Floods, canoes and bridges – all in a day’s work

Although the field staff at Kasungu and Mchinji branches are now carrying out the piloting activity solo, I’m still on hand of course in case of questions or problems. For example, recently Olivine (the Kasungu branch manager) had travelled a large number of kms to interview some new clients in their homes, only to find the area was flooded and their homes totally inaccessible. The situation was rescued though, and Olivine was able to replace the original new clients with others that were less likely to involve the need for a canoe!

To make sure that everything’s going as it should, and also to see whether there are any major differences between clients being interviewed in the home and in groups, I’ve been doing field spot checks. It’s still very early days so no firm conclusions yet, but the checks have illustrated some other complications…such as what to do when we’re asking questions about a client’s home but she lives part of the time near her field to carry out farming activity and part of the time in town to do business. These are the sorts of bridges you can only cross once you start the piloting! (The answer to the question is, ask the questions about the place she considers to be her main home.)