Step-by-Step Self-Sufficiency

A 12-Step Matrix lets us see the progression of steps that an NGO might take if they were to start working with a community that was not well organized. In the 12 Steps to Rural Development matrix, activities are organized by sector in a step-by-step, sequential approach.

Step-by-step approach to Community Self-sufficiency:

Step 1. Community Participation: Build trust and have the community participate in the needs assessment in order to ensure sustainability.

Step 2. Water and Sanitation: Poor water and sanitation are the biggest health hazards in communities and need to be resolved early on in any project.

Step 3. Health and Hygiene: This is the traditional third step and covers issues such as mother and child health care, family hygiene and balanced nutrition.

Step 4. Food Security and Agriculture. Healthy families with clean water now need food security: sufficient food 12 months of the year to pursue their livelihoods.

Step 5. Education and Literacy. Healthy, well fed children are able to concentrate and excel in school. In order to excel in life they will need a good education.

Step 6. Conservation and Ecological Sustainability. As communities prosper, care must be taken in agriculture and business to protect natural resources – or we lose sustainability.

Step 7. Economic Development. Rural community members may need ideas for businesses, market connections and micro loans for materials. New sources of income will help keep kids in school.

Step 8. Infrastructure. This model community is getting quite organized and can begin focusing on things like getting a road to the village, a school and maybe a health clinic.

Step 9. Energy. A fuel efficient improved cook stove will reduce gathering time for firewood freeing up time for a new business. Solar lamps will let a student study at night.

Step 10. Migration. Communities are negatively affected by men migrating away in search of work. People in migration face many dangers. Urban slums are growing.

Step 11. Emergency Response and Relief. Providing relief in a natural disaster or conflict situation is very similar to the first nine steps of this program. Just needs to be organized quickly.

Step 12. Our Changing World. Population pressures, contaminated water and climate change mean that we need to begin helping villagers adapt to the changes that are facing us.

Evidence-based Best Practice Activities

Organizing the Best Practices into a matrix like the 12-Step Matrix allows us to find them quickly, to see alternative solutions, and also to see which other activities they relate to.

Projects are developed by combining individual activities into small families of complimentary activities. Look at the Project Examples Directory in order to see example families of activities.

Each best practice has links to the scientific research that supports the activity, a lesson plan for the NGO to better present the concept to community members, and a how-to card without words for community members to take home for reference.

Best Practice Activities can be accessed through the Project Examples Directory.

The Best Practices in this web site have been gleaned from successful projects and have been evaluated through scientific research. However, they would not be appropriate, grassroots solutions if they were designed in a vacuum without community input. We would appreciate any feedback that will help us to make these development activities better received and more culturally appropriate.