Oxfam

PA 'movers and shakers' retreat: Charney Manor, 21-22 April 2004

This is the report from the first meeting of a group of UK participatory practitioners looking at the history of participatory approaches in the UK. At this first meeting, the focus was on participatory appraisal. After detailing the groups discussions around individual "PA journeys" the document goes on to examine the agreed a list of shared principles of participatory approaches that were drawn up by the group: principles, power, practice, mainstreaming and who are we? Finally it gives details of a 14 point action plan.

Participatory practitioners for change: second meeting at Charney Manor, 26-27 October 2004

This is the report from the second meeting of a group of participatory practitioners in the UK looking at the history of participatory approaches in the UK. At the first meeting, the focus was on participatory appraisal. The group agreed a list of shared principles of participatory approaches, listing key issues such as empowerment, learning, inclusivity, critical reflection and ethics. The group also identified key issues that concerned the group, including guidelines for commissioners, action learning sets, regional networks and pulling together lessons learnt around good practice.

'PA for all?' Issues concerning the use and development of participatory appraisal in UK

This report covers the main outcomes of a workshop held by Oxfam on its UK Poverty Programme's (UKPP) participatory appraisal (PA) approach. Two practices that are commonly used overseas by Oxfam have been applied to the UK: increasing the participation of people experiencing poverty in decision making processes; and increasing awareness of how poverty impacts differently on men and women. At the workshop there was much enthusiasm for PA due to its fun, different, inclusive, flexible, challenging, and empowering characteristics.