Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) –
formerly PLA Notes and RRA Notes – is published
twice a year. Established in 1987, it enables
practitioners of participatory methodologies from
around the world to share their field experiences,
conceptual reflections, and methodological
innovations. The series is informal and seeks to
publish frank accounts, address issues of practical
and immediate value, encourage innovation, and
act as a ‘voice from the field’.
We are grateful to the Swedish International
Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the UK
Department for International Development (DfID)
and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
(Danida) for their financial support of PLA.
We would also like to thank the guest editors of
this issue and their organisations: the Kalpavriksh
Environmental Action Group, India; Natural
Justice: Lawyers for Communities and the
Environment; COMPAS (COMPAring and
Supporting Endogenous Development) Network;
and the Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT). The
views expressed in this publication do not
necessarily reflect the views of the funding
organisations or the employers of the guest editors
and authors.
The International Institute for Environment
and Development (IIED) is committed to
promoting social justice and the
empowerment of the poor and marginalised. It also
supports democracy and full participation in decisionmaking and governance. We strive to reflect these values in
Participatory Learning and Action. For further information
contact IIED, 80-86 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8NH,
UK. Website: www.iied.org
Participatory Learning and Action 65
© IIED, 2012
Order no: 14618IIED
Cover illustration: Regina Faul-Doyle
Design and layout: Smith+Bell Design
Printed by: Park Communications Ltd, London
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Guest editors: Krystyna Swiderska, Holly Shrumm,
Wim Hiemstra, María Julia Oliva, Kanchi Kohli
and Harry Jonas.
Editors: Holly Ashley, Nicole Kenton, and
Angela Milligan.
Strategic Editorial Board: Nazneen Kanji,
Jethro Pettit, Michel Pimbert,
Krystyna Swiderska and David Satterthwaite.
International Editorial Advisory Board:
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Beneria,
L. David Brown, Andy Catley, Robert
Chambers, Louise Chawla, Andrea Cornwall,
Bhola Dahal, Qasim Deiri, John Devavaram,
Charlotte Flower, FORCE Nepal,
Bara Guèye, Irene Guijt, Marcia Hills,
Enamul Huda, Vicky Johnson, Caren Levy,
Sarah Levy, Zhang Linyang, PJ Lolichen,
Cath Long, Ilya M. Moeliono, Humera Malik,
Marjorie Jane Mbilinyi, Ali Mokhtar,
Seyed Babak Moosavi, Trilok Neupane,
Esse Nilsson, Zakariya Odeh, Peter Park,
Bardolf Paul, Bimal Kumar Phnuyal,
Giacomo Rambaldi, Peter Reason,
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Madhu Sarin, Daniel Selener, Meera Kaul Shah,
Jasber Singh, Marja Liisa Swantz, Cecilia Tacoli,
Peter Taylor, Tom Wakeford, Eliud Wakwabubi,
and Alice Welbourn.
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Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) is an umbrella
term for a wide range of approaches and methodologies,
including Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), Rapid Rural
Appraisal (RRA), Participatory Learning Methods (PALM),
Participatory Action Research (PAR), Farming Systems
Research (FSR), and Méthode Active de Recherche et de
Planification Participative (MARP). The common theme is
the full participation of people in the processes of learning
about their needs and opportunities, and in the action
required to address them.
In recent years, there has been a number of shifts in the
scope and focus of participation: emphasis on sub-national,
national and international decision-making, not just local
decision-making; move from projects to policy processes
and institutionalisation; greater recognition of issues of
difference and power; and, emphasis on assessing the
quality and understanding the impact of participation,
rather than simply promoting participation. Participatory
Learning and Action reflects these developments and
recognises the importance of analysing and overcoming
power differentials which work to exclude the already poor
and marginalised.