Resource book for Ward Committees on community-based planning and the integrated development plan (IDP)

Community-based planning (CBP) is a specific form of ward planning involving all people in a ward which has been designed to promote community action and make the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) of a municipal area more people-centred. The methodology has been developed and tested in South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Ghana for use by municipalities and communities in South Africa.

This guide is intended for Ward Committees and community leaders, to help them to understand what the IDP is, and what is required to carry out CBP. However, lessons can be applied to other contexts. The resource book addresses the following questions: according to the South African Constitution and key laws, what is a municipality’s role in planning? and what are communities rights in relation to planning?

Topics covered include:

• What is Integrated Development Planning?
  
• What is Community-Based Planning, and how does it link to the IDP?
  
• What are the roles in the CBP/IDP processes?
  
• What is required to make this community-based planning process work?

[Adapted from author]