Document(s) 6 of 8

Participation is the essential condition for development to happen. Development research and the implementation of development initiatives will not have much impact without the effective participation of the communities. But which kind of participation are we referring to? Are communities really getting involved in the decision-making process concerning the planning and realization of such initiatives, or are they only consulted or mobilized?

These questions also raise the degree of communication between the development practitioners or researchers and the local communities. Communication is an essential part of participatory research and development. The way the researcher or practitioner will approach a local community, the attitude she will adopt in interacting with community members, the way she will understand and discuss issues, the way she will collect and share information involve ways of establishing communication with people. The way this communication will be established and nurtured will affect the way in which people will feel involved in the issues raised and the way in which they will participate – or not participate – in a research or a development initiative.

Participatory development communication is about involving communities in development projects and development research. It is a tool, not a recipe. Communication is essential, but by itself, it is insufficient if the material, human and financial resources needed to carry out the development initiative itself, do not accompany it. Likewise, those resources are insufficient if there is no communication to facilitate community participation and appropriation of their own development.

This guide is just a starting point to the practice of participatory development communication. It has to be adapted to each context, by the main actors involved in the research or development activities. It also has to be nourished by the lessons of experience and of learning from poor communities who, through communication, take ownership by themselves for the leadership of development initiatives.

If you are interested in sharing some of these lessons, please send any comments, questions or suggestions to gbessette@idrc.ca.

Document(s) 6 of 8