Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi

The research proposal outlined in this working paper is concerned with the communication activities that occur during the planning and implementation of socio-economic development projects. The proposal seeks to specifically examine communication activities that pertain to creating die conditions for and facilitating dialogue between development professionals and local communities about their respective imperatives, intentionality, and priorities. The proposed study is situated in the context of two different approaches to the role of communication in development efforts- commonly referred to as Development Communication and Development Support Communication. Its primary objective is to draw distinctions between communication strategies and activities that are and are not conducive to the involvement of local communities in project decision-making processes. This collective data is achieved through a comparative case study in the non-governmental space of development efforts.