The Most significant Change Strategy

Implemented for the SCAMPIS Project (micro-irrigation and natural fertilization for vulnerable small-holders), to improve the M&E strategy and the International Learning/Sharing Platform (Learning Path).
Involved organizations:
IFAD (Water and Infrastructure desk)
Guatemala: Funcafé;
India: IDEI, OTELP, IFAD ICO)

Started in:
Guatemala - Oriental Region (April 2012)
India - Orissa Region (May 2012)

The Scampis MSC steps are

1 - Stories Collection by young reporters
A small group of young reportes (trained by Scampis staff, age between 12 - 16) interview farmers of their own community. Modaily interviewr, video recording and photos makers.

2 - Field level analysis
The project local staff analyse the videos collected on the field and discuss about i)Most Significant Change perceived by the interviewed ii) Most Significant Difficoulties iii) Innovations and Hidden aspects of the project. Among the almost 30 videos 10 are selected to continue the analysis process.

3 - National Level analysis
Project supervisor and National staff analyse the videos (same criteria mentioned above) and select 6 videos.

4 - International Level analysis
The partner counties and IFAD will do the analysis on the 6 videos selected

5 - Linking MSC to M&E data collection
The qualitative and quantitative information will be linked together in order to provide a overall comprhensive understanding of the project, the achievements and the strategies implemented. This will provide a useful tool for the future to design and implement effective strategies for scaling up micro-irrigation.

The variation  from the ufficial MSC process

The Scampis MSC has been introduced during the last stage of the project due to a concrete need to improve the understanding of the project, numbers and data collected were not enough to understand the real changes and their dimensions. Due to this late start the stories collection has not been a continuous and incremental process (as it should be in order to capture the real change - daily change and challenges). The strong interest in the implementing organization in developing and practicing the method to discover/understand  the project brought to the formulation of the Scampis MSC. In this strategy the collection of the stories is limited in the time and the analysis of the stories is extremely articulated and developed in order to be sure to internalize the knowledge and transform it in learning (learning for change). The cross countries analysis is a fundamental step for the process. The analysis developed at each stage is a way to let the staff recognize the impact of their activities and understand how to improve them.

The Scampis MSC strategy (India, MSC training, May 2012)



What is the Most Significant Change Technique?

Our reporters for the MSC!

 The Scampis MSC reporters in Guatemala!!

April 2012

Moyuta, Conguaco, Olopa, San Pedro Pinula, Camotàn.

Most Significant Change Training, Bhubaneswar, 9 – 10 May 2012

Objectives of the training

• Explain what the Most Significant Change (MSC) technique and practice MSC with participants
• Identification and planning of the MSC strategy for SCAMPIS project

Results of the training

         i.            The MSC has been presented and discussed in plenary. The participants understood the main differences between quantitative monitoring and qualitative monitoring. They also identified the differences between simple stories collection and MSC stories collection. The importance of not influencing the interviewed and create the good environment for letting him/her tell the own story has been captured through exercises. 

        ii.            The participants practices exercise for the stories collection and analysis

      iii.            The participant develop their own MSC strategy to apply in the fields in following 2 weeks 

             Participants

The workshop hosted 26 participants (see participants list annex) with roles and responsibilities coming from different organizations.

• Scampis staff: BA, VBM and dealer
• OTELP
• NGOs
• Farmers
• Facilitators: Cecilia Ruberto (IFAD); Tapan (IDEI)

The participants are all in the position to be the implementers and designer of the Most Significant Change for SCAMPIS India.

Methodology

Introduction of MSC. Why we use this tool, to achieve which results: learning and improve our work improve our activities planning. To learn and use the knowledge for a more effective activities. Also to know the hidden stories that are behind the use of MIS technologies, the secret interlinks with the real stories, with the context, families and villages relations, constraints faced in the process.

A great effort has been put on 3 points

-       Create the friendly environment conditions that enable to get the story of life

-       Analysis process: the purpose of the analysis process

-       Practice the technique understanding which are the critical points in implementing it

The participants divided per group following the different district in which they work identified the strategy to implement MSC. The participant decided t

Finally each participant received her/his participation certificate diploma.

The participants identified the following strategy to develop the MSC stories collection:

-       Organize village meeting and explain what MSC is about and identify farmers interested in sharing their story and kids interested in collecting the stories.

-       In a second moment (after few days) train the kids of the village in collecting the story, method of interview, use of flipcam and photograph machine.

-       In the same day of the training go to the farmers of their own village to collect the stories/interviews.

Training Participants Evaluation

The methodology has been overall considered useful and not complex to develop. Generally MSC has been identified as an appropriate tool not only to show the change at the field level, but also to reflect on the strategy adopted by the same staff. The work with group of kids has not identified as a barrier, on the contrary has been consider a good way to reflect the “real story of the farmers” and don’t influence it.

The staff will have the challenge to develop good training technique for the kids and to do so the collaboration between SCAMPIS, OTELP and NGO will be extremely useful (different skills and competencies).

“Previously we didn’t evaluate properly our work as we didn’t know how to do it. A proper evaluation will improve our plan and work”

“I hope I can use MSC for different projects. I will teach others to use this technique. I believe that this technique is good also to evaluate our own life”

“MSC allow people to say what they want to say”

“I feel that now I learn how to collect information and how to evaluate them”

“Previously I was thinking that that was and ordinary agricultural training, but then she discovered that was about a technique to collect stories for learning. OTELP always had difficulties in collecting stories, now we know that is not difficult. We do a lot of work but we are not able to show how our work bring the change. This tool will help us in improve our planning and knowledge”

“Until now I was used to do surveys, surveys are difficult. With the MSC we have a big responsibilities, thanks to MSC farmers will be able to express their own story to their village and friends. They will be happy.”

“I think we should share the videos with the same villages and communities where it has been recorded, this will encourage other farmers”

“The farmers not always think in terms of “change” the MSC will let them think in terms of change, they will explain the differences with the past”

Differences between M&E and MSC for the SCAMPIS project

M&E and MSC at glance for the SCAMPIS project	SCAMPIS M&E	SCAMPIS Most Significant Change	Our strategy in connecting M&E and MSC
	Focus on measurement (output and outcome data; simple and composite indicators)	Focus on real life experience	Integrate data information to the stories: each data will have its related quality example for each country that will provide not only the context but the linkages with the other indicators. Reading the Scampis M&E will be a “virtual” tour between people of the 3 countries. Not only project beneficiaries will be monitored/evaluated, but as well the partner performance and strategy. Will be captured the various different effect of the project involvement, there will not be any ranking of importance, only a categorization per topics. Thanks to the consolidated multi-sectorial information the analysis will be an important tool for strategies and organization improvement and renovation. (at every level: - beneficiaries; field staff; local staff; national organization; partners organization and international level).
	Closed questions	Open question
	Deductive	Inductive
	Static	Dynamic
	Objectivity is the driver of the analysis.	Subjectivity is the driver of the analysis.
	Central tendencies (even if participatory)	Decentralized tendencies: unexpected results
	•          About ‘proving’ Looking of confirmation/not confirmation of pre-established indicators.	•          About learning Looking for unexpected effects, try to understand than what caused
	Needed to see if the strategy implement is efficient or not.	Needed for improving and innovate strategies at various levels
	Possible to see possible outcomes, but not impacts	Help us to pre-view possible impacts of the project

Scampis Learning Path Workshop in Madagascar

Learning Path Videos

From 3 to 7 October, The SCAMPIS project organized in Madagascar an international exchange  visit part of a learning programme called "Scampis Learning Path".

Participants from Guatemala, India and Madagascar, had the opportunity to exchange their knowledge and experiences about integrated and sustainable strategies for micro-irrigation systems (ISS-MIS).
The exchange included field visits, exchanges/discussions with local stakeholders about the adoption and promotion of micro-irrigation. Health, nutrition and use of natural pesticides and fertilizers, as well as scaling up and M&E will be the main topics for discussions and daily practice.

The SCAMPIS "Learning Path" has been a place for:
- Building new relationships and cooperation between different actors and countries
- Sharing innovations and challenges encountered during implementation
- And finally, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the project through the exchange of best practices

Leitmotiv:
SHARING FOR INNOVATION !!

The videos below have been recoded during the Learnign Path Workshop, and edited by the journalist/cameraman Mr. Francois Totoson. (Please, note that the videos will be subtitled in english soon!) 

1. The international exchanges: the objectives and the activities

2. Nutrition and Fertilization integrated into micro-irrigation strategies, LP experience

Scampis Learning Path Workshop: “Integrated and Sustainable Strategies for Scaling-up Micro-Irrigation Systems”  

Learning Path Workshop, a snapshot of the event…

The South-South learning exchange “SCAMPIS Learning Path” took place in Madagascar from 3rd to 7th October 2011 between 3 continents: Asia (India), Latin America (Guatemala) and Africa (Madagascar).
The main goal was sharing and learning from each country’s knowledge and experiences to find out integrated and sustainable strategies for scaling-up the micro-irrigation systems. Knowledge sharing and learning was held mainly in the field with farmers. Each country should end up with innovations (to be taken home) and suggestions from their experiences (to be shared) with highly participative and proactive approaches.

Challenges and achievements

Learning: The learning process was fully achieved for all participants. Each one went back home with at least 2 innovations or proposals to be tested in his/her country. Six topics have been discussed during the field visits: technology adoption, nutrition, natural fertilization and pesticide, promotional activities, access to rural finance, value chain (from manufacturing to the end user).

Sharing: A very high level of participation was reached as well as socialization of all participants. Sharing among the group was successful during formal or informal visits. The actors such as farmers, dealers or manufacturers we visited were able to interact with the LP group to ask questions or suggestions from the 3 countries.

Networking: The LP participants as well as local and national stakeholders expressed their willingness to continue learning and sharing from each other. Anyhow the most effective tools and ways still need to be defined.

Lessons learned from the countries Each country took lessons and brought back home many innovations that came out from exchanges, field visits and discussions. The main ones were:

- Use of recycled materials for manufacturing water pumps (experience from Madagascar)

- Use of audio, video, media as part of scaling-up strategies

- Nutrition/cooking lessons as an integrated approach toward the MIS (experience from Guatemala)

- Use of public places such as schools and hospitals as demonstration sites as per promotional strategy (experience from Guatemala)

- Promotion of adaptable kits according to needs and demands of farmers (size and accessories) (suggestion from India)

3rd October 2011

Activities

1) Participants presentations and identifications of the objectives of the LP workshop 

2) Agenda of the workshop and methodology for learning

3)Field visit : Ambohimanga –Mr Mamy, progressive farmer

From the LP Diary “First day of LP is quite exciting, eye opened for me (and hopefully for all) on the ‘SCAMPIS world” Debasis (India)

4th October 2011

Activities (field visits)

1) Itaosy: exchange with dealer, technical promoter and farmers : theater performances and presentation of India on 2)Promotions Strategies implemented by IDEI for Scampis project 

2)Visita at Gasc’art studio in Bevalala – pump manufactur 

4)Visit at the « La Ferme d’Ivato : farmers association with bio-production using MIS

From the LP Diary « A pesar del cansancio y el cambio de hora, conoces a tantas personces involocrudas en el desarollo y la alimentacion de las personas es satisfactorio. Tenemos idiomas y costumbres diferentes peso estamos hoa endo lo mismo » Rolando (Guatemala)

5th October 2011

Activities

1) Guatemala presentation (Prorural & Scampis Guatemala project)

2) Imeritsiatosika (Field Visit): progressive dealer who implements micro-rural finance

3) Centre Tsinjoaina (Field Visit): meeting with a small association of women who use rotative fund for improve livelihood condition (health, food security, agriculture with micro-irrigation, etc); presentation on the role of the Self Help Groups in India and interactions with OTELP programme

4) Ambohijafy field visit and meeting with, dealer and farmer, presentation on technologies adaptation and strategy of the dealer; presentation of the Guatemalean strategies in the schools: advantages and difficulties in promoting the technologies in the school and implementing school gardens

5) Patrakala & Innovagri presentations « Production and empowerment strategy of the production and distribution chain » - MICRO-IRRIGATION KIT MANUFACTURERS

From the LP Diary “Today the field visit with the local NGOs and other stakeholders was more interacting on the Scampis programme. We came to know their role in the Scampis programme Madagascar” NCP (India)

6th October 2011

Activities

1) Practical exercise: production of MIS kits with Patrakala and Innovagri

2) Village de la Joie (Field Visit)Introduction of the village ;

3) Exchange and practice on nutrition, Guatemala facilitation : preparation of carrot dessert and carrots and organge juice

4) Exchange and practice on natural fertilization : Guatemala facilitation (vermi-compost) and Director of Protection des Végétaux Madagascar (natural pesticide)

From the LP diary « C’est une journée où on a eu le plus d’échanges sur la valorisation des produits issus du SMI (proposition de recettes) avec Guatemala, et les engrais liquides ainsi que les luttes bio contre les maladies et insectes », Christin (Madagascar)

7th October 2011

Activities

Final workshop open to the public :

1) Focuses on SCAMPIS India, Guatemala and Madagascar : presentations on « innovations I will suggest, difficulties perceived by the communities and suggestions »

2) Role of communication (audio, viedeo and other media)

3) « I.S. » strategies for scaling-up Micro-irrigation Systems ? - Integrated and Sustainable strategies for scaling-up MIS

4) Lunch discussion on the best tools to use to continua the interactions

Final evaluation and discussion

From the LP diary « En la discusiòn de hoy espero poder haber algunos aportes para mejoros la ejcucion del proyecto SCAMPIS, el cual esta llevando muchas benuficios a personas pobres en los 3 Paises y no olvidar que el riego es un medio y no un fin » Rolando (Guatemala)