Examining the methodology of participatory design to create innovative sanitation technologies in rural Malawi

摘要

Top-down sanitation programs that promote a specific sanitation technology based on the presumptionsof ‘outside experts’ have been criticised for endorsing unsustainable, expensive and inappropriatetechnologies. In response to these failings, a new era of demand-led sanitation programs (includingcommunity-led total sanitation and sanitation marketing) encourage greater participation of users tocreate appropriate sanitation technologies. This paper examines the use of participatory design sessionswith local builders and householders in three rural districts in Malawi. The paper provides an account ofthe participatory design methodology and critically reflects on the processes and challenges in relationto power, creativity and ownership. The designs created during the sessions are presented withrecommendations for further testing and structural refinement.