AR_ESA_phase2_participatory-research-design-training_Oct2016

Lilongwe, Malawi

 * **More photos from the event** (click to view)
 * ****List of Participants ****(click to download)


 * This 2-day training preceded the Africa RISING ESA Phase 2 Inception/Review and Planning Meeting

Agenda

 * __Day 1__** (3 October, 2016)
 * Recent thinking in systems research and implications for research designs – R. Coe (click to download presentation)
 * Africa RISING sustainable intensification framework – P. Grabowski (click to download presentation)
 * Practical session – looking at different data sets that participants submitted to the trainer


 * __Day 2__** (4 October, 2016)
 * Approaches to analysis and the sort of results that can be generated - R. Coe (click to download presentation)
 * Group work – causal loops in system analysis? (see photos of the sample causal loops developed by groups below)


 * [[image:PartRschTraining 1.JPG width="422" height="285"]] || [[image:PartRschTraining 2.JPG width="448" height="300"]] ||
 * [[image:PartRschTraining 3.JPG width="414" height="277"]] || [[image:PartRschTraining 4.JPG width="380" height="256"]] ||
 * Brainstorming in 3 groups on research design issues that are challenging/problematic/confusing

__**Feedback from group B:**__

1. What level of experience (length and scale/intensity) is needed for farmers to evaluate a practice? 2. When should we aim for overall assessments and when for specific characteristics (affordable, social acceptable, accessible) 3. Who is doing the assessing, how are they chosen? 4. What is the connection between an expressed preferences and decision making – Irmgard’s FIAT vs Mercedes example 5. When should assessment be relative and when absolute 6. Where do you assess preferences from? 7. How do we avoid biasness in the assessment of preferences? 8. Who is asking questions on preferences…the donor/scientists vs local farmers 9. How are the preferences expressed? 10. When should you assess preferences with groups and individuals ? __**Tools**__ 1. Farmers’ participatory research 2. Surveys 3. Ranking and ratings 4. Observations
 * Discussion focus:** Assessing farmer preferences concerning new practices (how are preferences connected to decisions)
 * From observing a demo to practicing it over many years or
 * Working on a 10x10 m plot over 1 ha?
 * When to elicit from farmers and when to predefine
 * Random selection?
 * What do the choices represent?
 * Under a tree?
 * At the site?
 * Farmers may tell what you want to hear.
 * Ratings and rankings on scale/ advantages and disadvantages?
 * Both options may still be bad!
 * Who decides on this?
 * What are the groups?
 * Group level
 * Individual level

__**Feedback from group C**__
 * Discussion focus:** Baselines, controls and farmer practice


 * Baseline**
 * Questionnaire- to get overall picture of circumstances
 * Pretest with rigor and consistency and (thoroughness) and refine quest
 * Build trust with interviewees
 * Integrate bio and social/ quantitative and qualitative
 * Use baseline info from previous when avail (How can we promote this?)
 * Consider sensitive questions
 * Control**
 * Well-tied to objectives
 * Depending on objective will impact control used e.g. Microfauna – treatment + status quo. Look at existing level in natural setting- control; Nutrition – village no inputs Vs village with inputs. After time- make observations


 * Farmer Practice**
 * Normal/ average way of doing something.
 * Equilibrium (after others have had their impact e.g. NGOs) state without our intervention