Process approaches to development: Theory and Sri Lankan practice

Calls for 'process projects' in the 1980s led to the development of a body of knowledge about process approaches and the implementation of innovative programs and projects. During the 1990s the focus has moved on to the narrower subject of beneficiary participation and much potential learning about how to promote development is being lost. This paper reviews the notion of process approaches and produces a conceptual framework that synthesizes these ideas. It then uses this framework to analyze 12 years of experience of a NORAD-financed IRDP in Sri Lanka. The findings point to the continued relevance of deepening the theory and practice of process approaches in development.