Introduction

• Participation Is the process through which stakeholders influence, share and control over priority setting, policy-making, resource allocations and access to public goods and services”. (The World Bank).
• Participatory planning is part of the decentralization process and it aims to identify the critical problems, joint priorities, elaboration and adoption of a socio-economic development strategies.

Characteristics/advantage of participatory planning

• Participation carries with it feelings of ownership.
• It ensures credibility of the intervention.
• Bringing a broader range of people to the planning process.
• Avoiding pitfalls caused by ignorance of the realities.
• It involves important players from the outset.
• Providing an opportunity for groups to be heard.
• It teaches skills which last far beyond the planning process.
• Bringing together community members.
• A participatory planning process builds trust.
• It generally reflects the mission and goals of organizations.
• It implies respect for everyone in the community.
• Logically, a participatory planning approach is effective.
• Finally, it does things the way they should be done.

Disadvantage of participatory planning

• A participatory process takes longer.
• Members may not agree with the “experts “.
• Lots of education may be needed, both for community members and the organization.
• One determined individual can wreck the whole process.
• Difficult to assure that all the right people get to the table.
• A participatory planning process takes patience and commitment.