Putting Commuities first: championing sustainable responses in Africa

Abstract

African communities are constantly in a state of flux as the continent grapples with challenges associated with rapidly changing socio-technical systems. The concomitant increase of tension in such communities demands urgent context-responsive interventions. Localised solutions and innovations are indispensable tools for facilitating local appropriation. By coopting and engaging end-users through a consensual participatory process, the likelihood of successful buy-in is greatly enhanced. Consequently, the key driving force for innovation in a variety of sectors is the proactive engagement of all members of a given community. The challenges however of working with communities in developing milieu often reveal exciting possibilities and promising results provided that the process is open, honest and inclusive from the outset. It is imperative therefore to identify means by which to systematically involve the various actors (including community members, champions and other promoters and interested parties) in driving innovation and sustainable development. This paper examines community-driven innovation and proposes a sustainable model for innovation and development of localised solutions based on local experiences. Subsequently, the Reconstructed Project is interrogated as a promising case wherein a community-driven approach led by local champions has been effective in developing solutions to support a Community in Tension (CiT) in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The peer-to-peer learning activities, roles of the champions, community participation, sustainability and its grass-roots/bottom-up approach are pivotal factors in the success of this project. The lessons learnt from this unique project inspire hope for leapfrogging other communities in Africa towards a more sustainable future.