PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988-2001 1 A strategic approach to participatory development planning: the case of a rural community in Belize

Document begins: PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988­2001 1 A strategic approach to participatory development planning: the case of a rural community in Belize Michael Warner Introduction Pauleen, 1990). Principally, this approach provides a framework for establishing In July 1991, in collaboration with a local achievable development objectives and agricultural development NGO, the practicable development strategies and can be Environmental Research Unit of the University summarised as follows (LEK, 1990): of Keele worked with the community of St. 1. set the organisation's development Margaret's village in Cayo District, Belize, objectives; Central America. The main objective, as decided by the village council, was to design a 2. conduct an external appraisal of, for medium-term village development strategy example, market trends, competitors etc. which would have community-wide benefit. 3. conduct an internal appraisal of, for example, financial and resource capabilities; This paper describes our experiences in 4. analyse the options of the plan; and, incorporating participatory methods into 5. prioritise development options to make a strategic development planning at the strategic plan of action. community level. Participatory planning often contains parts (1), Components of strategic (3), (4) and in a few cases (5) (Kabutha and development planning Ford, 1988). Figures 1 and 2 below ...