Learning with participatory monitoring and evaluation in Dir district,northwest frontier province,Pakistan

This paper is concerned with the development of a monitoring and evaluation system for the second phase of a United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) in Pakistan and the manner in which participatory structures are developed and built on in a complex development context. Initially the paper introduces the context. The project is concerned with rural development issues as part of a structured programme to substitute opium poppy growing with a range of agricultural and social innovations. During the first phase of the project (up to 1993) the main focus of attention for the project was measured in terms of physical progress with road building, electricity supply, irrigation works and concentration on improved agricultural practices. Phase II has set out to build on this, most specifically in terms of gaining the greater participation of local people in the project activity. The paper describes the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) structure for the project and notes that it is intended that M&E further encourage participation and beneficiary analysis (analysis of project benefits by those who are intended to derive most from the project outputs). One of the primary means set out for achieving this was by inducing the professional staff working in the project to adopt new mind sets, adjusting their focus from being technical experts supplying undoubted technical improvements to being co-operative partners, bringing ideas to the area but equally being willing to work through these ideas and their implications and learn from the communities. The process for the development of the monitoring system is described, and the methodology ‘TeamUp’ discussed. Links are made to related areas of study—most specifically the literature of Rapid and Participatory Rural Development (RRA and PRA). Finally, the paper discusses the results of the research to date and the likely extension of the ideas to other projects.