CSVR has been conducting research on South Africa's Community Work Programme (CWP) since 2010. In 2016, the organisation commenced with an effort to strengthen urban violence prevention interventions carried out by CWP through their work. This report, which is based on the reflections of CSVR staff who collaborated with CWP participants to pilot new violence prevention interventions, shares some of CSVR's lessons on bridging the gap between participatory approaches theory and practice. These lessons relate to considerations around interventions life cycles, participatory project planning, budgeting, as well as the importance and challenges associated with iterative learning. The report also suggests practical considerations and steps to take to determine the level of participation that is possible and how to maintain it.
Brankovic (2019) Reflection Report Participatory Methods
Jasmina Brankovic is the Senior Research Specialist at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation and the Associate Editor of the International Journal of Transitional Justice. With a focus on participatory methods, she conducts research on inequality and socioeconomic transformation, climate justice, gender in conflict, and civil society strategies for social change in transitional contexts.
