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With this pioneering book introducing participatory approaches in rural development, the author challenges preconceptions dominating rural development at the time. The central theme of the book is that rural poverty is often unseen or misperceived by outsiders, those who are not themselves rural and poor. The author contends that researchers, scientists, administrators and fieldworkers rarely appreciate the richness and validity of rural peopleÆs knowledge, or the hidden nature of rural poverty. He argues for a new professionalism, with fundamental reversals in outsidersÆ learning, values and behavior, and proposes more realistic action for tackling rural poverty. The book is divided into eight chapters focusing on rural poverty unperceived (i.e. as perceived by outsiders); two cultures of outsiders, negative academics vs. positive practitioners; how outsiders learn; power structures and knowledge; integrated rural poverty including deprivation, vulnerability and powerlessness; making priorities for action; reversals in professional values and bridging gaps between disciplines, professions and departments; and recommendations and discussion of practical actions.

El proyecto de investigaci¾n-capacitaci¾n en Duitama se inici¾ en 1982 con la partecipaci¾n de la Fundaci¾n San Isidro y el Departamento de Investigaci¾n de la Facultad de Ciecias Econ¾micas y Administrativas de la Universidad Javeriana. Este es un avance informativo sobre el informe de la primera fase de la investigaci¾n. El problema que se quiere investigar es la producci¾n de papa, tabaco y trigo en la zona, investigando tambiÚn las condiciones de vida de las familias productoras, sus problemas en la producci¾n y la divisi¾n del trabajo entre los miembros de la familia. Sin embargo, el proceso investigativo incluye un programa de capacitaci¾n participativa, de modo que los campesinos se conviertan en promotores del proyecto aprendiendo ellos mismos a investigar. AsÝ podrßn adquirir ciertas habilidades que les garantice la consecuci¾n de la autonomÝa necesaria en el manejo de la organizaci¾n.

This is the second of a series of articles by World Vision International. It begins with the description of how a community deepen their understanding of their situation by using participatory mapping technique. The first part of the report is on Participatory process, community evaluation and planning , and the recognition of basic participatory principles that must be acknowledged in people and key characteristics of a good facilitator. It further describes a world vision exercise on participatory planning where match boxes were used to represent households in Brazil. In this exercise different kinds and lengths on match sticks were used to identify the various categories of people in the community. This enabled the community to identify the number of children of school going age in the community and then followed on to develop educational and nutritional programmes . It has a Christian theme, and draws on parallels between the work of Christ and Participatory processes. The report includes photocopied photos of the maps and the key of match sticks for the census of the community.

This article is the last in a series of four. Each looks at one step in the evaluation and planning process: description, investigation, analysis and decision (see Kenyon 1983). Participation in all steps is the ideal. This paper looks at decision. Three sections look at decisions about changes to address needs or problems; strategy decisions and deciding among alternative strategies; and evaluation decisions, or the measurement of results against objectives. Examples are drawn from projects in a number of countries, illustrating processes of community participation in decision making and the use of visual representations in assisting the making of decisions.