Participatory Rural Appraisal Approaches

Participatory Rural
Appraisal (PRA) is a developmental method that has enabled many
development organizations overcome the challenge of understanding and
identifying the scope of local needs in which they operate. It aims to
incorporate the knowledge and opinions of rural people in identifying
and evaluating their needs, and hence in the planning, management, final
implementation and monitoring processes of development projects and
programs. In effect, it has become a preferred tool by development
agencies, especially non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and
development professionals. The success of the method is, however,
largely dependent on the tools and methods used as well as the
organizers’ commitment to the ‘participatory’ aspect of the practice.

Participatory Rural Appraisal Approaches: A Resource for Trainers and Practitioners
is a handbook that has been developed from practical field experiences
drawn from over 10,000 PRA trainers scattered throughout the world and
operating under different environments. The content is further enhanced
with case studies and has been updated from earlier editions to include
current trends in the field of participatory and community-based
development planning. It is hoped that the book will promote authentic
participation of communities to ensure tangible, positive and sustained
changes. It is, therefore, ideal for individuals, groups or institutions
working with extension services, community-based organizations,
governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and donor
agencies.