water land and ecosystems nile & east africa planning writeshop 21-24 october 2014 addis ababa
TRANSCRIPT
Water Land and Ecosystems Nile & East Africa Planning Writeshop
21-24 October 2014 Addis Ababa
Contents
Session 1: Introductions Session 2: What is WLE Session 3: Visioning and problem-solution tree analysis Session 4: Outcomes and next users Session 5: The messy middle – from outputs to outcomes Session 6: Research Methods, Questions and outputs Session 7: M&E and baseline indicators Session 8: Project budgets, management
Session 1: Introductions/getting started
Workshop Objectives
Significant progress on proposals, workbooks Jointly develop impact pathways Common understanding of WLE and its goals Develop relationships across teams and cross project engagement Understand how projects fit into global and regional impact pathways Understand the support provided by the Focal Region team and
program team, understand coordination mechanisms, reporting mechanisms, roles and responsibilities, processes
Workshop Outputs
Draft proposals Clear process for finalizing proposals Project impact pathways Revised regional impact pathway Understanding of other projects, inter-connections and potential
areas of collaboration Understanding of opportunities that WLE provides at program and
regional levels
Workshop Road Map
Make a large flipchart of workshop flow – don’t worry about day to day agenda
Workshop Values
Examples Participation, inclusion, equitable Joint learning – integration and sharing Keep jargon to a minimum Solution oriented Listening and peer feedback Mobile phones and computers- turn off Parking lot
Ideas for introduction
Writeshop different than workshop• Time for writing, reflection, peer-to-peer review• Not a formal workshop – focus is to help you on your proposal template• Method to madness – the impact pathway is back bone of proposal – if you
get this right then you get the proposal right• We want to help you through this stage/it is in our best interest to have your
proposal succeed R4D is different than research:
• If you want to do research then you don’t need to do all of this, but this is research that is supposed to have positive contribution to development in region and countries – need partnerships/engagement/ listening to others
• in r4d we look at the types of positive contribution we want to make and then engage in processes.
• Working on complex processes – which need multiple perspective. Technologies need to be combined with institutional and social innovation
• Iterative and changing
Introducing participants
Purpose of this exercise is to get people to get to know each other and the set of skills the program has – emphasizing we all work together
Give each participant a ‘post-it’ not to add on to their name badge. Ask them to write:• Project name:• Skill/Area of Focus • Topic area or expectations
3-4 rounds• R1: Have people mingle and find new people they do not know and
discuss• R2: have them find all those with similar skills. Ask Focal Leader are
these the skill needed? • R3: have them organize by topic groups• R4: Line continuum to see where they fall on the R4D Continuum
Session 2: getting to know WLE
1. Regional Presentation of vision, outcomes, outputs – and expectations
2. Introductory presentation of WLE 3. Presentation on ESR4. Presentation on Gender
WLE Nile Basin and East Africa Framework
Presentation Simon Langan, Nile Focal Region Leader
Orientating everyone to the overall frame and linkages between projects.
present all the projects (14 selected ones, and also mention the other 19 other WLE flagship projects in the region) …
WLE Framework
Presentation by Nathanial MatthewsWLE program and IES Flagship
Regional Greater Mekong Cross-cutting topics
…
WLE cross-cutting framework on Ecosystem Services & Resilience and the Nile and East Africa project relevance
Presentation by Fred Kizito
What examples have you seen that could be considered an good example of ESR What entry points for ESR approach do see in your projects
What are the opportunities and challenges for such an approachessix criteria were set up and project contributions to it…
WLE cross-cutting framework on Gender and Equity
Presentation by Nicoline De Haan
How does their project have entry points for access and decision-making Where they see entry points for integrating gender into their projects
What questions/concerns/clarification do they have…
Exercises/discussion
Can ask for both ESR and Gender:• What experiences have they had where gender has had an impact on
their work?
• What are the entry points for gender or ESR in their work
Gender Ice-breaker: Gender Statements
Divide people up into groups of three and provide each with one of the gender statements on a piece of note card
Have them discuss and present whether they agree or disagree Facilitate discussion.
Session 2: Visions and problem-solution tree analysis
WLE Nile basin and East Africa focal region Vision 2025
We aim to support national governments, private investors and donor agencies to better target investments in water, land, energy and agriculture so they are sustainable and socially inclusive, and national growth and poverty goals can be met without degrading the natural resource base.
Ecosystem service values and the equitable distribution of benefits are integrated in water development planning and management.
WLE Nile basin and East Africa focal region Vision 2025
REVISED. Mission versus Vision?? The Nile is a region in which………
[We aim to support] national governments, private investors, and donor agencies and regional collaboration [for to] better target investments in water, land, energy and agriculture so they are sustainable, socially inclusive, and national growth, poverty and food security and nutrition goals are [can be] met by improving the natural resource base.
Ecosystem service values and the equitable distribution of benefits are integrated in natural resource planning and management.
Vision 2025 for your basin
Group by Region:
White Nile: Michael/NicolineBlue Nile: Thor/ DesalegneDownstream Nile: Nate/Abby
Review the WLE Nile Basin & East Africa Focal Region vision.
Consider this guiding information in terms of your basin/geographical area and write a short statement (2-3 sentences) that describes the region 10 years from now, in terms of your projects’ purposes. -- It should be quite aspirational, the world (in your region) you want our children to live in.
Problem Tree
Low incom e for PHsom e chain actors,especially farm ers
1st LEVEL3rd LEVEL 2nd LEVEL
Start
Here
W hy is this problem happening?W hy?W hy?
Problem s
I m provedappropriate PH
technologies andm anagem ent
options not availab le
Traditional PHpractices not
optim ized
H ighpost- harvest
losses
PH practices usedare not eff ective
Other cause I I
Other cause I
4th LEVEL
W hy?
Little knowledgeabout losses
Local m arketsdon't appreciate
quality
S m all holders donot invest in PH
technologies
Leverage points = opportunity to make a big difference
Low incom e for PHsom e chain actors,especially farm ers
1st LEVEL3rd LEVEL 2nd LEVEL
W hy is this problem happening?W hy?W hy?
Problem s
I m provedappropriate PH
technolog ies andm anagem ent
options not availab le
Trad itional PHpractices not
optim ized
H ighpost- harvest
losses
PH practices usedare not eff ective
Other cause I I
Other cause I
4th LEVEL
W hy?
Little knowledgeabout losses
Local m arketsdon 't appreciate
quality
S m all holders donot invest in PH
technolog ies
Main Problemto Goal
ADB project Prob lem TreeRice post harvest losses
PH chain actorsen joy h igher incom e
Opportunities
Public and pr ivatesector suppliers andextension system sm ake im proved PH
technolog ies andpractices availab le
PH chain actorsoptim ize trad itional
PH practices
PH chainactors en joy
lesspostharvest
loss
PH chain actorsuse more effectivetechnologies and
practices
Other cause I I
Other cause IPH chain actors
aw are of PH losses
Traders andconsumers in x,y,zpay more for higher
quality rice
PH chain actorsinvest in PHtechnolog ies
Problems toOutcomes:Problem tree toOutcomes tree
Leverage points
Example of a Problem Tree
Draft a problem tree for the basin/geographical area where the projects can make a big difference
White Nile: Michael/Nicoline
Blue Nile: Thor/ Desalegne
Downstream Nile: Nate/Abby
Within the group, do a quick round of introducing the projects in the basin/geographical area.
Identify what the main problem is in terms of achieving the vision you’ve developed (focusing on a problem which you think you can have an influence on). Write this problem on a card and place it onto the extreme right side of a blank sheet of flipchart paper.
Exercise
2
Draft a problem tree for your basin/geographical area where the projects can make a big difference
Then identify why this is a problem or why it is happening. It helps to think in terms of what the underlying social, economic and/or environmental causes of this problem are, particularly when it comes to climate change, agriculture and food security. You may find that there is one large reason, or you may identify a few. Write them on cards to the left of the problem and connect them with arrows to the problem.
Now look at the reason(s) that you identified and ask yourself, why those things or causes are occurring. Write those on cards and place them in the next column to the left and again connect them to the cause(s) they contribute to in the previous column with an arrow(s). Repeat.
Present vision project-solution trees in plenary and analyse for linkages, gaps any observations.
Exercise
2
Impact pathways
Definitions we are using: Outcome An outcome is a change that results from the project.
Outcomes may include changes in knowledge, attitude, skills, or practices.
Output Tangible product produced from research. This could be a research output or an output for next users
People and/ or organizations …
Next-users …. who are critical to achieve outcomes. Next users undergo a change in knowledge, attitude, skills and/or practice as a result of the project activities, outputs, etc. Projects should define specific next users (which institution, which individual/job role).
Partners …those who are contracted to implement activities with us (can be next-users or intermediaries as well)
Intermediaries ….networks/working groups/organizations/associations that will take our research to next users
Impact pathways
ImpactImpact
OutcomesOutcomes
OutputsOutputs
Activities (research)Activities (research)
Activities (engagement/communications)
Activities (engagement/communications)
Changes in:KnowledgeAttitudeSkills Use of
output(s)Use of
output(s)
Next users
WLE impact pathway diagram
Intermediary Development Outcomes (IDOs)Intermediary Development Outcomes (IDOs)
Flagship 2025 OutcomesFlagship 2025 Outcomes
Flagship 2019 OutcomesFlagship 2019 Outcomes
System Level Outcomes (SLOs)System Level Outcomes (SLOs)
Project OutcomesProject Outcomes Project OutcomesProject Outcomes Project OutcomesProject Outcomes
Regional 2025 OutcomesRegional 2025 Outcomes
Regional 2019 OutcomesRegional 2019 Outcomes
Project Activities Project Activities to Outputsto Outputs
Project Activities Project Activities to Outputsto Outputs
Project Activities Project Activities to Outputsto Outputs
Project Activities Project Activities to Outputsto Outputs
Project CommitmentProject Commitment
Outcome zoneOutcome zoneResearch zoneResearch zone
Output deliveryOutput delivery
Passive Communications‘Dissemination’’Making
available’’Making aware’’Informing’
’Improving understanding’
Passive Communications‘Dissemination’’Making
available’’Making aware’’Informing’
’Improving understanding’
Research Research for development
Project CommitmentProject Commitment
Unanticipated outcome
Unanticipated outcome OutputOutput OutcomeOutcome OutputOutput OutcomeOutcome
Unanticipated outcome
Unanticipated outcomeOutputOutput OutcomeOutcome OutputOutput OutcomeOutcome
Impact pathway flexibility and need for regular review!
Research Output Outcomes
Leadership
Learning
Communications
Partnerships
Trust
Outcome example template
Next user A is using outputs B, C and D – what is more appropriate; pure research outputs or outputs tailored for next user use? - in (what?) way to affect (policy change, build capacity, change behavior, adoption of technical support tools, etc.) at X scale, at point Y on the project timeline, considering Z gender issues (if applicable), and projected towards having development impact E.
Don’t forget outcome(s) need to be: SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attributable, Realistic and Time bound) realistic within the given timeframe and budget
Crafting your outcomes:
Red flags:• Dissemination
• Making available
• Making aware
• Informing
• Improving understanding
• Improved Capacity
Green lights:• SMART (Specific, Measureable, Attributable, Realistic, Time-bound)
• Specificity the knowledge, attitude or skill that will change
• Are achievable – and can do within the budget.
• More we can decide on outcomes/next user – clearer research questions, outputs will be.
Generic types of outcomes:
Changes in: • Capacity: Communities know what questions to ask and how to make
the most of new processes of engagement leading to more local people becoming involved in local decision making processes
• Knowledge: Individuals within the community know and better understand the issues and know where and how to source and use more information
• Practices: Communities and government agencies employ the indicator system in their plans.
• Skills: Farmers and others within the communities have learned how to use new tools and practices that enhance their livelihoods while supporting functioning ecosystem services
Can you come up with examples for all of these?
Identifying project next users
In terms of your project, who are the next-users? Be as detailed as possible, making a long list of specific people and
organizations. Make sure you are identifying next-users, (not end-users). Now group the next-users into a short list of next-user groups. Ideally
you should have no more than 2 or 3 next-user groups
Exercise
3
Proposal Template PART B Section 5
Proposal Template PART B Section 5
Identify specific changes in next users
What are the (measurable) changes you envision in these next users that will lead to achieving the outcomes you’ve identified?
KnowledgeAttitudeSkillsPractice
Exercise
3
Identifying barriers and incentives
What are the barriers they face that keep them from doing what you would like to see happening?
What are the key incentives that would support them to make the necessary changes?
• What are your strategies? How will your project contribute to making these Changes happen? What will your project do that is different? Better? Strategies can be the way you do things (e.g., co-develop instead of impose). Strategies are also the timing, methods, partnerships, ‘language’, etc. you choose to use to make sure any negative assumptions are managed and each is achieved?
• How will you monitor to ensure these strategies are fruitful?
Exercise
5
Next users Changes in next users (practice, skills, etc.)
Barriers & incentives for change
Evidence of demand or interest in research
Exercise
5
Identifying project outcomes
Revisit the project outcomes that you had proposed in the Expression of Interest and compare that/those to what you have learnt through the conversations and Problem-Solution Tree analysis with the other projects in the region.
Make sure that this is formulated as “Exactly who is doing what…differently?”
Make any adjustments if necessary. Present your project (revised) outcomes within your basin groups and get
feedback, e.g. any observations, linkages, similarities to others, fundamental differences, gaps that are arising in the light of the vision that we have put forth.
Look at the Focal region 2019 outcomes and check/ ensure that you are contributing to those or if not flag it for discussion.
Exercise
4
Proposal Template PART B Section 4
Proposal Template PART B Section 4
Nile Focal region 2019 outcomes
Change in practice: At least one other CRP will have adopted a more inclusive systematic approach to ecosystem services thinking greater than plant/field up to community, landscape and basin scales. This will happen within 2-5 years.
Policy development/amendment: The NBI is using WLE tools and forums in their analysis planning and communication to affect policy change across the Nile Basin, specifically the consideration of selected ecosystem services and gender aspects of the policy will be targeted. This will happen within 5 years.
Capacity building: More than 10 national universities/research organizations within the Nile will be using WLE generated knowledge, tools and publications which highlight the role of women and youth in natural resource management. This will occur within 3-5 years.
Investment 1: The World Bank/African Development Bank are using WLE data and analysis and peer-reviewed reports and publications to identify potential sustainable infrastructure development within the Nile. This will occur within 5-10 years.
Investment 2: At least two national government and donors are using WLE analysis and guidance to support decisions on irrigation rehabilitation and new investments within different communities and ecosystems of the Nile. This will occur within 5-10 years.
Flagship IES Outcome 2025Public institutions (e.g. governments, extension services, farmer organizations), Civil
Society Orgs and NGOs at national and sub-national level are widely promoting integrated and equitable ecosystem based approaches to water and land
management.
Nile and East Africa FP1 2019 Outcome StatementsChange in practice: At least one other CRP will have adopted a more inclusive systematic approach to ecosystem services thinking greater than plant/field up to community, landscape and basin scales. This will happen within 2-5 years.
Policy development/amendment: The NBI is using WLE tools and forums in their analysis planning and communication to affect policy change across the Nile Basin, specifically the consideration of selected ecosystem services and gender aspects of the policy will be targeted. This will happen within 5 years.
Capacity building: More than 10 national universities/research organizations within the Nile will be using WLE generated knowledge, tools and publications which highlight the role of women and youth in natural resource management. This will occur within 3-5 years.
Investment 1: The World Bank/African Development Bank are using WLE data and analysis and peer-reviewed reports and publications to identify potential sustainable infrastructure development within the Nile. This will occur within 5-10 years.
Investment 2: At least two national government and donors are using WLE analysis and guidance to support decisions on irrigation rehabilitation and new investments within
different communities and ecosystems of the Nile. This will occur within 5-10 years.
FPX 2019 Outcome #210 Public-private actors (including financing) at national and sub-
national levels are using are using new incentive mechanisms (e.g. novel financial mechanisms) or business models/markets that explicitly
promote ecosystem based approaches in natural resource management especially agriculture using WLE science.
FPX 2019 Outcome #110 Major development initiatives and public institutions at national and subnational levels are using are using WLE’s science and
decision support tools to prioritize and inform project implementation of equitable ecosystem based approaches
Volta and Niger FP1 2019 Outcome Statement
Ganges FP1 2019 Outcome Statement
Greater Mekong FP1 2019 Outcome
Statement
Identifying outputs/ deliverables
In your topic groups, look at the leverage points of your problem/ opportunities and identify the corresponding outputs/deliverables for these entry points and compare them to the outputs that you suggested in your EoI.
Two types of outputs:
1) Research outputs such as models, databases, publications, maps, etc.
2) Outputs to be used by next users such as multimedia products, policy briefs, news articles, map, decision analysis tools, etc. WLE Communication teams can support you on this.
For the Nile and East Africa, it is mandatory that you include in your plan:
• At least 1 Briefing Note
• At least 1 gender and/or equity output related to the activity proposed.
• At least 2 blog posts/ webstories per year.
Exercise
6
Proposal Template PART B Section 6Proposal Template PART B Section 6
Session 5: The messy middle from outputs to outcomes, how to get there
1. Stakeholder analysis and mapping
2. How to engage/communicate/partner
Develop a network diagram for the sub-basin
Next users: • Use post-its for next users
Relationships• Use arrows to describe direction and linkages• Use linkages with weight (strong, weak, need to be
developed)• Put dots (1, 2, 3) for importance and power of actors• Are there other partners or intermediaries involved? Put
these on post-its (different colour)• Are there champions who can move things forward/open
doors?
Exercise
6
4.
A Network Diagram
An example project network, actors linked by funding flows, research, spreading project outputs
4.
By Drawing your network we …
… get a kind of stakeholder analysis, an inventory of actors and participants and their roles, influences etc. in relation to the project.
… capture real-life complexity, e.g. how we are influenced by many things how we influence many others, or showing power and gender.
… can understand innovation processes, which happen through different actors, acting in networks.
… help visualize, understand and monitor these networks.
Share an example where you used a specific engagement/comms strategy to successfully get some project results being used and thus contributing to a significant development change (outcome in terms of knowledge, attitude, skills practice behavior). It has to be your story, you are proud of having been a part of it and having had a role and contribution to the success. It can be from previous work. *Try to do this along the impact pathway
1.Share in pairs (with the person next to you) – 2 mins each2.Then in fours (pair next to you)3.Then groups of 3/4 4.Award the best story – stick a post-it to the persons whose story you liked best let the person who got the most post-its tell their story to the whole ⇒group, and possibly a couple more the next morning.
Jumpstart story telling Exerci
se
7
Elements of a good story
Know Your AUDIENCE, gender nationality, background, their likings, the more the better
THE STAKES / Your HOOK - grab people’s attention; what’s at stake
TENSION/URGENCY – the clock is ticking, we have a situation here
THE THEME = key messages running through: Main message needs to fit the audience, it comes first and last and is used as a lense/ editing tool
THE JOURNEY – Show the transformation Ending - Make it a good ending Encourage action or follow up (depending on the context)
Presentation on Engagement, partnerships, communication
Michael to provide/work on.
Three broad areas
Sustaining engagement/communication
Impacts Impacts
Outcomes Outcomes
ResearchResearch
Communication/engagement over time
Project Start up
Project Start up
Project Launch Project End
Engagement with stakeholders and partners & Messaging
Communicate about the project
Document processes, learning and outputs
Communicate about the Science
Communicate ‘the science’ &outcomes
Repackage, translate, adapt the science
Com
munication roles over
time
DO
ENGAGE YOUR TARGET AUDIENCES RIGHT FROM THE WORD ‘GO’.
Convene. Link your outputs to outcomes. Think creatively. Link your comms strategies with programmatic ones. Set aside staff time and funding for comms activities (including
programme level comms activities) . Set aside project time for chasing outcomes and follow up. Really focus on the upper two levels of the pyramid (‘the hook’ and
‘the big picture’). Involve target groups at every available opportunity in project
implementation. Take advantage of C&C project support.
What to support to expect from the WLE Impact and Communication team
Strategies
Identify a strategies and approaches to ensure you are engaging next users. This can include:• New engagement strategies and processes – linking to new
policies, initiatives, activities to get next users or intermediaries involved in project
• Identifying appropriate partners and intermediaries• Communication and advocacy processes products/materials to
engage next users:- Mobile workshops/exchanges/round tables - Social and alternative media- Comics, video, radio, press,
Exercise
8.
Strategies table
Next user Engagement Partnerships/Intermediaries
Communication activities to reach them (products, meetings, etc )
Depart. of Agriculture Transformation
• Monthly meeting with Director or key staff
• Sign MOU• Attend Sector
Meetings• Present at
meeting
Develop relationship with GIZ and USAID team working with ATA
Ask IFPRI for introductions they have good relationship
• Ethiopian brochure on project
• Regular press release for them to read
• Study tour to visit sites
• Film to show work
Exercise
8.
Session 6: Research Questions and Methods
Research questions and methodologies
In your project teams develop your research questions and methodologies that you want to apply further.
Discuss and share them in your topic groups or with other selected project teams where you think they are a good peer review for this.
Exercise
6
Proposal Template PART B Section 7Proposal Template PART B Section 7
Assumptions
What are your 3-5 key underlying assumptions in your project plan?
Evidence of demand or interest in outputs from next users – Y/N
A. Director of extension services in the Ministry of Water Resources asked us directly for guidance on integrating ecosystem services into the draft new national irrigation policy
B. Farmers in the communities where we are conducting our research project need to change their practices and adopt new solutions to stop soil erosion on their farms
C. The capacity of women trading in agricultural products in the Bahir Dar area should be improved enabling them to better understand the whole product value chain for vegetables
D. After speaking to 8 community leaders representing over 250 farming families in the area, at least 4 of them acknowleged verbally that they don‘t really understand why enclosing livestock makes a difference to their soils and their overall productivity
Session 7: Monitoring and Evaluation
Monitoring and Evaluation for your project
Baselines and indicators
What is Monitoring & Evaluation?
M&E for Performance Management = Accountability
Two main aspects of accountability: 1.Supporting project performance management
2.Supporting learning and adjustment towards outcomes
Who is it for?
1. M&E for Performance Management = Accountability
a) Project management:• Financial and administrative• Output products on time and within budget
b) Monitoring and documentation towards outcomes. Projects gather data/evidence of:• Engagement with research users • Understanding research users’ needs and priorities• Progress and changes along the impact pathway• How research users do or do not use research (intended and
unintended outcomes)• Reasonable evidence that the project has made a contribution in
the change process (when compared to the absence of the program)
What does this mean for your project?Section 8 of the WLE Proposal Template: Measuring Progress towards Outcomes
1.Include indicators of progress towards outcomes- 1 indicator for each change along impact pathway towards outcomes- Consider now how to collect information for each indicator
2.Baselines = starting point in relation to outcome. - Projects will report progress in relation to the baseline using the
indicators.
1. M&E for Performance Management = Accountability
An indicator is a simple and reliable way to measure something (e.g. what changes, by how much, who changes, where, when). Can be either qualitative or quantitative. When the data/information is collected, it should be useful for project management.
Project Outcome: “2 Nile community organizations or agricultural cooperatives are able to monitor river health within the next 3 years”
Discussion: What is the baseline? What are indicators of change, both outcome and progress indicators?
Discussion exercise: baseline & indicators
What does this mean for your project?Part C of the WLE Proposal Template: Implementation Plan. Include:1.Systematic tracking and documentation of progress towards outcomes2.Reflection, documentation and sharing of learning
- Understanding priorities and research needs of stakeholders (particularly women)
- Understanding what research can/can not contribute to change process- Refinement of outcomes and impact pathway (with justification)
WLE Proposal Template Budget. Projects should include budget to:1.Engage with stakeholders throughout the project2.Document/collect evidence at each step of the impact pathway and changes to it3.Test assumptions of the impact pathway. Example of a project assumption: Training government agency A will result in Outcome B. The project needs to test whether this assumption is correct and why/why not.
Project learning & adjustment
2. Project and WLE learning (beyond accountability)
Keeping it WACKY!
- What do we know about the most effective ways to support improved livelihoods and ecosystem resilience through research?- Project design = an “experiment”. The project creates a “theory” about how change will happen. Through monitoring, reflection and learning, this theory is tested. - We seek to better understand factors that influence the use of research, better understand what research can/cannot contribute to.
Evaluation of impacts
Individual projects are not responsible for impact evaluations. WLE will conduct evaluations to understand impact of project outcomes.
Impact evaluations will use project monitoring and documentation of learning.
Outcome indicators, supporting information and baseline
Progress indicator towards achieving Outcome
Information or data you will use to verify this
Details of baseline that will be used to assess achievement of Outcome