The first booklet describes how to go about this task and how to perform a more detailed assessment of human and ecosystem wellbeing. It also details ways to get villagers to think about strategies before the second visit. The first visit takes three days in each village. Meetings last up to five hours and are supplemented by informal discussions in smaller groups on transect walks, in homes where the team members stay in the village, or while participating in everyday tasks with them. These informal sessions provide valuable insights.
Questions are fundamental to the assessment approach.
The method is based on asking questions in the community to develop an understanding and to provide a basis for informed action. These questions contain the essence of the approach. They can be elaborated in great detail and lead from reflection to action. The generic questions provide a framework within which the core team uses a variety of tools and methods to assess human and ecosystem wellbeing. A number of PRA tools have been adapted for use in this participatory assessment.