Community participation

Community participation

1. Community Participation

2. Community participation can be defined as the involvement of people in a community in projects to solve the problems. It is considered as an indicators of community development. Sometimes it is considered as principle, practice or end.

3. Community participation is a range of processes through which local communities are involved and play a role in issues which affect them. Community participation is a planned process whereby local groups are clarifying and expressing their own needs and objectives and taking collective action to meet them.

4. Community can be considered a rich source of knowledge about their community and of energy and commitment to that community. Community participation means the participation of community in community development process.

5. Community participation ensure community empowerment and partnership. Without participation the community development program will not be successful. Involving local people in planning project can increase their commitment to the project.

6. Feature of community participation 1. who will participate 2. with whom people will participate 3. why will people participate 4. where will people participate

7. Types of community participation 1. Active participation People participate by taking initiatives independently by getting help from external institutions to change systems.

8. 2. Passive participation People participate by being told what is going to happen or has already happened. It is called indirect or inactive participation.

9. 3. participation in information giving People participate by giving answers to questions for fact finding purposes. People do not get the opportunity to influence the findings of research.

10. 4. Participation by consulting People participate by being consulted and external agents listen to views. External agents define problems and solutions and may modify these in light of peoples responses.

11. 5. Participation for material incentives People participate by providing resources for example labor in return for food , cash or other material incentives.

12. 6. Functional participation People participate by forming groups to meet pre determined objectives related to the project which can involve the development of promotion of externally initiated social organization.

13. 7. Interactive participation People participate in joint analysis which leads to action plans and the formation of new local groups or the strengthening of existing ones. These groups take control over local decisions.

14. Ladders or conditions of community participation There are some important issues that should be taken into consideration while thinking about effective community participation. 1. Level of participation A. Information – telling people what is planned.

15. B. consultation- offering some options, listening to feedback, but not allowing new ideas C. deciding together- encouraging additional options and ideas and providing opportunities for joint decision making D. acting together- forming a partnership to carry it out.

16. E. supporting independent community interests Local groups or organizations are offered funds advice or other support to develop their own agendas within guidelines.

17. 2. Initiation and Process Participation does not just happen it is initiated. Many problems in participation processes develop because of inadequate preparation within the promotion organization.

18. 3. Control The initiator is in a strong position to decide how much or how little control to allow to others. This decision is equivalent to taking a stand on the ladder.

19. 4. Power and purpose Understanding participation involves understanding power. Those person who have money, information, knowledge, skills they are the powerful person in society. Many organizations are unwilling to allow people to participate because they fear loss of control.

20. 5. Role of the practitioner Since the practitioner control much of what happens it is important they constantly think about the part they are playing.

21. 6. Stakeholders and community The term community often includes a complex range of interests , many of whom will have different priorities. Some may wish to be closely involved in an initiative other less so. It is more useful to think about stakeholders.

22. 7. Partnership It is useful when a number of different interests willingly come together formally or informally to achieve some common purpose. The partners should trust each other and share some commitment which takes time.

23. 8. Commitment People are committed when they want to achieve something indifferent when they do not want. If people are apathetic about proposals it may simply be that they don’t share the interest or concerns of those putting forward the plan.

24. 9. Ownership of ideas People are mostly to be committed to carry something through if they have a stake in the idea.

25. 10. Confidence and capacity Ideas and wish lists are little useful if they cannot be put into practice. The ability to do that depends on peoples confidence and skills. It is unrealistic to expect individuals suddenly to develop the capability to make complex decisions. They need training or better opportunity to learn formally or informally to develop confidence and trust in each other.

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