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Brown, L. David; Gaventa, John
doi: 10.1177/1476750309335205pmid: N/A
This article examines the construction of transnational action research networks that bridge local and global, practice and research, North and South, and many disciplines. Using an ‘insider—outsider’ approach the article examines the emergence of the Development Research Centre on Citizenship, Participation and Accountability as a network of partners from seven countries concerned with research, capacity building and policy influence. The article examines how this network constructed shared goals and values, developed relationships and trust, and created network architectures to support action research, policy influence and capacity building. It also explores implications of the network’s evolution for change processes, bridging leadership, mutual accountability and institutional embeddedness.
Marquardt Arévalo, Kristina; Ljung, Magnus; Sriskandarajah, Nadarajah
doi: 10.1177/1476750309351356pmid: N/A
The article discusses an action research project conducted in the Upper Amazon region of Peru that focused on the working approach of a NGO partner called PRADERA. In its land management projects PRADERA’s working approach was characterized by a close collaboration with farmers. Its emphasis was on grasping the farmers’ perspective on agriculture, targeting of local institutions in the villages as natural arenas for learning, and including topics in their analysis such as culture and worldview; this is analyzed through the framework of a reflective learning organization. The organization’s capacity for learning is described as consisting of single-, double- and the possibility of triple-loop learning. During our collaboration with PRADERA, though we did not find established internal arrangements that could foster a triple-loop learning process, incipient signs were noted of space and potential which could favor deeper levels of learning. The importance of deeper levels of learning in the work of small highly action oriented NGOs such as PRADERA that act as a bridge between local farmers and the outside world, and how action research methodology can be a tool for developing reflectivity within such an organization, are discussed.
doi: 10.1177/1476750309335210pmid: N/A
The Community Dialogue (CD) approach is considered to be significant in teasing out the realities, concerns, priorities and challenges of meeting the needs of young people, which can form the basis for more appropriate preventive interventions. Community dialogue approaches were used in our study, which involved a broad participation of different stakeholders as part of understanding the social contexts of the youth and sexuality, as well as reflecting on what actions the different stakeholders could undertake to reverse the current HIV and AIDS infection trends among the youth. The strategy underscored the community priorities as the basis for intervention/action. After thinking through and discussing the various intervention options, women and girls within their groups reached consensus to implement selected micro-projects which would be combined with HIV/ AIDS education activities. This article describes the key lessons learnt from implementation of these micro-projects through reflection. It describes and analyses the processes and nature of participation, the experiences of participants and facilitators, the challenges and issues relevant to address HIV/AIDS focusing on personal, social and economic considerations within the context of interventions.
Hall, Nina L.; Taplin, Ros; Goldstein, Wendy
doi: 10.1177/1476750309335203pmid: N/A
Using Participatory Action Research (PAR), the research presented here sought to resolve the problematic of whether climate group-initiated legislation could stimulate effective policy action on climate change. In late 2006, Australian public concern about the impacts of climate change and the Federal Government’s weak response became more pronounced due to increased media coverage and international developments. Locally based citizens’ ‘climate groups’ began to form, including Climate Action Coogee (CAC) in Sydney. CAC wrote their own Australian Climate Protection Bill after being motivated by the UK’s grassroots success in developing and promoting the UK Climate Change Bill. This article documents 10 months of the project, from inception to widespread grassroots endorsement and political awareness of the Bill. The use of PAR processes tested and further developed the theory of double-loop learning and its applicability to such a project. These processes allowed CAC coparticipants to experience a transformation in their agency through developing their personal and collective political power. The project contributed to legislative outcomes on climate change. The findings contribute to academic literature by demonstrating the effectiveness of PAR in guiding social movement campaigns.
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