Importance of Storytelling in International Development
The power of storytelling told through an image.
I’ve always been interested in the power of words, the way that different combinations of the same letters can be utilised to present a story. Storytelling has been historically captured in all cultures and religions, arts and literature, with mystical tales told to illustrate moral lessons, teach life lessons, or even just for entertainment.
This art has also been adopted into the present day, with the advent of fiction and non- fiction books, news, blogs and articles. Over the last few years, I have been able to pursue my interest in storytelling further, particularly during my master’s in international development, whether it be when writing my dissertation or when I wrote articles for the departmental blog site.* I have since worked within the sector for nearly two years now, exposing myself to the different debates which exist within the space, along with providing my own commentary for it on both my blog and on LinkedIn.
A key observation that I have had is that storytelling is important. In the developmental sector, particularly, storytelling serves as a force for change, providing a voice for the marginalised, generating empathy and mobilising action towards important goals - such as the SDGs - which work to improve the lives of those that are targeted. In the rest of this blog, I will discuss two more reasons why storytelling in international development is important.
From Single to Multiple Stories
As Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie states, there is a danger to a single story. Within international development, that ‘single story’ is generally created by the Western world. Through colonisation and control, the West has shaped the way that we view the ‘developing world’ - a term itself that has come from Western thinkers. As a result of this one sided story, we believe the developing world to fit into stereotypes, which do tend to be negative. These include it being poor, overpopulated and the same all over.
Our lives, cultures and the way that we interact with others are composed of overlapping and multiple stories. Thus, it is harmful to think that the ‘developing world’ is all the same, when really, it is full of diversity - various ethnic groups, religions, cultures, and backgrounds - with unique stories ready to be shared. By not recognising these differences, international development runs the risk of critically misunderstanding the communities that it serves.
Raising Awareness about the Communities Served
Stories act as a fundamental means to raise awareness, generate understanding and build engagement with universal development challenges - such as, poverty, gender inequality, climate change and economic inequality. Although, we cannot directly feel the lived experiences of those living in such situations, through the power of words we can at least empathise with the marginalised and those that have to experience injustices globally.
Thus, within the developmental space, stories can have a powerful impact on the way that stakeholders (such as funders, communities, partners, students, etc) are connected. The more voices enable there to be an environment fostered which is (hopefully) inclusive, democratic and accountable.
Overall, the significance of storytelling in international development cannot be overstated. Having the flexibility to be expressed through different mediums such as, blogs, the news and articles, etc., both time, culture and anything in between can be surpassed. Not only does the art of storytelling serve as a vital force within development, bringing together different stakeholders, it also enables the voices of the marginalised to be brought forward and thus, become a force for action and change.
*Here are the articles (which I then published on my own website):
Why doesn’t education benefit all students equally?
Humanitarian Implications of the Ukrainian War
