Entry Points for Sustainable Community Development

Abstract

This chapter discusses critical thematic entry points for sustainable community development based on felt needs identified and prioritized by the target communities. These felt needs are not static. They tend to vary across target communities and keep evolving with time. In the Kenyan context critical entry points include the need to develop and institutionalize community leadership, importance of community asset and resource mobilization for self development, critical role of community-based health care, role of gender-mainstrearning in development, dealing with water scarcity in dry land ecosystems, practical ways towards food security, and identifying alternative off-land income sources. Sustainable community development is guaranteed when local resources are mobilized to address felt needs that are used as intervention entry points.