Participatory Approach and Community Development represents the first priority topic as demonstrated by the Knowledge and Information Needs Assessment Study undertaken by KariaNet in early 2006. This theme is strongly justified given that almost all IFAD-funded projects in the region apply a methodology of development based on an active involvement of the beneficiaries.

Some of KariaNet member projects have developed a sound, practical expertise on this topic, such as Al-Haouz Project in Morocco, North Kordofan Project and South Kordofan Project in Sudan, and Zaghouan Project and PRODESUD Project in Tunisia. Meanwhile, other projects still need to improve their skills on this topic, such as Karak-Tafila Project in Jordan.

This is why KariaNet is doing its best to encourage knowledge sharing among its members and organised in this perspective the 1st Annual Thematic Workshop in Hammamet, Tunisia (20-24 September 2005), which brought in the different experiences of the member projects on Participatory Approach and Community Development. Furthermore, given the importance of the topic, a Special Forum on the Sudanese experience on Community Development was included in the 2nd Annual Thematic Workshop in Amman (18-21 September 2006).