Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)
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0000
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World Bank
Abstract
Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) is a participatory approach to development that enables local people, development practitioners, and government officials to work together to plan appropriate interventions. PRA evolved from qualitative, multidisciplinary approaches like Rapid Rural Appraisal and Agroecosystem Analysis, initially used by NGOs and agricultural research organizations. While PRA is commonly associated with rural contexts, it has been increasingly adopted for urban settings as well. This document explains the principles, techniques, and uses of PRA, alongside its limitations, risks, and organizational considerations.
Description
Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) focuses on shared learning between local communities and outsiders to design development interventions. PRA emphasizes participation, flexibility, teamwork, and cost efficiency, making it adaptable to various project settings. Techniques include semi-structured interviews, mapping, ranking, and trend analysis, and the method is used across different sectors such as natural resource management, social sectors, and infrastructure. This document outlines PRA's methodology, uses in World Bank projects, and compares it to traditional surveys.
Keywords
Participatory Rural Appraisal, PRA, Rural Development, Qualitative Research, Community Participation, Project Cycle, Development Methodology