Participatory rapid appraisal for community development: a training manual based on experiences in the Middle East and North Africa

Abstract

This training manual in rapid rural appraisal methods is intended for nongovernmental organizations and the training of community development workers and community members in participatory appraisal methods. Examples and practice exercises are included as well as charts and handouts. There is an overview of the following techniques: direct observation semi-structured interviewing ranking (preference pairwise direct matrix wealth) diagrams and analysis of group discussion (innovation assessment and sustainability analysis). Separate discussions follow on structuring and designing research and preparing and implementing field research. Instructions are given on preparation and presentation of findings of rapid assessment and fieldwork and follow-up and evaluation of training. There is a short bibliography of additional books and articles. The potential shortcomings of participatory rapid appraisal (PRA) include difficulty in finding the right team going too quickly focusing on statistics desire for a fixed questionnaire difficulty in finding the right questions to ask of the poorest least educated population and failure to involve community members. Guidelines include alerting participants to the dangers of PRA. Training guidelines also illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of different research techniques introducing the main features and key terms define PRA and its applications provide basic background information about the history and emergence of PRA and review the contents of the training workshop. All participants should be made comfortable with each other in a relaxed setting.