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.