Theworkshop2013
Last date for International participants is July 31st, 2013 Last date for Indian participants is September 30, 2013

TheWorkshop: The Annual International Commune on Participatory Development

'Praxis, which came out of the ActionAid India training unit, remains one of the largest proponents of PRA networking through their biannual (sic) PRA thematic workshops… These practitioners' networks, as I learned later, were a very important strategy for the spread of PRA and were also mechanisms for facilitating reflections and learning to ensure good practice of participatory methods. Robert (Chambers) was very passionate about them…'

Quoted from Networking: Building a Global Movement for PRA and other Participatory Methods by Samuel Musembi Musyoki in Revolutionizing Development: Reflections on the work of Robert Chambers (2011) ed. Andrea Cornwall and Ian Scoones.

The thematic workshops are an annual residential event that bring together development workers, policy makers and proactive individuals from across the world to learn, share and grow in the field of participatory development. It provides a theoretical understanding of participatory approaches/tools as well as the opportunity to apply them in the field.

About TheWorkshop

TheWorkshop provides a theoretical understanding of participatory approaches/tools as well as the opportunity to apply them in the field. It gives us an opportunity to debate on and discuss relevant thematic issues. While the diversity and the wealth of experiences participants bring with them makes each edition unique and unrepeatable, the workshop has followed a common learning programme over the last 16 years. This involved an introductory, common module on Attitudes, Behaviours and Change (ABC), interactive classroom sessions in pre-selected thematic modules, field work, evening talks, film screenings and thematic group discussions.

Objectives

  1. To provide an in-depth understanding of the principles, approaches and methods of participatory practices
  2. To provide a forum for exchange of ideas and experiences
  3. To inform participants of the latest innovations developed by practitioners from across the world
  4. To create a worldwide network of trained PRA/PLA practitioners
  5. To provide a hands-on learning experience through fieldwork
  6. Enable participants to apply participatory methods in their thematic areas of work

In the past 16 year, the workshop has attracted more than 1400 participants from 47 countries. Among them are policy makers, development professionals from INGOs, NGOs and CBOs, students and proactive individuals.

Past modules have included Public Accountability, Community-Led Local Level Planning, Training of Trainers, Project Management, Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation, Participatory Methods and Approaches and Participatory Poverty Assessment.

Workshop 2013 – The Format

In the 2013 edition, the commune will be held over eight days. Here, the participants will be taken through sessions on Attitude and Behaviour Change (ABC) of participatory development by Robert Chambers, followed by classroom sessions on participatory methods and approaches and their application in thematic modules chosen. The participants will also have the opportunity to interact with rural or urban communities in Kerala for a practical application of theoretical inputs. Besides this, the workshop also gives participants the opportunity to share learnings and insights with those who attended other thematic modules. A rough schedule of the workshop is outlined below:

DAY 1  
 
  • Welcome and ice-breakers
DAY 2&3  
 
  • An introductory module on Attitude and Behaviour Change (ABC) facilitated by Robert Chambers
  • Classroom sessions on Participatory methods and approaches
DAY 4 & DAY 5
 
  • Classroom sessions on Participatory methods and approaches would continue
  • Interactive classroom sessions in the thematic module chosen
DAY 6 & DAY 7  
 
  • Practical sessions in the field, hosted by locally renowned organisations in rural and peri-urban locations as appropriate to the module content
DAY 8  
 
  • Share fair & the closing ceremony

In addition, there will be the regular features like the evening talks, film screenings, cultural corners and cultural evening.



Quick Links



Glimpses of The Workshop 12 Click here to watch the video
Glimpses of The Workshop 11 Click here to watch the video
Glimpses of The Workshop 10
Click here to watch the video
Glimpses of The Workshop 08 - [Video Part 1 | Video Part 2]