This research investigates the role of “Customary” CBOs in local development within a broader context of state-civil society dynamics and interactions. By putting CBOs in the middle of the state-society interactions, the research addresses the conditions under which “customary” CBOs become a local development agent. It is argued that, the existing members’ level of participation, inclusive decision making process , formalization and organization set-up, the proximity of CBOs to the needs and problems of their members and their responsiveness justify the notion that “customary” CBOs are the “right” organization to execute local development roles both as a conduit of service delivery and self-determined change. Through case oriented approach, the research made strong efforts to highlight and discussed the conditions that facilitate a shift of roles .By doing so, it identified six “essential ingredients” that are of paramount importance to assume local development roles in such organizations. These essential ingredients which are internal and external to the organization includes:-organizational adjustment and formalization, growing awareness among members and leaders on their role and potential, capacity building and enhancement to mobilize resources, government and market failures, government recognition and enabling efforts and the existence of aid to support such initiatives. The research also draws the distinction between “internal and external ingredients”, and argues that both ingredients are equally important to make meaningful change in people life and to the locality at large. Beginning with an overall review of “customary” CBOs and their interaction with other actors, it identified six essential ingredients that are important for “customary” CBOs to making organizational shifts and to assume different roles that transcend membership boundaries.

, , , , ,
Gomez, Georgina
hdl.handle.net/2105/8603
Local and Regional Development (LRD)
International Institute of Social Studies

Ephrem Shiferaw Wolde. (2010, December 17). “BEYOND THE CUSTMARY VIEW”. Local and Regional Development (LRD). Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/2105/8603