SECTION I - UNDERSTANDING THE TERMS

 

Although very closely related, community development and community capacity building are not the same thing. Some might argue that you can’t have one without the other or that one is a result of, or leads to the other – and they would probably be correct. It’s much like the chicken and the egg. There is an obvious relationship between the two, but there is also confusion about which is which and what is involved in each one.

The primary focus of this handbook is on community development. The handbook will outline a community development process that builds upon and results in increased community capacity. Both community development and community capacity building are being viewed and discussed as community-based and participatory. In actual fact, community development does not have to be driven by community members and, in many instances, it isn’t - but when it is not, very little community capacity building occurs.

An example of this could happen when government and industry are in control of the economic and social development of a community. Jobs are created, programs and services are provided and yet the local residents often have little input. In this situation, the community’s economic wealth may be improved (and some might consider its capacity increased) but sacrifices are made in the community’s ability to manage itself, make decisions, sustain long-term well-being or prepare for a future that might not include that particular industry. The result is that the community’s overall capacity is not built, although the community appears to be developing.

Another example where capacity is built but community development may not occur (or at least not right away) is in marginalized communities. Some are in social and economic paralysis and are dependent on outside expertise and assistance. Sometimes communities remain damaged and unhealthy for a very long time. They need to heal, become safe and build personal and community wellness. Opportunities may be present, but the community is unable to identify or take advantage of them. Leadership is required, long-range thinking and strategic plans are needed, skills must be developed, attitudes often have to change and resources must be acquired. It is important that capacity be built before community development can take place.

Most communities, however, experience a healthy relationship between community development and capacity building and, as a result, it is useful and practical to consider them together as complimentary processes.

 

Principles and Values

Principles and values are a key part of both community development and capacity building, particularly when they are being considered as participatory or inclusive processes.

They should be based on respecting people, improving the quality of living, appreciating and supporting cultural differences and being good stewards of the land, water and wildlife.

What we do now in communities has an impact on future generations. In order to honor one of the overriding values in community development, which is to leave a positive legacy, care must be taken to add value to everything that is done. The desire is to build capacity and develop communities in a way that enhances all aspects of the community (the total ecology) and is appropriate for today as well as for tomorrow.

 

What is Community Development?

Community development is the planned evolution of all aspects of community well-being (economic, social, environmental and cultural). It is a process whereby community members come together to take collective action and generate solutions to common problems. The scope of community development can vary from small initiatives within a small group, to large initiatives that involve the whole community. Regardless of the scope of the activity, effective community development should be:

The primary outcome of community development is improved quality of life. Effective community development results in mutual benefit and shared responsibility among community members and recognizes:

Community development requires and helps to build community capacity to address issues and to take advantage of opportunities, to find common ground and to balance competing interests. It does not just happen – it requires both a conscious and a conscientious effort to do something (or many things) to improve the community.

 

What Is Community Development?

It is a "grassroots" process by which communities:

 

Let's consider some of the assumptions about the words "community" and "development".

 

Community

Often when we think of the term community, we think in geographic terms. Our community is the location (i.e. city, town or village) where we live. When community is defined through physical location, it can be defined by precise boundaries that are readily understood and accepted by others.

Defining communities in terms of geography, however, is only one way of looking at them. Communities can also be defined by common cultural heritage, language, and beliefs or shared interests. These are sometimes called communities of interest.

Even when community does refer to a geographic location, it does not always include everyone within the area. For example, many Aboriginal communities are part of a larger non-Aboriginal geography. In larger urban centres, communities are often defined in terms of particular neighbourhoods.

Most of us belong to more than one community, whether we are aware of it or not. For example, an individual can be part of a neighbourhood community, a religious community and a community of shared interests all at the same time. Relationships, whether with people or the land, define a community for each individual.

 

Development

The term development often carries with it an assumption of growth and expansion. During the industrial era, development was strongly connected to increased speed, volume and size. Many are currently questioning the concept of growth for numerous reasons. There is a realization that more is not always better. Increasingly, there is respect for reducing outside dependencies and lowering levels of consumerism. The term development, therefore, may not always mean growth; it does, however, always imply change.

The community development process takes charge of the conditions and factors that influence a community and changes the quality of life of its members. Community development is a tool for managing change and, therefore, is not:

Community development is about community building as such, with the process as important as the results. One of the primary challenges of community development is to balance the need for long-term solutions with the day-to-day realities that require immediate decision and short-term action.

 

Community Development Resources

The term resources is used in many contexts. It is often understood to mean money; however, in the context of community development it can mean far more than that. Community development includes natural, human, financial and infrastructure resources.

Natural resources are all the things that nature provides. Oftentimes, community development focuses on the natural resource industry that extracts the natural resource, creating jobs and wealth but, if not managed properly, may not be sustainable over time. Part of effective community development is to be good stewards of the land and maintain a healthy balance between the environmental, economic and social undertakings in the community.

Natural resources include things such as:

Human resources are about people. People are at the heart of all community matters and, as such, they are critical to success. But just having people involved is not enough. In community development, it is important to have the right people in the right jobs with the right skills, knowledge and abilities. This is not an easy matter as often we are not sure who should be doing what, what the required skills are, or where to get the necessary skills if they are missing. Placing people into the right roles and building skills or developing human capacity is called human resource development. Occasionally it is referred to as building or increasing social capital. Either way, it acknowledges the value of people and their talents and recognizes that this type of development is as important as natural resource development. Unlike many of the natural resources on the planet, people are renewable and should be treated as the most valuable resource in a community.

Human resources include things such as:

The term financial resources is well understood. We know that it means money and it often implies having the ability to acquire it. What gets complicated is how to locate and successfully attract the type and amount of financial resources to community development initiatives. Just like having the right people doing the right jobs, it is important to have the right money at the right time. Traditionally, community development is funded (in part or in total) through economic development channels, taxes or government grants. This leaves little power or control in the hands of the people who want or need to do things that are not on the government or private sector agenda. Fundraising and the seeking of grants have become full-time jobs for many organizations and groups involved in community service and development.

Financial resources include things such as:

Infrastructure is part of the resources needed to be effective in community development and includes such obvious things as:

However, infrastructure also refers to the political systems and leadership needed to support a community, as well as the policies, standards and laws established in the community. Without infrastructure there would be no physical community. When considering resourcing a community development initiative it is important to consider what infrastructure is required, what the relationship is to what currently exists and whether or not there are policies or existing support systems to which contact or adherence are required.

A community development undertaking often has its own infrastructure, such as leadership or a physical building, but it should exist within a healthy relationship to that which exists.

 

Lessons from Experience

Experience tells us the following:

 

Points to Ponder

 

What Is Community Capacity Building?

All people and communities have a certain amount of capacity. No one is without capacity but often we need to develop it. What is important to realize is that the heart of capacity building is people. Healthy communities are made up of healthy people and families. The creation of healthy environments will encourage healthy economies and sustainable development. It takes capacity to do this as well as good leadership, a viable plan, motivation and the support of the community. Basically, it takes capacity to build capacity, and it takes a well-thought-out process to start both capacity building and effective community development.

Capacity is simply the ways and means needed to do what has to be done. It is much broader than simply skills, people and plans. It includes commitment, resources and all that is brought to bear on a process to make it successful. Most often, capacity is referred to as including the following components:

Community capacity building is based on the premise that community sustainability can be improved over time. Capacity, or the lack of it, is reflected in the people, economy, environment, culture, attitude and appearance of the community.

Community Assets and Capacity Assessment

The following are assets in a community and should be assessed when considering a community’s assets and capacity:

The Impact of Building Capacity

When communities are building capacity, there is a significant impact on many aspects of community life. Capacity building places the emphasis on existing strengths and abilities, rather than being overwhelmed by problems or feelings of powerlessness. An indication that capacity is developing within a community is that people are active, interested and participating in what is going on. They may also be questioning, challenging and debating – but they will be debating what should be done, not complaining that nothing will ever change. More and more people will be getting involved, identifying key issues and taking action. Results are becoming obvious and the abilities, esteem and resources of many communities are improving as capacity grows.

It takes leadership, time and effort to build capacity. It may also require the support of individuals with expertise and/or money for training. Increased capacity is a direct result of effective community development and, as such, is critical to everyone, whether they are aware that a community development process is underway or not.

 

Lessons from Experience

Experience tells us that the results of building or increasing capacity can be measured. The following are some examples of the outcomes of capacity building:

 

Points to Ponder