Knowledge-based participatory action research
A knowledge-based participatory approach seeks to maximise the use of local and traditional knowledge and strengthen local knowledge systems, while also enabling communities to lead conventional research to generate qualitative and quantitative knowledge that is scientifically credible. It empowers communities by recognising the value of their own knowledge and strengthening their capacity to produce knowledge that is useful to others, such as governments.
The approach is inspired by mixed methods research, which brings together different techniques and methods — both quantitative and qualitative — in a single study. This approach seeks to empower communities, strengthening their capacity for research by actively engaging them in designing, facilitating and analysing the research. Local partners hold capacity building workshops to co-design the research with local community researchers. This ensures the research reflects community values and norms, and strengthens community capacity to facilitate research processes and collect data themselves.
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