Transformative and art-based methods for integrating community voices: from concepts to operationalization

​The workshop is designed to sensitise students and researchers who are conducting research in the global South about the colonialities that prevail in science and knowledge production; and equip them with practical skills to conduct transformative and art-based research methods in sensitive contexts of the global South. This session provides a unique opportunity for students, researchers, and practitioners to:

1. Self-reflect and critically question their role as researchers from or working for global North institutions, while identifying potential biases on applied narratives and methodologies.
2. highlighting opportunities for action in adopting and promoting transformative research methodologies that are responsible and culturally sensitive to the local realities.

Outline:

• Introduction: Understanding Transformative and art-based methods
  • Transformative research methods for integrating community voices
  • Theory: Colonialities, power imbalances in knowledge production and the need to decolonize development research (Paulo Freire and Orlando Fals Borda) – Maria Schmiedbauer (20 – 30 min)

– Break 10 min

• Practical Cases: Operationalizing Transformative and art-based methods
  • ClimBeR – Jon Hellin, Leonardo Medina & Vanessa Matos – CGIAR Initiative on Climate Resilience (ClimBeR)

ClimBeR uses a social equity approach to operationalizes transformative methodologies. In terms of climate risk, social equity relates to responsibility for and distribution of climate impacts and policies across society, generations, and genders, including in terms of who participates in and controls decision-making. Attention to social equity enables those conducting research to consider how social differences and associated inequalities may shape vulnerability and may influence people’s access to innovations to build resilience or improve their livelihoods. We illustrate this with an example of ClimBeR research that recognizes and integrates community voices on understanding the linkages between climate effects and security and developing climate adaptation strategies that contribute to sustainable peacebuilding in conflict-prone settings (1 – 1.5 hr)

– Break 10 min 

• Talking circles: listening experiences and exchanging memories on neglected territories in transformation – Teresa Da-Silva Rosa (20 min)
• Theater of the Oppressed – Michelle Bonatti (20 min)
• Film-based Research and community-based cinema– Giovanna Chavez-Miguel (20 min)

– Break 10 min 

• Group Exercise and Film (1h20m) Teatro Foto: Participants apply the learned content on a brief exercise, including group discussions
• Closing + Brief evaluation of workshop (10 min)