People’s Participation in Development Projects

Decades ago, the experiences from the government and non-governmental organizations in developing countries display weakness in addressing issues or approach to reach development goal. Mr. David Korten, 1990 suggested that these failures because of they thought that the programs created by the government or non-governmental organizations better than ones originated from individual volunteers to excel their energy.

Further more, he said that the programs are implemented by structural-center office, lesser attention on favor or capability of community people even a bit chance of their participation.

The social scientists and consultancy supporters suggested that in order to avoid the above shortcomings in project design, it has to exist “Participation”. It is commonly sensible that exchange of ideas in any action together.

Chhen and Uphoff demonstrated that there are four fold participation:
A. Participation in making a decision
B. Participation in project design and management
C. Participation in economic, social, political and cultural activities for their own interest.
D. Participation in activity and output evaluations

Paul added that the benefit points gathered from the people participation to ensure the below sustainability:
1-Empowerment
2-Improvement of beneficiary ability
3-To improve the effectiveness of project
4-To review of project effectiveness
5-Allocation of project budget

So any development projects outlined by the non-governmental organizations or government must be processed within the people participation for sustainability development. The term of sustainability is not cleared define yet. Anyway, some critical meaning of its briefing:

- Responding to the needs of people
- Mobilization of natural resources must be benefited to better livelihood of people
- Base natural resources concentration for investment in education (Capacity Building).
- The people centered development model

As a whole, community participation to modify the approach and set up a system to develop in the target areas is very important for effectiveness and efficiency of the community development projects.

Read more about Advantages of Partnership