Participation in collective decision making is argued to be a necessary con- dition for equitable and sustainable development outcomes. Such partici- pation is seen as ensuring that the interests of marginalized groups are voiced and considered, that all participants accept responsibility for the decisions made, and that the subsequent activities undertaken are collec- tively owned. Collective decision making is expected to lead to better dis- tribution of benefits (greater equity) and to increase people’s motivation to engage in local governance and development. Some of the factors that come into play when trying to achieve these objectives are highlighted in box 6.
The mode of decision-making processes varies widely by sector. Table 15 shows how key decisions are reached in organizations in the women’s