1. Participatory Decision Making
Leonellha Barreto-Dillon, seecon international gmbh

2. Contents Introduction Decision Making Process Gathering Ideas
Situation and Problem Analysis
Deciding With the Community
Planning With the Community
Decision Making Process Case Study: When to Use which Tools?
References

3. 1. Introduction Decision Making Tools
…deal with activities done in an actual participatory decision making process together with stakeholders…
Examples:
gathering ideas
analysing the situation 
together with the local
population
deciding and planning 
further steps together
with the stakeholders.

4. 1. Introduction Situation & Problem Analysis Decision Making Tools
Deciding With the Community
Gathering Ideas
Problem & Preference Ranking
Swot Analyswis
Nominal Groups
Visioning
Brainstorming
Focus Groups
Venn Diagrams
Problem Tree Analysis
Participatory Mapping
Focus Groups
Participatory Mapping
Mindmapping
Planning With the Community
Semi-Structured Interviews
Community Action Plan

5. What does it mean Decision Making with the Community?
1. Introduction
What does it mean Decision Making with the Community?
Participatory process:
identified stakeholders undertake collective action of understanding, deciding and planning a project to reach a common objective.
SOURCE: L. Barreto Dillon

6. 2. Decision Making Process
Steps involved in Participatory Decision Making Processes
Gathering Ideas
Analysing the Situation
Deciding
Planning
A vision paper, such as a Community Action Plan or a Long Term Strategy should compile the decisions taken in this step.
SOURCE: L. Barreto Dillon

7.  Use the one you like! 2. Decision Making Process
Tools used in Participatory Decision Making Processes
Tools can be used at different stages in the learning cycle
Source: Wageningen International, in April 2010
PLA is an umbrella term for a wide range of similar methodologies (approaches, methods and behaviours), including PRA, RRA, RAAKS, PALM, PAR, FSR, MARP and many others
 Use the one you like!

8. Situation and Problem Analysis
2. Decision Making Process
Tools used in Participatory Decision Making Processes
The following tools can be used in different steps:
Gathering Ideas
Situation and Problem Analysis
Deciding
Planning with the community

9. Participatory Mapping Focus Groups
2. Decision Making Process
A) Gathering Ideas
   Brainstorming
Rich Pictures
Mindmapping
Card Techniques
Participatory Mapping
Focus Groups
Brainstorming used in combination with card techniques. Participatory Mapping (Source: L Barreto Dillon).

10. Problem Tree Analysis SWOT Analysis Problem Ranking Venn Diagrams
2. Decision Making Process
B) Situation and Problem Analysis
Problem Tree Analysis
SWOT Analysis
Problem Ranking
Venn Diagrams
Example of a Venn Diagram. SOURCE: L. Barreto Dillon

11. Preference Ranking Pair-wise Ranking Nominal Groups Visioning
2. Decision Making Process
C) Deciding With the Community
 Preference Ranking
Pair-wise Ranking
Nominal Groups
Visioning
Focus Groups
Example of Pair-wise Ranking. SOURCE: L. Barreto Dillon

12. Community Action Plan. Source: SCN 2007
2. Decision Making Process
D) Planning With the Community
 Logical Framework Approach
Community Action Plan
Community Action Plan. Source: SCN 2007

13. 3. Decision Making Process Case Study: When to Use which Tools?
Implementation of HCES Planning Approach in Hatsaday Tai, Vientiane, Laos
July 2007 – April 2009
Main beneficiaries:
about 275 Low-income residents
Main stakeholders:
Village Environmental Unit
Authorities
Public Works Office
Services Providers
Mass organisations.
SOURCE: Lüthi C, Morel A, Kohler P, Tilley E People’s Choice First. A 4-Country Comparative Validation of the
HCES Planning Approach for Environmental Sanitation. NCCR North-South Dialogue 22. Bern, Switzerland: NCCR North-South.

14. 3. Case study: Implementation of HCES Planning
3. Case study: Implementation of HCES Planning Approach in Hatsaday Tai, Vientiane, Laos
Mission and Tools
Exploratory mission: meet & inform relevant national & provincial authorities (January 2007):
definition of the site
identification of stakeholders
appointment of project coordinator
Half day community workshop (60 community members) (July 2007)
Identify main issues of the village
Identify main stakeholders
Mapping current sanitation services
Inform about the project
Tools used: Focus Groups Discussions Problem Mapping

15. 3. Case study: Implementation of HCES Planning
3. Case study: Implementation of HCES Planning Approach in Hatsaday Tai, Vientiane, Laos
Further Tools
One day official launching workshop (July 2007)
Multistakeholders workshop
About 200 participants, authorities, NGOs, academia and village representatives
Formation of a team
Tools used: Visioning
One Day Community workshop for Assessment of user priorities (January 2008)
53 members of the community
Participants were asked to prioritize
SSWM components (water supply,
drainage, sanitation, solid water)
Tools used: Problem Tree Preference Ranking
Anonymous Pocket Voting

16. 3. Case study: Implementation of HCES Planning
3. Case study: Implementation of HCES Planning Approach in Hatsaday Tai, Vientiane, Laos
Results of Anonymous Pocket Voiting
Source Lüthi et al 2009

17. 3. Case study: Implementation of HCES Planning
3. Case study: Implementation of HCES Planning Approach in Hatsaday Tai, Vientiane, Laos
Further Tools
Expert meetings to identify the technical options (February 2008)
Tools used: Pre-selection of 3 systems adapted to local conditions
2 days community workshop for decision making (March 2008)
Tools used: Preference Ranking
2 days workshop for finalization of plans by coordination team (May 2008) Tools used: Community Action Plan
Consultation workshop with key stakeholders (August 2008)
Tools used: Revision of Community Action Plan

18. Community involved in the project. Source: Lüthi et al. 2009
3. Case study: Implementation of HCES Planning Approach in Hatsaday Tai, Vientiane, Laos
Implementation
January 2009: Community members participated voluntary, providing food and shelter
Community involved in the project. Source: Lüthi et al. 2009

19. Storm water drainage. Source: Lüthi et al 2009
3. Case study: Implementation of HCES Planning Approach in Hatsaday Tai, Vientiane, Laos
Main Outputs
Construction and rehabilitation of 300 m of
stormwater drainage
Construction of 3 wastewater treatment
systems
Implementation of a solid management
concept
Definition of management regulations
Storm water drainage. Source: Lüthi et al 2009
Total planning and implementation costs amounted to US$ 263 per beneficiary

20. 3. References
Lüthi C, Morel A, Kohler P, Tilley E. (2009): People’s Choice First. A 4-Country Comparative Validation of the HCES Planning Approach for Environmental Sanitation. NCCR North-South Dialogue 22. Bern, Switzerland: NCCR North-South.
WAGENINGEN UR, PPM&E Resource Portal (2010): Participatory Planning Monitoring & Evaluation, Managing and Learning for Impact in Rural Development. URL: [Accessed: ]

21. “Linking up Sustainable Sanitation, Water Management & Agriculture”
SSWM is an initiative supported by:
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