Why can't development be managed more like a funeral? Challenging participatory practices

Abstract

The adoption of techniques to elicit community participation in development practice is an important step forward. The question remains whether this is sufficient for development outcomes that accord with the aspirations of ‘participants’. Community perceptions are somewhat different, as our own conclusions demonstrate. We have developed a ‘methodology of inclusiveness’, based on community institutions which embed collective social action in everyday life. We use the analogy of funerals as collective action in which activities are planned, roles are demarcated, responsibilities are assigned, and desired outcomes are realised. We ask the question: why can't development be managed more like a funeral?

Pourquoi le développement ne peut-il pas être davantage géré comme des obsèques ? Mise en cause des pratiques participatives

L'adoption de techniques visant à obtenir la participation des communautés à la pratique du développement constitue un important progrès. Mais il reste à déterminer si cela suffit à obtenir des résultats de développement qui correspondent aux aspirations des«participants». Les perceptions de la communauté sont quelque peu différentes, comme le démontrent nos propres conclusions. Nous avons mis au point une «méthodologie d'inclusivité» basée sur des institutions communautaires qui incorporent l'action sociale collective dans la vie quotidienne. Nous avons recours à l'analogie des obsèques comme une action collective dans le cadre de laquelle les activités sont planifiées, les rôles délimités, les responsabilités assignées et les résultats désirés concrétisés. Nous posons la question suivante: pourquoi le développement ne peut-il pas être davantage géré comme des obsèques?

Por que o desenvolvimento não pode ser gerenciado mais como um funeral? Desafiando práticas participativas

A adoção de técnicas para promover a participação da comunidade na prática de desenvolvimento é um importante avanço. A questão que permanece é se isto é suficiente para resultados de desenvolvimento que combinem com as aspirações dos “participantes”. As percepções da comunidade são de certo modo diferentes, como nossas próprias conclusões demonstram. Desenvolvemos uma “metodologia de inclusão”, com base nas instituições da comunidade que incorporam ação social coletiva na vida diária. Utilizamos a analogia dos funerais como ação coletiva na qual atividades são planejadas, funções são demarcadas, responsabilidades são delegadas e resultados desejados são realizados. Fazemos a seguinte pergunta: por que o desenvolvimento não pode ser gerenciado mais como um funeral?

¿Por qué no gestionar el desarrollo como un funeral? Cuestionando prácticas participativas

El uso de técnicas que fomentan la participación comunitaria en el trabajo de desarrollo ha avanzado significativamente. Persiste la inquietud, sin embargo, de si ello es suficiente para lograr resultados que reflejen los deseos de los “participantes”. Las conclusiones de los autores demuestran que la comunidad puede diferir bastante de esta opinión. Los autores crearon una “metodología incluyente” basada en instituciones comunitarias que introducen acciones sociales colectivas en la vida cotidiana. Los autores utilizan la analogía del funeral, al ser ésta una acción colectiva donde se planean las actividades, se asignan roles y se obtienen los resultados deseados. Los autores plantean la pregunta: ¿por qué no gestionar el desarrollo como un funeral?

Keywords:

• Aid
• Civil society
• Governance and public policy
• Methods
• Sub-Saharan Africa

Notes

While Chitukuko is the correct term in Chichewa, the national language of Malawi, in Rumphi the local language is Chitumbuka.

The fact that poorer households could refer to more ‘successful’ households as a source of hope does not conflict with the existence of jealousy and inter–household competition but highlights an inherent contradiction in rural life. Success is often perceived as selfishness, or a lack of propensity to share. However, the important point here was the acknowledgement that it was hard work and, concomitantly, personal sacrifice, that allowed some to get ahead. The corollary is that, for the others, a collective investment in collaboration and co-operation would generate social and economic returns that would be of greatest benefit to the more marginal households, which comprise the hidden majority of rural Malawian society.

Our experience was no different, and it is precisely this predisposition that needs to be overcome if a community's conceptualisation of development is to be reoriented away from expectations of what they can get towards an appreciation of their social, political, and economic roles, both in personal and structural terms.

The development forums were termed mphala, which means a gathering of people involved in critical discussions who come to a consensus on each issue discussed, agree on a common way forward, are able to clarify issues, learn from one another, and ensure acceptable behaviour which complies with established norms.

We too in this article appear to use the term quite uncritically. For us, a community, in very general terms, is a village operating under a village headman, or a set of villages falling under a group or senior group village headman, which comprise a VDC; or the sub-groups that emerge out of it as a result of a development initiative. Hence, our definition is geographical, political, and opportunistic rather than based, necessarily, on a sense of enduring social relationships presupposed by external agencies. However, while a more detailed exposition of ‘communities’ in Rumphi would be helpful here, it is really beyond the scope of this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

C. A.P.S. Msukwa

C. A. P. S. Msukwa is a Malawian and Director of DeTAS, a rural development consultancy in Malawi. He has worked in numerous institutions, ranging from the Ministry of Agriculture through to local and international NGOs. He is currently a doctoral student at the University of Western Cape. <[email protected]>

Dan Taylor

Dan Taylor is a South African and the Director of the British NGO Find Your Feet, and is also a tutor with the Open University. He has a PhD in Anthropology from University College London and has agricultural and rural development experience in Latin America, Oceania, South Asia, and southern Africa.