4. Methods used
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WORKING PROCESS
The working process followed the classical problem solving steps:
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Analysis:
In order to get known the findings of the survey and to get known relevant issues at community, local and national level.
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Action:
To find a way forward in terms of other related researchable issues as well as proposals to solve the identified problems.
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Assessment:
To evaluate and validate the proposals so that further recommendations can be made to the relevant authorities.
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METHODOLOGY
Participatory Rural Appraisal techniques were used in a workshop environment to provoke issues for discussions. The workshop itself was organised in three sessions. The first sessions entailed not only presentation of the findings of the previous study to the communities but also grouping findings into themes to be discussed by various groups. Five themes emerged out of this exercise:
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HIV/AIDS and its Impacts on the Communities’ livelihoods
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Stigmatisation Issues
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Issues related to community and kinship support structures
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Issues related to Land Laws and HIV/AIDS Policy
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Coping Strategies
Different groups were asked to give their comments and perceptions on the issues, make additions regarding other impacts that were not covered by the previous study and also try to determine whether the impacts were mainly due to HIV/AIDS prevalence or whether the prevailing food insecurity situation has worsened the problem. This was followed by a plenary session where groups were given a forum to present, discuss, agree and disagree on issues.
The second session was on both the AIDS and Land policies. It was opened by a presentation that summed up the salient points of these policies. Participants were then re-grouped to reflect on their perceptions, make proposals on what can be done to make things better for the HIV/AIDS affected and infected households given the existing policies. They were also requested to identify the responsible institutions, individuals or groups who would ensure that their proposals are considered as well as the likely limitations or obstacles related to their proposals. Once again these were discussed in a plenary session.
During the last session, recommendations of the FAO study were presented to the participants and opinions about them were sought. An attempt was also made to match them with the community’s proposals to identify similarities and areas of conflict.
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