Towards participatory development : Singida Region (Tanzania)

This paper argues for participatory approaches as a sound basis for sustainable rural development. It focuses on how the government plans to institutionalise participatory approaches in the development process of Singida Region, Tanzania. The discussion first looks at participatory development ideas at national and regional levels of government. The author critiques the national Poverty Alleviation Policy Paper and instead calls for true participatory development, whereby the role of the government is to empower people, as opposed to the top-down mobilisation and education rhetoric that is often imposed. The paper then proceeds to review the participatory ideas and practices of regional and outside NGOs. (See also 3599)