Case Study: Rethinking Community Engagement in the Global Southeast

What if the key to development isn’t learning more—but unlearning first? 

In this episode, we explore how rural communities in underdeveloped nations can shape their own futures by moving beyond Western-imposed models of engagement. 

Professor Anne Gregory, shares insights from her research in rural Indonesia, where micro-hydro powerplants are transforming villages, and explains how a new approach to participatory communication is empowering communities to take charge of their development. 

Listen For

7:15 Why Top-Down Strategies Fail Without Community Input

9:35 The Importance of Local Partnerships in Community Engagement

14:51 The Problem with Western KPIs in Southeast Asian Communities

19:26 The True Meaning of Empowerment in Development Work

24:46 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Michelle Baty, PhD  

Guest: Anne Gregory, Ph.D., BA, FRSA, HonFCIPR, Huddersfield University

University Website page | Email | X | LinkedIn  

Rate this podcast with just one click 

Stories and Strategies Website

Are you a brand with a podcast that needs support? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.

Apply to be a guest on the podcast

Connect with us

LinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | Pinterest

Request a transcript of this episode

Support the show