PEPA is a methodology initiative concerned with building capacity in the use of participatory engagement processes in organisations working with indigenous communities in Cambodia. It is under the Sustainable Resource Governance program of the HBF Cambodia office.  

Through the promotion of effective methodologies and processes, PEPA aims to complement and add value to empowering activities currently being undertaken, optimizing the benefit for the communities and organisations.

PEPA is founded on the following ideas:

• Indigenous people must be the leaders and decision makers in the futures of their communities
  
• Indigenous community members have the right to fully participate in their own development.  This includes participating in the development of strategies and activities that NGOs etc employ with indigenous communities
  
• Engagement with indigenous communities must be an exchange of knowledge and understandings.  Both community members and outside organisations have an opportunity to contribute and learn from each other

Established in March 2008, PEPA has been developed in response to priorities identified by NGO staff, including managers and grassroots practitioners, through training needs assessments, program evaluations and field research.  Feedback from indigenous community members has also emphasized the need for greater community participation in decision making as well as more culturally appropriate and priority driven activities in communities

How does PEPA operate?

An important component in the PEPA project is the sourcing and sharing of resources, including  guides, research publications, discussion papers and tools relating to participatory approaches for community empowerment. 

To see our activities in action,
click here

Community Development Resource Association (CDRA), South Africa

RCPLA Network - Resource Centres for Participatory Learning and Action