Nepal_RCN_story

Nepal: Pre-testing essential to develop user friendly leaflet and posters

Pre-testing is essential to help produce relevant products for the target groups, particularly at community level. This was demonstrated again in the resource centre network in Nepal, with a leaflet and posters on where to find spare parts for Nepal No. 6 tubewells receiving feedback from users that the posters needed to be developed in local language with more pictures and colour. Only after this they clearly understood the messages. This leaflet preparation work was undertaken by NEWAH as part of the IRC-supported RCNN information need assessment in 2003. This assessment identified non-availability of good quality spare parts as one of the problems, especially in the Nepal's Tarai (lower flatlands). The objective was to introduce linkage between the users and the local suppliers in the concerned districts.
Pic leaflet + link http://www.newah.org.np/our%20publications.htm

Topics covered

The draft leaflet covered the following topics:
• General tube well information
• Under what conditions and how tube well water gets contaminated?
• How to keep tube well water clean?
• Points for tube well maintenance
• Detailed information on outlet locations of Nepal No. 6 tube well spare parts in Central cities of Eastern Nepal.
It was shared with technical and several other staff in the NEWAHHeadquarters, Eastern Regional Office and RCNN members. Some important inputs provided:
• information about frequently required tube well spare parts with diagrams
• process of installing spare parts with illustrations
• list of information on drinking water projects where Nepal no. 6 tube wells are installed
• Other RCNN members provided comments on the draft content, pictures selection and suggestions for making information simple.

NEWAH published 500 copies of the leaflet and 300 posters in August 2005 with financial support of WaterAid Nepal. Costs US dollar 2,100 (cost includes workshop, travel, staff cost and printing charge)

Right process, but use not monitored

The network undertook the right process for developing the leaflet. The first step: RCNN information needs assessment Step two: drafting of leaflet by small committee. Step three: pre testing the leaflet in two local workshops among government and NGOs and users. Step four: User friendly leaflet in Nepali language, posters in Nepali /local language and with simpler picture produced and disseminated. Unfortunately, the last step “Use monitored” with feedback from users has not been done yet. Some informal visits to local suppliers and users could have provided and still could provide some anecdotal, qualitative feedback on use and impact. For more than five months the Tarai districts are affected by the conflict and it has been not possible to visit the areas where the posters were distributed.
This is just one of the products considered for this story produced by the network in Nepal since 2003. The Resource Centre Network Nepal (RCNN) is a loose network of national and international NGOs.
Overview other RCNN published products:
- Blue pages - booklet
- Life Skills Based Sanitation Training Manual - book
- Jalpari - documentary movie on rainwater harvesting and water optimization
- Water Portal - web site

Other key lessons

People do not give priority to information and feel that there are vested interest behind seeking information. Just sending questionnaire to the local level is not sufficient. Several follow up is necessary to collect responses.
Professionally supported joint effort, equal commitment, common understanding amongst key members/organisations, adds value to the purpose, gives meaningful output and increases team spirit, trust and ownership to produce a joint product
A lead is required for facilitating the process and for regular follow up to bring together collective inputs.
Limited facilitation skill slows down decision making and accomplishing the agreed action.
Clear communication and transparency is essential in a team work and requires adequate time to come to a conclusion and produce result.

Practical problems
RCNN faced the following practical problems in Nepal while developing the products and services:
- Limited knowledge and skill of key personnel to develop appropriate content and edit professionally;
- Lack of commitment to work in network environment;
- Limited incentive and accountability to work in team;
- Inadequate budget,
- Impact measurement of products and services to replicate;
- Identify the actual target group to distribute or right products;
- Limited knowledge to produce concrete products.

Challenges and risks

Validation of product and maintaining regular flow of information in the circle is challenging. Most communities do not have access to electronic information and sharing information through other means takes time.
Slow internet connection and limited skill of involved personnel to use the information technology within the RCNN member organisations is a limitation.
Information sharing culture in the sector is limited. Producing number of products on an individual basis could lead to duplication of efforts.
Ratan Budhathoki/Dick de Jong,
Contact: e-mail ratan@newah.org.np