Community Engagement Strategies and Self-Help Initiatives for Socio-Economic Development in the African Local Communities

Community Engagement and Self-Help Initiatives

Abstract

The government's failure to adequately provide basic rural infrastructure and the disparities in living standards between rural and urban residents have motivated the rural poor to take the initiative in self-help development projects to address this gap. This has significantly influenced the living conditions of the rural populace. The study analyses community engagement strategies and self-help initiatives adopted for socio-economic development, it evaluates the factors inhibiting community engagement strategies and self-help initiatives in Nigerian and South African local communities and examines various ways to improve community engagement strategies and self-help initiatives in the study areas. The study utilised secondary data sources through textbooks, journal articles, studies from students' theses and dissertations and internet materials. The study revealed that collaborative decision-making, cautious planning and preparation, integration and demographic diversity, capacity building, collaborative partnerships, communication and awareness, partnership and shared drive, engagement sustainability and cultural participatory are the community engagement strategies towards community development in Nigeria and South Africa. The results from the secondary data reviewed found that government negligence, community-driven initiatives, skill development, local applicability, strategic planning, and gender parity are some of the factors affecting community engagement strategy and self-help initiatives in African countries. Utilising conventional community frameworks, facilitating community ownership, adhering to local frameworks, utilising pre-existing programmes, and enhancing community confidence were ways to improve community engagement strategies and self-help initiatives for community development.