Participatory Planning
Prof. Indranil De
Participatory Planning?
'the meaning of the phrase has become even more elusive after
its professed adoption by the most unexpected quarters. It is
often difficult to understand whether those talking about
people's participation mean the same thing or simply use the
phrase as a kind of magical incantation.'
Adnan et al. (1992)
Consultation and participation are not the same thing.
Top-down consultation by which people are asked to provide facts or opinions,
usually about proposals or initiatives drawn up by others, tends to be
disillusioning and rarely reveals the full range of information available.
Participation means individuals and groups being actively involved in drawing up
proposals, identifying needs, and implementing and monitoring projects.
What is then Participatory
Planning ?
'It starts with participatory rural appraisals but goes on to
community problem analysis, awareness raising (e.g. by
visits to government and NGO projects in the region),
skill development, and support to village organisations.
The process involves joint learning by local communities
and the project, and the development of the people's
capacities in planning and problem solving.'
Jones et al. (1993)
Source: Dalal-Clayton
and Dent (1993)
When People would Participate
Reciprocation Reputation Trust
Investment in developing
reputation
Develop Norms of
Community Participation
Heuristics
• Good governance creates public trust in village
• Upgrade positive perception of the village government
• Upgrade participation of public for role active in development
• Program activities and reports on implementing activities must be
presented clearly in village meetings involving the community
Source: Handayani, E., Garad, A., Suyadi, A., & Tubastuvi, N. (2023). Increasing the performance of village services with good governance and
participation. World Development Sustainability, 3, 100089.
Good
Positive Perception
governance
• The use of the village budget • I know that village
is communicated openly to apparatus and institutions
the village community serve the community
• Activities carried out in the
appropriately and correctly
village are clearly informed to • I see village apparatus and
the village community institutions being fair in
• The use of village funds is serving the community
managed properly • I feel the benefits of village
• Equitable distribution of apparatus and institution
village development has been service
carried out fairly
Participation Performance
• Services for village apparatus
• I often give input, thoughts and institutions have been
and opinions for the carried out correctly
development of my village • Village officials look for solutions
• I often donate personal funds to to the general needs of the
village community
support the development of my
• The village apparatus has served
village the community according to
• Village institutions play a very their duties quickly
good role in coordinating the • The village apparatus always
community to participate in accommodates the aspirations of
the villagers
village development
• My village institution already has
• The community has high adequate resources for village
motivation in supporting village development
development
