Participatory development approach can also be referred to as the humanistic approach and is another variant of alternative theories. Participatory development seeks to involve the poor and local population by giving them the part in the development projects. This approach enables the society to build their own capacity, empowerment, sustainability as well as self-reliance. According to humanistic approach, development is a process that focus on the community’s involvement in their own development by the use of available resources and guiding the future development of their own community. This approach allows people to become the partners in the development process.

In a South African context, such development might not work as well as it does in theory because South African people are not united as we might hope to be. Even amongst the same race communities there is no unity. The concept of uBuntu might still not work in favour of participatory development because most of the people like to be on the receiving end and very few are willing to be on the giving end. In order to archeve the participatory theory, there would have to be coordination among the communities and people must be willing to help others.