Using a ‘domains’ approach to build community empowerment

This paper provides two case study examples of how community empowerment can be better conceptualized, planned and applied within a programme context by using a ‘domains’ approach. What is new about this approach is that it does not start with a blank slate onto which participants inscribe their own problems or needs but provides a predetermined focus through each of nine ‘empowerment domains’: Improves participation; Develops local leadership; Increases problem assessment capacities; Enhances the ability to ‘ask why’; Builds empowering organizational structures; Improves resource mobilization; Strengthens links to other organizations and people; Creates an equitable relationship with outside agents; and Increases control over programme management. The importance to community development practice is that the approach provides a more systematic means for community empowerment in a programme context.