Which knowledge? Whose reality? An overview of knowledge used in the development sector

Abstract

This article provides an overview of issues relating to the use of knowledge by development organisations. It starts by exploring the various definitions of knowledge that exist in a world of many cultures and intellectual traditions, and the role of language. It considers their relationship with each other and with the many and varied ‘informational developments’ – information-related changes in work, culture, organisations, and technology across the world. It argues that these issues pose a number of fundamental strategic challenges to the development sector. The second part considers where, in practice, development organisations get their information and knowledge from and identifies problems with many of the channels used. Its conclusion is that most current practice consistently militates against the type of relationship and type of communication that are essential if development policy and practice is to be anything other than an imposition of external ideas, however well intentioned.

Acknowledgements

This paper has had a long gestation. I thank Thandika Mkandawire and Peter Utting for allowing me space to develop the Information Technologies and Social Development programme at UNRISD in this direction, and Cees Hamelink and Robin Mansell for their ideas and for their strong support for the need to link an intellectual understanding of informational developments with how they are shaped in practice, not least in the research and development fields in which we work. Valerie Brown of the Australian National University made very helpful comments on an earlier draft of the first part of this paper. Many thanks also to Deborah Eade for her comments and for encouraging me to write it.

Notes

1. For ENDA, see http://diapol.enda.sn/ and for Reflect see http://217.206.205.24/Initiatives/ict/home.htm. The work of Baron and de Souza is available in Portuguese as Baron 2004, reviewed in English by this author in Development in Practice 15: 5, August 2005.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mike Powell

Mike Powell is an independent consultant and researcher, working on information management and informational developments issues as they relate to the development sector. He is currently developing a programme with members of the EADI Information Management Working Group and others, which intends to research and address the barriers and opportunities described in this paper.