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Neria Grassroots Distribution Project
Final project report
May 2000 – September 2001
Compiled by
Christine Hausmann-Fata (M.A.)
for
Media for Development Trust
Contents
List of abbreviations and acronyms......................................................4
Acknowledgements...............................................................................6
Executive Summary..............................................................................7
1 Introduction .................................................................................... 9
1.1 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................................ 9
1.2 THE NERIA GRASSROOTS DISTRIBUTION PROJECT .................................................................................... 10
1.3 STRUCTURE OF THIS REPORT .................................................................................................................... 10
2 Project phases ............................................................................... 11
2.1 DUBBING OF NERIA INTO SHONA AND NDEBELE ....................................................................................... 11
2.2 DEVELOPMENT OF SUPPORT MATERIALS .................................................................................................. 12
2.2.1 Concept paper and research plan design ....................................................................................... 12
2.2.2 Design team - formation and meetings .......................................................................................... 12
2.2.3 Script review/translation proof ...................................................................................................... 13
2.2.4 Formative research ........................................................................................................................ 13
2.2.5 Support materials script and text design ........................................................................................ 15
2.2.6 Pre-testing ...................................................................................................................................... 16
2.3 A GRASSROOTS DISTRIBUTION CAMPAIGN TO REACH DISADVANTAGED GROUPS ACROSS ZIMBABWE ..... 16
2.3.1 Distributors – choice and follow-up .............................................................................................. 16
2.3.2 Grassroots distribution training for trainers’ workshop implementation ..................................... 19
2.3.3 Further distribution - The Wills and Inheritance Laws Programme ............................................. 20
3 Project achievements .................................................................... 21
3.1 PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH ...................................................................................................................... 21
3.2 DEVELOPMENT OF SUPPORT MATERIALS IN THREE LANGUAGES ............................................................... 21
3.3 REACH OF PROJECT/SUCCESSFUL DISTRIBUTION OF SUPPORT MATERIALS ............................................... 22
3.4 INFORMATION DISSEMINATION ................................................................................................................. 22
3.5 LEGAL EDUCATIONAL PAMPHLETS DONATIONS ........................................................................................ 22
3.6 MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF DISTRIBUTORS .................................................................................. 23
3.7 DISTRIBUTION THROUGH THE WILLS AND INHERITANCE LAWS CAMPAIGN ............................................. 23
3.8 SUMMARY OF THE QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE PROJECT OUTPUT .................................................. 23
4 Project limitations ......................................................................... 25
4.1 FINANCE-RELATED CONSTRAINTS/TIME-RELATED CONSTRAINTS ............................................................ 25
4.2 CONSTRAINTS RELATED TO POLITICS ........................................................................................................ 26
4.3 CONSTRAINTS RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE ......................................................................................... 26
4.4 CONSTRAINTS RELATED TO THE DISTRIBUTORS’ SYSTEM ......................................................................... 26
4.5 DESIGN TEAM MEMBERS AND CONTRADICTING INTERESTS ...................................................................... 28
4.6 WHAT IS LAW ? LEGAL ACCURACY AND CONTRADICTING INTERESTS ...................................................... 28
5 Project impact ............................................................................... 29
5.1 HOW WILL THE SUPPORT MATERIALS BE USED AND PROMOTED BY DISTRIBUTORS? ................................ 29
5.2 WHO IS LIKELY TO BENEFIT FROM THE SUPPORT MATERIALS? ................................................................. 30
5.3 WHAT ADDITIONAL MATERIAL IS NECESSARY TO STRENGTHEN THE IMPACT OF THE PACKAGE FOR
DIFFERENT USERS? ............................................................................................................................................. 30
6 Recommendations ........................................................................ 31
6.1 BUDGET .................................................................................................................................................... 31
6.2 EFFECTIVENESS OF DISTRIBUTORS’ SYSTEM ............................................................................................. 32
6.3 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTING AGENCY/FUTURE PROJECTS ............................................. 33
List of abbreviations and acronyms
UZ University of Zimbabwe
WLGI Women Leadership and Governance Institute
Padare Men’s forum on gender
AWFT African Women Filmmakers Trust
ATP Amakhosi Theatre Productions
BHBC Bekezela Home Based Care
CH Chegutu High School
CM Chidamoyo Mission Hospital
DCC Diocese of Chinhoyi Health Care Commission
FAMWZ Federation of African Media Women of Zimbabwe
FMSA Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa
LGDA Lower Guruve Development Association
LH Lubhancho House
LRF Legal Resources Foundation
MAC Matabeleland AIDS Council
MASO Midlands AIDS Services Organisation
MP Musasa Project
NM Nhowe Mission
ORAP Organisation of Rural Associations For Progress
PSDC Practical Skills Development Centre
RHBC Rujeko Home Based Care
RLRDP Rural Libraries and Resources Development Programme
SA Salvation Army
SH Silveira House
TAP Tshelanyemba AIDS Programme
VHS Victoria High School
WASN Women and AIDS Support Network
YWCA Young Women’s Christian Association
ZINATHA Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association
ZNFPC Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council
ZR Zimbabwe Human Rights Association
ZRC Zimbabwe Red Cross Society
ZWOT Zimbabwe Widows and Orphans Trust
ZWLA Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association
Acknowledgements
This project would have not been possible without the generous financial assistance from the
Swedish International Development Corporation Agency (Sida).
Special thanks is further extended to all the NGOs, individuals and communities who donated
a lot of their precious spare time to make this project happen.
Both, the University of Zimbabwe and the University of Heidelberg, Germany played a
crucial role in supervising patiently processes that led to the outputs of this project.
All photographs used in the text and on the cover were made by the author of this report. The
people you can see on the photos have given permission to use the photos. Their patience and
understanding is invaluable to the research process.
Last but not least, a special thanks goes to the constant support of the following key persons
of chosen distributing agencies: Ms Chido Matewa (AWFT), Mr Pedzi Sithole (ATP), Ms
Isabel Saungweme (BHBC), Mr John Sakala (CH), Sr Kathy Mc Carthy (CM), Sr Carol
Schommer (DCC), Sr Frances Mylott (FMSA), Mr Ephraim Murendo (LGDA), Ms Rosina
Nyoni (LH), Ms Mary Ndlovu (LRF), Mr Douglas Moyo (MAC), Mr Ticharwa Masimira
(MASO), Ms Thoko Ngwenya (MP), Mr William Makombe (NM), Ms Karren Washoma
(ORAP), Mr Kenny Masango (PSDC), Ms Grace Mazhande (RHBC), Mr Roy Mpofu
(RLRDP), Major Mary Capsey/Ms Thenjiwe Germann-Ndiweni (SA), Sr Janice (SH), Mr G.
Moyo (TAP), Mr Josphat Mbanda (VHS), Ms Mary Sandasi (WASN), Ms Sheila Matindike
(YWCA), Dr Peter Sibanda (ZINATHA), Mr Mark Mako (ZNFPC), Mr Bidi (ZR), Ms
Catherine Marenga (ZRC), Ms Susan Zwinoira (ZWOT) and Ms Ruvimbo Masunungure
(ZWLA).
Executive summary Was the Neria Grassroots Distribution Project, which objectives were to dub the feature film
Neria into Shona and Ndebele; to develop support materials including a support video
focusing on the key learning points contained in the film and a support manual to facilitate the
learning process with target groups as well as a grassroots distribution campaign to reach
disadvantaged groups across Zimbabwe, a successful initiative? Was awareness related to
women’s inheritance issues amongst audiences raised, was information concerning the
Inheritance Laws transmitted to distributors? Which project phases were implemented
resulting in which achievements? Which limitations were experienced and judging from these
answers, what project impact can be foreseen? These are some of the questions this final
project report about the Neria Grassroots Distribution Project seeks to answer.
Having used a participatory approach in data-gathering devices that led to the development of
the Neria support materials, the project has faced a number of external as well as internal
constraints. However, these constraints are definitely outnumbered by its achievements and its
likely project impact that can be estimated for the next twelve moths. Main achievements of
the project are – amongst others - the successful assessment of a variety of organisations to
carry out the task of a distributor throughout Zimbabwe, the country-wide formative research
period with screenings and focus group discussions, the successful pre-testing of the designed
materials and finally the training of trainers in the effective use of the support materials which
comprise of a Neria feature film, a Neria support video and a Neria support manual in Shona,
English and Ndebele with picture cards, support groups address lists and legal educational
pamphlets.
As interactive tools, the designed materials will encourage awareness among audiences on the
issue of women’s rights and move communities to respond and build on existing initiatives
for attitude and behaviour change.
Both, the support video and the support manual, which were developed to facilitate a deeper
knowledge about issues contained in the feature film Neria, will benefit anyone who is
interested in discussing issues of inheritance. It will be particularly helpful to people offering
assistance with inheritance-related problems in grassroots communities.
Moreover, the Neria support materials have joined a multi-media campaign called the ‘Wills
and Inheritance Laws Project’ run by the Zimbabwean Ministry of Justice, Legal and
Parliamentary Affairs in order to thoroughly spread information on the changes of the
Inheritance Laws after 1997. The Neria support materials will (though in a repackaged form)
be used as educational tools all over Zimbabwe, which will widen the distribution range
enormously.
1 Introduction
1.1 Background The locally produced feature film Neria was the second of its kind in Zimbabwe that has been
initiated by a Zimbabwean film maker and has been realised through the local NGO Media or
Development Trust (w/o 21/89) in 1992 with an overall local crew.
In brief, the film tells the story of Neria, who, after the tragic death of her husband finds
herself overruled by her in-laws, who are, by citing tradition, dispossessing her of property
and children. After a long period of suffering, the widow learns that the law and the tradition
are on her side to gain back what is rightfully hers.
As a so-called women’s education project, the film should show for the first time
disadvantaged positions women could face on the death of their spouses.
The film was and is up to today an outstanding success, having played in cinemas, theatres,
being shown on television not only in Zimbabwe, but world-wide and being used by a variety
of national and international development co-operation agents within their programmes for
the improvement of women’s status.
Many people have watched the film so far, have enjoyed it and suffered with the characters.
They have started to discuss about the consequences of inheritance for widows in the face of
eroding tradition, the enactment of laws to protect widows and the fast changes in the
Zimbabwean society in general.
Still, as research suggests, the need to disseminate inheritance-related information remains
great due to a number of reasons. Two are listed below:
• Due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, more and more widows and orphans are left behind
having to deal with inheritance-related issues. The need for especially HIV-positive
widows to benefit fast from what is rightfully theirs is crucial to their and their children’s
survival;
• due to the economic hardships faced in Zimbabwe, property grabbing is on the increase.
1.2 The Neria Grassroots Distribution Project In 1998, an independent researcher undertook the task to evaluate the qualitative outcome of
the feature film during the past six years, suggesting that the full potential of the film had not
been realised. One of the findings of the research was that due to the instructional nature of
the Neria feature film, it was more and more being used within various education and training
programmes of NGOs, recently also at grassroots level, but lacked proper training materials
suitable for the variety of target groups wanting to benefit.
Moreover, in the face of legal changes in favour of widows in Zimbabwe, Media for
Development Trust came up with the idea to make the feature film Neria finally available in
Shona and Ndebele, to develop support materials such as the support video and the support
manual for the film and to distribute these materials through 30 chosen groups to the
grassroots all over Zimbabwe.
It took another two years for the idea to become reality, when the Swedish International
Development Corporation Agency (Sida) decided to assist Media for Development Trust in
realising this task. The Neria Grassroots Distribution Project commenced on May 1st 2000
and ended on September 14th 2001. All details concerning the project were filed and can be
viewed at Media for Development Trust’s head office in Milton Park, Harare/Zimbabwe.
1.3 Structure of this report The following final project report is structured as follows:
First, the various project phases of the project are highlighted. Achievements of the project as
well as limitations to it are discussed in the following chapters. The possible project impact
and recommendations concerning this and future projects will then be stated and attachments
to the report will provide the reader with a list of key persons to contact for references or
assistance concerning the project.
2 Project phases The following chapter will provide the reader with a summary of the different project phases.
Objectives are compared with tasks and steps that were taken to fulfil the task. Details
concerning these activities can be looked up in the respective project progress reports.
To meet the objectives of the project which were the
A. Dubbing of the feature film Neria into Shona and Ndebele; the
B. Development of support materials including
- A support video (about 20 minutes in duration) focusing on the key learning points
contained in the film,
- A support manual to facilitate the learning process with target groups; and a
C. grassroots distribution campaign to reach disadvantaged groups across Zimbabwe,
the following tasks were carried out within the different project phases:
2.1 Dubbing of Neria into Shona and Ndebele Task: To carry out all technical aspects of the vernacular versioning of the feature film
and support materials.
Step 1 (June-August 2000) First, the revised Neria script was translated into Shona and Ndebele. It was proof-read by one
of the design team members (see below).
Step 2 (December 2000-March 2001) The Ndebele dub of the feature film was carried out first. In order to heighten Ndebele-
speaking audiences’ identification possibilities, the voice recordings were undertaken by
Amakhosi Productions in Bulawayo. The best takes were then selected and matched (edited)
in Harare. The Shona dub of the feature film was carried out in Harare.
At the same time, a pre-test copy of the English, Shona and Ndebele support video was
created. The copies were taken to the field for pre-testing (see below).
Step 3 (June – July 2001) The final versions of the English, Shona and Ndebele support videos were created. The voice
artists narrated the voice-overs of the support video and the sound was matched to the
pictures. Video masters were prepared for VHS video copying.
Step 4 (September 2001) The masters of the feature films and support videos were handed in for printing the
distributors’ copies to be disseminated at the Grassroots Distribution Training for Trainers
workshops (see below).
2.2 Development of support materials 2.2.1 Concept paper and research plan design
Task: To prepare an initial concept paper for the production of the support materials and a
research plan in developing the support materials.
Step 1 (May 2000): An initial concept paper and a research plan for the development of the support materials were
designed. These documents are in line with the researcher’s Ph.D. thesis research plan.
2.2.2 Design team - formation and meetings
Task: To form a design team of experts to oversee the development of the support
materials. The design team will meet three times during the process; first to review the
concept paper and research plan, second to review the research findings and draft scripts and
third to review the final draft video script and workbook transcript.
Step 1 (May 2000): The selection process of the design team members started in fact long before the beginning of
the project. Some participated in the previous research on Neria conducted in 1998, some
were contacted afterwards. All of them were chosen based on their experience and knowledge
in fields crucial to the development and distribution of the materials. The design team
members came from fields such as legal research, law, gender training, community education,
women empowerment and sociology. After identification, they were sent a hand-out
containing basic information on the project and their tasks. They participated in two design
team meetings (May 2000/January 2001) and reviewed the concept paper, the research plan,
suggestions on script changes, research findings, draft scripts and final draft video script and
workbook transcript. Instead of having a third meeting, the members decided to attended the
Harare Grassroots Distribution Workshop to view the final product.
2.2.3 Script review/translation proof
Task: To advise MFD on script revisions, in light of current legal issues pertaining to the
rights of widows, for incorporation into the script translation.
Step 1 (May 2000) First, pamphlets on the New Inheritance Law available from the Legal Resources Foundation
(LRF) and the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA) were reviewed; additionally,
a lawyer from the ZWLA was interviewed on how legal script revisions of the Neria script
could look like. These suggestions were reviewed during the first design team meeting and
were then incorporated into the script. The script text was reviewed, too, since it did not
comply with the original feature film’s content.
Step 2 (November 2000) The Shona translation of the Neria script was supervised.
2.2.4 Formative research
Task: To conduct formative research, as part of the process of developing the support
materials.
Step 1 (August-October 2000) The research to identify distributors groups’ ideas about the Neria support materials was
carried out between the 1st of August and the 14th of October 2000. A total of 25 out of 30
distributors groups could be visited throughout Zimbabwe. During 23 screenings and 2 in-
depth-interviews, a total of 953 participants and staff members could be grouped into focus
group discussions to give comments on issues of relevance to the project. Although the
original research plan for the development of the Neria support materials suggested for a
complete different interview style with more structured questions, it soon became clear that
people started to discuss freely on issues brought up in Neria without these structured
questions. This style (focus group discussions/in-depth-interviews and semi-structured
interviews) turned out to be more suitable for participants to utter their views1. The screenings
were held in towns (high density areas) with rural and urban participants as well as in remote
areas, where selected rural participants had in most cases been invited from all the district (s)
around to gather at a particular growth point or training centre. The composition of the groups
was in most cases manifold, covering all age ranges, sexes and occupations. Group sizes
varied from 10 to 130.
Screenings and group discussions were in most cases held in the respective vernacular
language and were translated by the respective facilitator of the screening. The screening and
discussions took in most cases approximately three hours, but were extended up to a full day,
where participants had travelled from far or where screenings were carried out in remote
areas.
In most cases, the screening was incorporated into a workshop or meeting, where the
researcher was given the three hours or more to introduce herself, explain thoroughly about
the project, screen the film and start the discussion. People started directly to discuss about
issues of relevance brought up in Neria and needed to be guided to another direction after a
while, since the discussions were never-ending. The comments were recorded and later
transcribed by the two research assistants.
The general impression gathered during the screenings is proving the intention of the whole
project right, since not even one participant disliked the film and although considerable
changes to the film were suggested (especially as far as the dealing with cultural issues in the
film is concerned) people were in general fully satisfied with the existing film. Although
1 Focus group discussions were mainly coring around the following guidelines:
Which issues brought up in Neria do you think are still relevant?
Which issues should be changed or added?
Which scenes do you remember best/could have an impact for a 20 minutes support video?
Which themes would you give sequences of the support video?
Who should narrate through the support video?
Style and content of the training manual?
Which problems do you face support do you consider necessary in your area?
contradicting issues were identified, people realised at the same time that it is – amongst
others - those issues (technical aspects or wrong representation of cultural issues) that
stimulated all those discussions.
Groups were supplied with a number of Neria posters and flyers to put up in offices,
community halls, homes and schools.
2.2.5 Support materials script and text design
Task: To prepare the script and text for the support materials (in English, to be translated
to Shona and Ndebele).
Step 1 (October-November 2000) Between October and November 2000, the training materials were drafted according to the
research results.
Step 2 (December 2000-April 2001) To equip the manual with legal educational pamphlets (required by research groups),
negotiations with the Legal Resources Foundation started in December and continued until
April 2001.
Step 3 (January 2001) After the second design team meeting in January 2001, a research for additional topics for the
manual suggested by design team members was carried out. Some sections of the support
materials draft were redesigned.
Step 4 (May 2001) A lawyer from the Legal Resources Foundation approved the legal content of the support
manual. After pre-testing (see below), suggested changes were incorporated into the pre-test
video.
Step 5 (June 2001) An address list of all support groups with all details was created after all distributors had
handed in an entry form. Picture cards for the support manual were designed.
Step 6 (July-August 2001) In July 2001, the translation and proof-reading of the support manual and the video sleeves
was implemented, until in August 2001, videos and manuals were printed.
2.2.6 Pre-testing
Task: To pre-test the support materials
Step 1 (March-May 2001) In order to find out if the Neria support materials have been designed effectively for its
audiences, potential target groups in urban, semi-urban and rural areas were shown the pre-
test video (English, Shona and Ndebele versions) and groups tested parts of the support
manual. The screenings were held with distributors’ groups some of which had already
participated in the original Neria screenings. Other groups had not seen the feature film
before. In most cases, participants were then divided into six subgroups to discuss the six
sequences of the manual in connection with the video. Groups returned to the plenary after a
certain time and reported on their findings. A local facilitator probed questions and answers of
the groups and led groups through discussion. Sessions took in most cases 2 to 3 hours.
A total of 449 people participated in 11 pre-testing sessions. Out of these 449 participants,
146 had never seen the feature film before.
2.3 A grassroots distribution campaign to reach
disadvantaged groups across Zimbabwe
2.3.1 Distributors – choice and follow-up
Task: To choose thirty groups in Zimbabwe and assess them with respect to their capacity
to use and distribute video at grassroots level in a gender-sensitive manner and
to incorporate their target groups needs (identified through formative research) into the
programme.
Groups should be informed about all project progress and should finally be trained to
effectively use and distribute the support materials.
Step 1 (May 2000) A previous selection of future distributors was done. A hand-out was compiled and was sent
along with an assessment questionnaire to
a) formerly identified NGO’s known to have used Neria in the past and known to successfully
implement gender-sensitive education and training programmes;
b) Institutions/agencies that are known to use video at community level (registered members
of Media for Development’s Video Resource Centre).
Step 2 (June-August 2000) Distributors were followed up on the completion of their assessment questionnaires. After
having analysed its findings, groups were chosen due to a number of interacting factors.
Every organisation might face constraints in one or another field, so even if answers given in
certain areas seemed not to justify a choice as such, a particular organisation had general
strengths where another organisation in the same area had a weakness. Where there were
obvious weaknesses in one area, it was always intended to choose another organisation that
can work in co-operation with the first one to allow maximum distribution effectiveness. As
far as the questionnaire is concerned, the following findings can be summarised:
Asked for reasons why the respective organisation/institution would like to use the Neria training package,
opinions can be summarised under the following topics:
- issues brought up in Neria are relevant to the organisations’ programmes;
- issues brought up in Neria do have an effect on organisations’ target groups (as experienced in the past);
- organisational structures of the organisation allow for the grassroots distribution of the Neria packages;
- the reputation/experience of the organisation in a certain area enables an effective use of the training
package;
- technical facilities of the organisation justify the application for participating in the project.
The types of programmes Neria will be incorporated into are manifold and do usually target on information
dissemination, awareness raising and skills training.
Issues to be addressed are
- HIV/AIDS
- Home based care/Primary health care
- Gender awareness
- Counselling/Mobilising
- Civic and Human Rights
- Income generation skills
Organisations stated they incorporate the training materials in the following ways:
- Video use as a discussion tool in ongoing projects;
- Video placement in a dissemination centre (free access for community members to borrow the video);
- Video use in new programmes that will be specifically designed with the Neria package in mind.
To assure that organisations (organisations relevant programmes) will survive at least a year to effectively
utilise the training package, groups were asked how long their funds were secured. In most cases, new funds
had just been generated for a maximum of two to four years.
To assure that the future training provided through the Neria Training for Trainer workshop to use the video
will not vanish with staff moving on to other tasks, organisations should state whether the staff will
approximately stay for one or two years to ensure effective use of the package. In general, answers stated a
period up to three years, but some answers indicated that the question was not asked in vain (‘depends on
individuals’; ‘as long as the health allows’, ‘as long as they do not move to greener pastures’ etc). See also point
4 below.
To test the experience in the use of video at community and other levels, groups were asked to state the
number of years they have been using video in education. 15 years as a maximum and 1 year as a minimum were
mentioned, with the majority of groups using video 5 to 10 years at all levels, which should allow for a set of
structures already implemented to face the common constraints with video use at grassroots level.
To find out about the frequency of programme-inherent dissemination facilities of Neria issues, organisations
were asked to state the number of occasions and the type of occasions where they could possibly use the
video. In general, groups do run their workshops/outreach programmes or any other programme where a
considerable amount of people can be reached on a monthly or quarterly basis, which allows for a constant
dissemination and distribution.
To learn about organisations’ use of languages when conducting workshops/programmes, groups were
asked to state which languages they are mainly using in interaction with their target groups. Note that some
organisations use one, two, three or more languages at the same time:
Shona 28 out of 30 groups
Ndebele 14 out of 30 groups
English 26 out of 30 groups
Others like Tonga, Shangani, Chewa or Chikunda were only used occasionally.
The number of people reached per month can, together with the frequency of occasions, provide further
information on the quantitative dissemination/distribution aspect. Most of the groups range either between 100
and 500 people reached per month or more than 1,000 per month, which should allow for a fair dissemination
during the occasions.
To ensure that programme impacts will be reported properly (to MFD on a quarterly basis) and to see if
organisations have activated own monitoring and/or evaluation systems to facilitate not only this task but to
ensure that groups would change their dissemination practices if failures are recognised on time, groups were
asked for their respective tools. Apart from 3 groups that do not have such systems (but are nevertheless known
to satisfactorily manage the task due to past experiences) 27 groups mentioned a wide range of M&E tools. They
are so different in nature that a summary is not possible.
Since one of the crucial aspects of this project is the widespread distribution of the materials, groups were
asked how they would promote the availability of the material. Already, most of the groups have listed a
manifold variety of strategies on how to fulfil this task effectively.
To get an idea of other groups operating in similar fields and to find out about networking efforts, groups
were asked to list major organisations/institutions they network with and why. Reasons for networking were in
most cases the common use of existing structures to save scarce resources or simply to share information on
existing programmes. Networking groups range from huge area networks, ministry departments, international aid
organisations or small groups that are helpful to network with in the respective project area.
To see how many groups or individuals could immediately be activated for distribution purposes, groups
should state the number and nature of targeted additional distributors. These range from 6 groups in the
area up to as many as 55,000 members of one group (given that they have resources to join in the process).
Judging from these first figures, a widely spread network of distributors in different fields and areas can be
estimated.
Step 3 (October 2000-September 2001) After the formative research in October, changes concerning the choice of distributors were
made due to findings during in-depth conversations or field visits. A follow-up on distributors
was done every two months to inform them about the project progress or to arrange data
collection on pre-tests, support manual address entries or training for trainers’ workshops.
2.3.2 Grassroots distribution training for trainers’ workshop
implementation
Task: To prepare, organise, implement and supervise two national grassroots workshops
(Shona and Ndebele).
Step 1 (July 2001) The agenda of the training for trainers workshops was designed and facilitators and venues
were identified.
Step 2 (September 2001) Two two-day training for trainers workshops were held in Harare and Bulawayo and groups
were provided with a maximum of ten sets free of charge to use and distribute the materials
further at grassroots level. The following issues were discussed during both workshops:
Expectations and fears concerning the workshops and their role as distributors;
The Neria project/objectives and limitations;
Communication for development (definition, barriers, strategies, video);
Inheritance – Discussing the issues raised in Neria and how they affect communities they
work with;
Technical aspects – the role of a distributor (requirements and tasks);
Inheritance – the new laws and their benefits (8 pieces of legislation);
The Neria support materials – suggestions on the use/Discussing the manual with the video
and the picture cards;
Planning effective strategies of distribution in the communities (How to mainstream or
incorporate the Neria project into existing programmes, how to promote and distribute the
materials and how to form strategic alliances /linkages with other organisations already in the
field).
Participants from both, the Harare and Bulawayo venue seemed to have their fears thoroughly
erased and their expectations fulfilled. Judging from the evaluation forms being handed in on
both days at both venues, participants seemed to have really enjoyed the set up and content of
the workshops. Although some participants felt that an additional workshop day could have
helped to intensify some issues, a thorough discussion revealed at both venues that a follow
up meeting after three to six months with all groups could help even more to monitor the
effectiveness of ‘their’ Neria programmes.
Step 3 (from September 2001 onwards) The press reported about the Neria support materials in the following publications (see
Attachment 5):
- Sunday Standard 29.04.01
- Radio 1 – Women on the move 07.09.01
- The Herald 29.09.01
2.3.3 Further distribution - The Wills and Inheritance Laws Programme From March 2001 onwards, negotiations concerning an upcoming multi-media educational
campaign by the Zimbabwean Ministry of Justice to promote the changes of the Inheritance
Laws after 1997 were carried out. The Neria project submitted a bid and was successful.
Together with another 26 organisations throughout Zimbabwe, Media for Development Trust
will participate in the 18 months awareness raising campaign. The organisation’s specific task
is the supply of Neria support material sets to the programme; moreover, the development of
an educational audio-tape as part of the Neria communication kit in still in discussion.
Since the campaign is nation-wide and the materials shall be distributed to all rural district
councils and schools throughout Zimbabwe, the Wills and Inheritance Laws programme will
ensure – next to the distributors’ system - the further distribution of the Neria support
materials to grassroots level. The materials will moreover be promoted in the media.
3 Project achievements The following achievements of the project can be summarised:
3.1 Participatory research Formative research can be called a success. After a total of forty-five assessment
questionnaires had been sent out all over Zimbabwe, forty questionnaires have been
completed and sent back to MFD; confirming their participation in the project. Then, a total of
25 out of 30 groups could be visited throughout Zimbabwe. During 23 screenings and 2 in-
depth-interviews, a total of 953 participants and staff members could be grouped into focus
group discussions to view the feature film and to give comments on issues of relevance to the
project.
The effectiveness of the Neria support materials has been pre-tested through distributors
networks with potential target groups in urban, semi-urban and rural areas. A total of 449
people participated in 11 pre-testing sessions. Out of these 449 participants, 146 had never
seen the feature film before.
The participative method of gathering data proved right since all participants highly
appreciated the fact that someone made the effort to see them in their respective areas and
their comments were of enormous value to the design of the training materials. During all
screenings, the necessity of the project was proved with participants’ awareness on legal and
gender issues being raised and them asking for Shona or Ndebele dubbings and training
materials to be brought to grassroots level for others who had to remain behind.
3.2 Development of support materials in three languages Although having not been considered in the original budget, the Neria support materials
have actually been developed in three languages: Shona, Ndebele and English (see attachment
4).
Where the Shona and Ndebele versions help to deliver the message to Zimbabwean grassroots
(where it is needed most), the English version proves to be a good choice wherever trainers
who do not speak the vernacular languages are trained. Moreover, having an English version
of the support materials widens the reach of the product and its message to neighbouring
African countries, whose widows experience similar constraints.
3.3 Reach of project/Successful distribution of support
materials The careful choice of distributors to transmit the message of the Neria support materials has
resulted in a wide geographical reach of the project (see attachment 2). As can be seen from
the table, a minimum of four big organisations such as the ZNFPC and the ZRC with
experience and well established structures to reach many communities are covering each
district of each province of Zimbabwe. Additionally, specific districts are covered by specific
local groups having established their own structures. As can be observed from attachment 3,
the support materials sets have been successfully distributed to these chosen groups. A total of
258 support materials sets have so far been handed out to chosen and like-minded groups.
They will distribute the Neria support materials within their variety of programmes.
3.4 Information dissemination From an early stage of the project, one could, judging from reactions of NGO’s, already guess
that, compiled in a sensitive way, the Neria support materials would have a great impact as an
empowerment tool in nonformal (adult) education. Wherever the project was discussed,
people immediately wanted to participate or have further information on the new laws.
Especially the reactions from legal NGO’s were overwhelming; with them now pointing out
the great chance for this project to design materials, that will for the first time directly assist in
the implementation of the Administration of Estates Amendment Act No. 6 of 1997 (known
as the ‘new’ Inheritance Law). Whenever possible, information material (brochures as well as
addresses of legal support groups or Neria posters and flyers) was distributed where the need
seemed to be the greatest. This was so especially in the remote and marginalised areas of
Zimbabwe.
3.5 Legal educational pamphlets donations Negotiations with the Legal Resources Foundation to provide the project with three legal
educational pamphlets in all three languages free of charge were successful after a long period
of discussion. The pamphlets are now being delivered and add an extra (educational) value to
the support manuals.
3.6 Monitoring and evaluation of distributors Due to the effective monitoring and evaluation system of most of the distributors of Neria,
a report on their experience with the materials will be sent quarterly to Media for
Development Trust; thereby allowing ongoing transparency for an independent evaluation
likely to be carried out in twelve months’ time.
3.7 Distribution through the Wills and Inheritance Laws
Campaign The Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs has launched the ‘Wills and
Inheritance Laws Project’ in order to thoroughly spread information on the changes of the
Inheritance Laws after 1997. Since they had invited for tender for suitable audio-visual
educational materials for their communication campaign, the Neria project has submitted a
tender and has won the bid. The Neria support materials will (though in a repackaged form)
be used as educational tools all over Zimbabwe, which will widen the distribution range
enormously.
3.8 Summary of the quantitative and qualitative project
output
Quantitative output Qualitative output
30 distributing agencies chosen Groups have been
successfully assessed to carry
out the task of a distributor
6 experts on the design team Experts supervise the
project with their knowledge
and experience
9 project progress reports
produced
Reports allow for
transparency of the project
process and create a traceable
data-base.
953 people participated in
screenings and focus group
discussions
Screenings and focus
group discussions catch the
opinion of a target group
sample throughout Zimbabwe
449 participants pre-test the
support materials
Pre-testing the materials
heightens the effectiveness of
the product and takes the data
back to the field
1500 support manuals in
Shona, English and Ndebele with 6
picture cards, 1 support groups
address list and 3 legal educational
pamphlets were printed
Produced support manuals
encourage an open discussion
of inheritance-related issues
amongst target groups
300 feature films and 300
support videos in Shona, English
and Ndebele were produced
Vernacular versions of
Neria feature films and
support videos heighten
identification possibilities of
target groups
2 training for trainers
workshops in Harare and
Bulawayo for 30 trainers held
Trainers trained in the
effective use of the support
materials
Trainers supplied with a
maximum of ten sets per group
free of charge
Distribution of training
materials to chosen groups
transports and promotes the
message to the grassroots
4 Project limitations The following limitations were experienced in the course of implementing the Neria
Grassroots Distribution Project.
4.1 Finance-related constraints/Time-related constraints One of the biggest constraints experienced during the project is certainly a lack of funds
combined with time-related constraints. Since both factors are interrelated, they are listed here
together.
Although the budget was designed in US$ for reasons of an unstable Zimbabwean
economy and the local currency, only one instalment was received in that currency. To
exchange the other instalments into Z$ resulted in a loss so that the actual grant initially
received was much lower than the budget suggests (see also the financial report).
The time factor discussed below increased the problems further, putting a financial burden on
the project when a shortage of foreign currency in the country resulted in a major price
increase in materials needed for the production of video and printed materials. Trying the
impossible, the need to meet the budget created a delay of tasks. This becomes clear when
observing time as a constraint to the project.
As it can be observed from the original budget there was never any provision for expenses
such as research-related expenses (initial research as well as pre-testing). Also, expenses such
as funds for translators or proof-readers have been left out of the budget.
Not enough money to pay for fast and efficient experts (translation etc.) and therefore
having to find experts who accepted less payment (or having to negotiate for a long time with
fast experts to make an exception, because the expert is not motivated and does not feel the
pressure from the one who cannot pay more) results almost immediately in a delay, since you
have to wait until the expert has taken her time.
No money for research-related expenses leaves one researcher with two voluntary research
assistants and thirty local groups who donated their time and their money to research related
expenses such as food and drinks or transport allowances for rural participants,
accommodation or transport for the researcher. No money means no travel allowance hence
the cheapest mode of transport was used, which – as an advantage definitely heightens
identification possibilities of the studied groups as well as it sensitises the traveller for the
need at grassroots through experience - certainly disadvantages the one who needs to meet
deadlines, given the transport situation at grassroots and the continuous fuel crisis experienced
during the past year.
4.2 Constraints related to politics Further to that, the political situation in Zimbabwe has been more than unstable for the past
year and longer, resulting in limited or no access to the field because of the violence
experienced at grassroots. Up to today, especially local groups are forced to cease their
programmes from time to time (as there was no activity in July 2000; limited activity in
August, September, October and November 2000 as well as limited activity in March, April
and May 2001), which left the Neria project - that relied heavily on participatory methods - lie
almost idle for months.
4.3 Constraints related to infrastructure The desolate communication infrastructure especially in some areas where Neria distributors
operate, made the follow up of distributors described under point 2.3.1 a tiring task. Written
communication (a form most organisations prefer for filing reasons) is a task in itself that
needs a full time staff member to deal with. Ever changing telephone numbers or addresses,
broken fax machines, slow or no mail delivery service due to strike as well as no electricity or
telephone services need strategies that are time-intensive such as radio communication from
exchange to hospital, mail delivery by local bus or identifying people that can carry mail to
target groups to mention just a few.
4.4 Constraints related to the distributors’ system The system of the distributors proves to be a tricky one during a year’s time, since the
nature of some of the NGO structures and the staffs’ attitude of leaving an organisation nearly
every year in search for greener pastures poses severe constraints to the sustainability of the
system. While it was believed that if only assessed properly and having informed chosen key
persons within organisations about all project progress and having visited most of the groups
and having established a personal relationship, the system would work better, the time span of
more than a year revealed only slight improvements. While it is definitely true that a personal
relationship needs to be established and groups need to be visited wherever they are situated,
the organisational structure definitely needs to be incorporated somehow in the assessment.
While a group is effective today, the change of its director tomorrow will turn the group
within the next months into an ineffective organisation – a fact that cannot be foreseen
without proper assessment.
After some distributing groups have been exchanged during the months (thinking it will
improve the effectiveness), experience shows that already three contact persons/key trainers
of different organisations have left their groups to work for others and only the evaluation will
tell if they have passed on project-related documentation as they were urged to during the
training for trainers’ workshops.
Many groups that filled in the assessment questionnaires provided wrong information on
their capacity; a fact that could only be found out after having visited the group and having
observed that there is no equipment, no staff and no suitable programme to justify the
participation in the programme (as had been indicated in the questionnaires). New groups had
to be contacted.
Cancellations of screening arrangements, that occurred frequently and that postponed the
project for months had the following reasons:
- Inability to secure fuel to reach remote areas where workshops are usually implemented;
- Inability of group participants to reach the screening destinations due to economic hardships;
- Political instability in the respective areas.
Given the reasons, cancellations were in most cases last minute so no alternative
arrangements with other groups could be made and valuable days passed unutilised.
Sometimes, the researcher had reached the remote area already while organisational staff was
still searching fruitlessly for fuel at other places, thinking the programme could still be
implemented.
Another crucial point concerning the distributors’ system, which was raised during the
Matabeleland workshop (and only there), refers to some organisations’ ability to incorporate
the product directly into their own programmes. While all groups have agreed that they can
benefit from the product and therefore can incorporate and promote it within their own
budget’s range, some of the Matabeleland workshop participants felt different nearly a year
after their choice. They stated that MFD would benefit from their promotion of the product
and therefore they needed an operational budget provided by MFD. They further stated that
their organisation’s budget was different from when they where chosen and political violence
in their areas of operation had resulted in most funding agencies to withdraw their funds, they
said. While there is definitely no need to incorporate an operational budget, it still makes
sense to think about the hidden agenda of some groups (others who operate in turbulent areas
have nevertheless just secured another three years of civic education; a field where Neria is
commonly used) and how these constraints could be erased right from the beginning. Lack of
interest, being spoiled by the generous hand-outs from other donors or high bureaucracy
levels within organisations can also be considered when looking for reasons why groups can
act like that.
4.5 Design team members and contradicting interests Design team members were chosen considering their experience and knowledge to fields
relevant to the development of the support materials. Unfortunately it was experienced that
some members of the team also had a hidden agenda as was observed with some of the
distributors. Since some members were aware of the upcoming Wills and Inheritance Laws
campaign, which had at that time received the letter of confirmation, they simply went where
they saw more benefits for themselves. Some of the information provided by experts who
wanted to participate in the other campaign, proved to be wrong and was clearly stated to
harm the Neria project. The fact that none of these experts, who today join the same work
group than MFD had ever mentioned the existence of the Neria project to the Wills and
Inheritance Laws committee to be incorporated in their work group, proves this point. Extra
time was needed to correct their faults.
4.6 What is law ? Legal accuracy and contradicting
interests Since Neria was to be transformed to an educational tool, the idea was to provide legal
information that is as accurate as possible. Unfortunately, it seemed not clear what the real
facts concerning the laws were. Confusing old-fashioned laws mixed with new laws that
contradict each other as well as a legal system that operates on the base of certain practices
(that are sometimes illegal but are still practised even in the courts) rather than on legal facts
makes it hard to see through the legal jungle. What is promoted in the Midlands is not
necessarily what is practised in Matabeleland (and is therefore not regarded as ‘law’).
Different experts with different ideas on what should be law, what is law and what is rather a
practice posed a severe constraint since they either did not know the facts or simply had a
different idea concerning what should be promoted.
5 Project impact Having observed the projects achievements and limitations, it will be interesting to discuss the
possible project impact within the next twelve months.
5.1 How will the support materials be used and promoted
by distributors? Judging from the groups’ statements in their assessment questionnaires, and, more important,
statements made during the workshops, the following use of the material can be assumed:
To show the film in schools, at church gatherings or in long distance buses;
To show the film in police recreational halls and during district development meetings;
To incorporate the materials in IEC programmes and HIV/AIDS programmes;
To use community theatre, road-shows, radio spots and IEC materials for promotion;
To create linkages in networking, corporation and facilitation;
To distribute the materials through schools, churches, local authority, NGOs and the
industrial sector;
To promote the materials through training sessions, case studies, HBC, focus group
discussions in communities;
To network via exchange visits, sharing reports, continuing meetings and loaning the
materials to key organisations;
To print messages about Neria on caps and T-shirts;
Distribution through the picture method for thought provoking, music, drama and audio-
tape;
Networking through the invitation of resource persons, the team-teaching and the ‘Better
Schools Programme’;
Implement programmes straight away and help other groups with a 1day workshop to
impart the knowledge;
Make use of existing structures, the use of notice boards, use of networking partners and
youth centres and clubs;
Promote through the use of newsletters, the internet, and workshops in health institutes,
schools and mines and to discuss with school leavers, ZRP and ZINATHA;
Sale of materials on behalf of MFD;
Use quiz shows, posters, drama groups, songs and music in libraries, clubs (IGP),
hospitals, community centres and churches.
5.2 Who is likely to benefit from the support materials? When going through the various activities being likely to be implemented in the next twelve
months, it is clear that the beneficiaries of the materials will not only be disadvantaged
persons in urban and rural areas but also key players in decision making positions, who can
then, in turn, pass on the information to disadvantaged people they meet and assist every day.
The inclusion of strategic institutions such as schools, courts, police offices or hospitals will
ensure that awareness can be raised at an early stage and various levels of society. Judging
from the estimates given by distributors, they are able to reach as many as @ 750 people per
month per group which can be around 25,000 people per month. When all groups implement
their programme only once every month (likely to be more), we can estimate to reach around
150,000 in six months. Knowing that the groups will pass on their materials to at least another
five groups per one distributor, we can further assume that the actual number of beneficiaries
will be a lot higher.
The campaign of the Ministry of Justice moreover targets to reach as many as three million
people with their communication materials. These will be located in the marginalised areas of
Zimbabwe.
5.3 What additional material is necessary to strengthen
the impact of the package for different users? Judging from the research that has been carried out before and in the course of this project it
is clear that video as an educational tool can be powerful, because
- people remember most when they hear, see and feel at the same time;
- video can be repeated or paused and crucial issues can be discussed with the audience;
- films open up people’s minds and can overcome the gender, race and status barrier;
- local films heighten identification possibilities for viewers and help them – by watching -
to re-live a certain situation, but this time, there is a solution offered.
Although most certainly, awareness on certain issues is being raised and current attitudes and
practices might be revised in favour of a gender-sensitive approach, the step to behaviour
change of both, women and men cannot solely be achieved with one screening of Neria, the
use of the support video or the manual.
Although the encouragement of discussions regarding inheritance-related tradition and
practices in the community will help to enforce the viewed, the following issues must be
considered to have a sustainable effect:
Which materials are being left in the community after the trainer has left? With whom?
Who in the community follows up on the process of behaviour change? How will it be
measured?
Which support structures are available for community members in order for them to apply
recently learnt information and strategies (this includes informal support such as the creation
of women’s groups to share and discuss, nonformal structures such as paralegal advice groups
as well as the availability of formal structures such as access to courts or police within the
range of neighbouring communities)? How can they interact?
6 Recommendations Judging from the experience gained through this project’s implementation, the following
recommendations can be made:
6.1 Budget As far as the budget is concerned, the following issues need to be part of every participatory
project:
- ‘Devaluation back up’ (where grants cannot be paid in hard currency, an additional sum
must be incorporated to cover up a for a nearly 90% inflation rate of the Zimbabwe Dollar and
ever-rising production costs of raw materials needed to make films and supportive materials
from the technical as well as the social point of view);
- Research-related expenses (assistants, translators, transport, accommodation and food in
the field, relevant stationary for PRA methods, food or drinks for participants, filming and
recording material); translation-related expenses (to engage professional translators and proof-
readers to ensure quality translation) and printing materials-related expenses (to engage
professional printers in the face of ever-rising printing costs);
- Post-project-follow up-related expenses (since distributors need to be followed up at least
four times before the project can be evaluated, an additional budget must be incorporated and
a person familiar with the project should be tasked to carry out the follow up.
Moreover, groups suggest that a meeting of a day or two with all groups from all over the
country could help them to monitor their activities and share experiences. A budget for this
meeting should also be incorporated).
6.2 Effectiveness of distributors’ system - Distributing groups should sign a contract upon agreement to participate in the project in
order to heighten their identification with the task. This will also help to remind them more
effectively to come up with their quarter reports.
- All distributors, no matter where they are situated in Zimbabwe, should have at least been
visited once before they are given materials free of charge. The current economic hardships or
the above mentioned ‘brain-drain’ can be seen as reasons why materials remain under-utilised
whereas literally around the corner, they can have a crucial impact in the hands of a more
effective organisation or institution.
- Distributors who have not attended the training for trainers’ workshop should only be
given materials when they are likely to receive the relevant information form a like-minded
group.
- The variety of the distributors’ nature must be manifold in order to reach the target group
(The target groups’ preference should dictate the choice of the distributors and support groups
– not personal preference – which means also to mix as opposing groups as traditional
healers, church groups and women’s activists in order to benefit the disadvantaged).
The follow-up meeting of distributors mentioned under point 6.1 can help to increase the
sustainability of the project, since group members do not loose the personal contact to like-
minded groups and are more likely to come up with new strategies once there is a ‘reminder’
in place.
In order to ensure the sustainability of the project, which goes along with the independent
promotion, use and distribution of the Neria support materials, it is necessary to create
supporting structures that will last once a project has been officially terminated. Which groups
do have the finance, the personal capacity and the interest to support the project once you
have left? It is necessary to ensure that at least some distributors will promote the messages to
the target groups and advocate on your behalf for the benefit of the disadvantaged. Video as
an educational tool should be part of every distributor’s budget.
6.3 Recommendations for the implementing
agency/future projects As far as future projects are concerned, the following issues should be considered:
- Learning a lesson from past projects is crucial for future projects (which also means to
keep a proper, accessible data base of past experiences);
- The same type of project (with different films) should never be implemented at the same
time (experience has shown that confusion is likely to occur which will hinder an effective
project impact – especially when similar or the same research tools are being used and
similar or the same distributing groups were chosen to promote different films);
- Ensure that all translation processes are being handled by local people who speak/use their
language the way the project’s target group is likely to do. This is not necessarily an
expert from the University of Zimbabwe, for example, but more likely a person who is
based at community level;
- Ensure that part of the expert team is always a person from the ‘real’ grassroots;
- Ensure that the project has enough time to circulate its documents not only to ‘experts’,
but also to communities;
- A proper communication strategy must accompany the proposal for the development of a
grassroots tool – radio and newspapers as well as television are necessary partners to
comment on project progress and output.
It is believed that the given reasons for having experienced limitations within the Neria
project were to some extent unavoidable and reflect the constraints within organisations in
general during these days of hardships.
Having observed the set up of organisations and having experienced the problems they face at
grassroots level was nevertheless a very valuable experience for the project and can be used
when planning similar projects in the future.
Looking also at the fact that the Neria support materials will join the education campaign on
the Inheritance Laws of Zimbabwe, the general recommendation made is that a tool like Neria
should not be used to impose the law on communities but communities should rather be given
the different legal, social and cultural options to make their own informed choice.