The
Programme
Aims
to improve
local governance through the creation of community l
ed environment development
planning, budgeting and implementation processes centred around the concern for
improving the local environment.
The
concept of a regional community environmental development facility is based on
the success of Thailand’s Urban Community Development’s Office (UCDO)
community environmental improvement fund.
The fund, is managed through a process which is rooted in the community
network process. Communities determine their development priorities and prepare
development project proposals - allocating clearly how the community intends to
contribute and maintain them and how it will implement the project.
Proposals are then discussed in committees comprised of a network of
communities, which determine priorities for the network and the appropriateness
of the proposals submitted. Once
accepted, a proposal is then shared with a city level committee comprised of
city officials, other concerned formal sector actors and community network
leaders (with community membership
on committees outnumbering that of other members).
Again, proposals are reviewed, commented upon and at this point
communities can negotiate for contributions or more support from local
authorities.
In
Thailand, this process has had considerable success in not only enabling
communities to undertake improvements in their settlements, but it has also
established the basis for an equitable partnership between communities, local,
provincial and central authorities and other key actors.
Furthermore, the communities abilities to manage the process, implement
cost savings improvements and through the process develop a range of management,
technical and intellectual skills have all enhanced the communities credibility
vis-a-vis officials. Participating
communities are now being consulted by city governments in larger city
processes.
This CEDF is an
advanced process to enhance learning, sharing amongst various local development
actors through implementation of concrete activities together.
It is also a constructive and soft way
to build local partnerships between communities and development actors
engaging in common action.
Several urban poor community networks facilitated by ACHR have the capacity to
develop this process in their countries.
