Sometimes the least knowledgeable person is the one who makes the weightiest decision. Most project management structures especially those formed around consortia have three main levels of project management. At the bottom is the Project Implementation Unit comprising those who are actually doing the work like M&E Officers, Finance Officers, Extension Officers and the project manager. A level higher is the Project Management Unit made up of project leaders from the participating consortium partners. At the highest level is the Project steering committee. This committee is usually made-up of consortium partner directors or their designate. The paradox is that the people at the top of the hierarchy have the least level of effort on the project. This mean that their level of focus is not as good as those in the structures below them. However, they are the ones who have to make the weightiest decisions. To make this paradoxical structure work, there has to be an effective information sharing mechanism.
Several participatory approaches to livelihoods barrier assessments have been developed. This is yet another tool that may be useful. Most communities know bananas and eat them. But the yellow rind is a barrier to the nutritious stuff inside. The peeling process represent removing barriers. So during a PRA session you can demonstrate using a real banana. Break it from the link to the main stem. This is the root cause of the problem (In a participatory manner - One hand holding the bottom part and the other the top part). Peel off each barrier to development/livelihoods one by one. Let the group name the barrier as you peel!
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