BOBLME-2009-REG-5.0-IWS-07
Facilitating Community
Participation
Lessons learnt from SOCMON& SLED
Vineeta Hoon
vineetahoon@gmail.com
BOB LME Inception Workshop 3-5 November 2009

Session Structure
· SOCMON, SLED - The effectiveness of the
participatory approach
· Existing Networks and capacity
· Lessons learnt - site examples
· Achievements
· Implications for Policy
· Links with the BOB LME
Centre for Action Research on Environment Science
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and Society

CORALI Project
2007-2008
Implemented by
IUCN ELGIN
covered countries
with Coral Reefs
India, Srilanka
Maldives,Pakistan,
Bangladesh and
Indonesia

SOCMON
· GLOBAL Programme - GCRMN
· Coordinated by NOAA
· Regions with guidelines ready: SEA, SA,
WIO, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Central
America. regional coordinator and strategic
plan
· Comes with Some funding from NOAA
coral reef programme.
Centre for Action Research on Environment Science
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and Society

The Discovery STAGE: SOCMON
Understanding how the Community uses
coastal and marine ecosystems.
livelihood dependency/ recreation
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SLED
· An Approach developed by IMM, tested out
in 5 sites in South Asia and 1 in Indonesia
· SLED built on SocMon and the poverty and
reefs study and took it further to focus on
livelihoods E and D.
· These approaches are more than socio-
economics and statistics. People centered
and Community driven.
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and Society

External Factors that Create Uncertainty
shocks - trends - seasonality
Gov Authority
service
Relationships
Com. Leaders
provider
Influences
Attitudes
culture
Beliefs
Social norms
markets
Culture of
Dependency
corruption
cultures
language
human
Spirituality
ethnicity
information
social
Sexual
gender
orientation
Physical
ability &
Appearance
You
disability
class &
age
Infrastructure
caste
natural
Charisma
financial
Hopes
Changes 
opps & threats
CHOICES
ACTIONS
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LIVELIHOOD OUTCOMES

SLED Approach
Discovery
Direction
Doing
1.1 Preparing for SLED
2.1 Scoping
opportunities
1.2 Learning about
3.1 Implementing
livelihoods
change
2.2 Selecting Options
for SLED action
1.3 Building consensus
3.2 Building enabling
for change
environment
2.3 Detailed planning
for livelihood change
1.4 Building visions
Supporting Processes for SLED
Building networks and relationships
Supporting people to have voice
Building cooperation and coordination in
Establishing ownership of the process the community
Building confidence and appreciation of
Establishing systems for joint learning strengths and potential
and feedback
Fostering leadership, innovation and
enterprise skills
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The Challenges
Institutionalizing Community Processes
· Step 1: Initiating the Participatory Process
· Step 2: Facilitating a CBO establishment
· Step 3: Evolving it into a mechanism that
gathers good reliable data
· Step 4: Exploring Livelihood options
· Step 5: Integrating Livelihoods with
Conservation
· Step 6: Keep it going
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Hikimass
Building a glass bottom boat
Traditional coconut climbers
Training Nature Guides
diversifying
Action driven by
PEOPLE
Artefact production
Business skills training
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Sewing activities
Copra
Roof making
Crafts
carpentry

SLED In Lakshadweep
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Discovering womens
role and strengths
DISCOVERY
Learning about traditional livelihoods
Centre fo
Ce r Acti
ntre fo on
r Re
Acti search on
on Re
Env
search oniron

m
Env ent
iron Scie
m
nce
ent
and
Scie
So
nce ci
and et
y
Society
and the linkages to the reef

Group visioning
Direction showing
possibilities
Scoping
Building Linkages
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opportunities

DOING
CBO Established
Training members
Brand name
Diversifying

`
Reinforcing Ecosystem and economic system complexities

Conservation
Map showing Areas for Protection at Minicoy by JCRMC
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Conservation and Enterprise
· Island Festival 2009
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SLED in Kudawa
Discovery
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Common group visioning
Community notice board for
information sharing
Direction
Opportunities for Improved Employment/Skills
Activity
Level of
Degree of
Required
Availabil
Availa
Communit
Potential
Level of
ity of
bility
Doing
y
investmen
technolo
of
agreement
t
gy
market
4.Skill
H
H
M
A
H
development
in under
water welding
5. Providing
H
H
M
A
H
professional
license for
divers
Opportunities for household Expenditure Reduction
6. Home
H
H
L
A
NA
gardening
improvement
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Lessons Learnt
· Socioeconomic Monitoring provides the basic
information for the establishment of Community
need based programs.
· With regular socioeconomic monitoring we have
a finger on the pulse of the people and can note
the change taking place in peoples perceptions
towards both livelihoods and conservation
· Recommend/establish programs for maximum
impact.
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SLED/SOCMONAchievements
· Built capacity - Led to establishment of both
conservation and enterprise CBO's at
Lakshadweep and srilanka
· Awareness of the need for conservation
· Environment education Package developed
· At one site the community has requested the
Administration for a Community managed
reserve and for SET Net fishing to be stopped.
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Understanding global Change and the
implications for policy
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What role can SOCMON and
SLED play in Policy
· Creating resilience to shocks and trends
· Implementing Policy
· Informing Policy
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SOCMON
· understanding of the socioeconomic
parameters of coastal ecosystem
management is an issue that is emphasized
in national policy in most of the countries.
· Adaptive Management
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Qualities of a good Socio
economic research programme
· Accessible to the community as well as outsiders;
· Low on development resources particularly the
time and efforts of field workers and community
members
· Updated reliable and relevant information;
· Simplified / easy to understand;
· Transparent;
· Reflects and responds to culture, religion and
social norms.
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Creating resilience to global
shocks and trends:
· Shocks and trends:
climate change
fuel prices
recession
food prices
globalization
major economic changes in the region -
recession and boom
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Implementing policy:
· Generates knowledge, increases capacity &
changes behaviour to support policies in:
Conservation/sustainable resource use
Poverty reduction
Economic growth
Employment
Domestic food security
Mainstreaming gender
Empowerment of communities and indi 27
vidu
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als

Informing policy:
· SLED and SOCMON
Knowledge of resources
Knowledge of people and institutions
Needs and aspirations of communities - SLED
Plans for the future
Information on impacts of change
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ciety

Thank You
Centre for Action Research on Environment Science and 29
Society