Institute of Development Studies

Participation Research Projects and Outputs

The Participation, Power and Social Change team presents the following research projects and outputs organised by theme.

Power and empowerment

• Big International NGOs - Exploring power and relationships with BINGOs (Ongoing)
• Pathways of Women's Empowerment Research Programme Consortium - International research and communications programme finding out what works to enhance women’s empowerment (Ongoing)
• Powercube: Understanding power for social change - The powercube is an innovative conceptual tool used for understanding and analysing power in processes of governance, in organizations, and in social relationships (Ongoing)

How change happens

• Assessing Social Change - Exploring the opportunities and challenges for assessing and learning about social change (2005 - 2006)
• Immersions for Aid Practitioners - Promoting and developing immersions as a practical training method for people working in international development (Ongoing)
• Reflective Practice and Organisational Learning and Change - Deepening individual and collective self-awareness of how our knowledge and values shape our relationships with others (Ongoing)
• The Development Impact of Child Sponsorship - Critically assessing the effects of sponsorship on sponsors, sponsored children, their families and communities (Ongoing)

Identities, rights and social justice

• Critical Research Social Justice and International Aid - Seminar series for inter-disciplinary discussions on the relationship between research, aid and social justice (Ongoing)
• Pathways of Women's Empowerment Research Programme Consortium - International research and communications programme finding out what works to enhance women’s empowerment (Ongoing)
• Sexuality and Development Programme (2007-11) - Supporting the realisation of sexual rights and access to basic services for those facing poverty and injustice (2007 - 2011)
• The Social Impacts of Crisis - (Ongoing)

Inclusive citizenship and governance

• Champions of Participation - Promoting greater citizen participation in local governance through international dialogue and exchange. (Ongoing)
• Development Research Centre on Citizenship, Participation and Accountability - Exploring approaches that work to strengthen rights and meaningful citizenship for poor people (Ongoing)
• Participation and National Policy - Citizen engagement with the state and the formation of national policies (Ongoing)

Learning and social change

• Capacity Collective - Exploring and addressing the challenges facing capacity development to bring about change in a purposeful way (2008 - 2011)
• Facilitating Learning and Action for Social Change - Initiative to facilitate effective learning for social change through a better understanding of theory, experience and practice of reflection and learning (Ongoing)
• Learning and Teaching for Transformation - Enhancing the capacity of higher learning institutions to deliver effective education programmes that contribute to the wider transformation of individuals, institutions and society. (Ongoing)
• The Capacity to Have an Effect: An Efficacy Study of the Caribbean Child Support Initiative - This study focussed on the Caribbean Child Suppor Initiative's programme concept and the perspectives of stakeholders to identify the dynamics and influences on the programme's operations and analyse the processes by which it is able to make a difference. (2009 - 2009)

Participatory methodologies

• Citizens' Media and Participatory Communication - A scoping study of the role and potential of participatory communication practices across a diverse spectrum of research programmes. (Ongoing)
• Participation Resource Centre - Practical and theoretical resources on participation from around the world, including participatory methods, approaches and critiques (Ongoing)
• Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) related Familiarisation Workshops - Series of short workshops for participants wishing to get a taste of PRA and PLA approaches (2007 - 2007)