It is neither a manual nor a recipe, but rather a set of tools that are presented with examples and in simple language, to make it easier to apply and adapt them to the actual conditions and experiences of rural communities. This guide for rural leaders and professionals involved in rural development is designed to facilitate participatory processes for collective actions and solutions to rural problems. This tools facilitate collective action and solutions, through participatory processes and teamwork and the implementation of methodologies based on full stakeholder participation, in a manner which recognizes and transforms the existing environment.

It offers a collection of instruments simple and user-friendly ¿ a toolbox that can be consulted for specific needs. It includes the various definitions of the term, the general characteristics of the participatory methods described, and the areas where new working approaches are needed to encourage true dialogue with the community. This book is not a step-by step manual on the implementation of participatory methodology. That would not be the right approach, since participation entails constant adaptation. This toolbox is full of ideas and principles that can be used as a guide.

Available in English and Spanish.

• Organization: Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)
• Pages: 218
• Year of publication: 2008
• Copyright: © Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). 2008
• Url: http://repiica.iica.int/docs/B1013I/B1013I.pdf