Thesis (M.Arch.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes special study report entitled: The architectural language of Tai O. Includes bibliographical references (leaves. Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2006. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains x, 176 p. : ill. (some col.), maps (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 152-160).

Thesis (MTech (Business))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009 / The dissertation examines the levels of service delivery in Philippi through Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) and it suggests this model as a model that can be used to confront the challenges of underdevelopment, the mobilisation and sustaining of local economic development. The research investigates theoretical and practical approaches to address the developmental problems embedded in dependency theory utilised by government and non governmental organisations (NGOs) in the Philippi community. The research clarifies the important role of developmental stakeholders in depoliticising development processes and its endeavours to address issues of development ownership in Philippi. It suggests the employment of the Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) approach which will focus on building Philippi from the inside out, utilising the available human capital, people’s expertise, formal and informal talents. The research employed both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. These methodologies rely on literature search, questionnaires, interviews, and observation as methods of data collection. At the end of the study, workable recommendations will be made informed by the research findings.

M.Ed. / With the democratic government in place in 1994, many donor agents put a lot of money into rural community development. This was done with the hope of addressing disparities that were caused by the apartheid era. Yet the availability of funds for rural communities has often not resulted in development as anticipated. This study looks at how community development projects should be planned, implemented and monitored. A case study of the Boschkop sanitation project has been used. In this case interviews, documents and observations (to a limited extent) were used to gather information. Two members of the Regional Sanitation Task Team, three Project Steering Committee members, three community members and two trainers were interviewed. Documents, ranging from the business plan to the closure report, were used. The data were analysed using the constant comparative method. From the data analysis it became apparent that the Boschkop sanitation project was not successful. The project was implemented over a very short period of time. There was not sufficient education on the project as the participants were not afforded the opportunity to apply what they had learned immediately. The community was not involved in making decisions and somehow they do not think they own the project. The study shows that reckless disbursement of money is not necessarily a solution to a problem. For rural community development projects to be successful there should be sufficient time allowed, a period of at least twelve months, to allow the participants to be actively involved right from the inception of the project to its evaluation. During the planning phase all the stakeholders have to indicate what it is they would like the project to achieve. Indicators of success have to be agreed upon

D.Comm. (Strategic Management) / In South Africa, civil society, supported by local government, plays an important role in transformation processes that affect a variety of existing and newly developing South African community environments. The ultimate community challenge is to ensure sustainable community development within a community environment, and to efficiently manage a variety of sourced and allocated resources. To achieve the desired results more efficiently, this research concentrates on the best Strategic Management practices needed to assist community leaders with tools for facilitating community development in South Africa. Many South African communities are not applying best practices for sourcing, allocating and managing the variety of available resources efficiently in their respective community environments and as a result, the desired sustainable community development objectives are not being achieved. The research undertaken is to provide, community leaders with a clearer understanding of how Strategic Management principles and processes can assist community leaders. The research will provide leaders with a tool how to apply efficient management to community resources. This process, if applied well, can assist achieving sustainable development in South African communities for generations to come...

Development is central to the existence of every society including demographic entities that constitute a community of people. Community development is a process designed to create conditions of economic and social progress for the entire community with its active participation and fullest possible reliance on the community development initiatives. The support of either individuals or organisations for the community to realise its full potential is essential, likewise is the role of development agencies in community development a good omen towards the advancement of human development. This research looks at a number of development initiatives presented by aid agencies aimed at improving community life, solving serious problems of quality life, social exclusion, and resources availability. The research explores the socio-economic impacts of development initiatives led by development agencies in local communities, a case study of a peri-urban community of Msunduza, Swaziland. The study was guided by five objectives: i) To evaluate the positive and negative impacts of development initiatives led by development agencies; ii) To establish to what extent the Msunduza community know community development initiatives and how they perceive them; iii) To analyse the sustainability of development initiatives/projects led by the development agencies; iv) To determine what the participatory principles of community development are in the area; v) To draw conclusions and make recommendations that will improve community development through organisational interventions.

The purpose of this thesis is to look at a non-conventional approach to increasing well-being at the community level. This new approach to development is called community-based economic development (CBED). Interest in CBED has been stimulated both by crises at the local level and by global problems. In Canada the impetus for CBED is attributable to three factors: the dependency of small communities on external factors and the alienation it promotes; a globalizing international economy; and the failure of past Canadian regional development planning policies. Community-based economic development is a new approach that seeks to increase community self-reliance. Many different CBED initiatives are currently operating in various regions, communities, and neighbourhoods across Canada. These CBED initiatives have centred on stimulating local employment and income levels almost exclusively within the formal "monetized" economy. This thesis examines a CBED initiative that operates within the "non-monetized" informal sector called the Local Exchange Trading System (LETS). LETS is a barter network that uses a local currency, "green dollars", to facilitate trading between members. To ascertain if the LETSystem can improve well-being at the local level, this thesis has examined three Canadian LETSYstems: Victoria, Cowichan Valley, and Ottawa. Three central goals of CBED were distilled: increased local control; implementation of an integrated approach to development; and sustainable development. The three LETSystems were then evaluated using the above goals. There are two main findings of this thesis. The first finding is that CBED can be, and presently is being, promoted in the informal sector. The second finding is that the LETSystems three examined, pursued goals similar to those of other CBED initiatives and sought to improve community well-being. The continued promotion of CBED by LETS is subject to two constraints: the novelty of the idea; and the lack of variety of goods and services traded. Nevertheless, there exists additional opportunities for the increased promotion of CBED through LETS, increased community development, and an expanded range of employment opportunities. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

This study identifies and describes three institutional impediments to state-sponsored community development in Canada's North. Community development is defined as both the process and product of purposive social action aimed at community empowerment. The central premise of the study is that community development initiatives offer promise for overcoming the pernicious effects of colonialism in the North. Dominant modes of northern economic and political development are described and are shown to have resulted in few lasting benefits for northern communities and to have contributed to a pervasive alienation and sense of powerlessness. Recent theory on community development and the state is used to demonstrate that state agencies can be expected to adopt community development objectives in response to conflict or community demands — not out of the benevolence of liberal policy makers. Similarly, the study argues that if community demands for empowerment wane, institutional impediments may undermine state-sponsored community development initiatives. Impediments to state-sponsored community development are illustrated through a case study of community development in the North. The study examines the factors which led to the adoption of a community development mandate by an agency of the territorial government — the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation — and it describes the forces which ultimately undermined its community development efforts. Three institutional impediments to state-sponsored community development in Canada's North are identified and described: government-imposed limitations on the independent actions of territorial agencies; shifting political priorities which stem, in part, from the unique form of electoral politics in the Northwest Territories; and intransigence and personnel changes within the bureaucracy. The principal implication of the findings is that practitioners and theorists alike must recognize that community development is an activity concerned with power and politics. In accordance with this recognition, community interests must not expect the state to adopt meaningful community development objectives unless it is in response to effective community demands, and must anticipate that institutional impediments may appear and undermine such efforts if these demands subside. These realizations must inform strategies for community empowerment before the promise of community development can be met in Canada's North. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

M.A. (Development Studies) / During the past decade, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), featured increasingly in development thinking as possible roleplayers in the development process. Initial optimism however, made way for a more realistic view of their abilities and possible contribution to the development effort. The main goal of the study could be identified as the investigation of the possible contribution of NGOs to the development process and especially community development, in terms of the optimised role of NGOs as development agents. To facilitate the analysis and evaluation of the development role of NGOs, a theoretical framework of reference was constructed by presenting an overview of the main development theories. The social development-management approach - one of the most recent development approaches offers excellent opportunities for the application of NGOs in the development process. Diverse historical reasons for the or~g~n and growth of NGOs in the First - and Third World as well as South Africa can be discerned. Although South African NGOs can be compared with similar organisations in the First - and Third World, unique social and political influences led to the formation of NGOs with a distinct character and highly politicised nature. The politicised nature of South African NGOs excluded any possibility of cooperation between the South African government and local NGOs. However, if the potential development role of governments, NGOs and the private sector is analysed, it becomes clear that all development actors need to fulfil a limited albeit complementary role in the development process...

This study explored community building as a method for addressing the problems faced by Mexican Immigrant and Mexican American communities. One of the assumptions that underpinned this study is that community building can be used to counteract racist attitudes toward ethnic minorities. Historically, people of Mexican descent have been the victims of such attitutudes have found their way in oppressive social and economic policy.