Community Driven Development (CDD)

 Overview
 Leading Group on Poverty Alleviation & Development (China)
 Kecamatan Development Project (Indonesia)
    Community Development in Indonesia (Overview)
 KALAHI - CIDSS Project (Philippines)

Overview

Community Driven Development (CDD) approaches poor people and their institutions as assets and partners in the development process, and is broadly defined as giving control of decisions and resources to community groups and local governments. CDD programs operate on the principles of local empowerment, participatory governance, demand-responsiveness, administrative autonomy, greater downward accountability, and enhanced local capacity. Experience has shown that given clear rules of the game, access to information, appropriate capacity and financial support, poor men and women can effectively organize in order to identify community priorities and address local problems, by working in partnership with local governments and other supportive institutions.

The East Asia and Pacific region has several CDD projects under implementation and others under preparation. The following are representative examples in China, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

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Leading Group on Poverty Alleviation and Development (China)

China’s 11th Five-Year Plan recognizes that creation of a “harmonious and well-off society” requires new approaches to poverty alleviation. To realize this goal, poor households and communities must themselves be active participants in local development, while local government agencies must dedicate themselves to serving the needs of poor communities. Consistent with China’s development objectives, the State Council Leading Group on Poverty Alleviation and Development is now testing new development approach of Community Driven Development (CDD).

The CDD pilot program is intended to give poor communities:   1) An opportunity to improve local infrastructure or public services; 2) An opportunity to collectively manage a revolving fund, available to households wanting to pursue income-generation activities; 3) An incentive to consider sustainable natural resource management or other environmental improvements in determining local development priorities; 4) More effective community organization, with developed capacity for community planning and management; 5) An improved relationship with local government agencies, who will be more responsive to your community’s priorities.

 China: Leading Group on Poverty Alleviation and Development CDD Project
 China Testing New Approach to Poverty Alleviation
 China CDD Pilot Project: Community Procedures Manual (100kb pdf)

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The Kecamatan (subdistrict) Development Program (KDP) is aimed at alleviating poverty in rural communities and improving local governance. KDP’s goals are to alleviate poverty by raising rural incomes; strengthen local government and community institutions; and promote good governance. KDP provides block grants directly to subdistricts and villages for small-scale infrastructure, social and economic activities.

KDP began in 1998 at a time of tremendous political upheaval and financial crisis. The economic crisis reversed years of progress in poverty reduction and plunged millions of rural poor below the poverty line. Public demonstrations and riots shook the country and eventually led to the sudden downfall of President Suharto after 32 years in power.  Indonesia entered into a period of political transition leading in June 1999 to the country’s first free general elections in 44 years. However, the change in leadership did not solve the country’s deeper problems. Despite high rates of poverty reduction, vulnerability remained high and many poor did not benefit from economic growth.

Three decades of authoritarian rule had also undermined local capacity and placed heavy restrictions upon local communies. New decentralization laws were passed in 2000 to give districts greater authority and decision-making power, but this did not mean that power would shift to communities or indeed be democratic. Recurrent problems of elite capture, corruption, and political manipulation in government-sponsored community development programs were and remain commonplace to the point of significantly reducing their effectiveness and credibility.

KDP has been developed in the midst of the country’s political transition period and decentralization process. It is a core part of the Government of Indonesia’s response to improving local governance and decentralization in the country. By pushing decision-making down to the lowest levels, KDP aims to  empower the rural poor and encourage more democratic and participatory forms of local governance. All KDP activities aim at allowing villagers to make their own choices about the kinds of projects that they need and want. The program gives power to communities by placing funds and the planning and decision-making process directly in the hands of villagers.

More information:
 Kecamatan Development Program (KDP)
 Community Development in Indonesia (Overview)

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KALAHI-CIDSS Project (Phillipines)

Implemented in 2003, the KALAHI-CIDSS** is a community-driven development project that aims to empower communities through their enhanced participation in community projects that reduce poverty.

Within 6 years, the project aims to cover 25 percent of the poorest municipalities in the poorest 42 (out of 79) provinces of the Philippines, equivalent to more than 4,000 villages in 182 municipalities. It strengthens community participation in local governance and develops local capacity to design, implement, and manage development activities. Community grants are used to support the building of low-cost, productive infrastructure such as roads, water systems, clinics, and schools.

**KALAHI = Kapitbisig Laban sa Kahirapan (Linking Arms against Poverty)
**CIDSS = Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services

More information:
  KALAHI-CIDSS Project
  Additional CDD Projects in the Philippines

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