Tweet

6.4 Limitations of participatory skill development

Written by: International Labour Organization

Article Overview: There is simply too little information in the public domain to be able to draw meaningful conclusions about the outputs and impacts of this new approach to skill development among the poor. However, the following concerns are frequently mentioned.

6.4 Limitations of participatory skill development

There is simply too little information in the public domain to be able to draw meaningful conclusions about the outputs and impacts of this new approach to skill development among the poor. However, the following concerns are frequently mentioned.

· Beneficiary participation can be costly and difficult. In particular, there is a pervasive tendency to under-estimate the key role of external facilitators who need to have exceptional skills and attitudes.

· The romanticization of the community and groups and the potential for collective action to meet immediate income needs and longer term political goals. Most communities are riven with divisions and traditional structures reflect the interests of local elites. Misconceived notions of 'community' are widespread. "The solidary community is as much a myth of the policymakers' imagination as was the solidary household... The concept of community participation has been used largely as a euphemism for unpaid labour of women within the community" (ibid:269). In a similar vein, Harrison argues that "donor interest in women's groups rests on simplified images of these groups and insufficient knowledge of women's own motives for forming them. A common feature is that a few women use the group as part of personal strategies to obtain access to power, prestige and economic resources. Whatever the stated poverty aims of groups, there are intangible barriers to the poorest, based on status and skills" (Harrison, 1996:124).

· Most NGOs are very small and only work in a few localities. Consequently, the current capacity of NGOs to offer training services on a wider scale is limited. More generally, the growing interest in community-based training and rehabilitation is a direct response to the failure of both the state and NGOs to reduce poverty in most developing countries.

· Coordination among NGOs is usually weak as is the development of genuine and effective networks.

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
PAPERS
43
Learning to change: Skills
development among the
economically vulnerable and
socially excluded in
developing countries
Paul Bennell
Employment and Training Department
International Labour Office Geneva
First published 1999

Related Articles
  6.3 Participatory skill development: For-profit and NGO training activities
  7.3.3 Reconceptualising the role of training: Mainstreaming skills development for the poor
  Let Your Fantasy Be Your Reality
  Involving your Team in Decisions
  Principles of good practice for business development support projects

Article Tags: access to power, beneficiary participation, collective action, community participation, direct response, economic resources, elites, employment and training, external facilitators, insufficient knowledge, key role, meaningful conclusions, new approach, ngos, personal strategies, pervasive tendency, political goals, skill development, traditional structures, unpaid labour



Related Forum Posts
Why are skill testing questions required in contests? - Why are skill testing questions required in most promotional contests? Wouldn't it be mean (and pointless) to notify someone that he/she has won the lottery, only for that person to fail the skill testing question and then be disqualified?
Setting a Budget For Professional Development - Hi Louis - I think a big challenge is that many entrepreneurs don't set a budget for professional development. It's usually something companies will look at as they hire people and use as a staff retention & development tool but it's not usually the case that you'll find an entrepreneur sets a professional development budget for themselves.
15-Entrepreneur help/advice - I am 15 years old and have great plan to start with. I am going into web development and I soon to open my own web development service-web site, web apps, shopping sites, etc. But I would like some advice on dos and don'ts laws and licenses. But I am going to get further edu in the field.
Re: Search Engine Business Ideas - Thanks for informing us about the job listing sites. internet marketing research development and website content development also forms a search engine business ideas. People involved in SEO are hugely getting benefited by such forums.
Re: 21 Ways To Get New Customers In A Slow Economy - Thanks Evan, Your ideas are full of wisdom required for a time like this. I`ll like to add another idea to your list : Update your Knowledge and Sharpen your Skill on a daily basis. The economy may be considered slow,but customer awareness is on the increase,therefore,if the pocket (disposable income) of the proposed new customer is of any interest to you,then you must stay ahead by at least one step in your skill and knowledge. The 21 ways as listed by Evan is a sure way to increase in knowledge and sharpen you skill.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

RULE YOUR BUSINESS LIKE A SHINE STAR

Life is a Balancing Act!

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.