The role of participatory translation in improving communication and engagement at the local level in NGO projects: evidence from Malawi

The study explores whether participatory translation can enhance linguistic inclusion in NGO development work. In Malawi, community members co-produced a bilingual glossary of development terms through a novel participatory process designed to create culturally resonant translations. Employing contribution analysis, the study evaluates the glossary’s impact on project delivery through focus groups and surveys across treatment and control sites. Findings indicate a plausible association between glossary usage and improved community understanding of the project, as well as enhanced communication skills of NGO workers. Its impact on community confidence in providing feedback was unclear, since it likely reinforced already strong relationships. However, the glossary may have shaped participants’ perceptions of ‘valid’ feedback, potentially constraining more authentic expression. Outcomes were shaped by enabling conditions, particularly trust, highlighting the need for relational groundwork. We argue that participatory translation can promote linguistic inclusion if it is embedded in long-term strategies of trust-building and social justice.