Participatory action research on the informal sector: a field action report from Jakarta
Rof' ie, A.
Poverty and rural development planners, peasants and poverty: 200-225
1990
Document Number: 379267
Generally, the informal sector in Indonesia has received little positive attention from the government: wages are depressed and education and skill levels remain low. All too frequently, people in the informal sector have failed to benefit from national development programmes, which usually extend only to people and activities in the formal sector. The chapter reports on participatory action research (PAR) in the informal sector, drawing information from Jakarta, Indonesia. It considers: the spatial processes of the informal sector; the organization of the informal sector development programme; the adoption of a bottom-up development approach, based on creating internal solidarity and organizational development through the encouragement of common interests. Conclusions indicate that the PAR approach has had mixed results in the Indonesian informal sector development programme. Recommendations are now being discussed with regard to both long and short-term objectives; these are listed.