chapter IV PRCA tools and techniques

PRCA Tools and Techniques

4.1 Overview of PRCA techniques and tools

4.2 PRCA tools and techniques for getting to know one another, warming-up
and energising
4.2.1 Tools and techniques for getting to know one another
4.2.2 Tools and techniques for warming up
4.2.3 Tools and techniques for energising
4.3 PRCA tools and techniques to know more about the community
4.3.1 Tools and techniques for collecting geographical data
4.3.2 Tools and techniques for collecting historical and other time-related
data
4.4 PRCA tools and techniques for data collection on communication issues
4.4.1 Tools and techniques for identifiying community resources and
networks
4.4.2 Tools and techniques for revealing community perceptions
4.4.3 Tools and techniques for studying community beliefs, knowledge and
practices
4.5 PRCA tools and techniques for further probing and analysing critical issues
4.5.1 Tools and techniques for problem identification and analysis
4.5.2 Tools and techniques for matching, grading and rating
4.5.3 Tools and techniques for probing

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Objective

To present an overview of the main categories of tools and techniques of PRCA and the information
they commonly generate.
At the end of this chapter you will be able to:
1. Identify the main categories of PRCA tools and techniques.
2. Indicate the various suggested PRCA tools and techniques for facilitating certain activities or
collecting different types of information.
3. Describe the various activities and information commonly facilitated with PRCA tools and
techniques.
4. Describe the differences between PRCA tools and techniques for collecting information and
those for probing and analysis.

4.1 Overview of PRCA tools and techniques

Tools and techniques used for PRCA are mainly borrowed from other participatory appraisal
approaches such as PRA, PLA, etc. Since most of these tools and techniques are visual in nature,
they remove the need for high levels of literacy and numeracy on the part of community members.
The primary purpose of PRCA tools and techniques is to enable groups in the community to express
and analyse their knowledge. They help the people to map and diagram their situation and
environment in the most comfortable and non-threatening manner using materials and symbols
that they are used to. The tools and techniques also assist the people to easily identify and prioritise
their needs, opportunities, problems, strengths, weaknesses and threats. They facilitate the
development of a visual language common to the villagers and the PRCA team and thus ensure
better communication and mutual understanding.
In selecting tools and techniques for a PRCA, it is advisable to start with those that can engage
large numbers of people and present a broad picture of the community. These tools and techniques
create excitement among the people and help the community warm up. Also bear the following in
mind when selecting the tools and techniques:
• Some PRCA tools are flexible and can be used for collecting a variety of information;
• PRCA tools should be used in such a way that they complement each other and assist you in
verifying earlier information;
• Some tools can only be used effectively after trust and rapport have been built between the
team and the community;
• Some tools are for revealing information, while other tools help you to probe and uncover
underlying circumstances of the situation;
• Some tools might be appropriate in one culture but not in another;
• All materials generated with PRCA tools and techniques must be left with the community.
The PRCA team should make copies for their own use.

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4.2 PRCA tools and techniques for getting to know one another, warming-
up and energising

4.2.1 Tools and techniques for getting to know one another

Introduction of participants in a PRCA to one another is a crucial part of the exercise. It is an
opportunity for the PRCA team to tell the community who they are and where they come from. It
is also the moment to open up discussions with the community about the focus and scope of the
PRCA in order to ensure that there is mutual understanding about the agenda of the appraisal
between the team and the community.
Introductions can be done in many ways; some simple and straight forward others more innovative,
complex and entertaining. The simple ones include self-introduction or introduction of the team
and community members by their respective leaders. The more complex ones include paired
interviews or self-introduction accompanied by some type of demonstration by the person to
depict a part of her personality or profession. For instance, a village carpenter introduces himself
and mimics himself at work building a table or something else.

4.2.2 Tools and techniques for warming up

Generally, some warming up often precedes the introductions described above. This is often in the
form of welcoming songs and dances by the community. The PRCA team should participate in
such activities, as long as it is acceptable to the community.

Figure 11: Dialogue with Ovahimba men in Namibia.

6.2 Prepare and plan for the field

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Apart from the initial warm-up, it is advisable to begin the PRCA information gathering with tools
and techniques that break down the barriers of inhibition and shyness as well as build the confidence
and kindle the creativity of the community members and the PRCA team. Such tools and techniques
help in team building and at assisting the people to describe the geography and the history of their
community; information they are familiar with and proud of and therefore do not find threatening.
Sketch maps and historical time lines are recommended as the tools for starting a PRCA. Sketch
maps help the community to model their village and identify structural, human and communication
resources they own. Time lines, on the other hand, produce accounts of the community’s history
and help to ascertain how the people have coped with certain changes that have occurred in their
life.

Figure 12: A PRCA Team shares knowledge with women in a village in Zambia.

4.2.3 Tools and techniques for energising

Energisers are techniques used during the PRCA sessions as interlude activities. They can be used
to encourage more teamwork, to revitalise the people’s creativity or break up an argument. Energisers
can also be used as the bridge between one activity and another. Encourage the community to
come up with their own energiser activities.

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4.3 PRCA tools and techniques to know more about the community

4.3.1 Tools and techniques for collecting geographical data

Various types of maps and transects are used for collecting geographical information about a
community. These tools and techniques assist the community to visually define the various types of
people in the village, residential areas, infrastructure, shops, soils, water sources, institutions,
communication resources etc. available in the community. They also show the community
surroundings, lands, cattle posts, wildlife and other important features (hills, rivers, etc).
The most common sketch maps are Village/Resource map, Social map, Thematic map, Farm sketch
and three-dimensional map or model. These maps are a very good communication aid. All people,
even those who have never been to school can make and use maps. Drawing maps has proven to
be such an enjoyable exercise that it can be used as the first tool in a PRCA to stimulate participation.
Mapping is usually performed with a lot of enthusiasm and they set the right trend in terms of
active participation of the community in a PRCA.
Transects are walks which take the PRCA team and selected members of the community through
the village and allows them to see the range of features, resources and conditions across the area.
Transects, often come after the drawing of maps and they are used to verify information gathered
from maps. The walk rarely follows a straight line, but often zigzags through different areas.

4.3.2 Tools and techniques for collecting historical and other time-related data
Time related information and the history of the community could be discovered using such PRCA
tools and techniques time lines, trend lines and seasonal calendar.

4.4 PRCA tools and techniques for data collection on communication issues

4.4.1 Tools and techniques for identifying community communication resources

and networks

With such PRCA tools as communication linkage diagram, pair-wise preference ranking, direct
matrix ranking, scoring, the communication and information networks, systems and channels of
the key interaction group(s) can be defined.
These tools can be used to reveal the groups’ preferred modern and traditional information sources
both within and from outside the community. These can range from cultural/religious events,
rituals, art, drawings, story-telling, dances, songs, role-play, drama, to audio-visual and print media.
These tools can also help to identify influential people and institutions the groups see as credible
e.g. role-models, leaders, trend-setters.

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4.4.2 Tools and techniques for revealing community perceptions

For finding out how the various groups in the community perceive and define their problems,
solutions and needs such PRCA tools and techniques as focus group discussions (FGDs), problem
tree and windows of perceptions can be used. FGDs can also be used to determine the awareness
level of the community concerning the issues under investigation. In the same way, the community’s’
attitude and level of interest in a particular issue can also be determined through FGD and the
ranking they ascribe to the issue through various PRCA tools especially the problem tree.

Figure 13: Men discussing prefered information sources in a Zimbabwean village.

4.4.3 Tools and techniques for

studying community beliefs,
knowledge and practices
FGDs, in-depth interviews and observation are
the suggested tools for studying the
community’s beliefs, knowledge, skills and
practices in relation to the problems and
solutions under discussion.
While finding out all the above information it is
also important to identify with the groups any
additional information, knowledge, skills and
resources they might need in order to solve the
problem. The tools and techniques also help to
identify the idioms, vocabulary, cultural norms
and associations, symbols and stories the
community uses in discussing the development
issues.

4.5 PRCA tools and techniques for probing and analysing critical issues

4.5.1 Tools and techniques for problem identification and analysis

Tools and techniques such as access and control profile, livelihood mapping, gender analysis,
brainstorming and the problem tree are often used for problem identification and analysis. They
are also used for identifying and analysing the needs, opportunities, problems and solutions (NOPS)
of specific groups in the community. Remember also that all the other tools and techniques contain

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specific elements that point to the NOPS of the community. Although the NOPS might not be
apparent as the tools are being used, probing or interviewing the community about the tools and
techniques brings out the needs, opportunities, problems and solutions as well as the people’s
strengths, weaknesses and threats,

4.5.2 Tools and techniques for matching, grading and rating

During a PRCA, a lot of information, especially about the needs, opportunities and problems of
specific groups in the community are discovered. However, bearing in mind that both the capabilities
of the people and resources of any outside development agency are limited only the most important
of these discoveries will be given preference. To assist the community in rating, ranking, matching,
sorting and scoring the PRCA findings, certain tools and techniques are recommended. These
include wealth ranking, shopping, open and closed ranking and scoring, preference ranking pairwise
ranking.

4.5.3 Tools and techniques for probing

Quite often during a PRCA, the emerging information does not contain all the details necessary for
making useful decisions about them. To ensure that such crucial details are discovered, PRCA uses
such tools and techniques as focus group discussions, dynamic group discussions, key informant
interviews and In-depth interviews to probe for more information.
You are reminded that the tools and techniques mentioned in this chapter are contained in the
toolbox in this handbook.

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