ABCD-Training-of-Trainers-Tools-July-2013

It may also be strategic for communities to table development plans as submissions in government’s
integrated development planning (IDP) process. The next IDP cycle producing 5 year district and
municipal level plans will commence just before the end of 2011. Where possible, partners should try to
make presentations to the Municipality Council and the Municipality IDP Team to achieve recognition,
appraisal and possible resources for Community Development Plan implementation. Engagement with
Municipal IDP Officials and the Political Leadership can be facilitated through meetings, the IDP
Representative Forum and IDP Road Shows. There will be other ongoing advocacy opportunities.
Lobbying for the inclusion of the development plan in the IDP process and through the Ward Committee
meetings will be beneficial. The credibility of the development plan should be apparent and recognized
by both the community, Municipality and other key stakeholders. Individualized Business Plans with
Economic and Social Development Departments can be further developed as part of the CDP document
and pursued for further funding.
Sustainability
Too often, development interventions are ad hoc, short term and not sustainable. In particular, projects
framed in a ‘deficiency model’ tend to create dependency on external funding and experts to keep them
going. These types of interventions may initially generate interest and high expectations but often there
is disillusionment when funding or partnership agreements conclude. They can also be very disruptive
and can hamper future efforts. In fact, unsustainable interventions actually shrink the asset base.
Sustainability is about people consciously taking responsibility for development. It is about continued
skills and leadership development and networking. It is mostly about growth and conservation of the
assets and resources a community has and can build on. Community members can therefore prioritize
activities within their development plans which they can immediately and independently implement. It
is important that there are shared intentions amongst partners to keep the process moving and that this
is clarified from the onset.
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