User perceptions of participatory planning in urban environmental sanitation

Abstract

This paper aims to contribute to the growing body of literature on evaluation of community participation in the water and sanitation sector. The first part discusses the conceptual underpinnings of participatory approaches. The paper then analyses stakeholder perceptions about the Household-centred Environmental Sanitation (HCES) approach, a participatory planning approach recently validated in two countries: Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) and Nepal. Post intervention surveys were conducted with experts and key informants in both countries to assess satisfaction regarding degree of participation, effectiveness of planning outcomes and process efficiency of the participatory planning process. It specifically looks at the variability in people's perceptions about the costs and benefits of community participation. Empirical findings show that experts and participants show high satisfaction rates regarding involvement in decision making. The earlier and stronger residents were involved in the process, the higher the satisfaction rate. In a second part, the main findings of expert interviews are contrasted with the perceptions of the community at large which participated in the participatory planning process. A better understanding of community participation in urban settings is needed regarding skills, motivation, time, and defining the right levels of participation.

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“…Social endorsement of any proposed project by the residents and community will necessitate their interest, motivation and willingness to participate and contribute to the process and the objectives of the project [88]. This may include changing behavior and mind-sets or also financial contributions.…”

“…The importance of the enabling environment has already been highlighted [88], but more methods should be developed to help assess it before a specific intervention. Finally, a framework and structure should be developed to document lessons learned not only with regard to the result and outcome, but also to better understand the process and development of the successful project.…”

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“…The implementation of the HCES approach highlighted the importance and the challenge in achieving community participation (including the household level and beyond) in the planning and decision-making processes and prompted the development of the new hybrid planning framework, Community-Led Urban Environmental Sanitation (CLUES) (Lüthi et al, 2011). CLUES provides a seven step approach to planning for environmental sanitation (water supply, sanitation, solid waste management and storm drainage) which emphasises the importance of broad community involvement as well as encouraging a multi sector and multi actor approach (Lüthi et al, 2011).…”

“…CLUES provides a seven step approach to planning for environmental sanitation (water supply, sanitation, solid waste management and storm drainage) which emphasises the importance of broad community involvement as well as encouraging a multi sector and multi actor approach (Lüthi et al, 2011). As with the HCES approach, CLUES calls for an "enabling environment" to be established that provides the required conditions for sustainable environmental sanitation intervention (identical to HCES approach).…”

“…Numerous commentators have noted how lack of knowledge of new developments results in the propagation of old-fashioned approaches and solutions which do not meet the needs of people (Nance and Ortolano, 2007;McConville, 2010;Lüthi and Kraemer, 2012). In particular 'participation' does not appear to be yielding the results expected in terms of improved better tailored and effective local solutions.…”