Community Development

Local communities around the world face a range of challenges in achieving the needs and the aspirations of the people that live in them. Whether based in urban or rural settings, understanding and addressing these challenges requires strong analytical, organising and communication skills, as well as an ability to work with a wide range of different kinds of people. This course introduces some of the important theories and practices that have been used in community development in different countries, drawing on examples from the Global South and the Global North. Students will also become familiar with the broader structures in which community development is organised, including government and non-government projects and programmes. A practical exercise based in a local community helps to integrate theoretical ideas about empowerment, identity and social justice with the lives and concerns of people at the community level.