Community

Empowerment
For
Rural Developmen
K.A.D.S Thilakarathna
11/Ag/034
EG788

Dime
nsion
s

Introd
uction

Community
Empowerment
For

Rural
Development
Conc
lusio
n

Comm
unity
Empo
werme
nt
Proces
s

Advant
ages
and
Disadv
antage
s
Comm
unity
Empo
werme
nt
Project
s in Sri
Lanka

Introduction
Present World is consist of 46% of Rural population .
Today Rural areas are facing major challenges

Rural Development
Rural development may be defined as,
overall development of rural areas to improve the
quality of life of rural people. It is an integrated process,
which includes social, economical, political and spiritual
development of the poorer sections of the society.

Introduction
What is a Community?
UNAIDS defines ``community'' as that a community
is a group of people who have something in common
and will act together in their common interest.
Empowerment
Empowerment' refers to the process by which
people gain control over the factors and decisions
that shape their lives.
Therefore,
Community empowerment refers to the process of
enabling communities to increase control over their
lives.

New vision for Rural Development

Community Empowerment
New vision Required for Rural development:
A vision of prosperity through the
empowerment of local communities.
Top-down plans and donor-driven investment
programs
have proven less than successful.
An empowered community is one which is:
1. Confident
2. Inclusive
3. Organized
4. Co-operative
5. Influential

Dimensions of Community Empowerment

Confident Inclusive Organized

CoInfluential
operative

How traditional approach to rural development different from community empowerment?

New roof
Traditional / short cut approach
You contract with a builder, based on lowest cost,

A community empowerment approach

Confident
You involve local people in discussions about the roof.

Inclusive
Involve the group working with.

Organized

You encourage people to work as a team and work to each

others strengths.

Cooperative
You encourage the group to look at projects elsewhere.
How have other groups worked with contractors, what did
they learn, who did they use and what happened?

Influential
You encourage the group to make decisions and they do
this within known parameters

Community Empowerment Process

Discovery
Evaluation

Independe
nt
Alternativ
e

Resistance

Partnershi
p

SelfDefinition

Selfreputation

Importance of Community
Empowerment

Objective of community Empowerment is,

to strengthen the communitys capacity to identify

problems and

come up with the solutions,

carry out action plans,

as well as monitor the progress and make an

appropriate evaluation

Advantages of Community Empowerment

Encourages active involvement through the participation of all

members of the community.
Community empowerment builds on local strengths, creativity
and resource, and actively seeks to decrease dependency on, as
a result sustainability is ensured.
Equity in decision making processes, resources mobilization.
Enhanced motivation of the community.
Builds the capacity of the community by encouraging the
acquisition of relevant skills

Challenges in community empowerment:

Less room allowed for community

participation.
communities are often primarily
motivated by their strong sense of
urgency about achieving their preset
objectives and timeline.
Incomplete participation or representation
in decision making
Resistance to change

Rural Development Projects for community empowerment in Sri Lanka

Empowered rural community sustainably

contributing to rural economy of the Eastern
Province.

Gemi Diriya
EMPOWERING WOMEN- Sahana Sri lanka
Fisheries Community Empowerment 130mn 21
Activities conducted (2016 Budget)
Rural Agricultural Development
Village Uplifting Program - 2015 (Gama Neguma)
Road Development
Maga Neguma
Drug Prevention
Milk Production and Delivery
Rural Development and Poverty Reduction
Child Malnutrition Prevention

World Bank Country Director Naoko Iishi

inspects a water supply
project(Gemidiriya project) in
Perahettiya in Badulla.

Maga Neguma project Kegalle

-Tholangamuwa Pananwatta

Ussana Irrigation scheme

-Mathale

Conclusion

Community empowerment practitioners firstly

need to ensure that community members take
ownership of the initiative.
Secondly, creating strong links to outside
resources and development partners as
communities are not closed and selfsustaining systems.
Thirdly, for a successful community
participation requires a strong skilled local
leadership
Fourthly, optimal community leadership and
optimal representation.

Reference

http://dl.nsf.ac.lk
cited on 22.09.2007

http://www.epi.org/downloads/docs

cited on 22.09.2007
www.ceford.org.ug/index.php
cited on 25.09.2007

http://www.empower.coop
cited on 25.09.2007

Thank you