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Title Community Development: A Cross-Examination of Theory and Practice Using Experiences in Rural Malawi
Full text http://ajol.info/index.php/ad/article/view/57277
Date 2010
Author(s) IM Jimu
Abstract The philosophy of 'community development' relates to the concept of 'locality' and people. In essence it underscores the indispensability of local needs, aspirations and local resource mobilization within geographically and socially defined spheres. Through an appraisal of community involvement in various projects, this paper interrogates the virtues of community development practices in Malawi in the last 40 years. While acknowledging that community developmentor local participation, as it is popularly known, is ideal in many development activities, this paper argues that participation is not a magic pill for rural development. Participation in gravity water and social action fund projects, among others, provide instances for appreciating the opportunities and the challenges of community development. One such challenge is the absence of projects that are in every sense community-driven. With few exceptions, there isno participation that is truly voluntary. Vulnerability to poverty and lack of resources at community levels defeat efforts towards genuine community development. This is a similar outcome to projects implemented under coercive rule.
Language en
Publisher Africa Development
Type of publication Peer-reviewed Article
Format application/pdf
Source Africa Development; Vol 33, No 2 (2008)
Rights Copyright for articles published in this journal is retained by the journal.
Repository Africa - African Journals OnLine (AJOL)
Added to C-A: 2010-08-26;09:03:23