IICA publishes work on the systematization of experiences with a participatory approach, where the people involved form part of the analysis.

The authors of the book, Develando experiencias, otra mirada hacia la sistematización set out to compile information about valuable sustainable rural development experiences, based primarily on the input and opinions of the citizens who took part in the processes concerned.

The manual was produced by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). It consists of a systematization methodology that highlights the key aspects of the success or failure of projects, from the perspective of the specialists and members of the public involved.

“No methodology existed for the joint analysis of rural development experiences. The book looks at intangible aspects of success that remain undetected when the systematization only includes the technical vision,” said IICA sustainable rural development specialist Melania Portilla, who helped write the text.

The methodology proposes that two workshops be held with selected members of the public, to reconstruct and discuss their experience, followed by a final meeting of the coordinating team to study the information obtained.

The book also includes the activities and topics needed to hold the workshops with the communities and provides guidelines for the meeting of the coordinating team, where conclusions will be drafted for the report systematizing the information compiled.

It took two years to prepare the methodology, which is intended for use by the Institute’s technical personnel and partners of other entities. Its use will make it easier to obtain important inputs for improving future projects.

The new approach to the analysis of experiences has already been implemented in Colombia, with the technical personnel and women who took part in the Mujeres Ahorradoras en Acción Project. This first study made it possible to validate the methodology’s usefulness.

If you would like more information, you can consult the book at http://webiica.iica.ac.cr/bibliotecas/repiica/b1672e/b1672e.pdf

For more information, contact
carlos.jara@iica.int