A survey of some current approaches to participatory planning at district level: Volume 1

The objective of the study, which this report summarises, was to identify best practices in, and enhance capacity for, participatory planning, management and sustainable development at local government levels (districts, wards and villages) in Tanzania. Generalised shortcomings of the district planning process were to be highlighted along the way. A case study approach was taken, based on the experiences of the donor agencies at district level, complemented by a document review and discussions with stakeholders. The report is constructed as follows: general approaches to planning (top-down and participatory); approaches to participation in rural planning adopted in other African countries; the experiences of district planning in Tanzania; district planning in the context of local government reform; scenarios of participatory planning processes in rural development programmes in Tanzania; best practices in participatory planning; and conclusions and ways forward.