Training on Participatory Community Engagement Strategies

Development, progress and wellbeing have no meaning – neither are they sustainable – until they are shared by all. But what does it concretely mean and how can such a process be ensured? Participation in development means something more than a mechanical process realised through the application of a set of tools. It is a complex process that requires adequate facilitation skills, attitudes and readiness to change oneself and the surrounding power structures. It creates a scenario where those who are on the margins of development share their views on things that affect them. Participation aims at creating equitable development that ensures inclusion of all excluded voices within any community. In the context of a project cycle, participatory methods can be used at different stages of a project – from needs assessment to planning and from setting a baseline to monitoring and evaluation.

The workshop introduced our participants to overcome challenges in community engagement, equipping them to engage better with communities in a meaningful way using participatory methods and approaches.

About the trainers:
Praxis ‐ Institute for Participatory Practices is a knowledge‐based, not‐for‐profit development support organisation, registered in 1997 under the Indian Societies Registration Act of 1860. Since its humble beginnings, Praxis has emerged as an independent one‐stop centre for undertaking action research, training and documentation dealing with multiple facets of participatory development. Our work vindicates the growing mandate across geographical boundaries that for development to be sustainable and equitable, there is an urgent need to ensure good governance practices and processes. Our strategic networking capability with like‐minded people and organisations helps maximise our outreach and increases manifold the impact of our interventions. Our work covers a wide range of sectors from child rights to inclusive planning and from business and human rights to gender and sexuality. To know more about the work Praxis does, please visit- www.praxisindia.org