HADev - Holistic Assessment of Development Assessing the ‘Big Picture’ of Development in Nanumba South, Ghana Roger Bymolt [email protected] www.rogerbymolt.com/hadev/ MSc International Development Studies Graduate School of Social Sciences, Universiteit van Amsterdam September 2010 First Supervisor: Prof. Ton Dietz Second Supervisor: Dr. Fred Zaal ROGER BYMOLT III Contents Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................. vii List of Tables .........................................................................................................................................ix List of Maps ..........................................................................................................................................ix List of Figures ........................................................................................................................................x List of Images.........................................................................................................................................x Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................................xi 1. Introduction .....................................................................................................1 PART I. The Foundations of the HADev Methodology ..............................3 2. Theoretical Framework ....................................................................................3 2.1. Understanding That Which We Hope to Assess ................................................................. 3 2.2. Towards Participation in Development Assessment ........................................................... 4 2.3. What Exactly is PM&E? ....................................................................................................... 5 2.4. Critiques of Participation ..................................................................................................... 7 2.5. Participatory Assessment of Development (PADev) ............................................................7 3. Background to the Research ........................................................................ 11 3.1. Research Processes .......................................................................................................... 12 4. Background to the Research Area ................................................................15 4.1. Overview of the Northern Region, Ghana ......................................................................... 15 4.2. Overview of the Researched Communities ...................................................................... 18 4.3. Differences Between the Researched Villages .................................................................. 20 4.4. Ethnic Conflict ................................................................................................................... 21 4.5. Structures of Governance in Ghana .................................................................................. 23 5. Holistic Assessment of Development (HADev) – Outline ..............................27 5.1. Conceptual Scheme .......................................................................................................... 27 5.2. Research Questions .......................................................................................................... 30 5.3. Operationalisation.............................................................................................................. 31 5.4. HADev Workshop Exercises - Outline ............................................................................... 33 5.5. Mixed Methods Research.................................................................................................. 34 5.6. Epistemological Position .................................................................................................. 35 5.7. Research Assistants .......................................................................................................... 35 5.8. Sampling of Participants ................................................................................................... 36 5.9. Sampling of Projects to Assess .........................................................................................36 5.10. Challenges in the Field ...................................................................................................... 38 5.11. Ethical Issues ..................................................................................................................... 38 5.12. Limitations ......................................................................................................................... 39 5.13. The Stoneperson and the Stickperson ..............................................................................40 6. HADev Exercises in Detail .............................................................................43 6.1. Introduction to Workshops ................................................................................................ 43 6.2. Events ................................................................................................................................ 43 6.3. Changes ............................................................................................................................ 44 6.4. Project Recall..................................................................................................................... 45 6.5. Best 5/Worst 5 Projects ..................................................................................................... 46 IV HOLISTIC ASSESSMENT OF DEVELOPMENT (HADEV) 6.6. Expectations Met and Project Impact on Domains ...........................................................47 6.7. Benefits to Wealth Groups ................................................................................................. 48 6.8. Benefits to Gender Groups ................................................................................................ 50 6.9. Assessment of Agencies ................................................................................................... 51 6.10. Future Priorities ................................................................................................................. 52 7. Agency Perspectives .....................................................................................53 7.1. Agency Interview 1 ............................................................................................................ 53 7.2. Agency Interview 2 ............................................................................................................ 53 7.3. Agencies Interviewed and their Function ......................................................................... 54 8. GIS Mapping .................................................................................................55 PART II. Constructing the ‘Big Picture’ in Nanumba South .................... 57 9. Events ............................................................................................................ 57 9.1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 57 9.2. Summary ........................................................................................................................... 58 10. Changes ........................................................................................................ 61 10.1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 61 10.2. Changes Summary ............................................................................................................ 66 10.3. Linking Events, Changes and Projects ..............................................................................69 11. Project Assessment Overview ....................................................................... 73 12. Expectations Met .......................................................................................... 83 13. Project Impact Assessment on Domains ......................................................85 13.1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 85 13.2. Summary by Sector ........................................................................................................... 87 13.3. Summary of Impact on Domains .......................................................................................92 13.4. Agency Perspectives ......................................................................................................... 95 14. Benefit to Wealth Groups ............................................................................101 14.1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 101 14.2. Summary by Sector ......................................................................................................... 101 14.3. Summary Overall ............................................................................................................. 106 14.4. Agency Perspectives ......................................................................................................