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The participatory community development has surfaced in 1980s and late 1990s. Community development efforts intend to increase the number and usefulness of community assets, build community capacity and promote community member investment in the process. This requires the purposeful participation of community members in all phases of development. Evaluating slum upgrading program in Addis Ababa, this book presents factors which influence participation of community members and the effects of their participation on program progress and goal achievements. Broad range of participation of community members occurred through their involvement as neighborhood group, arbitration committee members, community development facilitators, daily laborers, and volunteers. The study has uncovered number program elements that encourage or discourage participation. Results confirm the importance of community members´ active participation in community development programs and provide insights into strengthening approaches to promote their involvement. This book is useful reference to academics, research and organizations promoting people centered development.

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Hussein S. Hassen received MSW from Addis Ababa University in 2007. Since then, he has been a full-time faculty member of Department of Sociology and Social Work at Adama University. He is also involving in consultancy work in the area of community development, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence and children with special needs.

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