One of the most commonly accepted definitions of participatory development is as follows: “Participatory development seeks to give the poor a part in initiatives and projects that are designed by outside organizations in the hopes that these projects will be more sustainable and successful by involving local stakeholders in the projects goals.”The goal of economic and social development in developing countries is to set in motion a process of self-reliant and sustainable development through which social justice will be realized. "Self-reliant development" means building the endogenous mechanisms of society that will enable developing nations ultimately to achieve growth without aid. "Sustainable" development means continuing a stable growth pattern in such a way as economic development is in harmony with the environment. The realization of "social justice" means equalizing and ensuring opportunities for people to participate in order to rectify disparities between regions, income levels, and gender.  An example of participatory development in South Africa was when the Thusong Service Centres  built  school in townships to help the poor. 

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