Hinton, Rachel

Rapid changes are taking place in international development. The past two decades have promoted the ideals of participation and partnership, yet key decisions affecting people's lives continue to be made without sufficient attention to the socio-political realities of the countries in which they live. Embedded working traditions, vested interests and institutional inertia mean that old habits and cultures persist among the development community.

Filmed in Bhutanes refugee camps in Nepal, China and Indonesia, this video will be of interest to field researchers, and in particular anthropologists. The anthropological method of participant observation is contrasted with more interactive participatory approaches. Included in the video are entering a community and joining in village activities, adapting the research plan to fit in with villagers activities, working with interpreters and dealing with expectations and responsibilities.

This paper analyses the different approaches taken by three NGOs working in Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal, to incorporate women and refugees into their organizational structures. The impacts the different strategies had on both programme activities and women are examined.

This is a brief list outlining the advantages and disadvantages of using PRA in the context of refugee emergencies. It analyses the pros and cons of PRA in terms of 'preparedness and response', 'communication and co-ordination' and 'contextual issues'.