Background

IFAD and the Government of Yemen agreed to develop a poverty alleviation project in Al-Dhala Governorate. In February 2003, a Pre-Formulation mission visited Al-Dhala Governorate to conduct a Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA) analysis. The main objective of the SLA analysis was to interact with rural poor people in order to assist IFAD and the Government of Yemen to obtain a better understanding of the strengths they possess, the obstacles they face and the vision they have regarding their future. It focused on the views and interpretations of the villagers of their past and current situation, and hopes for the future. The report that resulted from the analysis translated the villagers' understanding and analysis of their situation into language that is appropriate to an international financing institution, and that could be used later in project design.

An SLA analysis was selected because it is a holistic method that allows the different aspects of rural livelihoods to be brought out, ranging from the strategies used by poor people to overcome poverty, their strengths (human, social, physical, natural and financial capital) and historical achievements, to their aspirations and their capacity to achieve their dreams, and incorporates gender specificity. Focusing the enquiry on their own livelihood outcomes and visions encourages the poor to take a more positive and proactive approach to their development, whilst the use of 'appreciative enquiry' helps the villagers to think in terms of their own capacities and strengths, rather than on their weaknesses and needs. This makes it easier to support them in finding solutions that are based on their own abilities, and improves their confidence in their ability to do so.

Selection and training of field staff

Preparatory work for this mission was undertaken by international consultants and IFAD's SLA advisor. The preparation took place over four days, during which one meeting was organized with the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MAI). This meeting was held to brief MAI staff about SLA and the organization of the field work. Another meeting was held with an NGO, Women's Economic Empowerment Association (WEEA) to look for field assistants. The consultants and the SLA advisor interviewed and selected four local assistants (two male and two female) in order to be able to work with men and women separately.

Local field staff received two full days of training, which included an introduction to the principles and main features of SLA and an explanation of and practice in some participatory techniques. The training also provided an opportunity for the full team and the two sub-teams to start establishing working relations and knowledge of each other's skills and experience. The methods to be implemented in the field included: facilitated dialogue aimed at helping community members express themselves as openly as possible; the participatory preparation of institutional diagrams; appreciative enquiry to help people be more aware of their strengths; and walks through the villages with members of the community to draw up resource maps of the villages.

The field work was undertaken in two teams, with each team comprising two field assistants and one researcher. The field research took place over two days in each community. Semi-structured interviews without checklists or guidelines were conducted with separate groups of men and women. Three other tools -- resource maps, household matrices and Venn diagrams -- were used. The groups of men and women interviewed were socially heterogeneous. In some villages, the opinions of the elites were solicited separately. The research teams attempted to encourage debate and ensure exchange of views. They also encouraged the discussion, helping the participants to focus on their strengths and their abilities to solve problems, and to share their aspirations. All the results collected from women were integrated with those from the men in a simple village report, which was presented to the people before leaving the village.

The information collected at the community level was also shared and discussed in a meeting with MAI staff and representatives of the local council from the Governorate before the team left.

Lessons learned

Difficulties in conducting an SLA analysis

During the execution of the analysis, the following difficulties arose, which would be relevant when similar analyses are being considered:

Many men and women were not available to participate in the meetings. In the majority of the villages, the men were working outside and the women were very occupied with their work and were only able to take approximately two hours' break per day.

Due to the high rate of illiteracy, their daily workload and their social isolation, women were not prediposed to reflect on their perceptions and obstacles or to articulate their future aspirations.

Due to their extreme poverty, the people felt ashamed to receive the teams in their villages for meetings and to have them sleep in the villages.

Due to their experience of unfulfilled promises over the last 20 years, communities lack confidence in the administration and tend to distrust researchers who were brought in by them.

Limitations of the analysis

The following limitations were encountered in the application of the SLA analysis:

Application requires very experienced field assistants.

Regarding the application of rapid rural appraisal tools, in the Venn diagram exercise the population found it difficult to distinguish between importance and access, especially the women. In addition, the people preferred to give their opinion about institutions through semi-structured interviews. Women also had no experience of institutions to be able to evaluate the relative importance of different institutions, outside of education and health. Women were also extremely hesitant to elaborate the resource map due to their unfamiliarity with drawing skills and spatial vision.

Due to their illiteracy and limited exposure to the world outside of the village, women found it difficult to think conceptually and to develop ideas on future aspirations, outside of water and livestock.

The intensive interaction between the researchers and the communities raises expectations of benefiting from the implementation of the project.

Relevant points for project design

Many of the points raised by the communities during the SLA analysis reinforce the proposed project design, for example the emphasis on water as the first aspiration of the communities; the desire of communities to enhance livestock and apiculture development as their primary development strategy in order to capitalize on the available resources; and their hope to have access to the necessary services to help them to achieve their aims. The comments of the communities have clearly demonstrated their need for access to credit to support investment. This issue needs to be given greater prominence in project design. Specific issues voiced by the villagers that are relevant for project design include:

Income diversification. Communities are unsure that the possible developments in agriculture alone can support their desires for a better life. They also see the need for help in income diversification, e.g. through the acquisition of new skills or off-farm activities, to increase their incomes and to protect the fragile mountain resource base. If credit is available, landless families have the opportunity to develop livestock activities project can also assist in ensuring sustainable management of the rangeland.

Improved social services and road communications. These concerns should be taken into account by helping communities to develop better linkages with institutions that are able to deliver these facilities and services.

Capacity building. Communities emphasized their feeling of powerlessness and exclusion from the purview of the authorities and were concerned about the inadequacy and ineffectiveness of the present social institutions that are meant to serve them. This indicates that project design needs to put emphasis on capacity building of communities and the development of stronger community institutions to be a more effective interface with outside authorities. At the same time, the government institutions themselves need to be oriented to be more aware of, responsive to and focused on the needs of the communities, particularly the poor, whom they are supposed to serve.

Skills enhancement. Women's desire for improved skills to assist them in their role in livestock and agricultural production needs to be addressed by training in different areas, such as veterinary and production techniques. Women also emphasized their need for literacy to support their capacity to absorb new ideas. Men also expressed their concern that women should have the opportunity to develop new off-farm activities.

Impact of the SLA Analysis on Final Project Design

At appraisal (February 2004), most recommended actions were incorporated in a number of ways:

Land and Water management are being addressed through:

• funding drinking water systems identified by the communities
• establishing a Water Users Association
• meeting irrigation needs through surface water schemes and watering harvesting structures
• Soil conservation works

Livestock and apiculture development with:

• Veterinary support
• Training 9 women as veterinary assistants
• Training in livestock production improvement (better knowledge of animal husbandry and other technical aspects)
• Rangeland management, including protected grazing areas
• Apiculture development

Community-based microfinance facilities through a self-managed community Credit Fund

Capacity building of communities fully involving women as partners by

• Fostering the establishment of sub-associations
• Form specific groups in relation to project activities
• Have each community prepare, in collaboration with the guidance of the Project technical staff, a Community Action Plan comprising all the different components of the project

Strengthening of Women's development capacity

• Provision of literacy and life-skills trainings
• Focusing on the promotion of labour saving tools
• Providing seeds for vegetable gardens
• Income generating off-farm activities