Resources

Literature review including references ranging from theoretical definitions of the term decentralisation to practical participatory tools and methods for enhancing its process in developing countries.

A publication of the national slum dwellers federation, Mahila Milan and SPARC in India, this newsletter gives examples of good sanitation ideas developed by slum dwellers. Sections include municipal planning and co-ordination, community decision making, technical matters, and reports from several community run toilet projects.

CAMPFIRE is a Zimbabwe project which seeks to place the proprietorship of natural resources with the poepl living most closely with them. The game discussed in this article is based upon the board game "Monopoly" where the participants each have a sum of money and their objective is to develop the wildlife potential and manage visitors. The game allows participants to practice the mechanics of book-keeping, analyse their sources of income and practice developing budgets.

This article outlines a method for letting members of disabled associations give their opinions on how well they are being served by their association. The development of the method and its strengths, weaknesses and orientation towards donors are discussed.

The present study explores the intrahousehold impact of transfer of modern agricultural technology from a gender perspective. The data suggest that in comparison with the individual approach, group based programs targeted towards women have a great potential to address gender relations within the household and society. It is evident that in male-dominated societies where women have extremely limited access to internal or external support networks targeting programs to women as individuals without providing an alternative source of support is bound to fail in its gender goals. Further, the study shows that irrespective of the programs, the income gains of women from implementation of the new technologies are not substantial. It is common among women who retain control over their income to use it primarily on children. The intrahousehold distribution of micronutrient rich food may go in favour of poor women when that food is not preferred by men

This book presents issues and challenges facing those facilitating children's and young people's participation. The contributors come from a wide range of backgrounds including NGOs in development, children's agencies, academic insitutions and governments and provide case studies from the UK, Eastern Europe, asia, Africa, the Carribean and central and north America. Chapter 1 gives and overview to the main issues and concepts and chapters 2-7 each expand on a particular theme. The main issues discussed and analysed include: the ethical dilemmas facing professionals, the process and methods used in partlicipatory research and planning with children, the inter-relationship between culture and children's participation, considerations for instiutions and the key qualities of a participation programme.