Integrated Community Development Research Articles

Developing an evaluation model for urban tourism competitiveness: combining community construction and community service to foster sustainable development of cities.

This study aims to develop a comprehensive evaluation model for urban tourism competitiveness in China. Given China's transition into a mature tourist destination, there is a pressing need for a framework that can assess the effectiveness of its urban tourism strategies. The model presented in this study is designed to provide a holistic understanding of the factors influencing urban tourism competitiveness in the Chinese context. The methodology employed in this study combines both qualitative and quantitative approaches. A modified version of Porter's Diamond Model serves as the primary framework, augmented by the IMD World Competitiveness Center: International Institute for Management Development (IMD) framework to incorporate social governance and environmental dimensions. To derive comprehensive scores for sustainable development, a linear weighted evaluation method was used, incorporating the coefficient of variation entropy weight method. This approach allows for a quantitative assessment of urban tourism competitiveness from 2008 to 2019. The key findings of the study reveal significant challenges within the current urban tourism landscape in China. These challenges include homogeneous competition, a lack of strategic management, and insufficient service quality. Furthermore, the study identifies the need for greater emphasis on sustainable tourism development, balancing economic benefits with the preservation of cultural and natural assets. Based on the findings, the study proposes several solutions to address the identified challenges. These solutions include creating boutique inland tourism routes, developing unique urban tourism brands, and enhancing regional cooperation and management practices. Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of integrating community development and services into the evaluation model to foster sustainable tourism development. The proposed solutions offer actionable insights for policymakers and planners seeking to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of urban tourism in China.

Role of SHG Federations in Promoting Economic and Social Empowerment of Women: Empirical Evidence from a Project in Madhya Pradesh, India

Self-help group federations (SHGFs) in India have come to be recognized as catalytic drivers of women’s economic and social advancement. Over time, their role has expanded to promoting grassroots community leadership, village development and undertaking advocacy initiatives for women’s greater inclusion and participation in their households, communities, and economy. This paper expounds the role and impacts of SHGFs in promoting women’s economic and social empowerment in Madhya Pradesh, one of India’s most densely populated and poverty affected States. With over one third of its population (roughly 25 million people) living in poverty (as per Niti Aayog’s Multidimensional Poverty Index, 2021), the State lags behind in critical human development indicators such as malnutrition, infant mortality, education, health, lack of clean drinking water, skills and employment opportunities. Women disproportionately suffer the brunt of these challenges coupled with regressive social and cultural norms that subject them to myriad forms of marginalization and discrimination. Over the last decade, Hand in Hand India (HiHI), a leading NGO championing gender equality through job creation and financial inclusion has been actively working for women’s empowerment, livelihoods promotion and integrated community development in Madhya Pradesh. Under one of our projects in Madhya Pradesh, ‘UNITED: Bringing Unity to Improve Livelihoods and Women Empowerment,’ we worked with a network of 200 SHGFs representing over 20,400 women over 3 years, between 2019 and 2022, where a majority of the women came from backward communities and were supported with integrated training and capacity building programs for livelihoods promotion. Additionally, SHGFs were trained and mentored to become frontrunners for advancing enterprise creation, women’s empowerment and community development. This paper presents empirical evidence of positive transformations witnessed in women’s social and economic spheres that enabled them to expand their agency and improve their lives, livelihoods and communities in significant ways.

Комплексний план просторового розвитку територіальних громад – завдання та шляхи вирішення

The purpose of the proposed study is to substantiate a comprehensive plan for spatial development of territories (hereinafter CPSD), the tasks to be solved in territorial communities. Considering the decentralization in the country, the newly formed communities faced problems with the land use, namely the data of the state land cadastre, as additional areas were transferred to the communities from state ownership. There was also a problem with the visual planning materials of the community territory, which would contain all the information (completeness of data) about buildings, structures, utilities, restrictions on the land use, all the qualitative characteristics of soils and assessment. It is important to combine the land management and urban planning documentation into one whole, which will contribute to the full updating of information and its objectivity and clarity with the support of geographic information systems. Method. Since the beginning of its formation as an independent state, Ukraine has been carrying out reforms, including land reforms. The creation of territorial communities requires new planning materials with the administrative boundaries of territorial communities, qualitative and quantitative indicators of land, engineering infrastructure, types of land, buildings and structures. A comprehensive plan for the spatial development of territories should, in the correct and logical sequence, create a system designed to quickly solve the problems of the population, with the main goal to further integrate into a single system of public services not only on the land and urban planning, but also the other areas of infrastructure (health care, landscaping, engineering and transport, preservation of the cultural heritage). Results. The purpose of development of CPSD is established. The main ways to ensure the land management in newly created communities through the development of a comprehensive plan for spatial development of territories are considered. A number of important preconditions for the use of territories in the period of the initial introduction of the territorial spatial planning on the newly created communities has been identified. Scientific novelty and practical significance. Implementing the development of CPSD of the territories in each territorial community will ensure holistic and balanced development not only of solvent settlements in the community, but also throughout the whole community territory, where there is not only a balanced distribution of state, local and public interests, but also integrated community development. The types of documentation developed for each territorial community and the sequence of their formation on the basis of the principles of unity, accessibility and objectivity are also identified.

Partisipasi Masyarakat Dalam Manajemen Bencana Untuk Pembangunan Masyarakat Berkelanjutan

<p><em>Indonesia is a country that has various disaster risks, including geological, hydrometeorological, and social disasters. Community participation is very necessary in reducing disaster risk, both before a disaster occurs, during a disaster, and after a disaster occurs. The process of community development cannot be separated from the existence of various disturbances, one of which is caused by a disaster. The development achievements that have been made cannot be avoided from the risk of disaster, the loss of stability in the social system can also hinder the achievement of sustainable community development.</em></p><p><em>Community development and disaster risk reduction have in common, among others, reducing community vulnerability and empowering communities to increase capacity and disaster preparedness. Integrating community development with the active participation of the community is the same as reducing disaster risks that may be experienced by the community. Community capacities and vulnerabilities are analyzed and incorporated into project design to make them more responsive to the development context of disaster-affected communities.</em></p>

Dynamics of Triatoma infestans populations in the Paraguayan Chaco: Population genetic analysis of household reinfestation following vector control.

BackgroundAlthough domestic infestations by Triatoma infestans have been successfully controlled across Latin America, in areas of the Gran Chaco region, recurrent post-spraying house colonization continues to be a significant challenge, jeopardizing Chagas disease vector control and maintaining active Trypanosoma cruzi transmission.Methodology/Principal findingsTo investigate the dynamics of triatomine reinfestation in a rural area of the Paraguayan Chaco, genetic characterization (based on 10 microsatellite loci and cytochrome B sequence polymorphisms) was performed on baseline and reinfestant T. infestans (n = 138) from four indigenous communities and adjacent sylvatic sites. House quality and basic economic activities were assessed across the four communities. Significant genetic differentiation was detected among all baseline triatomine populations. Faster reinfestation was observed in the communities with higher infestation rates pre-spraying. Baseline and reinfestant populations from the same communities were not genetically different, but two potentially distinct processes of reinfestation were evident. In Campo Largo, the reinfestant population was likely founded by domestic survivor foci, with reduced genetic diversity relative to the baseline population. However, in 12 de Junio, reinfestant bugs were likely derived from different sources, including survivors from the pre-spraying population and sympatric sylvatic bugs, indicative of gene-flow between these habitats, likely driven by high human mobility and economic activities in adjacent sylvatic areas.Conclusions/SignificanceOur results demonstrate that sylvatic T. infestans threatens vector control strategies, either as a reinfestation source or by providing a temporary refuge during insecticide spraying. Passive anthropogenic importation of T. infestans and active human interactions with neighboring forested areas also played a role in recolonization. Optimization of spraying, integrated community development and close monitoring of sylvatic areas should be considered when implementing vector control activities in the Gran Chaco.

КОНЦЕПЦІЯ ІНТЕГРОВАНОГО РОЗВИТКУ ТЕРИТОРІЇ ТЕРИТОРІАЛЬНОЇ ГРОМАДИ ЯК ІНСТРУМЕНТ СТРАТЕГІЧНОГО УПРАВЛІННЯ

In Ukraine, the system of planning the development of territorial communities at the basic level is being modernized. In particular, the preparation of a comprehensive spatial plan for the development of the territory of the territorial community has been introduced as a new tool for territory planning at the local level. The concept of integrated development of the territorial community recommended for development is considered as a means of forming initial data for the development of planning decisions. Its preparation involves broad public involvement in the planning process. The authors of the article became the developers of the concept of integrated development of the Sahuniv territorial community of the Cherkasy region of the Cherkasy district. The main questions that this article aims to answer are the following: what is the experience of developing such documents, what are the basic principles of their preparation, and what is the practical significance of the document. For this purpose, we analyze the approaches to understanding integrated development as a phenomenon, the content of its strategic planning at the local level, the place of the concept of integrated development of the territorial community in the planning system at the local level and its influence on local economic development. The article critically examines the essence and procedure of participatory strategic planning at the local level. Based on the case of the concept of integrated development of the Sahuniv territorial community, the logic of the planning process and the practice of preparing initial data for comprehensive planning of the territory of the territorial community are reflected. The importance of the document for the formation of stakeholder interaction, the involvement of the population in the management decision-making system through planning tools, the coordination of the development of individual components of the local development system, and the identification of territorial elements of integrated community development is reflected. Thus, the article defines the formation of the strategic planning system at the local level in Ukraine as a response to the change of the administrative-territorial structure in 2015-2020 and the deployment of the decentralization reform in Ukraine, and its role for the local economic development and the territorial community of the basic level as a whole, coordination of strategic planning processes for the development of territorial communities and territory development planning.

Marketing tools to ensure the competitiveness of tourism businesses destinations

Abstract. The aim of the study. The purpose of the study is to develop methodological principles for making public management decisions, in particular, investigated marketing tools to ensure the competitiveness of tourism businesses distentions, which will have a positive impact on tourism businesses. Methodology. The article used research methods: induction, deduction, objectivity, system, generalization, which allowed to present and justify the main results. Results. In today's conditions, there is an urgent need to preserve tourist facilities and socio-economic development of individual regions and increase the competitiveness of tourism entrepreneurs in local communities, which requires strengthening measures to use marketing tools. One of the marketing tools for the development of tourism businesses in local communities and ensuring their competitiveness is a tourist card. The article considers the development of a tourist map, which will increase the attractiveness of the tourist destination, increase the tourist flow of individual tourists (who leave more money than organized groups with short stays), and hence income from tourism in hospitality - hospitality, catering and in retail. As foreign experience shows, the use of tourist product cards is not only beneficial to tourists, but also forms in them an idea of the variety of attractions and attractions in the destination. Obviously, the tourist is not able to visit all the interesting places at once, however, he will get an idea of the unrealized prospects for recreation, which can be returned in the coming seasons. Thus, the card system influences the formation of new motives for re-visiting the community.
 The practical significance of the study lies in the applied nature of the proposed program, which will create a competitive tourism product that can best meet the tourist needs of the community, on this basis to ensure integrated community development while preserving ecological balance and historical and cultural heritage. Optimizing the use of tourist resources will allow further formation of the tourist product, which will increase revenues to the budgets of all levels and contribute to the socio-economic development of the community. Prospects for further research.

EFEKTIFITAS PEMBERDAYAAN USAHA PROGRAM GERBANGMAS-TASKIN UNTUK PENGENTASAN KEMISKINAN PADA UNIT PELAKSANA KEUANGAN (UPK) DI KOTA BANJARBARU

The South Kalimantan Community Development Integrated Movement for Poverty Alleviation has been implemented by the Human and Environmental Empowerment Activity unit carried out by the Implementing Team (Timlak) in the form of grant assistance. The results can be directly felt by the target households of the program. However, in the implementation of business empowerment, it is known that every Financial Implementing Unit (UPK) in Banjarbaru City faces almost the same problem, namely the inability to repay loans (arrears) every month by program recipient households. This research was conducted using a descriptive evaluative research approach. In practice, this research is intended to evaluate the effectiveness of business empowerment of the Gatemas Taskin Program in Banjarbaru City in business development and increasing the income of poor households as potential program targets. The results showed that the implementation of the Integrated Community Development Movement Program (Gerbangmas-Taskin) for Poverty Alleviation in Banjarbaru City, was considered ineffective in helping business development and increasing the income of poor households. This is because the program recipients are not households that meet the target household criteria (RTS), namely poor households (RTM) who receive direct cash subsidies so that the program targets to help the poor develop businesses and increase their income cannot be achieved or are not on target. This fact shows that the Gerbangmas Taskin Program has not implemented microfinance principles, one of which is that aid is only for the poor. Factors causing the program's ineffectiveness are non-poor household beneficiaries (contrary to microfinance principles), lack of understanding of UPK programs, low participation, and suboptimal assistance

Utilization of zakāt through entrepreneurship programs

This study aims to analyze matters related to the distribution of zakat funds at the Semarang branch of Rumah Zakat through entrepreneurship programs and also things that are obstacles and drivers in the distribution of zakat. The method used in this study used qualitative research. The results of this study show that the distribution of zakat funds at Rumah Zakat Semarang is carried out productively and consumptively. And for the distribution of zakat funds at Rumah Zakat Semarang through an entrepreneurship program, it is carried out through the Senyum Mandiri program, which is community empowerment oriented towards integrated community empowerment. This empowerment is carried out in the ICD (Integrated Community Development) area as well as the scope of the village area. There are several empowerment programs, including Entrepreneurial assistance, Independent Development Center, and Productive Skills Training.

Theorizing and contextualizing protected areas, tourism and community livelihoods linkages

Although efforts have been made to connect the conservation of protected areas (PAs) to the livelihoods of people living in adjacent localities through sustainable tourism development, the debate is still evolving and inconclusive. This special issue contributes to the discourse by endeavouring to advance discussions on relationships that exist between protected areas, tourism and community livelihoods. This paper synthesizes accomplishments and challenges that exist in studying linkages between PAs, tourism and community livelihoods, which to date have been sporadic and mostly atheoretical. Empirical evidence from different researchers are highlighted to guide interested stakeholders, policy planners and practitioners to glean and adapt their strategies to achieve integrated conservation and community development. The linkages between PAs, tourism and community livelihoods can best be understood by considering different theories, conceptual frameworks and methodologies used to understand the relationship dynamics with a view to resolve the demands of livelihoods and conservation that have been advanced over the last fifty years.

The psychological distress of parents is associated with reduced linear growth of children: Evidence from a nationwide population survey.

Stunting, an indicator of restricted linear growth, has become a primary measure of childhood undernutrition due to its persistent high prevalence globally, and importance for health and development. Although the etiology is recognized as complex, most analyses have focused on social and biomedical determinants, with limited attention on psychological factors affecting care and nurturing in the home. We assessed whether the psychological distress of parents is related to child linear growth and stunting, and documented the associated risk factors, and examined the relationship between parental distress and behavioral and other risk factors for stunting. We used data from the Indonesia National Health Survey 2013, including 46,315 children 6-59 months of age. Multivariate linear, logistic, and multilevel multinomial logistic regression, using survey weights, were used to assess the relationship between parental distress, as assessed by the WHO Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ20), with height-for-age z score (HAZ), stunting, and behavioral and other risk factors for stunting. Maternal, paternal and parental distress (i.e. both maternal and paternal distress) were associated with reduced linear growth of the children by 0.086 (95% CI -0.17, -0.00), 0.11 (95% CI -0.24, -0.02) and 0.19 (95% CI -0.37, -0.00) HAZ-scores, respectively. Maternal and paternal distress increased the risk of mild stunting (HAZ <-1) by 33% (95% CI 1.17,1.50) and 37% (95% CI 1.18,1.60), and the risk of moderate stunting (HAZ <-2) by 25% (95% CI 1.10,1.43) and 28% (95% CI 1.08,1.51]), respectively. Parental stress increased the risk of moderate stunting by 40% (95% CI 1.06,1.85). Amongst specific groups of risk factors, the proportion of HAZ-score lost was associated with socioeconomic factors (30.3%) including, low wealth, low maternal occupational status, low maternal education, rural residence, and low paternal occupational status; physiological factors (15.5%) including low maternal height, low maternal mid-upper arm circumference, being male, low paternal height; behavioral factors (8.9%) including open garbage disposal, paternal smoking, not using iodized salt; and experiencing at least one infectious diseases episode (1.1%). Maternal, paternal and parental stress were associated with reduced linear growth of children. These findings highlight the complex etiology of stunting and suggest nutritional and other biomedical interventions are insufficient, and that promotion of mental and behavioral health programs for parents must be pursued as part of a comprehensive strategy to enhance child growth and development, i.e. improved caretaker capacity, integrated community development, improved parenting skills, as well as reduced gender discrimination, and domestic violence.

THE PERFORMANCE OF MICROFINANCE PROVIDERS ON POVERTY ALLEVIATION AMONG YAM FARM HOUSEHOLDS IN SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

The study examined the performance of microfinance providers on poverty alleviation among yam farm household in some selected Local Government Areas of Niger State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to draw up respondents for the survey. Data were collected from 120 respondents using structured questionnaire and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, poverty gap index, Foster-Greer-Thorbeck index, head count ratio, severity index, farm budget technique, and Gini coefficient. The results revealed that most (89.17%) yam farm household were males and married (87.50%). The average age of the respondents was 37.83 years; 75% were into poultry farming; 44.17% and 30.83% obtained credit from commercial and microfinance banks, respectively. Also, average income of the respondents before and after the loan was N38, 401.04 and N83, 329.21, respectively. The results also revealed even though credit had positive impact on the livelihood of the respondents in the area, the result of the Gini coefficient (0.6631) showed that there was inequality in income distribution among the respondents in the area. The study therefore, recommended that additional microcredit providers be established in the study area to increase its impact among the respondents especially in poverty alleviation. Also, integrated community development effort should be encouraged to provide rural infrastructures in the study area.

Homeground Initiative : fulfilling the remit of the South African government for quality physical education in rural KwaZulu-Natal

Sportstec’s Homeground is an integrated community development initiative that focuses on an integrated child, school and community approach in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. At its heart is a childhood to youth educational programme with a strong focus on links with five local schools. The scheme utilises physical education and school sport to build the capacity of teachers to deliver physical education, offer school sport and develop life skills. The aim of this study was to describe and critically reflect on the model of outsourcing physical education and school sport to Homeground. Interviews with key individuals including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sportstec, Homeground Head Coach (n=1) and principals or Heads of Department (n=5) ensured that statements of key decision-makers could be compared to narratives from five focus groups. Primary (n=9) and secondary school teachers (n=3) as well as learners (n = 16) participated in focus group discussions. Findings indicate that although the model adopted has produced positive results and could yield far reaching benefits, it has stalled due to existing barriers, which include funding, access to facilities, transport, the level of training, motivation and workload of teachers, as well as the level of professional preparation of Homeground staff to train others.

Комплексне проектування розвитку громади

The article analyzes the activities of local self-government bodies at the level of united territorial communities through the analysis of programs of integrated community development planning, their stages and problems that arise in their development. Approaches to researching the content of community development potential are identified. The main problems that hinder capacity development, have been identified: low level of organizational capacity of local self-government bodies, lack of organizational strategy and organizational processes, low level of interest and awareness of the processes of local self-government reform and lack of certainty in the land legislation.

Practicing of Corporate Social Responsibility for Community Empowerment: A Case of a Mining Company in Indonesia

In recent years, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has attained increased significance in both business and in the associated academic literature. The very term, CSR, clearly indicates the focus is on social responsibility as a company’s obligation to be accountable to all its stakeholders in all its operations and activities. Nowadays the concept of empowerment has become the development paradigm. The Indonesian government is expected to coordinate and be responsible for a wide range of community development activities that allow the entire community to participate actively, while the company contributes to the community empowerment process as the implementation of social responsibility undertaken through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This study assessed the CSR activities undertaken by a mining company (PT Vale Indonesia). Over the past 50 years, PT Vale Indonesia (PTVI) has been operating under the Contract of Work (CoW) agreement with the Indonesia government to open-pit nickel mines and processing plant facilities near Sorowako, Indonesia. This study provided empirical evidence on PTVI's presence benefits the surrounding communities by implementing PTVI’s CSR program called Integrated Community Development Program (ICDP). The research purpose is to explore the concept of CSR practice that is viewed and applied by PTVI to create a win-win situation that contributes to community empowerment. The findings of this case study contribute significantly to give more profound knowledge of the role of ICDP to community empowerment and to extant an understanding of the company dealing with the challenges of CSR activities for community empowerment.

Analisis Efektivitas Penyaluran Zakat pada Rumah Zakat

Rumah Zakat is a philanthropic institution that manages zakat and infaq/alms with an average amount of zakat and infaq/alms collection for 5 (five) years from 2015-2019 amounting to IDR176,298,735,332.80, and the average amount of distribution for 5 (five) years for the period 2015-2019 amounting to IDR152,627,321,395.80. The problem in this research is how is the effectiveness of zakat distribution and charity/alms house? The purpose of this study was to measure the effectiveness of the distribution of zakat and donations/charity at the Rumah Zakat. This research uses a literature study and quantitative method with the Allocation to Collection Ratio (ACR) ratio measurement model based on Zakat Core Principle (ZCP). The object used in this study is the financial statements of the Rumah Zakat for the period of 2010 to 2019. The results of the study show that distribution includes 8 asnaf, namely: fakir, miskin, Amil, Muallaf, Riqob, Ghorimin, Ibnu Sabil, and Fii Sabilillah, in four groups empowerment namely: Healthy Smiles, Champion Smiles, Independent Smiles, and Sustainable Smiles with an Integrated Community Development (ICD) approach that is aligned with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Based on ZCP the effectiveness of distribution for 5 years of operation is 87% or included in the Effective category, where the Alocation to Collection Ratio (ACR) reaches 70-89%. That is, zakat and donation/alms are channeled to mustahik effectively. Suggestion from this research is that Rumah Zakat can increase the effectiveness of zakat distribution with an effectiveness level above 90% so that it is included in the Highly Effective category if ACR ≥ 90 percent)

Impact of Non-Governmental Organisation in Poverty Alleviation-A Case of Zabzugu Tatale in the North of Ghana

Ever since Ghana had its independence in 1957, its economy has seen steady economic growth, rapid expansion of small-scale agriculture and impressive development of a variety of social services. Fine, B., and Rose,P. (2001) That notwithstanding it needs to be said that there is a wide income disparities and wealth distribution resulting in extensive poverty and general malnutrition in mostly the rural communities. Following independence from the British, there has been a wide spread of NGO activity like wildfire. Chowdhury, A.F. and Rose, P. (2014).Many NGO's were already present in the country, as well as steady growth of both nationwide and more locally- based indigenous NGO's. Around the early 1980's there was a change from welfare to a more development-oriented form of NGO intervention in the country which centered around groups and usually aimed directly or indirectly at alleviating the local people from the poor state in which they found themselves. Massive awareness creation formed a major composition of an increasing number of NGO intervention .With all this developments little is still known about the overall impact NGO have on the topic of poverty and also very few details of certain projects have been made known to the public as most of the NGO's are not accountable to any major body as in the case of certain big multinational corporation that are answerable to their shareholders. Jones, P. (2011). The major part of this Working Paper reports on the evaluation of four rural NGO interventions aimed, broadly, at poverty-alleviation, and undertaken during 1990. This case study throws more light on the fact that with all these interventions that were brought as a way of changing the life of people, there is still room for improvement even till this day in the 21st century dispensation. It needs to be noted that just recently the Zabzugu-tatale district was a beneficiary of such alleviation programs formed by the UNICEF which was themed integrated community development fund. Zabzugu-tatale is a district in the north region of Ghana and for the purpose of this academic research it has been chosen and findings would better help us understand the impact NGO's actually have in these communities. Hossain, N., Subrahmanian, R., and Kabeer, N. (2012).

Sustainable urban water management and integrated development in informal settlements: The contested politics of co-production in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Abstract Given the implications of global climate change, including higher likelihood of extreme weather events, and the increasing urban density coupled with reduction in permeable surfaces in the Global South, Sustainable Urban Water Management (SUWM) has emerged as a preferred paradigm for stormwater management. However, the implementation of SUWM, which is premised on using vegetation or engineered capture technologies to control runoff at its source in an effort to replicate natural hydrology, is limited by a lack of institutional integration, not merely between administrative organs with responsibility for stormwater management but also between infrastructure departments, planning institutions, communities, and civil society organizations. This is particularly true in informal settlements in the humid tropics, where excessive impermeable surfaces and a lack of adequate solid waste collection exacerbate municipal limitations in stormwater management. This article discusses an effort to integrate local communities, civil society organizations, and local and regional authorities to improve drainage services within the framework of integrated development in the informal settlement of Los Platanitos, Santo Domingo Norte, Dominican Republic. In order to address the drainage and flooding issues in Los Platanitos while also fostering economic development, representatives of community groups, NGOs, local government, and state agencies have developed a participatory planning structure known as a mesa de concertacion, or “cooperating table.” The mesa, which was established in 2014, has succeeded in bringing neighborhood, civil society, and government actors to the same “table” as a mechanism for addressing the community’s drainage challenges within the broader context of integrated community development.

Sustainable planning for a coastal wetland system with an integrated ANP and DPSIR model for conflict resolution

Wetlands are important ecosystems on earth due to their capability of preserving water sources, mediating flooding, providing habitats for wildlife, and stabilizing coastlines. Wetlands play a critical role in regional sustainable development because of their ability to enhance resilience against extreme weather events. Maintaining coastal sustainability requires consideration of both the health of coastal wetlands and the resilience of urban systems while mitigating the conflict among social, economic, and environmental goals in land usages around coastal wetland environment. This study investigates a sensitive coastal wetland system located at central Taiwan for demonstration of a sustainable planning practice with an integrated model based on network topology in a socio-ecological context. There are two parts of the integrated model. Whereas a Driving force–Pressure–State–Impact–Response (DPSIR) model helps delineate the complex behaviors among different stakeholders by identifying various indicators, the analytic network process (ANP) quantifies the network topology of DPSIR. According to the survey via questionnaires answered by a group of experts, the DPSIR model is composed of 32 major indicators that can be networked by ANP. The results reveal that an effective ecological conservation depends on a series of mitigation actions, including river and habitat restorations, pollution control, green tourism, and integrated community development via better zoning policies.

Integrated Community Development in Rural Border Region (Case Studi in Tanjung Hulu Village, Nunukan, North Kalimantan)

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