May 26, 2007
We discuss why LED needs to be conceptualised as a process. It is
crucial to build credibility, trust, confidence and creativity. An
LED process is a learning process. It is also, unfortunately for
external donors, somewhat unpredictable.
Thanks again for a very interesting discussion. A few comments: I really liked the indication that building trust is not only about bringing stakeholders together to talk and discuss issues on LED. Though this is important, in many cases this is where it ends...bringing these stakeholders together for an opportunity is a real test of whether people cheat, are unscruplous, etc, and the caution to start off small is important. In SA there is a tendency to go big....e.g the example mentioned of purchasing cooperatives which is more tricky and where failure can lead to despondency and continued distrust...
In terms of stakeholder management discussed, I think a lot of people drop out because of talkshop fatigue, especially when nothing happens afterwards and people are not kept informed...
I like the analogy of the LED process to gardening as well as to an avalanche, as in many cases LED is seen as a sequence of activities that have a start and an end, without a clear link between these activiteis and of these activities to the broader process...that never stops...but may change direction, stagnate...and then become re-energised.
I would have liked more info on the typical activities in an LED process, e.g. those undertaken by an LED manager...
Thanks once more