Towards Critical and Transformative Participatory Development in the Andes

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to explore, from an organisational standpoint, what is currently being done to improve participation and capacity development in rural projects within the Andes. The research is based in grounded theory and qualitative participatory methods. It was conducted through semi-structured interviews in Peru from November 1st, 2022, to November 30th, 2022. Two site visits were performed, including a field visit, and a workshop attendance. Results demonstrate a significant emphasis on decolonisation from international non-government organisations, with a lesser importance placed by local NGOs. Local development workers were more concerned about market protections and the over-arching extractive systemic post-colonial structure. Importantly, the researcher acknowledges his own positionality within the colonial structure and has done his best to promote the voices of the local and Indigenous populations. The study seeks to tell experiences of the local and Indigenous peoples, rather than prescribe a narrative or outside perspective.