Effective Effective Community Community

Development Development

AgendaAgenda

The need for community The need for community developmentdevelopment

Theory/Philosophy of developmentTheory/Philosophy of development Planning your projectPlanning your project

Project cycleProject cycle Practical examplePractical example

Ideas and suggestionsIdeas and suggestions Key pointsKey points

The Need For The Need For Community Community

DevelopmentDevelopment

The need for community The need for community developmentdevelopment

Inequality affects your daily life – Inequality affects your daily life – Brazil & ColombiaBrazil & Colombia

Diarrhoea still a major killerDiarrhoea still a major killer If you’re not part of the solution, If you’re not part of the solution,

you’re part of the problemyou’re part of the problem

AgendaAgenda

The need for community The need for community developmentdevelopment

Theory/Philosophy of developmentTheory/Philosophy of development Planning your projectPlanning your project

Project cycleProject cycle Practical examplePractical example

Ideas and suggestionsIdeas and suggestions Key pointsKey points

Theory/Theory/Philosophy of Philosophy of DevelopmentDevelopment

Theory/Philosophy of Theory/Philosophy of developmentdevelopment

What are we trying to achieve?What are we trying to achieve?

What is progress?What is progress?

What is poverty? What is poverty?

What is development?What is development?

Every month…Every month…

5000 people leave…5000 people leave…

from here…from here…

to come here.to come here.

Why? Why?

a road

electricity

clinics

clean water

schools

shops

informal economy

a job - maybe

You could define poverty You could define poverty as…as…

the absence of choices.the absence of choices.

Thus development is…Thus development is… giving people more choices.giving people more choices.

And after giving people And after giving people these choices, we know these choices, we know

we’ve succeeded when we we’ve succeeded when we achieve this:achieve this:

Progress?

Community development is Community development is complicated!complicated!

There are often unintended consequences: There are often unintended consequences:

educating children = disrespect for educating children = disrespect for illiterate adultsilliterate adults

promotion of woman’s rights = promotion of woman’s rights = disintegration of traditional culturedisintegration of traditional culture

food aid = destruction of successful farmersfood aid = destruction of successful farmers

Second-hand clothes = collapse of Second-hand clothes = collapse of local textile/clothing manufacturers.local textile/clothing manufacturers.

Why don’t Why don’t THEYTHEY just build their just build their own toilets?!own toilets?!

Why don’t Why don’t YOU YOU use a solar water use a solar water

heater? heater?

So how is all this stuff useful?

I just want to give warm jerseys to cold kids on a rainy winter’s day.

What’s all this fuzzy nonsense?

I just wanna help! I don’t need all this confusing stuff.

Why is it so complicated?

You have a responsibility You have a responsibility to try as best you can, not to try as best you can, not to make things to make things WORSE!WORSE!

You must You must analyseanalyse the the problem carefully and problem carefully and planplan

your project properly.your project properly.

AgendaAgenda The need for community The need for community

developmentdevelopment Theory/Philosophy of developmentTheory/Philosophy of development Planning your projectPlanning your project

Project cycleProject cycle Practical examplePractical example

Ideas and suggestionsIdeas and suggestions Key pointsKey points

Planning your Planning your Community Community

Development Development ProjectProject

Planning your projectPlanning your project Identify the Identify the ProblemProblem and the and the Causative FactorsCausative Factors

Set measurable Set measurable GoalsGoals Develop an Develop an Action PlanAction Plan Is it Is it SustainableSustainable?? (Analyse the possibilities to (Analyse the possibilities to integrate/linkintegrate/link this this

project with your existing backpacker project with your existing backpacker businessbusiness.).)

Develop a Develop a BudgetBudget - what resources are needed? - what resources are needed?

Monitoring and EvaluationMonitoring and Evaluation

Planning your Planning your Community Community

Development Development ProjectProject

a practical a practical exampleexample

Chronic malnutrition in Bulungula Chronic malnutrition in Bulungula village, especially amongst children. village, especially amongst children. (Many children’s brains are (Many children’s brains are irreparably stunted by the time they irreparably stunted by the time they are 2 years old.)are 2 years old.)

ProblemProblem

Old farming skills have been lostOld farming skills have been lost

Causative factorsCausative factors

Very limited range of crops grown Very limited range of crops grown

Very dependant on rainfallVery dependant on rainfall

Seedlings can only be purchased in Seedlings can only be purchased in Mthatha (requiring R100 in taxi fares).Mthatha (requiring R100 in taxi fares).

Farming not “sexy” anymore – especially for Farming not “sexy” anymore – especially for young people. Not regarded as a young people. Not regarded as a realreal job. job.

Social grants provide cash and thus a disincentive to Social grants provide cash and thus a disincentive to farm - and no fresh veg for sale in local spaza shops.farm - and no fresh veg for sale in local spaza shops.

General apathy – waiting for things to change.General apathy – waiting for things to change.

40% of households to be self-sufficient 40% of households to be self-sufficient with vegetables by the end of 2008.with vegetables by the end of 2008.

Project GoalsProject Goals

30 new child farmers by the end of 200730 new child farmers by the end of 2007

Develop two role model Develop two role model Star FarmersStar Farmers who who make a good living from vegetable farmingmake a good living from vegetable farming

Increase the variety of vegetable crops Increase the variety of vegetable crops grown/purchased from 4 to 8 varieties in grown/purchased from 4 to 8 varieties in 25% of households.25% of households.

Ensure that 100% of households who want veggie Ensure that 100% of households who want veggie seedlings can access them affordably by June 2007.seedlings can access them affordably by June 2007.

Research the current state of farming in the Research the current state of farming in the village. Need stats to measure and evaluate village. Need stats to measure and evaluate against.against.

Action PlanAction Plan

Build a community-run nursery growing seedlings from Build a community-run nursery growing seedlings from seeds for sale in the village. Create 1 permanent job.seeds for sale in the village. Create 1 permanent job.

Train two members to become Star Farmers and Train two members to become Star Farmers and create a village “farm” that produces veggies for create a village “farm” that produces veggies for the Lodge restaurant. Farm to buy seedlings the Lodge restaurant. Farm to buy seedlings from nursery. Create 2 permanent jobs.from nursery. Create 2 permanent jobs.

Action PlanAction Plan Start a children’s farming competition. Each child Start a children’s farming competition. Each child

gets seedlings from the nursery and after 2 gets seedlings from the nursery and after 2 months the top three “farmers” get great prizes. months the top three “farmers” get great prizes. Those who don’t win still have some nice Those who don’t win still have some nice nutritious veggies and see the winners wearing nutritious veggies and see the winners wearing cool, brand new clothes… = cool, brand new clothes… = statusstatus..

Cooking lessons with tasty recipes using Cooking lessons with tasty recipes using new types of nutritious veggies. If people new types of nutritious veggies. If people like the vegetable’s taste, they’ll grow and like the vegetable’s taste, they’ll grow and eat it.eat it.

SustainabilitySustainabilityAnswer the question “if I die tomorrow, Answer the question “if I die tomorrow,

will the project continue?”will the project continue?”

GoodGood sustainability elements: sustainability elements: Lodge restaurant needs vegetables.Lodge restaurant needs vegetables. Can link with other lodges/restaurants in the Can link with other lodges/restaurants in the

area.area. Farmers who sell their veggies to the lodge will Farmers who sell their veggies to the lodge will

have to buy their seedlings at the nursery.have to buy their seedlings at the nursery. Sponsoring kids farming competitions very Sponsoring kids farming competitions very

attractive to guests/donors which will means attractive to guests/donors which will means more business for the nursery.more business for the nursery.

SustainabilitySustainability

Good Good sustainability elements (sustainability elements (continuedcontinued):): Existing veggie farmers will also buy Existing veggie farmers will also buy

seedlings at the nursery.seedlings at the nursery. There will be some local demand for There will be some local demand for

veggies from the farm.veggies from the farm. Kids will never stop wanting new clothesKids will never stop wanting new clothes Seedlings and veggies grown organically, so Seedlings and veggies grown organically, so

environmentally the project is sustainable. environmentally the project is sustainable.

SustainabilitySustainability

BadBad sustainability elements: sustainability elements: If lodge goes out of business, there’ll be collapse If lodge goes out of business, there’ll be collapse

in the market for veggies with a knock-on effect in the market for veggies with a knock-on effect on the nursery and the competitions… Which on the nursery and the competitions… Which means that the project is very dependant on means that the project is very dependant on tourism. A big bomb in Jhb… (Fortunately tourism. A big bomb in Jhb… (Fortunately backpackers are the most resilient tourists.)backpackers are the most resilient tourists.)

Linking the project with the Linking the project with the LodgeLodge

Buying veggies locally means no 6 hour Buying veggies locally means no 6 hour drive to buy lettuce.drive to buy lettuce.

Less fridge space needed as veggies picked same day.Less fridge space needed as veggies picked same day.

Invite guests to join the judging process Invite guests to join the judging process for the Kids’ Competition.for the Kids’ Competition.

Offer 1 – 3 day volunteering opportunity for Offer 1 – 3 day volunteering opportunity for guests to work on the veggie farm: more bed guests to work on the veggie farm: more bed nights, guests return to see how “their” project nights, guests return to see how “their” project is doing and raises status/image of farming. is doing and raises status/image of farming.

Linking the project with the Linking the project with the LodgeLodge

Advertise that all restaurant veggies are local & organic.Advertise that all restaurant veggies are local & organic.

Recruit donors and skilled volunteers Recruit donors and skilled volunteers through the lodge’s website and notice through the lodge’s website and notice boards. Offer free accommodation to boards. Offer free accommodation to volunteers (they still drink volunteers (they still drink ) in off season.) in off season.

Publicize the project in the media Publicize the project in the media including its links to the lodge.including its links to the lodge.

This entire project was funded by donations totaling This entire project was funded by donations totaling R30,000 from guests and assisted by 4 volunteers.R30,000 from guests and assisted by 4 volunteers.

BudgetBudget

Financial resources needed to: build Financial resources needed to: build nursery, setup farm, buy seeds, buy nursery, setup farm, buy seeds, buy seedlings for kids competition, kids’ seedlings for kids competition, kids’ prizes, etc.prizes, etc.

Human resources needed: skilled people Human resources needed: skilled people to build nursery, setup farm, train to build nursery, setup farm, train nursery owner, train Star Farmers, do nursery owner, train Star Farmers, do cooking lessons…cooking lessons…

Monitoring & EvaluationMonitoring & Evaluation We must do M&E in order to learn from We must do M&E in order to learn from

mistakes/successes. Lessons learnt must be recorded.mistakes/successes. Lessons learnt must be recorded.

Base data needed: we got a Masters student who Base data needed: we got a Masters student who did her thesis on resource use in the village.did her thesis on resource use in the village.

Measure quantitatively where the Measure quantitatively where the measureable goals set initially were achieved. measureable goals set initially were achieved. (e.g. what % of households are now self-(e.g. what % of households are now self-sufficient?). sufficient?).

If goals weren’t achieved, why?If goals weren’t achieved, why?

Monitoring & EvaluationMonitoring & Evaluation What if we achieve our goals but there’s What if we achieve our goals but there’s

still severe malnutrition? This means the still severe malnutrition? This means the initial goals were poorly thought out.initial goals were poorly thought out.

Lack of protein also an issue.Lack of protein also an issue.

One goal should have been to measure the One goal should have been to measure the impact on malnutrition directly – medical impact on malnutrition directly – medical tests.tests.

The NurseryThe Nursery

The NurseryThe Nursery

The NurseryThe Nursery

Veggie FarmVeggie Farm

Veggie FarmVeggie Farm

Kids CompetitionKids Competition

Kids CompetitionKids Competition

Kids CompetitionKids Competition

Kids CompetitionKids Competition

Kids CompetitionKids Competition

Kids CompetitionKids Competition

AgendaAgenda The need for community The need for community

developmentdevelopment Theory/ Philosophy of developmentTheory/ Philosophy of development Planning your projectPlanning your project

Project cycleProject cycle Practical examplePractical example

Ideas and suggestionsIdeas and suggestions Key pointsKey points

Ideas and Ideas and SuggestionsSuggestions

Ideas and SuggestionsIdeas and SuggestionsProcurement projects: Procurement projects: VeggiesVeggies LaundryLaundry BakeryBakery Transport/shuttles/toursTransport/shuttles/tours LinenLinen Brew your own beerBrew your own beer Furniture – steel bunksFurniture – steel bunks Bio-dieselBio-diesel If you do nothing else, at least buy Fair If you do nothing else, at least buy Fair

Trade products. Trade products.

AgendaAgenda The need for community The need for community

developmentdevelopment Theory/ Philosophy of developmentTheory/ Philosophy of development Planning your projectPlanning your project

Project cycleProject cycle Practical examplePractical example

Ideas and suggestionsIdeas and suggestions Key pointsKey points

Key PointsKey Points

Community Development is not easy – you Community Development is not easy – you need to really think things through very need to really think things through very carefully, or else you could end up carefully, or else you could end up making things worse.making things worse. Try to fully understand the problem Try to fully understand the problem and its causes.and its causes.

Develop a comprehensive plan for your Develop a comprehensive plan for your project, covering all the elements project, covering all the elements discussed.discussed.

To improve the sustainability of your To improve the sustainability of your project, try your best to link it into project, try your best to link it into your business.your business.