Module #1 – Introduction to Community Development

Facilitator: Abdinur Awil

 OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module you we will be able to:

 Define Community Development.

 Appreciate the goals of community development.

 Know when first used community development.

 Understand the importance, assumption and values of CD.

 Identify the characteristics and essence of CDP.

What is community development?
Practitioners vs Academician thoughts
 Module #1 – Introduction to Community
Development
Before beginning, the question “What is community development?” must be answered.

Community development is an outcome—establishing a city park, improving infrastructure,

creating an industrial park, etc. It is also a process—a comprehensive process for

managing community change that involves citizens in a dialogue on issues to decide what

must be done, to share their vision of the future, and then to involve them in

implementation activities (Vincent 2006).

 WHAT IS COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT?
PROCESS OUTCOME

Structural changes in a community, More community assets such as jobs,

including use of resources and the income, buildings, and city parks
function of institutions

More resources being used by people

Increased capacity of people
 DEFINITIONS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT?

The United Nations Economic and Social Council defines CD as the

process by which the efforts of the people themselves are united with

those of the governmental authorities to improve the economic and socio-

cultural conditions of communities to integrate the life of the nation, and

to enable them to contribute fully into national progress.

 DEFINITIONS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT?

These essential elements are:

1. The participation by the people themselves in effort to improve their
level of livelihood.
2. Secondly, the provision of technical and others in ways that encourages
initiative, self and mutual help and make them more effective. It is
expressed in programs designed to achieve a wide variety of specific
improvement.
 GOALS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

1. Organizing people for sustainable development. The main purpose of

community development is to organize the people. This enable the people to

collectively identify, prioritize and plan to solve their problems that

ultimately leads to sustainable development. Through successful organization

the community members overall develop their community.

 GOALS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

2. Mass awareness: The main objective of community development is

working to make the people aware from various problems in a

community. It helps them to provide knowledge and to know about the

main causes that affects their social life. Moreover, it enables them to

implement social action projects based on self-help or with the help of

other governmental and non-governmental organizations.

 GOALS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

3. To improve the living standards of people: Community Development aims to

improve the living standards of the people. It enhances and promotes
participatory democracy, sustainable development, rights, economic conditions,
equality and social justice in a community through organizing and capacity
building.
4. To empower the people: Community Development seeks to empower
individuals and groups of people with the skills they need to affect change
within their communities.
 GOALS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

5. Capacity Building: The main purpose of the community development is to

aware the people and build their capacities for the enhancement and

improvement their communities. In capacity building, the management and

leadership skills are enhanced of the community members. Besides, the people

are trained to manage the community resources by keeping its proper record.
 GOALS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

6. To develop linkages: with other communities and Community development

through community organizations enable the people to develop their

connections with other government and nongovernmental organizations for the

development of the community.

 GOALS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

7. To enhance the notion of community ownership: Community development

aims to enhance the notion of community ownership among the people. The

active involvement of community members in developmental activities ensure

the notion of ownership among the people that leads to sustainable

development.
 HISTORY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

•  The term CD was first used in 1948 at British Colonial Office Cambridge

Conference on Development of American Initiative.

• Then, CD aimed at helping British colonies in Africa prepare for independence

by improving local government and developing their economies

• The CD was also a result of the conclusion drawn from the “Grow More Food”

enquiry report.
 IMPORTANCE OF CD

Community development is important for human development and nation

building because it teaches people to think about the places they live, what

surrounds them, and how to protect their neighborhoods. Communities

contribute to the social, cultural, and economical development of their

countries.
UNDERLYING VALUES AND ASSUMPTIONS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
UNDERLYING VALUES AND ASSUMPTIONS OF
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Equitable distribution
of power and
resource
 

Social justice
UNDERLYING VALUES AND ASSUMPTIONS OF
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Improving the quality

of living

Respecting people
 
UNDERLYING VALUES AND ASSUMPTIONS OF COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT

Appreciating and supporting

differences.

 
Being good
stewards of the
land, water and
wildlife.
 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE

Process Practice Outcome

People develop the ability The results that occur from

to collectively help
themselves and reduce
reliance on external
resources.
An orderly set of steps
lead to problem solving,
program planning
and task completion.
Without process, the desired
outcomes may be diminished
or unrealized. Without
successful outcomes, the
process can be devalued or
abandoned. Successful
communities understand the
role and contribution of each.
the community development
process.
Outcomes can be physical,
environmental, or human
capital; financial resources;
or social capital.
 ASPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT

To create jobs and increase the standard of living, communities

should focus on the links between three key aspects of development:

economic, community and leadership.

 ASPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT
Leadership Community Economic
Development Development Development

Holistic Approach to Development

Communities must maintain a balanced and comprehensive strategy
for development. Leadership development creates skilled citizens
with the desire to implement a community development process
that prepares a community to take advantage of economic
opportunity.
ESSENCE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

I think a healthy community is one where people are

not just out for themselves, and they are not just
working on their individual pursuits, but where they
understand their relationship and responsibility to
other people.

Wilma Mankiller, former chief of the Cherokee Nation

Thanks in advance
 Chattanooga, Tennessee

Crisis: Worst air quality in nation

Organized: Task force of public/private/nonprofit sectors was organized to consider city’s future

Information Collection: Task forces conducted public meetings, studied successful cities, profiled demographics of
community

Development organization formed: Chattanooga Venture formed, mission developed, community teams established

Strategic Plan: Included more than 200 programs and projects

Implementation: Outcomes achieved in all areas of community capital

Celebration: Community engaged throughout process and celebrated success.

Evaluation: Leadership evaluated progress many times and adjusted course as necessary

Sustained: Success continues through Chattanooga Venture