Globally, daily policy decisions are made: decisions that shape the future of many. For
some time now, international development organisations have deemed it necessity to
involve communities in the decision-making process. However, the practicalities of how to
enhance participation remain a debate.
To address these tensions, we might approach participation from a vantage point that
allows people to define for themselves what they find as meaningful participation, to
enhance their influence on decision-making, and to gain empowerment.
Placing the human being at the centre of development clarifies the purpose of advancing
freedom: not only as an end but also as the primary means to development. Freedom
enables individual to access dimensions that are considered valuable. These dimensions go
beyond the tangible and material, like income and wealth, to include other elements that
constitute a meaningful life, such as political freedom, social opportunities, transparency,
and others.
This break from the mainstream vision of development is based on the works of Amartya
Sen, who more than 15 years ago, introduced this vision. He presented a more ethical
vision to economics by breaking away from measurements of economic progress – such as
the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – to indicators that are more comprehensive of the
human condition. With his 1999 book Development as Freedom, Sen has inspired thinkers
and practitioners to understand development from a capability approach.
This framework regards human progress in relation on how it enhances freedom. It
therefore focuses on what individuals are able to be, what they are able to do, and how
their choices are either enhanced or diminished. Consequently, achieving development is
determined by the free agency of people.