Linking people, knowledge, and process for rural development

Meeting: Celebrating Dialogue : An International SAS2 Forum, November 3, 2008, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, CASAS reports are made available in order to provide timely access to the information by interested researchers. This report has been subject to an internal review process to ensure accuracy and quality.The National Agriculture University (Honduras) supported a new approach to rural development based on a process of collaborative action research aimed at strengthening local communities and their institutions. Participants in this project developed new ways to plan and coordinate community activities, including forming an inter-institutional-community land management commission, and developing specific community-based projects, five of which are now funded by donors. Past “expert” planning has led to communities and local institutions’ dependence on outside experts. Local capacity for self-development has withered. The project addressed this gap