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employment and particularly Idirs. The clan and particularly house- based Idirs form the urban backbone<br />

<strong>of</strong> GPSDO and many charge a 10% development levy on monthly fees which can be used to make ad-hoc<br />

contributions to projects. One migrant commented, “part <strong>of</strong> our monthly Idir fee goes towards<br />

development and sometimes the [Idir] committee will ask us to pay a lump sum for a particular project.”<br />

GPSDO activists and elders use their knowledge <strong>of</strong> urban networks, urban associational linkages and<br />

rural kinship ties to access a large proportion <strong>of</strong> the urban Gurage population to mobilize urban<br />

resources.<br />

Example <strong>of</strong> an International Community-Driven Development Case Study (3)<br />

(Adapted from an internal document by Catherine Hirbour, Coady Youth Intern, and Eduardo Lopez<br />

Ayala, CIED, Peru, December, 2001)<br />

The Community <strong>of</strong> Cullpe, Peru<br />

In this case study, an example <strong>of</strong> endogenous community-driven development is presented to illustrate<br />

how communities have driven their own development without outside assistance. The case example is<br />

that <strong>of</strong> the community <strong>of</strong> Cullpe, located 92 km south <strong>of</strong> Peru’s capital, Lima.<br />

Prior to the early 1980s, the farming and cattle raising capacity <strong>of</strong> Cullpe had been severely affected by<br />

changes in the hydrological cycle and consequent degradation <strong>of</strong> vegetation, soil erosion, and loss <strong>of</strong> soil<br />

fertility. Service delivery in the form <strong>of</strong> education and health care were minimal. Although land reform<br />

measures permitted each family to own one hectare <strong>of</strong> land, this was insufficient to guarantee food<br />

security given the ecological conditions. For many young people, prospects for a future in Cullpe seemed<br />

unattractive, and many began to leave for the city.<br />

Yet, by an astute use <strong>of</strong> community assets, Cullpe has been able to overcome many <strong>of</strong> these problems,<br />

and make the transformation from a subsistence economy without food security to a diversified cash<br />

economy with food surplus. These assets include indigenous knowledge <strong>of</strong> local ecology and effective<br />

farming methods, rich biodiversity, strong community organization, a cooperative work ethic, and access<br />

to urban markets.<br />

The strong leadership and social organization <strong>of</strong> Cullpe has been a key factor in turning the local<br />

economy around. The community is made up <strong>of</strong> 30 families, all related, that are able to mobilize<br />

extended family membership. During the last 12 years, influenced by this leadership, the community has<br />

chosen not to put resources into the elaborate and expensive patron saint festivities, deciding instead to<br />

invest these resources in agricultural production. A culture <strong>of</strong> communal work has allowed bridges,<br />

roads, and reservoirs to be built, and reforestation and social conservation programs to be put in place.<br />

There are several stories that illustrate how Cullpe was transformed into a prosperous community.<br />

Some <strong>of</strong> the youth that had migrated to urban centres during the 1970s returned with technological<br />

knowledge gained from work and travel experience. One <strong>of</strong> these had gained experience <strong>of</strong> dam<br />

construction, and returned to Cullpe with ideas for damming rainwater. After convincing his family, a<br />

communal meeting was held to convince other families. Still doubtful, 6 community members were<br />

encouraged to travel to the north <strong>of</strong> the country to observe dam construction there. On their return, 16<br />

families in total agreed to collaborate. During a 7 year period, from 1983 to 1990, through contributions<br />

<strong>of</strong> labour and money, which helped pay for contracting paid workers, these families built the dam.<br />

49

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