This chapter examines three NGOs operating in Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal to analyse the different approaches to incorporating women and refugees into organisational structural hierarchies, and the impact this has had on programme activities and women. In doing so, it probes the multi-faceted relationships between the structure of development organisations, women's participation, and empowerment.
This manual provides a basic introduction to the issues and theoretical thinking behind the use of PRA. It describes the menu of PRA methods and discusses where and when they can be used. It focuses particularly on the use of PRA with refugees and in emergency situations. The appendix includes examples of some PRA exercises carried out in Bhutanese refugee camps in Eastern Nepal.
The author spent a year amongst Bhutanese refugees in Nepal, using questionnaire surveys, PRA and anthropological participant observation methods in her research. The paper discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the different research methods, and explores questions of validity, appropriateness and complementarity. The experience demonstrated that PRA and anthropology can be of mutual benefit in enhancing a critical self-awareness and understanding of complex realities.