Community Development as a Social Work Field of Practice

Community: -

A group of people with a shared identity.

Community Development:-

CD is defined here as the service of community to address social needs and

collectively empower groups of people to determine their own destiny.

Bhattacharyya (2004) defines community development as the ‘‘pursuit of

solidarity and agency’’

Community organization:-

Community organization is a process by which a community identifies needs or

objectives through a series of activities at the community level aimed at bringing
about desired improvement in the social well being of individuals, groups and
neighborhoods.  It represents both community-based organizations, operating
as civil society non-profits and also as a function of organizing within
communities.

Development:-

Development means a process of natural evolution and growth. It describes some

kind of movement frequently in a positive sense or negative sense from one stage
of being to another. It means new options, diversification, thinking about apparent
issues differently and anticipating change.
Social Development:-

It is about improving the well being of every individual in society so that they can
reach full potential. It requires the removal of barriers so that all citizens can
journey towards their dreams with confidence and dignity.

Sustainable Development:-

Sustainable Development is the organizing principle for meeting human

development goals while at the same time sustaining the ability of natural systems
to provide the natural resources and ecosystem.

Thus Community Development, Community Organization, Development, Social

Development and Sustainable Development are related to each other in way that
they all describe the well being of the community, to fulfill their needs and to
change the life style into better one.

Community development has the following elements:-

 Active participation against damaging social taboos and social isolations

 Development of self-respect, understanding, empathy and independence
 Creative views and realistic acts
 Social change and mutual support
 Participation in the theory and practice of community development
 Assembling funds to meet emerging needs
 Recognition of priority areas by the community. [ CITATION Gre16 \l 1033 ]
Evolution of Community Development:-

Moses Coady is a unique Canadian example for his work creating a social
movement that combined adult education with support for disadvantaged
workers. The Antigonish Movement evolved from the pioneering work of Dr.
Moses Coady and. Jimmy Tompkins in the 1920s. The local community
development movement originated as a response to the poverty afflicting farmers,
fishers, miners, and other disadvantaged groups in Eastern Canada. Dr. Coady and
his associates used a practical and successful strategy of adult education and group
action that began with the immediate economic needs of the local people. The
philosophic principles of the Antigonish Movement were well established as
guidelines for the work of the Movement beginning in the 1930s. The Antigonish
Movement emphasized respect for the individual and belief that a participatory
group process based on adult education and socioeconomic cooperation is the most
effective and beneficial means to affect social change for the better.
The Antigonish Movement blended adult education co-
operatives; microfinance and rural community development to help small,
resource-based communities around Canada to improve their economic and social
circumstances. A group of priests and educators, including Father Jimmy
Tompkins, Father Moses Coady, and A.B. MacDonald led this movement from a
base at Extension Department at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova
Scotia. The Coady International Institute  has been instrumental in developing
credit unions and in asset-based community development initiatives in developing
countries. [ CITATION Mac01 \l 1033 ]

Integrating Social Work and Community Development (Practice in

Australia)
The relationship between social work and CD tends to be far more integrated and
cooperative in the countries of Asia and Africa, where social development has
become the primary form of social-welfare intervention to address poverty and
deprivation. Social work is defined here as the professional intervention to address
both social inequities and situations of personal distress and crisis by shaping and
changing the social environment in which people live. Social work includes a
range of approaches including counseling and casework, group work, and
community interventions. Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
views CD as a core component of social-work practice. In November 2006, the
AASW and the Australian Institute of Welfare and Community Workers co-hosted
a national conference which depicts Building knowledge and strengthening
practice in our communities. CD is a required subject in all 25 Australian Schools
of Social Work, and two out of the three key CD textbooks in Australia are
authored by social workers. Traditionally, many Australian CD workers have been
social-work graduates, and most CD education has occurred within social-work or
social-welfare courses. There is a close and complementary relationship between
Australian social work and CD practice. In practice, however, the relationship is
far more complex.[ CITATION MEN08 \l 1033 ]

Work of Robert Chamber in Development:-

Robert Chambers worked in Kenya in the late 1950s and 60s. He has been one of
the leading advocates for putting the poor at the centre of the processes of
development policy. In particular he argued the poor should be taken into account
when the development problem is identified, policy formulated and projects
implemented. He stressed on the need for development professionals to be
critically self-aware. Chambers has worked with training institutes (Kenya Institute
of Administration, East African Staff College, and Administrative Staff College of
India), research organizations (IIED), universities (IDS Sussex and IDS Nairobi),
civil society (Action Aid and the Ford Foundation) and governmental and
intergovernmental organizations (Government of Kenya and UNHCR). He has,
alone or with others, written or edited sixteen books and numerous articles on
development management, participatory approaches and methods, and critical
reflections on development practice and development studies. The book that made
him famous is entitled Rural Development: Putting the Last First (1983). In his
latest book, Provocations for Development (2012) he again aims to describe some
conventional development ideas and practices, and to put forward his own ideas to
be tested and improved. The widespread acceptance of a “participatory” approach
is in part due to his work. This includes the techniques of participatory rural
appraisal. He joined the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex University in
the early 1970s helping to establish it as a global leader in development studies. 
Robert Chambers is a Fellow of the Institute of Development Studies at the
University of Sussex. He has worked on rural development in sub Saharan Africa
and South Asia and is currently concentrating on the development and spread of
the approaches and methods of participatory rural appraisal.

Difference between Community Development and Community

Organization:-
There are many similarities between community organization and community
development. But for theoretical purpose it is possible to differentiate between
community organization and community development.

 Community organization is a method of social work but community

development is a program for a planned change.

 Community organization highlights the processes, but community

development gives emphasis to the end or goals.
  Community organizers’ are mostly social workers and social mediators, but
community development employees can be from other professions including
agricultural experts, veterinary experts, and other technical experts.

 Community organization is not time bound. It is achieved step by step

according to the rapidity of the people. But community development is time
bound and time is specified for achieving the 00 objectives.

 In community organization people’s participation is important. But in

community development people’s development is important.

 In community organization governments and external agencies assistances

are not important or needed. But in community development external
assistance from the government or other agencies is considered important.

 Community organization is a method of social work and this method is used

in many fields. But unlike community organization community development
is considered as process, method, program, and movement for planned
change.

 Community organization is used in all the fields but community

development is used mostly in economic development and for the
development of living standards of the people.

 In community organization planning is initiated by the people through their

participation. But in community development planning is carried out by an
external agency mostly by the government.

 In community organization people are organized to solve their problem. But

in community development goals have to be achieved and for that people are
organized.

 Community organization is universal to all communities. But community

development programs differ from people to people depending upon whether
the area is rural, urban or tribal, and other characteristics of the area.

Even though there are differences, both are interconnected. The relationship is so
close, so that community organization process and principles are accepted fully.
Both are like two sides of the same coin. The model community development takes
place where community organization method and its various steps and principles
are successfully put into practice. [ CITATION Phi90 \l 1033 ]

Theories applied on community development

Empowerment Theory: -

‘Refers to the experience of personal growth and an improvement in self-definition

that occurs as a result of the development of capabilities and proficiencies’.
Another definition suggests that empowerment is a combination of personal
strengths, plan, and natural helping systems to bring about change. This theory can
be applied to community development by empowering the people within the
community to develop their own community. This theory is also adapted to other
disciplines like Sociology”.

Communication Theory: -

‘Examines any person that behaves in response to information about himself and
his environment’. When people exchange information, they influence each other.
This theory can be applied to community development by the fact that the
developer has to communicate with the people within the community to gain an
understanding of what the people need or want for the development of their
community. This theory adapts not only to social work and communication but it
exists not only as a single entity but as a series of interrelated areas of study.
 Community Practice Approaches

Different approaches of community development that is used in different

countries:-

Community-driven Development Approach:-

Community-driven development, has been named, designed, and implemented by

mainly the World Bank (2009). It is an economic development model which shifts
overreliance on central governments to local communities, by following the
principles of local empowerment, participatory governance, demand
responsiveness, administrative autonomy, greater downward accountability, and
enhanced local capacity.”
Rights-based Approach:-

Rights-based approach is that which aims to realize human rights by laying the
emphasis on rights and responsibilities and human dignity rather than charity, and
by directly addressing the causes of poverty. It is based on the ethical standard that
all human beings are entitled to certain minimum standards.

Asset Based Community Development Approach (ABCD):-

Asset-based community development (ABCD); is a methodology that seeks to
expose and use the strengths within communities as a means for
sustainable development. Communities focus on their strengths and collectively
mobilize to develop programs to achieve health goals. This approach uses the
community's own assets and resources as the foundation for development; it
empowers the people of the community by encouraging them to utilize what they
already possess.
Sustainable Livelihood Approach:-
Sustainable livelihoods focus on poverty reduction by focusing on people and by
converging bottom-up and top-down strategies. It include the capabilities, assets
(including both material and social resources), and activities required for a means
of living.

Local-level Development Approach:-

Local-level development approach that essentially draws on social development

ideas, values, and principles. It focuses on extensive dimensions and multi-levels.
This approach is broadly used in its full or comprehensive form in local
communities

Although the arrangement of these approaches varies, many of their features are
common and some overlap. Therefore, many of these approaches can be combined.
They all give stress to participation, empowerment, and people-centered
development.[ CITATION Paw14 \l 1033 ]

Objectives:-
1. To aware the people.  The main objective of community development is
working to make the people aware from various problems in a community. It
helps them to provide knowledge and to know about the main causes that
influence their social life.
2. All sided development. Community program is interested in all aspects of a
community. The development is necessary in these places as a whole in
education, health, recreation and employment. It seeks the opportunities for
the better living standard of the community people. Progress is required in
all sectors of the community.
3. To motivate people. Programs are working for the motivation of
community people. Social organizers are employed in various sectors for
their arousal and working for community welfare and betterment of
humanity.
4. Provide equality. It gives equality to all people living in a country. It gives
equal chances and opportunities to bring the resources for their utility. So it
provides equality in education, health and also other facilities provided to
them.
5. Help the people to motivate their selves. Such programs are interested in
the people to enable them to help one another and of their own. It makes
them to stand on their own feet. They have to use their resources and make
their lives comfortable.
6. Change thinking. One of the objectives of community development
programs are changing of pattern and style of community people. It gives
new directions to the changing life style. It helps to create the association
among them, to follow the positive thinking about the people.
7. To bring reforms. Such programs aim to bring social reforms in
a community. It helps them in eradication of social evils which are the gross
roots of bringing social disorder in community. So one of the aims of
community development is to provide the community with better
opportunities to solve the challenging condition through development.
8. Social Justice. Social justice is another objective of community
development. It provides justice to all types of people. There is no
discrimination of rich and poor but the programs are for the improvement of
all.
9. Solve community problems. Different problems faced by community
people are solved due to the start of such programs in the affected areas. The
community also gives hand to government to help them in development and
growth.
10. To create interest. These programs are working to create the interest of
community welfare among the people. It mobilizes the attitude of people to
contribute in the collective work for the community development. The
inspiration of these people is the skill of social organizer working in the
areas.[ CITATION Gri74 \l 1033 ]

Urban Community Development

In urban areas the city is not a community. It is characterized by heterogeneous
population, by competing groups, by wide disparities in income, by formal,
impersonal relationships and by relatively high spatial and class mobility. When
we think of urban community development we think of lower income groups,
particularly the residents of slum areas who live in sub-human conditions. It is
thought that the community development approach would be able to make an
effective contribution to the improvement of the living conditions of these people.
The lower income group, however, can be considered a community only in a
Marxist sense; it is true that people in slum areas may be clustered together, if not
organized on the basis of religion or caste. Neither of these bonds, however, is
sufficient from the point of view of community development which is concerned
mainly with neighborhood communities residing in the same locality and having,
therefore, some common interests and concerns arising out of residence in the
same area or neighborhood.

Urban Community Development Projects:-

Many projects are currently working in Pakistan which include 3 projects in

Faisalabad,2 projects in Khanewal, 9 UCDP projects and 1 CDP project in town
hall Lahore, 2 projects in Multan 1 in Pakpatan 2 in Sheikhpura 5 in Rawalpindi
and 1in Sahiwal.

Role of UCD Projects: - The role of these projects is to control and register the
NGOs in cities.

Rural Community Development

Rural community development ideally encompasses the entire village community,
even if in reality it results in greater benefits to the economically better off section
of the population. It is an integrated programme of development covering all
aspects of the farmers' life, landless and artisan but mainly emphasizing the
financial support to the community. The programme is implemented through
stimulation of local effort and State assistance. It involves introduction of
improved practices in the field of production which yield tangible economic gains
to the individual peasant, stimulation of collective effort to meet both economic
and non-economic needs of the whole community and educational programmes for
social and cultural betterment.

Rural Development Projects:-

Pakistan has embarked upon a number of rural and agricultural development

programmes to increase the productivity and quality of life of rural people since
independence. These programs were Village Aid Programme, Basic Democracies
system, Rural Works Programme, Integrated Rural Development, Peoples Works
Programme, Local Govt. and Rural Development, Peoples Programme, Tameer-e-
Watan, Social Action Programmes, Tameer-ePakistan and Khushal Pakistan
Programmes. These programmes were partially or fully extended to all parts of the
country. The overall objectives of these programmes were the development in rural
areas for the improvement in quality of life and agricultural development.

Role of NGOs in Community Development:-

The main focus of Social Welfare Department is social development along with
key issues necessary for sustainable development. Community Development
Programs include strengthening and facilitating NGOs in order to reach the
grassroots level of society with the involvement of common people in the
development process. NGOs are now recognized as a vital component of a vibrant
civil society. They motivate voluntary efforts on the basis of self-help &
mobilization of human and material resources to supplement government efforts to
accelerate the development process.
Cd Interventions in Pakistan:-
There are various interventions which took place in Pakistan which include
 Orangi Pilot Project
 Agha Khan Support Program

Orangi Pilot Project

ORANGI IS THE largest katchi abadi or unplanned settlement in Karachi. People
began living in that area in 1965 and, after 1972, it grew rapidly. At the last
estimate in November 1989, there were about 94,000 houses located there with an
estimated population of about 800,000. The population is drawn from a wide
range of immigrant groups from India, Bangladesh, the Punjab, the northern areas
of Pakistan, and local people. Most find employment as labourers, skilled workers,
artisans, shopkeepers or clerks. The official agencies have provided a few facilities
including main roads, water lines and electricity plus a few schools, hospitals and
banks but these have been enhanced by a wide range of private services.
The Orangi Pilot Project (OPP) has become one of the best known NGO projects
in the provision of sanitation. In the 16 years since its beginning, the Project has
directly and indirectly assisted about one million people in Orangi (Karachi) to
improved sanitation. Their intervention has been developed through research into
household resources. From the beginning, OPP staff has sought to minimize
external support in order to assist households to achieve their objectives for local
development. From their first activities, their work has been extended in two
directions. The Project has started to work with the people of Orangi and the
surrounding area in the provision of a number of additional services including
housing, health, education and rural development. More recently, staff has been
assisting both government and non-government agencies to initiate a number of
new projects in other cities in Pakistan drawing on the experience of the Orangi
Pilot Project.

The OPP has developed the following “model” programmes:

1) A low-cost sanitation programme which enables low-income households to

construct and maintain modern sanitation with their own funds and under
their own management.
2) A low-cost housing programme which introduces stronger machine-made
concrete blocks and tile roofing which is cheaper than reinforced concrete.
The programme also upgrades the skills of local masons (a person skilled in
laying stones in building) by introducing proper construction techniques and
by educating house-owners on planning, orientation and low-cost
technology.
3) A basic health and family-planning programme for isolated and illiterate or
semiliterate low-income women which teaches the causes and methods of
preventing common diseases, the importance of birth control and the
importance of growing vegetables, and which provides vaccination and
family planning services.
4) Credit for small family enterprises.
5) A schools programme which assists in the upgrading of physical and
academic standards in private schools.
6) A women’s work centre programme which organizes stitchers and other
garment workers into family units dealing directly with exporters and
 wholesalers. The programme also covers managerial skills and cooperative
action.
7) A rural development programme which provides credit and technical
guidance to support entrepreneurs and to grow forage for milk cattle.
[ CITATION Ora95 \l 1033 ]

Agha Khan Rural Support Program:-

AKRSP was established in 1983 when the high degree of inequality between
women and men first observed given the prevailing conditions of poverty and
isolation, and social, institutional and economic stagnation that defined the context
of communities living in Northern Areas and Chitral (NAC) at that time. AKRSP
was founded on the basis that people possess the potential and will to change their
own lives, but they lack organization, skills, and capital. An external medium or
support of organization is thus needed to mobilize people for them to realize their
natural potential, manage development through collective action and achieve
economies of scale. AKRSP asked the rural communities to form Village
Organizations (social capital), accumulate savings (financial capital), and acquire
new skills (human capital). As an immediate incentive, it promised a small
infrastructure grant (physical capital) to those communities which would accept its
terms for a continued development partnership. AKRSP felt that without the
participation of women, its development support would be incomplete and not
have a lasting impact. However, the difficulty remained in reaching out to women
in a traditionally segregated society. Working through men ran the risk of leaving
the women out of decision making and distorting their actual needs. Without
openly bringing the subject of women to the exclusively male community
gatherings, AKRSP quietly began to assess various options and soon concluded
that partnership of women is important as well.
By this time, the Programme was only a few months old, but it had already passed
the first test of its credibility by responding rapidly to receptive(sympathetic)
communities (helped by a helicopter to reach out to remote villages), through
social mobilization services and cash grants for small infrastructure projects
(banking services were not available at that time). The infrastructure component,
called the Productive Physical Infrastructure (PPI) was designed to serve as an
“entry point” for creating a village institution, and providing hands-on training to
its members in community mobilization, project and resource management, as well
as conflict resolution. When the subject of women’s participation was eventually
brought into the open in Village Organization (VO) meetings, initial reactions
ranged from outright rejection, curiosity, and men insisting to represent women’s
interests. AKRSP did not press the point further and instead focused on building its
rapport with the newly formed VOs.
Conclusion:-

Gender Equality goals cannot be achieved by just bringing a change in the

conditions of women but requires transformative processes within the structures
and systems, e.g. presence in decision making positions, equitable distribution of
resources, which are the main cause of inequality and subordination. Women and
men themselves have to assume the role of change agents and therefore,
empowerment becomes a central view to achieve gender equality goals.
Although many gains have been made in NAC in the past 25 years, some
traditional gender roles have been reinforced. Gender disparity, despite many
recent improvements, persists in NAC, but to a much lesser degree than observed
in the recent past. [ CITATION Hun08 \l 1033 ]
References:-
Green, J. J. (2016). Community Development and Social Development. Research on Social Work Practice
, 26 (6), 605-608.

Griffiths, H. (1974). The Aims and Objectives of Community Development. Community Development
Journal , 9 (2), 88-95.

Hunzai, I. A. (2008). AGA KHAN RURAL SUPPORT PROGRAMME. AKRSP: SESNAC Report .

Khan, S., & Anjum, G. A. (2013). Role of Citizen Community Boards in Promoting Participatory
Development in Muzaffargarh District, Pakistan. Pak. J. Engg. & Appl. Sci , 12, pp(43-59).

Macaulay, S. (2001). The community economic development tradition in Eastern Nova Scotia Canada.
Community Development Journal , 36 (2), 111-121.

MENDES, P. (2008). Integrating Social Work and Community-Development Practice in Victoria, Australia.
ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK AND DEVELOPMENT , 18 (1).

Orangi Pilot Project. (1995). Environment and Urbanization , 7 (2), 227-236.

Pawar, M. (2014, April-June). Social Work Practice With Local Communities in Developing Countries.
SAGE Open , 1-11.

Phifer, B. M. (1990). Community Development in America: A Brief History. Sociological Practice , 8 (1).