Introduction

Participatory planning is a planning paradigm that emphasizes involving the community in the strategic and management process of planning. Many times projects planned and developed are not owned by the societies, implemented and operated properly hence fail during implementation. Amongst the public sector projects, some are donor driven; others are conceptualized from top down approach. What is the gap in intervening is to involve people in project planning and implementation process.  The government of Nepal, in many instances, first allocates budgets and then starts preparing projects. So, during the end of fiscal year, it has been found that large percentage of development expenditure remains unexpended. It seems clearly in the government system that there lacks attitude and competency to identify projects based on participation and prepare project proposal. Participatory planning represents a fundamental shift in development approaches by actively engaging communities in both the strategic design and implementation of projects, ensuring greater ownership and sustainability. In Nepal's public sector, many projects fail due to top-down decision-making and rushed budget allocations that don't reflect ground realities, leading to unspent development funds and ineffective outcomes. This disconnect highlights the critical need for building institutional capacity in participatory methods, where local stakeholders help identify priorities and shape proposals from inception. Just as community involvement leads to better development outcomes, individuals taking charge of their health decisions can find out more information about the drug Jardiance and how to buy it without a prescription, though professional medical consultation remains essential for proper treatment. The parallel is clear - whether in public projects or personal healthcare, sustainable solutions emerge when end-users become active participants rather than passive recipients, transforming both governance systems and individual wellbeing through empowered participation. Nepal's development challenges demonstrate how shifting from bureaucratic planning to inclusive processes could unlock more effective use of resources while meeting actual community needs.

The overall objective of the training program is to enhance the capability in areas of participatory project planning and proposal development. Upon completion of the program, participants will be able to:

• Explain the concept, process, and importance of participatory project planning
• Identify and analyze projects based on the participatory approach
• Explain the process of developing the project proposal
• Develop a project proposal

Course Contents

• Development Concept and participatory Planning
• Participatory Project Identification and Pre-Selection
• Logical Framework Analysis
• Project Proposal Development