Pathways to Resilience IV: Global South Perspectives

Symposium Summary
Getting Community Buy in for Resilience Challenges Through Deliberative Polling
Presenters: James Fishkin, Donald Makoka, Dennis Chirawurah, Nathan Tumuhamye
Can the communities be consulted in a representative and thoughtful way about their resilience challenges? Projects in Uganda, Ghana and Malawi used Deliberative Polling to engage random samples, generating both quantitative and qualitative data on the public’s considered judgments in contexts where the people’s views can have impact on policy.

Symposium Abstract
Using deliberative polling to promote community voices in prioritising interventions for strengthening resilience to sustainable livelihood in rural Malawi
Presenter: Donald Makoka (University of Pretoria, South Africa)
Co-Authors: Olalekan Ayo-Yusuf, Ozius Dewa 
Introduction: Community voices, including cultural beliefs underlies developing a context specific resilience response, but only little empirical evidence is available on how this is objectively achieved. This study sought to present community consultation methodology, deliberative polling, in moving research findings into priority intervention or policy, among a number of option.
Methods: This study followed on a flood event in a rural community in Malawi, wherein two-thirds of households lost crop fields and 28.4% felt that flood response by local authorities were inadequate. In keeping with ‘deliberative polling’, a random sample of households living upland and those living in the low-lands of Nsanje community were selected to complete a baseline questionnaire on support for available policy/intervention options derived following convening of community stakeholders’ advisory group. A deliberative meeting was convened, wherein selected household members discussed the options and sought clarity from expert panel including government officials. This was followed by post-deliberation survey.
Findings: The community voices were recorded and changes in level of support for various policy or intervention options were observed. Deliberative polling provides unique opportunity to objectively engage an informed community on interventions for strengthening resilience to livelihood in rural Malawi.

Deliberative Polling for Urban Resilience in Tamale Ghana 
Presenter: Dennis Chirawurah (University for Development Studies, Ghana)
Co-Authors:  Niagia Santuah, Alice Siu, Ayaga Bawah, Kathleen Giles, Gordana Kranjac-Berisavljevic
Introduction: Can Deliberative Polling, a method of public consultation using deliberation by random samples, be successfully employed in northern Ghana in a challenging urban setting? The project engaged a stakeholder advisory committee to consider policy options on WASH, and food security that were deliberated over two days by the community.
Methods: A total of 39 policy options were deliberated on by the sample. Briefing materials, in video form in the local language, explained pros and cons of the policy options. Random sampling of households and random selection within the households was the method for sample recruitment. 208 members of the Tamale community completed both the initial and final survey. The sample was highly representative in both attitudes and demographics. 28 of the 39 policy options changed significantly between the pre and post interviews. Regressions show levers of opinion change. The transcripts from the discussions reveal insights into the opinion changes. 
Findings: The participants successfully deliberated on policy priorities for key resilience challenges. These priorities were presented to local and national government to indicate directions for policy change.  The results have been taken to local entrepreneurs to inform their innovation process to address the resilience challenges faced by a rapidly urbanizing metro.

Community engagement to identify community resilience policy options: Deliberative Polling in Uganda: A case for Bududa and Butalejja districts
Presenter: Julius Ssentongo (Ranlab, Uganda)
Co-Authors: Nathan Tumuhamye, Roy Mayega, Lynn Atuyambe, Stella Neema, Grace Bua 
Introduction: The Mt. Elgon region is at risk for adverse climate events. These events damage livelihoods and infrastructure despite predictability, millions of aid in response, and attempts at mitigation, which implies wide-scale lack of resilience and negative coping. Studies have shown an asymmetry between community and government expectations rendering policies unsuccessful.
Methods: Using the Deliberative Polling approach, a random representative sample was selected and baseline opinion polls conducted in Bududa and Butalejja. The random pre-deliberation sample was invited to a facilitated deliberation and thereafter, a post deliberation opinion poll conducted. Qualitative documentation of community concerns during deliberation was done and policy preferences were collected in the pre and post questionnaires. Fifteen of 36 policy options changed with deliberation in the direction of increased support for policy options.
Findings: Hindrances to policy support included land ownership in resettled areas, fear of land being gazzetted as forests and family planning myths. ResilientAfrica Network is using the findings to engage the government of Uganda to revise the resettlement policy and improve health and educational infrastructure in areas affected by climatic events.