This paper presents an overview of the theory and practice of knowledge management and organisational learning and their application to development. It suggests that a new generation of ideas on this theme is emerging, where values are made explicit and reflected upon, and learning processes are 'more client oriented, demand led, and requiring concerted effort to engagement on level platforms. In addition it implies mutual engagement in a systemic whole, reaching beyond organisational boundaries'
This paper uses a case study to argue that participatory approaches emerge from a complex process of negotiation where fieldworkers are subject to unique combinations of competing influences from the organisations they work for, the communities they work with, and their own personal characteristics. It suggests that fieldworkers can actively pursue personal agendas and can also be involved in changing the structures that condition their actions. However, the paper concludes that elements of the organisational structure can leave little room for fieldworkers to use their agency positively, and that managers need to address this in order to reduce the gap between the policy and practice of participatory approaches