Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Community planning approaches'

Understanding successful community planning and transparently monitoring the process through indicators is essential for empowering communities to move towards a sustainable future. This paper investigates two key categories of indicators: 1) socio-ecological indicators and 2) process indicators. The Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development, the foundation of this research, offers a science-based and principled definition of sustainability, as well as a method for structuring, evaluating and informing the design of indicators. A universally applicable set of community planning process indicators has been devised through ‘backcasting’. First, a list of Success Criteria for an ideal sustainable community planning process was developed. To determine the gaps that require monitoring, general practices in current planning were next assessed against this vision of success. Indicators were then brainstormed to measure closure of the highlighted gaps and movement towards success. Finally, these indicators were evaluated against a comprehensive list of ideal indicator characteristics. In summary, applying whole systems and strategic approaches to identifying and designing indicators can be relevant in any context. Process indicators provide the structure in which to monitor planning at every level and across disciplines so that appropriate socio-ecological indicators can then be derived, while simultaneously ensuring more effective governance.<br><p>Alaya Boisvert - alaya.boisvert@gmail.com Sarah Cheevers - sacheevers@yahoo.com Erin Romanchuk - erinroser@gmail.com Karen Stroebel - kstroebel@gmail.com</p>

Yes<br>This briefing paper compares two approaches to community-based planning in Tanzania, South Africa and Uganda. Analysing these interventions through an audit of sustainable livelihood `principles¿ (as a proxy for best practice) reveals general lessons about both the practical opportunities and challenges for employing sustainable livelihoods approaches to the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development interventions and also about the changing format of development interventions.<br>Department for International Development

The Portland metropolitan region has seen unprecedented growth in the last three decades, resulting in both economic expansion and considerable gentrification. While lauded for its commitment to sustainability and a "smart development" ethos, many questions remain for the city with respect to the needs of displaced residents and a burgeoning population of young professionals. This study examines how various levels of government implement growth management policies to accommodate these demographic changes, and aims to assess whether and how the consequences of growth, especially gentrification and displacement, are meaningfully addressed. Qualitative interviews were conducted with staff members and elected officials from city, county, and regional government structures across the Portland metropolitan area to investigate the "regional housing crisis." Inductive analysis of these data considers the implications of Portland's layered government structure for making equitable growth-related decisions. Participants expressed a mismatch in what was expected of them--both from higher levels of government and their constituents--and their perceived capacity to do so. While government officials advocate the need for new development of affordable housing units, they see themselves as limited by a series of technical barriers in the stratified planning process, as well as an unequal distribution of influential power in public involvement processes. Findings are synthesized to offer policy recommendations and consider alternative government responses to public housing issues.

Thesis (MPhil (Sustainable Development Planning and Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.<br>The objective of this thesis was to investigate the state of individual philanthropy in South Africa in the post–apartheid, post–1994 transformative period of this country, and to explore and try to understand this practice within the wider context of trends in contemporary global philanthropy. The germ for this thesis came from a recognition that individual philanthropy on a global level is a burgeoning phenomenon with an increasingly important impact, and that this type of giving could also be a powerful resource for South Africa as this new democracy begins to tackle its social and economic problems. This study was informed by primary and secondary data. I used a research strategy and methodology that entailed in-depth interviews with six prominent South African businesspeople who have each given generously from their own resources to address the country‘s major problems: poverty and inequality, capacity-building and jobs creation, education, the HIV-AIDs pandemic, and other poverty-related ills. The results of my research furnished new insights into the practice of individual philanthropy and confirmed that this practice happens in a unique context: the cultural and historical environment within which people‘s lives unfold is the key influence and impetus that informs their giving. While learning about global strategies is important for understanding how the development discourse is developing, these external strategies do not provide the template for South African philanthropy. In South Africa, individuals from diverse backgrounds are independently practicing philanthropy by developing their own unique set of strategies based on their life experience, rather than pursuing strategies that were reached through collaborative dialogue and a mutually agreed-upon approach. Each context is unique and these individuals have developed their own strategies for giving that make sense and work for them. This research is important as South Africa searches for solutions to its pressing problems because it adds to the body of knowledge that could be used to formulate policy and strategic choices for the future of this country. The development discourse increasingly includes individual philanthropy as an integral part of the ―mix‖ of solutions being pursued to eradicate poverty and other social ills; the further development of individual philanthropy in South Africa to become more strategic and transformative is critical. This development is the next step in future research.

Levees provide protection for vast amounts of commercial and residential properties. However, these structures degrade over time, due to the impact of severe weather, sand boils, subsidence of land, seepage, etc. In this research, we focus on detecting sand boils. Sand boils occur when water under pressure wells up to the surface through a bed of sand. These make levees especially vulnerable. Object detection is a good approach to confirm the presence of sand boils from satellite or drone imagery, which can be utilized to assist in the automated levee monitoring methodology. Since sand boils have distinct features, applying object detection algorithms to it can result in accurate detection. To the best of our knowledge, this research work is the first approach to detect sand boils from images. In this research, we compare some of the latest deep learning methods, Viola Jones algorithm, and other non-deep learning methods to determine the best performing one. We also train a Stacking-based machine learning method for the accurate prediction of sand boils. The accuracy of our robust model is 95.4%.

Background: Policy, systems and environmental (PSE) approaches can sustainably improve opportunities for healthy eating (HE) and active transportation (AT). PSEs require cross-sector collaboration. Adopting and implementing PSEs is complex and not well understood. Methods: First, using a national probability survey dataset of US local health departments (LHD), inclusion of HE and AT PSE strategies in local community health improvement plans (CHIPs) was examined. Next, a content analysis of current CHIP documents provided data for multilevel latent class analyses to identify classes of CHIPs based on patterns of PSE-strategy alignment with six key activities that facilitate change. Lastly, semi-structured interviews informed a qualitative exploration of early stage Complete Streets policy implementation in Worcester, Massachusetts. Results: Less than half of US LHDs reported developing a CHIP containing any HE policy (32%) or AT (46%) strategies. Two classes of CHIPs were identified: CHIPs in Class A (HE: 71%; Physical Activity (PA): 79%) simply identified a PSE solution; Class B CHIPs (HE: 29%; PA 21%) mostly included PSE strategies that comprehensively addressed multiple key activities. Six themes emerged as factors for early Complete Streets implementation. Conclusions: This mixed methods study provides a novel understanding of the status, development and implementation of PSE strategies in relation to collaborative strategic health improvement planning efforts. CHIPs are underutilized to promote PSE strategies and few CHIPs in our study developed strategies that comprehensively address the process of PSE-change. Among other factors, CHIPs may provide a guiding structure for policy adoption and implementation.

This research project aims to explore the hypothesis that a Community Technology approach can be considered appropriate for reclamation and recycling activities, and to investigate the opportunities for reclaiming and recycling domestic wastes viably at a 'community' scale. A framework is first established to define a Community Technology approach, and then used to assess the compatibility of reclamation and recycling technologies to this approach. 'Community '-scale reclamation and recycling in Britain, together with some examples from the USA, is examined and the 'state of the art' for both areas of activity described. 'Community'-scale is interpreted as relating to groups of people of less than 10,000, defined as neighbourhoods (of between 100 and 1,000 people) and communities (of 1,000 to 10,000 people). Initial analysis identified only three recycling processes with potential as 'community'-scale activities; all concerned with waste paper recycling. One of these, a neighbourhood-scale technology, was chosen for a detailed feasibility study. The process involves recycling waste paper into sheets of drawing or printing paper suitable for use as 'art' paper, in particular as speciality printing paper, or as sugar paper in schools. The feasibility study was carried out using design and evaluation methods, to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of the process and to investigate what role it might play in the community, in particular in relation to promoting greater community self-reliance. The results show that this technology would not be financially or economically viable as an independent enterprise but indicated additional non-quantified social benefits and hence a possible non-economic role in the community. Some possibilities of educational and job creation roles are explored.

This study identified ways of translating sustainability and sustainable development aims and objectives into practical means in a local government setting, through action research, thereby contributing to the global sustainability debate. This is in an attempt to fill the gap identified in literature, which relates to the paucity of research on translating sustainability into practical means. In achieving one of its aims, the study proposed three levels of abstraction in the form of globalisation theory, sustainability theory and applied sustainable development, conceptualised as grand theory, meso theory and substantive theory. The linkage between these theories was established, thereby contributing and providing an insight into the sustainability debate and processes at the global, regional (EU), national (UK) and local (Havering) levels of government. The study used the London Borough of Havering as a case study in order to achieve the stated aim. This involved examining the case study's community strategy, called 'Havering Community Strategy' to demonstrate how sustainability is applied in a real life situation, in a local government context. The study's findings revealed that at the substantive level - Havering, sustainability is addressed from the perspective of the 1987 Brundtland Report on sustainable development. It also emerged from the study's findings that a number of factors are crucial in achieving global sustainability at the substantive level. These issues relate to the importance of creating strong partnerships between key stakeholders at the local level, capacity building, policy integration, multi-agency working and co-operation, and application of resources in achieving sustainability at the substantive level. The study contributes to three levels of knowledge, namely, methodological, theoretical and practical knowledge. The study also demonstrates how action research methodology is applied in a real life situation, using a participatory inquiry world-view. The theoretical contribution relates to the three levels of abstraction (grand theory, meso theory and substantive theory) proposed in the study which add to the debates in globalisation and sustainability. The practical contribution relates to the development of a model for sustainable development policy and community strategy formation.

<p>Millions of people live and work on college campuses everyday. The environment they dwell and interact with is essential to their quality of life and health. There is no doubt that the campus landscape is of great importance to millions of students, faculty, and staff on campus. Surrounding communities are also significantly affected by college campuses as colleges often provide education and social events, as well as economic activities. However, in the past, the design of campus landscape spaces have been overlooked or treated as a leftover of buildings, even though campus landscape spaces are more than the â facesâ of colleges.</p><p> With more and more colleges and universities expanding and redesigning their landscape spaces, the design of campus landscape space has gained more recognition in the recent twenty years. One of the significant changes in the design process is the taking of usersâ needs/concerns into account. This change is influenced by a community-based design concept found in Active Living and Public Spaces design. While Active Living and Public Spaces design emphasizes the importance of user involvement and different techniques in soliciting user input, there is a missing link between user input and the design program elements.</p><p> In this thesis, I examine the past practice of campus landscape space design and propose using Quality Function Deployment (QFD) to fill in this missing link. QFD has been used in various industries, including service and manufacturing, for years. It emphasizes the importance of taking usersâ needs, called Voice of Customers (VOC), into the design process. The employment of different matrices to capture the relationship between VOC and subsequent design and quality characteristics makes QFD a unique framework suitable to fill the gap in the current design process.</p><p> A case study of campus landscape space design is conducted to examine the applicability of QFD in campus landscape space design, including the advantages, the obstacles, and the unique condition of using QFD in landscape design. The study yields several insights on the application of QFD in campus landscape space design, which are applicable in other landscape design projects.</p><br>Master of Landscape Architecture

Land development patterns have long been a reflection of not only consumer preferences but of public policy. To the extent that such policy has supported scattered, low-density and automobile-dependent development patterns, it has been found to be deficient. It is not only the private land developers who have created sprawl. Government agencies at all levels have also contributed to the problem in the ways they invest in public infrastructure devoid of a coordinated strategy. Schools, public recreational facilities, and branch libraries often are isolated from one another. Two case studies were used to demonstrate the manner in which planned, congregated public facilities came first and succeeded in providing the impetus to sustainable private sector response loosely following a master plan. The first case study examines the urban neighborhood of City Heights in San Diego, California, where a blighted, crime-ridden neighborhood was redeveloped with the construction of several public assets, all within a small, nine-block area. The result was the participation of the private sector in this neighborhood where ten years prior, there was private sector abandonment. The second case study examines the Town Center project located in Suwanee, Georgia. In this example, a city municipality took the helm as master developer, initiated 'place' in the form of an urban-style park, and thereby created the impetus for the subsequent investment by the private sector.

<p>There often exist hard-to-identify or unforeseen external parties that emerge as indirect stakeholders of a project who can significantly influence its execution and outcome. The broader stakeholder landscape in both theory and practice recognizes the local community including other interest groups of a project site as such key stakeholders. However recent cases have revealed shortcomings in managing this category of stakeholders, leading to authoritative rejection of development permit applications and strong local opposition that consequently increase costs and delay to the project. There is indication that a weak community stakeholder management process in the planning stages can cause problems to the project, or worse, in some cases lead to project failure and abandonment by the developer. Wind energy development projects are not exempted from this condition and are possibly even more prone as they involve the erection of tall wind turbines across wide-open landscapes that are deemed controversial and unacceptable to a wider population. Endorsed by the persuasive rationale for wind energy especially in view of the environment and sustainable development, a more comprehensive and effective guidance for community stakeholder management in the planning stage is required to mitigate, if not eliminate, potential issues that can hinder the successful implementation of wind energy development projects. Hence this thesis primarily seeks to answer the research question of: “How should community stakeholders of wind energy development projects be managed in the planning stage prior to permit application?”.</p><p>Using a qualitative approach to research through interviews with several industry practitioners and reviewing secondary data of industry best practices, policies, literature and case studies, 16 community stakeholder management key conclusion points could be made from research data collected. These points are individually important while in aggregate form a broad and novel framework that serves to further raise the awareness and readiness of wind energy development project managers in their community stakeholder management initiatives. A baseline list of community stakeholders and their common concerns were identified, together with suggested approaches to identify community stakeholders in each project. Community consultation is key to the process and engaging the community as widely and early as possible is recommended. Furthermore, key principles and an array of common methods for community stakeholder management in the planning stages of the project are presented, while acknowledging that not all stakeholders can be satisfied at each instance. Ultimately these findings were consolidated in a community consultation checklist that serves as a more systematic and practical tool in guiding project managers in their community stakeholder management initiatives during planning.</p><p>The research findings herewith contribute valuable insights to the existing body of knowledge in this area and also provide enhanced practical guidance to project managers in achieving successful community stakeholder management during planning, facilitating higher acceptance for the proposal, carrying out a more efficient and effective planning process and improving the likelihood for project approval from both authoritative and judiciary standpoints.</p>

One of the impacts of rising demand for community health services is on long term capacity planning. Demand for community services arises directly from the community-mainly seniors- as well as from those discharged from the hospital. This thesis is focused on developing a simulation model based on patient flow in a set of community care facilities in order to help reduce the back log of patients remaining in acute care due to a lack of capacity in these facilities. Our model will provide the user with policy recommendations that address capacity allocation in different post-acute care alternatives over a multi-year time-horizon. In the model, patients differentiated by age and gender flow through the system with stochastic lengths of stay at each node (representing a facility type). We used historical data to classify patients. Proposed factors that influence the arrival and LOS parameters such as age and gender are tested on available data. We used Excel, Minitab and ARENA Input Analyzer to estimate the distribution of LOS, the arrival pattern and the age and gender distribution of new patients. We used Arena software for the simulation. The objective is to minimize patients waiting in the system subject to a constraint on the rate of expansion of facilities. Scenarios are informed by a previous queuing network model that provides the ideal capacity plan. The proposed method seeks to provide a means of determining the potential impact of various rates of expansion and changes in demand in order to more adequately plan future development.

In this action research project, a multimethodology (MM) approach for planning community development projects (CDPs) is proposed. The MM approach is composed of four planning stages; three Soft OR approaches; and a theoretical framework for sustainable community development. The aim of the research is to examine MM’s potential benefits in facilitating group planning and decisionmaking within the context of a particular CDP in Colombia. Thus, the research centres attention on illustrating a theoretical informed way for designing MMs and a systematic procedure for evaluating their impacts in practice. A case study is undertaken in order to evaluate MM’s benefits in a real-world situation. It unfolds within the context of a Colombian governmental project that seeks to improve the socioeconomic conditions of a group of families living in a deprived community in Colombia. MM is employed in order to assist an organisation to design ideas for new business units for some of the families of this community. The case study entails dealing with different complexities and difficulties, including with a decision-team that had highly deteriorated working relations between its members. The results suggest that the main benefits of MM were not only related to clarifying and structuring the content of the problem, but also to improving the quality of the social interactions between the members of this conflicting team. Hence, it seems that MMs might facilitate decision-teams to deal with some of the most common complexities that can be found in CDP-related problems, such as: assessing trade-offs between multiple community’s dimensions, managing uncertainty, etc., as well as facilitate the negotiation process of conflicting ideas and improve the quality of the CDPs planned by them. In this regard, this research aims to be able to contribute to the literature in MM and Community OR (i.e. OR for community development).

This thesis argues that while analysing markets and developing strategies to exploit the external market place and to attract tourists remains a central focus for tourism marketers, it is not enough on its own to achieve sustainable tourism destination development. The researcher substantiates this argument by exploring the 'participatory tourism planning' concept in detail. Based on this approach, the community is identified as a primary customer for whom tourism marketers have ignored involving in their marketing attention, messages and programmes. The fundamental concept - marketing orientation and customer orientation - combined with emerging marketing theories were reviewed in order to help examine how destination marketing, a community-driven approach, should be implemented within a destination area. This examination of marketing and community based tourism planning set a platform for this research. This analysis examines relevance, applicability and potential for an integration of these two pervasive approaches for tourism planning. Guided by the theoretical examination, an integrated community-based tourism planning and marketing model was proposed. In order to explore gaps between the proposed model and its practicality, three destination areas (Phuket, Samui and Songkla-Hatyai) in Thailand were studied and evaluated. At this pragmatic level, this thesis identified impediments confronting national and local tourism organisations. The findings of this study draw a particular attention to institutional challenges which require clear identification of responsibilities and coordination of all actors involved in the planning and marketing process. These selected case studies have not only provided critical commentaries to assist tourism planners improve strategically their marketing approaches within community tourism planning, but they also have helped provide avenues for future research.

The development of the human built environment is an essential component to achieving and maintaining a sustainable society. Much has been done to develop tools, techniques and approaches for creating ‘green’ or ‘sustainable’ neighbourhoods yet they rarely demonstrate the capacity to address the wider socio-ecological requirements for achieving success. This paper studies the current approaches to green design and planning, proposes a new approach called Needs Based Design (NBD), and identifies the gaps that exist between the two. Results indicate that NBD is based on a firm foundation, is widely applicable, and can support and spur regional sustainable development initiatives and positive behaviour change within communities. It fills three major gaps identified in current green design by utilising systems thinking and a shared language and framework, and focusing on the needs of individuals within communities. Concerns exist, however, about its reliance on broad community participation and ongoing education. In theory, NBD allows project teams to implement their work within the context of a strategic sustainable development perspective. Recommended now is practical application and testing.<br>Both a Master's thesis and an introductory guide, as a supplement to the thesis, are included.<br><p>Natalie Haltrich 144 1st Boulevard Terrasse-Vaudreuil Quebec J7V 5T1 Canada</p>

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2002.<br>Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-97).<br>The newly found interest of private developers and communities to bring back the urban Main Street has brought with it questions about what the Main Street should be. Private developers see the inner city as the next frontier for retail development. Communities are attempting to redevelop their districts both with and without private involvement. The goals of each approach are significantly different and therefore so are the processes. This thesis investigates these two approaches through four case studies: two private developments, Mizner Park in Boca Raton, Florida and Harlem USA in New York City; and two community-driven developments, Washington Gateway in Boston, Massachusetts and Payne Avenue Main Streets in St. Paul, Minnesota. After outlining the characteristics of the two approaches, we review the differences in management structure, target market determination, process for attracting tenants, development process, and the market strategy. From these differences, we recommend solutions that could improve both approaches and propose methodologies that draw on both approaches with the intention of meeting both visions in the redevelopment of the Main Street.<br>by Amanda G. Strong [and] Alexandra J. Stroud.<br>S.M.

Master of Science<br>Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional Community Planning<br>Stephanie A. Rolley<br>As bicycle tourists seek interesting experiences along low traffic roads, rural communities are poised to embrace bicycle tourism as a community development strategy. Asset based community development provides a methodology for communities to utilize assets that already exist within their communities to meet the needs of these tourists. The community capitals framework then provides a platform for analyzing and discussing the existing assets, as well as helping hone in on ways communities can develop further. The Sunken Lands region of Northeast Arkansas is one such rural region seeking to embrace bicycle tourism. Two case studies of communities that have capitalized on their existing assets to accommodate bicyclists were completed to explore potential for using the community capitals framework to guide pursuit of bicycle tourism. A snowball approach to interviewing community members in Collinwood, Tennessee and Farmington, Missouri was used to discover the details of bicycle accommodations, the processes of pursuing bicycle tourism, the people and groups involved, the types of assets used, and any challenges faced in implementation. Additionally, existing literature was used to substantiate each case and provide a more robust community picture. Emerging from the case studies were commonalities that aligned with the community capitals framework and Emery and Flora’s (2006) theory that community change is driven by social capital. The result is a tool that aligns community assets with the needs of bicycle tourists with the community capitals framework.

In recent years, there has been an increase in women securing leadership positions across Canadian sport. However, when compared with their male counterparts, there continues to be an imbalance of women in these roles. The purpose of this doctoral dissertation was to evaluate a social learning initiative implemented in the province of Alberta to address these existing gender disparities by increasing gender equity, leadership development/diversity, and knowledge transfer across sport systems. The Alberta Women in Sport Leadership Impact Program (AWiSL) was framed using Wenger’s (1998) concept Communities of Practice and consisted of 12 sport leaders (from various PSOs, clubs, and other sport organizations) and six mentors (with leadership expertise). Each sport leader planned and implemented a project in their home sport organizations to support the increase of gender equity and leadership development/diversity. The mentors were responsible for supporting the sport leaders in achieving their project goals and facilitating leadership development opportunities to inspire growth in the sport leaders. Accordingly, an evaluation was conducted using the Value Creation Framework (Wenger-Trayner et al., 2011) to examine the perceived value of participating in this social learning initiative. Data were collected over a year and a half period, from the 18 members who made up the AWiSL group and other important stakeholders. The data included in-depth interviews, informal conversations, observations, surveys, and collecting organizational documents resulting in over 700 pages of transcribed data. The findings are presented in four articles and an additional findings section. The first article focuses on one of the sport leader’s projects which aimed to foster a collaborative women-only training program for 10 women to become certified coach developers. The second article examines the development of the AWiSL mentors’ social learning leadership capabilities during their first attempt at facilitating a CoP to promote gender equity and leadership development/diversity, through an action learning approach. The third article delves into the sport leaders’ perceptions of their leadership skill development through their participation in the two and a half year social learning initiative, specifically a CoP of femininity. Finally, the fourth article highlights the 12 sport leaders’ projects to examine the impacts of the AWiSL in terms of moving gender equity forward across the province. The additional findings section touches on the knowledge transfer outcome of the AWiSL, including the development of a how-to model for organizations wishing to implement a similar initiative and the overall perceived value of this initiative. The dissertation is concluded with a general discussion highlighting the theoretical contributions and practical implications, along with future recommendations for research.

The prevalence of obesity is rising in the United States and one factor that contributes to it is the lack of cooking at home and planning out meals. Since text messaging is now a main avenue of communication, it could be used to motivate people to plan out their meals and cook at home instead of consuming fast food. Current research on how weekly nudges might relate to peoples’ goals about meal preparation and dietary intake is very limited. The purpose of this study was to examine if sending weekly nudges, focusing on specific dietary goals, improves meal planning and dietary intake in an online meal planning group. A Facebook group was used to send weekly nudges to the participants throughout six weeks. It was found that meal planning appears to have a significant effect on meal preparation at home and thus may help improve dietary intake. The results found can also be utilized in other aspects of leading to healthier lifestyles and motivation-need situations such as weight loss.

This project was designed to aid community design professionals, specifically those professionals associated with "towns and cities that border public lands" (Howe, McMahon, Propst 1997), also known as gateway communities. Many of these towns have already begun a process of planning for future development, realizing the importance of conservation and preservation of their natural resources. By further expanding the goals and scope of town planning, this creative project intends to serve as a promotional resource and model of sustainable community design. More specifically, this creative project intends to provide Gatlinburg city officials with a conceptual master plan for the city's downtown corridor, instituting a combination of SmartCode and Smart Growth strategies with several other innovative strategies in an attempt to produce a sustainable design solution.If used as a guide for new planning and construction, this document should aid inmaintaining a lasting partnership between Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and preserve the Park as a viable natural resource. The solutions produced in this creative project aim to uphold a balance between human settlement and nature and which are environmentally responsible, socially just, and economically viable.Due to the magnitude of change required for many of the proposed development strategies, and to promote consideration for the equity of future generations, the conceptual master planning will be envisioned as a long-range build-out with suggested phasing. Working towards a sustainable goal far into the future will enable local gateway planning and design to become less reactive and promote a vision which the entire community can own.<br>Department of Landscape Architecture

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2004.<br>Some pages folded.<br>Includes bibliographical references (p. 111-113).<br>This thesis is a case study of how the design issues of a community web space can be approached from the viewpoint of urban design not in terms of appearance but in terms of its functionality. An urban public place like a plaza and a community web space both serve their residents' social lives whether real or virtual. There have been many efforts to replicate public spaces into the virtual world. However, considering the completely different materials that compose both spaces, it may be not proper to duplicate just the visual appearance of a city in the virtual world. Therefore, in this thesis, using not the literal adoption of but the functional analogy of urban design, I analyze the legibility of a community web space, 'PLAZA'. This analogy can be divided into two parts. The first part utilizes Kevin Lynch's methodology for the analysis of "the Image of City". I examine the design of PLAZA using the public's mental image of PLAZA, as he used the citizens' image of cities to analyze city spaces. The second part uses physical urban space to interpret the relation between users' mental image of PLAZA and its design. Spatial concepts that are familiar in designing physical spaces are used for this analysis; Graphic, Location, Vitality of a place, and Accessibility. The result of this case study shows both similarities and dissimilarities between an urban public space and DUSP PLAZA for each spatial concept.<br>by Jaecheol Kim.<br>M.C.P.

The present study implemented Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP), a comprehensive, multi-component, strategic planning model and tool, in the New River Valley (NRV), Virginia to mobilize the NRV community to improve its own health status and the quality of life of its residents. The current mixed methods study represents one of the first to utilize MAPP in southwest Virginia and Virginia and is the most comprehensive community health needs assessment and strategic planning effort to date in the NRV. Through MAPP, the NRV community strived to determine the most effective ways to achieve optimal community health by considering its unique circumstances and needs, prioritizing public health system issues, identifying resources, and then developing integrated plans and forming effective partnerships for strategic action. The NRV MAPP process provided a solid framework for creating a community-driven needs assessment and strategic planning approach and initiative that brought together diverse public, private, non-profit, and voluntary organizations/agencies, businesses, faith communities, academia, local government, community members, and others who shared the commitment to and had a role in the NRV communityâ s health and overall well-being. The current study also reviews the specific findings, summarizes the benefits and successes, and highlights lessons learned (including challenges and limitations) from the NRV MAPP experience, as well as makes recommendations for current practice and future research. Additionally, it provides a step-by-step overview of the entire MAPP process for potential users as applied to a real-world community, specifically the NRV.<br>Ph. D.

Assignment (MFor)--Stellenbosch University, 2001.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The ongoing environmental destruction that results from the continuous use of the woodland resources for economic purposes has caused extensive changes in the original vegetation of Goba area of southern Mozambique. Developing alternative sources of income for communities can reduce their dependence on the production of charcoal, building materials and wood carvings. The lack of infrastructure and remoteness of these localities from the markets make alternatives economically unfeasible and thus unsustainable for rural development. Ineffective policy planning that does not address the problem in a holistic way causes the dilemma of local people in remote areas. The challenge at Goba is to develop alternative livelihoods that are economically, socially and ecologically sustainable. Nature-based tourism has been identified as such an alternative to realize this goal. However, this development requires incentives for sustainable resource use, which can be created either by expanding the benefits accruing from the efficient use of the resource or by changing the distribution of the benefits and cost in favor of the users. In many cases, local communities have developed tourism initiatives in ecologically fragile, remote areas, without sound planning based on detailed ecological and socio-economic information. Uncontrolled flows of tourists in unplanned tourist destinations degrade these areas. These destinations lose their aesthetic appeal; tourism flow decreases and consequently new attractions are opened. This study is of a land use planning nature and follows a combination of existing framework tools. The primary aim of this study was to develop simple guidelines for nature-based tourism that contribute to the conservation and management of the rural woodland areas as well as to the improved socio-economic welfare of rural communities in the Goba area. The study used baseline information for planning, focusing on the tourism market and on the ecological and socia-economical aspects of the siudy area. Two strategies were used to obtain the information, namely market research and attraction resources analysis. The market research in the southern part of Mozambique shows that: International tourist flows are at present from Southern African countries mostly South Africa (more than 50%), North America, Europe and Australia or Asia. Mozambique is perceived mainly as a sunny beach destination for vacations and weekends though most of the tourists were engaged in multi-destination itineraries that included safari, wildernesses, bird watching, touring and curiosity. There was no evidence from any tourist that nature tourism was the reason to visit Mozambique, but many of them said that they would visit ecotourism and nature tourism destinations if available. The average daily expenditure per tourist was found to be US$47. Tourists from long-haul distances had higher disposable expenditures and stayed longer in both attraction assets and in the country. Sixty nine per cent (69%) of surveyed tourists were over 50 years of age and they were mostly males (57%). The results show clearly that many issues must be taken into consideration where the development of ecotourism and nature-based tourism, especially in rural areas, is concerned. Such considerations should include (i) careful planning of the destinations based on the local developmental policy; (ii) developing saleable tourist products and packages and (iii), promotional strategies to expand the market to capture tourists with high average daily expenditure. The rural communities can then have a chance to develop nature-based tourism that uses outstanding natural resources. The resources analysis study results revealed that: The rugged topographic, climatic conditions of Goba water catchment area and the distance from settlements have naturally preserved local forest resources from human utilization. The area has well conserved and differentiated natural scenic landscape. These scenic landscapes have recreational values as well as environmental contrast, scientific discovery potential and retention of vanishing biological species. To preserve or improve the management of these landscapes, it is essential to consider recreation use in relation to all other potential values. Few existing landscapes showed a relative ability to absorb impacts produced by facility development with a minimum negative effect on the visual and ecological quality of the landscape. The majority of the landscapes have some potential for primitive and sensitive recreational spectrum. All these results are consistent with results from similar studies on watershed and water catchment ecology. Given the constraints on the environmental settings of the Goba landscapes, it is recommended that the basic and logic framework development should attract tourists interested in the more primitive portion of the recreational spectrum and should have fewer facilities of small-scale building. These facilities should be rustic in character with less service and more emphasis on self-reliance. Improved management of the Goba ecosystem is needed to maintain the ecological functions of the catchment and local culture and rurality. In conclusion, this study suggests that, if on these remote fragile ecosystems local communities can protect and market attractive quality-of-life-amenities, maintain a relatively low cost of living, and offer serviceable links to global telecommunication infrastructures in order to attract tourists and retirees, these communities can survive and may even thrive as local economies. An incentive planning method and sustained extension outreach effort in rural development, which focuses on nourishing local action at the grassroots level, will complement such a policy strategy.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Omvattende verandering van die natuurlike plantegroei in die Goba area van suiderlike Mosambiek is teweeg gebring deur die deurlopende bentting van die omgewing deur die misbruik van die natuurlike hulpbronne vir ekonomiese wins. Die ontwikkeling van alternatiewe inkomstebronne vir plaaslike gemeenskap kan hul afhanklikheid van hout vir die produksie van houtskool, boumateriaal en houtsneewerk verminder. Die gebrek aan infrastruktuur en die groot afstande na markte maak die verkoop van die houtprodukte in stedelike gebiede onprakties en dus nie 'n volhoubare oplossing vir landelike ontwikkeling nie. Oneffektiewe beleidsbeplanning wat die probleem nie holisites benader nie veroorsaak 'n dilemma vir inwoners in afgeleë gebiede. Die uitdaging in Goba is om alternatiewe bronne van inkomste te ontwikkel wat ekonomies, sosiaal en ekologies volhoubaar is. Natuurgebaseerde toerisme is geïdentifiseer as 'n moontlike alternatief wat aan die doel kan beantwoord. Die ontwikkeling van eko-toerisme sal egter net slaag indien die plaaslike bevolking genoegsaam aangemoedig word om die natuurlike hulpbronne op 'n volhoubare basis te benut. Dit kan gedoen word óf deur winste terug te ploeg in die omgewing en so die toerisme basis te vergroot óf deur winsdeling op 'n gebruikersgunstige voordele- en kostebasis te behartig. In baie gevalle het plaaslike gemeenskappe toerisme inisiatiewe in sensitiewe, afgeleë gebiede ontwikkel, sonder deeglike beplanning wat op uitgebreide ekologiese en sosio-ekonomiese inligting berus. Die onbeheerde toeriste aanloop na onbeplande areas lei tot die stelselmatige vernietiging daarvan. Hierdie bestemmings verloor hul estetiese waarde en het tot gevolg dat toeriste ander ongerepte areas gaan soek. Hierdie studie handeloor die beplanning van grondgebruik en volg 'n kombinasie van bestaande raamwerk prosedure. Die primêre doel van hierdie ondersoek is om eenvoudige riglyne vir natuurgebaseede eko-toerisme te ontwikkel wat 'n bydra kan lewer tot die bewaring en bestuur van die natuurlike wonde en wat die sosioekonomiese welvaart van die plaaslike bevolking van Goba sal bevorder. Die studie maak gebruik van basiese inligting vir beplanning, en fokus op die toeristemark sowel as op die ekologiese en sosioekonomiese aspekte van die studie-area. Die twee strategieë wat gevolg is om inligting in te win is marknavorsing en die analise van toeriste-attraksie hulpbronne. Marknavorsing in die suide van Mosambiek toon dat die meerderheid internasionale besoekers aan Mosambiek afkomstig is van lande in Suidelike Afrika (Suid-Afrika alleen 50%), en daarna uit Noord- Amerika, Europa and Australië/Asië. Mosambiek word hoofsaaklik as 'n sonnige strandoord-bestemming vir vakansies en naweke beskou, hoewel die meeste toeriste 'n multi-bestemming reisplan volg wat safaris, ornitologie, reis en besoeke aan besienswaardighede insluit. Daar is geen bewys gevind dat enige toeris Mosambiek besoek het met eko-toerisme as doel nie, maar baie sou belangstelom dit te doen indien ekoen natuurgebaseerde toeriste-betemmings beskikbaar was. Die gemiddelde daaglikse uitgawe per toeris was US$47. Toeriste wat groot afstande moes aflê om hul bestemming te bereik het meer beskikbare fondse en bly langer, beide in die land en by verskillende attraksies. Van die toeriste by wie die opname gemaak is 69% ouer as 50 jaar en die meerderheid (57%) was mans. Die resultate toon dat daar talle faktore is om in ag te neem by die ontwikkeling van 'n landelike area vir natuurgebaseede en eko-toerisme. Daar moet aandag gegee word aan (i) deeglike beplanning van die bestemming gebaseer op die plaaslike ontwikkelingsbeleid; (ii) die ontwikkeling van verkoopbare toeriste produkte en pakkette;en (iii), promosie strategieë om die mark uit te brei om toeriste wat meer spandeer te lok. Die landelike gemeenskappe word sodoende die geleentheid gebied om hul besondere natuurlike hulpbronne te ontwikkel vir natuurgebaseerde toerisme. Die hulpbron-analise toon dat die afgeleë en bergagtige topografie en die klimaatsomstandighede van Goba se wateropvangsgebied as natuurlike beskerming vir inheense woude teen die benutting deur die plaaslike bevolking gedien het. Die area is goed bewaar met skouspelagtige natuurtonele. Die skouspelagtige landskap beskik oor rekreasiewaarde sowel as omgewingskontras, potensiaal vir wetenskaplike ontdekkings en vir bewaring van seldsame fauna en flora. Om hierdie landskap te bewaar of die bestuur daarvan te verbeter, moet gebruik vir rekreasie in verhouding tot die ander potensiële waardes beskou word. Daar is beperkte areas wat die vermoë besit om ontwikkeling te absorbeer en waar die verbouing van fasiliteite slegs 'n minimale negatiewe effek op die visuele en ekologiese kwaliteit sal hê. Die potensiaal bestaan egter vir alle areas om op 'n beperkte skaalontwikkel te word vir die primitiewe en sensitiewe sektor van die rekreasie spektrum. Die resultate van die vavorsing stem ooreen met soortgelyke studies van waterskeiding- en wateropvangsgebied-ekologie en ontwikkeling. Vir die gegewe omgewingsbeperkings van Goba word dit aanbeveel dat ontwikkeling op 'n basiese vlak geskied om daadie proporsie van die toeriste te lok wat in die sogenaamde wildernis-ervaring belangstel. Geboue en beperkte fasiliteite moet slegs op klein skaal opgerig word. Die fasiliteite moet by die omgewing inpas en die klem moet op selfvoorsiening eerder as op dienstelewering val. Die bestuur van die Goba ekosisteem moet egter verbeter om die ekologiese funksie en die plaaslike kultuur en landelikeid te behou. Die bevinding van die studie is dat indien ver-afgeleë en sensitiewe ekosisteme deur die plaaslike bevolking bestuur en beskerm word, dit tot ekonomiese welvaart van die landelike gebiede kan lei. Hierdie areas moet bestuur word sodat die landelike karakter as toeriste aantreklikheid behou word, dat die lewenskoste relatief laag bly en dat verbindings met die buitewêreld op telekommunikasie vlak ingestel word. Beplanning moet op 'n aansporingsbasis gegrond wees met uitreikingsprogramme met landelike ontwikkeling as doel. Aanmoediging van plaaslike aksie op grondvlak behoort so 'n beleidstrategie te versterk.

Thesis (PhD (School of Public Management and Planning))—-Stellenbosch University, 2008.<br>The aim of the study is to develop an appropriate Organisational Development (OD) approach to optimise the capacity of Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) and promote Community and Civil Society Development. The following research question is examined: In what ways can OD be a suitable approach to build the capacity of CBOs and thus have an impact on Community and Civil Society Development? The study is motivated by current development challenges in South Africa1 and the role civil society can play to represent citizens’ interests in relation to state and market2. As part of civil society, CBOs are generally recognised as pivotal stakeholders in the South African development context3, but are in reality marginalised and unable to assert themselves in the development sector. Furthermore Development Theory shows that theorists have in the recent past increasingly advocated for ‘democratisation of development’, enabling previously marginalised people to participate in development processes and therefore gain power over these. Although not widely practised reality yet, ‘People centred’ and ‘Participatory development’ as bottom-up and endogenous versions of development are being promoted as sustainable development paradigms. They emphasise the importance of building capacity of civil-society organisations4. OD as an approach to development and capacity building collaborates with the goals of a people centred development and the strengthening of civil society organisations, and is “in line with several participative approaches to development”5. It is, however, relevant to cultivate a “new development practitioner”, who is competent to facilitate capacity-building processes, which will meaningfully impact at the grassroots level6. The study is guided by a postmodern philosophy and stems from a phenomenological as well as transformative approach by applying a Goethean phenomenology, Action Research, Grounded Theory, Complexity Theory and various qualitative research methodologies, such as case study work with three CBOs; and semi-structured interviews with CBOs, community leaders, OD practitioners and academics. Furthermore the research includes a sociological examination of the current development context and paradigms, and their impact in post Apartheid South Africa. During the research, findings were engaged with by a discussion forum. The research findings included the discussion of themes, which emerged through the Grounded Theory approach: ∗ CBO capacity, by examining how capacity is interpreted at a CBO level in relation to inherent capacities; ∗ Leadership, and the role of pioneer leaders in CBOs; and ∗ Relationships, within CBOs as well as with their broader environment. These themes were understood as relevant when aiming to develop CBO capacity as well as engaging with the broader capacity development sector. Further, principles and approaches for OD at a CBO level are proposed, which are ultimately related through their view of organisations as complex social systems, their emphasis on learning, and the critical examination of power asymmetries. It is intended that this study contributes to development practice concerning CBO development within and beyond South Africa. Ultimately the study aims to influence current development paradigms and contribute to an enabling development context and the building of a strong and proactive civil society.

Extreme weather events have become a common occurrence and coastal communities are adversely affected by it. Studies have shown that the changing climate has increased the frequency and severity of storms, surging sea levels, and floods, as was seen with Hurricane Sandy (2012) and Typhoon Haiyan (2013). The need to be proactive in preparing for these events, as a means of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, is evident. This study focuses on the formal definition, measurement and simulation of coastal community preparedness and response to severe storm events. Preparedness and response requires resources, emergency plans, informed decision making and the ability to cope with unexpected events. A suite of preparedness indicators is developed using a three level hierarchical framework in the construction of a coastal community preparedness index to evaluate resources and plans. Informed decision making for emergency management personnel in the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is evaluated through a table-top exercise using a five-phase approach. Lastly, decision making with risk is introduced with a storm decision making simulation model. This study is applied to the case of the breakwater failure in the coastal community of Little Anse, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County is interested in determining the approach that it may take if it decides to pursue conservation and limited development as a strategy to preserve land. In using conservation and limited development, the Conservancy may put into practice its core values by employing this intensely-collaborative conservation tool and informing itself about development, conservation, collaboration and financing, in order to meet multiple community needs. Information about the limited development process was collected from books, news articles and personal communications with professionals to determine its components. Each chapter of this report analyzes one component, putting authors’ strategies into conversation, critiquing these and then offering conservancies several different approaches to accomplish each component. This report concludes that the most important decision that a conservancy must make when pursuing conservation and limited development, is determining the level of involvement appropriate for its conservation mission, resources, expertise, and role in realizing project goals. The final portion of the report provides two case studies that draw upon telephone interviews with professionals, and analyze the contrasting levels of involvement that each project’s conservancy assumed. Since this report was requested by the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County, it addresses some concerns and realities particular to the county; however, most recommendations are generally applicable to other land conservancies.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study was embarked upon to identify an alternative approach to policing. It was an attempt to investigate whether an integrated development approach will be more successful in preventing crime and violence than heterogeneous police task teams and operations. Operation Good - Hope in the Western Cape, a SAPS crime prevention strategy to police the urban terror and related crimes (PAGAD and gang violence), was the focus of the study. Plurality of research methodology was introduced to compile data. The data collected was analysed in relation to the topic and the objective of the study and to the research hypothesis. Based on the data analysis the following are the main research findings: • a working relationship existed between various SAPS components within Operation Good - Hope, but was not properly managed and coordinated; • Operation Good - Hope did not allowed for external collaboration with relevant stakeholders and showed no sense of partnership; • Operation Good - Hope did not police the social crime problems; and • Operation Good - Hope was not shaped by a clear analysis and cohesive strategy. The findings of the study gave rise to the following recommendations: • That a local - based strategy for crime prevention be develop and lead by local government to normalise crime and violence; • That a provincial framework be developed for an integrated development approach to police and stabalise serious violent crimes; • That crime prevention solutions must be based on factors that causes crime; and • A crime prevention strategy be designed and implemented. Finally, the study indicates that provincial crime prevention strategies should be supplementive to local - based crime prevention strategies, to simultaneously stabalise and normalise crime and violence.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie is onderneem om 'n alternatiewe benadering tot polisieëring te identifiseer. Dit is ook 'n poging om uit te vind of 'n geïntegreerde ontwikkelingsbenadring meer suksesvol is as hetrogene polisie taakspanne en operasies met die bekamping van misdaad en geweld. Operasie Goeie - Hoop in die Wes - Kaap, 'n SAPD misdaadvoorkoming strategie om stedelike terreur en verwante misdade (PAGAD en bende geweld) te polisieer, was die fokus van die studie. Data was ingesamel deur middel van 'n pluraliteit van navorsingsmetodologie. Die ingesamelde data was geanaliseer in verhouding tot die tema, doelwitte van die studie en met die navorsingshipotese. Gebaseer op die data analise, is die volgende die hoof bevindinge van die studie: • Daar was samewerking tussen verskillende SAPD komponente betrokke by Operasie Goeie - Hoop, maar dit was nie deeglik bestuur en gekoordineer nie; • Operasie Goeie - Hoop het nie voorsiening gemaak vir eksterne samewerking en vennootskap met relevante rolspelers nie; • Operasie Goeie - Hoop het nie die sosiale - misdaad probleme gepolisieër nie; en • Operasie Goeie - Hoop was nie bestuur deur 'n deeglike analise en deur 'n samehangende strategie nie. Die studie het tot die volgende aanbevelings gelei: • Die ontwikkeling van 'n plaaslike - gebaseerde strategie vir misdaadvoorkoming onder leiding van die plaaslike regering om misdaad en geweld te normaliseer; • Die ontwikkeling van 'n provinsiale raamwerk vir 'n geïntegreerde ontwikkelingsbenadering tot polisieëring en om ernstige geweldsmisdade te stabaliseer; • Dat oplossings tot misdaadvoorkoming gebaseer moet wees op faktore wat misdaad veroorsaak; en • Dat 'n misdaadvoorkomingstrategie ontwerp en geïmplimenteer moet word. Ten slotte toon die studie aan dat 'n provinsiale misdaadvoorkomingstrategie ondersteunend moet wees tot 'n plaaslike - gebaseerde misdaadvoorkomingstrategie, om te gelyke tyd misdaad en geweld te stabaliseer en te normaliseer.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since its inception the Community Development Worker Programme (CDWP) seeks to promote cooperative governance within the context of the Intergovernmental Relations Framework. In pursuit of a holistic approach to development Community Development Workers (CDWs) strive for effectiveness in their role as change agents. This case study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of CDWs as change agents in pursuit of a holistic approach to development in the Western Cape. This was a qualitative study using participatory action research as a CDW in the West Coast; semi-structured interviews with Dedicated Officials from municipalities in the Cape Winelands Region, City of Cape Town and West Coast Region; focus groups with community members and stakeholders from Kayamandi in the Cape Winelands Region, Eerste River in the City of Cape Town and various towns in the West Coast Region; focus group and semi-structured interviews with Supervisors from the City of Cape Town, West Coast Region and Cape Winelands Region. Questionnaires were completed by Regional Coordinators from the West Coast Region, City of Cape Town, Overberg Region and Central Karoo Region; and questionnaires were completed by CDWs from the City of Cape Town, Cape Winelands Region, West Coast Region, Central Karoo Region and Overberg Region in the Western Cape. The findings of the research reveal that the CDWP has made tremendous progress since its inception. Regional Coordinators, supervisors and CDWs have a very good grasp of what is expected of them as change agents. The responses from the community also revealed much appreciation and support for the work done by CDWs in their role as change agents. The effectiveness of CDWs in their role of change agents in pursuit of a holistic approach to development is rated to be between 6-8 on a scale of 1-10; with ten being the highest. There is room for improvement however as the findings indicate that there are several cases where CDWs experience isolation and frustration and are challenged in their pursuit of holistic development as they are hampered by a lack of adequate resources; a lack of access to budgets; a lack of support, cooperation and political interference from ward councillors and politicians; a lack of understanding, appreciation, cooperation and support from local government and a sense of belonging at local municipal level in many instances amongst others. Although the research reveals that the province is effective in its pursuit of a holistic approach to sustainable community development on the part of CDWs as change agents, the researcher wishes to argue that improved collaboration needs to take place amongst the various levels of governments, government departments, development agencies and the beneficiaries of development themselves to further maximise the efforts and effectiveness of CDWs in their role as change agents. The building blocks of development and the Batho Pele Principles must also be more consistently applied and attentively addressed and diligently implemented by all the stakeholders in the development process in order to improve service delivery and enhance more effective community development to the benefit of the community at grassroots whilst meeting local, national and provincial development targets. The challenge to each of us as change agents is therefore to do our all towards reconstruction, community development and equal opportunities for all. We all have to be accountable and answer the question as to what we are doing concerning community development, namely education; poverty relief; service delivery; etc. in our own communities. We need to acknowledge where we have come from, where we are now and where we are going. Much progress has already been made despite a lack of funding, facilities and resources. More sacrifices must still be made however to ensure a better life for all. The issue is around respect, irrespective of who you are dealing with.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Van sy ontstaan af probeer die Gemeenskapsontwikkelingswerkerprogram (GOWP) koöperatiewe bestuur in die konteks van die Tussenregeringsverhoudingsraamwerk bevorder. Gemeenskapsontwikkelingswerkers (GOW’s) streef na effektiwiteit in hul rol as veranderingsagente om ’n holistiese benadering tot ontwikkeling te volg. Hierdie gevallestudie is uitgevoer om die effektiwiteit van GOW’s as veranderingsagente wat ’n holistiese benadering tot ontwikkeling in die Wes-Kaap nastreef te bepaal. Dit was ’n kwalitatiewe studie met gebruik van deelnemende aksienavorsing as ’n GOW in die Weskus; halfgestruktureerde onderhoude met toegewyde amptenare van munisipaliteite in die Kaapse Wynlandstreek, Stad Kaapstad en Weskusstreek; fokusgroepe met gemeenskapslede en belanghebbendes uit Kayamandi in die Kaapse Wynlandstreek, Eersterivier in die Stad Kaapstad en verskeie dorpe in die Weskusstreek; fokusgroep- en halfgestruktureerde onderhoude met toesighouers uit die Stad Kaapstad, Weskusstreek en Kaapse Wynlandstreek. Vraelyste is deur streekskoördineerders van die Weskusstreek, Stad Kaapstad, die Overbergstreek en Sentraal Karoostreek ingevul; en vraelyste is deur die GOW’s van die Stad Kaapstad, Kaapse Wynlandstreek, Weskusstreek, Sentraal Karoostreek en Overbergstreek in die Wes-Kaap ingevul. Die bevindings van die navorsing toon dat die GOWP sedert sy ontstaan geweldige vordering gemaak het. Streekskoördineerders, toesighouers en GOW’s het ’n baie goeie begrip van wat as veranderingsagente van hulle verwag word. Die reaksies van die gemeenskap het ook groot waardering en ondersteuning getoon vir die werk wat deur die GOW’s in hulle rol as veranderingsagente gedoen word. Die effektiwiteit van GOW’s in hul rol as veranderingsagente wat ’n holistiese benadering tot ontwikkeling nastreef word beskou as 6-8 op ’n skaal van 1 tot 10, met tien as die hoogste punt. Daar is egter ruimte vir verbetering aangesien die bevindings aandui dat daar verskeie gevalle is waar GOW’s isolasie en frustrasie ondervind en uitgedaag word in hulle nastrewing van holistiese ontwikkeling weens onder andere ’n gebrek aan toereikende hulpbronne; ’n gebrek aan toegang tot begrotings; ’n gebrek aan ondersteuning en samewerking en die politieke inmenging van wyksraadslede en politici; ’n gebrek aan begrip, waardering, samewerking en ondersteuning van die plaaslike regering en ’n gevoel van tuis hoort op plaaslike munisipale vlak in baie gevalle. Hoewel die navorsing toon dat die provinsie effektief is in sy nastrewing van ’n holistiese benadering tot volhoubare gemeenskapsontwikkeling aan die kant van GOW’s as veranderingsagente, wil die navorser aanvoer dat beter samewerking op die verskillende vlakke van regering, regeringsdepartemente, ontwikkelingsliggame en die begunstigdes van ontwikkeling moet plaasvind om die pogings en effektiwiteit van GOW’s in hul rol as veranderingsagente verder te versterk. Die boustene van ontwikkeling en die Batho Pelebeginsels moet deur al die belanghebbendes in die ontwikkelingsproses meer konsekwent toegepas, noulettend gehanteer en toegewyd geïmplementeer word om dienslewering te verbeter en meer effektiewe gemeenskapsontwikkeling in belang van die gemeenskap op grondvlak te bewerkstellig terwyl dit aan plaaslike, nasionale en provinsiale ontwikkelingsteikens voldoen. Die uitdaging aan elkeen van ons as veranderingsagente is dus om alles moontlik te doen in belang van rekonstruksie, gemeenskapsontwikkeling en gelyke geleenthede vir almal. Ons moet almal aanspreeklik wees en die vraag beantwoord oor wat ons doen omtrent gemeenskapsontwikkeling, naamlik onderwys, armoedeverligting, dienslewering, ens. in ons eie gemeenskappe. Ons moet erken waar ons vandaan kom, waar ons nou is en waar ons heengaan. Baie vordering is reeds gemaak ten spyte van ’n gebrek aan befondsing, fasiliteite en hulpbronne. Meer opofferings moet egter nog gemaak word om n beter lewe vir almal te verseker. Dit gaan oor respek, ongeag met wie jy handel.

Food insecurity refers to the lack of reliable access to nutritious and affordable foods for people of all backgrounds (Meenar and Hoover, 2012) and is a problem faced by approximately 50 million Americans (Smith, 2011) and thirteen percent of North Carolina households. Food security and poverty have been directly linked and North Carolina's poverty rate (14.3%) is above the national level (13%) (Curtis, 2010). Community gardens have been recognized globally by many experts including health professionals, community organizers, environmental activists, and policymakers, as an "important contributor to economic development, food security, and environmental management"(Baker, 2004). Together, these professionals use gardens as a means to educate the public about food production and nutrition. Empirical research has documented many community garden benefits, however, the examination of educational programs associated with these gardens is limited. The purpose of this case study was to examine the development and implementation of a beginner gardening program and its influence on program participants in an area known to be food insecure within North Carolina. The researcher utilized multiple means of qualitative methods including: 1) semi-structured pre- and post- interviews with program coordinators and participants, 2) content analysis, 3) a reflection journal used to observe the program, and the facilitation of a 4) focus group with program participants. The findings revealed the challenges program coordinators encountered throughout the development and implementation, as well as the effects of the beginner gardening program on program participants.<br>Master of Science in Life Sciences

<p> This study documents an experience in which a small group of cognitively and developmentally disabled adults expressed their personal goals and views related to art museum visits. A review of literature related to disability studies, museum access and inclusive programs, art therapy, and person-centered thinking provide background and context. Case study and qualitative interviews are used as methodologies to support an investigation of the use of person-centered thinking in the implementation of art museum programming for the study participants. Person-centered thinking is considered and assessed as an approach to structuring meaningful collaborations between visitors with disabilities and art museums. Data collected in the forms of visual and written response, observation, and documentation of interviews inform the findings, discussion, and analysis of the study&rsquo;s research goals. The resulting case study may be used by museums to structure visits with similar groups. This study contributes to a growing body of knowledge pertaining to how museums can best collaborate with disabled populations to create inclusive programs.</p>

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The current food system is failing to effectively serve the urban poor. The modernisation and globalisation of the food system solves one set of problems, regarding food security, but at the same time it results in the creation of other complex challenges. Technically the food system ensures adequate food availability on a macro scale, but the structure of the system contributes to the creation of food deserts. Food deserts are areas in which there is a lack of food retail outlets where affordable, nutritious food is available. Communities living in these areas usually struggle to obtain a nutritious diet and the residents are characterised as poverty-stricken and of a poor nutritional status. The aim of this research is to support local authorities in the management and strategic planning of community food security. The research was conducted in Avian Park, a low-income community in the Breede Valley of the Western Cape, South Africa. The food retail environment of Avian Park was investigated to determine the availability and accessibility of food in the community. Furthermore, a system dynamics model was developed to identify those areas in the food system which need attention, in order to achieve greater food security. In addition strategies are suggested to improve community food security; specifically for Avian Park. These research outcomes, however, also serve as a general guideline for managing food security in low-income communities more effectively.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die huidige voedsel sisteem slaag nie daarin om arm mense in stede effektief te dien nie. Die ontwikkeling en globalisering van die voedsel sisteem los een stel probleme rondom voedselsekerheid op, maar skep terselfdetyd ander komplekse uitdagings. Tegnies verseker die voedsel sisteem die beskikbaarheid van genoegsame voedsel op 'n makro skaal, maar die struktuur van die sisteem dra by tot die ontwikkeling van “food deserts.” “Food deserts” is areas waar daar „n tekort aan voedsel kleinhandel afsetpunte is waar daar bekostigbare, voedsame kos beskikbaar is. Gemeenskappe wat in hieride areas leef sukkel gewoonlik om „n voedsame dieet te bekom en die inwoners word geken aan armoede en 'n ongewenste voedingstatus. Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om plaaslike owerhede te ondersteun om gemeenskap voedselsekerheid meer efektief te bestuur. Die navorsing was in Avian Park, „n lae-inkomste gemeensakp in die Breede Vallei van die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika uitgevoer. Die voedsel kleinhandel omgewing van Avian Park is ondersoek om die voedsel beskikbaarheid en toegangklikheid te bepaal. Verder is „n “system dynamics” model ontwikkel om die areas in die voeldsel sisteem wat aandag verg, ten einde voedselsekuriteit te bekom, te identifiseer. Ten slotte word daar strategieë voorgestel om gemeenskap voeldselsekuriteit in Avian Park te verbeter. Hierdie navorsingsuitkomste dien egter ook as algemene riglyne om lae inkomste gemeenskappe se voedselsekerheid meer effektief te bestuur.

In an urban world of increasing diversity, uncertainty, isolation and fear, creative and compassionate planning approaches are called for more than ever before. A concern of many planning theorists and practitioners today is how to create more inclusive participatory democratic processes and ensure that planner's work contributes to the development of greater social and environmental justice. This research follows planning theorists like Leonie Sandercock, John Forester and John Friedmann in a search for a new planning paradigm, a new praxis of inclusive engagement. It brings art, story, emotions, spirit, body, intuition, culture, identity, and other such taboo notions in the "mainstream" planning world front and centre in imagining a professional revolution. This research is motivated by theorists and practitioners who identify the need for a more holistic planning approach, rooted in an expanded view of the interconnected, relationship-centred and multi-faceted nature of people, communities, and planning issues and the recognition that who and how we are as practitioners is as important as what we do. It is also driven by the argument that culture not only matters, but that understanding and working with its varied and creative expressions in community and participatory processes holds uniquely insightful and transformative opportunities for communication, connection, and action. Finally, it is guided by John Forester's idea that there is a wealth of invaluable knowledge about what's going on and what works in authentic, daily, messy, discreet practice situations contained within the experience stories of practitioners and community members. Learning how to truly listen to and work with stories - in the many forms in which they are told - and tell our own, is a vital planning capacity in need of enhancement. Despite current theoretical debates and an increasingly recognised need for new (or perhaps re-imagined or re-awakened) capacities and tools for planning in cities of difference, little has been written about community cultural development (CCD) as a useful avenue of consideration. Meanwhile, cultural and arts-based participatory processes are becoming increasingly accepted in other fields of literature as uniquely effective in building community, transforming consciousness, resolving conflict, bridging difference, and engaging individuals and groups (especially the most marginalised) in learning, decision-making and action. The empirical research for this thesis is based in urban Vancouver, a multicultural city known for its community cultural development activity. Here, through listening to their stories and observing and experiencing their approaches myself, I explore the goals, capacities, skills, and impacts of various practitioners incorporating creative and cultural expression in their work. I also look at two case studies: the creative cultural work of the Kalayaan Centre, a Filipino community centre, and the Renfrew-Collingwood Arts Pow Wow, an arts-based community development program in an exceptionally diverse neighbourhood. I explore what is going on in these processes and consider what planners might learn from the experiences of these practitioners and participants towards creating more equitable, more appropriate, more pluralist, and more inspiring places to live and ways of living. I investigate what unique and essential functions and roles artists and creative/cultural activity play in society and planning and argue that a movement towards more inclusive participatory democratic processes will necessarily involve incorporating aspects of a community cultural development approach.<br>Applied Science, Faculty of<br>Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of<br>Graduate

Inadequate solid waste management is a principal cause of risk and vulnerability in informal settlements in Latin America. Failure of municipalities to provide proper waste disposal and maintenance of public spaces can lead to flooding, cause public health problems, increase crime, and produce a sense of abandonment. Accumulation of garbage is particularly hazardous for children, since they engage more intimately with their environment through play and other activities. Planners can draw on participatory activities to document children’s perspectives and activities, and in so doing, better integrate children and youth into the planning process. This paper presents the results of drawing exercises conducted with children in Los Platanitos, Dominican Republic, and discusses the implications of these methods for more participatory planning approaches in informal settlements.<br>text

The study has established that modernisation development paradigm is currently governing the contemporary world of conventional development. Globalisation is the tool currently in use for modernisation, drummed up by the North, largely targeting the resources of the Southern hemisphere, through Structural Adjustment Programmes. Social welfare development interventions have been devised to provide safety-net for the poor, social casualities of modernisation process. The short cut has been to bail them out through relief handouts. Participatory development concept, is built on the belief that the world had the means to improve the situation of the poor through fair redistribution of wealth, technology, knowledge, and ideas accruing from modernisation. But this calls for the political will to address the issue of inequality, power imbalance and social injustice as a primary goal. Achieving economic growth and ensuring equitable distribution should, of necessity, be compatible. Participatory development approach is to be preferred as it is accommodative, open and creative, drawing heavily from life experiences of those involved. It also puts people at the centre of development process. It is a paradigm that seeks to empower people to assume full responsibility for their own development including the consequences of their decisions and actions. It has been established that management boards and staff are the main prime movers of strategic planning activities in an organisation. Strategic planning was appreciated by the organisational staff as an opportunity to converge their views and towards influencing organisational policy, a precious window of opportunity for them to participate in causing organisational change. Notably, donor partners generally played a minimal role in this regard. Ironically, community constituency played the least role in the planning activities owing to their often marginal disposition among stakeholders. The most satisfactory outcome of participatory strategic planning was the clarity in the future direction of an organisations and more refined planning with sense of collective responsibility. It can authoritatively be declared here that participatory strategic planning is significantly efficacious as a tool for organisation building, but under certain conditions discussed in the concluding Chapter of the thesis.<br>Development Studies<br>D. Litt et Phil. (Development Studies)