The purpose of this project was to examine the arts as a positive change agent for community development. Exploring how and for what purpose nonprofit arts organizations can create social capital can provide insight on how the arts industry can be a leader in the transformation of communities and regions around the globe. The perspectives of artists, community developers, sponsors and beneficiaries of the arts provided insight on how and in what ways the arts can evoke change by building connections and inspiring participation. Community development theorist Bhattacharyya (2004) distinguished community development from related fields such as economic development and social work by highlighting its ability to build solidarity and create agency. For Bhattacharyya, solidarity means trust and relationships where community members can work together for change. Once united for a cause, agency means the implementation of the group's goals. To explore the multiple ways which the arts can inform community development change for leaders, two case studies were conducted. Insights came from data collected for each case through key informant interviews and organizational website analysis.

Employees‟ perceptions regarding the role of powerful partners in developing the managerial leadership of small and recipient organisations are vital, given the research developments regarding partnerships. This research has focused on the power that governs the relationships between large and self-governing funding organisations and dependent recipient organisations. The emergence of developing managerial leadership, linked to powerful partnership systems, appears to be a vital field for research in the developed world. For instance, this is evident in the United States of America but not in Africa, especially in the sub-Saharan region. Partnership is simply conceived of as a relationship between one or more NGOs, and in such a relationship, power is understood as being one partner having the ability to influence another partner, or other partners, to do what they would otherwise not do. Intentional and observable power between organisations often results in a diverse and complex managerial leadership and organisational life for small and recipient organisations. In this regard, the recipient partner organisations striving for leadership, management- and organisational growth, and change, commonly struggle with internal and external power influences embedded in powerful partnerships. Sub-Saharan Africa‟s, especially South Africa‟s, development NGOs and funding partnerships are not an exception to this challenge. This dissertation is an embryonic qualitative but objective enquiry into managers‟ and employees‟ perceptions regarding the influences of donors and the University of KwaZulu-Natal on growth at the Sinomlando Centre for Oral History and Memory Work in Africa. The research adopted the narrative and interpretive paradigm, combined with the qualitative methods of data collection and analysis. Three data collection methods were used: 1) archival; 2) face-to-face interviews; and 3) participant observation. The Sinomlando Centre is an organisation originally conceived as a research and community development entity, based at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. While existing within, and depending on the University, the Centre predominantly relies on international funding partnerships. This environment is solely driven by the founding director, who steers the organisation towards its full cognisance. It is this very environment that inspired the question of employees‟ perceptions regarding the influence of these powerful partnerships, in augmenting leadership and management at the Sinomlando Centre. This research project draws on library-, internet-, and archival searches to explore concepts pertaining to: systems and systems thinking; behaviour and learning in organisations; leadership and management development, and power and partnerships. This research harnesses the findings generated from the interviews and participant observation studies, with the academic studies linked to these concepts. This is done in order to discuss and highlight the fact that the employees at the Sinomlando Centre think and confirm that the donors, the Director, and the University, are all systems that influence their organisation. The research found that the University, the donors, and the leadership, are all system structures that limit the Sinomlando Centre‟s organisational and leadership growth. Thus, in consideration of the existence of the Sinomlando Centre within the University, the dependence on foreign funding partnerships, and the reliance on the Director, this dissertation concludes that developing managerial leadership can be possible only if the organisation considers: 1) re-positioning itself and self-organisation within its environment of existence; 2) openness to change-management; and 3) widening internal opportunities for managing powerful partnerships. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Ethiopia is a country well endowed with a number of development related NGOs who have been involved in socio-economic development at national, regional and grassroots level. In a country like Ethiopia, where natural and man-made hazards persist, NGOs play a crucial role in terms of reducing poverty and other human sufferings. As one of the non-governmental organizations, the Ethiopian Kale Heywot Church Development Program (EKHCDP) has played an important role in supporting and encouraging the development aspirations of local communities in the areas of environmental rehabilitation, water and sanitation, agriculture, health, education, credit and saving schemes.<br /> <br /> The study focused on the Ethiopian Kale Heywot Church community development program in five selected project areas, namely Lambuda, Durame, Shashamane, Debraziet and Nazret. The analysis subsequently examined the nature and extent of community participation in the project planning, implementation and decision-making phases. Thereafter, the study brought into focus general observations gleaned from the investigation and provides recommendation to the EKHC and other stakeholders that have been involved in development activities.<br /> <br /> Quantitative and qualitative methods of research have been applied throughout the investigation. Accordingly, observation, in depth interviews, focus group discussions and structured and semi-structured questionnaires were used to gather information. The qualitative mode was employed to gather socially dynamic information on issues relating to beneficiaries&rsquo / perceptions of processes in order to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics at play. On the other hand, the quantitative mode was used to test variables related to the research problem. <br /> <br /> The findings indicate that the Ethiopian Kale Heywot Church development program has played a significant role in terms of community development. Moreover, its development approach is responsive to local needs and able to mobilize local and external resources to support the poor, so that through empowerment and participation they will be released from the deprivation trap that they find themselves in. The study also indicates that the EKHCDP has good linkages and networks with other communities and partners. However, the study indicated that the intensity of community participation in decision-making is still low in certain cases. Meanwhile, the beneficiaries did not show a clear understanding of aspects such as project ownership. Finally, this study recommends that genuine community participation should be maintained because it is the core activity contributing to beneficiary empowerment and grassroots institutional capacity building and an essential ingredient for self-reliance and project sustainability.

Historically, religious congregations and other church organisations have had a long involvement in the provision of community services in English-speaking societies. Nonetheless, despite the development since the 1950's of extensive government provision, the growth of large church-sponsored agencies, and the advent of secular community services, there is reason to believe the trend for congregational involvement persists. However, there is also reason to believe that provision of services by congregations is not well understood, an issue of more significance in view of recent policy shifts, especially in the US and UK, promoting an increasing emphasis on government support for welfare service delivery by these “pervasively sectarian” groups. Within the Australian setting little is known about the contribution of local religious congregations to the provision of local community services, although limited data from the 1996 National Church Life Survey indicates in excess of 65% of congregations claim some local community involvement. (For complete abstract open document)

Thesis (M.A.)--Baylor University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 42-45).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Toronto, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 180-193).

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- Flinders University, School of Political and International Studies. / Typescript (bound). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 334-359). Also available online.

Major paper (M.U.A.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1991. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-60). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of California, San Diego, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed July 22, 2008). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Includes bibliographical references (p. 60-67).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Phoenix Seminary, 2007. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 211-223).