FOREWORD

Community capacity is the collective ability of residents to respond to social, economic, and environmental stresses and meet the needs of the community by drawing on as much local capital as possible. Community capacity building empowers communities by enabling them to own and control the processes that influence their day-to-day lives. Capacity building involves all stakeholders, including individual residents, community-based organizations, public agencies, NGOs, and the private sector.

The Asian Productivity Organization (APO)’s Integrated Community Development (ICD) Program has been in place since 1996 with the aim of assisting member countries to promote community-based productivity enhancement activities, including entrepreneurial development and employment generation. Under the ICD Program, a “community” is considered not only to be the object of development but also the most important actor in the process.

The aim of this publication is to support community dwellers in taking a leadership role in managing affairs at the local level and utilizing resources for increasing productivity and meeting community needs. It introduces the Seven D Approach to community capacity development, which is the outcome of 12 years of experience in the APO’s ICD Program. The basic concepts and various tools for utilizing the Seven D Approach are described for use by national productivity organizations, government agencies, NGOs working with communities for capacity development, and others involved in community-based development activities.

In 2008, the APO commissioned German-based Consultant Mohan Dhamotharan to develop this handbook. The APO is grateful to him and all the experts who took part in the APO ICD Program for their contributions.

Shigeo Takenaka
Secretary-General
Tokyo, October 2009