Rural community development encompasses a range of approaches and activities that aim to improve the welfare and livelihoods of people living in
rural areas. As a branch of
community development, these approaches pay attention to
social issues particularly
community organizing. This is in contrast to other forms of rural development that focus on
public works
Public works are a broad category of infrastructure projects, financed and procured by a government body for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community. They include public buildings ( municipal buildings, ...
(e.g. rural roads and electrification) and
technology
Technology is the application of Conceptual model, conceptual knowledge to achieve practical goals, especially in a reproducible way. The word ''technology'' can also mean the products resulting from such efforts, including both tangible too ...
(e.g. tools and techniques for improving agricultural production).
Rural community development is important in
developing countries
A developing country is a sovereign state with a less-developed Secondary sector of the economy, industrial base and a lower Human Development Index (HDI) relative to developed countries. However, this definition is not universally agreed upon. ...
where a large part of the population is engaged in
farming
Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created ...
. Consequently, a range of community development methods have been created and used by organisations involved in
international development. Most of these efforts to promote rural community development are led by 'experts' from outside the community such as government officials, staff of
non-governmental organizations
A non-governmental organization (NGO) is an independent, typically nonprofit organization that operates outside government control, though it may get a significant percentage of its funding from government or corporate sources. NGOs often focus ...
and foreign advisers. This has led to a long debate about the issue of
participation, in which questions have been raised about the
sustainability
Sustainability is a social goal for people to co-exist on Earth over a long period of time. Definitions of this term are disputed and have varied with literature, context, and time. Sustainability usually has three dimensions (or pillars): env ...
of these efforts and the extent to which rural people are – or are not – being
empowered to make decisions for themselves. The international association for Community Development (IACD) is the main global network for practitioners and scholars working in this field www.iacdglobal.org
United Kingdom
In the UK rural community development is seen as very important. Rural areas are often some of the most deprived in the country.
Rural Community Councils around the country support local rural communities in securing sustainable futures. The local rural communities are supported by experienced community development workers.
In Pembrokeshire (Wales), Pembrokeshire Local Action Network for Enterprise and Development (PLANED) apply a community-led integrated approach to rural development, in which communities, public sector and voluntary partners and specialist interest groups come together to undertake development. PLANED has a long experience of introducing and developing pioneering methodologies, tools, techniques and processes for the engagement of communities in local development. This best practice has been shared across Europe, primarily through the LEADER network.
In 2004 the Carnegie UK Trust established a Commission of Inquiry into the future of rural community development across the UK and Ireland. The Commission was chaired by Lord Steel, the former leader of the Liberal Party and included in its membership Lord Haskins and Jonathan Porritt. It was also informed by a country wide action research programme funding over 60 projects in partnership with the Big Lottery Fund. This was the largest rural community development programme in the UK and lasted until 2010. The Trust also funded national and international communities of practice to exchange experiences. This included the International Association for Community Development and work around the potential impact of climate change on vulnerable rural communities and the need for more sustainable development approaches to land use. The Commission produced a number of influential reports.
United States
In the United States, rural community development is an essential tool in keeping rural areas economically viable in a competitive global arena. Under the
United States Department of Agriculture, this is addressed through the Rural Development mission area, comprising the
Rural Housing Service,
Rural Utilities Service, and
Rural Business-Cooperative Service. Research and data sources for rural areas of the United States is also addressed by the
United States Department of Agriculture through the
Economic Research Service, th
National Institute of Food and Agricultureand the
National Agricultural Library’s Rural Information Center.
The
Center for Rural Affairs is a grassroots organization originating in Nebraska that puts an emphasis on leadership development to reinvigorate rural communities. They strive to promote entrepreneurship and increase the farm returns per food dollar to maintain the economy in rural areas.
Colleges and Universities, many located in rural communities, have also played a key role in rural community development throughout United States history. The
Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862 provided funding for agricultural education. Since the passage of the Morrill Act, there has been significant demographic changes in the population of colleges, including student gender, population size and number of commuters. This shift has created opportunities for rural colleges to play a part in the development of the communities in which they reside.
See also
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Development criticism
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Economic Development Administration
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Organization Workshop
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Rural Community Councils
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Rural development
Rural development is the process of improving the quality of life, quality of life and economic well-being of people living in rural areas, often relatively isolated and sparsely populated areas. Often, rural regions have experienced rural povert ...
*
Social exclusion
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Social justice
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Village
A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban v ...
References
University of Florida Community Development SeriesMission
Economic Development Administration.
Center Activities
North Central Regional Center for Rural Development.
;Notes
External links
ACRE - the network for Rural Community Councils in the UKCenter for Rural AffairsRural Information Center's Community Development Resources
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