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Development has failed to deliver on many of it's promises to nations such as Bangladesh. Even worse, it stands accused sometimes of making matters worse, particularly for the poorest of the poor. The policies imposed from above by international agencies and central governments have been sadly at variance with the needs and aspirations of ordinary people. The development "industry", concerned at evidence of the damage inflicted by it's well-intentioned actions, has been searching for sometime past for alternative approaches. Indigenous knowledge in development is one of the new approaches being pioneered. It is emerging within the context of increasingly popular participatory approaches. It works from below, at the "grassroots". It aims to make local voices heard more effectively. If development is to continue to involve outside mediated interventions, in the belief that foreigners have knowledge and resources that can assist in relieving the degrading poverty endured by millions, the policymakers, scientists and bureaucrats need better to appreciate the indigenous view and practices both before and while intervening locally. While the aims of indigenous knowledge research are straightforward, their achievement presents us with some of the largest current challenges in development. It is an exciting time. The work has only recently started in earnest and a great deal remains to be accomplished. If you wish to see more equitable use of resources, this book is a must for you. Indeed, it should be compulsory reading for all those working in the development field.
