Tula Cultural Festival 2014, Gombe, Nigeria

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

A PAPER PRESENTED AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF CDP WORKSHOP FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATIONS

by suleman a.d. sukukum

    

Friday 23 MARCH 2018

PROTOCOL:

WHAT IS CONAECDA?

The acronym CONAECDA stands for Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Community Development Associations. This is an institution designed to serve as a Network with an implementation secretariat for existing or future community development associations registered as incorporated trustees or as Limited by guarantee institutions

OBJECTIVES OF CONAECDA

CONAECDA is established as a forum to help in coordinating the activities of the various development associations in areas that affect most of the communities or a single community but requiring collaboration of other members to successfully address.

a.       To promote unity and integration among its members and other Nigerians

b.      To preserve the cultural and ethnic identity of its members

c.       To preserve and develop the languages of its members

d.      To promote cooperation towards national and international development

e.       To manage integration  of peoples in line with cultural and international conventions

f.        To help in conflict resolution

g.       To collaborate with government and one another in security matters

h.      To promote and protect the human rights of members  and non members living in our communities

i.         To promote national unity and Integration

j.         To promote socio-cultural and political-economic development of members

k.       To advocate on all issues affecting members

l.         To liaise with national and international bodies on human, indigenous peoples, and minority rights

m.    To build capacity of leaders of member associations.

HOW CONAECDA OPERATES

i.                     CONAECDA is primarily a Forum/Network where autochthonous ethnic community development associations share their fears, aspirations and challenges, and collectively agree on issues to be addressed and how to address them.

ii.                   However, to avoid a situation in which the conference becomes a mere talk shop, a secretariat is established to coordinate the execution of decisions reached at the conference level and to work with member associations on issues affecting them in line with the overall objectives of the conference.

iii.                 The conference also works with existing CDA Forums at state levels.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

The CDP is the result of Two CONAECDA resolutions one in 2014 and the other in 2016. The aim is for our Traditional institutions and CDAs to drive development of our communities through participatory governance and democratic practices.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The programe has as its objectives the following;

i.                     Implementation of the SDGs: Community adoption and use of the UN sustainable development goals as the framework for a master plan for community and national development.

ii.                   Communities Based planning and execution of developmental programmes and projects.

iii.                 Involvement of communities in developmental issues. These include development planning, budgeting, budget tracking, implementation of development plans, Community and Social accountability, and development Monitoring and evaluation.

iv.                 Community participation, ownership and sustenance of development activities for guaranteed real and lasting community and national development.

TRIENNIAL DEVELOPMENT FORUM:

The secretariat shall organize and host a Triennial Community Development Forum, where experts from various fields of community development and leaders of community development associations, shall address issues and strategies for the development of the people and their communities.

KEY COMPONENTS OF THE CONAECDA CDP

1.      Advocacy

2.      Development Planning/ Community Development Plans

3.      Social Accountability

4.      Capacity Building for CDAs and Individuals ( Community Development Institute)

5.      Community Volunteer Services

6.      Community Relief and Development Fund

7.      Community Development Committees

8.      Community Town Halls

9.      Community Voice ( Media)

10.  Development Partnerships

ORIGIN AND NATURE OF CDAs

From the day man discovered and came into self consciousness it became necessary for him to organize himself, the smallest unit of organization is the family, the extended family and the clan. These basic units still exist today as the most fundamental forms of human organization. Most of our communities were organized around this fundamental unit creating leadership and government of different sizes and forms. The emergence of villages, collection of villages, cities, kingdoms and empires are the result of necessity and sometimes of ambition. The history of Community Development Associations will not be understood without a proper understanding of the concept of communal work as enshrined in our most primitive organizations to the advanced societies of today.

Communal work therefore has its origin in the roles played by family members in promoting the welfare of family members. Nature and culture are the two major determinants of roles and functions of family members; by culture I mean those ethos and mores developed over time by the family or community as a result of experience or religious understanding and their interaction with their environment. The roles of parents, children, the aged and even the dead are largely and remain largely voluntary and unpaid functions and work. In basic communities these roles were extended into communal leadership and communal work. By communal leadership we mean people volunteered to provide leadership in various capacities to the community (mostly the elderly) while communal work such as security, communal hunting, communal provision of infrastructure such as tracks, wells, walls and security posts were engaged in.

With the development of commerce and technology, compensations were introduced in many aspects of communal work( especially those requiring extended service time and skills), slavery gradually evolved especially in the areas where human ambition and technology had evolved into leadership capabilities to build great cities and kingdoms and the capacity for trade and wealth accumulation had increased.

The basic forms of government in any modern state therefore most consider the two ways in which communities meet their needs and develop themselves, which is through voluntary work and paid work. The existence of the Civil and Public services and the creation of Voluntary organizations is one way in which communities or governments meet public needs and promote community wellbeing.

In Nigeria, the Native Authorities developed the above mentioned key components in our communities in the form of the civil servants (NA staff) and voluntary community work which later led to the development of some of the Community Development Associations that we have today.

However; it is important to state at this point that CDAs did not come into existence in only one way but through several other means; among these are those CDAs that came into existence as Socio-cultural groups among people who had moved into urban centers away from their homelands and those that came into existence as socio-political associations.

On the basis of their functions therefore, Community Development Associations can be grouped into three;

1.      Development organizations

2.      Socio-cultural organizations

3.      Socio-political organizations

There is also another dynamics we in CONAECDA have realized and are building on; it is the fact that there are two types of CDAs in Nigeria by Nature; these are Identity based CDAs and Non Identity based CDAs. Identity based CDAs are linked to certain identities such as clan, districts or ethnic Nationalities; while non identity based CDAs are not.

According to the United Nations declaration on the rights of Indigenous people; Identity based CDAs may be a form of Indigenous peoples organization, Traditional Authority or Government. The roles of each category of these CDAs therefore will depend on what type of CDAs we are referring to.

IMPORTANCE OF THE CDAs

“Community Development Associations are the leaders of communities who are the owners of any community in the world. They are responsible for ensuring that grassroots empowerment and socio-economic transformation and development are achieved. They serve as a bridge between the state, Local Governments and the people at the grassroots so as to ensure accelerated development of their communities. They are also responsible for providing enabling environment for CSOs/NGOs and development partners to effectively operate.”( John Jinung 2016)

TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Our traditional institutions are the Traditional Form of government developed by our people or for our people in the course of our History. In Nigeria, two major types of governments existed before the arrival of the Colonial masters, these are; the different types of Monarchies and different types of Clan based or republican governments.

In northern Nigeria, the practice of indirect rule meant that native authority was practiced under a system led by Monarchs in Council or Monarchs and council. The existence of traditional authority has come to symbolize pride and independence to many minority communities; the result is that from colonial times till date new Chiefdoms are created to cater for the desire for independence.

The role of the traditional institutions prior to colonial rule are clearly spelt out by each community, during colonial times they served as the form of Local government under the Native Authority system with some of them involved in Governance at the regional level under the then council of chiefs. The role of the Council of chiefs and the Native Authority was well spelt out in the various instruments of state that created or recognized them. There were no uniform native authorities as each NA is to some extent distinct from others; however there are three common components in most of the NAs.

1.      Native Authority

2.      Native Courts and

3.      Native Treasury

Traditional rulers played varying roles as members or chairmen of such native authorities or the relevant councils. They are fundamentally the rulers and administrators of Local or Native government. The functions of the native Administrators meant they carried out political, economic, social and religious duties as local governments or native Governments.  Units of such administrations were curved out into districts, wards and villages and relevant leaders appointed with delegated responsibilities.

In 1976, the local government reforms were carried out; a close look at the post reform functions of the Local Government and the traditional rulers will therefore help us in understanding how the functions of the Traditional rulers and those of the Local government are actually a form of shared responsibility.

While the current local government system barred Traditional rulers from political involvement; social, religious and cultural issues have been identified as areas in which they are expected to play significant roles. Some of these roles such as Patronage of Public institutions (Chancellors to universities, Patrons to civil society and religious bodies etc); involvement in non political social development such as promoting sports, cultural events, welfare of citizens, social interventions, alternative dispute resolution etc.; serving as custodians of Culture (land, identity, history, foods, Languages, arts etc); promoting religious values, religious harmony and religious identity ( this is especially so with those of the Caliphate); and in the aspect of security both as intelligence gatherers and as advisers.

Traditional Rulers role in providing infrastructure and other development services has largely been reduced to that of advocacy and promotion of communal self help programmes through the various village heads and community development associations or when consulted by NGOs , businesses and Governments.

The CDAs, in whatever category they may fall into, are within the context of our current political structure in Nigeria; voluntary communities members that can work with both the Government and Traditional institutions in addressing every kind of challenge.

For any CDA to be relevant it most first of all clarify its aims and objectives, doing so will place it as a development organization or an identity and development organization. Development organizations are more concerned with social, political and Physical development and welfare issues. Identity organizations in addition to social and physical development are concerned with cultural and identity matters.

One of the most important ways the traditional ruler can engage with his people is through the voluntary associations of his people; by organizing the community into useful associations, including professional guilds, the traditional ruler can play a very significant role in the lives of his people. He also needs to constantly identify and assist in the proper operations of such associations and in their organization and sustainability as instruments of economic, political, social, religious, cultural, security and physical development.

The CDAs most understand that they are not a state, a government or a law to themselves; rather as citizens organizations they are platforms for engaging with government and the state towards promoting the common good of their people. They can only achieve these by promoting the common interest as against individual interests; by promoting equal and active democratic participation; by their ability to properly manage their relationships and engagement with relevant stakeholders and by having clear objectives.

DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES BY CDAS AND TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS

To give you a broad spectrum of issues that you can participate in, you can look at various Nigerian legislations and UN documents including but not limited to the SDGs and UNDRIP. However, let me state that your capacity to organize, plan and implement programs will determine what you can do.

Politics:

Roles in democratic dispensations may include political participation, political activism, and the promotion of Good governance. Both CDAs and Traditional institutions are expected to be politically neutral; neutrality however does not mean one should fail to conduct non partisan Political activities such as voter education, election observation or negotiating between candidates from your constituency who are vying for office. 

Advocacy

It is important for both CDAs and the traditional institutions to engage in active advocacy on any issue of importance to them.

Organization

The CDA and the traditional institutions can work together to properly organize their people into associations and even into professional guilds or groups. Sometimes members of the community do that themselves and only seek the recognition of the traditional ruler or CDA.

Facilitation

The TI and CDA may not be able to do all things on its own; one major way of getting much done is by serving as facilitators of development or as facilitators of change.

Strategic planning and implementation

TI and CDAs can develop long term strategies for their communities to cover all aspects of community life. Here the SDGs can serve as a guide. It is also possible to put in place various committees and even volunteer schemes and programmes in all aspects of community live. (Education, Health, Environment etc)

Cultural development

Cultural Development and cultural preservation including festivals, theatres, Languages, fashion, arts and crafts are some areas of engagement in the community.

Alternative dispute resolution

TI and CDAs can provide ADR serves in their communities.

Fund raising

The promotion of Development levies and other form of fund raising can be engaged in by CDAs and TI

Networking

Networking is a vital role that CDAs and TI can play, in a modern state like Nigeria and in a Global village; Networking is not a luxury but a necessity.

History, Museums and archives

The establishment of repositories of History and culture is an important role that CDAs and TI can provide.

Patronage

TI should be able to provide a wide variety of patronage to various citizens’ organizations and endeavors for public good.

Communication and public education                               

The education of members of a community both on current issues and on history should always be a priority for CDAs and TI.

Community dialogue

One of the Key functions of CDAs includes the provision of a platform for members of the community to interact and dialogue. The CDA congress meetings and town hall meetings are vital components of this function.

CONCLUSION

One of the ways and maybe the surest way to promote participatory democracy is through active citizens’ engagement. The existence of CDAs and town unions are yet to be fully exploited in this regard by our political leaders, this is largely due to the fact that the CDAs are yet to be properly organized for these purpose and the lack of capacity of the CDAs and their leadership to carry out these functions. The CONAECDA Community development programme and the Good Governance Programme offices are ready to partner with CDAs in this regard.

Our Traditional Institutions, as custodians of Culture and History are vital to the welfare of our people. Their insulation from partisan politics and their prolonged engagement with their people offer them a position of advantage to engage in long term development planning for communities and peoples under them. To seek the welfare of all who come to them, to organize people for active development and social work and to engage with government in an advisory capacity are roles that the traditional institutions are well fitted for.