To keep the discussion focussed, and to move towards potential solutions, a ‘cause
and effect analysis’ can be conducted. For each major problem, the facilitators
should help the group consider its causes, impacts on primary stakeholders and
potential solutions. The feedback should be recorded on behalf of the participants in
table form (Table 1.).
Problem
Cause
Impact
Affected groups
Potential
solution
Conflict at
reservoir
Villagers &
herders want to
use green area
& reservoir for
farming/
animals
Crop damage
Animals kept
from water &
pasture
Hygiene issues
Herders &
villagers (agro-
pastoralists)
Designate a
pasture area for
herders
Designate part
of reservoir for
human use
only
Table 1. Cause and Effect Analysis. These are examples of how a problem may be analysed by the
participants. The facilitators should keep a record of these tables and be prepared to present them or
describe them in public to other stakeholders later in the process.
The outputs are: 1) broad agreement to target one key problem that affects local
stakeholders; 2) understanding of the root causes and potential solutions to this
problem and; 3) a written or photographic record of this planning in the form of
tables as above.
3. Information gathering (several weeks)
Before local stakeholders can make informed choices about potential solutions to
problems they need to seek information and advice. This is the first time in PAPD
that secondary stakeholders are engaged.
The purpose of the information gathering stage is to increase local awareness and to
form new links with secondary stakeholders.
The approach is to support a small but representative committee to gather informa-
tion about the problem or problems prioritized.
The process involves the committee consulting relevant stakeholders like NGOs,
government, tribal leaders and others such as households highly involved with the
issue. The committee will also make an initial assessment of the scale of the problem
and reflect on a possible time scale for the PAPD process.
The output is increased awareness of the issue and, where appropriate, written docu-
mentation of the advice and support received by the PAPD participants.
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