Participatory Learning and Action 45:

This special issue looks at community-based animal health workers (CAHW) and the important role they have played, and could play in the future, in maintaining and improving livestock health in rural areas. Drawing on the experiences of various grassroots programmes across Africa and Asia, this collection of papers address many of the factors that hinder the use of CAHWs, like the lack of recognition within governments and problems with complex disease management, while also detailing the many advantages, like unparalleled access to communities and short training periods in comparison to formally trained veterinary doctors.

Also included in this issue are more General Articles, Tips for Trainers, and our usual In Touch section, which includes book reviews, events, and e-participation.

Editorial

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SPECIAL ISSUE:

Community-based animal health care

1. Overview: Community-based animal health workers, policies, and institutions

Andy Catley and Tim Leyland

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Abstract

This article provides some background information on community-based animal health workers (CAHW) in livestock development programmes. Using examples from the articles contained within this special issue, the authors document the progress made in this field since the mid 1990s. A short glossary of key terms and acronyms is also included.

2. Community-based animal healthcare, participation, and policy: where are we now?

The IDL group and Constance McCorkle

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Abstract

Looking at the five most common arguments against the use of community-based animal health workers, the authors reveal the advantages of a community-based system, a basic cost-effective programme of livestock care and management, and how, in their view, the benefits of such a system outweigh any cost.

3. Community-based animal health workers and institutional change: the DELIVERI Project in Indonesia

Cokro S. Leksmono and John Young

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Abstract

This paper draws on the experiences of a pilot project in Indonesia that introduced CAHWs, and how this was implemented through participatory assessment of community needs followed by training of community members in animal health. As communities began to take control of their animal health, the role of government was reduced, producing a much more economical and effective package.

4. A participatory approach to assessing the impact of a community-based animal health project with Maasai communities in Tanzania

Steven Nalitolela and Rob Allport

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Abstract

Detailing an impact assessment into a CAHW initiative within Maasai communities in Tanzania, 4 years after it was established, this paper documents both the negative and positive effects of the project, and how the impact assessment was used to produce a framework for future activities and monitoring.

5. Participatory impact assessments in Ethiopia: linking policy reform to field experience

Charles Hopkins and Alistair Short

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Abstract

The establishment of CAHW projects in Ethiopia is the focus of this paper. First describing how the projects were set up, and then detailing impact assessments of projects in two regions once they were up and running, this article reveals the challenges and lessons learnt within an Ethiopian context.

6. Community participation and the global eradication of rinderpest

Jeffrey Mariner, Peter Roeder, and Berhanu Admassu

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Abstract

Despite widespread success globally to eradicate rinderpest in cattle, the programme stalled in East Africa due to problems with access and cattle-herd distributions. This paper follows a change in tack, moving from a top-down method to a more grassroots approach using CAHWs, and the problems and successes this had.

7. Village animal health workers in Nepal: the pros and cons of developing a National Skills Test

Karen Stoufer, Narayan D. Ojha, and Anand Parajuli

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Abstract

After over 20 years of training Village Animal Workers in Nepal, the programme and the people that had been trained by it remained largely unrecognised by the government. This paper looks at an attempt to help gain respect for the programme by developing a standardised examination of trainees, and the pros and cons associated with this.

8. Doing it for themselves: how communities developed messages and communication methods for rinderpest eradication in southern Sudan

Bryony Jones, Aluma Araba, Peter Koskei, and Samuel Letereuwa

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Abstract

After a period of prolonged vaccination against rinderpest in southern Sudan, it was decided to stop vaccinations to see how successful the programme had been. However, continued monitoring of animals was required to ensure no re-occurrence of the disease took place. This paper details the establishment of community based communication systems, and the lessons learnt from this process.

9. Linking research and community-based animal healthcare on East Africa

Andy Catley, Lieve Lynen, and Steven Nalitolela

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Abstract

Community-based animal health workers are extremely effective at controlling the vast majority of animal diseases. However, they have difficulties when faced with two diseases that have similar symptoms and often need assistance to help govern long-term management of diseases. This paper looks at a project to link these community-based workers to veterinary researchers, citing evidence from case studies.

10. Community-based animal health training and creative change in Bolivia

Susan E. Stewart

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Abstract

This paper documents a community-based animal health project in Bolivia, set up around three basic premises, and how they approached each one to obtain their objectives. The author goes on to assess the results the project has generated in the 14 years that is has been running.

GENERAL SECTION

11. The Innovation Tree: a new PRA tool to reveal the innovation adoption and diffusion process

Paul Van Mele and A.K.M. Zakaria

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Abstract

Introducing a new tool in Participatory Rural Appraisal, the Innovation Tree aims to help people visualise how new technologies and ideas are passed through a community. Drawing on experiences from Bangladesh, the authors show how both researchers and participants can use it to understand the knowledge sharing process.

12. In our own words: investigating disability in Morocco

Chris McIvor

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Abstract

Save the Children, a British NGO, has been operational in Morocco for 40 years, including establishing and running a school for disabled children. This paper charts the progression of the school, from originally exporting a European model of 'special' schools to one that was more geared to Moroccan needs and requirements.

13. Sustainable Development Observatories in Manizales, Columbia

Luz Estela Velásquez, translated by Kimberly Vilar

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Abstract

Looking at sustainable development planning within local government, this paper assesses the use of observatories, whereby development direction and objectives are constantly monitored and updated. These observatories encourage input from interested parties (citizens, local organisations and institutions) to promote integrated management. The author addresses frequently asked questions and challenges to such a system.

14. Los Observatorios para el Desarrollo Sostenibles en Manizales, Columbia

Luz Estela Velásquez

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Abstract

Original Spanish version of article 13 in this issue 'Sustainable Development Observatories in Manizales, Columbia'.

15. Market scoping: methods to help people understand their marketing environment

Ben Bennett

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Abstract

Helping rural communities to understand markets and how they function can be difficult when people who do understand are unwilling to share knowledge to ensure their market share. This paper investigates the success of various participatory techniques to help inform people about markets, and how such knowledge should also be key in designing development projects.

Tips for Trainers

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Abstract

Helps with ideas on how to encourage participants to express and share any misconceptions they had before attending a workshop, to help people feel more at ease.