From Needs to Assets: Charting a Sustainable Path towards Development in Sub-Saharan

African Countries Cormac RussellNurture Development; Nurture Development Africa, ABCD Institute, Chicago & ABCD Global Consulting.

Departing premise:Everyone should have the opportunity to be a

producer of theirown and their communities well-being

Our job? To support them..

International Development trends since 1950 As captured succinctly by Booy and Sena (Nov. 2000), the empowerment approach in international development work signifies a marked change from earlier approaches: 1950-60 Do development to the people 1960-70 Do development for the people 1970-80       Do development through the people   1980-90      Do development with the people 1990-to date Empower the people for development-the focus is

now on developing local capacity for self-development. For the first time, people are seen as the primary focus and owners of the development process.

David Ellerman (World Bank) on Helping (2001) help must start from the present situation of the

doers—not from a "blank slate", helpers must see the situation through the eyes of

the doers—not just through their own eyes, help cannot be imposed upon the doers—as that

directly violates their autonomy, nor can doers receive help as a benevolent gift—as

that creates dependency, and doers must be "in the driver's seat"—which is the

basic idea of autonomous self-direction.

Effective Communities

Look inside first to solve problems Relationships are seen as power Have a good sense of assets and capacities,

not just needs Leaders open doors Citizens are involved People take responsibility

Sub-Saharan Communities have many ongoing deficiencies & needs

Sub-Saharan Communities also have strengths, assets and opportunities…

The Dilemma . . .where to start?

All Sub-Saharan Communities have some combination of 5 Assets

$NGO NGO

$

G

G

Needs Mapping/Diagnostic Approach

HIV/AIDS

Climate Change

Corruption Rustling

Conflict

Cycles of Crisis Malaria

Economic vulnerability

DroughtCorrup-tion

No services

Sanitation

In the real world there are both strengths and needs

So where is most practice focused?

Where is most policy focused?

Consequences of the “Needs Map”

Internalizations of the “deficiencies” identified by local community

Destruction of social capital Reinforcement of narrow categorical funding

flows Direction of funds toward professional helpers,

not communities Focus on “leaders” who magnify deficiencies Rewards failure, produces dependency Creates hopelessness

NGOs & Donors focusedtheir attentionon….

What can be doneinstead of what can’t be done

What

might be

possible if

rather than problems

more than weaknesses

Individuals

Asset map: Turkana, Pokot and Samburu pastoral communities in Kenya.

Physical SpaceRangelands

Pasture grazing fields – Kadengoi, Kataruk, Kasarani, Loru plains, Silale,

ArooHills – Kalangol, Lotiruk, Loriu, Silale,

morwakiring, kamarokFarms – Morulem, Lokubae, Elelea

Seasonal streamsWater source e.g. wells, boreholes

and water panWomen groupsYouth groupsDevelopment

committeeVICOBA

Group ranchesConservanciesFamily Support

GroupsHealth Advocacy and

Fitness GroupsPFS

Youth groupsBusiness groupsReligious groupsElderly groups

Community Animal health worker groups

Dong’a Cultural GroupsMen’s Groups

Youth Mentoring GroupsMutual Support Groups

Neighborhood Improvement Groups

Political OrganizationsRecreation GroupsReligious Groups

Social GroupsWater users Groups

CAHWs vet shop groupsFormer livestock rustlers

group

assosciat

Local EconomyLivestock trade (small scale)

Charcoal burningSale of animal

Drugs shops by CAHWSFor-Profit BusinessesBusiness Associations

Village banksMicro enterprises

pastureLivestock

Business tradeSmall scale farming

Sand harvestingQuarry harvestingHoney harvesting

CharcoalMining

Hides and skin products

Eco – tourismSmall arms tradeLivestock rustling

StoriesOf Burning of prosopys Juliflora by the

womenOf Ashes from trees burning acts as

manure to the soilOf background and personal historyOf what we like to do and contributeOf existing and ongoing skills and

capacitiesOf successful community development

Of economic growthOf addressing discrimination

Of including those who are marginalizedOf recognizing the value of everyone

Of a time when we felt appreciated and valued

Of a time the community was at its best

Physical Space

Local Economy

StoriesInstitutions

Associations

Individuals

Communit

y

Communit

yCommunity

Skilled peopleBusiness skills

FarmersLeaders

BusinessmenWomen

Elders (traditional leaders)

EntrepreneursActivistsWarriors

Laibons / seersReligious Leaders

Students

InstitutionsMWUA / LWUA (food security)LOMEDS (micro credit, peace,

livestock marketing)LCRC – meeting facilities

Schools (primary) Nginyang, Amaya, Ngoron, Chesawach,Kokwototo, Natan

)Secondary (Chemolingot, Barpello and

Churo AIC)Nginyang Polytechnic

Health facilitiesChurches

The move is from services to clients,

to,

supports for citizens & communities

Development

Traditional Model Strength Based Model

Focus on Deficiencies Focus on Assets

Crisis Response Opportunity Identification

Charity Orientation Investment Orientation

Grants to Agencies Grants, Loans, Investments, leveraging dollars

More Services Fewer Services

High Emphasis on AgenciesEmphasis on associations, businesses,

agencies, churches, citizens

Focus on Individuals Focus on communities/neighborhoods

Maintenance Development

See People as Clients See People as Citizens

“Fix People” Develop Potential

Programmes are the answer People are the answer

"New frameworks arelike climbing amountain —

the larger view encompassesrather than rejects the earlier,

more restricted view."- Albert Einstein

A new framework for Development?

Wherever possible combine the best of 4 approaches: Sustainable Livelihoods Approach PRA Rights Based Approach Asset Based Approach…then address needs with communities, not

for them…

MOMENTUM A little push in the right direction can make a

BIG difference.

In the final analysis

Perhaps the most important contributor to a community’s and indeed a country’s success is a belief in its abilities rather than in its problems.