Exploring aid at the grass roots level

A two-day conference exploring the idea of participatory development in the aid process begins tomorrow at ANU.

Conference organiser Dr Patrick Kilby from the School of Archaeology and Anthropology said that participatory development was inspired by the work of Professor Robert Chambers as a way of overcoming the shortcomings of top-down development.

“In overseas aid, the questions most often asked by the media and the public are does the money get to those who need it and are our taxpayers’ funds being wasted on expensive consultants or corrupt third world regimes?” he said.

“NGOs argue that these problems can be overcome with more local-level participation by the various stakeholders involved in a project.

“The challenge for aid practitioners and policy makers alike is to look for new ideas, and support aid projects which overcome the barriers imposed by donors that limit participatory development.”

The challenges for participatory development in contemporary development practice conference brings together scholars and aid practitioners to explore these issues from the perspectives of both academics and practitioners.

The Challanges for Participatory Development in Contemporary Practice

Location: Manning Clarke Centre, ANU

Dates: Wednesday 28 to Thursday 29 November 2012

Speakers include:
Professor Robert Chambers, University of Sussex
Professor Gita Sen, Indian Institute of Management
Emele Duituturaga, Pacific Women’s Resource Bureau for the Secretariat of the Pacific Community
Dr Aan Fowler, International Institute of Social Studies, Hague

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