International Federation of Red Cross

1
Participatory Community Development
DRAFT Common Approach To Community
Development By Jan Gelfand, consultant February
2006
International Federation ofRed Cross Red
Crescent Societies
Regional Delegation for Central Europe Budapest
2
Participatory Community Development

• Our Federation of the Future GLOBAL AGENDA
• Reduce the number of deaths, injuries and impact
  from disasters
• 2. Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and
  impact from diseases and public health
  emergencies
• 3. Increase local community, civil society and
  RC/RC capacity to address the most urgent
  situations of vulnerability
• 4. Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social
  exclusion and promote respect for diversity and
  human dignity

International Federation ofRed Cross Red
Crescent Societies
Regional Delegation for Central Europe Budapest
3
Participatory Community Development

• ISSUES
• what does community development mean
• in a RCRC context
• how to move a community development
• agenda forward
• who should take on this responsibility
• what resources are needed
• how do we measure success

International Federation ofRed Cross Red
Crescent Societies
Regional Delegation for Central Europe Budapest
4
Participatory Community Development

• KEY ELEMENTS OF Community Development
• direct response to real needs
• needs identified in collaboration with members
• from the most vulnerable communities
• community ownership through participation
• and decision making
• build local capacity

International Federation ofRed Cross Red
Crescent Societies
Regional Delegation for Central Europe Budapest
5
Participatory Community Development

• people centred
• respect culture and social organisation
• results based
• address gender issues
• environmentally sustainable

International Federation ofRed Cross Red
Crescent Societies
Regional Delegation for Central Europe Budapest
6
Participatory Community Development
CHALLENGE for NS and the Secretariat Managing
change shift from charity model to one of
working more with communities to meet the needs
that they identified
International Federation ofRed Cross Red
Crescent Societies
Regional Delegation for Central Europe Budapest
7
Participatory Community Development

• DEFINITIONS
• community
• community development The process by which
  communities, families and individuals grow
  stronger, can enjoy fuller and more productive
  lives and become less vulnerable
• participation

International Federation ofRed Cross Red
Crescent Societies
Regional Delegation for Central Europe Budapest
8
Participatory Community Development

• ROLE OF SECRETARIAT
• guidance, policy, clear mandate of RC/RC
• coordination
• establish a structure to support technical and
  regional departments
• comprehensive sensitising and awareness building
  with NS
• training packages for staff and volunteers
  unique skills and knowledge required

International Federation ofRed Cross Red
Crescent Societies
Regional Delegation for Central Europe Budapest
9
Participatory Community Development

• MEASURING SUCCESS/INDICATORS number of NS with
• policy of community empowerment
• partnership with others on community level
• use of VCA and PRA processes
• beneficiary involvement in planning and
  monitoring and evaluation
• beneficiary satisfaction surveys

International Federation ofRed Cross Red
Crescent Societies
Regional Delegation for Central Europe Budapest
10
Participatory Community Development

• NEXT STEPS
• bring together CD practitioners identify best
  practices and lessons learned
• develop an effective participatory change
  strategy for promoting CD
• common definitions and approaches to CD
• policy on CD easy accessible by all RCRC actors
• CD strategies, methods and tools coordinated and
  harmonised

International Federation ofRed Cross Red
Crescent Societies
Regional Delegation for Central Europe Budapest
11
Participatory Community Development

• create teams of staff and volunteers to
  sensitise, build awareness among NS
• tailor training programmes
• support NS in developing CD policies
• encourage NS to seek out partnerships with
  government and other actors
• monitoring and evaluation

International Federation ofRed Cross Red
Crescent Societies
Regional Delegation for Central Europe Budapest