This handbook is a practical, one-stop guide to assist you with public participation in environmental assessment processes in the SADC region. It The handbook is to help four key sectors in the Southern African region: •Practitioners – those who are appointed to design and implement public participation processes •Civil Society – those who will become involved in public participation processes as a development may affect them or it may be of interest to them •Government – those who must make a decision about whether a development should proceed on the basis of information arising from the environmental assessment process; and, •Developers – those who wish to undertake a particular development. The handbook is unique in that it provides a perspective of public participation from the point of view of each of the four groups. This enables each group to appreciate the other groups’ actions and views in a public participation process. The handbook includes an overview of environmental assessment and public participation. There are tips, guidelines and advice for each sector. The handbook also gives advice on the key issue of managing conflict in environmental assessment processes. The handbook contains annexures that provide brief descriptions of communication and engagement techniques for stakeholders and summary information of the legal rights to participation. There is also a glossary of terms as well as references relevant to different sectors.