The Participate initiative provides high quality evidence on the reality of poverty at ground level, bringing the perspectives of the poorest into the post-2015 debate.
In 2013, the initiative carried out a synthesis of studies conducted by the Participate Participatory Research Group (PRG) in 29 countries. This synthesis, presented in the ‘Work with us’ report, draws out the patterns of change that emerged from people’s accounts of their own experiences of moving in or out of poverty and marginalisation. The aim of this research has been to get an in-depth understanding of how people living in extreme poverty and marginalisation experience change in their lives, and the different factors that contribute to either negative or positive change.
The research demonstrates that there are certain focus areas that need to be addressed to achieve sustainable positive change in the lives of the poorest and most marginalised. The overarching focus and following three focus areas outlined in this document are closely interrelated and mutually reinforcing.
Overarching Focus: Leave no-one behind
Focus Area 1: Livelihoods and pro-poor infrastructure development
Focus Area 2: Participation and citizen action
Focus Area 3: Tackle discriminatory norms