| Abstract:
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The SEAGA Field Handbook is one piece of seven in the complete SEAGA package. The Handbook is for development agents who work directly with local communities. It is intended for outsiders such as extensionists, field workers and development consultants, and for insiders such as community organizers and leaders of local groups and institutions. Its purpose is to support participatory development planning at the community level. The tools provided will help outsiders and insiders work together to a) identify key development patterns, b) understand the livelihood strategies of different people and c) build consensus about development priorities and action plans. It is based on actual experiences all regions of the world in agriculture, forestry and fisheries but can be used by those working in all sectors of rural development.
Attention is given to the linkages among economic, environmental, social and institutional patterns. Both opportunities and constraints for development are identified. Understanding gender, wealth, ethnicity, caste and other social differences in communities is considered fundamental to understanding livelihood strategies and development priorities. The toolkits consist of a number of rapid rural and participatory rural appraisal tools, but include also a series of SEAGA Questions to facilitate and deepen analysis. It is specifically designed to support a participatory process that first, focuses on an analysis of the current situation, and second, focuses on planning for the future.
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