Participatory Rural Appraisal: Let's Not Overstretch Our Expectations

This article discusses the pros and cons of PRA (and RRA). While acknowledging the innovativeness of PRA, the article warns that PRA should not be considered as a panacea for participatory development. Based on SNV's experience in implementing integrated rural development programmes in Ethiopia, the article explains how and why SNV had to develop its own participatory research and planning methodology (which combines PRA with other methods) to facilitate project work.