METHODOLOGY AND PRACTICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

Ezequiel Ander Egg

What is community development?

CHAPTER 1: ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY

1.- The different scopes with which the concept of community is used.
The term community is one of the most used concepts in the social sciences.
referring to very diverse realities. In its original acceptance, the term
"community" referred to a spatial area of relatively dimensions
reduced and in its broad sense the word denotes the quality of common, or the possession
about something in common, it is about something shared, depending on what is shared
There will be different scopes of the word.

Sometimes the term is used to refer to a small group of people who live together.
with some common purpose or to refer to a neighborhood, town, village, or municipality.
When we talk about community, we talk about a defined space or territory and about the
people and relationships that are established among those who live there. It is also referred to as
group of people who share a common social heritage such as traditions,
language, custom or ethnicity and finally they refer to feelings or awareness of
similarity and belonging, which is what makes people feel part of the group.
In other cases, the concept refers to social relationships and an autonomous functional entity.
last included in the economic activities of production, distribution, and consumption; the
availability of certain resources, goods, and services; the institutions, roles, status
and social classes that exist within it.

2.- The common elements in the different uses of this concept.-

It assumes as the most important element, a group of people who have interests or
common objectives. It also implies a space or area where the existence of
the community and the basic element is the territory. Additionally, a sense of belonging that
is to feel part of something that everyone is a part of. Another range of the term is the
functionality for which those people are together their relationship, interaction and
availability of resources, goods, services, and common ties that provide an identification
shared.
Structural elements of community development

The territory (geographical location).

The population (that would be in that territory).

The resources/services (profile of the available productive activities and services).

The forms of interaction, relationships, and common ties create a collective identification.
(sense or consciousness of belonging).

3.- What do we understand by community?.-

A community is a group or set of people who inhabit a space.

delimited and delimited geographic area, whose members have a sense of belonging or
of identification with some local symbol and that interact with each other more intensely
that in another context, operating in communication networks, mutual interest and support, with the
purpose of achieving specific objectives, satisfying needs, solving problems
or to perform relevant social functions at the local level.

4.- The notion of development.

In a strict sense, development and underdevelopment is a phenomenon that began around 1750.
when the industrial revolution and capitalism converge forming part of the same
process. Since the development began to come to the forefront of current events,
served to provide exquisite themes to international organizations, colloquiums
scientists and cultural conferences, underdevelopment has also allowed some
personalities discover their vocation as experts. It is not enough to study the problems and
needs that people have must be addressed with actions and activities
concrete actions that lead to the solution of those problems and to the satisfaction of those
needs.
In the 1960s, the issue of development and underdevelopment constitutes one of the
major concerns of the countries.

Henrique Cardoso said that 'development as a practice and as an ideology constitutes the
the ultimate challenge of the Latin American man.

Similar concepts used at different historical moments.

Upon reaching this concept, a series of clarifications have been introduced as development.
integral and harmonic, the unified development, the other development, to reach the current idea
of sustainable development. The last four expressions used by schools of
economics and humanism, Ilpes, the proposal of the Hammarskjold report and the latest one that
is put into circulation by the global commission on environment and development.
As the idea of the development of the current development concept began to take shape, it had a
meaning and scope much narrower.
Although much less is said today about development, the current conception is closer to
style and the spirit that has always prevailed in the development of the community.

CHAPTER 2: BRIEF HISTORICAL REFERENCE ON COMMUNITY WORK AS

METHOD AND SOCIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM.

1.- Statement of the problem.-

There is a long tradition of mutual aid and community action that has existed since
humanity exists, from the family. The tribe, religious communities, mutuals of
unions until reaching the welfare and assistance state. It has been 50 years since the development of
the community is promoted by the governments by giving a scientific and technological approach to
the natural forms of solidarity of the communities that is becoming more and more
impersonal, complex, and external.

2.- Organization and development of the community: similar methodological procedures that
they evolved separately.

The development of the community as a form of social intervention is the result of two
separate methodological processes to provide answers to different problems but
that are essentially similar. The organization of the community arose within the
The profession of social work and its main evolution took place in the United States. The development
from the community arises later in Africa and Asia where it is born and develops expanding
after to Latin America and Europe. The term community development is used to
describe the efforts to help communities in less developed countries and
the term community organization to plan welfare services for the
communities of industrialized countries (Murray Ross).

3.- Community Organization.-

It originated as a method of social work in the United States, and its background was given to
to know in certain activities of the COS (Charity Organization Societies)
a. From inter-group action to community planning councils: this method
arises from the cooperation and coordination of aid agencies and social work to
to carry out a type of group action that transcends individuals, family, and groups
acquiring a collective and community profile.
Lindeman in 1920 was one of the first to use the term organization of the
community to designate the 'community organization phase to control its
problems and achieve better services from the institutions.

Pettit in 1925 referred to the organization of the community as 'a form of help.'
social to a group of people to recognize and resolve their common needs.
Starting from the 1929 crisis, public services are created and techniques are introduced.
planning to solve social problems at the community level, here the development
of the community has a greater significance and social workers have more
importance in local councils.

The changes in American society as a result of urban and industrial growth brought
a large number of European immigrants bringing with them all the problems
that growth generates. To address this issue, the councils arise from
community planning also known as 'councils for the well-being of the
community", to coordinate activities of the different groups and institutions that
They operated at a local level.

In the 1930s, Steiner attributed the method of community organization as

the aim of addressing the 'problems of adaptation and social adjustment' and this method is a
organized way of working that focuses on resolving conflicts and creating possibilities of a
consistent progress.

Another important fact is the creation of the community organization section.

within the NAWS where studies on the field are conducted, conceptions are collected,
definitions, practices, etc., culminating in the Lane Report (1939).

b. The Lane report: Robert P. Lane presented that report (The field of community
the NAWS in 1939 was one of the most important contributions to the work
social in this subject. The most important characteristics are:

Community organization (process or field of action).

It is carried out both in the spheres of social work and outside of it.

Social work is organized in part by primary and secondary officials.

The process can occur at local, federal, and national levels.

This organization does not offer direct services to users.

c. The inclusion of community organization as a method of social work: in 1943

in the already established community organization section within the national conference
Three different proposals for definition were made in social work: operational aspects
methodological (discovering social needs, creating, coordinating, and systematizing the
instruments that groups have for the realization of ideals and objectives of
same group); specify what type of social service the community organization was
all those efforts that aim to effectively direct resources
social towards the specific or total needs of a given area); and what is the
amplitude of their tasks (process with individuals or groups interested in the services or
objectives of social welfare, increase, improve its quality and distribution and participate to
achieving such objectives).

At the NAWS conference (1947), processes that were characteristic of

social work and those who were outside of it, such as educational activities and
promotion and the administrative process of this type of programs.
What is characteristic of social work is the process of helping people find
effective means of working in coordination with others to improve resources of the
community.

d. The principles of community organization: the maturation process took place in the
the 1950s with McNeil's work, in which 7 principles were formulated:
It is a method of social intervention, in which resources and needs go hand in hand.
(this method is still in effect today).

The community is the first customer of the community organization.

The community must be accepted as it is, without being underestimated.

One of the essential objectives is that all interests are represented.

deficiencies of the population.

The need is a permanent process of improvement and maturation.

No agency can work alone but in constant relation with others.

The organization of the community is part of the generic process of social work.

The "maturation" of the community organization: maturation occurs in the

the 50s and especially in the 70s in the United States, highlighting
2 main contributions:

The NAWS synthesized the specific objectives of the community organization method.
in 3 questions:
1.- Provide the community with resources to solve or prevent social problems.
a. Offering citizens means to mobilize, express themselves, and confront
responsibilities of social welfare.

b. Providing means to social agencies to meet responsibilities before the

community.
c. Providing means to professionals to fulfill their responsibilities
community.
2.- Provide means of interaction to community sectors.
a. Citizens and groups concerned with the welfare of the community.
b. Specialists in the profession, professionals, and community leadership.
c. Specialists and institutions (school system, medical staff, lawyers, etc.).

d. Political community and social welfare.

3.- Provide the community with a welfare service.

a. Development of social welfare plans.

b. Implementation of said plans.

c. Influence on social welfare policies and other direct or indirect public policies
with the well-being of the people.

d. Helps mobilize to achieve adequate funding, governmental and

voluntary.
Murray Ross's book outlines basic points of this method, some of which are:
Communities develop their capacity to solve their own problems.
People want and can change.

People participate in changes in their community.

The self-development of the community has a meaning that the changes do not have.
taxes.

A good community work depends on a holistic approach to problems.

Fragmentary approaches are not very effective.

Democracy requires participation and cooperative actions on matters of the

community; people are preparing to make this possible.
Communities and individuals need external help to face solutions.
their problems and needs.

4.- The development of the Community

His approach is linked to rural areas in developing countries; it is a method of

social action and specific program that arises from a very different context and circumstance
from the organization of the community. Here, the presence of experts is important.
United States in the United Nations (Organization that played a significant role in
these programs), it is not strange to find conceptual/methodological transfer of the method
of community organization, with some agreements regarding principles
operational methods and courses of action

A. The original sin of community development

The expression 'community development' was put into circulation by the office of
British colonies, to designate the social action program. According to the Colonial Office,
it was a promotional movement that was to start in order to prepare for their emancipation. The
scheduled actions were aimed at educational: literacy, training
labor, etc.; aimed at improving the work of industries, these projects were actions
sent to introject the values of the imperial system into the colonized
functions according to guidelines and values. The professionals of thought
progressive and committed to popular sectors resisted development
community.
The first national community development programs

They promote the active participation of the population to meet the needs of the
community. In India, it started in 1952 in 55 experimental project areas encompassing
25,264 villages with 16,400,000 inhabitants. In 1963 they will encompass the entire country. At the end of the
The First Biweekly Plan had already reached 122,957 villages and almost 80,000,000 inhabitants.
Here the first Ministry of Community Development was formed, which operated at
through 3 institutions: The Panchayat (communal council) that operated as an organization
civic. The Cooperative operated in the economic sphere. The Village School whose
The intervention encompassed education and culture.

In 1948, Ceylon inaugurated a rural development program, its purpose was to stimulate the
efforts of the rural population and promote village organizations. It was channeled
"rural development societies" who undertook the execution of development works,
The government provided them with the services of officials who contributed knowledge.
specialized. The sectors of activity focused on 3 aspects: economic, health
and cultural-educational.
In 1954, Pakistan was the first to implement this program in the urban area;
The experimental project was used in Lyari, a slum housing neighborhood in Karachi.
According to the officials of the program promotion, it allows projects that are
They start not to be costly and that the services provided benefit many people.
C. The development of the community as an instrument of the social process
In the early years of initiation, they were called communal centers and projects.
specifics:
Material improvements - Organization of services - Community action

The United Nations developed a report titled 'social progress through the
community development" which indicates that the policy is in the stage of
formulation and experimentation, aimed at creating conditions for economic progress and
social to the community. This document also makes a balance distinguishing 6 types:
Execution of works: the case of Greece, through the social welfare program
through employment.

2. Irrigation works function: agrarian reform and resettlement plans.

3. Creation of network centers: Egypt's social welfare centers

4. Community action through societies and rural councils: Ceylon (society of
rural development) and Jamaica (Social Welfare Commission).

5. Education related to community action: Puerto Rico (education of the

community) and Burma (mass education council).

6. Creation of outreach services. Pakistan (village aid program) India

Project management for the community and national outreach service.

In the mid-1950s, United Nations agencies promote

community development programs, promoting projects in line with the objectives of the
organization
UNESCO: Adult education, fundamental education.

OIT: Promotion of cooperatives and small rural family industries.

FAO: agricultural extension and domestic economy tasks and demonstration
of home

OMS: Demonstrative projects for rural sanitation.

These projects do not constitute a form of community action; rather, the essence of
community development is not so much about what is done but about how it is done and the
people's participation.
D. The Magna Carta of community development

In 1956, groups of experts from the United Nations systematized the different experiences and
produce a document 'community development and related services' explain the
meaning and application of this social technique. Considering this document as the
"Magna Carta of community development" whose definition for many years has reached
being classic, implying that the development of the community was incorporated to
design those processes where the efforts of a population are combined with those of their
government to improve the economic, social, and cultural conditions of the
communities, integrate the life of the country and allow them to contribute to national progress. This was
the first definition proposed by the United Nations as an exclusive action of the
governments. NGOs became very important in most of the programs in the
last 30 years promoted by these institutions.

This document mentions the main technical services:

Agriculture services - Nutrition services - Education services - Services of

guidance and vocational training -Promotion of cooperatives-Promotion of the
crafts and small industries - Social Services - Planning services
construction of housing Services of health organized
E. The consolidation of community action programs.

At the beginning of the 1970s, community development programs seem to be

consolidated. 35 countries are carrying out this program and later another 30 will do the same
they begin. In 1960, the United Nations provided 22 experts to 13 countries; in 1966
there will be 71 experts in 31 countries. In December 1961, the General Assembly of the
United Nations designates 'the United Nations Decade for Development'
Resolution 1710 (XVI) the UN Secretary-General drafts proposals for a
action program, 3 proposals are suggested:

Improvements of these programs and their implementation in other countries

Mayor attention to the community development economy.
3) Intimate identification of community development with administrative bodies
local.

Another document they publish is the Community Development and Economic Development
in 1960 in Bangkok whose purpose is a balance of the contribution of the programs
rural development of the community in the territory of Asia and the Far East considering
the financial contributions.
F. The proposal that community development be part of the plans of
national development.

It was a stage of promotion and momentum where the United Nations system culminates it.
with a document published by the UN in 1963 Community Development and Development
National. It was the great proposal whose idea of development was not just growth.
economic but also as evolution, the need for development is raised
the community takes on a real leading role in national development, having a great
incidence in Latin America. This document contains 4 contributions from
community development to national development:

1.- Economic and social growth at the local and rural level, bringing it out of its isolation.
improving communications and helping your organization.

2.- Channel for communication between the government and the population, the communities
they can influence development plans and this in the communities.

3.- Contributes to the formation of social capital or the expansion of rural infrastructure,
liberating government resources to national investments.

4.- Create necessary conditions for the evolution of local government bodies or
strengthening rural institutions that are lagging behind or poorly adapted to the new ones
circumstances.

Here are pointed out 2 special requirements to link the development of the community to the
national planning.

a) Agrarian reform is a prerequisite for the success of activities, since the

The economic base is below and prevents there from being incentives for farmers thus the
community development contributes significantly and plays a role
important in colonization programs.

b) The creation of cooperatives and community development programs forming

local leaders and contribution to economic development.

There is a promotion of women's participation in this type of programs and training.

of leaders. It acquires a more defined profile in the use of subcontracted labor.
busy, job promotion and a relationship with volunteering.

The term community development fell out of use starting in the 1980s in the
United Nations and international organizations after the proposal of the General of the
UN Dag Hammarskjold stating that community development should be the pillar of
the social policy of the united nations.

In Colombia, Mexico, and Italy, methodological intervention approaches were found.

social where some NGOs carry out community action programs but using
the designation of Community Animation or Action-Research-Participation.

5.- Gestation and evolution of community development in the Latin American reality.
In 1950, a seminar was held by the NGO in the Republic of El Salvador where it was proposed
the definition of this method 'Technique used by social work to elicit the
participation of the members of an area or community in a company of
individual improvement and collective progress regarding one's own resources." In 1949 the
The social affairs division of the Pan American Union promotes 3 seminars.
regional social affairs contributing to the launch of the development of the
community in Latin America four issues were addressed: Cooperatives, Social Service,
Housing and Workers' Education Planning.

The books of the American social worker Caroline Ware are significant in the
communal development in Latin America, those published in the Pan American Union in
1952 Study of the community and in Puerto Rico in 1954 Organization of the community
for social welfare

In the 1960s, the first Latin American versions of development appeared.

communal. The Mexican Ricardo Pozas Arcinegas develops a methodology for its study;
The Costa Rican Carlos María Jiménez develops administrative aspects of these
programs; the Colombian Rubén Darío Utria focuses community action as a
aspect of community development; the Uruguayan Hernán Kruse provides the first version made
by a Latin American social worker; Carola Ravel, a Venezuelan economist, systematizes
the first governmental experiences; Carlos Acedo Mendoza Venezuelan his
The fundamental objective is the promotion of community development; Panamanian Guillermo
Medina, in 1966, reworks the work Community Development, whose approach expresses the
CREFAL's thinking, in this institution the book by Leonard Olen Evaluando is published.
the development of the community (1968); the Bolivian anthropologist Hugo Torres Goitia in 1971
tries to introduce programming techniques in his book Considerations on the
community development programming; another anthropologist is T.R. Batten with The
Communities and their Development, linking community action to education; Rosendo
Escalante and Max Miñano Research, Organization and Development of the Community; Rudolf
Rezsohasy in 1986 The Community Development and finally to the Mexican Grissol Ponce of
León García published Manual of Organization and Development for the community in 1985.
marginalized areas of the cities express the development of the community with programs of
education.

CHAPTER 3: MEANING AND SCOPE OF THE CONCEPT AND PRACTICE OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE
COMMUNITY.

1.- What is community development?

In the short time that this expression has been used, it has had different meanings.
in several countries. A varied framework of specific projects and concrete activities
they are the multiple and diverse expressions of the so-called community development.
highlights
It is characterized more by an attitude than by the substance of a program. What matters
it is the way of undertaking the work rather than the nature of the work itself (the
participation of the same people.

The principles, methods, and practices of community development are a point of

encounter and convergence. It arises as Sanders indicates from related currents of which
take its name: 'the paternal side', which can be referred to the economic development of
that derives from the "maternal side", is related to the organization of the
community from which the adjectivation derives.

Both on the maternal side and the paternal side, there are other ancestors. Continuing
with Sanders' metaphor, we can say that on the paternal side the relatives
collaterals are planning, urbanism, and agrarian reform and on the maternal side the
organization of the community and how predecessors social work and education
adults. Social work, in turn, descends into charitable and youth organizations,
channeled recreational activities and has influenced social legislation and organization
of social welfare. Adult education contributes to educational activities
for health.

The expression community development has been used with 4 different scopes:
As a method of social intervention.

As a program.

As an induced process.

As a movement.

However, the expression has almost always been used in the first 2 contexts:
community development developed as a method and program.
2.- The development of the community as a method of social intervention.-
Considered as a method of action on reality, community development.
it is a form of social intervention in which there is a set of rules and
procedures that apply theoretical knowledge in the sciences
social and psychology translates into a series of actions and activities, through them
it aims to modify or transform some aspect of social reality, seeking
specific results expressed in pre-established goals and objectives.
The development of the community aims at promotion and mobilization of
human and institutional resources through the active and democratic participation of the
population, in everything that has to do with improving the level and quality of life. In what
it means about its operational modalities, it is not so much like an action on the
community, if not an action of the community which deals with efforts and actions with
the same initiative and direction of the entity involved in the program, although for its
takeoff may have needed the action of eternal agents and during their development
require different forms of technical assistance.

Acts at the psychosocial level through a process of awareness and motivation that
unfolds virtues and develops potential in individuals, groups, or communities
to improve their living conditions.

In its operational aspect, it is configured by the integration and fusion of 4 components:

Study and diagnosis of reality: problems, needs, conflicts.

Project and activity scheduling to be carried out.

Execution of the planned.

Evaluation of what is being done or has been done.

These phases are carried out by the same people involved in the program. The attitude with
that the projects are carried out and the way to undertake the work is more
more important than the material content of them. This identification criterion
allows to establish when an activity effectively promotes the development of a
community. It is not what is done but how it is done, that constitutes the substance of
community development. There is community development when promoting and
human resources are mobilized through an educational/awareness process. Of this
the way the idea and practice of people's participation ultimately becomes the concept
central to the theory and practice of its development.

3.- The development of the community as a program constituted by projects and

integrated specific activities.
What has been wanted is for the community development to be a set of activities
totally articulated and coordinated within a program, it has rarely been achieved
this purpose. Very often, community work has had a content
punctual, (to solve a problem or address some needs) or sectoral, bringing to
the completion of a specific project, such as housing or micro-entrepreneurship
but since the early experiences of community development, development was spoken of
integral of the community, that is, a total and balanced development that requires action
concrete and the development of multiple plans in some cases is the need that
knowledge and the techniques available to all national services are
used in a coordinated manner and not in an isolated way, it is also understood as the
way to integrate community action with national plans.

The systemic approach to community action.

This has been applied to different fields (to social action methodologies) like
ways to overcome analytical-mechanical approaches. The aim is to formulate
each project and the set of activities, so that each one supports the
others, integrating and complementing different lines or fronts of action. The application
from a systemic approach in the implementation of community development programs is
still a pending issue.

4. - The development of the community as a process capable of unleashing social action

of a synergistic type.

First of all, the concept of synergy begins to be considered in terms

systematic. Systemic approach and synergistic system are 2 aspects that the conception and the
community development practice should integrate, either to analyze reality
from a community or to act upon it. It is proposed to integrate 2 concepts: that of
synergy and the systemic approach. The concept of synergy assumes that each social action
it must be multifunctional.

It addresses all aspects of the reality it acts upon.

What seeks the active participation of all the people involved or interested in
the actions that are being taken.

In other words, the synergistic system is a system of action that articulates and coordinates each of the
activities and specific tasks in such a way that it produces a feedback effect and
the strengthening of each of them, this effect is considered collective action, it allows
achieve a superior result in quantity and quality.
Synergy is a natural process that nurtures and manages a social organism through its
self-organization is more than the sum of actions and their products or results, it occurs
an increase in energy called synergy.

Synergy is the catalyst element in the case of social actions and seeks
achieve certain objectives, meet needs and/or solve problems. The effect
synergy can only be achieved at a microsocial scale.

CHAPTER 4: CRITICAL REVIEW OF HALF A CENTURY OF PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (1947-1997).

1.- the great mirage: that the development of the community was an essential part of the plans
global development.

The development of the community was meant to serve as a means to articulate planning and
national development would be achieved by implementing macroeconomic goals at the local level
that will aid in the formulation of national plans, bringing them to the central office
the planning of projects at the local level.

This was a mirage because the municipalities and grassroots communities could only
effectively contribute to development plans, to achieve this it would have been necessary to exist
a high degree of democratization of political life and significant development of the
grassroots organizations. The social policy that
it tended to be a participatory and efficient system, but it was not.

2.- the false assumptions on which many community action programs were based.-
In a critical review of community development, two errors were found.
derived from incorrect assumptions, which are referred to as follows:
a. To consider communities as if they were homogeneous realities with interests
shared: community action activities were frequently organized,
assuming that they were all homogeneous and forgot that there was diversity of
individuals, groups, organizations, and networks with a wide variety of ways of acting and
different interests. Hence, the need to consider the preparation of the diagnosis.
and establish action strategies, objectives, and more achievable goals.

b. A naive conception about the behavior and conduct of people

when public good actions are proposed to them: another mistaken assumption, it was expected that
the spirit of collaboration among people would be present in the possibility of carrying out
solidarity actions. However, the needs, problems, or common interests are not enough to
transform into motivational factors. Individuals do not participate in actions
collectives to obtain a public good, unless they are incentivized with a private good.
3.- Achievements that were thought to be reached, but did not take into account the factors.
exogenous and the contextual situations that conditioned them.

a. The development of the community as an integrative program of sectorial projects and

social services are of a social nature concerning the same sector of the population or within a
area. For many sector project managers, such as programs of
Community development appeared with pretensions of omnipresence in the sectors.
of social intervention within the territory, this produced resistance and rejection of everything
integration attempt, activities, projects, and services.

b. Contribution to strengthening local governments, they addressed programs that

they promoted people's participation that would impact political life. It was possible to encourage
participation channels at the municipal level, this did not take place because it lacked at the level
municipal, efficient administrative procedures to manage and organize
autonomously the local public affairs which were limited by the
national authority.

c. The development of the community as a mechanism of social change this development does not
it has always been an instrument of change, if not, it is a model to reproduce and consolidate it
existing e.g. Improve crops, better organization of a cooperative and better
utilization of human resources.

d. The formation of local leaders as a boosting factor for popular participation

they made a mistake when conducting training courses and leadership formation
neglecting the training of the rest of the people involved in this type of activities,
hindering or delaying genuine popular participation.

4.- The key ideas of community development that have remained over time.
half a century

Improve the economic, social, and cultural conditions of the communities, integrate
you are in the life of the country and allow them to fully contribute to national progress. The idea
Central to community development has been the participation and mobilization of the
human resources, that is, for people to work together on projects, activities and
actions that serve to improve the quality of life.

CHAPTER 5: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, LOCAL DEVELOPMENT, AND ACTION

MUNICIPAL.

1.- The changes produced in the approach to community development.-

 Since the early 1970s, the role of community development has been raised.
in global development and ways to contribute to national development. Development
community as a key instrument to achieve popular participation in the plans
of economic and social development. The (CIES) Inter-American Council on Economic and Social Affairs
recommends to member states to promote the development of the community to achieve
the active and conscious participation of the population in the execution of the programs
included in the planning of the economic and social development of each of the countries.
community development is closely related to development plans
functions in close connection with national and international organizations.
At the end of the 20th century, the realm of 'the local' is considered the most suitable field.
for community action.

This was a basic principle of the 60s, currently the premises and axioms that
Underlying community development methodologies have changed.
Community development is now seen as a way to raise awareness and motivate people.
people to participate in the solution of their own problems.
People have the feeling that within large organizations they cannot do
nothing, but it is possible to participate effectively at the local level, actions must
take place where the people are (Situation-Problem).

Community action also develops and in a very significant way in

non-governmental organizations.

2.-Importance of 'the local' in the field of social policies.-

Improve the living conditions of a population through their participation (of the people,
central idea of community development), within an inseparable process of the sector
municipal and strengthening of the local institution, the emergence of non
governmental, social media with proposals for social policies.

Local development of the systematic-pedagogical social action programs, the services

Social services should be offered in the location closest to the local community-municipality.
It must build on the plans for community-national development, it is one more reality.
effective. "The development of the community in the Global plans is a failure"
The potentials of local development.

Local action serves as the basis for a new instrument of political management, a
institutional mechanism that closely links the State and Civil Society,
autonomous local governments, administrative decentralization, and participation
citizen.
The limitations of local development.
Local development in the context of the globalization process, on the one hand, is
homogenizing and another asymmetric. Some globalize and others do not globalize aspects
negatives can stop worrying about global problems. We must act
think globally but act locally.

3.- The process of decentralization, the new possibilities of municipal action and the
community development.

As the decentralization process occurs, the scope expands and strengthens.

of municipal action. "The process of decentralization redefines the municipality in its
role of promoting local development by progressively endowing it with powers and
resources for that." The model that started in Latin America since the 1980s can
It is considered that today it is fully consolidated in most countries.
Decentralizing also means democratizing, which implies greater participation of
citizens in local affairs. The idea of citizen participation is for another
part, inseparable from the other theory and practice of community development whether it is that
I consider it a program, process, movement, or methodology of social movement. The
The municipality is the sphere of public power closest to the citizen and is where one can...
to carry out more projects and more effective and realistic activities.

The municipal level is the administrative structure and territorial scope most suitable.
to promote development processes from micro social spaces, developing
up to a macro-social level (provincial, regional, and national) but not everything that is done
at the local level is carried out through municipal action and it should not be
consider local/community issues in a self-taught manner, they are
conditioned by what happens in broader and wider contexts than the scope
municipal.
We must move towards the 'decentralization of decentralization.' This means
that when municipalities exceed certain dimensions in terms of number of
inhabitants or have dispersed populations, must decentralize the organs in the places
closer to the same people. Vital proximity and conviviality are necessary for
the participation of the people is made possible.

4.- Non-governmental organizations, social movements, and action

municipal.
In municipal action and community development, it is also necessary to consider the
presence of the programs and actions carried out by NGOs and the influence of the
social movements, mainly the neighborhood associations that have so much
significance as a way to integrate the initiatives of the population both in action
municipal as in the development of the community. Neither the work from the municipality nor the
Community action can be carried out without having a connection to the movements.
social, especially with those who have local action, autonomy
anchored and a significant insertion in the social sphere.

The emergence of these new social actors, whether they are movements or associations
Social networks also pose a challenge to operational forms of the
local administration, which must incorporate as an essential part of the aspects
organizational and functional aspects of the municipality, everything related to participation
citizen.
The initiative of the grassroots NGO expresses practically that participation
citizenship is a right not an obligation. Consequently, it is undoubted that the
local administration and community action programs must have some type of
relations, coordination, articulation with all these organizations. These relations
they must be carried out on a basis of reciprocal autonomy. Neither the NGO should be subordinated,
manipulated or subsumed by the local administration, nor should it be at the mercy of
these organizations. For a proper articulation, two conditions should be met.
previous ones that are no less important for being obvious, when this does not exist, we work with
greater limitations.

For this articulation to be possible, there must be a presence of will.

policy on the part of local authorities for it to be feasible. This will
politics must translate into the creation of spaces and channels of participation and when it is
It is necessary to make contributions such as expanding or supporting projects where one is involved.
NGOs or incorporating into public administration programs.

b. A second prerequisite has to occur in organizations, movements or

groups that are related to the municipality for the implementation of community actions
and this condition is that they have coordinated with each other. This is not possible.

SCOPE OF THE POLITICAL SOCIETY

National and provincial public administration Formulate policies and develop a

legislation that promotes local development, empowers municipalities, and encourages
citizen participation. Municipal Create channels, areas, and mechanisms for participation
citizens articulated with municipal action.

SCOPE OF CIVIL SOCIETY

Role of NGOs in development

Social movements

Social networks

•Popular organizations Create and implement ways of coordination among the

organizations and social movements with each other and ways to participate in local development
articulated are the municipality, without losing its own identity or being subsumed in the
local administration.

From these two areas, it is necessary to promote relationships of dialogue and cooperation.

5.- Community development, municipal action, and citizen participation.-

To improve and understand the scope and meaning of what has been proposed, we must remember 3
ideas that we have already presented and that give their true relevance to what we are going to
expose
Participation of the people in a substantial aspect of community development.
The current conception linked to community development is local development and not to
national development as it was done for years.

The programs and activities related to community development must be integrated.

as much as possible) to municipal action.

It is evident from them that the development of the community and the dynamization of the
citizen participation are 2 inseparable concepts:

Spontaneous participation, of a situational and punctual nature; is often a reaction

popular that arises and disappears in response to a particular problem or situation.
Organized participation, which has greater continuity and medium-term objectives.
long term; this citizen participation has a purpose of social transformation.
The latter is the one that should be taken into account in development programs.
community without belittling the first.
The Dag Hammarskjöld Report 1975 on development and international cooperation

The Latin American and Caribbean Institute for Economic and Social Planning

Non-governmental organization