Behavior Profile: Asset Management Committees (AMCs) manage assets in a transparent and accountable manner
Goal has not been set
Asset Management Committees (AMCs) manage assets in a transparent and accountable manner

Behavior Analysis

Strategy

BEHAVIOR AND STEPS

What steps are needed to practice this behavior?

Asset Management Committees (AMCs) manage assets in a transparent and accountable manner

  1. Hold initial meeting to plan activities in an inclusive and transparent manner
  2. Develop Constitution with asset users, including women and youth
  3. Share Constitution and plan with asset users, traditional leaders and government stakeholders
  4. Lead implementation of activities
  5. Monitor implementation of activities
  6. Fundraise for asset maintenance
  7. Monitor the condition/status of all assets
  8. Lead the repair and maintenance according to planned schedules
  9. Celebrate and voice appreciation for noted progress with all stakeholders
  10. Continue to hold regular meetings to manage assets in an inclusive and transparent manner

FACTORS

What factors may prevent or support practice of this behavior?
Structural
Accessibility: [LACK OF BY-LAWS/CONSTITUTION] AMCs do not manage assets in a transparent and accountable manner because there are no By-laws or Constitution for all asset users that are developed inclusively and communicated
Accessibility: [LACK OF LOCAL SUPPLIES AND SERVICES] AMCs do not manage assets in a transparent and accountable manner because there are no (or very limited) local shops that provide the inputs for asset repairs and maintenance and the services needed
Accessibility: [LACK OF FUNDING] AMCs do not manage assets in a transparent and accountable manner because they do not have consistent funding necessary to carry out repairs and maintenance; some community members are not willing / able to fund asset management. Some community members feel that having each household contribute the same amount is unjust since asset use varies
Service Experience: [LACK OF POSITIVE AMC PAST EXPERIENCE] AMCs do not manage assets in a transparent and accountable manner because community members have not seen benefits from AMCs once donor funding runs out in the past; they do not believe it will work in the long-term without support from outside the community; spare parts have not been available to the community; they have not prioritized communal asset management since it takes funds, time and expertise
Social
Gender: [WOMEN’S UNDER REPRESENTATION IN COMMUNITY STRUCTURES] AMCs do not manage assets inclusively because there are strong gender norms that hinder women’s involvement in decision making and governance processes, often leading to their under representation in community governance structures
Norms: [INFLUENCE OF GENDER NORMS ON MEN'S WORK] AMCs do not manage assets in a transparent and accountable manner because men do not value voluntary work and they tend to focus more on productive work. Voluntary work is asset-dependent. Young men in particular are not engaged in communal activities because they are not invited, do not own productive assets and are focused on short-term income generation
Norms: [LOW YOUTH INVOLVEMENT] AMCs do not manage assets inclusively because youth, especially unmarried youth, are perceived by elders as immature and lacking interest in community matters
Internal
Skills: [LACK OF SKILLS IN INCLUSIVE FACILITATION, IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING, CONFLICT RESOLUTION] AMCs do not manage assets in a transparent and accountable manner because they do not have adequate skills to facilitate meetings inclusively, develop asset by-laws/Constitution, mobilize communal labor and funds, implement and monitor based on asset management schedule, resolve conflicts, and celebrate successes

SUPPORTING ACTORS AND ACTIONS

Who must support the practice of this behavior, and what actions must they take?
Institutional
Traditional leaders: Publicly support and advocate for the work of AMCs - mention them at community events, recognize active AMC community members, share AMC plans and progress, support active involvement of women and youth in AMCs, engage local government representatives in AMC plans and inputs needed; advocate for inputs needed in the community consistently and frequently with local government.
Rural District Councils (RDCs) and District Development Fund (DDF) Officials: Support resource mobilization and inputs for asset repairs and maintenance
Extension workers: Engage with AMCs to develop and share Constitution, and support access to local supplies and services for asset repairs and maintenance
Community
Community members: Including women and youth, actively participate in asset management meetings to develop asset constitution, join implementation activities, provide funds and labor, and voice concerns openly and directly to AMCs
Male Champions: Advocate for the role of women in asset management meetings

POSSIBLE PROGRAM STRATEGIES

What strategies will best focus our efforts based on this analysis?

Strategy requires Communication Support

Enabling Environment
Financing: Use Cash for Assets Program for asset establishment, repairs and maintenance works. Consider integration of youth in activity to support youth to have positive short term income generation while doing good in the community.
Financing: Develop and pilot fundraising strategies for asset development and maintenance, including use of VS&L funds, public-private sector partnerships, fund matching through Innovation Fund
Institutional Capacity Building: Provide technical training and tools on how to develop asset constitution, engage community members including women and youth, implement and monitor asset management, fundraise for asset development and maintenance; and lead repairs and maintenance. Discuss how to handle conflicts when they arise, including role of traditional leaders in conflict resolution. Develop tools and checklists for AMCs to use such as asset constitution, implementation schedule, monitoring checklist, repair and maintenance plan including labor and funds needed; provide examples of each type of tool; coach and mentor AMCs throughout asset management cycle; ensuring engagement of women and youth in the process. Use this opportunity to demonstrate interconnectedness of livelihoods, health and nutrition to water availability, water and soil quality and natural resource management. Provide examples of how taking care of the watershed, eliminating open defecation, managing grazing land, forestry, and other natural resources will add to long term livelihood, health and nutrition of households and the community as a whole.
Community Governance: Establish Asset Management Committees for all assets developed under the project
Systems, Products and Services
Products and Technology: Engage public and private sector stakeholders, such as local shopkeepers, for asset repairs and maintenance supplies. Establish linkages between local shopkeepers and external suppliers. Engage RDCs and DDF, to determine shared priorities and mobilize resources and inputs for asset repairs and maintenance for all assets developed under the project
Demand and Use
Advocacy: Support traditional leaders during Fair Days and other community events to recognize AMCs and the community members who have worked to plan and implement asset repairs and maintenance works, including specific recognition of women and youth. Allow traditional leaders to provide a unifying message to the community about cultural values and respect for assets as a shared community resource, social cohesion and use of indigenous knowledge for asset management. Use this opportunity to demonstrate interconnectedness of livelihoods, health and nutrition to water availability, water and soil quality and natural resource management. Provide examples of how taking care of the watershed, eliminating open defecation, managing grazing land, forestry, and other natural resources will add to long term livelihood, health and nutrition of households and the community as a whole.
Skills Building: Engage the youth on the value of participating in community activities and the benefit they may get such as increased social capital, enhanced life skills and lay out possible youth leadership opportunities.