CITIZEN PARTICIPATION INCITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY COMMUNITY AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

A PAPER PRESENTATION BY A PAPER PRESENTATION BY THE HANDS PROJECTTHE HANDS PROJECT

ON 30ON 30THTH DECEMBER 2009 DECEMBER 2009 AT THE BENUE HOTELS MAKURDIAT THE BENUE HOTELS MAKURDI

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The paper seeks toThe paper seeks to

Discuss the importance of Discuss the importance of citizen’s participation and citizen’s participation and leadership synergy for community leadership synergy for community and rural development and rural development

Sensitize the citizenry on the all-Sensitize the citizenry on the all-inclusive nature of governance inclusive nature of governance and and

Discuss the role of citizen Discuss the role of citizen commitment towards community commitment towards community development in Benue State. development in Benue State.

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INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY PARTICIPATIONINTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION Community participation is the Community participation is the focal focal ingredient ingredient of an of an empowered communityempowered community It is necessary for a cohesive It is necessary for a cohesive system of system of service delivery service delivery especially in rural especially in rural communitiescommunities It is critical to individual It is critical to individual satisfaction and satisfaction and eventually eventually community success in various community success in various programs.( studies have shown)programs.( studies have shown) Since rural communities are the Since rural communities are the delivery delivery points for government points for government mandate; it is also mandate; it is also an important an important feedback tool for leadership.feedback tool for leadership.

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Characteristics of a participating communityCharacteristics of a participating community

The community is not just run by the The community is not just run by the elite elite leadership but by everyoneleadership but by everyone Power and responsibility are Power and responsibility are therefore therefore decentralized and Community decentralized and Community action engages action engages the neutral the neutral enthusiasm and talents of everyoneenthusiasm and talents of everyone Business is conducted openly, Business is conducted openly, publicized widely publicized widely and citizens are and citizens are informed about opportunities informed about opportunities for personal for personal involvement in meaningful rolesinvolvement in meaningful roles There are no distinctions between There are no distinctions between various various groups willing to offer groups willing to offer themselves to community themselves to community activitiesactivities

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characteristics continuedcharacteristics continued

Actively reach out to all the Actively reach out to all the citizens to citizens to encourage their encourage their participationparticipation Do not have such words as “bad Do not have such words as “bad idea”. idea”. Every idea is welcome and Every idea is welcome and respected as a respected as a source of inspiration source of inspiration with potential value to with potential value to the the community.community.

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Elements of community participation therefore will beElements of community participation therefore will be

Many peopleMany people

Many centersMany centers

Open and advertisedOpen and advertised

Open to all ideasOpen to all ideas

Inclusive and diverseInclusive and diverse

Open processesOpen processes

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Building community participationBuilding community participation

Welcome it – be glad for the Welcome it – be glad for the opportunity of opportunity of new contributors even if new contributors even if they were not there they were not there in the beginningin the beginning Explain where things stand so that Explain where things stand so that people can people can fit in easilyfit in easily Offer variety of job descriptions so Offer variety of job descriptions so that new that new comers can find roles that fit comers can find roles that fit their interest and their interest and talentstalents Offer volunteer opportunities as Offer volunteer opportunities as they are the they are the lifeline of a well meaning lifeline of a well meaning rural communityrural community MAKE YOURSELF READY MAKE YOURSELF READY

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READY TOREADY TO

1.1. To turn your back on old ways of To turn your back on old ways of doing thingsdoing things

2.2. To invite new and challenging To invite new and challenging ideas into the communityideas into the community

3.3. Help individuals change their Help individuals change their perspectives about the perspectives about the communitycommunity

4.4. To shun personal gain, notoriety To shun personal gain, notoriety and power when success starts and power when success starts rolling inrolling in

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Core Development Behaviors for Working with Core Development Behaviors for Working with supported communities.supported communities.

•Each supported community is a Each supported community is a unique group and working with unique group and working with them demands special skills them demands special skills tailored to meet their particular tailored to meet their particular needsneeds

•There are however some core There are however some core special skills that a community special skills that a community resource development specialist resource development specialist should apply in every situationshould apply in every situation

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These include………..These include………..

Get to know the community Get to know the community leaders leaders individually. individually. Get the community members Get the community members involved involved with with their state their state officersofficers Be aggressive in promoting all Be aggressive in promoting all community benchmarking community benchmarking measures. measures. Communicate the needs and Communicate the needs and desires of desires of the community to all the community to all agencies which agencies which could possibly could possibly provide assistance provide assistance include other include other agencies in community agencies in community meetings meetings whenever possiblewhenever possible

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Contd_Contd_

Be a good listener-hear what Be a good listener-hear what people are people are saying then decide on saying then decide on the merits or the merits or demerits of their demerits of their commentscomments Respond to community direction- Respond to community direction- don’t don’t simply react. The community simply react. The community leadership is leadership is exercising its duties by exercising its duties by making decisions making decisions and setting and setting priorities. This is what you priorities. This is what you should be should be responding toresponding to Keep the community in the fore Keep the community in the fore front for front for it is their program. it is their program. THE HANDS PROJECT

Finally capitalize on pre-existing local Finally capitalize on pre-existing local grassroots organizations and grassroots organizations and committees. These groups can be life committees. These groups can be life line and focal groups of your efforts. line and focal groups of your efforts. These groups carry out much of what These groups carry out much of what get done by communities. Don’t get done by communities. Don’t overlook the creative potentials of overlook the creative potentials of building new groups when the building new groups when the conditions are right or the situation conditions are right or the situation warrants. When viewed this way it is warrants. When viewed this way it is then easier to see the importance of then easier to see the importance of hearing all voices, of using all hands, hearing all voices, of using all hands, of sharing the pain, of celebrating of sharing the pain, of celebrating the gain.the gain.

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Strategies to employ will includeStrategies to employ will include

Learn about your community Learn about your community Pay advocacy visitsPay advocacy visits Conduct a needs assessment Conduct a needs assessment Draw up a strategic plan Draw up a strategic plan Have a brochure and slide show on Have a brochure and slide show on the the community development program community development program ready to go ready to go Begin implementationBegin implementation Ongoing monitoring and Ongoing monitoring and evaluation evaluation THE HANDS PROJECT

PitfallsPitfalls

Don’t be concerned with who gets Don’t be concerned with who gets the credit the credit Assist the community leadership Assist the community leadership but don’t get caught in doing their but don’t get caught in doing their jobs for them jobs for them Don’t be everything to everybody Don’t be everything to everybody Represent the community not your Represent the community not your agency agency No task is too big or unsolvable. No task is too big or unsolvable. Be positive, Be positive, it is contagious it is contagious THE HANDS PROJECT

•THANK YOU FOR LISTENINGTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING