At the 2nd International Community-based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) Workshop, held in Guiyang, China, in October 2000, participatory communication was identified as one important cross-cutting dimension of CBNRM research, as well as a pressing issue for capacity-building.

Increasing the impact and utilisation of CBNRM research is not only a question of information dissemination through various channels for different stakeholders. It depends first and foremost on the abilities of the researchers to use CBNRM research to strengthen the capacity of individuals and community groups to identify and analyse these problems in their livelihoods, identify and experiment solutions, and improve their livelihoods and living conditions.

Participatory Communication is what make this happens. And although every CBNRM project has to deal with communication with the local communities and other stakeholders, few of them demonstrate an optimum utilisation of communication strategies and technologies.

The present learning and networking programme in Participatory Communication is a response to this issue. It is intended for researchers, associated stakeholders and resource persons who work with the communities.

As a pilot programme, Isang Bagsak will shape itself through interaction with a few collaborating project teams. The document presents the objectives, content and methodology of the programme but it is understood that all of this will be evaluated through the process.

the method presented here must be used as a reference point only and has to be adapted to each different context. It is a logical process that begins with the expression of development needs in a given community and involves specific groups of that community in addressing these issues, while supporting and accompanying this process of participation.

The first step, " Approaching the community " appears in the middle of a circle.

This means that this process is present throughout, during the interactions of researchers and development practioners with the community. It is not viewed principally as a data collection process on the community and its environment, but as building mutual understanding and collaboration. Information and communication help that process.

The others steps of the methodology appear on the perimeter of the circle, because they all contribute to better understanding and collaboration. Some of them can be done in parallel or in a different order. They can also be defined differently depending on the context.