Influenced by the new development paradigm, which puts people before things, Shiropa Development Society follows a participatory approach in every sphere of its work. The traditional knowledge of the target people is valued and respected, and there is confidence that target peoples are capable of self-reliant organization. On a practical level, the fundamental thrust of this approach is decentralization and empowerment.

For a Community to be able to work for its own development and reduce its dependency there is a need for full involvement at all stages of the development cycle. The participation of communities in identification, planning, management, implementation and evaluation of programs is a key factor in Shiropa Development Society work. Internally a participatory approach is adopted in managing the affairs of Shiropa Development Society. Externally, Shiropa Development Society role as a ‘change agent’ helps to develop community management structure that are capable of managing their own development. This increases the ability of the community to demand accountability in all their affaires, from leaders and officials. It reinforces the community’s belief in the value of their own development choices and efforts. This community management structures are not parallel structure, but are built upon traditional institutions, promoting equitable representation and participation.

Human resource development is an essential part of our development work. This means ensuring that the community is trained and skilled, as well as organized, to maximize the potential of the community to take hold of its own development. Shiropa Development Society believes in maximizing its impact by transferring field experiences into knowledge to influence the development policy and practices of NGOs, INGOs, Donors and government departments. This is Important for working towards the long term goal of reducing poverty.