The value of collaboration and participatory approaches in the Genius of SPACE project Langrug informal settlement, Franschhoek Solomon Sonxi The water indaba presentation for Genius of space 16 th May 2017
TODAY’S DISCUSSION 1. Introduction 2. What is participation (what, why, how, how much)? 3. What is a capability analysis? 4. Applying Biomimicry principles to social engagement and participation (retrospectively) 5. Participation and capability analysis for Langrug (Gabriel and Hannalie’s research) 6. Story telling – GOS ways of being and doing participation 7. Story telling - Achievements, Challenges 8. Learnt and still learning 9. Recommendations and the future of GOS 10. Thanks and closure
WHY DO PARTICIPATION? • For informed decision making that’s driven by democracy • As an attempt to achieve social equality • In South Africa - participation as a democratic right • To solve complex problems by engaging with people most affected by them • To link research and development realms • To increase the probability of local priorities and needs being met • Because empowered stakeholders usually generate more useful knowledge • To give a voice to all participants • To prevent conflicts • BUT unlikely if in a political power vacuum Source: G Wolfaardt, MPhil thesis, 2016 and H Malan, MPhil thesis, 2016
WHAT IS PARTICIPATION? THE PARTICIPATION LADDER Placation = to please, calm or control Source: Malan, H. MPhil Thesis. 2016. After Arnstein. 1969, 220
HOW DO WE MEASURE PARTICIPATION? Ask yourself: 1. Are the stakeholders passive and being fed information? 2. Is information being gathered from stakeholders? 3. Is information being exchanged through dialogue or negotiating? Source: G Wolfaardt, MPhil thesis, 2016
HOW CAN WE DO PARTICIPATION? 1. Co-design 2. Multi stakeholder engagements 3. Transdisciplinarity 4. Collaboration 5. Assets-based participation 6. Co-management 7. Conflict resolution 8. Leadership 9. Field trips 10.Events, campaigns 11.Capacity building 12.Community surveys 13.Dialogue 14. Focus groups, Interviews etc
SO, PARTICIPATION IN WHAT EXACTLY? Project planning and milestones Strategy Design (Technical and landscape) Employment / labour selection Construction Implementation Operations and maintenance Design of branding and identities Communications / education and awareness / campaign Monitoring and data collection Research Stakeholder engagement Media, conferences and tours
MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM
THE PARTICIPATION LADDER IN GOS Langrug GOS project Transitioning and cycling
ASSETS-BASED PARTICIPATION FOR UPGRADING – CAPABILITY ANALYSIS • Amartya Sen (1980’s) - analysing well-being • Capabilities are the means available to someone to fulfill their expectations and achieve their pre- determined goals / outcomes • Capability is made up of shocks, trends, assets, choices, abilities, opportunities, with outcomes of well-being Capability = Choices + Abilities + Opportunities WELL-BEING Source: Malan, H. MPhil Thesis. OUTCOMES 2016. After Arnstein. 1969, 220
ASSETS-BASED PARTICIPATION FOR UPGRADING – CAPABILITY ANALYSIS Source: Malan, H. MPhil thesis. 2016 After Frediani and Hansen. 2015, 8
CAPABILITY ANALYSIS FOR LANGRUG Intervening body Well-being Capability Space Outcomes Participatory – based Innovation urban upgrading Human Physical Best Practice partnership results Clean and safe water services Access to Assets Natural Social Community ownership community Participation Langrug Financial Political choices Sustainable infrastructure Secure opportunities and abilities Livelihoods Source: Malan, H. MPhil Thesis. 2016
BIOMIMICRY, PARTICIPATION AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT ADAPT: 1. Adjust engagement when feedback is that it’s not effective 2. Flexible infrastructure – discussions BE LOCAL & with neighbours for infrastructure RESPONSIVE: positions and additions e.g. as new 1. Work with local houses pop up residents EVOLVE: 3. Fix snags with input from 2. Local 1. Diversity of social construction team and leadership construction and engagement maintenance techniques used labour 2. Diversity of plans / 3. Forum (LCPC) is designs as local local leadership - context changes cooperative quickly 4. Work with 3. Plan and respond leaders for fast to challenges / feedback and conflict communication channels
BIOMIMICRY, PARTICIPATION AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT GROW IN MODULES: 1. LCPC expanding BE LIFE FRIENDLY: responsibilities as 1. Learning by doing – their capabilities skills infiltrate and skills develop community 2. Construction BE RESOURCE EFFICIENT: 2. Create a brand team could 1. Work with local leaders identity and be extend 2. Select local labour from pilot area – recognised infrastructure as done by Forum (LCPC) 3. Using biodegradable they know how to 3. Use local suppliers e.g. local soaps where possible build it catering in maintenance 4. Recycle materials from construction e.g. pavers, shadecloth
WAYS OF BEING AND DOING PARTICIPATION – GOS SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
CO-DESIGN
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, THINKING AND PLANNING
GENIUS OF PEOPLE AND PLACE
NEIGHBOURHOOD SCALE
COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY… Formed Project Steering Forum (PSF) – done by CORC PSF later became LCPC (representative leadership) LCPC assist with community employment - spinning Meetings (Co-design) Campaigns • Door-To-Door visits • Newsletter • Posters • Events (Involving school) • Clean-ups Workshops - Meza2Meza (residents from block S and T)… Experiences and field trips - Agri-Protein, Ywaste, SEED Celebrations
COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT
MEZA 2 MEZA CAMPAIGN
INFRASTRUCTURE IS PEOPLE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS PEOPLE Project Steering Forum (LCPC and project team)
FLOW AGENT BRANDING Designs by: Warren Turner (in collaboration with Langrug LCPC members)
OPS & MAINTENANCE – COMMUNITY MANAGED
LOCAL FLOW AGENTS AND FORUM
NEIGHBOURS AND SHARING
NEIGHBOURS AND GREENING
SCHOOLS AND GETTING DIRTY
FLOW AGENT MAINTENANCE DATA COLLECTION • Snapture and SeeTell (See/Saw) – Provide airtime and data for flow agent. • Checklist sheets • Allows community members to be involved and to take ownership of the infrastructure systems
ACHIEVEMENTS • Formation of forum (LCPC and full PSF) • A strong leadership • Community surveys • A working technical system • Community participating and generally following guidelines • Provides employment • Sharing knowledge • Better lives - health of kids • Understanding different cultures/backgrounds • Celebration of achievements in teams e.g. braais • 4 masters students – case study of Langrug
CHALLENGES • Conflict – Politics – Age – Consistency – Language barrier • Disruptions of the system – Vandalism – Theft • Behaviour Change difficult • Communication channels can sometimes be unclear • Assumptions - complexity • Residents think we ARE the municipality / gov • Lack of local pride? • Red tape , paperwork, delays, beaurocracies
LEARNT AND LEARNING • How to communicate more clearly with each other, using our words and understanding • Communication channels - who, what, when, how • Understand different behaviour patterns • How to deal with different and difficult personalities • How to deal with emergencies • How to handle conflict • How to recognise if something is worth following up on or not • How to deal with moving targets, and be flexible and adaptive e.g. with changing funding and deadlines (G Wolfaardt)
LEARNT AND LEARNING cont. • It’s about work , it’s not personal • Patience for “new” technologies • Trust – how to build it (this needs time) • It’s like a romantic relationship! • Building a strong relationship takes lots of hard work • Technical intervention can enable social cohesion • Building on existing community work and leadership is the key to successful implementation • Agency in informal sector is an untapped resource (G Wolfaardt) • Everything takes TIME!
TO DO LIST • Continue to work on clear communication of mission, goals and objectives of project and its phases • Discuss management hierarchy and that of leadership structures to support the LCPC in future of project • Continue building capacity in LCPC and municipality (eventual authorities for project) • Ensure LCPC has resources needed to maintain project (hard and soft) • Develop habit of continuous evaluation of physical infrastructure and of capabilities of stakeholders (from: H Malan, MPhil thesis, 2016)
THE FUTURE OF LANGRUG
TEAM REFLECTIONS
THANK YOU • Solomon Sonxi – solomonsonxi@outlook.com Twitter: #GeniusofSPACE @WCGovEADP @WCGov110%Green The Genius of SPACE project is supported by a partnership including: WC DEA&DP, WC DHS and WC DEDAT MOU with Stellenbosch Municipality
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