Protocols for Conducting Drone Fieldwork in Togo, West Africa

Fieldwork is a hallmark of anthropology and the experience of being in the field features prominently in scholarly works. The processes by which anthropologists obtain permission to conduct fieldwork, however, are rarely described. The study presented here discusses in substantial detail how a research project in Togo, West Africa obtained official authorization to conduct un-crewed aerial vehicle (UAV or “drone”) fieldwork. Anthropologists are continually incorporating new technologies into their work and drones have the potential to become part of our methodological toolkit. For security reasons, however, drone importation and use is carefully controlled by governments. This article describes the processes and protocols by which a team of anthropologists obtained official permission for drone work in a West African country. As such, it provides a guide for how other researchers may obtain similar authorizations in other contexts and anticipate challenges in doing so.