The purpose of this training module on Sustainable Community Development is to introduce and examine the process of community development.
It discusses community development models and highlights how community participation is important for the success and sustainability of any development project.
It explores the global challenges of sustainable development within a community context where economic activities and sustainability issues are often thought to be incompatible.
It acknowledges the fact that development is itself a dynamic process, involving linkages across and between sectors.
Using Pakistan as a case study, this module will provide you with a comprehensive overview of community development and its linkages with natural resource management, conservation and industrial growth.
In doing so it will draw attention to the thematic triangle comprising of governance, resource management and community development.
The module gives specific examples of projects, which are working with communities to improve their livelihood over the long run. The content and structure of this training module are designed to introduce you to the complexity of community development and related issues.
It explains the concepts of sustainability and community development, how they are related, how they are manifested in different regions of the world and how sustainability itself may be measured. The main objectives of this training module are to: develop a conceptual understanding of sustainability and community development; familiarize you with the complexity of sustainable community development with a cross-cutting focus on governance and resource management through real cases and stakeholders; explore issues related to resource conservation, industrial development and community development initiatives in the quest for sustainable societies and the role of leadership and governance to bring about changes in the current development path and pattern, in particular within the context of three diverse regions of Pakistan; increase awareness of environment and development issues in a developing country, and provide knowledge of how decisions taken within and outside community or national borders affect local actors; and, help you recognize and assess which factors lead to greater sustainability of development and conservation projects.
The module is divided into five main sections: Section One: Overview of Sustainable Community Development - This section defines sustainable development and explains its main principles. It explains that community participation is an important factor for the sustainability of community projects.
Articles include 'Sustainable Community Development: Concepts and Processes', 'Participatory Development: A New Focus for the Intergovernmental System', 'An Evolving Approach to Population and Development Activities' and 'Towards Praxis and Participatory Development'.
These papers will provide you with a background of the issues and themes vital for the study of this diverse area covered in this training module.
Section Two: Regional Perspectives on Sustainable Community Development - Community Development has its own dynamics in different regions.
It varies depending on factors such as the economic and political situation, the natural resource base, local institutions and specific governance structures, culture etc.
The unique perspectives and experiences of Brazil, Canada, The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), India and Nigeria will improve your understanding of sustainable community development.
It will help you explore the complexity and varied impacts of interventions in different contexts. Section Three: Measurement and Indicators of Sustainability - Sustainability covers a broad range of issues and it is complicated to both define succinctly and to measure.
However, tools and indicators for measuring sustainability - whether it is being achieved and at what rate - have been developed.
You will be asked to examine your personal impact on the environment by calculating your "ecological footprint" and to envision sustainability through a unique extrapolative strategy.
Section Four: Participatory Appraisal - This section will introduce you to basic Participatory Appraisal concepts and tools.
Participation by stakeholders has become important in development discourse in recent years.
It is often linked to the sustainability of development projects and programs.
The argument is that development activities will only continue in the long run if the people benefiting from them are committed to them and are involved in their provision and maintenance.
Participatory Appraisal is a method to engender participation.
This section will provide an overview of the key principles and practices used in Participatory Appraisal. Section Five: Sustainable Community Development in Pakistan - This section will draw upon the experience of a LEAD International training session held in Pakistan, in February 2001.
Community Development in the country is introduced through a skills module consisting of papers specific to Pakistan, case studies of development projects and a video on development issues and projects.
Community development and its linkages are understood in the context of three different regions of the country: the Coastal city of Karachi, the Potohar Plateau and the Peshawar and Swat Valleys.
Section Six: Learning Activities - This section will encourage you to examine the main issues and aspects related to sustainable community development.
You will be asked to consider a set of questions and participate in learning activities that encourage you to think about the experiences of, and possible future for the Pakistani communities.
These questions will invite reflection on how community development may influence the lives of people and how economic, social, political and temporal criteria determine the success of sustainable community development initiatives. As in real life scenarios, all the information or data available for making decisions will not be present.
