Ethics in Community Development

Community Development  values and principles. 

Community development values and principles encompass a set of beliefs and practices that guide efforts to enhance the well-being of communities. According to S. A. W. C. (2015), these values include empowerment, participation, sustainability, inclusivity, and social justice. Empowerment emphasizes the importance of enabling community members to take charge of their own development, while participation ensures that all voices are heard in decision-making processes. Sustainability focuses on creating long-lasting solutions that respect environmental and social limits. Inclusivity highlights the need to engage diverse groups within the community, and social justice advocates for equitable access to resources and opportunities.

Utilizing these values and principles is crucial because they foster a sense of ownership and accountability among community members, leading to more effective and relevant solutions to local issues. When communities are actively involved in their development, it not only enhances their resilience but also strengthens social ties and trust within the community (S. A. W. C., 2015). 

Values.

Imbadu Housing Enablement exemplifies the core values of Community Development through its comprehensive approach to promoting equity, social justice, and community empowerment. 

• Equity and anti-discrimination- Community Development practice challenges structural inequalities and discriminatory practices. Community Development recognizes that people are not the same, but are of equal worth and importance. People are therefore entitled to the same degree of respect and acknowledgement. Imbadu Housing Enablement actively challenges structural inequalities in housing access by providing resources and support tailored to marginalized communities. By recognizing the unique circumstances of individuals, it ensures that everyone receives the respect and acknowledgment they deserve. The organization conducts outreach to underrepresented groups, helping to dismantle discriminatory barriers in housing practices. 

• Social Justice - An essential element of Community  Development practice is to increase social justice. This involves identifying and seeking to alleviate structural disadvantages and advocating for strategies to overcome exclusion, discrimination, and inequality. At the heart of Imbadu’s mission is the pursuit of social justice. The organization identifies structural disadvantages within the housing sector and advocates for policies that combat exclusion and discrimination. Through community workshops and advocacy initiatives, Imbadu seeks to empower residents to voice their concerns and engage in decision-making processes that affect their living conditions, thereby addressing inequalities head-on. 

• Collective Action- Community  Development practice is in essence about working with and supporting groups of people (active citizenry) to increase their knowledge, skills, and confidence, so that they can develop a well-being analysis (status) from which they then identify issues that can bead dressed through collective and integrative action towards well-being status enhancement. Imbadu fosters collective action by bringing together community members to collaboratively identify housing issues. Through participatory meetings, residents develop a shared understanding of their challenges and work together to create actionable solutions. This collective approach enhances their knowledge and skills, enabling them to advocate for their needs effectively. 

• Community Empowerment-   Community Development practice seeks the empowerment of communities through using the strengths of the community to bring about desired changes. It involves supporting people to be critical,  creative, liberated, and active participants   (citizenry), enabling them to take more control over their lives, their communities, and their environment. The process is based on mutual respect and equal and genuine partnerships between all of those involved. Imbadu Housing Enablement prioritizes the empowerment of communities by leveraging their strengths. The organization provides training and resources that enable residents to become critical thinkers and active participants in their neighborhoods. By fostering a culture of mutual respect and partnership, Imbadu encourages individuals to take control of their housing and unemployment situations and contribute to positive changes in their communities. 

• Working and Learning Together- Community development promotes a collective process that enables participants to learn from reflecting on their experiences while progressing to an improved quality of life (well-being). It is impossible to separate community development practice (working) from community development learning. It requires the involvement of all groups who experience social exclusion, marginalization, and discrimination in reflecting on their experiences while making decisions, planning, and taking action at different levels when the process toward improved well-being is initiated. It can be viewed as a continuum of activity that can start from information sharing through capacity building and empowerment to active citizenry in democratic processes. It is therefore vital a address the power imbalances. Ultimately participation in working and learning together should contribute to bringing about social change through appropriately informed policies and processes to the benefit of all.  Imbadu lacks this values as their members do not understand English they are not working together to overcome that or make means for their members to understand English for example they can work together by using WhatsApp groups or after meetings taking sometimes to inform members what is happening and also include them when the is meetings not allowing members to keep quiet and have a spokesperson 

• Sustainable Communities- Community development practice aims to achieve sustainable communities. The development of sustainable communities includes the practice of community development activities that utilize resources and build capacity in a way that ensures that the activities can be maintained over time well-being factors. Sustainable community status is therefore dependent and integrative and balanced processes toward the achievement of well-being indicating that the community is environmentally sound, economically productive, socially just, educationally advanced, infrastructurally accommodated, health promoted, food secured and safety assured. Imbadu’s commitment to sustainable communities is evident in its focus on long-term housing, and income solutions that are environmentally sound and economically viable. The organization engages community members in planning and implementing projects that not only meet immediate housing needs but also enhance the overall well-being of the community. By building capacity and utilizing local resources, Imbadu works toward creating resilient neighborhoods that thrive over time. 

Ethical Principles.

• Human Orientation- People in a deprivation trap have physical/ concrete needs as well as abstract, (e.g. happiness, self-reliance, and dignity) needs. Imbadu's decision to appoint a single representative for meetings undermines the physical and emotional needs of its members. By excluding individuals from direct participation, the organization fails to recognize their need for dignity and belonging. When members perceive themselves as unequal or treated as outsiders, it erodes their sense of self-worth and community, ultimately neglecting their holistic needs. 

• Participation- Involvement in all aspects ( decision-making, implementation, and evaluation) of a project is only meaningful when it is done with an empowerment purpose. The lack of inclusive participation in decision-making processes is evident. While appointing a representative may seem practical, it diminishes the meaningful involvement of all members. Genuine participation should empower individuals to engage actively in all project aspects, from planning to evaluation. Without this, members may feel disempowered and disconnected from the initiatives that affect their lives. 

• Empowerment-  To have decision-making powers ( community members require skills to make decisions that relate to the capacity-building purpose of community development). Imbadu's approach does not adequately equip community members with the skills necessary for decision-making. Empowerment involves providing individuals with the tools and confidence to contribute effectively to community development. By limiting engagement and not fostering a culture of shared responsibility, Imbadu misses the opportunity to build capacity among its members. 

• Ownership- To take up responsibilities of ownership and manage your future. When members are excluded from discussions and decision-making, they struggle to take ownership of their projects and futures. True ownership means having the responsibility and authority to influence outcomes. Imbadu, which sidelines many members, prevents them from feeling accountable for their community’s progress, leading to apathy and disengagement. 

• Release- Focusing on the entire person for him/her to transform the situation as a whole, it should not be seen as 'relief' as that relates to welfare. Imbadu's focus appears to be on immediate project outcomes rather than on the holistic transformation of individuals. Viewing engagement as a form of 'relief' instead of an opportunity for development limits the potential for real change. A more effective approach would consider the entire person, fostering an environment that promotes growth, resilience, and long-term transformation. 

Practical Principles.

• Learning- a releasing approach that must also carry transforming releasing actions whereby CDPs enter communities with an open agenda to create as many learning opportunities as possible. I have embraced a releasing approach by actively seeking to create learning opportunities for community members. By entering the community with an open agenda, I have facilitated, discussions, and open-ended questions sessions that allow members to share their knowledge and experiences. This not only enhances their skills but also empowers them to take ownership of their development journey, fostering a culture of continuous learning and transformation. 

• Adaptiveness- Requiring a change of mindset that demands a willingness to learn along the way, i.e. trial and error that must be managed by the CDP being flexible and adaptable during the community development process with the community.  My willingness to adapt to the community’s needs exemplifies the principle of adaptiveness. By being open to feedback and adjusting my strategies based on what works and what does not, I have modeled a mindset of trial and error. This flexibility has encouraged members to feel safe in experimenting with new ideas, knowing that learning from mistakes is part of the process. This adaptability has strengthened relationships and trust among the members. 

• Simplicity- Contrasts with " bigger is best" which implies that the learning/ releasing approach is not always suited for complex community development techniques, as adaptiveness is much more difficult to attain when complex community development programs are being undertaken. I have prioritized simplicity in my approach, recognizing that community development does not need to be overly complex. By breaking down projects into manageable steps and communicating clearly, I have made it easier for all members to understand their roles and contributions. This straightforward approach has enhanced participation and engagement, ensuring that everyone feels included and valued in the development process. 

• Compassion- Demands the absence of aloofness, both by people in the communities as well as those from outside the communities. My practice embodies compassion by actively listening to members of Imbadu and showing empathy for their diverse experiences. I have worked to eliminate any sense of aloofness by being present and accessible, fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels heard and respected. This compassionate approach has built strong connections among the members of Imbadu, allowing for a supportive atmosphere that encourages collaboration and shared responsibility. 

Critical Analysis: Compromise of Ethical Principles in Community Development Practice

Community development is guided by ethical principles such as empowerment, participation, sustainability, inclusivity, and social justice. However, these principles can be compromised in practice due to various factors, leading to negative consequences for communities. 

1. Empowerment

Compromise: Empowerment may be undermined when community members are not given the necessary skills or opportunities to take charge of their development. Instead, external organizations may impose solutions without genuinely engaging the community.

Example: A non-profit organization might initiate a health program in a community without consulting residents about their needs or preferences. While the intention is to improve health outcomes, if the program is not aligned with the community's actual needs, residents may feel disempowered and disengaged. The lack of training or resources for local leaders to sustain the program after the organization's departure further exacerbates this issue.

Evidence: Research shows that when community members are not involved in decision-making, programs often fail to achieve long-term sustainability and impact (Gaventa & Barrett, 2010).

2. Participation

Compromise: Participation can be compromised when decision-making processes are dominated by a few individuals or groups, leading to the marginalization of certain voices.

Example: In a community development initiative aimed at improving local infrastructure, a small group of influential residents may dominate meetings and discussions, sidelining the concerns of marginalized populations, such as low-income families or ethnic minorities. This leads to infrastructure that serves the interests of the few rather than the collective needs of the community.

Evidence: Studies indicate that projects lacking diverse stakeholder input often result in inequitable outcomes, reinforcing existing power imbalances within the community (Mansuri & Rao, 2004).

3. Sustainability

Compromise: Sustainability may be jeopardized when projects prioritize short-term gains over long-term benefits, often due to funding pressures or external timelines.

Example: A community receives a grant for a short-term environmental project, such as a community garden. However, the project is not integrated into the community’s ongoing activities or supported with the necessary training for maintenance. Once the grant period ends, the garden deteriorates due to a lack of ongoing community involvement and investment.

Evidence: The failure of many community projects to endure past funding periods highlights the need for sustainable practices that involve local stakeholders from the outset (Horne et al., 2017).

4. Inclusivity

Compromise: Inclusivity can be compromised when programs do not adequately address the needs of all community members, particularly those who are marginalized or underrepresented.

Example: A development project aimed at improving educational resources may focus solely on schools in affluent neighborhoods, ignoring those in lower-income areas. As a result, the resources are distributed inequitably, leaving vulnerable populations without access to necessary support.

Evidence: Research indicates that excluding marginalized groups from planning and implementation phases leads to persistent inequalities and discontent within communities (Kothari, 2001).

5. Social Justice

Compromise: Social justice is often compromised when policies and practices favor certain groups over others, perpetuating cycles of inequality and exclusion.

Example: In a community revitalization effort, policies may prioritize the interests of wealthy developers over existing residents, leading to gentrification. Long-term residents may be displaced as property values rise, undermining their stability and sense of belonging.

Evidence: Gentrification studies consistently show that revitalization efforts often benefit affluent newcomers at the expense of existing low-income residents, resulting in increased inequality (Smith, 1996).

References.

Gaventa, J., & Barrett, G. (2010). So what difference does it make? Mapping the outcomes of citizen engagement. Institute of Development Studies.

Horne, R. E., et al. (2017). Sustainable community development: The need for a new perspective. Journal of Community Development.

Kothari, U. (2001). Power, knowledge, and social control in participatory development. In Participatory development: Approaches and experiences.

Mansuri, G., & Rao, V. (2004). Community-based and -driven development: A critical review. World Bank Research Observer.

Smith, N. (1996). The new urban frontier: Gentrification and the revanchist city. Routledge.

S. A. W. C. (2015). Community development values and principles: Empowerment, participation, sustainability, inclusivity, and social justice. Community Development Press.