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(AIC) (Smith 1991); Objectives ('Ziel' in German)-Oriented Project Planning (GTZ 1991);
Logical Framework Analysis (LFA) (NORAD 1999), and Team Up. There are also com-
munity-based collaborative decision-making techniques - Participatory Rural Appraisal
(PRA) (Chambers 1992) and Self-esteem, Associative Strengths, Resourcefulness, Action
Planning, and Responsibility (SARAR) (Srinivasan 1990). For large resource development
projects in isolated and under-developed areas, private sector companies have recently
started to make increasing use of PRA tools (also termed participatory rapid and rural
appraisal) for working with communities to design development programmes in a co-
operative and participatory manner.
In addition, there are stakeholder consultation methods, Benei ciary Assessment (BA)
(Salmen 1995) and Systematic Client Consultation (SCC) and supplementary techniques,
Social Assessment (SA) and Gender Analysis (GA) (Finsterbursch et al . 1990) that are
used to i ll the gaps left in methods that focus on male and elite capture by highlighting
the impacts on marginal groups and women. A number of organizations maintain web-
sites to share information and experience on participatory methods, such as the Electronic
Development and Environmental Information System (ELDIS) ( www.nt1.ids.ac.uk/eldis/
eldis.htm ), the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) ( www.ids.ac.uk ), the International
Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) ( www.iied.org ), the Institute for
Participatory Management and Planning (IPMP), ( http://www.ipmp-bleiker.com ), and the
International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) ( www.iap2.org ).
Participatory planning may require establishing a community development board (or
community board) comprising formal and informal community leaders, representatives of
religious groups, company representatives, and other interest groups. The CD board will
probably include equal representation of all affected communities, which is important for
cordial and harmonious relations between these communities. If resettlement occurs, a com-
munity board likewise contains representatives from both host and resettlement groups.
The mining company normally assists in advising and i nancing the community board
and in strengthening the capacity of the board to carry out the assigned tasks. The key
role of the community board is to identify, facilitate, and ultimately coordinate CD pro-
grammes. The role of the community board can easily be expanded to include a pivotal
role in all consultation, disclosure, and negotiation processes that involve the mining com-
pany and local communities, and the implementation of decisions made through these
processes. Possible tasks for the community board include: supervision of compensation
arrangements, in conjunction with the mining company; coni rming community member-
ship and therefore eligibility; providing a community-based mechanism for raising and
addressing community issues or grievances; and providing advice on labour recruitment.
Depending on the range of responsibilities of the community board, it may be advisable
to adopt mechanisms to ensure that the board is legally constituted and to ensure adequate
provisions in its charter, guaranteeing that regular and thorough auditing is conducted.
Working through a CD board allows the mining company to provide community devel-
opment programmes at arm's length, avoiding criticism of manipulating community inter-
ests and perceptions.
Independent of the chosen method of community participation, community develop-
ment programmes growing out of the participatory planning process enable communities
to analyze their situation, gain coni dence in their own ability to understand the cause of
existing problems, devise solutions, and design plans for future action. Participatory plan-
ning may take longer to develop and implement than authoritarian methods. However,
the initial outlay in time and inconvenience will be repaid many times over when commu-
nities begin to assume control of their own destiny - a fundamental criterion for sustain-
able development.
Participatory planning may take
longer to develop and implement
than authoritarian methods.
However, the initial outlay in
time and inconvenience will be
repaid many times over when
communities begin to assume
control of their own destiny -
a fundamental criterion for
sustainable development.
 
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