4 Elements of Community Development

There are four elements of community development (Sanders, 1958). We can look at community development as a process, method, program and a movement. 

1.      Community Development as a Process

Community development is viewed as a process which helps to move from existing state to a desired state. Usually community development aims for a better state than the existing state, it is a process of moving from a lower point to an upper point in development.  This process involves a total transformation of everyone in the community both mentally and behaviourally. There are several models and frameworks used for community development processes. Figure 1. Shows the general stages of a community development process starting from preparedness up to reinvestment. However, not all the community development processes follow these steps in given order, some skip some of the steps and some steps are performed simultaneously.

Figure 1. General stages of Community Development processes.

In short, community development is a process in which we take human capabilities as the input and produce an empowered community as a result (Sail, M. Rahim and Abu-Samah, Asnarulkhadi. 2010). This process can have several steps in between as shown in figure 2.

Figure 2. The steps in community development processes

Each phases of these processes are well defined and measured for further developments. As a whole, CD is a process which allows a community to change for better through several stages of development.

2. Community Development as a Method

When a social change is planned there can be several methods to apply them to the community. CD is a method where the change agent or social worker only introduces the point of view for development, but the decision making and participation are done by the people in the community itself.  CD emphasises on participation, collective decision making and project ownership. Therefore, social organizers choose community development as an appropriate method for their respected development programs to achieve their goals. The general CD method includes initial introduction and creating a good rapport with the selected community, continuous systematic discussion and planning and execution of the project. CD method encourages participation of the community and it tries to utilize the resources that are already available to the community with some additional help from the outside. 

3. Community Development as a Program

A community development project can have one or several objectives.  To meet the objectives several types of programs are planned, designed and implemented. The scope of the program can be comprehensive, sector based or sub sector based. For example, Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) started in 1980 is a major rural poverty alleviation program which is very comprehensive as it covers a broader objective. Programs that have an objective on agriculture or health or infrastructure only focus on a single sector. Programs started for export agricultural crops only cover a subsector. The size and the length of the program also changes depending on the short term and long term goals.

These programs can also be operated at different levels; they can be national, provincial, district, divisional or village level programs. There were several programs implemented aiming democratic growth, economic development, improving sanitation facilities, improving education standards, poverty alleviation and many more. 

4. Community Development as a movement

Community development projects persuade a community towards a better state of being. This involves changes in values, beliefs, behavior and way of thinking.  A movement is challenging, inclusive and contagious.  A movement hardly has any boundaries it evolves by influencing all those who are involved in the movement. It influences both institutions and individuals.