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Recording and using indigenous knowledge: A manual
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Rural people have an intimate knowledge
of many aspects of their surroundings and daily lives. They know what varieties of crops
to plant, when to sow and weed, which plants are poisonous and which can be used for
medicine, how to cure diseases and how to maintain their environment in a state of
equilibrium.
This indigenous knowledge is an invaluable
resource for development. Combined with modern know-how, it can be a basis for
sustainable, people-centered development.
This practical, user-friendly manual is the
first to describe how to record and assess indigenous knowledge together with local
people, identify promising forms of knowledge, and integrate them into development
activities. It outlines more than 30 different recording and assessment methods drawn
from participatory appraisal, anthropological, sociological and community organizing
approaches. For each method, it gives a brief definition and purpose, lists the materials
needed, gives a step-by-step approach on how to implement it, describes its value, and
lists some dos and don’ts based on practical field experience.
The manual also provides 10 case studies on how
development efforts can build on indigenous knowledge, and question guides on
more than 20 development fields ranging from animal husbandry to water and sanitation.
Finally, it lists key publications on indigenous knowledge and resource
institutions worldwide promoting the use of indigenous knowledge in development.
The text is written in clear, simple language, and is
illustrated with line drawings and examples of the outputs of each method. Throughout, the
emphasis is on developing and adapting techniques to suit local conditions, working in a
participatory mode, and respecting the intellectual property rights of local people.
The manual draws on the experiences of more than 40 staff of the
International Institute of Rural Reconstruction, an international
nongovernment organization based in the Philippines, as well as several internationally
known specialists in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
This manual will be an invaluable guide for professionals, field
staff, students and trainers in all fields of development work.
Contents
1: Indigenous knowledge and development
- Introduction
- How the manual was compiled
- How to use the manual
- What is indigenous knowledge?
- Who knows what?
- Characteristics of local systems
- Why is indigenous knowledge useful?
- Helping communities conserve their IK
- Using indigenous knowledge in development
- Recording IK in communities
- Intellectual property rights
2. Recording and assessment methodologies
- Recording methods
- Sources and documentation of IK
- Sample selection
- How to draw a sample
- Identifying indigenous specialists
- Observation and interviewing
- Case studies
- Field observation
- In-depth interviews
- Interviewing
- Participant observation
- Participative technology analysis
- Surveys
- Working with groups
- Brainstorming
- Five questions
- Games
- Group discussion
- Role play
- Strengths and weaknesses
- SWOT analysis
- Village reflections
- Village workshop
- Using diagrams
- Flowchart
- Historical comparison
- Illustrations and diagrams
- Mapping
- Matrix
- Modelling bioresource flows
- Seasonal pattern chart
- Sorting and ranking
- Taxonomies
- Transect
- Venn (or chapati) diagramming
- Webbing
- Audio-visual media
- Cassette documentation
- Participatory video
- Photo/slide documentation
3: Assessment of indigenous knowledge
- Assessing IK
- Criteria for assessing IK
- Tapping insiders' assessment
- Tapping western science methods to assess IK
- Monitoring and evaluation
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4: Mini-case studies: How development can build on IK
- Mini-case studies
- Problem identification and prioritization in Kiko Rosa,
Philippines
- Community managed health in Pinagsanjaan, Philippines
- Incorporation of local tree species in an agroforestry project
in Layong Mabilog, Philippines
- Local vegetable varieties for home gardening programs
- Traditional animal dispersal schemes in Cavite, Philippines
- Increasing food production in Negros, Philippines
- Overcoming labor shortages through indigenous mutual-help groups
- Promoting the use of IK in Venezuela
- Farmers' experiments in teak germination in Sri Lanka
- Promoting an indigenous savings scheme in Ethiopia
5: Question guides
- Question guides
- Gender and indigenous knowledge
- Farmer-to-farmer extension and farmer experimentation
- Soil fertility
- Cropping systems
- Gardening
- Agroforestry
- Watershed management
- Environment, natural resource and biodiversity
- Coastal resource management
- Aquaculture
- Animal husbandry and healthcare
- Food and nutrition
- Reproductive health and family planning
- Water and sanitation
- Health financing schemes
- Healthcare systems
- Occupational health
- Organizations and leadership
- Credit and savings
- Enterprise development
- Communication
6: Resources
- Abbreviations and definitions
- References
- Addresses
- Project staff and contributors
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211 pp. paperback 1996 ISBN 0-942717-70-8
International Institute of Rural Reconstruction, Silang, Cavite 4118, Philippines,
tel. +63-46-414 2417; fax +63-46-414 2420 or +63-2-522-2494; email
bookstore@iirr.org
Role of Paul Mundy: Writeshop manager, section
author, editing, overall responsibility for production
 HTML version Full-text version also at http://www.panasia.org.sg/iirr/ikmanual/.
 Available from
IIRR Africa
Available from
IIRR Philippines
Print copies available from Pact Publications
www.pactpub.com (search for "Indigenous
knowledge"), priced $30.00.
 Available on the
Community
Development Library
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