Strategic shift

1. Strategic shift The VDP is a strategic shift by FIOH from sectoral to an integrated approach Sectoral objectives to a common objective, thus the slogan; “Education for All through Village Development” Focus is still on education, But it is now… Linked to wider development for greater impact and sustainability

2. Community Problems • Problems coming out from the communities are many and interlinked • They fall mainly within the following; • a. weak community institutions, • b. low literacy and awareness levels • c. degrading environment,

3. d. low household income, • e. inadequate food in communities, • f. inadequate water, • g. poor health • These problems can directly or indirectly impact negatively on education

4. Integrated Approach The above manifestations of poverty in the communities shows the predicament of the rural communities Our approach therefore requires an integrated approach where all units have a role to play The communities have a leading role to play in the process Bottom-top/participatory approach

5. Challenges of Development work • Past failures in development work • Ineffective approaches e.g. Top-down • Tendency of creating a dependency syndrome instead of independence • continuous search for effective approaches • One conclusion is ‘there is the need for Participatory planning with communities; use of participatory tools’ • Communities taking the lead in the process

6. VDP, Planning to Implementation • PRA • A Participatory analyses and Planning Process • Collection of demographic data • Problem Analyses and develop Action Plan • Action plan, basis for VDP intervention • Instills community ownership and enhances sustainable development

7. Ultimate direction is to hand over the development process to the communities; to take charge or control their own development process Strengthening and empowering community institutions through capacity building and support is key in the process Way Forward