Village Uses Participatory Tools
to Stay Free of Avian Influenza

Photos: Berengere de Negri, AED

		Slideshow
		See the Participatory Action Research approach in action and how the AI-BCC team worked with villagers:
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July 28, 2009 - The USAID-funded AI-BCC Project worked with villagers in Ban Posy, Naxaythong District, Lao PDR, to develop an action plan on how to protect village poultry from the H5N1 virus. Using its Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach AI-BCC technical advisors assisted the villagers and their local leadership to formalize a prevention action plan by using community mapping, transect walk, matrix ranking, chappati pies and seasonal calendars. This participatory process offers insight into villagers’ interests and concerns about their lives and living conditions. It also helps them visualize the challenges they face in preventing avian influenza and how it fits into their concerns.

AI-BCC’s technical staff, Anton Schneider, Lao country coordinator, Berengere deNegri, behavior change communication advisor, and Duangchith
Viravongsa, Lao research advisor, worked with our AI-BCC partners, the Lao Women’s Union, the District Agriculture and Forestry Office (DAFO), Provincial Agriculture and Forestrey Office (PAFO), and FAO.

Following the PAR activity, the villagers will finalize the action plan within two weeks. The villager's will oversee monitoring of their own progress in implementing the action plan and will consult technical assistance if needed.