The paper is a case study of the way that World Neighbors used PRA in a process of community development in one sublocation in Kenya. The paper gives some background as to the practices of World Neighbors, the conditions in the community, and the role of government in the area. It then explains how PRA was used with a representative body at the sublocation level for analysis and planning.
The PRA discussions led to development activities that had impacts on the physical well-being of community members, as well as less tangible social effects. The social effects included new modes of operating for the village leadership, changed relationships between community members, and supportive attitudes of local government officials for community led development activities.
By presenting the specific approach taken by World Neighbors, the case study raises a number of general strategic choices facing other non-governmental organisations using PRA. In what way does the approach to PRA attempt to affect relationships between community groups and government? What new forms of social inclusion and exclusion, intended and unintended, are produced by the way organisations apply PRA? What compromise is struck between representation and direct participation in PRA by different groups of community members, and what are the implications? Does an organisation’s approach to PRA create temporary or more enduring openings for different people to participate in decision making processes? How does the NGO introducing PRA adjust its strategy to the organisational context in the community? What responsibilities for different actors to provide development resources is implied by the approach taken to PRA? The case study presents the strengths and weaknesses of the strategies chosen by WN in relation to these questions, given its specific working context. The paper thus presents a challenge to other organisations to think through how they respond to the same questions in their own work.
