The participatory development approach is the collaborative work between agents of development and communities. Participation is carried out as a way to collaborate to make communication more efficient and effective between community members and all of the stakeholders.

In the South African context, the government can be seen as a participatory organization, as it provides development incentives that aim at supporting, providing for and improving the community and its people. With the joint participation from both the government and its people, and it enables a partnership in the development process that aims at building the society.

Participation comes in the form of structural changes and the provision and access to resources to society as an empowerment strategy. The participatory development approach serves as a way of creating awareness and providing a platform for communities to voice out their needs in order to achieve development.