Picturing Change through Photovoice

Abstract

This chapter discusses the methodological process and findings of a PhotoVoice participatory evaluation conducted as part of a larger randomised study, which sought to create better economic opportunities for women in Nairobi slums by providing mothers with vouchers for subsidised daycare. It considers the ways that PhotoVoice can be used as a tool for participatory evaluation, particularly for conducting research with marginalised populations. It also describes the use of PhotoVoice in this study and presents key findings that emerged around the use of PhotoVoice as a participatory evaluation methodology in this context. As in any other evaluation, the challenge is often to determine ‘through whose eyes’ it is best to measure the changes resulting from an intervention. Here, change is measured through the eyes of the participants themselves, focusing on what they see as valuable.