Participatory Planning - Advantages and Limitations

Involves all major stakeholders in the process of identifying their own potentials and constraints. Participation by all ensures a high degree of consensus. A host of different participatory methods and tools exist to address different target groups. Participatory methods enhance and support democratisation efforts. Minority groups can be more effectively integrated into development processes.

Organising participatory processes for a large group or for numerous settlements is costly and resource intensive activity. It is also not always “politically” desired. A consensus may be difficult or even impossible to reach. Latent tensions may emerge and could end in conflict as a result of the participatory process. A qualified process facilitator is often required to moderate the participatory action. Participatory processes question local traditional authorities. These need to be carefully integrated into the process if they are to participate effectively.