How can the past inform and benefit research-for-development interventions? The value of reflexive and participatory approaches

Development projects are often anchored in short timeframes that limit the possibility of creating a continuum across projects and building a collective “living memory” based on the accumulation of experiences and interactions. Taking stock of the influences of projects on a place is important for research-for-development projects, which are characterised by long-term dynamics and a learning posture. Impact evaluation approaches can help capture, develop, and mobilise this “living memory”. Using the case of the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), we examine how researchers at an institute with a development mandate capitalise their experiences. We explore the added value of reflexive approaches developed by CIRAD in particular the role played by participation in building collective memories at different levels. The results provide insights into how to integrate the past into the design and implementation of research interventions, and thus increase relevance of projects. It offers a methodological reflection on the creation and use of research-for-development memory.