Friday, October 10, 2014

Official Description of My Peace Corps Service


At the close of  Peace Corps service, you are required to write and submit a description of your accomplishments. After it is approved by your Program Manager and the Country Director,  it goes on file in Washington as the only official record of your time abroad. While it was strange to write about myself in the third person and tricky to tie it all together, it proved to be a great objective reflection upon the professional aspects of my service. Seeing it all written down in one place makes me feel proud of all the work myself and my community did together!

In case you thought I was just playing on the beach for three years, here is my official DOS to prove otherwise :)





DESCRIPTION OF PEACE CORPS SERVICE
BROOKE M. McDAVID
FIJI ISLANDS 2011-2014

After a competitive application process stressing technical skills, motivation, adaptability, and cross-cultural understanding, Peace Corps invited Mrs. Brooke M. McDavid to serve as a volunteer in the Integrated Environmental Resource Management Program in the Fiji Islands.

PRE-SERVICE TRAINING
Mrs. McDavid completed 10-weeks of intensive pre-service training upon arriving in Fiji on May 17, 2011. The training focused on language and cultural integration, as well as technical skills related to environmental management in the Fijian context. During this time, Brooke lived with a host family in Naimasimasi Village in Tailevu Province where she attended daily language classes and was introduced to the lifestyle in an indigenous Fijian village.

She also took part in weekly technical training held in Nausori Town and various off-site locations where she and her fellow volunteers studied tropical marine and terrestrial environments, protected areas management, habitat restoration, and environmental education techniques. Prior to completion of this training program, Brooke was required to demonstrate her ability to raise awareness about environmental management issues and to design and implement projects in a cross-cultural setting. Her technique was observed and critiqued by both Fijian and American instructors.

This 10-week program consisted of:

·         85 hours of formal Fijian (iTaukei) language instruction
·         19 hours of cross-cultural studies (the history, economics, and cultural norms of Fiji)
·         66 hours of technical training in environmental management
·         27 hours of medical, safety, and security training

VOLUNTEER SERVICE
On July 4, 2011, Mrs. McDavid was sworn in as a US Peace Corps Volunteer. She was assigned to serve in Vuya, a rural indigenous village in Bua Province on southeastern point of Vanua Levu Island, approximately 140km Southwest of Labasa Town. Here she learned and was expected to communicate primarily in the local Buan dialect.  Brooke’s site placement was one of her volunteer group’s most rural assignments. She was placed there because of her proven cross-cultural understanding, self-motivation, and proven ability to thrive in a rural, isolated environment.

Sustainable Community Development

Brooke began her service in Vuya by facilitating participatory planning for community development. Working with the Village Council, together they completed a needs assessment which identified the community’s available resources and opportunities, as well as the issues and vulnerabilities they faced. Using the information gathered, Mrs. McDavid then helped form a Village Development Committee whom she led through the process of writing a five-year community development plan. This plan identified a long-term vision for the community, set goals, and included an action plan for achieving them. Key focal areas of the plan were good governance (both traditional and administrative), improved livelihoods, environmental management, health, sanitation, and education.

Helping Vuya Village implement their new development plan provided a framework for Brooke’s service. Her continued focus on building the capacity of community members to plan and manage projects resulted in several notable achievements in the village:

·         Regularly scheduled Village Council meetings and a monthly community work week
·         Formation of Development and Finance Committees
·         Opening of a village bank account resulting in more transparent financial management
·         Creation of an annual village budget and fundraising scheme
·         Vegetable gardening as a women’s income generating activity
·         Upgrading of the drinking water system and improved protection of  the water source
·         Extension of the electricity grid to reach Vuya and the seven surrounding settlements

Mrs. McDavid’s work on sustainable development planning in Vuya Village attracted the attention of the Ministry to iTaukei (Indigenous) Affairs, who asked her to partner with them in creating a standardized template for village development planning to be used in all Fijian villages. Brooke led a team of Ministry personnel to develop a program by which local government officers and community leaders would be trained in participatory planning for community development. Although the program was not yet officially launched at the close of her service, it was endorsed as an official budgeted program by the Ministry who is continuing the work needed to see it implemented.

“Ridge to Reef” Community-Based Natural Resource Management

As Vuya Village is quite isolated from any urban center, residents are highly dependent on what they harvest from the land and sea for subsistence as well as income.  In Vuya, six extended-family clans communally own and use approximately 1500 acres of land, ranging from upland cloudforest to coastal coconut plantations. Mrs. McDavid partnered with a team from the Wildlife Conservation Society, a well-known international NGO working in the area, to introduce principles of “ridge to reef” natural resource management to community members. This awareness increased the community’s understanding of ecosystem connectivity, namely that what happens in the upland farms and the village affects the sea downstream, and provided an introduction to good land management.

Using the knowledge obtained from a series of district-wide resource management workshops, Brooke and fellow Vuya village participants formed their own village Yaubula (Environment) Committee, who then raised additional awareness within the village on best practices for farming, fishing, and conservation. They worked with the Village Council and traditional leaders to ratify environmental bylaws and write a “Ridge to Reef” Natural Resource Management Plan for their community as a supplement to their development plan. They then coordinated with the District Chief and neighboring community members, who share their fishing ground, to establish three locally-managed marine protected areas. In February 2014, the village launched their protected areas and ridge to reef management plan with a traditional ceremony and feast. This event was attended and supported by many government officials and members of nearby communities.

Brooke has helped Vuya begin to become a model community for community-based natural resource management. The resource management plan she assisted them in writing focuses on income generating activities that are compatible with sustainable use and conservation, and simple actions the community can take to improve environmental health, like replanting native trees and enforcing buffer zones around streams.

 
Together the Vuya Environment Committee and Mrs. McDavid accomplished the following:

·         Relocation of pig-pens away from rivers and coastline
·         Establishment of a mangrove nursery and mangrove forest restoration scheme
·         Establishment of three locally-managed marine protected areas
·         Improved waste management and monthly village cleanup days
·         Riverbank restoration
·         Establishment of pearl oyster collection lines in partnership with the Ministry of Fisheries
·         Sustainable harvest of sea cucumbers for income generation
·         Planned native tree and sandalwood nurseries

While Brooke’s service began by focusing just within her community, she quickly realized the importance of building relationships with other communities and organizations working on similar natural resource management issues. To ensure the long-term sustainability of projects and to promote the sharing of experiences and resources, she encouraged the Vuya Environment Committee to become involved in activities outside the community.  The Vuya Environment Committee went on to became a major player in district-wide resource management planning, with the Chairman going on to become the District representative for the Provincial-wide natural resource management committee, known as the Bua Yaubula Management and Support Team (BYMST).

Graduate Research: Networks for Effective Natural Resource Management

In addition to the primary responsibilities of a Peace Corps Volunteer, Mrs. McDavid was a participant in the Master’s International Program, enrolled as a graduate student at University of Alaska. Upon arrival in Fiji, she began seeking out a research opportunity, determined that it be relevant and applicable to local resource management issues and people. After a year and a half in Fiji, she again partnered with Wildlife Conservation Society to develop a research project using applied social network analysis (SNA) as a tool to improve integrated coastal management (ICM) throughout the whole of Bua Province, where she lived.

Diverse stakeholders from government, NGOs, businesses, and fifty-four rural villages must collaborate in order for ICM to be to be successful in Bua. Brooke’s research is helping these stakeholders to consider their networks and strategically build healthier networks for “ridge to reef” conservation. The project was thoughtfully designed to be incorporated into the participatory planning process in which local conservation practitioners (from government and NGOs) engage communities -- a process that is respectful of both traditional culture and ecological knowledge.

Sustainable Town Planning

Brooke had the unique opportunity to serve as an environmental consultant to the Department of Town and Country Planning during the writing of the Nabouwalu Town Center Plan.  As no official “town” exists in Bua, the national government prioritized Nabouwalu, the provincial seat, to be developed into the next town center in order to bring needed infrastructure and economic growth to this rural area of the country. Brooke assisted with surveying and proposed zoning for the plan, and provided advice on sustainable design principles as a way to enhance and protect the rich natural and cultural heritage of the area.


THIRD YEAR EXTENTION

At the request of her community and based on their work plan, Brooke applied for and was granted a 3rd year extension by the Peace Corps.

Language Skills
Mrs. McDavid has achieved an Advanced High competency level in Fijian during her service and effectively used Fijian to communicate in her work in her village, at the provincial office, with her colleagues, Fijian counterparts and in her daily life.

CLOSE OF SERVICE

Mrs. McDavid completed her Peace Corps service in Fiji on August 1, 2014.

Pursuant to section 5(f) of the Peace Corps Act 22 U.S.C 2504 (f) as amended, any former volunteer employed by the United States Government following her Peace Corps Volunteer service is entitled to have any period of satisfactory Peace Corps Volunteer service credited for purposes of retirement, seniority, reduction in force, leave and other privileges based on length of federal government service. Peace Corps service shall not be credited toward completion of the probationary or trial period or completion of any service requirement for career appointment.

This is to certify in accordance with Executive Order No. 11103 of 10 April 1963, that Brooke McDavid served satisfactorily as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Her service in Fiji ended on July 3, 2014. She is therefore eligible to be appointed as a career-conditional employee in the competitive civil service on a non-competitive basis. This benefit under the Executive Order entitlement extends for a period of one year after termination of the Volunteer’s service, except that the employing agency may extend that period for up to three years for a former Volunteer who enters military service, pursues studies at a recognized institution of higher learning, or engages in other activities that, in the view of the appointing authority, warrant extension of the period.



Thursday, April 24, 2014

Sustainable Village Development Plan Template and Guidebook




One major reason for my third year extension was to work with the Ministry of iTaukei (Indigenous) Affairs to develop a process and the tools (guidebook, template, trainings, etc) needed for effective participatory community development planning to take place in every  Fijian village.

This project came to fruition because after helping my community through the process of writing a village development plan, I was approached by the Provincial Council to assist them in doing similar plans for other villages. It was about this time that I just so happened to meet the Manager for Provincial Services, the person in charge of overseeing all the Provincial Councils in Fiji (there are 14 of them). I asked him if there was a template that the government wanted communities to use for village development plans. He told me there was none.... and asked me on the spot if I would be interested in helping create one!

It turns out it was included in their strategic plan for all villages to have  development plans, but no one had given any thought as to how they would achieve this lofty goal. While I didn't feel particularly qualified, I told him I was very interested in helping and at least I had the practical experience from working with my community. My only request was that they would have to find a counterpart for me to work with to ensure their commitment and as well as the sustainability of the whole initiative.

Well, it took about a year for this to happen, but I am happy to say that in February we had our first planning meeting. I presented to the team an overview of what I thought the process could look like and proposed questions I needed them to help me answer. It gave us a good platform from which to start and the group dynamic was great!

We want the plans to be comprehensive, covering all important areas of development. Too many times development is equated with economic development and infrastructure only. We are proposing breaking plans down into focal areas to ensure all important topics are covered. The draft list of focal areas is as follows:

1) Cultural Heritage and Governance
2) Administration and Financial Management
3) Economic Development
4) Health
5) Water and Sanitation
6) Energy
7) Transportation and Accessibility
8) Telecommunication
9) Education
10) Women’s Development
11) Youth Development
12) Vulnerable Community Members (Children, Elderly, Persons Living with Disabilities)
13) Natural Resource Management & Conservation
14) Climate Change Adaptation
15) Disaster Risk Management, Housing and Infrastructure

For each focal area, communities would identify the current status (including issues and opportunities), their goals for the future, actions for achieving those goals, and who will be responsible for ensuring that action takes place. We will be able to provide definitions and examples of best practices within each focal area as part of a guidebook.

Using a Training-of-Trainers (TOT) approach, government officers in each provincial office would receive training in participatory planning, facilitation, and project management.  They would then be tasked to raise awareness about sustainable development planning and the process in each village under their jurisdiction. They would advise communities on how to set up inclusive development committees. 

The village and committee would then choose a community facilitator, using a set of criteria, to be responsible for leading their community through the process. This person would then be trained by the Provincial Council in the same areas mentioned above. Upon return to their community, they would have the guidebook and some basic supplies to support their efforts. The Provincial Office will be able to provide support but it is intended for the plan to be written by the community for the community. 

Now that we've been able to develop an overview of what we are proposing, we must present it to the government higher ups for their approval. If/when they approve, it will become a budgeted program and we'll be able to take off running with more planning and stakeholder outreach, as there are a lot of experienced people and organizations we're hoping to collaborate with. Hopefully we will be able to present in the next few weeks! We're just waiting for confirmation of the next meeting date of the Management Board. 

I'm really excited about the potential this initiative could have for helping communities across Fiji and honored to be a part of it. It's a different kind of experience and challenge than that which I have working in the village. However, I am able to incorporate all that I've learned from working with my community, what has worked and what hasn't. Unlike an NGO who might facilitate community planning and then back out, I've been able to see the issues we've had in implementing the plan first hand. I hope we can prevent some of these by tweaking the process for community engagement and expanding the topics covered in the plan template.

Most importantly, it's a learning process for the community. It's almost certain a plan will never follow it's proposed timeline on Fiji time, but it's really the process that's important -- having a community start talking about their issues and what they themselves can do to solve them.


 



Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Official Launch of Marine Managed Areas and Management Plan



From behind the scenes:

Whoooeeee.... it has been busy around here! The preparation for our big launch may have been super stressful, but the big event went off without a hitch (well, any major hitches!). 

Pulling off an event and preparing a major document in a rural village with limited communication and no electricity is no easy feat! There were many trips back and forth to Nabouwalu and many late nights translating and editing on the floor of my house with committee members. 

Even after three years here, I still find it difficult to not be stressed out by they way preparations happen at the very last minute. At the same time I have developed faith in the way things always seem to work out in the end. 

The village really came through on their part. This event, after all, was theirs. While I was busy on the phone and computer, the community was harvesting food for the feast, decorating the community hall, building a temporary outdoor kitchen, practicing for the traditional kava ceremony, setting the program,  and getting word out through the "coconut wireless".

 Our program began with a traditional ceremony: sevusevu, yaqona vakaturaga (kava served for the chief), and presentation of a whale's tooth as a gift of thanks from the community to the chief. Next there was prayer from a local church leader, followed by tea time. After tea, a few church leaders, gov't and community reps took a boat ride out to one of the marine managed areas where a buoy was placed and another blessing said. Upon return there was a presentation from our Yaubula Committee, another formal thanks, and then the feast/ grog drinking began. 

Our printed plans arrived late, but we we still managed to circulate them and have an official copy signed by the leaders from each clan before the grogging got to strong and people began to disperse.

I was in bed by 9pm, but songs and guitar were coming through my window well into the night!


From our press release:

On Tuesday, 25 February 2014, the village officially launched their locally-managed marine areas (sometimes referred to as “tabu fishing areas”) and their natural resource management plan. This special event began with a traditional kava ceremony for the district chief, Tui Vuya, and was followed by prayer and blessings from the church. The community has designated three different marine managed areas to protect fish and invertebrates and to help generate income for the community.

The village has been working together for the past two years on environmental and resource management issues. They face the challenge of a growing population in a rural location where their economy and livelihoods are very dependent on the health of land and sea resources. For this reason, the village created both development and natural resource management plans which focus on ways they themselves can improve the status and well-being of their community. They feel that it is their duty as the “vanua” and as Christians to take care of the land and sea, and that they shouldn’t have to always rely on outside resources to do so.

Their marine managed areas are not designated to be “tabu” forever but to help the community use their resources more wisely so there will always be enough now and for the children of the future. While fishing or harvesting is not allowed in these areas, they will help the community generate income in other ways. In one area the community has established pearl oyster collection lines and in another, they plan to farm beche-de-mer. They have also been planting mangroves to improve degraded habitat and protect the coastline.

The village's natural resource management plan uses a “ridge to reef” approach. This means that it recognizes that activities on the land have an effect on the downstream environment.  For example, farming along river banks increases soil erosion and pollution from the village travels downstream to affect the marine environment.

Because of this, the community has also designated two forest protected areas surrounding their drinking water sources and created by-laws that do not allow farming or cutting trees within 10 meters of streams.

The biggest challenge for their plans to be successful, however, is ensuring that everyone works together. There are about 570 people in the community including seven settlements and six religions. They try to focus on good governance as the foundation for any work they do. In the past two years they have been working to try to bring the different community groups closer together and respect each other in spite of any differences. Utilizing both their traditional iTaukei community structure alongside an administrative structure has helped them do this.

This event was attended by member of surrounding communities in Vuya and Solevu Districts, as well as by representatives from the government and NGOs. The village invited all these people in hopes of raising awareness and gaining support for their program.

From behind the camera:


Banner drawn by a man in our village with permanent marker and crayon :)

The men waiting in the shed for the chief to arrive

Women preparing tea

Extracting the taro root form the lovo (earthen oven)

Large kava plant for sevusevu

Solo had a special role in the ceremony for the first time! Important honor and lesson for a Fijian male!

Men waiting to go in the hall

Our Marama ni Yavusa and the Marama Vunivalu from another community (important traditional leaders)

Bringing in the sevusevu

Pouring water from hollowed out bamboo into the tanoa, or kava basin

Serving kava to the district Chief, Turaga Tui Vuya

An elder from our village presents a whale's tooth as a token of thanks to the chief

Tui Vuya accepts the tabua, or sperm whale tooth on a cord of coconut fiber

Waiting for the weather to clear to go out on the boat

Preparing the buoy and anchor

Church leader saying a prayer of blessing


Myself, with my very yellow accessory, very happy for us all to have reached this special day

The crew returning from touring and blessing the marine managed areas