Opportunities for Institutional change - New space for Participatory methodologies, technology and innovation

Over the past 20 years an explosion of participatory methodologies has taken place and now we are entering into a new space of diversification. Some approaches and methods have come together and created a new one, sometimes bits and pieces of different methods have been taken to create new ones. This comes quite close to a theory by economist 'Brian Arthur' about the nature of technology and technological change.

Arthur points out that when you get a new technology like a mobile phone, it is actually building on and combining a whole range of other technologies. As we get more of this, the range of possibilities and inventions accelerate. In addition, to the multiplication of participatory methodologies such as theater, video, radio, mapping, numbers generated by people there is a whole range of different methods. The interaction between web 2.0, mobile phone technologies and participatory approaches is opening up a whole new world and opportunities for institutional change.

Communities harnessing technologies

It is amazing how the poor and marginalised harness and apply new technologies. A good example is the epicenter of innovation with mobile phones in Kenya. All over Kenya there are 'M-pesa' outlets where you can transfer money to someone else through your mobile phone. I heard that you can buy your (air)ticket up to Ksh 70,000 (approx 7,000 Rand) on your mobile phone. At the moment Kenya is the only country where you can do this, Tanzania and Uganda are starting to take up the M-pesa initiative.

Another excellent example is South Africa where people in communities have started using PGIS (Participatory Geographic Information Systems) in a participatory mode. They make maps, lay models which can be used for mapping and defending their territories. Likewise, in the Amazon Basin, the indigenous people use GIS (Geographic Information Systems) extensively to make maps of their territories which they are unable to defend with the authority of a proper map.

The use of these technologies is so powerful that some governments banned participatory mapping for a time. They could not keep it up because some groups were very effective in stopping some logging which was going to take place in their communities.

There is an explosion taking place when we talk about accelerating change in the lives of the poor and marginalised, including IT and the range of available participatory methodologies. However, there are still challenges on their application and valuable opportunities, especially for marginalized communities to make their voices heard and introduce institutional change.

Khanya-aicdd acknowledges the contributions of their volunteers - Rachel Ombeva, Lizzie Valdivieso and Tlhabi Sehume in producing, editing and compiling these articles.

About Professor Robert Chambers

(Participation,power and social change, Institute of Development Studies, Sussex University)

Undisciplined with background in biology, history and public administration. Current concerns and interests include professionalism, power, the personal dimension in development, participatory methodologies, teaching and learning with large numbers, agriculture and science, Seasonality Revisited, and community-led total sanitation.