PARTICIPATION IN DEVELOPMENT(PARTICIPATIVE DEVELOPMENT)

- Concepts of participation and empowerment

- Rights of ethnic groups to participate in development

- Ethnodevelopment

WHY?

Post modernism and post-colonial theorists clearing space for multiple voices. This is especially true of those voices that have been previously silenced by dominant ideologies.

Realities of Development Development and socio-cultural/historical realitiesDiscrepancy between expectations by social activities, field workers, NGOs and development practitioners and realities on the groundHigh level of Failures of developmentMany advocate the end of top-down strategies Lauded participation and participatory methods of interaction as essential dimension of development

At the same time Development Establishment (donors and government) recognize structural crisis Billions spent failed to produce expected results.At times adding new problems to the oldMcNamara (1973) while as the President of the World Bank that growth was not equitably reaching the poor. Growth had been accompanied by greater maldistribution of income in many developing countries.Raises question: why???

Robert McNamaraPresident of World Bank 1968 - 1981

Development and socio-cultural/historical realitiesPeople were left out Local involvement and active participation of local people much was achieved with much lessAs a result participation as a basic policy measure in national development strategies.

People-centered People centered principles have influenced the course of western culture over the last thirty years, often changing the bearings of education, business, public policy and international relief and development programs.

What is participatory development?

Catchphrase in development studies & in policy & planning esp. in last two decadesViews from international agencies:

1. The Peasants Charter, UN Food & Agriculture Oganisation (FAO): Peoples participation in institutions & systems that govern their lives is basic human right Rural development strategies can realise full potential only through motivation, active involvement & organisation at grass roots level of rural people Special emphasis on the least advantaged to be involved in:- conceptualising & designing policies & programmes; - creating administrative, social and economic institutions including cooperative and other voluntary forms of organisation for implementing and evaluating them

2. - United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)Participation involves organised efforts to increase control over resources and regulative institutions in given social situations, on the part of groups and movements of those hitherto excluded from such control

Definition Participation is involvement by a local population and, at times, additional stakeholders in the creation, content and conduct of a program or policy designed to change their lives. Built on a belief that citizens can be trusted to shape their own future, participatory development uses local decision making and capacities to steer and define the nature of an intervention

Characteristics of Participative Development Participation requires recognition and use of local capacities Avoids the imposition of priorities from the outsideUltimately, participatory development is driven by a belief in the importance of entrusting citizens with the responsibility to shape their own future.

Characteristics of Participative Development promotes equity; accepts that the exercise of decision making power at the local level is as legitimate as it is at the national level. Like an important political technology of our time called democracy, it champions the sovereignty of people over the sovereignty of a state. It is not just about meeting a peoples needs.

Characteristics of Participative Development helping to create an environment where people can more effectively identify and address their own needs. recognizes the significance of political and social context in an effort to determine the roots of an enduring problem and to avoid harming those who should benefit.

..rural development starts with people and their education, organization, and discipline. Without these three, all resources remain latent, untapped potential

E.F. Schumacher 1975, P. 168.

Can Bottoms Up Participatory Approaches Bring Better Outcomes in Regional Development in Malaysia?

Malaysia has since independence embarked on regional development as part of the overall strategy of national development. Regional development approach in the main has been top-down Federal Govts Perspective Plans & 5-year plans -- allocating budgetMinistries National & Regional Development; Agriculture; regional agencies to oversee regional development

State govts identify areas & projectsDistrict officers provide info & inputAlso input from party organisations & community leadersCommunities are targets, not actors/participants of develoment planning & process

Main Mechanisms regional development authorities, e.g.- MADA in Kedah - KETENGAH in Terengganu- KESEDAR in Kelantan- Other agencies Felda, Felcra & RISDA areOther mechanisms- 10 Skim Pembangunan Kesejahteraan Rakyat (SPKR)- State-based Yayasan Basmi Kemiskinan (YBK)

What is the score card? Effective in specific cases:- Overall poverty reduced from 50% in 1970 to about 5.7% today- Job creation- Modernisation of rural areas: schools, roads, health, piped water, electricity, phones

But balanced development between regions, between income groups & between ethnic groups not achievedUneven benefits -- poorer states not able to catch up with more developed states. Investment esp. FDI concentrated in developed statesRegional disparity thus still very pronounced. It not only has regional dimension, but also ethnic dimension. In short, poorer states not in mainstream development

Evidence?

Malaysia: Incidence of Poverty Regional Comparison, 2004Hsehld size Poverty incidence (%) Hard core poverty (%)P. Pinang 4.1 0.3

Why? Complex of factors: capital, politics, culture, development planning & implementation, etc.. For this purpose, our focus is on approach. Are there other approaches?- One possible approach: Bottoms up participatory development

Example of participatory development in Malaysia:Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) - Idea based on Grameen Bank, Bangladesh- AIM formed in 1987; focus on rural poor- Informal, participants called sahabat; - self-reliance; provision of interest-free micro-credit to start small business.

Today: AIM has 69 branches & 3962 service centres throughout Malaysia- Provides micro-credit: RM1.02 b. - 147,544 sahabat or participants (mostly female & single mothers in rural areas) - Close monitoring by AIM- Project successful; loan repaid; out of poverty; small business viable

Important roles of :- Development agencies- Development workers- NGOs as partnersGolden rule: Dont do anything for people that they can do for themselves

Limitations of bottoms up participatory approach:Small scale, micro; outreach limitedHas difficulties operating in diverse conditions; requires certain degree of homogeneity But communities not necessarily homogeneous, sometimes divided along political, ethnic, religious lines, sometimes divisive. DistrustDifferences can be used as obstacle to build trust. This is esp true of poorer states in Malaysia

But problems not insurmountableParticipation complements, not alternative. Not polar opposite of top-down development (i.e. development planned from the centre) But top-down approach & state planning must more & more take cognizance of importance of participationMust allow people to participate, shouldnt be influenced by political, ethnic & bureaucratic considerations

Importance of participation Human-centred development Essential for human growth development of self-confidence, pride, initiative, creativity, responsibility, cooperation,People learn to take charge of own lives & solve their own problems; sense of ownership.Learning by doing > conscientisation -> self-transformation -> release of creative energies, enthusiasm.

Benefits of participation:Increased income & standard of living thru own efforts (economic)Political - Empowerment Unity, bonding, cooperation (enhancement of social capital)Sense of fulfillment & happiness Therell be mistakes, even setbacks; but people learn thru own experience (learning curve).

THANK YOU!

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