This report presents a multi-year, multi-phase exploration into how we can meaningfully listen to the development-related content created by marginalized communities—at scale and on their terms. At its heart is the belief that lived experience is knowledge, and that community-generated content holds deep insights into the systems shaping people’s lives.

Grounded in two decades of citizen-led media practice, the methodology builds on principles from participatory development, democracy studies, and the tech4good ecosystem. The research journey began with the human analysis of 80 community videos. It evolved through a structured codebook, an AI-assisted review of 76 videos, and large-scale testing of a custom-built research bot across 472 transcripts.

The findings demonstrate that community insight is not anecdotal—it is essential evidence. With mobile phones, WhatsApp, and the support of ethical AI, it is now possible to listen intentionally and at scale. This report offers a practical, values-driven pathway to elevate citizen voices—not just as stories, but as systems of knowledge capable of shaping better policy, technology, and action.

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