1.1 Backgrounds
The concept of economic development started between 20th century. There are terms that are related to economic development such as modernization, westernization and industrialization. In this sense development is very much associated with western style of development no evidence on where exactly the concept originated, but most people agrees that evolution of development started with the capitalist mode of production which created big disparity between developed and non developed countries. The need for economic development arises when the economists and some governments started to think on how to reduce the disparity between these countries.
1.2 Understanding terminologies used in CED
Community is defined as people of the same origin living in the same area or people with similar occupation, people who are joined by some or all of these elements. For instance, in Tanzania, communities may be categorized in the following criteria:-
A community based on similar occupation such as farmers, pastoralists, fishermen, employee, and self employed, small and big business people.
A community based on ethnic origin, such as Europeans, Asians and our African ethnic groups composed of more than 120 tribes
A community based on geographical location such as rural and urban communities
Community development is a broad term applied to the practices and academic disciplines of civic leaders, activists, involved citizens and professionals to improve various aspects of local communities. Community development seeks to empower individuals and groups of people by providing these groups with the skills they need to effect change in their own communities.
Economic development is the development of economic wealth of countries or regions for the well-being of their inhabitants. Thus to say economic development is a sustainable increase in living standards that implies increased per capita income, better education and health as well as environmental protection.
Community Economic Development (CED) is action taken locally by a community to provide economic opportunities and improve social conditions in a sustainable way. Often CED initiatives aim to improve the lot of those who are disadvantaged. CED is a community-centred process that blends social and economic development to foster the economic, social, ecological and cultural well-being of communities. Its central tenet is that, problems facing communities such as unemployment, poverty, job loss, environmental degradation and loss of community control need to be addressed in a holistic and participatory way.
The Theoretical Literature
2.1 What is Community Economic Development?
McRobie and Ross, (1987) define Community Economic Development as a process by which communities can initiate and generate their own solutions to their common economic problems and thereby build long-term community capacity and foster the integration of economic, social and environmental objectives. It focuses on improvement through economic activity – generally, by expanding the number of locally owned and social venture economic enterprises, and by demanding that economic bottom-lines take into account environmental sustainability and social justice. According to McRobie and Ross, (1987), key issues for the success of CED are:-
Process
Own solutions
Long term capacity
Integration of economic, social justice and environmental sustainability
Chaland N. and Doning R, (2003) view Community Economic Development as an action by people locally to create economic opportunities and enhance social conditions, particularly for those who are most disadvantaged, on an inclusive and sustainable basis. It is a comprehensive, multi-faceted strategy, conceived and directed locally, for the revitalization and renewal of community economies. Its abiding interest is the local development, management, and strengthening of community resources for community benefit. It is a way of creating economic development which is responsive to locally defined priorities. It strives to increase the self-reliance of local communities. It focuses on local control and local ownership of resources, and aims to locate assets in the hands of low-income residents. It seeks to ensure that the benefits of economic development flow equitably to those who are frequently left out. It is an approach to development which integrates the social, cultural, economic and ecological goals of the local community. Therefore, according by Chaland N. and Doning R, (2003), key issues for the success of CED are:-
Action
Local people, control and ownership
Most disadvantaged
Sustainability
Integrates the social, cultural, economic and ecological goals responsive
Create economic opportunities and enhance social conditions
Increase self-reliance
From the source of http://www.sfu.ca/cscd, Community Economic Development (CED) is defined as a dynamic and responsive to new learning and the broader social, economic, cultural, ecological and political context. CED is therefore evolving. The CED approach will have a significant and growing impact on our personal lives and communities in the years ahead. The movement toward community life based upon CED principles is influenced by some key forces. CED is also exerting its own influence on these forces. According to this source, key issues for the success of CED are:-
Dynamic and responsive
Broader social, economic, cultural, ecological and political context
Participation
http://www.ccednet-rcde.ca/, has defined Community Economic Development as an alternative to conventional economic development. Its central tenet is that: “... problems facing communities—unemployment, poverty, job loss, environmental degradation and loss of community control—need to be addressed in a holistic and participatory way.” The source pinpoint key issues for the success of CED as:-
Problem solving
Holistic
Participatory
2.2 Principles of Community Economic Development
v CED is development of the community, by the community, for the community. "Experts" from outside don't take charge. The community takes the lead right from the beginning.
v CED is a process. If a community is to do CED, the people have to get together, organize themselves and develop a plan. Often they do this by identifying their strengths and assets and deciding how these can be used to help the community become stronger, socially and economically. Communities may turn to a CED practitioner, a person who helps the community figure out what it wants to do. But the goals that are set and the things that need to be done are decided upon and carried out by the people who live in the community.
v CED is long-term. CED doesn't happen overnight. Successful CED means that people stay involved, that they get organized and that they keep reaching for their goals.
v CED is a holistic approach to development. CED includes both social and economic development. It's sensitive to the local culture and the natural environment.
v CED is inclusive. Every community is made up of people with different interests and needs. Having a CED plan that meets the needs of the whole community, means consulting and involving all members of the community. If you want people to be involved, ask them first what their goals are."
v CED is the development of people. Key to the success of CED are committed leaders and participation by a broad range of community members. Sometimes in order to participate and to be effective, people need to learn how to organize themselves, how to work together and how to co-operate. "People development" helps the community take control of its future.
v CED is founded upon sustainability: When a community is deciding what they want to do, they have to ask questions about sustainability. For example, does our future well-being depend on conserving our natural resources? Does our project build on the strengths of our community? Do many people in our community support the same vision for the community? Are the people likely to support the work over a long period of time? Can the initiative be sustained economically?
v CED is innovative. The CED process requires participants to ask not only "what is . .?" and "why?", but also "what if. . ?" and "why not?" This means finding new ways to use both our human, natural and material resources to create new opportunities.
v CED aims for diversification. Diversification means creating economic opportunities in a variety of different, smaller sectors, rather than relying on one single industry. This allows communities to ride out the boom and bust cycles so common when a town or region has only one major industry or employer.
v CED is collaborative. In order to accomplish their goals, communities often build partnerships with other communities, with educational organizations, government, and regional development agencies. Partnerships like these give people access to knowledge and resources that might not be available in their own community. From the source of http://www.ccednet-rcde.ca/
2.3 Strategies and tactics of Community Economic Development
v Addressing the primary needs of all members through sustainable supply of nourishing food and safe drinking water, security and safety of persons ad property, adequate and affordable housing, opportunity for health of persons and property of community life through mutual support and opportunities for meaningful work
v Developing a strong and sustainable local market economy through local economic planning process, keeping money circulating in the community and stopping leakage, encourage enterprise in the community , building local capacity to sustain CED and developing means to access local capital to finance CED initiatives
v Strengthening civil society and increasing civic participation through citizenship, cultural development, responsible government, community infrastructure, participatory democracy and public involvement
v Creating supporting opportunities for community learning through education and skills development, sharing knowledge of locality, opportunities to learn through doing, participatory action research, engaging elders in sharing wisdom and experience and creating computer network
v Strengthening natural ecosystems by increasing awareness of bio-regionalism and ecology, planning for a sustainable environment, reducing exploitation of resource , engaging in environment restoration, developing and supporting appropriate technology, creating land trust for nature and natural resources and establishing a community forest
v Strengthening the social/cultural economy through recognition, validation and structural support by valuing, encouraging and supporting volunteerism, setting up a skill exchange program, creating supports for housework, creating support for home health care and supporting cultural diversity and development
Empirical literature and policy review
With reference to principles, strategies and tactic of CED, in reviewing different literature, it shows that many authors discuss Community Economics Development as a process of bringing people together in order to solve problem which face their communities in a participatory manner. Major key points they discuss is that CED must integrate social, economic, cultural, ecological and political context, therefore its approach is holistic. In defining CED, some of authors put more emphasis on CED as process, meaning that people have to get together, organize themselves and develop a plan, in doing so, community members own the development process through building long term capacity in a sustainable way. In order to attain sustainable development, actions in CED as to be taken by most disadvantaged, who are the center of development, and in doing so, local people will increase self-reliance. Therefore, CED has to be taken in broad context, CED has to be flexible, allow poor people to participate in development process and learn new experience, as well as to integrate it in broader social, economic, cultural, ecological and political context.
National community development policy of Tanzania stipulates clearly its aims which adhere with principles, strategies and tactics of Community Economic Development, to mention few of them, here are some of them:-
v “To enable Tanzanians to bring about own development by working to improve production…..”
v “To enable Tanzanian to use wealth to improve their wealth…..”
v “To enable the majority of Tanzanian to enter into an economic system…”
v To enable Tanzanian to join together in groups and increase their commitment to self development (Government of Tanzania, Ministry of Community development, gender and children, 1996)
Conclusion
In order Community Economic Development initiatives to realize it goal, apart from reviewed literatures say, the approach of CED should target pro-poor and CED practitioners have to build the capacity of community by empowering them to realize their potentiality through building sense of ownership. To ensure sustainability of CED initiatives, pro-poor should be involved form activity planning stage to Evaluation stage in holistic manner (i.e social, health, environment, economic etc) through multidisciplinary approach. It is true communication is essential in order to achieve CED goal, therefore there is a nee to link communities and networking them, to share experience and new technology. In my view, for effective and efficient CED interventions, CED practitioners have to encourage transparency, accountability and gender sensitive to communities for achieving development goals. In general CED has to take into account all key elements which discussed by each author, taking in mind there is no single approach in CED.
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