Relations with People Living in Poverty: Learning from Immersions

This chapter is about the practice and the potential of immersions. ¹ Immersions are occasions when professionals learn directly from encounters with people living in poverty by staying with them and reflecting on the experience. Those taking part may be the staff of bilateral and multilateral agencies, diplomats, parliamentarians, government officials, NGO staff, academics or other development professionals. We set out to:

describe types and purposes of immersions;

review practical experience with immersion design, logistical organization and the host community;

assess the rationale and impact of immersions, including better awareness of the realities of poor and marginalized people, personal and institutional learning and change, reinvigorated commitment, and influence on decision-making and policy;

identify enabling conditions for making immersion experiences a normal, regular and expected activity for development professionals, together with good practices.