International Journal of Agricultural Management & Developement (IJAMAD) Available online on: www.ijamad.com

Factors Affecting Rural Facilitators’ Role:

Farideh Azimi1 and Mohammad Bagher Kamali2*

Received: 25 December 2010, his study aimed to examine key factors affecting rural Revised: 4 February 2011, Tfemale facilitators’ role in participatory rural development Accepted: 6 February 2011 in Province. Since the researchers intended to have a better insight into the facilitators’ role and employ inquiry as a learning forum for bringing about changes for all participants, they preferred to use a case study based upon an appreciative inquiry method. The study divided the factors affecting the facilitators’ role into two main categories: driving factors and preventing factors. The former are: two-way communication, election of rural eligible facilitators, participation, sense of responsibility, and the latter are: cultural and tribal fanaticism, lack of permanent female extension workers and frequent

Abstract management changes. Appreciative inquiry as a positive mode of action research could facilitate the process of education and communication for all stakeholders. We suggested that there should be a shift from the extension as a knowledge transfer to facilitation as people’s own knowledge creation. This study showed that appreciative inquiry could facilitate the process of Keywords: change and gender-awareness. This research method could Rural female facilitators, Facilitation, Rural develop- also facilitate mutual communication between the rural facilitators ment, Appreciative inquiry, and extension workers. Iran International Journal of Agricultural Management & Developement, 1(1): 7-14, Winter, 2011. Winter, Agricultural Management & Developement, 1(1): 7-14, International Journal of

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1 Faculty member Agri and RD Planning, Economics Research Institute. 2 Department of Extension, , MJA * Corresponding email: [email protected] Factors Affecting/Farideh Azimi et al.

INTRODUCTION process of learning and change for all of the Women should participate on a par with men participants including the researchers themselves. in social, economic and political activities in It is also believed that facilitating popular rural development and should play a crucial role participation at grassroots level is not separated in satisfying their own concrete needs. Development from facilitating participation within the MJA can not be achieved without women's authentic and among its development workers. Facilitation participation. They should have more control on of authentic grassroots participation in a relatively their own destiny. Women's participation and non participatory organization demands patience learning is not only an empowering process for and perseverance. To foster local participation, women but also a capacitating process for the it is essential to bring about some changes in the whole family and society. Gender sensitive MJA as well (Kamali, 2006). Another crucial approaches often focus on women and ignore objective of the inquiry is to examine how men. Whereas, in order to materializing such a appreciative inquiry can facilitate horizontal crucial objective i.e. bringing about authentic communication between extension workers and transformation, both groups should be equally RFFS. In addition, it was also planned to study addressed and involved (ALINE, 2010). This how employment of the appreciative inquiry could be the cornerstone for people's life could purvey a learning forum for all participants. improvement in all aspects. The rural female facilitators' project is one of Rural development in Iran the key rural women projects in the Bureau of The rural population of Iran is 22 million and rural women's office (BRWO) in the Ministry of facing a high rural immigration rate. Rural Jahad for agriculture (MJA). The project has development does not just mean agricultural been carried out by action research method by development. Neither, it is achieved by money Kamali and his colleagues since 2000. It has injection. Rather it demands to bring about some begun in a district, as a pilot, in Chaharmahal va structural changes. In such a way that people Bakhtiyari Province. Having done this pilot, it have a say and stay on their own feet without has gradually expanded into other provinces, crutches. To accomplish such an essential aim, including Tehran Province. In this project, rural it is necessary to focus on participatory and women themselves elect their own representatives liberating education for rural populace and as rural facilitators. The latter is changed and simultaneously for government extension agents. empowered through participatory communication In fact it is crucial to focus on "to be" rather and education. They consequently facilitate rural than "to have" more. As Freire asserts, this kind women's empowerment. The extension agents of education should be based on two-way of MJA are being simultaneously empowered discussion and communication. Education can through two way communication and participatory be either domesticating or emancipating. In the workshops (Kamali et al, forthcoming). former, education is nothing except "filling" or In this paper, the researchers aim to examine "transferring" knowledge as orthodox extension. the factors affecting the role of rural female Where as, in the latter it is dynamic process of facilitators in Tehran province as a case study. learning through two way communication and Since the researchers are involved in the project interaction. It is opposite of "banking education" themselves and are interested in learning and (Freire, 1972). Education in MJA is mainly one changing themselves and to empower the relevant way imparting of knowledge from MJA's colleagues and rural female facilitators, it was functionaries to the rural populace. It indeed

International Journal of Agricultural Management & Developement, 1(1): 7-14, Winter, 2011. Winter, Agricultural Management & Developement, 1(1): 7-14, International Journal of decided to carry out the research by appreciative demands a dramatic transformation from 8 inquiry method. communiqué into authentic participatory education We believe that appreciative inquiry is a form and communication. of participatory action research. It is not to MJA has a major role in rural development collect information, rather the research is a activities in Iran. The MJA has often adopted a by fewexperts.Insocial sciences, wearefacing that researchisallaboutproduction ofknowledge extension ascommuniqué(Kamali,forthcoming). project isfacilitationratherthanconventional female facilitators’ project. The focusofthis velopment anditisthecornerstoneofrural liberation processshouldfacilitatewo/men’s de- sensitive communication(Kamali,1998). This "liner malecommuniqué"intohorizontalgender educational relationshipmustbealteredfrom decision making. The MJA capacity toactivelycontributeplanningand physical labourandmoney, ratherthantheir it mainlyreferredtopeople'scontributionof participation. Evenwhenparticipation out theirprojects'for'peoplewithlittlecommunity These developmentworkershavemainlycarried dependent ontheMJA'sdevelopmentworkers. population. As aresult,theruralcommunityis it takesontheroleof'guardian'rural paternalistic approachtodevelopmentinwhich present situationintocounter ality uponwomen.Inordertotransformthe in ruralareasandtheformerhasimposedhisre- power hasrelativelymaderuralwomeninvisible imply stateandeconomicpowers;malehegemonic is averycomplexphenomenon.Itdoesnotonly emancipation mustbeincludedaswell.Hegemony not belimitedtomen'sliberation;women's develop themselves(Nyerere,in:Kamali,1998). People cannotbedevelopedtheyonly do whatpeopledecidedtoontheirown. mayeasethewayandhelpthemto animators may wishtochangethestatus–quoand and thebarrierstotheirowndevelopment,they oppressed becomeconsciousoftheiroppression rather thantotransfertheknowledge.Once facilitate theprocessoflearningandchange into 'facilitation'. The extensionofficers should extension agentsthatisachangefrom'extension' erment, itdemandsachangeintheroleof 2003). knowledge ofthelocalcommunity(Kamali, the significantpotentialcontributionsandin Human beingsseemtobe trappedinthemyth The processof"man's"empowermentshould To achievepeople'sparticipation andempow- MATERIALSMETHODS AND has therefore – hegemonic Factors Affecting/Farideh Azimi et al. et Factors Affecting/FaridehAzimi is men over coali digenous tioned, looked tion, pability oftheruralmasses anditpreventsthem with asubject-objectrelationship impliesinca- that researchonthebasegroup byexternalre views oftheparticipants. Itwasalsofoundout life oftheparticipantsandbycollective degree ofresearcher'sinvolvementintheactual that validityoftheresearchincreasesby out ourfieldexperiences,ithasbeenrealized the participatorydevelopmentresearch. Through- the complexityofissuesandchallenges with theparticipants,morewelearnedabout 1981). lasting solutions'(Hall,inReason&Rowan, [activity]…andthekeytolong– development in solutionsisafundamentalelementany right tointerprettheirproblemsandbeinvolved that ordinarypeoplehavebothanabilityand and theresearched.Hallargues that'thebelief there isnoroomforseparationofresearchers development ofhumanbeingsisconcerned, demands itsownresearchapproach. When the her ownbidforsocialpower''(Rahman,1993). is involvedconsciouslyorunconsciouslyinhis/ non- involvementisamyth–thesocialresearcher to promotetheirownprivileges…inthissense active incontrollingorinfluencingsocialpower labour, aclasswhichhasseentobepolitically constituting aseparationofmentalfrommanual ...) distinctfromthemasses 'class' ofintellectuals(experts,technocratsand contributed tothecreationandperpetuationofa must beproducedbydetachedobservationhas ''the methodologicalpremisethatknowledge rural poorandneglected. inquiry, wehaveattemptedtotakesideonthe sides (Macdonald,in:Carmen,1990).Inthis only amyth.S/he,inonewayorother, takes researcher; buttheneutralityofresearcheris social sciencesseemstobethe'neutrality'of char from educationandaction.Oneofthekey orthodox inquiryistheisolationofresearch is tobeextracted. The prevalentattitudein counted andcontrolled,fromwhomknowledge human beings. They arenot'objects'tobe with thoughtfulandcreativesubjects. They are The morewecarriedoutparticipatoryresearch Having saidthat,apeople–centereddevelopment Nonetheless, whatisquiteclearthefactthat acteristics, orbettercalledclaims,ofdominant of direct producers, searchers

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from generating their own solutions and initiatives. It perpetuates their dependency on external plan- ning and action (Rahman, op. cit; Kamali, forth- coming). Reality is not what we, as researchers, see as something 'objective' over there. The reality can be viewed better if the researcher has a subject- subject relationship with the researched. During the research period, an attempt has made to integrate research with education and Figure1: Learning loop of participatory action research. action. If authentic development is perceived as [Hope et al., 1984] the process of humanization, it is not another deposit to be made in men, nor is it achieved persists even within this alternative participatory through ' extension' as transferring knowledge research paradigm. Since I have become gender and technology. aware I have tried to perceive women’s issues, Liberation is praxis: The action and reflection but it is not easy for us ‘men’ to understand their of wo/men upon their own world to transform oppression and exclusion. it. Freire continues that this implies that one If a more just and equitable society between must be the ' subject' of change in one's own sexes is to be achieved, it is necessary for men life, not being the object of others' thought and to be involved in the process of learning and action (Freire, 1972). change (Mosse, in: Kamali, forthcoming). More Figure 1 on the next page illustrates the basic over, our stance is appreciative. We gradually features of this learning loop of Participatory realized that a negative mentality or problem– action research. based paradigm of inquiry, be it participatory Indeed, ' the inquiry should itself be educational rural appraisal or PAR, are self- limiting and ob- and empowering for participants; outcomes stacles in the process of facilitating authentic should include an action on attitudes and structures development. Since then an attempt has been that inhibits self- worth, social justice or liberation. made to see and inquire the reality from a So here the criteria of successful research relate positive perspective, rather than to look for prob- more to empowerment or social justice than to lems and deficits. 'Appreciative inquiry distin- increase efficiency or generalizable knowledge' guishes itself from critical modes of research by (Maguire, 1987). its deliberately affirmative assumptions about One of the evolutionary outcomes of this people, organizations and relationship. It focuses human inquiry has been a profound change in on asking the unconditional positive question to the researchers' own perception of research and ignite transformative dialogue and action within development. For many years we used to work human systems' (Ludema et al., 2006). In this 'for' people. We have gradually learned to work positive approach one perceives the portion that 'with' people. Now, we are learning to let people is full and clear rather than focusing on empty to work and learn for themselves 'without' us as and deficient part. It is based on strengths rather ‘outsiders’ (Kamali et al., forthcoming). than weaknesses, on a vision and on what is Particular lens have been adopted to examine possible rather than an analysis of what is not. this case study. For some time I thought I was Our original motivation was to offer an opportunity implementing an authentic action research. In to the participants to think about the positive International Journal of Agricultural Management & Developement, 1(1): 7-14, Winter, 2011. Winter, Agricultural Management & Developement, 1(1): 7-14, International Journal of retrospect, I realized that I was gender – blind. I images of the future in order to mutually gain 10 found out that participatory action research would more insights through sharing views and expe- not guarantee the participation of all, neither riences about the project and finally improving would it be gender- sensitive per se. I have their practices (Ospina et al., 2004). As it can be realized that the power of the patriarchy still easily perceived, action research is an evolving nication withruralpeople anddifferent organi- impacts’ theydeclared the followings: empowerment. villagers andtofacilitatewomen'sprogress edge, toenhancetheirrelationshipswithother crease theirandruralwomen'sskillsknowl- privilege togetacquaintancewithothers,in- a facilitator. They pointedoutthat:theyhave first, theywereaskedwhatareproudofas started in2005andbotharestillcontinuing. At begun in2002,whiletheRFFproject Damavand andVaramin meetings'mainout meetings. the keyissuesdiscussedinDamavand& Varamin level. Nowanattemptismadetoraisesomeof evant extensionagentsfromlocaluptonational discussion wasformedwiththepresenceofrel- meetings withruralfacilitatorsafocusgroup formed inDamavand.Havinghadthesetwo applied. ranking, visiondrawingandactionplanwere analysis, semi-structuredinterview, pair- wised techniques suchas:timelines,force–field cilitators. Inthismeetingdifferent participatory formed withpresenceof26 Varamin's ruralfa- level. tension agentsfromcountytoheadquarters’ from DamavandCountyandfiverelevantex- Varamin County, 15ruralfemalefacilitators and capacity-buildingforalloftheparticipants. research hasbeenaprocessofself-development the researchersthemselves.Onwhole, education andchangeforallparticipantsincluding been attemptedtouseresearchasaprocessof to extractknowledgefrom.Moreoverithas ticipants asco-researchersandlesssubjects positive andappreciativemodeofinquiry. to gender-sensitive andfromproblem-biasedto methodology. Ithasevolvedfromgender- biased Women's participationhasincreased,commu- Then, inresponseto‘what aretheproject’s Similar meetingwithpresenceof15facilitators To begintheresearch,atfirstameetingwas They are26ruralfemalefacilitatorsfrom Participants ofthishumaninquiryare: In thisinquirywedidourbesttotreatthepar- Rural facilitators’ projectinDamavandhas Factors Affecting/Farideh Azimi et al. et Factors Affecting/FaridehAzimi comes meetings. as well: agers. in village. suggestions andactionplans. and othertechniquesfacilitatorsraisedsome do different activitiesthemselves. performing different projects. women. in 2022facilitatorsexplained: cation. budget andlackoflifelongcontinuousedu- pation andtrust,lackproperplanning,insufficient tural andtribalfanaticism,people'slowpartici- progress andruralwomen'sparticipation provement oftheruralwomen'slife,villages' truthfulness, closerelationwithmanagers,im- as drivingforces: rural femalefacilitatorsmentionedthefollowing micro creditfunds. and formingruralwomen’s cooperativesand bandry, communicationandparticipationissues educational classesonagriculture,animalhus- flowers andanimalhusbandry;settingupmore mushroom andsaffron cultivation,producing improve theirhouseholdeconomy, suchas: formation andjobcreationforruralwomen'sto myself andothers,toincreaseruralwomen'sin- sulting witheachother, makingmotivationfor confidence andselfesteemhasenhanced,con- zations suchasMJA hasimproved,ourself - ParticipationofDWsin facilitators'monthly They mentionedsomeproposals forBROW - Dividingthetasks. - Learnfromothers'experiences. - Thinking together andconsultingwithman- - To getfamiliarwithlaws. - Dotheirbesttosolvepeople'sproblems. - Identifyingthepositiveandnegativepoints Based uponforcefieldanalysis,visiondrawing - FacilitatorsgroupswilljoinBROW andwill - Women's selfreliancewillbeincreasedby - Itwillchangethewrongobservationsof Hopelessness anddespair, legalobstacles,cul- RFFs raisedthefollowingaspreventiveforces: Hope, motivation,participation,honorand Regarding forcefieldanalysisoftheproject, To drawthevisionoffacilitators'project 11 International Journal of Agricultural Management & Developement, 1(1): 7-14, Winter, 2011. Factors Affecting/Farideh Azimi et al.

- Creating a permanent channel for getting Varamin meetings with rural facilitators. It was and diffusing information. planned to assess the project from relevant - Issuing an identification card for facilitators. extension officers involved in the project as - More study visits of other facilitators' works well. From the outset, the meeting was conducted & experiences in other provinces. in such a way that it was not only an appraisal of - Providing a permanent place for women's the project but also a two- way communication activities in village. and learning forum for all participants. From research outcomes, project performance At first they mentioned project's significant in Damavand is nearly better than Varamin. For impacts on rural people as following: the former has commenced the project sooner -Increase of their information, self steam, self than Varamin. Damavand's facilitators appear to reliance and self belief have a better insight into the project’s aims. In - Enhancement of rural women's activities and fact, they have fewer requests from government their more participation in community and less dependent on MJA’s development work- - Transferring the problems and educational ers. Moreover, they have more voluntary attitudes needs to relevant managers. and beliefs. They also stated more self-driven From their opinion the most important reasons activities in their own villages. brought about the above changes are: On the whole, their success may have different Facilitators' proper communication with local reasons such as: people, project's participatory nature, facilitator's - Damavand has been the first pilot in Tehran participation and role and MJA project func- province and more attention has been given to tionaries specially field workers. the project. Then they mentioned the effects of the project - They have had a better election process, on themselves as: thus, more suitable facilitators have been elected - It has enhanced their knowledge. in Damavand. - It has improved their communication with -The project in Damavand has been initiated local people and among themselves. sooner than Varamin. It has had effects on their personal life and -The project's extension officer in Damavand they are aware of the changes in themselves. is a permanent staff. Moreover, she is a local Regarding project's force–field analysis they resident herself. pointed out the following factors as driving - The Damavand extension officer has attended forces: in some project's training workshops regarding Educations and visits for facilitators and facilitation, while the Varamin extension officer extension officers, permanent communication could not attend the workshops. between facilitators and functionaries, encouraging - Damavand's rural facilitators have had more the facilitators and preparing the ground for training and experiences. electing the suitable rural facilitators. Having discussed the above issues, it needs Pertaining preventing factors they raised the more inquiry to get a better insight. following: Complicated bureaucracy, non encouraging Focused group discussion with the relevant environment, low budget, no educational programs development workers in MJA for facilitators, lack of permanent female personnel A focused group discussion was conducted to create communication with women facilitators, for relevant extension officers from Damavand, frequent management changes, provincial dependency International Journal of Agricultural Management & Developement, 1(1): 7-14, Winter, 2011. Winter, Agricultural Management & Developement, 1(1): 7-14, International Journal of Varamin, Tehran and one officer responsible for to central budget, managers' low collaboration 12 the project in the headquarters, including the with female staff and managers' low belief and researchers themselves. appreciation of women's activities. Within this meeting an attempt was made to During the focused group discussion some mainly focus on issues raised in Damavand and key points were raised by the participants: Factors Affecting/Farideh Azimi et al.

One of the participants stated that “the budget CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION is not enough for continuing the project and it This participatory action research has been will affect the project's performance”. Another conducted to examine factors affecting the rural development worker argued that “due to the female facilitators' project in Tehran Province. project's participatory nature, it takes long time The project has started in Damavand and and its effects aren't visible in a short time so the senior managers less appreciate and value it”. In Varamin counties since 2002. The inquiry has the flow of discussion it was realized that the been carried out in such away that was more an meetings for electing the local facilitators have appreciative mode of action research. It has been too fast and some of the local people have been a learning forum and change for all not been aware of the meetings and its purpose. stakeholders including researchers as facilitators Conversely, if one wishes to allocate more time of this educational process. Reality is not what s/he faces shortage of vehicles for missions and we see as experts 'over there’; rather it is insufficient personnel. Unfortunately the bureaucracy system in Iran obtained by subject– subject relation between is an obstacle in the way of planning participatory the researcher and the researched. Having had development. This system, in various reasons a subject – subject relation with all relevant such as centralized power locus, and top – down participants we arrived at the following main planning and low motivation, makes it difficult driving and preventing forces in the way of the to carry out participatory projects in such an en- rural female facilitators’ project in Tehran vironment. Province. Other important problem which was mentioned in the meeting is the frequent changes of managers. On the whole, proper election of the RFFs, New managers aren't familiar with the projects. and the simultaneous participatory training of Since they are not aware of the activities, the both RFFs and the relevant extension officers projects may be overlooked and officers involved and managers should be emphasized as an assurance get discouraged. for the project’s success. Moreover, gender-sensitive One of the other issues raised during the approaches can not ignore men. To facilitate meeting is the managers' interests in presenting authentic rural women’s empowerment a more show cases. Therefore they prefer to focus on projects which have immediate and concrete re- gender-balanced approach should be employed sults rather than participatory projects which through project’s different phases such as: design, take long time and less tangible outcomes. implementation and evaluation.

Table 1: Main driving forces from RFFs & extension staff’s views

From RFFs’ view From extension staff’s view

Motivation & participation Staff’s follow up activities Communication with managers Election of eligible facilitators Visiting successful projects Training of facilitators and extension staff Training

Table 2: Main preventing forces from RFFs' & extension staff’s views International Journal of Agricultural Management & Developement, 1(1): 7-14, Winter, 2011. Winter, Agricultural Management & Developement, 1(1): 7-14, International Journal of From RFFs’ view From extension staff’s view 13 Cultural & tribal fanaticism Complicated bureaucracy Legal obstacles Lack of encouragement People's low participation and trust Lack of continuous training for facilitators Lack of proper planning Lack of permanent female field worker Lack of lifelong & continuous education Continuous management changes Factors Affecting/Farideh Azimi et al.

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