There are situations in which local INSTITUTIONS do not have the capacity to introduce a complex land use planning. In that case, an alternative is to simply include some spatial aspects into their development planning activities. If so far local representatives have only prepared a “SHOPPING list” for their government and donors, they could now map where they actually want these DEVELOPMENTS (mainly infrastructure) to happen. If this is done in a PARTICIPATORY way and involves a discussion on the ALREADY existing infrastructure, their distribution and conditions, this already represents a significant improvement in the planning process. An example is the recently introduced spatial planning into communal development planning in Mali.

There are situations in which local institutions do not have the capacity to introduce a complex land use planning. In that case, an alternative is to simply include some spatial aspects into their development planning activities. If so far local representatives have only prepared a “shopping list” for their government and donors, they could now map where they actually want these developments (mainly infrastructure) to happen. If this is done in a participatory way and involves a discussion on the already existing infrastructure, their distribution and conditions, this already represents a significant improvement in the planning process. An example is the recently introduced spatial planning into communal development planning in Mali.