II. Materials to Support Linking Theory and Practice in International Development:

This section contains a Peace Corps Participatory Analysis for Community Action (PACA) field guide for volunteers, a guide for conducting semi-structured interviews and a video of Dr. Shama Dossa, an Associate Professor of Social Development and Policy, discussing the practical themes in her program planning and design course. Click on the title to access the resource.

Peace Corps The Participatory Analysis for Community Action (PACA) Field Guide for Volunteers: This comprehensive guide from the US Peace Corps provides tools and strategies for integrating local participation community assessment for development. The approach involves partnering with local counterparts and communities, and empowering them to determine their own assets, needs, development priorities, and paths for community action—rather than dictating an agenda from the outside. The guide contains a thorough explanation of the PACA approach, a list of PACA tools, a sector-specific guide to PACA and related resource and content.

Guide for semi-structured interviews

This is a practical guide for conducting semi-structured interviews in international development.

Video: Bridging Theory and Practice in Social Development

In this video, Dr. Shama Dossa, an Associate Professor of Social Development and Policy, discusses the practical themes in her program planning and design course.