participatory action learning system

What is PALS?

PALS (Participatory Action Learning System) aims to empower people (particularly the very poor, as individuals and communities) to collect, analyse and use information to improve and gain more control over their lives.

It is a continually evolving methodology based on diagram tools and participatory processes, some of which are new and some of which are based on well-established participatory methods. PALS is currently being piloted for enterprise diversification, poverty-targeted micro-finance, women's empowerment and organizational development but can be adapted to any development issue.

For more see the PALS Interactive Learning website

PALS as a 'System'

In the PALS 'System' the focus is on integrating methodologies at all levels of a development process:

• Awareness raising and training where people learn to use PALS diagrams and participatory processes to collect, analyse and apply information they need to improve their lives and communities. PALS is integrated into existing training in order to make that training more participatory and to continually develop PALS participatory and diagram analysis skills.

• 

  Participatory action research for community planning, lobbying and advocacy where people and programmes use PALS methods for specific individual and collective research for local lobbying and policy advocacy.

• Participatory monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment where programmes and/or donors and social research organisations aggregate PALS information into an overview analysis for programme decision-making. The community research is supplemented by more 'extractive' participatory, qualitative or quantitative methods where this is necessary to get the most reliable information for effective pro-poor policies.

Using PALS at the different levels increases communication between 'beneficiary' individuals and groups, particularly the very poor, and development agencies. Through increasing the ability of the very poor to document, analyse and communicate on issues important to them PALS aims to increase the effectiveness of the ways poor people use development services and increase the pro-poor accountability of decision-making and policy processes.

PALS Process

The PALS training, research and assessment processes themselves are designed to develop rights awareness, participatory and communication skills.

All PALS processes are guided by principles of Empowering Enquiry. This:

• starts by clarifying the vision people have,
• celebrates what they have already achieved,
• identifies challenges to further progress and
• identifies clear concrete strategies for moving further along the road to their vision.

This sequence underlies the use of all diagrams, their sequencing and use of more conventional methods like surveys and interviews to ensure that all participants benefit from giving their valuable time.

For more see: Mayoux, L. (2003b). Empowering Enquiry: A New Approach to Investigation, EDIAIS.

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PALS Diagrams

At all levels PALS is based on the use of a number of very basic diagram types which analyse different types of logical relationship.

These include (but are not confined to):

• Road Journeys: to analyse progress over time.

• Trees: to analyse inputs and outputs

• Diamonds: to develop and rank goals and criteria

• Circles: to look at interrelations between institutions and processes

• Calendars: to look at seasonality

• Maps: to look at geographical spread

Particular attention is paid to ensuring that individuals who are not used to drawing and expressing themselves are given every opportunity to gain confidence and skills to do their own recording and analysis. All diagrams can be used to collect reliable quantitative as well as qualitative information and can be cumulatively developed and revisited over time.

For more See: Mayoux, L. (2003a). Thinking It Through : Using Diagrams in Impact Assessment, EDIAIS.

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PALS Network

PALS was first developed and piloted by Linda Mayoux with Kabarole Research and Resource Centre (KRRC) in Uganda, starting in October 2002. KRRC is developing PALS for community learning and impact assessment in its Micro-finance, Micro-projects, Human Rights and Civil Peace Programmes. It is also developing PALS for macro-level poverty and environmental policy assessment.

In addition to KRRC, PALS is currently being piloted by ANANDI in India and LEAP in Sudan for women's empowerment, poverty-targeted micro-finance, organizational development and enterprise diversification. Contact ANANDI and Learning for Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP)

It is currently being piloted for combined enterprise training and impact assessment by Trickle-Up US with partners Jamghoria Sevabrata, Purulia, West Bengal India and Greenhome, Rwenzori Region Uganda. ContactTrickle-Up, US

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