Participatory Rural Development Research Articles

Buddhist participatory communication for rural development: a comparative analysis of case studies in Sri Lanka, Lao PDR, Thailand and lessons learned for Vietnam

ABSTRACT Religion, the foundation of all cultures, can serve as a potential substitute for participatory communication and rural community development. This paper attempts to (1) analyse how the Buddhist approach is integrated into development communication initiatives in three countries, namely Sri Lanka, Lao PDR and Thailand, (2) identify the key principles and values of Buddhist philosophy that inform development communication practices in these countries, (3) examine similarities and differences in the Buddhist-based development initiatives and projects conducted in the three countries and (4) provide insights and recommendations for Vietnam through analysing how Buddhist-inspired approaches to development communication have been conceptualised and implemented in these Asian nations by making use of comparative case studies research method. The study reveals that while these initiatives share a philosophical basis centred on Buddhism and local culture integration where Buddhist monks/nuns play important roles, they vary notably in the methods applied due to differences in cultural context. This comparative analysis aims to inform future endeavours in Vietnam and beyond, advocating for culturally sensitive and spiritually grounded approaches to rural development.

Women and Rural Development in the Context of Decentralisation in Tubah Council, North West Region of Cameroon

Purpose: Before 1990s, the decentralisation process in Cameroon has gone through several stages. This process really materialised with the revision of the Cameroon Constitution in 1996. Owing to that, several laws concerning this process were promulgated. Decentralisation should eventually make all decentralised territorial authorities autonomous. This government policy, which is part of the bottom-up approach, has the responsibility to promote the participation of the population. Thus, one is entitled to ask how decentralisation in Cameroon can impact women’s participation in rural development in the Tubah council?
 Materials and Methods: To answer this question, primary and secondary data were mobilised and processed according to appropriate methods for the variables studied. Primary data were collected from observation, interviews of key informants and administration of questionnaires addressed to a sample of 145 people in the council area. Secondary data were obtained from internet sources, textbooks as well as documentations and libraries. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptives and inferentials statistics meanwhile content analysis was used for qualitative data analysis.
 Findings: The results show that even if the decentralisation process does not pay particular attention to women, it contributes to the creation of a favourable framework for local development initiatives. Thus, 79% of the women in the Tubah area act individually, compared with 21% who take part in group actions. Their actions varied, with 40% in the field of agriculture and 30% to drinking water supply projects. Identified as one of the pillars of development in rural areas, the intervention of women, if well supervised and structured, it can boost development in a sustainable and effective way.
 Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommends that councils within the process of decentralisation should encourage women participation in rural development by ensuring their high representativeness. It also goes in line with the theory of decentralisation, which states that in order to promote local and participatory development, the transfer of power to local authorities must be effective. The study emphasises on the fact that, the transfer should not only be at the level of power and finances, but it should also include the social categories, must especially women, who are one of the main actors of rural development in Cameroon.

The Value of Community Participation in Rural Development

The Value of Community Participation in Rural Development

Youth Participation in Rural Development in the Jabalpur District of Madhya Pradesh, India

This study elicits and understands rural youth’s participation in different rural development activities that are being conducted in the Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh. Data was collected by using a pre-tested and structured schedule. The demographic composition of youth revealed that majority of them were educated up to higher secondary school, belonged to Other Backward Class (OBC) and had a nuclear family. Majority of them were unmarried and opted farming as their major occupation, had low level of annual income, medium level of use of source of information, achievement motivation, social participation, extension contact and had moderately favorable attitude towards rural development activities. Results revealed that majority (50.00%) of the youth had a medium level of participation in rural development activities. Through NYKS many activities were listed out which were undertaken in respect to rural development. Based on the responses activities were arranged in sequence using the Garett ranking technique to identify and rank which of the following activity is performed regularly and at high extent and vice-versa by the youths. Activities like sanitising village surroundings (Garett score= 65.36), agricultural activities (Garett score=62.51) and plantation (Garett score=61.88) were found to be the major activities performed by the youths.

Promoting Economic Empowerment Through Effective Implementation and Linking Social Capital in Urban Agriculture Programs

Promoting Economic Empowerment Through Effective Implementation and Linking Social Capital in Urban Agriculture Programs

Rural development through people's participation in Gram Sabha: A study from Central India

Rural development can never be possible without a robust implementation of governmental policies in rural regions. The Panchayati Raj institutions were introduced in India in 1993 with the goal of rural development through the people's participation. In this context, this study explores the level of involvement of villagers in Gram Sabha and their awareness of state development policies and investigates gender participation in rural development. The study adopts both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. The data have been collected from the village Chitoura, Sagar, district of Madhya Pradesh (MP) via semi-structured interview methods, case studies, and observations. A total of 50 villagers were selected as respondents through random sampling. Notably, the findings point out that the Panchayati Raj institutions are failing to deliver the development policies on the ground due to a lack of awareness among the villagers and poor participation of women in village activities. This study recorded that caste and gender hinder rural development as some specific castes gained more benefits from the Panchayati Raj institution. Keywords: Gram sabha; Panchayati Raj institution; rural development; women representatives.

Collective Resource Management and Labor Quota Systems for Sustainable Natural Resource Management in Semi-Arid Ethiopia

Since the mid-1970s, natural resource management package programs have been implemented mainly in the northern Ethiopian Highlands (Amhara and Tigray regions), providing participants with food-for-work (FFW) supported by donor agencies. Meanwhile, the government has sporadically implemented such programs in the Ethiopian Lowlands, including the semi-arid Ethiopian Rift Valley (the study area). Local villagers took the initiative to manage various natural and life resources. In this study, the following factors were determined: (i) the type of village organization that manages common-pool resources (CPRs) and controls collective work, and (ii) the kind of institutional arrangements that should be implemented in participatory CPR management and small-scale village infrastructure development programs. These issues were investigated using mixed methods research, combining multivariate analyses, interviews, and field observation. The analyses were compared specifically with advanced participatory CPR management in Tigray, northern semi-arid Ethiopia. Tigray has an indigenous labor quota system (baito) and a collective grazing land management system (hizati) at the hamlet (qushet) level. Since 1991, the Tigray government has incorporated hamlets into the local administration system and supplied FFW and other incentives to participants with a high participation rate in the baito collective work. Those institutional arrangements helped reduce soil erosion rates and restore grass and tree biomass in the area. In the study area, user groups and youth and women’s associations were (and still are) institutionally fragile CPR organizations (e.g., no bylaws). In contrast, an iddir is a robust CPR organization at the hamlet (gott) level having a labor quota system (iddir system) and funds. The requirements for sustainable participatory rural development in the two regions of semi-arid Ethiopia are, first, to institutionalize a local administration system that links the district, village, and hamlet; and second, to use various incentives provided by donor agencies to strengthen their indigenous labor quota systems.

Structural Model of Community Participation in Rural Development in Jambi Province, Indonesia

This study aims to examine the level of community participation and its enabling factors. The study covered 277 rural communities selected by the area sampling technique, at the district, sub-district, and village levels. The data were analyzed using the SEM-PLS method. The analysis results show that the level of community participation in Jambi Province in village development is influenced by internal community factors, such as socio-economic status and community culture, while community external factors, such as the role of mass media, village head leadership and public services hardly have any significant effect. Community culture variables mediate social media variables and socioeconomic status in determining community participation. Therefore, it is suggested that the government optimize the role of mass media as a medium of information, education and services to strengthen culture. The government must also provide feedback on the community participation in the development in the form of public facilities, economic stability, security and ease of access to education so that it will make it easier for the community to improve their socio-economic status, which in turn will create a good culture of social life. It is necessary to disseminate information within the community about various forms of services to the population that are easily accessible so that the community can feel their role and enjoy benefits of these services.

Sociotechnical infrastructuring for digital participation in rural development: A survey of public administrators in Germany

Abstract The “smart village” flourishes – at least in policy papers that envision the revitalization of rural areas through the civic deployment of networked media and telecommunications. Yet, while such aspirations are widespread, little is known about the views of those tasked with supervising and supporting digitally driven public participation for rural progress. To address the lack of insight into what these intermediary administrators conceive as catalysts and challenges for the realization of smart village conceptions, we surveyed representatives of regions in Germany who oversee rural development schemes, most notably within the European LEADER framework. For these key actors, digital participation does not mainly hinge on broadband access and IT availability. Instead, they emphasize the importance of human and administrative resources as well as multi-actor collaboration, which we discuss in terms of digital readiness, digital willingness, and digital activity. Building the smart village, we conclude, seems not so much a matter of technological infrastructure, but rather of sociotechnical infrastructuring.

Empowerment of Medicinal Plant Gardens and Training on Herbal Tea Making based on Medicinal Plants in Wage Permai-Sidoarjo.

The Wage Permai Housing Complex in Sidoarjo Regency has a potential vacant land of approximately 1800 m2. Based on this potential, a community engagement program conducted by the University of Surabaya in collaboration with the Community Group (POKMAS) and the PKK cadre of Wage Permai was carried out to empower the land into a Medicinal Plant Garden (TOGA). The aim of this activity is to improve the health and economic productivity of the residents of Wage Permai. The program includes the establishment and empowerment of the TOGA garden, as well as training on herbal tea making. The methods applied in this program are participatory rural appraisal, community development, education, and participatory technology development. The results of this activity include the establishment of the Wage Permai Medicinal Plant Garden, which consists of around 23 medicinal plants. There was a significant increase in knowledge and skills of the PKK cadre of Wage Permai in herbal tea processing, as evidenced by the significant improvement in post-test results (p<0.05). The outputs of the herbal tea making training are two herbal tea product formulas and a book on herbal tea blending. These outputs are intended to support household-scale production to enhance the economic productivity of the residents.

Drivers of socioeconomic and cultural factors affecting rural development in nsukka lga, enugu state, nigeria

Over the years, Nsukka Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu state, Nigeria has been experiencing a slow rate of development. Based on this therefore, this work was designed to investigate the drivers of socio-economic and cultural factors militating against rural development in Nsukka Local Government Area. A purposeful sampling was used to select one hundred (100) respondents in each of the five rural Villages, making it a total of 500 respondents. Questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. Data was represented using simple percentages, charts, and Chi-square. of the 500 questionnaires shared, 483 were correctly and completely filled and analyzed using SPSS. The findings revealed that traditional belief system, gender segregation, land use system, mismanagement of project funds, poor execution of projects and non-involvement of community members in planning and execution of rural development projects constitute some of the drivers of socio-economic and cultural factors militating against rural development in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu state, Nigeria. The result also showed that there was a statistically significant relationship (P <.033) between respondents’ level of education and participation in rural development. Finally it was recommended that rural people should learn to welcome and harness development despite their cultural belief system and there should be a collaborative effort of the government and the people, more especially the youths in planning and implementation of rural development projects.

WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUNGAI JERNIH VILLAGE , PONDOK TINGGI DISTRICT SUNGAI PENUH CITY

This study aimed to describe women's participation in rural development and constraints of women's participation in rural development in Sungai Jernih Village, Sungai Penuh City. This research used descriptive qualitative research method. The data used came from primary and secondary data. Informants were categorized into two that were key informant and informant. The techniques of data collection were observation, documentation and interview toward related parties; that werepublic figures community, especially women, village head, apparatuses and BPD. The result was the woman’s participationand involvement in planning and implementation of development in Sungai Jernih were substantial even though there were no women in the organizational structure. The form of woman’s participation were mind, fund, vitality, self-help, etc. The participation included physical development, social activities, economics and religious. In evaluating and monitoring rural development, woman’s participation and involvement were not maximal yet even they had a means of complain in each sub region but until the day suggestion and critics were deficient. The obstacles of woman’s participation were time, fund, and self-knowledge of the woman.

Gender and Local Organisations toward Sustainable Rural Development

Local organization and gender participation are two elements that have the significant role for the rural development plan. The objectives of the study are to describe the function and role of the local organizations as a media for participation, job allocation of men and women performed in rural development plan. A case study method was used with the key informants from the local organization committees, target group, and development facilitators. The data collected are the type and form women and men contribution, roles and functions of the local organizations in the rural development plan process, and the activity proposed by men and women. The study indicated that the involvement of men and women in the development plan process encourages community participation in rural development and generating a better development plan. Women have the significant role in the identification of problems and planning, primarily related to social and economic aspect affecting household activities, while men profoundly concern to public infrastructure affecting to economic activities. The involvement of men and women should be a necessity for every rural development because the proposed action planned is based on the local community needs.

Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Pembudidaya Ikan Nila di Desa Paya Udang Kecamatan Seruway Kabupaten Aceh Tamiang

Paya Udang is a village located in Seruway sub-district, Aceh Tamiang district, Aceh Province. Due to the lack of understanding related to community aquaculture management in managing freshwater fish farming in Paya Udang village, it is necessary to conduct aquaculture management training. The purpose of this training activity is to equip the Paya Udang village community in tilapia cultivation activities. This activity was carried out in Paya Udang village, Seruway sub-district, Aceh Tamiang district, involving 6 participants. The method used is a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Community development approach. The result of this training activity is an increase in the knowledge of the members of the PEMUDA JAYA cultivation group in the cultivation of freshwater fish, especially tilapia.

Role of Citizen Participation in Rural Development: A Case Study of Pakistan

Role of Citizen Participation in Rural Development: A Case Study of Pakistan

Between pacification and dialogue: Critical lessons from Colombia’s territorial peace

Colombia's peace process prioritised conflict-torn geographies ostensibly suffering from historical state absence. We examine the origins and afterlives of this 'territorial' peace using discourse analysis, archival research and field interviews. The state-initiated agenda exceeded the objective of structuring negotiations with FARC guerrillas, pointing to the transformative potential of social dialogue. The negotiating parties co-sponsored participatory rural development forums, which attracted numerous collectives. These diverse actors' visionary proposals to address neglected claims and conflicts influenced the government's and FARC's respective discourses, ultimately informing the 2016 peace agreement. Yet, state priorities for peace centred on international legitimation and post-conflict infrastructure development to accelerate foreign investment in export-oriented mining, oil extraction, and agri-business. The beleaguered FARC challenged government's narratives while struggling to rebuild organisational legitimacy and prevent fragmentation. Subsequent disappointments with fraught territorial development plans, a new government's securitization of peace programmes, and continuing violence mar the post-agreement period. Prior contributors to participatory forums have joined contentious actions against neglectful austerity, extractivist maldevelopment and targeted assassinations. Thus, we argue that Colombia's international lessons may reside less in governmental pacification programmes - the potential of state-sponsored participatory dialogues notwithstanding - than in resilient (post-)conflict communities open to exercising their peace imagination while remaining mobilised against new-and-old violences. Furthermore, the territorial peace saga illustrates productive overlaps between critical peace geographies and socio-territorial analysis - especially the territorial restructuring induced by neoliberal economic policies, the violent multiple territorialities of differentiated state presence in geographical peripheries and pluriversal struggles against ontological occupation addressed herein.

Improvement Of Feed Utilization And Survival Rate Of Clarias Gariepinus Using Probiotic And Fermented Feed In Cemorokandang District

The common problem faced by catfish culturing in Cemorokandang District is high feed costs, low survival rate and high feed conversion ratio. The purpose of this acivity was to solve the problems faced by the farmers of catfish culture. The method of this activity was to transfer a knowledge and appropriate technology to farmers through Participatory Rural Appraisal and Participatory Technology Development. The activities that have been carried out in catfish culture are: (1) socialization, training and mentoring of probiotic production, (2) socialization, training and mentoring of fermented feed production using soy flour and wheat bran (3) construction of 2 m diameter of tarpaulin tanks , (4) provision of catfish seeds 7 cm, (5) the application of fermented feed and probiotic, and (6) monitoring and evaluation.

Rural entrepreneurship: towards collaborative participative models for economic sustainability

Rural entrepreneurship development is one of the strategies for encouraging the acceleration of rural development by focusing on the exploration of local resources. The role of rural entrepreneurship is crucial in creating new economic activities that can help to reduce unemployment and poverty, especially in rural areas. One of the Indonesian government's programs for encouraging rural entrepreneurship is establishing BUMDes - a village-owned enterprise. This study aims to propose a participatory rural development model to optimize stakeholder collaboration in promoting local economic growth in rural areas. This study uses a qualitative method with a multi-case study approach. There are three BUMDes from three regencies in West Java, Indonesia participated in this research. Triangulation used to check the validity of the data by comparing the results of interviews, FGD's, observations and secondary data. The results of the study found three sustainability dimensions to measure the success of BUMDes performance such as economic sustainability, social sustainability and market sustainability. The results suggest a collaborative model to optimizing BUMDes performance. The new model illustrates the collaboration between stakeholders to pursue rural entrepreneurship sustainability.

The Role of Women in Rural Development in Enugu State, Nigeria

The study examined the implication of lack of women empowerment and non-membership of organization in rural development in Nigeria. Specifically, the study investigated whether empowering women economically can increase their participation in rural development and whether women who belong to organizations contribute more to rural development projects more than those who do not belong to organizations. The ex-post survey method was adopted and 17 Local Government Councils in Enugu State were sampled. The respondents include 507 females and 458 males who were purposively selected from the sample areas through a multi-state sampling technique. Structured questionnaire was administered to elicit the desired responses. Data collected were processed through an econometric method that involves descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings from the study showed that women’s rights much more than men’s are routinely ignored and infringed upon at different stages of their lives despite constitutional guarantees. The study found that awareness campaign was the most influential factor motivating women to participate in community development and therefore should be encouraged. The study also found that membership of co-operative societies was a mobilizing factor in community development. Based on these findings, the study recommended amongst others, that women education should be encouraged to empower more women to contribute to rural development in Nigeria.

Re-thinking Participatory Rural Development in Botswana: Is the Enemy in the Theory or in the Implementation Process of the Theory?

Participatory development has been seen as a panacea for many problems-facing rural communities the world over. Underpinned in the principles of participatory development theory is the participation and engagement of intended beneficiaries of development interventions at the core of successful poverty alleviation and development efforts. Within this view, it is believed that with participation, those who have been relegated to the periphery by conventional development methods will be placed in the inner circles of influence, thus, allowing the marginalised and poor people a chance to be active citizens. However, even though participatory development emphasises the empowerment and active inclusion of the marginalised in development decision-making, in practice there is little evidence that participatory development has indeed changed the rural development landscape as envisaged; many excluded groups continue to be powerless and unable to demand development on their own terms and bargain for resources from an informed position and equitably. Against this backdrop, it is important to understand where the problem lies. Is it in the theory itself or in the implementation of the theoretical principles? Thus, using the critical social theory as a theoretical framework, this article explores claims envisaged within the participatory development theory and practice in the Botswana rural development context.