PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988-2001 4 Who should choose? Community participation in prioritising road network rehabilitation

Document begins: PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988­2001 4 Who should choose? Community participation in prioritising road network rehabilitation Nick Osborne Introduction poor road network often has an adverse effect on the livelihood security of the rural In May 1994 PRA methods were used with the population because it leads to problems of people of Katuba, Ndola Rural East in Zambia access, especially during the rainy season. This, with the aim of enabling communities to in turn, causes a decrease in agricultural production because it reduces availability of identify and prioritise their own District feeder and access to inputs, markets for produce, road networks, a function traditionally carried health care, and educational facilities. This out by outside `experts'. The methodology has subsequently become standard, and has been inevitably leads to isolation and a lack of applied and used on all further feeder road incentives for local communities to prosper by improvement programmes underta ken by the expanding production, diversifying their Smallholder Development Project. This paper farming, developing enterprises, or adopting new methods and techniques. outlines the approach taken, and explains how the approach of community participation in the Feeder road studies are traditionally carried out decision making process has been expanded by ...