Remote Control Research in Central Africa

In: Civilisations: d'anthropologie et de sciences humaines, Band 54, S. 145-154

Abstract

This article explains how a project being implemented in peri-urban central Africa is coordinated from an office in Brussels. After an overview that addresses the conceptual challenges of defining 'peri-urban' and the question of why these social spaces are important from a development perspective, the article outlines 'remote control research' step-by-step: (1) conceptualization, (2) identification and recruitment of local experts, (3) selection of research sites, (4) the process of formulating a locally appropriate and detailed research protocol, (5) implementation and (6) analysis of findings and presentation of results. The conclusion argues that research in central Africa will increasingly be influenced by donor priorities and will consequently need to respect the guidelines dictated by project cycle management strategies currently in vogue. The steps in the project cycle reflect the nature of the relationships between donors, researchers in the field and the intermediary project managers that link the two extremes. Accommodating the worldviews, expectations and constraints of these actors is something that, although not always easy, is possible when the right blend of conditions is respected. Adapted from the source document.