Mainstreaming Community Development as a Key Driver for Sustainable National Development

Community development is probably one of the most used words in the vocabulary of politicians, development consultants and day-to-day talk among those involved in shaping the future in under developed and developing countries. Success stories are few and there seems to be little guarantee of success in the outcome of a community development project. The reason being that community development projects often originates in charity, or is the result of social engineering. Both origins lack the key ingredients of sustainability, whilst the latter is simply destined to fail. In search of solutions for this problem, this paper introduces the latest basic needs theoretical paradigm that also lays the necessary foundation for sustainability in community development projects and programmes. It is also postulated that community development often merely serves as a tool for decision makers to be used if and when needed. It is time to put the “human” back in community development projects and in doing so, the drive should not be to elevate community development to the position of a key driver for sustainable national development, but rather to mainstream community development into all levels and functions of local and national governance. It is not “elevation”, but “integration” that is needed. The paper concludes with the notion to bring back the scientists in community development and realign the politicians, bureaucrats, charities, and other stakeholders into mainstreaming community development for sustainable national development.