The World Bank supports development that improves human welfare and reduces poverty. Achieving this goal requires sustainable economic growth; the development of physical infrastructure, human resources, and institutions; and sound environmental management. In recent years development...

The World Bank supports development that improves human welfare and reduces poverty. Achieving this goal requires sustainable economic growth; the development of physical infrastructure, human resources, and institutions; and sound environmental management. In recent years development...

The participation of users - in designing and implementing projects and managing water and sanitation services - is now being built into Bank-funded projects with the aim of increasing efficiency, equity, and cost recovery, and facilitating the extension of service coverage to poor communities....

The irrigation sector provides a rich source of experiences and lessons in user participation. Participation by farmers in system design and management helps to ensure the sustainability of the system, reduce the public expenditure burden, and improve efficiency, equity and standards of service....

Using a participatory approach in the Bank ' s country economic and sector work may involve extra costs, as well as some loss of control over timing and quality of work. Experience suggests, however, that these costs are more than offset by substantial benefits, including improvements in the...

The newest Bank supported social funds are designed explicitly to increase the participation of beneficiaries in identifying and managing microprojects, with the aim of making project activities more relevant and sustainable. Features which support participation are built into the design of the...

The Bank ' s approach to country poverty assessments (PAs) is increasingly stressing the involvement of stakeholder groups, with the aim of building in-country capacity to address the problems of the poor. The participation of government and other institutional stakeholders in all aspects of the...

The characteristics of indigenous groups make participatory approaches especially critical to safeguarding their interests int he development process. Such approaches, recognizing the right of indigenous peoples to participate actively in planning their own futures, are supported by major donors...

Nongovenrmental organizations (NGOs) can be effective intermediaries in Bank funded projects which depend on participation and capacity building at the community level. Successful collaboration depends on identifying an organization with appropriate characteristics, and involving its staff in...

The participation of local communities and other stakeholders in managing forestry and conservation projects can help to improve forest productivity, alleviate poverty, enhance environmental sustainability, and make rules governing forest access more enforceable. Introducing participatory...