Using Arnstein’s Ladder as an Evaluative Framework for the Assessment of Participatory Work in Postdisaster Haiti

Problem, research strategy, and findings: Arnstein’s (1969) ladder of citizen participation has been prominent and influential in the planning field. By detailing a continuum of approaches for citizen involvement, the ladder provides a foundation for addressing questions of participation and power in theory and practice. However, despite its significant influence, questions regarding the practicality of the framework persist. This is particularly a concern in relation to its use in guiding different applications of participation in practice and its ability to outline specific methodologies for evaluating participatory activities. I explore the use of Arnstein’s ladder as an evaluative framework for participation through a quantitative analysis of primary survey data collected from organizations working on postdisaster recovery projects in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. My findings suggest that Arnstein’s ladder provides a useful tool for evaluating the participatory work of organizations. Through its empowerment approach toward engagement, Arnstein’s ladder encourages the assessment of community roles frequently overlooked in broad evaluations of participatory activities. My results indicate that participation measured through an Arnstein evaluative framework produces results that are significantly different from those of general participatory assessments. Ultimately, the proposed evaluation framework provides an opportunity to account for the underlying power dynamics in participatory activities that are important to address with projects in the development or postdisaster contexts.Takeaway for practice: Planners and practitioners working on projects with participatory elements should actively prioritize and implement quality assessments of their participatory activities. The framework I present here allows practitioners to undertake evaluations in a critical but efficient manner through tools derived from theory and practice, such as those from Arnstein’s ladder. These actions can assist in improving the quality and long-term sustainability of participatory work in practice.Keywords: disaster, evaluation, Haiti, participation, recovery