Step by step guide to development projects

The workings of the aid and development sector are often a mystery to those who are outside it. This step by step guide will uncover how development projects work. With the help of a case study from East Timor, you'll find out what's involved.

Olantina and her daughter Ana Ramos wash clothes by a community water tank. All Photos: Lara McKinley.

Step 1: Knowing where to work

Community development projects get off the ground in a number of ways. Local organisations or individuals may approach Oxfam Community Aid Abroad about a certain project that they would like to run, or we may initiate a project ourselves by conducting research or by talking to community groups and governments to identify a need.

We aim to support projects that are going to make a difference in the long-term – a difference to people's health, wellbeing, human rights, access to resources or income security. We also aim to build the capacity of local groups and people so that they are able to control their own development.

The post-ballot violence that swept through East Timor in 1999 destroyed around 80 per cent of the country's infrastructure. International agencies as well as local communities identified many areas of need for reconstruction. One such area was the need for toilets and water at schools. This photo shows this situation before the project began.

Step 2: Getting started

Martinho Carreia, a community worker, discusses the final stage of the new water and latrine project with community members.

Oxfam Community Aid Abroad doesn't just go into a community and tell people what they need - there is careful consultation with local people to establish what is required and what's the best approach based on local knowledge.

Our projects often involve working through local community organisations, which we call our 'partners'. These organisations employ local staff to manage projects. Or Oxfam Community Aid Abroad will directly employ local staff, as in the case of the water and sanitation project in East Timor.

The project to install toilets and running water in schools in the Bobonaro, Liquica and Oecussi districts began with consultation with communities. Oxfam also worked with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education in East Timor, community leaders, headmasters and potential users of the water systems. We discussed project objectives, the responsibilities of all stakeholders, the history of each school and the communities' views on any challenges. A project was then designed to set up running water and toilets in 71 schools. Here, Martinho Correia, a community worker, discusses the final stages of the project with community members.

(L-R) Oxfam water technicians Joao de Piedade and Koku Diaz discussing technical plans with water engineer Steve Mainer.

Step 3: Putting a project together

It is important that the project is going to make a real difference in the long term and improve the relative situation for a community; it must also be sustainable over time. Before we start working on a project, we carefully assess the risks, costs and benefits, and how we will work with our partners and other organisations.

Oxfam staff met with the headmaster of each school to fine tune how the project was going to run - this included establishing who would take care of the systems once they were built. Oxfam pledged training and support, while the communities took the responsibility to maintain the water and sanitation systems. Prior to construction, meetings were held with community representatives to discuss the most suitable water and sanitation system to be installed. Here, engineer Steve Mainer is working with technicians Joao de Piedade and Koku Diaz to develop plans to implement the latrines and running water at the schools.

Oxfam water technician Koko Diaz assists the Darulete community to build new latrines for their school.

Step 4: The hard work begins

Making a project happen involves all sorts of people – the local community is heavily involved, as well as project managers from our partner organisations, and our own field staff who help to make sure the project gets underway. 'Implementing' a project includes a range of activities, depending on the nature of the project. It may involve building a well, running a literacy class, setting up a health clinic or supporting training sessions.

Implementing the project in East Timor involved liaising with the community and then constructing water and latrine systems for schools. People from the community were involved in building the systems, with support from the Oxfam team. Here, the community works together to build new latrines for the school.

Step 5: Keeping an eye on things

Throughout the project cycle, we check that the project is on track to meet its aims, that we are meeting the needs of the community and that we are spending according to budget. As well as constant monitoring by our partner organisations, projects are also monitored by our Melbourne-based staff - they liaise with the field team and partner organisations to receive regular updates and reports. Our Melbourne-based staff will also conduct project visits throughout the year to ensure things are running to plan.

As part of the project, water management committees were established, made up of members from the communities, to oversee the maintenance and use of the water and latrine systems. Our team in East Timor, as well as Melbourne-based staff, also regularly reviewed the implementation of the water systems and the general running of the project.

Step 6: Evaluation

Children and teachers celebrate outside the newly opened latrine block at their school.

There are many questions that need answering at evaluation time. Has there been a difference to people's lives? Will this last? Have the policies and practices that keep people in poverty changed? What lessons have we learnt? It is crucial that we learn from our mistakes and remember our successes - successful projects can also be modelled in other countries facing similar issues.

Over a period of a year, water and sanitation was provided to 71 schools and linked to 48 communities. Approximately 33,000 people have been provided with water and access to toilets, improving people's health and reducing the spread of disease. Forty-eight water management committees have been established, made up of local people who are trained to repair, manage and maintain water and sanitation systems. Oxfam staff member Cindy Kushner noted that "more than just providing latrine and water facilities, the project has built up community capacity and given communities a voice in determining their own development."