African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research, Mzumbe, 2nd - 7th July 1979: Report of the Group Discussion on Wednesday by Groups II & IV on Case Studies

Abstract

This report summarizes the group discussion on case studies, focusing on the nature of village leadership, the role of researchers in participatory projects, and the challenges of replicating participatory research experiences. The discussion highlighted how leadership dynamics in villages impact community needs and participation, and the complex role researchers play in navigating relationships with community members and officials. Key issues included the dependency created by external project funding, the unique nature of each participatory project, and the importance of community-led evaluation over traditional assessment frameworks. The groups also debated the possibility of organically initiated participatory research within communities, as seen in examples from India and Canada.