The aim of this special issue is to critically reflect on those rarely-discussed elements of processes that are disempowering to those with least power. Problems include those that are political – such as when the outputs threaten to undermine a pre-conceived institutional objective, or methodological – often organisers are not even aware that already oppressed groups have been further marginalised by the way the process was facilitated. The issue looks at these dilemmas under three key themes: the ways in which participatory processes can oppress and empower; the use and abuse of knowledge and expertise; and the interplay between the power of globalised political-economic systems and attempts to create spaces for people.

This issue captures the diversity of Immersion opportunities for development professionals - spending a period of time living with and learning from a poor family. The common denominator is a concern to bring immersion participants face to face with ordinary people, giving them the chance to test old assumptions, develop new perspectives, and strengthen their commitment to the challenge of poverty eradication.

Facilitation Methods, covers introduction and implementation of participatory budgeting with expamples and experiences from eastern and southern Africa, Latin America and Europe. It also discusses the main constraints to implementing participatory budgeting in Africa

PGIS is an evolved form of community mapping, the result of a spontaneous merger of Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) methods with Geographic Information Technologies and Systems (GIT&S). PGIS practice is based on using geo-spatial information management tools ranging from sketch maps, participatory 3D models (P3DM), aerial photographs, satellite imagery, readings obtained through Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software as interactive vehicles for discussion, information exchange, analysis and support in decision making. If appropriately utilised, PGIS practice may have profound implications and stimulate innovation and social change. More importantly and unlike traditional GIS applications, PGIS aims at placing control on access and use of culturally sensitive spatial data in the hands of those who generated the data thereby protecting traditional knowledge and wisdom from external exploitation. The articles for this special issue were selected from papers presented at the Mapping for Change International Conference of Spatial Information Management and Communication held in Nairobi, Kenya, 7-10 September 2005.

This special edition of Participatory Learning and Action is a collation of lessons and innovative tools that have been developed by the facilitators of community-based natural resource management programmes in southern Africa and is also an important resource for facilitators in other regions. These tools have been broadly divided into two categories: facilitators tools and management tools. Tools in the former category range from Theatre for Africa's role in policy development to the CAMPFIRE Game for improving training in financial management. The managment tools have been developed to allow communities to manage wildlife in modern market economies. Examples of these tools range from the event book system developed in Namibia to the quota setting methodologies developed in Zimbabwe.

This special issue of Participatory Learning and Action captures the experiences of Southern civil society organisations (CSOs) which are engaging in the monitoring, evaluation and implementation of poverty reduction strategy (PRS) processes. In many countries CSO engagement in this particular stage of these strategies is just beginning. There has been much reflection on engagement by CSOs in the formulation of PRSs, but much less written about how they are being monitored and implemented. With respect to monitoring and evaluation, this issue explores how CSOs are working towards the articulation and realisation of poor people’s rights and the accountability of governments and other powerful actors towards them. Authors for this issue came together at a workshop in July 2004 in Nairobi, Kenya to discuss the contributions and to share their experiences in PRS processes.

Participatory Learning and Action 52 is a general issue. It includes a wide selection of articles, extracts and training tips from participatory practitioners around the world.

This special issue contains articles reflecting on experience, providing critical analysis, and suggesting ways forward - on the adaptation and application of tools in participatory action and learning in situations where participants must deal with more powerful institutions and individuals. These tools aim to help less powerful people achieve positive change in natural resource policy - through understanding, organisation, engagement, resistance and persistence.

This introductory training module is designed to support capacity building for trade, environment and sustainable development and is part of UNEP's larger initiative for capacity building on integrated policy design and implementation.

This special double edition is based on the outcomes of a writeshop held in April 2004 at the Institute for Development Studies, UK. The writeshop brought together the Participatory Learning and Action editorial team and several previous guest editors to share their wealth of experience of using participatory approaches in their own particular field. This resulting double edition provides a timely critique of the current state of play in participatory development. And the question of ‘where are we now?’ inevitably leads to ‘where do we go next?’