Rural community development
Encyclopedia
Rural community development encompasses a range of approaches and activities that aim to improve the welfare and livelihoods of people living in rural areas
. As a branch of community development
, these approaches pay attention to social issues
particularly community organizing
. This is in contrast to other forms of rural development that focus on public works
(e.g. rural roads and electrification) and technology
(e.g. tools and techniques for improving agricultural production).
Rural community development is important in developing countries where a large part of the population is engaged in farming. Consequently, a range of community development methods have been created and used by organisations involved in international development
. Most of these efforts to promote rural community development are led by 'experts' from outside the community such as government officials, staff of Non-governmental organizations and foreign advisers. This has led to a long debate about the issue of participation
, in which questions have been raised about the sustainability
of these efforts and the extent to which rural people are - or are not – being empowered
to make decisions for themselves.
s around the country support local rural communities in securing sustainable futures. The local rural communities are supported by experienced community development workers.
, this is addressed through the Rural Development mission area, comprising the Rural Housing Service
, Rural Utilities Service
, and Rural Business-Cooperative Service
. Research and data sources for rural areas of the United States is also addressed by the United States Department of Agriculture
through the Economic Research Service
and the National Agricultural Library’s Rural Information Center.
Part of the United States Department of Commerce
, the Economic Development Administration
(EDA) is tasked within it’s mission “to generate jobs, help retain existing jobs, and stimulate industrial and commercial growth in economically distressed areas of the United States. EDA assistance is available to rural and urban areas of the Nation experiencing high unemployment, low income, or other severe economic distress.”
There are four Regional Rural Development Centers in the United States that coordinate “rural development research and extension (education) programs cooperatively with the land-grant institutions regionally and nationally. The Centers support and strengthen individual state efforts in rural areas by developing networks of university research and extension faculty from a variety of disciplines to address rural issues.”
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
. As a branch of community development
Community development
Community development is a broad term applied to the practices and academic disciplines of civic leaders, activists, involved citizens and professionals to improve various aspects of local communities....
, these approaches pay attention to social issues
Social issues
Social issues are controversial issues which relate to people's personal lives and interactions. Social issues are distinguished from economic issues...
particularly community organizing
Community organizing
Community organizing is a process where people who live in proximity to each other come together into an organization that acts in their shared self-interest. A core goal of community organizing is to generate durable power for an organization representing the community, allowing it to influence...
. This is in contrast to other forms of rural development that focus on public works
Public works
Public works are a broad category of projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community...
(e.g. rural roads and electrification) and technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
(e.g. tools and techniques for improving agricultural production).
Rural community development is important in developing countries where a large part of the population is engaged in farming. Consequently, a range of community development methods have been created and used by organisations involved in international development
International development
International development or global development is a concept that lacks a universally accepted definition, but it is most used in a holistic and multi-disciplinary context of human development — the development of greater quality of life for humans...
. Most of these efforts to promote rural community development are led by 'experts' from outside the community such as government officials, staff of Non-governmental organizations and foreign advisers. This has led to a long debate about the issue of participation
Participation (decision making)
Participation in social science refers to different mechanisms for the public to express opinions - and ideally exert influence - regarding political, economic, management or other social decisions. Participatory decision making can take place along any realm of human social activity, including...
, in which questions have been raised about the sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
of these efforts and the extent to which rural people are - or are not – being empowered
Empowerment
Empowerment refers to increasing the spiritual, political, social, racial, educational, gender or economic strength of individuals and communities...
to make decisions for themselves.
Rural Community Development in the United Kingdom
In the UK rural community development is seen as very important. Rural areas are often some of the most deprived in the country. Rural Community CouncilRural Community Council
The rural community councils were established in rural England during the twentieth century to promote rural community life.Each shire county now has one, although some are relative newcomers...
s around the country support local rural communities in securing sustainable futures. The local rural communities are supported by experienced community development workers.
Rural Community Development in the United States
In the United States, rural community development is an essential tool in keeping rural areas economically viable in a competitive global arena. Under the United States Department of AgricultureUnited States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
, this is addressed through the Rural Development mission area, comprising the Rural Housing Service
Rural Housing Service
The Rural Housing Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture . Located within the Department's Rural Development mission area, RHS operates a broad range of programs to provide:*homeownership options to individuals;...
, Rural Utilities Service
Rural Utilities Service
is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture , one of the federal executive departments of the United States government charged with providing public utilities to rural areas in the United States via public-private partnerships...
, and Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
The Rural Business-Cooperative Service is one of three agencies within USDA Rural Development responsible for administering various economic development programs to rural communities in the United States and its territories...
. Research and data sources for rural areas of the United States is also addressed by the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
through the Economic Research Service
Economic Research Service
The Economic Research Service is the main source of economic information and research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Located in Washington D.C., the mission of ERS is to inform and enhance public and private decision-making on economic and policy issues related to agriculture, food,...
and the National Agricultural Library’s Rural Information Center.
Part of the United States Department of Commerce
United States Department of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...
, the Economic Development Administration
Economic Development Administration
The Economic Development Administration is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that provides grants to economically distressed communities to generate new employment, help retain existing jobs and stimulate industrial and commercial growth.-History:The EDA was established under...
(EDA) is tasked within it’s mission “to generate jobs, help retain existing jobs, and stimulate industrial and commercial growth in economically distressed areas of the United States. EDA assistance is available to rural and urban areas of the Nation experiencing high unemployment, low income, or other severe economic distress.”
There are four Regional Rural Development Centers in the United States that coordinate “rural development research and extension (education) programs cooperatively with the land-grant institutions regionally and nationally. The Centers support and strengthen individual state efforts in rural areas by developing networks of university research and extension faculty from a variety of disciplines to address rural issues.”
See also
- Development criticismDevelopment criticismDevelopment criticism refers to criticisms of technological development.-Notable development critics:*Edward Abbey*John Africa*Stafford Beer *Charles A...
- Economic Development AdministrationEconomic Development AdministrationThe Economic Development Administration is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that provides grants to economically distressed communities to generate new employment, help retain existing jobs and stimulate industrial and commercial growth.-History:The EDA was established under...
- Rural Community Councils
- Rural DevelopmentRural DevelopmentUSDA Office of Rural Development is an agency with the United States Department of Agriculture which runs programs intended to improve the economy and quality of life in rural America....
- Social exclusionSocial exclusionSocial exclusion is a concept used in many parts of the world to characterise contemporary forms of social disadvantage. Dr. Lynn Todman, director of the Institute on Social Exclusion at the Adler School of Professional Psychology, suggests that social exclusion refers to processes in which...
- Social justiceSocial justiceSocial justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
- VillageVillageA village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
External links
- ACRE - the network for Rural Community Councils in the UK
- Rural Action Yorkshire
- Center for Rural Affairs
- Rural Community Council of Essex
- Rural Information Center's Community Development Resources
- North Central Rural Development Center
- Northeast Rural Development Center
- Southern Rural Development Center
- Western Rural Development Center