Guidelines for contributors
For a full set of guidelines, visit our website
www.planotes.org
A free guide to writing for the PLA series is available online
here: http://pubs.iied.org/G03143.html
Types of material accepted
• Articles: max. 2500 words plus illustrations – see below for
guidelines.
• Feedback: letters to the editor, or longer pieces (max. 1500
words) which respond in more detail to articles.
• Tips for trainers: training exercises, tips on running
workshops, reflections on behaviour and attitudes in
training, etc., max. 1000 words.
• In Touch: short pieces on forthcoming workshops and
events, publications, and online resources.
We welcome accounts of recent experiences in the field
(or in workshops) and current thinking around
participation, and particularly encourage contributions
from practitioners in the South. Articles should be coauthored by all those engaged in the research, project, or
programme.
In an era in which participatory approaches have often
been viewed as a panacea to development problems or
where acquiring funds for projects has depended on the use
of such methodologies, it is vital to pay attention to the
quality of the methods and process of participation. Whilst
we will continue to publish experiences of innovation in the
field, we would like to emphasise the need to analyse the
limitations as well as the successes of participation.
Participatory Learning and Action is still a series whose
focus is methodological, but it is important to give more
importance to issues of power in the process and to the
impact of participation, asking ourselves who sets the
agenda for participatory practice. It is only with critical
analysis that we can further develop our thinking around
participatory learning and action.
We particularly favour articles which contain one or
more of the following elements:
• an innovative angle to the concepts of participatory
approaches or their application;
• critical reflections on the lessons learnt from the author’s
experiences;
• an attempt to develop new methods, or innovative
adaptations of existing ones;
• consideration of the processes involved in participatory
approaches;
• an assessment of the impacts of a participatory process;
• potentials and limitations of scaling up and
institutionalising participatory approaches; and,
• potentials and limitations of participatory policy-making
processes.
Language and style
Please try to keep contributions clear and accessible.
Sentences should be short and simple. Avoid jargon,
theoretical terminology, and overly academic language.
Explain any specialist terms that you do use and spell out
acronyms in full.
Abstracts
Please include a brief abstract with your article
(circa. 150-200 words).
References
If references are mentioned, please include details.
Participatory Learning and Action is intended to
be informal, rather than academic, so references
should be kept to a minimum.
Photographs and drawings
Please ensure that photos/drawings are scanned at
a high enough resolution for print (300 dpi) and
include a short caption and credit(s).
Submitting your contribution
Contributions can be sent to: The Editors,
Participatory Learning and Action, IIED,
80-86 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8NH,
UK.
Fax: +44 20 7388 2826;
Email: pla.notes@iied.org
Website: www.planotes.org
Resource Centres for Participatory Learning and
Action (RCPLA) Network
Since June 2002, the IIED Resource Centre for
Participatory Learning and Action has been
housed by the Institute of Development Studies,
UK. Practical information and support on
participation in development is also available from
the various members of the RCPLA Network.
This initiative is a global network of
organisations, committed to information sharing
and networking on participatory approaches.
More information, including regular updates
on RCPLA activities, can be found in the In Touch
section of Participatory Learning and Action, or
by visiting www.rcpla.org, or contacting the
network coordinator: Ali Mokhtar, CDS, Near
East Foundation, 4 Ahmed Pasha Street, 10th
Floor, Garden City, Cairo, Egypt.
Tel: +20 2 795 7558; Fax: +2 2 794 7278;
Email: amokhtar@nefdev.org
Participation at IDS
Participatory approaches and methodologies are
also a focus for the Participation, Power and Social
Change Team at the Institute of Development
Studies, University of Sussex, UK. This group of
researchers and practitioners is involved in
sharing knowledge, in strengthening capacity to
support quality participatory approaches, and in
deepening understanding of participatory
methods, principles, and ethics. For further
information please contact: Jane Stevens, IDS,
University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9RE, UK.
Tel: +44 1273 678690; Fax: +44 1273 621202
Email: J.Stevens@ids.ac.uk
Website: www.ids.ac.uk