Community Driven Development

Social Mobilization

Charles PhillipsGlobal Peace Service Alliance

Diana VaptzarovaService For Peace

Community Driven Development: Definition

A process whereby local community groups gain control over the decisions and resources in the area of local development and are encouraged to act as informed participants in the development process.

Guiding principles of CDD

• Reduce the gap between social policy planners and beneficiaries

• Generate funds for specific project initiatives (eg. Capacity building programs and occupational training)

• Promote and improve the capacity of communities, thus creating social capital.

Changes in Development Philosophy and Practice

Old Paradigm

• Driven by experts and well-funded agencies through a top-down approach

• Centralized• Designed without input

from beneficiaries

• Unsustainable

New Paradigm: CDD

• Driven from within• Decentralized• Taps into the

community’s knowledge of its own needs and capabilities

• Sustainable

Social Mobilization: Definition

An approach that engages and motivates a wide range of partners and allies at national and local levels. Members of institutions, community networks, civic and religious groups and others work in a coordinated way to reach specific groups of people for dialogue with planned messages.

Social & Economic Sustainability

• CDD gives control over planning decisions and investment resources to the local community, which ensures sustainability, empowers the community, creates ownership, and preserves communal dignity.

60,000 children immunized in Haiti. How?

Social mobilizers used megaphones to raise awareness on importance of immunization.

Challenge: Connecting the vaccine to the people.

Solution: Equipping social mobilizers with megaphones.

“I know that with my megaphone I am saving lives.”Mrs. Omene Charles, Social Mobilizer, Campo

Empowering and Mobilizing Youth & Women

• Involve young people in activities that benefit community

• Integrate service opportunities and character education into schools’ and universities’ curricula

• Youth-endorsed initiatives; eg. Peace Corps• What about an African Peace Corps? Or a Global

Peace Corps?• UN Office of Women created July, 2010

Kenya’s Dr. Wangari Maathai

• She was the first to recognize the connection between environmental destruction and poverty

• Founder of Green Belt Movement• 35 million trees planted in Kenya in

last 30 years• Believes trees :

– Restore ecosystems– Provide habitat for wildlife– Retain water– Become a resource if harvested

sustainably

Successful Community-Driven Development Projects

• To what degree were members of this community involved in the planning and execution of this project?

• Do the members of the community plan to continue to work together on this and other projects?

• Were next steps identified by the community in which the community will take the lead?

Transition Town Movement: Embracing Reality & Resilience

• Started in the UK in response to Peak Oil & Climate Change

• Grew into a global community-driven movement• Central concept: Resilience• Benefits

– Successful Model– Global Support Structure– The Transition Handbook

Global Peace Service Alliance (GPSA)

• Supports Community Driven Development throughout the world

• Positive experiences for youth• Establish an international service

corps and support such programs on a national and regional level

• Global Social Entrepreneurship Coalition online platform

Summary of Benefits of CDD

• Preserves dignity• Community takes responsibility of own

development• Empowers community & builds community spirit• Bring diverse members of community together for

common cause and therefore fosters understanding, tolerance, solidarity

Summary of Benefits of CDD (con’t)

• Creates resilience• Stimulates democratic participation and therefore

advances human rights• Social mobilization promotes the free flow of

knowledge and information

What You can do

• Promote the information learned at this conference• Involve yourself, your family and friends in

community building initiatives• Create a community planning committee in your

community• Become a social entrepreneur• Join the GSEC network

Resources

• www.globalpeaceconnect.org• www.transitionnetwork.org• www.pluggintheleaks.org• www.serviceforpeace.org• www.greenbeltmovement.org

THANK YOU!

Asante sana