PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988-2001 2 Using PRA in organisational self-assessment

Document begins: PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988­2001 2 Using PRA in organisational self-assessment Michael Edwards Introduction sustainability of two Indian NGOs and two programmes run by Save the Children Fund- The use of participatory techniques in UK in Bangladesh. The aims of this study were twofold: development work is now widespread. Yet comparatively little use has been made of their · potential in helping organisations to explore to build capacity among the four their own strengths and weaknesses, reflect on organisations to undertake participatory their performance, and identify priorities for self-assessment using PRA techniques and change. This is a shame. Participatory secondary research; and, methods, and the philosophy behind them, · to build up a comprehensive picture of the offer a powerful vehicle for analysing factors underlying organisational organisational choices, and organisational effectiveness in different contexts. choices are a crucial influence over developmental effectiveness. The working hypothesis was that impact, cost- effectiveness and sustainability are always the This obvious point is often neglected in outcome of the interaction between internal programme evaluations. These tend to focus factors (the choices each organisation makes on the external environment and what is about what it does and how it does it), and happening in ...