This is a assignment done for the course in Bsc in Agricultural Sciences and management.

1. Community
Empowerment
For
Rural Development
K.A.D.S Thilakarathna
11/Ag/034
EG788

2. DimensionsIntroduction
Community
Empowerment
Process
Community
Empowerment
For
Rural Development
Advantages
and
Disadvantages
Community
Empowerment
Projects in Sri
Lanka
Conclusion

3. 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.

4. 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.

6. 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

7. Dimensions of Community Empowerment
Confident Inclusive Organized
Co-
operative
Influential

8. 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 other’s
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

9. Community Empowerment Process
Discovery
Partnership
Self-
Definition
Self-
reputation
Resistance
Independent
Alternative
Evaluation

10. Importance of Community Empowerment
• Objective of community Empowerment is,
 to strengthen the community’s 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Rural Development Projects for community
empowerment in Sri Lanka
• 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
“Empowered rural community sustainably contributing to rural
economy of the Eastern Province.”

14. 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

15. 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
self- sustaining systems.
• Thirdly, for a successful community participation requires
a strong skilled local leadership
• Fourthly, optimal community leadership and optimal
representation.

16. 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

17. Thank you