Question

what is the main differences and examples of community development and mainstream international development ?

what is indigenous community development examples ?

Answer 1

                        Community development is a development process where the community members would come together to take a collective action against a common problem which would establish community harmony and wellbeing which includes social, economic and cultural harmony and wellbeing. The mainstream international development refers to such a development process where an incumbent government and an administrational set up would have a strategic plan so as to bring development in sectors and would generate policies and initiatives for the development of each sector. Here, sector specific policies are formulated and budgetary allocations are made for the development of each sector and the allocations would be made only according to the priority for each sector to the economy of a nation.

                        The community development initiatives are aimed to develop a particular area with the help of combined partnership and thus could make sure that the implications and difficulties that are associated with the government format and structure are not affecting the performance of the project. For example, the Narmada Bachao Andolan, the Social Forestry programme etc in the Indian sub continent are examples of community led programmes that were aimed for environmental sustainability and development. The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People [UNDRIP] is an act that is an example of the international mainstream development. It was an act that was introduced in 2007 to give collective rights to the population that have been left out of mainstream development in the international scenario.

                        The indigenous community development initiatives are aimed at bringing about changes in the indigenous community who have been left behind from the mainstream international development. The works of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation in this regard is appreciatory. They have been renamed as Community Development Corporations [CDC] as a result of such initiatives. The works of the Gulbenkian foundation in the UK aiming at local community development, the Antigonish movement of Canada etc are certain initiatives that aimed at indigenous community development in various nations. The major advantage of such indigenous community development is the economic benefit that the nation gains due to it as much more of the population are brought in to the mainstream of economy and thus would result in raising the productive power of the economy as a whole.