CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2026
| Author | Centeno Calderon, Bianca Noemi |
|---|---|
| Title | Development for Whom? Coloniality and Power in Socioenvironmental Development Projects in Indigenous Territories in the Peruvian Amazon |
| Summary | This thesis explores how power asymmetries and communication gaps manifest in the design and implementation of socioenvironmental development projects involving donors, NGOs, regional organizations, and indigenous communities in Ucayali, Peru. The study aims to understand how communication barriers, institutional mismatches, and colonial legacies affect the participation of indigenous actors in these types of projects. Using a qualitative, grounded theory approach, the research draws on 22 semi-structured interviews, four focus groups, participant observation, and document analysis. Fieldwork was conducted with Shipibo-Konibo communities in the Regional Conservation Area Imiría and semi-urban areas of Pucallpa, as well as with regional and international development actors. Key findings highlight structural asymmetries in access to financial and administrative resources, decision-making authority, and recognition of indigenous knowledge systems. While indigenous communities hold vital cultural and environmental resources, they are often marginalized in project stages (ideation, planning, execution, and evaluation) due to institutional norms rooted in Eurocentric capitalist logics. The research shows that despite individual actors’ good intentions, practical horizontal collaboration is blocked by epistemic, linguistic, and power dynamics barriers. The thesis proposes actionable recommendations for donors, NGOs, and regional organizations to enhance indigenous participation through shared governance, effective monitoring practices, intercultural communication, indigenous leadership, and political and structural transformations. |
| Supervisor | Aistara Guntra |
| Department | Environment Sciences and Policy MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2026/centeno_bianca.pdf |
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