1. The Advantages and Disadvantages
of the Participatory Approach

2. Advantages Disadvantages
• Sees people as subjects • It is nearly always the
(“active agents”) “outsiders” who conduct
and interpret the results
• Includes a dimension • “People’s own assessment
previously not applied on of their own condition can
other approaches overlook their objective an
(perspective of the poor can be biased as a result of
themselves) limited information and
social conditioning”
(Amartya Sen)

3. Advantages Disadvantages
• Provides a way of solving • Impact of views on projects
some of the problems are often remote due to its
encountered with the other subjective nature.
approaches. • Whose voices are being
• Poor people’s views are heard?
elicited to shape plans and • Reflective of existing power
contribute to relations in a community
developmental strategies.

4. Advantages Disadvantages
• Small scale surveys are • Sample size is too small and
done on a regular basis not representative
• Allows for a timely analysis • Never available nationally
and intervention
• Time consuming
• Cost-effective
• Sustainable
• Applies a variety of
methods that can be used
flexibly, according to the
situation