What is a community development enterprise (CDE)?

In order to explain the concept of the CDE approach, it is necessary to provide a clear definition of a Community Development Enterprise. A CDE can be defined as “a company constituted by democratically chosen people from the prospective community, which is self-sufficient, and takes over the participation from the state in the fields of political, economic and social activities.”

Through cooperation and consultation with the government and other international organizations, the CDE will seek to develop the community in a way that is sustainable.

The holistic approach of the CDE process will ensure a shift from centralized development to community development.

When establishing CDEs, an analysis of the problems in communities will be necessary in order to tailor appropriate responses. Each community will likely need a different response from the CDE concept.

The Community Development Enterprise (CDE) concept can be seen as a form of decentralized governance that is used as an effective tool specifically designed to focus on community, social and economic development.

CDE Objective

The objective of the CDE is to serve as vehicle for development and change, as well as on-going stability and peace. The CDE approach will focus on three elements in order to promote peaceful social change, namely: (i) democratization and institutional design, (ii) sustainable development and (iii) good governance.

Democratization will focus on public participating, thereby achieving a fully democratic process. The sustainable development focus will pay attention to structural changes by seeking to reduce imbalances, improve the welfare of individuals, communities and social groups and reduce the maximum inequality and social exclusion wherever possible. The last element is good governance, which includes various incentives for political inclusion and power-sharing arrangements.

By establishing a CDE the people in the community will be able to progressively govern themselves, plan their own development goals and participate in decision-making related to their basic needs. They will be empowered to fulfil their own form of democracy based on their culture and values, at their own pace.