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A report by Renard Teipelke, independent urban development consultant and researcher
Abstract:
This report is an initial input into the discussion of how urban development consultants perform and perceive their work in international development projects. The key premise is that urban development in the Global South is particularly characterized by international development organizations. And their work is specifically executed and, thus, influenced by urban development consultants. Understanding more about these consultants can inform international development organizations’ project design, relationship with consultants and project counterparts, and their increased effectiveness in implementing urban development projects. It is this need for better understanding which informed the design of this research. Instead of working with typologies, one step back was taken to get an original perspective onto the actors in focus. Based on an online questionnaire with urban development consultants in international development projects, the topic was analyzed along the following guiding questions:
- Who are ‘the’ consultants in urban development projects in international development?
• How do urban development consultants approach and execute their work?
• What role do other stakeholders play in their work? How do urban development consultants perceive these stakeholders?
• What role does knowledge play in their work? Where do urban development consultants get it from? How do they share it?
• Why do urban development consultants work in international development?
• How do urban development consultants perceive their work/work context? How do they relate to these?