1. Introduction
In Namibian rural areas, there is a perception of low community participation in rural development. Rural communities continue to face challenges such as bias, inequality, and an unequal distribution of resources in contrast to urban areas (Alexander et al., 2023). There is a lack of widespread recognition of community participation as a fundamental operational principle of development (Shetunyenga, 2023). Despite the critical role community participation plays in the success of rural development initiatives, the undervaluation of community participation in development is regrettable. Nekwaya (2007) reports the establishment of various community participation structures, such as village development committees (VDCs), community development committees (CDCs), regional development coordination committees (RDCC), and regional councils. However, there has been limited involvement from the community. Local actors’ capacity has not received enough attention in decentralization efforts (Bosworth et al., 2018). Community participation is crucial in tackling the distinct challenges that arise in rural development, as highlighted by the World Bank (2018). It is important for everyone to recognise the importance of community participation and incorporate it into every development project we undertake (Nekwaya, 2007). Community participation in rural development offers significant advantages for both the participants and their communities. It is also important to note that community participation in Namibia’s rural development is crucial for empowerment, democracy, social transformation, sustainable decisions, sustainable development, and strengthening community capacity. It fosters and addresses challenges, leveraging opportunities for development in rural areas. Therefore, rural development is not effective without proper support from communities.
2. Defining Community Participation
Participation can take various forms, such as attending a meeting without actively speaking, supporting a community project financially or through labour, or sharing information and opinions in a survey. The definition of participation includes various forms such as passive participation, information sharing, consultation, participation with material incentives, functional participation, interactive participation, and self-mobilisation (Mukwena, 2005).
Whether public participation has become an institutional feature of government and public policy decision-making, the increasing focus on expanding the roles of ordinary citizens in the policy process highlights the importance of considering the potential effects these processes may have on public policy decisions and their participants. The motivation behind this was to identify the major arguments and findings in existing research on the participation of citizens from diverse backgrounds in Namibian rural areas. Community involvement is crucial for ensuring that public decisions are legitimate. This is because when communities are actively involved, the resulting policies and programs are more likely to address their actual needs, aspirations, and interests (Moallemi et al., 2020). Therefore, community development views participation as its core value.
The level of Namibian participation remains insufficient. According to Imparato and Ruster (2003), participation in development programmes involves the active involvement of people, particularly those who are disadvantaged, in influencing resource allocation, policy-making, and programme development and implementation. This participation occurs at various stages of the development projects, including identification, planning, design, implementation, evaluation, and post-implementation.
According to Dancer and Kamvounias (2005), participation is defined as an active process that involves five categories: preparations, contribution to discussion, group skills, community skills, and attendance. Kumar (2002) defines community involvement as a long-term process aimed at enhancing the skills of individuals to directly engage in development projects. Schwartz and Schejter (2024), on the other hand, point out that participation is a dynamic and purposeful action that empowers citizens to shape their collective existence and influence social structures.
Participation in the community, therefore, encourages the development of conflict resolution skills as well as the hearing of many points of view. This method encourages education and gives people the ability to help themselves (Nampila, 2005). Communities are able to evaluate their own circumstances, come together as a strong group, and use their creativity to change society and create a new world when they participate in it. These will boost people’s abilities, enabling communities to organise and help lessen reliance on the government, leading to a bottom-up strategy (Nampila, 2005).
A crucial point to remember is that community is essentially defined by geography, common needs or interests, or disadvantage and deprivation. The study and evaluation of an organization engaged in community engagement with the goal of fostering development and transformation revolve around the term “community” (Swanepoel & De Beer, 2006). According to the definition, a community is a shared residence for a certain set of people who have similar attitudes and ways of living. According to the researcher, a community is a geographical area inhabited by individuals who share traits and purposes in order to accomplish their goals. As to Theron’s (2005) assertion, community participation is a strategy to enable individuals by enhancing their competencies, which in turn allows them to engage in negotiations with the development delivery system and choose their own development objectives and requirements. Without a comprehensive understanding of empowerment, we are unable to realize its actual significance.
Characteristics of community participation
Participation plays a crucial role in rural development, and it is important to have clear indicators that demonstrate its presence. The followings are the characteristics of participation.
Decision making
“The community members of a specific constituency must be part of decisions about actions that affect their lives. They should be part of the decision-making process, such as in the initiation, planning, implementation, and evaluation of the development projects” (Phologane, 2014: p. 21). When rural communities come together to make decisions, they can create solutions that are tailored to their unique needs and aspirations. This collaborative approach often leads to more sustainable and impactful outcomes. Therefore, perceiving the political solely as a realm controlled by those in power and experts in regulations overlooks the autonomy that undermines the democratic engagement of a society (Schwartz & Schejter, 2024).
Planning
Effective planning enables the community to proactively identify and tackle issues, ensuring that the final outcome is in line with its genuine needs (De Nisa, 2024). Community members therefore need to be encouraged to be involved in the planning stage of the development in their area of jurisdiction. Involving influential rural communities in planning helps to state what is needed in the community development plan, as this creates innovative planning.
Implementation
The most important aspect of community involvement at the implementation stage is to develop a sense of ownership of the implemented activity for long-term sustainability. As observed, many rural communities are involved in the planning stage, but not in the implementation. Significantly, community participation in the implementation stage is important, as it is crucial to have a genuine dedication to promoting participation at all levels and aspects of development (Shetunyenga, 2023).
Empowerment
Empowerment increases the capabilities of inhabitants and holds accountable the institutions that provide them. To this end, empowerment attempts to give power and knowledge to rural communities to assist in creating a better quality of life, so that in the future they will have the skills to rely less on external forces to provide vital services and infrastructure. Empowerment is usually seen as a key to good quality of life, increased human dignity, good governance, pro-poor growth, project effectiveness, and improved service delivery (Narayan, 2002). Furthermore, participation in development projects is a strong form of empowerment. It entails building the capacity of the community so that they can make rational decisions and undertake meaningful input for natural benefits. It does not necessarily entail the equal sharing of power (Meshack, 2004). Through empowered rural communities, skills and knowledge that sustain the development of projects that will benefit them. In fact, community participation teaches communities how to solve conflicts, allows for different perspectives to be heard, and enhances rural people’s learning potential and the ability to access and handle information. It also entails improving thinking skills (Phologane, 2014).
Mobilisation
Participation entails self-mobilisation, self-reliance, and empowerment in the development process. It is a series of interventions designed to increase the level of involvement of a community in decisions that affect its own development. Mobilisation promotes community participation in the control and decision-making of all actions affecting the community as a whole. The participation of all members of a target community is essential to both poverty reduction and community development and strengthening (Phologane, 2014).
Evaluation
It has been recognised that participation in evaluation is important but rarely carried out. If direct methods of evaluation are not available, communities will invariably evaluate projects indirectly through the patterns of the facilities provided (Cohen & Uphoff, 1980). Through evaluation, communities and development planners can help plan suitable and sustainable development projects. Hence, proper evaluations lead to efficiency and effectiveness since evaluations are done by appropriate participants.
Therefore, community participation is vital for rural development, fostering democratic engagement, improving quality of life, and enhancing learning potential. Community-specific solutions lead to sustainable outcomes. Effective planning proactively addresses issues, ensuring alignment with needs. Implementation fosters ownership and participation, enhancing the quality of life. Empowerment increases people’s’ capabilities, holding institutions accountable. Participation in development projects enhances decision-making capacity, poverty reduction, and community development. Evaluation is crucial for efficient planning and sustainable projects. Community participation involves decision-making, planning, implementation, and evaluation, reducing poverty and strengthening communities, but is often overlooked.
3. Importance of Community Participation in Development
One of the most important components of an empowered, democratic, transformed, sustained, and evolved community is community engagement. In order for a community to function properly and effectively, meaningful and inclusive community interaction is required.
Empowerment
“Participation describes active involvement by people in civic and developmental organisations, political parties, and local government with the purpose of influencing decisions that affect their lives” (Roodt, 2001: p. 470). The International Institute for Environment & Development, Mahbub (2022), refers to participation as empowering individuals to take charge of their own lives, become active participants in society, and have control over their resources and decision-making processes.
Empowerment plays a significant part in the decision-making process in local communities, which has a direct impact on their lives. In addition, community participation is closely linked to social learning, capacity building, empowerment, and sustainability, which are all crucial elements of development. This was primarily because communities have the right to be involved in the decision-making process regarding the development issues that impact their lives. This process is heavily influenced by social learning. It is important for community participation to begin with the establishment of the development agenda. This ensures that the agenda reflects the interests of the communities and incorporates local methods of addressing development issues. For community development to have an impact on the lives of its intended beneficiaries, it is imperative that the voices within the community be heard and that the communities themselves feel the consequences of their involvement in the development process (Mahbub, 2022).
According to Theron (2005), development is a transformative process that empowers individuals and society members to take more control over their lives. The World Bank (1996) provides a comprehensive definition of development, which encompasses various aspects such as living standards, education, health, and environmental protection, all aimed at achieving sustainable progress. It is important to ensure that the community has access to tools and resources for development. This can be achieved by providing education and skills training. Therefore, insufficient guidance on how to participate can actually pose additional challenges for vulnerable communities, despite the desire for local management and participation (Bosworth et al., 2018).
The relevance of people’s participation in community development in homogeneous communities and its impact on community development practice have not been effectively addressed in Namibia. Community engagement, on the other hand, will allow residents to take control of their own futures and livelihoods. According to Kakumba and Nsingo (2008), there is a widely held belief that engaging the community in rural development programmes and giving them power can greatly improve their quality of life and promote overall development. Residents who are empowered can better participate in and shape engagement programs. As a result, by participating in engagement efforts, residents can make a significant contribution and affect developments. People’s well-being necessitates active participation in all aspects of their lives that are important to them, in accordance with the notions of empowerment and participation. Residents must be actively involved in the community to have access to preferred public interactions and pursuits, as well as believe they can make a substantial contribution to those activities. Through empowerment, communities can be able to identify their own priorities that make an important contribution to rural development. Enhanced community involvement enhances the process of project planning and execution (Shetunyenga, 2023).
Power is a crucial element in the participatory process, enabling society to engage in political action without having to navigate complex power dynamics. It engages in the process of negotiating and establishing its own ideals rather than simply adopting pre-determined normative ideals (Schwartz & Schejter, 2024).
Deepening democracy/Participatory democracy
In the context of democratic government, as in Namibia, inhabitants possess the inherent entitlement to exert influence over matters that directly impact their lives. “Community participation and people from the grass-roots are essential concrete to development, and most significantly, the methods of community participation are essential for encouraging meaningful engagement” (Nekwaya, 2007). Community participation is deeply ingrained in democratic principles of public policy and community planning and development. It recognises the fundamental right of individuals to have a say in decisions that impact their lives. Simply put, when a community relinquishes its autonomy, it forfeits a crucial aspect of its humanity. Community involvement can be a powerful tool for ensuring that decisions that impact people’s lives are made with their input. Community involvement enables policymakers to actively listen and demonstrate the significance of community contributions through valuable feedback. As a result, the community and policymakers have a strong base.
Democracy is a system of government in which the ultimate political authority lies in the hands of the country’s citizens. In order for a democracy to thrive, it requires three essential elements: transparency, accountability, and public participation. Being a responsible citizen goes beyond simply casting a vote. It involves expressing your needs and opinions openly so that the government can make well-informed decisions. This is an exceptional piece of writing as it highlights the significance of political participation in human development. It emphasises that being fully human entails the capacity to engage in the decision-making processes that influence one’s life. It is a fundamental human desire to have the ability to make choices and have some level of control over our own lives. Public meetings, community radio, and decentralisation are the keys to decision-making. For a bill to become law, it must be rooted in the inhabitant’s decision-making and the inhabitant’s participation (Legal Assistance Centre, 2007). Nekwaya (2007) summarises that community participation is rooted in democratic approaches to public policy and community planning and development, which assume that people have a right to make decisions that affect their lives (p. 11).
According to the World Bank (1996), it is crucial to start by directly engaging with the poor to understand their challenges, strategies, and suggestions for increasing their involvement and impact in development initiatives (p. 145). We can develop strategies that are both relevant and acceptable to the communities, ensuring their active participation.
Indigenous knowledge, techniques, and resources can also be integrated into the design of solutions through participatory democracy. According to Theron (2005), community participation is seen as a process that allows communities to have a say in determining their own needs and resources (p. 120). This means that provision at the grassroots level could enable them to negotiate development delivery systems and be able to make informed choices based on their developmental needs and priorities (Theron, 2005). In addition, the African Development Bank (2001) highlights the importance of providing citizens with more options to promote healthy competition and improve the efficiency and customer service of public services, ultimately benefiting the public at large. The building blocks of development are directly linked to community participation because they have the potential to influence participation (Nekwaya, 2007). For Meyer and Theron (2000), as expanded by Theron and Mchunu (2016) “in any context where the concept of ‘development’ is used, it can be interpreted as a so-called ‘building block’, comprising the following related processes.” (p. 20).
This highlights the importance of democracy in enabling citizens to critically examine and challenge the current institutional system while also empowering them to establish their own institutions and resist external pressures (Schwartz & Schejter, 2024). Given the central government’s control over the rural periphery, it is important to recognise that community initiatives should not be seen as a threat. Instead, it would be beneficial for the central government to actively support and promote these community initiatives. The existing institutional order should be open to questioning by citizens, who should have the freedom to establish their own institutions and resist any form of external coercion (Schwartz & Schejter, 2024).
Social transformation
The effect of decision-making has the potential to bring about social change. Advocacy efforts that are successful in promoting good social transformation have a direct impact on policy. Hence, social transformation is critical because it involves taking action to encourage stakeholders in government to execute public programs and policies that are designed to directly benefit particular communities while also promoting social change in general.
As local knowledge from multiple groups develops and generates inclusive, effective solutions, this enhances acceptance of decisions and community commitment to outcomes. As a result, it opens the door for social activism to provide a revolutionary type of ongoing contact with individuals and governments. This will aid in the creation of suitable initiatives that will improve service delivery, poverty alleviation, and the achievement of the national development plans.
Sustainable decisions
Another important aspect of community participation is sustainability. Kumar (2002) essentially says that if the people themselves are in charge of the project, then involvement will result in a more efficient use of the resources available for development initiatives and fewer expenses. In agreement, Hoddinott (2001: p. 98), basing their reasoning on their case study in Namibia, asserts that the participation of the beneficiaries is important because the use of locally available information, unknown to outsiders, reduces the costs of intervention. Participation, in the words of Nampila (2005), will enable the community to evaluate its own circumstances, come together as a strong unit, and use imagination to transform society and create a new world. Providing public discussions for community members to discuss their concerns and devise indigenous solutions will make residents aware of their needs, which will result in more informed decisions and outcomes within their society and economy. As a result, community members are more inclined to follow through on their own decisions than those imposed on them. As a result of the variety of opinions and perspectives held by numerous stakeholders, community participation helps to find creative solutions to problems and provide a balanced perspective on important issues.
Sustainable decisions are crucial since they improve people’s lifestyles. Governments may enhance their decision-making efficiency, legitimacy, and openness by including the public. Additional viewpoints from both the government and the public broaden alternatives and enhance the value of the end decision. The more perspectives the government acquires during the decision-making process, the more likely the community’s final option will fulfil the greatest number of demands and solve the greatest number of issues. This allows policymakers to make better choices by interacting with, and thoroughly figuring out the needs, views, and aspirations of local communities on problems that are important to them. It supports sustainable decisions by identifying and conveying the needs and interests of all parties, including those making the final decisions.
Involving society in decision-making will result in enhanced service delivery and the answerability of the public sector, with greater information making a difference in rural areas. As a result of this approach, residents will have a stronger say in policymaking and the execution of policies, initiatives, and projects. It is essential to a successful government that citizens are involved in the process of making decisions.
Nothing occurs in a vacuum; thus, decision-making must be tailored to the specific region in which the difficulty arises. Through open dialogue and cooperation, individuals will have the opportunity to make choices that restore a feeling of normalcy, allowing them to be the subject of their own lives rather than the object. Individual’s self-esteem and ability to cope with suffering may both develop as a result of active participation and involvement in their communities. This will boost motivation by allowing participants to define goals during the decision-making process. Consequently, involvement helps guarantee that interventions are suitable and successful, regaining control of people’ lives and reducing dependency while simultaneously enhancing self-reliance.
On the other hand, because each community has its own set of strengths, issues, and worries, it is critical for each constituency to be able to address its own problems and attain its own objectives. As a result, it’s critical for constituency councillors to provide feedback to their constituents in order to communicate the problems, opportunities, and shortcomings that they’ve encountered. They need to know the value of their contribution in order to build connections based on providing services. In order for communities to be self-sufficient, they must first recognise their own needs, prioritise their goals, and make long-term plans. Communities may play an important role in the planning process that promotes sustainable rural development by making sustainable decisions that align with long-term goals rather than short-term gains for current and future generations. At every step of the process, the entire community must be involved and have a voice that breeds sustainable development.
Sustainable development
Rural development is a concept that strives to enable a community to become self-sustainable through endeavours and initiatives such as community projects. This is stated to be achievable through the development of community capacity and the eradication of rural development impediments such as climate change and a lack of financial resources, among other things. As a result, community engagement is critical for achieving sustainable development and ensuring residents’ satisfaction with the development process as a whole.
In order to achieve sustainable outcomes, it is critical that communities get involved in rural development. As a result, community involvement ensures the sustainability of the development process. It’s for this reason that people, public organisations, and governments need to engage in community activities. Involvement in the community offers a more complete grasp of the needs and ambitions of communities.
In agreement with Usadolo and Caldwel (2016), community involvement is crucial as it allows the government to stay informed about ongoing issues and prioritise solutions based on the needs of society. The development owes its existence to the people and is intended for their benefit. Community participation involves decision-making, execution of development projects, monitoring and evaluation, and sharing of benefits.
Strengthen Community Capacity
Many rural community members do not understand their appropriate standard of living. As a result, engaging in the community requires learning through experience and is backed by a network of continuing resources. A key component of the motivating process is the genuine commitment of community members to self-help in the community. If the government and stakeholders do not continue to support and include the community, community-based motivation eventually deteriorates. African governments should accelerate the process of community capacity building so that rural development operations may begin. For broad community engagement in local decision-making via planning and budgeting, the capacity building of significant groups such as women, youth, and community leaders is essential.
Successful community participation hinges on prioritising projects that the community deems important. It is crucial to thoroughly analyse any potential constraints that may come into play. Community members need to be educated about their own development. Effective community involvement methods aid in swiftly identifying significant hurdles, providing understanding of complexities, establishing stronger connections, the more effective management of conflict, and the formation of a coalition of support.
Communities need to be made aware of the importance of participating in community initiatives. For the sake of helping the people they serve, constituency councillors should not disregard indigenous knowledge systems in order to avoid proposing and imposing inappropriate solutions on the communities that they are attempting to serve. We need to develop indigenous leaders who can educate and mobilise their communities. Participation may help people gain new skills and identify and enhance their leadership potential. It allows for more achievement at a lesser cost, such as conducting research and providing free consultation to public initiatives. Members of the public bring technical expertise, specific knowledge about the effects of decisions, local experience and history, and other specialised experience to the decision-making process.
Local leaders must be developed who can further educate and mobilise the people in their communities. Participation may help people gain new skills and identify and enhance their leadership potential. It allows for more achievement at a lesser cost, such as conducting research and providing free consultation to public initiatives.
Furthermore, the central government should build relationships and build confidence with the rural communities it serves and prioritise their needs over its own. This will provide a venue for central government and stakeholders to comprehend each other’s challenges and perspectives through public involvement. As each person contributes to the choice, the conversation broadens the information base. Instead of reducing future problem-solving capacity, a smart method may considerably increase it. Communities will witness and experience achievements that may be applied to new circumstances in the future. Therefore, including individuals who are impacted by an issue improves their collective potential to discover solutions.
4. Conclusion
In Namibia, the importance of community participation in rural development cannot be overstated. The low standard of living of the inhabitants in rural constituencies is a problem that leads to poor participation. Community participation in rural constituencies is top-down and minimal. As of yet, community engagement is not acknowledged as a fundamental development operating idea. Community participation offers opportunities for the community’s members to express their views on development initiatives. In agreement with Smith (2006), participation is always associated with the empowerment of the participants. Participation allows inhabitants to have a voice in their future development initiatives. Only concrete effort by inhabitants can solve development challenges; therefore, it is important to note that rural development is influenced by community participation. Participation can have a positive impact not only on community members, but also on policymakers. Therefore, well-managed community participation leads to rural development.
Community participation should be centred on the role of the community as primary actors who should be allowed and enabled to influence and share the responsibilities of the rural development process. There is a need to create awareness about development and ways in which the community can actively participate. Inhabitants in rural constituencies should come together as a community to take collective action, generate solutions to the challenges of community participation in development, and support and nurture the increased exchange of information. Therefore, it is critical to evaluate community engagement in rural development in terms of the benefits it brings to local communities and engage community members in a joint analysis and development of priorities.
Namibia needs to consider the value of community participation in order to achieve its national development plans. Community participation in Namibia’s rural development is crucial for sustainable economic growth, social cohesion, and environmental conservation. It fosters ownership, empowerment, and addresses challenges, leveraging opportunities for development in rural areas. To sum up, community involvement is a crucial feature of successful rural development. It leads to more sustainable outcomes, better utilisation of local resources and knowledge, and improved collaboration between stakeholders. Development projects can be adapted to local requirements and goals by actively integrating communities in their design, execution, and governance.
Community participation in rural development in Namibia is often undervalued, despite its critical role in addressing challenges and fostering empowerment. Despite the establishment of structures like village development committees, CDCs, and regional councils, there is limited community involvement. Community participation is essential for long-term sustainability, democratic engagement, social transformation, sustainable decisions, and strengthening community capacity. It promotes transparency, accountability, and public participation, leading to better service delivery and improved public services. Successful community participation requires prioritizing projects, analyzing constraints, and educating community members about their development.