Understanding power asymmetry in participatory development spaces: Insights from Ghana's Decent Work Programme

Abstract

Participatory modes of local economic development are laudable policy aspirations, but are often difficult to cultivate in practice. Thus, attempts by international bodies, such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), to institutionalize participatory development in localities of the Global South have often faced serious implementation challenges. Key to this is the issue of power asymmetry. This study uses Giddens' notion of duality of structure and draws upon a qualitative case study research of the Ghana Decent Work Programme (GWDP) implemented in Ajumako Enyan Essiam to deepen the understanding of the nature of asymmetric power relations among actors within a participatory development space. The key finding is the dynamic nature of asymmetric power relations. The ensuing asymmetric power relations manifest in the negotiations and contestations that contribute to shaping the trajectory of the participatory development space. The study, therefore, challenges the static notions of asymmetric power relations within participatory development spaces by revealing their fluid properties.

Local Government Involvement in Participatory Development on Simpor Applications as Monitoring Media for Physical Development in East Belitung Regency

“…Accountability of participatory monitoring and evaluation reports helps identify problems that arise, so that the information provided helps stakeholders to take appropriate action (Kananura et al, 2017). In order for the participatory development dimension to develop, one of the efforts that must be made is the reform of the power structure (Arko, 2019) in order to achieve reporting accountability in monitoring development. In each of the Simpor Application submenus, there is some information displayed for monitoring development, the details of which are described in the following table: The implementation of regional development as a form of development of autonomy must be able to create accountability to realize participatory development.…”

Decent Work and the Quality of Work and Employment

“…Key problematic issues have been the regulatory enforcement of labor standards (Bensusan 2009), and the constraints imposed on the decent work agenda. The constraints arise from power asymmetries between local actors (Arko 2019), from the prevalence of neo-liberal orientations to policy-making (Lee and McCann 2011), and from the growth of global value chains (Marshall 2013). Many of these studies are ultimately concerned with the gap between the job quality of vulnerable workers and others in each society.…”

Analysing participation from a retrospective approach: the Ecological Land Use Planning Program of the Jalisco Coast (ELUPPJC), Mexico

“…Effective communication in participation processes is a big challenge. First, platforms for communications consist of many groups with different codes, value structures and interests (Arko, 2019;Krauss & Morsella, 2006). Second, communication requires particular abilities in facilitating constructive dialogue that successfully lead to shared understandings or new insights and perspectives among participants (Renn, 2006;Walsh, 2019).…”