Sustainability Planning and Monitoring

THE MPA IN ACTION●needed to continue the work. Undertakingstudies as single and separate interventionsreduces the possibilities for continuing theprocess.No program database is built up.4.2 Selecting the assessmentteamsThe assessment team usually comprises femaleand male members from the community, field stafffrom the agencies involved in the program, asociologist, anthropologist, or participatorydevelopment specialist with skills on genderanalysis and training, and a water or sanitaryengineer. The latter two need to be skilled trainersin the use of the MPA and have experience with,and commitment to participatory approaches withgender and social equity perspectives .In cases where a statistical analysis is intended,a development economist, sociologist or statisticianfamiliar with non-parametric statistics andparticipatory methods is needed on the team.Box 12 The assessment teamAn MPA assessment team consists of:● Male and female members of thecommunity and the local WSS managementorganization, which, ideally, shouldrepresent different socio-economic groupsin the community.● Field staff who have been with the programlong enough to have experience withapproaches at the time of planning andestablishing the community systems.● A sociologist/ participatory developmentspecialist with skills in gender analysis andtraining.● A sanitary or water supply engineer withexperience in and commitment toparticipatory approaches with gender andsocial equity perspectives.● At the program level, a data analyst withexperience in using non-parametricstatistics.For the preparation or adaptation of theparticipatory tools, a local illustrator is helpful.However, groups can also use their own materialsand inventiveness, and rely on real life symbols,own sketches and drawings, and locally drawnor written cards. Using their own or local materialsencourages ownership and creativity. It also makesit easier for community groups to continue usingthe participatory tools and techniques introduced.Personal values and attitudes areas important as skillsTraining teams of MPA facilitators constitutes aconsiderable investment for the organizations thatundertake or finance MPA assessments. Suchorganizations may be local NGOs, consultancyfirms, program support centers, and traininginstitutes. They may also be water supply andsanitation implementation agencies that havedecided to train their own staff members.Within these organizations, not everyone has theright values, attitudes, and skills for facilitating theuse of participatory tools. Many facilitators withskills in the use of participatory tools are notautomatically conscious of gender and socialinequalities. It takes the accompanying values,attitudes, and skills to deal with these inequities.The composition and hiring of facilitation teamstherefore requires a great deal of care.Organizations have improved the selection andcapacity development of facilitators in severalways:30