PMDC has been very involved in the development and application of participatory development approaches and this has come to guide all of our work. These approaches build on best practice in pro-poor development focusing on a set of principles and a framework for understanding people’s needs, priorities and livelihoods. We have undertaken a range of work in developing participatory approaches to sustainable development. We have conducted baseline surveys, monitoring and evaluations, and impact assessments of development programs in public and civil society sector using participatory methodologies. We design performance monitoring and evaluation systems, including tracking and outcome mapping tools.

In addition we have made presentations and facilitated workshops, where we have contributed to emerging thinking on participatory methodologies. Having developed innovative approaches if these are to be implemented, it is essential that the capacity is developed of those who need to use them. Learning-by-doing is built into all PMDC work, as part of action learning. Training is a critical component for mainstreaming developed participatory methodologies within the programs of our partners/clients. We provide training and facilitation skills based on adult learning methodologies.