Community Engagement Forum (CEF)

Community Engagement Forum(CEF)

Introduction

Justification/Background:

Today, our communities are faced with development challenges on an unprecedented scale. They include poverty, poor sanitation, lack of access to credit, food insecurity, water scarcity, deplorable environmental and housing conditions, lack of jobs and unemployment, unrepaired roads and other critical services including health and education. In recent times, the scope, scale, and urgency of these problems have all sharply increased.

Unfortunately, no government anywhere in the world can provide all the necessary needs of life to its citizens or communities. It is becoming increasingly evident that governments do not have all the resources and funds to carry out development initiatives, particularly in the social sector in every poor community.

Globally, international donor agencies and philanthropic institutions are finding it increasingly difficult to provide development aid or assistance to many needy communities around the world due to dwindling resources resulting from world-wide economic melt-down or recession.

Expectedly, the only viable alternative in the face of the ever rising poverty and other social problems is for communities to adopt self-help and become self-reliant rather than waiting endlessly for government or foreign assistance. This can be achieved through community engagement processes that enable local people themselves to determine their own development and welfare.

Advocating for Community Engagement

Globally, there is a growing commitment to the principles of community engagement. Community engagement is increasingly recognized as a vital component of efforts to bring development to the grassroots. Therefore, understanding community engagement will facilitate and promote its use in solving many of our challenging problems and thus advance the well-being of all of our communities.

It is therefore, against this backdrop that CDI Nigeria established a platform called Community Engagement Forum (CEF) where individuals (men, women, youths, professionals, community activists, religious leaders, students and other stakeholders) working in isolation, or collaboratively with others   can systematically design and implement processes to actively engage their communities in solving many problems facing them.

Who We Are.

Community Engagement Forum (CEF) is a platform where individuals – acting as change agents, and who are committed to transforming communities and the society at large can initiate, mobilize and engage every stakeholder to address issues affecting the well-being of the people in their respective communities or areas.

CEF adopt the principles of community engagement to addresses a range of social, economic, political, and environmental issues affecting the people.

CEF partners with organized groups, agencies, institutions, and individuals including businesses, schools, academia, government, and the faith-based organizations. The partnership goes beyond physical involvement to being a platform for generating ideas, contributing to decision making, and sharing of responsibility to create the desired change.

CEF takes the lead in engagement efforts and encourages the participation of community members in activities that address their issues.

CEF focuses on community mobilization, community participation, community empowerment, community self-help and self-reliance and constituency building.

CEF Principles include:

ü Justice

ü Fairness

ü Empowerment

ü participation, and

ü self-determination

CEF Membership Benefits:

·      Members are empowered with continuous relevant training and professional education.

·      Members are provided with the state - of - the – art information and relevant resource materials to becomes more effective in the field of development.

·      Members are notified and technically prepared to apply and attend numerous free conferences, workshops, seminars, training and capacity – building programmes locally and internationally.

·      Members are exposed to professionals who are already at the top of their career.

·      Becoming a member means joining a network of experienced development practitioners nationally.

Pursuing a career in the field requires special training and experience. For volunteers, students, graduates, researchers, corps members, development practitioners and others with interest in international and community development CEF

·      Provide members with hands-on experience and knowledge in the prestigious field of community and international development.

·      Provide members with internship and volunteer opportunities locally and internationally, including numerous free scholarships in development studies and related fields around the world.

·      Help members with job alert in addition to developing strong, clear and compelling resume and cover letters.

·      Empower members on how to write abstract papers and posters for oral presentation at conferences.

For membership details, send an email to: cdinstitute_ng@yahoo.co

Conferences and Workshops

Community engagement processes can be complex and labour intensive and therefore require dedicated people with the necessary skills. CDI Nigeria will work with members of CEF to grow in their understanding of development and community engagement aimed at improving their efficiency and effectiveness. CDI Nigeria will encourage sharing of resource material and participation in meetings, local and international conferences, workshops, seminars and symposia.