Community development (CD) as a key tool

Community development (CD) is a collaborative, participatory process that enables community members to take ownership of their own development, drawing on their strengths, resources and visions to create positive, lasting change. It aims to empower communities by actively involving them in the planning, decision-making and implementation of projects that meet their specific needs. Community development focuses on the local population. It involves the active participation of all community members (women, men, youth, elders, leaders) in identifying problems, defining objectives and implementing solutions. For several years now, I’ve been very concerned about DC, and it’s with this in mind that this book has been put together to strengthen the capacity of development players to act effectively, and the community to act autonomously, take responsibility for its own development and take charge of its own future.