The heart of this issue concerns real participation – valuing the contribution of each individual and ensuring that each person has the opportunity to share their views. Too often, ‘experts’ from outside think they have the answers to development issues. Too often, local people (who may have been told for decades that their knowledge is inadequate) assume that only outside experts can solve their problems. Genuine sustainable development can only come from community action – begun and continued by the community itself. Lots of impressive things can be achieved with outside funding and experts, but – like the example of the hand-pump – will they last once the outside help finishes? Sadly the benefits may rapidly fade away unless the community owns them.
Please find below articles from Footsteps issue 29 in html.
To download a pdf version of Footsteps issue 29 click here (719K).
