The practice of design: developing the Chars Livelihoods Programme in Bangladesh

This article examines development programme design, using the Chars Livelihoods Programme in Bangladesh as a case study. Central to the Programme was the need to address the deep structural barriers preventing the exercise of voice by the extreme poor. By describing how this issue was tackled in the design process, the article explores the room for manoeuvre to engage in processes of social development relating to extreme poverty by focusing on ʹcitizen participationʹ, ʹvoiceʹ and ʹresponsivenessʹ. It argues that within the confines of a conventional, bureaucratic planning process, opportunities to be innovative may be limited. However, to refuse the challenge, is to disregard the role design plays in opening up spaces for future action. It concludes by arguing that design is an inherently politicised process, which involves choices about whose voice is heard, whose power is respected and whose is disputed. This issue cannot be ignored by initiatives that seek to eliminate extreme poverty through citizenship participation in development.