Notes by Mr Masero Emmanuel +255753998607

3. APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT

4. Approaches to Community Development
Directives
Non-directives

5. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
 Refers as a process whereby all citizens are involved in the process of
community change and improvement.
APPROACHES OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
 These are methods to explain the way of working with communities and people
to set different agendas and engage effectively in organizing development matters.
TYPES OFAPPROACH TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
i. Directives / top -down approach
ii. Non-directives/ bottom-up approach

6. DIRECTIVE OR TOP -DOWN APPROACH
 A directive approach refers to a top-down or prescriptive method of planning and implementing
community development initiatives. In this approach, decision-making authority is centralized and
the community is not actively involved in the planning process. Instead, the community is expected
to comply with the decisions made by the authorities.
 Therefore, this approach tends to reflect pressure from the top, and by considering this approach
decision making are made by the top authority goes to the local community for the
implementation of the different projects at the local levels or community levels.

7. CHARACTERISTICS OF A DIRECTIVE/ TOP -DOWN APPROACH
Centralized control
 Decisions are made by a single entity, such as the government or a non-profit
organization, rather than by the community, for example citizens are not party
of decision in case of economic matters.
Prescriptive solutions
 Solutions are predetermined and imposed on the community, rather than
developed through a participatory process, for example results are not taken to
consider the citizen suggestions.

8. CONT.. CHARACTERISTICS OF A DIRECTIVE/ TOP -DOWN
APPROACH TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Limited community involvement
 The community is not actively involved in the planning and implementation
process, and may not have a voice in decision-making, for example local
people have no much to decide the solution either critical or social issues.
Expert-driven
 Solutions are based on expert knowledge and technical expertise, rather than
on community needs and perspectives, for example it requires to those who are
expert with literate capacity than illiterate.

9. ADVANTAGE OF DIRECTIVE /TOP – DOWN APPROACH TO COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
Standardize product and service attached to community development
 For example different products and services may come from centralized to
attach the community.
Facilitating quickly control
 For example the high top-down involve self organization of different matters
to arrive to down.
Reallocate asserts and decision-making power
 To implement solutions in case of improper organization after decision.

10. Create clear line of authority
 Because decisions are made by a single entity for example the centralized levels arrange its levels
to operate top-down.
DISADVANTAGES OF DIRECTIVE APPROACH TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
source for unsustainability of the project or program
denies the rights of the community members to have right for expression
 Due to level based of centralized for example only high authority operate.
non-democratic approach of community development
 Because it limits community involvement for example on critical issues citizens not involved in
new business development.
Few will participate in making decision

11. NON-DIRECTIVE /BOTTOM-UP -APPROACH
 This is an approach which allows the local community to express their views and
to help define the development course for their area in line with their own views,
expectation and plans.
 This approach its more democratic and further more tends to involve the
participatory of the community members participating over the all matters of
community development over their residents.

12.  Therefore, levels of non-directive approach of community development.
i. Level of programming
ii. Level of decision -making
iii. Level of implementation
iv. Level evaluation
v. Level revision of the programme either directly or through bodies.

13. CHARACTERISTICS OF NON-DIRECT/ BOTTOM-UPAPPROACH
Involve the local community
 This kind of approach always seems to involve people on various matters to
solve common problems, for example citizens in involved in dialogue of
critical issues such as economic development.
To draw up ideas and generate initiatives through participation
 Participation may come in many forms including the completion of surveys,
volunteering for a particular project, attending a public meeting, or serving on
a committee or task force, for example citizens make comparisons to select
appropriate environment o start new tasks.

14. CONT.. CHARACTERISTICS OF NON-DIRECT/ BOTTOM-UPAPPROACH
Build Consensus
 Developed through participation to interact into various initiatives matters, for example
Delegate decision -making powers
 Delegate decision -making power enable to establish, additional organizations and citizens can
be involved in addressing specific problems that are of direct interest to them, for example, an
economic development subcommittee might be created, and its membership expanded to
include additional business leaders.
ADVANTAGE OF NON-DIRECTIVE APPROACH / BOTTOM -UPAPPROACH
Enhance a sense of collective action, for example to reach common interest such in social,
economic, etc.

15. CONT.. ADVANTAGE OF NON-DIRECTIVE APPROACH / BOTTOM -UPAPPROACH
Bring out a sense of belonging over a particular project
 For example give a sense to established for maintenance of community development about a
project.
Enhance project sustainability
 For example promote the level to ensure to meet the future development.
Provides a sense of self determination to community member of the community development
matters
Gives chance to all community member to participate
 For example they are involved in community development matters through engage in
participation.
Ensure satisfactory among the community member over the project of community development
 For example to repair different construction such rivers, roads.

16. DISADVANTAGES OF NON-DIRECTIVE APPROACH TO COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
Difficult to reach conclusion easily
 For example every one involved in decision making an suggestions.
Ideological bias may get arise among the community member
 Because community at large give suggestion, for example in case of economic
development.
Conflicts of ideas and interest might take place over the community member
 For example different members have different opinions maybe in issue of social
issues to be solved.

17. Took more time for the project to be done effectively and launched
 Because it gives additional expectations to select other members during the steps of
community developments.
CONCLUSION
 Non-directive approach is more participatory approach, where the community is actively
involved in the planning and implementation process, is often more effective in achieving
long-term outcomes. While a directive approach can be effective in achieving specific goals, it
may not be as effective in fostering community engagement, building local ownership, or
creating sustainable solutions.

18. REFERENCES
Business Xpansion Journal, (2007).Job Prospects: Pain Free Trade
Spurs Second Thoughts.
Ovwigho,B.(2007). Evaluation of directive and non-directive
approaches. A case study of community development. Nigeria.