Communication for Isolated and Marginalized Groups

Published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), this 24-page paper asks the question: "Why is it that after so many years of experience there are still few participatory communication processes in programs to alleviate poverty and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable groups?"



The author of this paper, Silvia Balit, recognises that ICTs (information and communication technologies) are important to addressing the needs of the poor but by no means should they replace traditional dialogue and existing indigenous communication systems. Balit advocates for a blending of these two approaches as a means of improving the sustainability of participatory communication processes in international development.

From the Executive Summary

International development goals now place high priority on addressing the needs of the poorest of the poor, and with the advent of the Information Age, communication is increasingly recognized as essential to achieving these goals. However, information, communication and knowledge are essential but not sufficient elements to address poverty. Marginal communities do not exist in isolation from wider contexts of social, political and economic forces and unequal power structures. These constraints need to be taken into account, and it must be recognized that information and communication cannot substitute for structural changes.

There have been many changes since the discipline of communication for development began some 50 years
ago. Business as usual is no longer possible. There is need for new directions to respond to a changing environment, the effects of globalization, new social actors and the opportunities offered by new information and communication technologies. At the same time, there is a wealth of lessons learned from years of experience working with disadvantaged groups, and a variety of participatory approaches developed in the past are still valid. The paper suggests that there is need to blend the old with the new.

Although there are no- one size fits all – rules, based on what has worked in the past, the paper describes some principles which are still valid as guidelines on how participatory communication can best be used to work with isolated and marginalized groups . The paper also analyses different media and approaches, which are suitable for working at community level. It analyses the potential and limitations of new information and communication technologies for working with the poor and identifies areas for improving local access and appropriation by marginal groups. It concludes that communication practitioners must learn to adapt to the new information age, and select the most appropriate communication channels, making use of all the tools in their toolbox. An essential element for successful and sustainable efforts with the disadvantaged will continue to be dialogue, ownership on the part of communities and integration with existing indigenous communication systems.

As a basis for discussion, the paper asks: Why is it that after so many years of experience there are still few participatory communication processes in programs to alleviate poverty and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable groups? A number of constraints and possible reasons are suggested. The paper also proposes ideas for action, which could help to overcome some of the constraints and improve the effectiveness of communication with isolated and marginalized groups . These include:

For Governments:

• To establish regulatory frameworks and an enabling policy environment for communication with the poor, involving all stakeholders.
• To respect the identities, languages, cultural diversity and traditions of minorities.

For Donors and Development Agencies:

• To plan for strategic communication in poverty alleviation programs, with adequate timeframes and resources.
• To establish units with professional staff in communication for development.
• To provide time and personnel in projects for participatory research, monitoring and evaluation.
• To establish partnerships to promote local access to ICTs for the poor, and ensure meaningful use and social appropriation.

For Communication Practitioners:

• To train communication professionals at all levels, with a focus on participatory approaches for social change.
• To advocate with decision makers for the inclusion of communication in poverty alleviation programs.
• To identify new instruments and indicators for monitoring and evaluation of participatory communication processes with disadvantaged groups.
• To address the issue of sustainability.
• To share more information and experiences of successful participatory communication approaches with marginalized people.