Indigenous knowledge

Indigenous knowledge is knowledge of ecology, botany, medicine, agriculture and other fields that does not originate in academic or corporate research institutions but rather is based on local-level accumulated knowledge and is frequently inherited through tradition and culture. Indigenous knowledge is increasingly used by development agencies like the World Bank in the formulation of their objectives and methods for local-level projects.

Participatory development

At the turn of the twenty-first century, economic development strategies shifted away from generalizing holistic theories toward local-level programs focused on local participation and empowerment. Recent projects have therefore placed significant emphasis on incorporating local and indigenous knowledge into their overall program objectives. The result is a practical challenge to the traditional conception of linear development.