Based on a three-year project in Kenya, this booklet examines the key features in understanding the development of participatory urban planning strategies and approaches that will assist in safeguarding of the position of poor and vulnerable. The book aims to help readers to understand power relations, and comparative advantage as a basis for deciding on partners; safeguard the poor and vulnerable in partnership formation; decide the type of partnership in relationship to purpose ; decide the kind of organization to which the partnership will lead; ensure partnerships create organizational identity whilst safeguarding the distinctive identity of individual partners; sort out levels of partner relations in pursuit of both practical and strategic agendas; understand partnership capacities interests and priorities as a basis for partner selection; assess the advantages of participation and partnership and evaluate risk; and utilise participatory action planning methods in order to converge the interests of stakeholders and pool resources.