Dr.R.Aruna Jayamani Faculty NIRDPR, Hyderabad

Introduction

Participatory techniques emphasize on the

importance of involving people i.e., people

participation for the betterment of society

through their involvement in implementation,

execution, monitoring and evaluation of

various developmental programs set by the

government.

DEFINITIONS OF PRA/PLA

PRA (Participatory rural appraisal)

• It is a methodology to involve rural community by

interacting with them and understanding them along with their locality.

PLA (Participatory learning and action)

PLA is a one of the recent terminology in the field of participatory technique.

It is a learning from community , collection of data and carrying actions

Origin of Participatory Learning and

Action 1970s-80s: Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) -

consultation and engagement of rural

communities (Africa)

1980s-90s: Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) –

correcting some limitations of RRA

1990s-00s: Participatory Learning and Action

(PLA) – applications for monitoring and

evaluation

CONCEPT OF PRA/PLA

• A PRA/PLA field exercise is not only for information and idea generation, but it is about analysis and learning by local people.

• It is about building a process of participation, of discussion, communication, and conflict resolution.

• The outsider’s role is that of a catalyst, a facilitator, and convenor of that process within a community

• RRA/PRA/PLA therefore basically aims at a process that empowers local people to change their own conditions and situations. It is intended to enable them to conduct their own analysis to plan and to take action

Principles of PLA

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

INTERDICIPLINARY TEAM

FLEXIBILITY

OPTIMAL IGNORANCE

TRIANGULATION

PLA Ground Rules

1. Give everyone the opportunity to participate

2. Respect what people say

3. Don’t dominate

4. Be on the same level as the participants

5. Don’t make assumptions

6. Don’t rush

7. ‘Hand over the pen’

8. Learn from mistake

9. Be flexible

10. Make it fun

Process

I. Inclusive and Democratic

II. Relevant

III. Flexible

IV. Rapid and Low-Cost

V. Empowering

Foundations of PLA

PLA

BEHAVIOUR & ATTITUDES

METHODS SHARING

Key Strategies for use of PLA

STRATEGIES

TRIANGULATION

MULTIDISCIPLINARY

TEAM

Outcomes from PLA

• Physical and technical data

• Demographic, health and socio-economic data

• Cultural and opinion data

• Spatial distribution

• Temporal distribution

• Structural Analysis

PLA Relation

Method

Time

Related

PLA

Methods

Space

Related

PLA

Methods

• Social Map

• Resource Map

• Participatory

Modelling Map

• Mobility Map

• Service &

Opportunity

Map

• Transect

• Participatory

Census

Method

• Time Line

• Trend

Analysis

• Historical

transect

• Seasonal

Diagram

• Daily Activity

Schedule

• Dream Map

• Cause & effect

diagram

• Tail Diagram

• Preference

Ranking

• Impact Diagram

• Network

Diagram

• Process Map

• Venn Diagram

• Spider Diagram

• Body Mapping

PLA Tools

Can be grouped depending on which stage of process

A. Early stages

B. Analysis

C. Prioritization and action Planning