3. Challenges and Considerations

So therefore we need to prepare them small and large intervention we need to promote there, there are so many projects are going on there in this place and many of this project are focusing on the disaster risk management and climate change adaptations. Most of these projects are advocating the incorporations and involvement of the local people into the projects.

This section highlights the importance of engaging local communities in projects related to disaster risk management and climate change adaptation. The statement emphasizes the need for both small and large interventions tailored to the communities’ unique situations. It suggests that successful projects are those that include local voices and participations since understanding the community is essential for addressing their challenges effectively.

Imagine a garden where local gardeners know what crops grow best in their soil and climate. By involving them in deciding what to plant and how to tend the garden, the yield is far better than if an outsider decided everything without local input.

Now we want to see that in these projects on all this climate change and disaster risk management projects, how people see these projects, what are the involvement they have and how they feel that they can better involve into these projects.

The focus shifts to understanding how local people perceive their involvement in climate change and disaster risk management projects. It stresses the importance of gathering local opinions not just on the projects themselves but on how they can participate more effectively. This information can guide project leaders to align their activities with the community's needs and expectations.

Think of a school play where students are asked what roles they want to play. If the students feel their opinions matter and they can voice their preferences, they are more likely to engage and perform well. The same concept applies to community projects.

We conducted this survey in four villages in Wa district, West district, Chietanaga, Bankpama, Zowayeli and Baleowafili. We gave questions to the people and asking them that what they think about the public participations, we wanted to tell them that tell us that what are the outcomes and what are the process they want from public participations.

This chunk introduces a survey conducted in four specific villages to gather community feedback on public participation in projects. By asking targeted questions, the survey aims to uncover both the desired outcomes of community involvement and the processes that the people want to see implemented. This step is critical in gauging local sentiments and ensuring that projects are aligned with community needs.

Consider a restaurant that wants to know its customers' opinions on the menu. By distributing a short survey to diners about what dishes they enjoyed and what new dishes they would like to see, the restaurant can adjust its offerings to better satisfy its patrons, ensuring they return.

So they had a flood in 2007-2010. And you can see what people told us they said that process there should be representation of all groups, clear objectives, agreed objectives, power to influence decisions, continued relation with the community, incorporating local knowledge, good facilitator. And outcome; There should be livelihood security, plan implementation, ownership, self-reliance, time effective.

The section refers to the feedback collected from the community regarding their experiences with past floods (2007-2010) and emphasizes key elements necessary for effective public participation. This includes ensuring diverse representation, having clear and agreed-upon objectives, empowering community members to influence decisions, and maintaining a good relationship among stakeholders. Outcomes like livelihood security and self-reliance highlight what communities value in these projects.

Think of organizing a community event. If everyone from different backgrounds has a say in what the event will feature, and if there are clear goals (like fundraising for a local charity), then everyone feels invested, and the event is more likely to succeed.

So livelihood security, they feel that when I am hungry I cannot participate in any projects so livelihood security is critical. Plan implementations; not only that you were talking and talking and talking but we want only see some feasible outcome. Ownership; but most is the self-reliance we have many ideas but we cannot pursue so we should be empowered so that we can follow our own projects, it should be also time effective and representation of all groups is agreed.

This segment elaborates on the criteria that communities believe are essential for effective participation. Livelihood security is prioritized because without meeting basic needs, meaningful participation is challenging. It also stresses the importance of not just talking about plans but ensuring they are actionable and lead to real change. Furthermore, ownership and self-reliance are highlighted, emphasizing the need for communities to lead their projects and use their knowledge effectively.

Imagine trying to build a treehouse with friends while some of them are too hungry to focus. Ensuring everyone has snacks first would be like ensuring livelihood security, which strengthens participation and focus, leading to a successful treehouse built together.

So these are the criteria we found so therefore instead of we define the community participations it should be from the community who would decide that what is the meaning of community participation.

This concluding statement emphasizes the necessity for community-driven definitions of participation. Rather than imposing external definitions or frameworks, it suggests that each community should articulate what participation means to them, ensuring it is relevant and tailored to their specific context. This approach fosters ownership and meaningful engagement.

Think about a group of kids deciding how to spend their playtime. Instead of an adult dictating the game, allowing the kids to discuss and choose collectively lets them define their fun, creating a more enjoyable experience for everyone.

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