Community-Driven Development approach
A renewed approach to CDD aims at defining the continuum of activities from learning, policy and strategy development, to the preparation of operational tools to help in designing implementing and assessing CDD operations
Context
The current poverty reduction efforts in West and Central Africa (WCA) are taking place in a context of accelerated institutional transformation and increased decentralization and democratization. In this respect, IFAD, like many other development partners, is in the process of developing a more systematic approach to Community-Driven Development (CDD) as an effective vehicle to reducing rural poverty through increased empowerment, improved access to services and better incomes for the rural poor. This renewed approach to CDD aims at defining the continuum of activities from learning, policy and strategy development, to the preparation of operational tools to help in designing implementing and assessing CDD operations (Decisions Tools, DTs) within the context of WCA.
Rome workshop (2004)
As part of the learning exercise on CDD, a first workshop was organized in Rome in 2004 with the objective of gathering, sharing and comparing experiences and practices using similar development approaches in various regions of the world. This workshop contributed to (i) clarifying different CDD concepts in light of the acquired experience; (ii) developing a common vision of the CDD approaches and operational and implementation mechanisms; (iii) identifying fields for collaboration, partnership, innovation and research; and (iv) identifying means to develop “good practices” on CDD approaches and to increase the impact of CDD programmes on rural poverty. At this first workshop it was also agreed to pursue further the efforts towards the development of more solid and coherent CDD concepts and approaches, while fostering the learning and sharing dimension.
Accra regional workshop (March 2006)
In anticipation of the workshop, IFAD WCA Division with Fidafrique coordination organized an electronic conference. The aim was to begin exchanges and to give direction to the workshop.
The event brought together a wide variety of participants from community organizations, civil society, development projects and programmes, government, donors and scholars, not only from West and Central Africa but also from other regions as far apart as South Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe.
The Accra workshop objectives were the following:
- Providing an opportunity to exchange experiences and to learn from each other, in the process creating a more level field to build future efforts on;
- Enabling further clarification of meanings and issues relating to community-driven development approaches;
- Setting in motion the process of establishing guidelines for the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects, programmes and activities that are community-driven; and,
- Exploring together the need for and characteristics of a space or platform that could facilitate and encourage learning and sharing of knowledge relating to community-driven development in the West and Central Africa region.
Refer to :
Rome workshop documents and presentations (2004)
Accra workshop documents and presentations (March 2006)
Electronic conference about CDD approach
Other documents and web sites about this issue