Ford, Richard

This research report provides an interesting example of participatory tools and approaches applied in the context of a developed country. Responding to local tensions within the Somali community and also the wider community in Lewiston Maine, USA, researchers from Clark University's Department for International Development decided to conduct a pilot participatory needs assessment of 60 Somali households resident in Hillview, a large public housing unit in Lewiston.

This article concerns an attempt to develop a PRA approach to deal specifically with problems of resource management in marginal areas. The approach was evaluated in the field in a three day workshop attended by community leaders, extension officers and NGO staff. Discussions centres around two years of experience of PRA in Kakuyuni. Strengths and weaknesses of PRA are discussed. The main conclusions from the workshop are presented: these concern the implementation of the village resource management plan and the distribution of roles and responsibilities for implementation.