Personal reflection on my fieldwork experience in a small island developing state
Author 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
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Development in Practice
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
School
School of Arts and Humanities
RAS ID
76542
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.
DOI
10.1080/09614524.2025.2452406
Access Rights
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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