This course is designed to impart appropriate knowledge and skills on principles, processes and practices related to Participatory Forest Management (PFM). It aims to provide a deeper understanding into PFM principles, concepts and processes in order to strengthen participant's capacity to design and implement successful PFM programmes.

The course also aims to increase the understanding of scale, effectiveness and equity of local community and other stakeholder participation in the sustainable management and utilisation of natural forests and woodlands. In addition, the course aims to provide knowledge and skills on monitoring and evaluation which will assist practitioners to build feedback mechanisms into their programmes. It will also address the issue of organisational and attitudinal changes necessary for sustainable implementation of PFM.

The overall objective of the course is to enhance participant's understanding of the principles and issues related to Participatory Forest Management (PFM) planning and implementation, and skills in the promotion and facilitation of PFM processes. This, it hopes, will help in the day-to-day management, co-ordination and/or supervision of such projects.

The course aims to cover the following content :

• PFM principles and processes
• Situation analysis for PFM planning
• Conflict management and negotiation for PFM
• Institutional arrangement for PFM
• Monitoring and evaluation for PFM
• Facilitation skills for PFM
• Organisational and attitudinal change
• Advocacy for PFM

This course is designed for government and non-governmental organisation (NGO) staff involved in PFM implementation and who coordinate and manage PFM initiatives or projects.