Community Empowerment

Empowerment is also a concept commonly espoused in most of the asset-based approaches. This is generally defined as the provision of the rights, capability and authority for individuals and groups to freely make their own choices. At the heart of empowerment is the concept of participation. Much has been written about this concept, and evidences do point to the importance of participatory approaches in project success.

TalisayonTalisayon, S. 1989. Designing for Consensus: The ASEAN Grid. Institution of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore, page 105. Or see also: Talisayon, S. 1991. “Lessons” in: Serafin D. Talisayon (Ed.). Innovative Development Processes in the Philippines: Case Studies. Asian Center, University of the Philippines. observed that the productivity and stability of a project revolves around three interrelated questions which pertain to the extent to which all or most of the affected and concerned parties perceive an interest in, identify with, or are engaged in, the project. A project that is for, by and of the people would be a truly participatory project.

1. Ownership and control: Of whom is the project?
2. Management, from conceptualization to design and implementation of the project: By whom is the project?
3. Benefit: For whom is the project?

What for you is true community empowerment?
When do we say that the community has been empowered?
What indicators point to this accomplishment?