This set of links and resources has been put together to inspire innovation and creativity in grassroots research and advocacy. The list of resources is divided into two sections: Participatory Research and Advocacy/Communication and we hope that it will facilitate bridging the gap between research and action.
It was prepared for the action-research project in Southern and Eastern Africa but is useful for any grassroots research or advocacy efforts, particularly aimed at women. As we would like this toolkit to be as concrete and useful as possible, we warmly welcome any further contribution of resources and examples. If you have any suggestions, please contact Sabine Pallas at s.pallas@landcoalition.org

Participatory Research
• Anglia Ruskin University Referencing Guidelines.
  http://libweb.anglia.ac.uk/referencing/harvard.htm?harvard_id=42#42
  This weblink provides thourough information about how to cite correctly and appropriately. We suggest you use the Harvard System, guidelines for which are available to download at the following web address:
• CARE (1999). "Embracing Participation in Development."
  http://www.infoforhealth.org/pac/community/embracing_participitation_en.pdf
  This resource provides experience of participatory research methods by CARE. It gives a theoretical background as well as concrete guidelines and examples of various methods of participatory learning and action.
• Chambers, Robert (2007). "From PRA to PLA and Pluralism: Practice and Theory." Institute for Development Studies Working Paper.
  http://www.ids.ac.uk/ids/bookshop/wp/wp286.pdf
  This paper describes the evolution of participatory research methods in development work. It highlights the ideological framework of such methods as seeking to empower local people and traces the interplay between practical experience and theoretical knowledge, emphasising their inseparable nature. It also provides eight examples of participatory research approaches in different regions throughout the world.
• Chronic Poverty Research Center . "Methods Toolbox."
  http://www.chronicpoverty.org/toolbox/Resources.php#RRAPRAPLA
  This helpful site provides links and references to many different research methods, including focus groups, surveys, participatory methods, life histories and mapping.
• Community Led Total Sanitation
  http://www.livelihoods.org/hot_topics/CLTS.html
  Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) is an innovative methodology for mobilising communities to completely eliminate open defecation. It is characterised by participatory facilitation, community analysis and action. Because of their participatory nature, the methods used in CLTS can also be tools in other community mobilizing and participatory projects. This website provides access to various CLTS resources including the Handbook on Community-led Total Sanitation.
• Fajber, Elizabeth. "Participatory Research and Development in Natural Resource Management: Towards Social and Gender Equity."
  http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-85048-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html
  This article discusses the usefulness and challenges of using participatory research in natural resource management. It defines the role of participatory research as one which gives the community and development practitioners knowledge about the social power relations that determine natural resource management. It provides particular guidelines for how to include women and other often excluded community members and emphasises the transformative potential of equitable participatory research and development.
• Henderson, Doug. "Action Research as a Strategy for Advancing Community-Based Natural Resource Management." IDRC.
  http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-85073-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html
  This document discusses the value of action research in natural resource management (NRM). It argues that conventional research is not appropriate for improving community-based natural resource management and that research involving the practitioners allows for an understanding of the complex nature of NRM. It also ensures that the knowledge outcome is relevant and directly applicable to a particular community.
• Huairou Commission and WLLA (2007). "Community Mapping: A How-To Handbook for Grassroots Women's Organizations."
  http://www.huairou.org/assets/download/mapping_handbook.pdf
  This handbook is based on the experiences of the Huairou Commission and the Women's Land Link Africa in using community mapping with groups of women. Community mapping allows grassroots women to assess and record the community's needs and assets and to imagine new solutions to the issues they are facing. The handbook provides thorough and practical guidelines for various community mapping methods.
• IFAD. A Manual for Gender Focused Field Diagnostic Studies.
  http://www.ifad.org/gender/tools/gender/appendix.pdf
  This manual builds on IFAD's experience of conducting field diagnostic studies in several African countries. It gives concrete suggestions and guidelines as well as helpful examples.
• IIED. PLA Notes.
  http://www.iied.org/NR/agbioliv/pla_notes/backissues.html .
  IIED publishes a peer-edited journal on Participatory Learning and Action. The articles contain theory as well as practice and concrete examples of participatory research methods. This link provides access to current and past issues of this journal, many of which are available for free.
• Mayoux, Linda (2003). "Grassroots Action Learning: Impact Assessment for Downward Accountability and Civil Society Development."
  http://www.enterprise-impact.org.uk/word-files/GALContentsOverviewand1.1.doc
  This resource gives a theoretical grounding in action learning methods as well as practical examples and tools. It links these methods to action to change policies and influence decision-making.
• Participatory Action Learning System
  http://www.lindaswebs.org.uk/Page3_Orglearning/PALS/PALSIntro.htm
  The Participatory Action Learning System (PALS) aims to empower particularly very poor people 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. This website provides access to tools and conceptual overviews of PALS.
• Participatory Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation (PAME).
  http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5307e/x5307e00.htm#Contents
  PAME is an information system which is based on the information needs of the community members. It is mainly designed for the development and evaluation of community forestry projects but contains creative participatory methods that can be adapted to other contexts. The tools are useful for both research and communication as they include the use of theatre and visual images. Concrete, practical descriptions of these tools are available here:
  http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5307e/x5307e07.htm
• Reflect
  http://www.reflect-action.org/enghome.html
  
• Sakhi Saheli Promoting Gender Equity and Empowering Young Women: A Training Manual.
  http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/horizons/India_SakhiSaheli_Eng.pdf
  This guide specifically seeks to promote women's reproductive rights in India but presents methods and specific participatory tools that can be adapted to other issues and contexts.
• Sohng, Sung Sil Lee. "Participatory Research Approaches: Some Key Concepts." IDRC.
  http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-85051-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html
  This document discusses the ethical framework for participatory research, relating it to power dynamics. It emphasises the primacy of creating a space where communities can come to understand their situation and to consider how to improve it. It encourages innovative research methodologies and the acknowledgment that the researcher is a facilitator in the learning process of the community.
• Stepping Stones
  http://www.steppingstonesfeedback.org/
  Stepping Stones is a training package in gender, HIV, communication and relationship skills. It is also sometimes described as a life-skills training package, covering many aspects of our lives, including why we behave in the ways we do, how gender, generation and other issues influence this, and ways in which we can change our behaviour, if we want to.
• Sutherland, Alistair. "Participatory Research in Natural Resources." Socio-Economic Methodologies Best Practice Guidelines. Natural Resource Institute, University of Greenwhich .
  http://www.nri.org/publications/bpg/bpg03.pdf
  This report provides an overview of essential aspects of participation in designing and implementing a research project. Its point of departure is the necessity of research to provide relevant and beneficial information to stakeholders and beneficiaries. It considers various approaches to participation, teasing out potential results and consequences. It asks relevant questions for research design and makes concrete suggestions for participatory research methods.
• Vernooy, Ronnie. "The Quality of Participation: Critical Reflections on Decision Making, Context and Goals." IDRC. http://www.generoyambiente.org/admin/admin_biblioteca/documentos/Modulo%201.pdf
  This article provides an overview of the benefits and risks involved in participatory research. It encourages researchers to consider who participates and who does not; in what way they participate and to what extent they are part of decision-making in the research. It also provides a set of guidelines and principles for doing participatory research in a manner that will benefit the community.
• Vernooy, Ronnie. "Monitoring and Evaluating Participatory Research and Development: Some Key Elements."
  http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-85056-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html
  This document discusses the importance of participatory monitoring and evaluation and provides principles and guidelines for how to conduct them effectively and appropriately. The guidelines concentrate on defining what is to be monitored, who will do the monitoring, for whom it will be done and the way in which it will be conducted.
•  

Advocacy/Communication
• AMARC (2007). Women Rights and Good Governance through Community Radios: Documents for Action Research Seminar.
  This document is part of a two-year action research process seeking to address the challenges surrounding women's participation in democracy building by bringing together case studies and best experiences of women practitioners taking part in democratic processes through community radio.
• AWID (2003). "An Advocacy Guide for Feminists."
  http://www.awid.org/eng/content/download/23052/293602/file/An%20advocacy%20guide%
  This AWID publication provides guidelines for doing advocacy in a particularly feminist way. It gives a brief theoretical base and practical tools for effective advocacy targeting feminist goals.
• Packalen, Leif and Sharad Sharma (2007). Grassroots Comics: A Development Communications Tool. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland .
  http://formin.finland.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=92261&nodeid=34606&contentlan=2&culture=en-US Comic strips, created by members of local communities, are used to create awareness and debate around grassroots issues. This article contains descriptions of the process as well as examples of comics produced by grassroots people throughout the world.
• Participatory photography
  http://www.photovoice.org/html/galleryandshop/publications/
  This manual is intended to give an introduction to the power of participatory photography as a tool for social change with marginalised and vulnerable groups. It offers tips and suggestions for all aspects of project development including planning, implementation and promotion of work produced.
  To order the manual:
  http://www.photovoice.org/html/galleryandshop/publications/orderform.htm
• Participatory Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation (PAME)
  http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5307e/x5307e00.htm#Contents
  PAME is an information system which is based on the information needs of the community members. It is mainly designed for the development and evaluation of community forestry projects but contains creative participatory methods that can be adapted to other contexts. The tools are useful for both research and communication as they include the use of theatre and visual images. Concrete, practical descriptions of these tools are available here:
  http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5307e/x5307e07.htm
• UNGEI (2006). Working with the Media on Gender and Education: A Guide for Training and Planning. Activity Worksheets.
  http://www.ungei.org/resources/files/beyond_access_gender_activity_worksheets.pdf
  These are a set of worksheets used to reflect on the obstacles to achieving gender-equity in education through advocacy. Although they are specific to this issue, they could be adapted to a different set of issues.
• WISP. "Policy Brief for Advocacy."
  This PowerPoint presentation gives clear and concrete guidelines for writing a policy brief, considering audience, structure and content.
• YWCA, UNFP. Empowering Young Women to Lead Change. http://www.unfpa.org/publications/detail.cfm?ID=304 .
  This manual provides a series of workshop activities concerning global challenges and designed to be carried out with groups of young women. It contains tools that can be used for effective lobbying as well as activities that can be adapted for participatory research. It is available in English, French and Spanish.
• PactCambodia, LWF and ADHOC. "Grassroots Advocacy Handbook."
  This grassroots advocacy handbook is targeted specifically at a Cambodian context, but provides suggestions and principles that are applicable in other regions.
•