Community Development Practitioners Research Articles

Implementing a Senior Community Care Model: An Italian Top‐Down Cohousing Project and Nursing Home

Not ageing in place is an increasing reality for many older Europeans. For several decades societies have applied different care models in developing initiatives to provide safe and age-friendly spaces. This article presents the community care model implemented by the Italian service provider ISRAA in Treviso (Italy) in one of its nursing homes and senior cohousing projects. The aim of our study was to analyse this senior community care model and find out how residents have responded to it. Participants were both the older adult residents in the two ISRAA facilities and professionals responsible for their social attention. A qualitative methodology was used: questionnaire, interviews, and focus groups with professionals and care facility residents. Results reveal the care philosophy implemented, residents’ experiences, the main barriers to creating a community, and how this model could be improved by following community development principles, with the older people’s help, participation, and engagement. The conclusions highlight the importance of applying principles of self-determination and social inclusion in a preventive care model for the senior community. In addition, a key factor in promoting community development is for professionals to act as community development practitioners and to allow older adults to be part of the change.

Transformasi Sosial Perempuan Kepala Keluarga melalui Program PEKKA

Purpose: The Women-Headed Household Empowerment Programme (PEKKA) aims to improve the welfare and economic independence of women headed households through improved skills and market access. Methodology: This study was conducted using a participatory action research approach in a community of women headed family. The methods used included practical training in product packaging and digital marketing strategies, particularly the use of social media. The study also adopted surveys and interviews to collect data. Results/Findings: Results showed significant improvements in the ability of female-headed households to produce and market products, leading to increased income. Social impacts noted included a reduction in school dropout rates and unemployment among the families involved. Limitations: The study was limited to a specific region, so the results may not be directly applicable to different contexts without customisation. Contribution: The findings provide important insights for policymakers and community development practitioners in designing economic empowerment programmes focused on female-headed households, with potential application in other regions.

Recent Innovations in Reducing Home Energy Costs and Improving Resilience for Low- and Moderate-Income Renters and Homeowners

Community Development (CD) practitioners across the western U.S. are engaging in new efforts to reduce energy costs and improve resilience for low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities and other populations that face barriers to economic participation and household financial stability. Energy costs and resilience are factors in housing stability, which impacts economic participation. New federal and state funding sources, as well as growing involvement from philanthropy and Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)-motivated investors, have prompted growth in energy cost savings and resilience (ECSR) options for LMI households. To help scale this work, CD practitioners are experimenting with partnerships—between workforce development providers and employers, mission-driven lenders and nonprofits, state government and utilities, retrofit companies and the public sector, state government and municipalities, to name a few. These partnerships have led to innovations in lending (for homeowners, renters, and landlords), technical implementation of retrofits, coordination across programs, consumer protection, workforce development, and technical assistance (TA) for CD practitioners. This brief provides descriptive findings from focus groups and interviews about ESCR-related work in the CD field and discusses takeaways for policy and practice.

Recent Innovations in Reducing Home Energy Costs and Improving Resilience for Low- and Moderate-Income Renters and Homeowners

Community Development (CD) practitioners across the western U.S. are engaging in new efforts to reduce energy costs and improve resilience for low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities and other populations that face barriers to economic participation and household financial stability. Energy costs and resilience are factors in housing stability, which impacts economic participation. New federal and state funding sources, as well as growing involvement from philanthropy and Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)-motivated investors, have prompted growth in energy cost savings and resilience (ECSR) options for LMI households. To help scale this work, CD practitioners are experimenting with partnerships—between workforce development providers and employers, mission-driven lenders and nonprofits, state government and utilities, retrofit companies and the public sector, state government and municipalities, to name a few. These partnerships have led to innovations in lending (for homeowners, renters, and landlords), technical implementation of retrofits, coordination across programs, consumer protection, workforce development, and technical assistance (TA) for CD practitioners. This brief provides descriptive findings from focus groups and interviews about ESCR-related work in the CD field and discusses takeaways for policy and practice.

Pengembangan Pemasaran Digital Dan Desain Pengemasan Jamu Gendong Desa Rejoagung, Ploso, Jombang

Jamu Gendong is a traditional herbal beverage that has become an integral part of Indonesia's cultural heritage and ancestral knowledge. This dedication aims to develop effective digital marketing and packaging design for Jamu Gendong products in the village of Rejoagung. The method used, known as Assets Based Community Development (ABCD), involves a collaborative approach to community development, engaging researchers, local communities, and Jamu Gendong business practitioners. The implementation of more appealing digital marketing and packaging design is expected to enhance the product's competitiveness, expand the market, and provide positive impacts on the economy and culture of Rejoagung Village. This dedication has yielded significant advancements for Jamu Gendong sellers in terms of packaging design and marketing strategies, thus enabling market expansion and boosting the success of the Jamu Gendong business in Rejoagung Village.

Community capacity for social enterprise development: Empirical evidence from community forest enterprises (CFEs) in Cameroon

With increasing forest devolution globally, community forest enterprises (CFEs) are emerging as potential options for local development based on forest resources. CFEs trade to meet their economic, social, and environmental goals; however, empirical studies have highlighted capacity deficiencies as key drawbacks to their development. Knowledge of what these capacity gaps are is low. This paper uses a systematic framework to explore capacity and deficiencies in capacity and the relation between the two within CFEs in Cameroon. Using the contextualised organisational capacity theory in combination with asset-based mobilisation theory, data was gathered from 31 CFEs based on focus group discussions. Principal component analysis and descriptive statistics were used to evaluate community capacity at individual, organisational (CFE), and network levels. Pearson correlation tests were used to explore the relationships between different domains of community capacity. The results indicate that community members and development practitioners agree that communities are weak in creating partnerships, networking, and resource mobilisation. The participatory community evaluation highlights major capacity gaps in infrastructure, members' skills and knowledge, and sense of community. This confirms that capacity gaps were larger at the individual and social network level, while organisational capacity scored higher except for a sense of community and resource mobilization. Although the community capacities at the individual level are generally low, these capacities correlate strongly with organisational capacity. The potential of the CFEs to meet objectives depends a lot on the capacities of individual members and networking capacity, indicating that these should be prioritised in development efforts, which should involve multiple stakeholders, with policy support and participation by the entire community.

Upgrade Student Engagement in Online Discussion

This case study specifically examines flaws in the design of online conversations created using Salmon's five-stage model, and highlights how easy it is to overlook key aspects when planning an online campaign. In the case study, the topics chosen for discussion failed to resonate with many students on a personal level. This demonstrates the importance of identifying flaws in the design of online conversations created using Salmon's five-stage model and highlights how easily these issues can be overlooked during event planning. It emphasizes the concept that participation is a prerequisite for community development. This article, therefore, explores how skilled community development practitioners can effectively address and overcome barriers to participation by stimulating personal and emotional interest. By understanding the importance of relationships and emotional engagement, educators can create online activities that truly motivate and engage students, resulting in a more vibrant and engaging online learning community.

The Ubuntu Philosophy in Community Development in Iyowa Community, Edo State, Nigeria.

Purpose: The concept of Ubuntu philosophy, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of humanity and the importance of communal relationships, has gained attention in various fields, including community development. The Sustainable Development Report 2019 points out that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) might not be achieved, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is a gap in the literature on how Ubuntu philosophy has been applied in practice in community development initiatives. The extent to which Ubuntu philosophy has been applied in community development initiatives in different regions and contexts remains unclear. The main objectives of this study is to focus the Ubuntu philosophy on community development in Iyowa Community.
 Methodology: The research design for this study was qualitative in nature, using a phenomenological approach. The sample size for this study was 30 participants, including community leaders, development practitioners, and community members. Participants will be selected based on their knowledge and experience with Ubuntu philosophy and community development. The study used purposive sampling to select participants who had experience in community development and are familiar with the Ubuntu philosophy.
 Findings: The study found that there was good knowledge of the Ubuntu philosophy among community members. Based on the Ubuntu Philosophy, there was increased collaboration in the community has led to access to resources like water, roads, community security, and other amenities that have aided in community development. There was a mixed feeling on whether the Ubuntu Philosophy had ushered in development in Iyowa Community. While some acknowledge that it has greatly aided in bringing about community development, others believe it has only helped a little, and some feel it has made a small contribution but is not enough. 
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: In conclusion, the Ubuntu Philosophy has been successful in fostering a sense of unity and collective responsibility among community members, which has enabled them to achieve common goals and support each other during difficult times, and has had a positive impact on community development in Iyowa community and that the government creates an enabling environment for community development initiatives.

Domestic Migration and Integration of Religious Diaspora: Global experiences can benefit the shaping of internal relationships in Indonesia

Many Balinese Hindus have migrated to East Kalimantan for official assignments, as part of transmigration programs, and for advancing economic opportunities, thus initiating a domestic Balinese diaspora. This diaspora maintains its identities and practices, as in Bali, and seeks to replicate Balinese symbols and practices when connecting with other Hindu communities from different cultures and traditions. This article sheds light on “Bali-centrism” and “quasi-exclusiveness” when the Balinese diaspora interacts with non-Balinese Hindus within East Kalimantan. The authors argue that Bali-centrism and Balinization might alienate and socially exclude non-Balinese Hindus from mainstream Hindu development. To cope with the grief of losing Hindu ‘friends’ from another tradition, a mindset shift is required. Furthermore, with the relocation of the Indonesian capital city from Jakarta to Nusantara, the influx of various ethnic and religious groups, including Hindu adherents, would be unavoidable, although admittedly it is impossible to know at this juncture about the eventual admixture of administration, commerce and culture that the city would comprise. The authors propose a “salad bowl” concept to build Hindu communities in a multicultural state with its new capital city. To augment understanding of the multiplicity of components and attributes influencing a diasporic community, the authors have drawn from applicable, non-religious diasporic experiences as well as from the historical manoeuvring of different religious groups globally; this knowledge may help researchers and community development practitioners understand the prevalence of bonding issues and interaction by sects within all religions.

"Strategies that Promote Sustainability of Community Development Projects in Southeast Nigeria"

"Project sustainability is a concern for community development practitioners. An aspect of community development is sustainability which implies that benefits derived from executed projects are maintained and continue as long as the project exists. The strong commitment of the local people, leadership and other local resources are needed to resuscitate executed projects in the community. This study explores strategies for promoting the sustainability of community development projects in South east Nigeria. The study adopted cluster and purposive sampling techniques. A total of eight communities from four Local Government Areas (LGAs) from two states in Southeast Nigeria were sampled for the study. The Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) served as data collection instruments. The study sample size comprised 88 participants. The information produced for the research was analyzed thematically. Findings showed that while the numerous community development projects in the study areas can account for some developmental interest, they also created opportunities for neglect. To promote the sustainability of community development projects, a holistic approach is crucial and interventions must be indigenous and people-oriented. Also, social workers need to create dialogue forums with community members to help attain the goal of project sustainability. "

Focus Group Discussion: A Research Method in Community Development

This paper is based on recent consensus among development practitioners that for development to be meaningful, it must adopt the bottom-up and community-driven approach. Researchers in community development most often use Focus Group Discussion (FGD) in researches meant to achieve bottom-up and community-driven development through research. They often use this method exclusively or as a complementary tool to collect in-depth information directly from the subjects of a research. For a better understanding, simplified and correct use of the method, this paper presents knowledge on operationalization of focus group discussion as research method in community development. The authors concluded that community development experts, practitioners and researchers need the knowledge as presented in this paper to effectively use focus group discussion to promote bottom-up and community-driven development through research.

EXPLORING APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Community development practitioners had evolved various approaches to achieve the desired level of development and improvement in human lives. In Nigeria, governmental and non-governmental organizations have adopted various approaches in the process of national development. However, many development efforts had failed to achieve desired goals due to the usage of wrong approaches. This paper, therefore, discussed various approaches to community development towards national development. In doing this the authors identified two major approaches relevant to national development in Nigeria. Based on the available knowledge from the use of the approaches and the methods, this paper concluded that community development and its approaches possess the potential for the effective achievement of national development goals.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0900/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Learning to be ethical: the role of ethical capability in community development education

Abstract In the complex practices of development, ethical decisions are continually demanded of practitioners. This paper addresses the process of teaching ethics, within a framework of applied ethics and with an emphasis on the development of an understanding of ethics-in-practice in current and future practitioners. Building on recent work in the area of ethics in development and humanitarian practice, it addresses approaches to teaching professional ethics in community development and other fields, and debates about the value of teaching ethics. In particular, this article discusses how students develop what we call ‘ethical capability’—the cognitive and emotional resources needed to negotiate the contradictions and dilemmas of everyday practice, and to apply ethical decision-making models. Analysing a current post-graduate applied development ethics course and experience of similar courses in undergraduate business, we investigate how these can prepare students for the messy reality of community development practice. With very few courses teaching ethics in development, we propose that it is important to enhance ethical capability in community development students and practitioners, and that doing so supports their work and wellbeing.

Everyday ethical challenges for Indian community development practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Drawing upon empirical evidence and using Sarah Banks’s concept ‘ethics work’ as a conceptual approach, the article examines the ethical dilemmas facing community development practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article attempts to understand the everyday experience of community development practitioners working with Dalits, women, and labour migrants in India. Further, given these communities’ social and economic vulnerabilities, the article tries to comprehend how practitioners’ engagement with these communities during the COVID-19 response exposed them to various ethical dilemmas. The article also traces negotiation and navigation strategies for dealing with ethical dilemmas and delivering services in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic in ways that promote human dignity.

Towards a community-based ethical contract

Abstract This article argues that to be effective, community development ethics need to be embedded in community development practice. In the professional experience of the authors, ethics are often said by community development practitioners to be important in theory but may seem abstract or have little impact on day-to-day work. We therefore argue that to bridge that gap between theory and practice the establishment of an ethical contract between community workers and the groups that they work with should be seen as an indispensable element of good practice. We suggest that for an ethical contract to be effective it should be established by workers and community groups working in inclusive and participative ways. This will increase the degree to which ethical practice is understood and owned by all participants and opens up opportunities for practice to be accountable to everyone involved in the community development process and not just professional workers. Drawing on human rights literature and insights from popular education, the article highlights the ways in which using a static ethics framework (such as a statement of ethical principles or code of ethics) may reinforce existing power imbalances and inadvertently disempower communities. It explores how establishing a dynamic ethical contract between practitioners and the groups they work with offers greater potential for embedding ethical practice in community development work.

A national higher education analysis of the skills, knowledge, and values essential for students in Community Development Education

ABSTRACT The growing discipline of Community Development plays a vital role in addressing urban and rural community issues within the United States, and globally. Still, as Hains et al. pointed out in their 2020 article, there continues to be no consistent education or pedagogical practices available for future Community Development practitioners during students’ higher education experience. Thus, researchers conducted a modified Delphi study with an expert panel of Community Development educators from institutions of higher education across the United States. Upon culmination of three examining rounds, experts achieved consensus on 21 skills, 14 knowledge constructs and 17 values deemed essential for inclusion in Community Development Education curriculum in higher education. Ideally, including these constructs in a more coherent CD Education curriculum will lead to more consistently and effectively trained future Community Development practitioners. Implications, field application and future research are further discussed.

Identifying barriers affecting citizen participation in community‐driven development projects in Afghanistan: A case study of Herat city

AbstractThe World Bank has prioritised and implemented the Citizen Charter National Priority Program (CCNPP) – a community‐driven development program aiming to broadly engage local communities in planning and implementation of the community‐driven development projects in Afghanistan. This paper has utilised Arnstein's model of citizen's participation – the eight stages of citizen participation ladder – to assess the major barriers affecting citizen engagement in community‐driven development projects in Afghanistan. Employing a qualitative approach, we have conducted semi‐structured interviews and focus group discussions with local communities, elders of the community development councils, community development experts and practitioners. The paper has found out that poverty, deinstitutionalised Community Development Councils (CDCs), low level of literacy, lack of volunteering culture, male‐dominance in decision‐making processes, defects in CCNPP operational processes including limited time frame, predefined services, power‐seeking facilitating partners, area selection, and weak CDCs are among the major barriers affecting citizen participation in community‐driven projects in Afghanistan. This paper concluded that citizen's participation in community‐driven development projects in Afghanistan is placed at informing and consultation stages and, in some projects, could be placed at the placation stage of Arnstein's model of citizen participation.

Harmful, helpful, or both? A commentary on postmodernism and critical theories in community development education

ABSTRACT In this relatively informal commentary, I discuss the potentially helpful and harmful roles that postmodernism and critical theories have in academia in general and particularly in community development scholarship and pedagogy. After introducing postmodernism and critical theories as well as some of the common criticisms of these frameworks, I discuss the importance of cultural capital in community development and how postmodernism and critical theories can protect and maintain cultural capital as well as damage and diminish it. I also discuss the importance of ensuring students in community development courses understand these frameworks and understand that they are but some of the theories and skills students will need to know to be effective and ethical community development scholars and practitioners. The duty of educators is to ensure that students have the abilities and support to do the hard work of critically evaluating and analyzing all viable approaches to community development work.

Using Community-Based Social Marketing to Improve Energy Equity Programs

This new 5-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication is part of a series that will help Extension agents, nonprofits, agency personnel and all types of community development practitioners to better understand the issue of high utility bills among low-income residents, the “energy equity gap” and what they can do to help. This document provides a description of how the CWC used Community-Based Social Marketing (CBSM) research to increase the impact of their program through a form of “action research” to guide practical changes. Their experience can provide useful lessons for Extension agents and all types of community development practitioners who are seeking to improve the impacts of their programs. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc407

Preferences for Economic and Environmental Goals in Rural Community Development in the Western United States*

AbstractRural residents in the United States do not always agree on local development priorities, yet understanding and accounting for their preferences is a step towards more effective and equitable community development. We use survey data spanning different types of rural Intermountain West communities to gauge residents' preference weights for economic and environmental rural development goals. Given that community tenure and age are often related to development preferences, respondents are divided into three groups based on these factors using a classification tree approach. Long‐term residents (>36 percent of life spent in the community) have the strongest economic preferences, while older newcomers have the strongest environmental preferences. The Leti heterogeneity index reveals that long‐term residents also displayed the greatest homogeneity of preferences. Ordered probit analysis shows that goal preferences are also related to sex, education, household income, community financial security, and the share of county income derived from wealth assets. These findings provide a more nuanced and methods‐based understanding of residential tenure in a community and its relationship to development attitudes across a variety of rural place types, all valuable information for rural community and economic development practitioners.