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The importance of community participation
Author(s) -
Bamberger Michael
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
public administration and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1099-162X
pISSN - 0271-2075
DOI - 10.1002/pad.4230110317
Subject(s) - distrust , disadvantaged , government (linguistics) , community development , public relations , sustainability , public administration , economic growth , political science , sociology , business , economics , law , ecology , linguistics , philosophy , biology
At a 1986 Economic Development Institute (EDI)‐sponsored workshop, the value of community participation in development projects was emphasized, including greater possibilities for project efficiency and effectiveness, cost‐recovery, social acceptability, and sustainability. Among the possible dangers brought out at the workshop were included: delays, additional costs, sabotage by powerful economic or social groups, hostility to or distrust of the government, intensification of community conflicts, and diversion of benefits to the well‐established rather than to women or the disadvantaged. Some of these potential problems can be reduced by careful research, flexible project design, appropriate technology and two‐way flows of communication. For projects to be effective, more research, training, information dissemination, and interorganizational coordination may be essential, in which EDI could play a role. This article is extracted from Bamberger, M. (1988). The Role of Community Participation in Development Planning and Project Management , EDI Policy Seminar Report No. 13. World Bank EDI, Washington D.C. The essays referred to here by Samuel Paul, Norman Uphoff, and Caroline Moser are contained in: Bamberger, M. (ed.) (1987). Readings in Community Participation: Papers presented at an International Workshop Organized by the Economic Development Institute of the World Bank. The World Bank EDI, Washington D.C.