Participatory Learning and Action

Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) is a form of action research and an overarching term for a range of participatory approaches and methods which are rooted in the participation of people in the processes of sharing and learning about the issues that concern them, and in the action required to address them. PLA is a reflective practice which provides space for dialogue and for the sharing of knowledge and engages local people in joint analysis and action in a creative way. It is a facilitated process that focuses on the learning and personal transformation of participants, which often leads to broader community empowerment and mobilization. The local people involved are often those who have been marginalized and disempowered, and PLA approaches recognize the importance of analyzing and challenging the power differentials that have excluded them. PLA also aims to challenge biases, assumptions and preconceptions about knowledge, by recognizing and validating the plurality of knowledge and the different perspectives and world views.

PLA tools and approaches bring together different disciplines and contexts, such as agriculture, health, urban planning and community development. PLA methods can be used at each stage of programme and project cycles: in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and for ongoing support, coaching and analysis. Continuous joint learning and critical reflection are embedded in PLA interventions. There is a diverse range of innovative PLA tools and methods which have been developed and are designed to be used in a flexible manner. This entry reviews the origins of PLA and its basic principles and methods and concludes with a discussion of some of the challenges of this form of action research.