Community Development

Theory and Changing

Practice

LECTURE HANDOUT
Andreline D.Ansula, RSW, MSE
 Community Development:
Theory and Changing Practice

Outline:

 Historical brief
 Elements of CD
 Key Terms
 Various interpretations
 Philosophy, objectives,

purpose
 Types of CD
 Modality in teaching CD
 Community Development as an emerging
discipline, grew out of an older concept-
Community Organization .
 1950`s social scientists and educators
formed the American Council on the
community,
 relatively short-lived organization, whose
purpose was the institutionalization of
scattered efforts throughout the USA to
improve American community life
 Historical Background of CD

 During WWII millions of Americans

participated in volunteer efforts; organized to
deal with local problems.
 UN agencies and technical assistance

programs of the western countries provided

support to the 3rd world countries.
 CD became one of the models/ strategies

employed toward the transformation.

 Historical brief cont.
 CD was highly recognized both in the
developing world and First world
 CD the replaced CO
 1957: Ford Foundation & US Foreign

Assistance Agency initiated massive CD

program in India
 1960: Indian experiment faltered
 1965: CD programs in 3rd World terminated/

reduced in scope
 Basic Element of CD
- Group of people;
 Residing in a community;
 Reaching a decision;
 Initiate a social action process
(planned intervention);
 Aims for desirable change SPEC`s
situation
CD defined…

Both a Process
and Outcome
A Process: developing and enhancing
the ability to act collectively, and by
which the efforts of people are united
with government to improve SPEC
conditions of communities and;
 Integrate these communities into the

life of the nation that will enable them

to contribute to national progress
An outcome:
1) Taking collective action and;
2) The result of that action for
improvement in a community in any
or all realms: physical, environmental,
cultural, social, political, economic,
towards self reliance, empowerment
and sustainability.
 Various interpretation of CD
 CD as a process
 Moves by stages from one condition or state
to the next
 Progression of change from few people
participate to maximum involvement
 Emphasis on what happens to people and
their development
CD as a method
 Process and objectives
 Means to an end
 Emphasis on end result & goals attained
 CD as a Program
 Method and content
 Set of activities to be

implemented by concerned
stakeholders
 Long and short term development

plans focus on what shall be done

CD as a Movement
 Program and an emotional dynamics
 Crusade of committed people
 Not neutral but emotionally charge
 Advocates value for change and human

development
 Dedicated to progress – stress on values and

goals for human development

CD as a Philosophy
 When goals and values of CD internalized, it
becomes a way of life.
 Emphasize values
 CD as a system
 Premised on systems perspective
 Viewed as unitary whole,

comprised of interrelated parts/

components
 Emphasis on being holistic &

integrative
 CD as Field of Inquiry/ study
 Field of learning and knowledge
 Based on empirical evidence – scientific in

locus
 Emphasis in on tested reality (facts)
 Philosophy of CD
 Rooted in the concept of man`s
individual worth
 Responsible, participating

member of society
 Concerned w/ human

organization & development and

political enabling process.
 Focus on dignity of man
 Assumptions of CD
 People are capable of rational behavior
 Significant behavior learned thru

interaction
 capable of giving direction to their

behavior;
 capable of creating/ shaping much of

their environment.
 Peopleare viewed as becoming being
 Rather than as being in a non-

changing (static) state

 Aims & Objectives of CD

Practice/reality: Theoritical: CD
CD objective aims to attain
 Promote; universal SDG
 Support; goalS of
 Maintain; and eliminating
 Sustain poverty, hunger,
community ignorance,
action sickness, fear &
etc.
 Major purposes of CD
 Meet learning needs of significant
groups e.g. leaders, civic or special
interest grp.
 Enhance capability of groups for
collective action
 Increase awareness/ understanding
about the community
 Social infrastructure & organizational
development
 Mobilization of human capital & natural
resource management
Types of CD

1. Community work
- Professional approach w/in Social Work
 Response to aged, juvenile deliquents, sick
& unemployed

Objectives
- give aid/ support to people who need more
control over their lives.
Example of community work
 Voluntary service to victims of natural
calamities
 Temporary shelter, food , clothing & etc.
 Street cleaning and repair
2. Social Development
Objective:
 integrate economic and social dev
programs.
 Education for self reliance
Example:
1. Rural rice milling cooperatives
2. Thrift and savings mobilization
3. Educational & Health programs
3. Urban Renewal
Objective:
 Break social isolation
 Encourage formation of social groups to

organize own affairs.

Example:
 Urban squatters resettlement
 New residential/ homeowners association
 Self help projects for social activity goals
4. Adult Education
Objective:
- identification/ development of local leaders;
 Foster concern / enable community to deal

w/ existing problem.

Example:
 Skills training / livelihood program
 IGP and enterprise
5. Institutional type
Objective:
 Encourage formal groups to render service to
others such as social, recreational, cultural
services
Example:
 Women`s association
 Youth organization
 ROTARY, Int`l
6. Idealist/ political activists
Objective:
- Practical expression of social justice thru
militant action
 Rapid change in the community

Example:
- Legal support thru lawyer services
7. Human Development
Objective:
 development of potential individual member,
 Stress self – reliance & participation
 Socio-economic transformation
CD Philippine Experience
 Late1940 & Early 50’s
 1950,CD movement in 3rd World
blossomed & started as gov`t program
 Resolve peasant discontent/ dissension

insurgency of rural masses

 Respond to needs of economically/
socially disadvantage people
 CD conceptualize during term of Pres.
Ramon Magsaysay (1954-57)
 CD in 1954-1957
 Widespread dissatisfaction
 Unequal deployment of resources
 Inadequate economic opportunities in rural
areas
 National problem basis for comprehensive
community development program
 End Goal: “establish a system of communities
or bodies of politics capable of solving
problems thru active participation”. (CD
handbook, 1975:16)
Comprehensive CD program
Objectives:
1. Education, training and information
programs;
2. Community projects;
3. Comprehensive planning
4. Research program

1956 – established Presidential Assistance on

CD (PACD), gov`t machinery
 Community Development chain

Community
Capacity building
Development
Community dev Social Capital outcome
process The ability to act Taking action
Developing the ability
Community
to act
improvement
 The solid lines show primary flow of
causality. However, there is a feedback loop
shown by the dotted lines. Progress in the
outcome of community development (taking
positive action resulting in physical & social
improvements in community) contributes to
capacity building ( the process of community
development) and social capital. (Mattessich and
Monsey, 2004)
 Confucius
 I HEAR AND I FORGET;
 I SEE AND I REMEMBER;
 I DO AND I UNDERSTAND.
Thank you!