Vozes em rede

The idea of development is currently under intense scrutiny (Macedo, 2021). Despite the promotion of so many development plans, both in the North and the South, we are still a long way from achieving the objectives they set out to achieve, including: eradicating poverty and the various social inequalities and guaranteeing quality of life for the population. Thinking about development implies analyzing the different geographical, economic and social contexts, since inequalities are diverse. From this perspective, it is recognized by academic research, civil society organizations and public policies (such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the National Strategy for Equality and Non-Discrimination 2018-2030 “Portugal + Igual”) that gender asymmetries continue to mark the various societies, and that these should be analyzed according to a matrix that incorporates the various social belonging. The persistence of gender asymmetries creates barriers to women's participation in building the future of societies and therefore calls into question the very dynamics of development processes.

It is precisely on the basis of these findings that this project aims to understand and problematize the participation of women in development processes in Portugal, relating their intervention in local communities to the social impact of this intervention.

It is a project based on an action research methodology and triangulates the production of knowledge with action in the field and training, involving the protagonists linked to the development sphere in Portugal.

It is based on a dialectical logic in which the voices of women and other stakeholders linked to the area of development are a constituent part of the development of all the research.

The research begins with focus groups, along with a review of the literature in the area, which serve as the basis for preparing a training course. This is also followed by an analysis which aims to contribute to knowledge in the area and which serves as a pillar for the design of the action-research network to be created to meet the needs identified throughout the research. In this sense, the project culminates in the construction of a working network between Lusófona University and professionals working in the area of implementing public policies for development. In addition to its clear sustainability, it has scientific and social relevance in the national context, in which research and intervention projects and initiatives in the area of development and with an intersectional gender approach are still scarce.

The proposal features an interdisciplinary team, bringing together experienced researchers from different institutions within Lusófona University and a junior element, also contributing to the training of young researchers.