Culturally Informed Policy: The Role of Applied Anthropology in Sustainable Development
Keywords:
Applied Anthropology, Policy Engagement, Participatory Development, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Community-Based Policy, Development Policy, Local KnowledgeAbstract
This narrative review examines the growing relevance of applied anthropology in shaping culturally, socially, and environmentally responsive development policies. Using a systematic literature search across Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar (2015–2025), the study includes qualitative case studies, conceptual works, and empirical reviews. Results show that anthropologists serve as facilitators, translators, and advocates—especially through participatory design and community engagement—contributing meaningfully to policy development. Case examples from Nigeria, Guatemala, and Brazil highlight how context-specific anthropological insights improve the effectiveness and sustainability of policy interventions. Despite these contributions, challenges such as political resistance, institutional rigidity, and poor interdisciplinary collaboration often limit the real-world application of anthropological knowledge. These barriers lead to token participation and constrain the scaling of impactful programs. To address this, the review recommends stronger stakeholder collaboration, interdisciplinary training, adaptive evaluation tools, and institutional reforms that elevate anthropology’s policymaking role. The study concludes by emphasizing applied anthropology’s crucial role in co-producing inclusive, contextually grounded solutions to complex development challenges.
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