Introduction
Development, progress and wellbeing have no meaning - neither are sustainable - unless and until they are shared by all. But what does it concretely mean and how can such process be ensured? Participation has got different definitions. For us, in Praxis, participation in development means something more than a mechanical process realised through the application of a set of tools. It is rather a complex process that requires adequate facilitation skills, attitudes and readiness to change one self and the surrounding power structures.

Module aim/objectives
To provide participants with the fundaments of participatory development, basic PRA /PLA knowledge and skills as well as induce a personal and professional change in terms of behaviour and attitudes.

Methodology
Throughout the module, participants will be actively engaged in group work and individual reflections followed by interactive and critical discussions, hands-on exercises, and fieldwork .

Module contents
This module will start by introducing participants to the fundaments of participation and its role into the development sector. The focus will then shift onto the enumeration and collective analysis of the facilitation skills and attitudes, which are required to enable a participatory process. Lastly, the course will deal with the various tools and methodologies, which currently fall within the large definition of P RA /PLA . The module will be experiential; hence participants will have plenty of opportunities to practice their day-to-day learning. This will also include a 3-day fieldwork organised in collaboration with a local Praxis partner.

Among the topics covered in this course, following are key :

• Participation in Development: Meaning and Role
• Definition of PRA/PLA
• RRA /PRA /PLA Evolution
• Primacy of Attitude and Behaviour
• Pillars and principles of facilitations skills
• Understanding and practice of PRA /PLA tools and techniques

Expected learning outcomes
The following outcomes are expected by the end of the course:

• Understanding of participatory development
• Knowledge of the fundamental aspects regarding PRA /PLA
• Sensitisation and propensity to participatory attitudes and behaviour
• Command of main participatory tools , techniques and facilitation skills

Recommended profile of participants
This module is intended for development professionals, activists and all those willing to engage socially to bring about a democratic change in the way development is conceived and practised. Given its basic level and introductory nature, this module is particularly recommended to PRA /PLA beginners .

Introduction
In the recent years, it has become more and more evident that monitoring and evaluating meaningfully a project is as much critical as planning and implementing. A significant shift has also occurred in terms of M&E objectives, moving from a sterile "result-oriented" evaluation exercise to an empowering opportunity to learn and do better. Now, the next challenge is to understand who the key players are in this process and ensure their inclusion. In other words, as Robert Chambers and other practitioners already questioned, "whose reality counts?" And further, "who counts reality?"

Module aim/objectives
To explore and discuss effective ways of enabling communities and primary stakeholders of any development process to have a decisive influence over the objectives, processes, policies and outcomes of transformations aspired by them.

Methodology
The discussion would be aided by presentations of relevant case studies and experiences, besides focused sessions on suitable participatory methods, e.g. social audits, citizen jury processes and large-scale PME systems.

Module contents
The thrust of discussions in the module would be on possibilities of addressing the adverse politics of development through appropriate institutional arrangements, systems and processes according primacy to an empowered role of marginalised communities.

More specific contents of the module will be discussed and agreed with the participants, prior beginning of training course.

Expected learning outcomes

• The following learning are expected by the end of the course:
• Understanding of participatory facilitating processes
• Insight into the best practice concerning PM&E
• Knowledge and practice of effective PM&E tools and methodology

Recommended profile of participants
This module is recommended for all professionals who aspire to acquire/improve their knowledge and skills in the field of PM&E. Special emphasis is put on the participatory approach, hence being familiar with PRA/PLA principles and techniques may be an advantage.

Introduction
Participatory development - in which all stakeholders have a say and a role to play - is considered sustainable and fair development. However, participation is not a process that spontaneously originates from mere good intentions. It requires the creation of an environment conducive to people's active involvement. To do so, appropriate and effective facilitation skills are demanded as well as the basic knowledge of participatory principles. By training trainers, these critical skills and knowledge are not only acquired but also retained by the organisations in the long term.

Module aim
This module aims at building/enhancing participants' capacities and skills required to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate Participatory Learning & Action (PLA) training.

Methodology
The learning process will unfold alternating theoretical sessions held in the classroom to practical sessions performed in the field. The classroom activities will be mostly interactive, entailing the continuous participation of learners. To this aim, focus group discussions, simulations and collective energisers will be carried out. The fieldwork, consisting of imparting PLA training to a grassroots organisation, will enable participants to tune the acquired knowledge and skills and gain confidence about it. A joint reflection will follow the field experience in order to benefit from the lessons learnt.

Module contents
The course will be covering all aspects related to PLA training and its ideal facilitator. These encompass:

• The understanding of how adults learn and the role that the trainer/facilitator plays in this process,
• The identification and acquisition of appropriate and effective training and facilitation skills and techniques
• The knowledge and practice of how to design a PLA workshop and train others
• The awareness of and preparedness to cope with the challenges and possible constraints of training

Expected learning outcomes

• Participants will have developed skills, attitudes and behaviours to conduct PLA training workshops and in field settings
• Participants will have the knowledge, methods and tools in order to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate PLA training
• Participants will have delivered a PLA training to a local NGO
• A preliminary assessment of their own NGOs' PLA capacity building needs
• A preliminary training plan to address their own NGOs' PLA capacity building needs

Recommended profile of participants
This module is recommended for all professionals who aspire to acquire/improve their training skills and capacities. Special emphasis is put on the participatory approach, hence being familiar with PRA principles and techniques may be an advantage.

Introduction
Community mobilization has a long history as an approach to development of marginalized and vulnerable communities through participation and empowerment. It is a process whereby groups of people come together in order to bring about change in the life situation by engaging in participatory decision-making and action process. It brings together policy makers and opinion leaders, local, state, and federal governments, professional groups, religious and civil society groups and individual community members. The process begins with generating analytical and critical consciousness by the communities on the issues and situation that gradually instigate action for change through cooperative and collaborative initiatives. Networking is the continuum of community mobilization that consolidates all the efforts, experiences and learning and in turn supplements and sustains the process of gaining power by the communities.

Objectives
To familiarize the participants with:

• Conceptual and theoretical understanding of participation, community mobilization and networking
• Various participatory and community led methods and tools to engage with and facilitate the process of community mobilization and network building
• Hands on experience in designing monitoring and learning cycle frameworks to facilitate knowledge building based on community mobilization and networking

Methodology
Methodology will be participatory with group works, case study analysis, simulation games, interactive learning etc. There will be enough opportunities to read, debate, discuss and learn collectively.

Module contents

• Conceptual and theoretical understanding on participation, community mobilization and networking
• Familiarizing various forms of community mobilization and networking across countries
• Various stages and components in community mobilization and networking
• Quality standards, parameters, indicators and monitoring framework based on learning cycle in community mobilization and networking
• Familiarizing various participatory methods and tools to engage with and facilitate community mobilization and networking
• Field work to practice different tools
• Report writing and presentation 

Expected learning outcomes
The participants will gain insight and conceptual clarity on approach, processes, and stages on community mobilization and networking with hands on experience in facilitating various participatory methods and tools

Recommended profile of participants
This module is recommended for all professionals and development workers who aspire to acquire/improve their knowledge, skills and approaches to community mobilization and networking. Special emphasis is put on the participatory approach, hence prior exposure to PRA/PLA principles and techniques may be an advantage.