Development Planning: Meaning, Nature and Scope

What is Development?

Basically development planning refers to the strategic measurable goals that a person,

organization or community plans to meet within a certain amount of time. Usually
the development plan includes time-based benchmarks.

Development is a complex issue, with many different and sometimes contentious definitions. A
basic perspective equates development with economic growth. The United Nations Development
Program uses a more detailed definition. According to them development is 'to lead long and
healthy lives, to be knowledgeable, to have access to the resources needed for a decent standard
of living and to be able to participate in the life of the community.'

Achieving human development is linked to a third perspective of development which views it as

freeing people from obstacles that affect their ability to develop their own lives and
communities. Development, therefore, is empowerment: it is about local people taking control of
their own lives, expressing their own demands and finding their own solutions to their problems.

What is the development plan?

The development plan is the main public statement of planning policies for the local community.
It sets out the land use, amenity and development objectives and policies of the planning
authority, usually for a 5 year period. The plan consists of a written statement of objectives and a
map or series of maps.

What is in the plan?

The plan includes objectives for:

 development and renewal of obsolete areas;

 preserving, improving and extending amenities;
 provision of water supplies and sewerage services, waste recovery and disposal facilities;
 zoning of areas for residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural etc. purposes;
 provision of accommodation for travellers;
 provision of services for the community (e,g Creches)

Development plans will also usually include development objectives relating to the control of
use of buildings, community planning, reservation of land, preservation, conservation, etc.

Learning about development can help us understand more about the causes of and solutions to
these problems and can help us be better informed volunteers, addressing not just the superficial
poverty related issues but the deeper rooted causes as well. It can help us to have a more
complex and accurate impression of the developing world than what is commonly shown to us
through charity advertising. It can also help us when we return to educate others about the issues
involved.
What is Development Planning?

Development planning happens in many different contexts so to define it succinctly is tricky.

Basically development planning refers to the strategic measurable goals that a person,
organization or community plans to meet within a certain amount of time. Usually the
development plan includes time-based benchmarks. It generally also includes the criteria that
will be used to evaluate whether or not the goals were actually met.

Development planning typically follows a set of following distinct phases:

a) Situation analysis, both internal to the area, and the forces which are shaping the area.
This may involve a range of tools to assess the strengths, weaknesses, threats and
opportunities (SWOT) facing an area;
b) Prioritizing key issues, problems or outcomes;
c) Developing objectives;
d) Developing plans to address the objectives, including strategies, activities and projects;
e) Developing a spatial picture of the situation as well as plans;
f) Developing budgets to achieve the plans.

What is National Development Plan?

A National Development Plan is a large scale investment project to develop the infrastructure of
a country. It requires central planning and monitoring on a national level and implementation on
a micro, local level. Adequate funding from government agencies as well as support from
citizens, will allow short, medium and long term goals to be met.

a) Goals

Goals should focus on the micro and macro strategy for national growth. This can include
development of the economic infrastructure, education, social welfare, science, and innovation.
Before setting goals, a government should review the current strengths of each sector and
articulate room for growth (both in the long and short term). The scope of goals will depend
upon whether a country is a developed or developing nation and should be tailored to the
cultural, economic and social needs of a specific country. Goals should avoid being politically
motivated and have sustainability regardless of what is politically popular at the time. Nations
should consider advice from outside consultants to review current national conditions and
proposed strategies to ensure that they are sustainable and not just politically expedient.

b) Monitoring/Overseeing

The scope involved with a national project requires a large scale project manager, like a Central
Monitoring Committee. Depending on the government structure, it will usually be chaired by a
top level official in the office of finance or treasury. Since the funding of a program is integral to
its implementation, the financial perspective will be crucial in setting and meeting goals. The
Monitoring Committee will ultimately report to the executive/cabinet level of the government
and the work of the overseeing committee can be audited by a government
accounting/accountability office.

c) Communication

A communication strategy for a development plan is important so taxpayers and citizens

understand what investments and initiatives are being addressed. Typically the committee
overseeing a national development plan will develop an Information Office that will market and
publicize the plan and also can field questions/suggestions from concerned citizens.

d) Timeline

It's important that a national plan address short, medium and long terms goals. The purpose of
the plan is to prioritize for national immediate needs (food, water, housing, and health-care) that
should be met but also to predict in the medium and long run, what are larger goals that should
be achieved.

e) Implementation

The key to any national plan is actually accomplishing goals. A central planning body typically
oversees the national plan and acts as a project manager of sorts to oversee the execution of goals
on the micro level. This will involve liaising with government agencies that regulate various
sectors (transportation, education, health & human services, etc.). It will also need to coordinate
with local and municipal governments.

f) Funding

Funding can come from a variety of sources. Depending on qualifications, certain projects of a
national development plan can be financed by foreign donors, international organizations or even
corporate/non-profit partners. It also can liaise with various government agencies responsible for
an area or industry included in a development plan. The funding issue will most likely be the
most politically sensitive and will require support from taxpayers and elected officials to
advocate for funding in the budgeting process. Realistic resource forecasts should be considered
before establishing a project because if funding dries up, cynicism may arise from voters.

g) Publicizing accomplishments

Once development goals have been met, it's appropriate to publicize infrastructure and national
improvements to other foreign countries. Such improvements can encourage foreign direct
investment, international commerce and tourism that will further promote economic productivity.
The buzz and excitement of meeting national goals will also improve morale among citizens
since it demonstrates involvement and action by the national government.