Participatory learning and action : Tools for supporting sustainable

Abstract

We are putting the PLA series on hold after this issue, pending the outcome of an external review. The PLA series is 25 years old this year and at this important milestone and with the drafting of its new strategy, IIED is taking stock to look at PLA’s legacy and future direction. Since the series started in 1988, PLA has seen an explosion of participatory approaches and methods, developed in a wide range of contexts. It has often led the way in bringing together experiences around a particular theme or issue, as well as reflecting developments in thinking about power and difference, governance, citizenship and rights. It continues to be in high demand on paper and online, with significant downloads. Feedback shows that the material is both relevant and practical. PLA 65, for example, on Biodiversity and culture: exploring communi ty protocols, rights and consent1, was used to guide the development of Brazil ’s first biocultural community protocols (BCP) under the Nagoya Protocol, and to support the Convention on Biodiversity’s capacity building workshops in developing countries. The Spanish version was used for capacity building in Latin America.