DERECHOS DE PROPIEDAD

Problem ranking and causes

Village mapping – transect

Needs and strategies (Analytical)

SWOT

(Capacities and vulnerabilities)

Type of activities to develop and implement Indicators – resources –

Cross checking (Assets practices)

Resources, livelihoods activities, and vulnerability

(Descriptive / spatial and temporal) HH questionnaires

Stakeholders analysis

Village transect walk

Data treatment Outputs:

• Targets – selection • Rational

• Activities & volume • Timeframe • Partnerships

Seasonal Calendars

analytical components of the PRA methods which also directly inform outputs. In addition, other information gathering techniques such as household questionnaires inform the outputs. The logical framework presented here is for illustration only. The correct combination of PRA methods will depend on the specific food security and livelihood assessment objectives that are set.

11.1 Transect walk

Transect walks take ACF staff members through a specified area – region, village or smaller area such as a farm or market – in order to gain a sense of the overall landscape and points of interest such as locations of agricultural activity, water sources, schools, markets, and health centres. To a lesser or greater extent, observation is an important part of all information gathering methods and in particular PRA methods. Transect walks lend themselves to direct observation of specific physical conditions of the environmental and social context to intentionally observe especially those that may be sensitive in nature. Sensitive topics may include conditions of crops and livestock, physical appearance of people and living conditions, and interactions between people.

Purpose: to explore an area such as a region or village or a more contained, smaller area such as a market or farm with the help of specific guides who know the area in great detail.

Objective: to provide important contextual information – physical and social - about the specified area including points of interest and sensitive topics that is important to the food security and livelihoods assessment.

Process:

Preparing for a transect walk:

• Decide on the necessary information to be collected based on food security and livelihood assessment objectives. Transect walks are particularly useful tools for collecting information on: ➜The types of vegetation and animals both wild and domesticated that exist in the area;

➜_{Signs of agricultural activity such as cultivated or maintained land, pastures, crops, livestock,} harvests drying in trees or being prepared for storage or use, locations of barns and water sources to crops, livestock and housing;

➜_{Living conditions such as location of dwellings (clustered or dispersed), abandoned areas,} physical conditions of houses, WASH, and physical appearance of people;

➜_{Access to specific locations such as proximity of houses to markets, road conditions, proximity} of social centres, religious centres, health centres or hospitals, schools;

➜Sensitive topics such as conditions of crops and livestock, physical appearance of people and living conditions, and interactions between people.

• Locate a map of the area from secondary sources and define the parameters of the area. Large areas such as a region or disperse village may need to be divided into sections.

• Identifying one or more guides (e.g., women, farmers, representatives from different religious orders) from the area to accompany you. Guides may be chosen based on the necessary information to be collected, and the guides detailed knowledge of the area and the people.

During a transect walk:

• Walk the periphery of an area to help identify marginalized sections, give a sense of the overall size, points in and out of an area, and connections to other places.

• Walk in circles and zigzags to help find routes that are less travelled. • Talk to people along the way.

• Look carefully, listen, observe and record information along the way. • Cross-check information in different locations during the transect walk. After a transect walk:

• Write up findings directly after completing the walk.

• Follow up on any data that was unexpected or any gaps in information.

Note: those being observed may change behaviours in the presence of an observer. Being as discrete and casual as possible and / or having ACF country staff conduct the transect walk will help decrease changes in the environmental or social conditions.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them:

➜_{Choosing convenient sites and paths (e.g., walking in a straight line). Follow a sampling strategy} to capture representative areas and people as well as walking on less common paths.

➜_{Looking for specific behaviours or conditions based on preconceived ideas. Create a structured} checklist of environmental characteristics or specific questions rather than specific behaviours before heading out into the field. Data collection sheets with a section for notes of unexpected observations of interest will allow for collection of additional relevant but unplanned information. ➜_{Walking quickly or talking too much gives a rushed feel that may encourage people to usher you} away or feel uncomfortable. Plan your time accordingly. Develop a priority list of necessary information based on food security and livelihood assessment objectives. If you do not have time to gather all the relevant information, choose the priorities that need to happen during a specific visit. ➜Writing everything observed down will attract attention and is likely to change behaviours. Refer back to the food security and livelihood assessment objectives and keep focused on the necessary information you have decided to obtain.

Application: Village transect walks provide the initial context of the food security and livelihoods assessment. Transect walks offer the first pictures, identification of different areas and visualization of conditions, constraints, and opportunities. Information gathered from observation of the landscape is triangulated during semi-structured interviews with key informants and focus groups on aspects of food security and livelihoods such as the way the land is used, types of vegetation and soils, cultural practices of farming and livestock-raising, types and location of water resources. A schematic synthesis of this information can form the basis for the identification of livelihood zones. Transect walks may also be used to gather information on how things change during different times of the year and may be combined with seasonal calendars as well as mapping sessions.

Examples: Transect Walks

Information gathered during a Transect walk

The geography, animals, annual and perennial crops are identified as important aspects of the area. Problems and opportunities regarding these specific aspects have also been identified.

Resources and Social Mapping session were informed by the Transect Walk. Information collected during the mapping session included:

Resources mapping: Natural, Productive, Market, WASH

Social mapping: Health structures, Education, Economic structures, Poverty/vulnerability areas More detailed map combining data from Transect Walk and Mapping session

Animal Passage Way Market Stalls Homes

Agriculture Fields Borehole