INTEGRATED
ATOLL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT:
Summary
of Successes, Failures and Directions for the Future
Discussion
Paper
Prepared
by:
Project
Management Review
16 to 17
April 1991
INTEGRATED ATOLL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT:
Summary of Successes, Failures and Directions for the
Future
Project Management Review
16 to 17 April 1991
Project activities
in the Cook Islands are directed at institution building for participatory
outer islands development. Activities
undertaken to date which are judged to successful are:
·
participatory island profiling and planning workshops in
Mangaia and Penrhyn resulting in their respective socio-economic profiles and
long-term development plans prepared by the people themselves
·
the Mangaia and Penrhyn development coordination
committees as viable local development bodies
·
income generating revolving fund in Mangaia managed and
operated by the MDCC and which have initiated or assisted 7 income earning
activities to date
·
adoption of the Project’s participatory development
methodology by the government in conducting the Northern Group Islands Profiling
Exercise
·
improved policy environment for participatory and outer
islands development through senior level consultations, active participation of
project staff in the outer islands task force, meetings and development
seminars for outer islands Mayors and Chief Administration Officers and regular
reporting to Cabinet
·
establishment and strengthening of outer islands
development planning and coordination functions of the Ministry of Internal
Affairs
·
on-the-job training of a local counterpart by the UNV
·
none to date. The
development servicing capability of the various government agencies needs to be
strengthened to support local level development impetus. There is also the risk that the government may
sacrifice some elements of the participatory development methodology to meet
donor datelines and other external influence.
·
consolidation of project experiences and operations in
Mangaia and Penrhyn for development of training modules and operations guides
needed by the government to support the participatory development processes and
for decentralization of plan implementation management
·
improving policy environment for continued participatory
development through continued advocacy at both the national and local levels
·
strengthening of island councils and development
coordination committees in the other islands for plan implementation and
development management
·
advocate for the full establishment the Outer Islands
Development Planning and Coordination Unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
including staffing and legislation
·
extension of small income generating revolving funds to
other islands to build up local level development implementation and management
confidence
·
continued guidance and technical assistance to be given to
the Northern Group Islands Profiling Exercise and to monitor closely their
adherence to the participatory methodology
Project
activities in Woleai effectively started in February 1990 with the arrival of
the UNV in the atoll and are, therefore, still in the early stages of
implementation. Activities which have
progressed smoothly and which expected to be successful are:
1. Sectoral
Activities
·
food production and soil improvement programme – community
mobilization for home gardening, mass training of community members, improved
traditional cropping, various composting techniques and agricultural practices
for mitigating impacts of typhoons
·
introduction and community construction of fly traps for
improved public health
·
small scale fish drying and jerky making as potential
income generating activity
·
water and sanitation survey and engineering study has been
completed and now awaiting government financing
·
skills training in pandanus root basket weaving,
breadfruit drying, solar dryer construction
2. Institution
Building
a. Local
Level (Woleai Atoll)
·
full involvement of traditional chiefs in all project
activities. The paramount chief of
Falalop has become the project’s strongest advocate and has made himself a role
model for al project activities.
·
established project operations procedures using the
traditional channels embodied in the institution of the “men’s’ house”
·
organizing and directing the Youth Christian Organization
to take on greater development responsibilities and to build up their resource
mobilization capability
b. State
level (Yap)
· assessment of roles, functions and capabilities of the Outer Islands Planning commission and orientation on integrated and participatory development approaches
·
established project coordination and implementation
framework requiring maximum government involvement and inputs
·
regular reporting and consultations with the Council of
Tamol (council of outer islands chiefs)
c.
National Level (FSM)
- periodic information dissemination
Although
the State government is in full support of the integrated and participatory
development processes advocated by the project, the extreme shortage of staff
in the Planning Division has delayed the implementation of a full-scale
profiling and planning workshop in Woleai.
This is now scheduled for May/June 1991.
·
completion of project activities in Woleai and instituting
mechanisms for project replication to the other atolls of Yap State
·
replication of participatory and integrated development
methodology to the atolls of Chuuk and Pohnpei States – using the proven
demonstration pilot atoll approach with both physical build-up and institution
building components
·
improving policy environment for integrated and
participatory development at the national government level
1. Marine
Resources Development
·
3 canoe passages to allow more effective and safer access
to the open sea
·
solar powered navigation beacon for night fishing
·
improved modified traditional canoe and a trained local
boat builder
·
canoe timber and supplies store (run by the Island Council)
·
fish processing and market center and establishment of
local commercial fisheries
·
fish aggregation devoices (their demonstrated
effectiveness led the government to replace the original ones which drifted
away during exceptionally heavy seas)
2. Food
Production
·
local mixed food gardens
·
coconut replanting
·
nutrition education
3. Renewable
Energy
·
solar lightning for guest house and hospital
4. Water Supply
·
water gallery and solar pumping distribution system
·
“Tamana Hand pumps”
installed by households
·
community water tanks
5. Skills
Training
·
skills training center building
·
training workshops in carpentry, concrete tile making,
sewing, handicraft production, sewing machine maintenance, water tank
construction, solar panel maintenance,
Tamana pump construction and installation, canoe building, food preparation and
nutrition, home economics and home craft skills
6. Institution
Building
a.
Local Level
·
IDC training programme – project preparation and
orientation on development values
·
leadership and development management training for Island
Council
·
establishment of Tamana Self-Reliance Movement
(multi-sectoral, inter-village NGO of youths for project and development
mobilization)
·
skills, leadership and project preparation training for
women’s association
·
training of local counterparts (Island Clerks) by the UNV
b.
National Level
· encouragement for formation of Rural Planning Unit at the Ministry of Home Affairs and Decentralization
·
formation and training of the National Core Team of
Trainers (NCTT) in community-level training techniques, project formulation,
participatory profiling and planning
·
participatory profiling and development planning workshops
in Kuria and Aranuka resulting in their socio-economic profiles and long-term
development plans
·
IDC establishment and training programme for all the outer
atolls
·
national awareness and advocacy programme for integrated
and participatory development
·
exotic vegetable production for home consumption – drought
and discontinuity of seeds from the government
·
commercial coconut molasses production – high cost of
freight and production constraints
·
KIR-6 canoe – too expensive for individuals to afford on
their own
·
Livestock improvement programme – local management
problems
·
strengthening of RPU through on-going technical guidance
and establishment of a project monitoring system
·
building up island councils capability in development
decision making and management
·
strengthening IDC’s role for project formulation and
monitoring and evaluation
·
training of NCTT for new and more advanced development
mobilization tasks
·
strengthening traditional institutions and integrating them
into the development process
4.
Maldives
A.
Successes
1.
Agriculture and Food Production
·
food gardens with improved crop varieties
·
commercial agriculture in Mulaku and Vevaru
·
agro-forestry
·
island seed banks
2.
Income Generation
·
viable and sustained loan programme
·
women’s group tea house in Dhiggaru
·
commercial agriculture
·
local business skills training
·
community tools pools
·
loan fund administration training
3. Marine
Resources
·
engine dhoni repair and maintenance training which became
the basis for the national programme
·
tuna fish hook making, also led to a national programme
implemented by the government
·
fish aggregation device (subsequently replaced by
government FAD)
·
fish preservation
4. Transport
and Coastal Works
·
dhoni channel clearing and development
·
island jetties
5. Water
Supply
·
community and private household water tanks
·
water tank revolving fund managed by the Atoll Development
Assistance Committee
6. Skills Training
·
in-country vocational fellowships in engine repair,
carpentry, sewing and embroidery, boat building, jewelry and fiber craft, wood
carving, building construction, electrical and refrigeration
·
in-atoll community based training in home gardening,
sewing, fish preservation, cement water jugs, water tank construction, boat
channel clearing, installation of solar battery chargers
7. Institution
Building
a. Local
Level
·
participatory development planning in Meemu
·
island development management training for Atoll and Island
Development Assistance Committees
·
training of local IADP trainers to assist and provide
advice to ADAC and IDAC
·
on-the-job training of Atoll Office staff by UNV
·
training of local counterpart by UNV
b. National
Level
·
formation and training of NCTT in trainer’s skills,
development management and project formulation
·
study tour of Atoll leaders to Meemu
·
formulation of Nilandhe Integrated Atoll Development
Project, based on the Meemu experience, which is now funded from the UNDP
country IPF
·
training of the designated local project coordinator and
project officer for the Nilandhe project
·
crow and rat control programme – because of the close
distance between the atolls and frequent mobility between islands, the
activities did not produce any lasting impact
·
solar navigation beacon – lack of maintenance by the
island community
·
strengthening of IADP formulation and coordination
capability of the Integrated Rural Development Projects Division of the
Ministry of Atolls Administration -
three senior staff trained by the project have left the Division and
this has dramatically affected its technical capabilities
·
training of new NCTT for project replication
·
technical guidance and assistance to Nilandhe Project
·
train new staff of the IRDP Division on IADP formulation
and coordination
6.
Marshall
Islands
1. Agriculture
and Food Production
·
home food gardening, soil improvement, nutrition and food
preparation
·
bloodline improvement of pigs and chickens
·
coconut replanting and coconut wood utilization
2.
Water and Sanitation
·
water tanks, improved wells and pour-flush toilets and
community members trained it their construction
3.
Income Generation
·
guest house (made from coconut lumber)
·
handicraft production
4.
Skills Training
·
handicraft production, construction of water tanks, wells
and toilets, coconut lumber utilization, chainsaw operation and maintenance,
atoll agriculture, public health and nutrition
5. Institution Building
a.
Local Level
·
formation of Mothers and Fathers Associations and later
the Maloelap Self-Reliance Movement for project mobilization and sustainability
·
leadership training for council members
·
project assessment and replanning workshop
·
training of local trainers/leaders in project management
b. National Level
·
advocacy for integrated delivery of services to the outer
islands through the establishment of the multi-disciplinary National core Team
of Trainers
·
training of NCTT in training skills and basic development
planning and management
·
developed a work programme for the replication of project
technologies and methodologies in Aur Atoll using government resources and the
NCTT
·
inter atoll vessel – local management, operational and
maintenance problems
·
strengthening of local government – lack of follow up
administrative and substantive backstopping by the government
·
very limited replication of project activities and
experiences to other atolls – lack of established mechanisms for coordinated
delivery of services for integrated development at the national level, extreme
staff shortages in critical government agencies
·
strengthening of NCTT for project replication and dissemination
·
strengthening local government or private sector
capability to operate the inter-atoll trading vessel
·
advocacy for improving policy environment for outer
islands development
6. Tokelau
A. Successes
1. Food
Production
·
home food gardening, family nutrition improvement
·
livestock improvement
2. Marine Resources
·
trochus transplantation from Fiji – pioneering airdropping
of trochus
·
fish aggregation device (although original one installed
by the project has since drifted away we have demonstrated its effectiveness
for government to provide a replacement)
·
fishing gear and supplies store
3. Water Supply
·
household water tanks and basement tanks plus community
training
4. Skills Training
·
handicraft production, construction of water tanks, atoll
agriculture, book-keeping for fish supply store keeper, smokeless stove
construction
5. Institution-Building
a. Local Level
·
community consultations for identification of long term
island goals
·
training of island-based training team in Nukononu for the
village profiling and planning workshop scheduled for May 1991
·
leadership training for women’s association and the
village sports club
b.
National Level
These activities
are centered at the Office of Tokelau Affairs in Apia.
·
workshops for clarification of government’s mandate, role
and functions for decentralized development implementation and management
·
training on development programming and budgeting for the
senior management team
·
assessment of indigenous institutions and their potential
roles in local level management
·
workshop on role of local institutions in development
planning and management
·
a data and
management system in support of rural development planning
·
a regular reporting and monitoring system
·
greater awareness for integrated and participatory
development
·
on-the-job training of local counterpart by the UNV
B.
Less Successful and/or Failures
The
project was not able to carry out more of the planned local in-atoll
institution building activities as the government wanted the project to first
build-up and rationalize its national capability before proceeding with the
atoll-based activities.
C. Future
·
continue participatory island and development planning to
the other two atolls
·
strengthening local bodies and institutions for plan
implementation and development management
7.
Tuvalu
Project
activities in Tuvalu have concentrated exclusively on institution building for
outer islands development.
A. Successes
1.
Local Level
·
participatory profiling and planning workshops in
Nukufetau and Nukulaelae atolls – resulting in the socio-economic profiles and
development plans for these islands
·
the IIDO/IDPP team is now conducting similar workshops I
other atolls with the plan completing all eight atolls by October 1991
2. National Level
·
review of roles, functions and capabilities of the Integrated
Island Development Office and the Island Development Planning Process Team
·
intensive training attachment of IIDO manager with the
project office in Suva
·
training of trainers for IIDO staff and IDPP members
·
training of IIDO and IDPP on participatory profiling and
planning
·
review of outer islands planning framework (planned for
May/June 1991)
·
feasibility study for the establishment of an Outer
Islands Development authority (May/June 1991)
·
None encountered to date
·
strengthening local level capability for plan
implementation and monitoring at the atoll level
·
short-term training for staff of the proposed Outer
Islands Development authority and ongoing technical guidance and backstopping
·
develop project and outer islands plan monitoring system
for IIDO
·
advanced training for IDPP team – integration of
traditional institutions in the development planning and management process
·
assist government in operationalizing outer islands
development policies