Institute of Development Studies

Development Research Centre on Citizenship, Participation and Accountability

The Development Research Centre on Citizenship, Participation and Accountability (Citizenship DRC) is one of a group of ‘Development Research Centres’ sponsored by the UK Department for International Development to explore issues of fundamental importance to development thinking, policy and practice.

The Citizenship DRC is exploring approaches that work to strengthen rights and meaningful citizenship for poor people.

While anchored by the Participation, Power and Social Change Team at IDS, the Citizenship DRC involves four IDS research teams and six regional partners in Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Mexico, Nigeria and South Africa, and with links to related work in the global North supported by the Rockefeller Foundation.

The Citizenship DRC is in its third phase. The programme’s ways of working emphasise mutual learning and networking among partners, communication of results and policy influencing activities.

• Project dates: March 2000 - March 2010
• Project status: Open
• Funder: Department for International Development (DFID)

Researchers

• John Gaventa
• Andrea Cornwall
• Joanna Wheeler
• Nicholas Benequista
• Greg Barrett
• Rosemary McGee

Partner Organisations

• Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA) (PRIA)
• Centro Brasleiro de Analise e Planejamento (CEBRAP)
• Acção Para O Desenvolvimento Rural E Ambiental (ADRA)
• Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS)
• Centre for Southern African Studies (ACCEDE)
• Theatre for Development Centre, Ahmadu Bello University (TFDC ABU)

Selected Outputs

• Wheeler, J. (2009) 'Creating Spaces for Engagement'
• Cornwall, A., Romano, J. and Shankland, A. (2008) 'Brazilian Experiences of Participation and Citizenship: A Critical Look', IDS Discussion Paper 389, Brighton: IDS
• Brown, D.L. and Gaventa, J. (2008) 'Constructing Transnational Action Research Networks: Observations and Reflections from the case of the Citizenship DRC', IDS Working Paper 302, Brighton: IDS
• Lavalle, A.D., Castello, G. and Mirandola, R.B. (2008) 'The Backstage of Civil Society: Protagonisms, Networks, and Affinities Between Civil Organisations in São Paulo', IDS Working Paper 299, Brighton: IDS
• Moncrieffe, J. (2008) 'Making and Unmaking the Young Shotta [Shooter]: Boundaries and (Counter) - Actions in the Garrisons', IDS Working Paper 297, Brighton: IDS
• Cornwall, A (2007) 'Deliberating Democracy: Scenes from a Brazilian Municipal Health Council', IDS Working Paper 292, Brighton:
• Mehta, L. (2007) 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow? The Politics and Dilemmas of Researching Citizenship and Marginality', IDS Working Paper 288, Brighton: IDS
• Houtzager, P., Acharya, A. and Gurza Lavalle, A. (2007) 'Associations and the Exercise of Citizenship in New Democracies: Evidence from São Paulo and Mexico City ', IDS Working Paper 285, Brighton: IDS
• Pearce, J (2007) 'Violence, Power and Participation: Building Citizenship in Contexts of Chronic Violence', IDS Working Paper 274, Brighton:
• Thompson, L. (2007) 'Participatory Governance'
• Gaventa, J. (2006) 'Triumph, Deficit or Contestation? Deepening the 'Deepening Democracy' Debate', IDS Working Paper 264, Brighton: IDS
• Eyben, R. and Ladbury, S. (2006) 'Implications for Aid Practice: Taking a Citizen's Perspective', Citizenship DRC Synthesis Brief, June 2006
• Gaventa, J. (2005) Claiming Citizenship: Rights, Participation and Accountability (5 volumes), London: Zed Books

Selected News

• Making Accountability Count
• Collaborative Working for Change
• Fighting for the Right to Have Rights
• A Global Movement, but will it bring lasting change?