What is "development"?

Between La Merced’s fiestas this past weekend, the excitement of the World Cup, and multiple puentes, or days of preparation and recovery surrounding the fiestas, our ability to move forward with our work this week has been challenged.  Yet, we have since been able to conduct a number of interviews with representatives from the Tourism Association, as well as local restaurant owners.  Since our introductory research in La Merced, our project focus has evolved to say the least.  We are still focusing on strengthening the local food identity and branding of La Merced, while simultaneously promoting a more holistic tourism industry for the town.  But we have realized that more focus needs to be given to the Tourism Association itself.  Although the committee was established last year, we have come to learn that little action has been taken since then, and there is weak functionality and strategic planning between the members.  After conducting interviews with some of the members this past week, there has been a corresponding pattern between their responses.  Over and over again, we are hearing that there is a lack of transparency within the association.  Not all of the members are informed of meeting schedules, and it seems that there have been conscious decisions to exclude certain people from participating.  This has led to a loss in motivation for many members.  People say that they don’t see the point in trying to be involved with an association that is inconsistent, and has nothing to show for itself.  It has become evident that there is zero collaboration between members, and that other than establishing the association; there hasn’t been sufficient leadership to produce any plan of action.  While certain sectors, like adventure tourism, have been adequately represented and involved, it seems like others have been overlooked and even shut out.  The strongly individualistic mentality of the association is only a symptom of the mindset of the community here as a whole.  Surely this is largely a consequence of the number of displaced families in this town, and the lack of trust that still exists between them.  This will be one of the most challenging impediments to our project focus.

We have a meeting with the association this Saturday.  Currently, their constitution is under review, and they are attempting to ratify it.  There seems to be a feeling among some members that the reason the association isn’t working well together is due to the faulty constitution, so all attention needs to be spent on changing it.  Upon hearing this, I was reminded of my work with committees in Tanzania.  So much energy and focus is put into the bureaucratic formalities of these groups.  Yes, it is important to establish laws and guidelines of a formal committee, but creating this document does not equal functionality.  It’s going to take a lot more collaboration and analytical thinking in order for this association to achieve its purpose.  We are hoping to facilitate a discussion with them about the meaning of “development” as well as an exercise to prompt critical thinking about what the real root of the problem of their disjointed association is.  Our hope is that after this discussion, the association will be open to another workshop focused on goal setting and cross-sector planning.  But we’ll have to wait and see how it goes.  If I have learned anything in my experience working abroad it is that you cannot go in with any expectations.  As new information is gained, perspectives evolve, plans change, and you can only facilitate development that is led by the community you are working with.