An extract from 'Views of the Poor' (PLA 57)

The four articles in Section 4, Part 2 on programme development and accountability illustrate different ways in which NGOs and donors are using immersions to strengthen the quality of the programmes they run and their accountability to those they serve.

This article captures the experience of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) during a four-week participatory research study in the Morogoro region, Tanzania. The resulting report, ‘Views of the poor,’ highlighted the need to create space for the views of the clients of development programmes, which are less often heard. The aim was to deepen SDC staff and partners' understanding of the lives of the poor and to inform the process of reformulating its country strategy. The experience turned out to be transformational for many of those who took part, giving a wealth of insights into the lives of the poor, and exposing the often hidden nature of poverty. The study had a significant impact on the Tanzania country strategy, and the way it was monitored and evaluated.

Participatory Learning and Action (PLA, formerly PLA Notes) is the world's leading series on participatory learning and action approaches and methods. PLA publishes articles on participation aimed at practitioners, researchers, academics and activists. All articles are peer-reviewed by an international editorial board.

Guest editors: Izzy Birch, Raffaella Catani with Robert Chambers.