Rethinking development management methodology: towards a “process freedoms approach”

Despite the change in development thinking towards a multidimensional concept of human development, the fact is that this paradigm shift has not found its parallel evolution in the practice of development planning, monitoring and evaluation. Logic model-based methods, such as results-based management and project-cycle management, are still prevalent independently of the scale or instruments used on development. This paper critically assesses how the capability approach challenges current development management methodologies, based on the results of three case studies constructed as a participant observer under an action-research perspective. Building on Sen’s concepts of principles and process freedoms, and on Alkire’s core objectives of human development—real freedoms, process freedoms, plural principles and sustainability—we present the possible foundations of an alternative methodology for development interventions, a “Process Freedoms Approach”, aimed at better mainstreaming the capability approach within development policies, programmes and projects.