132: Paso a Paso, Designing a Culturally Relevant Diabetes Prevention Intervention for Hispanic/Latino (H/L) People That Adheres to Evidence Based, Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) Intervention Principles in the Hispanic/Latino (H/L) Community of Salt Lake County

One of five Salt Lake County residents identify as Hispanic/Latino(H/L) and are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes(T2D) compared to non-Hispanic whites. Evidence-based interventions to reduce T2D have not been as effective for H/Ls as for non-H/L whites. This study uses a shared-leadership, community-engaged approach to develop a model for H/L T2D prevention based on DPP with members of the H/L community, community-based organization partners (Utah Mexican Consulate; University Neighborhood Partners), and an interdisciplinary University of Utah team. Two groups of 10-15 people each (one for community members (CM) eligible to participate in a diabetes prevention program; one for community organization members(CBO) potential DPP-like program implementers). As part of a comprehensive participatory planning and evaluation(CPPE) process, each group met to (1)review existing Spanish DPP program components, learning objectives, and materials, (2)identify barriers to successful T2D prevention, and (3)suggest facilitators and areas for adaptation specific to H/L audiences. Participants in each group rated the DPP program structure and content related to healthy eating, increasing physical activity (PA), self-monitoring and meal planning using validated measures of acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility. In addition, qualitative data was gathered and reduced to provide directions for potential adaptations. Quantitative data (Figure 1) indicates CM and CBO agree on importance of DPP program structure and content, however CBO members rated the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility more neutrally than CM participants. Qualitative data indicated a stronger focus on collective support, culturally aligned healthful eating options, and PA promotion that addressed safe activities for laborers. Conclusions CM and CBO participants found DPP to be an important resource for the H/L community, but also identified adaptations that could improve program reach, retention, and effectiveness.

The school as a place learning ecosystem – Participatory evaluation of the boundary conditions: the case of the IIS Amaldi.

The community pact is a tool potentially capable of fostering the development of place learning ecosystems and communities with a variable territorial size (from an urban district to a city or a region). The realisation of such potential is, however, subjected to an adequate understanding of the boundary conditions, investigated in this paper through a participatory evaluation process. The outcomes of such an evaluation process show that teachers and parents tend to develop different visions of how schools can act as a territorial presidium, although both expect that it is exclusively focused on the needs of the students, rather than those of the territory. The perception of an increased level of school smartness over the last seven years, in fact, has induced a strong sense of belonging to the school community in all the stakeholders – students, teachers, and parents – which has not been accompanied by an equally strong sense of belonging to the territory of reference. The significant increase in the perceived smartness of the learning ecosystem does not seem a sufficient condition, even in the presence of the formal stipulation of a community pact, to push the development of an educating community capable of interacting in a capillary manner with all components of a territory that is characterized by elements of strong degradation. Even the establishment of a territorial presidium having the school as a pole of attraction requires a long work of confrontation, sharing, co-planning, and assumption of co-responsibility to integrate the different points of view emerging from the participatory evaluation process.

Moderating Influence of Government Water Policy on the Relationship between PM&E Approach and Implementation of Water Projects in Machakos County of Kenya

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish moderating influence of Government water policy on the relationship between PM&E Approach and Implementation of water projects in Machakos County of Kenya.
 Materials and Method: The study was anchored on Pragmatic paradigm and used descriptive survey research design. The target population for this study was Machakos County water representatives both staff and Community water representatives. Research sample comprised of; Water Resources Users Association officials, Water Resource Management Authority, County Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Water Services Trust Fund and Tana Athi Water Services Agency, giving a total target population of 572 individuals. The sample size of the study was derived from the various strata’s by using Krejcie and Morgan Table for sample size determination which gave a sample size of 226 participants. The research instruments used included: questionnaires; Key informant Interviews, Focus Group discussions, observation, documents review and Interview guides. SPSS version 24 was used to analyze the data using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Quantitative data was analysed using frequencies, percentages, mean, standard deviation, composite mean and standard deviation. Qualitative data was analysed by content analysis.
 Findings: Findings of the study were presented using tables. The study was pegged on theory of change. This study is significant to policy makers, students and primary stakeholders. The study established that there is a relationship between PM&E Approach and Implementation of water projects. It was concluded that government water policy has significant moderating relationship between participatory monitoring and evaluation process and implementation of water projects.
 Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommends that all departments both in county and national government to work in cooperation to ensure that security in the area is maintained so that vandalism of water resources is eliminated.

Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation Process on Performance of Mtwapa – Kilifi Road Construction Project in Kilifi County, Kenya.

The purpose of the study was to examine participatory monitoring and evaluation process on performance of Mtwapa – Kilifi Road construction project in Kilifi County, Kenya. In order to achieve the general objective, the study was guided by specific objectives: to establish the extend of stakeholder engagement, and data collection processes on the participatory monitoring and evaluation process on the performance of Mtwapa- Kilifi Road construction project in Kilifi County, Kenya. The Stakeholder theory and Theory of project management laid the ground for the need to conduct the study. In order to conduct the study to meet the objectives, descriptive and cross-sectional research designs was used. The research targeted the population of 320 that is road engineers, contractors, road users and road laborers. The sample size was 175 respondents determined by Slovin’s formula. The study adopted stratified random sampling to collect data. The researcher administered a closed ended questionnaire and interview guides as the data collection instruments in order to obtain primary data. The data collection tools were piloted and tested to check the validity and reliability before conducting the actual study. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics presented in form of percentages (%) and frequencies (f). Qualitative data obtained from interview schedules was transcribed organized into themes and presented in prose according to the research objectives of this study. The SPSS version 25 was used to carry out this. The study findings were presented by graphs and tables. The research findings established that stakeholder’s participation has great impact in project implementation of road projects in Kilifi County. In support of this, it can be noted that efficient management of stakeholders minimizes uncertainties posed by stakeholders on projects scope, cost, time, quality and objectives. It was also concluded that success of project implementation is hinged on efficient management of stakeholders. The study findings revealed that for monitoring processes to function properly it requires management support as a mediating factor for a project to succeed. The study recommends management should give their support to all levels of stakeholders for projects to succeed.

Kenya's Experience: Factors Enabling and Impeding the COVID-19 Response.

This case study describes the country-level response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya between February 2020 and May 2021. We organize the presentation of COVID-19 response strategies across the five stages of (a) engagement, (b) assessment, (c) planning, (d) action/implementation, and (e) evaluation. We describe the participatory monitoring and evaluation (M&E) process implemented in collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for Africa Monitoring and Evaluation Team. The M&E system was used to organize and make sense of emerging data regarding specific response activities and changing COVID incidence. We share the results of that collaborative sensemaking, with particular attention to our analysis of the factors that facilitated and those that impeded our pandemic response. We conclude with lessons learned and practical implications from Kenya's experience to help guide future country-level responses to rapidly changing public health crises.

ARTIGO - AVALIAÇÃO DE CONTEXTO: ANÁLISE COLEGIADA DE INSTRUMENTOS AVALIATIVOS

ABSTRACT: The context evaluation is based on a participatory methodology that articulates two axes: i) “the negotiation of quality” and ii) “the promotion from the inside”, which combine self-assessment with external assessment, in a dialogic process of confrontation of viewpoints. The objective of this evaluation is to systematize hypotheses and projects for educational improvement based on the items evaluated. It is a reflective evaluation, in which the claims, concerns and questions of interest groups are the basis for determining the problematizations and necessary changes. It is a participatory and formative evaluation process organized in stages. The present work aims to analyze one of the stages of context evaluation, in its initial phase, in two context evaluation experiences: one carried out in Rio de Janeiro-RJ and the other in Pinhais-PR. This step consists in carrying out a critical analysis of the evaluation instrument carried out by the teachers together with the external evaluator. The entire process was recorded in audio, transcribed and analyzed, having as theoretical reference the studies of Bondioli and Savio (2015), Moro and Coutinho (2018), Corsino and Branco (2019), among others. It was observed that in the two contexts evaluated, throughout the evaluation process, the results showed the importance of analyzing the instruments for the teacher training process, due to the teachers' awareness of the aspects to be evaluated, as well as for the construction of common understandings in the teams, in a participatory, dialogic and democratic process.

Evaluating Youth Empowerment: The Construction and Validation of an Inventory of Dimensions and Indicators

Empowerment is a concept that has become increasingly used over recent years. However, little research has been undertaken into how empowerment can be evaluated, particularly in the case of young people. The aim of this article is to present an inventory of dimensions and indicators of youth empowerment. The article describes the various phases in the construction and validation of the inventory. These phases were (1) a contrast of the inventory of dimensions and indicators against specialized published writings on youth empowerment; (2) the validation of the resulting inventory by experts; and (3) a contrast with young people through four participatory evaluation processes and six life stories. The tool is scientifically and practically useful and enables the impact of youth empowerment programmes to be evaluated; it also serves to plan and implement socio-educational processes aimed at influencing the empowerment of young people.

Influences of Engaging in a Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation Process on Stakeholder Perceptions of Key Performance Indicators for Trails

Trail use is growing globally. Managers confront the classic dilemma of protecting ecological integrity and providing enriching experiences. They concomitantly face the imperative for sustainability—contemporarily characterized by complexity, uncertainty, conflict, and change. Heightened levels of visitation are cause for immense concerns due to adverse impacts to the environment as well as visitor experiences. COVID-19 exacerbates these challenges as heightened levels of visitation are occurring, while managers simultaneously face decreases in conservation funding, and restrictions on protected area operations. Participatory monitoring and evaluation (PM&E) is an emerging in- novation to collaboratively address social-ecological challenges, such as issues as- sociated with trail use. This research is concerned with exploring the influences of engaging in a PM&E process on stakeholder perceptions of key performance indicators (KPIs) for trails. This study compares stakeholder perceptions of KPIs for trails before and after a PM&E workshop at the Niagara Glen Nature Reserve in Ontario, Canada. Results show that PM&E can facilitate consensus among stakeholders regarding the overall goals of management and associated KPIs for environmental management planning. Stakeholders were shown to experience a real change in their perceptions of KPIs. The PM&E process studied show that participants became more conscious of the wider social realities as well as their perceptions of trail management. The study has important implications for managers concerned with trails and sustainability, including building consensus among key stakeholders to reach management goals, enhancing localized decision making, and building capacity for management towards sustainability. Trails, as well as the wider community can ultimately benefit from participatory approaches to environmental management. Consensus-building through PM&E works to enhance decisions that account for a diversity of perspectives. Stakeholder participation in trail management increases the likelihood that local needs and priorities are met, while allowing stakeholders to build capacity and learn to effectively manage their environments. Furthermore, positive perceptions from being meaningfully involved in PM&E can ensure the support of constituents, which is imperative for the long-term success of management planning.

Engaging young people within a collaborative knowledge mobilization network: Development and evaluation.

BackgroundIt is critical that mental health systems place a focus on prevention and early intervention focused on young people while integrating youth voice to guide priority directions.ObjectiveThis study was designed to better understand how youth advisories can be utilized to influence strategic directions within integrated knowledge mobilization networks operating within the youth mental health system.DesignTo support this objective, we reviewed the detailed stages of development in establishing a youth advisory within a national network designed to support the integration of youth services. We also engaged the advisory in a participatory evaluation process that examined the extent to which the network had created processes to include youth voice in decision‐making.ResultsResults from the surveys identified moderate to high levels of individual engagement as well as strong development of processes and procedures that support the inclusion of youth voice across the network.DiscussionMajor successes and challenges are presented and discussed with respect to the development of the advisory. The findings are useful for youth advocates and adult allies working to support youth engagement (YE) in knowledge mobilization to enhance the mental health services system. This study also contributes to research and evaluation efforts examining YE and represents an exemplar methodology for evaluating YE efforts at the system level.Patient or Public ContributionYoung people as mental health service users and youth mental health advocates were involved in the design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of the data as well as the preparation of this manuscript.

Learning from farmers’ experiences with participatory monitoring and evaluation of regenerative agriculture based on visual soil assessment

Participatory action research involving farmers and researchers is crucial to enhance the adoption of farming innovations and ensure the long term sustainability of agroecosystem restoration. However, the factors for successful participatory research for agroecosystem restoration are not always clear and have been rarely evaluated from the perspective of the subjects from whom change is expected. Despite the increasing call for agroecosystem Living Labs, farmers are still seldom involved in structured and shared co-monitoring and co-evaluation of farming innovations as part of participatory monitoring programs. Therefore, we developed a participatory monitoring and evaluation project to evaluate the impacts of regenerative agriculture between farmers and researchers in the Mediterranean drylands of Spain. Here we present and evaluate the project outcomes by reporting farmers’ monitoring results using a co-developed visual soil assessment (VSA) manual, and by documenting farmers’ evaluation of the VSA and other key aspects of the participatory monitoring and evaluation in the third year since the beginning of the project. Farmers’ VSA results pointed out regenerative agriculture as a promising solution to restore degraded agroecosystems in Mediterranean drylands with insights that are complementary to the scientific monitoring. Farmers’ evaluation of the participatory monitoring process revealed the need to enhance farmers’ support for implementation of VSA tools in initial stages, and to include farmers in the design of VSA tools to adjust them to farmers’ priorities, possibilities and needs. Farmers highlighted the importance of the participatory monitoring and evaluation process to enhance knowledge exchange, learning, and capacity building regarding soil quality management to adapt and adopt regenerative agriculture. Our results confirm that including farmers in the design, decision-making and evaluation of research projects for agroecosystem restoration is imperative to enhance efficient, sound and inclusive transitions towards long term sustainable agroecosystems.

Maximizing the Potential of Mini-Grants to Promote Policy, Systems, and Environmental Changes: Outcomes and Challenges.

This article describes the implementation and evaluation of a chronic disease mini-grant initiative, coordinated by a state health department in collaboration with multiple stakeholders. Braided funding from federal and state sources was used to build and implement the initiative. Mini-grants, facilitated by five different facilitating organizations, were funded to promote implementation of policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes at the local level. Grant recipients represented a variety of sectors, including education, government, and nonprofit organizations. Primary (surveys) and secondary (final reports) data documented achievement of PSE changes. A total of $196,369 was dispersed to 65 organizations; 126 PSE changes in the areas of physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco were reported. Challenges in implementing and evaluating mini-grants were identified, including the heterogeneity of the sectors/settings involved and associated variability of proposed activities, time lines, measurement, and evaluation activities. COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) also disrupted the plans for many projects. The success of this initiative can be attributed to four main elements: (1) the use of intermediary organizations to facilitate the mini-grants; (2) a participatory evaluation process, combined with early and ongoing communication among all stakeholders; (3) a braided funding strategy; and (4) a multisector approach that engaged both traditional and nontraditional public health organizations. The processes and outcomes, including challenges, can inform other state health departments' efforts in braiding funding and engaging intermediary organizations to expand the reach of PSE changes at the local level.

Advancing engagement and capacity for rural cancer control: a mixed-methods case study of a Community-Academic Advisory Board in the Appalachia region of Southwest Virginia

BackgroundThe objectives are to: 1) describe engagement processes used to prioritize and address regional comprehensive cancer control needs among a Community-Academic Advisory Board (CAB) in the medically-underserved, rural Appalachian region, and 2) detail longitudinal CAB evaluation findings.MethodsThis three-year case study (2017–2020) used a convergent parallel, mixed-methods design. The approach was guided by community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles, the Comprehensive Participatory Planning and Evaluation process, and Nine Habits of Successful Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalitions. Meeting artifacts were tracked and evaluated. CAB members completed quantitative surveys at three time points and semi-structured interviews at two time points. Quantitative data were analyzed using analysis of variance tests. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed via an inductive-deductive process.ResultsThrough 13 meetings, Prevention and Early Detection Action Teams created causal models and prioritized four cancer control needs: human papillomavirus vaccination, tobacco control, colorectal cancer screening, and lung cancer screening. These sub-groups also began advancing into planning and intervention proposal development phases. As rated by 49 involved CAB members, all habits significantly improved from Time 1 to Time 2 (i.e., communication, priority work plans, roles/accountability, shared decision making, value-added collaboration, empowered leadership, diversified funding, trust, satisfaction; all p < .05), and most remained significantly higher at Time 3. CAB members also identified specific challenges (e.g., fully utilizing member expertise), strengths (e.g., diverse membership), and recommendations across habits.ConclusionThis project’s equity-based CBPR approach used a CPPE process in conjunction with internal evaluation of cancer coalition best practices to advance CAB efforts to address cancer disparities in rural Appalachia. This approach encouraged CAB buy-in and identified key strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities that will lay the foundation for continued involvement in cancer control projects. These engagement processes may serve as a template for similar coalitions in rural, underserved areas.

What organizational factors motivate environmental educators to perform their best?

Positive motivation to perform work tasks has been associated with better performance and outcomes in both the organizational and informal education literature. In environmental education (EE), this means that more motivated instructors are likely to provide better programs for their participants. In this exploratory study across 15 states in the USA, grounded in interviews with EE instructors and their supervisors, we examine the most salient factors motivating EE instructors to perform their work and how the practices of their organizations influenced those factors. Organizational practices related to enhancing EE instructors’ feelings of autonomy, competence, relatedness, and meaningfulness of their work each contributed to positive motivations. A strong sense of shared values and interests underpinned each of these factors. We discuss recommendations for maintaining and enhancing instructor motivations, including hiring and onboarding strategies, participatory evaluation processes, and professional development opportunities. We also consider subtle differences in motivations at different career stages. Supplemental data for this article is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2021.1924104

Stakeholder Capacity Building in Monitoring and Evaluation and Performance of Literacy and Numeracy Educational Programme in Public Primary Schools in Nairobi County, Kenya

To create a radical change within the educational system in public primary schools in Kenya, there is need to invest more on stakeholder capacity building specifically on monitoring and evaluation educational programme. The purpose of this article is to establish the extent to which stakeholder capacity building for monitoring and evaluation influence performance of literacy and numeracy educational programme. Despite numerous initiatives by key stakeholders to better performance of pupils little has been achieved. A descriptive survey research design and correlation design was adapted. Data collected from the respondents by use of questionnaires and interview guide from target population of 2052 and a sample size of 335.Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25 and results presented in tables and figures. Pearson moment correlation coefficient (r) were computed. The coefficient determination of R2 is 0.456 this is an indicator that R2 was the coefficient of determination of this model and it depicted that data collection explained 46%. The remaining 54% was explained by other factors. The overall F statistics 233.446 with p-0.00b&amp;lt;0 0.05 implying there is statistically significant relationship between stakeholder capacity building and performance of literacy and numeracy educational programme. The research suggests that stakeholder capacity building is part of the Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation process, so it must be observed at all stages to ensure educational programme are implemented to the latter by bringing on board all the key stakeholders in education and particularly in literacy and numeracy skills aspects

New Directions for the Evaluation of Coalitions and Collaboratives

AbstractThis chapter summarizes the main points presented in the preceding chapters and highlights opportunities for advancing coalition evaluation. Four major suggestions for advancing coalition and collaborative evaluation are offered. First, there is a need for employing a systems/complexity perspective in coalition evaluation with associated frameworks and tools that can be applied in practice. Second, there is a need to incorporate principles of equity in coalition evaluation and to develop tools that can effectively capture processes and outcomes of equity‐focused work. Third, there is a need for more empirical research to advance the conceptualization, measurement, and evaluation of community coalitions and their collaborative efforts. Fourth, it is important that evaluators understand and employ best practices to foster collaborative and participatory evaluation processes within coalitions and collaboratives.

Intensification of rice-fallow cropping systems in the Eastern Plateau region of India: diversifying cropping systems and climate risk mitigation

ABSTRACT This article reports research from 2013 to 2016 with tribal smallholders, which evaluated technological interventions, aimed to diversify and intensify cropping systems and improve the climate resilience of the farming systems using modelling and participatory evaluation process. The options on providing access to irrigation water, strategic use of irrigation, and better crop husbandry practices were evaluated for their potential to impart climate resilience in farming systems. Irrigation trials revealed that, in the event of delayed rainfall, irrigation of 229-267 mm ensured timely transplanting and resulted in higher paddy yields (7.0 t ha−1). Supplemental irrigation during a mid-season dry spell increased paddy yield to from 0.64 to 6.1 t ha−1. Better vegetable cultivation practices viz. drip irrigation, polythene mulch, nursery raising in seedling trays and raised bed cultivation exhibited great potential to build climate resilience in the farming systems of the region. The study highlights the need for investments in small water harvesting structures and the promotion of alternative ways of cultivating and irrigating paddy during different climatic situations. The study suggests effective ways of engaging communities coupled with appropriate technological interventions to understand climate change and adaptation needs of the rice-fallow ecosystems in eastern India.

Evaluación participativa para la gobernanza adaptativa de sistemas Socio-Ecológicos

Within the field of adaptive governance, evaluation has been identified as a knowledge void requiring attention. Small-scale fisheries in Uruguay were used as case study as they are going through a governance transition; local multistakeholder councils have been formed to look for solutions to fishery-related problems in a collective manner. In one of these councils, we facilitated a participatory evaluation process with involvement of different stakeholder groups (fishers and government agencies). The objective was to investigate the potential of participatory evaluation for enhancing the two main pillars of adaptive co-management: collaboration and learning. Findings show that cooperation and communication among stakeholders were enhanced. Both the relationships between fishers and government agencies, and the connections among agencies, were improved. The evaluation workshops became a learning space and stakeholders improved their skills to participate and interact with different actors. Participatory evaluation is thus an important process for the maturity of adaptive co-management.