Development from within: an exploration of how the strength based approach espouses people-centredness- a case of the Catholic development commision (cadecom) project in Dowa, Malawi

[摘要] Strength Based Approach (SBA) is a new thinking in the alternative approaches to communitydevelopment discourse, an approach which is grounded on philosophies that promoteutilization of locally available resources, skills and capacities for self-transformation. StrengthBased Approach offers a paradigm shift, from the needs-based or problem-based perspectivesto development, to a more asset-based, strength-based or resource-based approach that isoriented more towards development from within. This paper draws attention to how theStrength Based Approach can be considered an archetype of people-led development along thepeople-centeredness development paradigm. The paper establishes how, in practice, theStrength Based Approach links with concepts of 'community participation, 'communityempowerment 'social learning and 'development sustainability.The study's central question is: Whose reality counts in development work and what constitutesactive people's participation in the development process? Using CADECOM project, in Dowadistrict, Malawi, as a case study, the study establishes that the Strength Based Approach, as aparticipatory development approach, engages people in the development process; putting themat the centre of the development process. Conclusions are made that self-reliance andindependence of thought in the development process are key to sustainable development.Data for the study was collected through a series of eight Focus Group Discussions (FGDs)and 11 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with communities and officers who participated in theCADECOM project that adopted the Strength Based Approach, as a community engagementmechanism in the livelihood project in Dowa. Strength Based Approach is categorized in therealm of development from within; it is people-centred and resource-centered. Whileacknowledging the many advantages of the strength-based approach, visa-a-vis the needsbasedapproach, the study finds implications with the approach in situations when communitiesare resource constrained and cannot attain their desired development aspirations from theirvisions. Visioning is an important element of the Strength Based Approach; however, peoplecannot be limited to dreaming about their future in view of the only resources or strengthsaround them. The study recommends further exploration on how the SBA can be effectivelyimplemented alongside Rights Based Approaches (RBA). Again, further academic research isrequired to establish the impact of illiteracy in the implementation of SBA, among ruralcommunities, majority of whom are illiterate, given that in this approach, inspiration for selftransformationemanates from the community visions.

[发布机构] University of the Free State