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In recent years development work has shifted from a [[top-down]] approach to a [[Glossary of sustainability terms#B|bottom-up]] approach. While sometimes this is rhetoric, there is also a recognition that participation (and preferably initiation) by the community is essential to an effective project. | |||
This approach is more costly and time-consuming, but is also more cost-effective as it gives much better and longer-lasting results. | |||
== Participatory rural appraisal == | |||
'''Participatory rural appraisal''' is a term describing the incorporation of the knowledge and opinions of rural people in the planning and management of development projects and programs. [[Robert Chambers]], a Fellow at the [[Institute of Development Studies (UK)]],<ref name="IISD">See the IIDS page [http://web.archive.org/web/20150407105639/http://www.iisd.org/casl/caslguide/pra.htm Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)].</ref> has written on this topic, and it is described in the World Bank Participation Sourcebook.<ref>[http://www.worldbank.org/wbi/sourcebook/sba104.htm Participatory Rural Appraisal. Collaborative Decisionmaking: Community-Based Method]. (From ''[http://www.worldbank.org/wbi/sourcebook/sbhome.htm The World Bank Participation Sourcebook], [http://www.worldbank.org/wbi/sourcebook/sba1.htm Appendix I: Methods and Tools].''</ref> | |||
The Institute of Development Studies explains that it builds on [[rapid rural appraisal]] (RRA),[http://web.archive.org/web/20130621223212/http://www.iisd.org/casl/CASLGuide/RapidRuralAppraisal.htm][http://www.fao.org/docrep/W3241E/w3241e09.htm] and highlights five central additional concepts and three dangers and drawbacks.<ref name="IISD" /> | |||
The five central additional concepts are | |||
* Empowerment | * Empowerment | ||
* Respect | * Respect | ||
| Line 19: | Line 17: | ||
Dangers and drawbacks | Dangers and drawbacks | ||
* "Hijacking" - being used to create legitimacy for an external party. | * "Hijacking" - being used to create legitimacy for an external party. | ||
* Formalism - an abrupt and exploitative approach is common where there is a deadline to meet. | * Formalism - an abrupt and exploitative approach is common where there is a deadline to meet. | ||
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''See also [[Wikipedia:Participatory rural appraisal]]'' | ''See also [[Wikipedia:Participatory rural appraisal]]'' | ||
==Three caveats== | == Three caveats == | ||
Three warnings regarding participation:<ref>based on [http://www.southbound.com.my/communication/parcom.htm Participatory Communication for Development], 2004, citing White, S.A. (1994). "The concept of participation: transforming rhetoric to reality" in White, S.A. et al (1994) Participatory communication: working for change and development. New Delhi, India: Sage Publications. p.18</ref> | Three warnings regarding participation:<ref>based on [http://www.southbound.com.my/communication/parcom.htm Participatory Communication for Development], 2004, citing White, S.A. (1994). "The concept of participation: transforming rhetoric to reality" in White, S.A. et al (1994) Participatory communication: working for change and development. New Delhi, India: Sage Publications. p.18</ref> | ||
*Participation is not a panacea, and does not suit every circumstance. The mother of a child dying of diarrhea does not want to "participate". | |||
*Beware of manipulation - conscious or unconscious, e.g. when a "participatory social communicator" has preconceived ideas. | * Participation is not a panacea, and does not suit every circumstance. The mother of a child dying of diarrhea does not want to "participate". | ||
*Remember the opportunity cost - villagers do not have endless free time, and may be giving up time on productive work in order to participate. | * Beware of manipulation - conscious or unconscious, e.g. when a "participatory social communicator" has preconceived ideas. | ||
* Remember the opportunity cost - villagers do not have endless free time, and may be giving up time on productive work in order to participate. | |||
== Community power in Turkmenistan == | == Community power in Turkmenistan == | ||
:<tt>In [[Turkmenistan]]'s Karra Kum desert, one of the themes to emerge from early participatory video work was a strong local desire for electricity to improve people's lifestyles and enable them to stay in the desert. Participatory video is again being used as a tool for documenting the challenges and decision-making processes involved in the community-led installation of solar power within different shepherding villages. The solar panels are neither sold nor given to the communities; instead, villagers decided that each family should exchange one ewe and one female lamb for their solar lighting system - these animals become the collective property of the village and are used as a "community action fund"...</tt><ref>from [http://www.comminit.com The Communication Initiative]'s newsletter, ''Environment & Communication - DB Click'', October 31 2006. For more, see [http://www.comminit.com/experiences/pds2006/experiences-3896.html Programme Experiences: Solar Power = Community Power - Turkmenistan], 2006</ref> | :<tt>In [[Turkmenistan]]'s Karra Kum desert, one of the themes to emerge from early participatory video work was a strong local desire for electricity to improve people's lifestyles and enable them to stay in the desert. Participatory video is again being used as a tool for documenting the challenges and decision-making processes involved in the community-led installation of solar power within different shepherding villages. The solar panels are neither sold nor given to the communities; instead, villagers decided that each family should exchange one ewe and one female lamb for their solar lighting system - these animals become the collective property of the village and are used as a "community action fund"...</tt><ref>from [http://www.comminit.com The Communication Initiative]'s newsletter, ''Environment & Communication - DB Click'', October 31 2006. For more, see [http://web.archive.org/web/20081006174158/http://www.comminit.com/experiences/pds2006/experiences-3896.html Programme Experiences: Solar Power = Community Power - Turkmenistan], 2006</ref> | ||
== References == | |||
<references /> | |||
== See also == | |||
* [[How to fake a good process]] | |||
* [[Deep-democracy]] | |||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
= | * [[Wikipedia:Participation (decision making)]] | ||
* [[Wikipedia:Orangi Pilot Project]] | |||
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20090114020844/http://www.worldbank.org/wbi/sourcebook/sbhome.htm The World Bank Participation Sourcebook] (archived web pages, via ''Archive.org'') | |||
* [http://www.scn.org/cmp/modules/a-mod.htm Communities Empowerment] | |||
* [http://www.how-matters.org/2010/09/13/spotting-community-ownership/ Spotting Community Ownership] and [http://www.how-matters.org/2011/04/27/not-your-project/ Sorry but it's not YOUR project] which contains a useful community participation ladder on [http://www.how-matters.org how-matters.org] | |||
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20200723111511/http://www.how-matters.org/links-resources/ Links & resources on working with community-based organizations] on [http://www.how-matters.org how-matters.org] | |||
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20111026185051/http://www.gsb.uct.ac.za/clpv/default.asp?intPageNr=37 The Poor philanthropist: how and why the poor help each other], research monograph and tools to value in-kind contributions from community members | |||
* [http://www.crin.org/docs/testoftime.pdf Community action and the test of time: Learning from community experiences and perceptions], case studies of community mobilization and capacity building to benefit vulnerable children in Malawi and Zambia | |||
{{Page data}} | |||
[[Category:Community]] | [[Category:Community]] | ||
[[Category:Principles of development]] | [[Category:Principles of development]] | ||
[[Category:Participation]] | [[Category:Participation]] | ||
[[Category:Community participation]] | |||
Latest revision as of 19:42, 8 June 2023
In recent years development work has shifted from a top-down approach to a bottom-up approach. While sometimes this is rhetoric, there is also a recognition that participation (and preferably initiation) by the community is essential to an effective project.
This approach is more costly and time-consuming, but is also more cost-effective as it gives much better and longer-lasting results.
Participatory rural appraisal[edit | edit source]
Participatory rural appraisal is a term describing the incorporation of the knowledge and opinions of rural people in the planning and management of development projects and programs. Robert Chambers, a Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies (UK),[1] has written on this topic, and it is described in the World Bank Participation Sourcebook.[2]
The Institute of Development Studies explains that it builds on rapid rural appraisal (RRA),[1][2] and highlights five central additional concepts and three dangers and drawbacks.[1] The five central additional concepts are
- Empowerment
- Respect
- Localization
- Enjoyment - the emphasis is no longer on being "rapid" but on the process.
- Inclusiveness
Dangers and drawbacks
- "Hijacking" - being used to create legitimacy for an external party.
- Formalism - an abrupt and exploitative approach is common where there is a deadline to meet.
- Disappointment - when expectations are raised and nothing tangible emerges.
See the Wikipedia article for more information and links.
See also Wikipedia:Participatory rural appraisal
Three caveats[edit | edit source]
Three warnings regarding participation:[3]
- Participation is not a panacea, and does not suit every circumstance. The mother of a child dying of diarrhea does not want to "participate".
- Beware of manipulation - conscious or unconscious, e.g. when a "participatory social communicator" has preconceived ideas.
- Remember the opportunity cost - villagers do not have endless free time, and may be giving up time on productive work in order to participate.
Community power in Turkmenistan[edit | edit source]
- In Turkmenistan's Karra Kum desert, one of the themes to emerge from early participatory video work was a strong local desire for electricity to improve people's lifestyles and enable them to stay in the desert. Participatory video is again being used as a tool for documenting the challenges and decision-making processes involved in the community-led installation of solar power within different shepherding villages. The solar panels are neither sold nor given to the communities; instead, villagers decided that each family should exchange one ewe and one female lamb for their solar lighting system - these animals become the collective property of the village and are used as a "community action fund"...[4]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 See the IIDS page Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA).
- ↑ Participatory Rural Appraisal. Collaborative Decisionmaking: Community-Based Method. (From The World Bank Participation Sourcebook, Appendix I: Methods and Tools.
- ↑ based on Participatory Communication for Development, 2004, citing White, S.A. (1994). "The concept of participation: transforming rhetoric to reality" in White, S.A. et al (1994) Participatory communication: working for change and development. New Delhi, India: Sage Publications. p.18
- ↑ from The Communication Initiative's newsletter, Environment & Communication - DB Click, October 31 2006. For more, see Programme Experiences: Solar Power = Community Power - Turkmenistan, 2006
See also[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
- Wikipedia:Participation (decision making)
- Wikipedia:Orangi Pilot Project
- The World Bank Participation Sourcebook (archived web pages, via Archive.org)
- Communities Empowerment
- Spotting Community Ownership and Sorry but it's not YOUR project which contains a useful community participation ladder on how-matters.org
- Links & resources on working with community-based organizations on how-matters.org
- The Poor philanthropist: how and why the poor help each other, research monograph and tools to value in-kind contributions from community members
- Community action and the test of time: Learning from community experiences and perceptions, case studies of community mobilization and capacity building to benefit vulnerable children in Malawi and Zambia
