Are you an activist-researcher seeking to challenge traditional research methods? Do you believe research should lead to meaningful collective action? Are you interested in applying feminist frameworks to address complex social issues in your community, collective, organisation or networks?

FPAR Academy is pleased to offer our  foundational course in Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR). This cohort will run from December 2026 to May 2027 and will guide you through the essential elements of FPAR methodology, from research design to practical implementation and advocacy.

Designed for practitioners, researchers, and activists interested in feminist approaches to knowledge co-creation, this course balances theoretical understanding with hands-on application. Join us to develop practical skills for implementing FPAR methodologies that centre marginalised voices and challenge power structures in your own context.

What is FPAR?

Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR) is a powerful conceptual and methodological framework that enables a critical understanding of complex oppressive structures and relationships that undermine social justice. 

The term "action research" is usually traced to Kurt Lewin's work in the aftermath of WWII, but the traditions FPAR draws on are older and wider than any single origin point. FPAR builds on Participatory Action Research (PAR), a method of critical pedagogy developed by thinkers of the Global South since the 1970s, among them Paulo Freire in Brazil, Orlando Fals-Borda in Colombia, Marja-Liisa Swantz in Tanzania, and Anisur Rahman in Bangladesh.

PAR critiques positivist approaches for being elite and exclusive to academic researchers and aims to empower oppressed peoples to participate in social investigation and take collective actions for social change. Over the last few decades, feminist activists-researchers have critiqued the praxis of PAR for being androcentric (or male-centred) and ignoring patriarchal structures that limit women’s participation in social processes. Feminist activists-researchers have since integrated feminism and PAR and developed the methodological paradigm of FPAR.

Is This Course Right for You?

This course is designed for activist-researchers who want to:

  • Implement FPAR methodologies within their communities, collectives, organisations, or networks
  • Develop research skills that center marginalised voices
  • Use research as a tool for collective action for structural change
  • Connect with like-minded practitioners across the globe


This course is particularly valuable for those working in organisations transitioning to more participatory approaches and for independent researchers or consultants seeking to incorporate feminist methodologies into their practice.

You do not need a strong academic background to join this course. However, proficiency in English and a reliable internet connection are necessary to engage fully with the course materials and community. Participants should be able to attend live sessions that will be scheduled with consideration for different time zones.

What You Will Gain

By the end of this learning journey, you will have:

  • Grasped the core principles of FPAR and how it differs from traditional research approaches.

  • Learned concrete tools for feminist data collection, analysis, and evidence-based advocacy

  • Examined successful examples of how FPAR has strengthened social movements and led to structural changes

  • Connected with a diverse community of activist-researchers interested in applying FPAR in their work

  • Leave with a concrete framework to apply FPAR in your community, collective, organisation or networks

Course Structure

This course guides learners through the complete FPAR cycle, beginning with collaborative research design, moving to participatory data collection methods, and culminating in translating findings into collective action for change. Through a combination of self-paced learning, practical assignments, and live discussion sessions, participants will develop both conceptual understanding and practical skills in applying FPAR methodology in their own contexts.

Course Timeline (December 2026 to May 2027):

  • Registration Deadline: Wed, 18 November 2026
  • Live Session 1 - Onboarding Call and Module 1 Release: Wed, 2 December 2026 (UTC 12:00 noon - 90 mins)
  • Live Session 2 - Discussion/ Q&A and Module 2 Release: Wed, 3 February 2027 (UTC 12:00 noon - 90 mins)
  • Live Session 3 - Discussion/ Q&A and Module 3 Release: Wed, 24 March 2027 (UTC 12:00 noon - 90 mins)
  • Live Session 4: Discussion/ Q&A and Closing: Wed, 5 May 2027 (UTC 12:00 noon - 90 mins)

Module 1 is released at the onboarding call in early December, so participants can work through the foundations at their own pace over the year-end break before the first discussion session in February.

Live Session 1 - Onboarding Call

  • Introduction to the course platform and community
  • Getting to know fellow learners
  • Orientation to the course content and structure
  • Overview of learning journey and expectations


Module 1: Introduction to FPAR and Designing your FPAR 

  • Self-paced learning content:
    • Foundations and principles of Feminist Participatory Action Research
    • Applying intersectional feminist analysis with identity mapping and power analysis exercises
    • Two detailed FPAR case studies demonstrating practical applications
    • Collaborative research design methodology
    • Ethics and safety considerations in FPAR research
    • Knowledge check quiz on FPAR fundamentals
    • Optional supplementary readings for deeper exploration
  • Practical assignment: Design an FPAR research project
  • Live Session 2 - Discussion/ Q&A: Share your FPAR designs and receive feedback from your peers


Module 2: Participatory Data Collection Methods & Collective Analysis 

  • Self-paced learning content:
    • Feminist approaches to data collection
    • Overview of key FPAR methods with detailed handouts
    • Video demonstrations of specific techniques: Daily Activity Clock, Social Mapping, and Body Mapping
    • PhotoVoice/VideoVoice practical example featuring South Asia's Community Health Workers
    • Live session preparation materials and Q&A summary from previous cohorts
  • Practical assignment (optional): Practice selected participatory research methods in your context
  • Live Session 3 - Discussion/ Q&A:  Share your experiences and insights from data collection practice


Module 3: Collective Action and Transformative Change 

  • Self-paced learning content:
    • Participatory data analysis techniques in FPAR with practical handouts
    • Community validation methods for research findings
    • Creating advocacy and action plans from research evidence
    • Collective power analysis and participatory campaign design
    • Power mapping and critical pathway analysis exercises with guided handouts
    • Feminist Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) approaches
    • Academic readings: Chakma et al. on transnational FPAR, Batliwala on women's rights evaluation, and Grupi & Godden on feminist evaluation
  • Practical assignment (optional): Collaboratively develop action strategies with your community
  • Live Session 4 - Discussion/ Q&A and Closing: Share collective learning and discuss implementation approaches

Registration Details

Maximum Participants: 20-30 people

Application Deadline: Application Deadline: 18 November 2026, or until all seats are filled

Course Fees: Our tiered pricing relies on the honour system. We trust participants to select the rate that honestly reflects their circumstances, allowing us to maintain accessibility while sustaining our programme.

The fees cover our platform and infrastructure costs, the basic running costs of the Academy, and our labour in developing and facilitating the course. This allows us to stay autonomous and to learn what we think matters rather than what a funder wants to see.

All our course materials are openly licensed and free to share and adapt.

  1. Global North Institutional Rate ($800): For participants sponsored by organisations based in Global North countries or large international organisations.
  2. Global South Institutional Rate ($500): For participants sponsored by organisations based in Global South countries.
  3. Global North Individual Rate ($400): For individuals paying personally who are based in Global North countries or have financial circumstances that allow contribution at this level.
  4. Global South Individual Rate ($200): For individuals paying personally who are based in Global South countries, students, independent researchers, or grassroots activists without organisational backing.
  5. Alternative Exchange Option: As feminist activists primarily from and working in the Global South, we understand global inequalities in wealth, resources, power, and decision-making. If you cannot afford the fees above, please contact Diyana at [email protected] (copy Trimita at [email protected]) to discuss alternative exchange options (inspired by the Post Growth Institute's Offers and Needs Market model).

Waitlist System: Due to high demand and limited spaces, we will maintain a waitlist for interested participants once the cohort is filled. If accepted to the waitlist, we will contact you should a space become available. 

Enrol Today

First Come First Served Basis

Course Instructors

Co-founder & Director Trimita Chakma

Trimita is a feminist researcher, organiser, and facilitator from the Indigenous Chakma hill tribe of Bangladesh. She specialises in using FPAR for strengthening social movements and evidence-based policy advocacy across gender, labour, climate/ environmental, and Indigenous People's issues. She has led numerous feminist research projects across Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. With an MA in Asian Women's Studies (Ewha Womans University, South Korea), an MSc in IT Management (Carnegie Mellon University, USA), she is currently pursuing a PhD in Just Transition at Edith Cowan University, Australia, using Eco-FPAR. Trimita is passionate about translating complex social research into accessible campaign materials that drive grassroots action.

Co-founder & Director Diyana Yahaya

Diyana is a feminist activist, researcher, and training facilitator from Malaysia with more than a decade's international experience in advancing women's human rights. Her work spans economic justice, trade justice, gender-based violence, gender and politics, and sustainable development. She has delivered capacity building and training to diverse audiences from activists, educators, Indigenous women, trade unionists and parliamentarians worldwide. Diyana has also produced and authored various research, advocated for policy reform, and strengthened movements' capacity to challenge traditional economic models, with particular focus on the current economic, trade and investment rules. She is passionate about thinking and creating alternative economic and political systems with grassroots communities and social movements.