The purpose of this section is to describe the events that took place during the implementation of the overall project and in the Women's Programme component that led to significant changes in the way interventions were planned and implemented. The process of implementation was a move away from a more top-down, centrist approach to one based on the identified needs of communities and grassroots workers. The project's introduction of more participatory training, information gathering and monitoring methodologies through PIHAM had clear impacts for VFU and project staff in terms of highlighting farmers' roles in, and knowledge of, livestock production. Most importantly, this change of approach was instrumental in bringing to the attention of both project staff and to villagers themselves, the critical role which women play in the management of livestock.
While the overall project considered both rural women and men as beneficiaries, for the most part activities were organised and conducted along gender-disaggregated lines. This was earlier due to the overall socio-cultural conditions, but more recently, due to the political decisions in Afghanistan. However, while activities were conducted separately, key events occurred that drew them closer together in terms of approach. This provided the opportunity for greater discussion of the different roles and responsibilities, as well as the different knowledge of rural women and men in livestock production systems.
Women's Programme Initiated: In 1995, the project prioritised the training of rural women under the National Assistant Manager, Training of Rural Women (TRW) who was supported by a female United Nations Volunteer (UNV). Compared to other project activities, the Women's Programme was conducted on a smaller scale in terms of villagers reached, due in part to the limited number of staff. The team developed and planned month-long Basic Veterinary Worker training courses for women, provided field support to women Veterinary Workers, and developed other training and participatory opportunities for women in the context of the overall programme. The content of the BVW training was the same as that for male BVWs. In late 1996, the FAO Women's Programme conducted week-long poultry production and animal husbandry training continuing from earlier UN efforts. In 1997, the Women's Programme lost the UNV, but gained two women initiators from the PIHAM programme, bringing the staff to three.
Development of PIHAM: When the livestock project was initially designed, the absence of technical assistance to promote stronger veterinary staff-farmer relationships as well as farmer participation in needs identification and decision-making was identified. While project staff had had some exposure to participatory methodologies, they were not necessarily using these optimally in their work with farmers. In response, PIHAM was developed and introduced as a FAO Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) project (TCP/AFG/4553) in 1996 to reorient the interaction between livestock owners and community animal health workers associated with the project.
PIHAM Pilot Phase - Need for Women trainees identified: The pilot phase for PIHAM was conducted between March 1996 and January 1997. During the pilot phase, twelve initiators, both veterinarians and agriculturalists, were trained to implement and make modifications to PIHAM. In the initial stages of PIHAM, the livestock project identified ten male trainees, or "initiators" in PIHAM terms, from Veterinary Field Units and the old government extension service to participate in the first PIHAM training. However, while conducting the first PIHAM module, the initiators and project management recognised the need to train women to "complete the circle" of information essential to providing better services to communities. Two weeks into the first module, two women "initiators" joined PIHAM.
PIHAM Pilot Phase - Modules 1-5 Conducted: Over the duration of the pilot phase, the women and men initiators undertook training in participatory appraisal and monitoring approaches. They also carried out field work with farmers in six locations. The training session broke down into five modules followed by fieldwork and monitoring and evaluation (reflection and correction).
Module 1: Situation Awareness
Module 2: Monitoring Key Indicators
Module 3: Analysis of Key Indicators, identification of problems
Module 4: Cause of problems, finding solutions, feedback
Module 5: Impact of PIHAM, evaluation of the pilot phase
Modification of Women's Programme Poultry/Husbandry: The involvement of women veterinary staff in the PIHAM training had a positive impact on the Women's Programme, particularly in raising the capacity of female staff to use participatory appraisal and monitoring approaches. After the training, they began to modify course training material, making it much more participatory and practical, and so more meaningful to illiterate village women. Staff also subsequently modified the content of the poultry training course to focus on the use of materials and feeds that were inexpensive and available locally. The process of revision continues to date, changing according to needs identified with village women.
One-day workshop on PIHAM for UN agencies working in Afghanistan: In March, 1997 the FAO livestock project held a one-day workshop for other UN agencies working in Afghanistan. At the workshop, FAO shared the experiences of using the PIHAM approach and the participatory methodologies associated with it. This was a key event for raising the awareness elsewhere of the need for participatory responses to rehabilitation and development challenges.4
4 All UN agencies working in Afghanistan are well aware of the need to incorporate gender-responsive approaches in their work. To what extent they are able to is another matter.
Two-day workshop to review Women's Programme: In early 1997, as the ever-increasing restrictions on women's mobility began to affect the project, a two day workshop was held between the PIHAM trainer, the three female staff of the Women's Programme, and two management-level staff. The workshop was held to review the existing objectives and activities, identify major issues affecting the Programme, and plan and focus activities over the short term, in preparation for an overall programme review proposed for October/November, 1997.
Over the short term it was felt that it would be important for the two new female staff (ex-PIHAM) to familiarise themselves with the existing programme and to identify areas for modification. It was also seen as an opportune moment for PIHAM's participatory approaches to feed into the Women's Programme. In follow-up to what was reamed from the PIHAM training, the team agreed that the programme should begin the process of identifying specific needs for (rural) women concerning livestock services. It was felt that a participatory assessment should identify to what extent the Basic Veterinary Worker training and poultry training met the specific needs of women farmers and also highlight areas needing attention.
Training of Trainers/Replication Phase: PIHAM has now moved into its Replication Phase where the original initiators, fresh from their Training of Trainers course, are now training other male VFU staff throughout the country in PIHAM approaches. The Training of Trainers course covered the principles of adult learning, participatory training techniques, lesson planning, and course organisation. Unfortunately, for the time being, women can no longer train together with men within Afghanistan's borders. However, the livestock project has planned to train another 610 women initiators separately later in 1997, so that they can continue to work with rural women to identify their livestock needs and constraints, and monitor changes in livestock production.
Table 1: Summary Of Key Events Leading To Change
WOMEN'S PROGRAMME |
PIHAM | ||
UNDP amalgamated 2 separate animal health projects under FAO implementation - AFG/93/004 |
Mid 1994 | ||
FAO Women's Programme initiated |
May 1995 |
village-based surveys |
1995 |
Poultry Training |
Dec. 1996 to - ongoing |
PIHAM trainees selected (10 men) |
January 1996 |
PIHAM Module 15 (M1)/field work/rnonitoring |
March | ||
2 women join PIHAM training, then Women's Programme (WP), (3 women trained altogether) |
1996-97 |
2 women selected (2nd week of course), join PIHAM |
March-April |
Modified WP from PIHAM |
1996 |
M2/field work/monitoring |
May - July |
Designed/conducted revised Poultry Training |
1997 |
M3/field work/monitoring |
August - September |
M4/field work/monitoring |
September - October | ||
M5 (Evaluation of PIHAM - Plan for Replication Phase)/fieldwork/monitoring |
January - February 1997 | ||
1-day workshop - UN agencies |
March | ||
Two-day workshop to review Women's Programme- Islamabad |
29-30 April 97 |
Training of Trainers, M1,2; Lesson plan modified - Replication phase; PIHAM Trainees become Trainers; Trainers select vets for new Trainees |
March - April |
PIHAM Replication phase - M1 |
April 1997 (to February 1998) | ||
Trainers select vet for Trainees; PIHAM (RP - M 1) 4 regions, N. E, S. SE |
April - June 1997 | ||
RP - M2, fieldwork, monitoring |
July 1997 | ||
Identify women PIHAM trainees; TOT women PIHAM (livestock & poultry) |
planned August/September 1997 |
||
Review progress of women's programme |
planned September/October 1997 |
. | |
Modifications to women's programme to be implemented during pilot phase covering one year |
planned October 1997 - September 199P |
||
5Note Ml, M2, M3, M4, M5 refer to Modules 1-5 PIHAM
