Personal reflection on my fieldwork experience in a small island developing state

Abstract

This practice paper is a reflexive account of my fieldwork experience in a small island developing state (SIDS). I present some of my lived experiences during the fieldwork through recollected memories of observations, fieldnotes, and personal reflections, and their implications for ethnographic fieldwork. My study explored how aid functioned on the ground in the SIDS, focusing on the interactions between local actors, aid beneficiaries, and donor agencies, referred to here as Donor 1 and Donor 2. The reflections underscore the complexities of aid localisation efforts, particularly within the context of broader humanitarian and development architecture. They also reflect the growing appetite of local actors and beneficiaries to take the driver’s seat in the aid development process. By presenting these insights, the paper contributes to understanding the practical realities of aid delivery in SIDS and emphasises the importance of local engagement and leadership in development efforts.

RAS ID

76542

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

1-1-2025

School

School of Arts and Humanities

Copyright

subscription content

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Identifier

Mark Opoku Amankwa: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3271-7538

Kwadwo Adusei-Asante: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1343-8234

Vicki Frances Banham: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8032-4579

Comments

Amankwa, M. O., Adusei-Asante, K., & Banham, V. F. (2025). Personal reflection on my fieldwork experience in a small island developing state. Development in Practice. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2025.2452406

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.1080/09614524.2025.2452406