What do we mean by participation in development ?

We define participation in development as a process of equitable and active involvement of all stakeholders in the formulation of development policies and strategies and in the analysis, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development activities. To allow for a more equitable development process, disadvantaged stakeholders need to be empowered to increase their level of knowledge, influence and control over their own livelihoods, including development initiatives affecting them.

Participation in development is also seen as an organized effort within institutions and organizations to increase stakeholder access and control over resources and related decision making that contributes to sustainable livelihoods. Participation is furthermore viewed as an iterative process involving the continuous re-adjustment of relationships between different stakeholders in a society in order to increase stakeholder control and influence over development initiatives that affect their lives.

There are various levels or degrees of participation ranging from simple consultation to joint decision making to self-management by stakeholders themselves. The specific degree of participation of different stakeholders is determined through a negotiation process. Our vision is to increase the degree of participation in FAO programmes and projects. Ideally this means putting the beneficiaries at the centre of a development process that they will drive and continuously adjust, according to their own learning processes and needs.

How to ensure participation in development?

Participatory approaches, methods, tools, activities and related changes in attitudes can facilitate a more equitable and demand-driven participatory development process. In order to institutionalize participation and ensure that collective action does continue after the withdrawal of a programme/project, it is essential that the capacities of the stakeholders, in particular local institutional arrangements, are strengthened. In this respect an appropriate capacity building strategy is required to integrate relevant horizontal and vertical linkages.

Participation is the key to sustainable development initiatives, since it will lead to:

building on existing potentials and capacities

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

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What do we mean by stakeholders ?

The stakeholders can be numerous and might, for example, in the rural context range from households, community-based interest groups, and socio-economic groups within communities, to local government, public and private sector institutions operating at national, regional and/or local levels to provide basic infrastructure, agricultural inputs, marketing and information/training, agro-industries for internal and export markets, social services, such as health, education, and national policy-makers, international and national donor institutions, as well as civil society institutions at all levels. Relevant stakeholders are those who are or should be involved in a specific development process, as well as those who are mainly affected by it or involved in related decision making.

What is a livelihood ?

'A livelihood comprises the capabilities, assets (stores, resources, claims and access) and activities required for a means of living: a livelihood is sustainable which can cope with and recover from stress and shocks, maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets, and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for the next generation; and which contributes net benefits to other livelihoods at the local and global levels and in the long and short term.' (Chambers, R. and G. Conway (1992) Sustainable rural livelihoods: Practical concepts for the 21^st century. IDS Discussion Paper 296. Brighton: IDS. (pp.7-8))