Dohad, Rashida

This paper is the story of a nation-wide advocacy effort in Pakistan, which is building on political space, opened up by the government devolution measures. The People's Assemblies process was initiated in 1998 to provide a platform for normally excluded voices to debate and to be heard in shaping politics and decision making. Taken forward by a nation-wide coalition of civil society organisations, a process of open debate on critical issues of governance was held in 40 locations across Pakistan.

This brief paper focuses on the importance of attitudes and behaviour, especially of the outside professionals, when using PRA in practice. The paper brings in several personal experiences of the author related to PRA practice in Pakistan. The paper contends that PRA practitioners should try to utilise the positive aspects of such experiences/encounters, while minimising the negatives ones at the same time. The emphasis is placed on examining differences in culture specific values and exploring possibilities of emulation and mutual learning.