This document discusses participatory planning, which aims to identify critical problems by involving local community participation as part of the decentralization process. It outlines several key aspects of participatory planning including: identifying community needs, empowering disadvantaged groups, integrating local knowledge, generating political support, and facilitating two-way learning between projects and communities. Methods like rapid rural appraisal and participatory rural appraisal are discussed which emphasize sharing knowledge between external experts and local communities. A step-by-step process for participatory planning is provided that includes identifying needs, assessing resources and problems, formulating project proposals and local plans, and approving plans through an expert committee. Risks and success factors are noted, emphasizing building trust and focusing on