NGO & Project Management Technology · Intermediate level

Intermediate level · Module 4: Stakeholder Engagement and Accountability · Lesson 1 of 3

Community Participation

Involve communities as partners, not just recipients.

In this lesson you will

  • Plan participation across the project cycle
  • Include marginalised groups

Key concepts

participationcommunity committeesinclusionlocal knowledge

The lesson

Involve communities in assessing needs, designing activities, monitoring and evaluating.

Make sure women, youth, older people and people with disabilities have a voice, using separate meetings if needed.

Local knowledge improves design and builds ownership.

Step by step

  1. Map participation opportunities.
  2. Identify excluded groups.
  3. Plan inclusive meetings.
  4. Record community input.

Practice activity

Write the participation plan.

Expected result: An inclusive participation plan.

Check your understanding

  1. Why hold separate meetings for some groups?

    Show answer

    So everyone can speak freely.

  2. Name one benefit of participation.

    Show answer

    Better design or ownership.

Taught live by an instructor — online or in person. Free course lessons are for self-study and do not lead to a certificate — see registration options.