Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)
UTaNRMP carried out its first Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) between 28th May - Fri 16th May 2014. The PRAs is an intensive process that has proven effective in identifying community priorities and resolving development issues in an inclusive manner with a balanced participation of men, women and vulnerable community members. UTaNRMP’s PRAs, which are part of its community empowerment strategy were conducted in the six counties in the project area and employed a bottom up planning process anchored on participatory planning at community level.
UTaNRMP conducted PRAs in 70 focal development areas in the six counties of Embu, Tharaka-Nithi, Meru, Nyeri, Kirinyaga and Murang’a. According to the project design report (PDR), communities felt needs are supposed to be brought out through the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) process with the end product being Community Action Plans (CAPs). The action plans contain the community priorities problems and the opportunities for addressing those priority problems. UTaNRMP will use the CAPs as a basis for funding community groups. The CAPs also serve as a targeting tool to engage the poor and vulnerable, for gender mainstreaming, and assist in livelihood and poverty analysis. The communities on their part will be expected to write proposals for funding in conformity with the felt needs expressed in the CAPs.
The key players in the PRA process included government officers from line ministries involved in the project implementation, county leaders, chiefs & assistant chiefs and community members.
The first request for proposals for funding the community groups is expected to be advertised in the month of July 2014.
