Manual - Participatory rapid diagnosis and action ... - FAO.org

PRDA Manual 159Annex CBrief presentation of PRDA Training in Ethiopiaand KenyaOn-the-job training in PRDA was conducted as a component of the APPIAproject between December 2003 and March 2004 in Ethiopia and Kenya.This presentation aims to give indications to institutions and projects thatmight be interested in organizing training courses in PRDA methodology.The main focus of the training was to enable participants to do a PRDA.Participants were front line extension workers, engineers, agronomists,economists or other professionals (in the case of Kenya, educated farmers)who seek to improve their work by evaluating past projects. This on-the jobtraining was based on “learning by doing” and “learning from each other”.During training sessions, due attention was given to the knowledge andexperience of participants by building in time for trainees to share ideas andexperience or to appeal to their respective expertise. To stimulate “learningby-doing”and make things practical, participants did a PRDA in groups ofapproximately four on a selected irrigation scheme between training courses.All groups presented a (realistic) action plan for their irrigation schemeduring the last course. The application of participative methods duringfieldwork enabled participants to learn from farmers and better understandtheir practices.Partner organizationsCooperation agreements were signed in both countries between the IWMI-APPIA project and regional institutions involved in irrigation development toselect irrigation schemes for PRDA, identify trainers, organize training andselect trainees. Working directly through local organizations facilitated thedissemination of results to higher levels of involved organizations.EthiopiaORDACo SAERAROrganization for Relief and Development of AmharaRegionCommission for Sustainable Agriculture andEnvironment Rehabilitation in Amhara Region.