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The Yaoundé Declaration
International Association for Community Development (IACD)
July 2005

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Preamble
Almost 400 delegates from across Africa and beyond, met in Yaoundé on the occasion of the 2005 biennial conference of the International Association for Community Development,1 organised with the cooperation of the government of Cameroon. The conference addressed the theme of 'Building civil society through community development'. Throughout the five days of the conference, and in eighteen workshops, delegates from a wide range of community development backgrounds formulated a series of issues relating to the role of community development in building civil society in Africa. Supported by a further 150 corresponding delegates from African countries who had been involved in the planning of the conference and who were consulted on the draft of this statement, the text below represents the final agreed declaration which the IACD was asked to forward to the African Union and through it, to national government Ministries and to regional bodies concerned with the role of community development in Africa. A total of 25 African countries - from east, west, north, south and central Africa - were represented in these deliberations and planning. Delegates also committed themselves to use this statement as a basis for enhancing the role of community development at local, provincial, national and regional levels within Africa

Community development is a way of strengthening civil society by prioritising the actions of communities and their perspectives in the development of social, economic and environmental policy and action. It seeks the empowerment of local communities. It strengthens the capacity of people as active citizens through their communities, organisations and networks on the one hand, and the capacity of institutions and agencies (public, private and NGO) on the other to work in dialogue with citizens to shape and determine change in their communities. It plays a crucial role in supporting active democratic life by promoting the autonomous voice of disadvantaged and vulnerable communities. Its core values are concerned with human rights, social inclusion, equality and respect for diversity. It has a specific skills and knowledge base. The practice of community development in Africa must also however reflect and respect the African experience and culture - for example the existence of strong family, tribal and community roots. This requires both an African understanding of the meaning of 'development' at a community level but one which recognises and respects basic human rights for all. It also requires recognition that rapid urbanisation in the continent has placed great strains on both urban and rural communities and that rural development policies should be strengthened with a view to slowing the rate of movement from rural to urban areas.

The conference asserted that solutions to Africa's problems must lie firmly and democratically in the hands of the African people themselves. Just as the countries of the North, through political and economic colonialism and imperialism, created the conditions under which the countries of Africa have suffered for many years, these same countries must accept that they should now - where requested by the peoples of African countries - support the creation of the conditions for sustainable development in the South. This is where the role of community development can be significant. Democracy is not simply about a few people elected every few years making decisions for the rest of the community. It is about a living participatory democracy where local communities, groups and organisations can think about their own needs, develop their own programmes for change and influence the policy process to respond to these needs. Community development work is critical in helping to make this happen, in strengthening an autonomous civil society to promote participatory democratic life within African countries. All now agree that good governance is one key to African development; and African civil society must be allowed to flourish to ensure that the conditions are right for this to happen.

The necessary conditions for this to happen include:

• The provision of basic needs (potable water, food security, education, sanitation, electricity, health care, communications, shelter and infrastructure)
• Determined work towards the eradication of poverty
• The promotion of basic human rights and responsibilities, within a framework of peace and social justice
• The celebration and nurturing of the 'soul' of communities, and respect for local cultural contexts where these do not undermine basic human rights
• Support for processes which enable collective participatory decision-making at all levels of society
• The building of the capacity of all relevant actors and stakeholders in the development process
• Respect for the integrity of the natural environment

In relation to the practice of community development itself, some of the key parameters within which it should operate are as follows:

• The involvement of all appropriate actors/stakeholders is required to achieve agreed priorities for action.
• Training and education is made available to communities and their representatives to ensure effective understanding and engagement.
• Appropriate mechanisms of accountability to all stakeholders are established.
• Clear and appropriate commitments are made by stakeholders to the implementation of agreed programmes.
• Conditions are created for a process of dynamic and sustainable growth and development.

The following are the issues identified and agreed by the conference and by corresponding delegates. The draft of the Declaration was sent to all delegates attending the conference and their comments have been incorporated into this final draft.

The IACD would welcome feedback in due course, of developments where this Declaration has been used positively so that these examples can be shared with our global membership.

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