Plan Using Participatory Approaches

Quarter 4 – Module 6:

Community Action Plan

 Participatory tools are specific activities designed to encourage joint analysis, learning and action.
 Example. Community mapping, transect walks, focus group discussions, gender role analysis, Use of
drawings, posters, role-play, theatre, and songs many more.
 So, the big question is WHY the community action is one of the participatory tools? Well, we have
discussed already the community action plan and according here… there is participation… we engage
action or we participate that is why the Community Action Plan one of the tool for participatory.
 Because the Community Action Plan Seek also problem analysis and decision making.

Participatory approach

 A participatory approach means that the person or anyone in charge of solving a problem or designing
an innovation involves people who are directly concerned by the result of his or her work.
 A stakeholder is an individual, group or organization that's impacted by the outcome of a project or a
business venture. Stakeholders have an interest in the success of the project and can be within or
outside the organization that's sponsoring the project.
 In general, evaluation processes go through four distinct phases: planning, implementation, completion,
and reporting. While these mirror common program development steps, it is important to remember
that your evaluation efforts may not always be linear, depending on where you are in your program or
intervention.

What is Participatory Planning?

 Urban planning is the process of developing and designing urban areas to meet the needs of a
community. The practice draws from a number of disciplines—architecture, engineering, economics,
sociology, public health, finance, and more—and strives to prepare cities and towns for the future.
 Paridgm (pardym) a typical example or pattern of something; a model.
 Community-based planning is a local voluntary planning process that is designed to build, strengthen
and support local communities. The intent of community-based planning is to develop a comprehensive
and well-managed plan that jurisdictions can utilize to guide local community development.
 It is often considered as part of community development.
 In addition, marginalized groups (GLBT, Senior citizens, Racial/Cultural minorities, Military Combat
Veterans, Persons of below average intelligence, Hearing, visually, and Physically Challenged
Persons) have an opportunity to participate in the planning process.

The Need for Participatory Action Planning

Public distrust of planning based on past practices

 Distrust, it is feeling that someone or something cannot be relied upon
 Participatory planning is needed when there is public distrust of previous planning practice and/or where
new development may lead to significant conflicts.
 So, if there are changes with the community it cause significant conflict blah blah blah.
 Therefore, public relations consultants have been hired to 'do public outreach, run community meetings,
provide public notices and informational items to get the public involved'.
 Example:
 This sounds less ambitious than many examples encountered by the research, but the point remains that
there is a perceived (become aware or conscious of (something) need to make a step-change from past
practices.
Governments' desire to improve the co-ordination.
 Coordination is the organization of the different elements of a complex body or activity so as to enable
them to work together effectively.
 Planning needs to change from a narrow, self-enclosed system of regulation to become a means of
delivering development that achieves broader objectives, social justice and other sustainable
development action initiatives.
Respect to Grassroots Community Planning practice needs to engage with the reality of diversity in today's
society.
 Grassroots something is at the most basic level of something, down there in the dirt with the roots of an
idea or activity. If you're looking to make a change from the ground up, start at the grassroots.
 This means being aware of different cultures and ensuring that issues of diversity are addressed
throughout the planning process.
 Bla blah
 Traditional public participation has often failed to do this. Participatory planning is built around
diversity, conflicting interests and the need to listen to the voices of marginalized groups.
 Bla blah blahh
 A recognition amongst governments and non-governmental organizations that sustainable development
requires consensus building and engagement with citizens.
 Blah blah blah blah

WHAT ARE THE LEVELS OF PARTICIPATORY PLANNING?

 There are a number of ways to be considered in participatory planning.
 Time pressure, the needs of the community, the skills and experience of those participating, and the
nature of the intervention, among other factors, all help to dictate the actual shape of the planning
process.
 David Wilcox, in his excellent "Guide to Effective Participation," sets out the following as a model of the
different possible levels of participation:
a) Information - The least you can do is telling people what is planned.
b) Consultation - You offer a number of options and listen to the feedback you get.
c) Deciding together - You encourage others to provide some additional ideas and options, and join
in deciding the best way forward.
d) Acting together - Not only do different interests decide together what is best, but they form a
partnership to carry it out.
e) Supporting independent community initiatives - You help others do what they want - perhaps
within a framework of grants, advice and support provided by the resource holder.

Each of these levels may be appropriate in different circumstances, or with different groups,
although only at "deciding together" and above do they really begin to be fully participatory in
the sense that the term is used in this section.
WHO SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN A PARTICIPATORY PLANNING PROCESS?
The targets of change".
 Members of the target community.
 People whom the target community sees as significant opinion makers.
The "agents of change".
 Policy makers.
 Influential people in the community.
 Interested members of the community at large
 Members of the organization itself.