How to increase the uptake of development interventions?

More about the book

A crucial prerequisite for the success of development interventions is their uptake by the targeted population. We investigate dis-/incentivising factors for a programme’s uptake and support through interventions conducted in Indonesia and Pakistan. Using a framework grounded in psychological theory – The Theory of Planned Behaviour – we consider three determinants for intervention uptake: personal attitudes, subjective norms influenced by important others, and the perceived ease of performing the desired behaviour. Given the cooperation between local and international agents in most development interventions, we further explore the salience of the implementer’s background. Our findings indicate that attitudes, subjective norms, and ease of use are associated with increased uptake in both culturally distinct settings. A framed field experiment in Indonesia reveals that the Acehnese population shows greater support for projects when international actors are highlighted, with previous experience with these actors being pivotal. To enhance supportive behaviour for locally led projects, it is essential to foster local capabilities for positive experiences. Our results suggest that development research and cooperation should prioritize personal attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived ease of use in intervention design, while also considering previous experiences with partners to achieve behavioural change.