[rts] Community participation

[Ranjith de Silva]

Dear Friends,

My name is Ranjith de Silva. I am the Senior Specialist - Transport, of the
Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) and coordinate the transport
work across the Group and with international organisation.

I am sorry for the late joining due to other commitments.

ITDG's field level experience on "participation" could be useful for this
discussion. ITDG has interesting experiences across the countries, particularly
in Sri Lanka. 

As Paul and Charles point out, transport can not be taken in isolation in
development. It links with almost everything. The sustainability of transport
technologies or interventions is dependant on the links attached to many other
things. The women who saved time on collecting water and firewood, in Kajiado
district in Kenya now wants to grow cash crops using drip irrigation systems
using the extra water available. As a result of introducing "Rain-fed farming"
to poor farmers in West Sudan new transport needs have come up and transport
needs were not considered in the planning stages of this food production
project.

Participation

ITDG defines participation as participation of all stakeholders. Community
participation in roads projects should not be limited to providing of labour.
Participation is very high during construction work as people get paid. This is
not real participation. They should have the authority, ownership and
participating in decision making processes. To do this the capacities of
communities, community based organisations and local authorities has to be
strengthened. 

Participation of stakeholders depend on their needs. The community need may be
to have an access road. The need of the local authorities could be find a way
to construct and maintain the rural roads under their purview with the limited
financial resources they have. The need of the local or provincial level policy
makers will be trying to find a method to solve the rural road construction and
maintenance crisis. The capacities of local level NGOs working in rural areas
has to be built to handle such situations and community mobilising.

The national level policy maker-participation is one of the most important in
trying to promote appropriate approaches for rural development. Active NFG
members who work with ITDG, are often exposed to field projects to get a
"feeling" and are regularly updated o the progress. 

Regards.

Ranjith
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