Participatory Planning - Main Users / Purpose

There are various levels or degrees of participation ranging from simple consultation to joint decision making to self-management by stakeholders themselves. Participatory approaches, methods, tools, activities can all contribute towards a more equitable and demand-driven participatory development process. Participation is the key to sustainable development initiatives, since it will lead to:

• building on existing potentials and capacities, develops a greater sense of ownership on the part of the stakeholders
• increased commitment to the objectives and outcomes
• longer term social sustainability
• increased self-help capacities
• stronger and more democratic institutions and partnerships