Participatory methods for community consultation (GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report 938)

This annotated bibliography identifies literature about specific participatory methods and tools for community consultation

Abstract

Query

Please identify literature outlining the details of specific participatory methods and tools for community consultation that may be suitable for use by a bilateral aid agency in country strategy-level consultations (rather than project level).

Overview

This annotated bibliography identifies literature about specific participatory methods and tools for community consultation.

Some donors have used particular participatory methodologies to inform country level strategy – such as Participatory Poverty Assessments by the World Bank and a donor staff immersion approach by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. However, in general, the literature does not make a distinction between methodologies used at the strategic country strategy level, project planning level, monitoring and evaluation, or the project level. It is clear that a number of methods are used for community consultation, and these may well be adapted (in scope, size or substance) to the different purposes of the consultation, but the methods are fundamentally the same.

This issue was particularly popular around 2000 – notably the year of the seminal 2000 World Bank study ‘Voices of the Poor’ – therefore much of the literature found during the course of this report ranges from between 8 to 15 years old. This paper focusses primarily on more recently published research.

Citation

Herbert, S. Participatory methods for community consultation (GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report 938). Governance and Social Development Resource Centre, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK (2013) 10 pp.

Participatory methods for community consultation (GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report 938)

Published 1 January 2013