| Abstract: | Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) is widely used in participatory research. Developed originally for rural communities, its focus has been broadened to include urban populations. This article compares two PRA experiences that have initiated participatory planning and evaluation in a rural and a periruban zone of Senegal. Implemented by a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that is active in both environments, the periurban experience tested the adaptability of PRA beyond its traditional rural settings. PRA was found to provide a set of tools for community assessment, planning, and evaluation that offer tremendous potential if adapted appropriately to specific settings and needs. Although these tools were designed for use in rural settings, most of them can be applied equally well to exploratory or thematic assessments in the periurban setting. |
