Respecting communities: languages and cultural understanding in international development work

Vicky Mancuso Brehm

Development in Practice, 2019, vol. 29, issue 4, 534-537

Abstract: This viewpoint summarises the key research themes from “The Listening Zones of NGOs” research project, that brought together NGO practitioners, language practitioners and academics from a number of disciplines. The research found that paying close attention to languages contributes to successful development programmes, according to the staff of both international and national NGOs. However, the general shift towards an emphasis on technical and thematic expertise among many INGOs has led to the risk that contextual knowledge and the resourcing of language and cultural understanding are not given priority. For INGOs, listening to the competing voices of multiple actors and organisations presents major challenges. The viewpoint presents ways of addressing those challenges.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1080/09614524.2019.1569591

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