"The United Nations defines community development as 'a process where community members come together to take collective action and generate solutions to common problems.'"
The process of improving the social, economic, and cultural well-being of a community through programs such as affordable housing, job training, and neighborhood revitalization.
Understanding Community: This includes an overview of the key characteristics of a community, the different types of communities, and how they are formed.
Community Development: This refers to the process of working with individuals and communities to enhance their wellbeing and quality of life. This includes understanding the different models and frameworks of community development.
Sociology: This is the study of social relationships, including the beliefs, behaviors, and institutions that shape society. It is a crucial subject to study when understanding the dynamics of communities.
Social Sciences: The social sciences encompass a diverse range of disciplines that help us understand diverse aspects of social life, including economics, politics, anthropology, and psychology.
Public Policy: This deals with the framework of laws, regulations, and institutional structures that shape how public services are delivered at the local, regional, and national levels.
Community Engagement: This refers to the process of involving community members in decision-making processes and project planning.
Stakeholder Management: Managing stakeholders in a community development project is critical to ensure successful outcomes. Stakeholders include community members, government officials, private organizations, and other relevant actors.
Civic Participation: Civic participation refers to the active and meaningful engagement of community members in decision-making processes that impact their lives.
Leadership and Management: Effective leadership and management skills are critical to success in community development projects, as they enable individuals to navigate complex political and social environments.
Community Health: This encompasses the physical, emotional, and social well-being of community members, and how community development can improve health outcomes.
Community Capacity Building: Capacity building involves developing the skills, knowledge, and resources of individuals and communities to undertake and sustain development activities.
Cultural Competency: Cultural competency is essential to understanding and respecting the diverse perspectives and values of different communities.
Social Justice: Social justice refers to the principles of fairness and equity in society, including access to resources, services, and opportunities.
Poverty and Inequality: These are two major issues that community development aims to address through targeted interventions and initiatives.
Sustainability: Sustainable development focuses on meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is a crucial concept for guiding community development efforts over the long term.
Physical redevelopment: Improving the physical environment of a community to enhance aesthetics, safety, and functionality. Examples include parks, public spaces, infrastructure, and housing rehabilitation programs.
Economic development: Stimulating economic activity in a community by creating jobs, attracting investment, and supporting local businesses. Examples include business incubators, employment training programs, and support for small businesses.
Social development: Improving social conditions in a community by promoting inclusion, engagement, and social cohesion. Examples include youth development programs, community organizing, and public health initiatives.
Cultural development: Preserving and promoting the cultural identity of a community, including its customs, arts, and traditions. Examples include cultural festivals, community arts programs, and heritage preservation.
Environmental development: Protecting and enhancing the natural environment of a community through sustainable development strategies. Examples include green infrastructure, recycling programs, and conservation efforts.
Educational development: Improving educational opportunities and outcomes in a community to support human development and social mobility. Examples include after-school programs, adult education, and literacy initiatives.
Health development: Promoting health and wellness in a community through preventive health measures and access to healthcare services. Examples include health clinics, vaccination campaigns, and health education programs.
Humanitarian development: Promoting humanitarian efforts in a community by providing support and assistance to those in need. Examples include emergency response programs, disaster relief, and social welfare initiatives.
"Typically aiming to build stronger and more resilient local communities."
"Community development is defined by the International Association for Community Development as 'a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes participative democracy, sustainable development, rights, economic opportunity, equality and social justice.'"
"The key elements of community development include the organisation, education, and empowerment of people within their communities."
"Community development seeks to empower individuals and groups of people with the skills they need to effect change within their communities."
"These skills are often created through the formation of social groups working for a common agenda."
"Community development as a term has taken off widely in anglophone countries, i.e. the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, as well as other countries in the Commonwealth of Nations."
"The Community Development Journal, published by Oxford University Press, since 1966 has aimed to be the major forum for research and dissemination of international community development theory and practice.Community development approaches are recognised internationally. These methods and approaches have been acknowledged as significant for local social, economic, cultural, environmental and political development by such organisations as the UN, WHO, OECD, World Bank, Council of Europe and EU."
"These methods and approaches have been acknowledged as significant for local social, economic, cultural, environmental and political development by such organisations as the UN, WHO, OECD, World Bank, Council of Europe and EU."
"There are a number of institutions of higher education that offer community development as an area of study and research such as the University of Toronto, Leiden University, SOAS University of London, and the Balsillie School of International Affairs, among others."