Institutionalising ChildrenÆs Participation in Development

The article focuses on the possibility and practicability of involving children in programme development, using participatory research and planning techniques. It is based on experiences of Save the Children Fund (SCF-UK). The article does three things: (i) outlines reasons why participation by children makes adults uncomfortable; (ii) relates how SCF has tried to promote childrenÆs participation in its own work; and (iii) addresses the difficulties encountered.