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

employment and particularly Idirs. The clan and particularly house- based Idirs form the urban backbone
of GPSDO and many charge a 10% development levy on monthly fees which can be used to make ad-hoc
contributions to projects. One migrant commented, “part of our monthly Idir fee goes towards
development and sometimes the [Idir] committee will ask us to pay a lump sum for a particular project.”
GPSDO activists and elders use their knowledge of urban networks, urban associational linkages and
rural kinship ties to access a large proportion of the urban Gurage population to mobilize urban
resources.
Example of an International Community-Driven Development Case Study (3)
(Adapted from an internal document by Catherine Hirbour, Coady Youth Intern, and Eduardo Lopez
Ayala, CIED, Peru, December, 2001)
The Community of Cullpe, Peru
In this case study, an example of endogenous community-driven development is presented to illustrate
how communities have driven their own development without outside assistance. The case example is
that of the community of Cullpe, located 92 km south of Peru’s capital, Lima.
Prior to the early 1980s, the farming and cattle raising capacity of Cullpe had been severely affected by
changes in the hydrological cycle and consequent degradation of vegetation, soil erosion, and loss of soil
fertility. Service delivery in the form of education and health care were minimal. Although land reform
measures permitted each family to own one hectare of land, this was insufficient to guarantee food
security given the ecological conditions. For many young people, prospects for a future in Cullpe seemed
unattractive, and many began to leave for the city.
Yet, by an astute use of community assets, Cullpe has been able to overcome many of these problems,
and make the transformation from a subsistence economy without food security to a diversified cash
economy with food surplus. These assets include indigenous knowledge of local ecology and effective
farming methods, rich biodiversity, strong community organization, a cooperative work ethic, and access
to urban markets.
The strong leadership and social organization of Cullpe has been a key factor in turning the local
economy around. The community is made up of 30 families, all related, that are able to mobilize
extended family membership. During the last 12 years, influenced by this leadership, the community has
chosen not to put resources into the elaborate and expensive patron saint festivities, deciding instead to
invest these resources in agricultural production. A culture of communal work has allowed bridges,
roads, and reservoirs to be built, and reforestation and social conservation programs to be put in place.
There are several stories that illustrate how Cullpe was transformed into a prosperous community.
Some of the youth that had migrated to urban centres during the 1970s returned with technological
knowledge gained from work and travel experience. One of these had gained experience of dam
construction, and returned to Cullpe with ideas for damming rainwater. After convincing his family, a
communal meeting was held to convince other families. Still doubtful, 6 community members were
encouraged to travel to the north of the country to observe dam construction there. On their return, 16
families in total agreed to collaborate. During a 7 year period, from 1983 to 1990, through contributions
of labour and money, which helped pay for contracting paid workers, these families built the dam.
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